Presenting in a second language

So around lunch time today I had the opportunity to do a bit of what my family came to Taiwan to do.

I was able to lead a Bible study in Chinese.

It was at my office, and with colleagues who are somewhat familiar with the story.

But on reflection, it reminded me of a few things that I think I distinctively know, though are easy to forget.

1. Our comprehension and ability to hold a conversation is limited by our vocabulary. 

Sometimes we're tempted to judge people's intelligence based on their vocabulary. But it is only a small piece of the bigger picture. You can prepare a whole number of thoughts and potential responses, but ultimately only the words you know lead to being able to go back and forth in dialogue, to learn from others.

2. Repetition aids understanding. My church back in Australia would say the same words and pray the same prayers for at least a few months. This was particularly aimed at those for whom English (in Australia).

3. There is great joy in discovering something afresh and familiar in a new language. To be able to connect with people and have them understand you.

4. This is the real lived experience of our friends who learnt English at different times in their lives, or who prefer church in their mother tongue. Sometimes them joining the English service is an act of great sacrifice.

5. There is real power in speaking at a native level the dominant language of communication. The conversation can move very quickly, decisions made, and new topics discussed before the non-native speaker/hearer has understood the original question. We need to consider our weaker brothers in this way.

That said, the only way is up. 

Trains and other important stuff

I haven't blogged for a while, but I'm feeling that this could again become a place for sensible consolidation of broader thoughts I have from time to time.

For today my thoughts are focused on trains, and in particular, train infrastructure, while hoping to explore some gospel implications.

I like trains a lot. I spent six years on trains to and from school, then five years on the train and bus to and from University and then years on trains in the workforce.

Every country I have lived in or visited that had one, I have used the local train system.

In my home city I have for many years been a passionate advocate for additional train infrastructure.  For years I wanted to be Minister for Transport.  I wanted to improve people's lives by making work, education and healthcare closer to home, spreading economic development and opportunity.

So the current NSW election is something I'm following perhaps too closely.
A new train line is in final testing, the next stages are being tunnelled, with five whopping big tunnelling machines in the ground, and the next line will likely commence next year. Very exciting!
Add to that the light rail network, and upgrades to rural services and there's almost something for almost everyone. This hasn't happened before on this scale in my lifetime.

But there's a reason why I am not still involved in NSW politics.

Because though a train line is one of the most permanent ways to improve a city's livability and capacity, it isn't going to make a permanent difference. Just like any other innovation, people incorporate the added convenience into their day, and then wait for the next big thing. As good as it is, the train line doesn't make people live forever.

My family are currently living overseas in a country that has lots of trains. So many types of trains, Metros, Slow Trains, faster Trains, and High Speed Rail too. So many trains that the domestic airline industry shrunk significantly. But these nice things don't make problems disappear.

But as you could probably guess, the people here don't need me to come help make train systems work, or even to run demand projections on new lines (as fun as that would be). They have people from amongst themselves able to do that.
A Christian hopefully builds a safe train line and acts diligently and ethically in making planning decisions. They may even bring order out of the chaos of local traffic redirected by a well designed network, or a brilliantly engineered design, but due to common grace these things though good are possible to much of humanity.

The Bible tells us that humans have been building beautiful and functional things since Creation itself, and we will continue to do so. These things are good, but can also be cover for spiritual problems.

So instead, I'm learning Chinese. Hoping to bring the words of eternal life to the people of Taiwan, to make friends with our neighbours, to love and care for them, and though the administrative gifts given to help my organisation run more effectively.

Because whether you like Trains or not, whether you think the Metro is excellent or a waste of money, this is and can only ever be a secondary issue. I would much rather know you, and where possible help you and others know Jesus.

To help the people of Taiwan know Jesus, I need to work hard learning to speak with them, relate to them and understand their life and culture.

Please pray that we do that well.

What Jesus has to say to Christian Managers #2 - The resurrection and my money

One of the more exiting aspects of believing in the resurrected Lord Jesus is how it liberates us from the need to be successful, to tick all the boxes in the here and now.

Most people my age have heard of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad".  Well, Jesus went further, and told a story about "Rich Man, Poor Man".

Luke 16:19-31 includes some amazing stories, but at its heart there is something deeply reflecting of God's character.

The "loser" in life, ends up winning.

