The Joy of Vocabulary

Douglas has been sick this afternoon with a virus. It all began during the last minute of the Clemson-Duke basketball game. I had just emailed a friend about all the free throws that Clemson had missed, and my son turned into Linda Blair, from The Exorcist. Not literally, but he began to vomit with great ferocity and trajectory. Using my hand as a barf holder, we ran into the shower, as Sarah squeamishly cleaned up. By the way, raisins do not look scrumptious the second time around.

An hour and a half later...it happened again. Thankfully, it was not as bad that time. After getting out of the shower, I taught Douglas a new phrase. He can say it perfectly, and at this moment, he is marching around the den, proudly saying ..."Blowing Chunks!"

Leaving on a jet plane

(e-Ticket Issue Date/Place)
: 11JAN06/KAL SELRS


Conj.Ticket NO.
-
Fare Amount
1249.00 dollars
Equiv. Fare Paid
1,232,800 Won


So...It looks like I am going to Korea!! I leave from Atlanta on Feb 10 and return on Feb 28.

Arte Johnson and the voice of God

Laugh-In was a great show in the late 60's and early 70's that featured fast paced comedy skits, stand up routines, quick jokes and a look at the counter culture. It was cutting edge for the times, as it dealt with issues such as drug use, sex, politics, and homosexuality. I remember being over at my aunt and uncles house, and the older folks watching it and laughing uncontrollably. I was a little too young to watch such bawdy humor, so I was sent to do something else, while they watched Goldie Hawn gyrate with temp tattoos on her body to funky music.

Since then I have watched some of the reruns on cable, and I must admit...it is funny. One of my favorite characters is played by Arte Johnson. He played a short, puckish, German soldier, and at the oddest of times would utter the words,"Verrrrry Interrressting!"

Over the past few months, I have had a longing. Sometimes these things sneak up slowly, like a kid trying to scare the beejesus out of his mother, but they are longings still. I have a blog friend that is leaving in a month to be involved in ministry in an AIDS clinic in Capetown, South Africa. She has eyes, and a heart that are not American, but Christian. She has courage to leave comfort, and capitalism, and Peanut M&M's to love on those who are in need.


I had a trip outside the U.S., last year. Well, it seems like last year, but actually it was eight years ago. Images are in my heart, and mind, and on my computer that speak to the Bigness of God and the smallness of America, although we seem to act as if we are God's favorite child. I have had vivid dreams of this place, and feel, sometimes that God has a rope around me...pulling gently, but pulling still.

Last Wednesday, on my Birthday, Sarah and I went out for dinner. We live on the coast, and have a plethora of choices in dining. We really enjoy The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant, so off we drove. We had a great conversation about life and the place that God has us in now, and how we feel about it. I had told her that I loved a great deal about where we live, but feel unchallenged. Things just seem to be a little too easy...not stretching enough. Hmmm....an obese man concerned with stretching. Now that is funny!

We talked about ministry oversees, and other possibilities, as we dunked our bread into the cheese pot. I was reminded of a traditional meal in Korea, as the families would sit on the floor and eat and talk about what was on their minds. Sarah said that Korea would be a great place for me, but she was unsure how she would adapt to the culture. We decided that maybe one day we could serve a small church in a town with a college or University, so that I could preach and also teach students and hopefully inspire them to THINK. So, just when we thought we had it all figured out......

Last night, I looked at the images above and read the blog of my friend that is leaving her M&M's behind for Africa. She was standing in front of a Pic of Adonirum Judson, Baptist missionary, with the following quote:

"How do Christians discharge this trust committed to them? They let three fourths of the world sleep the sleep of death, ignorant of the simple truth that a Savior died for them. Content if they can be useful in the little circle of their acquaintances, they quietly sit and see whole nations perish for lack of knowledge."

I asked myself, there in front of my computer, a golf cart away from the Ocean, as my wife slept, and my son broke something..."Is there something else I should be doing?" Then more importantly, I asked God,"What is it you have in mind?"

