This week's persecuted church: Nigeria

Suspected Islamist extremists have killed 15 Christians by slitting their throats in an attack on a village in Nigeria's volatile northeast, residents and a relief source said Sunday. The gruesome violence was the latest to be blamed on Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, though this Christmas season has been notably less bloody than in 2011, when attacks on churches and other locations left scores dead.

"From the information we gathered, the attackers broke into selected homes and slaughtered 15 people in their sleep," the relief official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Authorities had previously confirmed the predawn Friday attack in Musari, but gave few details and said only five were killed. Musari is located on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Boko Haram's base.

Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman for a military task force in the area, told AFP on Sunday that he stood by the toll of five dead, adding that some were shot and others attacked with machetes. Nigerian authorities tend to under-report death tolls however, and the relief official's information matched up with that of residents, who spoke of 15 people having their throats slit.

Thought of the Day: Winter Camp
Song of the Day: Sara Groves-Maybe There's a Loving God

It's Showtime!

"I thought I would never see Showtime again. The Clippers are Showtime! THIS is Showtime."
-Magic Johnson


Thought of the Day:  막걸리
Song of the Day:  Blur-Song 2

Is this your church?

Thanks, Sam!

Thought of the Day:  전구
Song of the Day:  The Temptations-My Girl

고백

Love this song/performance!

This week's persecuted church: Laos

As a member of the government, Boun had permission to cross in and out of Thailand to conduct business. There, in 1997, he sought out the man he had heard speaking on the radio.

The Christians there were afraid of him, and he was just as afraid they would report him to the Lao government. But the man he sought was willing to meet with him. This man took him to a private room and explained Christ to him. The soldier was baptized that night and began to share the gospel wherever he went.
The authorities warned him over and over to stop preaching. He was let go from his job. He was arrested June 8, 1999, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. On Feb. 2, 2012, he was released, two years early.

Thought of the Day:  담배가게 아가씨
Song of the Day:  담배가게 아가씨

Following the Leader

There are two things that I've always hated talking about.  Politics and the economy.  Unfortunately, these two subjects seem to get thrown at me more and more as I get older and become a bigger part of society.

Last night, I tossed and turned in my sleep after hearing about Korea electing its first female president.  I even had a dream that I was working for her red-colored administration with some of the staff at my school. Ms. Park let us off early that day and everyone was happy, including myself.

News articles say that the no. 1 issue for most voters is the economy.  That means that the candidate who offers the most financial benefits will win the election, apparently even at the cost of moral issues.  That is why a leader's character and integrity are considered secondary to their financial promises and economic plans, and corruption can easily be ignored, explained, or excused.  There is a self-serving agenda on everyone's mind.  Is it any wonder why bad leaders get elected?

Thinking and talking about the recent election in Korea, I am reminded of God's anger and displeasure with the nation of Israel throughout the book of Ezekiel.  The widows, orphans, and foreigners are neglected while the poor are abused.  Everyone is selfish and greedy.  Killing and injustice are rampant.  There is a lot of judgment ready to be poured out.

But as I think about these things, I am also reminded of the few who are faithful, living under godless leadership during the times of Daniel and Esther.  Despite the oppression and in the midst of the wailing and cries of the suffering, we have a small number that is living upright and honest lives.  They may not be able to overthrow or change the government, but they choose to live in a way that challenges it and points to the real leadership that every creature is under.

America or Korea, you may be happy or upset by the newly elected leaders that will lead for the next 4-5 years.  If you are happy, do not put your hope in the government administration that is prone to all sorts of unspeakable evils.  If you are upset, do not feel so disappointed and helpless because every country is still in the bounds of God's rule and sovereignty.  Do not worry about the daunting present or unforeseeable future that we cannot control, but live faithfully now and never lose hope for a good tomorrow that is promised to come.

Thought of the Day:  Passionate
Song of the Day:  Third Day-Your Love Oh Lord

This week's persecuted church: Iran

Thought of the Day:  Candy Canes
Song of the Day:  Sara Groves-Star of Wonder

Kill Park

You have to be in Korea to understand/enjoy this.

Thought of the Day:  피부과
Song of the Day:  The Game (feat. 50 Cent)-Hate It Or Love It

This week's persecuted church: Cuba

David became a believer when he was 15 years old. His family kicked him out of the house, and he was forced to work as a field hand to sustain himself. He didn't give up his faith though, and at 22 he became a pastor. At 57, he’s lived through the decades in which many Cuban Christians left the island and the church was whittled down to a faithful few. He also led his church during times of revival. But “if you want to pastor in Cuba, you cannot say anything against the government,” he said.

