Read Day 1 recap here.

Our 2010 30 Hour Famine is now over. Day 2 was filled with information about issues that plague so many lives around the world. We covered topics like the complexity of poverty, teens infected with “affluenza,” and the impact of AIDS on hunger and poverty. Knowing so many lives are affected, it’s easy to lose hope in trying to make a difference. But one thing we learned is that it all starts with us taking little steps to change our attitudes. Maybe we give up eating ice cream for a day or two, knowing Americans spend $20billion a year on frozen treats alone. Maybe we say a prayer for the homeless person we just passed, instead of ignoring him.

In Day 1, we spent time creating crosses out of popsicle sticks. We planted them in the courtyard to help bring awareness to the rest of the church (see image above). The sign reads “Did you know…while you were in service, 1,812 kids died from hunger and treatable illness? What are you going to do about it?” We wanted people to notice, if anything to get them thinking, but we didn’t expect our members to want to donate money right then and there. Those crosses will stay up for one more week, next time with a table to accept all those donations.

We concluded our 30 Hour Famine with worship time. We knew everything up until then was a lot of information. But it was now time to plead to God for action. It was a wonderful time for students to place God as priority over their lives. Our actions to confront hunger and poverty will only be effective to a point. We must be led by God to bring true renewal and hope to this world.

We planned and strategized to take concrete steps to get involved as a youth group. Some of the things that are being planned are a clothes drive, a game tournament, and silent auction to help raise more funds to donate to World Vision. All of these events will be led by our students! Way to take charge of what God has impressed upon us over the weekend!

Day one of the 30 Hour Famine has come and gone. At the time of this posting (~12:30am) we are nearly 12 hours into our fast. Students began their fast at 1pm after their lunch. Thankfully, not complaining about hunger pains…yet.

Earlier, we discussed Jesus’ desire for us to shine His light into the darkness of hunger and poverty in this world. With 29,000 kids under the age of 5 dying from hunger and treatable diseases a day, the task seems daunting. But knowing that we now live in a generation that has the money, medicine, and food to eradicate hunger and poverty, it’s a wonder why so little gets done. It starts with a mindset – a change in attitude about what we can accomplish through the power of the church.

To help bring awareness to the church, we’ve built 1,208 crosses out of popsicle sticks. Each cross represents a young child that dies every hour from hunger and preventable disease. They will be planted in the courtyard of our church where we normally have snacks after service. The point is to bring awareness and hopefully stir up action amongst the church body.

Tomorrow brings a new day with more ways to see God’s heart towards the impoverished, and more importantly, strategizing to shine Jesus’ light in our communities and in this world.

Read about Day 2 here.

In 2 Samuel 24, King David declares “I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (v. 24).

This Wednesday is Lent. It’s the start of a 40 day journey leading up to Easter Sunday. Traditionally, Lent is the practice of giving something up (most people give up red meat) as a way to show God He is more important than that thing we are giving up. It’s also a call to go above and beyond what we expect from our “normal” Christian activities (group meetings, praying, devotionals).

Lent is fasting from something in our lives that can be replaced by prayer and “almsgiving” or service to our community. It is an opportunity to do some soul-checking and reflect on those things that distract us from getting close to God.

So what is one thing that could be preventing you from getting closer to God? TV..? Facebook..? In light of what Jesus had to suffer to restore our relationship with God, don’t you think we can give these things up to be replaced with a few more minutes of prayer?

To help you meditate on what God expects from our fasting, read Isaiah 58.

There is unbelievable devastation right now in Haiti, the western hemisphere’s poorest country. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed office buildings, homes, schools, hospitals, international aid headquarters, and many many others. The amount of destruction set this island nation back an entire generation.

Haiti is in so much need right now. We will discuss in tonight’s ARK meeting how we can and will do our part in extending our love through action.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jorge Cruz

THE
CHRISTMAS TREE
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child. (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend. (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord. (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth. (Matt. 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation. ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant. (Phil. 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me. (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God. (2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God.(Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God.(2Cor.1:21- 22)
I am assured all things work together for good.(Rom.8:28)
I have been chosen & appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:16)
I belong to God
And that is who He says I am. How about you?

