I received Prof. Uwe ‘s e-mail yesterday, which encompassed his praise of my poems, appreciation of my magazine clippings and postcards portraying the beauty of the island, and sadly told me that his dear old mother had died last month. In addition, Uwe told me that after he returned from Cyprus and the US to Berlin, he would contact me again. I am so glad that I can have such a nice old professor, who is considerate and thankful and wise and knowledgeable, to be my friend. Thank God for this.
Second, my dear only son Ian has made a big progress in his school learning. I have incessantly prayed for him, and his mother Spring has also taught him, accompanied him and supported him without any complaints. The only problem with Ian is his obesity. I love him, hoping that his diet can be balanced and the intake can be a little bit reduced.
Third, Spring my dear wife has been my closest spiritual companion. Now we have been reading Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. And in two weeks we will finish reading this book. Hopefully, both of us can have a basic understanding of the ancient Israelites.
Finally, I enjoyed teaching so much in the past school year. God’s love and presence have been my best support. Everything peacefully ended. And the love of my heart and my family has indeed been enlarged in abundance. Praise the Lord for this. His hands are so wonderful and His name is worthy of praises. May glory and praise to the son of God forever. Jesus is the Lord.


June 29
Praise the Lord for I enjoyed a good meal and two cups of black coffee and lemon juice. I used to spend my morning reading English and Chinese-language newspapers in Laoo coffee shops on the street nearby my apartment. According the recent reports on European economic situation, I know the debt crisis in the eurozone is so serious that the suicidal rate in European society such as Spain, Italy, and Greece has been on the rise. And Cyprus, the city Prof. Uwe will go to for an international conference is also applying for a bailout fund. Compared with the economic situation of the eurozone, Taiwan’s society is far more stable. However, the American beef import negotiation has become an obstacle for Taiwan’s international trade. The opposition parties’ filibuster in the Parliament has further damaged the Taiwan’s relations with the US. In addition, in view of Korea’s rise in Asia, Taiwan’s free trade with the outside world is less competitive than that of Korea, which has successfully established free-trade relations with more than a dozen of countries.
And it should be noted that Secretary General of the Executive Yuan is reportedly involved in a bribery allegation, which results in his resignation today. The local media has been bombarding locals with this headline.
In the course of the change of the local and international society, my family keeps going based on our faith of Jesus Christ. Before the end of this semester, I have accompanied my wife Spring to read the whole New Testament once. And now my goal is to help and accompany her to go over the whole Old Testament. We contact and get close to God by reading aloud His words. By praying, meditation, singing hymns, and regularly attending church meeting, we get to know and felt closer to God. And we grow up in divine life; that is, we become more and more mature in love, faith and good characters.
Moreover, Spring has been planning for a Hong Kong trip in the coming winter vacation. We have to get well-informed. And surely we have to pray for God’s blessing for this amazing overseas trip. God be with us, who have been earnestly seeking Him and His will.

June 30
Today is a very wonderful today. My family as well as my son Ian’s friend Taeh go to the national museum of history where an exhibition of pop-up is being on stage and some ancient bronze vessels are also exhibited. Early in the morning, we enjoyed a good breakfast and then took a bus to Nahai road where Chenkou senior high school the dream school of my old days is located. And after arriving there, we walked to the museum. According to the exhibition, a lot of paper engineers devoted themselves to the paper art creation. Most of the pop ups are designed for children who love fairy tales most. My wife Spring accompanied my daughter Joy all the way and explained the stories to her.
After taking a look at all these historical pop ups, we went to the fourth floor of the national museum to see the ancient bronzes. Various kinds of bronze vessels are displayed, showing the traditional spirit of the middle kingdom. Additionally, we also see a photo exhibition of the Czech republic of which the lives and tourist attractions of Eastern Europe are portrayed. Among these photos, the most bizarre is churches built upon the bones of the dead.
And then, we went to a shop of sushi to enjoy a good meal. The Japanese cuisine was delicious and enjoyable. I enjoyed a good family life, friendship, and I also thank God for the past thirty years in which He led me, took care of me, disciplined me, and helped me in every respect. One of the misfortunes is that I lived in a local church when I was a graduate student in National Taiwan Normal University. The sad memory is almost unforgettable and unforgivable. I need God’s love to forgive and forget the past. Witness Lee is really a mind bender and his followers and coworkers are almost hypocrites. I sincerely pray to the Lord, wishing that He can heal me and help me. Love conquers all and love nerve fails.

July 1
Today is Lord’s day, so I go to church and donate my tithe. In the meeting, we have a Lord’s table and we eat bread signifying Jesus’ body and drink purple wine symbolic of Lord’s blood. I sing some hymns following the music of the band. My voice is so low that my singing is like a whisper. The worship is so far so good and I can feel the presence of the Lord and keep myself silent before God, showing my fear and love towards the Creator, the Savior.
After bathing in the music of the worship, I listen to the sermon of Pastor Lee, who preached a sermon on faith. Now faith is the substantiating of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The power of faith is derived from God’s words by which we can be enlivened and supported and even empowered. Fortunately enough, after being a Christina for as long as 30 years, I as well as my family have developed a habit of reading the Bible every day. Constantly reading God’s words helps with faith extremely. I have to help my son Ian and my daughter Joy to cultivate the habit of reading the Bible, which must be their daily practice.
And after eating lunch in the church, I went to visit a dear brother Professor Yang, who worshiped God in another church. I treated him a plate of Taiwanese style ice and had a dialogue on Florida with him. We shared some information with each other. It was really a period of peaceful time. I enjoyed his companionship and friendship. My wife Spring will invite his family for a big meal in August in order to see them off, for his family will stay in Florida for academic research for one year.
Now I regularly have Lord’s day meeting in the church of spiritual bread. I sincerely hope that I can be humble and tolerant towards other church members. And I can keep a long-term peaceful and friendly relationship with them. I must grow in my mind and in my heart. That’s a way of divine faith.

July 2
Today, according to the media, I see the downfall of former Secretary General of the Executive Yuan. He has confessed his crime of bribery and been put in prison. At first, he lied, trying to cover up his crime. But very soon all evidence was unveiled, leading to his confession and downfall. This is really a tragedy of the KMT regime, tarnishing the image of the government. Lust and greed put the political future of his politician to an end. Vanity in vanity; all is vanity, Now his jail term will be very long, at least ten years.
Second, I re-start to translate English letters by a missionary serving in the early years of Taiwan to Chinese. I will translate her three letters on the report of her service in these two weeks. I enjoy this church service in my leisure time, especially in summer time. Indeed, in the past two years, I have finished translating a booklet on her service of leprosies and several letters. And what I gained from this is a further and deeper understanding of the American missionary’s works in the early years of Taiwan. Their relief work had been supported by American aid, which no longer comes now.
Third, according to China post, an English-language newspaper published in Taiwan, I know Hong Kongers were staging a protest during the swearing-in ceremony of the head of Hong Kong government, which was returned to China after about one hundred years of British colonial rule. Actually, Hong Kongers’ value of democracy and economic equality has been relatively respected by China. And then, they stage protests to show their anger and discontent. The 1989 Tienanmen square massacre has been remembered in the hearts of Hong Kongers. And the scar of memory seems unhealed forever. My family is planning for a trip to Hong Kong in the coming winter vacation. I hope Ian and Joy can broaden their mind and horizon in this well-planned overseas trip. In addition, Spring can be relaxed and get comforted and rest. Also, I hope that I can visit a good friend currently serving at the Taiwan Bank’s Hong Kong branch and repay him something. I need to pray more for this future trip this year.
And it should be noted that I also need pray more for my Sunday church meeting in the church of spiritual bread. I feel that the head of the small group meeting is somewhat narrow minded. I don’t like this way. But in God’s name, I have to be tolerant and keep myself at peace with him. This is best for the church and for my family.

July 3
I start to read aloud Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, trying to get familiar with the writing style of Hemingway. I tear apart one page from the novel, and then read aloud it, and then throw this piece of paper away. I also collect poetic expressions, which can serve as a base for my future writing.
These days Spring and me have been reading the book of Genesis. This history of Israel’s ancestors shows me that killing, deception, adultery and even incest really happened in their life stories. However, the presence and appearance of God were also recorded in their history. Faith and sacrifice are also main elements in Israel’s religious history. Man’s failure and God’s grace are interwoven together. Looking back over the past years, I thank God for His tolerance and grace, expecting that I can grow in faith and love. I also pray that my son Ian and my daughter Joy can abide by the words of God in the whole path of their life. Furthermore, their future families and marriage can be based and constructed in our common faith.
This morning, I called Miss Lu, who was my former mentor at Soochow University. She retired, and I invite her for a lunch scheduled on next Monday. Spring and me should pray for this, for I hope that my chat with her can benefit her life, and that I can share some wisdom of life with her. I need to pray for this.
In addition, I continue translating English letters for Mustard Seed church. I will spend about two weeks to finish this volunteer translating service. May God be with me and Spring, who needs to type for this translation service.
Today, Cabinet head and President Ma both show regret over the graft of former Cabinet Secretary General Lin Yi-Shih, who has partially confessed his crime, and who according to the media is so arrogant and crazy. His downfall indeed tarnishes the image of the KMT government, who has been upholding integrity as their slogan. This tragic event surely will influence the future election, especially in the region of southern Taiwan.

July 4
This morning I read an article published in Bloomberg magazine, which said that the state capitalists like China, India, and Brazil possess a cutting-edge innovation by pouring a large amount of resources into the state-owned companies. And their state-owned companies are even more competitive than multinationals. U.S. and European companies lose steam in the global competition.
In addition to my reading, I also called Yu-wen, a former student at the Taipei Commercial Technology College. She helped me a lot when I taught there. And now she informed me that she has a boyfriend. I am happy for that. And hopefully God will bless her and her future marriage. And surely I will attend her future wedding banquet.
I also read a Chinese-language magazine while taking my breakfast. Scholars and professors at the Chinese department used to stress the ethical relation between teachers and students. I am so interested in the columns about the death and memorial service of a Chinese retired professor whose former students wrote several articles to pay their homage to him. I also respect the traditional ethical relations between teachers and students. I swear to love, teach and help students with all my heart. On the other hand, I am worthy of students’ love and respect. This is reciprocal.
I am also considering whether I will continue to attend the small-group meeting on Sundays. It seems that I can not decide at this moment. Let me wait and see and make a decision that will benefit my spirit and honor my God. At present, I am inclined to leave this small group, for the group head is too talkative and dominant. My Lord, please show me your will.
Finally, it should be noted that Taiwan’s local media has been bombarding locals with the latest development of former Cabinet Secretary General’s case of bribery. Timothy 6: 10 says, “For the love of money is the root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” Lin Yi-shih’s love of money does lead to the downfall of his family. I pray for Ian and Joy, hoping that they can know piety with contentment is great gain, and that having sustenance and covering, we will be content with these.