He has been interrogated more than 20 times, and humiliated, beaten and threatened. His interrogators blamed him for the growth of his church, accusing him of using “secret indoctrination methods” from the United States. For these offences, he was forced to spend six months cleaning public outhouses every day. He was also prohibited from leaving the island for more than four years. The officials in charge never told him why his exit permits were never granted. There was always an excuse: “We lost the paper work!” or “We never got your application.”

When David was finally able to obtain a telephone connection for his house, the first phone call he received was from the state security office, warning him that they knew his phone number and they knew all about him. They even described the color of the books in his office, and told him, “We can make something happen to you if we want.”

Thought of the Day:  버럭
Song of the Day:  Dumb Ways to Die

Shaqtin' A Fool

Simon, this one's for you.


Thought of the Day:  RAM
Song of the Day:  Oasis-Champagne Supernova

Dumb Ways to Die

Thought of the Day:  Chocolate Cake
Song of the Day:  The Beautiful Mistake-A Cradle in Bethlehem

Childish

Legos are the best toys in the world.  I used to be obsessed with these building blocks as a child, but I still like to stop by the toy aisle every once in a while to see some of the newest Star Wars or Technic series' models.  I secretly want to buy a lot of the overpriced Star Wars stuff, but I restrain myself because I know I would hate myself for buying something so


childish (expensive).


But I couldn't hold back from getting the best of two worlds: Legos + Transformers!  Although I wanted to buy some Decepticons that come with cool Kreons, I knew they would be way too childish (expensive).  So I settled with the smallest Optimus Prime.  I still haven't built it yet, but I get happy every time I look at the box.  Still a child.

Thought of the Day:  Sujin
Song of the Day:  Justin Bieber-Mistletoe

Mixed Feelings

Thought of the Day:  TGIT
Song of the Day:  Jars of Clay-Worlds Apart

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

On Friday afternoon, Sept. 21, a mob of several thousand radical Muslims attacked St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mardan City, Pakistan. The attackers, armed with rifles and kerosene, overwhelmed security guards and broke into the church. They destroyed Bibles and prayer books, desecrated the altar and set fire to the church building and several surrounding homes and buildings. The mob was returning from a protest against the film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked violence in many Middle Eastern countries this month and led to the death of Christopher Stevens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya. In Pakistan, the government had declared Sept. 21 a national holiday in honor of Muhammad, and the day had been set aside for peaceful protests.

The attack on the 82-year-old church lasted for five hours. The church staff was able to flee, but those who lived on the campus lost everything. An adjoining high school, a Christian library, a computer laboratory, the bishop’s house, the bishop’s office, a pastor’s house and the school principal’s house were all burned. The mob also burned a car, three motorcycles and three bicycles. More than 2,000 Bibles, 100 New Testaments and several hundred Christian books and DVDs were destroyed. The attackers spray-painted the words “God is great,” “Oh God help us” and “Love our prophet” on the church steeple.

Thought of the Day:  Turkey!
Song of the Day:  The Beatles-Hey Jude

Jealous and Thankful

Today, my brother sent me pictures of the nasty Thanksgiving food that he was forced to eat while I got to eat awesome, healthy school food. I feel sorry for him every year.

Simon

Me

Just.
Kidding.


Today, a good buddy of mine from the states sent me a nice email:

Phil!

I am thankful for your friendship. I am also thankful for the many bottles of soju, the many dead pigs, the many Phil-osophical discussions, and the many renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody we have shared. Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving/Friday, everyone!

Thought of the Day:  Uniqlo

Song of the Day:  Silent Night

This week's persecuted church: Syria

Two members of the United Bible Society were kidnapped by radicals recently in Aleppo. The kidnappers demanded a $200,000 ransom, according to a VOM contact who is close to one of the men. One of the kidnapped men was released a few days later, but the other remains with his captors. In response to the kidnapping, another Syrian partner wrote, "The pressure on Christians started, and many of the Islamic groups are working hard to oblige the Christians to leave the country." He also reported that many churches have been damaged in the fighting. "During the last year we had a number of churches destroyed," he wrote. "[That has] never happened in Syria, even during the whole last hundred years." Pray for wisdom for Syrian Christians, who must decide whether to flee or stay. Also pray for the safe and quick return of the Bible Society worker still being held for ransom.

