Comments on: Church: What are you Thankful for?

By: Johnny

Johnny — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:22:22 +0000

I am thankful for the privilege of living in Dana House along with 3 peers.
I remember being very hesitant when the opportunity of living at Dana House sort of just fell into my lap. The idea of forsaking a comfortable Alameda house with my peers, and jump into a jungle house to live with 18 rowdy college students was a bit intimidating to me! Total chaos and perpetual lack of solitude were the first thoughts that came into my mind. On top of that, being one of the Dana House Managers means that I would need to really act like a model older brother. Not only that I need to be blameless in terms of being clean and neat, I am suppose to supervise the other 18 guys to do the same!
I am so thankful that I took a step of faith and decided to move in Dana House despite of all my fears. The fellowship and camaraderie of Dana House is incredible! It is a place of continuous bonding between brothers, where they can come together and share each others’ joy and burdens. It is a place where you can always hear laughter late into the night, a place where foosball table is being utilized pretty much 24-hours a day. It is a grateful trashcan who provides a destination for all the leftover food from ministry events; an example of such “plunders” included 100 hotdogs from a Sunday service lunch, and then witnessing them disappear in a matter of 2 days. It is a place where 22 guys need to learn to make sacrifices and adjustments to their living habits in order to get along, and maintaining peace. It’s a haven for the seniors to completely let down of their guards and be the weirdos that they are (some of them really abuse the exhortation of “just be yourself”). It is hard for an outsider to comprehend all the bizarre behaviors that come out in the house… I always chuckle to myself when I hear brothers complain about how they need “behave” normal when they go home to visit their own families. In Dana House we really experienced what it means for a small community to “do lives” together.
Every Sunday House Dinner is a special treat at Dana House. For many of us, it is a weekly sanctuary. No matter what had happened during the week, we could push all that aside, simply come together, and enjoy one another’s presence (and it doesn’t hurt to be spoiled with a brother class of good cooks and bakers!). After devoting ourselves to the breaking of bread, and ate with glad and sincere hearts, we would sometimes be spiritual and have a time of prayer, or play guitar and sing praises together. If that wasn’t enough, we always find a way to laugh at each other just a bit more; through some random games like Silent 007, Kingkong shower, or even 4-on-4 foosball ultimate competition. Almost weekly, I walk away feeling that this must be a small taste of what heaven would be like.
In the world’s perspective, the idea of Dana House might be absurd, and it would hardly equate to a pleasant living condition. We’re not fancy like those 605 guys down in Austin; in fact our house is so old that about once a week we’ll have to call the landlord and tell him that something is broken again. We’re a place where 22 people have to share 3 bathrooms, a place where no opposite gender could ever visit. We’re a place where if you do not do your chore once a week you get fined. We’re a place where you need to ask 5 other guys to help you move cars before you can drive your own car out of your parking lot. We’re a place where your living room is constantly being reserved by some ministry groups, and you might even able to freely use your own kitchen. We’re a place where your privacy is always invaded, where you could find different people borrowing your bed to take a nap, or having your room occupied by some visiting underclassmen. Dana House is a simple life of joy that is hard for the world to understand, and that is the exact reason why we want the world to know.
I am grateful for the rich tradition of Dana House passed down to us from the older ones, who really made Dana House a place overflowing with brother love, a place that strives hard to honor God. They have set the tone long before we arrived, and we are only reaping the benefits. We constantly remember the example they left for us as their glorious pictures of posing in suits and shorts flash us day after day in the living room. In a way, the life at Dana House is the vision I have any freshman I met, as I sit across a complete stranger trying to outreach to him. It is something that makes me want to give my all, in order to present everyone the invitation to come and experience the same thing.

By: Lillian Chung

Lillian Chung — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:51:08 +0000

Thankful that our church knows how to give gifts really well. I’m not just talking about all the hospitality gifts for speakers and Thank You gifts for our leaders. What I mean is there are many times when a gift is given for no good reason or occasion. it’s only out of love; “just because.” No need to wait until a birthday, anniversary, thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s day. there are 360 other potential gift-giving days! Some small examples that made me think of this: Sunny recently bought Margie a maternity sweater dress. the countless baby clothes given to Chloe by many of the sister staff. Kelly buying drinking glasses for Sunny’s place because some of them were broken. Sarah who bought Nico a shnazzy suit complete w/ a clip-on tie to wear for Easter. And there are many many more of this kind of generosity going on. There’s never a significant occasion, really. It’s all “just because.”

By: Lillian Chung

Lillian Chung — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:35:02 +0000

Thankful that we have a church where open homes is a given especially during Thanksgiving. I’ve spent almost every Thanksgiving with our church mostly where directors and staff cook up their best turkeys and sides, just to accommodate the handful of students who didn’t/couldn’t go home for Thanksgiving and were alone on the deserted campus. It shows me that “family” in the Christian sense just means whoever can come to our home, because they will be welcomed and treated as family. It was so nice to spend Thanksgiving at Pastor Manny’s place, and I could imagine other homes around Alameda at the same time full of laughter, food, and fellowship, making fun of the goofy names for the dishes, playing sports at a nearby park, winding down with some group games (and punishments such as doing funny dances!). This is a tradition of our church that I pray will never fade in the coming years.

