Pastor Jonathan’s Weblog

Knowing someone for 20 years is a long time. And having been known very well by someone for 20 years is even longer. I still remember that day in 1988 when I first met Pastor Ed and Kelly Kang (of Gracepoint Fellowship Church) at a Chinese restaurant on University Avenue in Berkeley. They thought that I was a FOB who couldn’t speak English! (I’m still shocked by that, Pastor Ed; was it my hairstyle?) Well, to their surprise, when I opened my mouth, I spoke English without any accent to speak of!

Throughout the past 20 years, they’ve forgiven me at my worst, been gracious at my best, and loved me through all the stages in between. I’m a far better minister because of what I learned from them. I’m a far better husband because of the marriage counseling I’ve received from them (for free!). I’m a far better father because of the example of parenting they demonstrated. All in all, I’m better by far because of their presence in my life.

Everyone needs a spiritual mentor, a shepherd, a leader, a pastor, or whatever you call them, as long as you call on them to lead you to Jesus. My wife and I are blessed to have Pastor Ed and Kelly to call on. And I’m sure that we’ll continue to call on them for the next 20 years to come. By that time, we’d be old and gray, sitting at a Chinese restaurant reminiscing the good old days when I was an English-speaking FOB…

Thank you, Pastor Ed and Kelly, for your perseverance, your steadfast commitment to the Truth, your tireless service to the Lord, and for pointing the way to Jesus these past 20 years!

My wife and I just came back from Asilomar Conference Center in Monterey where we spent some RR/RR (rejuvenation & refeshment over resting & reading). We thoroughly enjoyed our time walking on the boardwalk along the beach, hand-in-hand, while we talked about kids, about ministry, about life… (By the way, in case you are wondering, it’s perfectly normal for a pastor and wife to hold hands…even after 16 years of marriage!)

We marveled at the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, the fine sand that felt so good under our feet, and the awesome roar of the waves… There is a small gazebo about a mile up the coast and we sat there and talked for a good hour, and it was a very good hour. Such times of walking, talking, and being together is what’s needed in marriage and this time together was very good for us and for our soul, especially in the midst of all the busyness of work and ministry. We plan on going back there every quarter or so, to experience this kind of Sabbath where we get to stop work and say, “What God has done is good,…it is very good.”

An interesting thing happened: We went back out to the beach to see the sunset before dinner. It wasn’t anything spectacular, just a run-of-the-mill sunset, so we decided to head out to the restaurant before the sun had fully set. Then all of the sudden a stranger near us says, “It’s not over yet!“ We were taken aback, but yielded to her words and stayed there a few more minutes, patiently waiting until the sun had fully set beyond the horizon. Then we heard her voice again, “Now it’s done.” We were free to go!

Actually, I’m glad that we got to stay on the beach even for those few extra minutes. Nothing spectacular happened, but there’s something soothing to be still before God, watching and waiting…