Trains Are Nice

Location: On the train between Strasbourg and Nancy, France, nearly 11:30am on the 27th of February.

During the last few days, I have traveled by various means halfway around the world. By far, some of my most peaceful moments have been on trains. As you can see, they also provide a good environment for writing. Unlike the 10.5 hour plane ride from Beijing, on which a passenger pulled out and began to play a harmonica!

Yes, these past few days have been incredible. They have included an unusual number of difficult circumstances, many of them small but painfully annoying nonetheless. Yet tucked amid the challenges have been fabulous blessings, and more importantly, I have been reminded in the midst of these hardships of the Lord's grace and mercy. We have an awesome God!

A deal-gone-bad situation left us wasted some of our time on Monday, but I was counting my blessings as on Wednesday morning I left Beijing, arriving only a little late in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, my seat-neighbor coughed most of the way there, and ironically sat near me again on my flight to Geneva. A long line at the security check in the Netherlands left me with little time to wait for my connection, just enough to nurse my uncooperative ear with some chewy gummy bears that would hopefully help it finally adjust to the pressure changes back on the ground. Sadly, the tooth I had chipped had not yet finished seeking my attention, and more of it chipped off.

Needless to say I was happy (so I thought) to reach my hostel without too much difficulty, save spending a bit too much money on a train ticket because of my unfamiliarity with the distributer machine. (You might be surprised to learn that the Swiss machine does not accept Chinese money, though I tried!) However, I had to situate myself in the dark because of my midnight arrival into a room with already sleeping occupants, only to be raucously disturbed at 2:00am by inconsiderate roommates. These fellows wanted to be sure to leave their reputation behind, and made sure to awaken everyone again before 5:00am. A little while later I groggily headed toward the train station, finding a few hours of peace between Geneva and Strasbourg. I was amused when the customs agents on the train asked me (completely out of the blue as they walked up to me) if I spoke Chinese. They were surprised to learn that I, in fact, been in China only the day before!

Confident that my arrival in Strasbourg marked the end of my frustrations, as string of poor choices and a missed tram cost me a little extra money and time. Then a miscommunication resulted in a failed meeting with my friend and host, as well as more quality time spent walking and waiting with Alfred (my friendly 25 kilo pack). The next (rainy and windy) day was spent preparing for a Skype conference call, only to be thwarted by technical difficulties on the other end of the line. To make matters worse, this all happened on top of news that my best friend's father suddenly had to have emergency surgery to remove a serious brain tumor. I have also been praying about several marriages that seem to be under attack, as well as some other people with grave health concerns.

So certainly the past few days were trying...but listen to the blessings!!! Before leaving China, I met a gal who knew friends of mine in Colorado; the Sunday I met her was full of blessings and refreshing time with Christians. That evening I was reunited with my family, and we spent a fun time at the Great Wall on Monday before preparing for our Wednesday departure. (I will have to finish a bit later; my train will soon arrive.)

Ok, it is later. In fact, it is tomorrow, the 28th of February at about 3:00pm. I am in Nancy, with my host family from my time here seven years ago. The twenty-four hours since I arrived have been good, but exhausting, jam-packed with visits. I had lunch with the family after I arrived, visited other friend in the late afternoon, returned in time for dinner with some guests who came to see me, attended church this morning where I saw other friends, and had lunch today with more of the family members. Some interesting points were that I had Chinese-style dinner with chopsticks and Chinese language last night (like in China last week!), because the friends I visited are Taiwanese. Today I walked to church against gale-force winds that literally moved me from my intended steps. At church, I met some of the family of my friend in Sighisoara, which was fun.

So as you can see, my slight deprivition of sleep is worth it, because I am being blessed. And that is where I left you as my train arrived yesterday, telling you about some of the blessings in the midst of the hardships of the past week.

For example, I was blessed by a beautiful view of the sunlit mountains in Switzerland as I lounged in the train on the way to Strasbourg. I was blessed with great conversational exchanges with my friends in Strasbourg, who were wonderful hosts and gave me free reign of their house. Not to mention that it is a blessing to be in a country where I speak the local language! I was blessed to briefly talk with some of my dear Christian brothers and sisters in the United States, and to be prayed for by them. I was blessed to attend a house-church group in Strasbourg and to fellowship with the young people there. I am blessed to have so many people who care about me that I am struggling to catch up on all the emails they have sent me!

I wanted to name this blog post, "Terrible Blessings," because in the midst of all the hardship, the blessings have been blooming! And, if you can look with me from a certain perspective, those hardships are blessings themselves. They remind me that satan can try to attack, but I live in victory because my Lord already defeated the devil. They remind me that my God goes before me and is a wall about me, protecting me and providing for me. They remind me that I do not have to try to live this life on my own strength, but that He will live through me.

So I am looking at a few more days in France before I fly to the United States. I am looking out the window at today's threatening weather, thinking about visiting more people in my current state of emotional and physical fatigue. And I rejoice! We serve a good God!

Praying and Sleeping before Writing

Location: House of friends in Strasbourg, France, Friday afternoon the 26th of February, nearly 1:45pm

I owe MANY of you emails, as well as stories from China and the trip to France, via Amsterdam and Geneva. There is much to tell, but I have a few greater priorities to take care of first; for example, often I pray and sleep instead of writing. My travels also limited my internet access. However, now I have all my China photos ready to post. I hope to fill you in soon, and I hope to see those of you in Indiana in a week or two. Praying for you!

Blasted Beijing Birdseed and Bad-News Bears!

Location: The apartment in Beijing, China (about 9:30pm on the 20th of February)

Again, no pictures--sorry (I'll try to add some later)!

So you have not heard from me, but I am still alive and enjoying Beijing. As you can imagine, I have a lot to say, but it is more than you want to read. To summarize, it will not surprise you that I cannot stay alone for long in a city of so many people. I made some friends and spent some time with them, and we even got to talk about Jesus. I have returned to the enormous grounds of the Summer Palace three times now; I like it there. And as I was seeking some solitude the first day, I found an island (the lake around it has been drained for the winter) that had a beat-up pavillion on it in the sun, and no other person there. Perfect for a prayerful guy like me on a breezy day! But my theory was right--you cannot be alone for long in such a crowded city. It was not long before a high-school boy came directly to my paradise and asked if he could sit down. I said "yes," and since I was reading about Jesus feeding the 5,000, I told him the story and our friendship began. While I was talking to him, others thought our spot looked nice, and I made more friends. The next day, not far from there, a similar meeting took place. Each morning I ask God to lead me in His plans so that I meet with the people He has waiting for me. See for yourself...God answers prayer!

