오늘이 4월 마지막 날입니다. 지난 한 달을 돌아보며 감사의 시간을 갖는 것은 하나님께서 기뻐하는 일이라고 생각합니다. 4월에 있었던 학교의 큰 일들 가운데 많은 시간과 노력을 했던 것은 에스라 소식지 52추모특집호를 준비해서 동문들에게 보낸 일이 가장 크게 다가옵니다. 사실 게다가 역사상 처음으로 교육부에서 직접 회계감사를 하는 일이 있었습니다. 그동안은 사학재단 등에서 실시한 위탁감사였습니다. 게다가 5월 이사회를 앞두고 외부재정감사가 있었고 내부감사도 앞두고 있습니다. 게다가 고양시에서 갑작스런 학교건물 시설점검이 나왔지만 큰 이상이 없는 걸로 평가를 하고 간 것을 생각하면 지난 겨울부터 시설보수를 한 덕분일 수도 있습니다. 그리고 같은 날 미리 통보하고 코로나관련 기숙사 현장 방역점검까지 있었는데 방역을 아주 잘하고 있다고 해서 그동안 열심히 노력한 데 대한 격려가 되었습니다.
4월의 제 일정을 살펴보니 의외로 글쓰는 일이 시간을 요했고 때론 잠을 설치게 했습니다. 학교에서 매년 발행되는 학술지 <성경과 교회> 권두언을 썼습니다. 그동안 발행된 첫 호부터 지난 해까지 모든 <성경과 교회>의 권두언을 읽으면서 앞서서 봉사했던 총장님들과 나름 교감을 했고 국내에 계신 두 분 총장님 부부와는 식탁교제를 나눌 수가 있었습니다. 그리고 오늘까지 목회와 신학에서 청탁받은 “영적침체 회복을 위한 설교”원고를 작성한다고 고생을 했습니다. 앞으로는 이런 청탁을 거절하는 것이 나을지 받아들여서 또 고생을 해야 하는지 마음이 정해지지 않습니다. 해산의 고통이 없이는 글을 쓴다는 것은 어렵기 때문입니다. 참으로 감사한 것은 조이북스에서 읽는 설교 야고보서에 이어서 <읽는 설교 요한계시록 1,2권> 출간했습니다.
그리고 에스라성경대학원 대학교에서 학생들과 더불어 지낸 일상적인 사역도 늘 긴장하게 합니다. 특히 모든 학생들과 교직원들이 함께 하는 수요예배를 위해서 설교를 준비하고 전하는 사역입니다.
수요일에는 강해설교특강을 신청한 몇 몇 학생들과 함께 기도하고, 말씀을 전하는 자리로 나아가는 것은 4월에 핀 목련처럼 아름다운 사역입니다. 그리고 학생들로서는 제가 한 어떤 사역보다 감동한 사역이 바로 어제 저녁에 있었던 양고기 바베큐였을 것입니다. 늘 이맘 때면 백정란 명예 이사장님께서 학생들에게 베풀었던 파티의 전통을 살려서 드뎌 바비큐를 했습니다. 거리두기와 플라스틱 가림막까지 설치한 식탁에서 교수님을 중심한 튜터조끼리 식탁교제를 했습니다. 감동한 학생 한 분이 보내온 사진과 카톡입니다. “목사님. 감사합니다. 별미를 맛있게 잘 먹었습니다(반함)
“사진 고맙습니다. 적자생존, 찍자생존의 달인이십니다^^” “ 목사님께서는 영과 육을 풍성케 하시는 요리의 달인이십니다 ㅎㅎ(하트)”
마지막으로는 자랑꺼리 하나를 말씀드리겠습니다. 울산에서의 환상적인 라이딩 팀을 떠나는 것을 아쉬워하는 남편을 위해서 기도해준 아내의 기도가 응답된 것이 4월에는 확인되었습니다. 읽으신 분도 계시겠습니다만, CTS 오피니언에 행주산성라이딩에 관한 소식 <한강진출하다>가 실렸습니다. 그 후에 라이딩에 일가견이 있는 목사님을 한강변의 고양대덕생태공원에서 만나 가양대교를 건너 한강을 따라 북상하다가 오른쪽으로 안양천, 목감천을 지나서 소래포구까지 약 80칼로를 달린 위업도 달성했고, 한 분 교수님과 함께 일산호수공원을 가기도 했습니다. 어제는 에스라 학교를 출발해서 행주산성을 거쳐서 일산호수공원을 지나 산을 넘어 공양왕릉에서 점심을 먹고 돌아오는 길에 우리 학교의 동문회장이 사역하는 삼릉교회를 거쳐 에스라 학교에 도착해서 모두 52킬로를 달렸습니다. 일거리도 주시고 함께 자전거를 탈 분도 허락하셔서 감사합니다. 하나님은 우리의 기도를 응답하시는 분이십니다. “우리가 기도나 소원이나 생각과 희망으로도 감히 꿈꿀 수 없는 것을 위대한 능력으로 우리 가운데서 역사하시는 하나님께 영광을 돌립니다.”(엡 3:20, 현대어성경)
Today is the last day of April. Looking back over the past month and taking time to give thanks is, I believe, something that brings joy to God's heart. Among the major events at the university this April, preparing and sending out the 52nd Memorial Special Edition of the Ezra Newsletter to our alumni stands out as the one that demanded the most time and effort. Furthermore, for the first time in our history, the Ministry of Education conducted a direct financial audit. Up until now, audits had been commissioned through private school foundations. In addition, an external financial audit was held ahead of the May board meeting, and an internal audit is also drawing near. Moreover, Goyang City conducted an unannounced facility safety inspection of our school buildings, but they concluded that everything was in order—perhaps thanks to the facility maintenance we have diligently carried out since last winter. On that same day, an advance-notice quarantine inspection for COVID-19 was also carried out at our dormitories; the inspectors commended us for managing the quarantine measures exceptionally well, which was a great encouragement for all our hard work.
