Dragon's Jewel Temple

In the middle of a crowded city lies this hidden trasure: a buddhist temple surrounded my forests and beauty on all sides. My brother and I found this temple and it was a surprising gem in our week together.

As you can see, it wasn't hard to find beauty in almost every direction. God was masterfully at work showing off his vibrant and stunning fall colors.

And still I was grieving as I walked the grounds.

When I looked at the gorgeous layout of nature surrounding this place I saw God in EVERY direction. But the people here were not worshipping God. They were denying God. It's like God was screaming in their faces, "Look at ME! See ME! Worship ME!" and they were caught up in deception.

It is hard to live in a land of Buddhism. Not because I can't share my faith, I surely can do that. Not because I'm judged or persecuted, because I'm certainly not. It's hard because it is so hidden. Not hidden, like Anne Frank was hidden and no one can see it, but hidden like veiled. They are seeing the same glorious colors through the wrong lenses and they either don't believe or they don't know. So I pray when I go to these places. I pray that there are people to share the Gospel with the people bowing down to golden statues. And I pray that ears and hearts are open to hearing the truth.

   “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

A few days before coming to this temple I had an idea to begin group prayer walks at some tourist sites of Korea. After going here it was like God confirming that idea in my mind. So in 2012, I'll be planning prayer walks through some of Korea's cultural sites. I'm very excited about his idea and I pray even now that many will join me. You can join me from home as well :)