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Gracepoint Berkeley | More Than Meets The I | More Than Ego

dbtung — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:00:34 +0000

In the final installment of our message series, “More Than Meets The I,” Daniel brought us a message about how we are more than our ego. We started off with a video that looks at how absurd it would be if praise were “all about me.” However, even though it seems so absurd in the video, we could all recognize how often this is the very desire of our hearts – to be the center of attention and to receive recognition from other people.

Gracepoint Berkeley | More Than Meets The I | More Than Feelings

dbtung — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:51:00 +0000

We recently started a new message series at Gracepoint Berkeley called “More Than Meets the I.” The second part of this series was about how we are more than our feelings. Daniel brought the message, and he showed us this video to show us how our feelings so often warp our perspective of the truth.

Grumpy Old Men (Part 3) – “21 Days of Gratitude” Video

James Chao — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:00:06 +0000

Sorry for the delay, but this was part three of the Grumpy Old Men videos back from the Thanksgiving message series (hopefully you’ve got to watch it as it was also posted up on Dis-Gracepoint). It captures a few hilarious and candid thoughts of what our kids have to be thankful for.

Here’s part 1 and part 2 of the series.

Gracepoint Berkeley Missions Night – Grandma Bessie

James Chao — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:03:50 +0000

This video of Grandma Bessie and other missionaries was shown at Gracepoint Berkeley’s mission night this past week. Grandma Bessie was formerly a missionary to China, where she served from age 23 and for 17 years. Our church has had the awesome privilege of meeting her through the Elderly Care Ministry. Her bright presence and constant encouragement always refreshed our ECM members. During her 100th birthday earlier this month, some of us had a chance to celebrate her birthday, during which we expressed gratitude for the faithful life of this godly woman, who even at age 100 still reads her Bible daily and prays fervently for those around her. At the Gracepoint Berkeley mission night, we were challenged to go out as we were reminded of her faith and the legacy of Christian missionaries who left behind comfortable lives to advance the Kingdom of God.

Here is some reflection on the ripple effect from Grandma Bessie’s life, by Kelly Kang, who leads Gracepoint Berkeley with her husband Pastor Ed Kang.

Nick Vujicic’s Story, Q&A with Students in China

James Chao — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:27:07 +0000

Here is a video about Nick Vujicic, the dear brother that we learned about at this year’s Fall Retreat. Although Nick was born without limbs, he became a Christian through the strong faith of his parents and is a passionate speaker for the Lord. Through his organization “Life Without Limbs,” he’s traveled to 19 countries to share his testimony about his faith in Jesus.

On their website there are actually a lot of videos of Nick’s tours and speeches, including an amazing Q & A session that he had with students from Tsinghua University in China about his faith, his joy, his life. Nick really answered these question in very heartfelt and compelling ways, perhaps because his own testimony is so powerful. Be sure to take a look.

Nick’s Story

Nick’s Q & A with Chinese university students (4 parts)

“How can you trust in a God, who hasn’t given you a miracle?”

“What Inspired you to come to China, and why the youth of China?”

“What kind of joy do you have and is it different from other people’s joy? Do you ever wonder why difficult things happen?”

“How did your family influence your life? When did you start to have faith? Is it religion or faith?”

Joni Videos: Ron Huckabee and Angola Prison

James Chao — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:00:55 +0000

Here are the “Joni and Friends” videos that we watched during the Gracepoint Berkeley fall retreat. I’m sure that all of us found the Ron and Beverly Huckabee and the transformation at the Angola Prison in Louisiana very encouraging and inspiring, to say the least, so I wanted to post them up here.

To give a background on the “Joni and Friends” TV program: it’s a TV series hosted by Joni Eareckson Tada about people who endure through difficult trials through their trust and dependence on God. Their episodes are actually all available on the Joni and Friends TV Series website and also as an iTunes podcast, all about 30 minutes long, so be sure to check that out.

“Get Busy Living,” the story of Ron and Beverly Huckabee:

“The Prison that Set Me Free,” the story of Warden Burl Cain of Angola Prison:

Course 101 Trailer Video

James Chao — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:25:05 +0000

This is a trailer video for Course 101, an introductory course to Christianity developed by Gracepoint.

