This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

Human rights campaigners condemned the killing of Samuel Yaqoob whose burned and tortured body body was discovered on Eid, the celebration which marks the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
His lips and nose had been sliced off, his stomach removed and there was evidence that his legs had been mutilated too.

The boy had been missing since Monday when he left his home in the town's Christian Colony to visit a local market. His relatives identified his body from a distinctive mark on his forehead.
Yaquub was reported to be an orphan but in local newspaper reports his mother Asia Bibi was quoted denying he had been accused of blasphemy. "We neither received any phone call for ransom nor were we told that Samuel had committed blasphemy," she said.

Thought of the Day:  Bread of Life
Song of the Day:  Be Still My Soul

David Armand

I'd like to have him on my Guesstures team.  Happy Friday, everyone.

Thought of the Day:  Seating Arrangements
Song of the Day:  2NE1-Hate You

A Thousand Words

One of our head teachers just sent this to me.  Isn't that awesome?

I've also been using this picture in one of my powerpoints all week, and the same teacher sent me a link showing that she happened to be a Korean-American.  What a way to represent, huh?

Thought of the Day:  Sam
Song of the Day:

Sharpener

Every morning, I pray to God asking Him to make me into a better teacher.  This morning after my first period class, the co-teacher for that class asked if she could share some of her "opinions" with me.  Basically, it was a short list of SHOULDs and SHOULDN'Ts for me to keep in mind.  Short yet painful.  She is definitely one of the most experienced and professional teachers at our school, but that also makes me uneasy every time I have to teach with her.  I feel like I'm under her observance glass as she takes copious notes on my teaching skills (or lack thereof).  But I also know that teaching with her is sharpening me into a better teacher.  I just hate how sharpening always hurts.  What a curveball answer to my prayers.

Thought of the Day:  Caller/Receiver

Song of the Day:  Moby-Porcelain

This week's persecuted church: Kenya

A church was attacked and looted on July 7 by an armed mob believed to be sympathizers of the al Qaeda-linked Somali terrorist network al-Shabab.

"At three PM, attackers armed with guns stormed the compound and immediately began pulling down one iron sheet after another and soon 60 iron sheets were gone," Pastor Joseph Lokuruku, who helplessly watched the incident from a distance.  "It was terrible sight to watch the walls of the church come down, [but] I could not shout for help because the attackers could gun me down."

Despite the recent assault on Game-Loitiki church, however, Pastor Lokuruku refuses to be intimidated by the threats and continues to gather for worship on Sunday mornings.  "We will not move away from Game-Loitiki, but will trust God for his sustenance and protection," the pastor said.  "We are leaving everything to God."

Thought of the Day:  Bagels
Song of the Day:  The Presidents of the United States of America-Peaches

This week's persecuted church: Indonesia

Protestors forced a church in Bandung, West Java, to shut down on Sunday amid claims that it was operating without a permit.

The Batak Karo Protestant Church (GBKP) has been in operation since 2007. But protestors claimed that the congregation agreed not to use the building as a house of worship in a 2011 agreement.

“On Sunday of last week, they used the building for Sunday service,” Amin Safari told Tempo.co. “That is why we sealed the building.”

The protestors also hung a banner on the church’s gate reading, “We the people of RW 06 [a neighborhood unit] hardily reject the use of this building, at Kawaluyan 10, to be used for religious activities.”

Thought of the Day:  Lazy Saturday

Trash Talk

Thought of the Day:  On the Border
Song of the Day:  Psy-강남 Style

올림픽

This year's Olympics is full of all kinds of controversies with Korea's athletes.  But the few that get past all of that mess really do stand out.  One of my favorite victories (so far) is the judo champion who bowed to his coach after winning the gold.

Isn't that beautiful?  Humility upon humility when they are both champions.

It's too bad that I can't really watch anything this year with the time difference and my new job.  Go Korea!

Thought of the Day:  Caesar Salad Dinner
Song of the Day:  Jay-Z-Empire State of Mind