Faith & Life

Go and Make Disciples

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28:19–20 We should not keep the truth of the new covenant only to ourselves, but we should make disciples of all nations and keep it together. In order to accomplish that mission, I made a plan for the gospel whenever a new year came. However, I rarely followed the plan each year. Due to the poor business management at work, I had to look for a new job. I couldn't…

Jo In-woong from Seoul, Korea

Serendipity Law

Many great inventions and discoveries have been made unexpectedly. These include X-ray, penicillin, microwave oven, vaccination method, nylon, glass, etc. It is called serendipity when we make a significant discovery or invention by chance or by failing an experiment. The term was used for the first time in the eighteenth-century by an English novelist Horace Whirlpool; he used the term after reading the Three Princes of Serendip, a Persian fairy tale. However, good luck will not come to everyone at any time. Those who constantly make efforts will gain it after trying despite 99 failures. Hiroshi Miyanaga, the author of The Law of Serendipity, says: “In order to turn accidental luck into your own, you have to always think of…

What I Have

Whenever I compared myself with other people, I felt that I owned nothing better than they did. At such times when I felt a loss of confidence, a verse woke me up. “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Rev 3:11 God’s word, “Hold on to what you have,” made me realize that I owned precious things more than other people. Father and Mother protect us as the apple of Their eyes, and our brothers and sisters share joys and sorrows with me. The heavenly blessing has been given to me, but not to everyone though he wants it. I was ashamed of myself for having compared myself with…

Kang Yeong-suk from Busan, South Korea

Sharing Something Small With Neighbors

“If we want to find happiness, let's stop thinking about gratitude or ingratitude and give for the inner joy of giving.” Dale Carnegie There is a campaign to donate coffee to neighbors who cannot afford a cup of coffee. When you pay for the coffee, you pay someone else’s coffee in advance, and then someone in need would come and drink coffee for free. This was called the “suspended coffee,” which means “the advance purchase of a cup of coffee for someone who needs.” It started in Naples, Italy, and spread to many countries. This sharing movement was also introduced in Korea. The “Half a Bean” movement, which started in Geochang, is not only for food such as coffee and…

For God Is with You

It’s been a year since I came to India for the gospel mission. Sometimes, I struggle with the language barrier or feel disheartened when things don’t turn out well. Then, I remind myself of these verses. “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together” Jdg 6:14–16 Gideon was the least in his family, and his clan was the weakest in Manasseh, and yet God chose him as the judge…

Lee Nan-hui from Bangalore, India

So That It May Go Well With You in the End

On February 17, 2016, my son graduated from elementary school. My husband who worked two hours away from home even took a leave take time off work to participate in his graduation ceremony with me. At the graduation ceremony, the names of the graduates were called one after another, and they were given their certification of graduation. Some were called to come up to the platform to receive awards, and my son was one of them. I was so happy that tears welled up in my eyes. People might think that he received an academic excellence award or something like that, but what he received was an athletic award that was given to those who had talents in athletic activities.…

Lee Sun-deok from Gumi, South Korea

Earnest Prayer

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” Ps 145:18–19 Whenever I felt as if God didn’t answer my prayers immediately, I wondered, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?” I should’ve checked if I had prayed earnestly to God. From now on, I will change the way I pray. Hoping that all my wishes will be granted, I put my hands together and pray earnestly with reverence for God today, too.

Gu Jeong-min from Durban, South Africa

Always Speaking Positively

“No Graffiti” “No Dumping or Littering” “No Photography” “No Food and Drink” “No Parking” . . . When you go to the street, an office or a restaurant where many people go, you can easily see various warning signs or the sign that says, “Video Surveillance in Progress.” There was a research that counted the signs in Seoul, which is a busy area, and they found that there were about 2,000 warning signs on the walls, pillars, and entrances of buildings when they walked about 13 km (6 miles). It’s like one sign in every nine steps. Regarding this, a psychologist said, “It is an inevitable measure for maintaining order and safety, but if it is excessive, it can act…

The Law of Jante (The Law of Ordinary People)

“If you are happy, you can make others happy. If you make others happy, you will be even happier.” Gleim (German poet) When people in Northern Europe teach their children, they emphasize the “law of Jante.” This is a customary practice that has been passed down in Scandinavia. Jante is one of the common names like James in America, implying an ordinary person. The law that is deeply rooted in them is as follows: “Don’t think that you are special, don’t think that you are in the same position with others, don’t think that you are smarter than others, don’t think that you are in a better position than others, don’t think that you know more than others, don’t think…

Help Me Overcome My Unbelief!

