I have now been in Taiwan for over six months. When I came to Taiwan, my primary goals were to learn Chinese, learn about the people and culture of Taiwan, and serve the body of Christ whilst working at some job. Undoubtedly, I have made meaningful progress in all these areas.
The learning of Chinese is not something to be taken for granted. Many students give up along the way in their pursuit of this most difficult language. To further diminish my likelihood of success, I am working while studying. Most other teachers I know cannot muster the time and energy to make any progress in studying Chinese. In my current Chinese class, all the other students study full time except for one worker who barely has time to study. In the face of such odds, God has shown me immeasurable grace and blessing. For I have a unique combination of jobs that enables me to earn enough money and still devote ample time and energy to studying. In fact, I am probably the best speaker in my present class. The other day, my girlfriend even commented that my pronunciation has become much more accurate. Truly, I have seen how God's plans surpass human expectations. Let us not forget the promise to all who follow Jesus that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28).
I am still working a couple days a week at Taipei American School as a substitute teacher. I have also begun to teach English at a private girls' high school. This has provided me a great opportunity to interact with a small group of 16-year-olds. Last Saturday, we even took a field trip to the riverside at Danshui. They were to be my English-language tour guide, introducing me to notable foods and places. A couple weeks ago we studied "The Gift of the Magi" and I talked with them about the birth of Jesus. Next week, I plan to study a Christmas song about Jesus with them. So praise God that I can do such work, and even get paid for it.
My time spent at church and with various small groups has helped me persevere amidst difficulties and hasten the coming the God's kingdom, even to Taipei. At my English-language church, the services, fellowship, and Bible study with a group of Indonesian guys has greatly encouraged me. At the English Bible study of my Chinese church, I have been focusing on basic teachings of Christianity, more specifically how does God save us and what does it mean to be a Christian. Many have misconceptions like good works save you or that baptism is equivalent to salvation. At this church, I have had the opportunity to develop a good friendship with one young man and his wife who are interning at the church. Just last week, in a surprising cultural role reversal, I helped him to see the wisdom of submitting to elders in the church in accordance with 1 Peter 5. I hope this gives you a sense of my life here and ways that you can pray for me and for the people in Taiwan.
Specifically, pray for:
*more people in Taiwan to realize the good news of Jesus Christ in their lives.
*greater growth and community in the ESL Bible study I am leading.
*the Holy Spirit to work in my high school girls' English class.
*wisdom for me to see God's direction for the coming months and year.
*continued diligence and progress in my study of Chinese.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
In Christmas, Jesus is the Mountain Top
What is so special about Christmas? What makes the birth of Jesus so significant? What is so earth-shattering about a baby born to an insignificant family who spends his first days in an animal feeding box, a manger?
The life of this baby born in Bethlehem is the mountain top, the continental divide of history. All prior history prepares for his arrival, and all subsequent history is judged on the basis of its response to Jesus. At the fall of Adam, God promises the restoration of humanity that Jesus will achieve. The many sacrifices in the temple showed Israel the need for a greater, ultimate sacrifice, that is Jesus sinless body. David's short-lived rule as king made the people long for a time when God would rule the people forever. Jesus is the one to bring this eternal kingdom. Even the feeble nature of Israel's restoration from Babylonian exile demonstrated that Israel still needed ultimate restoration.
The prophets in the Old Testament longed for Jesus coming. Peter says "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow" (1 Peter 1:10-10). Men like Moses, David, Isaiah, and Micah spoke of Jesus with expectation. They were awaiting God's salvation and the arrival of Messiah with great eagerness.
At Christmas, Jesus put on flesh, God came into history. Then he lived a pure and sinless life, died for our sins, and rose from the dead. Jesus was not merely one of many enlightened masters of the Dao, or one of many gods. For through him the world was created, and Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way. The only way to eternal life has Jesus at the center. At the end of history, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord on the basis of what began with a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem.
Jesus is the mountain top, the continental divide of history. He is the center point of history. Will you recognize this and make him the center of your life as well? Or will you close your eyes to the truth and miss the wonder of God's love? The great wonder of Christmas is this: the central figure of history can become our master and best friend.
The life of this baby born in Bethlehem is the mountain top, the continental divide of history. All prior history prepares for his arrival, and all subsequent history is judged on the basis of its response to Jesus. At the fall of Adam, God promises the restoration of humanity that Jesus will achieve. The many sacrifices in the temple showed Israel the need for a greater, ultimate sacrifice, that is Jesus sinless body. David's short-lived rule as king made the people long for a time when God would rule the people forever. Jesus is the one to bring this eternal kingdom. Even the feeble nature of Israel's restoration from Babylonian exile demonstrated that Israel still needed ultimate restoration.
