What Does Psalm 23, a Nigerian Church in Itawon & Pulp Fiction Have in Common?

I have a confession to make.

Its Easter Sunday back home, (Easter Monday already here in Asia) and being raised a Christian, (Irish Catholic actually) I am feeling kinda guilty because I realized that I have not been to church in well, months.

Back at home in Canada, I make an effort to attend mass regularly, especially on important holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving and of course Easter.

Further more, taking into consideration the somewhat wild & uninhibited lifestyle I have been indulging in during my travels living overseas, I thought I should make a return to church this Sunday for Easter mass.

The only problem is, none of the churches here in Seoul are in English...

So yesterday I woke up before noon (for the first time in a long time on a Sunday since I have been living in Asia) and I went on a mission to find a English Easter Service.

Sat night I stayed over at a friends place in Itewon (an English Speaking Foreigner Village in Seoul) and walked around the neighborhoods for about an hour until I found an 'English speaking' church.

But what I found was something out of a movie, I walked into an all Nigerian Baptist Worship Service.

I was with my Korean friend (whom she has never been to church before) and we were the only 'non Nigerian' people in the entire congregation...talk about awkward. (plus we were like 20 mins late).

Imagine walking into a stadium were everyone is wearing black suites, and you walk in with a bright white one with neon flashing lights on it.

That's exactly how I felt.

You can imagine how much I stood out being a 6'7 white dude with a shaved head walking in with a tiny Korean girl.

But it was actually really cool, it felt like I entered some community village in Africa and it made me think & realize how all cultures, races, religions and backgrounds all want the same things in life:

Peace,

Happiness,

A sense of Community & Intimate Relationships

& a meaningful existence for themselves and their families, no matter what part of the world they live in.

I have to admit, I have never read the Bible or anything like that, although it is my goal to someday try to because really, what other book as made such an impact on the world's society beside it?

I have heard a few scriptures and verses in my time, and this one is probably my favorite, even Samuel Jackson quoted it in Quinten Terrintino's classic Pulp Fiction.

Its funny because as soon as I sat down for this service and was handed a bible to follow the readings with, this was the first page I randomly opened it to...

Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend and remember to be great ful for all the people & 'things' you have in your life, cause trust me, ALOT of people around the world have very little, except their faith & hope in a future of peace & happiness.

Peace be with you all,

Quinton