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China | Suzhou Canal And Market

Julie and I arrived home from our China trip today. Here was our homecoming schedule over the last 24 hours:

Tuesday, 5:00 am wake-up
Pack, eat breakfast, load on the bus and drive to Shanghai airport
8:00 am, arrive at the airport
10:00 am, fly to Beijing
12:00 noon, arrive in Beijing, cold 38 degrees, no heat in the Beijing airport
4:00 pm, leave Beijing for San Francisco
Tuesday, 10:45 am, arrive in San Francisco after a 10.5 hour flight.

Wow, we made it home!

Here is a video of our trip to Suzhou, China. Suzhou is about a three hour drive from Shanghai. Suzhou is on the shores of a huge lake. The people travel in boats through the canals of the city. We stopped and walked through a market. Check it out:

China Update

I can't believe that Julie and I are really in China. We arrived last Tuesday in Beijing. We spent two and a half days in Beijing. We saw the Forbidden City, Tienanmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. Check out some of the other things we did:

Pearl Factory
Jade Factory
Cloisonne Factory
Ming's Tomb
Emperor's Summer Palace
Silk Factory
Tiger Hill
Lingering Garden
Embroidery Museum
Lunch with a local family
Hutong tour
Rickshaw ride
Back and foot massage
TCM Institute (Bogus Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Every meal is Chinese food. I need a Betty Burger or In and Out! It has been an awesome experience that both Julie and I will remember for a long time. Yesterday and part of today we were in Suzhou. So far the was the best. We went on a canal ride and visited the local market. Wow, they really eat some interesting stuff. Julie took a lot of pictures of kids. We are currently in Hangzhou. Tomorrow we hang out here for a while and then head to Shanghai. I tried to create a You Tube video and download some pixs, but it was too slow and the You Tube video timed out. Maybe it's the government blocking stuff.  More later!

Any Resemblance to Our Church?

Pray for This Guy

I ride a motorcycle and what I saw today was a reminder that I need to be more alert and cautious while riding. Below are some pictures of a motorcyclist who was hit by a car. It happened about an hour ago in front of our church on Mission Street. Apparently someone was turning left and turned right in front of the guy. He also was going too fast and wasn't wearing any protective gear except a helmet. His helmet flew off on impact. The rider was awake and coherent on the road, but was unable to move.
 

 

Obama The Man!

Well, there it is, we have a new president. Barak Obama is the first African American to be the president of the United States. I have to admit that personally I enter into the next four years with mixed emotions. I am a little excited that change will take place in our country, but I am a little unsure if it is the change that is for the best. As I look at the election it almost seems like people voted against Bush more than they voted for Obama's principles and programs for change. This is a little unnerving because people may be blindly giving their allegiance to someone because of his charismatic personality while the whole time not really knowing his policies or programs.  Now, as Christ follwer I am not bummed or losing hope. I truly believe that as a Christ follower my faith and my position in Christ is not shaken. Jesus still loves me! America did not vote for or against Jesus today, they voted for a man who will lead a human institution. America is not the kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God has not been shaken! It is time for all of us to align ouserves with what the Bible tells us concerning the support of leaders:

 1 Timothy 2   ¹ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior...

If you know anything about Church history Paul spoke to Timothy these words when Rome occupied Israel. Roman culture and government was openly cruel, profane, and immoral. Some even believed Casear was a god. In the scripture Paul told told Timothy to pray for kings (Caesar). It really doesn't make sense to pray for someone who is so far from our own standards, but not to Paul. So, we as believers should remember the kingdom where we truly hold our citizenship and no matter what you believe concerning your new president, pray for him and love him unconditionally.