Year 2.23 resolved a few matters. Monday morning was gym time. At noon I was treated to a sumptuous lunch buffet at an expensive TST lunch by a young AV friend. At night I went to dinner and shop at Tsuen Wan with a USA friend to end the day.
Day 2 I started working feverishly on Psalm 73 for my Sunday sermon, a sermon I had laid aside for many months. It is a text that got my attention after Doris' loss, so I had to worked through it. I was glad I finished my vision statement by today's required date.
Wednesday morning was breakfast with a new believer that went on so smoothly but unfortunately by lunch time I was called to a meeting because of a dispute he had with a counsellor. The meeting lasted three and a half hours, so lunch was postponed. At night I had to talk to a good friend who thought I criticized him when. I asked if a note was "sent wrong(ly)" to me.
Day 4 as usual was a half day. My sermon was taking shape, but I still have to work on the third point and look for illustrations. At night I went for hand treatment. That did not stop me from my daily prayer night walk.
Friday was my last day to finish my sermon because the next day was Chung Yeung holiday, and I had signed up for fellowship outing tomorrow. At night I had progressive dinner at Jordan with a new USA friend, eating wonton, toast n eggs and dessert. Getting home I walked 45 minutes to get the weight off.
The fellowship went to Lai Chi Wo almost the whole day from 8am to 5pm. I know for sure I am getting close to my normal self because I was meeting and greeting all like a pro! The noon nap by the pier helped. The day ended with dinner with buddy couple before heading home.
Sunday morning arrived with an interview from a team of six at 845am. I took it in stride and responded to questions honestly. It ended around 1015am just before my sermon at 11am. The response song 除你以外 to my sermon Psalm 73 brought some tears to my eyes. I had lunch with former coworker Harold. Praise God he was back to his energetic self after a bout with tongue cancer. Dinner with my neighbor and his two kids was cancelled, so I ate curry my sister in-law prepared, which was very good. Doris' sisters had brought flowers in the morning for the festive weekend. At night I was misty-eyed before sleeping.
October 31, 2017
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Year 2.22
Year 2.22 was a very good week for me. On Monday I woke up to a cheery, energetic and positive Doris in my dream, taking medication in her stride, empowering me for the whole week. I had lunch with two good friends, treating them to celebrate my tax return. It was a rainy day but it did nothing to deter me from buying flowers for Doris. My buddy suggested new lilies for a change, so I got some white ones with big petals. I was really pleased with it. Unfortunately my friend's wife had a slipped disc and was hospitalized. I did some writing at the office before heading home.
Day 2 Unknown to me a long meeting was due on Monday. I could get very little done by the end of the day with coworkers meeting looming in the afternoon. I was still figuring out what my next sermon in November should be because I was told a visiting speaker will speak on Micah 6:8 as well, so I got to choose another..
On Wednesday morning I loaned Doris' college journal to BC, which she deeply appreciated, calling Doris her new rntor. I attended a long leaders meeting till 1030pm. Those that stayed behind for the next part did not leave till 1230am. It was a long day because I opted not to stay at home in the morning, but returned to office to do my own writing in the morning.
Day 4 I received an official division letter asking me to write my vision statement in more than 1500 words. The pending challenge of doing three languages is too tricky for any to do, so help me God. I was stuck after 1,000 words.
On Friday I and a colleague met with two reps to see if we could get a temp for college work, which was turned down. We had staff meeting followed by lunch with my predecessor. A young man had dinner with me and gave me a sample of Grammar Bible in app form. It makes me giddy thinking that the book could come out in app sometime soon. I also gave a seven-minute devotion at Couples Fellowship on Barnabas, which turned out really well.
Day 6 was lunch with fellowship staff before a lengthy three hour study, two with pre-prestudy group and one with group leaders. Following a short dinner with a buddy I attended Putonghua Fellowship. The study on Psalm 5 really invigorated me, so I will preach on it next month.
On Sunday the praise team sang 我知道我的救贖者活着, but for the first since Doris' loss I could sing it without tears. Since returning from missions last week I feel I have recovered significantly. Praise God, now I have energy in the abundance. At night I had dinner with a USA friend in Tsuen Wan and went to the new Ikea there. I watched the tenth episode of OCTB to end the day.
