A Young Lion Does Not Eat Rotten Meat
by
Byung-Wook Jeon
Translated from Korean by
HYEJIN KIM
B.A. Notre Dame de Namur University, 2004
M.A. Monterey Institute of International Studies, 2007
Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for
the Degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
in
TRANSLATION
The Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation
The Monterey Institute of International Studies
Monterey, California
APPROVED on (date): Apr 18th, 2007
Miryong Sohn, Chairperson
Chuanyun Bao, GSTI Dean or Director of Translation
DEPOSITED in MIIS Library on (date): May 21st, 2007
MIIS Librarian
This Thesis is a Translation of
A Young Lion Does Not Eat Rotten Meat
by
Pastor Byung-Wook Jeon
Seoul, Korea
Kyujang Books
April 17, 2007
Table of Contents
TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION.................................................... 3
PROFESSOR’S REVIEW ............................................................................ 6
PEER REVIEWS #1.................................................................................... 7
PEER REVIEW #2 ................................................................................... 10
TRANSLATION ..................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER 1: FOCUS ............................................................................... 11
CHAPTER 2: DIFFERENCE ..................................................................... 49
CHAPTER 3 RELATIONSHIP GUIDANCE FOR YOUNG LIONS ................. 72!
2
Translator’s Introduction
As I stand at the end of my journey to completing my graduation thesis, so
many things cross my mind. I cannot believe that I am actually done with the thesis, as
much as I cannot believe my two years at Monterey Institute of International Studies
is almost over. This graduation thesis is probably the last project that I would work on
as a student, so I wanted it to be very special. I wanted to pick a book that I can
thoroughly enjoy reading and translating. As I was searching for the right book, I
came across the book by Pastor Byung-Wook Jeon, titled A Young Lion Does Not Eat
Rotten Meat. Pastor Jeon is a popular pastor in Korea especially among the young
people. He is well-known for his straight-forward, precise and graceful sermons,
which is very easy for young people to understand and relate to. I always have been a
fan of his so when I found the book I knew I wanted to work on this.
Through this book, Pastor Jeon is sending out God’s precious messages to
young Christians. He is telling young Christians not to be afraid of the worldly world
and that being faithful to God is much easier than many of them might think. Be bold
and courageous. Be a God's young lion and take the challenges given right in front of
you. Be a young lion who courageously goes on the journey of life and God will guide
you through the journey. Those are the main messages that Pastor Jeon wants the
young Christians to know after reading this book. As a young Christian myself, I
3
could relate to Pastor Jeon’s messages and take his advices whole-heartedly. But
reading his words and translating his words were two completely different stories. I
have to admit that it was not always graceful to read the book because of the pressure
that I had. It was very difficult to bring out what Pastor Jeon is speaking through the
Korean words by selecting the equivalent English expressions. This book truly
challenged me both as a translator and a Christian. As I read through, I was glad that I
chose this book for my thesis.
The book is written in Pastor Jeon’s style of speech. The main target audience
of the book is young people, from college students to people in their 20's. Reading this
book is actually not too different from listening to his sermons. Pastor Jeon wanted to
write his messages as colloquial as possible so that it is not so boring to read for
young people who prefer things short and straight-forward. And that was the most
difficult thing for me while I was translating this book: Following Pastor’s Jeon’s
style of speech, finding the equivalent expressions and word choices, and making the
messages to be conveyed to the English readers in the originally intended sense.
It was a whole new experience for me to translate almost an entire book. It
was a long, challenging and tedious process. On the other hand, it helped me to have a
more professional mindset as a translator. It gave me a chance to see my limits and
improve them.
4
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped me
through my thesis. My special thanks goes to Professor Miryoung Sohn of Graduate
School of Translation and Interpretation at MIIS for her guidance and support, my
classmates from Korean GSTI 2007, my peer reviewers who gave me an in-depth
analysis of my thesis, my precious family for just being there for me every second of
my life, and last but not least, God, everything is possible in my life because of you.
Thank you for letting me realize how it is like to walk through a life with you.
5
Thesis evaluation
Name: Kim, Hyejin
Supervisor: Prof. Sohn, Miryoung
Title of the text: !" #$% &" '() *+ ,%- (Translated title: A Young Lion
doe not eat Rotten Meat)
Overview:
Translation of a religious essay from Korean into English
Approximately 20,000 words
It is a good translation work with simple and clear language use.
Selection of the source text:
The author of the source text commands a very casual writing style in an effort to appeal to
younger Christians in Korea.
As a young Christian herself, Hyejin seems to be quite
attached to the topic and the source text.
This is an important factor affecting the quality of
the target text production.
Transfer of meaning:
Overall source text meaning is delivered with clarity.
However, Hyejin seemed to have
difficulty conveying the exact nuances at times as the source text contains pretty culturally
loaded expressions.
Language:
The language use in general is adequate.
to be a bit too literal.
However at times, the target language used seems
Since the source text has motivational purpose, it would be a good idea
to refer to texts written with similar purposes in the same target language.
help improve the overall language use.
Final Grade:
Pass
.
/
This will greatly
Peer Reviews #1
Translator: Hyejin Kim
Title and Authors: A young lion does not eat rotten meat. By Byung-wook Jeon
Editor: Gyuhwan Han
February 17, 2007
1. Contents
The book is rather a transcript of sermons than a serious written work. It is a
combination of sermons to the young generation. The translator renders the contents
easily so that young people have no difficulties in understanding the text.
Part of the reason why this book is easy to understand is that the original author
used many parables and examples in the text. However, at the same time, the fact that
there are many examples and parables in the text poses considerable difficulties for
translators, since parables are culture-specific in many cases. In this regard, if parables
are not translated properly, readers will have more difficulties, not fewer, in
understanding the text. Moreover, improper translations of parables and examples
could distort the original author’s intention.
7
I would like to commend the translator for her continuous efforts to make parables
and examples used by a Korean pastor easily understood even by English-speaking
readers.
2. Flow
People do not use complex sentences when delivering speeches. Reflecting this
factor very well, the translator used many short sentences. It was good because it
“sounds” as if I were “listening" to his sermon.
3. Language Usage
This is a book designed for the young generation. Accordingly, the pastor used
many colloquial expressions. The translator successfully captured this feature and
pleasantly rendered sentences in the English colloquial equivalence.
We have to remember that, since colloquial expressions are not universal
throughout the world, the translator made tremendous efforts to adapt these
expressions so that they may be understood by English-speaking readers.
4. Grammar and Style
Overall, there are very few mistakes in grammar. Here, I just want to mention some
issues that need more attention.
1) When rendering Bible passages that explain the past events, the translator often
“mix-used” the past tense and the present tense in the same paragraph, thus blurring
8
the difference between the two tenses. I don’t think these are errors. The translator
intentionally did that to emphasize the fact that the Word of God is ever present.
However, from the readers’ point of view, a mixture of tenses can often be confusing.
At any rate, in a thesis meeting, the translator defended her position well, saying that
she tried to emphasize the fact that the Word of God is affecting people’s lives at this
very moment.
2) Bible versions: In the U.S., Bible translation is a huge business and there are so
many Bible versions available in bookstores. In this sense, the translator needs to pay
much more attention to copyright issues and should make no mistake in putting the
name of the Bible version in parentheses after the verses that are directly quoted from
a specific version of the Bible.
9
Peer Review #2
Translator: Hyejin Kim
Title and Authors: A young lion does not eat rotten meat. By Byung-wook Jeon
Editor: Eun-kyung Cho
February 17, 2007
Overall, your translation is really great. Although there are a lot of unique
expressions of Korean, which make translation hard, your translation is so clear that
target readers would be able to easily read it. In particular, there are many
expressions frequently used in casual conversations in Korea, but you seemed to make
effort to find equivalent words and make sentences plain and simple so that the
original meaning will be transferred to target readers without difficulty. In this sense,
I think the smooth flow of your translation is the most impressing. The choice of
words is also good especially when you translate Bible stories and Biblical quotations
in this book, so it seems that the author's intention would be delivered to target readers
properly. I only found minor mistakes on grammar--tense and article, so I put marks
on your translation to give you some suggestions. Other than that, almost everything
seemed fine.
10
Translation
A Young Lion Does Not Eat Rotten Meat
Chapter 1: Focus
01 Young Lions, lead this era.
Some people always find a way to blame others.
But the person, who takes the chance, is the one. If no one else does it, I can do it.
If I step up first and lead like David, the world will have less problems.
The Beauty of Exaggeration
There was a boy who liked to exaggerate about things. Whenever the child
exaggerated, his mother would scold him and tell him not to do such a thing.
One day, the boy said, “Mom! I just saw hundreds and thousands of tanks
passing by our house!”
His mom answered to him, “Son, I have told you a hundred billion times and
more not to exaggerate!”
I also like to exaggerate when I give sermons or have conversation with
others. There are many times when my face turns red when I listen to my own
sermons because at times I exaggerate too much. Therefore, I try not to add such
11
embellished statements, but I am usually without luck due to myself being weak.
From a very generous point of view, I can say I exaggerate in order to focus on one
important point. However, from a more objective point of view, I must confess I
exaggerate because I am insecure.
The problem of exaggerating too much cannot be easily corrected. However,
to think about it in depth, everyone exaggerates. As a matter of fact, there is no one
who does not exaggerate. There are so many adjectives to amplify the meaning of a
word, are there not? There are clear statements of embellishment in the Korean
national anthem that we sing often. "Until the East Sea's waves are dry, Baekdu
Mountain is worn away.” How can the East Sea dry up and Baekdu Mountain actually
wear away?
Exaggeration with Holiness
As such, whether it is with good or bad intention, people tend to exaggerate.
If you are going to exaggerate anyhow, then I believe it is better to exaggerate on
good things, rather than on bad things. There is a factor that distinguishes between a
successful person and an unsuccessful person. Successful people exaggerate on their
dreams, visions, and promises. On the other hand, unsuccessful people exaggerate on
their failures, the attacks of enemies, and sufferings.
12
The Book of Numbers chapter 13 and 14 talk about twelve explorers. Both ten
pessimistic explorers and two positive explorers - Joshua and Caleb - gave
exaggerating reports. The ten explorers said, “We saw the Nephilim there. We seemed
like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” (Numbers 13:33
NIV) What kind of an overstatement is that? No matter how small you are and how
big your opponent is, how can you possibly feel like a grasshopper? People who
attack themselves through such self-torturing exaggeration are usually the ones who
fail.
