Zuojia's Xanga

Some theology, well it IS my major!

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:43:40 GMT

Today I went to Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention, for the morning Bible Reading. Rev Hugh Palmer was speaking on 1 Corinthians. He had some good things to say.

1. The cross creates the fundamental division in the human race- saved or not. We should respond to less important divisions (v10-13) with this true division.

2. Only the message of the cross, the power of God, can save. We must keep telling the message.

(Why is my margin not straight!!??)

The cross doesn't appear to be miraculous or wise- on it hung a broken saviour, foolishness by the standards of philosophy and worldly wisdom.

3. No one should boast about academic achievements, sporting prowess, business acumen or anything else. Status and security is only found in knowing the Lord (v31) Societies love strength, wealth, and wisdom. But we aren’t supposed to imitate society. Remember God's values. There is a danger in parading 'high profile' Christians. Mission is reaching the 'despised, lowly' people that God has chosen to enjoy eternity with.

4. Paul didn't want to 'press the right buttons' or just say what people wanted to hear. He only wanted to share the 'message of the cross'. Do preachers want people to say 'what a preacher!' or 'what a saviour!'?

When someone asks you 'do you know the power of God' I hope you can reply "yes, I know the message of the cross".

Seaside walkies

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:05:38 GMT

Last week I met up with two friends who also work in China. We did a lot of eating, walking and chatting
.

A good time was had by all, I believe, until dinner time, when a flying pork chop came out of nowhere, no doubt set on some skulduggery or other. Fortunately I was at hand with my trusty fork, intercepted it, and dealt with it in an appropriate fashion...

THAT WAS MY WEEK...

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 15:34:12 GMT

On Monday the family came to visit me in my new flat. They all seemed very impressed and we had coffee and cakes. How frightfully British, heh heh.

On Tuesday I went to visit an old friend from college to have dinner with her, her husband and another friend. Fiona and her husband Alan are on career breaks and are about to go Ecuador. They are also thinking about a trip to China in January. So we had good craic over the salmon and potatoes.

I’m keeping my exercise regime going. I’ve found a nice spot in the nearby park, where I can skip in the mornings till my heart’s content, and no one could care less.

Last Sunday night the preacher in church focused on another of Jesus’ questions, this time from Matthew 9:27-33: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” The challenge here is quite obvious: whatever our situation, whatever trouble we are in, whatever sin has overtaken us, whatever problem it is that seems to us impossible to overcome, do we believe that Jesus can put it right? Surely our answer should be a resounding “yes, Jesus! I believe you can do this!”

Recently...

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 15:54:03 GMT

I went to Belfast Chinese Christian Church last Sunday. They were very friendly. I’m sure I’ll go back again

Last Sunday night in my home church the preacher spoke on Luke 18:35-43, where Jesus restores sight to a blind beggar. What did I take away? Well Jesus' question, “What do you want me to do for you?” is quite remarkable. Of course Jesus already knew what the man needed. So why ask him? Well, maybe he needed to think about what he needed! Sometimes people don’t realize they need Jesus because they haven’t thought enough about it, and there’s nothing like a question to make us think. Lets hope more people today allow Jesus to speak to them and question them about their own helplessness and their need of his endless resources.

I started exercising again this week! Just walking before dinner and after tea, but want to take it easy on my ankle (which I sprained about a month ago…).

Yesterday I welcomed my friends from Yantai, Mark and YiMing, to Northern Ireland. We hung out for a bit at my flat, and had brunch in Springsteen’s American Diner.

Last night I went to an Ulster Orchestra invitation concert in the Ulster Hall with some friends. Actually this was my first classical music concert, and it was an interesting experience! There was a guest musician from Finland called Kari Kriikku, whose instrument was the clarinet. He danced almost as enthusiastically as he played. I even met some Korean and Chinese high school students studying English at Queens this summer.

This week...

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 18:38:40 GMT

I got to spend more quality time with my lovely nieces. They have been teaching me how to play “The Simpsons: Road Rage” and then mum and dad and I took them to Donaghadee for a round of putting.

I vacuumed my new apartment for the first time!

I went to a McDonalds and carried out my meal because the restaurant resembled a nursery.

I joined my downstairs neighbour for a coffee in the Starbucks down the road. He's a nice guy and we had a good time chatting about Indonesia, China, callings and cross-cultural experiences.

I went to a Chinese restaurant with an old friend, and was not impressed: the dishes were not as delicious as “real” Chinese restaurants back in the People’s Republic, but they were obscenely overpriced.

I discovered that the top oven in the kitchen of my new apartment is psychotic. I set the oven at 180 degrees to heat up my Marks & Spencers Spaghetti Bolognese but the temperature just rocketed higher and higher until the plastic container melted into the grill tray, and the pasta ends got frazzled; all in all not a terribly successful culinary effort. Hrrmm…

My fridge's personality is stable by comparison...

My wheels...

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:45:24 GMT

Its the wee red one

All mixed up!

Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:09:23 GMT

Yesterday afternoon I left my flat to go downtown. After a while I found myself looking at a bus and thinking "why is it heading that direction on my side of the street?" Then I realised I had been waiting for the bus on the wrong side of the street! Maybe I thought I was still in China, where cars drive on the right, ha ha...

Wrestling the point

Sat, 29 Jul 2006 14:06:46 GMT

Yesterday morning, I read Genesis 32 where Jacob wrestled with God. When we wrestle with problems, doubts, or stray a bit from His path, are we at those times wrestling with God? After all, God is ultimately behind all things, or rather, all things should, in the Christian’s economy, be a God-issue. Sometimes its a struggle letting things go, or finding the blessing in them, or giving them up to God to deal with...

The Long Road Home...

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 10:19:03 GMT

... began last Friday when I flew from Yantai to Shanghai. Thanks to Jack for helping me with my luggage, and Ellen for taking me to the airport. My flight to Pudong was 'cancelled', or renamed or re-somethinged and I ended up flying to Hong Qiao, the other airport in Shanghai. There was a lot of argy-bargy at the check-in desk, where some passengers shouted at the clerks, and one or two even climbed up on the conveyor belts, demanding to be processed. The girls behind the counter remained remarkably calm. Echo, I don't envy your job!

I stopped off at Shanghai for the weekend with Stephen and his wee man Patrick, who was loads of fun. I wasn't much company, as my tummy played up, too bad as I really wish I could have enjoyed my fish supper at O'Malley's.

Helen, one of my students when I first arrived in China back in '97, was in Shanghai. On my last night in China we met for something to eat and shared a pot of lemon tea in the Corner Cafe.

My luggage was overweight by 11 k, k for kostly. I had to pay over 3,000 rmb!

We touched down in Heathrow in good time, and the captain informed us that it was 31 degrees outside! Then the plane sat on the tarmac for nearly an hour because there was no spot for us! I reclaimed my baggage and lugged it to the free train for Terminal 1. I seem to remember walking between terminals in the past, which would be better, as then I wouldnt have to load and unload my trolley getting on and off the train. When I checked in at BMI I was hammered again to the tune of ?75 for my overweight luggage!!

On my flight to Belfast I met a pleasant young lady from Hong Kong doing a PhD in Food and Agriculture at Queen's.

Farewell to chums...

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 03:06:37 GMT

We had our last foreign fellowship on Sunday and then took a picture... some of us are going back to our countries to start new jobs, some just going back for a break, and others staying on here. Some of us might see each other again, or might not... either way, we have a nice picture to help us recall the memories...

Spot the socks...