Life. Live...what?

Afternoon from...from...cold, wet, and amazing Taiwan. 

(yea, I know you weren't expecting that one, Taiwan is a tropical country after all...right?)

Well, it's cold here. Despite common sense. 

Sorry I've been out of it for so long, things are always crazy here, and I got the flu last weekend, so I've been sorta dragging myself uphill since then.

But on to my topic. 

(Side note, at some point, someday, i'll continue my 'Be Prepaired' series, but for now, I'm stuck between ISIS and the Bible, and which, what, where, when...etc.)

Anyway, my topic: 

TAIWAN

Well, right now, she's cold, sorta wet, and actually pretty darn awesome. 

But there's more to the topic, than my redunant mentioning of the cold. (AMAZING cold, remember?) 

Cooking in Taiwan. 

It's so very interesting!! I have a toaster oven, hot plate, crockpot, two rice cookers, and a blender to work with. Not too bad...unless you consider the fact that the toaster oven doesn't always work, the crockpot dial is all in Chinese, and the hot plate periodically goes on the fritz. In the middle of my pouring milk into a white sauce, stirring tuna, cooking noodles...BLAM and HEAT like none else. 

But all of them still heat up, or cook, or do SOMETHING. So I'm pretty happy with it. :) 

So toaster oven cooking...I wanna bake muffins? Yay...amuffin at a time...(actually six) in individual little pans...hmm...why not cut the recipe in half you ask. 

Well duh. 

But for some reason, that 'duh' was a long time coming to me, and it was only today that i discovered other people DO use toaster ovens, and they DO have recipes for the toaster oven!! 

(Wow, what a revelation, right? Right.) 

So I 'might' be getting smarter. (might) 

But there's a reason why we only have a toaster oven here. 

In Taiwan, people do not cook their own food, unless it's barbecue, and in that case, only meat and vegatables. Never bread, cakes, cookies...etc. (no blanket-statements here, it's true, there ARE people that cook their own food, but it's rare.) 

Instead, most food is bought from the night markets, little resturants, or the local bakery. 

Therefore, no need for an oven in every house, like in America. 

I personally would prefer an oven, but the toaster oven works pretty well, and it's not like I can't cook. I just learn to be...creative. :) 

Oh, and food. Before I came here, everyone was telling me that because no one cooks, there really aren't grocery stores. Well...bah humbug to them. 'Cause at least where I live, there's a morning market, two grocery stores, at least three organic stores--somewhere...idk where, can't find them--so no lack of fresh food, or meat. (and flour is getting easier to find as well.) 

Suffice to say, unless it's something like 'specific' American foods, you can buy pretty much anything and everything here. Taiwan is, after all, a first world country. We even found powdered sugar here last month! (talk about making icing a whole lot simpler to mix up.) 

There are some places here, that feel so like America, it's almost comical. We have a Costco in Chiayi--just like American Costcos. It even smells the same. Carefore (A French grocery/clothing/everything else store) is about a half-an-hour's walk from the train station.) 

Oh, that's another thing about Taiwan, the train is how one travels. Everywhere, anywhere. Trains, buses, and taxis. (hehe, the taxi drivers drive like maniacs, and road rules are...somewhat...followed.) 

That's...all I can think of saying today...I'll post pictures of all this at some point this weekend, so to one and all...

Happy New Year from Taiwan!! 

I'll talk to you all in 2015!

Shalom

Yeshua be with you all! 

~Marissa

Human Trafficking and the Church

Warning - This post contains some sensitive statistics - Please be aware as you read the following! Thanks!

Human trafficking is a global atrocity, which the Church in America largely avoids. The Church consequently fails to administer biblical justice and mercy in an area of desperate need. Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” [1] The book of Micah was written as a warning to Israel during a time of unprecedented wealth, juxtaposed to unparalleled oppression of the poor and failure of leadership to right injustice. The Church in America reflects this same condition. I would like to be a “Micah” in the twenty-first century. I would like to help call the church back to its biblical purpose as declared by Jesus. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus declares “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” I want my life to count for something…I want to do something about human trafficking. I want to be a modern-day abolitionist.

