AndyinKorea: 04/12/05

Riddle Me This...

(When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.)
What is greater than God, More evil than the devil,

The poor have it, The rich need it,

And if you eat it, you'll die?

...

Handong Pastoral Letter (from pastor Henry)

When Jesus was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24: 30,31)

Dear sisters and brothers in Handong!
One of the greatest things we know is that our Lord God accepts us just as who we are. If there is any standard or criteria that God sets us to satisfy His justice, we 'the polluted humans' would never be able to enter His fellowship. We all know how sinful and shameful we are...in the deepest nature. We might deceive ourselves of this in a subtle, pscyhological way...consciously or unconsciously. but we all fail to hide our naked 'selves' from God, the omnipresent and omniscient. Yet, our Lord is great God who takes us "as is," and the better news is that He is waiting to transform us just if we come to Him. Let us trust Him as His Son trusted his disciples who even betrayed him and ran away at the cross. Today, Jesus, the risen Lord is standing near us.
Why don't we say 'yes' as he whispers in our hearts "would you be mine?"

The EXCEPTIONAL Warmth of Handong Students

One thing that is very apparent as you walk around Handong University-the students are (in general) much more caring and attentive to other people. It always amazes me how many sweet students are so quick to say, "HELLO!" as you pass them on the sidewalk or on the stairwell. Sometimes I recognize them as past students or someone I might have encountered elsewhere but many times they are simply students expressing love to whoever happens to cross their path. As the bible declares, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful!" (Proverbs 15:13 )
Such a contrast to my experience of first coming to Korea (Masan) in July, 2005. The people there (at least at that time in my neighborhood...) were so "poker-faced" and rarely or never smiled. I remember one student saying that to Koreans foreigners are a bunch of clown looking fools smiling at anyone they happen to see on the street. Wow! Was I ever hurt when I heard that and took it quite personally as I used to be quicker with a smile but have become "poker-faced" by life over the years. I pray that God's grace might continue to refine and purge the dross of my heart and make me quicker to smile and love.

"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." (Song of Solomon 2:12)

I absolutely love these two! Tae-Hyung and Ji-Young are both highly intelligent, capable, warm and engaging students that I had the extreme pleasure of teaching last semester.

GREAT to see many small groups praying/worshiping God around campus! (These students are at a spot known as "Vision Square")

Professor Chris Smith, a greatly appreciated colleague of the DLE, active member of HIC (Handong International Church) and devoted helper of MNE (Missions iN English club).

Precious DLE Colleagues!!!

I was thinking of posting separate photos of all the DLE staff (like Chris' above) but then I thought, "Hey, don't we have a department website with all our mug-shots?!" After talking to Hyo-Eun (our wonderfully helpful department secretary-assistant) I was able to get it. Check out all the great people that God has placed in my life at this period of time:
http://teachenglish.handong.edu/General/Handbook_Faculty.html
What a change to work in a department with people who support one another in the love of Christ!!!