One Life

One of the students at our seminary is going through a very rough time.  He’s been feeling very weak, and after going to the hospital he was told that he might have liver cancer.  They are doing more tests.  Can I ask for your prayers?

Here’s an email excerpt from Joey to Dr. Joe Kim of our seminary.  It shows the peace and perspective that transcends all human understanding.

–

Thank you for your rich prayers last Sunday.  Young Isaiah; such a cute kid and so is your younger son.  Also Agi’s eldest son came and told me he is praying for me, last Sunday. I have been so greatly enriched by the many cute kids at ANF.   So much to learn from kids.  Shohei did not have words; he simply wept and embraced me.  Agi had only a few words and gave me an affectionate brotherly hug.  The Chinese man encouraged me and said I should fast and pray (which is a thrilling concept; I like that war-time mentality).  The rest of ANF people were simply at a loss for words.  I had prayed with Jo-Anne before the service for a pain she had on her hip.  Later when she heard the news after the service, she came and said her pain looked so small. And later today, Craig kindly offered to drive me home because it was raining.  I’ve come to the conclusion that pain, in and of itself, is not beautiful.  But the beauty that pain brings to us is seen in the numerous receptions and expressions of love, in Christ.

I was at the park the other day, contemplating on God’s sovereignty over creation.  As I sat by the shaded tree, I saw each and everyone of your faces one by one (I too make mention of your names everytime I pray); and it suddenly dawned on me that you all look very beautiful in God’s eyes.  God’s community, although sin-sick, is still the bride of Christ.  Then I looked up and was reminded what the Psalmist said: ” The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.”  It felt as though the heavens, including the tree right above my head, simply stood there speaking to me of His glory (although subjected to futility -Roms.8:20a).  I am seeing the world differently now; for which I am truly thankful.  No wonder, John Calvin said Special Revelation is a like a lens with which we can look at General Revelation with  ” eyes made anew..”

I told the Lord the other day that I miss Him very much.  And it would be nice if He took me home anytime.  If He did, I would never want to come back down here.   Paul creates this kind of appetite for us in Romans 8: ” For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” [v.18].   But the need is still great in Japan and Asia.  He even used the four beleaguered lepers in 2 Kings 7.  So may the Lord do to me as He deems fit.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Joey

A brother wrote saying that he didn’t have the same view of Joel Osteen. Here’s the brief response I just sent:

Hey brother thanks for the email. I’d encourage you to listen/read carefully what he teaches. In just this video clip he says that the non-abundant life includes “struggling in finances” and struggling with “bodily sickness” and other things. This is pretty clearly health/wealth gospel that is something to be very careful about. Struggling in finances and struggling in health are very very common not just human and also oftentimes very Christian struggles. If suffering is the antithesis of Christianity then what about Paul? What about Christ? There is the core of the Gospel that is missing most of all in his teaching. We are sinners spiritually dead without Christ. Christ died taking the punishment of sin upon the cross that was demanded by the holiness and justice of God. By faith in Christ alone we are forgiven for our sins and made alive in Him. “Alive” is spiritual life in Christ in restored relationship to the Father. Christ calls us to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. (This is a call to die to ourselves and our self-centered focus. Osteen is preaching self-centeredness and worldly comfort). Is this the Gospel that Osteen preaches? If you find the true Gospel please do let me know – I’d love to see it and will certainly rethink my perspective on him. But do know that most of evangelicalism is seeing his teaching as at best devoid of the true Gospel and at worst a deception in leading people to health and wealth.

I think that it’s possible for Christians to come to Osteen’s teaching with a true orthodox understanding of the Gospel and the Bible and maybe hear things that he says in a positive way, but it seems there’s a pattern of questionable teaching that should caution us.

Let me know what you find as you dig more!

Michael

Friends,

Yesterday in our team prayer meeting (which occurs every Monday morning at 10 am) we were talking about the Gospel. And I remembered one thing that I believe Mark Dever mentioned in one of his Desiring God talks which is that no matter how loving and kind and Jesus-like you try to be in your witness to non-Christian friends and family members and strangers at the end of the day until you verbally share the Gospel message with them, they have NOT heard the Gospel. Whether you are a missionary or a Christian in the US, it behooves us to not just in our lives live out a Gospel witness but to actually share the Gospel with those we love and those who are lost without Christ. It’s a good reminder even on the mission field as we can become scared of losing relationships with people (and scared of losing face) in sharing the Gospel. But the Gospel really is tremendously good news. I think once we get over ourselves it becomes a much less fearful thing.