            Because of the disconnect between the more affluent sector of society and the reality of human slavery, trafficking remains a growing injustice in the world. According to a study conducted by the Well-House, there are four times as many slaves in the world today as there were in the year before the Civil War.[2]  Slavery is an appalling reality, which we must not turn a blind eye to. Human trafficking is a growing annual $32 billion industry, second only to the drug market.[3] According to recent statistics this market is soon to become the single largest criminal industry in the world. According to the International Justice Mission over four billion people live outside the protection of the law.[4] For these disenfranchised children and adults the public justice system is broken. The police and courts, which are supposed to protect them, are so corrupt that there is nothing to shield them from oppression.

            Bringing justice to the world is an explicit command in God’s word. While, it is comfortable to do things that are culturally inoffensive, that’s not what God’s word is directing the church to do.  God’s word instructs us to seek justice and to do it. And one of the ways that we can pursue justice is to fight for those who do not have a voice.  

            By the time Zach Hunter was sixteen years old he had written two books that had a profound impact on my life: “We Are Generation Change,” and “Be the Change, Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World.” Zach was young, but that did not stop him from doing some very significant things for the Lord against human trafficking.  When Zach was twelve he started an organization Loose Change to Loosen Chains (LC2LC). Zach wanted to motivate teens to become involved in freeing slaves. I attempted to start an LC2LC campaign at my homeschool co-op. An administrator said that some parents might be offended by the discussion of human trafficking. Another parent said their son would be uncomfortable on the campaign leadership team because of the sexual content. Unfortunately, both labor and sex slavery is highly objectionable but the Church must begin an open discussion.

            Human trafficking is not just a condition that exists elsewhere. Bill Lewis of the FBI said, “Sex trafficking is not something that only happens outside of the United States, but victimizes Americans in our own backyard.”[5]  Sadly human trafficking really does exist in our own backyard. According to national studies the largest human trafficking thoroughfare is Interstate 20, which runs from Texas to South Carolina, and straight through Birmingham.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”[6] Isaiah 61:1 clearly affirms that the Lord has sent us into the world to help free those who are in both spiritual and physical slavery. As an advocate for those without a voice, perhaps I will be blessed by seeing the Church grow in its understanding of human trafficking and become a means of rectifying the injustice of slavery. While this atrocity is overwhelming we are still called into this task to help those who are entangled. While we are not called to solve the problem, we are called to be obedient and to pursue biblical justice and mercy. And He who calls is faithful.

--AnnaKatherine 

---

[1] Micah 6:8 English Standard Version

[2] The Well-House is a private Christian Shelter in Birmingham, AL, which reaches out to women and girls who have been hurt by human sex trafficking. It was founded by a rescued victim. http://the-wellhouse.org/

[3] United Nations Factsheet on Human Trafficking http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/UNVTF_fs_HT_EN.pdf

[4] International Justice Mission is a “global organization that protects the poor from violence in the developing world.”

[5] Bill Lewis – Assistant Director FBI Los Angeles Field Office  http://www.businessinsider.com/a-portrait-of-human-sex-trafficking-in-america-2014-8

[6] Isaiah 61:1 English Standard Version

I'm Hungry! I Want To Eat!

See, I said I would post anything and everything on this blog...but seriously. I'm starving. 

(The title for this post is actually really funny.)

It has absolutely nothing to do with food, it's part of a class I teach the kids over here called Hungry Caterpillar. (We all know that classic book by Eric Carle, right?) 

I've taught that class so many times, whenever I'm hungry now, I'll belt out 'I'M HUNGRY! I WANT TO EAT!' Which is the class vocabulary. 

Well...currently it's 10:35am. I'm sitting at my desk in the office, looking at food. 

I'm supposed to be writing a script for a documentary film I'm shooting next semester for HTC. 

Oh well, it needn't be finished till December 26th...I've got time. ;) 

Food. 

Seriously, I'm skinny, and look like I never eat a thing. And the funny thing is, I eat a TON. 

Like, I eat like a hobbit. 

Problem is, lately I've been eating like I want to kill myself--processed foods, saturated fats--McDonalds never had such a friendly customer. 

(They actually know me so well that now when I walk in, I can't even say: 'liu' [pronounced 'leo' --means six] the lady just says 'Number six?' and hands me my food. It's pathetic, I'm telling you.) 

'Course that isn't to say I can't enjoy my food...I just need to eat more...healthy stuff. 

Dr. Chen was right when he said it's easier to eat prepared foods when teaching, cause it's so much work to cook, and I'm always tired. 

Anyway, on to the good stuff. Right? Right. :D

That was my attempt at soup. It was pretty good, all things considered. I made it in a rice cooker, and the only thing missing was tomatoes. (My Mum had it right when she told me to add tomatoes to bean soups.) 

