A Christmas in Haiti

Merry Christmas, everyone! As I celebrate with family and friends, I was soberly reminded by the real fact that Jesus was born into a world of tumult, instability, and great suffering. As I heard a lyrical poem during the song, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" I felt like my heart was going to burst over the God-man who willingly took our form, our life, and all the joy and pain that comes with it. He CHOSE to do so - Emmanuel. When I arrived home on Christmas Eve, I received this email from a friend who is in Haiti right now serving with Samaritan's purse. I have been praying for her ministry there, and I ask that you would join with me. Here's a portion of her letter:

i've never had a night like last night. we got 2 ambulances from an orphanage as our shift started, eight in all. i never even made it to my other assigned tent. All the kids have cerebral palsy and had terrible cholera. Their "caregivers" were alternating between sleeping and being borderline abusive. We just couldn't keep up b/c they were having diarrhea every 30 min so as soon as we finished changing out diapers and sheets, it would start all over again. this was also accompanied by profuse, projectile vomiting. and even though it's been 80's in the day, it was freezing cold last night, and we ran out of blankets and sheets so the kids were shivering in their urine and watery diarrhea. it was terrible. two also kept having seizures but we had no medication. there were pulled IV lines, blown out IV's, another who developed coffee like vomiting which was worrisome for a stomach bleed, a translator who had to be replaced b/c it turns out he was high on something, etc...literally, cholera is one of the most undignifying experiences I have ever witnessed. Nor could i have imagined how sick people get with this. We have been giving up to 50-60 liters of iv fluids in our adult patients to stabilize them! kids are getting as much fluid as an adult would in the us. so crazy. so exhausting emotionally and physically. please cont to pray.

I know that's a real downer on Christmas, but isn't that the climate that Jesus was born into? The vomit-filled, disease-ridden, diarrhea-laden, children-crying, body-shivering world? I don't want to lose the reality of the Incarnation in the midst of white snowy landscapes, warm lights, and Christmas gifts around a tree. Those are one side of Christmas, for sure, but there is another as well.

As I felt the horror of my friend's observations, something in me longed that Jesus would come again into this pain-soaked world to wipe it clean of cholera, poverty, suffering, and sin. I wondered if that's what Simeon longed for, the shepherds, the faithful remnant of Israel, weeping mothers in Bethlehem, and a world lost in darkness. The fact is that He did come once, and he promised he will come again. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

 Merry Christmas to you all, especially to the orphans in Haiti. Hold on, your king is coming soon.

Why Francis Chan left

CNN has an article covering the departure of Francis Chan from his church. The unusual thing about Chan's departure is that for once it has nothing to do with immorality, unfaithfulness, or disqualification. In fact, Chan left in obedience to the Lord. I found it interesting that even CNN has picked up on this idea of "Christian famous" - the tendency of evangelical circles to elevate and idolize gifted men and women. I can respect someone who gives up fame and influence to pursue God's calling. I'm challenged and humbled to constantly keep the glorious Jesus preeminent in all my ministry endeavors so that I become less and He becomes more. Thanks, brother Francis, for your example, and God bless as you minister to the church of Asia!

Digital Nativity (must watch!)

Ok, so lately I've been on a video kick. I promise to start writing something substantive next week. For now, enjoy this creative take on what would happen if Jesus were born today! It's crazy to think how social media has changed our lives, isn't it?

A Most Unusual Idolatry

Tim Challies pointed me to this interview. Is it me or does this woman just not have it all together? It's a reminder that just as Greg Beale put it, we become what we worship.

John Mayer meets Shane & Shane meets Christmas Carroll

From Shane and Shane's Website - a chill version of O Holy Night with some intense harmonies.

For those of us who have trouble praying

"In the morning we should look forward to the duties of the day, anticipating those situations in which temptation may lurk, and preparing ourselves to embrace such opportunities of usefulness as may be presented to us. In the evening we ought to remark upon the providences which have befallen us, consider our attainment in holiness, and endeavour to profit by the lessons which God would have us learn. And, always, we must acknowledge and forsake sin."