Here’s a quick youtube video that illustrates the point well I think. It’s a “testimony” from Penn who is a famous magician (and atheist) talking about a genuinely “good guy” who gifted him with a Bible.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3…

Another youtube moment to share with you. I ran across many many youtube videos of young people opening their “mission call” letters to see where in the world they will be serving as missionaries. There is excitement and celebration surrounded by friends and family members. There is willingness to do anything and go anywhere. The only problem is that these videos are young people going as Mormon missionaries. Mormons are required to give 2 years of missionary service. All young men without exception. I wonder why the Gospel alone is not motivation enough for those of us who truly know Christ to move a whole generation of young people to serve Christ to the ends of the world? And to move all Christians to take up the call to be mission senders?

Here’s one example of a Mormon call:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uweITtX-L…

Finally I wanted to give you an update on our finances. THANK YOU to all of you who have increased your support and/or sent in one-time gifts! THANK YOU!!! We had a great December and January of giving which makes it much less likely that we’ll be pulled back to the US. We still have to see though how giving goes in the next few months and also in particular how the dollar/yen rate progresses. We’re thankful to a friend who recently left Japan and gave us his car. That allowed us to give our car to the Kim family who in turn after selling their car in the US before coming to serve in Japan donated the proceeds of that sale to our family account which was a huge help. God is good!

Related to finances I wanted to share one more alarming youtube video with you from Joel Osteen. He’s been quite a popular preacher globally, but he represents a very dangerous threat to the faith in the “Prosperity Gospel” message that he preaches. Essentially it teaches that God wants us to be healthy and wealthy. If so then Jesus was a total failure.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di9-PebV6…

Thanks for your continued prayers and support. It’s been a precious few weeks for Pearl and me to enjoy no travels and LOTS of family time. I’m not planning to going much of anywhere for a long while….

Michael

PS – in case you haven’t yet seen pictures from the DG conference or the video my talk, here are the links:

 http://www.facebook.com/photos/?ref=sb#/…

 http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibra…

Just wanted to let you know of our new ministry website (as lots of the info on my blog is a bit dated).  I’ll try to continue to post prayer requests and updates to this site, but the most recent info and descriptions of our ministry are on our new site.  Also please check out our new CBI video on the site under media.

Thanks!

Here’s the address:

 http://www.cbijapan.org/jointheteam

I posted the link on my blogroll to the right as well for easy access.

Friends,

 

THANK YOU for your prayers for my talks at the Desiring God Pastor’s Conference.  It’s done!  And God was amazingly gracious.  All yesterday I was feeling so tired with a headache and starting to feel quite overwhelmed.  There were over 1600 pastor’s at this year’s conference and looking out at them I could start to feel and comprehend the tremendous joy and opportunity and burden of the possible implications of this talk – how God could use this to impact their lives and the more than 100,000 members of their congregations.  Global implications if the Lord would so choose to effect.  In my prayers I asked God “what in the world am I doing here?!”  It was a sweet preparation of my heart though in feeling so incredibly small and inadequate and to rest again in the bigness and greatness of God.  The seminar last night went so well.  I really just enjoyed the whole time.  There was a great turnout with many more people than seats.  But then late to bed and early to rise for my plenary talk.  After a wonderful prayer time with John Piper and the other speakers we headed out to the hall.  The Lord so blessed me through the singing (”strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord” and “We rest on Thee”).  All of the nervousness and trepidation of the day before was gone and as John Piper prayed the Lord granted me freedom in my talk.  Thank you for praying for my voice as well!  I had a stronger and more resilient voice than almost any time I can remember in recent months.  Plus for 68 minutes I was able to trumpet out 100% of what was in my heart through my voice.  What a huge blessing!

 

I need to get to bed, but I just wanted to write quickly to say thank you thank you thank you for praying.  I’ll share more about my experiences when I get back.  I leave at 1 pm tomorrow for Japan.  I’ll arrive in Japan Friday night at 8 pm.  Can’t WAIT to see Pearl and the kids (and be home for a nice long stretch of no travel!)

