Photo by Pastor Palmer
04.14.24
Mars Hill UMC
<Once in a Lifetime Event: A Total Solar Eclipse>
As
Victor shared with you last Sunday, the past two weeks posed numerous
challenges for our family with several Holy Week services, Easter
celebrations, sickness among the children, and several doctor's appointments.
Despite our busy schedule, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to witness the
once-in-a-lifetime event of a Total Solar Eclipse.
There were several pre-planned programs for
visitors; the town set up a photo booth, provided large eclipse glasses,
organized fireworks, and many people arranged concerts, opened
stores, and hosted fun activities. Many scientists brought a bio bus and some
individuals from NASA arrived with a huge telescope.
Our church also made preparations, offering an organ
tour, public supper, warming center, and café. Many families and friends
gathered together, and Pastor Kwan Lee's family attended the service, marking a
50-year reunion in that church. Pastor Palmer, who was a pastor's kid about 50
years ago in the Houlton church, also joined us. It was truly a historic
service filled with fellowship and joy.
Before
Monday, many people were anxious about security, lack of food or water, and
even concerned about the shortage of toilet paper. I was anxious about having
visitors in my house; it seemed like it wasn't ready for guests. However, all
the events in town, at church, and even our fellowship with our visitors went
very well by the end of the day. Not only did they go well, but they were
extraordinary and excellent moments.
Just as the star shone light in the small town of
Bethlehem when Jesus was born, a total solar eclipse came to the small town of
Houlton. All Airbnb accommodations were fully booked at over $600 to $700 per
night, 40 jets arrived at the Houlton airport, 20,000 people visited, and Getty
Images came to Houlton church to take some pictures. Everyone was excited to
witness the miraculous and wonderful handiwork of God.
*Photo by Sieun Ahn
We witnessed the phases of the eclipse. The edge of the Moon began to overlap with the edge of the Sun at the first contact. Even with just 1% of the Sun visible, it was still incredibly bright. As the Moon covered the entire disc of the Sun, we were able to see the Sun's corona. The sky darkened to twilight, and some people even saw what appeared to be a 360-degree sunset. Animals settled as if it were evening, and temperatures dropped suddenly while winds picked up. We were able to see Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. It was a moment of amazement and awe, and we glorified God just as those in Luke 5:26 did, saying, “Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying “We have seen strange things today”
The alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth was
powerful, just as the alignment of our town, local churches, and people was
beautiful over the last weekend. The alignment of family, friends, and
neighbors was also remarkable. We witnessed the power of unity as we became one
through this wonderful moment. It made me think that one day, when Jesus comes
again, we will all look up to heaven together once more, and it will be the
most beautiful moment. Hannah and I even spoke about my grandmother in heaven.
I asked, "Grandma, did you see the eclipse?" To which Hannah
responded, "You must not need the glasses." Victor added,
"Grandma might see even more beautiful things every day in heaven.
What are we anxious about right now? Frankly, I am anxious
about my appointment with the endocrinologist this Tuesday. I am also anxious
about my children’s future, the General Conference for our denomination, the
upcoming presidential election, the conflicts in many places around the world,
and whether I am prepared for the end of the day. However, the eclipse became a
good sign of hope. We couldn’t control everything. We did our parts and waited
to see God’s handiwork in heaven and on the earth. May this special gift of the
eclipse in Northern Maine give us hope. May God take away our burdens and
proclaim that He is the Lord, the owner, King, and Savior, through Psalm 19
today.
<Psalm 19>
There are three parts to
this Psalm: the revelation of God’s glory in Creation (verses 1-6), the
revelation of God’s grace in the Law (verses 7-11), and the believer’s response
to such revelations.
- The
Revelation of God’s Glory in Creation (verses 1-6) As we witnessed the
Eclipse, the Psalmist exalted in God's glory evident in His creation.
Particularly, the heavens reveal God’s majesty and splendor. The term
"firmament" refers to the sky or the expanse of the heavens. It
testifies to God's craftsmanship, with nothing in the heavens escaping His
creative touch.
The Psalmist poetically
describes the Sun, likening it to a bridegroom emerging from his wedding canopy
and a strong man running his course with joy. The Sun's journey spans the
heavens, providing light and warmth to all. Even when it is reduced to just 1%,
its brilliance still fills the sky, and its warmth is felt. Symbolically, the
Sun represents the Creator, providing energy, light, and heat for our spirits,
just as it sustains life on Earth.
