Thursday, May 31, 2012

What's In Your Library?

What's In Your Library?
While on our trip to Hong Kong and Kunming I picked up two books to read. This one was a loaner from a friend. This is very interesting as it is written by a nonbeliever. This one is banned in the Big Country.


The other book that I read on the trip was one of Philip Yancey's. Don't know why I had never read this one before, but was very glad that I did read it. I especially recommend The Jesus I Never Knew.




Counterfeit Gods

In any culture in which God is largely absent, sex, money and politics fill the vacuum for different people. This is the reason that our political discourse is increasingly ideological and polarized. Many describe the current poisonous public discourse as a lack of bi-partisanship, but the roots go back to the beginning of the world, to our alienation from God and to our frantic efforts to compensate for our feelings of cosmic nakedness and powerlessness. The only way to deal with all these things is to heal our relationship with God.
                                                    From: Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Military cemeteries on foreign soil

Just a way of remembering that 'freedom is not free'. Someone had to pay the price. Here is a very small example of so many who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. As you think about the young men who died, think also of how many others paid the price by losing their son/husband/father/uncle/friend.

Military cemeteries on foreign soil

Cemeteries


Aisne-Marne, France
Ardennes, Belgium
Brittany, France
Brookwood, England
Cambridge, England
Corozal, Panama
Epinal, France
Flanders Field, Belgium
Florence, Italy
Henri-Chapelle, Belgium
Lorraine, France
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Manila, Philippines
Meuse-Argonne, France
Mexico City, Mexico
Netherlands, Netherlands
Normandy, France
North Africa, Tunisia
Oise-Aisne, France
Rhone, France
Sicily-Rome, Italy
Somme, France
St. Mihiel, France
Suresnes, France
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial

Count Your Many Blessings

Our good friend, and fellow Texan, in Hong Kong - Diane Lawrence - has started counting her blessings.
That blesses me and remind me that I too should be counting my blessings.  Diane has just finished her next to last dose of chemo. We are thankful to see how her brothers and sisters in Christ have reached out to help her in so many ways.  How wonderful to be a part of the Great Family of God.
Please continue to pray for Diane.
Great is His Faithfulness

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Remembering


"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in
defense of our country in wars far away. The imagination
plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and
wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers,
grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they
died, they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and
the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up
their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers.
They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave
up everything for their county, for us. All we can do is
remember."

-- Ronald Wilson Reagan - Remarks at Veteran's Day ceremony,
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia, November
11, 1985

Thursday, May 24, 2012

'Two Flies only' per toilet

This is something that I can definitely get on board with.  Two flies or less per toilet - that's a goal worth aiming for.

Beijing sets 'two flies only' public toilet guidelines (May 23, 2012, BBC News)
Authorities in the Chinese capital have set new standards for public toilets, including a stipulation that they should contain no more than two flies. The new rules, published by the commission of city administration, also set standards on odour and cleaning litter bins. Toilets in places such as tourist spots must comply with the new standards. But it is not clear whether failing washrooms will be punished and if so, how. The new rules also cover cleaning, the use of equipment and training for attendants.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

NFL Prognosticator in Hong Kong

It looks like it's going to be another long season for the Dallas Cowboys if this prognosticator in Hong Kong is to be believed.  Dallas Owboy?

Monday, May 21, 2012

Great is His Faithfulness


Thanks so much for your ongoing prayers for Guo and Susan.  The following is the latest report that Susan sent to Jane:

Dear mama
 thank you your prayer.Guo finished his second times treatment ,this time is better than last time,he can eat more than last time ,he feel is better than last time,monday he ask doctor this time medicine is less than last time ,the doctor tell him the medicine is same ,this time God give him big bless ,God help him and give him enough bless.thank you all of pray for him,now he stay home have a rest two weeks then start third times.thank you.
 susan

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Interesting Discussion

Continuing with topic of discussion with former student and her husband:
As I shared before, one topic that they both broached during our 3-hour discussion was 'how can I be a party member and be a Christian?' That is a very serious consideration for them. She did not want to join the party but her parents, her leaders at the school, most everyone in any position of authority over her, forced her to join.
The other topic that she kept coming back to was 'homosexuality'.  I'm not real sure why that was on her mind so much, but I do know that she used to watch American movies a lot; and homosexuality is pretty much 'out there' in the majority of movies.
She really wanted to know my opinion on homosexuality. I told her that the only place I know to go to find Truth on any subject is the Bible.  The Bible is my moral standard.  Opinions wax and wan. People's emotions surge and fade, but the Word of The Lord never changes. It remains True.  As you read and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance you will be guided into all Truth.
The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is sin.  That was the Truth from the time of Sodom; that was the Truth in the time of the New Testament and that remains The Truth today.


