I am in Seoul, South Korea for a couple of days. Yesterday I spoke at Young Nak Presbyterian Church. That church is a very large and historical church in Seoul. They were extremely gracious to show me around and I got to see what is happening there on a Sunday and peek in the various classes.The host of the conference let me know that because it is a formal Presbyterian church I was encouraged to wear a suit. I currently don't even own a suit, as most weddings I perform just a tie is fine. So my leather jacket served as my suit yesterday along with wearing a tie. it turned out it was more casual than expected, so didn't make a difference. But it was great to see what is happening in a city like Seoul. Ten million people live here.
Today starts the Next-Wave Youth Specialties Conferencethat I am a main session speaker at - and also doing some workshops. Chap Clark, Marv Penner and Ralph Winter are the other speakers. I have met and spent time with Chap and Marv before, but never met Ralph. We had dinner last night and it was wonderful hearing his perspective as a Christian about movies and how to think theologically about movies. Ralph has produced a bunch of movies such as the Star Trek films, the X-Men and Wolverine, Planet of The Apes and more. I look forward to hearing his talk tonight as he will sharing about examining messages in current films. And I look forward to Chap and Marv and learning from them too. That's such a great benefit when you speak at a conference you come away learning so much from others.
The Superbowl is happening right now and I have not watched a SuperBowl since the year I lived in London. I remember I did stay up all night and watched it there with some friends. But haven't watched it since - but I do watch the half-time mini-concerts every year. So watched The Who play and then off goes the television. I saw The Who play many years ago and they were a major favorite band when I was in high school. Many New Jersey memories listening to The Who driving around at night in my friend Bill Krupp's volkswagon bug.
I was also excited to read on-line (they don't play the commercials here in S. Korea that are in the States) that my friend Erwin McManus, who is part of the leadership of Origins, had his Doritos commerical make the top 3 in a contest and was played during the Superbowl. What an amazing thing to see what can happen when you don't limit yourself and pursue ideas and creativity. Erwin has been on CNN and in other major media as a result of this - and it adds a twist for reporters as he is a "pastor" and they are intrigued and one reporter said "you don't look like a pastor". So how wonderful it is to see how God can use this to break stereotypes.
I am getting picked up in a few minutes and heading back to the church who is hosting this event. But that is an update from S. Korea on Superbowl Sunday.
