因为在神没有一件事是不可能的

I've always been a fan of Rob Bell. I can't tell many people that. They'll go off and quote one thing from one fanatical teacher who quoted one thing Rob Bell said in a two hour video and tell me how he's some emerging, new age leader bent on destroying the church with bad theology.

There is no need to listen to him, read him, and make a decision for oneself.

But that's for a whole different post.

Right now I will show you a video. He makes a series of videos called Nooma. They are little truths about God applied in unforgettable ways. This one is called Lump.

Go watch all of them.

It was an eventful year. And a non-eventful year. Old friends left, new friends came. A whole lot changed, and nothing changed. It seems like things became vary monotonous, but at the same time much more enjoyable. Only two big things went down this year.

• I got a better job than I ever expected when first coming to China a year and a half ago. I've been able to be with the same students and teachers for a year now, and it's great to see how my students are growing, mentally, physically, and spiritually. And I've signed another contract with the school so I will stay in Yantai at least another year.
• And the biggest, and most significant, happening of the year was finding a great place to fellowship. A small place with other like-minded people. A place to serve on Sundays, and keep my spirit sharp. At first I just attended, then shortly after they learned of my background in music I became worship leader. As they knew me more, and as circumstances changed, I became a teacher in regular rotation with the other leaders. Now I preach every other week, and am stretched beyond what I ever thought possible. I'm not worthy, nor ready, for where I am and where I am going. I only know that His grace will continue to abound through it all. I've made countless mistakes, and am unfit to be in the leadership position he has placed me in. Yet still, the service is growing spiritually. As relationships are built, bonds are made. A community of followers in The Way from every corner of the world (Philippines, Brazil, Korea, and America) is growing closer to Him as we commune together. What a wonderful year it has been. I can only ask Him for one thing as we enter '09: Encore.
  

This weekend went by far too quickly! Here's a run down of basic events (With photos!)

On Friday our school had a huge field trip to Happy Land. Yes, it's actually called Happy Land. And surprisingly enough it does not live up to its name. Though we did have some fun.

I made some delicious sandwiches to bring. I had never made a Monte Cristo before, but it came out really tasty.

Here are some photos:

On Friday night I had to play guitar for a guy who will judge the competition I'll be in later. The audition was on Sunday so I couldn't go to that, but he agreed that if he thought I was good enough I wouldn't have to audition. Of course it wasn't a problem. I'm actually going to see him tonight to jam together. So maybe I'll have some original songs in Chinese soon!

Saturday was pretty busy also. I had to get up early (9:00) to teach one of my students guitar. You know, it's easier for me to teach something I'm not particularly interested in (English) than to teach something I love (guitar). In any case, she practices and seems interested so I won't be the first one to back out.

Then I had to run some errands, buy some food for dinner, get a new sim card for my phone, nothing special.

At 5:00 a few friends were supposed to come over to my house to play. (Alright, I realize a 23 year old talking about playing with friends is strange. However, I've gotten used to saying it because it's used so commonly in Chinese.) They were late. Really late. But with a legit excuse, they were at the hospital because a friend broke a tooth... or something.

Then they finally call me and for me to come meet them at the gate. So I go meet them. We walk back to my apartment and I realize that I locked myself out! I usually carry two keys. One on my key chain and one in my wallet because I never leave the house with one or the other. Well, almost never.

So I pay 150 RMB for some guy to come open the door. I'm totally embarrassed because this is the first time for me to meet two of these people. They are my friend's friends. But we all have a good laugh.

I make some pasta, the girls make some fruit salad and after our delicious meal we play card games for a while. Over all it was good fun.
They went home at 9:00 and I went to Prince Coffee to meet some friends that came from Penglai for the weekend. They didn't have a place to stay so they were going to go to an internet cafe and stay there all night. Instead I got them to come crash at my place.

Look at me being all hospitable!

And that was the end of Saturday.

Sunday rolls around and I finally get to sleep in. Wake up at 11:00. You know, I love being able to sleep in on Sunday and not miss church. Best of both worlds.