- The
Revelation of God’s Grace in the Law (verses 7-11) After contemplating the
Sun, the Creator, David turns his attention to the Law, known as the
Torah, which means instruction or direction. In verses 7-9, six words are
used to describe the Law, along with their evaluations and results.
|
Six Words for the Law |
Six Evaluations of Law |
Six Results of Law |
|
v.7 The law of the
Lord is |
perfect |
reviving the soul |
|
v.7 The decrees of the
Lord are |
sure |
making wise the simple |
|
v.8 The precepts of
the Lord are |
right |
rejoicing the heart |
|
v.8 The commandment of
the Lord is |
clear |
enlightening the eyes |
|
v.9 The fear of the
Lord is |
pure |
enduring forever |
|
v.9 The ordinances of
the Lord are |
true |
Righteous altogether |
The Word of God, the
Law, is as powerful as the Sun, and it is the only foundation upon which we can
rely. What else can be perfect, sure, right, clear, pure, and true? We only
have one life to live, and it is imperative that we anchor ourselves in the Law.
By doing so, we experience the revival of souls, gain wisdom, find joy, receive
revelation, and most importantly, obtain eternal life.
In my prayers for our
children last week, I asked that they may clearly discern the truth when
tempted and be delivered from the evil one, and that their only addiction would
be to the things of God. It is not sufficient to merely dedicate our time, energy,
and resources to God; our hearts must also be aligned with His will.
- The
Believer’s Response to Such Revelations (verses 12-14) After proclaiming
the glory of God and the magnificence of His Word, the Psalmist reflects
on his own imperfections. He acknowledges his errors, hidden faults,
insolent attitude, and great transgressions. He humbly asks God to deliver
him from all iniquities. His heartfelt prayer is encapsulated in the final
verse:
“Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and
my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
The Psalmist desires
unity with God, seeks to align himself with God's will, and longs to please Him
in all aspects of life.
Grace answered the
question, "Write about what being a branch of Jesus means." She
expressed, "Being God’s child feels amazing! It means a lot to me. I wish
everyone accepted Jesus into their hearts. When you are a branch of God, not
everything goes your way but you still know that God is with you. It is so
easy, all you have to do is confess your sins and accept Jesus into your heart
and just say the words out of your mouth. Once you do, it is WORTH IT!"
Through her testimony, we understand that being a child of God brings an
incredible sense of fulfillment and assurance. When we accept Jesus as our
Savior, He becomes our rock and redeemer, guiding us through life's journey.
<The Beauty of Alignment>
The recent solar eclipse beautifully demonstrated the power of alignment.
As the Sun, Moon, and Earth aligned, we witnessed the stunning corona
surrounding their unity.
Similarly, the Bible
reveals numerous examples of the beauty of alignment, particularly in the
concept of the Trinity: Father God, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.
We also see alignment in
the threefold relationship of evangelism: our relationship with God, with the
church, and with those who are not yet part of the church.
This triangular
relationship is emphasized in Matthew 18:19-20: "Again, truly I tell you
that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done
for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name,
there am I with them."
When we align ourselves
with Jesus as our Savior and seek unity with one another, we experience the
divine alignment that empowers us for our mission of making disciples.
Ultimately, through unity with God, we can experience the spiritual corona—the brilliance of His presence—not just during rare celestial events, but every day of our lives.
<Father,
Where Your Heart Is>
In graduate school, one of my colleagues wrote this song. He said he couldn't read music and had never learned music theory. However, he was aligned with God, and this song became one of the most popular Contemporary Christian Music. I sing this song when I need to be tuned and aligned with God. I pray for this song to be our prayers and confession. Amen
Father, Where Your Heart Is
Words and Music by Kyungwook Seol
Father, where your heart is
나의 마음이 있기를 원해요.
may my heart be there with yours.
아버지 당신의 눈물이 고인 곳에
Father, where your tears are gathered
나의 눈물이 고이길 원해요.
may my tears gather in the same place.
아버지 당신이 바라보는 영혼에게
Father, to the souls where your eyes are
fixed
나의 두 눈이 향하길 원해요.
may my eyes be fixed as well.
아버지 당신이 울고 있는 어두운 땅에
Father, on this dark land for which you are
weeping
나의 두 발이 향하길 원해요.
may my both feet walk towards it.
나의 마음이 아버지의 마음 알아
May my heart know that of my Father
내 모든 뜻 아버지의 뜻이 될 수 있기를
and be one with his will.
나의 온 몸이 아버지의 마음 알아
May my whole body know the heart of my
Father,
내 모든 삶 당신의 삶 되기를.
and may my life be that of yours.
와우! 개기일식의 감격과 기쁨이 느껴집니다! 우리의 부분을 다 한 후 나머지는 하나님 아버지께 맡겨드리는 믿음 붙들게요.
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