With all the hype coming up for the World Cup next year in South Africa, one might become excited as the final teams finish out the qualifying stages to see who is going to the Prom of Soccer.
Los Yankee Boys will be joining their Mexican and Honduran qualifiying partners as they take on the rest of the world in their next World Cup Challenge. We have a great and talented team this year, considering they almost defeated the Brazilians in the Confederations Cup this past summer and upset defending Euro Champs on their way to the finals. We got some evidence to back it up.
Heck, the All Whites, aka New Zealand, a country known for its fearsome rugby thugs, the All Blacks, will be joining their Down Under cousins the Aussies in WC 2010, and both Koreas will be in the same competition, adding more spice to the Footballing Stew.
Then there's the French. O Boy. Their November 18th qualifier will be probably one of the most controversial in history, a huge "*" goes on the side as the Hand of Thierry bats the ball...twice...to help keep the ball in play and narrowly escape defeat at the hands of the Irish. No luck of the Irish on this one, they got a load of garbage on their doorstep for this one.
The Irish fought hard both games, but they came up short. For their efforts, they got robbed, like someone passed GO on Monopoly and not only took $200, but they busted open the jail and got everybody out robbed. And those thugs took everybody else's $200. It must be really awful how the Irish got robbed on that one.
See in professional basketball and in American football, refs can look at the plays and they can check if someone goofed up. It's not that hard. Its called "pause," look at a camera and do your best to make a call. Its pretty blatant when THE ENTIRE WORLD can see a handball and the whole Irish team are in your face if they saw something.
Its like if someone told me that I had a big zit on my face the day I have to give a press conference to release my new CD, and they are pointing to me and showing me exactly where to crush the manifestation of oil and skin suicide. But I refuse to look at a mirror. Because someone says something to me, I don't have to believe them. They can make all the hand motions they want and say I have a zit, but I can ignore them all they want. But doesn't make sense if there are a whole rack of people seeing a target market on my face, wouldn't I want to check?
Henry, I felt bad for the guy. I probably would have batted the ball with my hand too. But I would also expect the referee and his team to do their job and make the right call too, and Henry wouldn't have been in this predictament.
Thanks to this incident, even though I am big fan of soccer, I am a little bit sore at FIFA and in the game in general.
This plate of "missing the point" mixed with unfairness feels like the game that people can get away with stuff.
Until the WC, I'll be paying attention to the NBA for a while.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Invictus
I finished reading this awesome book by John Carlin named Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that made a Nation. It is about democratic South Africa's birth and how Nelson Mandela emerged as president of a nation that was divided and almost on the brink of civil war after his election. To sum up this interesting historical novel that is now being made into a movie named Invictus, Mandela cleverly uses the power of sport to unite a nation where there are 11 official tongues and a myriad of races that have clashed throughout the RSA's tumultuous history. A rough man's game of rugby and the nation's victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa brings delirium and a sense of identity to its conflict ridden people.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison as leader of the African National Congress, then a banned-political group which was deemed "Communist and terrorist" during the Apartheid-era. Apartheid was a political and social policy constructed by the all-white Afrikaner government of South Africa, a policy that means "separateness" in the language of Afrikaans. It was designed to protect white power while keeping the majority blacks and other minorities at bay with clear social policies and boundaries where no interaction would occur between the races. It was a humiliating time for black South Africans who had no ability to climb out of their poverty and were constantly being put down by their white overlords.
In this book, Carlin cleverly paints a portrait of how Mandela, from his time of being released from prison to his rise to power in 1994, uses his charm and innocent trust to gain the respect of Afrikaner officials to start building a new concensus for his eventual new government. The Afrikaners realize that with the riots, violence, and constant pressure from the outside world concerning their Apartheid policies, they will soon become more vilified and not be able to govern if social chaos continues. They knew that time was not on their side and that this Apartheid was digging their own graves.
Enter rugby. I particulary never cared for this game until I came to South Korea. When I met a few compadres from Australia and New Zealand in my teaching program in 2007, I started to learn about this game from them. They were absolutely big fans of this game, as we Americans are about football. In fact, both games are very similar but have an entirely different approach on how to play. It was not until the Rugby World 2007 in France that I started to learn and follow the game a little bit more and more. I learned about Rugby culture and history, a game that focues on brute power and quick ball movement, combining the elements of American football and soccer. Its actually a pretty neat game (the South Africans won that World Cup too).