Another attempt at eating healthy--this wasn't all that bad. Potatoes, plain yogurt, clover sprouts, and [simi] whole grain bread. In fact, this was such a hit with Fenny and some other of my co-workers, that I'm making it again next week for lunch for all of them. 

(which means I need to wash the crock pot. ugh.) 

Anyway, it was super simple, here's my recipe: 

Potato and Clover Sprout Spread

Roast golden potatoes in crockpot until fork-tender. 

Mash three-six potatoes in a bowl with skin. 

Add three/four heaping spoonfuls of plain yogurt to mashed potatoes, mix thoroughly. 

Finely chop Clover (or another kind) sprouts, add to potato mixture. 

Add a dash of salt, to taste. 

Spread on whole grain bread or toast. 

Enjoy! 

Now, this may be a little odd sounding, but really, it's simple, tastes good, and you spend all of five minutes preparing it. 

A win-win in my opinion. :) 

And yea, I promise to post more food stuff in the future. 

(Oh, I've got a hint about the next post. Roasted grape tomatoes and garlic. SO good.) 

Shalom

Yeshua be with you all this week!

~Marissa 

When Things Go Wrong

When things go wrong...

We all have those days that just seem to get worse and worse. 

You get up determined to have a good day, regardless of how bad yesterday was...

And just one little thing happens. 

Suddenly you know.

It is going to be A Very Bad Day. 

There's a song by U2 called 'Sleep Like A Baby Tonight'. 

The main message is 'no matter how bad today was, or how terrible the prospects are for tomorrow, you can sleep like a baby for just one night. Because while tomorrow may "dawn like a suicide" nothing will disturb you this night.' 

But do we ever think that when we're headed to bed after a bad day, knowing that the next will likely be worse? 

Not often. 

We worry, and we fret. We agonize, we threaten to just quit. We shake our fists at God and demand 'why'? And we complain. A lot. 

Did you know it is a sin to worry? 

I didn't, till yesterday, when I was listening to a sermon by Dr. Gibbs. 

At one point in his sermon, he stated: 'I worry about things in life, and then I worry because I am worrying!' 

(Let me tell you this much...I don't think that I would have signed up to be a Christian if I had known it was going to be so hard when I started.)

Thankfully, I didn't know. :) 

Anyway, we're currently worrying about the Very Bad Day that's slowly creeping into our lives...and we're NOT thrilled. 

EVERYTHING has gone wrong the past few days, and we really don't think we can handle ANOTHER bad day. 

Psalms 77:3 says: 'My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.'

Isn't that just what we do?

Something goes wrong, and we refuse to look to God. Then when we can no longer go on alone, we look to Him, and expect Him to fix everything. If he doesn't, then we get upset. If He does, we often aren't grateful. 

Instead we ought to follow Psalms 77:1: 'I cried out to God with my voice--To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord...'

But what DO we do when things go wrong? 

Moping definately isn't a good idea. 

There's essentially three things:

First, know that regardless of what happens to you, or what affects you, know that everything--good or bad--will touch SOMEONE for God's kingdom. 

Everything happens for a reason, even if it isn't for us to learn from.

(Oh, and we may never know what impact that chapter of our life had.)

Second, pray. Yep, that simple. Just pray. Because nothing that we ever experience can be survived without prayer.

Third, praise God, no matter what. Look for the benefits in what you are experiencing, and what good may come of it. Even wars happen for a reason. Be positive. Nothing will tear you down quicker than yourself. 

'Its hard to be happy when someone's always being mean to you.' ~Unknown

One last thing...smile. 

Yes, find a corner, hide, and cry your eyes out for a moment, but come out of it smiling. Because nothing kills a bad day quicker than a smile. 

Oh, and say something nice to the person most annoying you that day. It helps a lot. 

(Disclaimer: I definately can't say I've got it all together--this post was inspired by A Very Bad Week I just experienced, and I do have to say...I've got a lot to learn before I'll get to the point where I'll be able to deal with Very Bad Days the way I just explained. It's the theory, that's all.)

Shalom, 

Yeshua be with you this week!

~Marissa

Runways Winter 2014

What, you think I'm going to discourse on the evils of the fashion world? 

Well, not this time. 

Just some honest conversation about current fashion. :) 

This year has seen an influx of rather...interesting colours and designs, but the 'most wearable' list is actually quite modest and becoming...for this day and age at least. 

