Shanghai (Last Post)

I started this blog in Shanghai to remind myself to be thankful to God.

Yesterday was my last day in Shanghai. At least for the near foreseeable future.

And I am so thankful to God for everything He has done for me in Shanghai.  There were days, weeks, months, even years in Shanghai  were it felt like I was in the desert.  But God always led me and walked with me.

Loneliness is a very powerful depressant and, during my stay in Shanghai, its depressing effects were magnified in me for every one of the 25 million people in Shanghai that I felt disconnected from. But loneliness also created longing in me, a longing for me for a real, perfect, everlasting home, a longing that has informed my conviction and faith that the Kingdom of God exists and it will come to pass.

So the journey continues, 4 years and 9 months after first moving to Shanghai to start work.  And now the journey is much less lonely - because He has blessed me with His constant presence, an amazing community of believers, incredible family, and even a fiancee.  What can I do but give thanks and praise in response?

Thank You for (continuously) loving me.

Gratitude

It's been a long time since I last posted.  It's been difficult to constantly keep an attitude of gratitude these past few months.  Not that there is a scarcity of events, people, or things that I am grateful for - just that my brokenness has fought back against the spirit of gratitude.  And I admit that I have slowly, steadily, and quietly given up fighting against my brokenness.  

But I feel like God is bringing me back from the brink.  His Spirit is reminding me of the priorities of my life again.  It's time to pick up the pace, to continue running the race.

Holy Spirit, please pray for me.  Renew a right spirit within me, Lord.

Praise

The King of all the Earth has saved us from ourselves... We give You praise.

We Give You Praise - Delirious?

Comfort

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV)

I don't know why this verse comforts me so much.  A friend once told me that if Christ isn't who He says He is, then Christianity is the most cruel joke of all time.  But it wouldn't just be the most cruel joke of all time - it would be the biggest crime against humanity of all time. 

The Apostle Paul acknowledges that.  He embraces that thought and takes it to the  thought's logical conclusion.  And instead of scaring me, it reassures me all the more.  Because people 2000 years ago, smart people who did indeed think about the possibility of it all being a hoax, openly discussed such a possibility and even warned other believers of the consequences of it all being false.

But even after acknowledging the destructive consequences of their faith being built on a hoax, these people continued to believe - belief even unto death.  It's all well and good to dismiss these 1st century believers as lunatics, but the clarity of Paul's logic, coupled with his willingness to be frank about his faith, really do make it hard for me to dismiss their words.

And their words do echo through the generations.  When I am dry and searching for encouragement, I am reminded that Paul and the other 1st century believers had it way worse than me.  Yet Paul still had the courage to say: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21 ESV)

Thank You for faith.  

World Cup!

My team lost.  In a closely contested final.  I'm not going to lie, I wanted more. 

I'm trying hard not to lose perspective - after all, in the end, it's only a game.  It's probably a bad sign that I actually have to remind myself of that.

Sigh, we were so darn close!!! But this team did make me incredibly proud.  They played an excellent tournament.  

Congratulations to Germany.  And to the other 31 teams as well - hope to see you again in four years.

Thank You for the beautiful game.

Belonging

I'm convinced that in each one of us is an incredible longing to belong.  To know who we are and what we were made for. Today, through the magic of Skype, I was able to join my Shanghai cell group for worship.  And I was instantly reminded of who I am and what I was made for. 

Turn yours eyes upon Jesus and the things of this world will grow strangely dim.  

God bless the church.  

Luck

I'm not sure how the World Cup can or does advance the Kingdom of God.  Nonetheless, it's one of my favorite events and each time it comes around, I'm reminded just how much "luck" plays a part in victory.  

True, for the most part, the superior team advances, but in a sport where one goal can (and often does) make all the difference, being lucky doesn't hurt.  

I hope that Argentina's fragile defense and even more fragile luck continues to hold out.  Next up is another European team - a formidable Belgium team who eliminated my adopted country (fútbol-wise) of America.  At the very least, I am very grateful to the USMNT - the Von Trapps - for pushing Belgium into extra time.  It would have been a tremendous disadvantage to Argentina if it's next opponent was fresher and played less minutes.

I know God probably doesn't ultimately care about the results of the matches, but I know He cares about hearts.  And my heart is thankful that Argentina gets to play another match.