Life's a Bean!

Beans come in all shapes and sizes. Some people use them for themselves. Others use them for others. Some beans are used as food. Others are used for jewelry. Some beans are used for coffee, and some are even carefully written on to relay messages to others.

Like beans we are each a miraculous bean, just waiting to rest in what we hope is good soil. Throughout our short lives on this earth we experience rain, sleet, snow, mud, dirt, sun, and wind. In the end, though we have more control over when and where we go, we don't have complete control. God has plans for each one of us and can use us to bring glory to His name and purpose regardless of our opinions and understanding of our circumstances. All he asks is for us to be available and to surrender to his unlimited opportunities to glorify His name. Are you available?

You are different

No matter how hard I have tried to keep a planner, it has failed. No matter how clean I try to keep my room, it doesn't last more than 4 days. No matter how many times I look at my online calendar and update it, something gets off track. The more time I spend trying to fit into the mold that makes sense to the majority of people, the longer it takes me to complete things and the more frustration it brings upon them. I have been reminded yet again how blessed I am to be in a job where my professional opinion is respected and trusted to be effective. Though others may be skeptical at first, in the end my methods come from a direction they weren't expecting and cover many things that the method they would have taken didn't cover.

Your entire life you are going to have people trying to guide you to do things and approach things in a certain way. First of all, never dismiss their advice simply because it doesn't make sense to you. There is a reason why they are teaching you and not the other way around. Regardless of experience or education, gleam the useful insights and leave the rest. Life is but a breath and you only have so many to breath. Second, don't be satisfied with your achievement until it not only resembles the greatness you have learned, but if possible, also reflects your own creativity and insight. Third, NEVER, EVER, base your own self worth or satisfaction in what you are doing or who you are off of another human beings opinion. We are often blessed with having people we look up to give us advice and sometimes even their approval. Don't forget that the difference between you two is simply time + opportunity + hard work = where you two are. Take that equation and add your own talents and hard work to it and the least you could come up with is the same person, but why would you settle for less. God has created you and me for a reason, don't miss it. Seek God's guidance, ask for His wisdom, look for his hand of providence and opportunity in your life, and don't EVER long for another's achievements and goals, that's theirs, yours are completely different, and who knows, probably better, at least better for You. God knows what He is doing, he knew you before you were even created, and has Great things in store for you.

From day to day you never know for sure what is going to happen. Some say, expect the unexpected. I say never take anything or anyone for granted. If you don't take anyone or anything for granted, then you won't regret it later. If they or it was something wonderful, then you lived it out to the fullest. If it or they weren't then you are none the worse for it, you learn from the worst, cherish the best, and give to others all the rest.

When your dreams become shallow puddles and the impossible becomes reality!

Living a life that relies upon the providence from God's Holy Spirit and hand is proving to be the grandest adventure I could ask for. Growing up I wanted adventure like any little boy. As I continued to live I sought out more adventure. Then as I became a teenager I realized there were basically three paths those around me chose. 1. Self-made adventure, which was often at the expense of those around them so they could achieve their dreams as the priority. 2. Those who played it "safe" and followed the crowd around them. 3. Those who sought to give up their dreams at that time, trusting that God's were much grander and stepped out in faith to take hold of that.


Like anyone, I too went through having dreams and wondering which one God could possibly want me to seek and achieve to bring honor and glory to Him. There is that stressful time between your Junior year of High School and sometimes as late as your Junior  year of College when you go back and forth between majors, believing the lie our society tells us that "what you choose will determine what you will do for the rest of your life." As time has continued to tick away, so have I, but with passion and drive towards God. Though I have seldom felt like every part of me was 100% on board with the idea of trusting all dreams and aspirations and possibilities of my life to God, I did the best I could with what I had. That often lead me to times of prayer when I felt like God would simply smile and tell me to "just trust Him and wait" that "His timing was not my timing" but that "He would never let me down or fail me". So, though often frustrated, I asked Him for the faith to trust in Him and seek Him.

As I constantly struggled through college I questioned if my dream of being a band director was indeed my purpose. I was quite confused as to why on earth my passion for music and sharing it with others and teaching were so strong, but all my classes were so incredibly difficult for me. After graduating even my professors shook their heads in disbelief on how I made it with such a stressful schedule. The applauded me on my perseverance and congratulated me. When I tried to thank them, they put it right back on me, saying things such as "I don't know how you did it, but you did, and way to go!"

