(I will be continuing a short blog series on forgiveness based on a sermon in March.  I have been on vacation and wrote a time-sensitive blog last week.)

In review, the noun, forgiveness, means “discharge, setting at freedom”.  The verb, “to forgive”, when used with a personal object means, “to send forth or send away, to release somebody”.  In classical Greek literature, forgiveness is used to indicate “the voluntary release of a person or thing over which one has legal or actual control”.

Hence, to forgive means “to acquit, to let go without the responsibility of guilt, obligation or punishment”.

A working definition I shared in the March blog was “the act of setting someone free from an obligation to you that is a result of a wrong done against you.”

What is the purpose of forgiveness?

For the follower of Christ, the ultimate purpose of forgiveness is to create an environment for reconciliation hence, forgiveness is not an end unto itself.  Without reconciliation, forgiveness, although beneficial to the one who forgives, is unfulfilled.  Without the goal of eventual reconciliation, forgiveness can become another medium of self-help in an already narcissistic world.

If we are to imitate God, then the goal of forgiveness is reconciliation while the benefit of forgiveness is release of vengeance.  However, since reconciliation is bilateral from a human perspective, even if there is no cooperation from the “other party”, forgiveness still has virtue and merit by itself.

Lewis Smedes, in his book, The Art of Forgiveness, shared the fundamental stages of forgiveness.  In a later blog, I will share a more detailed process put forth by Robert D. Enright that might be helpful.

According to Smedes, these are the three fundamental stages of forgiveness.

First, rediscover the humanity of the person who hurt us.  This has been especially helpful to me.  It is extremely difficult to forgive someone who has become a symbol of the offense.  However, once we try to understand the person and perhaps see why the offense occurred, it is much easier to feel compassion and forgiveness.

Secondly, release our right to get even.  Vengeance seems sweet at the moment, but is highly destructive to everyone including our relationship with the Lord.  Besides, God has informed us that vengeance belongs to Him (Romans 12:19-20).

Finally, revise our feelings.  We know that forgiveness is having an impact on our lives when our feelings about the offending person begin to change from vengeance to compassion, from hate to love, from negativity to positivity.  It may not happen overnight, but with the sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, it will happen if we commit ourselves to it.

Forgiveness is not an easy matter.  Hardly anything really worthwhile ever is.

Something to think about…

On Thursday, April 19, 2018, the California Assembly voted to pass AB 2943 by a wide margin of 50-18.  What is AB 2943 and how does it affect us?  I am going to freely quote large portions of a blog post written by a friend, Andy Comiskey, who is the founder of Desert Streams / Living Waters, ministries that we have resourced frequently to help those who are seeking to resolve their gender issues.

“AB 2943 prohibits all conferences, teachings, or publications (where money is exchanged for the resource) aimed at helping people to overcome same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. This impacts every pastor, counselor, friend, or family member in California.

Most chillingly, it slams the door on citizens whose conscience guides them to make peace with their bodies as designed by God. The California legislature wants to deny them that choice.”

Thursday the Assembly decided that “the state has the right to insist that the only option for Californians with gender identity problems is to transition into the ‘gay’ or ‘trans’ self. Though these are standard values in much of the clinical community, California is seeking to make them the only values. This is an affront to moral liberty.”

“It sounds preposterous, I know. When I first heard of this bill, I assumed it implausible, dead on arrival. Instead, AB 2943 raced through the first two committees in spite of valiant testimonies by friends Dr. Joseph Nicolosi Jr., Anne Paulk of Restored Hope Network, and Bethel Redding’s Elizabeth Woning and Ken Williams. These last three witnessed persuasively to the power of Jesus and His community to restore true identity but were stonewalled by representatives who only asked sympathetic questions of those claiming abuse at the hands of bad helpers, valid issues for clinical ethics but irrelevant to the rights of persons to choose the kind of help(s) he desires!”

“According to Ken Williams, ‘the freight train is here, barring persons from the right to help and to heal gender identity problems. This is the first day I have felt discriminated against, robbed of my freedom to hold to my convictions. The government is now seeking to mandate what I do with my sexuality.’”

“Every person deserves the freedom to exercise moral authority over his or her body and desires. I may boldly disagree with Ellen DeGeneres’ and Rupaul’s identity choices (just as they do mine!) but I grant them freedom to make them. We as Americans share constitutional freedoms of worship and speech. According to the Supreme Court, ‘the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express the thought we hate.’”