Now, how did Joshua and Caleb react? "And do not be afraid of the people of
the land, because we will swallow them up" (Numbers 14:9 NIV). This is quite an
overstatement as well. How can you swallow people? In order to swallow the
descendants of Anak, Joshua and Caleb should be as big as a dinosaur or something
similar. This is an exaggeration, yet with an exaggeration with holiness. It is because
they embellished on the promise given by God, which is God’s victory.
I often see young people who pray grandly. “God, please let us change
Seoul!" “God, please change Korea!”
When I hear such prayers, I say to them, “Not Seoul, Not Korea, but change
yourself!”
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Still, I think it is very “cute” for young people to say such prayers because
they are exaggerating on their dreams and promises given by God. On the other side,
there are people who embellish on their difficulties that they are faced with. When I
heard a young man saying, “The worst economy ever since the Dangun 1 period,” I
wondered, ‘how long has he lived to use such expression?’ A twenty-year old man
does not normally use an expression of that kind. Such people exaggerate problems
and overreact to difficulties. They do not believe that their future is hopeful.
A Young Lion Who Does Not Complain nor Show Resentment
In 1 Samuel chapter 17, we can see a story of the fight between David and
Goliath. King Saul and many Israelites were terrified by Goliath’s power. However,
David shouted loudly to Goliath. “You come against me with sword and spear and
javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45 NIV) What causes the
difference between David’s attitude, and Saul and the Israelites’ attitude? It comes
from the difference in the way of thinking: the perspective. David saw God’s ability
and his help, while Saul and the Israelites only saw Goliath’s power and his big body.
People with faith show reaction with faith. Satan makes our problems look
bigger than they actually are, and therefore depresses us. Byung-Ho Gong, the author
1
The founding father of Korea
14
of many best sellers such as Korea, 10 years from now, said, “A person who blame
unfortunate things on not having vested rights 2 will not have a hopeful future.”
Look at the people who say “I suffer because of the others with vested rights"
or "the people with vested rights should be overthrown.” People who often use the
term “vested rights” believe that there are no more opportunities left for them because
the opportunities are already taken by others. They are filled with abandonment and
disappointment. Here, let’s think more strictly. Is there such thing as "vested rights"
anyway? I think it is more correct to say "a more favorable condition" rather than
"vested rights".
How many of the top five commercial banks in Korea have survived until
now? Nobody would have thought that banks could go bankrupt. Nevertheless in
reality, many of the big banks disappeared after repeating the cycle of merging and
breaking off within themselves. Would you still believe that there are such things as
vested rights?
It seems that the people who blame unfortunate events on not having vested
rights are the same people who lay their own responsibilities onto others. They blame
other people, thereby constantly complaining and holding grudges against others.
They have no ability to create the energy to change their own lives. On the other hand,
2
Protected rights or privilege that a person holds
15
people who can realize their own faults can also rise up quickly despite any hardships
that come their way. They are invulnerable to any evil temptations and are free of
resentment, which enables them to reach out to others.
Young lions never take any rotten things such as resentments and complaints.
Vested rights are not granted because they do not exist in the first place. David
confronted Goliath with the spirit of a young lion. He was victorious.
The Purpose of Five Stones
1 Samuel Chapter 17 says David had five stones in his hands when he went
out to defeat Goliath. This made me wonder a bit. Why five? Why not three or four
stones?
“Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream,
put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached
the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:40 NIV)
David even refused to wear the armor and other weapons given by Saul. Why
did David choose to fight Goliath with only five stones? We can find the answer in 2
Samuel chapter 21. There were five giants who definitely stood out among the
Philistine army. Goliath was the one who approached and shouted to David first.
There were four more giants other than Goliath. Goliath’s height was six cubits and a
span. A cubit is the length from the elbow to the end of the middle finger, which is
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about 17.7 inches. A span is about 7.87 inches. That means Goliath’s height would be
at least 7.8 feet or 9.5 feet at the most.
There is a guy who is 6.3 feet tall at my church. When he comes into the
service hall, he catches the eyes of many people. You cannot miss a 7.8 foot tall giant
with your naked eyes, even if you are very far away. Now, that answers my question:
Why did David have five stones to fight Goliath? It is clearly because he was
confident and determined to kill all the other four giants after killing Goliath. In other
words, he was confident that he would not only defeat Goliath but the rest of the
giants.
A Leading Mind
David did not compromise with his problems. He did not delay what he
needed to do. He was very audacious and he believed that he could fight the five
giants and win, while Saul and the Israelites were scared to death. This is the mindset
that young lions need to have in order to lead this era. David chose to lead.
In 2 Samuel chapter 21 and verse 15 and on, the names of the four giants are
mentioned. The first one’s name was Ishbi-Benob.
“And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead
weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would
kill David.” (2 Samuel 21:16 NIV)
17
The second giant’s name was Saph.
“In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At
that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha. ” (2
Samuel 21:18 NIV)
The third giant was Goliath’s younger brother. We can see that the giant gene
runs in the family.
“In still another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the
brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam.”
(2 Samuel 21:19 NLT)
The fourth was a nameless giant with six fingers on each hand and six toes on
each foot.
“In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with
six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot— twenty-four in all. He also was
descended from Rapha.” (2 Samuel 21:20)
David wanted to kill Goliath first and also get rid of the rest of the giants.
However, all the Philistines ran away after Goliath was killed. The rest of the giants
were killed afterwards by David and his men.
“These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of
David and his men.” (2 Samuel 21:22)
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I personally believe that this is how Christians are supposed to be. We are
bound by the fear that we feel about the world we live in. We need young lions just
like David who can free us from the fear. What we need to do is to ask God for a
specific blessing despite how ignorant others are. In the time of evil, God offers his
blessing to a special person. I have no doubt in this.
A person who is ready
Read 1 Kings Chapter 18. When Elijah was confronting the 850 prophets of
Baal and Asherah, God gave his power specifically to Elijah, so that Elijah could win
against the 850 prophets. As the world becomes more evil, God gives his power to
someone who is prepared. This is why one should not complain about the "bad"
circumstances surrounding him.
A person who prays is stronger than a nation that does not pray. We should be
as bold as a lion, and confront evil. God’s nation never tried to overpower its
opponents by strength in numbers. Look at the three hundred soldiers of Gideon.
Thirty-two thousand people volunteered to fight against Midian. God thought it was
too many. Therefore, he selected only ten thousand of them. However, in the end, the
number became three hundred. Nonetheless, God won the battle against 135,000
soldiers of Midian with only three hundred soldiers. The Bible tells us that a smaller
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number of people with faith have more power than a large number of people without
faith.
I heard Korean people say there is no great hero. It seems people have been
saying this ever since 100 years ago. Ahn Chang-Ho 3 replied to the people who
mentioned such comment.
“The reason why we do not see a great hero among us is because no one is
trying to be a hero. Shouldn’t the person who complains try to be a hero himself
first?”
What he means is, if you are saying that there is no great hero in Korea, then
you can be a hero yourself and stop criticizing on not having a hero.
Some people always find a way to blame others. However, people who take a chance
are the greatest one. If no one else does it, I can do it. If I step up first and lead like
David, the world will have less problems.
02 Stay Close to God. That will be Your Strength.
People who stay in a good relationship with God have no fear but courage. People
who have personal fellowship with God, study the Bible, and meet with God through
worship, will be full of courage.
3
Ahn Chang-Ho was a Korean educator and independence activist. He was born in
1878 in Pyongyang and died in prison in Korea in 1938, while under arrest for
engaging in nationalist activities against the Japanese.
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The Distance between You and God
When David defeated Goliath and the rest of the four giants, where did he get
the power? It is important to examine the phenomenon itself, but it is also important to
look at the cause that made this phenomenon possible. More than anything else,
David's courage would be the reason for his victory in the battle against the giants.
Being courageous without having a sense of fear, this should be what the young lions
should have. You need to be able to say "I will take care of it," even when you are
battling against five intimidating giants.
Then, where did David get his courage? I am always interested in the roots
and origins of what happened. I could find the answer to why David could be so
audacious when confronting the giants in “the distance between you and God.” People
who stay in a good relationship with God have no fear but courage. People who have
personal fellowship with God, study the Bible, and meet with God through worship,
will be full of courage. The secret to Moses’ massive power was his fellowship and
closeness with God.
“Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew
face to face.” (Deuteronomy 34:10 NIV)
There are icecaps in the North and South poles. Why is that? It is because the
poles are located in the angle of the Sun that has a small amount of sunlight. Simply
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saying, the North and South poles are at a distance farthest away from the Sun.
Indonesia and Malaysia have rainforests on the other hand. Does that mean that those
places are more blessed? The answer is no. It is only because they are closer to the
Sun than other places. There are not that many creatures living in the North and South
poles. Nevertheless, that does not mean that those places are cursed. They are just
farther away from the Sun. This proves that being close to the Sun promises an
abundance of life, while being distant from the Sun does not promise much of
anything but coldness.
This can be applied here as well. Why do our minds turn into a frozen
wasteland? It is because we have grown far apart from God. Turning away from
worshipping, praying, and building a fellowship with God will cause our minds to
“freeze.” We tend to believe that we must struggle hard so that we can reverse the
cold state of our relationship with God. However, we need to realize that the solution
is somewhere else: the distance between you and God. If you come closer to God, the
problems in your life will melt away like the snow melting away as spring comes after
winter.
Why are the young people afraid to step up today? It is because they are
unfamiliar with God. They do not feel confident because they feel that God is too far
away from them. How can we Christians heal the wounds of the time? We have to
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encourage young people to be familiar with God; Let them know that Jesus is their
friend.
A Smart Rich Man
We need the help of binoculars or a microscope to take a look at an object
closely. Using sophisticated machines and tools is very helpful as well. We use an
astronomical telescope to see the stars in the sky that we cannot see with our naked
eyes. With a good microscope, we can even see tiny viruses and even a nucleus.
Making a good use of tools means that you are a smart person. One truth that you
should admit is: the smarter you are, the closer you can see.
