Silas Marner Review

Over the winter, Sarah and I read what turned out to be a perfect winter book and a great book for reading aloud. Silas Marner was written by Mary Anne Evans in 1861, but she published it under the pen name of George Elliot "to make sure her works were taken seriously."
Silas Marner is a man who was wronged by his friends and by his religion. He retreats into his work (weaving) and becomes a shell of a man, hording his meager income and avoiding all contact with others if at all possible.
His life is completely changed when he adopts an orphaned child who wanders into his cottage. She opens him to life again, and she even helps him reconnect with God and with his community.
Silas Marner is a beautiful little story about the meaning of life, redemption, and community. There are also several interesting sideplots which contribute greatly to the story.
I give this book a strong 4j's: jjjj.

No Home Phone

FYI: We moved about two weeks ago. We decided not to keep our home phone number. Instead, we got Sarah a cell phone. The cell was free and the monthly fee was only a little more. If you need her number (or mine), comment, and I'll email the numbers to you.

The West Wing - Season 5

This review is way, way overdue, but here it is nonetheless.
Sarah and I loved seasons 1-4 of The West Wing. Season 4 "jumped the shark" with how it tried to pack too much into the last few episodes, but we decided to go ahead and watch Season 5 (especially since my Mom gave it to me for my birthday).
We still enjoyed it, but the writing and drama just wasn't as good or as crisp as the first four seasons. The creator, Arron Sorkin, left at the end of season 4, and it really showed. We might someday watch seasons 6 and 7, but we're definitely not buying the sets.
So The West Wing Season 5 gets a disappointing 3 js. (jjj)

Prayers of Trust in Hard Times (Psalm 13)

Psalm 13:
¹ O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
² How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

³ Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
⁴ Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

Watch this clip from the movie Bruce Almighty: (skip to 4:28, and then watch to 1:30 on the next part).

God is not weak. God is not afraid of us. God is not emotionally challenged. God is not a temperamental ruler that we have to suck up to.

God is GOD. God is the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. God is the great I AM. God is the Almighty, the Unshakable, the Unstopable. God is the Creator and the Sustainer of everything that is.

God can handle us. God can handle our complaints. God can handle our anger, our sadness, our outrage, our doubts, our fears, our feelings – all of our feelings. ...

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Dog Sitting

Our friend Beverly had to make a "visa run" to Japan. Korea has this crazy rule that you can't change your visa status in Korea. If you change employers, you have to leave the country to get your new visa. I may have to do this in a few weeks as well.
Anyway, Beverly has a dog - Sally. Sally is one of the best behaved dogs I've ever known. We gladly volunteered to dog sit because Emma loves dogs.
Ever since Sally came to our house, Emma has had a one track mind. She doesn't want to do anything unless Sally can do it with her. She cried her way out of going to DaeJeon with me today. (Usually, she jumps at the chance to do something unusual with Daddy.) Then she turned down going to Block-I (a lego center) with a friend. And this was all because she preferred to stay home with Sally.
If Nana doesn't come to Korea and rescue us by getting a dog, this little girl just might get a dog for her birthday! (But don't you dare tell her I said that!)

Fast and Slow - Intro to Lent 2009

KNU International English Church

Josh Broward

February 22, 2009

Deuteronomy 8:1-18
1 Peter 5:5-11
Mark 1:21-39

The season of Lent is 40 days. 40 days of praying and fasting. 40 days of remembering and repenting. 40 days to repair and to refocus.

40 is an important number in the Bible.

In Genesis 7, after God told Noah to build an ark, he sent rains for 40 days and 40 nights. I don't really get the flood and why God did it, but I understand this. The world was going all wrong, and God used this “retreat” to purify humanity and to make a fresh start in the world.

In Exodus, two times God called Moses up to the mountain top for a 40 day spiritual retreat (Exodus 24:18 and 34:28). When Moses left the mountain, he had the 10 commandments and the covenant from God.

After being set free from Egypt, God called the people of Israel to wander in the desert for 40 years. He “humbled” them and “tested” them in the wilderness before he led them to the Promised Land. God brought them out of Egypt, but it took 40 years for him to get Egypt out of them. ...