Not only have I made some new friends and learned a few words in Chinese, but I have had the privilege of giving away two Bibles. God is doing great things in China, and I believe that soon more and more of the local people while realize it!

So I boast in the LORD, because it appears as though He is using me again. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. The first step in this is being humbled. For example, as an obvious foreigner who does not speak the language, it is hard not to get ripped off occasionally. I got ripped off by a street vendor a few days ago, which reminded me of my brother and I getting really suckered in "birdseed sales" a few days prior.

Those of you familiar with China may know that one of the many foods you can buy off the back of a tricycle is what my family affectionately refers to as "birdseed." It is a humongous block of grain and seeds and raisins gummed together by something sticky that makes it like a gigantic cereal bar, cut by a meat cleaver and sold by the kilo. You can already picture my brother and I ordering a small bit and getting way overcharged, but sometimes there is not much you can do about it, especially without knowing the language, and even more especially as a Christian. So that day, we walked away with a colossal bit of snack-brick, having paid way too much but eating our losses and nursing our pride.

My dad has taught me many things, but one I will never forget is his proverb, "Sometimes you eat the bear; sometimes the bear eats you!" We got eaten that day, but fortunately, I like the stuff. (Even if I did not, I would choose to like it, because we paid a lot and walked away with a lot!) However, it was hexed from the beginning.

You see, I knew it would be the perfect snack food for sightseeing, because it was fairly healthy, substantial, and packable. Yet I managed to forget to take it with me a several days in a row, which meant that I would nibble on it back home at night, hoping to remember it the next day. Last night, I came down with a migraine, and did not eat much of a real dinner. To supplement my snacking, I broke off a bit of birdseed, but heard a bit more crunch than usual.

You guessed it! It was not my night, and I went from headache to chipped tooth (so far it has not been anything serious, thanks be to God). Frustrated, I wrapped up my snack for today's adventures, setting it on the table to remember it. It still had the top left, which was the best part (with decorative dried apricots)--saved for last. And this morning, I was working here and getting ready to go, having remembered that I wanted to take my snack, but alas! Yes, housekeeping came in while I was here. I pretended not to care while they cleaned around me, though I already told you I am not comfortable being so royally spoiled. Yet I noticed too late...

The lady stopped dusting the table long enough to pick up my chunk of roughage in its sack, looked at it only long enough to decide it was garbage, and trashed it before I could say anything in any language! Why would you think that food on a dining room table is trash? It was not meant to be, I guess!

But it gets worse. I tried to get to a certain place today, and I talked to the receptionist downstairs to get directions, even though I thought I knew a way. She told me that her way was better, wrote some things in Chinese for me, and sent me on my way. I successfully navigated the metro and the bus, but then the guy I asked on the bus was so helpful that he led me to the wrong place! I love the Chinese people I have met and seen--they really go out of their way to be helpful! However, a downside is that sometimes they are equally "helpful" when they do not understand what you want, and so they help you a lot, in the wrong direction! Then you end up at the wrong place or with the wrong item.

So after spending a long day in the smog, I decided to treat myself to dinner. (And yes, by the way, it is still common to hear fireworks being set off for last week's New Year...) I stopped into a Chinese-only-speaking restaurant and pointed to pictures on the menu. Of course, what looked like a dish of some sort of noddles and sauce turned out to be a large quantity of mushroom soup, filled with Noah's Ark's version of every kind of fungi known to man! Or in my case, not known to man! To go with it, I ordered what turned out to be a basket of sweet roles filled with tasteless cheese. To make matters worse, my soup was set on a burner on the table, and I could not extinguish the flame, and it was too hot to eat! Eventually I figured out a system (notice it was a system, surely not the right system), and I polished off the fungus and the buns, leaving a little broth in the pot and a lot on the tablecloth!

As I looked at myself in the elevator mirror on the way back up to the apartment, having been greeted and bowed to as doors were opened for me and my hands full of groceries, I chuckled and thought, I look like a middle-aged man with a boring life...

Do you ever wonder how God leads a guy like me all over the world and even manages to use him sometimes for His glory? I do!

So with a stomach stuffed with fungus, nostrils caked with smog, and a tooth chipped by trashed birdseed, I send you greetings from China. I also encourage you to live fearlessly today, because the bear ate me, and I am sure his appetite cannot be big enough for you, too!

I hope you can hear my tone. Yes, a lot of rotten stuff happened, but it was a good day, and I am smiling. The bear ate me, but God has the final victory, and I boast in Him! Even if it was not what I was expecting, I thank Him for the fungus in my stomach, the air in my lungs, the now healthy nostrils, and the food that chipped my tooth. I know too many people who do not have food or health to be thankful for, so I will thank my LORD in every circumstance! I bless you in His Name, the Name of Jesus!

Posts Below

Location: Beijing, China (11:00am on the 18th of February)

Sorry! I forgot photographs, and I cannot add them right now because of a couple of inconveniences with blog posting in China. I will try to add some later (I know some of you just look at the pictures!)

This week has been wonderful so far! Not only has there been some exploring, but my cold is better each day. Best of all, I have had lots of "kitchen pace" and solitude, which you know I love. I have been praying and writing a lot--two of my passions. And below is the fruit of some of that time.

Three new posts of my writings follow this post; they are merely rough drafts, but I hope you enjoy them and are encouraged by them. If you have not seen my updates from China, scroll down a little further to find some of my Chinese adventures and a few photographs from my week in Beijing (today makes it one week exactly!). Be blessed!

Neighbors

I don't know why I didn't call the police.

I guess I figured someone else would--call the police. It wasn't because he was black. Don't think that I'm one of them racists! I have neighbors that are black, some that are brown, too. In fact, I work with a Chinaman. No, sir, I'm not racist.

Sure, it bothered me. You would have to be stoned not to feel something inside when you watch someone getting the tar beat out of them. When those three fellas made a bit of a circle around him, I got a sort of shiver up and down. At first it wasn't too bad; a normal robbery it seemed. There is worse things than losing your money. I was already thinking that before they started to prove it true. Just when it seemed about over, the brute on the left gave our man a hefty wallop upside the head, and that started the real mess. Instead of leaving before the cops came, the other two joined in. Pretty soon they was kicking and spitting, too; it lasted a good while, and before it was over, my stomach was turning. It bothered me plenty.

I was kind of frozen. Not afraid, maybe a little horrified . . . but I've seen worse. I've done worse, I have to admit. I used to be pretty rotten, before I got myself straightened out. Now I keep to myself mostly. I was just standing there washing my dishes at the kitchen window, looking out at the street three stories below. Yeah, I froze a little. I know because I noticed the water still running a few minutes later even though I didn't have a dish in my hand, but that's not why I didn't call the police.