“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace…”
Numbers 6:24-26

[Taken from Homeword Devotionals]

Google is known to ask some crazy questions during their interviews for prospective employees. No, I’m not talking about your typical “Tell me about your work experience” or “Name your greatest strengths and weaknesses.” The questions they ask you are to understand how you analyze complex issues and situations. Some of the questions they have been known to ask can be found on the internet. The reason they ask such crazy questions is simple. They want the smartest and the brightest people in the world. They want ivy-league graduates. They want people who have masters’ degrees and/or PhD’s. Google wants to make sure their employees are qualified!

If you want to work for the #1 tech company in the world, you better make sure you meet these qualifications. Otherwise, you can come sit in the corner with the rest of us normal people.

Google is #1 because they have such a strict interview process (have you seen their sample interview questions yet…??). This process is designed to weed out 99% of the people who apply to their job openings. If you don’t qualify, you can’t work at Google. And this process isn’t limited to just Google. Almost every company in the country has a hiring process to weed out the unqualified. If you don’t have the skill, experience, or intelligence for the job, you’re out of luck. It’s a tough world out there.

But the good news is that God works completely differently than the world, which isn’t surprising. God has a tendency to turn everything that “makes sense” upside down.

One of my favorite characters in the bible is Moses. His is a story of the unqualified. Sure, he started out well while growing up in the lush lifestyle of Pharoahs’ court, but circumstances soon pushed him to…lead sheep…in the desert. Yet, God saw something in him to use this now simple shepherd to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt.

Moses didn’t really have anything to offer. He didn’t have any of the “qualifications” of a typical leader. He hated public speaking, he stuttered, he was scared, he thought God should use someone else. Does that sound familiar to you? Does that describe you at all? If so, then God has a job for you!

Unlike Google, God is looking for the UNDER-QUALIFIED. You see, the “qualified” tend to be independent and self-sufficient. On the surface, that doesn’t sound too bad. In fact, those characteristics seem down-right admirable. But when it comes to the kingdom of God, these characteristics could be the very things that disqualifies you from ministry. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says that “the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”

Are you fully committed to Him? Whole-hearted commitment admits that we are dependent on God and need His guidance on a daily basis. God is looking to use us for kingdom influence. He is eagerly wanting to reveal that that His strength is perfect in our weakness.

If you think you’re not fit for God’s work, then you’re the perfect candidate!

Distractions. We all have them. But how much do you allow these distractions to come in the way of what God wants in your life?

This video is the personal story of a young man named Clayton McDonald. At the age of 18, he was diagnosed with leukemia four times and doctors did not give him much longer to live. His is a riveting story of living a life in God’s will.

Clayton is now with the Lord, but his message still rings powerfully and true.

For follow up videos, please go to: http://www.claytonsstory.com/

Post your comments and responses below!

Nate: Okay, so let’s start with the basics. What’s your name?
Joe: Joseph Dong-Woo Chang

How old are you?
28.

You’re 28?!
Yeah!

I didn’t know that.
How old did you think I was?

Wait, where are you from?
Korea.

Where in Korea?
Hey, I’m not really from Korea. My parents were from Korea. I was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, and I grew up in, around Portland, Oregon.

Really?
Yeah.

So are you a hippie?
Uh.. No.
Are you an environmentalist? A conservative?
Conservative in what way?
I don’t know how. You tell me how you Portland-ers think.
No, Portland is a very liberal city.
Oh, is that right?
Do you litter a lot?
No, I don’t litter a lot.
Nice, very Portland of you.
So, you went to high school in Portland?
Near Portland.

So what’d you do for college?
Came down here. Went to California Institute of the Arts.
Oh, in Valencia. How’d you like that?
It was really fun.
Yeah? Despite the fact that Valencia sucks?
Yeah, but the people there were fun.

What was your major?
Uhm, it’s kind of hard to say. There are different schools at Cal Arts, and my school was Film/Video and my program was Character Animation, so I think that would be my major, character animation.

And you like animation.
Yeah.
It’s fun.
Yeah.

Doesn’t it get tiring drawing frame after frame of the same thing?
Yeah.
But you enjoy that?
I do.

