This week's persecuted church: Nigeria

More than 60 churches were burned and thousands of Christian-owned homes destroyed in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north after the recent election of incumbent Christian president Goodluck Jonathan. Riots broke out Monday after the preliminary results of Saturday's vote were announced. Jonathan, who was sworn in as president in May 2010, was announced president over his Muslim opponent Muhammadu Buhari.

Last year there were more martyrs in Nigeria - approximately 2,000 Christians killed in the northern part - than in any other country in the world.

Thought of the Day: Korean Class

Song of the Day: f(x)-피노키오 (Danger)

The Titan's Curse

I made the horrible mistake of going to bed at 9, only to wake up three hours later...quite awake. So I decided to finish reading the rest of the third book of the Percy Jackson series. There isn't that much to say about this book, but it did stir up some funny feelings when it described San Francisco as the most beautiful city Percy had ever seen. However, that burrito fight at the Hoover Dam did not make me happy at all. It reminded me of Russell Peters' description of Indians imagining throwing mashed potatoes everywhere at a wedding. Both ideas made me hungry for burritos and mashed potatoes. But the one thing that I did not expect to come out of this book was a profound quote spoken by the goddess of wisdom, Athena:

"The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation."

Anyway, Chong Bong said that she finished Book 4 in one sitting. We'll see.

Thought of the Day: Rick Holland

Song of the Day: The Submarines-Brightest Hour

This week's persecuted church: North Korea

23 Christians in a house church in a province...were discovered by the police in a meeting, and three of them were immediately sentenced to death and the rest of them were put in prison.

Thought of the Day: Pastor Daniel

Song of the Day: The Submarines-Brightest Hour

More From the Prince of Preachers

"Even if the souls we seek all persist in unbelief, if they all despise and reject and ridicule us, it will still be a divine work to have at least made the attempt...but, thank God, our labors are not in vain in the Lord."

-C.H. Spurgeon

Thought of the Day: Good Friday

Song of the Day: Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys-Empire State of Mind

Marital Status:

Last week, another blind date came and went just like all the other ones.

Yesterday, I found out that my favorite cousin is getting married on June 18th. My dad asked me what I thought about that. What kinda question is that?!

Today, Haokip emailed me and wrote, "I hope you will get a good wife soon."

During 아줌마 class,

아줌마: Didn't you go see the flowers with your girlfriend?

Me: I don't have a girlfriend (for the nth time).

아줌마: Really? Why not (for the nth time)?

Me: =)

Single mingle jingle bingle fingle!

Thought of the Day: Lesson Plan

Song of the Day: f(x)-피노키오 (Danger)

Through Fire and Water

“I would go into the depths a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, so that I might know how to speak a word in season to one who is weary…realize, then, that to acquire soulwinning power, you will have to go through fire and water, through doubt and despair, through mental torment and soul distress. It will not be the same with all of you, or perhaps with any two of you, but according to the work allotted you will be your preparation. You must go into the fire if you are to pull others out of it, and you will have to dive in to the floods if you are to draw others out of the water. You cannot work a fire escape without feeling the scorch of the blaze, or man a lifeboat without being covered with the waves.”

-C.H. Spurgeon

Thought of the Day: Playoffs

Song of the Day: Red Hot Chili Peppers-Especially In Michigan

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

Hundreds of Muslims attacked the Christian village of Khokarki this morning a few miles from the city of Gujranwala (Punjab), forcing its inhabitants to flee. According to AsiaNews sources, anonymous for security reasons, the attack took place following a dispute between Christian Mushtag gill and some local Muslims, who had accused the man and his son of blasphemy. Mushtaq, 60, and his son, are accused of having desecrated the Koran. The police arrested them yesterday, after complaints of some Muslims who claim to have found torn pages of the Qu’ran in a bag hidden near the home of two Christians. The news sparked panic among the Christian community, while the family of the two accused were forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge with friends.

Thought of the Day: 토정비결

Song of the Day: De La Soul-My Writes (Feat. J-Ro, Tash & Xzibit)

Bicycle Thief

Dear Bicycle Thief,

I don't know you and you don't know me, but you jacked my bike today. I was in the middle of my last class and thought that it would be safe to keep my bike unlocked with the other bikes in the bike rack. I usually lock it up, but I've always seen the 한신 Apartments as a safe and HONEST place where I've often left my bike unlocked many times before. I suppose I can understand if my bike had been some nice mountain bike with crazy shocks or something. But it wasn't; it was a 45,000won used kid's bike that I've come to love over the past seven months. Why would you take my piece of crap bike that you're probably not even going to use?

