3.02

well, it's been over 3 months since i wrote on here. so to call it late wouldn't even begin to cover it.

so... i'm home now! flew into hong kong on jan 15th, stayed there till the 20th, when i flew home with a little bit of china forever left on my heart, and....well, left hip.

that's right. barbara and i got tattoos in hong kong! both of the same thing; 'yi' the old mandarin character for 'righteous.' which is their symbol for 'lamb,' over the symbol for 'me.' mine on my hip, with hers on the back of her neck.

since i've been home, so many people, especially from the church, keep saying how AWESOME, and crazy, and bold, and ... good... it was that i went ALL THE WAY to china.

but frick.

the whole reason i went was to- encourage, help, serve, carry their burdens, take out the trash and do dishes... uplift the younger believers, and have fellowship.

i just happen to be in another country, when doing so.

Heb. 3:13-14 "but exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. for we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."

now, i want to be doing those exact same things. just in... utah, rather than hainan. one isnt greater than the other, more rewarding, or more blessed. it's all things we're called to do. and now thats what i plan on doing here.

:]

so, i'm home. and looking back now, i still hold that the biggest thing i learned was how we are called to a life of servant-hood, not merely 'service.'

Acts 20:18-21, 24

"...you yourselves know how i lived among you the whole time from the first day that i set foot in asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials... how i did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying... of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. ... but i do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only i may finish my course and the ministry that i received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

He is so worthy.