I don't really know why. Probably the same reason I didn't go down to help him after the other three had run out of body parts to bloody. I don't know. Instead, I turned off the water and stood there watching, kind of fascinated. I think I was about to run down to help, when . . . Yes! That was it! I was ready to run down to help when I saw a priest from the Catholic church around the corner. (I stepped in there once.) He was walking straight toward this fellow, and I knew he would get there first. The holy man would help him more than I could anyway. Yes, I remember now.

You can guess I was a little surprised when I saw the religious man start to cross the street. Maybe he didn't see him, crumpled up as he was. In my head, I started shouting, "No, look over there--that man needs your help!" Of course, no one heard me. And the priest never once looked over at that mangled pile of man, bleeding in the gutter.

My mouth felt suddenly dry, so I turned on the tap and filled a glass with water. A few sips did nothing to quench my thirst; nor did they stop my racing thoughts. That priest is my neighbor! What if that was me in the gutter? Somebody should help that fellow!

My thoughts were interrupted by a figure hurrying out of the bottem of my building. Aha! Jameson will help! Obviously he saw the whole thing and is running to the rescue. He probably called the police, too, and an ambulance. I always liked Jameson. Nevermind that I don't really know him; I seen him coming and going from that Baptist church downtown. He nods "howdy" but doesn't bother me; fine fellow. Thank goodness somebody's doing something!

You can imagine I was stunned when Jameson ran right past the man! Not even right past--he crossed the road, too, as if walking near a hurting man would bring bad luck. Brings guilt is more like it! He didn't even slow down; I think he marched faster! He had to have seen him, but he didn't do nothing!

Now I was mad! I don't care if he's a black man or a red man or rainbow-colored, he deserves some help! I had half a mind to run down myself to see what I could do, but I was stopped short by what I saw. It was that lousy Arab man, the one that wears his terrorist turban when he shuffles by; I just know he is going to press the button on his suicide underwear when someone makes him angry. I leaned forward to open the window to yell at him; I could see his filthy hands just itching to rob that penniless pile of bruises.

I was right! I saw him hurry forward toward the body, not caring that his light clothes were turning a dirty red at the knees! He checked for a pulse to make sure his victim wouldn't wake, and I opened my mouth to shout . . . and then gasped. He wasn't robbing him; he was helping him! From somewhere he pulled out a bottle of water, and I could even hear the ripping fabric as he tore his own clothes to bind up his bleeding neighbor.

Now there was something in my throat, and water wasn't helping. I pulled out my own bottle, sure that gin would do the trick. I began sipping as I watched what was happening below. Surely Ahab would call the paramedics?

By now, it was hard to be surprised. But I think I started sweating, too, as I watched this slender, dark-skinned figure wrestle with the dead weight of the crumpled man, staggering with the effort, and finally managing to haul him onto his shoulders in a sloppy fireman's carry. "You shouldn't move him!" I wanted to shout, but I was in awe, and I took another sip. Slowly the duo weaved forward, both oblivious to the not-so-subtle stares of passing pedestrians. I watched until they turned onto the next street, and as I continued to replay the scene in my head, I wondered where he was taking him. No urgent care was close enough for such a burdened man on foot.

Suddenly, I looked at the glass in my hand. I couldn't keep drinking; I had to go to work in an hour! Time flies when you're gawking at your neighbors! I quickly finished the dishes and shoved the alcohol in a cabinet. Then I jumped in the shower, shaved, and combed my hair. I lost a little time looking for a matching pair of socks, pulled on my scrubs, and grabbed my bag, debating whether to take my car or catch the bus. As I stepped into the twilight, I thought of the three hoodlums and resisted the urge to cross myself.

By the time I reached the ER, I was nearly late for my shift. As I rounded the building and rushed through the doorway, I barely avoided smashing into a dirty, tired-looking man who was wandering out. Annoyed, I made up for lost time with three enormous steps, and then I stopped dead in my tracks. That was the terrorist. . . I mean, the Arab man! I turned around to look, but he was gone. Mechanically, I continued my career until I found my collegue, who rapidly briefed me on the patients. He finished by telling me about the most recent arrival, now admitted to the hospital proper, an unidentified black man, beaten and robbed. Though he remained a "John Doe," they had contact information for the man who had brought him in. He had paid in advance, requesting a private room for the patient, and he left his name, address, and cell phone number, with instructions to prepare a bill for him, to be ready when he returned to check on his friend the in two days.

I hardly let the doctor finish, I pretended to complete my first round and at the first free moment I found, I sprinted upstairs and found our John Doe. Who was this Arab? Quickly I scanned the chart, not really hearing the machine's beeps reporting the vitals of the man in critical condition. I found the address before I saw the name: 1029 Lukas Street, Building J, Apartment 307...

I dropped the clipboard, not reading any further.

That was my address: my building, my floor. How had I never seen this man coming or going? Why had I never cared enough to ask, "Who is my neighbor?"

The clatter of the clipboard must have awakened the patient. He half-opened his eyes and mumbled, "Thanks for helping me, Doc.," before he dozed off again.

On Priorities

Quite often I am told, either aloud or through a dubious glance, that I must be at least half crazy to have studied philosophy in college. Perhaps it is true, though I marvel no less at people who can live their entire lives without ever asking philosophical questions. Honestly, does it not seem unhealthy for someone to live every day without ever asking himself, "Why am I alive?"

Regardless of which camp your tent is staked in, let us move away from these speculative questions to confront something more practical: decision-making. Everywhere I visit in the world, I find people at a crossroads between at least two important choices, and often more. Books that sell hints for the best course of action are sold by the dozens, but there is a simple way to simplify the decision every time. Before I can make a wise decision, I must know my priorities.

In today's world, some would argue that each persons values and priorities are different. That may be true, but whether or not I agree, let us take a look at a traditional American perspective. At least in the past in Uncle Sam's Land of Opportunity, most Americans would have said that their values were God, family, and work, in that order. I would suggest that these remain top priorities in the lives of most people throughout the world today, though perhaps the order changes according to the person: their religious beliefs, their loved ones, and their career or daily subsistance.

Looking at the question of priorities from a purely secular perspective, I have observed that in most cultures, family and work are among the highest priorities in a persons life, often defining other priorities such as honor, patriotism, social status, wealth, happiness, fame, and values. Nonetheless, I see that these two values can be in conflict in many situations, causing great tension.