It was my week to teach, on top of leading worship, and I've been going through James. This week we went over 2:14-19. All about faith and deeds being inseparable. It stuck me how practical our faith is. Following Jesus is a very hands-on experience. Some people would like to limit it to completely invisible, spiritual, things. But when it comes down to it, who's more spiritual: the guy who gives food and clothes to someone in need, or the guy who prays that God would give food and clothes to that person?

So what? We should pray less and do more! Not really, but you know what I mean. If someone is going through a tough time don't just pray for them, do something about it!

It's such a good thing to be able to hang out with other believers. There's such a different attitude towards everything. Night and day. I love it.

Today I went to the Chinese church at 8 instead of 10. I decided to go to the service in Chinese. Which was intense. I've been studying a lot harder recently, but I still didn't understand about 95% of what was going on. Everyone was lovely though.

(It's also good to be the only foreigner there. I don't know why I'm the only one. I know of many people who come here for religious purposes, but then they all end up hanging out with each other! Missionaries crack me up. They act like they have this great thing going on, but they all end up talking to each other. It's like they expect Chinese people to learn English so they can talk to them. It's a completely flawed way of thinking. They create this little bubble that resembles what they left behind. I got out of the stinking bubble for a reason! Get out of the bubble, people!

It really shocked me when they told me I was the first foreigner to ever visit their church. I don't know how that's possible with all the people I hear about that come here for exactly that reason! Are they too scared? To set on what they thought would happen? Have they just gotten lazy? I can't figure it out. Any ideas?)

After the Chinese service we went to a house the church owns near by. One of the staff lives there to keep it clean. But it's mostly used for prayer meetings and the like. I think it actually might be where they first started meeting (the church has gone from 10-20 to 100-150 in the last year, if I remember correctly) We moved our English study over there today.

The study went a little long, then we made a big lunch for everyone. It was so much fun. I need to take my camera again sometime.

I left there around 2:30 because I had to take the bus back to my house and get ready for the Korean church.

That was fun. I was actually late because one of the Korean highschoolers made me go out and grab a couple drinks for her mom. Then one of my friends came late so I had to leave the service again to meet her. I felt a little bad, but no one cared.

This Friday we're having an afterglow at 9:30 to whenever. That should be a lot of fun. I'm expecting great things.

This Sunday I'm doing everything. Worship, offering, scripture reading, teaching, announcements and welcoming, etc. A little in over my head, but i know to expect great things from G-d as He has blessed me with opportunities like this.

Why does serving G-d rock so much?

It's not often that I can thank G-d for what He's doing inside me right now. Maybe I'm alone in this. I can't really say what He is doing right now. Maybe I will think He is doing one thing but then a few weeks later I look back and realize I was way off base.

I especially feel like that recently. I couldn't put my finger on it until today when I was thinking about it at work. It seems like He does things so backwards sometimes. So much so that I have to look back to see what is going on.

Maybe I can't see Him right now, but I can see what He's done and know He's continuing on. In what way? I don't know, but I know it's good because he is pretty much epitome of good.

Here's a song I wrote a couple days ago. I knew I had to record it right away otherwise I wouldn't be inspired enough to do it later. It's called Yesterday. It needs a little work, but it's the first song I've written recently that I'm happy with.

I made a myspace music page in the hopes that it will keep me recording. You can listen to it here.

Life is so unreal sometimes. I feel like I'm in some incredible dream. Without that annoying alarm to mess it all up. Just when I think things have gotten as good as they can get — which happens quite often — they just get better.

I'll be perfectly honest and say that I don't write - publicly - about 80% of what happens out here. No matter how much I explained it and how much I wrote about it there is no doubt in my mind that it would be misinterpreted. You can take the little controversial bits of what I write and multiply it by ten and that might come close to what you don't get to read.

But what I will tell you is something pretty awesome. On Easter Sunday I was given the chance to lead worship and teach in the Korean church I go to. There is a Korean teacher I work with that plays piano very well, she actually plays there every week. I was surprised by how good she is! I've only played with maybe two or three people who can really pick things up and sound good. She's the third. As for teaching, apparently the pastor liked it because he asked if he could put me on a regular rotation with a couple other pastors.