- David McIntyre

On the wrong use of laws

If I use laws to my own advantage (even in some instances creating my own), then I do not need the gospel. We use laws to stay out of relationships, and to feel justified in doing so. With this way of life others are the lawbreakers, so we do not need to repent or die. If we can bring about obedience through nagging, then we can get along without faith and the Spirit. Why pray, when we can force and compel others?

Often times, there's really nothing immoral about something I condemn a person for. For example, there's nothing immoral about incorrectly reading a map. When I get provoked by someone for doing so, I become the lawbreaker. Misreading a map is usually not intentional while my anger and criticism (and pride) are most certainly so.

Another thought about Waiting

"To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect - to look for with patience and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatiently; to look for, but not to fret at the delay; to watch for, but not restlessly; to feel that if he does not come, we will acquiesce, and yet to refuse to let the mind acquiesce in the feeling that he will not come."

- A.B. Davidson

Audrey Assad "For Love of You"

Calvin and I have a new favorite artist. Check her out.

Nothing to Envy

Over this past Thanksgiving, my sister introduced Sarah and me to a recent book about North Korea by Barbara Demick called "Nothing To Envy." I won't even attempt to write a review of the book because I don't know how to evaluate nor critique Demick's storytelling - the book moved me too much. So I'll just write some of my reactions to the book as I finished it earlier today. If you want to know some of the stories, you can read the book for yourself.

Night satellite photo of the Korean peninsula. Notice that North Korea has no lights!

Demick interviewed about 100 North Korean refugees over the span of her time working as a correspondent for the L.A. Times. Her book is a combination of journalistic report covering one of the most elusive regimes (and nations) in our world and story-telling that gripped me from the start. The story revolved around the lives of six characters all based in the northern region of North Korea. They all had something to do with the city of Chongjin. She weaves their tales together to paint a picture of the brutally oppressive government and the paranoia that caused famine and starvation to consume a generation. 

As I read this book, I was overwhelmed by a sadness and anger that even now pushes me to the brink of tears as I write this. I know that there are places of extreme suffering in the world. I know there are places where famine has killed millions, persecution has instilled fear into the hearts of people, and dictators have held onto power at all costs. 

What makes it hit so close to home is that I know that my own journey as a Korean-American is somehow tied into the fates and histories of the nameless and faceless men, women, boys, and girls who have died there. I think about the thousands of North Korean refugees who have been sold, trafficked, and otherwise mistreated across the border in China. I think about the myriad of abortions in North Korea because it's better to kill a baby in the womb than to have a newborn die of starvation and malnutrition. I think about my own two sons who wouldn't have a chance to survive. I think about all the food, all the blessings, all the opportunities I have had - opportunities that I assume are a given right for my children.

I think of all these, and I weep and weep and weep. I weep for those who have no idea what lies beyond their borders. I weep for those who go hungry and cold, mistreated and oppressed. I weep for my own callousness as I continue on with my own life. I'm not saying that I'm more blessed by God because I have more stuff. We must be careful not to equate Western materialism with the hand of God. I weep because I occupy the same world with these North Koreans, and by my actions, I don't care.

But I do not weep without hope. I weep knowing that God's heart breaks also for the hungry, the imprisoned, and the oppressed. I weep knowing that one day, just as He came the first time, so He will return again this time not as a baby, but as a conquering hero. I weep crying out for judgment - that God will restore all things, that He will make the wrongs right. The hungry will be fed. The captive will be free, and the poor will sit at the table. To be sure, that day will come, but until then, let me weep and feel God's heart.