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SoYoung Update

I just visited SoYoung at her hospice room. She is feeling much better than she was on Monday. She has stronger pain killers and sleeping medication, and both of those help a lot. She had more energy and an upbeat spirit. However, after about 20 minutes, she got very tired and laid down and could hardly keep her eyes open. Elena and Brett had just been to visit before me, so she had too many visitors in a row.
On the downside, she has some swelling on her abdomen from water retention. However, she is taking some medicine which will hopefully relieve that.

In a few minutes, we several people are gathering in Anne Cave's office to pray for SoYoung. Wherever you are, whenever you read this, please pray for SoYoung and her family.

Empty InBox

Ahh, an empty in-box. This is a rare experience for me. I just thought I'd share this momentous occasion with my friends. Reaching this point has been on my to-do list for weeks, and I've finally made it.
Now, if all of you will kindly comment, you can fill it up again.

Cancer

Within the past few weeks, I have begun to hate cancer.
One of our key church members, SoYoung Gu, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. One week after she was diagnosed, she was admitted into a hospice. Liver cancer moves fast, and hers was already spreading. There is no medical cure available. SoYoung is two weeks older than me.
SoYoung is many things to us. She is our friend and "sister." She was one of the team members for our mission trip to Tanzania this summer. Until she got sick, she was a regular member of our music team, a member of the church Advisory Council (board), and Brett and Emma's piano teacher. She is a woman of many talents and interests: piano, violin, cooking, crafts, language. She always has a beautiful smile to share - even now.
Sarah and I have experienced her illness with deep personal pain. We have been to visit her almost every day since she found out. Her pain is increasing now, and sleep is difficult. Starting soon, we will need to limit visitors from our church, so that she can get rest.
We talked about it in church yesterday for the first time. (SoYoung wanted a little bit of time to talk to people individually.) SoYoung wanted to participate in the worship service and to play piano one more time, but her health has decreased so rapidly that she was unable to come. We spent about 10 minutes praying for her at the end of the worship service.
Now we are beginning to think of ways our church can express our love for SoYoung. Some floating ideas: setting out a crafts table near the snack area so people can make cards for her, helping people send her video greetings, videoing Brett and Emma playing a few songs, establishing a memorial scholarship fund. (By the way, if anyone here would like to help with these, or if you have other ideas, please let me know. We need to start implementing these ideas this Sunday.)

Within the same week that we found out about SoYoung, I also found out that two other church members had pending tests for cancer and that my aunt's cancer is gaining strength again. I was greatly relieved to find out that both of the other two church member's tests came back negative - no cancer for them!

In a confluence of events, we have also had several positive events in our church: a marriage, a birth, a new pregnancy, anniversaries, birthdays, and graduation. It feels so strange to move from SoYoung's bedside to buy Valentine's Day flowers or to go swimming. But somehow these celebrations help with the mourning.

Honestly, I don't know how to pastor well during this time. All I know to do is to encourage people to be open and honest with God and each other about our feelings. This brings us face to face with mystery and unknown and pain, yet one of my deepest prayers is that we will find God in the mystery and unknown and pain. I pray that our community will grow together and grow toward God, not away. This is irrefutable evidence of our mortality. Life is an uncertain gift. Maybe this experience will help us all to live with more gusto and faithfulness.
I don't believe SoYoung is dying for this reason (to strengthen our church and to help us live more faithfully). Actually, I don't believe there is any good reason SoYoung is dying. I don't believe "everything happens for a reason." I don't believe that God has "called her home" or that God is up there in the sky pulling cosmic strings arranging the time of our deaths.
I believe that this cancer and all cancer is junk. It is just part of this broken, messed up (yet still beautiful) world. I don't believe God causes cancer or earthquakes or AIDS or any other disaster or illness. I believe that crap happens, and God hates it just as much as we do. The problems of this world are shrouded in mystery. They are things too great for us to know. Sometimes, some of the mysteries are lessened through science or reason, but they are mysteries still.
I believe that God is with us no matter what happens. I believe that God loves us no matter what happens. I believe that God can bring good out of almost any circumstance. I believe that God is always working for healing or restoration.
But I also believe that sometimes, it's just time to die, time to die with grace and peace. So far, I have not said anything in the worship service about SoYoung dying. She and I have talked about dying well, and I've talked about it individually and in small groups. Maybe I'll talk about it this week as we prepare for Lent, for Lent is -at least in part - a season about our mortality.
SoYoung is at peace with death. Unless God works a miracle, she will die fairly soon. She accepts that and is facing it with courage. She welcomes a miracle, but she knows she can't cause one or work one up simply by her effort. Death is. Death comes to us all. Usually, we cannot choose the time or the place or the manner of death, but it comes. As for me, I feel like the best thing we can do for now is to show SoYoung our love and care and to support her as she gives all her energy to these last few steps of her journey.
For any readers out there, I would appreciate your prayers for SoYoung and her family, for our church, and for me as I try to be a faithful pastor and friend.