I know a fund manager. There are five monitors on his desk and he analyzes
the data and information of at least ten people. The amount of information that he has
to process is abundant. The final decision that he makes after studying and analyzing
all the data has a different quality from a decision that an individual investor makes
with little knowledge. I believe, without a doubt, that an individual investor can never
win against a professional investor. Simply, a knowledgeable person gains more.
Some people try to do things impulsively only with their enthusiasm.
However, the ones who have information in their hands cannot be underestimated.
Trying to compete with a professional and winning has the same probability of hitting
a jackpot when gambling. People usually think that by conquering the rich, the fortune
23
will evenly distribute throughout society. However, rarely in history, does a whole
economy stay stable after such plans. Rather, the rich people and society die out
together. Why? It is because rich people are smarter than you might imagine.
Maybe it is because we do not get to see rich people so often in our lives. The
image of a rich man we have is from the fairy tales. In the fairy tales, a rich man is
portrayed to be a fat guy who is dumb and greedy. But it is different in reality.
If you meet “real” rich people, you will find them to be polite, kind, and even
modest. They fully comprehend the flow of the time because they are never lazy in
learning. They are fit and healthy because they regularly go to the gym early in the
morning to exercise. They are smart enough to speak a foreign language or two. We
should learn to live with them in harmony. They exist in order to serve a purpose in
society.
Noblesse Oblige
Like other things, the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utilities applies to money.
You might feel the joy of earning money when you gain a million or a billion dollars.
However, when it becomes a larger amount, it turns to nothing but just a number,
which means, it is hard to sense truly the worth of the money you have. Therefore, this
is when the rich man starts to enjoy getting recognized more than gathering more
24
fortunes. There is no need to talk about Maslow's hierarchy of needs. When the basic
needs are satisfied, a person will have the desire for a good reputation.
In the early 20th century, the people who were known to be the
"conglomerates" appeared for the first time in America. They made more than enough
money to spend for the rest of their lives by selling oil and steel. They were rich
enough to be called the “capitalists.” People have the tendency to have fear when they
have something too great to control. Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller were
one of those people.
Carnegie and Rockefeller were not religious, but they started to have religious
thoughts and obligations after their new found fortune. "Why did God bless me with
so much fortune?" “Is there a purpose for my fortune?” Eventually, they started to
spend their fortune as they strived to answer their religious questions. Thus came the
concept of the “Noblesse Oblige,” which significantly contributed to preventing
capitalism from becoming corrupt.
The overnight rich will only become greedier, but the "real" rich, who are
blessed by God, are upright. I firmly believe in this. The "real" rich people have the
desire of fame with a sense of duty. Satisfying these qualities will encourage them to
offer what they have to all. If I were a politician, I would not try to overthrow the rich
people, but would try to live with them in harmony. I would praise and support the
25
rich who help the poor in need, so that those who became rich overnight can learn and
follow the good example. If the rich are encouraged to be enthusiastic about their
mission to others and contribute their ability to society, they will eventually play a
central role in creating more jobs. A win-win situation is something like this.
Come Closer
It is obvious that a wise person will have broader view on things. So then
what should a person who is less wise and with no money or any special talent do? I
have bad eyesight so I cannot see things that are far away nor am I rich enough to use
expensive visual aids such as binoculars or a microscope whenever I need them.
What do you think I should do to see well? Well, the answer is as simple as
this. Go closer to the object that you want to see, and then you can see it clearly. If I
come closer I can even see the tiny second hand of my watch, but if I am far away I
cannot see the second hand no matter how good my eyesight is. This is the power of
approaching and staying close.
Some people say that they have often felt God's presence coming over them in
their religious life. I had not experienced his presence as they say. So I decided to
come close to God myself, instead of God coming to me. Well, of course theologically
speaking, God always comes to us. Some might think that they are coming to God, but
it is actually God who is approaching them. I am expressing my experience from my
26
point of view to say that I strived hard to come closer to God and to feel God’s
presence.
When I was a high school and college student, I always stopped by church
before and after school. I prayed for a little while first before going to school and
going back home. My life was completely focused on church. Even when I would see
a cute girl at church I would thank God for that. This was my own way of struggling
to come closer to God. You have to come close and closer to God as much as you can
through morning prayers, all-night prayers, and reading the Bible cover to cover. By
doing so, all the problems in your life will melt away. This is the power of coming
closer to God.
When you come closer, you will see God’s power. God does not tell us to be
better. He wants us to draw closer to him. How hard can this possibly be? Becoming
better is the matter of ability. By depending on ability, one will meet limitations no
matter how hard one tries. We can never finish 100 meters in 9 seconds like Carl
Lewis. However, coming closer is something that anybody can do regardless of a
person’s ability.
A Crown Pastor?
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At Sam-il Church 4 , we focus on new believers, young people, and men. Why
do we have so many new believers, young people, and men at Sam-il church? It is
because we intentionally approach them. Usually the target that the church leader
approaches with enthusiasm accepts God easily.
I assert the “Pastor Equals Crown” theory. If a pastor is passive, it is hard for
the church members to approach the pastor. The pastor should approach his church
members first. On the Sam-il church website, there are many pictures of myself
making a peace or V sign with my hand like the young people do. In most of the
pictures, I am standing close to my church members. I sometimes take pictures
making the hand gesture at a large bookstore, and then some people who recognize
my face gather to see what I am doing. This can be very embarrassing, and it is very
embarrassing. But I keep doing it anyway. Why? It is because this is the way to stay
closer to younger people.
Many people still think of me as a “young” pastor. But I am already 44 years
old. There are 24 years of difference between a college freshman and myself. I used to
be like their brother in the past, but now that I am much older, I am like their uncle. It
is not always fun to hang out with people who are at my children's age.
4
The name of the church that the author leads.
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I personally love the music of the Sunflower and Cho Yong-pil 5 . But now I
have to listen to Boa 6 ’s 5th album in order to communicate with the young people now.
I once almost broke into tears when I played Boa’s song about 10 times because I kept
thinking, "Why should I listen to the music that does not stir my own taste?" However,
Boa's 5th album is a must if you want to easily approach the young people to tell them
about God. Approaching and trying to understand the young people's culture is one of
the best ways to help them accept God.
I enjoy riding the bicycle. In the beginning, I was embarrassed to wear a tight
track top and pants when riding the bicycle. I have overcome this embarrassment
because when I go out to Han River to ride the bicycle, it is not only a good exercise
but I also meet many people who do not know God yet. Once again, approaching is
the best way if you want to change a person's life.
The Power of Approaching
A story of Mary and Martha is told in Luke Chapter 10 in the Bible. What
was good about Mary in this chapter? She came close to Jesus. Jesus was pleased to
see Mary coming close to him. Martha tried to serve Jesus with all her heart. But
Martha did not realize that all Jesus wanted of her was her to come close to him.
5
They are the Korean singers who were very popular in the 80’s.
Boa is a Korean female singer who is very popular both in Korea and Japan among
the younger generation.
6
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There was a woman in the crowd who had a hemorrhage for 12 years. She
touched Jesus’ robe because she believed that just touching Jesus’ robe would heal her.
Jesus healed her because of her faith. What does this mean? This means that being one
person in the crowd simply will not let you experience the miracle, but being the one
trying to come closer to Jesus begets the opportunity to experience a miracle. Come
close to God, and you will live.
Would you like to learn how to pray to God? Go seek help from a person who
prays a lot. There should be the answer. Would you like to learn how to read well? Go
to a person who reads a lot and you will learn. If you want to enjoy video games, go to
a game expert. You will be able to play various types of video games. It is important
whom you come close to. The power of approaching is very important. Therefore, you
will experience miracles if you draw close to God.
Praying in God’s Arms
I have two daughters. My first daughter is a 9th grader. She is growing very
fast and already turning into a woman. My second daughter is a 6th grader. Whenever
she wants to tell me something or ask me for a favor, she comes and nestles against
me. When she asks me an unreasonable favor standing far away from me, I would
firmly say "no." However, if she asks me something in my arms and calls me
“Daddy," I will eventually say "yes" to the things that I would normally say "no." I
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finally realized that it is impossible to say "no" when my daughter asks me earnestly
in my arms.
My daughter has taught me how to ask God for the things that I wish for—
that is to hold closely onto God and ask him. If you pray to God as if you are looking
at his face while in his arms like my daughter does to me, he will gladly say, “Of
course, my child.”
There is nothing else that is more precious than the time when you praise and
seek God in his presence. I like praise songs that sing about coming close to God. I
sing this praise song most often during services.
“Hold me close, let your love surround me, bring me near, draw me to your
side…” We should strive to come closer to the Lord.
Are you still filled with fear and worries? Do you still complain about your
life not getting any easier because of the low employment rate of young people, and
your cloudy future? This is all because you are far away from God. Come close to
God, and you will see things change. The disabled will be enabled, the discouraged
will be encouraged. You should keep in mind that the secret to Moses’ ability was in
the close relationship with God. Moses led a fearless life by staying close to God.
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There is nothing special to leading a ministry. What a minister should do is to
help the ministry to come closer to God. Staying close to God each year and each
month is the way to help a ministry grow.
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 NIV)
Do not dare to seek God’s power where he is not present. God's grace cannot
be found at night clubs or bars. Go to the places where you can find God. Worshiping,
evangelizing, and praying are the ways to coming close to God.
Check Your Relationship with God
There were some sisters who have devoted themselves since the beginning of
Sam-il church. They always dedicated their time to serving God, especially during
weekends. However, as they were so absorbed in serving the church, they have passed
their marriageable age without noticing. So, five of them gathered to pray for their
future husbands about three years ago. They planned to gather once a week to pray for
an hour, but they often prayed for two or three hours as they got excited. They seemed
really desperate to me. So, one day I offered them a piece of truthful advice.
“It is really great of you to pray for your future husbands. But do not forget
this. A man does not drop from the sky just because you pray for him. A man is not a
quail or manna. If you want to meet a man and marry him, go to the places where you
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can meet him. All of you seem to have fewer opportunities to meet a man because you
always gather together to pray day and night. It has been almost three years and no
one has married yet. I am not telling you to stop praying. This praying meeting should
break up for the better. Create a praying group with men. You women should be
where the men are!"