For the Afrikaners, a race of peoples descended from Europeans during the migrations to South Africa in earlier centuries, this was their game. The Afrikaners enjoyed rugby as these young white boys grew up with the rough hussle and tussle of knocking each other and trying to score points through field goals or "tries," the equivalent of a touchdown. Meanwhile, soccer was the sport for blacks, who were mostly poor and all you need to play is a small ball to kick on your feet. Both races were worlds apart. In fact, the book mentions that blacks in South Africa would cheer for any opposing team that scored against the all-white "Springbok" teams (an African deer which is the iconic mascot of the national rugby team).
Yet Mandela had a plan. He had many choices at his disposal to gain power in the new government of 1994: why not take revenge and oust every Afrikaner politician who has brought hurt and pain to the African majority? Or perhaps violently oust the white minority like Robert Mugabe did in Zimbabwe (and look what happened there)? Or being a man of pragmatic nature and a forgiving spirit, why not reconcile and build all things new?
Mandela, instead of using the usual, sometimes backfiring policy of political reconcilation (because you can't please everybody), tried his hand at using a game that the South Africans were good at and uniting his people through sport: rugby. However, there was a problem: they were banned playing internationally due to the sanctions against them from the outside world. So Mandela gave the sport back to the Afrikaners and allowed them to take it on again, much to the chagrin of the blacks and other minorities who thought it was risky to give the Afrikaner minority a sense of legitimacy again.
Through meeting the players as they prepared for the 1995 World Cup, and with team manager Morne du Plessis creating a nation unifying team motto of "one team, one nation," Mandela constructs a plan to bring a new way of thought to bring both sides down on one issue: towards victory through sport. With their pragmatic captain, Francois Pienaar, a giant of a man who grew up in a more humble environment than other priveleged Afrikaners, the players and staff started to change their attitudes that by only through getting the support of the entire nation they could not only achieve victory, but also bring a violence-battered, politically-failing apart nation together. Meanwhile, Mandela throughout the book is meeting with political enemies left and right and simply appeals to their heart that violence is not the answer.
The upcoming film is set for a December 11, 2009 release date and directed by Clint Eastwood, a renowned film director and starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as SA's rugby captain Francois Pienaar. It is something I look forward to seeing in the near future. The story I read in this book by Carlin was inspiring because a man used not further violence to make things right, but reconciliation to put a ripped-nation almost on the brink of civil war to become a new democracy where Africans of all colors could me made.
On a spiritual note, how much more does Christ reconcile us with God, when "all of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3) We could have been dead...forever. But Christ reconciles with God through His death and resurrection.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison as leader of the African National Congress, then a banned-political group which was deemed "Communist and terrorist" during the Apartheid-era. Apartheid was a political and social policy constructed by the all-white Afrikaner government of South Africa, a policy that means "separateness" in the language of Afrikaans. It was designed to protect white power while keeping the majority blacks and other minorities at bay with clear social policies and boundaries where no interaction would occur between the races. It was a humiliating time for black South Africans who had no ability to climb out of their poverty and were constantly being put down by their white overlords.
In this book, Carlin cleverly paints a portrait of how Mandela, from his time of being released from prison to his rise to power in 1994, uses his charm and innocent trust to gain the respect of Afrikaner officials to start building a new concensus for his eventual new government. The Afrikaners realize that with the riots, violence, and constant pressure from the outside world concerning their Apartheid policies, they will soon become more vilified and not be able to govern if social chaos continues. They knew that time was not on their side and that this Apartheid was digging their own graves.
Enter rugby. I particulary never cared for this game until I came to South Korea. When I met a few compadres from Australia and New Zealand in my teaching program in 2007, I started to learn about this game from them. They were absolutely big fans of this game, as we Americans are about football. In fact, both games are very similar but have an entirely different approach on how to play. It was not until the Rugby World 2007 in France that I started to learn and follow the game a little bit more and more. I learned about Rugby culture and history, a game that focues on brute power and quick ball movement, combining the elements of American football and soccer. Its actually a pretty neat game (the South Africans won that World Cup too).