July 6
Yesterday, I and Ian travelled with Spring’s school staff to Yilan. Our first stop was a forestry area, which encompassed a historical site of an ancient railroad station, a large pond, and a beautiful and tranquil trail. A curator introduced the origin and variety of the woods in details to us. Luodong was famous and named for monkeys and loggings in ancient times. And now in this forestry reservation area, we enjoyed the tranquility and peace of the woods. Also we took a walk around the pond. Along the way, Ian and the only son of Suman, a former babysitter of my daughter Joy took pictures of fish, birds swarming the pond. Several local artists held exhibitions showing their craft arts in the small houses located along the pond. I bought a small item for my daughter Joy, who I have been remembering all the way.
After leaving this forestry reservation area, we went on to a very beautiful and memorable restaurant for lunch. The lunch was so delicious that the menu included shrimp, vegetables, German pig legs, Japanese-style fresh fish, pork, sweets, watermelon juice, and so on. I actually enjoyed this big lunch, and thank God for His grace for in the past thirty years He cared about me, giving me clothes, food, housing and even establishing a family for me. And now I own a workshop as a means for my living. Everything will be ok only if my family regularly and constantly contacted God’s words, Spirit, and cherishing our Sunday worshipping in the local church.
This travel was memorable. In addition, according to the media, Lin Yi-shih’s wife was also involved in the bribery case, for she was charged with money laundering and hiding the bribery money. This story was so tragic that a family would fall apart, and even be destroyed. The love of money is the root of every evil. I need to open my heart to embrace my country, my students, my family, my church. Love is everything, and love never fails.
In addition, this morning Kuo Ching-ming, my former classmate in a junior high school, called me, telling me that he is right now in Taipei. As promised before, I invited to have a big lunch at Ambassador Hotel located in Shun-shan North Road. I have not seen him for about two years. Although I regularly called him, I have not treated him and have a long talk with him. So, I caught the golden chance to treat him, showing my care and love toward him. The buffet is terrific. There are so many dishes including steak, sea food, chicken, and what not to eat. It’s really a big meal which shows my generosity and respect toward him. He talked about many things to me, spending a lot of time carefully listening to him. His only son is mentally challenged and his mother was diagnosed with a caner disease. However, he is so nice to them as well as his students in an elementary school in Funshan town. He is simple and kind. May God bless him, and I also will constantly mention him in my daily prayers. Thank God for his call and for the golden opportunity of treating him. Just as Abraham treated strangers who were angels, so I treated him, who had been an angel when I had been lonely, helpless and extremely poor in my teens, especially in the days at Chen-kuo senior high school. Glory to God, and thanks to God.

July 7
Thank God for this new morning in which I enjoy a good breakfast and wonderful music. My wife Spring prepared milk, black coffee and a piece of cake for my breakfast. I also wrote an email correcting two errors in translation for Professor Shen currently serving at Soochow University. I have to be more careful and serious in performing my translation service.
In addition, I know God will make a way for me when there seems to be no way. I will pray for Kuo Ching-ming, looking for God’s way to help him. Hopefully, I can see him face to face before the end of this summer vacation.
After taking breakfast, we left for Taipei for Ian had to change the bottle for insects. We stayed at the store for insects about one hour. I read a Chinese-language newspaper and an English newspaper there. The biggest piece of news was still Lin Yi-shih former Cabinet Secretary General whose family members were also involved in his bribe case. And during our stay, a man speaking aloud in English to his kids made me a little bit uncomfortable. Actually, I am not used to speaking English in everyday life. However, I kept my practice of writing everything in English.
Moreover, thank God again for today’s lunch. We went to Carrefour to eat our lunch. I accompanied Ian to enjoy a meal including a meat steak, two vegetables, and black tea. I also shared a coke with Joy. I did enjoy a good life. Looking back over the past years, especially those years in pursuing academic degrees and those years when I had been sick and long-term unemployed in Taichung, I thanked God for making a way for me. Now I have a ph.D degree, a family, a house, and a good church life. I will remember the grace and mercy of the Lord, always praising Him and honoring Him. May glory and praises to God. Amen.
It is also mentioned that in the evening time I went to the coffee shop on the next street to drink a cup of juice and read the United Evening News. Reportedly, Jeremiah Lin will sign a contract with an extremely high payment in the NBA league. Jeremiah’s rise and fall as a basketball player is somewhat associated with his Christian faith. One generation goes, and another generation will come. The sun also rises, and the earth will stand forever. Fame and vanity will one day end. Hopefully, my family can enjoy a peaceful and blessed life for a quite long time. As a small potato and an ordinary citizen, I want to live a simple and normal and peaceful life in neighborhood and in Taiwan. Everything will be fine for my family’s union with Jesus Christ and for the sake of His name.

July 8
This morning Spring and I read the book of Genesis together of which one chapter tells about Joseph’s reunion with his brothers after he had been sold to Egypt as a slave and his miraculous rise to the position of the prime minister. God was with him in everything for he feared God and kept himself far away from adultery. We also need to pray to God for His presence and keep ourselves clean especially to the opposite sex. The adversity, test, and rise of Joseph led to the salvation of the family of Israelis.
I also read several poems by Emily Dickinson. She mentioned death and eternity. According to the Bible, death is men’s destiny and then men have to face a final judgment. Sometimes, the world is unpredictable, and even a sudden death is possible. However, we know that our lives are in the hands of God. We pray for God’s peace in everything. Jehovah is my shepherd, and He led, leads, and will lead me, who has learned to seek his will in everything, in the path of life. Praise the Lord. My family will always turn to the fountain of salvation. And today is Lord’s day, so my whole family will go to church for worships and tithe.
In today’s church meeting, I sang hymns worshipping the Lord. And then, a female speaker gave a sermon on the topic of how to lead people to believe in the Lord. After the meeting, we gathered in the dining room for lunch. I met the husband of my neighbor living on the third floor of this building and greeted him, Che-ching, a dentist and also my friend, asked me to talk to his relative a young girl coming from Scotland. I introduced a few tourist attractions and local cuisines to her. Her Scotland English was a little bit difficult to understand. I nodded, just saying I understand. I felt somewhat ashamed, knowing my own English still needed to be improved.
After we came back home, we took a nap. And then, my family played the card game of billionaires. Ian and Joy were so excited, and Spring and me joined them and accompanied them. After this, we went to the next street to eat mango ice. Time was so enjoyable and wonderful. We enjoyed ourselves very much.
And it was also worth mentioning that in Ian’s Sunday school meeting, I heard about how to pray. A prayer included confession of sins, praises, thanks, and petitions. Four elements were included in a prayer. This was a good point.
Summer time was memorable, and I need to spend much time preparing for the English classes of the next semester. God be with me and my family. Amen.

July 9
This morning I translated an abstract from Chinese to English for a professor at the Chinese department at Soochow University. The abstract talks about a certain scholar and a literary society he was devoted to in his times. I also have a longer Chinese article to be translated in these two weeks. And two English letters by a missionary of Mustard Seed church are my burden, requesting my time to finish translating them. Translation is my job and professionalism, and I will try my best to get somewhere in this field of professionalism.
After finishing translating the abstract, I went to Mackay Memorial Hospital to take my medicine, which I thought was a blessing to my health. And then, for I had invited Miss Lu, a retired English teacher at Soochow University, for lunch, I went to the next street where a vegetarian restaurant was located. I had prayed several times, expecting Lord Jesus Christ to give me nice, wise, comforting words to soothe the heart of Miss Lu, my former teacher. God answered my prayers, so I could enjoy a good meal and have a good time with her. Time flied, and she had taught English at Soochow University over thirty years. And I also graduated form that school about twenty five years ago. About one month ago, I attended a wedding banquet of the son of a retried English teacher at Chen-kuo senior high school, my mother school. The two reunions with former teachers reminded me of remembering God’s grace, for He saved me from loneliness, homelessness, sickness, and poverty. God’s name is so great that my family and my descendants will always remember it. Thank God for everything.

July 10
This morning I went to the coffee shop on the next street to drink coffee and juice. I brought two copies of “Let’s Talk in English” magazine to the shop keeper for his reference. I also read a Chinese-language newspaper and an English newspaper and Bloomberg, an English magazine specializing in global finances. According to today’s news report, I know that Matzu, an outlying island, will become a casino resort in the future, for the referendum result is in favor of the construction of the casino resort. Although the construction will definitely benefit the locals financially, the crime will pollute this clean island. Perhaps a great disaster will happen to the locals. And according to Bloomberg magazine, the US and Europe have lost their financial dominance in the global market, so now they have to depend heavily on multilateralism. In addition, according to the Chinese-language newspaper, I know that former Cabinet Secretary General Lin Yi-shih picked up his books about dentistry. It was very interesting. It is expected that a prisoner will be transformed into a dentist after he is released from prison.
And then, I really enjoyed a good meal in my lunch time. I ate pork and vegetables. Whenever I ate any food, I paid my thanks to God, for I always remembered the days of hunger and poverty, especially when I was a high school student and when I was long-term sick, waiting for an opportunity of revival in Taichung. And I also thank God for my sore back. I called Spring telling her that the muscle of my back was very sore. She told me to buy a kind of medicine, which was very effective. I tried that medicine, and very soon the pains of my back were eased, and I felt more comfortable.
Now I have been waiting for the notice of Tung-nan Technology University and National Open University in order to see what classes I will teach in the next semester. And I will apply for the formal certificate of assistant professor in National Open University. I have been praying to the Lord, hoping that God will be with me and help me. I am so humble and vulnerable that I need God’s grace and mercy. In addition, I prayed for Spring, Ian, and Joy and certain persons I have known and remembered. I have to grow up in faith and divine love. I need to love people and God, always keeping in mind that love is the essence of God, and that without love we are not qualified to serve the Lord.
After taking a nap, I went to a shop of small eatery to eat a bowel of noodles and a dish. Thank God for the money and freedom to eat whatever I like. I still have some work to do. Tomorrow morning I will translate an abstract for Professor Shen. I pray for a good and acceptable attitude towards this translation service. Translation indeed is my professionalism, and a justified attitude towards the translation service is a must in my life. In addition, I am obliged to take a few hours of classes on the Internet for the sake of Spring. I am glad to do that for her, my beloved.
I sincerely pray to God, expecting that I can live long enough to be able to host Ian’s and Joy’s wedding banquet. If I can live that long, that’s enough.

July 11
Spring and me have been reading the book of Genesis together in this month. According to the first chapter of Genesis, the universe was created by God’s words. This morning, I read the latest issue of Newsweek, understanding that scientists use the bang theory to explain the origin of the universe, which had been supposedly created by particles. About thirty years ago, I published an article titled a new life view in the yearly magazine of Kaohsiung Senior High School, in which I also quoted a paragraph about the bang theory. The explosion and the particles formed the universe. But how can science prove this theory?
In addition, by reading Genesis, I understand that Jacob became a man who could bless the king of Egypt and two sons of Joseph, one of his sons, who had become the prime minster of Egypt after surviving a tragic betrayal of his brothers. Disasters and sufferings transformed Jacob’s life, which had been previously so tricky and dishonest.
And my sore muscles were healed. I need to thank God and Spring for this. Spring washed my body last night and gave me a massage, as well. Praise the Lord.
After taking my lunch, I went to the coffee shop to drink a cup of black coffee and read a Chinese-language newspaper and an English newspaper. Reportedly, the vice president was also possibly involved in the bribery case of former Cabinet Secretary General Lin Yi-shih. However, the vice president vowed to press charges against the reports. How would the thing go?
And it was also reported that the countries in the euro area will give a bailout to Spain whose economy was in recession and unemployment rage was extremely high. The crisis of European debt made an impact on the whole globe. Now like the eurozone, the economy of the US was also sluggish. The crisis of economic recession appeared to be a global problem. Taiwan’s economy heavily depends on exports, especially to China, Japan, and the US. Our family is still self-sufficient and without the financial worries. Everything is ok. More and more families in Europe and the US were debt-ridden, and the suicide rate in their society had risen. In the past, Taiwan has depended on American aid, especially in the 1960s. However, now the situation has changed. American aid no longer comes. And the American beef row forms an obstacle of a further economic talk between Taiwan and the US. Taiwan’s opposition party staged a filibuster in the parliament to stop the passage of the act, which allows the import of American beef containing leanness-enhancing drug.
This afternoon I also took a one-hour class on the Internet on behalf of Spring. I had to spend at least eight hours on these kinds of classes. I love Spring, and I am glad to help her and share her workload in this way. As she told me, we will go to Yang Ming mountain for a rest tomorrow. Ian will be our companion in this trip. It is expected that tomorrow will be restful and enjoyable. God be with us.
And I read the 49th chapter of Genesis in my routine afternoon prayer time. Jacob blessed his twelve sons respectively. The words were so beautiful and picturesque. I like these nice words. And someday I will also bless Ian and Joy, saying nice words to them. Although life is hard, I will definitely live by faith, in faith, and for faith. Spring was, is, and will be my best companion and friend on the way of realizing our common faith, Surely, Ian and Joy are our followers.

