Beggars in Shanghai

Every time I go to church, it just drives me nuts.

I get to church, and there are beggars outside. (Obviously, that fact doesn't bother me.)  Most of them have some serious deformity, and I feel pity for them.

That's intentional, of course, on the part of their bosses.  The most pitiable ones are placed in the middle of the best traffic, and large religious gatherings are some of the best traffic you'll find.

So, again...when I go into the church, there are beggars outside, with serious physical problems.  And they stay outside the church.  And when I leave the church, they're still outside.  And they still have serious physical problems.

My questions are:

1) Why has nobody healed them?  Does nobody here have the gift of healing?

2) Why are they still outside?  Does nobody invite them in?

3)  Is it really any use to give them money, when most of it goes to their boss?

I have to admit, I have rarely actually prayed for healing with a beggar...not even ten times in my life.  And I've never seen one healed.

Also, presumably, their freedom is limited by their boss.  They're "on the clock", so if they're invited in and leave their post, they will, presumably, be punished.

And, I still wrestle about whether to give them money.

So, the most recent example...  Tonight, I left the cathedral, and was swarmed by beggars.  I felt no faith to pray for healing, and I didn't have enough coins for all seven of them.  So, I smiled, said nihao to the ones I knew, and just kept walking.

Does anybody here have the Holy Spirit?  Can anybody bring life into this system of poverty, shame, and brokenness?

Please?

The Perfect Christmas

Joseph and Mary had already had a very trying year.

Regardless, Jesus still decided to start kicking on that day. At the least convenient time possible.

Then, after they'd finished all their paperwork in Bethlehem, they had to run for their lives.

...and somehow, God thought that was the perfect way to spend Christmas.

A Reflection on Mary's Faith, by Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California, gives a powerful reflection on how our faith in God may actually accelerate His work among us.  On page 124 of When Heaven Invades Earth, he talks about Jesus' conversation with Mary, at the wedding feast in Cana:

Now what really happened?  It's important to remember that Jesus only did what He saw His Father do, and he only said what He heard His Father say.  When Mary first mentioned the need for wine to Jesus, it is safe to say He noticed that the Father was not involved in doing any miracles for that wedding.  Besides, He knew that this wasn't His hour...the time to be revealed as the miracle-worker.  That's what brought the response, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with me?  My hour has not yet come."  Mary, however, responded with faith and had the servants ready to do "...whatever He says to you."

Jesus again looked to see what the Father was doing and now noticed that He was turning water into wine.  So Jesus followed His lead and did the miracle.  Her faith so touched the heart of the Father that He apparently changed the chosen time to unveil Jesus as the miracle worker.  Faith moves heaven, so that heaven will move earth.

Regardless of how it happened, Mary's faith in Jesus' ability to do miracles resulted in the revelation of His power.  And it's because Mary's faith refused to stop after her first prayer wasn't answered.  Notice that she didn't say, "Well, whatever the good Lord wills."  Her faith was so persistent that it started Jesus' public ministry, manifested His glory, and made His disciples believe in Him. (John 2:11)

I want that kind of faith!

December 3

I almost forgot...Happy Birthday, Dad!

It's my dad's 58th birthday...and in keeping with the "true fasting" spirit of Isaiah 58, he is returning to Haiti once again, to continue working on ways to help Haitians affected by the January 2010 earthquake.

December 3 is also the feast day of Francis Xavier.  Ignatius of Loyola, when sending Francis to live and die in East Asia, told him: "Go and set the world on fire."

And, he did.

Cultural Highlights

I don't have much time online recently, but these are a couple thoughts I wanted to share.  Shanghai culture is really teaching me a lot.

(A sign found in some especially attractive metro tunnels.)

The city government promoting civic virtue

"If you are stolen, call the police at once."

Whether or not you ever come to Shanghai, I think this is a good principal to live by.

Things are beginning to change.  But for now, this is just another happy part of life in Shanghai.

Settling In

I'm finally back in the city of Shanghai, where I belong.

I expected winter weather to be starting already--typically, the not-too-hot-and-not-too-cold autumn season lasts just several weeks.  But it turns out I arrived a couple weeks before the onset of the cold (and bitingly wet) Chinese winter.

                                      (Xujiahui in autumn...this is the section of town where I'll be living.)

My stomach is behaving reasonably well (despite what happened Saturday night, when I got carried along with a local cell group to an all-you-can-eat Japanese BBQ place).  I wish I'd had a camera to take pictures of what we were eating...the foods were fascinating, to say the least.

And I noticed this morning that my sinuses are re-adjusting to Shanghai pollution--which means I carry several packets of tissues in my backpack at all times.  And, despite the admonitions of the local government, I feel compelled to abide by traditional Chinese custom...i.e. I have to spit a lot.

(Part of the Chinese government's anti-spitting campaign...and probably a great boost to the world's largest tissue manufacturers.)

Trip to China

I'm going back to China!  It's a short trip, just July 14-August 11, but it's going to be a blast. I've lived in China for a year and a half, teaching English and studying Mandarin Chinese.  But the purpose of this trip will be specifically prayer, service, and getting to know China better.

There is a lot happening with the Church in China at every level, in every dimension of society. This trip will be a sort of "tourist pilgrimmage".  I'll be visiting old churches and other places of interest throughout a country that is about as big as America (that includes Alaska!).  And I'm going to get to spend time with friends in Shanghai, Beijing, and elsewhere.  I'm really pumped about visiting places I haven't been able to before.

Anyway, this is a crucial first step in deciding where I'll be working and what I'll be doing long-term in China.  I've known that I wanted to live here since I was 10 years old...and I think it's time to get going!

Timely Reminders

Follow-up from the previous post:  I've had two more dreams that I missed a flight, and another that I missed an important meeting.
Needless to say, I've prayed earnestly not to be late for things any more...we're supposed to pray for miracles, right?

What a Great Idea!

I was praying with my friend Adam, and while we were praying, I had a simple thought, that struck me very profoundly.  Essentially, it was this prayer:
"God, thank You that You thought about what You wanted to happen, and thought it would be a good idea for me to be involved somehow.
You thought about making me, so that I could exist for Your glory, and You actually thought that was a really great idea!"

For a few minutes, I couldn't stop laughing at the beauty and hilarity of it...He actually thought about it, and He thought it was a good idea!  He thought that I was a good idea!

Today is my 27th birthday, and since Psalm 27 has had an especially deep influence on my life during the past several months, I thought I'd share it here:

Psalm 27

Of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?

 ² When the wicked advance against me
   to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
   who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.

 ⁴ One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.

 ⁶ Then my head will be exalted
   above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make music to the LORD.

 ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
   the LORD will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   spouting malicious accusations.

 ¹³ I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

Snowing in Shanghai!

It's snowing!!!

Here is a picture of the cathedral parish of Shanghai, where I usually go to church. It's a pretty awesome place...a great big gothic-style church right in the middle of Xujiahui, one of Shanghai's busiest business districts. (This picture doesn't do it justice, because when you see the church, it looks like it was plopped from the sky right into the middle of a thoroughly modern metropolis.) Despite the church's architectural disparity with its surroundings, the cathedral might be one of Shanghai's most popular places for tourist photography, outdoor wedding pictures, etc.

It rarely snows in Shanghai. Happily for me, though, this is the THIRD time I've seen snow here! I'm loving it. And so are the kids who are running and yelling outside my apartment right now.

(N.B. I wish I could claim credit for this photo. Sadly, all the pictures on my phone camera seem to be absolutely untransferrable.)