For the Afrikaners, a race of peoples descended from Europeans during the migrations to South Africa in earlier centuries, this was their game. The Afrikaners enjoyed rugby as these young white boys grew up with the rough hussle and tussle of knocking each other and trying to score points through field goals or "tries," the equivalent of a touchdown. Meanwhile, soccer was the sport for blacks, who were mostly poor and all you need to play is a small ball to kick on your feet. Both races were worlds apart. In fact, the book mentions that blacks in South Africa would cheer for any opposing team that scored against the all-white "Springbok" teams (an African deer which is the iconic mascot of the national rugby team).
Yet Mandela had a plan. He had many choices at his disposal to gain power in the new government of 1994: why not take revenge and oust every Afrikaner politician who has brought hurt and pain to the African majority? Or perhaps violently oust the white minority like Robert Mugabe did in Zimbabwe (and look what happened there)? Or being a man of pragmatic nature and a forgiving spirit, why not reconcile and build all things new?
Mandela, instead of using the usual, sometimes backfiring policy of political reconcilation (because you can't please everybody), tried his hand at using a game that the South Africans were good at and uniting his people through sport: rugby. However, there was a problem: they were banned playing internationally due to the sanctions against them from the outside world. So Mandela gave the sport back to the Afrikaners and allowed them to take it on again, much to the chagrin of the blacks and other minorities who thought it was risky to give the Afrikaner minority a sense of legitimacy again.
Through meeting the players as they prepared for the 1995 World Cup, and with team manager Morne du Plessis creating a nation unifying team motto of "one team, one nation," Mandela constructs a plan to bring a new way of thought to bring both sides down on one issue: towards victory through sport. With their pragmatic captain, Francois Pienaar, a giant of a man who grew up in a more humble environment than other priveleged Afrikaners, the players and staff started to change their attitudes that by only through getting the support of the entire nation they could not only achieve victory, but also bring a violence-battered, politically-failing apart nation together. Meanwhile, Mandela throughout the book is meeting with political enemies left and right and simply appeals to their heart that violence is not the answer.
The upcoming film is set for a December 11, 2009 release date and directed by Clint Eastwood, a renowned film director and starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as SA's rugby captain Francois Pienaar. It is something I look forward to seeing in the near future. The story I read in this book by Carlin was inspiring because a man used not further violence to make things right, but reconciliation to put a ripped-nation almost on the brink of civil war to become a new democracy where Africans of all colors could me made.
On a spiritual note, how much more does Christ reconcile us with God, when "all of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3) We could have been dead...forever. But Christ reconciles with God through His death and resurrection.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Masked Men
So, its fall season, and today it plunged almost towards freezing. They cancelled classes for our 1st and 2nd grade ladies for three days due to the pandemic we all know as "swine flu," or how my friend Michael calls it, "Pig Flu." My friend Ryan's school shut down for a week last week due to several kids and staff catching the dreaded disease. Michael's school has a whopping 160 students out of action, and they still haven't shut down the school. Worldwide, people in many countries are stocking up on TamiFlu and going to their clinics to put needs into their arms.
Rewind three months to August. I just returned from the United States. Reports in the media circulate worldwide for an upcoming pandemic. "Get ready for the worst." The U.S., England, Spain, and other countries monitor patients who catch the disease early with the closest degree while the WHO tries to figure out ways to prevent the worst. Its something to keep their eyes on for sure.
But the funny thing about this tiny Indiana-sized country is that when a media report circulates, its usually inflated to degrees that are not necessarily true. Its only August.
Go back to last year, 2008. Reports come around this country that American beef is tainted and is prone to mad-cow disease. Some Koreans claimed that there was evidence that Koreans are suscepitble to "infection" of mad-cow than other races. Give me a break.
Since I came back from a country that had few cases of mad-cow disease, I got the best gift possible: an extra week of vacation, oh I'm sorry...a "quarantine." Which meant staying home, playing videogames, sleeping all day, going to my Korean classes, going to the bathouse, eating some more, and enjoying the hot summer sun. The problem is, who is checking my quarantine? Nobody was. I had a good time visiting my aunts by the way.
Thanks to the Korean government, I got TWO weeks of vacation, hot dog! Thanks to the scare, our school festival was delayed permanently. Thanks to the scare, I slept in all day.
