June 28, 2023

I knew a pastor from South Korea from my earliest days. He gave me a book on how to speak Korean, that I used to learn some phrases. It wasn’t until I was in my early 30’s that I had a chance to visit the country and participate in some of her famed prayer meetings and churches. It is so interesting to see the gospel movement in South Korea following the Korean War and the contrast with the incremental progress of the gospel in Japan following W.W. II. South Korea is now a glorious exporter of missionaries.

One of the reasons why I like Korea is that they determine your age based on your conception, not your birth. Therefore, when you are born, you are considered to be 1 year old. Now, they do something else a bit odd, and that is add another year on your first New Year’s Day. So, if you were born on December 31, 2022, on January 1, 2023 you would be 2 years old. Admittedly this is more than a bit confusing, but I do love the pro-life sentiment that it comes from. But, happily for those who want to turn the clock back, South Korea is changing this ancient formula and going with how the rest of the world does it. In fact, that change in the law is happening today. Therefore, if you were dreading turning 40 this year, you get to put it off another year. But then again, if you dreaded it, and you turned 40 this year, you may have to do it again!

Speaking of age, this week I visited one of our long-time members who is fast approaching the city not made with hands. His body shows all of the evidences of a long life and the ways that age goes from growing us in our early years to shrinking us in our latter ones. I have known him for many, many years and smiled as I considered what he will soon see, soon hear, soon feel, soon taste, soon smell, and soon experience.

Time marches on, until the time when time will be no more. On that day, our faith and faithfulness on this day and every other in this life will be worth it so much more than we can ever realize now. You may be beat me to the gates, or I outrun you, but either way, there will be celebration just the same. Let’s help each other get home safely.

Press on pilgrim!

Bob

Sunday’s Text: 2 Samuel 13:23-39