Oct 24, 2017Year 2.22
Day 2 Unknown to me a long meeting was due on Monday. I could get very little done by the end of the day with coworkers meeting looming in the afternoon. I was still figuring out what my next sermon in November should be because I was told a visiting speaker will speak on Micah 6:8 as well, so I got to choose another..
On Wednesday morning I loaned Doris' college journal to BC, which she deeply appreciated, calling Doris her new rntor. I attended a long leaders meeting till 1030pm. Those that stayed behind for the next part did not leave till 1230am. It was a long day because I opted not to stay at home in the morning, but returned to office to do my own writing in the morning.
Day 4 I received an official division letter asking me to write my vision statement in more than 1500 words. The pending challenge of doing three languages is too tricky for any to do, so help me God. I was stuck after 1,000 words.
On Friday I and a colleague met with two reps to see if we could get a temp for college work, which was turned down. We had staff meeting followed by lunch with my predecessor. A young man had dinner with me and gave me a sample of Grammar Bible in app form. It makes me giddy thinking that the book could come out in app sometime soon. I also gave a seven-minute devotion at Couples Fellowship on Barnabas, which turned out really well.
Day 6 was lunch with fellowship staff before a lengthy three hour study, two with pre-prestudy group and one with group leaders. Following a short dinner with a buddy I attended Putonghua Fellowship. The study on Psalm 5 really invigorated me, so I will preach on it next month.
On Sunday the praise team sang 我知道我的救贖者活着, but for the first since Doris' loss I could sing it without tears. Since returning from missions last week I feel I have recovered significantly. Praise God, now I have energy in the abundance. At night I had dinner with a USA friend in Tsuen Wan and went to the new Ikea there. I watched the tenth episode of OCTB to end the day.
Oct 24, 2017Year 2.22
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Year 2.21
Year 2.21 has been a fascinating week mostly spent teaching abroad. On Monday morning breakfast was at a popular bun QF restaurant near the sixth mouth. A class of 28 students, one audit, was waiting for me. They learned uneasily the grammar rules on the first day. Class ends at 530pm. After dinner with two students I returned to class to sit with a few students there because I did not want to sit alone in the small morel room. Interestingly this is the third generation I am training, having skipped the last generation because I was absent at home with Doris the last three years.
Tuesday was exegeting and preaching the first point in Philemon. The brighter students were two with law background and one from HKU. The audit and two older brother-sister siblings had it rougher. Overall most are unsure but are willing to learn. The two ladies from Greenland with me for dinner told me the first generation student I trained was their pastor's son.Tuesday I spent the evening in class too till 9pm.
The next day was the best. Most remarkably understood what I was doing and how grammar dictates preaching. One student who was worried if she could improve made major progress. So did the rest of the class. A former student took me to dinner and told me he had taught 100 students the grammar rules, 40 at seminary and 40 at missions. Night space was taken by church, so I spent some time at Starbucks, returning 9pm to watch an anti-triad TV series younger coworkers were watching, starring Jordan Chan to counter my boredom.
Day 4 was a fitting end to what I taught them. Most had control of grammar and their preaching. A student who gave me a hard time last night bought three small bags of mixed nuts to call it a truce. I found out one other student's supervisor and leader at Mountland was one of my former students too.
Friday was preaching day. All had a turn preaching one point. The class went so well that I taught then OT grammar using Obadiah. The class ended at 230pm so I could take an earlier cab to the airport for my 630pm flight. I regretted not taking a book to read for my three hours flight. I reached home at 1030pm to 651 messages! Overall I had three groups with connections to my past teaching, my pride!
Day 6 was back to work after my hand treatment in the morning. Five of us went to lunch. I had to write my leadership statement on a potential new responsibility. At night I had dinner snack with a pth fellowship group I spent the least time with.
The typhoon disrupted Sunday worship for the third time this year. Thankfully the church met the challenge with FB live by the pastor, followed by pth department live. Lunch was with a neighbor coworker followed by tea at the pier After the winds died down I did prayer walk and went to the gym and watch episode three. The biggest thrill was finishing the application questions to the Lent series even though there are six sermons still to be edited.
Oct 17, 2017
Tuesday was exegeting and preaching the first point in Philemon. The brighter students were two with law background and one from HKU. The audit and two older brother-sister siblings had it rougher. Overall most are unsure but are willing to learn. The two ladies from Greenland with me for dinner told me the first generation student I trained was their pastor's son.Tuesday I spent the evening in class too till 9pm.
