David's Reflections

Meeting of the Minds, Listening With Our Hearts

I left Wu Jia Free Methodist Church with a great sense of fulfillment. I met with Pastor Kuo, and for the first time in my seven years here in Taiwan, I finally met a local Taiwanese Free Methodist pastor who agrees with my heart. We talk about missions plan for Myanmar. We talked about missions education here in Taiwan. We talked about our common vision for cross cultural ministry. You could say there was a meeting of the minds. But it was more than that. I felt like we had the same vision. I left our two-hour meeting with a great affirmation that this is where I belong.

Thank you Jesus for pastors like Pastor Kuo. I pray for our (FMC) other pastors that they will see Your vision for the world and see Your kingdom outside the four walls of the local church. I thank you Holy Spirit for giving me utterance. In spite of my "Second-Grade Elementary School" level of Chinese, you were there to help me explain to Pastor Kuo the vision that you have given me for our Taiwanese Free Methodist local churches. Thank you Father in heaven for Your great love for the people of Taiwan. Help me to always listen to You, and hear Your words for my Chinese friends here in this beautiful country of Taiwan. Amen.

Prayer For A (Chinese) New Year

This Daoist temple is packed. People everywhere from all walks of life are celebrating the Lunar New Year. One good thing about Taiwan is that you do not have to convince these people that there is an Almighty God. In times of trouble or in auspicious times like today, they will all come to express their veneration for the divine. 

Father in heaven, I pray that you will find a way for the people of Taiwan to see You in all Your glory and majesty.

I am on my way to church. After I park the car on the streets of Feng Shan, I walk about 2-3 blocks to go to church. I cannot help but pass by two Daoist temples. This one with the big door is overflowing with worshippers. Some are selling lotus flowers for use at the temple worship.

I pray that the God of the universe will reveal His beauty to the people of Taiwan. Just like the purity of that lotus flower, the Lord of beauty and holiness will visit Taiwan in this auspicious time of the Lunar New Year. Holy Spirit, help my brothers and sisters from Feng Shan understand your plan of salvation for all the peoples of the world. Give them a hunger for Your presence. Remind them of Jesus love.

I need to hurry up. I am already late for the morning service at Feng Shan FMC. But I am glad that I passed by these two temples. I am reminded that this is the reason why I am in Taiwan. I am here to help local churches in their quest for relevance among their neighbors and friends who are immersed in Daoist religion and Chinese folk religion. I am grateful for these reminders. I see these people searching for God, and I know God is meeting them somewhere. My prayer is that I will find out where that "somewhere" is, that meeting place of God and these people seeking God's presence. I need to hurry up. I am already late, but I am glad I passed by this way.