Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
Shawshank
Red: Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.
Andy: Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
Friday, February 22nd, 2008
the embassy
yesterday,
i went to the embassy.
i have no idea if this is at all the same organization as the one i went to in waterloo,
but it reminded me of the service i went to back in december.
yesterday,
was a time for the university groups,
and i met a buncha ppl my age
here in beijing
each to their own purpose
but it was encouraging
to have a time of prayer
people to share with
and quality study of the bible
i was reminded that no matter how strong a person is.
no matter how many good things he has going for him.
all it takes is one weakness
or as english majors would say
one fatal flaw
to rip it all away
you could be the perfect leader,
but if a weakness,
like greed for money grew to the point of grand theft
it would wrek his image,
his position, his status.
everything
all it takes is one weakness
and likewise in our spiritual walks,
all it takes is one foothold from the devil
and it can rip apart your faith
but the word is sharper than any two-edged sword
and can offer up a strong foundation
to overcome and endure those weaknesses
and this verse stuck out to me,
flee from the evil desires of youth,
and persue righteousness, faith, love and peace, and
those who call upon whe Lord with a pure heart
2nd tim:2:22
pray that i can continue to root myself in his word
and stay strong
Thursday, February 21st, 2008
fog and smoke
when i woke up this morning
i saw fog.
beijing is perhaps the dryest winter city ever.
it hasn’t snowed in a month
it doesn’t rain
and its sunny everyday
so when i saw fog,
i was a bit shocked
then i realized
it might be smoke.
smoke from all those fireworks blowing up this morning
you see.
today is lunar 15th where beijing tries to light its city on fire
with, you guessed it, fireworks
i swear there was an hour of straight firework launching this morning at 7am
who launches fireworks in the morning?!
you can’t even see it
so besides the minor fog forecast,
the added shroud of white mist – is probably firework smoke
i wonder what tonight will be like
lets hope i can take some pictures – wherever i may be 
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008
start and centered
i’ve realized that
if you dont start things correctly,
it’ll take a lot more work to get back on track.
everytime coop term rolls around
i get the chance to start something new
but a new start
doesn’t always equate to good things
being in my fourth coop term
i’ve experienced both good and bad beginnings
terms like hamilton and shanghai
are what i consider bad terms (spiritually)
and terms like waterloo and beijing (thus far)
have been very rich and full of joys and laughter
in hamilton,
i felt isolated from God’s presence
and from brothers and sisters
i ran on empty
and there was nothing to refill me
and in shanghai
i felt lonely and desperate at times
with no family, and no support to lift me up
it was hard to focus on things that really mattered
and work constantly drew me away from church and God
let alone survive
both those terms,
started badly.
in retrospect -
i should have found a community
brothers and sisters, and a place to meet with God
but i didn’t.
however,
in waterloo and even now in beijing
i feel like i’m on the right track
cause the first thing i did
was to find a church and a community of believers
to seek God first
to put Him first in my life
and it everytime I put him first
my life takes an upturn
and its the start of something incredible
in waterloo,
cause God is really first in my life
i’m really able to…
connect with Christ
connect with brothers and sisters in Christ
and to share in the pain and joys of life
thats why i’m so sad to leave each time
and perhaps that why the terms go by so quickly
in beijing,
during last sunday.
going to church has filled me with God’s ppresence
there were hundreds of ppl attending
and when they asked for a new comers to stand
beside the fact that you had to work up the courage to stick out like a sore thumb
lifting myself off my seat and onto my feet
was an indicator that this term
i will start with God first in my life
and that has made all the difference
whether it be a new year, a new study term, coop, and even travelling…
be reminded that when you start something new
put God first
and make him the center of your life
seek Him in all that you do.
and watch in awe
for he will
do more than what you could ever imagine
and bring forth a fullness in life
and suprise you every step of the way
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
Captivated
Your laughter it echoes like a joyous thunder
Your whisper it warms me like a summer breeze
Your anger is fiercer than the sun in its splendour
You’re close and yet full of mystery
Ever since the day that I saw Your face
Try as I may, I cannot look away, I cannot look away…
Captivated by You
I am captivated by You
May my life be one unbroken gaze
Fixed upon the beauty of Your face
Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my gaze
I become more like You and my heart is changed
Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my view
Transform me into the likeness of You
This is what I ask, for all my days
That I may, never look away, never look away…
No other could ever be as beautiful
No other could ever steal my heart away
I just can’t look away…
by Vicky Beeching
…
Listening to this song makes me realize
just how romantic our relationship with God is
listening to it over and over,
and letting the lyrics sink in
i have a renewed longing to be filled with your presence
to know more about you
to hear your laughter
to experience your whisper
to understand your anger
to unveil the mystery shrouded by our eyes
and to come closer