Why we do not lose heart...

"...We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive and are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." (from Psalm 116:10) With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:8-18)

"THANKS giving!"

Yesterday was American Thanksgiving Day. Everyday is Thanksgiving for those of us who are saved but it was yet another wonderful reminder to stop and count our many blessings. Tonight I find myself completely overwhelmed by God's goodness to me despite myself and I am TRULY grateful.

Dunamis!!!

The one photo I took of the Dunamis concert exactly one week ago. The 4th gentleman from the left is my student, Geum-Yong, and the leader of the group! Great work, Geum-Yong! For those of you who are not sure what "Dunamis" means, check out http://andyinkorea.blogspot.com/2005/10/dynamite-of-god-for-message-of-cross.html

Me and some very special guys! I was surprised to see how many of my students (past and present) were in the Men's Accapella club. Some of us got together for a pic after the performance. From left to right, JinHwan; my Freshman Lab student from spring 04, Eun-Sang; a current EGC student, me, Geum Yong; current Pronunciation Clinic student (and captain of Dunamis!), Hiun Chul; another Pron.Clinic student and an unknown (to me anyway! :-)) member of Dunamis. I am still humbled to think that they would think of inviting (& giving free tickets!) to their old teacher!!! Thanks, Geum-Yong. What an AWESOME concert that truly glorified God while entertaining us! :-) It was obvious that you guys put a LOT of work in preparing!

My Pronunciation Clinic student, HaeWon, who came to see her friend, JinHwan (my old Freshman Lab student) perform at the "Dunamis Men's Accapella concert" last Friday. It is a Korean custom to bring flowers for friends/family in any performance whether they are male or female. How sweet!

Peter Fama, one of his old students, his friend and Peter's wife, Joanne at the Dunamis concert Nov. 18th.

The Doctrine of the Bible 5 - Holy Spirit in Inspiration

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21)

The Scriptures were written by holy men of God (about 40 in all) "as they were moved by the Holy Spirit". While in no way denying the personalities of the human writers or rejecting the distinctiveness of their particular styles, the Holy Spirit controlled the process of bringing things to the writers' memories (John 16:13) and ensuring what they recorded was the very Word of God.
Illustration: Jeremiah once became so frustrated that he wanted to quit, but God's Spirit compelled him to go on (Jer. 20:9). Likewise, Jonah at first refused to take God's message to Nineveh, but later obeyed God's second call (Jonah 3:1).
Application: As Christians read the Bible, they can be confident that it is the very Word of God.