They accepted my advice. After few months, two of them found boyfriends.
This is the power of approaching.
Look at the women who are married. It is not the girls with better faith who
marry earlier. Women who hang around men marry earlier. This is a common sense.
There is an old saying in Korean, which means if you stay near black, then you shall
be black, and if you stay near red, then you shall be red. It is all the matter of distance.
We all know the famous legend about Mencius’ mother. She moved their house three
times to find the most suitable environment for her son's education. This also tells the
importance of distance.
In order for our soul to be brave and powerful, we need to come close to God
every day. The reason why David could stay brave while Saul and Israel were afraid is
because he had a close relationship with God every day. Do you have fear inside? See
if you have a close relationship with God. If you don’t, you should try to come close.
Make time to read through the New Testament. Make time to pray and talk to God for
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enough time. A young lion’s braveness and confidence come from a close relationship
with God.
03 Cooperate with Others to Defeat the Opponent
David knew how to cooperate with partners.
This was a strong side of him.
David learned to cooperate with his church members in the cave of Adullam.
Poison of Criticism
David never criticized others before or after war. In many cases, a person who
has achieved something that most people cannot achieve tends to easily criticize
others after making his achievement. Wouldn’t you think that a normal person would
criticize Saul and the Israelites and brag after he had defeated Goliath?
“Are you sure you are here to fight? You don’t deserve to be the King!”
“I defeated Goliath with a stone. Shame on your swords and armor."
Nevertheless, David did not express such criticism. Being modest after a great
achievement is good for you. You need to bow down before God after your victory.
We need to learn from the loyal servant in Luke Chapter 17.
“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say,
'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” (Luke 17:10 NIV)
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If you do not deny yourself after your victory, your victory can be your
poison. A victorious person should keep quiet. If you have a responsibility, then just
deal with it quietly. Speak less. Some things are better left unsaid. Speaking
thoughtlessly is the act that pleases Satan.
Do Not Fight with Your Allies.
Fighting well is important, but whom you fight against is even more
important. Allies should not be enemies of each other. The fight that we face should
be the fight against evil, not against each other. Why do churches get weaker? It is
because we are fighting with each other.
David faced such temptation before and after the war. Before David went out
to fight Goliath, David’s oldest brother criticized David.
“When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he
burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with
whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and
how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle." (Samuel 1 17:28
NIV)
What Eliab said was unreasonable and a false accusation. Anybody would
become angry after hearing a such comment. David was not provoked by him; instead
he focused on the fight with Goliath. There are always types of people who criticize
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and harm others for no reason. They enrage others so much that the others want to
fight. Let’s say that David fights his oldest brother and wins. There is nothing good
coming out of it. No one will complement you for defeating your own older brother. It
is a shameful thing whether you win or lose. Fighting Eliab was a meaningless fight.
You should not get involved in such a fight.
Instead of arguing with Eliab, David focused on Goliath and defeated him.
The name “Eliab” has a great meaning of “God is my father.” However, Eliab does
not appear in the Bible anymore after the story. I think it is because after this famous
incident of David and Goliath, people considered Eliab’s name dishonorable because
of how he criticized David. Eliab disappeared into the history.
Before dealing with an unpleasant person, always ask this question to yourself.
‘Is this person an Eliab or a Goliath?'
You must fight a Goliath to the last drop of your blood by relying on God's
help. On the other hand, you must not go against an Eliab. I will take my two
daughters as an example. My first daughter always takes my side, and my second
daughter is always on my wife's side. Still, I would not consider my second daughter
as my enemy, would I? A person who has a different opinion in a team is called a
nonconformist. Eliab was not an enemy but a nonconformist. You should know how
to live with your allies in harmony.
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Self-Denial with Power
Every person has at least one thing that they are better at than others. I go to
work very early in the morning. I wake up at 2:40 A.M. and arrive at the church at
around 3 A.M. Then I pray and have some quiet time with God. I can say that this is
something that I am better at than others. Of course, there are other things that I am far
behind in comparison to others.
Being able to pray all night is a great benefit to one's piety. However, if you
judge others who do not pray like you do, you will be a barrier to the kingdom of
heaven. You should not criticize others with your own standard just because they
cannot do what you can do. Make good use of the opportunity that God has given you.
Work hard and be loyal. Admit and confess to God that you are an unprofitable
servant and simply did what you were supposed to do. Such self-denial will save you.
In any case, resentment is poisonous to the spirit of a Christian. Why do we
feel resentful? It is because we take things for granted. Why do we express
resentment? It is because we are hurt inside. Having a sense of inferiority makes us
express our feelings in a resentful way. We should learn how precious we are in God’s
eyes and how to express ourselves in an accurate and gentle way.
Show Your Confidence
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If you want to grow spiritually, do not spend too much time with people who
are cynical. There are some people who make you feel tired after talking to them for
just ten minutes. This type of people is not helpful. They will depress your spirit.
Unless you are trying to save that person’s honor, you would be better to keep a
distance from that person for your own good.
I once heard the following comment during a meeting.
“My spirit could rest when I was around the people with no sense of
inferiority."
Some people are overly sensitive that they think other people want to attack
them. They are trapped in comparison syndrome, which prevents them from even
having a normal conversation. Jesus had experienced many attacks himself. Jesus
always had to face jealousy and hostility of the Pharisees.
Jesus spent his time with Mary, Martha and Lazarus from Bethany in order to
have some emotional rest. In addition, Jesus visited their house to rest because he
could truly relax when he was with them. Love defeats inferiority. There are no
parents who feel inferior to their children. Inferiority can never have its impact on
love. It is good to have relationships that can offer such love. As fresh air is necessary
for your body's well being, a fresh spirit is necessary for your soul.
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Americans regard Hilary Clinton as the most influential woman in the United
States. There is even a joke that says men want their daughters to be like Hilary, but
not their wife. There is also a story with Hilary and Bill Clinton. Hilary and Bill were
driving and stopped by a gas station because they were out of gas. The owner of the
gas station turned out to be one of Hilary's friends from elementary school.
Bill said to Hilary, “If you had married him, you would have been the wife of
a gas station owner.”
Hilary smiled and answered, “No, I don’t think so. Instead, he would have
been the president of the United States.”
This is what we call confidence.
The Power of Partnership
God always leads us to collaborate with one another. When Jesus sent out his
disciples to preach, he sent them in groups of two. Only Judas thought and acted alone
and eventually followed the path of sin. We should learn to work as a team. We
should learn how to achieve our goals with others.
Partners should show their best when working together. Working together
requires the skill to persuade each other. In order to persuade successfully, your
argument should have a point. We receive education in order to have persuasive
power; being able to work together means that you have persuasive power.
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You cannot always do things your way. There are times when you should
accept another person’s opinion. Setting the pace with your partner plays a crucial role
here. Working together also means that you can accept other people's ideas. I see
some very talented people who are not used by God because they are so stubborn.
This implies that being able to work with other people means that you are not a
domineering person.
A Person who Works with God
Working together does not mean that you work together with your partner
only when you are happy. Being with your partner through hardships is not easy.
About ten years ago, there was a movie called “Dances with wolves” starring Kevin
Costner. When naming something new, Native Americans first explain what it is in
order to understand the new concept, instead of simply coining a new word. The
names of the Native Americans in the movie were very interesting to me. The main
character's name was 'Dances with Wolves’, and other names were ‘Stands with a
Fist’, ‘Wind in His Hair’, ‘Kicking Bird’, and the chief’s name was ‘Ten Bears’.
When I see how the Native Americans name things by what they think they
really mean, I am able to look at things in a new and different way. In an American
Indian's language, 'friend' means 'a person who carries my sorrow on the shoulders.' I
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think nothing else expresses the meaning of a true friend in such a simple and strong
way.
One of the staff members at church is fighting cancer. He always has been a
happy and dedicated religious leader. Last Sunday evening, three friends of that staff
member sang a song especially for him and asked everyone to pray for him. It was a
truly beautiful song, and the prayers we shared that night were graceful. The heart of
every prayer was filled with warmth and faith. After the service, I gave each person an
Indian style name: “Share each other’s burden together #1, Share each other’s burden
together #2, and Share each other’s burden together #3.”
Many people say they work for God. But they do not want to work with God.
Sometimes, the people who say they are loyal and faithful cause more problems at
church. It is because they try to do things their way. In the four Gospels, Peter was a
disciple who worked for God. He was so boastful and even acted violently with a
knife. However, in the book of Acts, Peter was a disciple who worked with God. He
listened and followed as the Spirit of the Lord lead his way. What is more important
than “for” is to “be with”.
David and His Friends in the Cave of Adullam
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David knew how to work with partners. This was his strength. David
developed a partnership with the people who ran away from Saul in the cave of
Adullam. The people who gathered in the cave of Adullam were a disorderly crowd.
“David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and
his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. Everyone who was
in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.
About four hundred men were with him.” (1 Samuel 22:1-2 NIV)
Yet, we should remember that later on the people from Adullam became the
leading generals of Israel. Joab, Abishai and Asahel are from this “Adullam
Academy.” Knowing how to collaborate with a partner is strength.
Elijah was a solo player. After the huge victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah was
so spiritually tired and depressed that he prayed he wanted to die under a broom tree.
God answered to Elijah.
“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel— all whose knees have not bowed
down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18 NIV)
After this incident, the Bible stops talking about Elijah for a while. I have
imagined what Elijah has done during that time. There were some missionary schools
located in many different places during Elijah’s time. Elijah probably has focused on
finding people who can serve God and educating them according to what the Bible
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says. In other words, Elijah returned to having relationships with others. He changed
from a stubborn man to a leader who educates partners to work with him. Elijah has
matured over the period of time when he learned to collaborate with others.
04 Win a Partner Simply by Having Interest.
Having a close relationship with someone is simple. Simply, have an interest in the
person. Having a good partner is also simple. Simply, have great interest in that
person.
If you have interest and pay attention, you can steal anybody’s heart.
Pay Attention
What is the key in achieving a mature and deep relationship? Interest is the
key. These days, people devote all their energies in sending their messages across.
Spending lots of money and time to deliver an important message is common. All
kinds of fancy advertising methods are used: a shocking approach, papering the walls
with posters, sending spam mails and etc. However, a good message delivery does not
come out of a loud voice. Having interest is all it takes.
