The Year of the Mouse Begins

This is an important year in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This is the first year of the 60 year cycle (5 cycles of 12 years): the year of the mouse. Mongolia celebrates the Lunar New Year every year with lots of food and visiting and culture. It is Mongolia's biggest holiday, and the entire country takes three days (at least three days sometimes a couple of weeks) to bring in the new year.

We celebrated today with Bernie's language teacher's family. They showed us wonderful hospitality and allowed us to share with their mutton (that's the slab of meat at the center of the table), fermented horse milk (called airag) and steamed meat dumplings (called buutz).

The head of the household shared his snuff bottle with all the guys in the room. Go to Jonathan's web site and ask him his thoughts on the snuff bottle...

Practical Illumination

Renee’ said that this has been the best week she’s had since coming to Mongolia. I would have to agree.

We had a little break from language class (always making the week better) and a little taste of what we really would like to do in the future.

We were asked to teach for a week in a three month winter Bible School being held here in the city. Renee’ and I team-taught the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua. It seemed to be such a God ordained week, as these are both books that we have either recently studied or taught from.

The thing I am most amazed with this week is the fact that God’s Word is so rich and so powerful. Hebrews 4:12 is real to me. It was thrilling to see these very young believers feast on the word of God.

One of the main things we wanted to help them to do is to see God’s Word as something more than a means of accumulating knowledge. At the end of the week we had them creatively present several stories from the book of Joshua and then ask the question, “So What?“. It was fun to see God’s Spirit illuminate His Word for these kids. They were able to not only understand the stories and history and the theology behind these two books of the Bible - but they learned how to make very practical application in life, ministry and leadership. Mongolians are a pragmatic people. As we helped them to see the practical application of God’s Word in their lives, they were eager learners.

Light bulbs came on. God was seen more clearly. It was thrilling to play a small part in that.

We will be doing this again for one week in April. We will be teaching Esther, Nehemiah and Ezra. Your prayers for us and for these students are appreciated.

We are back in class for a few days this week - with another break for the Lunar New Year Festivities next weekend. However, I go back to class strengthened, refreshed and inspired to learn in order to spend more time doing things like this - only one day doing it without need for a translator.

The Fuzzy Behind of a Dead Sheep

We are approaching the Lunar New Year. This is a huge celebration in most Asian Countries. Mongolia is definitely no exception.

Tradition here for this time of year is pretty rich. Almost every Mongolian home will have a sheep (like one of these below) roasted and prominently displayed in the center of the table. The prized portion for guests is a slice of fat from the tail.

All over town sheep meat is for sale. The carcasses all still have the furry tail attached.

Sheep for Sale in Downtown Ulaanbaatar ...

Frozen Orthodoxy

This is a Russian Orthodox Church near our language school. The smoke and the early morning cold make it seem a mystical place. It does seem strange to see a church like this in a land of Buddhistic Shamanism.

mongolia, orthodox church, ulaanbaatar

The End of Argument, The Beginning of Faith

The waning days of 2007 have found me thinking a lot about Hebrews 2:1-4.  Part of the reason for this might be because I taught from this passage yesterday at our Student Church.  Part of it probably also has something to do with the fact that Hebrews has occupied a lot my thinking recently as I think about and evaluate the condition of the church in Mongolia.  I see several similarities between the church in Hebrews and the church in Mongolia.

• A growing number of second generation believers
• Largely untaught/undiscipled believers
• Fairly significant numbers who are leaving the church and the Christian faith
• A lot of people in the church that seem to be 'on the fence'

As I think about the beginning of 2008, my own heart is challenged with the repeated cry of the writer of Hebrews: "Pay attention, do not neglect".  God's Word is not an opinion to be considered and argued about. God's Word is the King's Word to be considered, understood, believed and obeyed.  It is a as I thought about this (and in preparation for yesterday's message) that I thought of this parable. 

Once there was a King with a small kingdom. It was rumored that the King had a great announcement he was soon going to make to his people. Therefore, many gathered in the local gathering place in order to discuss the impending announcement of the King.

One man said, "You all know he is going to raise our taxes – he will probably even give us new taxes so that this year we will not even have enough money to feed our families." A large portion of the people agreed and began to grumble and complain. 

Another said, "Wait one minute. I totally disagree. I am pretty sure that he will announce the implementation of a new food stamp program. Our families will be fed better than ever. He is a good ruler, you know."  Some changed their minds and agreed.  Others held fast to their differing opinion, and argued. 

Another argued, “No, no. That’s not what he is going to do at all. Don't you know he plans to build a new palace outside of town. I have seen the location. They are preparing the ground as we speak. He will use our money and probably force us to work on his little project. What a selfish king we have!"

Soon a great argument between all of the people took place.

In the middle of the argument, quite suddenly, there was the blast of a trumpet and an official courtier from the king’s palace arrived in the square outside. He took out a scroll and spoke with a loud voice for the entire village to hear:

"Here is the word of the King. Today his Queen has borne him a son. All should feast and rejoice with the King for his son has been born."

The King had spoken. All the arguing ceased.  

Hebrews 1:1-4