Friday, May 18, 2012

Graduation Day

We had a great time celebrating Kali's graduation from Willamette University in Salem, OR on Sunday. We also got to celebrate mother's day with John, Lynn and Kristin Bonife and with Tim and Marianne.
Such a special day.  We rejoice in what The Lord has done. Great is His faithfulness.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Where's My Lear Jet?

After spending most of Saturday driving to Portland, OR; and most of today driving back to Spokane, WA I've decided that I like flying more than driving.  Considering the cost of petrol, looks like about the same price. Couldn't find gas below $4 a gal. in Oregon; and they don't trust me to pump my own gas in OR.
So, I figure I need a Lear jet.  Just think about how much easier it would make for us to get back and forth from here to China.  However, there is one problem, I have no pilot license, so suppose I also need a pilot.
You can see some of the problems that M's face.


Saturday, May 12, 2012

Reading The Rails

Proof again that Jane can ride the rails with the best of them.  Here she is on the mtr [subway] in Hong Kong reading a book on her i touch.  Most of the Hong Kong folks were doing the same thing.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Continuing the Newsletter story

So, as I was saying in the newsletter, we had a wonderful time of visiting/sharing/answering questions for almost 3 hours one afternoon.
The affiliation with the party kept coming up. That was a concern. We were asked 'Is it wrong to attend the party meetings?' All I've ever seen them do at those meeting is have someone in charge read a paper from Beijing while the 20-30 people in attendance drank their tea, read newspapers and visited with each other. No one paid attention. It was just something they had to do.
But the concern remained - How can I be a Christian and be a member of the communist party?
Well, The Lord in His great wisdom sent someone along within the week who was also a member of the party but alread had given their life to Jesus.  And then along came another and another.  Father God is an amazing God.
Now they have others to talk to who are walking the same road but have already given their lives into the hands of the Mighty God - King Jesus.
GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS.
Please keep praying for our young friends to open their hearts to The King of All Kings.
Thanks.
Sure enjoy having you on the team.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Guo's healing

Guo Hong Leung really struggled with his first dose of chemo.  He started the 2nd round Wednesday. Please pray for him. They administer it over 5 days in the hospital. Last time he had a bed during the day but then had to leave so someone else could have the bed at night.
Please remember to pray for he and Susan and their son Paul.
Continue to believe with us for God's mighty healing power to touch Guo and totally heal in.

Graduating - Again?

Kali Jane graduating this Sunday
The Krauss family has already made their way to Oregon to visit family and be there to shout and cheer for Kali when she receives her degree from Willamette University in Salem, OR this Sunday
Jane and I will be driving down on Saturday. We'll do some connecting with HK/China friends along the way there and back.
Great day to cheer for Kali. She is graduating with a double major - Chinese and English.  I'm impressed.
This is Kali with her roommate from S. Korea.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Jet Lag Done - Get to Work

Yo,
Praise God, jet lag is mostly behind us to time to get back to work.
More posts will be appearing shortly. We have many updates to posts about our China trip that we felt best to wait until we got back to USA.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

A Little Adjusting Taking Place

Walked out of the house in Hong Kong to be greeted by hot and humid 
Almost 24 hours later we walk out the Spokane airport to be greeted by cold by mostly sunny.
Our bodies are asking some serious questions of us.

There are times when I think just maybe that slow boat to China would be best after all.
We left the house in Hong Kong at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and arrived Krauss Haus before 5 p.m. Tuesday.
That's some pretty fast travel.
It was 5:30 p.m. Monday Spokane time when we left the HK house and almost 5 p.m. Tuesday when we arrived at the Krauss Haus.  There is a 16 hour time difference. Talk about flipping your day upside down.
Good flights, good connections. Smooth ride except some medium size bumps about 2 hours out of Seoul. Thanks for your prayers.
Blessed by so many wonderful people in Hong Kong and Kunming.  Failed to make it to Shandong on this trip, which is a disappointment to me.
Father God always knows best.
Please pray for us to quickly leave jet lag behind.  Some of those 'experts' say it takes one day for every time zone before your body totally adjusts.  That's 16 time zones we're dealing with.

More news on the trip [that we thought best to not post while in China] will be arriving at this very spot within the next day or two.

Thanks again for joining us in this Great God Adventure.

Praise to the King of All Kings - Jesus

LeRoy and Jane