What IOS are you running?

OK, so I'm not really an Apple guy.  (this is the point where 37% of you stop reading)  But, I do have an iPad that I use quite a bit (not as much as my 7 year old uses it, but that's another post).  Like the rest of the country, nay, world, I am currently waiting for the new operating system to download and re-arrange everything on my device that I just now figured out how to use . . .

It's really got me thinking, there's an incredible spiritual dynamic between what's happening to my iPad and what should be happening in my life.  You see, the operating system isn't really an app, or a program, but it's the complex arrangement of all the codes that make all the apps and programs actually function.  It determines how everything else works.  That should accurately describe our faith.  Our faith shouldn't just be something we activate on Sundays or around certain people . . . something we turn on or off.  Our relationship with God should determine everything about our lives: -What kind of student, parent, spouse we are . . . - How we speak to our children, teachers, strangers . . . - Why we spend our money the way we do . . .

2 Corinthians 5:17 says ". . . anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"  

Another thing about an operating system -  it isn't really visible most of the time.  Some folks think that they need to be this loud, in your face type of Christian who is constantly blowing up everyone who has a different viewpoint.  The greatest testimony to a good operating system is that everything just works . . .   So, how's that going?  Is your family life demonstrating the Gospel?  Do the people around you see a life that "works?"  I'm not talking about the fake masks we where pretending that everything is rosy, but the genuine life lived by God's principles that genuinely works.  That's what a watching world needs to see.

So, I'm challenged to spend some extra time in the Bible today "downloading" what my life needs to operate properly, and praying to the One who gives me strength to do what's right, for a life that works.

Last China Blog . . . Aug. 4 & 5

"Dinner in an Irish Pub in Beijing, China"

 

Interesting title for a post - I know.  Its the only place across the street from the hotel that is open at 10:30 pm.  I had been hoping to have a great bowl of cheap noodles, but that place is closed.

Had a full day today.  Visited the forbidden city this morning, rode in a rickshaw through an old Chinese neighborhood, more shopping, and a worship service tonight with all the people from all 3 camps.  Got to hear some great testimonies of Chinese students who came to the Lord through these camps over the last few years and are now fully engaged in spreading the Gospel throughout China. 

In the service was a missionary from N. China who brought a challenge about fishing for men and going where the fishing is good . . . Made the statement that fishing is better and so much more fun when you actually catch something.  That idea will be appearing in a sermon soon . . .

Back to the Irish pub in China. . . Sitting at a counter right at the window overlooking the street and a very cool lightening storm.  I am very excited to go home tomorrow.  I am certainly burdened for this huge country.  My mind is boggled by the enormity of the sheer # of people that don't know about Jesus yet, and unless things change, never will.  Our Chinese brothers and sisters are sharing, and they will be the ones to bring a great harvest to this country, but they need our prayers, help and resourcing. 

 

 

 

Aug. 5 "The Day with Two Sunrises"

I suppose I it's fitting since I started with "the day without a sunset" that we end with a day with two sunrises.  The sun rose this am on Aug 5 in Beijing, then again over Alaska, Aug. 5, on the way back.    I don't know if I'm just super tired, but that's kinda messing with my head at the moment!

 

 

When I got back to the States at the airport in Seattle, because of my own oversight in not checking my itinerary, I missed my flight to Denver.  When I've been counting down the hours until I saw my family again, I can't tell you how frustrating it was to be delayed some 6 hours! 

As I ran back and forth in the airport trying to find an airline with an open seat to Denver that night, I was confronted in my spirit with how incredibly angry and foul I was.  I hung up on one customer service person from India who was handling customer service for the Chinese airline that wasn't willing to work with me in getting a new ticket.  I was probably a very poor demonstration of the love and grace of Christ, and I realized how very desperately I need the Gospel in my life - Every day and every hour!

God worked it out for good in the end (like He always does).  Even if I had caught my flight like I was supposed to, I would have been in Denver at 6pm, but my bag didn't arrive until 12:30am!  So, my arrival at 12:15am worked out pretty well . . .

