Vacation

I want one.

Martin Luther

"Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace."

Accidents will happen

No fracture, just a lot of pain. No paddling for a couple of weeks at least.

Nt Wright on campus

"Love wants the other to be truly who they are. Love takes delight in the other's otherness."

Which of the 7 does God call me to respond to?

Sin is believing that God withholds good from us.

-- Tim Keller, "Mission and Meaning"

whimsy

I asked the Holy Spirit what I thought was a question that would never be answered because it seemed so silly and impossible. It's a question that's important to me, but I didn't think there could be an answer to it.

I told Y about the question over WhatsApp on March 15. I don't think she expected me to get an answer either.

But God answered today.

He's pretty amazing. Brownie points for taking my questions seriously, even the ones that seem dumb!

of means and ends

Friend: "What's all this for anyway? I feel like I ran a marathon and there's no one to celebrate with. And there's always more work."

I get her.


This work simply cannot be an end in itself. It's a poor master and lord.

Boat Esther

Wednesday is my new favorite day because LT.

I don't know why it looks like the sun is behind us when we took the picture at 930pm.

(Coach H. says it's the Holy Spirit .... har har)

Confession

Me: Aaaagghhh I did this.

Friend: Aaaagghhh why did you do that?

Me: Aaaagghhh.

Friend: Too late.

thumbs up

Boss DP gets an A+ for attention to detail.

Colleague LK gets an A+ for collegiality. The highlighter has just saved my life.

New life

Did you know how cuttings become plants? I did not. It's not for the impatient, for sure.



What my friend gave me:

Almost three months later:

Jonah

I thought wrongly that I would have more time this spring so I joined Ark. Ugh. I'm sure I'll have fun but I'm also kinda dreading it too. Sunday afternoons are for naps, not for sweating it out under the sun!

Anyway, here's N waiting for the paddlers on his boat. He was a team of 1 for a while but we found out later it's because he's coaching a team from Watermark.

March

I'm not sure how I'll get everything done next month.

Phew.

Sometimes, I want to stop talking to God. But I have no one else to turn to....

Another thought from M

"We spend so much time thinking and doing things that are challenging."

"How much of that can a human being stand?"

What a great question.

But, God.

On another note, my phone seems to have trouble reading or accessing the SD card. I have my eye on a new phone that's coming out in a few months. I hope I won't need to change phones until that's out!

The stuff of life. 

quotable quotes

Friend: "I can't be miserable in life and in writing."

But what's the solution?

Thankful for good teachers who are realistic about life and the word

TGIF

What a week.


God sightings:


- there was a tense moment at CG, but by the end of the evening, God had brought reconciliation

- mutual support during sharing at CG. Being vulnerable

- further revelation of God's unasked for but much needed provision over the years, and over many years

- supportive meetings with more senior colleagues


Needs:


- need for continued wisdom to know how to interact with colleagues. I'm here not to get my way but to participate in the work God is already doing, and that means being a blessing

- need for more publications

- need for faith that God will give me answers at the right time, and for patience until the answers come


Hope:


- we endure because when we wait, we respond to God's promises that He will make all things right

- we live with imperfections because we trust that God will show up in the imperfections. We are weak, but He is strong

Again, on letting go

From the son of a drug addict to a teaching pastor at one of the biggest English speaking churches in HK.

This is God's work. 

The darnedest things

Life coach: So maybe you like people after all.

Me: I don't know if I would go so far as to say that. It's on the table.  But it's all the way on the other end.

There's a name we can call on

Another dinner

Cheering on the Chinese translation team

Hk style homey food

Thankful for friends AND their families.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me

Nutty

Instead of giving us a full day of on CNY eve, some genius who fixes the holidays that we should only have a 1/2 day on the Monday of CNY holiday--which means I have to teach today--and give us next Monday off. 

I hope he or she is happy about this.

UGH

Writing involves so much anguish and pain. 

Sometimes I'm not sure it's worth it. Actually, most times I wonder if this is really worth it.