Bitter coffee and sweet milk

Bitter coffee and sweet milk  

A few days ago, I went to the library in my university. I was a little sleepy so I wanted to take a rest for a while in a resting area. When I got a cup of coffee from a vending machine and tried to sip it, I was so surprised it was too bitter. It was not even black coffee. Normally, I love to drink milk coffee, for I like the sweet taste but on that particular day, the coffee was too bitter to finish.

I doubt if there’s something wrong with the vending machine so I was about to throw it away and at that moment, I could notice the ‘Milk’ button. Then I remember the time when I took some milk with curiosity and regret getting it, because it was too much sweet. So, I took some coffee immediately and started to mix with milk, holding both of them in two hands. It looked like a science experiment or something. When I thought it was mixed quite moderately. I tasted it and found that it was just beautifully harmonized with bitter coffee and sweet milk.

And then I thought of the spiritual life in the truth. I could realize that just like bitter coffee and sweet milk, even in the truth, many brothers and sisters are allowed around because we cannot complete the gospel work alone, even though everyone has his/her own individuality. If we try to do something ourselves, then we would definitely become useless existences who give bitter taste only to someone, just like bitter coffee.

However, if we are in harmony in God, even though we are too different with each personality, then I believe amazing miraculous work of God should be made, which one cannot do alone. This must be what God really wants for us.

 Coffee smells and tastes good when it is rotten. In the same way, I pray we also could become shining jewelries of Heavenly Mother with beautiful harmony and unity. Also, I would like to be the children of God who inscribe the fact deep in my heart that all those miracles were possible by the noble sacrifice of Heavenly Mother who gathered every one of us into Zion and changed and united us with her love.

  

Mom’s message

Mom’s message
 

“Why isn't she coming home yet? It’s so late!”

Repeating her words, she was in a dither. It was all because of my younger sister who still hasn't come home in this late night. She waits for her call and after a while, she finally grabs her cellphone.

My mom didn't really call her children unless it was something special. But it was an exception for me and my sister. It was even more of an exception, when I used to live apart from my family.

I received mom’s text messages every single day. Though I had my cellphone like my alter ego, I couldn't really reply her messages all the time. I just felt bad so I couldn't possibly delete her messages, so they just piled up. Her messages were short and concise, and didn't contain any fancy modifiers or emoticons. However, out of others, they were the friendliest messages, and messages that I could really feel the warmth.

‘I love you darling.’ ‘Cheer up pumpkin.’ ‘Don’t hang around late at night and go home early.’ ‘Are you eating well enough?’

Though I scrolled down and down the messages that I have received, the only difference was the date and time. They were nothing special, but just messages worrying about me.

It could be consider as ‘no big deal, they are just messages,’ but sending those messages, she would have been all anxious, pressing the buttons one by one, trying to send her true heart.

Like the palm of my hand, I can visualize about her thinking about her child all day long, and finally grabbing her cellphone since she couldn't possibly stand still.

In contrary, I am just busy thinking about myself. However, in a mother’s mind, there is nothing about herself, but full of thoughts for her children.

What’s the use of me talking about Heavenly Mother’s love who gave up herself for me, the one who was blinded by greed and arrogance?

I cannot repay even with my whole life, or even mimic Heavenly Mother’s love and concern. Receiving her love and concern, I am the most happiest person in this world.

 

Small Church, Big Results

Small Church, Big Results

A small church participates in various activities

Laura Rein, a Church of God member,donates blood with the help of Eric Lehmann / Photo by Wecher Wilmersdorf.

If the members of the World Mission Society Church of God call to action in Wexstrasse 27, it leads to a worldwide activity.

So will it be on March 11, when an environmental clean-up action will take place in as many as 1,900 cities in more than 150 countries around the world. While the clean-up campaign was carried out around the Federal Court in Berlin last year, the area near the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall) will be cleaned up this year. If you want to participate in this campaign, you can come to the Station Hackescher Markt by1:00 PM.

Also, the World Mission Society Church of God has been engaged in blood donations from all over the world. The Church of God in Wilmersdorf conducted its first blood drive in Germany.

On January 30, about 60 citizens responded to the campaign and donated blood at the Haema Blood Donation Center. This Church plans to repeat this activity in April by following the appeal of DanielBahr, the Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Germany and member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), who has called for blood donations.

Deacon Julian George explained the blood donation metaphysically saying: “Jesus Christ gave eternal life through the blood on the cross 2,000 years ago. We can give life to other people by donating blood.”

The blood drive, which was conducted in front of the blood donation center in the evening of this day, attracted the attention of many passers-by and some of them like Wilhelm Gebelein joined the campaign voluntarily.

Pastor Byeongho Lee personally gave thanks to the participants, standing next to the blood donation vehicle. There were many Church members who donated blood for the first time like Laura Rein. Smiling, she allowed Erick Lehmann, Haema employee, to insert the needle.

Conrad Strathausen, theological student, was somewhat excited at his first blood donation and said, “God did not hesitate to shed His blood for us, so there is no hesitation for me.” The vouchers and the allowances of blood donation are to be donated by the Church of God for charitable purposes.

The World Mission Society Church of God was founded by Ahnsahnghong-nim in Korea in 1964. It has around 2,000 Churches in 150 countries around the world and the total number of the registered Church members amounts to 1.6 million. This Church attracted the attention of the world when it held Charity Concert for Haiti Earthquake Victims. After the Concert, the outcome of US$100,000 was handed over to the United Nations. Since then, the Church of God has worked directly with the United Nations Headquarters. In 2011, it was honored by the U.S. President Barack Obama for its volunteering work.

 

Church Members Actively Participated in Environmental Clean-up Campaigns and Blood Drives

Church Members Actively Participated in Environmental Clean-up Campaigns and Blood Drives

 

Phnom Penh – Yesterday, the World Mission Society Church of God conducted a clean-up campaign and blood drive for celebrating the “Passover” which falls on April 5.

At 8 a.m. yesterday, more than 200 members of the Church carried out the clean-up activity around the Russian Hospital located on the bank district.

The Church members also participated in a blood drive at the church after returning from the clean-up campaign.

Pastor Yong-moon Lee of the Church of God in Cambodia said, “The clean-up campaign and blood drive for celebrating the Passover took place simultaneously by more than 200 churches in 150 countries to spread the importance of the Passover to the people around the world.”