I have decided that I really do not have the time to blog. I really should be studying rather than sitting here on the computer... Also, what would I write about? Let me think, I had an exceedingly strange dream last night and was woken by trains several times throughout the night. Oh, I know. My friend and I had a very interesting conversation with two older gentlemen this morning in the coffee shop. One of them was a psych major in college and he has a test that he gives to individuals (I greatly doubt that any reliability and validity stats have been ran on this "test", but oh well -- it was fun). On second thought, scratch that story. It was interesting until I tried to type it out.

See, I got nothin'. I am going to bed.

I have thought about blogging again, but I am thinking I have neglected to update for so long that no one stops by any longer. Am I right?

An American tradition

Another baking party, and this time it was apple pie. I did not get any pictures of the process, only the finished product.

John (he really enjoyed the homemade apple pie as it was his first in a long time) May, Owin, Channel and some strange guy with a bowl on his head (Lawrence).
May preparing for a pie eating contest.

Owin liked the pie also... but not as much as the cookies.

As the party was winding down, an conversation orchestrated by the Holy Spirit arose. Channel was talking about how she believed Christians should act (not doing the bad things). We were able to talk about our sinfulness as humans and that being a Christian was not about how we acted, but only that we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. Although it was not a long, in-depth conversation, the Truth was spoken. Thanks be to God for a good time, the apple pie and the opportunity to tell about Jesus!

In response to a not so subtle hint for an update, here are some pics from a bbq we had last weekend. It was a Hawaiian themed bbq, hence the grass skirts, leis and funny hats. I do not think the pictures require too much commentary, so enjoy.

Some pics from Arkansas

Well, I am back in Macau. After sleeping in and missing my flight, I was finally able to get here. My time at home was so blessed. I got to see family and friends, eat some Mexican food and the unrivaled Grandma food, and I was also able to see one of my best friends get married. It was so great and refreshing to be home and now it is great to be back in Macau. God is good.

Some pictures of my time at home in Arkansas.

Dinner with the family, a couple of friends and of course, the ever present dogs. (You are gonna love it Sam).

Dinner with friends

While all of the adults looked the same, all of the kids looked so different and BIG.

The view from my house. This is definitely one of the things I missed most while in Macau.

As it is 6ish and I have been up for several hours at this point, I going to call it quits for this jet-lag induced, early morning entry. I need sleep.

Going Home

Typhoons aside, and God willing, I plan to leave Macau today. I will first be traveling to the typhoon prone island of Taiwan and then catching a plane for America. So I will either see you soon or see you in a month. Bye for now.

Cassie

I have been struggling lately and as usual, it took the Lord to show me the source of my struggle. Anger. I have been angry at my friends here for their stubborn hearts, at the way they blame God for their lack of faith. "It is hard for the Chinese people to believe in Jesus, because that means many of our ancestors are in hell now". I have heard this thought many, many times from my friends. They want to know why Jesus came to the "western" people and not to the Chinese people. In essence what they are saying is that because Jesus did not reveal Himself in the way they think He should have, they can't believe.

Stop blaming God for your hardened hearts! Repent and turn to Jesus! Stop rejecting this gracious gift He is offering!

Then there is my atheist friend that believes science holds the answer to everything and if we wait long enough all of the questions we have will be answered. Can science fill that big, gaping wound in your heart? No. And while you are waiting for your questions to be answered by science, you will find yourself separated from the true answer for eternity.

Stop looking for solutions within yourself! Repent and turn to Jesus! Stop rejecting this gracious gift He is offering!

Now to myself, does the fact that my friends (and myself) are stubborn, unrepentant sinners mean that Jesus loves them (and me) any less? Does it mean that they are less deserving of my prayers, love and tears?

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" Luke 15:7

No, it does not.

Stop hardening my heart to these souls crying out in anguish! Repent and turn to Jesus! Stop rejecting the gracious gift he is offering!

Praise God that He is everything we are not. His love, mercy and patience knows no bounds. He hears the cry of anguished souls and gives himself.

Please pray for my friends here, that they may repent and turn to the source of all, our Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray for me that I may repent and turn to the Lord to be cleansed and used as He would see fit. Lord draw us all closer to you for the sake of your Son, Jesus.

Amen.