July 12
Early in the morning Ian, Spring, and me went to Yangmingshan for a trip. We took the MRT to Shihlin station, and then took a bus to the top of the mountain. After arriving at the destination, we walked on the mountain trail, enjoying the beauty of the scenery and listening to the sound of birds and insects. The walk could relieve my stress, and the companionship of Ian and Spring warmed my heart, healing my soul. The tour bus took us around the tourist attractions of the mountain. Spring felt that she was revived by this trip, and we talked to each other on the way.
And then, we went down the mountain to Shihlin to take our lunch. I ate spaghetti and chicken, and Ian and Spring ate fried rice. Over twenty years passed after I graduated from Soochow University. My horizon and social experiences were so limited owing to my life experiences in the local church. I am determined to turn the fountain of salvation, expecting the mercy and grace of Lord Jesus Christ. I have accompanied Spring to constantly read the Bible every day. And I keep reading newspapers, magazines, and books. I hope that I can grow up in faith, and became an old wise man in the future.

July 13
“In 1997 the Clinton administration, declaring that the ‘government of Burma has committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition,’ banned Americans from investing in the country. As the regime jailed thousands of dissidents and continued shooting down protesters in the streets, the Bush administration took further punitive measures in 2007 and 2008. Sanctions barred Burmese exports to the U.S., froze all assets of top junta officials and their cronies in the U.S., and prohibited Burmese from carrying out international transactions using U.S. dollars.”
“In late 2010, Myanmar’s ruling junta, known since 1997 as the State Peace and Development Council, released the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest; today she is a member of Myanmar’s Parliament. Democratic reforms have begun transforming the country, and most sanctions, including those imposed by the U.S. in the late ’90, have been suspended since U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s December 2011 visit. “
Myanmar now is on the way of openness and democratization. Several months ago, I read an articled in Newsweek about the tragic story of Aung San Suu Kyi’s family. When her husband, an Oxford-educated academician died of cancer, she could not fly to Britain to accompany him or say good-bye to him. However, her will has become as hard as steel due to her long-term struggle with the military government. Now she has succeeded in her political career. In addition, I also remembered that when I taught freshman English in National Taiwan Normal University I helped a Burmese student to make progress in his English learning. This is memorable, as well.
This afternoon, I translated a Chinese abstract on Sothern Society and Its Members into English. Southern Society was a literary group in Qing dynasty, which aimed to topple the rule of Qing dynasty and promote the quintessence of Chinese national culture. Several members of Southern Society had been devoted to the study of philology, producing much cultural legacy. Besides translating an abstract, I also took a two-hour course of journalism on behalf of Spring, whom I love and respect all my life. After finishing reading Genesis, we went on to read Exodus, which began with the misery of Israelis having immigrated to Egypt for four hundred years.
In my afternoon tea time, I accidentally met Miss Lin, who had been a broker while I sold my house located in the next street. It was remembered that I had given her a Bible as a gift. And now she had left her former job and started working in Shulin. I am happy to know that after she left the spiritual bread church for eight months she decided to return to the church gatherings. She was divorced long time ago. After experiencing misfortune and despair, she decided to return to the Savior and attend the church meetings regularly. Sometimes, when we go along on the path of life, the Lord is just around the corner, handling everything for our good. I called Spring, telling her about this. She was also thankful for Miss Lin for her help while she sold the house next door. I must be clean and nice to Miss Lin, mentioning her name in my prayers. I fear God, Who is holy and loving. Thank God for everything. And after saying goodbye to Miss Lin, I went to MacDonald’s to buy an ice cream, and then I ate a bowel of soup of duck meat. These enjoyments are affordable. Thank God for leisure time and these delicious foods.
Finally, I went to a bookstore to buy four cards, for I will send these cards to contact and greet four persons I am concerned about next week. I will always pray for this. And hopefully, everything will be fine and God of peace will be always with me and my family.

July 14
We went to Yangmingshan to take a walk, seeking a period of restful and peaceful time. On the trail of Erziping, we were bath in a shower of the woods. Sunlight was seeping through the leaves of tress, and winds were blowing smoothly. Green tress, various kinds of wild plants were along the path. The voices of insects were so harmonious that they pleased and enlivened our lives. Spring felt so comfortable and refreshed, and I was happy for that. The destination was a valley located between two mountains. We went on a picnic there. Spring prepared foods for Ian, Ian’s good friend Taer, Joy and me. The weather was fine and pleasant, and we enjoyed moments of leisure and a family gathering. At that time, I ate a small box of chicken meat, vegetables, drinks, and what not. I treasured the presence of Spring, Ian and Joy, and even Taer, the only son of one of our church friends.
In addition, I share some information about the world situation with Spring, who was so smart and reasonable and easy to communicate with. The so-called Chinese economic model or miracle now was in doubt. The bubble of the economic miracle burst. In the past three decades, Chinese state capitalism and authoritarian rule have created an economic miracle. However, all of kinds of economic indicators showed that Chinese economy was in decline. Domestic consumption and exports were shrinking, and property markets became bubbles. It seemed that economic recession emerged as a global phenomenon. As a middle-income family in Taiwan, our family can live a self-sufficient life. And since Spring is a public servant, we can live a good life. Thank God for this. I will also do my best to make some contributions to our society.
I also thank God for finding an Interne connection which can help me sing hymns. Thank God for this.

July 15
Early in the morning I rose up and sang several hymns. One of them was Jehovah’s heart, which was love and blessings. He accompanied me to struggle through poverty and distresses in life, giving me strength, hope and comfort. This can apply to my school years at Chen-kuo senior high school, my military service, and the years of my sickness. He blessed me in my holy union with Spring. He blessed me with my two healthy kids. These two years have proven to be a period of rest, for I struggled relentlessly for about ten years. I also sang the hymn titled The Dearest Friend, Who is Lord Jesus Christ. I told Him about everything in life. I thank God for everything and also ceaselessly pray for everything. Spring promised to me that she would take care of me until I died. This is true love. May God listen to this petition.
Isaiah 60: 19 goes in this way, “ Jehovah shall be thine everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” Jehovah is my everlasting light, and my God is my glory. Life has been hard, so I need to pray for the light and protection of God. Furthermore, God eliminated shames in my life, and I am willing to glorify Him and uplift His name. Basically, honesty and sincerity are a vital attitude towards life. Integrity is a basic attitude towards social service and even spiritual service. I have to pray for the teaching service of next semester. The more prayers and preparations I have, the more confidence I own. Last year, I got much feedback from students’ response. I was strengthened and gloried. Now I still need to go on in the path of faith, calling upon the name of the Lord and trusting Him.
This evening we went out to the park nearby. I had a long talk with Spring. I mentioned that I felt so powerless in earning money these years. I am not capable of making money. And for the situation I am facing now, I thought that I’d better fit in what happened to me naturally. If the Lord opens any window of opportunity for me, I will accept and deal with it by Lord’s grace. I dare not to ask anything more, for I know that I am weak and fragile. I need to be strengthened and enlarged by the spirit of the Lord. I am determined to constantly depend on the Lord, Who had touched my heart and released me from sorrow, worries and bondage in the 1980s. I know who controls tomorrow. I have to try all means to contact Him, seek Him, and ask for His help, mercy and grace. Since I graduated from the ph.D program, life has been hard and full of trials and tests. The church life does not help a lot although we regularly attend church meetings and donate our tithe. The biggest support comes from Spring, who has been my best and dearest friend and only and closest spiritual companion. Thank God for His sovereignty and arrangement, and for His grace abundantly given to Spring and me.

July 16
It’s so sad that the printer is out of control, when I am in a dire need of it.
I don’t why this happens. Previously I planned to print out a client’s documents and bring them to MacDonald’s to translate them while I am having breakfast. I felt financially stressed and very uncomfortable. After taking the printer to the place of a technician, who used to be not so honest, I took two sleeping pills to relieve the mental stress.
This afternoon I struggled to spend about two hours to take English lessons on the Internet on behalf of Spring. I can not do nothing with time passing. I waited and waited until Spring came back home. She gave 6.000 NT dollars to me to relieve my financial stress. She was kind and so generous to me. In July I treated Kuo Chiing-min and Lu Chu-huan in fashionable restaurants. So I almost run out of my monthly living expense. Life was so hard. However, on the other side, I am so lucky.
And it should be noted that politics is so dirty judging from bribery case of Lin Y-shih, and the election of the DPP’s central standing committee. Reportedly, vote buying is still a common practice in the DPP’s election. Lin’s case seriously tarnished the clean image of Ma Ing-jeou’s ruling government, while vote buying in DPP’s inner circle election still exposed their greed and corruption. Nowhere is clean. There is no paradise on earth. My family is my protection, shelter, and paradise on earth. I need to have a deeper and deeper spiritual connection with my Spring, Joy, and Ian.
And I have been praying for the workload of the next school year. God, please have mercy on me and my family, for I am so weak and fragile and helpless.

July 17
This morning I prayed and read one chapter of Exodus with Spring. Jehovah commanded Moses to perform some miracles before the king of Egypt in order to persuade him to let Israelis go out of Egypt. However, Jehovah also made Pharaoh’s heart so hardened the he would not let Israelis go. Looking back over the past years, sometimes life was so dark and hopeless that I did not know how to persist in seeking a certain goal of life. Especially in those years when I was a senior high, I had been frustrated and even spent five years before I was qualified to attend the Joint University Entrance Exam. Life was so hard that I lacked food, clothes, shoes, and even books. An invisible hand of God led me through those years. Furthermore, I went astray when I was a graduate student in Fu-jen University and in Normal University. I lived in a local church which was full of full-timers of mind benders. I fell from grace and got sick. After being sent back to Taichung, life was also so hard that I lacked rest, food, and medicine. For the sake of God’s name, He led me through all these hardships and eventually I came back to Taipei, starting a new life. Sometimes, I lived in despair and pains, which I always later overcame by the Lord’s grace. I do know who controls tomorrow. And if I have tomorrow, I will always contact the Lord, trying to gain grace and mercy and leading and shepherding from Him. I need peace, rest, and joy, surely, enough monetary supply in life. I need my family, my wife, and my kids. And certainly, several good-hearted and honest friends are welcome to me.
This afternoon, I got a phone call from Paul Liu, who informed me that my four-hour classes will be increased by four hours. It was remembered that I prayed to the Lord telling Him that I hoped that those who needed my help could seek my help. And I also hoped that my offer of help won’t be beyond my abilities. So soon God answered my prayers so I prayed to God with tears in my eyes. I will be nice and friendly to Paul Liu, who has helped me a lot in the past. I will pray for him, myself and my students, expecting that all of us can be benefited in mind and in spirit by these classes. And I will start to prepare for these lessons at the beginning of August after my family traveled back from Keelung, a northern harbor city. I fear God and know that I need His help and grace. I will also be well-prepared for these lessons. I will constantly pray, take medicine regularly, and be well-prepared for these classes. God’s victory, love, and peace will be with me, Paul Liu, and my students. Hopefully, when my family goes to Hong Kong, I will have means to contact Hung Min-kung, my former classmate and pay back something to him. In addition, I pray for some nice words I can give to Paul Liu, who also needs my companionship and help.
I need to rejoice always. Thank God for the job openings, and thank God for His preparations. Although I am as weak as a sparrow, He will prepare everything for me. I trust His divine provision.
It should be noted that I will invite Paul Liu to an afternoon tea right at the beginning of August. I will bring a fitting present to his family, as well. And the purpose of this meeting is to discuss with him about the teaching materials of next semester. I have to prepare for it beforehand. With all my heart, I hope to do a good job.

