In a Christian bookstore in Pohang, I found this beautiful explanation of some of the events during "Passion Week" leading up to Christ's death and resurrection. I was able to get one for each of my students. If you can read Korean, enjoy! If not, check out the Bible verses!

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11)

Jesus cleanses the temple (Mark 11:15-19)

The widow's offering (Mark 12:41-44)

Jesus anointed at Bethany (Mark 14:3-9)

"The Last Supper" (Mark 14:22-25)

The crucifixion of Christ (Mark 15:16-41)

The burial of Jesus (Mark 15:42-47)

On the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:25-35)

Just look at the smiles on these students!!! For a class that meets at 8:30am (Tues/Fri), this is probably my most lively class! I wish I could tell you about each of my students as they are all so interesting and have such incredible experiences to share.

Another wonderful group of EGC students! This is section 6 which meets Tues/Fri 10-11:15am. Please pray for this class! Some of them find it hard to make it to class so "early" in the morning, ha!ha!

A Student's Prayer

I leave a box in my class 15 minutes before class and also during breaks. Students are told that if they have any problems, concerns, questions or prayer requests, they can put it down on a piece of paper and put it in the "magic box" for me to read later. I got 2 very touching prayers from one anonymous student that I'd like to share with you now:
A small prayer for everyone in this class:
Heavenly Father!
Let us not judge other people as You didn't judge
But let us love each other as You loved all of us.
Let us learn wisdom to use the wisdom
For those who don't have it.
Let us learn your humbleness to be used
As salt and light for the have-nots
As you were so.
Let what we're learning be used not for us
But for those who don't have chance to study.
Let us have eyes to seek you way.
Let us have clean ears to hear your words.
Let us have loud voice to cry out the truth.
Let us feel your endless love and spread it through our life.
Amen.
(If you want to read to students, please, read slowly for everyone to recognize clearly. And you can save your judgment on grammar for now. Thank you.)
A small prayer for our humble teacher, Andy Brown
Our Lord in Heaven!
Bless him with strength to teach his students
Righteousness and Humbleness.
Bless him with wisdom to direct his students
To the right way.
Bless him with humbleness to teach his students
To be humble before You and your people
As you were the humblest.
Bless him with love to show his students
Your true love.
Bless him with wit and humor
to show his students
True laughter of Heaven.
Finally, please, give him strength
Not to get weary and to keep teaching
to everyone who listens to him.
Amen.
Who am I that God would give me such sincere, compassionate and loving students!? Wow!

What a beautiful group of people!!! This is EGC 10 which meets Tues/Fri 1:30-2:45pm. It's a real blessing to know each and every one of them.

Got this rather cute chocolate bar from one of my computer lab students as I was getting off the shuttle bus. I praise God for such "little" mercies that He sprinkles throughout each day! May my heart never lose its sense of gratitude!

Thinking about John Chapter 3...Are you REALLY "born again"?

John, Chapter 3, with good reason, remains one of the most important and preached on chapters of the Bible. In it, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter and boldly declares to Nicodemus that "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (verse 3)
It is very sobering to think that many people who think they are born again will be revealed as not born again on Judgment Day. Jesus said, "Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22-23) Even those who seemed to be Christians (who prophesized in Jesus' name and drove out demons!) will be revealed as not belonging to Christ.
The Bible shows us just how easy it is to be born again by relating us turning to Christ for salvation to the Israelites looking up at the snake in the desert (3:14) to drive home the point. Nothing is easier than looking up at a pole and believing. So it goes with our faith; looking spiritually upwards to Christ's death on the cross, in faith, for our salvation.
If one MUST be born again (Which Jesus says we must! (verse 3)), it makes sense that one of Satan's greatest deceptions is to make unsaved people feel that they are saved. Equally damaging is the enemy's desire to make saved Christians think they are unsaved. I believe that's why the Bible tells us to "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Easy to be a Christian.
Just as easy to kid yourself into thinking you are a Christian.
This requires deep meditation and self-examination on the part of all who call on the name of Christ.

Cherry blossums are in full bloom all across campus. (Notice the thick clouds of polluted dust in the air that come in from China every year about this time.)

At only 123 pages and a cost of 5,000 won (about $5US)), this was a great little read. On the back, "In the little book you're holding, you're going to discover that Jesus revealed a direct link between what you do today and what you will experience after you die. Astoundingly, the majority of spiritual seekers around the world-including millions who follow Jesus-seem to have missed what He said. Coulld you be one? If so, your picture of the future is missing about a billion stars. In this stirring follow-up to his bestsellers "The Prayer of Jazez" and "Secrets of the Vine", Bruce Wilkinson shows you what Jesus said about God's plan to reward you in eternity for what you do for Him today. What you'll discover will unlock the power and potential of your life, starting now. And you'll begin to live with the unshakable certainty that what you do today matters...forever!"

All of these "postcards" have John 11:25 on them: "Jesus said to her, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;"

"From the fields to the greenhouse to your home, the Easter Lily remains the traditional, time-honored flower of Easter. Symbolic of the Resurrection, Easter Lilies rise from earthy graves as scaly bulbs, and bloom into majestic flowers that embody beauty, grace and tranquillity."

I found these beautiful cards in one of the downtown Pohang Christian bookstores. (Only 200 won, I believe.) www.intoblue.co.kr

In Korean, "Jesus rose again!"

The Doctrine of Christ - I AM

"As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." (John 18:6)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus says "I Am" seven times while revealing Himself as the Bread of Life (6:35); the Light of the World (8:12); the Door (10:9); the Good Shepherd (10:11); the Resurrection and the Life (11:25); the Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6); and the Vine (15:5). His use of "I Am" without a predicate complement (4:26; 8:24; 18:5,6,8) demonstrates His identity with Yahweh in the Old Testament, who was first revealed to Moses as "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14).
Illustration: Yahweh was the covenant name of God in the Old Testament and was most often used to express God's relationship with His people. Jesus took on human flesh that He might bring humanity into an everlasting relationship with God.
Application: All of our needs in the Christian life, from salvation through glorification, are met in the "I Am."