 

You can see my talk on video or audio on the DG website -

 

 http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1624_mis…

 

With heavenly affection,

 

Michael

Read more about the Desiring God Pastor’s Conference here:

 http://www.desiringgod.org/Events/Pastor…

 

Friends,

 

The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle presented in all the Gospels.  The lesson of that miracle is my comfort as I head to Minnesota tomorrow as a little boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish.  My speaking at this conference is as I wrote a few days ago to John Piper “logic defying”.  I’m just a young and inexperienced guy who looks even younger.  We’re a growing but small ministry in a forgotten mission field.  But Lord willing I’ll be the little boy who showed up as a surprise guest with a small but important role in a story of His divine power.  As I’ve shared with our team and students here, “I wouldn’t be speaking if God didn’t want this.  Let’s see what He has planned.”

 

I heard from Piper yesterday that this will be the largest conference they’ve ever had.  My pessimistic side thought that with the global recession and with the theme of evangelism (and with me speaking!) that this might be one of their smallest gatherings.  God knows much better!

 

I covet your prayers.  I don’t think we can overestimate what the Lord could do for Japan and for His glory in all the world through these short few days.  There are already some very exciting possibilities/projects that will be happening in the next few years that we’re discussing related to our partnership with Desiring God ministries.  I’ll let you know more about this in the future.

 

I’m looking forward to having 3 meals with John Piper, Mark Dever, and Matt Chandler (the other speakers).  Such a great opportunity for me to listen and learn.  I wish my seminar and talk were the first day so I can enjoy the rest of the time and meet people, but unfortunately my seminar is the last night and my talk is the last one right before a q and a session with all the speakers.

 

* Pearl and all the kids except Mikaela have a cold.  I’m fighting it off as best as I can.  Please pray for her and the kids especially while I’m gone.  With Joe and Juliet Kim and family here now she should have better support.  Craig and Yumiko Chapin will also be helping with driving and other things.  Thank God for our team!

 

Some prayer requests.  Later you can see below a detailed schedule for my travel and ministry. 

 

1) that God would speak through me – what more can I ask?

2) again for my family – for the Lord’s protection, for health, for safety, and for joy even in my absence as they are with me in prayer and spirit

3) for Craig and Joe as they hold down the fort in Nagoya

4) for divine appointments with key people the Lord would have us connect and partner with in ministry and friendship

5) for my throat and health – since I’m speaking Tues night for my seminar and then Wed morning for 60 minutes and then the q and a right after it’s not a good schedule for my voice.  Pray that I’ll be able to fight off this cold and that the Lord would sustain my voice through the end.

6) for me personally that my life and heart and faith will continue to be transformed by the Lord

7) that this world will be more gloriously and globally filled with the glory of God because of this conference.  I’m personally praying that the Lord might raise up 5000 new missionaries for the unreached of the world and another 500 new missionaries for Japan.

 

 

 

Here’s my schedule.  You can also see the conference schedule and other info at: http://www.desiringgod.org/Events/Pastor…

 

Sat 1/31 (Japan) I leave at noon along with Kentaro Sumiya (one of our students and ANF staff who will be accompanying me) from Nagoya to Tokyo to Minneapolis arriving at 11 am 1/31 in the US.

 

12:30 pm – lunch with a friend from college and seminary

 

4:30 pm – head to worship at Bethlehem Baptist and hear John Piper preach

 

Sun 2/1 – am coffee with some missionaries from Piper’s church going to Japan

 

11 am – speaking at All Nations Fellowship (yup same name as ours) which is the international fellowship at Piper’s church

 

12:30 – lunch with missions pastor

 

afternoon – coffee or dinner with Don Carson who will be in MN for a CBMW  cbmw.org) seminar

 

evening – find somewhere to watch the Super Bowl!

 

Mon 2/2 -

 

breakfast with a leader of a ministry to bodybuilding professionals around the world

 

lunch – Matt Chandler

 

4 pm – meet with Lakeview Church friends

 

5 pm – head over to conference for dinner with Piper, Dever, and Chandler

 

Tues 2/3 -

 

conference all day

 

8:45 – 10 pm – my seminar on “Global Advances and Global Opportunities: The State of the Gospel around the World”  This is adapted from Jason Madryk’s presentation at the YLG in 2006.  Jason is the editor of Operation World and is a friend.

 

Wed 2/4 -

 

8:30 – 10 am – my plenary talk “Missions as Fasting: The Forsaking of Things Present for the Global Exaltation of Christ”  I’ll speak for 60 minutes.