This is the current pantone colour palette for the fall/winter seasons. 

As you can see, understated jewel tones are all the rage these days, including a saturated red, deep purple, and vibrant pink. 

Of course, such fashion lines as Prada and Dior took the palette to an extreme...as usual. 

Beyond that though, there have been some remarkably beautiful and modest styles this year. 

Take for instance the top five fashion styles this year:

While the last photo is a little...extravagant...each and every one of these are relatively becoming. Number two and three are exceedingly modest at the same time. 

Or what about Porly? Bringing in a Catholic vibe, the colours are based on gold, black and the deep Samba red that is so popular this season. 

Then we have Polo Ralph Lauren.

Beautiful lines, patterns, and design. The cut of the item on the left is both modest and form-flattering at the same time. Not exactly something easily accomplished. What stands out about the item on the right, is the layering and combination of texture, pattern, and form. 

Also observe the return of the 'dreaded' sandles and socks made infamous by hikers and gentlemen alike. Unlike though, than that fashion faux pas, this combination of socks and sandles is extremely becoming, and more than enough to convince the average viewer that maybe it is not as bad as is indicated. 

Here we have instantly wearable Giulietta and Josie Natori on the left and far left, and then items strippers ought to avoid on the right by Antonio Berardi and Tory Burch. Not to mention the lines of both being extremely ill-flattering. 

And of course Rodarte never disappoints by proving that the jumper dress is indeed not out of style quite yet.  

(And observe the sandle/sock combination once again.)

Oh, and last but not least, there's always one fashion company determined to undermine their prestigious title by designing fashion nightmares such as this: 

 

A...chip bag...

Not much one can say about that. 

Let's just hope Moschino realizes that designs of that tenor will never sell to the average (if well-off) American. 

Anyway, that's all folks!

Adieu, 

Yeshua be with you this week!!

~Marissa  

 

 

 

Be Prepared 2

Everyone ready to see the next installment of the End Times series? 

I am, if I do say so myself!

So honestly, what proof is there, that the end times are upon us? 

I mean, in the first century church, the Christians thought the world was ending right then, because of the intense persecution that Nero poured on them. 

He was their Antichrist. 

And in every generation following that, men and women have wondered, debated, and argued about the end times; when it would be, what signs they ought to look for, and who the Antichrist might be. 

During World War II, almost everyone was positive that Hitler was the Antichrist, because he not only promoted a utopian society, but attempted to eradicate the Jewish population from the earth. 

But consider this: Will the Antichrist be that recognizable? Is it going to be this easy? 

Maybe the future will look like this: 

'America is on the brink of ruin. The world stock markets have crashed, Ebola has torn the country apart, and she is over 17 trillion in debt to China and Japan. And it's not just America any more either. South America is on fire, Europe's great cities are torn apart by bombs and explosives, thanks to right-wing activists such as Greenpeace, and ISIS is terrorizing the Middle East. North Korea is slowly starving their people in the name of Communisim, and China has quit dancing around with Russia and America--it's time for action. Speaking of Russia, she is hungry, her greedy hands grasping at the surrounding countries--all of Europe is on the menu. World War III is steadly marching it's way into the world's conciousness. And who is the target of everyone's frustration? Israel. Little, tiny, struggling Israel.' 

Why? Ah, interesting question...for another day. 

Anyway, back to my future history lesson here. 

'Everyone and their brother has a nuclear bomb of some sort, and while the threat of the end of the world as we know it, and the death of thousands hinders anyone from using them, the bombs are enormous leverage for the large countries such as America, Russia, and China. And they aren't afraid to use that leverage if that means they can get what they want.'

So where is this Antichrist, and how does he fit in? 

Well, what does the Bible have about this?

It says in 1 John 4:1: 'Beloved, believe not every spirit, but the spirits wheither they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.' 

And in Matthew 24:4-5, the Bible further states: 'And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.' 

This is talking about many anti-christs, or many people who will call themselves Christ. Take into consideration that these are people who will shout from the rooftops that they are Christ. And that would NOT be in the Antichrist's best interest. After all, he wants to decieve the Christians as well, convince them that he is the Christ. 

But back to my fake history. 

