Book Review: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Books that touch on generations of a family are not a favorite fictional approach personally, but the way that Min Jin Lee effectively travels from 1910 to 1989 and tells the story of a Korean family in Korea who leaves to Japan and the struggles they face and overcome as minority immigrant is fascinating. Especially for someone like myself who loves Korea and Korean history. This helped me to better understand Korean culture and history while enjoying the story of this fictional family who faced what many Korean families faced through history and sadly still do today (in North Korea and Korean's living in Japan and around the world). The characters are engaging and well developed a long with the various plots and story lines. Now I can't wait to watch the TV miniseries based on the book. Finally, I want to note that the book does not take a skeptical or condescending approach toward the Christian faith and its place in Korean culture and especially with the story of this family. If anything, the book is honest to the struggles of the faith and also the way the Christian faith, if lived out honestly can effectively change peoples lives and generations of a family. I can't recommend this book enough.

View all my reviews

Magi versus MAGA - January 6th Insurrection and Epiphany/Three Kings Day

 

Matthew 2:1-12

January 6th is traditionally celebrated by Christians the world over as Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day celebrating the Magi visiting the Christ child with three gifts which could have been one person or three people with each gift. 

Sadly, January 6 is also in remembrance for the horrible insurrection on January 6, 2021 when Trump provoked a violent insurrection against the nations Capital to try to prevent the certification by Congress of Joe Biden as president of the United States. 

The magi go off to a distant land in search of the King, born, King of the Jews.  It is not known whether the magi fully understood the deity and the kingship of Jesus Christ, the messiah, but they were searching for a king, something, someone, who would be the king above all kings and address the wars and suffering around the world in their time and time immemorial. 

Ironic, that the MAGA insurrectionists, not the Magi, on January 6, 2021 followed a false king, someone who desired/desires to be a king, dictator, worshiped ruler with power, to overthrow and stop a valid election.  Seeking an earthly king while claiming to follow Christ the King.  Not seeing the false god, false worship, idolatry, and destruction of life, liberty, property and ultimately any faith in the living Christ the king.

While the Magi may not fully understand the kingship, messiah, and salvation that Christ would bring to the world to bring about that peace now through the Holy Spirit, God's church, and God's return, they knew it to be something that was good.  The MAGA instead know and have heard the good news and claim to follow the good news, but instead uphold a false god in Trump that they seek not the good but as Trump says I am your retribution.  This is someone not seeking the good of the country but the good of his power and manipulating others so that hey doesn't have to face his crimes but to stay in power.  

The first part of this ad didn’t seem like a big deal. The takeoff of the classic Paul Harvey “God made a farmer” part is fine. But that bit in the middle—“a shepherd to mankind who won’t ever leave nor forsake them.” That is blasphemy and idolatry.

pic.twitter.com/bqPLXx1W4q

— Megan Basham (@megbasham) January 6, 2024

Trump gets asked another question about his christian faith:

Q - “How do you do this? Where do you draw your strength from? We’re talking about Faith …

Trump - “I have the highest poll numbers people have ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/hTU9bWAp68

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 2, 2023

Prayer & a Car Crash

 

This last week on Tuesday, September 5th I was at work and I received the above text from a friend I had not heard from or messaged since April of this year.  It was a nice encouraging message to see.  I was going to message him back, but decided to head home for my usual early lunch (I take lunch near 11AM). On my way home from work and only 20 minutes after I had received the text message from my friend who was praying for me, I went through a green light while a truck heading in the opposite direction went through a red light.  I saw him approaching quickly, tried to speed up to avoid the truck but it clipped the back of my car anyway.  Luckily the guy had insurance, he took 100% responsibility for the crash, I wasn't hurt, and we both happened to have the same insurance company. 

When the Holy Spirit nudges you to pray, definitely be obedient in praying for that person or about that situation.  This goes for me as well.  Also, reach out to those the Holy Spirit nudges you to pray for and let them know you are thinking of them and praying for them.  A lot of people are going through various things and some simple words of encouragement and compassion goes a long way. 

This post is to be part of the goal to memorialize more God moments in my life that happen. Things large and small that happen that we are amazed at and we know it was God, but many times fade into the past when we are so anxious about the present.  