So like something that would seem really mundane and boring to other people, you find it exciting.
It is because I see, it’s what I see. It’s what’s going to happen after that affects me, that keeps me working a 100%.
So you’re only focusing on the end product.
Yeah.
Nice.

What do you do right now?
I work.
Who do you work for?
A small company.

Is there anything you’ve done that’s particularly notable?
The only notable things I’ve done are animation for Curious George.
So you drew cells for Curious George?
We don’t really use cells anymore, it’s all digital. We draw it on paper and then we scan it onto the computer.
And then you edit it on the computer?
Yeah, but the animators do that.

In a movie, about how many frames are there?
Well, you’re going to have to do the math.
Each second is maybe 24 frames, and there’s 60 seconds in a minute. And on average, you draw a drawing only about every one or two frames, mostly two frames.
So it’s like 720 drawings per minute? I don’t know. You do the math.

I don’t actually like math, I actually hate math.

So you drew a lot when you were little?
Yeah. I liked to design cars and spaceships and stuff like that.

So, would you say doodling was an art to you?
I didn’t really see it as art.

You didn’t see it as art, you just saw it as a way to pass the time?
Well, I never really thought of myself as an artist.

What do you see yourself as? As you’ve moved to LA and started drawing for a living, what would you define yourself as?
Someone who happens to draw.
I think an artist is someone who really, uh.. Has something they want to express.
Like a vision.
Yeah, like a vision. Something really heartfelt. I’m not necessarily like that.

So you feel you don’t have a vision with your art? You just do it?
Spontaneously almost?
I would just say my visions aren’t really profound yet. I’m not saying I’ll never be an artist, but right now, not really.
My goal of my drawings right now isn’t to express myself, but to entertain others.
That’s cool.

So, when did you become a Christian Joe Chang?
Now we get into the deep questions, the deep stuff.
I grew up in a Christian family and I would say I always believed in Jesus but it wasn’t until later in high school, no no, earlier in high school, that I decided to really follow Jesus in a real way, because before it was sort of abstract. I think it was after a winter retreat that I made that decision to follow Jesus.

But that was kind of a decision, but I didn’t really follow through with it. Later in high school, I had a friend that really challenged my faith. He was a really strong believer and was the first person I saw that actually lived out his faith outside of church.

So when did you start getting, not necessarily involved in praise music, but when did you start playing guitar. You taught yourself right?
Yeah. I just kind of learned from friends and stuff. That was in college, about 2000? I would just grab my friend’s guitar and kind of mess around.

I didn’t actually learn guitar for praise music, I was just messing around. It just to learn those cool little pop songs, you know like “More than Words”. I think that was my first song.

“More than words”? Who’s that by?
Uh.. Street something? (starts singing)

So it’s a pop song?
Yeah, it’s old.

I honestly have never heard of that before.
Oh, and how deep? Have you heard of that?

No.
(starts singing again)

You know, this really illustrates the fact that you’re 28 and I’m 17.
How do you not know that song?
How would I know that song?
It’s a classic.

Did you ever see yourself leading praise?
No.

So you just did the guitar for the heck of it?
Yeah, just to mess around. I like to mess around with stuff.

What’s something else you like to mess around with?
Oh, magic.
I’ve been messing around with that for a while.

I was going to ask a question about magic and how some people don’t like calling it magic, they like calling it, what’s the other thing they call it?
Illusions

Oh yeah, why did you get involved in ARK?
Whenever I go home to Oregon, I would visit my old youth pastor. Who was still pastoring youth. So I had the opportunity to hang out with youth and decided I sort of enjoyed that. So when I came here I ended up volunteering for ark.

That’s it?
Yup.

How long have you been in ARK now?
It’s coming up on 2 years? Maybe? I came at a winter retreat.
Oh I remember that. That was when Pastor David came, we had the really small cabin, and it snowed a lot.
Yeah.
I think that was two winters ago.

Okay, cool Joe.

So, what do you see yourself doing in the future? Or do you not think about the future, do you just kind of live life.
Uhm. Yeah, I don’t know. Haha

Yeah. Ok.
I’m probably still going to be in animation and.. I dunno. I think wherever God leads me but I hope it’s here at the Garden.