Immediately,I heard a familiar...Ding, you know it...the email ding. Some emails talk to you, but ours just dings. So, I clicked from the blog of the future African Queen to see the following email:

Hello, Richard, my loving friend!
It has passed long time since I sent an e-mail.
How have you been these days?
How about your wife and son?
Your mother, Carol.
Richard!
I have missed you with all my heart.
Could you come to Korea in January or February this year?
I want to talk with you many things that we can't talked.
I can pay for you the fare of your trip to Korea.
If you can't with your family I hope only you will come here.
I have worked in the nursing home and in the church(English Service), and have taught in some colleges.
I hope you will send a good message to me.
In JESUS CHRIST!
from Sang Choi in KOREA.

Verrrry Innterrresting. I have tried to email over the past 3 years, but he never got it. His English is broken and we cannot communicate well by phone. So, I replied to the email with a quick,"Did you get this", thinking/hoping that he wouldn't. But, a reply awaited me this morning at 7am.

Hi, Richard!
I have received your mail, but I don't know your answer in detail.
Last year I asked your job in Korea.
Then one professor who I have known had searched an English teacher in the urgent situation. Now just I want you (or with your family)will stay and travel with me for some weeks in Korea. And I want to discuss if possible you may work in Korea.
When you came to Korea 7 years ago, just only you stayed in my house. I had not traveled with you. So I am very sorry that I had not been with you then.
Your Answer! O.K?

What is God doing here??

Pray for us as we seek him, and discuss what this may mean. I looked for a picture of Arte Johnson for this blog, and on the side of the page was an ad for Teaching English in Korea. Too much excitement in 2 days for a Doubter like me. As I sip my pomegranate tea, and get ready to watch football, my mind races. My hands are cold, my brain hurts, but my Spirit dances with excitement.

Verrry Innnteresssting, Indeed!

Update...

Email from the Southern Coast to Southern Korea

Choi,
I will be able to visit with you in Korea for a 2 week period. I would need to do this before the end of March if you are planning on this being a project for this year. I have to officiate a wedding on March 25, 2006. My family will not be attending, as my son is in school and Sarah is very involved here, in ministry and as Mom.
Obligations here will not allow me to be away longer than two weeks. I would love to explore needs there, but it looks as if it would be difficult to relocate at this time. I will be able to explain more at a later time. I look forward to the chance to spend time with you and your family. My passport does not expire until December of 2007. Please email with info as you are able, so that I can line up all that is necessary here. I am pleased with our reconnection and am excited to see you and to visit your country again.
Richard

Stay tuned for additional info...

Almost Superman

In the life that was childhood, I spent a great deal of time imagining and dreaming. Outside the front door of my Grandparent's house was a set of concrete steps, painted green that became a forum for self expression and fantasy. Seven steps separated the common man from immortality, as each step corresponded with a superhero. The ascention to Superhero deity progressed slowly, gradually and with a price of fear. I would step up, and then jump off...this was the event that caused a change in my genetic makeup and turned me into a member of the Marvel gang or the Justice League. My uncle, Donnie, seventeen years younger that my father, and five years older than me, introduced me to comics. These little books of illustrated battles of good and evil interested me and caused a young mind to wander, explore, and long for a new identity.

The 7 steps began with an easy jump...and I became AquaMan. A decent hero, but talking to fish is not really that great in the realm of superheros. Step two entailed a sex change, and I became WonderWoman, who in retrospect was pretty hot. I wonder how the world would be different if women really had a lasso of truth. I shudder at the thought of such. Step three was The Hulk, in need of anger management classes. The steps seemed to be much more daunting in height once I reached step four. That one was Captain America, I always loved his outfit and how he could sling the shield like a frisbee. Step five was Batman, it was always odd that Robin did not make the list, but he was a little wimpy.Step six was my favorite, Spiderman, and it made my spidey senses tingle, as I looked at the ground rush up to meet me, as gravity did what gravity does.


The last step was the grandest, and the most challenging. For what seemed like years, I always stopped at Spiderman. Partly because He was my favorite, but truly because the last step made me soil my underoos. It was made of simply concrete, but for the Man of Steel, it had a high level of Kryptonite.