During a seminar for religious workers, I had a conversation with a pastor. I
asked him about what kind of person is a good partner, and what kind of person draws
his heart. He does not seem to have a good answer. So, I ended up answering my
question myself. I said, “I think I am drawn by a person who is interested in me." Well,
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for example, I sometimes see people pay attention to the pastor and talk about him
after knowing the fact that the pastor will be preaching that week.
“I am very looking forward to your sermon this week. I am praying for you.”
They also support the pastor by saying, “Two days are left. I am sure your
sermon will change many people’s lives.” “Today is the day. I will pray for you.” And
during the service, they sit in the very front row and listen carefully to what the pastor
says. After the service, they approach the pastor and tell him, “It was a great sermon
from God. It definitely changed something in my life.” How can anyone not be drawn
to a person who pays attention to you like this?
Having a close relationship with someone is simple. Simply, have an interest
in the person. Having a good partner is also simple. Simply, have a great interest in
that person. If you have an interest and pay attention, you can steal anybody’s heart.
Having a Great Interest Wins a Heart
I once advised several "old" bachelors who wanted to marry but have not
been able to succeed.
“Do not say anything to the woman you like. Just think about her, pray for her,
look at her, and pay attention to her for a month. Then she will realize what you have
in mind without you directly speaking to her."
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They did not seem to fully trust what I have said to them. I only saw them
suffering inside over a quite long period of time. This is because they did not take my
advice in the first place. Not take the advice from a pastor? You will end up like Isaac
and only spend time meditating to himself.
After a while, I was walking down the aisle and overheard some girls talking
in the women's resting area. One girl said,
"I think he is interested in me!"
Her friends were also excited and said, “Wow, really?” and agreed with her.
People are not naturally ignorant enough to just behave indifferent toward a
person who has an interest in them. Having a great interest wins a heart.
Disability and Ignorance
What is a leader supposed to do? A leader should have great interest. I am
very much interested in soul, worship, morning prayers, and missionary work. A
church reflects on what the leader is interested in. What the leader is interested in
decides the whole future of the church. What is your interest? Remember that just by
having interest, people will gather around you and it might also change their lives.
Satan makes people ignorant in order to break relationships and to make
people incapable. Satan makes us hate showing interest. The ignorance gradually
suffocates us to death. People who want to commit suicide say, “The biggest pain in
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the world is that nobody wants me. Nobody loves me. I feel like I am alone in this
huge universe."
Actually, it is not that people are really indifferent toward others. We just
pretend not to be interested. People look at one another's life on the Internet. We live
in a "voyeurism society". But when it comes to Christianity, people want to be an
"anonymous" Christian, thereby becoming an “incapable” Christian. Having just a
little bit of interest can have a huge impact.
Having Interest Can Even Win the Heart of a Dictator
The U.S. Senator Leslie gave a speech at an African American community
club when he was running for the state governor position. When he nervously finished
his long speech, the atmosphere that filled the room was very unfriendly. He fully
realized that it is extremely hard to win the heart of an African American community.
Senator Leslie happened to attend another meeting at a different African
American community. Because of the failure that he had experienced before, he did
not say much during the meeting, but just sat down and listened to what they said. At
the end of the meeting, without him saying a word but just listening, the people started
to applause him. An old African American man in tears told Senator Leslie that it was
the best dialogue he had ever had. Curious Leslie asked one of his friends next to him.
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“What’s with today’s crowd? Their response is way better than I had
expected.”
“It is because you listened sincerely to what they had to say. This does not
happen to them all the time. You are the U.S. Senator for God's sake."
Listening draws a better result than giving a fancy speech. This is the power
of having interest.
The former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s story was on the Rolling Stone
magazine. People praise Jimmy Carter to be the best U.S. President after his
retirement. He had solved many thorny issues by having frank dialogues. The reporter
from the Rolling Stone asked him a question.
“What is your secret to drawing the dictators to the table so easily?”
“Most of the dictators are looking for someone who can listen to their
problems and understand their fear and rage,” answered Carter.
Dictators are actually lonely people. They sure have a lot to say, but with no
one to listen to them. They opened their hearts to Carter who was willing to listen to
them. Having interest can even win the heart of a dictator.
Caring Jesus
Most of us believe that the best way to make others believe in Jesus is to
forcefully send them God's message. Well, that can be an answer too. However,
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sometimes just paying some attention can open people’s heart. Zacchaeus in the Bible
is a good example.
Zacchaeus had the desire to meet with Jesus. So he climbed a sycamore-fig
tree to see Jesus. Jesus paid attention to him and looked up to Zacchaeus on the
sycamore-fig tree. Jesus asked Zaccahaeus to come down and told him that he would
stay at Zaccahaeus’ house. Zacchaeus gladly came down the tree to welcome him.
Zacchaeus must have been very elated about Jesus paying attention to him. He
voluntarily offered what Jesus did not even ask him for.
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I
give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,
I will pay back four times the amount." (Luke 19:8 NIV)
Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ mind just by paying attention to him without even
saying a word. We can also change other Zacchaeuses around us simply by paying
attention to them.
Pay Attention and Win a Heart
There is a famous episode that clearly shows the difference between the two
former British Prime Ministers, William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli. The people
who had meals with them always have the same opinion. After having a meal with
Gladstone, people felt that Gladstone is the smartest person in Britain. On the other
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hand, people felt like they were the smartest in Britain after having a meal with
Disraeli. This is probably why Disraeli had such a huge number of supporters. Having
interest and paying attention can draw others near you. Disraeli knew how to pay
attention to people around him.
When I visit a newly weds' home, I always pay all my attention to their
wedding pictures and videos. I watch them as if I am in the theater watching a movie.
If I visit a home with a baby, I concentrate my whole attention to the baby. By doing
so, I am letting them know I am also interested in what they are interested in the most.
Let me tell you, you will be served with a premium quality steak just for paying
attention. Pay attention, you will draw people to your side. Think about what had led
to Paul’s change. It was Jesus’ attention.
David never experienced a miracle during his life. However, David was able
to defeat a huge giant like Goliath with the power of approaching, controlling himself,
and paying attention to others. Living a religious life is not hard. Just learn to
overcome any difficulties you come across with God's help in your daily life.
Chapter 2: Difference
Have hard time finding your own way? Uniqueness is the way. Be the only one. Not
number one but only one. A "number one" position is an evaluation given by
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comparing to others. The standard of evaluation is someone else, not you. You
become happy because others accept you, and you become depressed because others
do not accept you. Being faithful to God is living with what God has uniquely granted
for each of us.
05 Be the Only One
Be the only one, instead of the number one.
Becoming the number one is something that is hard and often impossible. But
becoming the only one is easy and anyone can do it. God wants you to be his servant
and be loyal. Being faithful is easy.
How to Become the Strongest Person in the World
To become a faithful child to God is to become the "only one". However,
people always try to be number one by competing with others and winning. Becoming
the number one is not easy, nor are there many spots available. On the other hand,
becoming the only one - to become yourself - is easy and you do not have to compare
yourself to others. Plus, there is the “one” spot for everyone.
The weight of a talent is not light. A talent is about 79 pounds of gold. It is a
huge amount of dollars if you convert that into cash. Yet, a person with a talent is
depressed. Why is that so? It is because the person compared himself with others who
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have two or five talents. Being faithful to God does not consist of comparing. It means
focusing on what you are given to do.
Everybody and everything has their own purpose of life. Knowing and
pursuing the purpose of one’s life is the way to glorify God. The purpose of a
notebook computer is to create documents and to connect to the Internet. Well, you
may also use a notebook computer as a writing pad or a fly swatter if you want. But
that will not serve its value and glorify God. A notebook computer, which is a very
expensive product, will shine in its value when it is used for its original purpose. A
ball-point pen will glorify God when it is used to write. Once again, it may be used to
pick your nose or to scratch your back. But nothing else is better than your little finger
to pick your nose and a back scratcher to scratch your back. When things serve their
original purpose, they glorify God.
God has given a customized spiritual gift for each and everyone of us. And
when those spiritual gifts are used to serve its purpose, God is glorified by it. Here is a
quote from a Korean Prima Donna Hye-Kyung Hong:
“You must have your own unique voice in order to succeed as an opera singer.
Otherwise, you can never appeal to your audience. You can never succeed by
imitating other singers’ voice.”
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She is trying to say that the secret to becoming the strongest person in the
world is to be yourself. The best way to do any job that is given to you during life is
also to be yourself.
Only One, Find Your Own Style
Being a pastor and leading a church has been a relatively easy job for me. It is
because I do it my way instead of trying to follow someone else’s path. This way, my
job becomes natural and easy for me.
I give sermons a lot. I hear some pastor saying that you should decrease the
number of times you give sermons in order to be good at it. I guess that statement is
true for him. People who have melancholic temperament have the tendency to be
perfectionists. Therefore, if they are not ready 100%, neither they feel self-satisfaction
nor have good results. On the contrary, I am an excitable person. I can get excited,
accelerate and grasp the flow as I preach more and more.
I feel very awkward and difficult when I preach for the first time after coming
back from an overseas trip. On the other hand, preaching at the last service on Sunday
is the easiest one for me after the seven previous services. It is because I am all
warmed up, in the flow, and on the accelerating mode. Therefore, giving more and
more preaching makes it easier for me. That is my own style. Even for a baseball
player, the player who always participates in the game plays well. If you are a
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substitute, then it is hard to know the flow of a game just by being in the game. Go
with your style.
I often ride my bicycle when I go visit my church members. Riding a bicycle
to places takes less time than many people might think. It is sometimes even faster
than traveling by car. I can tell non-Christians about Jesus on the street and also catch
up with the fellow pastors. I arrive at the church member’s home, deliver God’s
message, and come back home with a snack to eat on the way back. I sometimes
wondered if I went to visit or to exercise, but one thing for sure is that I had a good
time. I guess maybe other people cannot be as happy as I am by spending a day like I
do. But this kind of life suits me, therefore gives me energy and excitement.
Have hard time finding your own way? Uniqueness is the way. Be the only
one. Not number one but only one. A "number one" position is an evaluation given by
comparing yourself to others. The standard of evaluation is someone else, not you.
