readiness, commitment, and compromise

At the moment, I am on a plane somewhere between here and there--probably somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.  So, here is a quote that set me thinking and pondering this past weekend:

Readiness is a sign of commitment.  Commitment that is unprepared to sacrifice is  merely compromise in disguise.  . . . Compromise takes a steady toll and weakens our desire and ability to be committed. In the same way, the believer's commitment to Christ must exact a price in order to maintain its value.  We must prepare for the test of our commitment by daily affirming that [it is] worth it.  It's worth spending our time in daily prayer.  It's worth gathering for worship at church.  It's worth enduring hardship and trial, abuse, and even arrest for the privilege of maintaining our commitment without compromise. (taken from the book extreme devotion, emphasis added)

"Compromise takes a steady toll."  I think this is so true in my own
life.  Little by little, just like how a steady drip of water can dent
a stone, small compromises begin to add up and take a toll.  So, I started asking myself:

(1) What
compromises have I made--large or small?
(2) Am I prepared to make sacrifices?  which ones?  how so?  Have I dictated which sacrifices are ok and which ones are not?
(3) In what ways do I need to prepare for possible future sacrifices?  How can I be ready, prepared?

Scripture says "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12).  Do I live too comfortably?  If I am not living in the midst of painful trial should I be surprised? 

flying thousands of miles

I am now on my way back to Taiwan.  After I brought my brother back from his three month visit to Taiwan, I was blessed to be able to stay in the States for about another month. 

Here is a little Q&A to fill you in a little more on my trip.

Q: How far apart are your two homes?
A: As the crow flies, I think my home in the States and my home in Taiwan are around 8,000 miles apart.

Q: How long will it take you to fly back to Taiwan?
A: Well, the easy answer is "about a day."  If you want the long answer, keep reading, I will leave my home about 3 hours before my Austin plane departs; then fly to LA (about 4 hours) and have a small layover in LA; then fly to Taipei (about 13 hours, and I also lose a day by crossing the International date line) and have a small layover; then fly to Kaohsiung (about 1 hour); then go though customs and immigration; then find my former student who is picking me up and drive home (about an hour).  So, I leave my Texas home at about 9 on Tuesday morning and arrive at my Taiwan home at about 1 in the morning on Thursday.  C.R.A.Z.Y!!

Q: What is the time difference between Taiwan and Texas?
A: Taiwan is 13 hours ahead of Texas.  So, if it is 1 AM on Thursday in Taiwan, it is 12 noon on Wednesday in Texas. (Well, that is right now before Daylight Savings time changes it to 14 hours ahead).

Q: What do you miss most when you are in the States?
A: Gilby and friends.  Also, I enjoy having a break from teaching, but it doesn't take long for me to begin to miss being in the classroom.  I also miss
hearing and using Chinese.

Q: What do you miss most when you are in Taiwan?
A: Family and food--in that order. ;)

Q: What is your fave Taiwanese food?
A: Uh . . . is that really possible to answer?  Which meal are we talking about?  Does fruit count?  There are so many wonderful foods in Taiwan!!  But, I know I can't wait to have the stuff that a street vendor sells right down the street from my house.  I'll show you a picture of it the next time I eat it. Ok?

Q: What American food do you miss most?
A: Beef, milk, cheese.  I also really miss good Tex-Mex, Cesar salads, and a good grilled burger.  And . . . Diet Dr. Peppers (does that count as a food?).  And, Blue Bell ice cream.

Q: What is the toughest adjustment to being back in the States?
A: Not being stared at.  Why is no one looking at me?  Am I not special anymore?  And, all the choices!!  Oh, and being clueless about pop culture stuff--anywhere from names of people in the news to why are pomegranates so popular this summer?

Q: What is the toughest adjustment to going back to Taiwan?
A: In previous years, it takes me awhile to get back into the groove of using Chinese again.  And, this year, I know that I have no time really to "get over" jet-lag--I have to be at work on Thursday, and start teaching Monday morning!

Q:How long will you be in Tawian?
A: I don't know.  This is the first time I have purchased a one-way (not round trip ticket) to Taiwan.  I know my contract at the school is good through one more school year; but, I will keep living there until God leads otherwise.

Anything else you wanna ask me?  I would be happy to tell you more--so please feel free to ask away.  (And remember, no question is too trival or mundane.)  Just be patient in waiting for the answer; I don't have internet access while flying over the ocean. ;)

work and rest

Work.  No matter who we are or what we "do," we all work in some shape, form, or fashion.