Thought of the Day:  Schedule Change
Song of the Day:  Sara Groves-Miracles

2/3

I finished my leisure and bathroom reading this week.  I guess there's something about setting goals that really pushes us to accomplish them...fast.  I can't say that I really enjoyed the sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula.  In fact, it was a pretty horrible book that I regret reading.  If there was ANYTHING that I got out of it though, it was one line that came towards the end of the story:  We learn from pain.

When I was in college, the only science classes that I ever took were from this one professor who had a series of courses on the brain.  I remember learning about the rare case of a young girl who was born with a brain that didn't have pain receptors.  While we think it would be wonderful to have a life without any physical pain, it actually endangered the young girl who eventually died at an early age.  Too much harm was being done to her body and she was never aware of it.  She simply was unable to "learn from pain."  It turns out that we need these unpleasant signals in order to survive in this dangerous world...especially in the world of vampires.

My bathroom reading, on the other hand, turned out to be a very good read.  I had often heard preachers praise the commentaries of N.T. Wright, but it wasn't until I first read one of his books that I actually got a glimpse of his brilliance.  I don't have the knowledge or eloquence to give an apt summary of the book or even of what I learned.  So I leave you with three memorable quotes that I took time to write down from Justification:

Quote #1:  Paul does not say, 'I am in Christ; Christ has obeyed the Torah.; therefore God regards me as though I had obeyed the Torah.' He says: 'I am in Christ; Christ had died and been raised; therefore God regards me - and I must learn to regard myself - as someone who has died to sin and been raised to newness of life.'

Quote #2:  We are not saved from the world of creation, but saved for the world of creation. Humans were made to take care of God's wonderful world, and it is not too strong to say that the reason God saves humans is not simply that he loves them for themselves but that he loves them for what they truly are - his pro-creators, his stewards, his vice-gerents over creation.

Quote #3:  When people believe the gospel of Jesus and his resurrection, and confess him as Lord, they are in fact doing what Torah wanted all along, and are therefore displaying the necessary marks of covenant renewal.

I'm finally going to start Wicked and Keller's book, The Meaning of Marriage.

Thought of the Day:  회

Song of the Day:  Kim Jong Kook-남자가 다 그렇지 뭐

This week's persecuted church: Iran

The 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, which is about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after protesting a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school. He was later charged with apostasy and evangelism to Muslims. Youcef was tried on Sept. 21–22, 2010, by the First Court of the Revolutionary Tribunal and convicted of apostasy. He was sentenced to death on Nov. 13.

Authorities tried to re-convert Youcef to Islam through a variety of methods, including medication, while he was in Lakan prison. After he repeatedly refused to renounce his Christian faith, his wife was arrested, put on trial without an attorney and sentenced to life in prison. She was later released when an attorney appealed her sentence.

Although acquitted by the courts, Youcef may now face other dangers. Another pastor imprisoned on apostasy charges, Mehdi Dibaj, was abducted and murdered less than two weeks after his release in 1994. Middle East Concern reports that at least 16 other Christians remain in detention because of their activities. Some are serving prison sentences of up to six years because of their faith.

Thought of the Day:  라임
Song of the Day:  Toy-뜨거운 안녕

This week's persecuted church: Russia

Unidentified workers, backed by police and civil volunteers, tore down the Holy Trinity Pentecostal Church in east Moscow in the early morning hours of Sept. 6, then accused the pastor of holding an unapproved meeting for the worship service he led on the grounds of the destroyed church two days later. The workers came at midnight with bulldozers and diggers, looting the building of sound equipment, musical instruments, service books and Communion materials before using heavy equipment to demolish the structure. A church caretaker was taken to the police station and prevented from contacting church members for three hours.

Thought of the Day:  Pho
Song of the Day:  O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

This week's persecuted church: Tanzania

Christians in Tanzania have lost churches, homes, cars and livestock in a series of recent attacks, and some have received physical injuries. In the most recent attack, Muslims returning from worship at a mosque on Friday, Oct. 12, burned a car belonging to Bishop Muhiche of the Tanzania Assemblies of God church. After burning his car, the extremists moved on to destroy the pastor’s church.

That same day, in Ushirombo District of Shinyanga Region, Muslim extremists attacked the Reverend Victor Simbaulanga. Enraged by an open-air evangelistic meeting the pastor was leading, the attackers beat Simbaulanga so severely that he had to be hospitalized. A VOM contact is working to have the pastor transferred to a hospital in a safer area so he won’t be attacked again.

Thought of the Day:  4-0?
Song of the Day:  Psy-Gangnam Style