This past week, my uncle passed away from cancer so I had the opportunity to experience a full-fledged Buddhist Korean funeral. When I got to the hospital, I had to pay my respects to his son and his mother and then we were ushered into this room where the dead body was (it was covered with a sheet). When the whole family was in that room, they began to clean the body and wrap it in this traditional Korean funeral garment. It was very ritualistic and probably took more than an hour. For example, they cut off some of his toe nails and finger nails, and while they were doing that, they said some ritualistic saying. Afterwards, they put those things in a small bag and put it on his body. They did the same thing for some of his hair too. [Read more…] about A Korean Funeral
Faith
Dangerous Worship
Worship is not about a powerless people coming together to sing. Worship is dangerous because it is the children of God coming together, in the name of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the praises of the high king of the universe. As a result, when individuals worship, they are submitting themselves completely to God. It is not to gain anything or to coerce God to give them something. However, while humans relinquish their agenda, their will, and their power, they actually exchange that for the heart of God and the power of God. Thus, the power of God is proclaimed and unleashed into this universe (spiritual and physical) through the words, prayers, and actions of the worshiper. As a result, worship is not just humans singing, but it’s spiritual warfare.
What is your definition of worship?
Green McDonald's and Missional Living
Reserved parking spaces for hybrid cars, tables and chairs made from recycled milk and detergent containers, and vegetative green roofs – these are a few of the 20 features that McDonald’s has conjured up to attract the eco-concious population (see Korea Times Article).
On top of that, today’s McDonald menu is vastly different from its menu 20 years ago.
Why are they changing? What’s motivating them? Is it working?
One word – culture.
It’s all about culture.
For example, 20 years ago, were large companies really concered about their carbon footprint? Of course not! And that’s why we never heard much about carbon footprints back then. It just wasn’t a concern to the wider culture. However, what about today? Don’t you find that it’s hard to come across many companies that aren’t “going green?”
So why does this issue matter?
Well, if Christians are to really be genuine and not hypocritical, then that means that sharing the good news of Christ is essential. The amazing thing is that the good news of Christ is timeless, whereas the method of sharing it isn’t.
And that’s exactly it. Culture changes! Therefore, the method of sharing the good news of Christ must change as well.
Yesterday, my wife and I finally found a place to live in Korea. After 3 days of searching, and many hours of mediocre places, we finally found a place that’s perfect for us. We have a large living room, so we can have people over to entertain them (since the apartments are so small in Korea, it’s very uncommon to have people over), and we even have a second bedroom, so that we can house visitors. And the location? It’s right in the center of the international community in Seoul.
As a pastor, it’s really easy to hide in the church. There is always an endless amount of work to do, and a countless number of Christians that need discipleship. As a result, there is always the danger that pastors will live in a “Christian bubble,” lose touch with the culture, and become hypocrites. In other words, the danger is that pastors will stop sharing the good news of Christ with those who don’t know it and desperately need it.
My prayer is that I would never become that kind of pastor. Perhaps that’s why God blessed us with such an amazing place in the center of the international community in Seoul? We’re definitely not going to be hard pressed to find people in our neighborhood who need the hope of Christ.
Our prayer (my wife and I) is that we can be like a shining city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5). A city on a hill that is so bright, that it dispells the darkness surrounding it. (Isn’t it ironic how our apartment is actually on a hill?)
the full story – Michael Guglielmucci’s Deception
Almost a month ago, Michael Guglielmucci, a pastor in Australia who had written and sung “Healer” on the latest Hillsong album, came out and confessed that he had been living a life of deception. For the past two years, he had deceived everyone, his wife and parents included, and told them that he had terminal cancer.
When I first heard what had happened, I went into absolute shock and I began grieving. I couldn’t understand how he could do such a thing – especially as a pastor and a follower of Christ. And how could he lie like that to his wife and to his parents? However, I resisted the urge to blog about it and tell everyone until I heard the full story.
Here is the full story and statement of confession.
Here is also an exclusive interview (video) where Guglielmucci came out and made a public statement,
[Read more…] about the full story – Michael Guglielmucci’s Deception
animals and spirituality
As you can see in this picture, my wife and I have a puppy – his name is Teddy and he’s almost 6 months old.
For the past couple of days, we have been babysitting Christina’s parent’s two dogs and it’s been fascinating to see the interaction between the three of them.
The most significant thing that my wife and I keep on noticing is the interplay between love and jealousy.
- When we come home, the dogs love us. But when we begin to pet one of them, the other two become jealous.
- If we are going to give them all treats, they love us. But when we give the first one out, the other two are jealous.
- If we hold one of the dogs, that dog loves us. But the other two walk towards us and either whine or look at us with eyes of jealousy.
How often, as human beings, are we also like that?
- When we receive a gift from a loved one, we love that person. But when our loved one gives a gift to someone else and forgets us, we become jealous.
- When we complete a project or a task and people positively acknowledge our work, we love them. But when the only work being acknowledged is someone else’s, we become jealous.
What exactly is the relationship between love and jealousy?
I believe it’s a battle between our human/sinful nature and a life that is fully devoted to God.
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: …jealousy…But the fruit of the Spirit is love…Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:19-25)
Which side is winning in your life?