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
thoughts
The Power of Shame in Asian Cultures
I have never heard so much about suicide until moving to Korea. Sure, there were the occasional suicide stories in the news back in Canada and in Hollywood, but to so frequently read the names of celebrities, political leaders, and high-profile individuals in the headlines in apposition with the deadly words, “suicide,” was unfathomable.
“South Korean Ex-President Kills Himself” is one of the major headlines in the news today. Even if one were to survey this past year’s news, one would frequently come across stories of celebrities committing suicide in Korea. Committing suicide in Korea is really not an occasional occurrence.
But why? Is it that the preciousness of life isn’t valued any more? Is it a decision of the whim? Why am I coming across so many stories of suicide in this shame-based-Confucianistic culture of Korea? [Read more…] about The Power of Shame in Asian Cultures
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?
Life in Korea: Priorities
Upon arriving to Korea a few months ago, life has been hectic, and it’s been quite the struggle to find an opportunity to blog. I love blogging, but life has just been overwhelming.
One of the blessings of being here and serving at Onnuri Community Church is that I get to learn from Pastor Eddie Byun. I first met Eddie when he was my youth pastor at the Philadelphia Church of Vancouver (he was in seminary at the time). I never thought that I would ever see or partner with him again, so it’s amazing to be here in Korea and have the opportunity to learn from him.
About a month ago, I asked him what sort of disciplines I should develop in my life if I want to grow as a Pastor. He told me that one thing he does is to focus on a different subject each day, and to focus on learning about that subject on that given day. Now this exercise isn’t reserved for pastors alone, but it’s useful for all people.
Here is how I’m organizing my week, and the books that I have chosen to read on the subject.
Monday: Prayer/Fasting
– Too Busy Not to Pray: Bill Hybels
– A Hunger for God: John Piper
Tuesday: Leadership
– Axiom: Bill Hybels
– Reformed Pastor: Richard Baxter
– Leading from the Second Chair: Bonem and Patterson
– An Unstoppable Force: Erwin McManus
– Envisioning an Apostolic Church: Yong-Jo Ha (The Senior Pastor of Onnuri Community Church)
Wednesday: Preaching
– Speaking to Teenagers: Fields and Robbins
– The Supremacy of God in Preaching: John Piper
– Biblical Preaching: Haddon Robinson
– The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching: Edited by Robinson and Larson
Thursday: Spiritual Warfare
– Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian: Dean Sherman
– Screwtape Letters: C.S. Lewis
– Powers of Darkness
Friday: Culture
– Third Culture Kids: Pollock and Van Reken
– Korea Unmasked: Rhie
– American/Korean Contrasts: Susan Oak
Saturday: Marriage
– Marriage Spirituality: R. Paul Stevens
– Sacred Marriage: Gary Thomas
– Every Man’s Marriage: Arterburn and Stoeker (This one I’m going to reread because I’m married now…I read the book while I was dating)
Let’s see how this goes. I’ve already done a week, I missed a few days, but on the days I did stick with the schedule, it’s been great.
I can’t wait to finish all the books on my list and add new ones.
Until next time…
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?)