You become happy because others accept you, and you become depressed because
others do not accept you. Being faithful to God is living with what God has uniquely
granted me.
A New World Opens Up with the Decision to Become the Only One
We have a special talent that is given by God.
“For we are God's workmanship.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
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“Workmanship” means “poiema” in Greek. The English word “poem” was originated
from this Greek word. God wants us to live a poetic life. God wants each one of us to
live like a poem with a unique characteristic. If you accept your individuality and live
with it, you will be a masterpiece created by God.
I travel a lot. At first, I liked shopping at the new places I visit. I found
pleasure in having a new thing. I had collected various types of bottles. But after a
while, I got bored. Then I liked to see ancient palaces and buildings. I especially
enjoyed looking at the ancient palaces in China and Japan. But I soon found the limit
in the beauty that men have created. Therefore, I decided to enjoy the nature.
Zhanjiajie National Woodlands of China and the Banff National Park of Canada drew
my attention. However, after seeing so much of the nature created by God, they sort of
looked similar to me. The pictures that I took at the different beaches looked all the
same unless I marked which beach was which.
Finally, I realized that the best pleasure you can feel while traveling is the
new people I get to meet. It is a great feeling to meet new people. It is like a new
world opening up to me. Then, what kind of person do I like to meet and get to know?
I like the kind of person who likes to show who they really are. I like the kind of
person who is individualistic and has their own color in character. When I meet the
“only one” type of person like that, I feel like I am in the middle of a fresh breeze. I
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feel happy and experience a new life. How can we live a glorious life? The answer is
to know your mission and spiritual gift well and use them to be the only one person of
your kind.
Experience grace after giving up becoming the number one
The person who pursues to become the only one is peaceful and confident.
What can possibly be so hard about living as who you are? It is easy for a dog to live
like a dog, and a bear to live like a bear. It also should be easy for human beings to
live as God intended us to. But still we find our lives to be tiring and difficult. Why? It
is because we try to be someone else.
Jacob, for his whole life, lived to prove the principle of competition. He
always tried to be the number one. He never could stop his worries, conflicts, and
hardships in his life. In the end, he deeply realized God's grace over him and knew
how to live a life of only one. Afterwards, he started to bless others. Jacob blessed
Pharaoh in Genesis.
“And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and
Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? And
Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an
hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life
been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my
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fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went
out from before Pharaoh.” (Genesis 47:7-10 NIV)
Jacob was able to finally confess about his weakness after giving up the
“number one” position in life. He also became generous enough to truly hope others to
have a great life, which leads him to bless others. Pray that God will work in the
person's life instead of just trying to change the person's life. The root of such
generosity and tolerance is to know how glorious it is to be the only one.
Being faithful is not something difficult to do. Evil always makes easy things
to appear difficult. Being faithful is doing small things that others do not care to do.
Anyone can do this. Opportunities are all over the place. Once you hang on to it, you
can be a faithful one. Become the only one, not the number one. Being the number
one is something that is complex and impossible, but being the only one is something
that is so easy that anyone can achieve. Be faithful. Be a servant of God and glorify
him. Being faithful is easy.
06 Desire Holiness
Having no desires does not mean that you are holy. You are a failure.
Look at the person without any desire. They have no energy at all.
They got rid of enthusiasm instead of greediness.
Do Not Hold Back
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Acts chapter 10 has a very long story. It talks about Cornelius and his family
believing in Jesus after listening to Peter’s message. The Gentiles were saved and the
Holy Spirit came on to them in Acts chapter 10. The chapter is very important in this
sense. Many theologians call Acts chapter 10 the “Whitsuntide of the Gentiles.”
I am actually more interested in the flow of the change in chapter 10 rather
than the event itself. While Peter was in trance, the voice told him to eat animals,
reptiles and birds. Peter refused to do so because they were unclean. Peter was held
back by the preconceptions he had and kept saying “No” to the Lord. He cannot go
forward. He ceaselessly resisted God. God was not able to use Peter because of this
part of him. But as the story develops towards the end, things change. Peter is serving
God the way God wants him to. He looks like he knows what he is doing. We can see
that Peter has resolved what had holding him back inside.
Peter made use of what he was given. He took the opportunities that he was
given. He delivered God's message as it is. Afterwards, he was granted power and the
gift of the Holy Spirit was poured over him. He changed to become an audacious man.
Acts chapter 10 verse 47, which says, “Can anyone keep these people from being
baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." shows
Peter’s changed attitude. What Peter means by this is that nothing can keep him from
doing God’s work. He is telling us that he will live as God leads him without stopping.
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You become strong when you live your life as God leads you. You cannot
make full use of your ability because you stop yourself with the human standard.
People cannot contribute their potential and ability because they are held back.
Remember to let go of yourself to the Holy Spirit. Follow as the Holy Spirit leads you.
That is all it matters.
As the Holy Spirit Leads
I have watched Pastor Brian Houston of the Hill Song delivering message live
on TV. I was deeply impressed not only with the message but with his attitude. He had
on a pin microphone and was casually attired. He preached as he walked around the
aisle of the audience. He created a friendly and harmonious atmosphere where the
audience is not overpowered by the speaker. That seems to prove that making a full
advantage of opportunities that God has given us will free us from using our strength.
I often visit other churches to lead gatherings. I am impressed that there are
many praise team leaders these days who can lead very well. But I see some leaders
suddenly leading the audience to sing a totally different song when the audience is
about to get warmed up and touched by the atmosphere. After the gathering, I asked
the leader why he had to change the song all of a sudden. He answered that it was
what they had planned. I could not understand the leader. As we sing praise songs,
there are times when the Holy Spirit wants us to pray hard. Then we must pray. Other
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times the Holy Spirit wants us to sing happy songs. Then we should sing happy songs.
We need to leave the service with God as he leads us. It is sad to see the praise team
leaders not knowing how to follow the Holy Spirit's lead just because it is not what
they had planned ahead.
Doing nothing is the best?
There are times when we are not able to use our power as much as we want to
because we are held back by an invisible obstacle, especially for Korea. It has been
influence by Confucianism for a very long time. Some people try to be a Christian in a
Confucian way. What I mean by this is: people think it is good to do nothing, rather
than doing something actively. It is never easy to create something. It is never easy to
bring revival, break depression and change people’s lives. But such enthusiastic
production will only lead to practical results.
However, when it does not seem to go well some people give up on the
struggle to achieve. Their purpose changes from willing to fight to willing to give up.
Even Christians are letting things go so easily these days. Why is this so? Why do you
think more and more people sacrifice only just to give up when they should sacrifice
in order to achieve something better than what they already have?
There is a pastor that I know who gets a lot of respect from his church
members. I asked his secret and he said he had slept on the pulpit instead of his home
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for the past five years. The church members were deeply impressed by seeing him
humiliate himself. The church members were very proud of him. There was a story
behind it all. The church had been stagnant for a long time. After suffering from so
many troubles, the pastor came up with the idea to sleep on the pulpit. He merely
decided to humiliate himself alone, instead of trying to establish some strong plan
with the church members to revive the church.
Well, as a result, the troubles went away. But I do not believe that this was the
right way to solve the problem. The pastor should have stayed with his family. Instead
of sleeping in the pulpit, he should have fought the troubles by reading more and
praying on his knees. He also should have set an example by exercising whenever he
could and staying fit. Many Christians are mistaken by having this "doing nothing"
along with a religious behavior. They believe that not marrying, not sleeping, and not
owning anything is the best way they can prove their devotion to God. A church is not
a place to make people suffer, but a place to foster a healthy person and a Christian.
A stable is for raising horses and cattle. What do you think will happen if the
original purpose a stable is disregarded for something else? Let’s say that a stable
owner decides to focus on keeping the stable clean. Well, it is correct that a stable
should be kept clean, but there is a limit as to the level of cleanliness that a stable with
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horses and cattle can actually be. So focusing on "keeping the stable clean", which is
not the point of having a stable, will only cause more trouble.
It would not be correct to keep the stable clean after letting all the horses and
cattle die, just like the old saying, “To lock the stable door after the horse is stolen.”
Just like this, the most important thing a church should value is to raise the "sheep".
To over emphasize on some other values while not being able to accomplish the
original job is a huge error. Doing nothing is not the way to go.
People without Desires
Let’s take a look at the problem of desire in the same context. Desires are also
given by God. But it is common for people to think that controlling desire is the only
way to holiness. They are even afraid to use the word “desire”. Why so? It is because
they think that having desires equates to being greedy, dishonorable, and unjustifiable.
However, desire can be a great momentum for achieving a goal. All human
beings live according to their desire. The word “desire” can be described in a fancy
way such as “vision”, “dream”, and “mission”. The words just sound different from
"desire" but what they really mean is the same. Having no desire does not mean that
you are holy. You are a failure instead. Look at the people without any desire. They
have no energy at all. They got rid of enthusiasm instead of greediness.
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We have many people with depression around us. The biggest problem that a
depression patient has is that they have no desire. No desire means there is no will to
live. This often leads to suicide. The first step to treat a depression patient is to help
them gain back their will. If they gain desire, that is the beginning of their treatment.
We should not make people feel depressed by forcing them to not have or express any
desire.
Practices that go against God
God has created everything beautifully. We first need to learn how to
appreciate the things that God has created for us.
“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is
received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4)
God has given us our hearts, mouth, nose, ears, and hands. Then, God decided
what each part should be used for. Legs are for walking. So if you sit in an airplane for
a long time, you want to walk around. Hands are for touching. If you do not use your
hands for a while, you need to at least move your fingers around. The mouth is for
eating. If you do not eat anything, your month feels dry and you need to at least drink
water or chew gum. God completes His will through the “desire” within us.
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power
to do what pleases Him.” (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
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God said he gives us desires to do what pleases him. In the history of mankind,
there were many things that were banned under the name of culture. In China, footbinding was practiced to keep women's feet small. Some say men bound women's feet
so that women cannot run away, or the men liked the way women walk tottering.
Whatever the reason is, it is never acceptable to force women to do such unreasonable
practice just because it is a custom and tradition. Believe it or not, some African
countries still practice female circumcision. What nonsense! Outside of Christianity,
the inhuman and barbaric acts, which deny the God-given desire, have been carried
out under the name of culture.
