Matthew 24:12–And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Over eleven years ago in a coffee shop while planting As One, Pastor Hong asked me, why do you think God has us together?  Of course PH being Korean-American, and myself  African-American, God was answering us as we considered the question.  It was to display unity in diversity through Jesus Christ, hence our general vision…
Now almost 12 years later from that meeting, that vision has been a desire to unify our immediate families, though diverse, not unified in Christ.  But my wife and I are grateful to be a part of a church that exists to promote it.
But the last couple of days I’ve really been disturbed by some of the violent attacks I’ve read against Asians, especially the elderly in our country.  Some of the heartless attacks on video I couldn’t watch, because of how disturbing they were.  I saw those people in the videos as my mother-in law, or any Asian-American in our church to be treated with such senseless hatred, is really heartbreaking.
But this is why I believe God ordains suffering in this world for Christians, that we know relatively what it is like to feel pain and helplessness, sharing the heart of Christ, that we love others as He loved us.  Because the world feels pain, but it rewards people with “coldness”, no place to go with it’s hatred but to take it out on others. (Romans 8:14-17)
In another incident a famous Asian basketball player, who is probably the only one in the league, was taunted throughout games by mostly, if not all black players.  So as a teaching point for my son who is part Asian, yet his team is mostly black. I told him that what our family and church represents in unity through Christ, gives us the opportunity to love others and educate, not find victims to bully or ignore helping those who are.  Because Christ gives us all an opportunity to lead in love, not cower in coldness.
God will always keep our church and it’s vision relevant if we walk with Him.  In a world where coldness is such that people attack the elderly, I pray you seek the love of Christ that His love can combat the “coldness” of these last days…-In His Love, Ld