This week's persecuted church: Uzbekistan

Secret police officers and other officials raided the Sunday worship service of an unregistered ethnic Korean Baptist Church in the town of Chirchik in Tashkent Region on Feb. 5.

Police Inspector Otabek Alimov, Urtachirchik District and Nurmina Askarova, Chair of the local Mahalla Committee, were among the 10 officials who raided the 9 a.m. worship service; they confiscated a sound amplifier, microphone, keyboard, projector, hymnals, audio cassettes and DVDs.

The officials said that the confiscated items would be sent to the state Religious Affairs Committee for "expert analysis"; they then charged Pastor Vyacheslav Kim under Administrative Code Article 184-2: Illegal production, storage, or import into Uzbekistan with a purpose to distribute religious materials.

Thought of the Day:  Dream
Song of the Day:  Martin Solveig & Dragonette-Hello

Catching Z's

"Yes, sir, that is true, and I am grateful for all favors, I am sure, and anything that I could do to oblige you, or the lady, I should be proud and happy to do; but I can't give up my Sundays, sir, indeed I can't.  I read that God made man, and He made horses and all the other beasts, and as soon as He had made them, He made a day of rest, and bade that they all should rest one day in seven; and I think, and I am sure it is good for me; I am stronger and healthier altogether, now that I have a day of rest; the horses are fresh too, and do not wear up nearly so fast  The six-day drivers all tell me the same, and I have laid by more money in the Savings Bank than I ever did before; and as for the wife and children, sir-why, heart alive! they would not go back to the seven days for all they could see."
-Jerry Barker from Black Beauty


As I'm getting older, I'm realizing just how valuable and necessary sleep is for the mind, body, and soul.  If you miss one good night's sleep, the rest of your week kinda snowballs into an imbalanced usage of energy and efficiency.  A lack of sleep messes with your emotions and concentration whether you're at work or home.  It screws up your appetite, metabolism, and exercise.  Routines are out of whack along with future sleep that tends to spiral down into ugly cycles.  I'm a pretty big fan of food, but I'm beginning to see a growing value in sleep these days.

I can easily see how good rest for the body and mind often brings good rest for the soul as well.  I always try to "start my Sabbath" on Saturday night instead of waking up really tired on a Sunday morning.  More often than not, these "early Sabbaths" help me to have a much more enjoyable day of rest that God has given to His people.  And when His people rest on His day, I believe we can be stronger, healthier, and happier people during the week.  So get yo rest!

Thought of the Day:  HIV and TPBE Tests
Song of the Day:  TaeTiSeo-Twinkle

코리아

I watched "Korea" with Michael yesterday since they're taking it out of theaters this week.  With Michael's love for ping pong and North Korea, we knew we had to watch it when we found a theater with English subtitles.  But more than the ping pong, the heart of the movie was about a unified Korea.  I never knew it was based on true events.

Although 하지원 was the main actress of the movie, I personally liked 배두나's acting more.

My student calls her the Frog-eyed Girl.  Haha.

I'm sure you can guess which event I'm anticipating the most for this year's Olympics.  I love the Olympics in Korea!

Thought of the Day:  Cover Letter
Song of the Day:  DJ Babyboi-April Tears [Piano Solo for DJ HHH]

Uncle Drew

Thought of the Day:  코리아
Song of the Day:  Juniel-바보

This week's persecuted church: Myanmar

Fighting between government troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Kachin state has forced dozens of civilians to take shelter at a Baptist church in Sumprabum, located about 80 miles north of Myitkyina.

At least 40 people from Mai Htawng village arrived at the church yesterday and it is expected that more will come over the next few days, according to church volunteers. Church officials also say they cannot continue to support the displaced people unless they get more aid.

More fighting is also said to be taking place in two other nearby villages, Hka Garan Yang and Sumpyi Yang.

Thought of the Day:  Wedding Dress
Song of the Day:  IU-너랑 나

This week's persecuted church: Egypt

"The television and film are also inundated with Islamic propaganda. In the schools, the boys and girls start their day with Islamic teaching. It starts when the students are outside they are again inundated by Islamic propaganda; it is called Khutbah. When there is a transition from one teacher to the next the same ritual is again repeated.

In terms of employment when one is looking for work particularly in the public sector, you are asked for your name, which is normal, but in Egypt, you are asked your name; this is the system, and through your name particularly in Egypt your name, your father’s name and your grandfather’s name and if there is no mention of Mohammed in your series of names then you are known to be a Christian .. You will know that you have been classified and it could be a reason for a refusal of a job and things like that.

You also find discrimination in the university. A Christian cannot be a gynecologist, or teach Arabic, because their reasoning is that being Christian, how can one teach Arabic when it is based on the Koran and how can you teach the Koran if one is not a Muslim.”
-Father Samir

Thought of the Day:  Evites
Song of the Day:  Humming Urban Stereo-Hawaiian Couple

Bibliomaniac

I got The Lost Hero during the winter and finished the 550+ pages to give to my student for Children's Day and also to use it for our next reading material.  I figured the book was long enough for him to read for a while so that I would have about two weeks off of preparing new reading material.

He finished it in three days.  He liked it so much that he asked his mom to buy the next book too, which is 500+ pages.  He finished that one in two days.

I'm not even proud of my student.

I'm behind in my reading.  =(


I hope I can get this public school job.

Thought of the Day:  Interview
Song of the Day:  Yozoh-My Name Is Yozoh

This week's persecuted church: Nigeria

At the same time the attack on the Catholics was taking place, other members of the sect attacked the Chapel of Victory Protestant church service, meeting outdoors near the Faculty of Medicine. Professor Julius Falola, who was preaching when the Islamists arrived, recounted a horrific scene similar to that described by Professor Olofin. Explosions and gunshots were followed by fleeing church members who provided easy targets for Boko Haram killers.Falola said that some of the Christians “jumped over the fence while others ran deeper into the campus.” Falola hid in the university clinic. Falola and Olofin, as well as other witnesses, said that the police did not arrive until 10 AM. “The shooting went on for 45 minutes,” said Falola.

Boko Haram topped off their killing spree later that night, by opening fire on the Church of Christ in Nigeria parish in Jere. Because of a state of emergency in the town, worshippers had foregone meeting in the morning in favor of what they assumed would be an unnoticed and therefore less dangerous evening worship. Halfway through the service, witnesses reported that the Islamists came “in their trademark car, Volkswagen Golf, dressed in flowing gowns.” After “their routine shout of ‘Allah akbar,’ they . . .  headed straight for the altar” where they shot and killed the pastor, Reverend Albert Naga. Four others died from the attack, as well.

Thought of the Day:  Costco
Song of the Day:  Taetiseo-Twinkle

공포

One of my students is fascinated by American horror movies, so lately I've been educating him on Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street series.  Today, he asked a lot of questions about The Texas Chainsaw Massacre:

Student:  So is the Keychain really dangerous?

Me:  You mean Chainsaw?

Sometimes, I can't believe I get paid to do stuff like this.  Only sometimes.

It's freaking hot.

Thought of the Day:  Lesson Plan
Song of the Day:  HAHA-너는 내 운명