AJUMMA!!!

"Agashe" means "young woman" in Korean, while "Ajashe" means "man" (whether he is young or old, single or married...) "Ajumma" is a special word here indeed. Translated properly into English, it means "woman with child" but is used for married women, older women and just about any woman above 30. It implies that by that age she SHOULD be married and have children. You can imagine how older, single Korean women must feel when they get called this all the time...Anyway, I noticed this cute link posted by Victor on www.city-guide.cc/songtan/ and the original post is from http://www.visitseoul.net/english_new/discoveringseoul/theme06/menu_01.htm

My 2 favorite Brits, Alan & Marilyn, on the subway in what could be one of our last get togethers in South Korea as they are both heading home by the end of this summer. I love you guys! Stay in touch!

The dazzling and alluring Marilyn awaiting her meal at Chakraa Indian Restaurant in Itaewon, behind the Hamilton Hotel.

Some of the desserts available to Chakraa's weekend buffet guests.

Whoops! Wish I had read this sign beforehand. Then again, there is freedom in Christ! (Romans 14:13-17, mostly stressing verse 14...) Funny thing is that they had a Catholic cross on the wall too. (How do I know it was "Catholic"....Jesus was still on the cross....MY Saviour ascended into heaven!) Muslim + Catholic=one TOTALLY CONFUSED person!

All-you-can-eat-buffet for 15,000 won (only on Saturday and Sunday I believe).

One of the many delicious desserts offered at Chakraa's. (Yes, Alan, you are right-they are far too large to be squirrel testicles...)

If you are ever in the Itaewon area looking for good Chinese food, go on the 2nd floor of the Hamilton Hotel. (take the elevator up just inside the main lobby) "Holy Cow!" it's "Ho Lee Chow"! (this could definitely be seen as a violation of the 3rd commandment...unless thanksgiving is given for the food thereby making it "holy"-See 1 Timothy 4:4-5 if you have no idea of what I'm talking about.)

Reunion of 4/15th of the teaching staff of GyeongSang National University's summer camp 2001 (In Jinju):Alan McCarthy, Andy Brown, Marilyn Crawley and Eric Vasquez. We met up in Itaewon, Sunday, June 26th.

A nice memento for students and staff alike. (That's my good friend, Alan, in the picture in the top left corner teaching summer camp students.)

Eric's attempt at counterfeit money?!

How's this for camp memories guys?!

The "unknown Tele-tubbie", Eric Vasquez. Rattle that spoon, Eric!

Yes, before Osama Bin Laden, there was the infamous Alan McCarthy. Definitely on the "world's most wanted"

"Wherefore art thou "Marilyn"?!" Could it be that the students are saying you have "Gong-Joo Biung" ("princess disease"), Marilyn?! he!he! I can just hear you now saying "cheeky monkey"..someday I'll learn what that British saying's really all about...

Looking at this picture makes me laugh my butt off. (that students actually saw me and Alan as the "fitness guys" because we led exercise each morning at 6:30, ha!ha!...you'd never guess that now looking at my gut!)

Oh no! HIDEOUS Sea-creatures!!! Grab the women and children and make for the hills!!!!

You never know WHAT might come crawling out of the sea?!

The process of making dog-soup summarized in a sketch by one of our students, Ahn, Byeong-Ryeol. Classic!

One of our old summer camp students wrote this. I thought it was cute.

Derrik, Theresa and Marina Pharms! After visiting Korea for a couple of weeks, the Pharms are heading back to Okinawa. Take care, you guys! It was SO nice seeing you again!

In case anyone is as ignorant as I am, this is where Okinawa is located.

The lovely Theresa Pharms who was a faithful member of SIBC for 2 years before heading off with her family to Okinawa. We had the pleasure of their visit for 2 weeks. Great to have you guys!! God bless!

The talented Centrifuge Camp 2005 counselor, James, and speaker at SIBC on Sunday, June 26th. May God continue to bless you, James, wherever He takes you and keep on "keeping on" with your "Evangelism through hoops"!!