Anyway, I hope you take good care of her. She doesn't like it when you change the gears, so just leave it at where it is. Be sure to check her tires once a month and stop by the 참좋은자전거 bike shop, which is where she was bought. The 아저씨 there is really nice and will take good care of you. She's been through a lot, so be kind to her. Cause if you don't, remember that I still have my bike lock key, and I know that my lock is still wrapped around like a pretzel on the handlebar. If I ever find my bike around one of the apartments of Mokdong, I'll be waiting for you to come out and ride it. And I'll jack you up...as long as you're a male student.

I'm going to buy a new bike tomorrow with my emergency money. Please don't steal this one.

Regretfully,

Phil

Thought of the Day: Broken Glasses

Song of the Day: Clover-La Vida Loca

Hungry

Whenever I eat McDonald's, I always get hungry again real soon and have to eat more when I get home. It probably has something to do with processed ingredients and preservatives that break down at abnormal rates. In that sense, I really feel like it's "fast food" that doesn't serve the purpose of real food.

For the first time, some of us church people actually talked about theology outside of a church setting today. It was so encouraging to see people desiring to know and understand God's Word in newer and deeper ways. We were actually wrestling with tough questions and seeking to clarify the even tougher answers. I feel like we'd been a starving church that had been eating McDonald's all these years but finally got a taste of some real food recently. Now that we've tasted and felt some of its fullness, we want more. You can sense the hunger for knowledge and truth. Ironically, all of this took place at a McDonald's. =/

With all of that said, I recently discovered even more Ravi Zacharias mp3s on a different site. And for the cherry on top, I even found some more Tim Keller sermons to add to my collection. I don't see myself getting full any time soon.

This week's persecuted church: Iraq

When Suhail Louis left the sectarian violence of Baghdad a year ago, he thought he would find comfort in the safety of Northern Iraq. Instead, he's faced with a new discomfort: unemployment. Today he lives in this predominantly Christian town just outside of Irbil. The town has seen the arrival of more than 5,000 Christian families since the beginning of the war. His new home offers safety, but little more. Should he learn Kurdish, the local language, to improve his employment prospects here? Or should he study English in case he is able to migrate to North America? The 43-year-old Arabic-speaking engineer cannot stop reminiscing about his home city — the hustle and bustle, the culture, his once-good life. Even if the past eight years have been fraught with danger, it was still home.“In Baghdad there was a future. Here, the future is unknown.”The Baghdad engineer is far from alone in his state of flux. Many other Iraqi Christians who fled to the North find themselves in a similar predicament.

Thought of the Day: Application

Song of the Day: Clover-La Vida Loca

Despicable Me

I think this is up there with How to Train Your Dragon!

Thought of the Day: Mercado

Song of the Day: Daesung-Baby Don't Cry

Bed Spring

I've been sleeping on the floor ever since we moved, so I've been on the lookout for beds ever since. Many of you know by now that my family lives like scavengers as 70% of our furniture was from outside in the alleys. Last night, I was on my way to basketball and
found a new bed!
My parents and I spent hours cleaning and moving things around our house.
The bed even came with a little counter that is perfect for my bedside. Who needs IKEA when neighbors can furnish your room for you?

This month, I'm starting two new jobs, getting my basketball shoes repaired, going on a Jae trip, and possibly having my annual blind date. All of these can either turn out very well or be a recipe for disaster. But no matter what happens, I'll always be able to come home to a bed.

Thought of the Day: Bed

Song of the Day: 거북이-아이고

This week's persecuted church: Saudi Arabia

Two Indian Christians working in Saudi Arabia were arrested and sentenced to 45 days in prison for proselytizing. It is believed that they were arrested to keep them from practicing Christianity privately in their home. While in prison awaiting their trial, their apartment was ransacked. An employer has returned the passport of one of the Christians, making it clear that his job is no longer available, and he will expelled.

Thought of the Day: Pronunciate

Song of the Day: This Little Light Of Mine

Cookies

n' Cream
Cupcakes

Thought of the Day: Happy Birthday, April.

Song of the Day: Lucite Tokki-토끼와 자라