Work is a bit crazy. Don't get me wrong I love my students, but sometimes they cross a line. This week I've cracked down a bit. They don't like it. Then there is the administration — which is completely ridiculous. They told all of us today that we need to turn in a class schedule for the entire year by the end of the week! That gives me three days to create five different lesson plans for the whole year. On top of my regular lesson planning, teaching, and wild partying.

So there's 20% of my life over the last week. Take it for what it's worth.

Go read about Tibet on CNN.

Then pray.

Take a look.

I think people enjoy looking over their shoulder. It's human nature to assume somebody is out to get you. When I walk home at night I do tend to glance back more often than not.

Fear is natural. The only problem is that we're not given a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7).

When I was coming out here I had people tell me to be very careful. They had been in China many times, just teaching English. Because they were like-minded they thought they were in some sort of danger. This is partly because Christianity in the west tends to exaggerate what happens in the East. Who knows, maybe they were being watched sometimes.

I doubt it.

I've not once ever felt anything of the sort. I was actually shocked at the contrast of what I heard before coming out compared to what I saw after living out here.

Religious freedom is written into China's constitution. Of course, the interpretation of this varies from place to place. Going strictly by what is written in the constitution I'm doing nothing different than people who come to live and participate in Buddhist monasteries or anything else.

Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens within the Territory of the People's Republic of China

Church and State in China

The second article points out the difference between the government churches and house churches. I actually agree more with the churches that submit to the government (Romans 13). Think about it, would any of you church leaders say that it's alright for a church to administer illegal drugs for spiritual enlightenment because of the separation of church and state? Is this really any different? The separation of church and state doesn't mean the church is exempt from the states laws. Anyway, I digress.

Since I'm not in violation of a single Chinese law, I have nothing to worry about.

So for you folks who think I'm being foolish in posting about how G-d is working out here, go read Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2:13-3:17, but you should read the whole letter from Peter anyway. It's good for you.

(I'm continuing to write "G-d" in the tradition of Jews not writing His name. Heck, I could be Jewish!)

I am reminded how good it is to have Sunday off every time it rolls around. I'm still able to have my lay in on Sunday morning. Which is very good. I have time to make some breakfast, drink some coffee, and read a bit before I head out.

The English(ish) service at the Chinese place starts at ten, officially. In reality it doesn't start until 10:30 or so. Today it didn't start until 11. I showed up at 10:15 and the Chinese service was still going. He was working in a really great way this morning. I don't know if they do this every week but because the service went long I was able to take communion. I've decided I'm going to start attending the Chinese service so I can start learning some of the songs and Chinese vocabulary. I learned baptize this morning because the girl I sat next to in the back wanted to make sure I had been baptized before I took communion. She had to describe it to me in Chinese and I was so excited that I understood!

By the way, Chinese hymns are beautiful!

The church is full of mostly older people. There is a young adults meeting on Thursday night that I might go to sometime. Actually this Thursday I'm going there at 8:00 to help them learn an English song. I think they want to learn As The Deer. I really want to teach them something more hip though. The building they are in now is new so next Sunday is like the dedication of it or something. Anyway, the English group wants to sing an English song for it. As the only foreigner attending I already get blessed with the chance to help out with things like that.

After the English service I usually go out to lunch with some friends. Then, as you all know, I go to another service at a Korean place. Even though I had my camera I didn't take any photos. Sorry.

Please keep both these places in your thoughts. That more people would come to know the Truth, and that we would be able to effectively share it is my dream. But first I need to speak the stinkin' language! So keep that in your thoughts too!

I love both places. The youth are good fun at the Korean place. I feel like a kid with them again. Always causing trouble. But the heart at the Chinese place, it's just instant family. Like no place I've been.

I really like G-d.