 

10:30 – 12 – question and answer session with all the speakers

 

Lunch and then conference is done

 

Thurs 2/5 – I fly out of MSP back to Nagoya arriving Fri 2/6 in the evening Japan time.

 

Dear Friends,

It seems that 2008 has been full of good news to share with you all – surely one of the most blessed years of this ministry and my life. But for every rose there are certainly thorns and this seems to be one of those. We’ve also learned that we need to learn to thank the Lord for the thorns and not only the petals.

To be honest I was surprised that the Korean real estate developer met with me two weeks ago in Korea and then more surprised that he said he would visit Nagoya on the 19th and 20th. I was fully prepared for him to let us know that he would not be able to help us (considering that two years have passed since our first contact with him and he still hasn’t visited Japan), but it seemed like the Lord kept the door open during my positive meeting with him in Korea (in addition to the good meeting we had last November).

Almost two years ago to the day I wrote to you all:

“I have amazing news to share. It seems (we’re still waiting on confirmation) that the Lord may have provided a donor in response to our biggest prayer item over the past months. We’ve been praying for land/campus for CBS as well as for future ministry expansion. We really need dormitories as well. This would be a multi-ministry site with church planting efforts, lay training, CBS, and other future ministries. A Christian real estate developer in Korea has said that he is willing to pay for everything – both land and buildings. He would own the land and we would own our buildings.”

A few months earlier the Lord started to put on our hearts a vision for the future ministry of CBI (plans which for now we’re keeping confidential). The vision, we knew, was humanly impossible and would require land and a campus for multi-ministries. Rather than giving up, we turned to the Lord with prayer and fasting. The fact that CBS even existed was evidence enough that God can do miracles. And then 3 months after starting to fast and pray each Wednesday I heard about Mr. Kim and his proposal. Apparently around the time we started to fast and pray his wife was praying one morning and she believed that the Lord was speaking to her, “This year you must help Japan.” She didn’t know anything about Japan, but she told her husband. He also didn’t know anything, but he told his pastor friend in Chicago. He then told Mr. Kim about Pastor Joshua of Lakeview Church who told them about our vision for a campus and our future ministry hopes. Mr. Kim just “happened” to be a real estate developer.

But sometimes perfect storylines don’t have perfect endings. But we continue to trust in the Lord who works all things perfectly for His glory and His people through imperfect circumstances.

Over the last two weeks we have been scrambling to set up appointments and gather documents about the Yakusa land we were hoping to buy ($2.2 million – 1.8 acres across from two train stations). But we found out that part of the land was withdrawn from the market. We still set up an appointment for Mr. Kim to meet their representative for Sunday to see if we could still buy the whole lot. We also scrambled to find other options in case the land was not purchasable. It was a very difficult and stressful search. The person who has been helping us with much of this all (Hasegawa san – a non-Christian Japanese CEO – the man who has been renting us his home) set up another appointment as well with an investment advisor. Hasegawa san has done all this help for us mainly as a personal favor to me. He’s worked hard to get us various documents and set up appointments (and has been so patiently waiting for Mr. Kim to come to Japan over these past 2 years as well!)

We kept waiting to get information from Mr. Kim about his visit. We spoke with him a few times and even by Friday night (he was to arrive Saturday) he didn’t have a ticket. He told us he would probably come Saturday at 3 pm or 5 pm. Then after that he never contacted us and never came. He didn’t answer any telephone calls or text messages. His assistant also answered his phone only once and then not again.

On Saturday as it seemed clear Mr. Kim would not come I had to go to Hasegawa san’s company and apologize to him face to face. We were very concerned that he would be angry and not help us ever again. This would have been a huge blow to us because he is probably one of the most influential men in our city. But God was so gracious as I was able to talk first with his wife and then to him and they were very understanding. Still the whole situation was a bad witness to a CEO that I’ve been trying to build up a relationship with over the past few years. It also was a poor witness for CBI as well. A very dangerous situation. It was like canceling a meeting that you urgently requested people to fit into their schedules last minute on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend (it was a special 3 day weekend here).

As I said before, our trust was never in Mr. Kim – it was always in God alone. We have today human disappointments but divine hope. We hope to learn more in the next weeks what exactly happened with Mr. Kim, but we’re ready to move forward with seeking the Lord’s grace in showing us what plan B is. We continue to believe that the Lord will allow our vision for the future of CBI to move forward.