In fact, apart from his smell, he was probably anonymous to most people too.  But not to God.

The existence of a resurrected life, means that there is now a different value on what we do here and now, and that includes what we do with our money, our priorities and our seeking of "good things".

(The rich man) called to him ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

But further, the wealth isn't the problem, his lack of repentance is.

‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

The resurrection makes a difference, but only if you are willing to listen.

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Next time will be something a bit different - probably Jesus talking about making friends and influencing people.

What Jesus has to say to Christian Managers #1 - Don't forget God in the good times

Ok, here is something slightly old fashioned (ha - a blog) that I can do while I am in Japan.

I guess it is a chance for me to actively reflect on Scripture and to think about what principles those of us in management should be thinking through as we go about our daily work.

I am thinking here about covering some of the stories Jesus told (and possibly also some critical goings on around him) that help me think out what matters in my work.  I also think that they need to be short, informative and interactive (if that is possible).  To that extent, I am changing the comment settings on the blog soon as well, as it seems that the old comment system has died.

Perhaps one of my favourite parables, and perhaps the one I need to hear most, is the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21.

The introduction matters, because as we all know, good managers know their rights, and what they should get.

But then Jesus turns a family argument about money (like that ever happens) into a very strong word about money.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

But with his story, you could almost tell it as the story of the frugal farmer.  He had a good harvest, he then went and spent some previously saved capital (wow - what a good Protestant work ethic) and he stored his grain to sell at the right time.

Reading bible stories regularly with my kids has just taught me another link in this story.  This story sounds a bit familiar for me, because it sounds a bit like what Joseph in Genesis.

Remember Joseph, he had revealed to him that Pharoah knew that famine was coming.  Because famine was coming, Joseph was given command of the treasury, and then required to build big barns.  In fact in Genesis 41:49 we read:

Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

But in Jesus' story, being just like Joseph, and building big barns and the storing of the bumper crops wasn't looked on favourably.  Jesus called the man a fool for being too comfortable, and said that God would take everything from him.

But our amazing farmer, our great investor, our wise foreboder of good things, he did one thing that Jesus really critiqued.  His accumulation took his eyes off God and God's word.

And in that we have lesson one.  Good fortune and prosperity can make us forget God.  The power not to work can make us forget God.  The good things, the life of luxury can make us forget God.  If we are satisfied with what we have now, how easy is it for us to not look expectantly for heaven.

If God has abundantly supplied our needs, how hard is it to humbly wait for his supply for tomorrow.

Next time - maybe even still this week (especially if I want to finish ten of these) - #2 What the resurrection does to our money.

I'm sick of airports (and probably hotels too)

Well, this is something almost entirely self-inflicted. But at the same time, even though traveling around Japan after my time in Mongolia didn't really bring me much joy at the time, there is an itching to go traveling again.

The problem, and this is especially a problem when it comes to traveling alone, is that the joy tends to come for me in terms of what I buy (usually to give away as presents) or alternatively, what I eat or where I travel.

I often find I enjoy life a lot more when I am not thinking about money and finances at all. But airport shops and also generally other shops I go to, tend to encourage Luxury spending in my head.

This is not about whether I am spending within my means (which I think I am), but whether the whole corrosive consumer culture is a bit rotten.

Since I've been back, adjusting away from the simplicity (and admitted poverty in parts) of life in Mongolia via the nice hotels of Japan has almost made me physically ill. I didn't do it tough in Mongolia and at times I felt guilty at how cheap things were. Right now though, I am feeling guilty that I am living in a world of material prosperity while people seem to be struggling with the basics. To be honest, I don't want to feel like I am feasting while people look like they are starving.

I don't know quite what to do about how I'm feeling. But I'll see what comes from it in the next little while.

C T Studd

He used to be a pretty decent cricketer (he was actually rated among the best ever)... he also had a way with words

If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.

Christ's call is to save the lost, not the stiff-necked; He came not to call scoffers but sinners to repentance; not to build and furnish comfortable chapels, churches, and cathedrals at home in which to rock Christian professors to sleep by means of clever essays, stereotyped prayers, and artistic musical performances, but to capture men from the devil's clutches and the very jaws of Hell. This can be accomplished only by a red-hot, unconventional, unfettered devotion, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.

Back home - updates are hard to do

Ok, here are some of the best photos from my time away...