July 18
This morning I spent some time reading Newsweek in the coffee shop I used to go to. According to the reports, the Arabian spring seems not be a success story. Although these countries have oil wealth, the political and military conflicts within their nations can even lead to battles and civil wars. In addition, some radical Islamists destroyed the African culture heritages, that is, the ancient shrines, for they claimed that these showy shrines were idolatry. These two reports gave me the impressions that these Islamists were not so reasonable, and their countries were not so blessed. The extreme fundamental Islamists like Egypt’s Islam brotherhood is apparently not a blessing to their country.
And according to a local media, Apple daily, Chen Shui-bien, former president of Taiwan was in deep depression, leading to his suicide attempt. His corruption, arrogance, and betrayal resulted in his downfall. The tragic story of his family was indeed a pity, which deserved our second thinking. Politics is relatively dirty.
Bribery and corruption were rampant in the era of Chen Shui-bien. However, Lin Yi-shih, former Cabinet Secretary General of Ma Ing-jeou’s KMT government, was also involved in corruption and bribery. His story exposed a dark and corrupted side of the current government.
And I felt a feeling which was not peaceful while I rose up this morning, which seemed to tell me that I should decline to teach at Tung-nan University next semester. I will follow this feeling, and keep away from any risk and crisis in my life. I need to pray and prepare myself for the future challenges. Love never fails, and love conquers all. I know that love is the best way to follow.
Today, I called Spring two times. However, unfortunately, she always said that my voice on the cell phone was not clear. I intended to tell her something. But it did not work. I felt so frustrated that I turned to the Lord to pray for my current situation. I knelt down on the floor to pray, hoping the Lord can give me a peaceful to prepare for everything for my family and my students. I plan to spend a whole month to prepare for the English teaching in the next semester. Also, I need to pray more to equip myself with strength, peace, joy, and wisdom. I can only live by faith and in faith. Anyway, I will rejoice always, for I know who I believe and who controls tomorrow.
Thank God for the dinner of which the menu included fried fish, several kinds of vegetables, tomatoes, and papaya. Besides enjoying delicious food, I enjoyed the companionship of my family--my son, my daughter, and my wife. I will never forget those years of poverty, loneliness, and helplessness. Now due to abundant grace of God, I am no longer hungry, lonely, and helpless. Praise the Lord for His presence and grace.

July 19
According to the breaking news of CNN, prime minister of Israel claimed that Israel will respond with force to Iran, which was allegedly involved in a car blast killing two to three Israelis. Iran’s nuclear construction aimed to attack Israel. And now the two countries have become enemies on the international stage.
In addition, according to Newsweek, cheap Internet ads about ocean cuisse lured people flocking to the sea; however, the safety standards were in doubt. And the working conditions of the crew members were like that of a sweatshop. Their medical care, dental care, basic salaries and workloads were terrific. The employers used to take advantage of these employees to make lucrative profits. The labor cost was suppressed to the bottom line. This was really the spirit of capitalism.
In addition, according to a Chinese-language newspaper, the news about Chen Shui-bien’s suicidal attempt was controversial. The real version of his story was unpredictable; however, time will tell the truth.
And according to China Post, a leading English-language newspaper in Taiwan, due to the market value of Jeremy Lin, Rockets has a sign new contrast with him. As the headline goes, “Lin heads to Rockets after Knicks fail to match 3-year, US$25 mil. contract. Linsanity has rallied stock prices, boosting merchandise, advertisements, television ratings and selling out tickets. However, whether he is an All-Star material is still worth observation.
In addition, according to Academia Sinica, the top research institute in Taiwan, the expected economic growth rate for 2012 would fall due to the European debt crisis and economic slowdown in China. The exports are weaker-than-expected now.
This afternoon, I happily finished the translation for Prof. Shen of Soochow University. And then I went to the next street to eat a plate of ice mixed with several kinds of fruits. Moreover, I also went to Seven Eleven convenience store to buy cold noodles. I enjoyed these foods so much. I need to thank God and Spring, for what I can enjoy and share. My home, my spouse, my kids are my comfort and gifts from God. After that, I bought a box of cherries and a bottle of milk for my kids. I’d better live an economic life in order to keep two ends meet. In the past, especially before my marriage, sometimes I was penniless. In those years when I had been sick and rested in Taichung, I was penniless and had no income. God’s Spirit moved the hearts of church members, who thus supported me by donating money to me. I don’t know who is so nice to me. God knows their names and God will reward them abundantly. The church life in Taichung and in Siamen Street helped me a lot, encouraging me to go through the hardships and difficulties of life. I will treasure those brethren and sisters deep in my heart forever. And I also pray to God, Who can help me to be transformed to be a man of faith and love and encouragement. Just as those brethrens helped me, so I will encourage and help others in need without asking any instant rewards. I know the rewards are in heavens.

July 20
Early in the morning, I went to the next street to take my breakfast, which used to be a fried egg and a cup of black coffee. I read Newsweek, of which the cover story talked about a female professional soccer player who will attend the 2012 London Olympics. The girl athlete’s was an Italian criminal, that had used many women, stolen, and committed many crimes. The American national team was boosted by this excellent player, whose family background was apparently tarnished by a record of crimes and poverty.
In addition, I am scheduled to translate a page of a missionary’s English letters into Chinese today. She worked for the Lord and served lots of prisoners about forty 40 years ago in Taiwan. Her service was extended to patients, prisoners, mountain people, lepers, street children, and so on. At that time, American aid was a way to relieve these people in need. And the American missionary used to write letters to raise money for these Taiwanese people. I am glad to translate a biography about how she served the lepers, who often committed suicide due to their predicament. And with the help of the missionary, many of them were eventually baptized and became Christians who were cared for by Heavenly Father.
Besides, Joy my dear daughter caught a cold yesterday. And she would not take part in the performance for the graduation ceremony on Saturday. It was a pity. And I will also pray to God, hoping that Ian her older brother can have a heart of loving her and caring for her, and that Joy can have a heart of respecting her older brother. Hopefully, the spirit of Christian doctrines can saturate the ethical relations between my family members. I love and respect Spring, who will receive the Lord’s grace together with me. And I will refrain from all lusts in order to love her more. So does she. The family belongs to the Lord, who is the master of this family.
While sipping a cup of black coffee this afternoon, I read China Post of which the front page reported the hike of minimum wage would fuel debate. Analysts warned that small businesses may lay off workers to cut costs. The diminutive monthly salary raise might cause uproar among both business and labor representatives.
President Ma Ying-jeou promised to raise hourly and monthly salaries when he began his second term this year. According to local reports, raises in hourly and monthly wages were inevitable. In addition, it was reported that Jeremy Lin confided to Sports Illustrated that he would have liked to remain a New York Knick. He said, Honestly, I preferred New York.” As the headline goes, “Lin blasting off to Houston, but says he’d have liked to stay in NY.”

July 21
According to CNN breaking news, an American, 24, staged a mass killing in a movie theater. There were almost 50 people shot or injured. The hearts of Americans were shattered, and President Obama will address the US on a televised speech. Death comes beyond anyone’s understanding and imagination. This is actually an American tragedy.
And I plan to contact Prof. Uwe on August, comforting him with nice words. I pray to the Lord, who thus can give me wise and useful words to comfort Uwe. I will also translate two Uwe’s poems into Chinese as a gift presented to Uwe.
Our family enjoyed a nice breakfast around the corner of the street, d and I paid for everything. I liked to support this family, that is the core of my value. After that, I took Ian to Taipei to change mud for his insects. We took bus 235 to the stop of National Taiwan Normal University. After getting off the bus, we drank two cups of fruit juices in the neighborhood of this university. And then, we walked along the Shihta night market, and finally arrived at the Taiwan Museum of Insects, which houses hundred kinds of insects. We waited about thirty minutes for the service. An insect specialist changed mud for Ian’s insects, which were indeed still little worms expected to change into mature insects very soon. This cost me about one hundred NT dollars. That was worth it.
Ian’s intense interest in nature and insects motivated me to encourage and support him to become a specialist in this field. And in the past weeks, I have prayed to the
Lord, asking Him to help Ian to love his younger sister. No wonder Ian wanted to buy a present for his younger sister today. I was happy for that.
After getting home, I ate two bowels of rice mixed with curry and chicken meat. I really enjoyed my lunch. Besides rice, I had papaya and a bowel of sweet soup. Thank God for giving my family enough food.
I am supposed to translate two pages of the missionary’s letter next week. In addition, I have to start to pray and prepare myself for the English classes of next semester. I have to be down-to-the-earth and practical. I don’t want to be a superficial man. Before I contact Paul Liu, I have to make many preparations. Hopefully, I can have a nice and smooth relationship with him, and faculty, and students, and especially with God. I have to protect myself and my family by praying more and making as many preparations as possible.
In the time of afternoon tea, I read a poem titled Night Thoughts, which considered man’s status—whether he was a worm or a god. Man’s soul is infinite, though his physical existence is transient. Fifty years have passed, and I still have many divine lessons to learn. Tomorrow is the Lord’s day, so I have to go to church as usual. My kids will attend Sunday school, and I will attend Sunday Worship. The Holy Spirit has ever reminded me of keeping a practice of attending Sunday Worship. I will never forget that. I look for normal and helpful meetings to cure my soul, to nourish my mind, and keep my whole family on track of faith. It is earnestly expected that we can have companions of honesty and clean hearts to seek the Lord together. As for the current church life, I am determined to endure Br. Lin, but I will keep away from him. I’d better not criticize him in whatever way, but I won’t attend the small-group meeting any more. I think this is a right decision. I need time for rest and quiet. .
In the evening, all of our family members gathered together to watch a TV film titled A Genius Fisherman. The film showed forth man’s love of nature, pursuit of his interests, and the beauty and awe in valleys, mountains, and streams. The views were wonderful and attractive; however, the plots were relatively boring. I am used to urban lives since I have lived in cities most of my life time. The two-year military service in Chinmen and a three-year-long sick leave of absence in Taichung were the years when I kept away urban lives, living in solitude and loneliness. Those years formed a memorable phase of my whole life. Old friends were there, and love and connections still existed deep in my heart. Thank God for His hidden presence and special arrangement under His sovereignty\. In looking back over those years, I am so grateful that I even often mentioned those old friends’ names in my constant prayers. Love conquers all, and love never fails.

July 22
People are supposed to be excited when the circus comes to town. In the case of the 30th Summer Olympics, however, which begin in London on July 27, the event has been shadowed by a striking ambivalence. The U.K.’s economy has slipped back into recession. Britain’s ability to influence events in Europe is waning. So, the world is set to descend on London at a dreary time. It seemed that London 2012 was jinxed. However, I still hope that God will have mercy on the Olympics Games, and that everything can turn out all right.
In today’s meeting, American young brothers and sisters performed a drama, which showed that we have to understand God according to what He is. We can not twist our understanding of God by conforming God to what we want Him to be. This reminded us of reading and meditating on God’s words as often as possible. In addition, an American girl witnessed her experience about God. Indeed, I have to contact God and mediate on God’s words in my morning watch and night prayers. In the afternoon, I also pray to the Lord around 3: 30. I will keep the habit of contacting and seeking the Lord. In this way, I can build a normal and intimate relation with the Lord, Who is honest, holy, humble, nice, compassionate, righteous, and wise.
After taking lunch together with other church members, I invited Enhui to an afternoon. In our leisurely and small talks, we talked about Keelung’s sea food and tourist attractions, his work and family, and other trivial things. The icy coffee was good and tasty as usual, and friendship and companionship were pleasant. He also brought some used clothes to Joy, my daughter. I felt glad for he knew that friendship was interactive, and that he was grateful.
In addition, since a typhoon was approaching, I do not know whether the weather will affect our travel next week. Let’s wait and see and make some adjustments about the travel.
In the evening, we went to the sports park to take a walk and play Frisbee. While kids engaged in sports, I was reading China Post. Two pieces of news about food aroused my interests most. One of the two pieces of news was that “Western-style fast food is tied to heart risks in Asia.” Even relatively clean-living Singaporeans who regularly eat burgers, fries and other staples of U.S.-style fast food face an increased risk of diabetes and are significantly more likely than peers to die of heart disease, according to a new study. The other piece of news was that “grain prices hit record, to keep soaring.” Grain prices set record highs on Friday and weather forecasts showed little to no relief in sight from the worst U.S. drought in more than half a century, feeding worries about food inflation at home and abroad as supplies dwindle in the world’s largest grain exporter.