By: Ryan Theimer

Ryan Theimer — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:58:50 +0000

I’m thankful for the Godly values that this church upholds. I was recently reflecting on how the staff have really held my hand over the years and raised me up to stand on my feet. I don’t know that I’d be here if others hadn’t given it their all. Abe Yang was bold enough to come to the DC during spring welcome week and that first Sunday I said to myself, this is where God has me for the next four years.. but then sin contaminates truth and I soon found myself comparing my shallow notions of Christianity to those of Abe and Andy and I wanted to leave because I didn’t want to deal with my sin, but I couldn’t do it because they had given their all for me–I couldn’t reject their love. I still remember Andy coming out to the football field and trying to catch my punts, but failing miserably and afterwords as we walked off together he told me that nothing I ever did could ever make him love me any less. If these Andy and Abe had not given it their all and loved me so vulnerably I don’t know that I would have had it in me to stay. I praise God for the values at this church –they have called me out of my shallow, selfish past into a bountiful life of loving others as I have been loved. Praise God that He gave His all!

By: Wesley

Wesley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:08:29 +0000

I am thankful once again for Pastor Ed’s messages. They never cease to convict me and help me see that there are still areas in my life that God wants me to work on and ask Him for help so that I can mature and become a greater lover of people and Him. I fully enjoy the messages so much and this brings me great joy. I am very thankful for this church!!

By: Lillian Chung

Lillian Chung — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:57:09 +0000

Thankful for TC, it has come and gone so now I’m in a clearer state of mind to actually reflect on this (it was pretty crazy here in Austin, with over 150 people and Kelly running out to get more food because we were short. THANK YOU KELLY!) What hit me the most was how thankful I am for the other sister staff, because it was so clear that no one was “negligible,” we all had to be there 110%! we were all busy serving the food, talking to newcomers, taking care of the kids, ushering people to their tables, getting more chairs, etc. and thankful for the students who just took notice that we were all running around like chickens with our heads cut off! haha! It reminded me of the analogy of the church being like a house where we invite people into the living room, ultimately hoping that they will join us in the kitchen to serve others who are being invited in and share in our joy. what i saw was literally people joining us in the kitchen, grad students, undergrads, even the “fish” (they call the freshmen “fish” in Texas apparently). so I’m thankful that TC can be a time not only to share in some laughs and thanksgiving, but a chance for those who we’ve welcomed into our living room taking the steps to join us behind the kitchen counter and share in our (albeit crazy at times!) joy in serving, hopefully bringing them closer to what God’s zeal must feel like.

By: David Lee

David Lee — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:27:55 +0000

Coming up on 18 years of being at this church. What a ride it’s been. I can’t imagine where my life would’ve ended up had it not been for Kenny Choi and his family who invited me to Gracepoint. I’d probably be a really shallow weekend Christian that did more harm than good for the name of Christ. I thank God that He’s blessed me with leaders who have guided and led me to a deeper understanding of God and His word. I’m thankful for the invaluable training I’ve received over the years, as well as all the many genuine relationships I’ve developed with hundreds of people who know me and love me despite all my warts. I’m thankful for this church that has given me the privilege of engaging in college ministry where I have learned to sacrifice my time, money, and energy so that students can become just a little more open to the gospel. I thank Pastor Ed and Kelly for being the leaders of this church and never slowing down despite the ever-increasing amount of work that God has entrusted to us. Thank You Gracepoint, my spiritual home!

By: David Lee

David Lee — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:26:30 +0000

Coming up on 18 years of being at this church. What a ride it’s been. I can’t imagine where my life would’ve ended up had it not been for Kenny Choi and his family who invited me to Gracepoint. I’d probably be a really shallow weekend Christian that did more harm than good for the name of Christ. I thank God that He’s blessed me with leaders who have guided and corrected me to a deeper understanding of God and His word. I’m thankful for the invaluable training I’ve over the years, as well as all the relationships I’ve developed with hundreds of people who know me and love me despite all my warts. I’m thankful for this church that has given me the privilege of engaging in college ministry where I have learned to sacrifice my time, money, and energy so that students can become just a little more open to the gospel. I thank Pastor Ed and Kelly for being the leaders of this church and never slowing down despite the ever-increasing amount of work that God has entrusted to us. Thank You Gracepoint, my spiritual home!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:45:53 +0000

I’m thankful for all the new brothers and sisters that God added to our church this past year. This past sunday, I got to read about some of their journeys as different people gave us thanksgiving cards explaining their spiritual journey through our church and thanking us for bringing God’s message and for leading this community that embodies the gospel. Every testimony is so precious and I’m so thankful that we get to witness God’s amazing work in people’s lives every year.

By: Linda Chau

Linda Chau — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:25:31 +0000

I am thankful we have church traditions like Thanksgiving Celebration where we can celebrate what God has been doing our church and ministries. I am also thankful that we live in a community such that people feel comfortable and free to do silly and fun things so others can laugh and have a good time. Overall, I’m thankful for all of Sunday from praise, message, tc and food! It was a lot of fun and very memorable.