The prophets in the Old Testament longed for Jesus coming. Peter says "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow" (1 Peter 1:10-10). Men like Moses, David, Isaiah, and Micah spoke of Jesus with expectation. They were awaiting God's salvation and the arrival of Messiah with great eagerness.
At Christmas, Jesus put on flesh, God came into history. Then he lived a pure and sinless life, died for our sins, and rose from the dead. Jesus was not merely one of many enlightened masters of the Dao, or one of many gods. For through him the world was created, and Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way. The only way to eternal life has Jesus at the center. At the end of history, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord on the basis of what began with a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem.
Jesus is the mountain top, the continental divide of history. He is the center point of history. Will you recognize this and make him the center of your life as well? Or will you close your eyes to the truth and miss the wonder of God's love? The great wonder of Christmas is this: the central figure of history can become our master and best friend.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Don't put your trust in money, but put your trust in God.
"Our human nature being what it is, however, very often we find the fact of Jesus Christ is not enough to help us maintain an attitude of thanksgiving." (Terry Muck)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....33 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6)
God does not condemn the possession of material things. Nevertheless, God preserves some special blessings for the poor. We are not all commanded to be like Francis of Assisi who gave up literally everything, eschewing even the possession of a single book. In his first rule he says "The Friars are to appropriate nothing for themselves, neither a house, nor a place, nor anything else...they beg alms trustingly." But Jesus did command the rich young ruler to give up all his possessions and follow him. For some, material comfort becomes more important than following Jesus and living as a servant of God. So God may call you to give up this comfort. Or maybe you need to reorient your values and lifestyle so that your thoughts and actions prioritize reliance upon the Creator God and love for neighbor instead of selfishness and reliance upon wealth and created things.
Allow me to make this more concrete with some illustrations from the last couple of weeks. I sensed God was leading me to enroll in another Chinese course, not knowing at the time how I would pay for it. Thenceforth, I made plans to take this course and asked God to provide. I could not rely on my accumulated wealth; rather, I could only rely on God. A few days before the registration deadline, I received an unexpected deposit into my bank account. It turns out a girls school where I teach paid me three months of my salary after only one month of work. Thus, I received a great blessing and grew in my relationship with God because of my comparative poverty.
Now living as I have been is not always easy. Especially when the world, the old man within us, and even the church, base our worth on economic viability. Sure, people will treat me well enough in my current situation. Yet, if God called you to step out in faith, would you be willingly to give up your comfortable life? What if God called you to a new city, a new job, or a new way to serve God, would you be willing to trust God to handle the tomorrows that inevitably come? Now I am not counseling recklessness; rather, be open to the Spirit of God within your life so that if and when God calls you to something difficult, you do not favor your meager plans over God's magnificent designs.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....33 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6)
God does not condemn the possession of material things. Nevertheless, God preserves some special blessings for the poor. We are not all commanded to be like Francis of Assisi who gave up literally everything, eschewing even the possession of a single book. In his first rule he says "The Friars are to appropriate nothing for themselves, neither a house, nor a place, nor anything else...they beg alms trustingly." But Jesus did command the rich young ruler to give up all his possessions and follow him. For some, material comfort becomes more important than following Jesus and living as a servant of God. So God may call you to give up this comfort. Or maybe you need to reorient your values and lifestyle so that your thoughts and actions prioritize reliance upon the Creator God and love for neighbor instead of selfishness and reliance upon wealth and created things.
Allow me to make this more concrete with some illustrations from the last couple of weeks. I sensed God was leading me to enroll in another Chinese course, not knowing at the time how I would pay for it. Thenceforth, I made plans to take this course and asked God to provide. I could not rely on my accumulated wealth; rather, I could only rely on God. A few days before the registration deadline, I received an unexpected deposit into my bank account. It turns out a girls school where I teach paid me three months of my salary after only one month of work. Thus, I received a great blessing and grew in my relationship with God because of my comparative poverty.
Now living as I have been is not always easy. Especially when the world, the old man within us, and even the church, base our worth on economic viability. Sure, people will treat me well enough in my current situation. Yet, if God called you to step out in faith, would you be willingly to give up your comfortable life? What if God called you to a new city, a new job, or a new way to serve God, would you be willing to trust God to handle the tomorrows that inevitably come? Now I am not counseling recklessness; rather, be open to the Spirit of God within your life so that if and when God calls you to something difficult, you do not favor your meager plans over God's magnificent designs.
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