Weather Report

Beijing is known for its size (18-20 million), it’s ease of flow and western food (compared to other parts of China), and it’s smog (see pictures below). Each morning we get up and judge how the air quality will be today by our Pagoda-ometer. There’s a pagoda 250 yards or so away from our hotel that we can see between two buildings. If we can see the pagoda then it’s going to be a nice day, if it’s clear past the pagoda it’s going to be a really nice day, if you have to make an effort to see the pagoda… well…yeah.

It's going to be a pretty nice day...

Well, might not spend too much time outside...

There just seems to be something in the air and I’m not just talking about smog. It’s something I can’t quite put my finger on. There are a lot more lonely days here, and a lot more intentionality is needed. I recognize that some is perhaps culture stress, but maybe there’s more.

One issue that has been bothering me for the last year, which I’m not sure about is that I feel like I’m addicted to Him. It’s a cool concept at the sound of it at first, but it makes life slightly more difficult. You know how when you get one of those revelations from Him about your life or something about His character and you just kind of ride on that joy and awe and idea for a few days. It seems like that only lasts for a few hours anymore. It’s not that He’s changed, but it’s that I find myself constantly going back to Him almost for another fix. I don’t want Him to be just my good feeling, but it’s like having to come back and get reconnected throughout the day, (if somehow you get unconnected – which I seem to become.) It’s a cool idea to be a J-man – Junkie, but it’s a little tiring after a few months of always having to come back two or three times a day and get some more so you don’t slide into temptation, depression, or apathy. I do get to learn a lot more this way, but I also feel like I forget so much more and don't let it really sink in and change me. It's a little frustrating.

Where there is frustration, there’s always a reason to praise. If there wasn’t a battle going on than that means the Sprite wouldn’t be active. If we didn’t struggle with sin, that means we’d be giving into it. Now that we’re believers we’re freed to join the battle, in our own flesh, in the unseen battle around us, and the salvation war of those still held captives. But we celebrate when we have nothing else to do, we celebrate that He is good. I have no good answers, but I have truth I’ll say now and ask that you lift us up in this way. The words that came to mind were,

"and my [King & Creator] will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in [His Son]."

Lift us up that we will have all our needs (physical, mental, spriteual, relational, and sustaining) not only met but lavished upon us - aka according to His riches in glory. That, as the previous passage writes, our minds would only be on Him and what is true, right, just, celebratory, and in everything we lift it up to Him.

We will be on our campuses in a week, and we want to hit the ground full force and full of glory and grace to Love Him and Love them in the most G-based way possible. Thanks for your partnership and support. It's impossible without.