I knew God had given me talents in the area of teaching and music and was filled with determination filled by the strength of God's supernatural Grace. They may not know how I made it, but I do, it was God through me. I questioned if I could make it through the program while working so much on top of it (which I had to) nearly EVERY SEMESTER. Semester after semester I would meet with my professor nearly at my wits end, contemplating my major. Then there was an end to it.... One semester my advisor asked me, "Kris, what can not imagine living without?" The answer was simple fo me, Teaching Music. From that point on whenever things got really hard and I felt like I was going to drop to the ground in exhaustion or not be physically, mentally, emotionally able to face the day, God strengthened me and I would say "I'll graduate with this degree even if it literally KILLS ME! And I meant it.

One year after God carried me to that finish line of victory and celebration, I am sit here in South Korea having finished my first year of teaching "ENGLISH" in a public High School... (To be continued)

Things I am thankful for in South Korea

1. A plethora of caring Korean friends who care about me.
2. A cheap transportation system
3. A great school to work at that appreciates me and what I do. 
4. A saxophone ensemble who lets me be part of them and treats me great, even though most of us can't communicate in the same language.
5. A community who appreciates my native language greatly. 
6. A wonderful support system of friends from my own country who live close to me.
7. 2 churches who value me and my contributions in worshipping our King Jesus Christ and who encourage me continually.
8. Retailers that take meticulous care of the presentation of their stores. 
9. Clean subways
10. Korea's appreciation of education. (Even though I may not agree with the way they emphasize its priority to their youth, it sure is nice to be around others who greatly value it.)

The LIST of things In Korea, unique in my experience to Korea:
1. Jenny, Terry, Jeff. Three Korean friends who work for the city of Cheonan Department of Education that have made my experience in Korea much easier than many foreigners due to their tremendous amount of help.
2. Cheap meals readily available
3. H&M that just went in in the shopping mall.
4. Cheap transportation
5. Continual expression of others of how they appreciate me. I am not use to this, but like anyone, it is quite helpful, especially when you are around so many foreign
6. Not having to worry about registering my car, or deal with the insurance for it, or pay about $60-$70 every week and a half for gas.
7. Having several people in very similar place in life around me. 

THE LIST after a year in South Korea!

spending about a year here in South Korea, there are a few things that come to mind that I miss most and occasionally took for granted while living there. These are in no specific order.  My next post will be those things I am thankful for in Korea.

1. Large book stores with nice coffee shops

2. Driving my car

3. Wal-Mart

4. Starbucks where I knew most everyone and I could tell them easily exactly how to make any drink and they understood me.

5. Open roads, not congested

6. Open country to drive or be in within 30 min of my home.

7. Having several places open until later at night.

8. Various types of music available to listen to on the radio at any time

9. Target

10. Best Buy

11. Taco Bell

12. Real Mexican Food

13. Ease of access to several small commodities such as different kinds of mustard, ketchup, 100's of different beverages of different brands, qualities, and styles at the grocery store.

14. Walking down the street and feeling the camaraderie between others and myself that we are both independent and don't "need" to be with someone else right beside us most of the time for security. This is not meant to be a slander on the Korean Culture; it is just a difference that is instilled in their culture, not mine. 

15. Being able to drive for miles without seeing another human being.

16. Having access to most anything you want in the world without paying through the nose for it. You might have to drive a bit further though.

17. Walking down the sidewalk and using public transportation with others who for the most part, attempt to give you personal space.

18. People that will say hello back at me even if they don’t know me.

19. People who will smile back at me even if they don’t know me.

20. Having a car to wash and detail.

21. BEING ABLE TO READ THE INGREDIENTS AND NUTRITIONAL FACTS ON FOOD AND VITIMINS I BUY.

22. Being able to use restrooms, knowing for a fact that they have likely been cleaned at least once that day.

23. HEATED HALLWAYS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS!!!

24. Great quality coffee in abundance for semi-decent prices.

25. Seeing name brands and not having the thought that they might be rip-offs even cross my mind.

26. REAL ITALIAN FOOD INGREDIANTS easily accessible.

27. Being able to talk to anyone around me and know they will understand what I’m saying, even if they are deaf and I have to write it.

28. High quality musical performances readily available in English.

29. High quality theatrical performances readily available in English.

30. Being able to pay $30 or less and get a briefcase or backpack that will last at least a year without completely falling apart. I’m currently on my second or third bag.