China Blog posts Aug. 1 & 3

Aug. 1
We all went by bus today first to the garden expo, then to the Beijing zoo.  The garden expo was really nice, a huge area that was once a landfill that they turned into a beautiful touristy garden place we could have easily spent all day there.  After lunch we went to the zoo to see the pandas.  Was a little disappointed as I thought there was a baby panda there, but not the case.  Had a good time, lots of walking.  

It was my first experience with a "squatty" port-a-potty!  I certainly won't forget that!

Absolutely beautiful weather today.  We had nice thunderstorms this morning at the expo.  The tour guide folks were very kind and got us loaner umbrellas.  The Chinese are very considerate in these instances!  Nicest weather I've experienced by far, hope its like this when we tour the Great Wall.

 

 

Aug. 3

Missed posting a blog from yesterday . . . The end of the trip here is mostly tourist stuff around Beijing.  Yesterday we saw an amazing acrobats show, then this morning we visited the Great Wall.  - very aptly named!  It's incredible!  We got to walk on some parts of the wall that haven't been maintained or repaired, and it really gives you a sense of true ancient times.

 

 

 

Then after that we had tea in a Chinese tea house, then shopped at the "pearl market". 

China Blog July 31

This morning I led the team's devotion after the campers left. Talked about the 5 challenges David Platt gives at the end of his book "Radical".  Really good stuff.  

Basically have free time the rest of the day.  The rest of the team at this camp has been running camp for 11 or 12 straight days since they arrived in country, so it is certainly well deserved rest time!  

For lunch we went to the train / subway station (huge - pictured below) that's about 4 blocks from the campus.  Lots of American food options there (KFC, MdD's, Burger King, Papa Johns, Starbucks).  I'm not actually craving American food to be honest, so I ate at "Paris Bakery" which had some really good baked goods.  

Walked through "Wu Mart" which is a little grocery store on the way back to campus, bought some chicken feet for a snack to bring back to the kiddos . . .  they'll love that I'm sure!

I've taken the rest of the afternoon to work ahead on my next two sermons.  My goal is when I get back to take a number of days off to recuperate from jet lag and make up for missed time with my family.  I know some might say "haven't you been on vacation for three weeks already?"    Ha ha ha!

I'll be spending the next few days really getting to know the team here better.  It's a pretty wide mix of people, from about 10 years old all the way to about 65, so quite a range of ages and stages of life.  All of us have this in common - a love for The Lord and a desire to use our lives to serve Him.  

Had to move rooms today so I get to bunk on the floor with a couple of the older guys.  Glad I have my air mattress!

China Blog post July 30

Last day of camp today.  I was surprised by the amount of emotion shown by the Chinese. The Americans who have been here the whole time have really done a good job of building relationships.  Time will tell what Gospel seeds were planted, but I know of a few stories of how the Gospel was shared one on one as students asked questions.

Then there's Lisa, the Chinese teacher aide who has become a new sister in Christ.  I was able to give her one of the resource CDs I brought over.  She really seems hungry to know more about The Lord, so hopefully it will be used well.  I had meant to give the few remaining CDs to our interpreter a few days ago, but I couldn't find them in my suitcase when I looked.  I guess God knew I'd need to hang on to at least one.  I have two more, I wonder who else God would have me give them to?

 

Then there's Randi, the dean of students here.  I got to have a good talk with her today about God.  She's a professing Buddhist but she admitted the only time she prays is like once or twice a year at some festival.  She seems to know a lot about Christianity but I think some of the ones she knows are "professing" much the same as with her Buddhism, so it's hard for her to see the difference.  China is more like America than I realized.

China Blog July 29 "The view out my window"

The title for this post comes as I look out my window at the school campus where we are doing the English camp.  Just in the buildings i can see from my window I would guess live more than 40,000 people!  And I would wager there are many hundreds of apartment buildings like this in Beijing!  

