Part Two

My personal goal is to update this site and my other blog, at least once a day. Our small hotel is right across the crowded Taiwan street from this massive internet cafe. There have already been so many things to blog about today, I'll try to hit the best ones.

We attended church today, here in Dzuk-Tien, at the only indigenous congregation, a Presbyterian church. They were extremely gracious to us and seemed to worship God ardently. As a side note to mission's majors, I would label this church as 2.5-3.1 on the Contextualization scale. In basic English, it has a lot of American elements to it. However, Asian nations try so hard to be Western, at least Taiwan does. Starting churches without many Western elements to them would indeed be difficult.

But so many other things happened today and happened to me today. We went to a Taoist temple after lunch, at which the "Deacons" were beyond welcoming and polite. They let us get up very close to the idols, and explained what they do in worship and why. They offered to bring out their spirit medium, but our IMB missionary politely declined the offer. The missionary gave us the skinny on what the medium does. Basically, he get's possessed by the spirit of the god, i.e. demonic possession, takes out a sword-skewer thing, and goes to town on himself. He'll slash his head, arms, everything, not to mention stab himself through the cheek. In the morning, he's absolutely fine with no scars at all. Such is life in the non Western world. Satan shows himself to be a god of great power, and Jesus is seen to be a God of no power. Why? Those who claim the name of Christ don't live as if their lives were changed. The missionary talked about how we must show the power of God through our actions. Consider these words from Scripture.

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. Luke 11:21-22

Jesus Christ is indeed the strongest of all. Yes, Satan has been allowed what appears to us to be great power. But yes, Jesus Christ is God eternal, and possess infinite power. He is the Strong Man and he will bind the counterfeit strong man. May he plunder the slaves of Satan and release them into freedom, especially here amongest the Hakka of Taiwan and the world.

Please continue to pray for us. English Camp starts tomorrow, and I have to teach in it. I have no idea what I'm doing. It's going to have to be all God, now more than ever.