For our purposes, let us agree that work falls into two principle categories: career and livelihood. To define our terms, a career is a position sought after and attained based on one's desire for the salary it pays, the type of work required, the opportunities that accompany it, or the rewards that result from it. A livelihood differs in that there is less choice involved; it is work that springs from necessity and survival needs. Both, however, can tear apart a family. For example, imagine a father who lived hand-to-mouth all his life to provide for his family, managing to support his family through his livelihood of rug braiding. However, his son wants more and seemingly turns his back ungratefully on his father's trade, seeking education and a career in business which takes him far from home while his father ages and his family continues to battle poverty. Or picture a wife and mother who fails to make enough time for her family because her career demands too much attention, pulling her out of the home so much that the children turn to drugs while the husband files for divorce.

Maybe the inverse is true. Consider a man who gets fired from his career in customer service because he continually drops everything he is doing to respond to family "needs" when his wife or children call. Or think of the woman whose baby becomes ill and who must make long trips to the nearest hospital, only to find that her meager garden did not produce enough vegetables for the family's table this year.

Yes, these are fictional, extreme examples; but, I would argue that they are not far from reality. Family and work are both important values, and must remain so, in my opinion. However, there needs to be a hierarchy of priorities; they cannot occupy the same rung of the ladder. When one is thus lifted to a greater level of importance, decision-making becomes that much easier. For example, if family is deemed more important, the mother will not hesitate to take her baby to the hospital as necessary. She will worry about finding more ways to provide later, and maybe other family members with a similar set of values will step in and lend a hand in the meanwhile. Or, remember the son with the new career? If his career is more important than his family, his decisions are simplified: he will climb the corporate ladder no matter what the consequences. Perhaps he believes that the more successful he becomes, the more he will be able to do for his family in the future.

Naturally, other values vie for importance in our lives, complicating our choices. Two other priorities often considered are country (or patriotism) and happiness. Depending on one's order of priorities, perhaps a person will choose to serve in the military rather than marry a high-school sweetheart, or instead of pursuing a dream to become a professional athlete. Others set their happiness, or the happiness of those around them, as their highest priority, making every work- or family-related decision based on what they expect will make them happy.

Now let us throw religion into the mix. One reason many people prioritize religion in their lives is because it helps them order the rest of their priorities. For example, Islam has Five Pillars, clearly defining five of the highest priorities for its adherents. In terms of decision-making, this certainly simplifies matters. For example, when a Muslim passes a beggar on the street, he has been trained to consider alms-giving as important, and he might give generously to the beggar without much thought, avoiding the inner struggle that others face as they walk by, trying to determine an appropriate response.

To summarize, my suggestion for simplifying decision-making is for each person to take a moment to assess his or her priorities, setting up a hierarchy that will prove helpful when choices must be made. Employing those we have discussed and returning to our traditional American mentality, perhaps on such hierarchy would be as follows:

1. God

2. America

3. Family

4. Personal Happiness

5. Career

Whether this hierarchy is good or bad, someone else can judge. My own hierarchy of priorities looks quite a bit different. Would you be interested in a taking a look at it as a case study?

I am Christian, and the Bible teaches clearly that the Lord God, as known through His Son, Jesus, should be in the first place. This is extremely logical, because the Lord knows me intimately, wants what is best for me, and has the power to bring about what is best for me. So I put Him in the first place.

However, this is where philosophy comes back into the picture. Why am I alive? After all, I did not choose to be born. As I study the Bible, I see that God is central in everything, in all of life, and in all of the universe--whether I choose to give Him the first place or not. I see that everything He created reveals His beauty in a unique way, bringing Him more glory. Thus as a man created by God, my purpose is to reveal God and to bring Him glory. By examining the life of Jesus, I see that the way to do this is to surrender myself and every aspect of my life completely to Him. This surrender includes my family, my work, my nation, and my happiness. After all, God is better equipped than I am to care for my family and my people, to execute my work, and to make me happy.

Therefore, my decision-making looks different than the hierarchy above, in part because Jesus redefines our values. He says not only to love our family, but even our enemies, and He describes the people of the Church as our new adopted family. He teaches that any and all work we do should be done as though we are doing it for the Lord. He demonstrates that there is a peace that passes all understanding and a joy that can be known even in suffering, which makes our superficial idea of happiness seem less appealing. He reveals that our identity is less about where we were born and more about Who gave us our life. Thus, if I were to type my priorities in a symbolic way that tries to represent my own hierarchy and decision-making, it might look something like this:

1. God FIRST in all things!

2. FAM(Glory to God!)ILY, WO(Glory to God!)RK, HAPPI(Glory to God!)NESS, COUN(Glory to God!)TRY, etc.

3. God not only begins, but completes everything.

So, as long as I put God first, He takes care of the details. I do not even have to wonder if my hierarchy is constructed correctly; it is a hierarchy of one. If, by chance, I make a mistake, I do not have to worry, because I know that God works for the good of those who love Him, and since He completes everything, He will cause it to work out and eventually bring Him glory. My decision-making, then, is not analytical, it is relational. I spend my time and energy investing in my relationship with a God who loves me, and He orders everything else. He knows my heart, my desires, and what I need. I highly recommend this low-stress, perhaps hitherto foreign way of dealing with the choices we have to make.

No matter who you are or what you believe, life is about priorities. Who or what will be your top priority? For whom or what do you live? Why are you alive?

Am I a Christian?

The answer to this question could change your life.

Both within and outside the Church, there is a confusion: What does it mean to be a Christian? Many non-Christians are turned away from the Church because of what they think it means to be or not be Christian. Many self-proclaimed "Christians" are using the label incorrectly, gleaning a false sense of security from it and wielding it in a manner that damages anyone within arm's length.

My Observations

I observe that regarding Christianity, there are basically six kinds of people, relative to Christianity, though sometimes these categories overlap a little. These terms are my own, used in an effort to clarify the positions:

Anti-Christians are those who have a correct or incorrect view of Christianity and who are hostile toward those who bear the label. There are most often non-Christians, but some so-called Christians become so cynical about the Church that they might fall into this extreme category.

Non-Christians may or may not be hostile to Christianity, and they may or may not have a correct understanding of Christianity. Some have consciously chosen not to follow the lifestyle of a Christian; others have not yet understood what it means to be a Christian.

Traditional "Christians" are those who were born into the Church or Christian culture, using the label as a part of their identity, but without bearing the fruit a Christian's life bears. Usually their religion could be described as "lifeless," or sometimes "legalistic." These are often found in Orthodox, Catholic, or more conservative Protestant denominations, though they can be a part of any fellowship group.

Apparent "Christians" are those who are easily mistaken as Christians, due to their zeal and fervor. Some of them demonstrate very spiritual behavior, including prayer and emotional worship; others boast long lists of good-deeds and generous sacrifices done in the name of Jesus. Thus, they appear to be bearing the fruit of a Christian life, but they lack the relationship with Jesus and will not be able to sustain such a lifestyle from their own strength for very long. Mistaken Christians might also fall into this category.