July 23
This morning I ate a bowel of rice mixed with curry and a salty egg. And then I walked to the next street to drink a cup of icy black coffee. At the same time, I peacefully and restfully surveyed a book about TOEIC test of which certain reading materials I will use for the English classes in next semester. The part of reading comprehension includes vocabulary tests, cloze tests, and articles I will mark the page numbers for Xerox. In addition, I also read an article on an Indian female photojournalist in Newsweek. It was reported that she took pictures in a historic and iconic way. Through her pictures, viewers can rediscover India. For example, although she missed documenting Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, she took images at his funeral. And she also took a picture of 1961 fashion show with Queen Elizabeth II. Actually, she captured the making of modern India.
And in today’s China Post’s front page, there were two impressive headlines. One was “Beef ban to be lifted by order or draft: KMT.” The other was “Ten die as record rainfall pounds Beijing.” KMT Secretary-General told KMT officials yesterday that the ractopamine ban will be lifted, if not during this week’s extraordinary legislative session then by executive order. Besides, the heaviest rain to hit Beijing in over 60 years left at least 10 people dead and forced more than 50,000 to evacuate, state media said yesterday. Actually, the beef ban hindered a further trade negotiation between the U.S. and Taiwan, and now the ruling party decided to life the ban by executive order, which would benefit current economic situation of Taiwan. And owing to the global warming, the weather was more often than not so unpredictable that such heavy a torrential rain pounded Beijing throughout Saturday. This was really a modern tragedy for China.
The third astonishing piece of news was about the terrible gunman involved in a mass shooting in an American movie theater. The lead was quoted as follows—‘The semiautomatic assault rifle used by the gunman in a mass shooting at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie jammed during the attack, a federal law enforcement official told The Associated Press, which forced the shooter to switch to another gun with less fire power.”
The last piece of news interesting me was as follows—“The pilot of a US fighter jet that crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northeastern Japan on Sunday has been rescued, Japan’s Coast Guard said, six hours after the aircraft went down.” The headline was like this—“US fighter pilot rescued after crash off Hokkaido.”
It is really my fun to find some pieces of news appealing to me and then write them down and make comments on them. On the one hand, I can broaden my horizon by reading; on the other hand, I can improve my English writing by persistently practicing writing good English.
In the evening, I went to MacDonald’s to eat fries, a cone of ice cream, and drink a cup of coke. In this way, I relaxed myself, relieving stress, and I was also inspired to think out a way to help Paul Liu’s family and contact Hung Ming-kun. I plan to write several biblical verses about how to treat your wife in a proper way for Paul. And I will give a small box of top-class chocolate as a gift for his two daughters. As for Mr. Hung, I will send my book titled Journalistic English to him as a means of reconnecting with him. I need to treat myself well, learning to rest and relax to deal with stress properly. Thank God for this period of leisure time.

July 24
According to United Daily, one of the major Chinese-language newspapers in Taiwan, Dabin, a famous entertainer who used to be addicted in drug abuse, died in mainland China due to a lung fever. He specialized in an imitation show, earning a lot of fame and money in the past. However, his weak willpower can not resist the attraction of drug although he had apologized several times to the public for his drug addiction. All windows of opportunities were shunned to him, so he turned to mainland China where he was strange to the audience to work for a living and paying back his debt. Perhaps his immunity system was weakened by drugs, so he died at 37. It was really a tragedy.
And according to local press, a musician who worked as a music teacher in several elementary schools, was accused of making love with a 13-year-old girl, his former student. The love affairs turned into adultery. This scandal tarnished the normal ethical relations between teachers and students. It undermined the image of being a good and qualified teacher.
I also read a column about doomsday prophesies, which more often than not turned out to be a fiction or a lie. This was an English article for English reading comprehension. So the editors not only translated it but added a vocabulary list and footnotes to this article. I think a Chinese translation is enough.
My breakfast was the same everyday—an egg and a cup of black coffee. I need to enjoy it with gratitude. In those years when I had been sick in Taichung, I had no breakfast. So did those years when I was a senior high at Chen-kuo senior high school. I never forget those families that invited me to dinner in the last year of my senior high school. I prayed to the Lord, asking Him to never forget those who treated me in grace, and urging God to reward them.
Tomorrow, our family will go on a small trip to Keelung, a harbor city in northern Taiwan. “When I have time I don’t have money. When I have money, I don’t have time.” I would like to credit that bit of wisdom to a Russian proverb. It’s also a lyric in the hip-hop artist Akon’s song Time is Money. Some truths are universal. Indeed, I am comparatively luck. Another segment of society is on an unpaid, open-ended vacation. Then there are those who have jobs but can’t scrape up the funds to rent even a homely cottage by a weedy lake. Indeed, I am so luck that I’ll be unplugged from the phone and Internet the whole time, although well, not completely unplugged. I want to spend the summer vacation writing.
“The dysfunctional elements of the American economy are never more obvious than at vacation time, when people whose services are in constant demand strive to power down and join those whose services are not in demand at all. This August is likely to be the fourth in a row in which the U.S. unemployment rate will be over 8 percent. That hasn’t happened since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping records in 1948. There is a school of thought that says unemployment is largely voluntary, because people could find work if they didn’t ask for so much money.”
Compared with the American economy, Taiwanese economy has been affected by slowdown of China and European debt. About two years ago, I was hospitalized due to long-time work stress. After I came back home, I rested for more than eight months. And then, I was summoned by God to come back to universities to continue teaching English. Moreover, I was occasionally asked to translate academic papers for international publications. It seems a miracle, which happened naturally and unexpected. I need to pay thanks to God, who moved men’s hearts and created opportunities for me. Now our home economy seems ok and sufficient. I pray to the Lord, asking Him to help me to learn how to live by faith, and how to be self satisfied even when I don’t have enough money.
In the afternoon besides preparing for the teaching materials for the next semester, I read China Post. Two leads on the front page are quoted as follows.
“The euro hit its lowest level in more than two years and world equity markets fell sharply on Monday after reports that Spain’s indebted regions need help fueled fears that the country will become the fourth eurozone member to ask for a major bailout.”
The other lead is about local politics.
“The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said yesterday that it won’t filibuster the vote on ractopamine, but that it may balk against the Kuomintang’s (KMT) stock gains tax draft.”

July 28
My family travelled to Keelung a harbor city for three days. On the first day, we went to a fishing port, enjoying a view of the ocean and sea food. We also enjoy coke and ice cream in a MacDonald’s, which appears to be a wonder of globalization. Even in the suburbs, we still can enjoy the air conditioning and Western food. On the second day, we went to a mountain top to see an ancient fortress, which witnessed the Sino-anglo war in the Qing dynasty. In the afternoon, we went to Keelung harbor to embrace a view of the ocean and ships. I also slowly sipped a cup of icy coffee at the nearby coffee shop. Leisure time was so relaxing and comforting, and time spent with my kids was so wonderful and enjoyable. And then, we went to Miaoko to enjoy the well-known local small eating—bubble ice, Tienfulo, and Tienbiensho. I did not like the temple, though. On the third day, early in the morning, we took a walk along the seaside, enjoying the view of the harbor of which a few ships were scattered around. And we returned to Sinchung in the afternoon. The vacation proved to be restful and relaxing. In addition, we also enjoyed the presence of the Lord, and the peace He gave to us. Praise the Lord.
Spring took two kids to a park under a mountain, and I was alone drinking coffee, watching TV and praying to the Lord. Solitude has become a form of my lifestyle. I used to read English materials and stay at a small coffee shop in my solitude. For the past two years, I have been recovering from my mental disease. Last summer, I was so lucky to have a chance to come back to universities to teach English again. I was blessed by the Lord on the way of life. I can have work opportunities to earn my own bread and even to support my two kids. And I was so fortunate that I can have four classes to teach next semester. This is attributed to God’s mercy and sovereignty. Thank God for this.
Limited by horizons and experiences, I still have a lot to learn about a spiritual life. This afternoon, I prayed with Spring whose prayers were somewhat boring. She prayed for trivial things always, so I can not feel the power, love, freshness in her prayers. But after we read one chapter of Exodus together, she continued praying with a few God’s words, but the atmosphere and feeling changed. I felt that when we prayed, we’d better use God’s words to pray in order to contact the Spirit and to feel His presence. We used God’s words to pray to seek His words and presence. Moreover, we sought deep peace in our hearts, hoping that we could be with the Lord in one spirit in the communion.

July 29
Early in the morning I walked to the Baptism church to prepare for lunch for the church members. I went to the market nearby with Prof. Yang, one of my best friends, and I have served the lunch with him every three months for two years. We bought pork, vegetables, and fruits. After that, he treated me a breakfast. He encouraged me to engage in sports in order to maintain my health. In addition, he also advised me to keep writing both in Chinese and English. These words were inspiring, encouraging, and wise. Indeed, I need to take a walk every day. And I need to read and write a little bit Chinese. Spring will invite this couple for a big meal to bless their family’s travel to the US. They will stay one year in America for a lab job in Florida.
And the biggest headline on the front page of China Post is “UK basks in glow of stunning opening—thrilling, inventive, stupefying ceremony wins high praise.” The London Olympics moved into competition mode on Saturday to award the first gold medal and announce its first doping case as Britain awoke euphoric after a stunning opening ceremony.

July 30
I did not have a good sleep last night. I dreamed of something which could not be fulfilled in my life. Due to my family background, I did treasure my faith, which really saved me out of my destined tragic fate. I tried hard to contact the Lord, seek the Lord by reading the Bible and persistently praying. He is the fountain of salvation and blessings in everything. I can not have access to Him without faith and holiness. And the most excellent way of contacting the Lord is reading the Bible. By meditating on His words, my thoughts can be nourished and rectified and put on a right track. The best way of putting our mind on the Spirit is the meditation on God’s words, which can lead, enlighten, save, help, strengthen us. His words, especially on certain circumstances of life, are so helpful and powerful. Indeed, His words can make fools smart.
The biggest headline on the front page of today’s China Post is as follows—“Bureau warns against heavy rains from Saola. Weather bureau claims Saolo. Damrey not likely to interact.” And the lead is quoted below. “Residents in Northern Taiwan and in the mountainous regions south of Hsinchu County should take precautions against possible heavy rains as Typhoon Saola continues its path toward the southern tip of Taiwan, said forecasters at the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).”
In addition, another piece of interesting news is about Japanese anti-nuclear protesters. “Thousands of people formed ‘a human chain’ around Japan’s parliament complex Sunday to demand the government abandon nuclear power—the latest in a series of peaceful demonstrations on a scale not seen in the nation for decades.” “Protesters stage the anti-nuclear rally outside Japan’s parliament house in Tokyo, Sunday, July 29. Thousands of protesters rallied to demand that the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in northern Fukushima.”
Besides reading China Post, according to the local media, I know that Taiwan got a silver medal in female weightlifting. The player is a junior at a technological university in southern Taiwan. Her coaches and family feel very proud of her. She has spent about three years preparing for the Olympic Games. “No pains, no gains” indeed is a best proverb which can be applied to her case.
Actually, I need some exercise, which is helpful for my mental health. The healthier I am, the better for my kids and family. I am obliged to live for them. I pray to the Lord, asking Him to be with me and help me to build the habit of daily exercise. I have to make up my mind to exercise as much as possible. This will benefit my whole life, and thus improve my health.
Spring my dear wife called me several times today, communicating with me about everything. I am tired of Brother Lin, the head of my church small group. I’d better keep away from him in order to maintain my own peace and quiet. God, please let this man keep away from me. Enough is enough.
My hope and goal are to serve and help college students with the help of my professionalism and my faith. In August, I have to pray frequently in order to prepare myself for the future service in the next semester. Besides, may the Lord prepare the teaching work in the second semester of the next school year. My hope is in the Lord for He is my shepherd. Jehovah is my shepherd, and I shall not want.

July 31
Mooring at Night by Maple Bridge

The moon goes down, crows cry under the frosty sky,
Dimly-lit fishing boats ‘neath maples sadly lie.
Beyond the Gusu walls the Temple of Cold Hill
Rings bells which reach my boat, breaking the midnight still.