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PHP.4.6-7.NIV

The Husky Pup on the Loose

A few weekends back (January 29th), my wife and I were driving to a coffee shop after church on Sunday morning and we happened to see a loose dog.  Knowing my wife would be worried about that dog for weeks if we didn't stop we quickly stopped and started to follow the dog on foot as I turned the car around.  The young husky was scared and wasn't trusting anyone.  One woman also stopped her car and tried to help us.  Then a guy came out of his house and tried to help us.  Then another guy.  So eventually 5 people started to randomly chase this poor dog.  Trying to keep it from a busy street and trying to corner it to at least get a leash on the dog.  We chased that dog for 3 hours.  During those 3 hours other people gave us sliced meats to try to entice the dog and one family loaned us their leash. 

Eventually, we cornered the dog and the dog happened to go into someone's back yard and we were able to shut the gate so the dog couldn't get out.  After talking with the people at the house, they let us go into the back yard to get the dog.  Finally able to corner the dog we got two leashes on the dog.  Then the other 3 people disappeared and we got the contact number for one of them. So Sung and I slowly gained the puppy's trust taking another hour to get it to our car and in the back seat.  Once inside the dog finally trusted us, laid down, and slept.

Of course the dog wasn't chipped.  We went to two places to check for a chip and to see if they could take the dog in.  We posted on Pawboost and actually someone else posted a picture of a dog that looked like the dog we caught.  His name is Koda. We contacted the owners eventually. 

They came to the house and sure enough the dog reacted to his owners with glee jumping on them. He had been on the streets for 3 days.  He got spooked and got out of his collar and was pretty far from his home. Also, Koda's first owners spoke Spanish so the dog mostly just understood Spanish so any of the words we tried to use was no use.  The pup didn't understand us.  

But Koda is happy and home safe with his family and we were supper tired, but happy as well. 😀

Christmas Devotionals: Joseph

Jose y Maria by Everett Patterson

Based on the teaching on at church, devotional and this article (Joseph Silent Submission to Mary's God Given Calling is Real Biblical Manhood), I am writing out this devotional to keep these things in mind.

Matthew 1:18-25

-Joseph showed his faith by obediently following the direction of the angel.  Joseph made a decision, while still difficult, to trust the Word of the Lord delivered by the Angel.

-Joseph suffered in silence. Joseph while he spoke we are sure his words are not recorded.  We assume that Joseph even though his decision was difficult stood by Mary and suffered the scorn of his community and hurt he puts it aside for Mary and the child. If he did cry out it was discreet with God in prayer.  

-Joseph trusted in the the Law of the Spirit rather than in the written law, traditional law, or the cultural law. If Joseph was a legalist, he may have sought for Mary to be stoned or not believed the Word of the Lord delivered by the angel, but instead he trusts God and the Law of the Spirit over the law of the flesh or the law of tradition.

• We see this also in the ministry of Jesus and the writings of Paul (Romans 7:22-25; Romans 8:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:6). 

-Jesus would mirror his adopted father that he would suffer in near silence and show compassion even though facing the injustices of the sin of humans and the world.

that : 그것, 것, 전자, 그만큼, 바의

I'm Stock Footage of a New Mexican Voter

So apparently my sister saw me on the news on Election Day standing in line to vote.  But that didn't make sense because when I voted early there was no line and no camera crew.  There was nobody except the poll workers.  Apparently KOAT news has stock footage of me sometime ago standing in line to vote and I can't remember which election this was for.  I hope everyone I know went out there and voted and did their civic duty. God Bless.

Are You a New Mexican't Wear a Mask or a New Mexican Wear a Mask?

 Which one is it?

Mind Your Ps & Qs: QAnon Cult and S.E. Hinton likes Outsiders

 

There is a lot to say about the year of 2020 and the previous 4 years, but most of what I would say has already been written and said.  The small portion that I think is valuable will be written on another time and day.  So for today I thought I would write about something that I hope some will take and pray about and some will take and help those who are caught up in a political cult that is in these days very intertwined sadly with their faith even though they don't see it.  It's interesting that there are not many Christians talking about the cult of Q in any sense of warning against it or helping those who are caught up in it.  Which to me is accusation as to how much the church is both blind to it and/or caught in it by many Evangelicals being caught up in this Q conspiratorial thinking. 

For some background I suggest watching these two reports on it:

Now that we have got some background on Q and some of these racist, antisemitic, and disgusting conspiracy theories, let's look at the what is meant by cult.  

Cult is loosely defined as a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange, novel, socially deviant or sinister.