The next day was the best. Most remarkably understood what I was doing and how grammar dictates preaching. One student who was worried if she could improve made major progress. So did the rest of the class. A former student took me to dinner and told me he had taught 100 students the grammar rules, 40 at seminary and 40 at missions. Night space was taken by church, so I spent some time at Starbucks, returning 9pm to watch an anti-triad TV series younger coworkers were watching, starring Jordan Chan to counter my boredom.
Day 4 was a fitting end to what I taught them. Most had control of grammar and their preaching. A student who gave me a hard time last night bought three small bags of mixed nuts to call it a truce. I found out one other student's supervisor and leader at Mountland was one of my former students too.
Friday was preaching day. All had a turn preaching one point. The class went so well that I taught then OT grammar using Obadiah. The class ended at 230pm so I could take an earlier cab to the airport for my 630pm flight. I regretted not taking a book to read for my three hours flight. I reached home at 1030pm to 651 messages! Overall I had three groups with connections to my past teaching, my pride!
Day 6 was back to work after my hand treatment in the morning. Five of us went to lunch. I had to write my leadership statement on a potential new responsibility. At night I had dinner snack with a pth fellowship group I spent the least time with.
The typhoon disrupted Sunday worship for the third time this year. Thankfully the church met the challenge with FB live by the pastor, followed by pth department live. Lunch was with a neighbor coworker followed by tea at the pier After the winds died down I did prayer walk and went to the gym and watch episode three. The biggest thrill was finishing the application questions to the Lent series even though there are six sermons still to be edited.
Oct 17, 2017
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Year 2.20
Year 2.20 was written earlier by two days because of my mission trip to today. Monday was a public holiday for China National Holiday. I conducted a Bible camp讀經營 for Yuen Long Bread of Life. They were very enthusiastic, ordering 33 Grammar Bibles. At night I treated the Goks and Moks for Vietnamese dinner. At night I found an endearing prayer from Doris found in her college journal:
主啊！今天自己要立下一個心志，不求主叫我離開苦難，只求主叫我在苦難中站立得住。求父教我不要時刻預備，先有一個樂於受苦的心志，好叫試探，苦難、撒旦的攻擊來到，我們能為主要受苦，也能依然站立得住。
Day 2 I was supposed to join two coworkers for dinner but my neighbor's wife had kidney infection and was hospitalized, so we cancelled dinner plans because I was the most suitable and nearest helper to care for the kids with mom hospitalized, but my coworkers brought food and joined us for dinner at neighbors home with me babysitting for one short night.
Wednesday was the eve of midautumn festival. My buddy Cheng and his friends Kwan invited me for dinner at a Hakka restaurant in Ta Wai, and dessert after dinner. Their two kids have completed lesson one of their marital counseling sessions. Cheng suffered from bad teeth problems.
Day 4 was lunch and dinner with Chicago friend. Unfortunately we ordered the previous day ticket that expired. At night I joined family for dinner and moon cakes. Today was a special day because my last sermon in Lent series was translated by Seven.
Friday was pth staff meeting. After staff meeting I met my predecessor who was back from USA. We had lots to talk about. Later I prayed with my buddies telling my anxiety about my trip. At night I had dinner with Faith and husband before attending couples fellowship.
Saturday morning was the worst hand treatment so far. I had lunch with a couples staff after I handed the 33 books to yuen long coworkers. Prestudy was good. USA friend Kenneth and Chang took me out for tea, then a buddy called me for McDonald's before I attended pth fellowship.
Sunday morning was Social concern day. An old song展开清晨的翅膀 from Ps 139 touched me deeply, and I was a little teary-eyed. As I depart on my trip I decided that I might as well eat at airport McDonald's before eating unhealthy local food on the next three days. I suspect my flight would be delayed and there would be tension at the customs office there. I need your prayers to calm my anxiety after four years of missions absence.
Oct 8, 2017
主啊！今天自己要立下一個心志，不求主叫我離開苦難，只求主叫我在苦難中站立得住。求父教我不要時刻預備，先有一個樂於受苦的心志，好叫試探，苦難、撒旦的攻擊來到，我們能為主要受苦，也能依然站立得住。
Day 2 I was supposed to join two coworkers for dinner but my neighbor's wife had kidney infection and was hospitalized, so we cancelled dinner plans because I was the most suitable and nearest helper to care for the kids with mom hospitalized, but my coworkers brought food and joined us for dinner at neighbors home with me babysitting for one short night.