Mistaken "Christians" are those who call themselves Christian, but who have exchanged the truth of the Gospel for a lie. These could include Mormons (Church of Latter Day Saints), Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Unitarian Universalists, and many others. On the surface, they often seem to share the same core beliefs with Christians, but in each case there is a fundamental truth that has been changed or discarded. Many of them are trapped in this false belief and have no understanding of the Truth they are missing.

True Christians are those whose lives clearly reflect the death and life of Christ Jesus. Their lives are not from their own strength (for their lives were crucified with Christ when He died to defeat sin and death out of His love for us), but through faith they have surrendered to the life of Jesus, of His Holy Spirit, living through them. This surrender causes a noticeable life-change, which could be called "repentance." They allow the Spirit to live freely in them, to the glory of the Father. They are in a real, personal relationship of love with Jesus, who drives away the fears they once had.

What is a Christian?

According to the Bible, what does it mean to be a Christian? We will see that the definition is inextricably wrapped up in the Person and Life of Christ Jesus, as well as in the idea of the Trinity.

Chapter 11 of the Book of Acts, verse 26, records that the disciples were first called "Christians" at Antioch. Study of this passage shows that these were a group of new believers of primarily non-Jewish background who studied and gathered together for a year. Because of their new lifestyle, they were called "Christians" or "little Christs," based on the observation that they lived like Christ Jesus, or that they imitated the life of Jesus.

The Book of Galatians is appropriately the next place to turn, for Paul is chastising the Galatian Christians for losing sight of the original Gospel, (literally "Good News"); thus, the entire book is a discussion of the true Gospel. Verse 20 of Chapter 2 spells it out using Paul, himself as the example: he reminds the Church that Christians have been "crucified with Christ," that it is no longer them who live, but Christ living in them. That life is described as being lived "through faith" in Jesus, who, we are reminded, lovingly gave Himself up for us, as was previously mentioned in Chapter 1, verse 4. This was according to the will of and for the glory of God the Father (verse 5). Chapter 3 continues the reasoning, explaining in verses 13 and 14 that Christ became cursed to break the curse of sin on us, and this allowed us to receive His Spirit. Chapter 4 reminds us that our holy Savior was born in human flesh in order to adopt us as children in God's family that God's Spirit might dwell in us (verses 4, 5, and 6). Such a life bears good fruit (Galatians 5:22).

Many other parts of Scripture reiterate this truth, this definition of a Christian, and of the Gospel that makes a person a Christian. See, for example (these are only a few of many):

On being a Christian: Matthew 16:24, Luke 6:40 and 14:26, John 14:10-20 and 15:12-19, James 1:17-27 and 2:17, and Revelation 2:2-5

On the Gospel: John 3:16-17, Acts 2:29-33, 38-39, Romans 1:2-6, Ephesians 1:3-14, Colossians 1:12-22, and 1 John 4:7-21.

In other words, a Christian is not someone who decides to live as a Christian. A Christian is one who decides to believe the Gospel and to surrender his (or her) life to the Lord, that Jesus might live in and through him (or her). Jesus came to reveal His Father and to glorify His Father. If Jesus is living in us, we do the same thing. Therefore, what is a Christian? A Christian:

1. Accepts and returns the love and grace of God as embodied by his (or her) personal Friend, Jesus.

2. Does not live anymore, but surrenders daily to let the Spirit of Jesus live freely in and through him (or her), to the glory of the Father.

3. Has a life that is proof of the truth of the Gospel and that bears spiritual fruit.

And what is the Gospel? The Good News (the Gospel) is that:

1. God loves us so much that He intervened when our sin separated us from Him!

2. He made a way by sending His Son Jesus to live as a perfect human who would pay the death penalty for our sins, allowing us to die to the bondage of sin.

3. The Father raised His Son and offered us new life with Him, putting His Spirit in us that we could be in eternal relationship with Him as His children, if only we will believe and surrender to His love.

So, are you a Christian?

Do you know Jesus as a Friend, or just know about Him as an idea?

Do you try hard to live as a Christian, or do you let the Spirit live in and through you?

Was there ever a noticeable change in your life (marking your total surrender), witnessed by you and by others?

Does your life reflect the unique life of Jesus, or does it look like everybody else's life?

Does your life bear fruit for the glory of God, or is religion just a rote, token part of your existence?

Are you afraid of many things, or does the love of God give you confidence and boldness?

Is this Truth the Gospel you know, or have you been following one that has been edited or simplified?

Do you think the world might look a lot different if everyone in the Church, everyone calling himself (or herself) "Christian," would surrender to a Jesus personally known and loved, letting His Spirit live freely in him (or her) to the Father's glory, bearing fruit in keeping with repentance?

Join me as once again I prayerfully ask myself, "Am I a Christian?"

Alone in China

Location: Beijing, China (about 6:45pm on the 16th of February)

It was an eerie feeling as I walked down the still-sleepy streets of Beijing today, realizing I am alone. Not only are most businesses closed and Beijing residents visiting family out of town, but my family left this morning for Hong Kong. My rapidly-obtained visa turned out to be a coveted business visa instead of a tourist visa (though I applied for the latter), and I was only permitted one entry into China, meaning I could not travel with my family.

Of course, I use "alone" flippantly; I am never alone with Jesus living in me. But it is true that I only know a couple people in this enormous city of people who do not speak a language I understand, eat cuisine that I know how to prepare, or who live in a neighborhood I know how to find. However, I did successfully purchase a few items from a couple of small convenience stores, and I prepared my own meal today, even if it merely required boiling frozen dumplings. I will note every success I can!

The grocery search, though, was my only venture out today; I plan to do more later this week. I chose to begin with a day of prayer and rest, knowing it would be valuable as I march forward. I am fighting a cold that I am sure is spiritual attack (though you could disagree with me by reminding me that my Romanian immune system shared meals with American germs in a Chinese incubation atmosphere), and I knew many places are still closed due to the New Year holiday.

In fact, my few days have been quite full of spiritual battle, similar to the thousands of fireworks that have been shot off this weekend and which continue to shatter the smog even tonight. For example, yesterday I wrestled with walking past beggars in a pedestrian tunnel, noting their deformities and ducking ashamedly from my urge to go to them and pray for them with a loving touch. I told myself that I would be unable to communicate with them, that my family and hundreds of other people were watching, and that they might not be able to "handle" sudden healing. So instead I failed, ignored the Lord, and walked on, trying to forget their faces that were mingling with those of other beggars who had sung their way through the subway trains during the previous two days.

