my soul waits for the LORD,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
language
I think that out of all the things that separate a person from another... social classes, caste systems, location, skin color, profession, gender, race, and opinions, nothing really cuts the human soul from reaching another more than a difference in language.
Because language is ruthless. It doesn't compromise. It doesn't empathize. If you can't speak another person's language, you can't reach their soul. It's the hardest opponent and most difficult adversary of the gospel.
That said, let's learn some Chinese.
Because language is ruthless. It doesn't compromise. It doesn't empathize. If you can't speak another person's language, you can't reach their soul. It's the hardest opponent and most difficult adversary of the gospel.
That said, let's learn some Chinese.
Monday, April 15, 2013
oh is this a blog oh
I really wish I blogged more.
There will be lulls in my blogging routine where I will leave all journals and online forums alone. And when I consider all the things that have occurred in the last four or five months, I get a sour taste in my mouth, like I won't remember all the lessons I've learned, and all the heart and passion I put into them.
And not remembering the significant things, whether they were good or bad just doesn't help me.
Ahh well. It's always good to start somewhere.
Ahh well. It's always good to start somewhere.
Friday, March 22, 2013
the most significant memory
Italy (Bus back from Venice): 11:24 pm
the most significant memory of today is certainly and without a doubt was going to a quiet and rather secluded but still amazing cathedral with the guys.
When we walked in, we were met with the fantastic sight of a soaring cathedral filled with rich art and beautiful sculpture. Frescoes and mosaics adorned every square inch of the wall. It was a truly humbling experience. I moved to the front of the church and sat in the first pew. I prayed. It was incredible. But then I was joined by Jeremy and Sean and Kevin. After sitting there and reflecting for sometime, I felt God nudging me to ask them if I could pray for them. It was a hard battle, but eventually I gave into the call. I prayed for them... but the reaction was very different from what I had though.
They were moved and touched. Jeremy to the point of tears. I was amazed. The fact that God can move hearts that I thought were immovable is... I don't even know how to describe it. But I thank and praise God for giving me the opportunity to minister to these guys.
The funy thing is, I was looking forward to China/Taiwan more than this trip because I thought it would be more meaningful. But God busted that train of thought. He told me that I can turn even this trip into a mission. I can be a missionary everywhere, not just at places that I go to with that specific goal.
I'm going to stop writing so I can sleep and not die tomorrow xD
the most significant memory of today is certainly and without a doubt was going to a quiet and rather secluded but still amazing cathedral with the guys.
When we walked in, we were met with the fantastic sight of a soaring cathedral filled with rich art and beautiful sculpture. Frescoes and mosaics adorned every square inch of the wall. It was a truly humbling experience. I moved to the front of the church and sat in the first pew. I prayed. It was incredible. But then I was joined by Jeremy and Sean and Kevin. After sitting there and reflecting for sometime, I felt God nudging me to ask them if I could pray for them. It was a hard battle, but eventually I gave into the call. I prayed for them... but the reaction was very different from what I had though.
They were moved and touched. Jeremy to the point of tears. I was amazed. The fact that God can move hearts that I thought were immovable is... I don't even know how to describe it. But I thank and praise God for giving me the opportunity to minister to these guys.
The funy thing is, I was looking forward to China/Taiwan more than this trip because I thought it would be more meaningful. But God busted that train of thought. He told me that I can turn even this trip into a mission. I can be a missionary everywhere, not just at places that I go to with that specific goal.
I'm going to stop writing so I can sleep and not die tomorrow xD
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
padova.
march 20, 2013
Time in NJ: 5:30 pm
Italy (Padova): 10:30 pm
We checked into the Hotel Sheraton Padova at around 5:30 pm, here in Italy. We had arrived in Rome, hopped on a bus, and traveled six hours to Padova where we will stay until Saturday. Note to self for future travel plans: exchange money at home, NOT at the airport. The kiosk for currency exchanged sucked the life out of the money I had brought. 200 dollars = 125 Euros. Rough.
The bus trip through the countryside toward Padova was peaceful and renewing. Although uncomfortable from hunger and fatigue, I enjoyed looking out the window and seeing all the buildings, landscapes, and agricultural structures found in magazines come to life. This stuff actually exists! And it is even more photogenic than the photos... well, I suppose that's a given.
After arriving at the hotel, we entered our room to find that it was a double! After an hour of loitering, we went to a pizza place in downtown Padova where the pizza is loads less greasy than American pies.
And now... I'm sitting on the hotel bed writing and quietly chatting with Alex Ge.
All this foreign travel business has not only psyched me out for this trip, but also for the Taiwan STM in July. I think that the reason why so many people want to travel is because God has instilled a spirit of adventure and mission for distant, unreached lands in their heart. It is a heart for the advancement of the gospel that they may know or have yet to come to know.
