What is normal?

This is a question I used to ask people when they said I wasn't normal. "What is normal?" Now, I ask myself that question in regards to my own life. I am an alien living in a foreign land that is learning about how they live here. Yet, I am still an outsider and feel that I will always be such. Is normal going to the store and asking, "How much is it?" or "Ohl man eye oh?" When you meet someone, do you bow and say, "Anyanghasayo." or do you shake hands as you say, "Hello."? Do you eat using a spoon and fork, or a spoon and chopsticks? What is normal? In this new land, normal is continually changing. Here I feel like a king because I am paid in the millions. A half-liter Pepsi costs one thousand. Everyone looks at us like we are movie stars. Many people look, laugh, and whisper to each other as we pass by. Others will come up to us to practice the little bit of English that they know. We always have people looking at us. When we go back to the states to visit, what will normal be? What will life be like there, even if for just a short time? Will we remember how to drive a car? Here we walk, ride a bus, a subway, or take a taxi. As we work here, things are changing there in the states also. It's hard imagining how different everything will be when we visit the states. It's hard imagining how long God will have us stay here in Korea. Is normal going to visit North Koreans to teach them English at a processing facility before they are integrated into society? Or is normal witnessing and preaching on the streets in Oklahoma? I don't know what normal really is. So, I will ask you, "What is normal?"

Normal is such a strange word. Nothing is really normal when you are trying to follow God. Normal to God and normal to the world are two totally different things. I went to a conference recently and the speaker made the following statement, "When I want to see what God's will is in any certain situation, I think about what would I do naturally, then I know I should probably do the opposite." Our natural man is so opposed to the ways of God that this statement is totally true. Just look at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus makes statements like, "you have heard and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, But I say to you, 'Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Jesus also said, "You have heard that is was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.'" This goes totally against what most people would consider normal behavior. However, it is the way of God. I guess the final question is, "Do you want to be normal, or abnormal?" Those I know who have followed God at all costs were definately abnormal people according to the world's definition. I pray that at the end of my life, people will remember my family and I as abnormal people.

Most people would say that I am a new missionary, considering I have only been in Korea for 6 months. I would say that I have been a missionary for years, only now I have crossed the ocean to continue what was started in America. The mission hasn't changed, just the location. The mission continues to be the same one that Jesus started and has been carried on through the centuries; to seek and save that which was lost and be a servant. I am serving now in the capacity of a teacher in a Christian school. I find it quite ironic that God sent me halfway around the world to have me teach in a school that uses American textbooks and is totally taught in English. I mean he could just as easily let me stay in America and teach the same material as I am teaching now. There are many schools that use the same Bob Jones curriculum there. I also find it funny that he would move us here to confirm that we are supposed to homeschool our children. God definitely has a sense of humor. For years, my wife and I were burdened for the hispanic people. We worked at a Spanish speaking church, had friends who were hispanic and even lived in a predominantly hispanic neighborhood. However, God decided we needed to go to South Korea. When we came here, I didn't know any Korean language and had only met a few Koreans. I didn't know anything about the country, it's people, or it's history. I am learning much about these things each day.

Before coming to Korea, I spent many hours passing out tracts, talking to people one on one or in small groups, and occasionally preaching in the open air. I sometimes went with a team, or if no one else was available, I went by myself. I enjoyed this very much, but God wanted to stretch me spiritually so he arranged for me to come to Korea. If you want to know more about how we came to be in Korea or about our current situation you can read my other blog.

Welcome

This blog is dedicated to my musings about theology, apologetics, evangelism, cross-cultural communication, cultural differences, and the Bible in relation to Christ's mission for all of us to make disciples of all nations. Sometimes, the musings will be serious and at others they will be very humorous. I hope you enjoy the writings. If you have any questions, or comments feel free to leave them here. Please remember that these are my musings and my memoirs, so they will be slanted in that they are my personal viewpoints. You may or may not agree with all things written.