“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Neh 8:10
Perhaps a verse to start it off.
““Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
(Matt 6:31-33 NAS95S)
Lord we’re still waiting, μαραναθα,
the Spirit and the Bride say come!
It was a cold day today. The sky was grey, the winds were up and my ankles were sore from walking too much the day before. I spent a good portion of the afternoon sitting in a coffee shop, nursing a latte, reading a relatively engaging title “Five View on the Law and the Gospel.” Due to a certain melancholy film that has settled over my life these past few weeks the book has been a welcome academic respite, albeit brief, which has helped me to flip on at least little light in my head in the midst of a growing darkness. The bulk of the book is rather daunting, being composed of a number of exegetical essays (some more exegetical than others) as well as responses, and it introduces the reader to the five major stances on the position and practice of the Law pre and post-cross for the saint of the period.
I don’t want to talk about the book as much as I want to talk about the effect it had on me this afternoon. To put it simply, after I left the coffee shop, only moments after the door closed behind me, the little light that was switched on when my mind started tackling the material, was switched off. What followed was like one of those sighs you let out after watching the brown volvo station wagon, which you thought was your mom coming to pick you up, dissapear around the curve. You sort of knew it would happen but were hoping it wouldn’t.
After helping a woman pick up a lone cucumber which had fallen on the ground, I walked down the steps to the underground railway, and got on the MRT. It was pretty full when the doors opened so I had to squeeze myself in. There were two or three stops until I had to get out so I just looked down and waited. When I did, I saw there before me, standing a little lower than my hip a little chinese boy. Cute kid, was the fist thing I thought. He was holding on to his mommy’s hand and simultaneously leaning on them, pressing his forehead against her fingers. From what I remember, he was wearing a sweatshirt under a puffy green jacket with fur around the hood. I think he had a little scarf too. He was fidgeting and shuffling around as the train swayed back and forth. In that moment, as I watched him do his kiddy thing, I found a certain measure of relief, sort of like I did in the coffee shop with my book. I knew it wouldn’t last, but it was refreshing while it did. Seems a bit strange doesn’t it? Well, what was so special? Yeah, the kid was cute, but what was unique about that moment was for a brief moment I was mentally and emotionally forced to think beyond myself. I actually couldn’t help it. Right then, I was thinking, boy I really care about this kid, I hope nothing happens to him. I mean, the kid was helpless without his mom. There he was, just a little guy. He couldn’t fend for himself even if he had an aluminum bat.
So as I watched him I became suddenly concerned for him. I was even protective over him. You know, In that moment, if anyone were to come a long and try anything shady they’d be in for a fist in the face. This kiddo might as well have been my little brother, or even my son.
I stepped off a few stations later and the door closed behind me. This time the sigh didn’t come until much later. It’s a funny story isn’t it. Biblical academia doesn’t move you as much as watching a little kid hold onto his mommy’s hand.
I know it’s a lame story because the whole thing with the kid only helped me get my mind off myself more effectively than reading the book and that’s why the relief lasted longer. But I thought I’d tell the story anyway because people usually don’t talk about this stuff and a lot of times we overlook the deep feelings that make us human when they surface in ordinary day to day events.
Well, perhaps I can close this little story with a verse, not to be cliche, but to make the entry actually meaningful. You see, the concern I had for the little boy was very real, and it was surprisingly strong. I didn’t even know the kid, but as long as I stood there next to him, you could have fired a gun at him and the bullet wouldn’t have traveled further than my chest. Right then, I felt like I could pour out my life for the kiddo. That’s the backdrop, here’s the verse.
“ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.” (Psa 139:17-18 NAS95S)
and one more, for me.
“ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
(1John 3:1 ESV)
Hello my friends and faithful blog-stalkers. Top of the morning to you from the wonderfully polluted asian urban wonderland, Taipei, where every restaurant serves the best food you’ve ever had, and the people all smell like grandma’s living room. Where the icy winter winds drop to a deadly 60 F, and room temperature weather means the girls break out their scarves and fur coats. Legit.
I’ve been wanting to write something as an update and have unexpectedly just thrown out some really lame poems for filler. I hope that wasn’t so lame as to completely drive you away from this blog with disgust. I know poetry can do that to people, especially when it comes in the form of unpolished, almost adolescent phrases. I hate that too, that’s why most of my poetry is under wraps, because I really dislike the stuff.
Anyways, to the update. Here are some photos of my trip thus far. Not terribly exciting, but at least they’re not as lame as poems.
1. Hello! isn’t this blur cool or what. It took incredibly precise hand trembling for this effect.
2. I went ot 7-11 a lot with my big brother Jon. Notice our obvious pleasure at being in a store that sells everything you need even at 2 am in the morning. Their tea-eggs are the best in the world.
3. it was my dad’s birthday. He dug it. check it out, this is how mature people react to celebration.
4. We had lots of family dinners. Here is one of them, the dude on the right wearing the red shirt is named guan guan. I’m his uncle. He loves the Lord and raps and that little kid smiling really big above him is his little brother, check out that grill.
5. Here is a fat crab that we put on the fire and ate. If you think about it, it actually looks like Predator.
6. We also visited a close friend of our grandmother (dad’s side) my dad calls her aunt even though shes not related. Check it out, she used to be very pretty. Isn’t this a nice pic? so classic.
7. here we are again with her, now she’s pushign 90. Amazing. You can tell I’m excited, I mean who wouldn’t be! c’mon!
8. We went to visit my mom’s old home in bei tou. I practically freaked out, it was so moving. This is me and my brother playing at the park my mom used to play at when she was little.
9. And to cap it all off for now. The best dessert in the world, it’s better than cake, it’s better than ice cream, it’s better than Korean shaved ice. It’s Taiwan Snow slices! fluffy and light and creamy and sweat and delightfully cold! When I went back to America the first time I had it, I dreamt about it, it was that good. If you ever get the chance, eat it. You can find it at Sr ling ye sr.
Till next time friends. Grace and Peace to you. Isn’t our God great? Can’t wait to see what the New Jerusalem offers now that I’ve tasted the wonders of Taiwan and they are truly wonders!
Miss you all dearly.
The great breakers and gulfs and gatherings of grey
are split with a streak of white, electric flame
and just as suddenly as it flashes
all is cool, quiet, and new again.
It seems the ship is in manageable condition.
There’s something fishy about it all really.
All so very orchestrated.
Last summer I was sitting on the train and then I saw this. Pretty awesome. 
well, have a wonderful christmas everyone. May the season bring you joy in the Lord and worship. I will miss you all.
…I hope my beautiful beta will be alright.
well, at least I won’t be hungry.
Not after watching this. I felt like screaming my guts out when the movie was over. By far one of the most meaningful films I have ever seen in my life.
I have always loved hot chocolate. It is one of those little pleasures that make life really wonderful. I don’t know what it is about the frothy, chocolatey taste or the piping hot mug. But whenever I drink hot chocolate, the world shines, especially on cold mornings.
“God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.”
(Gen 1:31 NAS95S)
One of the most beautiful thoughts I have ever heard preached is this:
“I am not here to make you feel good about yourselves, I am here to make you so happy in God; to help you feel so good about the glory, majesty, beauty, justice, love, truth, and power of God that in it you forget about yourselves.”