Thank you for your prayers this past weekend. We ask for your continued prayers. Our team found comfort this week in 1 Peter:

1Pet. 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1Pet. 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Michael

Friends,

Thank you for your prayers! Our time in Korea went very very well. We could see evidence of the Lord’s hand at work and the fruit of your prayers!

We were extremely busy up until the moment that Mr. Kim arrived making last minute adjustments (reducing our presentation from 40 minutes to 30 minutes with English/Korean translation), changing various phrases, and printing out materials. Craig Chapin put together a WONDERFUL presentation, a friend of mine from the Lausanne younger leaders gathering who has a translation business in Seoul did our translations for our materials, and Joe Kim’s friend John Jung (future CBI tent-maker in Japan Lord willing) provided on the spot translation. Rev. Yu arranged everything and helped our relationship building with Mr. Kim. Joe even joined us via ichat for the whole meeting! It was truly a team effort!

Before he arrived Rev. Yu (who was vice president of sales for Kia Motors in Korea before going into ministry) said to us that there was no guarantee that we would even have an opportunity to give our presentation. He said that businessmen in Korea might leave after 10 minutes or stay longer if they are really interested. Mr. Kim came in, told us to take all the time we needed, and spent almost 2 hours with us!

Everything went extremely smoothly. Mr. Kim’s associate even goes to Joe Kim’s uncle’s church in Seoul which was reassuring! Mr. Kim has also helped out with missions in Myanmar and elsewhere.

He told us that HE was the one who sought us and that he was thankful for this opportunity to contribute towards Japan missions.

Basically where things stand is that we have lots of details to research (legal issues, business options for part of the land, financial requirements in Japan, etc.) They are hoping they can find a suitable business to develop on part of the land (which we will not be using – the East side). The hope is to help fund our portion of the land and our buildings (which could amount to one to two million dollars) eventually over time through their business. Also he said they hope to eventually gift not only the buildings they will build for us but also in the future our portion of the land and possibly even the whole land if things go well.

He is in the Philippines right now supervising an apartment complex they are building. After that is done on the 15th of December he will come to Nagoya (between the 16th and the 24th) to see the land personally.

The meeting went as well as I could have imagined reasonably. I think we’ve probably moved from a 20% likelihood of this becoming reality to 80% now. The last pieces of the legal and business pieces now need to fall into place. Please do continue to pray!

The night before our meeting I had an interesting experience seeing a person’s face while I was dreaming. I remember thinking at the time that it couldn’t be Mr. Kim because the man had fairly short hair and I thought that a president of a company in Korea wouldn’t have such short hair. As I walked Mr. Kim to the elevator I realized then that I had seen Mr. Kim’s face in my dream. God works in mysterious ways.

Thank you again for joining us in faith and prayer. We continue to trust the Lord in whatever circumstance we might find ourselves. We continue to hold to the vision that He’s given us and trust that He will provide all that is needed for it’s realization. Thanks for your partnership with us as we seek the Lord’s glory here in Japan!

Michael

Friends,

For 1.5 years I’ve been asking you to pray about the opportunity of having a Korean real estate developer purchase land and buildings for a CBS campus. After a long wait and much prayer and fasting I’ll be meeting this man face to face in Korea next Friday over lunch!

As I understand it his wife was praying early one morning and the Lord spoke to her heart, “This year you are to help Japan.” She told her husband who contacted his pastor friend in Chicago. The real estate developer had given a large sum of his own money towards that pastor’s project of sharing the Gospel with the deaf in China.

That Chicago pastor didn’t know anyone in Japan, but after asking another Chicago pastor friend learned about our ministry.

Then the real estate developer suggested the possibility of buying land via his investors group; they would own the land and lease us the land for free indefinitely; they would build all needed buildings for us; we would own the buildings; they would pay for everything.

We’ve had about 5-6 phone conversations with this man and every time seemed very positive. But we kept waiting for a visit from this extremely busy man.

Finally we will meet him next Friday. Craig Chapin, Rev. Yu and I will be going and will give a presentation.

The land we LOVE and are hoping to buy is 1.8 acres (which is an unbelievably huge piece of land in Japan). The land price is $2.2 million (an incredibly cheap price for Japan – 40 times cheaper than other land we looked at). Buildings could be an additional $1 million for dorms, offices, classrooms, and worship hall.

If you feel so moved we invite you to take a 24 hour period of time between now and then for fasting and prayer. I encourage study of the book of Daniel as well as a reminder of the absolute sovereignty of God over kings and kingdoms and every circumstance.