Looking back over my schedule in April, writing unexpectedly consumed a great deal of time and sometimes kept me awake at night. I wrote the foreword for the academic journal Bible and Church, published annually by the university. Reading through every single foreword from the very first issue up to last year's, I felt a profound sense of communion with the former presidents who served before me, and I was blessed to share table fellowship with two former presidents and their wives currently living in Korea. Up until today, I also labored intensely writing a commissioned manuscript for Ministry & Theology on "Preaching for Recovery from Spiritual Slump." Looking ahead, I find myself undecided whether it would be better to decline such invitations or accept them and endure the toil once more. Writing is scarcely possible without the labor pains of childbirth. Amidst all this, I am deeply thankful that, following my published sermons on the Epistle of James (Reading Sermon: James), Joy Books has now published Reading Sermon: Revelation (Volumes 1 and 2).
The everyday ministry shared with students here at Ezra Bible Graduate University also keeps me on my toes. In particular, preparing and delivering sermons for the Wednesday chapel, where all students and faculty gather together, is a solemn calling.
On Wednesdays, praying and sharing the Word with a few students who enrolled in the expository preaching seminar is a ministry as radiant as magnolias blooming in April. Yet, from the students' perspective, the ministry that touched them more than anything else I did was undoubtedly the lamb barbecue we enjoyed yesterday evening. Reviving the tradition of the party that Honorary Board Chair Jung-Ran Baek used to throw for the students around this time of year, we finally held our barbecue. At tables equipped with social distancing and plastic protective partitions, students enjoyed sweet table fellowship around their professors within their tutor groups. Here is a photo and a message sent by a deeply moved student: "Pastor, thank you so much. The special meal was delicious and wonderful!"
"Thank you for the pictures. You truly are a master of survival—capturing every moment! ^^" "Pastor, you are a master chef who enriches both our souls and our bodies! ㅎㅎ"
Lastly, let me share a small personal joy. In April, I saw the clear answer to my wife's prayers—she had been praying for her husband who felt a lingering sadness after leaving his fantastic cycling team in Ulsan. Some of you may have already read the column in CTS Opinion, Venturing Out to the Han River, which covered our Haengjusanseong Fortress ride. Later, I met a pastor who is an avid cyclist at Goyang Daedeok Ecological Park along the Han River; we crossed Gayang Bridge, headed north along the river, turned right past Anyangcheon and Mokgamcheon streams, and achieved the remarkable feat of riding roughly 80 kilometers all the way to Sorae Port. On another day, I visited Ilsan Lake Park alongside a fellow professor. Yesterday, starting from Ezra University, passing Haengjusanseong, riding through Ilsan Lake Park, crossing over the mountain to have lunch at the Tomb of King Gongyang, and returning via Samneung Church where the president of our alumni association ministers, we rode a total of 52 kilometers back to Ezra. I am so grateful to God for granting me work to do and companions to ride with. Truly, God answers our prayers. "Glory belongs to God, who is able to do far more than all we could ever ask, wish, imagine, or dream of, through the mighty power at work within us." (cf. Ephesians 3:20)
Vandag is die laaste dag van April. Om terug te kyk op die afgelope maand en 'n tyd van danksegging voor God te hê, is iets wat Sy hart na my mening verbly. Onder die belangrikste skoolgebeure in April het die voorbereiding en versending van die 52ste Spesiale Gedenkuitgawe van die Ezra-nuusbrief aan ons alumni die meeste tyd en toewyding geverg. Daarbenewens het die Departement van Onderwys vir die heel eerste keer in ons geskiedenis self 'n direkte finansiële oudit kom doen. Voorheen was dit altyd oudits wat deur privaatskool-stigtings uitgekontrakteer is. Verder was daar voor die raadsvergadering in Mei 'n eksterne finansiële oudit, en 'n interne oudit lê ook voor die deur. Boonop het die Goyang-munisipaliteit 'n onverwagse inspeksie van die universiteitsgeboue se fasiliteite gedoen, maar hulle het bevind dat alles in goeie orde is — dalk danksy die instandhoudingswerk wat ons sedert verlede winter getrou gedoen het. Op dieselfde dag was daar ook 'n voorafgekondigde COVID-19-kwarantyninspeksie by die koshuise; die amptenare het opgemerk dat ons die kwarantynmaatreëls uitstekend hanteer, wat vir ons almal 'n groot bemoediging was na ons harde werk.