While it is more on religion, many examples show a political group can take on religious undertones and practices.

Additionally, some aspects of Q fit into what is normally identifying marks of a damaging cult:

• 1. The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
• 2. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
• 3. Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
• 4. The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (e.g., members must get permission to date, change jobs, or marryor leaders prescribe what to wear, where to live, whether to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
• 5. The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (e.g., the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avataror the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
• 6. The group has a polarized, us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
• 7. The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders, or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
• 8. The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (e.g., lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
• 9. Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

We can see that the QAnon Cult has these aspects in many ways. It also preys on the disunity and current starvation for community in society that existed even before the pandemic. 

Since I sadly couldn't find any Christian resources on this, I'm posting a non-Christian but helpful source on helping those caught up with Q: 

4 Keys to Help Someone Climb Out of the QAnon Rabbit Hole

And some hope for those who are coming out of the QAnon nightmare:

Some QAnon Supporters Checked By Reality Seek A Way Out

Finally, on Twitter, I commented on one of my favorite childhood writers, S.E. Hinton post on the article above and I got a retweet which was a nice surprise:

My prayers are with everyone who seeks to be freed from any cult but especially now in this damaging political cult. 

Economics 101: Too Many Microphone Controllers not enough Microphones

 The supply and demand issue at the essence of hip hop.  A meme of my own creation while listening to some old skool hippity hoppity. 

The Most Famous Person to Follow me on Twitter....

 .....happens to be the contemporary Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei who was essentially exiled from China by the #CCP after being under house arrest, arrested, and his studio destroyed by the CCP government. He eventually left China and lives in Europe.  Of course.  While him being the most famous person following me on Twitter seems random it is also somehow fitting.    

I follow him on Twitter and happened to randomly share a photo of my dog staring at a bunny and he decided to follow me.  Now I feel the pressure to step up my Twitter game. 

I have actually never been able to attend any of his art exhibits personally, but here is one that I liked:

ESL for Korean Students

 

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to share a blog on Naver (South Korea's Google) that aims to help Koreans who are:

* Korean international college/graduate students in the US ( #미국유학생 ), whose first language is not English

* Korean students who need help for writing a research/term papers in English;

* Koreans who need help for reading books or articles in English;

* Koreans whose first language is not English, and need help for speaking in English;

* Korean immigrants (미국이민자) who need help for improving their English skills;

* Koreans who need academic/reading/writing tutoring;

 Here is the link to the blog: https://blog.naver.com/lovelsh81

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#유학생 #대학생 #직장인 #일반인

#Advanced학습코칭과외 프로그램 요금표

*영어만 과외를 원하시면 위 별도 과외요금표 참고

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1. #유학생 생활전반 컨설팅/ 문화/ 유학초기 필요한 준비사항 등

1시간: 만원 ($10)

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2. #이메일영어 (#교수이메일/ #사업_비지니스관련필요한 #영어이메일소통, 이메일 교정 등)

30분: 만원 ($10)

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3. #Proofreading (원어민과 한국인강사 두 명이 동시에 봅니다.)

문법만 교정시:

1page (double-spaced, Times New Roman 글씨체 기준) 5000원 ($5)

1page (single-spaced) 1만원 ($10)

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문법 및 어휘등 표현력 전반, 논리전개, editing, 글에 전반적인 수정을 원할 경우:

1page (double-spaced) 25000원 ($25)

1page (single-spaced) 5만원 ($50)

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4. #영어원서읽기 지도

(원서읽기 능력 및 속도 높이기/ 필요한경우 책을 같이 읽으며 이해를 도울 수 있음.)

1시간: 4-6만원 ($40-60)​

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5. #영어레포트작성, 글쓰기 훈련, 논리전개능력등 학교학업관련 과외지도

1시간: 4-7만원 ($40-70)

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6. #유학학업 전반 지도가 필요한 경우

(읽기, 쓰기, 발표, 프리젠테이션준비, 발음, 이메일, 교수와의 소통 등)

1시간: 4-7만원($40-70)

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7. 이외 기타 도움필요시 강사와 상담

#영어화상과외요금표

(회화,듣기,쓰기,이메일,비지니스영어,어휘,Free-talking등)

#초급영어:

1시간: 20000원 ($20)/ 원어민강사: 25000원 ($25)

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#중급영어:

1시간: 25000원 ($25)/ 원어민강사: 30000원 ($30)

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#고급영어:

1시간: 30000원 ($30) / 원어민강사: 35000원 ($35)

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*한국인/원어민강사 동시 필요시:

원어민강사요금 + 10000원추가/1시간 또는 5000원추가/30분

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#원어민전화영어: 10분당 5천원 / 하루10분,주5일,한달:10만원/ 1시간 3만원

강사 이력은 강사가 배정되는 대로 알려드립니다.