Potentially the biggest meeting in the history of our ministry. I don’t anticipate any concrete decisions until they actually see the land, but this is a huge step forward potentially. Such a provision could provide adequate space for the next 50+ years!

May the Lord who can move the hearts of kings work a miraculous work of provision for His great glory!

* Please also share this prayer request with your church and network of friends!

With thanksgiving,

Michael

We leave on Friday back to Nagoya (7/13) and our lives and ministry there.

There is a sense of both excitement and dread – we’re ready to return “home” and do the work the Lord has called us to. There are many in Japan eagerly awaiting our return. At the same time we’re really not looking forward to the plane-ride with our four girls. Elliot especially will likely be a handful for the 15 hours of flying time. Please pray for the travel and also jet-lag. The goodbyes will be very painful. It’s been a wonderful furlough these past 9 months. The girls have so enjoyed school and family. I never believed in the whole concept of being “in love” – but seeing my father with Elliot I think I believe.

This is a reminder of the sacrifices we have chosen to make in this calling. Not so much just the language, food, nature, and all the comforts of life in America (there is no nation on earth like America – but unless you’ve lived elsewhere you probably don’t know it) – but much more so the very great blessings that the Lord gives to us – family and friends. That’s why I’ve always thought of missions as a fasting of many of the blessings of life. When we normally fast – we abstain from food – something so seemingly essential to life – to remind us of what is even more essential – our relationship with Christ. We fast because there is urgency of some other matter – more urgent than eating. In missions, we fast the blessings of family, friends, and all the blessings and opportunities of life in the US – because there is something even more essential to life – our relationship to Christ whom we follow and seek to make known. And we fast these blessings – because there is something more urgent than even our family and friends – the Gospel going to the perishing among the 2.5 billion who have little or no chance to hear the Gospel.

Here’s my talk given at Westminster Seminary a few months ago. Pearl was very interested in hearing this talk but after hearing the title decided to sit near the exit! Jerry McFarland the Dean of Students said before my talk that they’d love for me to come regularly. I told him, “Why don’t you wait until after you hear my talk!” You should know, however, that Westminster has been very supportive of our ministry – even donating hundreds of dollars worth of theological books! We appreciate their ministry and pray for God to use them for even greater impact ALL around the world! After the talk Jerry asked me if I could come every year to speak at Westminster : )

CH0607MO01.mp3

The 900 pound gorilla that was my PhD is finally free from my shoulders! It’s not that the degree itself was impossibly hard, but much more so it was trying to complete my dissertation at the same time as establishing our ministry in Japan and Christ Bible Seminary that was so challenging. At times I felt like I was walking around with a gun to my head (my dissertation) – that I desperately wanted to knock away from my head – but couldn’t. I’d go weeks and sometimes months without hardly having time to touch my dissertation. When I finally got the time and emotional energy to tackle it, I would sit down at my desk with piles of books and articles and have to struggle to even remember what it was that I was even researching! Then more weeks would go by fighting through the spiritual warfare of the Japanese mission field. I’d find myself brushing my teeth looking at the mirror – and seeing that gun to my head! There were times when I started to doubt whether I could finish my dissertation while being on the mission field – and those were good times of desperation – times when I could and had to lean upon my precious Lord Jesus.

“Surviving your dissertation” books can teach you the mechanics of managing your time and research, but they can’t minister to the depths of your soul through times of weakness, doubt, and frustration. God is good!

People used to ask me what my dissertation was about. Each question was a reminder of that gun to my head! I got to the point where I decided that only those who really pray for me and my dissertation get to ask me questions about the dissertation.

By the way my dissertation (focused on anthropological linguistics) was a Bakhtinian dialogical analysis of oral histories of Korean Christians who grew up during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

This picture is after graduation in full regalia. The PhD hooding ceremony was beautiful. Even more beautiful are my two daughters as you can see! I’m thankful especially to my wife Pearl – without whom I could never have finished. She also made it such a celebratory weekend. I think a month or two ago I had little expectation for what graduation would have been like. I think I would have been satisfied to not participate. But Pearl made it a beautiful weekend of great thanks to God. Thank you Pearl!

This picture was taken just yards away from the University of Pennsylvania’s ice rink where Pearl and I spoke our first words to each other Freshman year after we met while skating with some Intervarsity friends!