So do you like California, like Los Angeles?
Uhm. There’s good and bad things.

But you like the Garden.
I like the Garden. I like the people in California. But California weather, I don’t like. Traffic, I don’t like. Hugeness of the city, I don’t like that either.

You’re like a regular vigilante. Kind of.
I liked Oregon because there’s a lot of greenery, a lot of trees, lots of rain.
Oh, good thing about LA is the food.

What’s your favorite kind of food?
Favorite kinds of food. I can’t say I like one food in particular. I like different ethnic foods, but I tend to like the ghetto’er versions of these foods.
Like taco carts?
Yeah, like home style food. Yeah, like dirty burritos.
Oh, like b-rated chinese food.
Oh, I don’t like chinese food that much.

When I say the word pumpernickel, what comes to your mind? The first thing.
I guess the hufflelumps, from winnie the pooh, because it sounds like a ridiculous word like that.

Weird, I think of Barney. (singing song)

What are your views on graffiti?
I definitely appreciate it as an art form, but I can’t say I really like the defacement of property but graffiti artists found an outlet that wasn’t conflicting onto other people I think yeah.

Ok, so you’re against destruction of public property, like why would you do that etc.
I mean, I know that’s all part of the expression, the statement, but still, it’s disrespectful.

But, even despite the fact that you don’t call yourself an artist who is one of your favorite artists? Someone you look up to for inspiration?
Oh. Uhm. Hmm. I don’t really have any.
Really?
I mean, there are people I’d say are really good but I wouldn’t say you know.

You just do your own thing?
Oh, I have magicians I admire haha
Alright, who’s your favorite magician?
There’s this Japanese magician named Takira . I can’t remember his name. He has this signature trick.
(explains trick)

(I don’t understand any of it
Something about you see a trick that you aren’t supposed to see. )
Alright.

What’s your favorite movie Joe?
I have a lot. I love superhero movies. I like a lot of war movies. I like comedies. One of my favorite comedies is Dumb and Dumber. I think my favorite movie of all time, if I had to pick one, would be Groundhog Day. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of that.

No, that’s why you’re 28 and I’m 17.
It’s a comedy, but it’s really heartfelt. It has Bill Murray.
Alright, let’s say you were on Rotten Tomatoes, what would you rate that movie?
Well, probably a 95.
95? That good?
It’s the kind of the movie that you can just watch over and over again.

Okay. Yeah. So I think that’s pretty much it.
Haha so you’ll edit out and compile stuff?

I’ll try to compile all of this into a, I don’t want to say relevant, but interesting and entertaining interview.

Cara: How old are you?
Teresa: 23

C: Where were you born and raised?
T: I was born in Woodland and I was raised in Sacramento, California

C: How is Sacramento?
T: Ummmm, pretty.. like a bubble. Well it’s a good place to raise your kids and weather’s okay.

C: What do you want to do for a living?
T: I wanted to be a doctor but now I want to do something fun and work with people. I want to help people get well somehow.
C: Oh, like people in jail? Just kidding

C: Hobbies, hobbies, what are you hobbies?
T: Sports
C: What kind of sports?
T: Throwing around a football and snowboarding.
C: Lets go snowboarding!
T: Ooh, yea. I like knitting things.
C: Knitting.. like sewing?!
T: No, like knitting.
C: So, like sewing.
T: Not like sewing
C: Darn. Okay then.
T: I also like cleaning things. Vacuuming is my favorite.

C: Alright, can you share how you became a Christian and how you got to where you are today?
T: Well, I was born into a Christian family, but it wasn’t until college that I decided I didn’t want to be a part of that 80/20 statistic, where 80% of college graduates will not continue going to church. That really got me sad. Well, I’m excited to get plugged in. Garden was the first church that I found and fell in love with. At Rev Con. I rededicated myself to Christ.

C: When did you come to Garden?
T: During my freshman year, around 03-04.

C: What is your favorite childhood memory?
T: When I was younger, Pokemon was really popular.