The mass of humanity here is mind blowing.  And then to realize there are many many cities in China with huge populations such as this.  

Sometimes here in my room I just watch people go by on their daily business.  Across the street is a little trash collection station where the bicycle-cart trash collectors come and dump their loads.   I wonder if any of these people, walking, biking, working, or living in the apartment buildings - do they even know 1 Christian?  In their daily life, do they rub shoulders with someone walking in the Way?  If not, how will they ever know that Christ died for them to free them from a life of sin and the penalty that comes with it?  

Heart breaking . . .  

China Blog July 27 & 28

Arrived this am at the NewBridge Camp location.  Really a nice facility - it's a higher end private school here in Beijing.  I'm looking forward to some sports activity with the kids, especially since I've done nothing but be in a classroom environment for the entire time here.

I was really blessed by the camp director here, Peyton.  He's only 23, but super sharp and he's been coming to China on trips like this since he was 6, so he certainly has the experience.  He blessed me by having a time of prayer with me for Jordan and his family as soon as I arrived.  Man, when the Body of Christ truly cares for one another its an amazing thing!

 

 

July 28

Great day at camp here in Beijing.  Was excited to hear of some of the teachers getting to talk with students who had questions about the Gospel.  They have been hard at work building relationships with these kids for the past ten days and it is paying off.

The evening activity here was the basketball game between Chinese and American.  Americans won!  USA, USA, USA!  It was a good game & we were lucky to have a couple of really good guys.

The camp director here, Peyton, gave a good devotion to the teachers about valuing our salvation in a constant manner, not just as some past decision or transaction.    

China Blog July 26

Our team got word late last night that one of our team members mother was found dead the night before.  We were scheduled to wrap up the teaching this morning anyways, so we just ended a bit early and headed for the airport to get him home ASAP.  A lot of our teaching has been about encouraging and edifying our brothers in Christ, so this is giving us very practical application.  Please Pray for Jordan's family.

It was kinda hard to end the teaching early.  This group is younger and they seem to really appreciate us being here.  They have never had foreign teachers before.  We asked them to pray over us as we left, and I will never forget it.  They gathered around us in a circle and sang over us with such passion, then prayed over us with such emotion, I doubt there were any dry eyes in the room.  For a group of people who couldn't even communicate with each other, it was quite a spiritual experience!

Our flight to Beijing was delayed two hours, so our brother almost missed his flight home, but from all indications he made it.  

My schedule here has shifted, and that is ok.  Flexibility is the key.  I'll get to go tomorrow and reconnect with Kimberly and Leslie from my church at the English camp.  It will be good to see what they've been up to.

One thing that has really stood out to me is the hospitality of the Chinese brothers and sisters here.  Especially the people at the last training center who hosted it in their home.  The owner of the house was sleeping on a hard wooden bench the whole time so we could stay in their room.  Their son also refused to take any money from us when he drove us to the airport - even just to cover his gas and tolls.  They waited on us hand and foot, almost to the point where it was embarrassing.  Whenever we would try to help with anything or even clean up, they would insist that we not do that and our interpreter said it was how they show hospitality.

We said goodbye to our interpreter Grace at the airport today.  She was a super hard working young lady who really has a heart for The Lord.  She gave us tons of insight into the Chinese people and culture that was really helpful.  

China Blog July 25

Got to learn about the students normal schedule last night.  At this training center the schedule is as follows:

5-7 am group prayer and bible reading

8 am breakfast

9-12 classes 

12 lunch

2:30-6:30 classes

6:30 dinner

7:30-9 ish individual study

At is e Monday-Friday schedule.  Saturday is prep time for Sunday, and on Sundays every one of them will teach in a local church (meeting points)

It shames me as to the incredible difference between their schedule and mine.

////. Power out again during teaching time.  Poor John McCall had to teach by candle light, and the sweetest thing was a girl on the front row got a fan and was fanning John the whole time.  What a great picture of a servant's heart!

