Corn!

It all began when I was walking around Ulsan one day and I felt this pain in my foot. I had never had this pain before so later I looked at this hardened skin on the side of my left foot. I wondered what is this and why does it hurt when I walk. Several weeks went by and I would notice this same pain when I wore my tennis shoes. I wear slippers all day at school so there is usually no problem.

I told Karen, two Friday's ago, that I was going to get up the next day, Saturday, and walk over to the hospital near our house and ask my friend, the doctor, what this thing was on my foot. He actually speaks decent English. I feel at this point I should explain the medical system here and the mentality of Korean doctors in general. Most all doctors have offices in the hospital. You don't make appointments, you just show up, sign up and get your check up. We really don't have to wait but about 10 or 15 minutes each time. They don't waste time and they don't beat around the bush, yet they are extremely nice and good at what they do.

So, the next day I got up and walked to the doctor. When I arrived I went in to see my friend, showed him my foot and he said, "You know CORN?" I said, "Yes, I've heard of a corn." To which he replied, "This is corn." I said okay, what can you do about it. He said they can do two things. 1. Put something topical on it or 2. they can cut it out. I said, "Alright, how can I get this done." He said I should go see another doctor. I was led down the hallway by his nurse to another doctor. He saw it and said, "Corn...Go to the next doctor." I went outside his office and went in the room next door. This office had a sign over the door that said, "SURGERY." I talked to this doctor and he spoke pretty good English as well. He said that they should cut it out. I said, "When?" He said, Now!" I asked him if he meant right now and he told me yes. I can't believe the next question I asked but it will give you some indication of what was running through my mind. I asked, "Will it hurt? and he said, "Of course!" Wow! I thought to myself this is a perfect example of living in a different country and a different culture.

He proceeded to tell me to follow his nurse upstairs to the operating room and he would be right there. I went upstairs, took off my flip flops and put on slippers and went into the operating room. Let me tell you, this is the first time in my life I have ever been into an operating room and I was more than a little nervous. Two girls, who spoke no English, pointed to the operating table and I knew what they wanted. I laid down on my stomach and within two minutes the doctor was there. He cleaned my foot and said he was going to numb it. Here I go again with the same question, "Is it going to hurt?" He said, "YES." and boy was he right! The first two shots made me rising up off of the table in pain. After that, I just felt my foot being moved around, pulled and pushed. He was finished within a few minutes. The two girls stood by the bed as if to say, "Get up and follow me." I got up, changed back into my flip flops and went down stairs to see the surgeon in his office. He said I should be running within a few days.

I went out to the cashier and paid the 26,900 Won ($22.37) that the whole thing cost. I walked home and told Karen what I just told you. This is an experience I will never forget and it's actually funny looking back on it. This is just another one of the adventures from our time here in Korea. Perhaps you will remember this story the next time you have corn on your plate.

What a Trip!!!

A few weeks ago, we returned from a trip to Japan and China. First, we went to Japan. We landed at Kansai airport near Osaka. After a train ride into the city, we found our way to the subway and then the hotel. We spent four days in Japan and were able to see some amazing sites in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. The view of Osaka Castle from the hotel was cool. Japan was very clean and the people were pretty nice. They really seemed like they were trying to stay at the forefront of fashion and beyond. It was also very expensive. McDonald's for the family was around $18.00 just for the simple stuff. We could tell the people seemed content and were not in such a rush.

After Japan, we flew back to Seoul and caught another plane about an hour later headed for Beijing. Beijing was very different than Japan. We first noticed this in the airport when we bought train tickets to the city. The young lady seemed frustrated that we were even bothering her to buy tickets. It was like we had offended her in some way and we just asked for four tickets to the main subway station. Beijing is very crowded with a population of possibly 30 million. While there we saw more amazing and historical sites like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. The reception we received from the girl at the airport seemed to be the way it was in many parts of Beijing. It just seemed colder and like a lot of the people there; had nothing for which to live. They simply functioned.

On the last day, we decided to go check out a show and so we bought tickets at the hotel. The manager of the show picked us up at the hotel in his car. On the way we began to talk. We told him the places we had visited and one of those was Tiananmen Square. I told him I remembered seeing live coverage of the protests on the news and he said that he was part of those protests. He proceeded to tell us about how he was part of five protests against the government during that time. He and eleven others were sent out of the city for several weeks by their group leader because their pictures had been posted for arrest. He said when he returned he decided to forget protesting against the government because he knew it wasn't going to make any difference.

As Karen and I talked about the trip and the obvious differences between the countries we also realized some similarities. Japan is comfortable in its prosperity and way of life while China has accepted their way of life and seem only to exist. I was telling Karen that I'm sure the Chinese people have happy and exciting moments in life but feel shackled down deep inside.