Kidding aside, the panicky attitude of the Korean people got them into this mess, because when the real infections started happening late this Fall season, they were sitting on their hands and looking at each other and saying, "what do we do now?" Especially with the scholastic aptitude tests coming up November 12th, several of my senior girls are out cold because of the virus. If they were aware that infections pick up in the Fall, they should have focused their efforts for treating the disease and preventing it now rather during a time when hot weather kills diseases better.
So, I'm sitting in my office with classes cancelled. After several of my girls were hit by the illness, they decided to do the right thing and shut the place down. Let's put it this way, 37 girls in one room, and with Korean girls very touchy of one another and sharing each other's food...its about time they shut it down.
Meanwhile, I'm sitting in office, with lots of valuable time on my hands. Let's use this time efficiently. Time to pray and ponder about the future.
My favorite moment of the Pig Flu scare is when one girl was walking with two of her friends. She is fanning her notebook in front of her, outwardly, not inwardly. Not because she was hot. "What are doing?" I asked. "Swine flu, I'm trying to blow it away." I could only laugh.
Rewind three months to August. I just returned from the United States. Reports in the media circulate worldwide for an upcoming pandemic. "Get ready for the worst." The U.S., England, Spain, and other countries monitor patients who catch the disease early with the closest degree while the WHO tries to figure out ways to prevent the worst. Its something to keep their eyes on for sure.
But the funny thing about this tiny Indiana-sized country is that when a media report circulates, its usually inflated to degrees that are not necessarily true. Its only August.
Go back to last year, 2008. Reports come around this country that American beef is tainted and is prone to mad-cow disease. Some Koreans claimed that there was evidence that Koreans are suscepitble to "infection" of mad-cow than other races. Give me a break.
Since I came back from a country that had few cases of mad-cow disease, I got the best gift possible: an extra week of vacation, oh I'm sorry...a "quarantine." Which meant staying home, playing videogames, sleeping all day, going to my Korean classes, going to the bathouse, eating some more, and enjoying the hot summer sun. The problem is, who is checking my quarantine? Nobody was. I had a good time visiting my aunts by the way.
Thanks to the Korean government, I got TWO weeks of vacation, hot dog! Thanks to the scare, our school festival was delayed permanently. Thanks to the scare, I slept in all day.
Kidding aside, the panicky attitude of the Korean people got them into this mess, because when the real infections started happening late this Fall season, they were sitting on their hands and looking at each other and saying, "what do we do now?" Especially with the scholastic aptitude tests coming up November 12th, several of my senior girls are out cold because of the virus. If they were aware that infections pick up in the Fall, they should have focused their efforts for treating the disease and preventing it now rather during a time when hot weather kills diseases better.
So, I'm sitting in my office with classes cancelled. After several of my girls were hit by the illness, they decided to do the right thing and shut the place down. Let's put it this way, 37 girls in one room, and with Korean girls very touchy of one another and sharing each other's food...its about time they shut it down.
Meanwhile, I'm sitting in office, with lots of valuable time on my hands. Let's use this time efficiently. Time to pray and ponder about the future.
My favorite moment of the Pig Flu scare is when one girl was walking with two of her friends. She is fanning her notebook in front of her, outwardly, not inwardly. Not because she was hot. "What are doing?" I asked. "Swine flu, I'm trying to blow it away." I could only laugh.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
USA Is Going to South Africa 2010
Team USA is going to the World Cup in South Africa next year.
In spectacular fashion, the Americans went to the politically-embattled nation of Honduras to take a 3-2 victory in a hostile country.
In my opinion, after the Americans' disastrous campaign in 2006 in Germany, the Yankees have chances to make noises in Africa next year after doing well to reach the finals of both the Confederations Cup and the Gold Cup (losing in both).
New players like Charlie Davies, a speedy forward who plays in France and Jozy Altidore, another fast and skilled forward who plays in England, along with defender and captain Carlos Bocanegra and speedy forward Landon Donovan, we will have a great team ready for next year.
Its time to make some noise down south in the world. I'm just relieved we qualified in that tough group.
In spectacular fashion, the Americans went to the politically-embattled nation of Honduras to take a 3-2 victory in a hostile country.
In my opinion, after the Americans' disastrous campaign in 2006 in Germany, the Yankees have chances to make noises in Africa next year after doing well to reach the finals of both the Confederations Cup and the Gold Cup (losing in both).