 

The power has gone out at least once a day at each of the training centers we've been at . . . Doesn't seen to bother anyone here, just another thing we take for granted!

China blog July 23, "bugs for breakfast"

Bugs for breakfast.    

 

Not just a catchy title, that was the menu.  Actually not bad!  These were the things that the local people were searching the forest for the night before.  I guess they are quite a delicacy in fancy restaurants . . .

Long day of teaching.  We complain when we sit in a padded seat in an air conditioned auditorium when the preaching goes long.  These students sit on hard seats for 2-4 hours a session, at least twice a day and soak it all in . . .  

There are two kids here that at first were very shy, but after awhile (after I showed them some iPad games) really opened up.  We actually had to lock ourselves in the room because they wouldn't leave us alone! 

Cute and mischievous!

 

 

China blog post July 23

Had a great talk this morning at breakfast with the lady who is the leader of the local congregation here. We noticed that there are many female leaders here, even as pastors of local churches.  Se shared how that in most of these churches with women pastors, they long to give the leadership of these churches to men, but there is a real shortage of godly men in their churches.  Sounds like somewhere else I know . . . 

 

It's after lunch time now and we are having rest time.  It's their habit to have about an hour of rest after lunch,  we were going to leave after lunch, but they don't like to travel with foreigners during the day light hours.  It's easy to forget about the reality that the government doesn't want us here.

I'm sad to leave our new friends here when we are just getting to know them a little bit.  There are quite a few young coupes here, Lacy & Jed, David and his wife, and a few others who are just so incredibly joyful and full of life,  and what servants!  They always are so ready to wait on us hand and foot . . .

What has been surprising about the students here is the number of older adults.  John McCall said that by far this is the oldest group he's ever had.

After lunch we got to hear the testimony of a young pastor whose mother owns the facility we are meeting at.  He shared of how he was raised by Christian parents, but walked away from God as a youth.   He later came back to Christ and now is the pastor at a local church.  The university campus ministries really seem to be doing an incredible work in bringing the Chinese to Jesus.  This pastor, named Enoch, told of a time when they were meeting in a room at the university they had rented to have Bible study and the police came and took them to the police station and even beat some of the brothers.  Thankfully, this is becoming more rare.

In talking with him about his challenges as a pastor, it was like talking with one of my pastor friends in the states:  difficulty balancing church and family, inter generational challenges in his church, and a lack of influence in the community.  Those are all problems I can identify with.  

. . . So after an interesting nearly two hour van ride we arrived at our second training center.  Beautiful mountainous country we travelled through.  As we travelled at dusk and after sunset, we noticed many people in the forest with flashlights searching the trees.  I'll show you in the next post what they were looking for.

We are hosted by Abraham, his wife Sarah, and (no joke) their son Isaac.  Most of the Chinese here have adopted English names out of consideration for us poor Westerners who simply cannot pronounce their Chinese names correctly.  Sarah said they choose these names because they were good examples to follow from the scriptures.  They certainly did exemplify the hospitality of Abraham to us!

Looking out the door at the farmland at training center #2  (we couldn't leave the center)

 

The woman who owned the training center #1 facility

China Blog Post July 22

Teaching sessions are so incredibly long . . .  Maybe that's just my American perspective.  Aka - ADD. I guess the reality is that these students are at this training center just for this purpose.  When we finish tomorrow about noon, they will all go back to where they live.  Many live within an hour of here, but some are from quite a ways away.  I've come to learn that this province (Henan) in China produces many of the Christian leaders in the whole country.   The leader of all the training centers (aka seminaries) in the area says that about 17% of all Christians in China are in this province.

So, they will get about 24 hours of Bible teaching in about 3 days.  For perspective, that's as much as an average Christian gets in going to church in about 48 weeks!  Well, not at Temple, because my sermons are slightly longer!  (Remind yourself how lucky you are hahaha)

I am amazed at the attentiveness of the students.  They are taking notes and even in the ten minute brakes we take every 1-2 hours, many will spend that time either reading their Bibles or helping to prepare the next meal or a snack of fresh watermelon.  (Grown here on the property - more on the great food in another post!)