Around noon time, I walked to a bank to deposit Spring’s check. It was marvelous that I accidentally met Teacher Wang an old brother in the Lord who used to have a regular small-group meeting in Spiritual Bread Church at the entrance of a coffee shop. Due to fear of God, I bought my own coffee to have a small talk with him. The reason for me to pay extra money to spend time with him was that I was afraid that the occasion was arranged by the Lord. As usual, he said that the reason for him to leave the church was that a brother spoke of something against Confucius the sage he had respected and admired so much. I was sad that he was stumbled on the way of faith by this brother. Who can help him? It was impossible for that brother to apologize to him. And I also said something in my mind about Brother Lin. I felt better after speaking my mind. We met each other accidentally, and the reason for me for talk to him was that I feared God. God knows my heart.
Today I also spent some time preparing the reading materials about TOEIC test for the English classes of next semester. The reading test of TOEIC included three parts—vocabulary, cloze, and short articles. I planned to type a few questions and Xerox them for free to my students. I kept praying for the students not yet seen, hoping that God’s love and wisdom can fill me, and that I can do my best to help them to have a good command of English. Whenever I have time, I will prepare for this. Don’t worry and be happy.
In addition, a typhoon is approaching the island, and thus Ian’s summer camp of microbiology will be delayed. I have to make good use of August. I treasure my free time and won’t waste it.

August 2
Today we took a day off because of the typhoon. I ate, played with my kids, enjoying the time spent with them. I also read the Bible and prayed with Spring, my best and only spiritual partner. In addition, I watched video English teaching programs and read Newsweek. According to the international media, Putin Russia President arrived in London during the 2012 Olympics to engage in talks about trade and Russia’s position on Syria with Cameron Prime Minister of the UK. He would watch the judo sports for he had a black belt in this sport, as well. I would like to quote a few lines from The Wall Street Journal about the American presidential campaign. “The Romney campaign thinks it can play it safe and coast to the White House by saying the economy stinks and it’s Mr. Obama’s fault…What Americans want to hear from the challenger is some understanding of why the president’s policies aren’t working and how Mr. Romney’s policies will do better.”
And I called Kuo Ching-ming and Liu Yuan-chen this morning to send my best regards to them in this terrible stormy weather. Kuo had a car accident on the freeway, but fortunately he was not hurt. Liu said he would call me in these two days to make an appointment for lunch together. These two friends used to be simple in nature, and were very nice and kind. Thank God for having these two friends. Besides, my family would invite Prof. Yang’s family to a big lunch to bid farewell to them for they would travel to the US next month.

August 3
Today I have very wonderful experiences about the moving of the Spirit as well as brotherhood. I have discontinued the communication with saints in local churches for years. However, this morning, my remembrance of the late elder Chen Tung-kuei stirred up my emotions especially when Father’s Day is coming. So, I called Brother Chen Kui-cheng to ask for his help. He accompanied me to buy presents and rode me to Elder Chen’s house. And then, we had a small talk, and I expected that my visit could comfort the hearts of this household. Elder Chen helped me a lot during my stay at Sinchung and during the period of my military service. His and Elder Deng’s letters encouraged me so much, and I also believed that their prayers for me paved a way for me to pass the entrance exam of the graduate school. Love is indeed enduring and conquers all.
And in my today’s reading of Newsweek, I know something about Shaolin, which is deeply connected with its traditional martial arts as well as Buddhism. However, the abbot was reportedly involved in adultery, which is defamation not only to himself, but also his temple, and even to Buddhism. Religions play a crucial role in politics, and the lures of power and money actually harm their purity and legitimacy.

August 4
This morning Shulan Sister’s son Daer went to our house to stay until noon time. Ian and he rode their bicycles around the sports park. And I had a small talk with Spring under the shades of trees of this park. And then, we walked to a bookstore in the next street to buy books and magazines. I bought a copy of Let’s Talk in English. After that, I lingered in MacDonald’s drinking a cup of black tea. I tended to relax here enjoying light music and air conditioning. As usual I met Prof. Su, but she seemed not to notice that I was calling her name.
And today I practiced to pray for a few acquaintances I met, for it did me good in training me to obey God’s command—love thy neighbors. In the evening, we took MRT to Dainshui a port town neighboring the Pacific Ocean. We tasted a few small eating and took a walk along the seaside. The path was so crowded that it was filled with visitors, local and foreign. The scenery in the evening was attractive, and the sunset felt peaceful and restful.
This Saturday was so relaxing and enjoyable. We had friends, a warm gathering of family members, small eating, and peace within our hearts. Thank God for everything.

August 6
Yesterday we had a Sunday morning worship of which the sermon was on a prodigal son, who travelled afar, spent all he had, lived with a harlot, and eventually could not stand the trial of the severe famine there. And then the prodigal son decided to go back to his father’s home. As soon as he saw the prodigal son, the father embraced his son, kissing him and giving him a new robe and a ring to show the enduring love. This fable was symbolic of God Father’s enduring love to the world. We need to constantly and regularly contact the Bible, pray, and attend proper meetings in order to keep our hearts close to God. Otherwise, our lives are like that of a prodigal son, who wasted all he owned and even ate with swine. I am obliged to pray for Ian and Joy, sincerely asking God to attract their hearts to get closer and closer to God, and abide by God’s words, follow His path in all their lives.
And this morning I went to Mackay Memorial Hospital to take my monthly medicine. I spent a little bit time reading one to two pages of The Idea of History, which talked about the influence of Christian thought largely based on original sin, God’s grace, and salvation. The historical progress was thus determined by God’s purposes and plans. According to the Epistle of Ephesians, our salvation was pre-determined before the foundation of this universe, and we are chosen to obtain the spiritual blessings in Christ. Indeed, on the one hand, the story of faith is God’s pre-determination. On the other hand, we have to use our free will to choose the way of life. If we sow seeds towards lusts, we’ll reap corruption. However, if we sow seeds towards the Spirit, we’ll reap eternal life. This is the rule of the game.

August 8
Today is Father’s Day. I have a heavenly father who loves me and cares for me. Joy has created two cards for me to show her love and admiration to me. Thank God for this. And I called two old friends this morning. One was Kuo Chin-ming, who helped me when I was in extreme poverty in the teens. He had a mentally retarded son and he was supposed to take care of him all his life. I treated him a big lunch last month at Ambassador Hotel, and had a small talk at that time. The other friend was Wang Chin-hung, who had fallen from the grace of Christ for his study in the UK. He eventually got divorced and got unemployed for a long time. And now he had to seek a new temporary job as a substitute teacher at a junior high school. His life story was so tragic that I felt sad for him.
In addition, I treated Prof. Paul Liu yesterday a big lunch at a shopping mall. He talked about his unhappy story in marriage. Since he feared God and loved his kids, he wound not divorce his wife, trying hard to keep a good relationship with her. He indeed was a good Christian in the Lord, Who would observe him and reward him. In addition, we also made a discussion about the teaching services in the next semester. I had to call a bookstore to send me one copy of the textbook. I am obliged to make good preparations for the future services.
Besides contacting these friends, I read an article in Newsweek. This article mentioned the troubles the youth of Britain met these years. The governmental austerity measures cut their housing benefit, increase their college tuition, cut their youth services, eventually sparking the riot at the Mother’s Square last August. Actually, Britain has sought to understand what triggered the violence. And surveys show that youth think they will be worse off than previous generations. “Given that most rioters were young and poor, and footage of hoodie-wearing kids stealing sneakers as London burned became the iconic image of the mayhem, the prevalent pubic view has come to be that the riots were indicative of ‘a youth problem’ in Britain.”

August 9
“Hope” is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all--
Hope can fly in the course of time, and hope can sustain a man on the path of life. Faith, love, hope combined are the biggest things for a Christian. Hope in everything. I pray and hope.

August 10
Today I had a marvelous experience. After I finished my afternoon prayer, I accidentally met Su-man in the street while I was on the way to Shihlin. Su-man told me that she would go to Shilin to get her son and Ian back home. For her kindness, I got extra time to linger in the coffee shop to read English-language newspaper. It was indeed God’s grace that I could get extra time to take a rest. In addition, I read an article in Newsweek on about 100 well-known eateries on the planet. Last week, I invited Paul Liu to a Cantonese cuisine, which was very economic and delicious. I was impressed by the introduction of the foods and restaurants. Japanese cuisines such as sushi, sea food and sake were typical. Peiking duck was also a famous dish of Chinese flavor. In Taiwan, local small eateries such as pearl milk tea, stinky tofu, salty fried chicken, and sea food were typical Taiwanese foods.
In addition, mainland China and Taiwan sealed an agreement on trade and investment. Two top-tier governmental agencies sealed the pact or accord. The more positive interactions the two sides had the more benefits Taiwanese people could enjoy. I sincerely hoped that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait could maintain peace and further interactions in order to create a win-win situation. My family had to depend on the pension, which was fully up to the stable political and economic situation. Jehovah is my shepherd, and I shall not want.

August 11
My family treated Prof. Yang’s family a hot pot lunch in Sinchung today. His family will fly to Florida for a one-year stay during which Prof. Yang will work as a researcher at a lab. I told him that Florida is famous for its emerald beach and sea food. The sands of the long beach seem to be bleached and extremely white. And as Emily Dickenson said, hope would fly with feathers. I hope that his days in the US will fly as a bird. He said that his jogging and small talks with his colleagues made him relaxed and happy and worriless. However, when his wife asked me about my small group meeting in Spiritual Bread Church, I felt unhappy about the past experiences. As a Christian, we need to walk on the path of faith according to God’s words and Spirit. In addition, obedience to the surroundings is also a sign of respecting God’s sovereignty. Prof. Yang promised that he would contact me in the future. And I also expected that we could keep in touch with each other.
In addition, it should be noted that his youngest daughter will enter Taiwan Art College to major in the science of refurbishing ancient sites, which is very interesting for me. And his wife as a preacher spent most of her time educating and taking care of her only daughter. And now she sees her big achievements.
After we bade farewell to each other, my family went to Shilin’s Taiwan Science Education Center to bring Ian back. I wanted him to get a taste of pasta of a foreign flavor so we ate dinner at a restaurant whose specialty was pasta. I really like these dishes and we enjoyed ourselves there.

August 13
Yesterday after attending the Sunday morning worship, I went to the Taipei Railway Station to meet Br. Wang, who was one of my old friends in local churches, and treated him a free lunch. I invited him to a buffet of which the major dish was pasta. He got divorced for years and now was unemployed, searching for a new teaching job. I can sympathize with him for I experienced three years of unemployment in Taichung after I got my master degree. It was long years of loneliness, sickness, poverty, and helplessness. Due to my past experiences, I can show sympathy to Br. Wang. I sincerely hope that he can get employed again and can make two ends meet. We had a long talk for about three hours during which he kept eating a lot of food and to my amazement five pieces of cakes. He actually needed comfort and help. As he grew older and older, he was afraid that his work opportunities would become fewer and fewer. For his age and past record of not getting along with the administration, his worries were real. I prayed in my heart that God’s mercy can be upon him, helping him to get sheltered on rainy days in God’s grace.
And last night, our family celebrated Father’s Day for me, and prepared several dishes of delicious foods for me, including wined chicken and a dish of sea food. My wife Spring loved me so much that she could take care of my feeling, comforting my heart. I did enjoy the presence of my kids and wife.
This morning, when I got close to my mother in the kitchen, my heart sank and felt depressed. She is a woman, who made me so unhappy. May the Lord have mercy upon her and cleanse her sins. I felt somewhat lonely, and the summer vacation was not over until mid-September. Indeed, I am obliged to make good use of my free time, preparing my whole self for the future challenge in order to benefit my family, students, clients, and honor the Lord. Well, in solitude, I prayed to the Lord, sing to the Lord, and made a further study of English. Time would fly away, and it would not be a sheer waste of time. I hope and believe in everything.