The fact that AB 2943 passed the State Assembly so readily is cause for pause.  The bill is now with the California Senate. 

On Sunday, I asked the church family to make an appeal to their State Senator, encouraging them (in a loving way) to vote against AB 2943.  I believe this is the time to unite as fellow believers in Jesus and make our voices heard.  We live in a great country where we have the right and responsibility to exercise the freedoms that God has given to us.

I am including information on how to contact your California Congressman or Congresswoman as an encouragement to do something about this.

Something to think about it…

May the Lord use us as His instruments for peace and justice.

Additional Information:

To read Assembly Bill No. 2943, use this LINK then go to: Quick Bill Search and enter Bill Number 2943.

To find your State Senator go to this LINK.

To find your State Senator’s contact info go to this LINK.

by Tommy Machida

Hi Everyone! My name is Tommy Machida and I’m currently an intern here at Evergreen SGV. My family’s rich history with Evergreen began even before my sister Aimee and I were born, when my parents, Brian and Carolyn Machida first met at the young adult group before the Evergreen LA and Evergreen SGV hived! Evergreen SGV has always been my home church, and so many monumental moments in my life have taken place here - my baby dedication with Pastor Cory, my baptism during my sophomore year of college, and even my sister’s wedding last year.

In the third grade, I accepted Christ at Evergreen SGV VBS. I still remember Pastor Raynold Nakamura’s message - He shared that our hearts are black without Jesus, but that after Jesus comes into our hearts, He purifies and cleanses us from sin and makes our hearts white. I remember feeling my heart begin to race, and when Auntie Carolyn Sera asked if we wanted to accept Christ, I raised my hand to say “Yes!” to Jesus for the very first time!

I also played Evergreen SGV basketball for 7 years, not only learning how to play for God’s glory, but also gaining lasting friendships with some of my closest friends to this day. During my college years at UC Riverside, I was a part of Asian American Christian Fellowship (AACF), and God used that time to lead me into college ministry. My calling into student leadership at AACF helped me understand what it meant to serve the body of Christ in the context of college students. During my sophomore year of college, I obeyed the Lord and became baptized at Evergreen SGV. I decided to become baptized at the church where not only I professed my faith in Christ, but where I gained a family that I know would celebrate in my proclamation.

Throughout college, God grew my faith and hunger for His Word. Also, by His infinite grace, God prevented me from pursuing the worldly distractions and temptations that every college student inevitably faces. I believe this grace was a testament to Evergreen SGV’s amazing spiritual and biblical foundation, which guided my decisions to choose God and understand the importance of my faith versus anything else this world has to offer.

After college, I decided to officially become a member of Evergreen SGV, and integrated myself into the prophetic prayer, High School Mexicali, and KR3W ministries. I felt that God was calling me to serve the church, specifically as an intern, so I began to oversee the Soli Deo Gloria (SDG) college ministry alongside my co-intern Kenton Tse. SDG has been my AACF leadership experience and home church experience combined in graceful harmony. Every experience that I gained from ministering to college students at AACF Riverside, I have been able to implement with SDG. I am amazed every week at the college student’s dedication to grow in their relationship with the Lord, hunger for His word, and desire to build a Christ centered community at Evergreen SGV.

Through all of the different seasons God brought me through, Evergreen SGV has been constant and I am so thankful for this church family. Evergreen SGV taught me what a spiritual home feels like. It has always been a great place to be watered with Scripture and sound doctrine as Church School teachers poured their love and reflected God’s servant leadership to me. Even if I already briefly mentioned this, in summary, I believe that God has used this church family to show me what it means to grow up loving God, loving others, and make a difference. And now in the present day, I am excited to continue learning and growing, and for the opportunity to serve the church that has given me so much. God bless you!

by Vera Christian

On September 17, 2012, Anah Joy Christian joined our family. She was seven at the time, born with Down Syndrome. Her records indicate that she was found at a road crossing in China, abandoned shortly after birth.

I did not aspire to be an adoptive parent. If Pastor Cory had not issued the invitation during the worship service, I would not have even thought about adopting. I was perfectly content with our three biological children. There was plenty for me to do, between daily life, homeschooling, and ministry. Where would I have time to squeeze in the care of someone who was so needy?