'So the world is about to implode, and no one cares about anyone but themselves. It's every country for itself now. And my do the bombs fly. World War III has commenced, and it isn't going well for anyone. But out of the ashes, a hero rises. A man with a smooth tongue, and a huge heart. Somehow, beyond all expectiations, this man is able to talk peace with the very countries that started the war. And  everyone agrees with everything he says. Pretty soon, the bombs stop falling, and fathers no longer die. Peace once again settles across the world, and everyone is praising this man for stopping the war when he did. The world population lauds this man, and begs him to take over the leadership of the United Nations. He reluctantly takes the office, all the while saying that it isn't a job for him, that he doesn't deserve it at all. And everyone loves him.'

Doesn't seem like the Antichrist, does he? Well, yea this is only my jabbering little made up story, and maybe he's as repulsive as Hitler, but I doubt it. 

(And yea, I did steal that last bit from the Left Behind books, it's the only theory that makes sense to me. Credit goes to the authors though.) 

Anyway, do you see what I mean yet? 

The Antichrist, is going to be someone everyone loves. 

(No, I'm not talking about Obama. Seriously people, there are way too many Americans calling him on the carpet. And I believe Americans will be the first to be decieved.) 

This man will be both a master of shadows, and a usurper of the light. 

You won't know if he's coming, or going, but at first, even you will think he is amazing.

So look at it this way:

'One day, you will be sitting at home, watching the Tube, (TV) reading a book, working, chasing your child around the room, or helping your teenager with his math. And you will be laughing, smiling, and life will be good. The next day, you wake up, and the world as you know it will have shattered. Maybe on your way to work, you flip on the radio--local morning news. But what you hear has nothing to do with your neighbor's grandmother dying. An urgent and startling tale rolls across the radiowaves, and you hear that overnight, the end has come.' 

Of course, you say, that's silly, and violent. Nothing happens like that. 

Oh really? 

What about 9/11? 

Where were you when that happened? 

I'm sure you remember...it was one of the worst things in American history. 

Well, think about hearing something worse. The end of the world you know. 

What will you do? 

Be Prepared. 

Shalom, 

Yeshua be with you!

~Marissa

Be Prepared.

Let me guess, that title makes you think: 

Or maybe it makes you think: 

Well...I'm talking about the latter. 

And before you tell me that i've lost it, and gone the way of the rest of the militant doomsayers of America, let me attempt to convince you that some (at least) of what you have been hearing is closer to the truth than any of us is comfortable with. 

Mark 13:7 and 12 say:'And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet...Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.'

Luke 21:11 states: 'And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.'

Let me start with this: 

In Oklahoma, this past year, there have been 1,061 earthquakes. In the past month, 108. Since September 17th, there have been 29 earthquakes, and four of them were today. 

(earthquaketrack.com/p/united-states/oklahoma/recent) 

Yea, they're all minor quakes, but that's an awful lot of quakes for one state in a year. 

Literally an hour ago, there was a 4.9 earthquake near Petropavlovask-Kamchatskiy, Russia, and a 5.0 near Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador.

There are others, but I'll let you find them. 

Point being, there's an awful lot of earthquakes happening around the world today. 

So, earthquakes, yea. What about famines and pestilences? What about fearful sights and great signs from the heavens?

Famines:

North Korea has stated that famine will be no more, but the likelihood of that happening is very small considering the state of their government. 

South Sudan, Africa is deep in famine, many thousands of people starve every day because of the intense civil war that has been on going since the nation declared independance three years ago. Most of Africa in general suffers from a lack of food. 

Somalia is deep in the black well of famine. 

Ethiopia is staggering under the weight of poverty. 

Famine is a real and serious thing. 

Here in Taiwan--a first world country might I remind you--children come to school, their clothes ragged and carrying a lone pencil. Their only meal that day being the lunch served them. 

That's famine too, just a very...covered up type of famine. 

Pestilences: 

California is firmly in the grasp of wildfires--again. 

Serbia was hit with a massive flash flood only six days ago.

Kashmir, Inda was struck with flooding in July. 

Hurricane Odlile struck Mexico's Baja California peninsula September 18th. 

Ebola in Africa is slowly devistating entire nations...

I think you might be getting my point. 

Do I even need to go into Mark 13:7? 

We hear every day about the war in the Middle East, Russia taking over the Ukraine, China's threat to the US...

ISIS is the new hot topic of the media today, and terrorist threats are freaking out the Pentagon and White House more than they would care for the public to know. 

Alright, alright, I'm sure you're tired of me listing the many different things going on in the world today--so here's my question for you: 

Why?

Why is this happening? 

You want the answer to that? 

Come back tomorrow. :D

(I have more research to do--it's a complicated subject, and I'm not about to give you the wrong information.) 