August 14
Today I translated half a page of an American missionary’s work report, and watched two programs of Studio Classroom on TV. I also contacted Br. Deng Chien-nan and his wife to send my best regards to their family, hoping that Br. Deng can repent for his affairs and that Jesus’ blood can cleanse all his sins. In addition, I also contacted Br. Lee Fu-ming to ask him to help Br. Wang, who now is unemployed and gets divorced and has not a stable life.
This morning, I surveyed an English textbook for senior highs, understanding that diction and sentence structures in the textbook were not as easy as I imagined. Actually, I need to spend more time getting a further understanding of the contents, which will be beneficial for my English teaching. And according to China Post, I know that London Olympic Games has a rocking end in which fireworks exploded and dancers including spice girls performed for more than three hours. Taiwan got two medals in weightlifting and taekwondo. In addition, a scandal about an election exploded, and that will damage Taiwan’s image. After all, the person involved denied the allegation and challenged the decision of the Olympic Commission.
It is also noted that I am fortunate enough to buy three bags of Sho Mi in a Seven-Eleven convenience store in the next street. Ian continued to ask for it for two days. And now the food is available to satisfy his appetite. Thank God for this not only for saving money but for God’s provision.

August 15
I accompanied Spring to the municipal city hall to deal with her official documents. Because the official documents had a few minor problems, she was supposed to hand in them next Monday. And after processing the official documents, we came back home and had a nap. I treasured her presence, and then we went to a small coffee shop to enjoy our afternoon tea. I read an English-language newspaper, while she read a Chinese-language newspaper. According to the media, I knew that Japan, Korea were involved in a dispute over the territorial sovereignty. In addition, Tsai Ing-wen was cleared of the allegations over a biotech company. And a tropical storm reportedly won’t land on Taiwan; perhaps it has switched its path.
And it is also noted that surprisingly enough Tung-nan Tech University called to inform me of the arrangements of classes of next semester. I ok their offer, turning to God for help. I can not decline, so I accept the offer.
Jehovah is the portion of my cup, and He determines my lines. Jehovah is the portion of my inheritance, and He is my blessings.

August 16
Early in the morning, Br. Kuo called me to invite me to a lunch. I would meet him at the Railway Station, and have a small talk with him. In addition, I was a little bit moved by the Spirit to contact Chair Ho serving at the department of applied English at Tung-nan Technology University. I would serve him a big dinner next Tuesday. I needed to treat these two friends with a warm heart, and prayed for them sincerely. Actually I know that the Lord is the cornerstone between men, and through Him peace can exist and be maintained and sustained. I have to get rid of the past unhappy experiences, opening my heart to love people and get along with them. Jesus Christ was and is the dear friends of sinners and tax collectors. As a Christian, we have to be lowly in mind and spirit to establish a peaceful and constructive communication with other people. Besides being humble, a good Christian is required to be honest and sincere in every way.
It was memorable that Br. Kuo invited me to a steak house at Breeze Square at the railway station to a meal and talk. I told him that his wife was the most important person in his life, and that he should endure everything. Besides, I also told him that his son, a handicapped child, was a special gift from God. I gave him a bilingual Bible as a gift, encouraging him to read the Bible. Indeed, I have to persistently pray for him as well as his family. Praise and thank the Lord for everything.

August 17
Thy condescending gentleness hath made me great. Thou didst enlarge my steps under me, and mine ankles have not wavered.
My lifestyle is like an athlete’s. Whenever I have free time, I exercise my mental muscle to improve my four skills in English—listening, speaking, writing, and reading. And I also like a farmer, who plants his farm every day, waiting for the harvest in autumn. Since my professionalism is English, I am expected to make progress in it. Furthermore, as a devote Christian, I consider serving students as God’s mission to me. Besides my professionalism, I pray for the fullness of God’s love, and His love can overflow through me to the students, who I love to serve and teach. Indeed, I should meditate on God’s words day and night, so I can bear fruits seasonally. The best way to serve students, I think, is love. I will pay for their Xerox fees next semester, and I will mention their names in my constant prayers in order that they can make progress and become more interested in English. And I am obliged to fully prepare myself for the English classes, and to be sincere and careful in my speech to them. My words need to be constructive, instructive, and strictly confined to the contents of the English materials. I earnestly pray to the Lord, who can give me love and wisdom to meet the needs of the students. Hopefully, the next semester will be full of joy and grace. Jehovah is my shepherd, and I shall not want.

August 18
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.
Early in the morning I rose up, using u tube to sing hymns, and then read Psalms with Spring. God’s words are like fine gold, and they can purify me and clean me. I have to share more God’s words with my wife, and make a good use of my free time to read more God’s words, which can keep my mind on a right track. Indeed, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to the Lord, Who is my rock and my redeemer.
And then, I took Ian to Taipei to replace his bottle for worms. It was found that his worm was already dead, so the service man gave him a new worm for free but charged him for a new bottle for raising the worms.
After taking a nap in the afternoon, I went to the coffee shop I used to linger in drinking a cup of black coffee and reading an article in Newsweek. The headline was as follows—Jamaican Lightning. Usain Bolt’s sly bravado is a source of national pride. Bolt was the champion of the 100-meter race and 200-meter race. His success was a story of determination, perseverance, and hard work, which could eventually prove his ability and talent. Jamaica gained independence from Britain in August 1962. As the nascent nation replaced the Union Jack with the Jamaican flag, its people imagined a future full of glory, honor, and world-thrilling exploits. With the colonizers gone and the days of slavery far behind, what could stop them from conquering the world? As the decades rolled on, a deep and abiding disappointment began to set in as successive governments fluffed opportunities to create a workable, new framework for the aspirations and ambitions of ordinary Jamaicans. …
Besides, my dear wife Spring gave me extra four thousand NT dollars, which will be used to treat Chair Ho. Thank God for her support and understanding. As time passed, our mutual respect and love has been growing.

August 20
According to Newsweek, New Zealand with a population under 4.5 million unsurprisingly has only eight major universities. However, the caliber and heritage of these institutions are of such high esteem that the country manages to accommodate more than 150,000 students in university education, of them some 9% coming from overseas. Universities in New Zealand are recognized for their excellence in medicine, engineering, law, management and agriculture.
And this afternoon, I accompanied my wife Spring to Banchiao to deal with some official documents. I was so happy that I could grasp any possible opportunity to be with her and help, love her, showing her my dependence on and my admiration to her. Fortunately, today’s procedure of checking these documents ended in an acceptable results. Spring was required to supplement a document and then the check procedure was finished. Thank God for this final result, which appeared acceptable and pleasant. After leaving the city hall, we walked to the basement of the railway station to eat refreshments and buy whole wheat bread for kids.
And I also reflected on the preacher’s Sunday sermon that talked about the theme of commitment as in the 24th chapter of Joshua. I accompanied Spring to read the whole chapter in which I only saw a person’s and his family’s commitment to God. I did not understand what a person’s commitment to a church was. The religious zeal and commitment to a certain church could only lead to a man’s downfall and destruction. My past experiences could sufficiently support this statement. A man’s commitment is supposed to his wife, kids, for this commitment is life long. And a good Christian’s commitment is to God and His words. I prayed for God’s presence and His instant words. In addition, I prayed to God to broaden my heart in order that I could have more tolerance and in order that I could even love those who were not lovely.

August 23
Last night I went to a Baptist Church to pray with Prof. Yang for a peaceful and restful and fruitful Sabbatical year ahead. I also brought a bag of fruits to Pastor Chung, who Spring knew right at the beginning years of her church life. In the prayer meeting, I also met a brother whose wife worked at the school of Spring and was ill for a long time. Spring helped her with her leave of absence, and this brother thanked Spring a lot. I left the meeting earlier than scheduled, and dropped by a small eatery to eat something. This morning I repented to the Lord for I ate too much last night. The food was unnecessary and a waste.
Today Spring took a whole day off, and I accompanied her all day long. I ate meals with her and talked with her. I intended to be her dearest listener and told her whatever was on my mind. In addition, we spent a period of time reading the Bible and praying together.
A typhoon was approaching to Taiwan, and would land soon. This morning, I spent about two hours watching BBC international news. The heads of Germany and France met to discuss the bailout of Greek, which was considering to withdraw from Eurozone, and which took measures of cutting spending and austerity to solve its debt problem. Moreover, Syria was still in conflicts, perhaps even a civil war. And it was a breaking news that an American Representative used “legitimate rape” as a term to defend a rape leading to pregnancy. This resulted in the public’s strong resentment, calling for his resignation. The coinage appeared ridiculous and arrogant.

August 24
To do business in China, companies like the Sands have to understand guanxi—an ancient Chinese term, that, in its most basic sense, refers to the connections or relationships that help people get things done. The word dates back to the clan networks in rural China, which were important for people to survive. Yet for foreigners, an aura of mystery surrounds guanxi, says Hu Xingdou, a professor of economics at the Beijing Institute of Technology, as the term has come to denote “the hidden, under-the-tables rules” that govern Chinese society.
In addition, a strange mix of glitz and sleaze, Macau is the only city in China where gambling is legal. To many, the former Portuguese colony has become the Las Vegas of the East. As its reputation has grown, Western-owned companies have tried to get in on the action.
The above two paragraphs were quoted from the current issue of Newsweek. The title of this article was “Graft or Guanxi? A bribery probe casts a spotlight on an ancient Chinese term” In China, doing business has to depend on connections or relationships, which denote a hidden, or under-the tables rules. The transparency in operations of companies and effective law enforcement don’t exist there. Yet even among native Chinese, there are limits on guanxi. Take the case of Gu kailai, a woman whose power and good looks earned her the nickname “the Jackie Kennedy of China.” At her recent trial, Gu admitted to murdering Neil Heywood, a British businessman who had initially developed a connection with Bo Xilai, Gu’s husband and the party boss in the city of Chongqing. In the end, Bo and Gu appear to have irked the wrong people. Their guanxi only took them so far.
Early in the morning, I sang hymns with the help of u-tube. And then, I was a little bit irked for Ian told me that I had to lower the voice in order that he could watch TV news. I was unhappy with his attitude. Last night, his attitude towards his mother also angered Spring. However, I led Ian and Joy to pray to God Father at that time. I thought of setting up a family meeting on Saturday nights for a long time, and now I have to implement this idea. I hoped that by helping Ian and Joy contact and get closer to the Lord and His words their character could be well established, and that God’s words can shine on their path of life all the time.
Besides, as I told Spring yesterday, I hoped that I can get another chance of translating books either from English to Chinese or from Chinese to English. Perhaps I could contact the publisher of Bookman in the future.
I have constantly prayed for my Sunday morning church meeting, hoping that I can enjoy a time of peace and tranquility and get some words helpful and useful from the pastor’s sermon.

August 25
This is a happy Saturday morning. My family went to a sports stadium park to enjoy a gathering. The sunshine was seeping through the green leaves of tress, and the summer winds blew. Ian and Joy were playing in the splashing water of the small pond. They also played badminton and ran for a while. I had a small talk with Spring, telling her about my sad memories in local churches. I hoped that I could be healed in my mind and my heart. The accident happening after my finished my military service was a trauma and scar in my life. My success of passing the entrance exam of graduates at National Taiwan Normal University was a story of God’s mercy, personal perseverance, self discipline, and hard work. Ignoring my achievements, a few evil brothers in local churches smeared me and hurt me, leading to my eventual collapse two years later. The long years of unemployment, poverty, loneliness, and closure emerged as the worst years in my life. However, God’s mercy and grace were still with me, and financial aids and psychological support of brothers and sisters in the ninth meeting hall of Taichung local church revived and restored my soul. I finally came back to Taipei and started my own career of editing, translation, and teaching. Especially due the abundant grace of Jesus Christ, I could have a marriage union with Spring, who had been my dearest and closest spiritual companion. I did get somewhere in the career of editing and translation, and had taught so many students in different schools. Thank God for all He has done for me and to me. For the present situation, I still need to struggle on the path of faith partly because of my health and partly because of my finance.
And thank God for I could accidentally meet Prof. Wang and Prof. Su on the street. I promised to Prof. Wang that I will give him a present on the mid-autumn festival. In addition, I also praised Prof. Su, dubbing her a wise elder of gray hair. And I will invite her to a gracious meal in the near future. Somehow, I warmed my own heart by warming and comforting their hearts.