Both of these ways of life are dangerous. To be content because of superficial things and to give up because of oppression leave you no better off tomorrow than you are today. In life and in Christ shouldn't we strive for something more than simply what this world has to offer, whether good or bad? Shouldn't we also not give up on life or Christ because we don't like the government and laws under which we live? Jesus, the disciples and the early church cared nothing for the things of this world and lived under a government which was at times hostile to Christians and the church. Look at how much they accomplished.

We should ask ourselves, "Am I content because I have enough stuff?" or "Have I given up on making a difference because I don't think I can make a difference." "Press toward the mark..."

Hard Rock Cafe - Osaka, Japan

Osaka Castle

Manager of the Theatre/Former Protester

The Great Wall

Ha ji mah!

In January, I was contracted to teach three weeks in a Winter English Camp in Gyeongju. I would leave home on Monday mornings and arrive back home on Friday afternoons. I taught 4th graders for 11 hours a day. During the three weeks they taught me a few helpful things. One phrase they taught me, which I've used a lot since then, was "ha ji mah." It means, "don't do that."

When I break out this phrase in class the students are surprised that I know a little Korean. Occasionally, they will actually stop whatever wrong they are doing. My goal is to teach them as much as possible and to make their time in class the best it can be. Do they see things the same way I do? No. They want to play and do what THEY want to do. Do I blame them? Not really. If I remember correctly, I was "sometimes" the same way.

Adam and Eve were sinless and lived in a perfect environment. The two had everything they needed and they still wanted more. Even though God said, "Don't do that," they chose their ways above God's ways and He allowed them to get what they wanted.

Israel, basically, did the same thing when they asked God to give them a king. He who has perfect wisdom was their guide through life, yet they wanted what the world had. They wanted a leader that was imperfect and who did not have the wisdom of God. This doesn't make sense when you stand back and study this story. Again, God said, "Don't do that," and again they chose their ways above God's.

Many people gathered together as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. They praised Him and cried, "Hosanna in the Highest." They didn't need freedom from Caesar, they needed freedom from sin. The people were soon disappointed because they didn't realize that Jesus must rule their hearts before He could rule their lives. Soon they would cry "Crucify Him!" This time God didn't say, "Don't do that" to the people; He said "forgive them." He gave them what they wanted so He could make available what they needed...the Saviour.

As I look back on my childhood, I remember there were two ways to keep from making bad choices. One way was to think before I acted. The other way was not to think and discover I'd done wrong when a big paddle was quickly making it's way toward my fanny. Which way is better? I think you and I both know.

We should all listen carefully for those times when God says, "Ha ji mah." Why? Because He only wants what's best for you and me.

Something To Think About

What if I told you that you could travel the world and get paid to do it?

To most people, the thought of that seems exciting and too good to be true. It almost sounds "unbelievable". What if I told you that you could travel to Europe, Asia or the Middle East and get paid for teaching English. That may still sound exciting and like a great adventure, but now there are more details. Now, we're not talking about traveling the "world." What if I told you that you could travel to South Korea and teach English in Ulsan for one year. You would be working in an elementary school Monday through Friday from 9 to 5. You will still get paid well and your housing and airfare is free. This may still appeal to you but it's now really specific and the excitement seems to fade even more.

What happened to traveling the world?

Why do I start with this example? Think about this. We all remember dreaming of what we wanted to be or what we wanted to see happen when we "grew up." We dreamed of changing the world, making tons of money, marrying the perfect guy or girl and having the perfect house. When we enter the working world, we do so with high ideals and great expectations. As time goes by, the excitement of those dreams, sometimes, fades away.

Why is that?

It seems to me, the more specifics we know about our future the less excited we get about it. We focus more on the details than on the big picture. Generally, people are more comfortable dreaming than thinking about the details. The big dream is great, but it's not what gets things done...in life or in ministry. Don't get me wrong. Big dreams are necessary and will eventually give us motivation, then results. But really, it takes faithful people in big cities and small towns to see great things accomplished.

Let's look at a faithful man born in a small town. He grew up in that same area and learned along with all of the other Jewish kids. At the age of 30, He began to travel around His home town and preach to everyday people. The number of His followers would increase, then decrease. At times, He would be ridiculed, then praised, but never would He let ridicule or praise change His mission. He was finally killed by those He came to help, yet He accomplished His task and touched the lives of the entire world. What a great example of how not to let our position, our location or other people keep us from taking steps to fulfill our "Big Dream."

We may feel, at times, like we aren't making a difference or we aren't living up to the dreams of the past. We can't let those feeling change our mission. We don't know how many lives we will eventually touch by touching the life of one person. Jesus focused on twelve and changed the future for millions. I believe our dreams are ever changing. Changing as we are molded into the image of Christ through people, circumstances and God's work in our lives.

To me "traveling the world and getting paid to do it" and "teaching English at an elementary school in Ulsan, South Korea" are the same thing because we are faithfully spreading the Word to those in our town. It's all a matter of perspective. Maybe they will one day reach millions.

Keep on Dreaming...then Keep on Doing...and give God the burden of the details!

This is my Bible study group. We meet on

Sunday afternoons.