C: Woah, pokemon is that old?
T: Hey!!
C: Well, I watched it like during 2nd grade. Actually I still watch it sometimes. Heh.
T: So, my brother and I were sleeping in our separate rooms, but we share a wall. Then I hear some mumbling from his room “Mehhblehhlehhh.” And I’m like oh no, whats wrong. So I went to my brother and said, “Andrew, are you okay?” And he’s like, “Gotta catch em all… Pokemon, gotta catch em all! Pikachu, Squirtle!” Heh heh heh.
C: Haha Were you freaked out or laughing?
T: I was laughing

C: Whats a personal goal you have?
T: Emmmm. I want to do a triathalon.
C: Ironman?
T: IronWO-man baby.
T: I want to go back to school, pay off my car, anddd.. and read my One Minute Bible everyday.

C: What do you like about Ark and being an Ark leader….besides me ;D
T: Haha. That’s what I was gonna say. Well, I love how at Ark, everyone can just be themselves and have fun. And that it doesn’t take much to have fun. I love being a leader because, you guys remind me of how high school was and I can share with you guys. Not only that, but I learn from all of you, and you help me grow.

C: Yayyy

C: Tell me a joke.
T: ……[long pause].., short joke or long joke?
C: Hm. Short joke.
T: Joke.
C: No! No.. haha then long joke is JOOOOKE.
T: Well that’s my joke.
C: Haha. Foooorgetttt it.

C: Which superhero would you be and why?
T: I would be Rogue from X-men.
C: Me too! She can just take everyone’s power. Chyyeea.
T: Yeah! Except, she cant touch anybody which would make me really sad.
C: Oh, you’re touchy.. :p
T: Yeah. I would want some special synthetic material clothing to protect me.
C: Rogue with special clothes.

C: Chocolate or Vanilla?
T: Chocolate.

C: I don’t even need to ask this.. Meatlovers or Vegetarian.
T: Come on now..
C: Vegetarian it is! Me too.

T: Did you make up these questions yourself?
C: Mhm.

C: If stranded on an island, and only able to bring 3 material things and 1 person, what and who would it be?
T: My future husband.
C: I know who that is.
T: Who? You know who my future husband is?
C: Yep.
T: You must tell me. You might have the gift of prophecy.
C: Well, he goes to our church. You want me to tell you? Hehe
T: Are you being serious?
C: Yes! YOU know who I’m talking about. He knows who he is.
T: There’s a conspiracy theory behind me back.
C: YAH~ I mean… of course..not. Alright alright. So the three items.
T: Unlimited supply of sushi, a deck of cards, and the Bible.
C: Good choices, except.. you should’ve chosen me for the person and except for the sushi.

C: If you could take out a stranger for a day-o-fun, where would you take them?
T: Ummmm, I would take them out to Tokyo, Japan.
C: Cool. I want to go there.
T: Me too.

C: Whats your most embarrassing moment?
T: Oh no..
Cecil (walks by): Oh I can tell you that!
Jez (walks in and sits with us): I can tell you what it will be. Haha
T: Ugh.. so in high school it was the last period of the day….
C: Oh, THE PINK UNDERWEAR?!
T: You can explain it and make it sound really pathetic.
C: Okay, so even with the hot guy..
T: Yeah….
[So here’s the story..] à The whole day, Teresa was wearing a white dress with bright pink underwear. Everyone could see the bright pink tushie, but poor Teresa was completely oblivious of what was going on… down there. So it was the last period of the day at school and Teresa was playing around in class and running around and trips right in front of a “hot” guy. And he saw her underwear and the whole day was embarrassing. Then a friend told her, at the end of the day, that her underwear was visible through her white dress. At the END of the day.. Aww.
C: Winter or Summer?
T: Winter
C: Yo tambien.

C: Heroes. Do you watch Heroes? You better watch heroes.
T: Nope. Actually, I only watched first season.
C: Nice, but watch third season. It’s awesome.

C: Last question. Would you like to ask me anything?
T: Do you like anybody?
C: Of course! I like you. ;D
T: Good answer, good answer.
T: And what do you like about Ark?
C: I like Ark, because I can be crazy.
C: Whoopee. This was a Teresa Ku Exclusive.

T: Winks*