Despite these struggles, I am abundantly blessed, even forgiven by a God whose grace outweighs my shortcomings. I told you that my Swiss hosts treated me royally, and they did. But now, more than ever, I am a king. I went from sharing humble quarters with other people during the past six months to now (this week) having two apartments completely to myself. Not only that, they are located in a hotel that looks like something out of a movie, a place where Hollywood stars should stay, where doors are opened for me by staff who greet me, where I have access to a large pool, hot tub, sauna, and workout gym, as well as internet, continental breakfast, and more. In fact, it is so much that I am a bit uncomfortable, but again reminded of Paul's precendent in knowing how to be content with much or little, I thank the Lord.

My brother, too, has been a very generous host. Like all brothers, we disagree sometimes, but it has been good to see him. Last Sunday, he agreed to take my family to a church we heard of; it was an interesting experience. That, coupled with some sites I ran across on the internet, made me ask myself if there are different degrees of Christians. Perhaps that is how I will spend my evening tonight: working out those thoughts.

Wherever this post finds you, know that I would be happy to pray for you from my post in China and send me an email. If you are the praying type, thanks for your prayers--I am still focused very much on discerning the details of my return to Romania in a few months. And if you feel alone today, think of me alone in Beijing, and remember that Jesus is with us both! Or if you do not know Him, He is just waiting for you to invite Him along!

I bless you in His Name!

To Hold You Over...

Location: My brother's apartment in Beijing, China (about 6:45pm on February 15th)

There are three new posts below to hold you over for a little while. Now I have added a few more photos. The story of how God brought me to China is amazing--read it below in "Groundhog's Day Race." And today is my Mom's birthday--thus it was a well-timed surprise!

The Year of the Tiger

Location: Apartment of my brother's friend, a few moments after midnight on the 14th of February, 2010 (Happy Valentine's Day for those of you who celebrate it--Happy New Year to my Chinese friends!)

This is unbelievable.

For the last several hours, in fact all day, the air has been ripped apart by concussions of earth-shaking fireworks in preparation of the New Year. Now however, only moments after Cinderella's carriage turned into a pumpkin, the atmosphere around our hotel is literally billowing with sulfur smoke, illuminated by hundreds of firework bursts every minute, silhouetting buildings, a construction crane, and the Year of the Tiger with flashes of light. Moments ago, this year became next year, and the city sounds like a gigantic drum roll forever waiting the climatic cymbal crash.

I was asleep amid the noise, but I awoke just moments before the changing of the guard; in other words, just before the new year stepped onto stage. It is impressive, if not unbelievable. People want a reason to celebrate, and tonight they have it in China.

In fact, I have been impressed by many things in China. Not only do people want to celebrate, but they want to worship. I was impressed by the number of people buying insense for buddhas and hailing the various statues, a brief pause in their modern lives of cell phone technology and international sophistication. People want to be proud of something, to value their heritage and traditions. I was impressed by the immense structures and grounds of the Summer Palace from the Ming Dynasty (I think); equally impressive is the modern architecture of the city, such as the Olympic quarter and the business district. People want to be recognized. I was impressed by vendors crying out in Chinese, knowing we would not understand, but desperately hoping we would stop and buy something from them, instead of from one of their hundreds of counterparts.

Not only did we visit the Summer Palace, but we visited the ruines of the ancient summer palace that was destroyed during some foriegn invasion (please pardon my poor knowledge of local Chinese history). There they had decorated for the New Year, and even the local Chinese were tourists in their own city and country as they browsed the merchandise in the stalls and watched the performers attract their attention. Surely we were on television at least twice as large video cameras were pointed our way to capture the expressions of obvious "foreigners" mingling among the Chinese mobs. Our five person family did not blend in, and we had the pleasure of being joined by one of my sister's college friends, A., who lives in Beijing teaching English.

To tell you the truth, as impressed as I am by what I see, I dislike visiting many of the tourist attractions for two reasons. One, I do not like being a tourist. I have seen neat things in different parts of the world, and I would rather spend time with and get to know local people instead of taking photographs of their ruins and residences. Two, as a Christian, it saddens me to visit these "sacred" places, such as temples and the like, to watch a people I believe to be in bondage, unconsciously caught in Old Testament idolotry as they seek long life and protection from evil. I am no stranger to evil, myself, and I also think it unwise to make myself vulnerable to spiritual attack by lingering in places and among people dedicated to worship of someone other than Yahweh God. For if I or anyone else worships anything or anyone other than the one God, ultimately we are worshipping God's enemy, the devil, who aspired to be worshipped in the place of his Maker.

It is difficult to be a man of God in today's world; to be in this world but not of it. It is difficult to visit these temples and shrines while keeping a pure heart and a pure mind. It is difficult to join a family's awe of another culture when you are acutely aware of the traps and dangerous pitfalls hidden within it. Perhaps a more comprehensible example is a discussion of what to do when you join people you love (but who believe different things than you) in front of a movie screen, watching what quickly reveals itself to be moral filth. How do you respond in a way that respects the people you love without allowing such garbage to penetrate your soul? Without declaring myself "holier-than-thou," I want to keep myself unstained by this world--what if Jesus returned right now, amid the firework percussion concert of the Year of the Tiger? Would He find my heart set on Him, or filled with images of painted buddhas or Hollywood nudity?

May this year be not so much the Year of the Tiger, but instead, the Year of our Lord, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The fireworks are fading, but the Word of the Lord will never pass away! May the Name of the Lord be praised!

"Casse-pas la tete!"

Location: Geneva Airport, Switzerland, just after 12:30pm on the 10th of February.

Hmm... What am I doing in an airport, you ask? Waiting for a flight, of course!

By now you may have heard (though I hope you have not if you are my family!) that I am on my way to China. In fact, by the time this is posted, I will probably be in Beijing! I could post this now, but there is danger that my family might see it. You see, they are leaving today for a trip to Beijing to visit my brother, but they do not suspect that I will be there to surprise them! My brother and I planned this at the last minute, and we will have a spontaneous family reunion in China for Mom's birthday, Valentine's Day, and the Chinese New Year! The story of how it came about is incredible, but again, I could not post it until they safely arrived in China. Look for it (called "Ground Hog's Day Race) as either the post immediately before or after this one.

So now, I am enjoying a wonderful day with my Lord. We woke up to a beautiful Swiss snow this morning, which impaired driving enough to push us to leave early. Thus, I arrived in Geneva early, there was no line at the check-in counter or at the security, and I am the only person waiting at the gate. It is peaceful. And my passage through security ended up being the smoothest I have ever had. As usual, I emptied my pockets and put everything in my bag, and when I asked if I needed to take of my shoes, the employee (coicidentally of Chinese heritage?) said, "Oh, casse-pas la tete!" ("Don't go to so much trouble!" or perhaps more acurately, "Don't butt your head against a wall!") Then he good-naturedly described my small backpack as "gusto!", and I slid through without any problems.