So for today, 

Shalom, 

Yeshua be with you!

~Marissa 

Undlitr Shoot June 2014

Wow, can't believe it took me so long to post about this!

Those of you who have read my blog have probably noticed that in the box where I describe myself, I say I am working on a film. 

Well, we finished the shoot in June of this year, but I have been so busy working and getting ready to leave the country, that I forgot to post about the shoot. 

Anyone excited to see some random pictures? 

(lol, I am. ;D) 

Basically these are some pictures from behind the scenes. Various different shoots, and on different days, but all very interesting in my opinion. 

June 1:

This was our first day officially working on the film. Here we're sorting the costumes, and making all the actor's suffer drastic costume pain from trying everything on a thousand times. We tried the tattoos for the first time that day, and ended up with a few very scary elves running around my producer's house. (Her poor mom!!) Well, i should explain the picture I suppose. Clockwise from back right, we have Jonathan McNeil staring as Noraieu when he was younger, Jerusha Coleman staring as Les`shil`na's decendent's wife, Mikaylee Bales as our amazing and talented tattoo artist, me the director, (and on this particular day, suffering from wisdom teeth loss), and last but definately not least, Samantha McNeil as our producer and the one who basically kept me on firm earth the entire month. She's amazing. 

June 12:

This was our second shoot, in the background, is the younger Coleman brother, Thomas, (hope i got his name right, there's a lot of them) staring as Lesshil's younger self, and a stand in for his brother, Hudson, who managed to forget that we were shooting that day, and ended up in Oregon when I needed him. The young man did amazing, and I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed working with him. 

Surrounding the camera are the director, producer/cinemaphotographer, and my young Noraieu, getting a good view of how things work behind the camera so that 'young Noraieu' can get it right. 

June 12 cont: 

Here, a shot of Jackie McNeil as my second cinemaphotographer, who did an amazing job shooting film for me, and I have to say, her shots were over the top beautiful. 

June 26: 

Last day of shooting. I would say this was the hardest day of all, the location was modern, and we were going for mideval, which doesn't mix very well. On top of that, I did a horrible job of scripting the scene, and in the middle of the shoot, had to rewrite it because there was too much dancing around on the set. This handsome shot is of Josiah Murphy, my older Noraieu, and he was exceptional. (Sorry about the picture being blurry, seems there's something wrong with my editing system.) Acting the Elvin King of Myremount, we crowned him with spoon handles, and his throne sat beneath a russian shawl that my sister brought back with her years ago. (not exactly what a lot of people would do in a film, but that's just what happens when you're on a budget!) 

Well, that's all for today! Hope you enjoyed it!

Shalom, 

Yeshua be with you this week!

~Marissa 

Why Church?

On people and church. 

For this post, I'm totally blaming Matthew...fellow teacher here in Taiwan. A question he posted on Facebook caught my eye, and started the gears turning in my brain again. 

So here goes:

Question: Why go to church in Taiwan? (and my added questions) Why go to church at all? What is the reason you go to church?

I wondered that very thing when I was considering coming to Tawian, and this is my conclusion:

Church.

Is it about you? About what you get from it each time, and how you feel? 

Well...I don't think so. 

Yes, going to church can be a way for you to grow, and a way to be spiritually fed each week, but that's the easy way. 

Many young people today, (me included) tend to think that they can go to church, be spiritually recharged, hang out with a few friends, and go home. That way, there is no need to read the Bible, or study on your own, because you were emotionally recharged that Sunday, and you're doing 'fine'.

But is that what God say's about our spiritual lives? 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 states: 'Pray without ceasing...' In other words, don't stop focusing your life on God. 

In that case, it isn't the Church that is supposed to be your 'spiritual food', but your every day walk with Him. 

Essentially, I believe that the point in going to church, whether in America, Taiwan, China...etc, is that we are there to bless others. 

To reach out in any way we can to help other humans, so that Jesus may shine through us. And believe me, we don't need to speak the same language to connect. 

There is always a way if you look for it. 

Church is about others. About Jesus, about what He would do. About how we can be God's vessel  so that He can touch other's lives through us. 

That is what the Church means to me, and why I go. For others, not myself.

So today I leave you with this challange: 

Why do you go to church? Do you go anticipating being a channel for God's love? To reach out to those who are hurting, broken, and in pain? Or do you go for yourself?

Shalom, 

Yeshua be with you this week!

~Marissa