I can’t remember exactly when I first heard of William F. Buckley or when I first saw an issue of National Review, but I know it must have been in 1966 or thereabouts. I was a teenager at the time and far disconnected from life outside the small town in Alabama where I grew up. This is what I do remember. David Neal a …
At this moment we are somewhere in the air over the Pacific Ocean on our way back to Chicago and then on to Memphis and then back to Tupelo. Total time from Shanghai to Tupelo is about 21 hours. We have had a wonderful time in China, and we have seen the Father’s hand at work in so many unexpected ways. If you wonder …
This morning I spoke to the English-language fellowship in Nanchang. They meet each Sunday morning at a hotel in the center of the city. Two years ago only 6-7 people attended. Now they usually draw 50-60 people. Most are Americans and most are English teachers serving with the English Language Institute of China. Some of …
Our time in Nanchang is coming quickly to an end. In the last two days we have toured the new campus of Blue Sky University, met “Billy” the waiban, and lit a few fireworks on the basketball court to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Here’s a slideshow of our last two days in Nanchang. There are 20 pictures in all. You …
So what’s it like in Nanchang? A friend who has been here for a while said that Nanchang isn’t like Beijing or Shanghai. Nanchang is the “real China.” It’s easy to tell the difference. Beijing and Shanghai are both enormous cities, with populations that rank among the largest in the world. In Beijing you h …
Today we toured the downtown area again. While Josh and Leah and Marlene checked out a store, I checked out 8-1 Plaza, located in the very center of the city. The plaza has historical significance because it commemorates the founding of the People’s Liberation Army in this area on August 1, 1927. Here are a few shots …
On Tuesday we traveled to downtown Nanchang to visit the Wal-Mart. It’s fun seeing a Chinese version of an American institution. The store is located right off the main square in the very center of the city—an ideal location for shoppers. They say it is incredibly crowded on the weekends. On one huge floor they sell …
We have just posted a new sermon called Some Advice to the Discontented. Here’s an excerpt:You are where you are right now because God wants you there. You may be happy about your current circumstances or you may be miserable. Most likely you are somewhere in between. It doesn’t matter. You are where you are at …
This map shows where Nanchang is located in relation to several to important Chinese cities—Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong—and also the island of Taiwan. A quick glance tells you that Nanchang is located in the southern part of the country. It was originally one of the so-called “furnace cities” where emperors would banish …
As I write this note, it is early Tuesday morning in Nanchang, China. Marlene looked outside and said, “It’s a beautiful, gray day,” and indeed it is.I took this photo at our hotel in Shanghai. Note the bright colors of our suitcases—easier to find them coming off a baggage claim carousel at the airport. We filled al …