I have some pictures from Japan, my other favorite place. I only got to spend about a day there but it was a great time none the less. Of course I had a lot of sushi as well. In fact, my Easter lunch this year was some absolutely fresh and tasty sashimi. I can't think of a better Easter lunch!
And I was just in time to catch some last minute cherry blossoms!
Thanks for reading.
Being back in Thailand makes me feel like I'm home again. It is like I never left, from when I stepped off the plane. I was really blessed to have been bumped from my little economy seat to a business class seat for the Chicago to Tokyo flight, it sure makes a difference on the long haul. When we finally touched down in Tokyo it was almost a relief that I felt, the kind that you feel when you're back in comfortable surroundings. Bangkok was the same way. I'm back in my environment!
I just got back for two days in a place that I've wanted to go for over 10 years but never had the time/made the time to go there. An Island archipelago off the coast of Thailand in the Indian Ocean called the Similan Islands. Here are some pictures of that trip...I think that of all the places I've been this had the most beautiful water that I've seen. The coral reefs were amazing and the many fishes were incredible. Two huge eels were among the many species of underwater creatures i saw.
so check this out, I came to the campsite and heard this loud noises. I was trying to figure out if it was birds, insects or what...I looked up and saw, seriously, hundreds of these fruit bats in the trees. They are huge and have a huge wingspan...good times!
OK, it's been a while since I've updated but there really isn't much to report. Here I am in Chicago, it's starting to not be as cold and I'm able to go outside a bit more. However, I just haven't met any friends and other than the great people I work with it's pretty lonely here. I don't go to church because I spend weekends with my family, doing this rotation...one weekend at my brothers, one weekend at my sisters, the next at my parents. It's great to see family but then I come back to lonely Chicago where I go to work, work out, then go home. About once a month I go to a church in the city called New Community Covenant Church, it's a great place that has good potential but i've been waiting for a new community group to start so that i can go weeknights and get connected. Fortunately next week there is one starting, we'll see how that goes. I just hope I can connect with some folks soon.
I need a vacation and fortunately I get one next Friday I take off for my two favorite places...Thailand and Tokyo. A week away will be good, seeing old friends will be good, getting out of Chicago will be good. I'm still trying to figure out what God has me here for...it can't be to punish me 
. Well, we'll see what happens. By the way, I'm not depressed and not hating life, just a little indifferent and at times lonely. My focus right now is allowing God to be all that I need. I know God wants his children to be in fellowship with others, to be in community, but for this season I just want God to be enough so that when there is a community and others around, when there are opportunities to serve my perspective will be right, God first, it's all about my God.
OK, that's it for now, thanks for reading.
So at church yesterday the pastor spoke on John 2:12-22. That's the story of when Jesus went into the temple and totally miffed, started overthrowing tables and kicked everyone out. JC said, "don't turn my house into a marketplace." The pastor brought up a perspective that I hadn't heard before. So picture this...
Jews from all over the world show up in Jerusalem for the passover celebration. They come by foot and to bring unblemished sacrifices from far distances would be quite a feat so that's why the moneychangers in the temple, so you could change your foreign currency for the local currency, buy a temple approved sacrifice and sacrifice in the presence of the priest. But if you can imagine, long lines, stop at the currency exchange, move along to door 2 to pick up your sacrifice, then move on over to the priest, make the sacrifice then outside for a picnic. What's missing here?? Could it be the reflection? True reflection of "man, my sin deserves death but this lamb is taking my place, it's the lamb that is getting what I deserve for my sin." True somber reflection as you lift the knife to the lamb. Could it be this that angered our Lord? The methodical ritualistic process that it had become, the fact that His people had missed the point. Whether that is why He started overthrowing things, shooing animals around and kicking the people out or not it made me think about my own time at the cross. There are times that i feel like that's me, going through a set of rituals, checklists. OK, read my Bible, check. Prayed, there check. Spent time (5 minutes) with God, check. OK, time to go do something more interesting. SLAM. Jesus should be overthrowing my table, the couch where my Bible is. After all that my Lord has done for me...and the unbelievable thing he did for me on the cross. I need to be way more reflective in my time with the one who saved me. Life is NEVER too busy to spend time with God, but for more than just a little check on the "to do" list. So that I can allow God to speak to me and sit in his presence.
I found a Korean restaurant...less than one mile from my house. I went to the supermarket and saw "Asian Cuisine" and decided to check it out. Sure enough! I had sundubu with all the panchan. I looked out the window as I was eating and huge heavy snowflakes were falling from the sky. The sundubu tasted even better.
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