"F.A.T. servants required"

This Sunday's sermon was a real blessing.
Two summer camps for the youth of SIBC were both completed recently. (Centrifuge Youth Camp and Camp Mt. O'Pines Children Camp) James, the youth counselor of Centrifuge spoke on Sunday a powerful message on the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-30
I will not attempt to go over the whole message as there was a lot to it. The main point James made was that God is looking for Christians to be F.A.T.
F.-Faithful ("Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2)
A.-Available (at once....verse 16)
T.-Teachable (willing to learn more....verse 29. Like building muscles-if not used atrophy kicks in www.umm.edu/ency/article/003188.htm )
There are 3 obstacles that prevent us from being so:
1) Self interest (think of our talents as MY/OUR talents rather than rightly belonging to God and merely "lent out" to us for His glory.
2) Comparison (compare to those with less talent, we can become proud. compare to those with more talent, we can feel "cheated")
3) fear of failure (the enemy whispers "You're not going to measure up)

To sum up the lesson, James basically said:
Natural Ability + Humble Teachability = Maximum Usability

SIBC observed the Lord's Supper on June 26th. "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

Interesting mural I've always enjoyed as coming up out of the subway at Itaewon.

Ten Secrets for a Successful Family
By Adrian Rogers

RESPOND: After seeing the title for this Bible study some might ask...Since I don't have children, what revelance does this study have for me?

I want to have a successful family in the ways that count. What are the ways that count? _______________________________________
Many feel that the family unit is under attack. What influences are challenging the family today? ____________________________

God wants us to have homes where our children learn to love God and others. He wants to turn our love into living testimonies for Christ. He gave parents a blueprint for building a spiritually successful family: The Ten Commandments. Rogers calls these commandments the "10 Liberating Laws of Life" and he points out why it is so important to help write these laws on our children's hearts. We can have homes that don't merely survive but thrive!

IT TAKES GOD TO MAKE A HOME
Preparing the Way
REACT: The Ten Commandments fall into a category of black-and-white-television...okay for its time, but societies have changed.
The Ten Commandments were meant to be taught in a. schools b. halls of government b. homes

The book of Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell address to the people of Israel just before they entered the promised land. He was reminding the people of God's dealings with them and was preparing them to live in a way that would please God and guarantee them a future. Moses knew that God's answer to the chaos of pagan society was the family, and he wanted to strengthen and equip Israel's families to stand strong.
Summary of Deuteronomy 5
These are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land wherever you go to possess it: that you might fear the Lord your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, you and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. Hear, therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey. (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)

Embracing God's Truth
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. (Psalm 127:4)
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
If you aren't a parent, are you influencing children in your extended family, church, or community? _______________________________
Is this something we should feel responsible to do? ___________

Learning The Way
The Great Revelation: One Lord
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Everybody is going to believe in something. According to Moses, the Lord God of Israel is unique. He is the only God.
When others observe your life, what do they conclude is your god?
-Work -Money/things -Leisure activities
-People -God -Other

The Great Response: One Love
What do our children need to see most in our homes? __________
REACT: It is the phoniness of parents, by and large, that turns kids off of the things of God.
There needs to be no area in your life that is off-limits to God.
We can measure the spiritual love of men or women by looking at two books in their homes..._____________________ (pocket book-how they spend their time and cheque book-how they spend their money)

The Great Responsibility: One Law
Look at verses 6-7.
Our homes are to be law schools where God's Commandments are taught.
One Lord...One love...One law

FIVE Cs OF TEACHING GOD'S TEN GREAT "SECRETS"
Teach Them Convincingly
"These words" are to be in your heart first. If you don't believe something, if you don't practice it, you'll never teach it.
When Moses finished reading all these words to all Israel, he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you-they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. (Deut. 32:45-47)
REACT: To make up for my shortcomings, I send my children to a Christian school and to Sunday school.

Teach Them Consistently
Look at verse 7.
Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule: a little here, a little there. (Isaiah 28:9-10)
Why is repetition necessary?

Teach Them Creatively
Use every means at your disposal...Bible reading, stories, games, memory, songs, etc.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:1-4)
What rewards best inspire children to consistently learn? ________

Teach Them Conversationally
Revew verse 7.
Take advantage of the times when a child's curiosity factor is high. If God's Word is a natural part of our daily conversations, kids will catch on. Faith is caught as well as taught.

Teach Them Conspicuously
Look at verse 8-9.
All we do is to be controlled by His Word.
Do whatever you can to make God's Word more evident at home.