October 19, 2024

We were gone for about 16 days to a time zone that was 14 hours different from central daylights saving time. They say it takes one day per one hour to adjust to the new time zone. So that would take 14 days for us to adapt to the new time zone, cycle, and pattern. It wasn’t easy for us, especially the kids. For me, I had to run at odd hours, and just try my best to stay away during the daytime and sleep at normal hours. That was not the case for the girls. Around after mid-afternoon, they would start dozing off and go into a deep sleep mode, and it was quite challenging to just keep them up. This went on for about a week and they were finally adapting to the new time zone.

After 16 days, when we, at last, were feeling normal in the Korean Time Zone, we flew back home again. Now we have to adapt to our home time zone, repeating the whole process again. It was over 12 hours of flying. We left Korea in the morning, so the girls were wide awake for almost the entire flight. We landed at O’Hare at 10 am, and went through immigration and customs, the girls immediately fell into a deep sleep when we got into the car. I had to fight off sleep while driving back home. They are still sleeping in their rooms at the time of this writing. They will likely get up around 9pm ish and won’t sleep for most of the night. It will take another 2 weeks to adapt again.

When Jesus returns, we will be on a journey to our heavenly home. The distance to the heavenly kingdom is more than a 12-hour flight. We will be traveling through the galaxies and exploring the universe that God created on our way. How will we adapt to the new time zone? This is what the Bible says about the change: “who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” Philippians 3:21; “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52. Physically, we won’t have issues to adapting in heaven. 

What about our character? It was challenging to adapt to the driving practices and the traffic laws and patterns in Korea (yes, driving in Korea is different). It took time to remember how I drove back in the days in my motherland. Our character is the same about living in heaven with Jesus. And we must be changed to live in heaven. As we are justified by faith, the Bible says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3,4. Jesus will help us change our character! May we all look forward to that day in heaven. And please be merciful when you see my family fall asleep during worship today!

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October 12, 2024

I had a unique experience today in Korea. Due to high population density and continuous development of infrastructure, we had to move four gravesites of our family to a new location. This was not a part of my plan in Korea, but I ended up joining my extended ‘Kwon’ clan in this project. During the process, I got to see the remains of my great, great-grandfather, great-grandmother, grandfather, and uncle. These remains were put into new wooden boxes (I can’t say they were caskets, they were small) and buried at a new site, which was about 50 minutes away from the old one. 

Once they were buried, my other uncle and cousin, who are not Christians, paid respect to the god of the land to submit our ancestors’ remains to the new site. Then they offered drinks to our ancestors by pouring alcoholic drinks over the new site. My father and I watched all this with amusement because we know what the Bible teaches about death, the second coming of Jesus, and resurrection.

At the second coming of Jesus, Paul teaches us, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Leviticus 25 talks about Jubilee, which occurred every 50 years. In this year, there was the redemption of property, and slaves were made free, among many other blessings. This is how Jubilee started, “Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; and the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.” Leviticus 25:9. When the trumpet was heard throughout the land, there was redemption. And that’s why when Jesus returns, trumpets will be heard to free us from the bondage of death and give us eternal redemption.

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October 5, 2024

I haven’t been in Korea during the fall season for the past 16 years. Since I came to the US in 2008, whenever I visited my motherland it was always during the hot summer, or during the cold winter. Summers were brutally humid, and winters were just too cold here. I can’t remember the last time I was in Korea in the fall season and here I am now. Right now, the weather is perfect. The cool fall breeze in the morning and pleasant air during the day makes everything feel so good around here in Korea. I know that in a few weeks the weather will get colder, but for now I will cherish this moment. This is something I haven’t experienced of my country for the past 16 years, and it’s great to remember and be here for this wonderful time of the year, back in my home country.

During the time of slavery, the Israelites completely forgot about how great their homeland was. Once the Lord led them out of Egypt, and to the entrance of the promised land, the people of Go learned how great their land is. “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.” Numbers 13:27. The problem is that the Israelites did not have the courage and faith to follow God’s leading and enter into the promised land, which cost them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

Since we are living in this temporary home on earth, it’s very easy for us to forget How awesome God’s kingdom is. As the kingdom of God is near at hand, I pray that we will stay faithful to God. It’s the type of faith that Jesus taught us, to “have faith as a mustard seed” Matthew 17:20, which will not only have the power to move mountains, but help us enter into the wonderful kingdom of God prepared for us.

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