Fireworks

Exploring the mountains

A little while ago, we went up the mountains to go white water rafting. Unfortunately the rafting was closed so we went exploring instead

This is a failed attempt to video my ride to work in the morning.
You can also download the movie HERE

Why is it, I often hear the words “Jesus, you laid down your life for me, so I will lay down my life for you” or something along those lines more times than Wong appears in my local phonebook. Yet I rarely ever hear the words. “Jesus, you laid down your life for me, so I will lay down my life for my brothers and sisters”. True it probably isn’t quite as poetic. But sadly I think it is a symptom of a much deeper problem. Selfishness. The more I think about it, the more I can’t believe I haven’t thought about it. Don’t think about that too much… back on track now… From a natural perspective, most of the problems in the world are caused by selfishness, yet we do little if anything to alleviate it. I mean it’s not often you see gatherings like “make selfishness history”. I guess it’s because everyone who attends is probably a hypocrite… but imagine a world without selfishness, where people actually cared about others more than themselves. I personally can’t imagine it, it just seems to “inhuman”. People working together to help people in need. wait, there probably wouldn’t be anyone in need (at least not until someone else found out). Imagine no fighting, no war, no stealing, no cheating, no greed, no need. People actually considering one another’s needs more important than they’re own…
As good as that may seem, the selfishness in us repels the idea. And yet we listen!! Why do we serve it? I am honestly at a loss of understanding, but I can understand why God nearly destroyed the earth in Anger. Why do we follow that which destroys us? That which causes so much pain? (And to top it off, we then go and blame God for all the pain and suffering we see.)

I honestly don’t know why, but it certainly highlights the love of God! Why would He give his life to save something as useless as us. Something that causes itself so much pain. Something that tortured the one who came to save it! God did not just love that which was perfect and lovable from a distance. He got his hands dirty and loved a broken people that were not only incapable of returning love, but that despised him. Now that is Real love.
If you and I have that REAL love living in us, what would it look like?
Probably something like John 13:35. Ok enough writing. I’m going to pray for more love…

Looking at this verse, I was surprised to see that the overwhelming majority of translations still use the words “poor in spirit”.
Obviously “poor in spirit” on it’s own could be a very subjective phrase, but in light of the surrounding verses and descriptions, doesn’t it’s meaning become clear and obvious?

Mourners, meek, humble, hungry for righteousness, pure in heart, merciful, peaceable, persecuted for righteousness.

Where there is pride, self rule, selfish ambition, stubbornness, conceit and every other evil trait that appears with a strong and haughty spirit. Is that where the kingdom of God reigns? James 4 Clearly tells us God resists the proud. Here Jesus tells that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those of poor spirit.

Personally I think to be poor in spirit is a place where you come to the end of yourself, when you see the depravity of your own heart, and not with a false humility that is cloaked over pride, but a true understanding of your own insignificance. An understanding that, by your own nature, you are an object of God’s wrath. An understanding that you are incapable of balancing your debts, that you are without hope in the world.

As sad or offensive as this may seem, this is a blessed place to arrive at. It is in this place, you understand that His love or forgiveness could never be earned through works. It is in this place that you are set free from striving, you are unbound from your own temperament. It is at this place that you can truly meet the love of God. Even despite a darkened understanding, you can somewhat comprehend the insanity of His transaction. God’s only begotten Son, battered, beaten and broken, in order to save an object of His wrath. It is here that your are able and ready to receive the love of God with the upmost appreciation and gladness of heart. It is at this place that kingdom of Heaven reigns in you.

We went to church in the afternoon at SCF and then on to the Airport to pick up Chloe (Lauren’s sister). She’ll be staying in China with Ned and Loz for the next few months.Being in China, one type of food I really miss is Hungary Jacks. There are plenty of McDonald’s, KFC’s, Pizza Huts (the pizza isn’t as good though) and other korean fast food chains. But none seem to quench the occasional hunger for a good double whopper with cheese. Fortunately though, we have great friends like Chloe and Grant (I’ll tell you about Grant in another post)  who have come to visit us here in China.

This gives us the opportunity to pick them up from the international airport in shanghai AND capitalize on the Burger King store at the airport. Which is probably the closest I’ll get to a Hungary Jacks store for a while.

China recently had they’re new moon festival. You can have a look at the photos in the photo albumBasically it’s where there is a full moon, everyone has a holiday and goes to visit they’re family and eats “moon cakes”. There was a special ceremony for the foreign expats, where we got to tour a moon cake factory, try and recite some traditional chinese poems (in a competition) about the moon and have dinner at a 5 star hotel… for free!

It was basically a publicity stunt for the moon cake factory – they took photos of us and advertised how foreigners like their moon cakes, so they must be the best etc…. though we weren’t complaining since we got a free feed and a good one at that.

My Chinese class arranged poems for us, and somehow I got roped into reading one. I think it sounded like complete gibberish, but I didn’t come last so I’m not complaining.