Personalized Spiritual Preferences (by Jason)

I ran across this quote in the news today:
"Actually, before the arrival of 'Avatar', the Chinese had already started to advocate personalized spiritual preferences. Some people queued for the new Harry Potter movies and books, some queued for Transformers toys, and some queued for precious stamps and souvenir coins," said Ding Chun, a professor with the School of Economics of Fudan University.
The phrase I would like us to focus on is that which I've used as the post title: personalized spiritual preferences.
What jumps out at me most is the very Chinese use of the word "spiritual" in this case meaning what we in the West would call "entertainment" or "hobbies" or "interests". We've run across this somewhat peculiar use of the word several times while living in China. For instance, I remember a news report in Hubei that lauded one city's efforts at "building up the spiritual life of it's citizens" by building more public parks. This was the first time, as I recall, that I'd ever heard the word "spiritual" used in this context and it struck me as quite odd, and frankly quite hollow and even a little sad. I wanted then, as I occasionally still do today, to jump up and shout "That isn't spiritual life! Spiritual life is found in Jesus! How could you guys be so..."
So... What exactly? Blinded? Yes; blinded by atheistic humanism promoted in public as the only rational way of living. Confused? Yes, that too; confused by a long, long history of religious influences of all sorts, which may in part account for some people's non-commitment and relativism concerning and discerning truth. Materialistic, also; in the sense that, ultimately what seems to matter most is one's personal fulfillment in this lifetime, to be achieved through whatever various means, including Harry Potter, Transformers, and IMAX films.
But truthfully, this way of thinking and speaking that equates the spiritual with the temporal, that would substitute mere and fleeting entertainment for substantial and everlasting salvation is rife in not only China but America too. Although we rarely, if ever, would talk about waiting in line for the new iWhatever as "spiritual" per se, we do nevertheless confuse the spiritual with the merely meaningful or memorable all the time. (If you need proof of this, watch Oprah for one week and notice the way she and her guests talk about "spiritual" issues.)
I guess it's part of human nature -- to search for meaning in our daily lives, all the while missing or intentionally ignoring the deeper issues and truths as revealed to us by God. Like the guy in James who looks at himself in the mirror, but then... Wait, is that my telephone?
Anyway... This (this essay, I guess) is at least one expression of at least one of the reasons that I am here: namely, to show others, while constantly reminding myself, that there is a bigger Truth and a greater Spirit and a better Way than that which we see with our eyes or touch with our hands. There is more. There is so much more.

Too Many Holidays?

When a holiday rolls around in China they give you three days off in the middle of the week. But then you have to work on Saturday and Sunday. So if we have a Bible study set up with a friend on Wednesday, they are gone on vacation. Then Sunday worship rolls around and everyone is back at work again. It’s a scheduling nightmare and certainly not a holiday. Last year the Moon Festival occurred during the October National Day week. This year the planets have not been aligned in our favor. The Moon Festival fell a week and a half before October holiday. We will have almost a month of working weekends or holidays.
Actually the attendance at the Sunday worship has been pretty good for a working day. On the Moon Festival our family rode a boat on West Lake to an island. We enjoyed a picnic in a small pagoda during light rain showers. Caleb fed bread to the goldfish and ducks. Guess it was a holiday after all.

Good Neighbor Moving Out

Climbing the incline to our apartment complex the first thing one would see is Good Neighbor corner store, a family run business with a 3 ½ legged kitty cat. Many in our complex shop here for a pound of flour or half a dozen eggs. A bench sits out front for those who want to shoot the breeze and comment on so and so climbing up the hill. There are two rides for the kids. One works and one is for piling bags or umbrellas. A large red basin of water holds three or four fish floundering away their last precious hours of life before they become dinner.
We chose Good Neighbor over the other corner store because they are so helpful and friendly. If we need a fish for dinner they jump right up and scale it for you. The wife knows how to pick a fish with eggs inside (Caleb loves to eat fish egg soup). The husband is happy to deliver a 25 pound bag of rice to our door on the sixth floor. Many times we have made it out of the house without any money, and Good Neighbor always says, “No problem. No problem. Pay us tomorrow.” Invariably someone will step on the 3 ½ legged kitty cat while they are digging for change in their pockets. The cat will let out a great yell, but Good Neighbor doesn’t ever wrinkle their smile.
The bad news is Good Neighbor is moving out. They are headed back to the hometown. It’s the best for their family. The husband’s mother is getting old and their children can spend more time at home instead of running around the corner store.
The new management, a mother and daughter team, is currently under trial. When we went to buy a fish for dinner, the mother says to her daughter, “I don’t know how to scale a fish. You will have to be the fish cleaner.” But the sign still says Good Neighbor with the 3 ½ legged kitty cat still hobbling about.

