5.23

 Year 5.23 was a festive one. On Monday it was back to office to work on DTS translations. Praise God for translators’ work. I got to eat with buddy and coworkers.

Day two was coworkers retreat, which was hardworking due to SWOT division exercise. I wasn’t too invested because o had to preach Saturday.

Wednesday lunch was welcoming new coworker M with buddy and K. Next was hair cut before Doris’ day tomorrow. Night was dinner with buddy and R over restructuring talk, which I am cool to. DUI challenge of diseases, unemployment and immigration should be our challenges ahead.

Day four was four years five months after Doris’ loss. Early midnight I got to hear some of her videos as delivered by Tube! I took half day comp for the occasion.

Friday P breakfast was shifted to later noon. I had my day full with preaching tomorrow and next Tuesday’s chapel! 

Day six was a rest day for the night, where I had an exciting preaching day on Hab 3 at night. I, however, dislike the main hall for its long distance to the restroom in the cold hall.

Sunday was a tremendous day because celebrate pth youth E birthday at my home. There were seven overall with singing and fun.

October 28, 2020

5.22

 Year 5.22 was a new year for me emotionally. Coworkers retreat started on Monday. They enjoyed the song revisions game but the message was colored very early, few enjoyed it, so QA was lively thought it does not solve anything.

Day two retreat was canceled by a no-teeth typhoon warning, which the station strangely apologized. I still enjoyed doing work at the office in the afternoon.

Wednesday was a quiet day trying to work on Sunday sermon and Sunday school syllabus, but I decided to teach Ecclesiastes in May instead of January due the virus threat.

Day four was anxiety day meeting with former staff D and going to the dentist who extracted my second from upper left teeth. I even forgot my appointment with the chiropractor who called. I took the day off.

English department has a day out going to five guys for lunch. It’s expensively good, but I get to buy two slightly yellow masks!

Day six was spent listening to four coworkers recent videos. One from mos impressed me most as a completely new coworker who took just four lessons from me.

Sunday sermon was enjoyable though not more powerful than pth. The pth ya praise team was gelling with newcomer M on drums. After that we witnessed duan baptism before I called it a day. At night I got to work on revised Ecclesiastes 2.

October 20, 2020

5.21

 Year 5.21 was a happy and sad one. On Monday I was ecstatic because I finished my second last sermon to my latest book on Jesus after working on it for close to three months because of the virus distraction.

Day two was worship meeting but I was strangely not invited. I had to finish my chapel sermon  so I was not bothered. Anyway our department communication was good, so I missed nothing!

On Wednesday I had a sharp color exchange with a coworker who said I  discriminated against Wuhan. Later I advocated for CC to serve here. At night we had a wedding rehearsal.

Day four was a busy day working on my chapel sermon. I was also worried because my mandarin was not up to par to perform the wedding so I had to practice and memorize.

Groom’s father called me to complain there’s no live wedding broadcast.

Day four was chiropractor appointment that was canceled yesterday. Later I met with friend P to hand over his China ointment for his rash! At 530pm was the dreaded school board meeting at a crowded mtr time of the day, so I rushed home earlier to zoom.

Day six was wedding day but I had to see two doctors for my sudden bad tooth overnight, followed by E core to explain a staff problem. Praise God, we miraculously made live work!

Sunday was AGM that was surprisingly smooth. Later we had to elect deacon leadership. I was glad the day was over. The most satisfactory thing was purchasing flowers for Doris!

October 13, 2020

5.20

Year 5.20 was a bitter sweet week because worship is open but not us!  On Monday I joined neighbor Frank for birthday dinner. I already miss him even though he’s far from leaving. I used to have Alan, Bon and him and now the last is slipping away too. God speed!

Day two was a full blast festive lunch paid by buddy. We are really brothers in arms through transition and in tasks. Our talk was the same of helping coworkers and church as we walked the unknown path.

On Wednesday tears welled up my eyes inside mtr when the chat group goodbyes hit me hard. Five left this month. This gaping hole will stretch and test any leadership. 

Day four was mid autumn and it began with Leon lunch followed by MY visit and English team tea as we brainstorm how to handle a team crisis.

Friday was day two of festive lunch with overseas bunch of Roger, Peter and King. We really had a good time followed by Chung tea. 

I didn’t know Saturday was not a holiday day but I repaid it with my Thursday off as I was off today to buy meds, flower and wontons, the last two for the next day! I was glad to be there for adults praise team but my team is slow to respond in administration. I had a hearty dinner with K and X.

Sunday school was interesting as usual but I had a minor flare up when P had no clue where the speaker was. It’s not easy for leadership to mature overnight. Night dinner with six and SZ FaceTime was great.

October 6, 2020

5.19

5.18

 Year 5.18 was a satisfying week in other ministries. On Monday I returned to church earlier to do my writing instead of doing nothing at home. The rest of the day was easy going; I even ate at home.

On day two we said farewell to Wilson, Jayson and Boni after last week’s farewell to So. It was lively as it was orchestrated by Jim. 

Wednesday was a bad stomach day for me, rushing to the restroom on  three occasions! Night was leaders night meeting that was livelier than usual. I asked when the job was ending.

Day four was student’s birthday. I wanted to take him out for dinner but he was popular with his friends. I just didn’t want to see a lonely young man.

On Friday P could not wake so we ended up doing coffee after lunch. He’s got online classes at the weird times of the day. Lunch was with buddy and xb at Star. 

Day six was listening to coworkers Saturday messages. In between was birthday lunch was English staff. Noon was two music practices for the next day. We had dinner talk with possible incoming coworker. We started our first housemates prayer meeting with SZ!

