Murphy, a garden gnome stolen from his Gloucester home seven months ago has turned up along with an album of his world travels.  He traveled to over 12 countries, including South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Laos. He was also carrying a note putting his world tour down to “itchy feet”.  “There’s more to life than watching daily commuter traffic and allowing passing cats to urinate on you,” the letter said.  You can ready the story here.

Murphey, soaking up the sun in Thailand.

The Purpose of Prayer

Prayer is not a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person’s life will suffer if he doesn’t pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, but by prayer. When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished. Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.

“Ask, and you will receive . . .” ( John 16:24 ). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things. Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, “. . . unless you . . . become as little children . . .” ( Matthew 18:3 ). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits’ end. When a person is at his wits’ end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems— the very things that have brought you to your wits’ end. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything.

To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me and then I change things.” God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.

In the meantime, let’s get to know our 5 friends:

The 2008 Olympic mascots were unveiled in Beijing on November 11, 2005 – 1,000 days before the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Games. The five “Fuwa” – one to represent each of the Olympic Rings – carry a unifying message of friendship and peace, particularly aimed at the world’s children. They were designed to convey the Olympic spirit and to express the playful qualities of a young group of close friends. Their mission is to help Beijing 2008 spread its theme (One World, One Dream) to every continent. Fuwa translates to good luck dolls or children carrying blessings.

Each of the Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name, which in China is a way of expressing affection towards children. Four of China’ most popular animals are represented, along with the Olympic Flame. The five Fuwa are Beibei (a fish), Jingjing (a panda), Huanhuan (the Olympic Flame), Yingying (a Tibetan antelope) and Nini (a swallow). When you put the five names together – Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni – the phrase means “Beijing Welcomes You.”

Bebei

Beibei, the fish, represents the blue Olympic ring, prosperity and the sea. Fish and water symbolize prosperity in traditional Chinese culture. A fish also represents surplus in harvest. The lines of the wave designs in her headdress are based on Chinese paintings of the past. Beibei, who is said to be “gentle and pure,” is strong in water sports.

Jingjing

Jingjing, the panda, represents the black Olympic ring, happiness and the forest. He is said to be “charmingly naïve and optimistic,” to make children smile and be noted for strength. The lotus designs in his headdress are based on paintings from the Song Dynasty (A.D. 960-1234) and symbolize “the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature.”

Huanhuan

Huanhuan, the Olympic Flame, represents the red ring, passion and fire. He is considered the big brother among the Fuwa and stands in the center “as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit… He inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger.” The designs on his head ornament are based on the Dunhuang murals and include aspects of traditionally lucky Chinese designs. Huanhuan, who is “outgoing and enthusiastic,” is strong at ball games.

Yingying

Yingying, the Tibetan antelope, represents the yellow ring, health and earth (particularly the vastness of China’s landscape). The species, which is unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, was one of the first animals put under protection in China and its selection here is meant to reflect Beijing’s commitment to a Green Olympics. Yingying’s head ornament incorporates design elements from the Qinghai-Tibet and Sinkiang cultures, as well as the traditions of Western China. He is quick-witted, fast and agile, excelling in track and field events.

Nini

Nini, the swallow, represents the green ring, good luck and the sky. The golden-winged swallow is one of the most popular designs on kites flown by Beijing’s children in spring and summer and her design is based on these kites. Swallow is also pronounced “yan” in Chinese, and Beijing was called Yanjing as an ancient capital city. Nini, who is “innocent and joyful” excels at gymnastics.

Today I read a little section about the Trinity that is really illuminating for me.  The Trinity is something I do not understand at all.  I’ve only heard a pastor preach on it once, and I don’t really understand the significance of it for our faith, but this helps a little bit, and has me wanting to know more.  I think it speaks for itself.

The balance of unity and diversity in the Trinity gives a model for human social life, because it implies that both individuality and relationship exist within the Godhead itself.  God is being-in-communion.  Humans are made in the image of a God who is a tri-unity–whose very nature consists in reciprocal love and communication among the Persons of the Trinity.  This model provides a solution to the age-old opposition between collectivism and individualism.  Over against collectivism, the Trinity implies the dignity and uniqueness of individual persons.  Over against radical individualism, the Trinity implies that relationships are not created by sheer choice but are built into the very essence of human nature.  We are not atomistic individuals but are created for relationships.

…”The Church as a whole is an icon of God the Trinity, reproducing on earth the mystery of unity in diversity”…”Human beings are called to reproduce on eath the mystery of mutual love that the Trinity lives in heaven.”

by the way, if you were to go on a vision quest to find your name, what would it be? I’m debating between Katydid, Skipping Stone, and Lion’s Mane (I have always wished my hair was fuller, like the mane of a lion). what’s yours?

this is a song they sang me. my teacher said they are acting like fairies. it took a lot of self-control not to kidnap them all and smuggle them back to america. maybe one day.

it’s been awhile! i just returned home about a week ago after a month and a half in a country in east asia. it was such an amazing experience. i was with 9 other staff and students. we stayed on campus at a university, took language classes, learned about east asian culture, and made lots of east asian friends. we spent a lot of time getting to know these students as friends, finding out how they lived and their families and what they cared about, and how they saw life. we got to have lots of spiritual conversations with them about where we come from, and what life is about, and if there is a God. it was amazing how many of them had not given much thought to the existence of God, and God allowed us to enter into this conversation with many folks. we got to share a lot about what we believed too, about how there is a God who exists who loves us and created us, and sent his Son to bring us back to himself. it was truly exhilerating getting to share the gospel with those who have never heard before.

my favorite part of the summer was getting to do all of this with the American students on our team. I LOVED the students and staff I was with–they were so fun, and God really united our hearts together this summer. it was the first time overseas for all the students on the team and many of their first times sharing their faith. one of my favorite memories was coming back one night after an afternoon on campus, and all of the girls had had really good conversations that night where we had gotten to talk about the gospel with people, and they were so EXCITED! they were just blown away at how the holy spirit had worked in their interactions with the students. so cool.

i’ll probably post some more stories or videos or something this week, but for now, here are a few pics from the summer