My time in Switzerland has been very interesting. I arrived in the van of a Swiss friend from Romania, spent time with some Swiss friends in Zurich, stayed with a Swiss-Dutch family near Bern, visited some Swiss friends in Bern yesterday, and now I fly out of the Geneva airport. The language diversity caught my attention. In the Swiss-German part of the country, my ability to communicate was very handicapped. It was unual for me to watch even native Swiss approach someone with an introductory question of "Do you speak my language?" Everyone seems to speak bits and pieces of other languages, but not always enough for clear conversation. I have heard Swiss-German, German, Dutch, French, Spanish, and English here, in addition to some other languages I did not recognize. I had a situation in a grocery store where I had to sheepishly hold out my handful of change to the smiling cashier, because I was not sure of the value of each piece. (I saw Swiss Francs for the first time this week.) Another smile came when my two friends ordered hot chocolate (in German) at a cafe, and I ordered the same (in French) without realizing that is what they ordered! This morning, I was listening to two train passengers speaking Spanish when a girl on the stairway asked them if they spoke English. They did not, so I piped up saying I did, and then she switched to French and asked if I spoke French, too. Startled, I admitted I did and had to answer in French. However, my French yesterday with friends in Bern and this morning with the lady at the airline desk was still peppered with Romanian terms--I am having trouble straining it out sometimes!

The value of Swiss life also struck me. Each of my hosts treated me like a king; they were very generous and helpful with all that God has given them. However, amid the wealth of the society, I felt a little like a beggar in my hand-me-down flannel, shocked by the high-priced food and other commodities. Even the Swiss talk a lot about how expensive everything is, and it is especially contrasted by my coming directly from a simple life in Romania. Of course, man people do not seem any happier here; they still bury their noses in newspapers on the train and bump into you as they brush by, but there is definitely a noticeable elite level of financial and technological modernity.

Nonetheless, Alfred (my backpack) and I lived rather simply, enjoying the peaceful permitted us by our hospitable Christian hosts. I will remember this week in Switzerland fondly, and I am curious about what God is doing here. I especially have in my mind a fresh memory of a serene afternoon with the Lord, on top of a hill, watching the sunset through the wintry forest from my seat upon a welcoming rock. There is certainly a spiritual weight I feel here in Switzerland, but it is difficult to describe, even to discern if it is healthy or harmful. After passing through this country three times, it has been refreshing finally to visit it and get to know its people, who graciously insist that I must return someday.

So I pray for these brothers and sisters here, and I change gears, setting my face toward China. I found myself watching two Chinese stores in two different cities slide by my train window on my way. I hardly know what to expect. I know there is a Great Wall there, but I believe that God has great plans for this visit, too. So I am ready; the past few days, I have been allowing myself to anticipate this time a little. Now, I am ready.

I will let you know how it goes!

Groundhog's Day Race

Location: (probably China) written in Sighisoara, Romania (8:15am on February 3)

I just wrote the decoy blog post for February 3, and it was all true, but now I will tell you the amazing story of yesterday, Ground Hog's Day, that must be kept a secret for a week.

After much discussion and phone calls and emails to embassies, my brother (who is living in China) and I decided I should surprise my family for a visit in China (they are visiting him in China). Monday night before I left Sighisoara on Wednesday, we decided it might be possible--not wise, merely possible. I had a dinner appointment, so I told my brother (via Skype) that if he could find me a flight that would work and the application for the visa, I would come back and decide after dinner. I walked to dinner telling myself that I could not even use my "voice of reason" to help me consider the matter, because I was already a fool even to consider it! The reason it was foolish was because I would have to leave that night for Bucuresti, the capital of Romania. I had never been there, and a six-hour train ride instead of sleep was not appealing to me. Yet as I prayed about it and bounced the idea off my Christian friends at dinner, it became obvious that the Lord was leading me. Buckle your seat belt!

That night at eleven o'clock, I sat down to fill out the visa application, waking up my brother in China to help me with details. Then he and a worked on purchasing plane tickets, because they were a prerequesit for getting the visa. We had problems with the Internet, and by 2:30am, we were not yet successful. Finally, with moments to spare we found one and bought it, not having time to be choosy. Then I left the apartment and literally ran through the snowy streets of Sighisoara to the train station, hoping to see a taxi on the way. Instead I found a guy working on his van, and he asked me to stop and help him open the hood, because the release lever was not working properly. After spending two precious minutes with him, I apologized and ran off, needing to make it to the train station!

As I burst into the station, I asked if my train had already left--it had not! Soon I was on a train, trying rather unsuccessfully to nap here and there! One reason I could not sleep was because I was trying not to think about that the Internet problems had kept me from packing any food! Our train arrived late due to construction on the tracks, so I was in town at 9:00am, having been told I needed to be at the embassy by 10:00 in order to rush a visa in one day. Abandoning my plans to try taking the metro, I withdrew some cash and sought a taxi, having been warned about imposter cabbies and trying to find a legitimate one from amid dozens.

Finally, I found one and fidgeted while traffic kept us from moving; however, I was pleased when we arrived at the embassy a bit before 10:00. Looking at the heavily guarded perimeter wall, I gulped and walked up to a guard to ask how to get in. He directed me to the consulate behind the embassy, so I hurried there. Once inside, someone directed me to a lady who would check my documents. After she finished with the man before me, she glanced at my papers and bluntly said, "I am sorry, you will not be able to get a visa today."

Dumbfounded (though I had half-expected it), I asked why, explaining that I had everything. She countered, telling me what I still needed, not caring that I had sacrificed my last day in Sighisoara and taken a sleepless night train to come expressly for this purpose. Is your heart beating like mine was?

Let me pause a moment. When the Internet was not working at two in the morning and this whole adventure was looming before my exhausted eyes, I almost gave up. I thought, "I will scrap everything, save myself a trip to Bucuresti, and I will go to bed. Tomorrow I will have time to prepare my luggage and say goodbyes, and nothing will be hurried or stressful." I wanted to give up. But I remembered that I had prayed about it, and that God was leading me. So I persevered.

The same thing happened again. I wanted to give up, to say "okay," and to go back to Sighisoara. And maybe you think it is my American "can-do" attitude, but the reason I did not was because I remembered that God was leading me, and I knew He had not brought me to Bucuresti to fail in this endeavor (though throughout the day I was tempted to doubt Him). I asked several obnoxious questions about exactly what was needed, dismayed to learn that some of them had to be obtained from China. Nonetheless, knowing that God can do the impossible, I asked if I could try to get the documents and come back in two or three hours. She looked at me, understood that I am crazy, and sighed. "If you can be here by 11:20 with all the required documents, it might be possible to get your visa." I looked at my watch that was shouting, "It is after 10:00 already!" and left her sitting there as I raced out the guarded entrance, looking like a bedraggled bum who just robbed a bank.