Perseverance. I tend to have a lot of it. If I start something I generally see it through. In the case with finding a fellowship out here it has payed off big time. I'm really amazed with the ministry that He has blessed me with now. It's nothing different than the kind of things I did at CCBC but it's so much more meaningful. At CCBC if you didn't do something there were ten people to take your place. Don't get me wrong, I loved it — most of it — but it was a joke.

This is real. Why G-d chose me to come out here, I don't know. But I'm loving it.

True humility is the ability to learn something from anyone.
I came across one of my old entries recently. It was posted on a Sunday night in 2005 before I went to CCBC. In it I talked about Ned. It's likely that none of you know Ned, even if you did go to my church back then. His name wasn't really Ned. When I introduced myself to him I asked for his name and he said, "You can give me a nickname." So I named him Ned. New Mexico Ned.

He came to the church for about a month. He was even going to small Bible studies. Not very many people talked to him though. Many people were uncomfortable around him. He didn't mean to make people uncomfortable but there was nothing he could do about it. It's just how he was. He would come to church early and stay late, lending a hand wherever he could. Even though he did all that he was often unappreciated.

You see, Ned was homeless. He was dirty, smelly, tall, unshaven, and he came with a huge duffel bag containing everything he owned. He was everything that many people don't like to look at on a beautiful Sunday morning. The few that talked to him might have seen something different. At least I saw something different. I saw a man who was gentle, faithful, kind, and real.

What is really amazing about Ned is that I only knew him for a month and I remember every conversation we had. I learned more from him than I have from most pastors and teachers I've known. When I think about everything I learned from Ned, I think about all the people that went to the same church and missed the opportunity to talk to him.

In Matthew 3 this beast of a man is busy dunking people in a dirty river when the religious leaders come to see what is going on. He rails on them saying,

"Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

They could have learned something from him, but they were far too proud. I would like to think if I had someone so gnarly looking rebuke me with words like that I might learn something. However, the reality is probably shockingly similar to how much these religious leaders learned.

It's hard to learn from people so different from yourself. This is where it comes into play for me. Toss a business man in front of me and it's likely that I'll have no interest in what he has to say. Put Ned in front of me and I'm all ears. Set up a meeting with any number of mega-pastors and I won't show. Take me out to lunch with a strung out alky just looking for his next hit and I'll be there. But that's not good.

I'm exactly like everyone who looked at Ned and crossed the road to get by him. I just do it with a different type of people. I'm pretty good at listening to people that nobody else wants to hear from but I need to be able to learn from anyone — pastors and teacher, suits and ties, yuppies and their rich kids.

So I find this thought running through my head when I'm interacting with people recently. What is it that God wants to teach me at this moment, through this person?

Because true humility is the ability to learn something from anyone.

Remember when I mentioned the dude handing me a tract? Well I went to that place this morning. The tract said they had an English service at 10:30 so I figured I would give it a go. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it's exactly what I want.

First off, it was a pretty big place, really nice sanctuary and all, big pulpit, nice sound system, the works. That was my first surprise. Then I asked somebody if they had an English service and they said it was up in the front of the sanctuary. As I headed up there I noticed the place was full of old ladies staring at me. I wish I could talk to them better!

At the front there were about 15 or 20 people sitting around talking in Chinese! Not a single foreigner was there! Exactly what I want... but was it really an English service? Then the guy who gave me the tract jumped up introduced me to everyone. It's not quite a full English study, it's kind of half English, half Chinese. I would say about 35-40% of the people sitting there didn't speak any English.

They go through a chapter a week. Everyone is responsible for studying it through the week and preparing something to share. This week was Matthew 12. After they had me introduce myself the leader says, "So Mark, why don't you start us out this week. What do you think about Matthew 12?" Be ready in season and out, right?

(Pastor Tom, if you're reading this I highly recommend you make students do more spot preaching. haha)

I asked G-d for some help and figured I'd go for it. I read the first 8 verses of chapter 12 and taught it through. I don't think it was anything fantastic, but His Word is incredible on it's own anyway. What's really funny is that I had a feeling when I woke up this morning that I would be teaching. G-d was totally preparing me.