Wanneer ek na my program in April kyk, het skryfwerk verbasend baie tyd in beslag geneem en my soms selfs snags wakker gehou. Ek het die voorwoord geskryf vir die akademiese tydskrif Bybel en Kerk, wat jaarliks deur die universiteit gepubliseer word. Terwyl ek deur al die voorwoorde vanaf die heel eerste uitgawe tot verlede jaar s'n gelees het, het ek 'n kosbare verbondenheid ervaar met die voormalige rektore wat my voorafgegaan het, en ek kon heerlike tafelgemeenskap geniet met twee oud-rektore en hul eggenotes wat tans in Korea woon. Tot vandag toe het ek ook geswoeg om 'n aangevraagde manuskrip vir Bediening en Teologie te voltooi oor "Preke vir die Herstel van Geestelike Uitputting". Ek kan nog nie besluit of dit in die toekoms beter sou wees om sulke versoeke van die hand te wys, en of ek dit moet aanvaar en weer die swaar las moet dra nie; want om sonder die barensnood van die siel te skryf, is blykbaar onmoontlik. Tog is ek opreg dankbaar dat Joy Books, na my reeks preke oor Jakobus (Leesbare Preke: Jakobus), nou Leesbare Preke: Openbaring (Deel 1 en 2) die lig laat sien het.
Ook die daaglikse bediening saam met die studente aan Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit hou my altyd op my tone. Veral die voorbereiding en verkondiging van die Woord vir die Woensdag-kapeldiens, waar alle studente, dosente en personeel saamkom, bly 'n ernstige verantwoordelikheid.
Om op Woensdae saam met 'n handjievol studente wat vir die seminaar oor verklarende prediking ingeskryf het te bid en die Woord te bedien, is 'n bediening so pragtig soos magnolias wat in April bot. Tog, uit die studente se oogpunt, was die bediening wat hulle meer as enigiets anders geraak het, sekerlik die lamsvleisbraai van gisteraand. Ons het die tradisie van die fees wat ere-voorsitter Jung-Ran Baek altyd omstreeks hierdie tyd van die jaar vir die studente gehou het, voortgesit en uiteindelik heerlik gebraai. Aan tafels wat toegerus is met sosiale afstand en deursigtige plastiekskerms, het die verskillende tutorgroepe saam met hul dosente hartlike tafelgemeenskap geniet. Hier is 'n foto en 'n boodskap wat 'n dankbare student gestuur het: "Ds., baie dankie. Ons het die heerlike lekkerny terdeë geniet!"
"Dankie vir die foto's. U is voorwaar 'n meester om elke kosbare oomblik vas te lê! ^^" "Ds., u is 'n meestersjef wat beide ons gees en ons liggaam ryklik voed! ㅎㅎ"
Ten slotte wil ek graag 'n klein getuienis van vreugde deel. Gedurende April is dit bevestig dat die Here die gebede van my vrou verhoor het — sy wat so getrou gebid het vir haar man wat die wonderlike fietsryspan in Ulsan met 'n swaar hart moes groet. Sommige van u het dalk my rubriek in CTS Opinion gelees, Op Pad na die Han-rivier, wat gehandel het oor ons fietsrit na die Haengjusanseong-vesting. Daarna het ek 'n leraar wat 'n passievolle fietsryer is by die Goyang Daedeok Ekologiese Park langs die Han-rivier ontmoet; ons het die Gayang-brug oorgesteek, noordwaarts langs die rivier gery, regs gedraai verby die Anyangcheon- en Mokgamcheon-strome, en die prestasie behaal om ongeveer 80 kilometer ver tot by die hawe van Soraepogu te ry. Op 'n ander dag het ek saam met 'n dosent die Ilsan-meerpark besoek. Gister het ons vanaf Ezra Universiteit vertrek, verby Haengjusanseong en deur Ilsan-meerpark gery, oor die berg geklim om middagete by die Graf van Koning Gongyang te geniet, en op pad terug via die Samneung-gemeente (waar die voorsitter van ons alumnivereniging dien) weer by Ezra aangekom — 'n volle rit van 52 kilometer. Ek dank die Here dat Hy vir my werk gee om te doen en ook vriende gee om saam mee fiets te ry. God is waarlik die Een wat ons gebede verhoor. "Aan Hom wat deur sy krag wat in ons werk, magtig is om oneindig meer te doen as wat ons bid, wens, dink of hoop — aan Hom kom die heerlikheid toe!" (vgl. Efesiërs 3:20)