Trust your body!
God protects and leads us through the desire that God has given us. For
example, drinking water when feeling thirsty is the way to protect your body. I ride
my bicycle often. I get extremely thirsty after riding my bicycle for more than two
hours. If I restrain from drinking water because I think "I should endure this. I am a
pastor!" then I will pass out of dehydration.
We feel the urge to dress warmer when it gets cold in winter. Then we should
dress warmer to keep our body warm. God has given fur to the animals and clothing to
humans so that we can protect our body. Well, there are some guys who have more
hair than others do. That still does not mean that they do not need clothing to keep
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them warm. Of course, there are men who have hairy chest, but that hair is not for
keeping the body warm, but for admiration. A man with hairy chest still needs his
clothes.
I am often treated to free meals by my church members. The people who treat
me always say, "Eat something good." "Good" here means something "expensive".
However, I choose something that my body wants. When I feel thirsty and want
something cold after a long flight, then I go to a Korean restaurant and eat a bowl of
cold noodles. After eating it, I feel like fatigue has gone away. We should eat what the
body wants. If you feel like something with hot soup, then you should try the Korean
beef and rice soup. You will feel that your body gets warmer and the coldness goes
away. The body changes to the best state when you eat what your body desires. This is
the happiness you can enjoy by doing something when you want to do it.
On the contrary, if you do not follow as the body tells you, you are most
likely to run into trouble. For me, I used to love smoked chicken. But one time, the
smell of smoked chicken was too sickening. Afterwards, I always get stomachache
whenever I eat smoked chicken or duck. So I decided not to eat any poultry. I believe
that my body is sending the signal because poultry is not good for my health. To listen
to the signals is the best way to keep me healthy.
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My wife started to pay more attention to my health when I entered my 40s.
She helped me to live a healthy life by preparing healthy food on the table. I surely
appreciate this very much. One day, my wife started to cook me steamed rice with all
kinds of grains. I hate steamed rice with other grains. I can never swallow it. But my
wife kept giving me the dish without knowing how I feel about it. So I decided to tell
my wife what I think.
"I am not a bird. I cannot eat steamed rice with all kinds of grains in it. Well I
admit that it is good for my body. But if there is a physical health, there is also mental
health. I get extremely stressed out when I see grains. The rage and stress that I get
because of it is very harmful to my mental health. Please, give me plain steamed rice,
if you do not mind.”
After listening to me, my wife seemed to understand where I am coming from
and started to give me just white plain rice. And my health has been just fine since
then. Eating what your body wants is the best medicine you can ever get. I trust what
my body tells me.
Use Your God-given Talent
There is a way you can do your work easily. It is to use what God has given to
you. Look at Peter. He let himself to be used as the Holy Spirit is pleased. Then, he
was able to experience miracles in his life. Pray when you feel like praying. Sing and
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praise when you feel like singing and praising. Pray for the sick when the Holy Spirit
moves you to pray for them.
I do not usually pray to heal the sick. I like to approach problems in a rational
way rather than miraculously. However, something strange happened while I was
leading the special morning prayer sessions. I felt that the Holy Spirit was urging me
very strongly to pray for the couples who are having hard time conceiving a child. I
tried to refuse it many times. I said, "God, my talent is not for healing the sick. I am
not sure if they will be healed even if I pray for them.”
But the urge that the Holy Spirit was pressing upon me was so great that I
started to pray for the couples that cannot be pregnant. After a while, I heard
surprising news that seven couples who were waiting for their child were conceived. I
believe that was the Holy Spirit working among us.
In the Confucian culture, decision-making is not really for everyone. Most of
the time, the elders tell the young people what to do. They might tell you what to eat
at a restaurant. It is common for teachers and parents to decide which university you
should attend. Moreover, some parents even decide who you should marry. Just
following what they say will cause trouble eventually.
I see some people who attend a university their parents chose for them and
later realize it was not for them. So they try to get their life back when they are almost
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30 years old. A late start means less chance to win the competition. Not many people
seem to realize that. You should learn to observe who you are as a teenager. You
should know who you are, what you like, what you are good at and what you really
hate. You should be able to make your own decisions for your future. Only so, you
can live your own life fully. Doing what you desire will help you with this.
Therefore, the best way to live your life is to use what you have. Use what
God has given to you. Look at Peter. He did not go to Cornelius by himself. He went
to Cornelius because God led him to do so. He then used all he had. Use what God has
given to you, and then you will see its value.
Be Wise and Know How to Convert the Value of Money into the Value in
Heaven
Money becomes valuable when it is spent. I heard sad news on TV the other
day. An old woman died from cold during winter. I cannot forget the interview with a
neighbor.
“She only knew how to save money. She did not know how to spend it."
I guess the reason why the old woman died was not because she was too poor
to pay her bills. She died because she did not know how to spend her money.
There is an old male church member who is far from being neat. He earned
enough money but he just did not know how to dress himself nicely. He had
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unfashionably long hair and was even smelly sometimes. So I introduced him to a
fashionable girl. I told him to go shopping with her. After getting some neat clothes,
nice cologne and a haircut, he looked a lot better. He showed up nicely dressed and he
looked like a movie star. After several weeks, I asked him how people are reacting to
his change.
“I think the girls look at me differently now.”
This is the value of money. Money exists to be spent. If the people around
you keep their distance from you because you are stingy, that means you have not
been generously giving enough. If you are reluctant to spend your money for others or
even for yourself, for sure people would not want to go out with you ever again. On
the other hand, if you are generous and know how to give, people will stick around
you. This is the value of money.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19 NIV)
You should know how to convert the value of money into the value in heaven.
The Korean word for “to learn” is "# (hak-seup). The first character means
“to learn” and the second character means “to acquire”. Maybe the second character
should mean “to use”. What good is there to just learn and acquire knowledge? It
should be used.
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Strength comes from knowing how to use what you have
Ma Ying-jeou is the former mayor of Taipei and is currently the chairman of
Kuomintang. He is the politician who gets the most attention in Taiwan. He has an
undergraduate degree and a doctorate in law from Harvard. He also worked as an
interpreter for Jiang Jingguo. He became famous in the international political society
after a meeting with the queen of England. He was a junior government official from a
country that is diplomatically isolated, and was only given 30 seconds to greet the
queen. He thought about how he can introduce himself and his country to the queen
within 30 seconds. And he finally introduced himself to the queen.
“My name is Ma Ying-jeou. I am from a country that has 100 billion dollars
of foreign currency, but does not know where to invest the money.
At the time, England was craving for foreign investment. A country with 100
billion dollars of foreign currency to invest! That sure drew the queen's attention. The
queen smiled and introduced him to many merchants and industrialists.
“Meet the person who is looking for a place to invest 100 billion dollars.”
Taiwan was a weak country that was diplomatically isolated. No other
countries paid attention to Taiwan. Ma Ying-jeou successfully made a great debut for
Taiwan to the international society with the simple sentence he said. Ma Ying-jeou
used the foreign reserve to introduce him and his country effectively.
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I know a man who lives in the United States. He was born in Korea and
immigrated to Paraguay. So he can speak Spanish. He immigrated to the United States
when he was a high school student. He attended an Italian school in between so he can
speak Italian as well. He can also speak English because he went to high school and
university in the states. However, he could not get a good job despite his great ability
to speak multiple languages. Why? It is because he did not know if he had such ability.
I told him to write in his resume that he can speak 75 languages fluently. If
anyone ever questions him, I told him to say:
“English is spoken in Canada, America, Australia, England and South Africa.
Spanish is spoken in Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, and Paraguay. Italian is spoken in
France, Italy and Swiss. Finally, Korean is spoken in Korea, and in Yanbian, China.”
Well, this is a justifiable claim because he can surely speak four languages
very fluently. Use what you have. A brand new life might be waiting for you.
Keep using what you have
In terms of learning a foreign language, just studying it will not help much no
matter how long you study it. However, you will be much better at it if you actually
get to use it in your life.
I went on a missionary trip to Japan once. I had a chance to spend my time
with a Japanese girl who was a friend of my daughter’s. She could not speak Korea
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and I could not speak Japanese. I thought it would be faster for her to learn Korean
rather than me learning Japanese. So, I taught her some Korean expressions that are
used in certain situations. For example, I hit her head. The situation should have been
very confusing for her. Right after that I said,
“Ah Pah 7 !”
I explained to her that she should say “Ah Pah!” in this situation. She repeated
after me. Then I told her to say "Wae Grae8 ?" if she cannot understand what is going
on. When I hit her again, she responded "Ah Pah! Wae Grae?" I smiled and replied
“Gnyang 9 .” And I told her to say, “Mot Dessuh 10 .” I let her practice the expressions as
many times as possible.
If other people were overhearing our conversation, they could have thought I
was talking with a Korean girl. It is because the Japanese girl was using practical
expressions that cannot be acquired from studying Korean with a text book. If she
learned Korean by studying a text book, she would not have known how to respond to
sudden situations. She also could learn the exact pronunciation because she practiced
those expressions in a real situation. Keep using what you have in you. You will be
familiar with what kind of strengths you have only if you keep using it.
7
“It hurts!”
“What is going on?”
9
“Nothing.”
10
"You are mean.”
8
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Chapter 3 Relationship Guidance for Young Lions
Religious faith does not come from nothing. Religious faith should be revealed (show,
express) in your daily life. The best part of your faithful life should be revealed in the
relationships you have with others. A person with real religious faith can embrace and
be friends with an enemy. Having faith is to care less about your pride and not to be
afraid to show your weakness if that can help improve a relationship.
09 Do not be afraid to be rejected
If your suffering from an insult or being rejected can recover a poor relationship, you
should bear in mind that is becoming the path to God’s blessing. Do not be afraid of
being rejected. You can never help someone if you are afraid of being rejected.
Religious Faith and Relationship are directly proportionate with Each
Other
When asked what is the hardest thing to deal with at work, people neither said
low salary nor too much work load. It turned out that "maintaining a good relationship
with people" was the hardest thing for them. Poor relationships may lead to low
productivity. Other matters may seem hard as well. It also makes the mind to suffer. A
good relationship is better than a luxury car. A good relationship is better than a huge
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mansion. Good relationships also strengthen a family. When each member of a family
plays their role, the family is blessed with good relationship with one another.
