Pastor Kim Yo-han, who received rave reviews for suggesting to the Korean church to restore intellect through “A Pastor with Common Sense” and spirituality through “The Earthworm’s Prayer,” has published a new book, “36.5 Degrees of My Life.”
The reason I included the number 36.5 degrees, which symbolizes human body temperature, in the title was because I wanted people to feel a certain temperature through the text.
In that sense, this book contains the 'temperature' of a human being who laughs, cries, loves, gets angry, and lives.
The author, who can be said to be one of the most diligent readers and writers in the Christian community, has compiled some of the many stories and personal stories he has posted on Facebook over the past nine years, and has written new articles centered around memorable anecdotes.
The story of how he became a pastor is mainly comprised of funny and sad stories from his time as a military chaplain, stories of church members he met during his ministry, and heartbreaking stories from running a theological book publishing company.

That day, I thought a lot about the lives of believers who live in the world for six days.
As a pastor, I wear fancy clothes and speak politely in the church all week long, and talk about the “scent of Christians” to the congregation, but the congregation members are barely surviving in dirty and smelly clothes, drenched in sweat, and occasionally groaning, “This is so fucking hard, damn it.”
And I wondered what use my religious language, adorned with all kinds of flowery words, was without knowing the harsh reality of life.
That day, I felt that the woman who, despite having been walking around here and there all week in sweaty clothes and swearing, came to church on Sundays wearing her cleanest clothes was more precious than anyone else.
--- p.44-45

After much deliberation, I decided to give up the concept of Sunday observance that I had maintained for nearly 30 years.
In the sense that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
And every Sunday after the service, I worked hard to build fellowship with the male church members by going to restaurants near the base.
As a result, we have seen many male executive believers participate more actively in church activities.
These days, sometimes I vaguely miss the Sunday worship I used to keep so diligently as a child.
But it is true that Korean society and church culture have changed too much to go back to the past.
However, I think it would be better to set a direction so that we can spend as little money as possible on Sundays for our own pleasure and well-being, and spend it generously for the joy and benefit of others.
--- p.66

“Pastor, the reason I come to the dawn prayer meeting and pray while crying these days is not because I am sick.
As you well know, Pastor, I've lived my entire life with immense pride in the fact that I went to Vietnam in my youth and fought for my country and freedom and democracy. But as I continued to attend church, read the Bible, and listen to sermons, at some point, I realized, "Ah, I was a sinner who killed people in the name of patriotism and ideology in my youth."
So, I can't stand the guilt in my conscience, so I repent to God every morning.
But once I start repenting, I can't stop crying because I think of so many other things to repent for.”
--- p.130

Love has no borders, no racial or religious barriers.
As time goes by, I am becoming more and more aware of that fact.
If I love someone and spend time and energy on him, it's not necessarily because he's a Christian.
Christians love whoever they are, whether they are Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, or sexual minorities, because God has commanded them to love them.
I want to love more today than yesterday, and more tomorrow than today.
I wish my love could grow by even just one millimeter every day.
I hope that we all love and are loved by one another, and that many people shed tears, and those tears come together to form a river that saves the world.
When that actually happens, our tear ducts will be like the fountain of life in the temple in Ezekiel 47 of the Old Testament.
--- p.219-220

So why am I still stuck in Korean Protestantism? What is it that makes me hesitate? I feel like I know the answer to this question, but I'm not quite sure.
Let me just say that the reason I continue to stand still, swaying like a reed in the strong wind, is simply because there are 'warm'-hearted Christians around me.
Let's just say that it's because I'm receiving comfort from people for the wounds I receive from them.
In the end, let's just say that only Christians who possess human 'warmth' are our hope.

--- p.242-243