DMZ 2 - Confusious say, "Man who stand on toilet..."

This is a continuation of the DMZ tour that I took at the beginning of January.  Previously I had chronicled the railroad station built near the DMZ in anticipation of future peaceful reunification.  The last stop before leaving the station was the bathroom.  I expected nothing unusual, but since it is Korean, frankly, I should have known better.

Decoratively framed above each urinal were sayings of wisdom translated into Korean and English (at least, I think so - I'm 70% sure about one of the languages, anyway).  I was so impressed by the one that I had to ponder that I waited for an opportunity to photograph them all.  There's a lot of truth in them (I should say, in some of them; some I'm still trying to figure out).  So, I thought I would expound on what I pull from them - for what it's worth.

I thought this first one especially pertinent considering where I was standing at the point (no, not the bathroom; the DMZ).  I thought about the monetary cost incurred because of the anger of the North Korean governemnt.  N. Korea probably wouldn't see it that way, but I'm not them.  In addition to the financial burden, there has also been an even greater cost - human lives.  Sadly, this number will probably never bee known.  Even at this moment, people are likely dieing a N. Korean jail or from starvation or lack of medical treatment because of the management of the communist government.  The repeated news reports of violence between the North and South remind us that lives are still taken in combat here - the two nations are techincally still at war.

The emotional or spiritual anger is extremely costly, as well.  I believe (my unexpert opinion based on what I see and have experienced myself) that anger leads to serious anxiety and stress.  The "angry people" that I know are constantly fighting an uphill battle.  The anger poisons every relationship that they are in.  Additionally, the constant strain required to maintain that kind of self-righteousness is really more than we were designed to handle.  Ultimately, the true cost of clinging to the luxury of anger which survives due to unforgiveness is that of the relationship itself - an extremely sad, but completely avoidable consequence.

Ultimately, I should ask what God's word has to say about it.  God has much to say about anger (Ex. 20:13; Matt. 5:21-24; Eph. 4:30-32; Rom. 1:28-31; Col. 3:8; James 1:19-25; Gal. 5:19-21) and that rarely is our (human) anger ever justified (Rom. 12:19; Eph. 4:26; James 1:19-25).  I know of some that say it is never justified in people.  Others claim a measure of "righteous anger" is acceptable.  I don't have a lot of sureness on that question, but I'll say that if anger is o.k. then it's very rare.

This also leads to the deeper question, how much do we consider our vices (nice way to say pet-sins) a luxury?  Something to be accepted, even cherished as our own, private possession?  Have we worked so desperately to "do well" in the other areas of life that we feel authorized (or that we deserve) to justify in our own minds the acceptance or deserved toleration of other Thall-shall-nots?  Do we truly know that sin is stronger than our own wills and anything we allow to live with us will, without exception, become our master?  (Gal 5:6,7)

What costly luxuries are we holding to?  What price are we paying even now to maintain them?

I know Karate (and, like, two other Japanese words).

One of the highlights of my year in Korea was leaving Korea for a month to be with my family!

We were all over the states during that month.  Some highlights:

1. San Diego for all you can eat food at Sea World.

2. Big Bear, CA for the first father/sons fishing date.

3. San Onofre, CA for four days with the beach for a front lawn.
4. San Antonio for two days without the children (that's a first after 11 years of marriage).

5. Tucson for everything else.

6. Celebration of 11 years of marriage!

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of that trip with me.  What I do have is the culmination of the impressive progess of Christian's and Nori's ju jitsu training (most of which I wasn't there for) - the Rendori.  There were three dojos represented for peoples ages 4 to 20.  It was basically three hours of intense flips, throws, pins, and cheering.

I've been most impressed with Nori and Christian because they have dabbled in a lot of things, but have never stuck with many of them.  Just spending a few nights watching them practice and spar made it clear that they were very good at this and it was really impacting their life in good ways.  I'd like to take some credit for their "wrastling" skillz, but since Christian has me tapping out when we wrestle I think I added little to it.

Here are the highlights.  Nori and Christian are both in white gis.

DMZ #1 - I Got a Ticket to Nowhere

I visited the Demilitarized Zone early in January with four others from the Haven.  It was an amazing experience that I'll have to chop up because there's much to be said.  The overall jist is that the North Korean government is actively attempting to take over the South.  It's strange to see people of the same nation in a position of such extreme and determined war.  America had it's civil war, but they fought and it was done.

The Republic of Korea (South) has done several things in hopes of unification under a free and democratic government.  They built a reunification complex for families in the North to visit the families in the South.  However, no families are allowed out of N. Korea because they might try to defect. (more on that later)  Economic deals have been made for RoK businessmen to build factories in the North to provide income for the populous.  Of course, the pay goes to the government prior to "dispersal."