I go back "to work" this week--after enjoying two months on "no work."  By God's grace, I have always tried to apply this verse to my jobs: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colosians 3:23-24). 

It is not easy to work heartily when I get no credit or, worse yet, someone else gets the credit for my hard work.  It is not easy to work heartily when I am frustrated with my boss, my colleagues, or my students.  It is not easy to work heartily when I am burned out or sick.  But, still I must focus on the fact that I am to work as for the Lord and not for men. 

However, thankfully, most days it is very easy to work heartily because, as I have said before, I love my job.  To be paid to do what I love is a blessing!  How great is our God!

I am starting to think that part of "work as for the Lord," also means
honoring his priorities and teachings, rather than just an excuse which
allows me to be caught up in prefectionism and self-rightousness.

Which means, I also have been thinking about how and when to say enough is enough.  What is the balance between being the best teacher I can be and working as unto the Lord on one hand and knowing when to stop, to rest, and to enjoy and participate in the other things of life and living on the other hand?

I don't know the answer.  But, I do know that I want to wrestle with it more.  In the next few days I am going to prayerfully set some goals and objectives for the coming year (for teachers--"the new year" is in the fall).  I already know that one of these objectives will be to learn more about rest and practice observing it. 

I read recently (but can't remember where) that the day before observing rest is a day of preparation for the day of rest.  This day of prep led to anticipation for the day of rest to come.  The Bible is a story of anticipation--waiting for the Savior to come and waiting for him to come again.  Partly, I want to observe a day of rest because God thought it was a good thing to do after working and because I want to practice anticipation.  I want to be reminded on a weekly basis that I am (supposed to be) waiting eagerly for the Savior to come again.

I guess one of the beautiful things about work is that we get to anticipate and enjoy rest. :)

This post was submitted to the Carnival of Beauty sponsored by Sallie at A Gracious Home.  This week the theme is The Beauty of Work and is hosted by Mary at Relevant Blog.

what they mean

Thanks to all who played along and tried to guess what these things were:

Michelle (a missionary in South Korea), who said she was taking a "LONG shot" guessed the answer to what they mean very well!!  They are based on a foreign language, but not Greek like Crystal (a friend from college now living in the UK) thought. 

But, they are two different symbols inspired by an ancient form of Chinese calligraphy called the seal script, which is closer to what Claire (a Taiwanese woman living in Canada) elluded to.

As you probably know the 2008 summer Olympics are going to be held in China.  For each Olympics, the hosting country gets to create the pictograms for the sports.  Earlier this month, they announced what the seals for the olympics are going to look like.

The two pictograms above represent diving and judo--just two of the thirty-five pictograms that "integrate [the] pictographic charm of inscriptions on bones and bronze
objects in ancient China with [the] simplified embodiment of modern graphics." 

Fun, right?  I just love them.  Here are some more:

See all 35, more about them, and pictograms from previous Olympics here.

photo scavengerhunt: on the road

Taken while on the road when Sarah, my sister, was giving me a ride home last week.

I just love all that you can see in the reflection on her sunglasses.

 

do you know what they mean?

 

What are they?  Do you know what they mean??

Take a guess in the comments.  I'll let you know this weekend who gets it right.

they chose life . . . or did they?

After 13 days of harrowing captivity, FOX newsman Steve Centanni and
cameraman Olaf Wiig were released by terrorists…unharmed…emotional and
grateful. Images of them falling tearfully into the arms of loving
family graced the television Sunday from morning ‘til night. Who of us
didn’t rejoice?

Only those of us, perhaps, who understood the terms of their
release. Dressed in Islamic garb, Steve and Olaf, cameras rolling,
bowed their heads and converted to Islam. It was convert or be killed
and they chose life.

Wouldn’t you? After all, everyone knows “conversions” are just
performances required by deranged hostage takers to somehow advance
their cause. No one means it when they renounce their government, their
homeland….their God. You can believe something in your heart and say
another, can’t you?

You can read the rest of Sandy Rios' commentary on the Persecution Blog.

But, I find my answer in the Old Testament in the Daniel chapter 3. 

I agree with Sandy when she says:

It grieves me, not that Olaf and Steve converted, because I don’t know
if they have a personal relationship with Christ. I don’t fault them
for their choice and have nothing but empathy and grief for them for
making it….my grief comes from the lack of understanding by Christians
of what this means…the unwillingness up front to pay the ultimate price
and the lack of faith demonstrated by thinking that saving your
physical life supersedes securing your eternal soul.