New players like Charlie Davies, a speedy forward who plays in France and Jozy Altidore, another fast and skilled forward who plays in England, along with defender and captain Carlos Bocanegra and speedy forward Landon Donovan, we will have a great team ready for next year.
Its time to make some noise down south in the world. I'm just relieved we qualified in that tough group.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The Coolest Summer Ever
And I mean that literally. F'real. I didn't do anything special this summer except return to my homeland to pay respects to my grandmother, who passed away August 22, 2009. Miss you grandma.
Despite that turmoil in my life, I wanted to thank God for a "cool summer." Weather wise and terms of relaxation and ponder.
Summers in Korea are brutal. Since Korea is a peninsula like the state of Florida, surrounded by three side of water, you would think the sea breeze would be nice for the Land of the Morning Calm? Sike! It gets real hot in the summer, especially in August. The humidity slaps you like a child that talks back to his mommy!
But there were two factors that helped me fight the summer heat as the summer passed me by with hardly any suffering:
1. America
2. The Jjimjilbang
Going to America, I was blessed to see my wonderful family (especially my family in Jesus) and during my stay there I was blessed with awesome weather. It was a nice break from the humidity back in Korea.
The "jjimjilbang" is rougly translated to "bathhouse" in English. These establishments are everywhere in Korea. They are mostly 24-hour centers of baths and sweat rooms where Koreans congregate, shower, and get a profuse sweat on and come to get their stress out in the midst of their fast lives.
I was a little way of these places throughout my time here in Korea, but it wasn't my experience of bathhouses in Japan that I became more comfortable in visiting these places back in my 2nd home (o the irony!).
So I have been an aficionado of these joints for a while. I go in, undress and take a shower, then put on a special "jjimjilbang" uniform where you go into the sweat rooms of various kinds and sweat it out.
There are several of them: from the "salt rooms" (filled with salt rocks), to stone rooms (where the floor is filled with smooth, hot stones), and to ice rooms (to cool off).
Throughout the summer, going to these places has helped me become more sweat resistant and more tolerant of sweating. So, when I step outside, my body became not a heat pump as it used to be.
Sweating is an awesome thing because it gets the toxins out your body. It makes your skin healthier and more vibrant. And, it helped me get through the summer without being plastered by salt throughout the day!
A great summer, thank you Lord.
Despite that turmoil in my life, I wanted to thank God for a "cool summer." Weather wise and terms of relaxation and ponder.
Summers in Korea are brutal. Since Korea is a peninsula like the state of Florida, surrounded by three side of water, you would think the sea breeze would be nice for the Land of the Morning Calm? Sike! It gets real hot in the summer, especially in August. The humidity slaps you like a child that talks back to his mommy!
But there were two factors that helped me fight the summer heat as the summer passed me by with hardly any suffering:
1. America
2. The Jjimjilbang
Going to America, I was blessed to see my wonderful family (especially my family in Jesus) and during my stay there I was blessed with awesome weather. It was a nice break from the humidity back in Korea.
The "jjimjilbang" is rougly translated to "bathhouse" in English. These establishments are everywhere in Korea. They are mostly 24-hour centers of baths and sweat rooms where Koreans congregate, shower, and get a profuse sweat on and come to get their stress out in the midst of their fast lives.
I was a little way of these places throughout my time here in Korea, but it wasn't my experience of bathhouses in Japan that I became more comfortable in visiting these places back in my 2nd home (o the irony!).
So I have been an aficionado of these joints for a while. I go in, undress and take a shower, then put on a special "jjimjilbang" uniform where you go into the sweat rooms of various kinds and sweat it out.
There are several of them: from the "salt rooms" (filled with salt rocks), to stone rooms (where the floor is filled with smooth, hot stones), and to ice rooms (to cool off).
Throughout the summer, going to these places has helped me become more sweat resistant and more tolerant of sweating. So, when I step outside, my body became not a heat pump as it used to be.
Sweating is an awesome thing because it gets the toxins out your body. It makes your skin healthier and more vibrant. And, it helped me get through the summer without being plastered by salt throughout the day!
A great summer, thank you Lord.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
MMA
Check out this video of MMA and UFC, commonly known as Mixed-martial arts, which is used to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. UFC is a huge sport in America now, making lots of revenue using the medium of pay-per-view. I used to not be a fan of this stuff...I thought it was just too violent and bloody (yeah, even some guys are sensitive to this real-life stuff). Just too dangerous, ya know? Yet all of my American friends back at home watched this stuff in intensity and mimic the workouts that are associated with it.
