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Dear Theophilus Magazine

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Dear Theophilus :: December 2003

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Table of Contents :: December 2003
Come To Bethlehem and See - Jane Kim
"There is one Christmas that I will never forget of the two dozen or so in my life. It wasn't necessarily because of the time I got to spend with my family, friends from high school, or presents that were given and received. It wasn't even because of the relief that I felt after a difficult semester at school....."
Fairy Tales? What Fairy Tales? Bah Humbug! Reflections of a Modern-Day Scrooge - Steve Park
"Every now and then you come across someone that is just so happy, so optimistic, so full of joy; that you can't help but stop and think, "Man I wish I could share that joy." My wife is that kind of person. The kind of person that brightens up the room when they walk in. The kind of person that makes everyone around them feel happier. I'm not that person. ....."
I'm Back: What The Heck Happened This Past Year In Chi.na - W.on H.o K.im
"Upon returning to Emmanuel Church after two years of teaching English in Ch.ina, several people have said to me as I introduce myself, "Yeah, I know who you are" - a somewhat disconcerting response considering how seldom I sent updates over the past two years...." 		Lessons about Charis - Vera Wu
"When I found out that I was pregnant with our first child, I felt a strong sensation of fear pervade my entire mind and body. I was hoping that the pregnancy test was wrong, so I retook it three times. Each time I took it, the two lines that indicated pregnancy had appeared. My husband and I were "open" to becoming parents, but we did not actually expect to be pregnant after only six months...."
The Amazing Life of [?] - Pastor Young Lee
"February 1994, University of Pennsylvania, 34th & Walnut, Hill House dormitory, room 108…. Life was purposeless for this freshman occupant, but it sure was a lot of fun. It was a typical weekend: Friday night KSA "Fusion Party" at Gold Standard, as usual, and then S?? on Saturday night...." 		Energy, Determination, Skill…and Grace: Baltimore Marathon 2003 - Pastor Dwight Yoo
"There are those who like challenges and there are those who are simply crazy. Perhaps in the Christian realm we can call it "great faith" - or that could simply be my way of semantically covering my insanity. I'll let you decide after reading this article...."
Born in the USA II! - Amy Jeon
Eleven Emmanuel babies born in 2003. Can you tell them apart? 		Christmas: My Childhood Memories - Maria Choy
an original poem (all rights reserved)
Meet and Greet: Derrick, Emmanuel's Security Guard - David Sung and Michelle Yee
"Every Sunday, before we are warmly greeted by the hospitality committee in the sanctuary, we are joyfully welcomed by a glowing smile in the parking lot. While some recognize Derrick by his contagious smile and gold tooth, it's how Derrick cheerfully serves us that inspires and touches our hearts...." 		Cribs: Emmanuel Style
"Dear Theophilus' first installment of Cribs features John Yoon. John is a graduate of Temple University, and is a member of the Phileo fellowship. Currently, he resides in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania..."
The Gospel of Golf: Reflections on Thailand and Cambodia - Paul Edward Kim
"This past September, as part of Justice for Children International (JFCI), a grass-roots organization seeking to bring awareness to the plight of these innocents, I went to Thailand and Cambodia to see how God is working to combat the sexual exploitation of children...." 		Christmas Past, Present, and Future: The Gamer's Wish List - Teddy Kim
"Closet Gamers: these people may be as hardcore as the hardcore gamers. However, you will only know that they play. They will never let on that they play a lot or that they research video games as much as their school projects. You may see them play, but they will always turn off the game as soon as you walk in (saving the game first, of course)..."
Guy on the Street - DT staff
"From Christmas to the Fourth of July, it's all here. In this issue's "Guy on the Street" we asked: What is your favorite holiday memory? At times humorous and at others poignant, these are the stories...." 		Opinion Column: Thoughts on the Massachusetts Gay Marriage Decision - Hans Park
" In case you've been living in a cave for the last month, on Nov. 18 the Massachusetts Supreme Court decided the case Goodridge v. Dep't of Public Health, which required the state to legalize gay marriage. Needless to say, the decision has been extremely controversial, and many opponents have threatened to respond with boycotts, constitutional amendments, and other very bad things...."

Letter from the editor

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, lived a little princess. Only thing is, she didn't know her true heritage. Instead she lived in the land of the ragamuffins, where things were dreary and colorless. But then she met the Prince. And that's when the real story (and adventure!) of her life began...

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

So begins the story of this little girl. I'm sure it's an account you can relate to as each of us has a similar story of our own: a fairytale come true! The fantastic story of God's redemptive love in our lives, is one that this child will never grow weary of hearing again and again. This holiday season, we want to wish you a happy birthday! We recognize precious brothers and sisters who've met the Prince this year. We recognize the babes who've blessed many parents this year. But most of all, we recognize the Prince of Peace and King of kings. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

We all have a story to tell. Let's tell it!
Jenny Kim
12.14.03

DT's vision is:

  • To serve as a quarterly bulletin for Emmanuel English Congregations' various activities, events, ministries, trips, and etc.;
  • To be a medium for sharing personal written testimonies;
  • To correspond with Emmanuel's nationwide (sometimes international) diaspora of alumni;
  • To be a medium for artistic (graphic and literary) expression of God's love in our lives.

Upon achieving these goals, the members of the congregation can be better equipped to serve individuals and ministries in: 1) prayer, 2) general support, 3) encouragement, and 4) participation.

These are the talented and dedicated members of the DT Staff:


Editor, writer - Jenny Kim
Editor, writer - Dan Lee
Editor, writer - Amy Jeon
Editor, writer - Edwin Yang
Editor, writer - Hans Park
Editor, writer - Steve Park
Editor, writer - Kenny Yang
Design/layout - Joori Song
Design/layout - Sujin Kim
College Submissions - Patricia Hwang
Photography - Lincoln Lin