Sunday Scool was better than last week. At least I failed minimally with zoom which is a lot to handle by myself. I cooked dinner for student for a change because he was busy with campus programs.

September 22, 2020

5.17

 Year 5.17 was a restless week for me for all the good reasons. Monday was a late lunch and a return trip to the office to do some writing. Later I left before crowd gets off work. Praise God I remembered to use soup coupons before it expires this month.

Day two was a week of transition brought by the handover which will test the old and new leadership. I should be ok because I have started to be more proactive in coworkers sermon feedback, plugging a gap in local ministry I’m excited to export out.

Wednesday morning was leaders meeting with a farewell lunch. I am glad I wrote my coworkers piece for the transition, which I feel is a contemporary classic! But readers will have to find it first.

Day four must be an answer to prayer of some sort. After hearing Swindoll’s chapel online I wrote to DTS if I could put Chinese subtitles or rebroadcast them in Chinese and today they answered YES! It means this could be my final lap in ministry trying to bring the best of evangelical preaching to Chinese coworkers and believers. Lunch was with a departing AV coworker.

Friday breakfast was with a coworker into his 11th year of internship with me. The subject was calling. At night we had a pricey birthday buffet celebration with his wife.

Day six was two online meetings, English followed by pth. I rested before praise team rehearsal but I was still too tired, joining them later for dinner.

Sunday was nervous day because of online Sunday school. I’m glad a student managed to flash my notes on the screen because I was messy all over the place. I heard a few coworkers sermons before I went to wet market for seafood to celebrate student’s birthday with the single guys at my place. We had a blessed night!

September 15, 2020

5.16

 Year 5.15 was a big week at church. On Monday I returned to church and got some writing done. Surprisingly buddy was at church whole day being filmed for Sunday’s big event. Once the gathering limit is listed I don’t even feel the urge to eat out.

Day two was lunch with buddy, followed by coworkers meeting. There’s nothing urgent going on except for the leaders.

Wednesday was leaders prayer meeting. Four of us had lunch over two tables before the head joined. I shared my prayer of Sunday preaching. At night I was touched by the story of singer Jonathan Lee entering the guitar making industry. 

Day four was a slow day but I was almost done with my Sunday sermon.  I do more than others usual preparation because I woul to translate my message to Chinese, not my forte.

Friday as usual was morning breakfast with a coworker for his ongoing class, now down to 12 weeks left. My sermon plus ppt for the church transition week is finally done, praise God.

Day six was a rainy morning. I’m glad I did not catch a cold. Finishing my sermon means my energy slowing down altogether, but at least I finished up my SS ppt. I decided to broadcast my Ecclesiastes series in the new year.

Sunday was a big day for the incoming and outgoing pastors. My sermon was well received. I was shocked the church preacher used my grammar bible method for preaching after lots of resistance. The preacher definitely improved! I downloaded Ruth videos for next week. I went to PE to buy flowers by myself and celebrated the bid sermon orexvhkngvweek for myself. I even had to run up atdown to do English and mandarin Lord’s Supper.

September 8, 2020

Year 5.14

 Year 5.14 was a busy week getting ready for zoom Sunday school. On Monday I thought I was getting sick because my teeth hurt and my head was tense, so I slept earlier to get ready to see a local doctor; hopefully it has nothing to do with the virus, but I was writing a lot for my new book foreword. Two will take an intensive course on church history.

I was thankful in day two I woke up to a normal day. The teeth did not hurt anymore, so I slept more to make sure. I was happy that I finished the preface for my new book on Genesis and have sent it to a translator.

Wednesday was early leaders meeting and we said our piece for the new restructuring. I went to lunch and met J and paid for his lunch. I will miss his fearless input. We are a good left and right wing soccer tandem, attacking from both flanks. I worked on B’s Sunday sermon.

Day four was a surprise big tea party with KJR all returning to work. I was working hard to complete my Ruth SS study because I got to preach the pth handover sermon next week. I only have to work on the translation next week because it’s a eleven year old sermon on Acts 20.

On Friday I had dinner with student not to make him feel unwelcome. On the other hand God has blessed us with a good rapport and relationship.

Day six was a morning language meeting and lunch with E, who’s been a faithful servant to all groups. At late afternoon I joined Youth A for practice.

Sunday was B preaching and I was relieved it went ok for the newbie, who had more than a full plate and a half in life and family. I joined the Immigration talk which the speaker uncharacteristically gave a fair talk. We went for dessert and had home dinner.

September 1, 2020

Year 5.13

 Year 5.13 was a good week remembering Doris. On Monday I returned to office and did some writing. At night I went to the Laus for my belated birthday dinner and got three masks in return!

Day two was an early coworkers meeting when buddy shared. At night I decided to reduce my meds to half because of my swollen feet. Typhoon Higos swept in at 10pm while most people were thankfully at home.

On Wednesday Higos left at 11am giving me enough time for lunch with Chris. He’s a dear brother who offered to do subtitles this week. At night we had deacons and our youth prayer groups divided to guys and gals group for the first time nicely.

Day four was a quiet day but no matter what I forced myself to finish up Ruth 1 for Sunday school. Buddy surprisingly came to office and we had yum cha together.

On Friday I began the first of fifteen weeks intern talk with a coworker. After that I bought flowers and cut my hair to remember Doris loss.

Day six was four years and three months after Doris’ loss. It was a day I turned grief to work when I texted all the first four months of Doris’ blog. Praise team was at late noon.

Sunday was a busy day as the praise team sang shakily to a few songs. I talked to a new intern to see what’s the future like for the person. At night student and I had dinner. I taught him a bit on how to read notes, even though I’m hardly an expert.

August 25, 2020