Then some other people shared some things they had prepared. Some in Chinese, some in English. We had some time for questions and discussion, then finished up. Then they gave food to everyone still there, which was a lot of people. Loads of old people just hung out while we talked. After that they had a time for everyone to share how their spring festival was. How they were able to serve their family and whatnot. It was such a blessing. It's really great to meet like-minded Chinese people. I'll be going there every week.

As for the Korean place I've been going. I'm finally starting to settle in. Getting to know everyone at once is hard. I can't even remember all their names! But next week I'll be leading worship, and a few weeks after that I'll be teaching. It's really fun to be back with like-minded people.

I need to hit the books hard, I want to be able to teach the Word in Chinese!

Travel back in time with me to February 18th. Mark has just picked up a box of delicious treats that some friends in America sent him. He is taking a bicycle-type rickshaw contraption back from his old school where the box was delivered. While sitting in the rickshaw something happened that he was unaware of. His cell phone slowly slipped out of his left pocket. He should have known better as these particular pants have pockets that like to empty themselves while he is sat down. The rickshaw arrived at his apartment and he hopped out excited to open up the box and indulge in some American delicacies.

He did not notice that he had lost his mobile until halfway through cooking dinner when he remembered his friend was supposed to call him. Having cleaned up his house the previous day it did not take him long to realize his mobile was gone. He couldn't help but laugh at his foolishness. This would be the second phone he lost in the last five weeks. He enjoyed his dinner and went to bed only slightly annoyed at himself knowing it would be easy enough to get a new mobile in the morning.

Things wouldn't be as easy as Mark thought. G-d had a certain appointment that He needed Mark to be at. Mark, of course, knew nothing of this appointment.

Mark woke up a in decent mood. He made some eggs and coffee for breakfast, read a bit, and then decided to go pick up a new phone. First, he would talk to the driver of the rickshaw to see if he had it. Mark walked out of his apartment and down to where the rickshaw drivers were gathered around a chess board.

Mark found the driver of the rickshaw he used the day before and said, “昨天我的手机丢拉。” (Yesterday I lost my mobile.)

He looked up from the chess game, "真的吗？" (Really)

Mark hoped that he would have found it and given it back, "真的。你有没有我的手机。" (Really. Do you have it?)

"没有。" (Nope.)

Mark didn't really expect him to have it, or give it back even if he did have. So he headed down to the big China Mobile store where he could buy a replacement SIM card.

He explained that he had lost his cell phone and just needed to buy a replacement SIM card. After giving the women behind the counter his passport and phone number she looked at the computer screen, looked down at the passport, looked a bit confused, looked back at the computer, and down again at the passport a few more times before calling the manager over for some help. The manager spoke English.

He said, "Is this your passport?"

"Umm, yes. Why?"

"The number on your passport and the number on the account don't match. We can't give you a replacement card."

Now Mark was also a bit confused, "Wait a minute. This is the second time I've lost my phone. I came here and got a replacement card once before. Why didn't I have this problem then?"

"I don't know."

"Well, I got a replacement once before. Just do it again."

"Wait a moment, please."

The manager called over a higher manager and spoke in Chinese for several minutes. Mark didn't understand most of it, but he understood that they were not going to help him. The manager came back and apologized.

"I'm sorry, we can't give you a card with this number."

Mark moved a bit closer and lowered his voice, "Tell you what. I'll give you a hundred yuan to just give me a card with that number. I know it's possible because I have done it before. I think the girl before didn't speak any english so she just gave me one. I know it's possible. Just do it. A hundred yuan, I need this number."

"Sir, I'm really sorry but I can't. We can give you a new number for a hundred yuan."

Mark sat back frustrated, "So there's nothing I can do. Right?"

Nodding his head in agreement he said, "Right."

"Alright, I'll buy a new card. I had better get a discount, this problem isn't my fault."

He got out the contract and papers to sign. "We can give it to you for a hundred yuan, usually it's two hundred. And all of the money will be put into your account."

After Mark had signed all the papers and whatnot he was given a big bag with the most random selection of gifts a cell phone store would hand out. It included, soap, a tooth brush, shampoo, laundry soap, and toothpaste. He had to laugh because he was only buying a phone, not planning a vacation.

