Fourth of July

"And we've become really good friends. . .

And if anyone, anyone, tries to hurt one of my new friends,

I would take them out.

I would make them suffer so much that they'd

wish they were never born.

And if they ran, I would hunt them down. Thank you, Kathy."

--Gracie Hart, "Miss Congeniality"

These may be the words of Miss Gracie Lou Freebush, but they capture my feelings for the church in Seoul. On our last day in Korea I bought a book about the DMZ and the Korean War. I learned that more than the north attacking the south, the north attacked Seoul. Communism went to great lengths to capture the city that is now dear to me. But Seoul does not operate under communism. . . because the south was supported by another military--ours. I'm grateful the US took a stand. The people we met there don't see us as the country that gets in other people's business or the country that picks fights. Instead, they have a respect for America. I hope Korea is able to one day reunify under democracy. But if Seoul were ever in danger, I hope America would again take a stand. I know eleven people who will.

"I really do want world peace. . ." and sometimes you have to fight for it.

Happy birthday America!