My Journal

Ock Soo Park, A Korean preacher who always do Gospel Rally in Madison Square Garden in NYC.

I just need to note this down because I forget his name whenever I needed to mention it.

I attended his crusade once. Good music group, but message was somewhat bland in the sense that it focused more on preaching moral than Christ. It was a couple of years ago, I may not remember as well, but that was my impression of him. Their outreach however, was incredibly active in the city.

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07/10/2010 Addition:

Some have claimed that Ock Soo Park's ministry (Good News Mission) is well known as cult in Korea: That they believe their church is the only path and that one need not ask for forgiveness to obtain salvation.

I have read their statement of faith. From what I can tell, it is contrary to others' claim for a cult. Nonetheless, because some of the statements are vague in regards to certain questions such as "if their church is the only church to heaven" in their "Church" statement section, comparing to one of the forum posts claiming that the pastor told him vaguely that there are churches with problems  with interpretation but his church has the word of God. It would appear that their statement of faith is a mixture of Predestination, apostle's creed and dispensational premillennialism. If this church practices cult doctrine as claimed by some, then they are doing a very good job at hiding them.

Of course, some of the relatively "new" cults that I've encoutered are very good at covering up their "differences" with orthodox doctrines, unlike the older cults such as the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses which I give credit here for being honest. These cults cover up even to the point of lying not to exhibit lying as a moral value, but they knew and fear of the reactions from others, thus they compromise the truth, in order to "save" others. A despicable act, which is also seen in mainstream shallow Chrsitians sometimes.

While heading uptown on #2 train, I was resting, listening to the coming crusade choir practice file "Schubert's Psalm 23 Tenor" on my iphone, I looked up and saw a familiar face.

I looked again, wondering where I've seen that face...seems to be on TV a lot. Then I realized this guy looked like Major Bloomberg. After a quick hint from the appearance of 3 agents and one police officer around me, I realized it's really the Major himself. I must have shut my eyes while he entered into the car. He was standing just opposite where I sat, talking to some guy with a hat, fiddling with what appeared to be an Ipad. He must have stepped in somewhere around Chamber Street. I checked out other passengers in the car to verify my realization. We've only got about 6-7 including myself in that car. No one was any excited. A few just looked at him again and again like me. I was in the only spot with the closest direct view at the major who either looked down or his ipad or his partner all the time. Some may have just been as oblivious as I was before I opened my eyes. I supposed the talk about Bloomberg or him emphasising taking public transportation is true. But I am unsure about the necessity of the security detail. When I arrived 14th Street, I had to take another door (since he was standing against the door I was closest to), just so I could avoid any trouble from his agents (One seemed to approach me...I could be wrong...when I stood up and then didn't do anything as I headed directly to a different exit...I think the major was, however, ready to let me pass through...but then again...I didn't want no trouble I couldn't afford). I kept my cool. I wondered what would happened if I cheered "Major Bloomberg!!!", good thing I was in slumber.

A lady sat down wondering about the standing tall security agents at first, then as soon as she realized (2-3 minutes) Major Bloomberg was in "town", she immediately switched seat for a better opposite view from a 45 degree angle. I gathered she must have envied my seat. I could grab his Ipad in one full step.

All's well that ends well, I didn't get too excited, no one got into trouble. The only sounds were coming from the major and his partner and the train. I got off at my station instead of being tempted to stay on the train and see what would happen. Perhaps not for the others, but this is certainly my first encounter with the major in real person.

After Reading Why I left the CCM, I now see why the author was so frequently mentioning the danger of syncopated musics.

Syncopation is a style in music that could be beautiful sometimes, giving surprises, etc.; However, when used heavily, as in today's Christian music, it is a sign of rebellion. Not wanting to follow order, creating a sense of "rebellious beauty" for going off beat, concealed under soothing words. The seed of rebellion is planted nontheless.

The Chinese church puts friendship, worldly relationship as the main strength, motivation. From which they could never be great.

I do not. I choose truth over this.

The Westerners are wiser at this. However, they forget or deny: from truth, comes the great commission, from which comes charity, eventually the communion of saints are built upon these. Failing to see the connections and order of these, they have become autonomous in their own rigtheous moral standard. Consequently, they isolate themselves, never able to expand as Christ commanded.

Some think they are very successful. It may be that they were merely very good at running away from problems and leave it to the unsung heroes while they themselves take the credit.