Korea Tip 98: Baths and Pots in Icheon

This week, we did a little alternative vacationing. I worked Tuesday (instead of taking the red-letter Lunar New Year holiday). Then, on Wednesday, I took half a day off, and we all headed out to Icheon for a little overnight tourism. Our friends Adam and Elisa introduced us to this little gem, and we followed the same pattern this time.

We arrived in the afternoon, and after securing nice little two rooms in a "Love Motel," (which just means a walk in motel), we enjoyed a nice supper of galbi and an evening at Spa Plus, one of the best bath houses in Korea. it also has a water park attached, but we've always been content with the bath house part. This time, for all of us, our favorite part was sitting in the hot tubs outside while breathing in the cool winter air. I also enjoyed the steam bath. The steam got so thick that I couldn't see the other side of the room.

In the morning, we had a leisurely breakfast at Paris Baguette Cafe, and we taxied over to the Icheon Pottery Village. This is one of the coolest places in Korea, in my humble opinion. There is shop after shop after shop with all sorts of locally made pottery. We really, really enjoyed ourselves.

Sarah and Mom both had birthday cash to spend. Sarah got a nice, round white vase with muted leaves. Mom got a blue/green pot for a house plant. We saw lots of stuff we loved but couldn't (or didn't want to) afford. We also got some cute little gifts for other folks.

Icheon is about 2 hours away by bus. If you wanted to go on a day trip, it would be a very full day trip (maybe not so bad if you don't have kids). If you spend the night, it turns out to be pretty relaxing (except that I was always worried that one of us would trip and knock over a table full of thousands of dollars worth of pottery!). All in all, it was a great little trip.

A White New Year

I don't remember if we had a white Christmas, but we certainly have a white Lunar New Year. Here in Korea, Lunar New Year is one of the two big holidays every year. About six inches of snow have fallen here in the past few days. Yesterday, we took full advantage of it with some sledding.

Today, with the holiday, we have spent it mostly like these polar bears, only relaxing inside in warm sweats! Ah, this what a holiday should be.

Family Series 3: Parenting

Instead of another Cajun joke today, we're going to start with a little theology from Bill Cosby. If you get frustrated as a parent, don't worry too much. Even God has trouble with his children.

After creating Heaven and Earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing He said to them was: "Don't."
"Don't what?", Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit."
"Forbidden fruit? Really? Where is it?"
"It's over there," said God, wondering why He hadn't stopped after making the elephants.
A few minutes later, God saw the kids having an apple break, and He was angry.
"Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" the First Parent asked.
"Uh huh."
"Then why did you?"
"I don't know."
God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.

Cosby says that his mom put a curse on him: “Someday you're going to have grow up and have a kid just like you!!” My Mom put the same curse on me, and now I understand!

But children are also one of God's greatest blessings. ...

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Do You Love Gay People?

This fall, our church will spend a whole month talking about sex. One week will be about homosexuality. I intend to keep thinking, talking, reading, watching, and listening until then. If anyone out there is interested in being a dialog partner with me, please post a comment.

Monkey Trouble

My Aunt Sue sent me this video. Check out this amazing monkey with the gall to relentlessly tease two tiger cubs.



It reminds me of one particular 4 year old at our church. Every week during snack and coffee time, he sucker punches me in the butt. I don't even have to turn around. I just say, "Hi, ---."
I like him. He's got spunk!

Family Series 2: Marriage

December had come again, and Tibodeau and Marie were sitting on their porch watching the gators swim by, and they were talking about what to give everybody for Christmas. Pretty soon, Marie stood up and look at Tibodeau right in the face, and she say, “You know what I want for Christmas?”
“uh ...”
“I say – You know what I want for Christmas? Tibedeau, you old crusty alligator!”
“Keah, woman, what you want for Christmas? I never got no idea!”
“I want a divorce, Tib. That's what I want. I want a divorce.”
And Tibedeau, he didn't even have to think twice about that. He say, “Mais, Marie, I wasn't planning to spend that much on you this Christmas!”

Marriage can be tough. Sometimes it's hard to know what the other person even wants. Sometimes we know what the other person wants, but it's hard to give it.

Imagine that you went to the eye doctor ...


To continue reading this sermon, click here.

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Family Knock Knocks

Tonight, when we were eating supper, we taught Emma the art of knock knock jokes. We made jokes for everyone in our family. Here's what we came up with. It helps if you read them out loud.


Knock knock.
Who's there?
Sarah.
Sarah who?
Sarah doctor in the house?

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Josh.
Josh who?
Josh you wait!

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Emma.
Emma who?
Emma little tea pot, short and stout.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Nana.
Nana who?
Nana split.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
April.
April who?
April-ham Lincoln.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Abby.
Abby who?
Abby a monkey's uncle! (Emma didn't really get this one.)

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Theresa.
Theresa who?
Theresa terrible tiger chasing me.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Luke.
Luke who?
Luke, and you'll see!

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Leah.
Leah who?
Leah later!

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Liz.
Liz who?
Liz Abby home?

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Grandma.
Grandma who?
Grandma's never my best subject. (grammar)

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Grandpa.
Grandpa who?
Grandpa chair and sit down.

I hope you had fun. We did - well, me and Emma more than Sarah.

Family Series 1: Work and Rest

If you're new here today, I want to welcome you to KNU International English Church. My name is Josh Broward, and it's my great joy to serve as the lead pastor here.

Our mission is to be a loving community that changes our world. We see that happening in three basic ways: 1) Being Renewed by God's Love, 2) Multicultural Community, and 3) Global Change through Local Action.

Throughout this year, we're going to be talking a lot about the first and most basic part of our vision: being renewed by God's love. When God's love makes us new, God helps us to love God, to love others, and even to learn to love ourselves.

In a basic way, we live out God's love in our families and homes. For the next six weeks, we'll be talking about how we can have faithful and healthy families.

Each week during this series, I hope to start with a Cajun joke. ....


To continue reading this sermon, click here.


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Sabbath Videos

This week, I'm preaching on the Sabbath, and I've found some interesting videos. I'll just share them here. I'd love to hear your feedback!

#1 - "1 outta 7" from Christianity Today:


#2 -"Sabbath Song" by Aaron Berge


#3 - Last but not least - and just for kicks - "Shabbat Shaloam" from a young Jewish band - gotta give it to 'em for making it contemporary.

Korea Tip 97: Funny T-shirts

So I finally followed that Facebook advertising link for Babo Shirts. If you're in Korea, you probably know what I mean. If you're not, we get the same 5-6 adds every time we long into face book. This is one of them.
Check out www.baboshirts.com. These are hilarious. Be sure to scroll over the Korean T-shirts for the English translation. 
"Babo" means "fool" or foolish in Korean. These shirts make good gifts for anyone who is comfortable with their foolish side.

Costco in Cheonan?

Joe just called me and said he saw a sign that said (as far as he can figure from the Korean text) that Costco is coming to Cheonan. If you don't live in Korea, you may not know that Costco is the Mecca for foreign foods here. Hundreds of expats living in Cheonan gladly make the train ride to Daejeon (the biggest city close to us) to visit the Costco there, conveniently located next to the train station. This is the source of our affordable cheeses, sour cream, hamburger meat, tortillas, canned goods, and a plethora of other yummy stuff.
So far this is just one step up from a rumor, but wouldn't it be great - and a little dangerous!

Oh, yeah, and if you haven't heard the Seoul Subway line now has a stop right outside KNU - called the SsangYong (Nazaret Dae) Station. (SsangYong is our neighborhood and Nazaret Dae is Korea Nazarene University.)

Moving on up...