Prayer and discipleship

Last night, Cecelia and Arily came to study, and Cecelia had yet another new person with her, Sissi. We had a good study out of Mark 4. We discussed the types of soil, and how that represents people's hearts; they could identify that on their own, and I was glad to see it. They knew also that the seed represents Jesus' teachings. We also discussed later in the chapter how light can represent truth, and again they could identify that on their own, and we mentioned how silly it would be to have a light and keep it under the table or bed. We said that if you know something is true, you should share it. We had some good discussion time together, and as we sat around together on the living room rug I marvelled at the differences in the 3 personalities: Cecelia is so extroverted and emotional and talkative, Arily is so thoughtful and deep, and this new girl seems a bit flighty but very friendly and warm. Let's pray they that these three different people will all be drawn to Him in His timing and that they will see what it means to be a disciple. We concluded our time together the other night in a chain prayer. Two of us prayed in Chinese, the other two in English, again their choice. Then, I suggested that after National Day holiday we get together and cook a Chinese meal together. They like the idea, so we will all be looking forward to it. This little group has good potential. Please pray for momentum.

Bin Jiang Report

Please pray for Allen, a guy Heather is studying with that she met at her local Starbucks. She asked us to bring him a Bible last Sunday when we visited over there for worship. We were able to give him one in an easy to read Chinese translation. Pray he will read it, be given understanding, and act on what he learns. Pray also, that the church in Bin Jiang, and here in Xiao He Shan, will grow in Spirit and in number.

Drawn in

Last Monday, we had Cecelia and Arily coming over for a study. They did, and we had been to the Bible bookstore here in town and had picked up some Bibles to share with them, which we had all out in the floor,and were just transitioning to study together when there was a knock at the door! I thought it was a worker coming to look at the leak in our bedroom ceiling, but instead it was a new Russian student here at our school, Tim.
Tim is from a smallish town in central Russia, and he is here to study Chinese for a year and then return to Russia to do some translation work for his father's company. He doesn't yet speak any Chinese, and we think it just might take more than a year to get that good, but anyway...we had met Tim the day before, and told him to visit any time, but now here he was already...during our study. We invited him to come on in, and we introduced him to the girls, we made some small talk about Russia and China...found all our hometowns on Google maps...then, we just went ahead and transitioned back into our study. We weren't sure what Tim would make of that or how he would receive it, but we knew that the study is what the girls came for. At first he sat back and remained rather distant. Then, as we got deeper and deeper into the story, he seemed to relax and focus on understanding the language of the story, since he enjoys practicing his English. then, there was a point in the study when I looked over at him and realized he was interested in the story itself. He began to inch closer and closer to the open Bible, then at the next pause in the action, he asked a question, like, "well, why did Jesus do that?" . It was really fascinating to see this progression. To watch his interest build. Please keep him in your thoughts. I guess, we never know what could happen.

Rose

On Jon's first day of class about two weeks ago, I ran out of some key ingredients for our supper. The kids and I made a quick trip to the convenient store inside the apartment complex. I saw this lady hanging around looking at the kids. Then she asked if they were mine, and all that. She spoke some English. Hallie and I spoke a little Chinese and we could communicate some. She asked if she could come over to our apartment. I said yes, and she followed us home. I continued to cook supper and she watched a little. She said that my potatoes were bad, because I left on the peel. She was very impressed that I made bread (rolls). She played with the kids some. Jon came home, and we invited her to eat with us. She stayed. She admitted that my potatoes were good. And she really liked the rolls. We prayed before our dinner, and she was pretty curious about that.


Later in the evening, she went home. I knew that we had made a new friend. I was pretty sure that she would show up again.

She did. Sunday morning. This Sunday is a make-up day for the up coming holiday (another story). Most people had to work and could not come to worship. It was just Margaret and our family. Then Rose shows up. Margaret jumped right in and helped explain what we were doing. We sang a few songs. I think Rose even sang some. Jon led a prayer and Rose said she wanted to pray too. Jon said a few words, M. translated, and then Rose repeated the words. However, she lost interest before the prayer was finished.

We took the Lord's supper, and explained what it means. She was interested in what the bread tasted like.
Jon had to leave to go to class (make-up day). Right before he left, Rose asked for M's phone number. M. said she would give it, if Rose committed to studying the Bible. Rose said that she did not have time and Margaret told her that if she wanted to study English, it was a good way to begin.

We thought that M. was doing great!



Pretty much as soon as Jon left (maybe a little before) things started getting weird. Rose told that she was looking for work. She told that she was divorced and her son is with his father. She divorced for another man, but that relationship is over. It had been over for several years now. Margaret told her to forget him and start her life anew now, and gestured to the Bible. While she was talking to us she kept taking out a large mirror from her bag and looking into it. She was sometimes talking with M. while looking into the mirror. I thought that was pretty strange. Eventually, M. had to leave. I fed the kids lunch and Rose played with the girls some. We tried to talk some more. Her in English, and I in Chinese. I guess we understood about 1/2 of what each other said.

Rose finally left at 2:00. I was pretty worn out! There were a few times that it was harder to be polite, gracious, and loving (like when she said I was fat!). Hopefully, we have thrown some seed out there. It feels like it is on rocky soil, but you never know what God will do!

Please pray for Rose and the choices she makes in her life. Pray for us as we try to minister to her. We are very thankful to see M. in action for the Lord!