Below is a pic of the students during one of the outside object lessons . . .

July 21 blog post

Getting a little break now after lunch.  Our schedule at this training center is:

7 am breakfast

8 am - noon morning session (they started singing at 7:45) (they had prayer together at 5:30 & more singing then too))

12 lunch

2-6 afternoon session.  

6 dinner

7 -? evening session

In between sessions the students are busy fixing meals, cleaning tables, etc.  It's truly amazing.  They have wonderful servant hearts and are so hospitable. 

At lunch had a great time talking(through our interpreter) with Pastor Su abut his local congregation and the registered church.  He has a larger congregation of about 100 that rent an apartment.  Seems like most of their meetings are open air.

It's great to get to know another pastor who serves the same God but in a different context.  Makes me grateful for a church building with a roof over our heads.  I know one thing for sure, after teaching in this meeting room with no ac it makes me appreciate our cool Colorado air!

"The day without a sunset". July 19

Ok, so that was a shameless attempt to create a dramatic title.  But, in my experience, July 18 became July 19 without a sunset.  The sun was shining when we left Seattle, and we simply followed it west to Beijing!

I can't really say I've learned any dramatic lessons yet . . . Other than I miss my family.  In my beginning days of ministry I dreamed of being a sought after speaker.  One who could travel the country, delivering compelling messages to hundreds, if not thousands of people.  I longed for people to say of me what i would say of camp or conference speakers- "wow, that guy can really speak well!"  

I am glad that God knew better.  I still get to communicate Gods Word to people, but not just as some stranger on a stage, but as a Pastor.  Someone who knows and loves the people I speak to.  

I would absolutely hate to travel often.  My heart goes out to those who do travel often on business.

Each day I will try to tell of how an intersection with one real life person impacted my trip.  Today I guess that person is Katie, the lady I sat next to from Denver to Seattle.  She travels often for business she said and, with a sadness in her voice, has to regularly leave her 1 and 3 year olds.  

God, thanks for adjusting the vain dreams of an immature minister so at I could have the joy of coming home each night to my wonderful family!

 

Blog post July 20

all setup in the training center this morning.  Had a wonderful lunch with our brothers here.  anxious to meet the students and get to the material.

Brother Soon / pronounced "sun" who is the director of all the "seminaries"in the area met us at the hotel and drove us to the training center.   His father was the former leader of the Christians in this area, and was recently released from apprx. 20 years in prison.   The center is about 1.5 hours from the major city of Zhengzou (Jeng - joo).  The trip here was pretty nice, driving was a bit scary, which is normal for here.  Appearantly, the lines on the road don't have any actual meaning ...

 Our interpreter, Grace, has told us much about how the persecution has shifted recently in China.  She says there are so many Christians now that the government has no ability to really control them very well, so the persecution has lightened up quite a bit.  It also is very localized.  In some areas, Christians can meet openly whenever and wherever they want, and in other areas they have to be more discreet.  

In cases where the authorities do interfere, she said it's mostly just taking names and pictures, and maybe some verbal harassment.  

The accommodations here are very nice.  much nicer than I had been prepared for.  they do have beds for us (very firm) and the rooms have a sort of air conditioner that works pretty well!  John says this is much nicer than the norm.  I feel a little spoiled actually.  

will write more soon.  . .

Picture below is our meeting area (not air conditioned)

Modern watering hole

Its funny how in an airport the power plug area is like the watering hole for animals in the desert.  It shows how we are so dependent on our technology.  "What if my iPad goes dead on this flight?". Gasp! 

I'm just one of the thirsty zebras jockeying for position... so I can't really talk.  

The thought of not being able to just pick up my phone and talk with my wife over the next 3 weeks is hard.  I cant just shoot a quick txt message to say "hi" or to see what the kids are up to.

It's good in the sense that it forces me to trust those I love to the God I serve.  What does it say about my confidence in Him if can't truly leave them in His care?

