daikee in corea

i don't care what anyone says.  the toughest sermon to preach is one where you have it translated.

it surprises me how many times i've sat through an "altar call" or the administration of the so-called "sinner's prayer" without hearing a prior presentation of the gospel.  how in the heck can you call somebody to repentance of sins without explaining the gospel message?  it seems that the joel osteen syndrome reaches far and wide.

i was just outside reading the bible, enjoying a miller, and munching on some potato chips.  it was most satisfying.  drinking beer while reading the bible = goat.

for I do not understand my own actions. for I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 

at first i thought it was the united states.  last summer i was convinced it was south corea.  i was wrong on both accounts.  it's north corea.  north corea is the key.  must pray for north corea.

this is my fourth sunday in corea and i have yet to hear a good sermon.  is this because there aren't any good preachers in corea or am i just being an arrogant westminster student?  it seems that most of the sermons are constructed to tell people what to do rather than expositing what the passage says.  oftentimes the passage is read once and ignored throughout the rest of the service.  do i really care about what you want me to do?  should i care?  why not tell me what the scripture says rather than what you think is best for me.  i have heard four sermons and the "best" one so far was in a korean service.  i probably think that one is the best only because i didn't understand a lot of it.

if a sermon can be delivered in a motivational conference then it is not a sermon.  if a sermon can be delivered in a jewish synagogue then it is not a sermon.  i find my soul thirsty and hungry yet instead of a full-course meal feasting upon god's word i get some leftover scraps.  maybe joel osteen has more of an influence in corea than people realize.