The RoK also built a full-size railroad and station with plans to operate completely through North Korea into China and Russia.  The station is manned daily, heated, and maintained for the time when the war will end.  There is also a display of railroad ties that the Korean President and President W. Bush signed at the station's dedication.

"May this railroad unite Korean families." - George W. Bush

I was able to take the opportunity to shake the big guy's hand.



And I thank God for protection.  I slipped in the snow.  The train stopped in time.

Independance Day, 2010

     The time between Memorial Day and Independance Day was pretty uneventful, but here is the jist. 

     Sometime around the end of May an evangelist came from the states that had written a book outlining a program for memorizing Scripture.  I found this to be a great answer to prayer for me because I had began memorizing about a year prior with some success.  I had put to memory all of Ephesians, chapter 2 when I found out I was deploying/PCSing to Korea because of the content concerning the peace and identity that we have through the gospel of Christ.  I thought that would be valuable during the separation. 

     Anyway, the program was very methodical and simple.  I started putting it to use right away and it has been one of the biggest blessings in my entire life.  Even though I've memorized a lot of verses since then and am now nearing the end of putting all of 1 Peter to memory, that is really just a side note.  The thrust of it is that of the sure doctrinal foundation that God has built me upon through it.  I've always known a Christian should be able to comply with 1  Peter 3:15 "but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meakness and fear."  I'm thankful for this experience because I believe I am much nearer to that charge. 

     To me, this is another example of the truth that God works in each of our lives in a way that provides for a continuous and consistent growth toward Christ-likeness and that He does so for the specific time and place that we are each experiencing.

     Beyond that, during May, June and July I was preparing for the mid-tour with my family and doing college courses.  I had made a plan to complete a lot of my school work and that plan worked out, but God had better plans for me that I submitted to for the remainder of the year.  The only trip that I took during those months was on the 4th of July with the Haveners.

     I can't even tell you the name of the area we went to but it was a great time.  We drove all the way down the seawall and went to a beach at the end of it.  The afternoon was full of good food, activities, and a hike.

     No 4th of July is complete without fried chicken so Popeye's took care of that for us!  When we proceeded to the beach.  We organized a kickball game which is tough in the sand.  It became even harder to round second base with the infield covered in jellyfish.  In the end, we had a good time and lost no soccerballs to the sea.

 

     

     

    

     Afterward, we hiked around the cliffs of the shore.  I've loved the land of Korea since I flew over it back in February. 

 And, of course, there was some curousing... 

   

     Here's a few more classic pics of Korea, which I have grown to appreciate so much more now that I've been here for so long.

I think the key to really enjoying the time here is to embrace the culture.

  

This is random, but beautiful.

Lost in Translation... and Gunsan

At one point in time, everyone in the world spoke the same language.  Sweet!  I'm sure this made a lot of things easier.  Unfortunately, God saw that it made man's most natural act too effective - sinful pride and arrogance  (You can read the history of this here.) - and now here we are with a plethora of languages.  I for one have a really hard time learning other languages, but I've met people that were naturally talented with learning the speak another language.  I would say those people could make a lot of money helping to translate for those that aren't so good at it.

During our time in Japan we often would go to the mall and see the work of those that didn't translate so well on the t-shirts of the Japanese people.  I doubt Candi and I were successful in not letting people know we weren't laughing at them, ... just their clothing choice.  Three of most memorable ones were:

"The fields are alive with raped flowers."

"Diamonds are my favorite partner."

"F#%@ You."

Korea has it's share of frustrated or mis- translations.  While out on the town one night a group of us stumbled upon a shopping district that we hadn't seen before.  It proved an interesting night, to say the least.  Behold...

Is this true?
 

 "Hey good lookin', what'cha got cookin'?"

  

Words can't describe what theses word describe.

What about me?

Further research in this area can be done at Engrish.com.   

Playin' Catch Up

I thought I would spend the remainder of my time in Korea remembering a lot of the things I did here.  I suppose it would have been helpful to share this as they happened, but...

On Memorial Day weekend a group of us from the Haven Baptist church went to Everland, the second happiest place on earth.  It was a great day and the park had some interesting things to see and do.

This is one of the fastest wood rollercoasters around - 120 mph.  Surprising it wasn't very rough.  To top it off we went on a Monday and the park was empty.  It took us less time to get to back on the ride than the ride took itself.  The area of the park that the rollercoaster was in had a Scandinavian theme.  It took time for my brain to adjust to seeing Koreans in lederhosen - some stereotypes are hard to break.

There were moments that made me miss my boys...














There were moments that made me miss my girl...














All in all, good times with good friends...

... at least, as good as it can get without my best friend.