Sayanora Tokyo, Hello Manila

After a good nights rest and some time to ponder all that has happened thus far it is still amazing what God has done and is doing in a country with so few professing Christians. It did not look like it last night to see and hear thousands praising Him and singing and dancing to Him. The venue people were touched and could not believe the respect and behavior of the young people. That always touches me. When people act "different" others see that and want to know what they have. THAT is the Gospel. Other people seeing JESUS in our lives and being so different from the world, they want to know what you have that they don't. How are you so peaceful in such a tough, tough world where there is so much pain and suffering. If you can live your life in such a way and do your job, whatever it is, so well, people want to know how you do it and what you have. There is the opportunity to share your faith. I can't tell you how many times as a police officer in Houston how many people would ask me, why am I so different from other police officers? Why are you always smiling and treat me with respect...even when you are arresting me? Many open doors and many opportunities to share my faith.

I hope this blog has encouraged you and given you a glimpse of the world of university students and the HOPE they have through Christ and their desire to make Him famous...no matter what. I always think of a lesson in Habakuk that I love to teach. Chapter 1 opens with the Prophet questioning God and asking where He is in all the wickedness in the world. God tells him that he is "going to do something that he would not believe it if someone told him." Habakuk does not like the answer he is given until God tells him the end result of the people He is going to use to judge Israel in Chapter 2. Chapter 2 also has that most famous verse we have all read in the NT "...the just shall live by their faith." The final chapter 3 ends with Habakuk receiving that hope and faith and coming to the most beautiful conclusion, "...no matter if the fig tree does not blossom, no matter if I have no food on the table (NO MATTER WHAT), I will serve you!" It is much better and much more powerful if you read it yourself, but what a journey the prophet took of questioning God and wondering where God is when all is wrong in the world and finding that, no matter what, God is still in control and has a plan. It is a beautiful story of hope and faith!
Read it today, it is a short book.

I find it bittersweet...again, as we are coming to the end of this whirlwind world tour in a few days. I know we have Manila, a few days off, Hong Kong and that will be it until the fall.

Talk to you again from Manila!