Course 101 is an 8 week course will give an intellectual basis for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Christian faith and addresses misconceptions about God, Jesus and the Bible. Both those who have experience with Christianity and those just beginning to consider it will have the chance to explore how Christianity addresses questions about the meaning of life, our purpose and the longings of our hearts.

If you are interested in this course, you can sign up at the Gracepoint Berkeley signup website.

To Finish the Race: John Stephens Akhwari

James Chao — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:50:54 +0000

This is a video of John Stephens Akhwari, an marathon runner who represented Tanzania in the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City. In the middle of the marathon, he fell and seriously injured himself. However, with his knee badly cut and the joint dislocated, he chose to continue running after his wound was bandaged up. More than an hour after the winner of the event had been declared, John Stephens Akhwari hobbled into the stadium, to the cheers of the audience who remained there. Later, when a reporter asked him why he continued to run even though he did not even have a remote chance of winning, John Stephens Akhwari replied:

My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish.

His sentiment is truly admirable, as he saw himself as part of something much larger than just his personal winning and losing, and endured to finished the race in the end. Recently here at Gracepoint Fellowship Church, we went through 2 Timothy 4 for our daily devotions, in which Apostle Paul testifies that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

In other parts of the Bible, we see living the Christian life being compared to a race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27), and we are called to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). There will be ups and downs, times when we’re barely putting one foot in front of the other and when we’re tempted to give up. But ultimately it’s about us enduring to the end until we cross the finish line, as echoed in the words of John Stephen Akhwari here.

In her sharing from 2 Timothy 4 on pressing on in Christian life, Kelly Kang, who leads Gracepoint Berkeley along with her husband Pastor Ed Kang, shared:

I’m reminded that as I get older, there is a strong pull toward slowing down, thinking that what I’ve done is enough or that I don’t need to grow any more. But that is such a lie. The older I get, I need to be more loving, more zealous, more passionate, more sacrificial, pray more, spend more time in God’s Word… Why? Because as I get older, spiritual liabilities increase.

Here are some more sharing on 2 Timothy from various members at Gracepoint.

Hilarious Japanese Baseball Pitch Video

James Chao — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:55:16 +0000

I’m not sure what kind of baseball game this is (perhaps some kind of Japanese variety show?), but the pitcher in this Japanese video does a behind-the-back pitch that is not only hilarious and ridiculous but amazingly accurate! I wonder how long it took him to practice that pitch…probably wouldn’t work in the MLB though.

Gracepoint Good Friday Word Art Video

James Chao — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:01:08 +0000

This video was produced for Gracepoint Berkeley’s Good Friday service last year, illustrating poignantly the connection between our sins and the cross, and also Jesus’ powerful message of forgiveness.

Casting Crowns “Slow Fade” Music Video

James Chao — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:30:03 +0000

This is the “Slow Fade” music video by Casting Crowns that Pastor Ed showed during last night’s Truth Hater message series. It’s a chilling reminder of how the progression of sin takes the form of many small steps, but which ultimately leads destruction.

Kelly Kang also referenced this music video in her recent devotions sharing regarding the dangers of sexual impurity.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Be careful little eyes what you see
It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you’re thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Team Hoyt & God’s Love: “My Redeemer Lives” Video

James Chao — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:00:55 +0000

Here is a very moving video about Dick Hoyt and Rick Hoyt set to the song “My Redeemer Lives.” Dick Hoyt and his son Rick Hoyt is an inspirational father and son team that participates in many athletic events including marathons, triathlons, and even Iron Man competitions. Rick suffers from cerebral palsy from birth, but his father Dick became his arms and legs. Dick pulls Rick in a specially made boat, carries him a modified bike with a seat in front, and pushes him in a wheelchair in these races. It’s truly an inspirational picture of a father’s love for his son.

At the recent Element retreat, the youth watched this video as Pastor Will talked about God’s love us and how we are like Rick being pushed along and carried by the Father. It is truly a reminder in the race of Christian life, though we often run out of strength and cannot make it on our own, it’s the Father who pushes us and who will ultimately bring us across the finish line.