박사학위소유/박사후보생/혹은 미국학사이상 혹은 전문직종에 있는 강사들이 대부분입니다.

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문의:

이메일: 777gotousa@gmail.com

(이메일에 본인연락처 기재하시면 전화 혹은 카톡드립니다.)

카톡 아이디: mtslshus

전화: 070-8690-2256

(미국시차때문에 전화를 받지 않을 수 있습니다. 부재중 남겨놓으시면 연락드립니다. 이메일보내시면 더 빠르게 답장/연락받아보실 수 있습니다.)

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​주요강사 프로필

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Samantha Lee​ , PHD Candidate (ABD), MTS, THM (한국인)​

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현재 미국인 남편과 결혼해 미국에 거주하며 논문저술, 학습코칭 및 학술활동 중.

특히, #유학생 혹은 #유학준비생 #학습코칭 #대학교학습과외전문.

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석사학위 최우수논문상수상 (한국)

Rotary International Embassadorial Scholar 수상

AAUW (American Association of University Women), International Fellowship 수상

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미국학력약력

미국 조지아주 애틀랜타, Emory University 석사 졸업 (Master of Theological Studies: Ethics and Pastoral Care and Counseling)

미국 뉴저지주, Drew University 박사후보생 (2021년5월 졸업예정)

논문분야: Social Ethics and Moral Psychology

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영어 ESL 1unit 수료.

영어교육 학사학위 취득

토플 100점 이상 고득점.

수년간의 영어강사 경력 (초중고, 대학생, 직장인까지/ 회화에서 Toefl시험 강사까지 경력)

토종 시골 출신에서 미국 박사문턱에 다다르기 까지

갈고 닦은 영어 공부의 모든 노하우를 전수해 드립니다!

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원하실 경우 입증 가능한 증명서를 보여드립니다.

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Darren Rohe (원어민)

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현재 Paralegal분야의 직종에 재직.

전공분야: Economy, Business, Political Science

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학력:

Bachelor in Political Science

Minor in Business

Associate Degree in Legal Studies

Partial fullfilment in Theology for 2years (Master's Degree)

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이 외에도 필요에 따라 다른 원어민강사가 배정될 수도 있습니다.

이 경우 원어민강사의 이력이 제공됩니다.

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이 외 자세한 문의사항은 이메일이나 카톡으로 연락주시면 답변해 드립니다.

문의:

이메일: 777gotousa@gmail.com

(이메일에 본인연락처 기재하시면 전화 혹은 카톡드립니다.)

카톡 아이디: mtslshus

전화: 070-8690-2256

(미국시차때문에 전화를 받지 않을 수 있습니다. 부재중 남겨놓으시면 연락드립니다. 이메일보내시면 더 빠르게 답장/연락받아보실 수 있습니다.)

* 금액이 경제사정에 비해 너무 부담이 되시면 말씀하세요.

저희가 할 수 있는 최대한 고려해드릴게요~^^

*가능한 수업이 없을 경우 대기목록에 올려드립니다.

* 금액산정기준 및 상향, 하향변동가능성

금액산정은 강사의 전문성의 요구, 수업준비시간 소요 여건에 따라 산정됩니다.

학업과정, 과목, 전공분야등에 따라 차이가 날 수 있습니다.

케이스마다 조금씩 다르니 위의 요금표는 참고만 하시고 연락주셔서 상세요금 산정하세요~

전문성이 더 많이 필요한 경우금액이 상향조정될 수 있고,

강사의 수업준비가 비교적 덜 필요한 경우 금액이 하향조정됩니다.

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*어려운 환경에 있으신 분들이 주변에 계시면 말씀해주세요.

재능기부 대상으로 선정되시면 무료로 해드립니다. (단, 요건충족시). 영어과외도 가능.

단, 재능기부를 남용하지 마시기 바랍니다. 정말 도움이 절실한 분들이 기회를 잃게 됩니다!

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*필요한 경우 다른 원어민강사가 배당될 수 있습니다.

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