Let me teach my boys that they have nothing to envy in this world. That no matter how much or little they might have, God is everything. Let me set our sights on that Day, living for that moment when we shall see him as He is. Let me live simply, intentionally, and missionally. I don't want to just weep and think, I want to act and serve. I want to be a part of God's design to usher in the kingdom that is fully coming, and will one day be fully realized. I want to see North Korea redeemed, not with the material goods of the Industrialized World, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ that says indeed because of Christ, we have nothing to envy.

A Glimpse of Advent's Importance

Calvin and our family Advent calendar

The other night, Sarah was about to do the daily Advent reading and nightly ritual of opening the Advent calendar. As she was about to read, my mother called from Maryland. Usually when any of the grandparents call, the first question out of Calvin's mouth is, "You wanna Skype?" (Actually, it comes out more like, "you wannuh kype?" This night was different, my mom called, and Calvin didn't want to talk to her. Sarah asked him, and Calvin responded, "no we gonna do Advent." She asked him if he wanted to Skype while doing Advent, and he responded, "no just Advent." I love the focus and simplicity of Calvin's perspective. He enjoys our nightly Advent tradition, and he wanted to keep it simple, uncluttered, and singular. I wish my own thoughts and meditations during Advent had such singular focus!

Waiting...

As we are in this first week of Advent, I thought it would be fitting to share the prayer points from yesterday's early morning prayer meeting. We've decided to emphasize a different component of Advent each week leading up to Christmas. This week's emphasis is WAITING. 


There are actually two types of waiting that I've experienced in my life - active waiting and passive waiting. Passive waiting is the kind of waiting that is often fatalistic, resigning oneself to simply going wherever the 'fates' lead us. It's passive in the sense that we just sit back and wait for the next chapter, season, fad, or whatever. Passive waiting almost always gets you into trouble. For example, how many of us have found ourselves in spiritual, emotional, mental, or even moral ruts when we are in a passive waiting period. We fall into sin. We get lazy. We lose focus, and next thing we know we take several detours before finally coming out of it.


Active waiting is a type of waiting that involves preparation and anticipation. It is the kind of waiting in which the person understands and believes that his actions while waiting actually have some part to play in bringing about the thing being waited for. For example, a bachelor actively waiting for the Lord to provide a spouse might spend time working on his character, growing in godliness, being missional, developing a vision for life, etc. This is different from a bachelor who wants so desperately to be married that he will hit all the single scenes and meat markets that he can. Such a plan really isn't waiting at all. 


As we wait for the return of the Lord Jesus, we can passively or actively wait. I'll let 2 Peter 3:10-13 speak for itself, "¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a]
 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.^[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells."


Peter calls us to an active waiting where our character and lives should reflect our waiting, but also to speed its coming. I hope you'll join me in praying to that end this first week of Advent.

• As we meditate on the coming of Jesus, bless God this morning for the hope of His return. Praise Him for His active presence in our lives and in our world. Worship Him this morning for His faithfulness, that we are not waiting in vain!

• What is an area of your personal life that you are waiting for God to move in? Pray that God would give you steadfastness, patience, faith, and courage to wait on Him. Pray for breakthrough and God to work even as we wait.

• What is an area of our church life that you are waiting for God to move in? Pray that God would move. Pray for humility, patience, faith, and endurance to wait on Him. Pray specifically for our search for a new children’s ministry director - pray for patience and discernment as we wait on God to provide.

• What is an area in our world that you are longing for God to move in? Pray that God would mobilize the church to ‘speed his coming’. Pray for God’s light to shine into dark and unreached places. Pray that God’s people would continue to endure as they wait for God’s vindication and justice.

• Pray that God would open your eyes to the areas where He wants you to ‘speed his coming’. Pray for openness and boldness to go wherever He leads. What do you sense God calling you to do?

• Let’s close this morning by focusing our thoughts and hopes on Jesus’ return. What does it mean to you? What hope does it bring? What reluctance does it unveil (what things/dreams/habits/patterns in your life do you think would be ‘spoiled’ by His return)?