He still didn't have a phone though. Stopping by every phone shop on the way to his old school he finally found a decent cheap phone for three hundred yuan. After buying that he met his friend, Craig, at his old school so he could take a bunch of numbers off of Craig's phone. Mark was still ticked off that he couldn't have his old number. He wondered what would happen if his new employer tried to call him. Resigning not to worry about it too much, Mark began walking home.

Fifteen minutes into his twenty five minute walk someone tried to hand him a flyer. The man with the flyers said "Hello!" in the standard Chinese-trying-to-get-the-foreigner-to-look-at-them-so-they-can-have-a-good-laugh way.

Mark was not interested. He avoided eye-contact and said, "看不懂。" (I can't read.)

But the man was persistent. Mark looked up to see a tract in his hand. He was completely shocked. He couldn't read it and the man's English was the same level as Mark's Chinese, but he found out that at this Chinese place of worship they had an English service. The man really wanted Mark to come. Saying, "Please come help." Mark didn't know what that meant, but he told the man he would be there. The time of this service did not conflict with the Korean service he was involved in. Mark spoke to the man a little longer trying to understand exactly where this place was. Eventually he decided he would just hop in a taxi on Sunday morning and point to the address on the tract.

So after 8 months of looking for a Chinese place of worship with no success, G-d only had to make Mark's mobile disappear on the 18th of February to guide him straight there.


There are so many things that we don't see. Often something annoying will happen to us, or something that just plain sucks, and we will completely miss the deeper meaning. You lose your cell phone so that you can meet some guy on the street that shows you what you have been looking for for eight months. You get a flat tire that keeps you out of the huge pile up that happens only 30 seconds later. You fail a final exam making you re-take the class so you can meet the person G-d wants you to marry. You get terminally ill so you can go to the hospital and witness to another dying patient. You lose your job just so you can share Love with a broken single mother in line at the unemployment office. Your child is murdered so that you can forgive the murderer and be a huge part in him coming to believe in Love.

G-d sent His Son to earth to die, but that wasn't the end of the story.

I play a game with some of the 5 year olds I teach. I give them different commands (run, walk, jump, ride a bike, sleep, eat, etc) and than yell out freeze. The first one to move gets knocked out and the game continues. The winner gets a sticker. heh

Sometimes I have to say freeze over and over before they stop. Not because they don't understand, but they just don't want to be still. They want a different command.

I'm so much like that. I can be still, but I don't want to. I can imagine God's frustration with us when we are running, eating, working, and generally living life while He is saying over and over, "be still!"

So the other day I went to the beach to be still.

• I rediscovered how nice it is to have complete peace.
• I read and I prayed. And it was good.
• I learned that Simon & Garfunkle is fantastic photography music.
• And I found an excellent coffee shop.

Enough said.

His new album is a bit different than his previous style. Which is something I am very thankful for. I can only take a whiny lead guitar, a high voice with too much vibrato, and the same blocking and chord progressions in every song for so long.

Wickham still shakes his voice a bit much, but who would blame him? It's his signature.

Overall is a great new album which I would recommend to anyone who liked his old stuff, but want something a little different.

What's really strange about this album is that I couldn't find the torrent anywhere but on a Chinese site. Hey, I'm in China. It's a little hard for me to buy it. Even if I could buy it in a local CD shop it would be pirated anyway. I'm sure Phil doesn't mind.

Sure, we can do all things...
but in the end...
we need help.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble"
Philippians 4:13-14

One of my students got handed a tract on the bus on his way to school the other day. Some old lady gave it to him. Everything it said was true, but there were a couple strange things. Nothing major though.

HE will not let go of this student. I'm not kidding.

I also found out that he's reading through the book. I asked him where he was and he told me he is in the first section. And that G0d is helping the nation kill people. He also thought it is funny that the nation keeps doing wrong things, getting in trouble, coming back, etc. To hear his perspective is really interesting. Keep him in your thoughts.