Today is Easter Sunday. So Happy Easter.
Although Christmas has eclipsed it in recent history because of the whole gift-giving thing, Easter has traditionally been the most significant holiday in the year for Christians. It is the day we remember Jesus rising from the dead, which is a bigger deal, and much more important even than him being born.
Of course, this Easter I’m living in Korea, and things are a bit tense these days in Korea, as you have probably seen on the news. The fact is that North Korea makes threats on a regular basis, but it’s never a good thing when you ratchet up tensions to this level on the most heavily-fortified border in the world. We don’t live right next to the border, but if the borders were all open, we would only be a four-hour drive from Pyongyang.
Here the atmosphere is guarded. People continue to go about their daily lives, but still, they watch and wait. Last week, I went to a Korean church service and the pastor talked in part about what our response should be if war broke out. It was the first time I’d ever heard a Korean acknowledge the possibility, although I’m sure they think about it enough.
In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah uses the term “Prince of Peace” when referring to the Messiah. That is what I hope and pray for this Easter: peace. Obviously the tensions in Korea are quite pressing on my mind, but there is also the Syrian civil war, fighting in Afghanistan, Burma, Mali, and other places. A lot of the world is a pretty scary, violent place.
I am not expecting war here, but at this point, no one knows what to expect. I’m not worried for myself but my heart aches at the thought that my beloved Korea and its wonderful people could ever go through such an ordeal.
So, Happy Easter. May the Prince of Peace reign.
The Green-Walled Tower 
March 31st, 2013 at 12:29 pm
And to you!
March 31st, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Happy Easter, David. I hope it’s a peaceful one.
March 31st, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Thank you, and happy Easter to you too. So far it’s the same as any other relaxing Sunday here. 🙂
March 31st, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Good to hear!
April 1st, 2013 at 4:12 am
Thanks for a beautiful and inspiring message. A happy, peaceful Easter to you!
April 1st, 2013 at 4:18 am
And Happy Easter to you, although belatedly by now. We have just returned from a great Easter service at our church and have been rejoicing with Christians around the world that Jesus opened the way for us to share in His resurrection.
We think of you a lot, living with the long shadow of North Korea threatening your peace from their side of the border. I know in the past no one said much about the uneasy truce and NK just rattled their sabres once in awhile. This is the first time I can recall you expressing a heightened concern about the tensions there, so I imagine the fears are very real.
We continue to pray for your safety and well-being and that of your friends and colleagues and the rest of South Korea. We are equally concerned for our Christian brothers and sisters in the north as well; their situation is truly dire. And then, as you say, there are many thousands more across the rest of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Meanwhile we press on in our various corners of the world doing what we can to make a positive difference where we can. So carry on with the good stuff you’re doing there until the time is right to come on back and do it over here!
April 1st, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Wonderfully said, David. Yes, we are watching the developments from here what if anything should happen there, and of course as a Christian I am watching thing develop in the Middle East also, as Iran, Israel and Syria do play a pivoting part in the times we live in now, and in the future. I keep a close eye on prophecy as it is foretold in the bible. I hope and pray you will be safe there and know that the Prince of Peace watches over you.
April 1st, 2013 at 3:51 pm
Thank you, Joyce. There sure is a lot of things happening in the world. A lot of uncertain times, but luckily God is in control. I hope you had a happy Easter. 🙂
April 2nd, 2013 at 1:12 am
Thank you, David. You too. Yes, our world would be a pretty scary place if God was not in control. But, we can be comforted with the thought and promise that he is.
April 1st, 2013 at 12:33 pm
David, I posted a picture of Jesus’ tomb in Jerusalem on my blog this Easter weekend with a poem I wrote for the post. I took the picture when I and my husband were there on a trip in 2001 with our pastors and others from our church, if you would like to see the picture and poem. It was a wonderful day here in Loveland, CO. for Easter today with our grown girls, grand children and the family.
April 1st, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Amen!
Happy easter!
April 2nd, 2013 at 2:00 am
The world is a violent, terrifying place. I wish there was something to make it all magically stop. But there isn’t.
I hope you had a good Easter
April 2nd, 2013 at 9:11 am
If there was, I’d make everybody be good. Maybe like the One Ring. Hmm, maybe not.
April 2nd, 2013 at 4:06 am
Hi David……belated Happy Resurrection Sunday…….:)…….thank God that in spite of all the turmoil that is going on in this world, we can have God’s perfect peace as we keep our minds stayed on Him and trust in Him……may His divine protection continually rest upon you and your wife as you seek to be and do whatvever He requires you to be and do……blessings!…….Kim
April 2nd, 2013 at 9:09 am
Thank you, Kim. I hope you had a great Easter Sunday there as well.
April 2nd, 2013 at 10:10 am
You have a kiddo across the border, with nuclear toys left behind by his daddy – a portent mix.
All good wishes, Eric
April 2nd, 2013 at 10:13 am
Yeah, here’s hoping he has enough sense not to use them. It would be suicide for him and death for a lot of innocent people.