Wednesday was the eve of midautumn festival. My buddy Cheng and his friends Kwan invited me for dinner at a Hakka restaurant in Ta Wai, and dessert after dinner. Their two kids have completed lesson one of their marital counseling sessions. Cheng suffered from bad teeth problems.
Day 4 was lunch and dinner with Chicago friend. Unfortunately we ordered the previous day ticket that expired. At night I joined family for dinner and moon cakes. Today was a special day because my last sermon in Lent series was translated by Seven.
Friday was pth staff meeting. After staff meeting I met my predecessor who was back from USA. We had lots to talk about. Later I prayed with my buddies telling my anxiety about my trip. At night I had dinner with Faith and husband before attending couples fellowship.
Saturday morning was the worst hand treatment so far. I had lunch with a couples staff after I handed the 33 books to yuen long coworkers. Prestudy was good. USA friend Kenneth and Chang took me out for tea, then a buddy called me for McDonald's before I attended pth fellowship.
Sunday morning was Social concern day. An old song展开清晨的翅膀 from Ps 139 touched me deeply, and I was a little teary-eyed. As I depart on my trip I decided that I might as well eat at airport McDonald's before eating unhealthy local food on the next three days. I suspect my flight would be delayed and there would be tension at the customs office there. I need your prayers to calm my anxiety after four years of missions absence.
Oct 8, 2017
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Year 2.18 was a pleasant week heading into October. On Monday I had lunch buffet with Roger and Peter at Moko, where I ate a lot. It's no value for money but I took my share of oysters and sashimi. I bought our favorite lilies for Doris simply because of its fragrance. After tea I headed home for noodles.
Day 2 morning was breakfast with new believer. He's got tons of family problems and business decisions to sort out. I do my best to offer principles but I am no answer. Surprisingly the coworkers voted down an item, so we are back to square one to find replacement. Could be a new beginning.
On Wednesday I had dinner with a brother who offered to help turn my grammar Bible into an app. What a great gesture! But we still need graphic designer for the user surface.
Day 4 My coworker introduced me to a former pastor who might know bahasa. Instead I preached more in bahasa than him. We told him more about our ministry, what we lack and how to apply.
Friday was prayer with my buddies. At night I went with Tom to celebrate Frank's birthday in our neighborhood as well as show Tom an island apartment. All was well for him except for mosquitoes, but we talked till 10pm.
Day 6 I donated blood morning and the staff checked my high blood pressure for a perfect 125/80 ratio. My lunch company ironically was with four USA coworkers. I also went through 2 Tim 2 with a coworker. My buddy was out of town, so I took his place preaching. My text was Prov. 31 才德的婦人.
The next day was also a preaching day, on Psalm 13 HOW LONG O LORD?
1. Talk to the Master (1-2)
2. Turn Over the Matter (3-4)
3. Trust in His Mercy (5-6)
The response song 不變的應許 was wonderful, bringing a lot of tears to my eyes. After lunch I had coffee with a buddy just to catch up.
Day 2 morning was breakfast with new believer. He's got tons of family problems and business decisions to sort out. I do my best to offer principles but I am no answer. Surprisingly the coworkers voted down an item, so we are back to square one to find replacement. Could be a new beginning.
On Wednesday I had dinner with a brother who offered to help turn my grammar Bible into an app. What a great gesture! But we still need graphic designer for the user surface.
Day 4 My coworker introduced me to a former pastor who might know bahasa. Instead I preached more in bahasa than him. We told him more about our ministry, what we lack and how to apply.
Friday was prayer with my buddies. At night I went with Tom to celebrate Frank's birthday in our neighborhood as well as show Tom an island apartment. All was well for him except for mosquitoes, but we talked till 10pm.
Day 6 I donated blood morning and the staff checked my high blood pressure for a perfect 125/80 ratio. My lunch company ironically was with four USA coworkers. I also went through 2 Tim 2 with a coworker. My buddy was out of town, so I took his place preaching. My text was Prov. 31 才德的婦人.
The next day was also a preaching day, on Psalm 13 HOW LONG O LORD?
1. Talk to the Master (1-2)
2. Turn Over the Matter (3-4)
3. Trust in His Mercy (5-6)
The response song 不變的應許 was wonderful, bringing a lot of tears to my eyes. After lunch I had coffee with a buddy just to catch up.
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