Fears paralyze me, rendering me incapable of moving, progressing, and becoming the Hero that I was made to be. Fears of Inadequacy, failure, and being found out to be a fraud, keep me from taking a leap that will forever transform Clark into the Caped One with a red S on display for a gawking world to see.

Over the holiday break, we went back to my grandmother's house. Grandpa died in 1999, and my uncle is married and lives elsewhere. Generations may come and go, but as the picture below states...God's mercy endures forever. The hand reaches and helps us to become divine. We can face our fears, bite our tongues and realize that joy is possible, when He holds us and helps us in the great journey of our becoming.....like Christ, the God/Man.

This little guy, who seems to be a confused member of The Village People (hmmm...Indian or Construction hunk??), is me. The picture is a little ragged, but it was in my father's wallet when he died. I enjoy seeing it, because I know how proud I am of my son, and I can see that he felt the same way. My dad was 23 when I came along, and here he is probably 25.

The little fellow is beginning to grow, and learn how to do things. As a seven year old, here I am with my dad. He is holding me up, keeping me steady, balanced, preventing me from cracking my skull on the pavement. The Christmas of 1977 was cold and windy, and right before this picture was taken, he pulled a fresh white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the snot from my nose. Such is a vital part of being a dad, but I am not too sure about the gloves that he equipped me with, as the number on the bike, the gloves on the hands, and the hair on the head shouldn't always match! My father died 8 years later, at the age of 35. This ended the part of my life that can best be described as "The Life that was", as everything since then has been filtered through 1983. In an odd way, this is the year that I stopped dreaming, and began to fear, to rush, to push. I set goals for myself, that all centered around when I would be 35. I had to have my Doctorate degree, write my book, and start my family by the age of 35. Deep, or perhaps just below the surface, I feared that I too would die at the same young age.

I spoke with an acquaintance turned friend the other day. He is a neat guy, a man's man, but what I love the most about him is that he does not take himself too serious. He has the face and head of Charlie Brown, but with the goatee of Charlie Chan. After reading these soul ramblings, and hearing me open up a little bit, he shared some great encouragement. Upon finding out that my birthday is January 4th, he said,"Look, you have almost made it, you have beat it, you have won!" After he finished, in a warp speed back to my teenage years, I heard Barry Manilow sing.."Looks like We've made It!". Two unlikely teammates, Mr. Chan and Mr. Manilow said the same thing!!



Now when I look at this picture, I see that it can be interpreted two different ways. For 24 years, my dad has been holding me back, keeping me still, stopping progress. But, now that I am 36, he is pushing me off, saying, "Keep it steady", and allowing me to pedal freely.

If I fall, so be it, but....pedal I will!

Hey world, how do you like my gloves?

Pretty spiffy, huh.

Happy 36th birthday to me, and thanks to Christ, Mr. Barry Manilow and Mr. Charlie Chan, I can take off the training wheels. I am Free!

Shoes Go A' Flying

Exodus 3:1-5

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

2-There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.

3-Then Moses said, I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.

4-When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here I am.

5-Then he said, Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.

6-He said further, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Now, I am no Moses, although I often lead others, as we are part of God's Chosen wilderness wandering troop, but during Christmas I walked on Holy Ground. We made a visit to my last living grandparent, who is now in her eighties. She lives beside the house that I grew up in, but ultimately left in 1995. Walking back into her yard, I was overwhelmed with memories. Take off your shoes...this is a Holy moment...You are about to be overwhelmed, but not consumned. I did not hear God speak audibly, but he was yelling within me. I took a deeeeeeeep breath, wiped my left eye, and walked around before going inside.Over the next several days, I am going to unpackage these thoughts, emotions, and memories with keyboard strokes. Words such as: Steps, dock, roof, lake, yard, fence, bike, concrete, and fish may be empty to you, but for me...they are "buffet style, unbuckle my pants" filling.The Life that was, is, and is yet to be...this was my greatest gift during this Christmas season.