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Missions & Theology - Apr 27, 2009 9:55 - 0 Comments

Persecution in North Korea and Romans 1

Excerpt from this article about persecution and conditions in a North Korean prison:

“While she (Kim Tae Jin) was in prison, she said, a fellow inmate known only as Park formed a small “fellowship” of seven Christians. Prison guards eventually caught Park, beat him severely and asked him, “Who told you about the existence of God?”
“Do we have to be told about the existence of the sun to know that it’s there?” Park replied. “We learn its existence by feeling its warmth.”

“”For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Romans 1

The article continues to reflect the passage though:
“Under North Korea’s policy of juche, or self-reliance, citizens may worship only President Kim Jong Il and his late father, former ruler Kim Il Sung.”

Picking up where we left off… “So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Emphasis mine.)

Do you see the similarities? Park defends his worship of God because He sees the sun. Kim Jong II instead has created the policy where all must worship himself rather than God. He has exchanged the glory of the immortal God and become a fool.

Two notes:
First - Read carefully looking for scripture in the real world. I was just reading the article and Romans 1 jumped off the page.
Second - Pray for our brothers North Korea is the worst persecuted country in the world. The article tells of the 200,000 Christians incarcerated in horrific prisons, and 400,000 Christians nation wide who meet in hiding.


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Book Review - May 4, 2009 16:20 - 0 Comments

Book Recommendation: Anthropoligical Insights for Missionaries

As part of my recent classes I’ve had to read through Paul G. Hiebert’s Anthropological Insights for Missionaries. This recommendation isn’t just for general missions interest. This is for those who are pursuing being missionaries, are missionaries or are in the process of considering being one.

It gives a helpful overview of anthropological issues helping would be missionaries get an idea of what they are heading into. The difficulties and challenges they  will face, scenario’s and stories to help them come to grip with realities yet unforseen, and encouragements to help you along. It doesn’t provide one with all the answers, but instead paints pictures and prepares the student to grasp and start intereacting with thoughts and challenges that missionaries struggle with. Issues that eager candidates would never suspect. A helpful and thought provoking read.

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Every Day Missions, Mercy Ministry - Mar 2, 2009 17:32 - 0 Comments

Homeless + H2O = Easy Ministry Opportunity

Dear American,

       You live in a nation of ease. If you couldn’t drive you certainly walk everywhere you go. Technology has made life easier. To that end we also appreciate other tools that enable us to minister in more ways.

   One such tool I’d like to introduce you to is called H2O (Hope2Others).

(From their website…)

H2O, which stands for Hope 2 Others, is a nonprofit organization designed to bring physical and spiritual hope to homeless people worldwide, through lunch bags filled with the following items:

  •  Water bottle
  •  Gospel Tract
  •  Rescue Mission meal voucher
  •  Socks
  •  Tuna and crackers
  •  Granola Bar or cereal bar
  •  Fruit snack or applesauce cup
  •  Crackers with peanut butter
  •  Hand wipe
  •  Pack of Kleenex
  •  Mints 
    •     The ministry prepares the bags and sells them at or below productions cost. Their goal - to spread hope one bag at a time. You can start your own ministry or buy bags from them locally. 
    Learn more at their website: http://www.h2obags.com/index.php
    (This is also a personal plug since I’ve known Leslie and Lauren the two teenage founders of H20 for many years now. I’ve given out more bags than I know, it is a blessing to take part of this ministry.)

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