I don't even understand what I'm saying...

Today I taught a class on:

I lie on the bed.
I am lying on the bed.
I lay on the bed
I have lain on the bed.

He lay the box on the bed.
He is laying the box on the bed.
He laid the box on the bed.
He has laid the box on the bed.

Right. Just so you all know, I'm typing this as I lay on my bed.

in but not of

For those of you that thought this would be spiritual, I'm sorry to mislead you. Just an update of a few things I've noticed about myself, which will only confirm my being a freak when I return to the States.

In Fall 2008, I know I'm in a different culture because...
1) I choose the squatty potty over the Western potty. It's more practical, and much easier.
2) To speak English, sometimes I translate from my adopted language because I forget the English equivalents. (note: this does not mean I am fluent, it only means I'm stupid.)
3) I like jackfruit. Yes, the fruit that stinks, the close cousin to durian. Did I mention that it stinks?
4) The idea that families of mosquitoes are flying around me don't alarm me. (Have I mentioned that I hate rainy season?)
5) I just sleep on top of the bed since it is too hot to use a sheet. (Only those who know me well will know that when I sleep, I generally like to re-enact my time in the womb, which involves heavy blankets, or at least a sheet.)
6) I want to ride my bike with a jacket on, since I might have air enter my body and get violently ill the next day. (A local myth that I now believe in--and now, if I ride my bike, I can feel the air in my head. It hurts.)
7) Driving without rules is totally normal. I can pass a car whenever I want, even if there's one coming from the opposite direction. No harm, no foul. There is no white line. There is no speed limit.
8) When I prepare American meals, they don't have any taste. Where are my chili peppers? I guess the bottled chili sauce will do...
9) I was teaching in a government building and looked down to see a stray kitten (with no tail because they're all so inbred) that had wandered into the room...you know, like usual.
10) I can't imagine life without my rice cooker or wok, and actually make mental notes to buy said tools when I move back to the States.

insights in translation

Something interesting about the Christian culture here is that they will have the traditional songs with a completely different translation. As much as I like Fanny Crosby's version of the hymn, "Near the Cross," I think my new culture's translation is a whole lot more powerful.

Thankfully, my church sang it twice on Sunday. This is my rough translation from my new language.

Bring Me Near the Cross (or, the English title, "Near the Cross")

bring me Jesus, near Your Cross
the water of life and Your blood make my heart holy
the Cross, the Cross, forever glory
my sin has been erased by the blood of Jesus

my faith is the smallest, the Lord will not leave me
illuminate my heart with Your Holy Spirit
the Cross, the Cross, forever glory
my sin has been erased by the blood of Jesus

Your cross, my rest, I long for your love
As long as I live I want to be obedient to you
the Cross, the Cross, forever glory
my sin has been erased by the blood of Jesus

the Bible Style Guide

Excellent resource, in pdf format about the Bible's history, composition, components, and translations. Good for believers and seekers.

The Bible Style Guide

Judas, Peter, and apostasy

Here is a really good sermon from Phil Johnson on Matt. 12:30-32 -- the Unpardonable Sin.

I have sat in on many discussions about this topic, even on one of the most prominent campuses in the theological world, and have never received such a good exposition as this.

friends!post: Sila

Heavy-metal music. Teenage drama films. Barbie. Tattoos and Piercings.

This is one of my more random friends, who comes to our house about once a week. Her mind literally thinks polar opposite things at the same time. Sometimes, when I think there's progress with a pretty heavy topic, it's acknowledged with a, "O yeah, sure," and followed by a question like, "Is European fashion popular in America?" Of course, that comes with a personality with whom I can share anything and everything, and laugh about a lot of things. (We both have a pretty childish sense of humor.)

One of her best friends is an American teenager that lives here. Between Erin, me, and him, she hears a lot of our opinions. The most recent thing we talked about was how everything good that we do still isn't good enough for some people, kinda like our best clothes being a dirty rag for others. We're not sure if it sunk in or not.

She's really interested in spirits, claiming that she sees them all the time. I think a lot of it is brought on, even though I believe she's telling the truth. She believes that the only thing that can stop these things is reciting some things from her family's book. The book has power. Any other method that we tell her about is good, but it obviously has nothing to do with her. I hope she tries another method one day.

Worlds Apart

A six hour car journey led me to rediscover a couple of songs, especially Jars of Clay's "World's Apart" from their first self-titled CD. I found this YouTube video that just has the song and lyrics, figured I'd share. As corny as it sounds, this song has been my prayer for the past couple of days.