But perhaps that was the problem. There wasn’t room in my heart.

It is so easy for me to get tunnel vision, to focus only on my cares and worries. These put a blinder on my eyes to the greater needs around me. But they also encourage a smallness of heart that does not befit a child of the King.

And so, God, in His infinite goodness and wisdom, allowed Anah to come into my life.

I wish I could say that I surrendered willingly to the shaping work of God, but instead, I have fought Him. You might expect more from a pastor’s wife, but the truth is, I have never sunk so low. Again, I believe it is God’s grace that He forces me to face the dire need I have for a Savior.

It is easy to think that I am here to help Anah, but more and more, I am realizing that perhaps sent her here to help me.

•          To deepen my understanding of the Gospel

•          To challenge my unchallenged assumptions about the
            Christian life

•          To pinpoint the sin that keeps me from becoming like
            Christ

•          To refine the rough edges of my character

•          To enlarge the smallness of my heart

•          To shed light on the immense love and grace of God

In times like these, I am humbled by Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29—“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” Through the grumbling, questioning, and struggling, this verse reminds me afresh the pride of my heart. Who do I think I am anyway, that I should know better than God? 

I wish I could say that this realization has resulted in a 180-degree turn for me, but it hasn’t. As I think of Anah, turning thirteen in April but still thinking with the mind of a toddler, I fear for the future. I often find myself feeling depressed, trying not to feel sorry for myself.

In these moments, God needs to remind me that He is in control. He has not brought her into my life to punish me. His plans for me through her are for my welfare—to forge in me the heart, character, and nature of Christ. I wish there were some other way, but His ways are not mine (Is 55:8-9).

And so I will trust that His plans for me will not come back void, that He will accomplish what He desires. Until then, I must surrender—letting Him stretch me, mold me, and put me through the fire so that I may one day more closely become as Christ. Anah is His tool to enlarge my small heart.

Perhaps you are not struggling with a special needs child, but you are questioning the wisdom of God’s direction in your life. It could be a thorny relationship, the loss of a dream, an unfair situation—something you would not choose for yourself.

Instead of trying to figure out how to get out of it, let us try to learn how to grow in it and through it, clinging to God’s sovereign wisdom and grace. Our struggles just might be His invitation to growth, if we are willing to take it.

by Pastor Victor Chen

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” -Mark 6:31

As I stared at these words on the first day of my three-month sabbatical, I felt like a child being told to go to sleep only to find himself staring at the ceiling wide awake.

Rest.

Sure, that was the purpose of this sabbatical and the ultimate goal. But it was easier stated than achieved. How does one find rest?

At my stage of life with three young children running amok, you would think extra sleep would equate to rest. But sleep is oftentimes restless no matter how many hours you get.

I thought of all these books I could read, churches to visit or conferences to attend during those three months. But I quickly realized how counter-productive piling up a to-do list would be in my quest for rest.

Finally I concluded that maybe I was to do “nothing” and sit with Jesus for extended periods of time and simply enjoy being with Him.

Bible. Pen. Journal.

Silence. Solitude.

I was quickly convicted that this wasn’t doing “nothing.” This was everything a restful sabbatical should be. In many ways, this was how life with God was supposed to be.

And it wasn’t just me hunching over a desk for hours a day in prayer. It was me getting up, walking, pausing, reflecting, praying and worshipping. It was me racing out of bed to climb a hill and watch the sun rise, or rushing to climb that same hill to watch the sun set. It was me staring at the stars and singing to the God of the universe. It was me pausing to notice the beauty of a tree’s blossom or the wonder of a hummingbird’s flight and realize the Creator’s hand in it all.

And at the end of my three-month sabbatical, I had concluded this: rest at its core is trust. It’s trusting God in all things.

It’s trusting that I could cut myself off from the ministries I oversee for three months and everything would be ok, because God is in control.

It’s trusting that however frantic and chaotic life was at home, God was at work.

It’s trusting that extended times spent with the Lord whether sitting, walking, talking or playing is more productive than sneaking in extra hours for work.

It’s trusting that the work of redemption is finished in Christ Jesus and no ministry of mine could ever add to it.

And the best thing about this? You don’t have to be on sabbatical to trust God in everything. That means whether you’re working or on your day off, whether at home or at the office, rest is at hand.

We just have to trust God it’s true.

”Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in hearts and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30