Family Series 6: Hospitality

Today, we finish our series on family life by talking about hospitality. I want to start by telling you of some of the greatest hospitality I've ever experienced.

When I was a university student, I went on a six week mission trip to Papua New Guinea. I experienced hospitality like I had never heard of or even dreamed of. We were a team of 6 college students from the USA. We spent the summer visiting remote churches in the mountains and swamps of Papua New Guinea. Sometimes, we were the first white people to ever visit these churches. We traveled by plane, by boat, by bus, by truck, and by foot – sometimes all in the same week.

I remember when we arrived at one church. As we began unloading from the van, the little old ladies (all the ajumas and halmonies) from around the village were so excited that they gathered in the front yard of the church and started screaming (Aaaaiiieeeeee!!!) and waving their hands like they were dying of heat exhaustion. Then, they started coming toward us. We put out our hands to greet them with a handshake American style, but they bypassed our hands and hugged us with their heads in our armpits – still screaming and waving their hands. But once they really got to hugging us, many of the little old ladies would grab our bottoms – not just a pat, mind you, I'm talking about getting a handful and squeezing! Then, they would maybe bounce a little and stand up and start waving their hands and screaming again (Aaaiiiieeeee!!!). Many of them had tears in their eyes. When we got back to little house behind the church, we started comparing notes. “Did that old lady goose you?” “Yep.” “Hey, man, they all goosed me!”

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Family Series 5: Finances

It's time for our next installment of Cajun jokes. One day Boudreaux and Tibedeaux were sitting around complaining about how they never had no money. Boudreaux, he say, “Bra, I'm so broke, my girlfriend and I got married just so we could get the rice they would throw.”

Tibedeaux, he say, “Well, I'm so broke the bank called me yesterday, and they asked for their calendar back.”

Boudreaux, he got another one: “I'm so broke I had to make monthly payments on a Big Mac set at McDonald's.”

Tibedeaux come right back: “Keaw, I'm so broke I was walking down the street with one shoe. They say to me, 'Hey Tib, you lost a shoe!' But I say back, 'No bra, I found one!'”

Boudreax he think hard, and he say one more: “Tib you know that chicken place, KFC, where they say that chicken's finger licking good. Well, I so broke I go there to lick other people's fingers!”

Tibedeaux say, “Yeah, man, you're broke!”

Half of all married couples fight about money. In one survey in the USA, 57% of divorced couples said that money problems were the biggest reason they split up. Parents are the single greatest influence on a child's future financial success. If the parents manage money well, and if they involve their children in that process, then the kids are much more likely to become good money managers. Finances are the highest rank cause of stress in survey after survey.

Money is a big deal for families. ...

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Email Catch-Up

This week, I have two priorities.
1) I need to write the fifth installment of our sermon series on family. This week's topic is finances. This sermon should be fairly easy, since I preached a whole series on finances about two years ago.
2) I want to catch up on my emails. Ever since Christmas, I've been desperately behind on my emails - usually about 80 in my in box. Yesterday, I crossed a milestone. All of my in box could fit onto one screen page! Today, I'm continuing to whittle away at it, and I'm already down to 25. I'm still replying to emails from 10 days ago, though.
When I get all caught up on my emails, I'll finally feel like I'm ready to start the regular full-time pastoring schedule. With Christmas, Solar New Year, English Camp, Lunar New Year, and a little extra time with my Mom, I've really struggled just to draw even. But I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

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 ...


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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. ....


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