Time to unplug and board the plane. . . Until next time
Ken

Pre-trip thoughts

Thursday morning I leave for three weeks in Chi**.  I am extremely grateful to the many people who have given $ or provided other forms of support so I could go.  This blog will be my way of keeping track of my daily activities and also of sharing these activities with you.  Although I will not likely be able to publish my updates while there (for security reasons/ as well as accessibility), I will publish just as soon as I can.

I am excited to teach and train, but also nervous.  I'm really not nervous about customs, security, or any of those concerns.  I guess what makes me nervous is the thought of my western, middle class American "comfortable" Christianity up next to the commitment, sacrifice and dedication of these brothers who risk so much for the name of our Lord.  I'm going to teach, but I have no doubt that I will be the one learning the most lessons. 

Please pray for a fruitful trip for the kingdom.  For those of you who saw me Sunday and are concerned for my health, praise God I'm feeling much better.  Continued prayers are appreciated!  

I hope to update when I get in country.  Until then . . .

P. Ken

The Monster is Us!

The recent atrocities that have come to light against the women in Cleveland have taken my breath away.  I keep saying things like, "How could this happen in America?" and "What kind of monster does this?"  I've watched the news reports and countless mental health experts talk about what kind of mental sickness this man has, and how he could have / should have been treated.  I have been quick to join with them in their diagnosis of Ariel Castro as nothing short of a "Monster." 

During a time of reflection this morning, a stark reality hit me.  This "sickness" that Ariel Castro has is something . . . we all have!  It's called sin.  It's dark, ugly, and evil.  His brutal acts are simply taking sin to extreme ends.  These horrible acts exemplify to the ultimate degree what it means to treat others as objects for our own gratification.  Here's the part that's hard to stomach - we all do it.  Certainly not in the way that Ariel Castro did, but who among us hasn't "sold" someone on something to benefit ourselves?  Who hasn't put another down in order to lift ourselves up?  Who hasn't mocked someone less fortunate to highlight our success?  Who hasn't made fun of another to make ourselves feel better than them?  Who hasn't looked with lust at another, who ultimately is someone else's spouse, and even child?  Who hasn't used guilt or emotions or even sexuality to manipulate others to do what we want?  Who hasn't tried whatever means possible to control others to get our desired outcome?  Who hasn't failed in what Jesus said summed up all commands towards other people - to love our neighbors as ourselves?

We find comfort in looking at a man like Ariel Castro and thinking - "This Monster is nothing like me!"  His actions should disgust and terrify us.  But most terrifying of all is the grim reality that he has simply followed his sinful desires to their ultimate depraved fulfillment.  It chills me and humbles me deeply to wrestle with the reality that he & I are not entirely different creatures.  His sickness is my sickness.  The only difference is I have both the ultimate & temporary cure for this sickness in Jesus Christ.   

This cure is ultimate in that all my sins are forever forgiven through Jesus' death for me on the cross.  He (perfect) died for me (sinner).  Some say they are seeking the death penalty for Castro.  Romans 6:23 says that "the wages for (all) sin is death."  When in faith I cry out to Him, God exchanges my sinfulness for His perfection.  This forgiveness is available to all, even Ariel Castro.  (pray for me because in my flesh I certainly want him to rot in hell for eternity - an ever present reminder that even now I fail to love him as Christ commands!  I am slow to admit that I deserve the same fate!) 

This cure is also temporary in the sense that the only power I have to live in victory over sin here and now is also through my relationship with Jesus.   Unchecked and unrestrained, our sin nature takes us down the same path that ends with the destruction of our lives and the lives of those around us.  The details of our stories probably won't include kidnapping, murder, rape . . . etc.  Ours may include lies, divorce, infidelity, greed, shame, regret, bitterness, broken relationships, broken families, verbal & emotional abuse, addictions, etc.

Consider . . . 

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.   James 1:14-15

I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. . . .  Romans 7:22-25a