After a lot of rule changes and an added structure to the sport, UFC has become safer (albeit the blood is still there) and has become popular with alot of young men around the world. My friend Jordan Jackson learns this stuff and he even showed me a few moves at home which I know is painful. Many men learn it not only to learn how to fight, its a great workout and regimen. Even women these days are getting into this stuff, as there is a women's competition now.
Maybe if I have the time and motivation, I would like to learn something like this. Watching this stuff brings out the gruff man in me and makes want to bulk up. Maybe I can learn hapkido now here in Korea and mix it up with MMA in the future.
A good, healthy body is not a bad thing.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Changed and Transformed
I just got back from America to visit my family, in particularly my grandparents who are currently ill. It was a sad period to be coming home, but at the same time the sudden realization of how life is so precious, especially in a broken world made me enjoy my time there. I had such a good time back at home.
Living a fast-paced life here in South Korea has got its benefits and of course its cons as I'm always doing something: whether it be teaching them girls English, studying Korean, hanging out with my friends, going to Bible study groups, or studying Hapkido, its hectic but fun.
I was called back home to Maryland this past week to visit my ailing grandparents and to pay my respects to them. To see them in their states was saddening and a stark reminder about how I need to take my life seriously and live it for Jesus Christ. Yet at the same time I am thankful to God that I had a chance to spend time with my grandparents and get to know about my Indian (from South Asia) heritage more. Not that being Indian enhances who I am and that brings a wholeness to my life, but it was neat to see where my roots came from in my other-half of my racial make-up.
During this time period I was really blessed to spend time with everybody who was dear to me during the past five years of my life. These people dear to me also have a trusting, loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and they take their redeemed lives seriously, unlike alot of American Christians who are church-goers but aren't Gospel-touched over-floers.
My boy Jordan Jackson, my best friend, was unfortunately cut from the DC Capitol Police academy program. He passed the initial boot camp training and graduated from his training down in Georgia, which was a huge praise. What was remarkable was his faith through this whole time, in fact he was encouraging my father who was sad for him when he heard the news! My boy Jordan knows that Jesus has a plan for him during this time and it was remarkable to see my boy's child-like faith in Jesus continue to outpour in this time of his life.
My friend Jon Soule was blessed with his first child. To hold his new little life in my hands was a special moment, being like an uncle seeing that Jon and I have been friends since 1997. It was unreal but another huge blessing in my life and of course, his. I know that despite his funny, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Republican, gut-toting Conservative exterior he's aiming to be a Godly father.
My brother Sean was blessed with a wonderful new home. His wife Catherine and him have worked especially hard these years to make this happen while this whole time maintaining their trust that the Lord has got a plan for their lives; He opened up a new sale to build their new home in. I was the first guest to christen the home and stay in their guestroom.
My parents are rocks of faith in Jesus. Caretaking for ailing grandparents is no easy task and requires patience and love. Being witnesses to them is even more difficult, but Christ's love conquers all and it was so comforting to see how much love my parents invested to spend time with my grandma and grandpa despite their ills. Only the Spirit of the Lord can do that.
My friend Paul Brown is going to be another expecting father. He's about my age and he's already striving and getting ready to be a Godly father. And now he's going back to school to get some training in computers. A solid, all-around Christ-loving guy.
My boy Charlie is a wonderful dad and he too loves the Lord. It was so cool to see him and his wife take care of their young one at the dinner table Friday night and giving her the care she needs.
What about me? The theme of change has just rocked my world last week. Some of my friends haven't changed at all, and some people I know my life are still stagnant. Yet I think back about my wonderful trip last week and thinking about change...and not Obama's Hope for Change (which he is struggling with back home). I'm talking about people who love the Lord and being honored for that.
One of my fave Bible verses, from Romans 8:28, "In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." He works, we have faith. Works is an outpouring of faith in Jesus. This past week was a time of seeing that display, while enjoying the company of those whose lives are transformed by the Lord.
Its still a broken world, but we as Christians know that the Lord is still in control and continues to love His bride. Its a great relationship.