What Christians should do is nothing supernatural. Improving relationships is
what we should do. Maintaining a healthy relationship with anyone comes from
religious faith and ability. Although you have good religious faith, you cannot make
people around you happy if you do not have good relationship with them. That way
you fail to benefit from the relationship you have with other Christians. Religious faith
should grow from practical relationships and be proven by those relationships.
A person meeting another person can be pretty nerve breaking. Meeting a new
person is even more likely to be nerve breaking. I asked an old bachelor what is the
hardest thing for him. He answered,
“Going on a blind date is the hardest thing for me.”
He said he went on about 50 blind dates to find a woman to marry. He said he
was tired of being nervous while waiting for the woman to show up, having to
continue the conversation when there is nothing to talk about, and lastly checking
what she thinks of him. He was dying to meet a woman whom he can talk to without
being nervous. For me, I hated March 11 when I was attending middle school and high
11
A new school year starts in March in Korea.
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school. It was very stressful for me to getting adjusted to new friends and new
teachers. I think most people agree that meeting a new person is not easy.
The ability to make friends with the enemy
In the bible, Jacob was about to meet his big brother Esau for the first time
since he left home. The meeting should have been even more stressful and tense than
meeting a total stranger. Jacob tricked Esau and traded Esau's birthright for a bowl of
red stew. Jacob even lied to his father and received blessing instead of Esau.
Eventually Jacob had to run away from angry Esau and live at his uncle Laban’s home.
Now he had to come face to face with Esau. Of course, Esau’s attitude is not too
friendly. Jacob saw Esau approaching him with an army of 400 men. It seemed like
Esau was coming to kill Jacob. Jacob should have been terrified to meet Esau.
However, the meeting with Esau became the opportunity to reconcile with him.
I believe that that was Jacob's ability. It happened because of Jacob's faith. Faith can
help you to be friends with an enemy. We have to learn from Jacob. How can we
improve the relationships that are not working out?
Swallow your pride
Jacob completely threw away his pride in order to renew the relationship with
Esau.
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“He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he
approached his brother.” (Genesis 33:3 NIV)
Jacob bowed down seven times before his brother Esau. In Palestinian culture,
you bow down seven times when greeting the King or when a condemned criminal is
pleading to be saved. Esau is Jacob's twin brother. Bowing down seven times is
unnecessary between the two.
Some people criticize Jacob for being so clever and unmanly. Yet, I do not
agree. This act of Jacob shows his maturity and the expression of his faith in God.
Only the Holy Spirit can give us the mind to lower ourselves to a person whom we do
not really have to. The Holy Spirit gives us modesty. It is not servility. It is ability.
People with low self-esteem cannot lower themselves. Instead, their odd sense
of pride gives other people a headache. Lowering yourself to someone you do not
really have to, is an act of modesty and ability. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.
He was not servile. He was able.
Thank about it one more time. Why would you not bow seven times if that can
heal a broken relationship? The easiest problem in the world is the problem that can
be resolved if you bow down. You can bring peace to your relationship if you can
endure an insult and swallow your pride. Then you should do it? For me, I can bow
down seven or seventy times if that can save me a good relationship with someone. It
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is just as easy as bowing down and anybody can do it. If someone tells me he will
believe in Jesus if I bow down to him seven times, I can bow down to him all night. If
a simple act of bowing down can save a soul, why not do it?
As a pastor, I come across many incidents that hurt my pride. Some people are
extremely rude to me, and some people write me things that are very hurtful. At such
times, I keep reminding myself, if I can gain a relationship by swallowing my pride,
then I am more than happy to do it. Jesus carried his cross and even gave away his life,
and shed his blood. Swallowing pride is nothing compared to this.
Peace comes after letting go
There are many smart women in the ministry. They are pretty and also
competent in their fields . This type of woman is hard for men to approach because
they seem “tough” or “difficult”. At a ministry leaders’ meeting, I mentioned my
personal opinion on girls once. I believe men are strongly affected by the memories
and impressions they had during their early days. So they tend to judge the present
based on the past. That is probably why men like young girls who look sweet and
innocent. In my opinion, one fashion item that a woman can wear to get that image
easily is a hair band. Women look at least ten years younger when they wear a hair
band. When I say such comment, most girls who already had their hair band on would
try to take it off. It is because it is embarrassing to keep it on even after listening to the
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“purpose” of a hair band. Surprisingly enough, a girl whose image was very strong
showed up with a hair band the next day.
Many boys seemed to be shocked to see her that way. Some said it was
refreshingly shocking for them to see a “tough” girl surrendering to an authority.
Some said they liked to see her act more naively than they expected her to be. Now it
was easier for others to approach her. Now she has a beautiful relationship with her
new boyfriend. Just letting go of feeling embarrassed can lead to happiness. People
get confused with easy problems because they simply cannot let go.
Avoid a meaningless fight. Do not risk your life for something useless.
Bowing down to your father is not being servile. Paying respect to a teacher is not
embarrassing. A useless pride is the reason for broken relationships. The fact that
Jacob was able to embrace Esau was that Jacob now can embrace the whole world.
Embracing someone as difficult as Esau will help you grow more mature. But it is not
easy. The Holy Spirit should be in the picture with us. Do you think hating and
keeping distance from Esau is easier or embracing Esau and making up with him is
easier?
Paul also was determined to do anything to save a soul.
“To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jew. To those under the law I
became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to
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win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not
having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s
law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to
win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means
I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)
Why do you think Jacob lowered himself before Esau? It is because it was not
the point of the issue. We should lower ourselves if the matter is not significant. We
should lower ourselves as much as God is pleased. Most people fight for their life for
something that is worthless. If peace can come after you let go of your price, then you
should do it.
Pride and the Cross
I once saw an economic newspaper article about a salesman who had sold the
most number of cars in a year. The sales king said,
“Before I go to work, I leave my pride at home.”
People may use your business card for some other purpose such as cleaning
their fingertips or their teeth. A business card represents who you are: your identity. It
is natural for you to get angry when your business card is laughed at. However, the
sales king decided to change his way of thinking.
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‘It is only a piece of paper. I am here to sell cars, not to check if my pride is
high or not.’
After overcoming his pride, he was able to become the sales king of the year.
Think about this carefully. If you are easily provoked to stand up for your pride, it
proves to the contrary that you are actually “weak” and “psychologically insecure”. A
person with a healthy ego is not shaken by any insults and personal attacks; because
the person knows that they are not true.
There are two types of leader: a self-absorbed type leader and a sacrificing
leader. A self-absorbed type of leader is only concerned about how he is seen by other
people. He would tell people that he is eating very well even though he has been
starving for the last three days. But a sacrificing leader is different. He is capable of
leading his team to a victory no matter what he has to go through. If a father is the first
type of leader, he will starve his child. But the latter type of leader will get food for his
child despite any difficult challenges. There should be hardships and contempt that he
had to endure at his job. He should have felt like quitting his job at least 100 times.
Why does he put up with all that? It is because he is committed to his responsibilities.
This is what a true leader should be like. A self-absorbed leader will end up throwing
away everything only to save his face. That is a heavy burden for the people around
the leader.
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Jesus gave up on his pride and carried his cross. After Jesus was crucified,
people started to insult him. Some people even spat on him and struck on his head.
The hardest thing to endure should have been the people insulting him. I imagined
what I would have done if I heard, "You who are going to destroy the temple and
build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of
God!” “He saved others but he can't save himself.” I would probably come down the
cross to land several uppercuts, break their legs, and yell, "Here I am, you bastards!
Are you happy now?" Then I would go up on the cross again and say "Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani 12 !” This way I can save my face and be practical as well. That is why I
am not Jesus. Jesus endured his cross and the insults. He let go of his pride. This is the
way of cross that a Christian should follow.
Helping others is also not easy. There are many times when the helper has to
put his pride in a pocket. Well, the people who get help already have weak mind. So
they can act overly sensitive to even the tiniest thing. Therefore, helping the needy
with your pride up so high will not happen.
These days, I enjoy listening to the praise song called “Jacob’s blessing.” This
praise song is based on the scripture "Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a
spring, whose branches climb over a wall.” (Genesis 49:22 NIV) Strictly speaking, it
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“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!
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is "Jacob's blessing for Joseph". What do you think it means by blessing? It means
becoming a fruitful vine and helping others.
This reminds me of the book called “The Giving Tree” by Silverstein. In the
book, the tree gives everything it has for the little boy. When the tree is only left with
its trump, it tells the child, who is now an old man, to sit down and rest on his stump.
The boy rests on its stump and that makes the tree happy.
It would be good to have a friend like the tree, who gives everything for his
friend and who is always there in time of needs. The true value of life is in helping
others and always being there for others. People often think that they are worthless
because they only live for themselves. Once you start helping others, you will never
think again that you are useless.
Do not be afraid of being rejected
A friend of mine hurt his leg and had to walk with clutches. He said he never
realized before that there were so many stairs in downtown and he could not help
complaining about it. It was hard for him to use an overpass without any help from
someone else. But no passers by seemed to offer help. I think there should have been
some passers by who wanted to help. They should have been reluctant to help because
they were afraid of a stranger and that their help might be rejected.
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I live in the apartments. While waiting for the elevator or in the elevator, I
always smile and say hi first to the person next to me. Therefore, most of the
neighbors know who I am. One day, I met a woman in her twenties in front of the
elevator and I smiled and said hi to her as I always do. She looked very surprised.
Then she hurried to the stairs as if she was running away from a molester. I was very
embarrassed. I guess she was a visitor. She would have told whoever she was visiting
about what just happened. “A forty year old bald man with small eyes smiled at me
and talked to me!” Then she would be told by her friend that the bald man is not a
dangerous man but a pastor who always smiles and greets people.
Giving is not always welcomed. Reaching out to a stranger does not create a
positive response all the time. So we are rejected every now and then. What is wrong
with that? If we can eventually be the bridge between people to bring smiles to them
and communication, this is also something a Christian should do. Jacob's blessing is
nothing difficult. If your suffering from an insult or being rejected can recover a poor
relationship, you should bear in mind that is becoming the path to God’s blessing. Do
not be afraid of being rejected. You can never help someone if you are afraid of being
rejected.
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