Time in NJ: 5:30 pm
Italy (Padova): 10:30 pm
We checked into the Hotel Sheraton Padova at around 5:30 pm, here in Italy. We had arrived in Rome, hopped on a bus, and traveled six hours to Padova where we will stay until Saturday. Note to self for future travel plans: exchange money at home, NOT at the airport. The kiosk for currency exchanged sucked the life out of the money I had brought. 200 dollars = 125 Euros. Rough.
The bus trip through the countryside toward Padova was peaceful and renewing. Although uncomfortable from hunger and fatigue, I enjoyed looking out the window and seeing all the buildings, landscapes, and agricultural structures found in magazines come to life. This stuff actually exists! And it is even more photogenic than the photos... well, I suppose that's a given.
After arriving at the hotel, we entered our room to find that it was a double! After an hour of loitering, we went to a pizza place in downtown Padova where the pizza is loads less greasy than American pies.
And now... I'm sitting on the hotel bed writing and quietly chatting with Alex Ge.
All this foreign travel business has not only psyched me out for this trip, but also for the Taiwan STM in July. I think that the reason why so many people want to travel is because God has instilled a spirit of adventure and mission for distant, unreached lands in their heart. It is a heart for the advancement of the gospel that they may know or have yet to come to know.
en route to rome
march 20, 2013.
Time in NJ: 12:46 am
En route to Rome: 5:46 am
Almost six hours into the flight.
I haven't fallen asleep at all since the flight began. I've tried, but I really haven't gotten much success. I think that it's just my mind being too incredibly excited about travel to just relax. It's a lot of things at once... Italy, Rome, Music, etc. I'm wide awake.
And I suppose for good reason too. As I write this, the passengers I'm sitting next to are all afst asleep, but I'm writing with a solitary light above me. I've got the GPS and flight details pulled up on my screen, and if I'm honest, I really could read these things for hours.
I am truly fascinated by this machine. In the few rather long hours since we left Philadelphia airport, we've traveled close to 3500 miles, at a speed of approximately Mach 0.8, or 550 miles per hour. On my plane to Beijing, we were going about 662 miles per hour. The light from the sun moves around Earth at 600.
Amazing.
The concept of the plane itself is only almost a century old. With extremely humble beginnings as a modest contraption only capable of brief flings in the backyard of the Wright brothers, it has come a very long way.
How blessed is man that God grants the wisdom to create such masterpieces?
Which has also got me thinking about how blessed I am to be going on this trip. As the man sitting next to me spoke earlier, "A third of people in the world involved in music will be able to go to these locations. Even fewer of them will have the chance to visit the historic musical monuments that we will be visiting. And even fewer will have the opportunity to perform there."
Approaching Europe's costs soon. It's 3:40 am in the timezone we are currently in. We'll land in Rome at around 8 am there. 2 hours left!
I'm not really sure what it is that I'm goign to take home for everyone. I have a pretty long list and not a lot of space. I've thought about taking rocks back... xD
Time in NJ: 12:46 am
En route to Rome: 5:46 am
Almost six hours into the flight.
I haven't fallen asleep at all since the flight began. I've tried, but I really haven't gotten much success. I think that it's just my mind being too incredibly excited about travel to just relax. It's a lot of things at once... Italy, Rome, Music, etc. I'm wide awake.
And I suppose for good reason too. As I write this, the passengers I'm sitting next to are all afst asleep, but I'm writing with a solitary light above me. I've got the GPS and flight details pulled up on my screen, and if I'm honest, I really could read these things for hours.
I am truly fascinated by this machine. In the few rather long hours since we left Philadelphia airport, we've traveled close to 3500 miles, at a speed of approximately Mach 0.8, or 550 miles per hour. On my plane to Beijing, we were going about 662 miles per hour. The light from the sun moves around Earth at 600.
Amazing.
The concept of the plane itself is only almost a century old. With extremely humble beginnings as a modest contraption only capable of brief flings in the backyard of the Wright brothers, it has come a very long way.
How blessed is man that God grants the wisdom to create such masterpieces?
Which has also got me thinking about how blessed I am to be going on this trip. As the man sitting next to me spoke earlier, "A third of people in the world involved in music will be able to go to these locations. Even fewer of them will have the chance to visit the historic musical monuments that we will be visiting. And even fewer will have the opportunity to perform there."
Approaching Europe's costs soon. It's 3:40 am in the timezone we are currently in. We'll land in Rome at around 8 am there. 2 hours left!
I'm not really sure what it is that I'm goign to take home for everyone. I have a pretty long list and not a lot of space. I've thought about taking rocks back... xD
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