So, I'm back in Korea and I am also quarantined due to the swine flu epidemic. Trust me, its not that bad. Its an extra week of vacation and I pray that it'll be a time of rest, prayer, and getting to know the Lord. Its the best quarantine ever.
My goal this final semester at Hakik Girls High School to bring the message of Jesus Christ to my students. Whether it be through my actions and living my life in Him or straight up Holy Spirit-led conversations with students and teachers about my faith. I just want to trust in Him and look at Him, nothing else. Thank you Jesus.
Enjoy them hot days of summer ya'll!
Living a fast-paced life here in South Korea has got its benefits and of course its cons as I'm always doing something: whether it be teaching them girls English, studying Korean, hanging out with my friends, going to Bible study groups, or studying Hapkido, its hectic but fun.
I was called back home to Maryland this past week to visit my ailing grandparents and to pay my respects to them. To see them in their states was saddening and a stark reminder about how I need to take my life seriously and live it for Jesus Christ. Yet at the same time I am thankful to God that I had a chance to spend time with my grandparents and get to know about my Indian (from South Asia) heritage more. Not that being Indian enhances who I am and that brings a wholeness to my life, but it was neat to see where my roots came from in my other-half of my racial make-up.
During this time period I was really blessed to spend time with everybody who was dear to me during the past five years of my life. These people dear to me also have a trusting, loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and they take their redeemed lives seriously, unlike alot of American Christians who are church-goers but aren't Gospel-touched over-floers.
My boy Jordan Jackson, my best friend, was unfortunately cut from the DC Capitol Police academy program. He passed the initial boot camp training and graduated from his training down in Georgia, which was a huge praise. What was remarkable was his faith through this whole time, in fact he was encouraging my father who was sad for him when he heard the news! My boy Jordan knows that Jesus has a plan for him during this time and it was remarkable to see my boy's child-like faith in Jesus continue to outpour in this time of his life.
My friend Jon Soule was blessed with his first child. To hold his new little life in my hands was a special moment, being like an uncle seeing that Jon and I have been friends since 1997. It was unreal but another huge blessing in my life and of course, his. I know that despite his funny, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Republican, gut-toting Conservative exterior he's aiming to be a Godly father.
My brother Sean was blessed with a wonderful new home. His wife Catherine and him have worked especially hard these years to make this happen while this whole time maintaining their trust that the Lord has got a plan for their lives; He opened up a new sale to build their new home in. I was the first guest to christen the home and stay in their guestroom.
My parents are rocks of faith in Jesus. Caretaking for ailing grandparents is no easy task and requires patience and love. Being witnesses to them is even more difficult, but Christ's love conquers all and it was so comforting to see how much love my parents invested to spend time with my grandma and grandpa despite their ills. Only the Spirit of the Lord can do that.
My friend Paul Brown is going to be another expecting father. He's about my age and he's already striving and getting ready to be a Godly father. And now he's going back to school to get some training in computers. A solid, all-around Christ-loving guy.
My boy Charlie is a wonderful dad and he too loves the Lord. It was so cool to see him and his wife take care of their young one at the dinner table Friday night and giving her the care she needs.
What about me? The theme of change has just rocked my world last week. Some of my friends haven't changed at all, and some people I know my life are still stagnant. Yet I think back about my wonderful trip last week and thinking about change...and not Obama's Hope for Change (which he is struggling with back home). I'm talking about people who love the Lord and being honored for that.
One of my fave Bible verses, from Romans 8:28, "In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." He works, we have faith. Works is an outpouring of faith in Jesus. This past week was a time of seeing that display, while enjoying the company of those whose lives are transformed by the Lord.
Its still a broken world, but we as Christians know that the Lord is still in control and continues to love His bride. Its a great relationship.
So, I'm back in Korea and I am also quarantined due to the swine flu epidemic. Trust me, its not that bad. Its an extra week of vacation and I pray that it'll be a time of rest, prayer, and getting to know the Lord. Its the best quarantine ever.
My goal this final semester at Hakik Girls High School to bring the message of Jesus Christ to my students. Whether it be through my actions and living my life in Him or straight up Holy Spirit-led conversations with students and teachers about my faith. I just want to trust in Him and look at Him, nothing else. Thank you Jesus.
Enjoy them hot days of summer ya'll!
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2010: The Year of the Soni Tiger