I had just over one hour, and the lady had not known of an Internet cafe anywhere. Time to break rules! In Romania, you do not hail a cab like you do in New York City, you look for one where the taxis are parked. But, I flagged down a cab and jumped in, only slightly concerned that neither did he know of any Internet cafes. This time, I did not have time to care if he was a crook or not--I just needed a ride! I told him to go ahead and drive, and I texted some friends asking for more prayer, and then I called my unexpecting roommate in Sighisoara to email my brother in China to tell him what we needed.

Again I wanted to give up--I wanted to say, "Just take me to the train station." Instead I prayed, and the cabbie and I searched and searched for anything that resembled an Internet cafe. I had my laptop with me, but I needed Internet access and a printer, as well as a copy machine. Finally, I spotted one and cried out, paid him, and jumped out, heading into an ally in search of a computer.

The place I found was good, and the guy working humored my many requests. I made contact with my brother via Skype, but one of the documents we needed was in his hotel apartment--and he was not there! He asked how long we had, and I told him, "Maybe twenty (20!) minutes!"

"Wow," he typed, and he set to work; I did the same.

The cafe did not have a copy machine, but it had a scanner, so I made copies with that. I printed off documents, occasionally getting an update from my brother. Time was ticking, and I was on the wrong side of town! The employee at the cafe did not have anything I could use to attach my photo to my application, so I racked my brain. When I later submitted it, they had no idea that the photo was attached with lip balm!!!

Finally, though people at his hotel were still trying to get into his locked room, I knew I had to leave to make the deadline. He had given me some documents I hoped would work, though not exactly what we needed. He was away from his computer in China, so I said goodbye without hearing from him, ordering him to email the remaining documents to the consulate if he obtained them. As I started to elope from the cafe, the guy stopped me, handing my my ID card that we almost left there on the scanner!

Running out the door, I stopped a startled pedestrian every few dozen meters so I could ask again where I needed to go to find a taxi. The first cabbie I found did not know where the consulate was, so I left him standing there and jumped into the next, asking if we could go fast. He nodded, but traffic did not oblige us, so I was praying again.

Arriving only a couple of minutes after 11:20, I rushed in to find the lady I had prayed for during my absence. She seemed surprised I had returned, and she began carefully going through my documents. I started to try to explain about my brother's residency card being locked in an apartment in Beijing and emailed to the consulate, but she interrupted me, so I shut up, decided I could only make matters worse. I passed her inspection, and she sent me to the window where another man was waiting, and with one minor change, he approved it and told me to come back at 12:00pm to pick it up--an half-hour. Feeling quite triumphant, I meandered outside and around the block to kill time, calling my roommate to thank him. I returned a few minutes before 12:00, only to find that the adventure was not yet over...

I was prepared to pay the sum they told me, but I was not prepared to pay it in American dollars! I was at a Chinese consulate in Romania--why American dollars? So again I was running through the streets, this time in Bucuresti, trying to find the nearest bank. I exchanged the money and ran back, having been told that I had ten minutes at the most, because they (at the consulate) close at 12:00pm. I arrived, panting, and paid the money, receiving my passport and visa in return. Left without instructions, I turned to leave, but I was halted as they ran my cash through a counterfeit-inspection machine. Not worried, I watched as all the bills passed through . . . except the last one! I had only changed the exact sum needed! I thought about panicking, but then finally remembered that I had another $5 bill with me and made the change.

As I left, so did the lady who had helped me out; she had become nicer by the minute, and was now offering to walk me to the metro station. I thought about inviting her to lunch, but I decided that I did not need to invite more adventure at the moment. Thus, I followed her directions and took the metro to the train station, bought a ticket and sandwich (my first food of the day!), and tried to board the train that would momentarily depart.

However, the conductor pointed out that I had the wrong ticket, and again I considered panicking, before I realized that I had pulled the morning ticket from my pocket, instead of the correct one. I got on the train, and a little over six uneventful hours later I arrived in Sighisoara after 7:00pm with a new friend from the train, and not any more sleep than I had when I left Bucuresti. I had been in trains over twelve hours. I was in Bucuresti exactly four hours, and in that time I was in three taxis, two metros, an internet cafe, a bank, and the Chinese consulate four times!

Time and time again, the Lord proved Himself faithful. And now I hold plane tickets and a visa to China to surprise my family there. The adventure of following Jesus continues...

Chinese Silence

Location: My brother's apartment in Beijing, China, a little before 9:30am on the 13th of February.

Yes, thank you; I arrived safely in China.

You are probably waiting for stories and adventures from Beijing... There is a lot to tell after only one full day--line dancing and belly dancing, visa pursuits and the US Embassy, the Olympics and taxi maneuvers, dog poop and butterfingers, and lots of hilarity. I have two posts written and waiting to be uploaded for your reading pleasure, as well as many pictures. I also have received emails from several of you. Unfortunately, due to Chinese law and Internet restrictions, I have very limited access to the Internet, including my email, and especially to this blog site. I am also worried about a virus on my memory stick that prevents me from transferring photos and documents to my brother's computer. Assume that all is well if you do not hear from me; thank you for your prayers for my family and for me.

With God's help, my brother and I pulled off the surprise, and we videotaped it with my shaky hand and broken camera--hopefully with some editing you will enjoy it one day. Until then, know that God is unfurling His plans for us here, and that we are enjoying our family reunion. Nonetheless, I have been missing you a lot lately, my friends. I will try to update you as possible, and I bless you in the Name of the only God, revealed to us in Jesus--the Lord God of China, Romania, the USA, and the rest of the world!

Today's Post...

Location: Geneva, Switzerland (about 12:19pm on February 10)

Here are some photos to whet your appetite for today's post, which will not be posted until probably tomorrow. Today has been wonderful so far, but as I am on the road again, I will not tell you about it until later. For now, though, the day is off to an excellent, snow-covered start. I love traveling by train, and my train travel so far today has been without adventures, which is okay sometimes. Today it is okay, even relaxing.

Special thanks to my hosts near Bern, some of whom you see pictured here. They took great care of me, and we spent a lot of time laughing, which seems to be a theme in my life lately. It was also a great blessing yesterday to meet up with my buddy, J. and his friends M. and O. We had some great discussions and life lessons about what it really means to live as a Christian.

I am having a "bon voyage," and I wish you the same as you journey with Jesus today!