There is a verse that breaks my heart whenever I read it because it describes me very well. “. . . But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mk 9:22–24 The boy’s father disappointed Jesus with his words of unbelief, but which were familiar to my ears. It’s because there were many times when I prayed to God without believing firmly that He would surely answer my prayer, although I acknowledged with my lips that God is the Almighty. Now, I reaffirm my faith and pray to God…

Gu So-hyeong from Anyang, South Korea

Holding My Grandmother’s Hand Tightly

My grandmother is 92 years old. Since I entered elementary school, my grandmother raised me and my younger brother. When I was young and immature, it seemed to me that my grandmother only cared about my brother. So I often rebelled against her rather than helping her, who was struggling with her business and housework. I hated her because I thought there was favoritism, and I went to high school far away from home. The day I was leaving, I packed up and came out of the house, and my grandmother suddenly started to cry. It was different from how I felt about my grandmother, who was strong and tough. My heart too started to ache. After getting married, I…

Lee Joo-mi from Seosan, Korea

I’m Sorry, Sister

One morning, I was late while getting ready to go to my class and did not leave my house until the class started. I was rushing out and eventually tripped on the stairs. Fortunately, I was not seriously injured. Even the doctor said I would get well soon if I was careful and refrained from being active, so I didn’t think it would impact my daily activities. Contrary to what I thought, since I sprained my ankle, I felt uncomfortable in my daily life. It took me 20 to 30 minutes to get to school, which usually took 10 minutes, and it was difficult to use the stairs, which used to be very easy for me to go up and…

Song Ji-soo, Jeonju, South Korea

God Can Testify

“God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Php 1:8 Apostle Paul was very confident in his love for the church members in the gospel, and said that God could testify how he loved them. We can feel his heartfelt sincerity for his brothers, whom he loved with all his heart and soul. When you make efforts to help your brothers and sisters, crying in response to their suffering, nobody may know or acknowledge it. But it shouldn’t matter because God knows all your invisible behind-the-scenes efforts and your earnest love for them, as it is written: “God can testify.” I give thanks to God for being a witness to everything I…

Shin Yu-dong from Seoul, South Korea

Giving Up One’s Life for Her Daughter

Who could ever lay down their one and only life for a stranger without any condition? If there is, it must be the person’s mother. In 2013, a couple named Joyce and Max lived in New York City. Joyce and Max were so happy to have a child that it felt like a dream. It was because when Joyce was diagnosed with cancer, she was told that it would be difficult to get pregnant if she received chemotherapy, so she had already given up having a baby. However, the joy of pregnancy did not last long. One month later, Joyce had a recurrence of cancer in her back and underwent a tumor removal surgery. The problem was after the surgery.…

A Daughter Who Took After Her Dad

“Mom! Why don’t I look like you?” “What do you mean? You’re my daughter. We look alike.” “You’re lying! Today I heard some people say to you about my older sisters, ‘Your daughters are pretty as they resemble you.’ But they said about me, ‘Oh, your youngest daughter probably look more like her dad.’ So, you all laughed a lot, didn’t you?” When I was a child, I always heard people say that whenever I went out with my older sisters while holding my mom’s hands. As I got grumpy and pouted my lips, my mom and sisters giggled and consoled me in their own ways. “In my eyes, you resemble me the most. They don’t have eyes to see…

Goh Su-jeong from Jeonju, South Korea

Gollum, King Kong, Ape

If you ask people if they know who Andy Serkis is, they may tilt their heads. However, most people will recognize him when they hear “Gollum.” He had been a nameless actor until he was cast in The Lord of the Rings, but his role was to be played with motion capture techniques, so even though the movie was a big hit, he was hardly recognized by people. Motion capture is a technology that captures facial expressions and movements and superimposes them on computer-generated images with a sensor attached to an actor's body. In other words, an actor can act, but his appearance would not be shown in the movie. After that, he was cast in the movie King Kong.…

I Will Obey It with All My Heart

Since I was little, I’ve been under God’s blessing with my family. However, I began to attend worship services just out of habit. I really hated myself for doing that, and I felt sorry to God. Out of frustration, I opened the Bible, where I found out what I had been missing out on. Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Ps 119:33–34 It is natural that we, God’s people, should keep the law of God with all our heart in any and every circumstance. How much more should we obey God’s law in peaceful,…

Kim Hye-been from Incheon, South Korea

Like David on That Day

David is described as a man after God’s own heart in the Bible. He is one of the ancestors of faith, whom I want to emulate the most. Whenever I consider his sincere love for God and firm faith in Him, I always think he was such an amazing person. One day, while I was reading the Bible, I opened my eyes wide in amazement at the following verse, which likens us to David. “On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them” Zec 12:8 I reminded myself again…

Hong Jeong-eun from Seongnam, South Korea

Sumbisori

Breathing means living. In other words, not breathing implies death. Life or death depends on whether we breathe or not. However, there are people who have to hold their breath to live. They are haenyeo, women divers, in Jeju Island, Korea. Haenyeo jump into the sea without any breathing equipment, carrying only the tewak1 and the net with a heavy lead block around their waist to easily submerge in the water. They hold their breath while diving in the water, so they go in and out of the water to breathe dozens of times. Among haenyeo, there is a rank system. Haenyeo with the introductory rank dive in and out of 5–7 meter depth, those with the intermediate rank dive…

Protect Your Family from Smartphones!

Mr. Kim wakes up at the sound of the alarm on his smartphone in the morning, reads articles on his smartphone, searches good restaurants at his lunch break on the smartphone, and buys things he needs, using his smartphone whenever he has time. He often asks after his acquaintances, using his smartphone, and he has small talks with his acquaintances through it. After work, he either reads a book on the smartphone or searches information of the things he’s interested in, and on the weekends, he searches places to visit on his smartphone and uses his smartphone to find the way there. Now, although there are people who don’t have wire telephones, it is hard to find anyone who doesn’t…