A Juicy Update

Journey to Hong Kong
This last week, I was in Hong Kong visiting some family members. I can't share too many details...but I did get to share the gospel with a few people during my trip, including one on the bus ride back to Taipei! I didn't bring a camera this time, and as a result of my being gone for the week, no one really has any pictures of me. But we do have pictures of other people. In lieu of pictures of yours truly, here are some of my beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord. From left to right: Bryan, Kevin (our next interviewee...), Katherine, and Evon.


Junia and Nate
When I arrived home at EBCT from my long journey to Hong Kong, I was greeted by a lovely surprise. Junia and Nate had arrived! They going to be with us for one semester learning Chinese as part of the study abroad program. They're now comfortably settled into their respective dorms and they have been delightfully encouraging to the other brothers and sisters here. We're looking forward to fruitful times of fellowship with these two faithful friends and family members in Christ.


John's New Hair
A couple days ago, John got a new haircut that I can only describe as a "monkey mohawk." This picture doesn't really do it justice...I guess you'll have to see it in a future update.


Jiu-Jitsu
Recently, I've been really getting into wrestling. Not like the kind you see on T.V.--I'm talking about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (grappling), where there are no punches or kicks allowed, and the match can only be ended by submission. This little hobby of mine started out last year after I read Shadow of the Almighty but it never really took off since I couldn't find too many people who were willing to wrestle with me. But now that I'm rooming with John and Bryan, who share (but not to the same degree) my penchant and passion for Jiu-Jitsu, I've had plenty of arm-bar and shoulder-locking fun. We've found a mat from the basement to facilitate our frequent flops on the floor, and it seems that the EBCTers enjoy watching and even joining in on the action! As a matter of fact, as I am writing this post, my entire body is aching from wrestling about a dozen times with 4 different guys (although I almost never win, I almost never give up). Here is a picture of me at the retreat performing my signature move at the end of an intense match:


Jay Chou CD Review
Umm...apparently a few posts back I promised to do a review of Jay Chou's CD "Fantasy." Well, here it is, song by song:

1. Love Before the Anno Domini - Simple and sweet song about how God loved us before the foundation of the world. The moderate tempo, the dreamy melody, and Jay Chou's silky-smooth vocals on this song make me want to sway in my seat every time I hear it. Easily one of my favorites on the album
2. Dad, I'm Back - Powerful, poignant track sung from the point of view of the Prodigal Son as he's considering returning to his father. At the end, he says "Dad, I'm Back." This one's a little too emotional for me.
3. Simple Love - The title says it all. This song is classical Jay Chou pop. It's got a simple enough tune, and it makes girls fall in love with him. Of course, it's also about my relationship with Jesus and how I simply love Him!
4. Ninja - Energetic and emotive effects-enhanced turntable-scratchin' rap. I love listening to this while I'm working out, because it gets me pumped up. In it, Jay makes an interesting metaphor about how Jesus will come for me like a ninja in the night.
5. Can't Open My Mouth (Afraid To Tell Her) - El numero uno. Hands down, my favorite song on the album. I could listen to this slow, smooth, bass-driven and broken-hearted ballad all day. It starts with the sound of an airplane taking off and it doesn't let the listener land until four minutes of soaring audio pleasure have passed. It's about how Godly Zacharias couldn't open his mouth to speak after the angel Gabriel told him how he would sire John the Baptist. Some alternate versions of the lyrics lead to an interpretation of the song that it is about a guy who's afraid to tell a girl something, but in my opinion, the manuscript evidence favors the former interpretation.
6-9. Eh.
10. Silence - This is piano-slow-song perfection. One of my favorite Jay Chou songs of all time because I feel like I can really relate to the lyrics (for the most part) and it's soooo pretty and sad it makes me want to cry.

....okay, I admit it. I kinda made up the song meanings. It's kinda cool how you can do that when you don't understand a single word the singer is singing. I feel like in a way it lets me listen to the kind of music I enjoy without the danger of the "emo" lyrics hindering me from having a pure and positive thought pattern.

--------------------------
Jesus, Please... [Prayer Requests]
- John: He's on his second week of teaching now, and so far it's been pretty brutal from what I've heard. He only teaches for 14 hours a week, but when you factor in the transpo and prep time, it's almost like a full-time job. He told me that God's teaching him a lot about how to put into practice stuff that he's learned from the Word, like working hard and loving your [student] neighbor. He feels like the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders (teaching the children, representing the Christ, providing for the church) is really heavy, but he's rejoicing in the Lord greatly and growing in faith and character!
- Bryan: ET for EBCT is starting this weekend, with Bryan as the featured teacher, and you know what this means (we need your prayers!). Praise God for the many EBCT brothers/sisters who have signed up. May many Gospel seed-casters be equipped to equip other seed-casters!
- Matt: Thanks for praying for me to find a job! Right now I'm still jobless, but I have more hope than ever, bolstered by the great promise that God will provide me everything I need. My prayer requests from the past still continue. Please also pray that I would apply all the things I learned from my trip to Hong Kong in order to live a life marked by commitment to and contentment in Christ.



Jia You!
Until next time :)

- A disciple whom Jesus loves