August 26
Last night we started our family prayer meeting in which all of our family members read verses, sang hymns, and prayed for each other together. We read the first chapter of Genesis, which delineated God’s six-day-long creation, and God’s rest on the seventh day. We also sang hymns about God’s creation. The aura of the meeting was so joyful and sweet that we all enjoyed the nice family gathering. After the meeting, we ate fruits and sweets as refreshments and had a small talk.
Besides, according to Newsweek, Mr. Barack Obama reportedly broke his presidential campaign promises, that is, recovery of America’s economy. Presently, American economy appeared sluggish and the unemployment rate rose above an average 6%-8%. President was to be blamed. In his inaugural address, Obama promised “not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. He promised to “build the roads and bridges, the electric grids, and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.” He promised to “restore science to its rightful place and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost.” And he promised to “transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.” Unfortunately the president’s scorecard on every single one of those bold pledges is pitiful.
In addition, I did appreciate today’s sermon, which focused on how a man could keep a peaceful relation with himself by accepting, liking, recognizing, and appreciating himself. The sermon was very constructive, useful, and acceptable. Saints were bought by Jesus’ precious blood so their status and value were holy, priceless. We can come close to God’s throne to ask for help and mercy whenever we are in need. And our enemy Satan is like a roaring lion, which always lied and shot spiritual arrows to our mind. We have to reject all negative thoughts, turning to the Lord and His words to enjoy the fountain of salvation. Truth, Lord’s blood, justice, gospels are our weapons to defend ourselves. The spiritual attacks to a saint’s mind and heart are so realistic that we can experience these every day. I need to be cautions to serve my students in the coming semester by making as many preparations as possible and by praying as often as possible. Everything will turn fine and tomorrow will be bright. I shall enjoy a harvest in the winter vacation, happily welcoming the Chinese New Year.

August 27
This morning I read the biblical verses in the second chapter of Colossian with Spring. I have to be firm in my faith, being rooted and build up in Christ. Reflecting back on the past 30 years, I felt that I could only survive the ordeals of the world by being rooting in Christ, and that I was build up by supreme education and professional training in editing, writing, and translation. And my character was purified and transformed and even built up in Christ. Most important, my household has been built up on the rock of Christ.
And then, after finishing my afternoon prayer, I went to a coffees shop to drink a cup of lemon juice and read an evening newspaper. The man who staged a massacre in last year’s Oslo bombing was sentenced to 21 years in prison instead of death penalty or a life sentence. Most of Norwegians did not consider the sentence mild for the spirit of their judicial system intended to integrate prisoners into society. In addition, Lien Chan was appointed for the fifth time as a representative to attend the APEC meeting. The head of HTC would accompany Lien to attend this meeting, while HTC lost ground in the stock market and its stock price had been dropping dramatically. And it was worth mentioning that a typhoon would approach Taiwan again despite its recent leaving.

August 30
According to Newsweek, the greatest cyclist Armstrong declined to continue to defend his innocence in the doping charges. His resilience won him back many medals in cycling competitions despite his cancer treatment. However, since he could not stand the relentless mental attacks, he eventually said enough was enough, giving up his struggle against the doping charges. As a cancer fighter, he was capable enough to raise funds for his foundation. And the author of this cover story still believed in his innocence, admiring his persistence, hard work, and resilience.
Today, a new café was open around the corner of the street. And I went there to have my lunch, which was an American brunch plus a cup of black coffee. Next time, I will bring some English reading materials with me to make a best use of time. In addition, after finishing my scheduled pray reading of God’s words, I went to another coffee shop that I used to visit to read an English-language newspaper. I spent much time immersing myself in English every day, hoping that persistence can help me earn some achievements in the field of my professionalism. God be with me and my family, which with all our hearts want to practice God’s words and honor heavenly Father.

August 31
“But Rome is about something far more stirring than history. Rome is about time. And time you can’t touch, smell, see, or hear—you can’t even understand time; you can on drift in and out of it. History is demarcated; time is not. History is about facts, dates, names; time is at best a feeling, an intimation of passage. Time is not about things but about their traces. Time is about the footprint, not the foot; the afterglow, not the light; the resonance, not the sound. Time is how each of us privatizes the past, fantasizes the past. Everyone knows the Roman monuments. Those are not about time... An unmarked tiny old alley that continues to bear traces of its unpaved days says more about time than does the Arch of Constantine.”
This paragraph was quoted the latest issue of Newsweek. Time also left traces on the years when we lived in Sinchuang, where we got married, gave birth to two kids, and changed our old apartment to this bigger one. And during these years, I had published about ten books, and got my ph D degree. God’s grace was so abundant that I had to count a number of lucky things one by one. His love was indeed unfathomable and my family will experience it all our life.
“Besides the giant pandas and its pleasing environment, Sichuan province’s capital Chengdu, is also proud of its appeal to overseas investors. It boasts the presence of 212 Fortune 500 companies, including Intel, Texas Instruments, and Dell, surpassing all other cities in China’s central and western regions. Chengdu’s robust economic growth in recent years has attracted an increasing number of business travelers. And Sichuan is home to some of the spiciest—and many swear, the tastiest—Chinese food. As the capital of Sichuan, Chengdu is obviously the place to try out authentic Sichuan cuisine. Chengdu’s Hotpot should not be missed. There are countless hotpot shops operating throughout the city.”
This paragraph was quoted from China Post. It is predicted that China will replace America and become the superpower in the world. As the second largest economy, China’s economy has been slowing down though. And Premier Wen promised to lend a hand to European debt; however, he urged Italy, Spain, and Greece to adhere to the policies of budget cutting and the austerity measures. I was happy to read an article on Chengdu, a provincial capital and magnet for investment. And it should be noted that the provincial capital has been chosen to host the upcoming 2013 Fortune Global Forum, making it the third city on Chinese mainland to hold the major business event after Shanghai and Beijing.

Sep. 1
“Architecture should express our society’s common purposes and tell our story long after we are gone, just like the columns of Greece and Rome, the great Gothic cathedrals across Europe, or the Venice palaces, which combine with the lagoon to create something beyond nature itself. By reflecting the religious, political and social values of the day, these palazzi are more than individual spectacles; they are the manifestation of values through which the community takes shape.”
This paragraph was quoted from the China Post, describing the essential spirit of architectures. It was amazing that architecture reflected a collective consciousness, which appeared as common religious, political, and social values.
Today, we had a family gathering for praying, singing hymns, and reading the Bible. I had to stress the importance of the meeting, for it functioned to cultivate our kids’ spiritual practices and helped them learn how to contact the Lord and His words.
And it was also worth mentioning that I called Br. Yi, who had ever cared about me on those days on Shaimen Street, trying to pay his family a visit in the near future. Actually, I had to be at peace with my past memory, reconciling with some bitter life experiences. On Shaimen Street, I had been received and helped by a few good-hearted brothers and sisters. I had experienced the Lord as a shelter and canopy in stormy days and enjoyed His provision there. I caught a golden opportunity to attend the joint college entrance exam there. Moreover, I also get an extremely lucky chance to know Su Ching-fen, who was the elder brother of Spring, and via his introduction I could be married with Spring, creating a warm, happy and healthy family now. With the passage of time, my heart was full of thanksgiving, and my mind was reminiscent of the old good days. I will pray for the reunion, which might heal and comfort my soul.

Sept.3
Yesterday was a Lord’s day when I attended Sunday morning worship and greeted church members. The church meeting was so interesting that besides singing hymns I listened to several witnesses talking about how they were healed and growth up in spiritual life while doing some volunteer services in the Sinchung Spiritual Bread Church. After the meeting, I ate lunch and sat besides a volunteer church serviceman who had just finished his one-year-long service contract. I promised to offer him some translation services if he needed an English resume and autobiography. Haige, an old brother serving in a suburb cemetery, came up to me to greet me. Besides an elder brother working as a bread manufacturer also nicely gave me two loaves of French bread as a gift. Thank God for His grace. However, unfortunately, I was bothered by Nanyin’s repeated invitations for continued fellowship. It seemed that his repeated request had formed mental pressure upon me. I must get rid of it, for this kind of communication has no Lord’s presence, lacking the joy and releasing of the Holy Spirit. As I said before, I did not to continue a fellowship with him. I sincerely asked the Lord to help me to keep away from him in order that I could a peaceful and restful Sunday morning worship.
In the afternoon, I took Ian my dear son to Taipei to change mud for three worms expected to grow into insects. I loved to enjoy Ian’s presence and get together with him when he was alone. Along the way, we enjoyed several refreshments like fried bread, vegetable salad, milk tea, and mango ice. We spent about 100 NT dollars changing the mud for nourishments of the worms. I was worried about Ian’s obesity problem and his eyesight. I could only pray to the Lord to help him to refrain from eating too much and use his eyes in a proper way.
In the evening, we had meat noodle and curry rice. I did enjoy my family life forgetting all the worries and unhappiness of old days. I was determined to work hard and walk quietly in society to earn my own respect and bread and to support my family. God will be with me as well as my family.

Sep. 4
“Taiwanese vegetable vendor and philanthropist Chen Shu-chu donated Monday a cash award of US$ 50,000 she recently received to Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei to help the hospital build an intensive care unit in its Taitung branch.”
This was an amazing piece of news in Taiwan. Charity is God’s will, so such kind of good deeds were worthy of people’s respect and admiration.
Grandma Chen set an example for Taiwan’s society, for although her life circle was small her love was relatively immense. However, she has won her rewards for charity and enjoyed a big name throughout the world.
A new semester started this week, and I have prepared myself for a whole summer vacation to face the future challenges. More preparations and more prayers are necessary. And I will finish my volunteer translation work in these two weeks, expecting to maintain a link with Mustard Seed Church. I am happy to translate these work reports of an American missionary, well-known for her charity, to Chinese. They were valuable and worth locals’ remembrance.
In addition, the problem of my weight seemed to be warning my health. In the past, Teacher Wang had advised me to exercise more, especially in the stadium of the sports park. Today, I surprisingly found that I was too overweight. I must refrain from sweets and fried food. In this summer vacation, I invited friends to eat buffets several times. I was a little bit regretful for that. Lord, please help me to reduce my weight. In the past two years, averagely speaking, I slept over 12 hours per day and I took little exercise. I must face the problem of my weight, and do my best to solve the problem of being overweight. God, please help me to improve my health.

Sep. 5
I had a nightmare last night, for I was under pressure imposed by Br. Lin Nan-yin, who ignored my rejection and repeatedly intended to maintain a communicative relation with him. This morning I called the pastor’s wife, Su-hui Sister, and Spring to tell them about that. I also did my best to prepare and pray for tomorrow’s English classes at Tung-nan Technology University. And early in the morning I went out the stadium to take exercise. I am determined to persist in exercising early in the morning in order to control and reduce my weight.
Besides, I ate stewed rice as my lunch, which was so tasty that I needed to praise the Lord for His grace again. I digested a page of an old book, which talked about the process of history. In terms of Christianity, the historical process was determined to fulfill God’s divine purposes. God is supreme and almighty all right, but man still has his own free will to make a decision. We do know that all things work together for good to those who love God. I pray to God, earnestly asking Him to give a sincere heart to love Him and His words. Spring is indeed the best gift ever given to me by the Lord. The history of my marriage has been blessed by the Lord and I will treasure these blessings all my life.

Sep. 8
Yesterday I went to the university of nursing to attend a meeting in which we were prepared for the teaching of the new semester. The teaching outline and the digital teaching materials had to be uploaded, so I will do this on next Monday.
And early this morning I accompanied Spring to read the Scripture. The greatest mystery is that God is manifested on the flesh. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word is God. Church is destined to be the foundation of the word. That is, churches bear the responsibility of preaching the word and witness the word. The world will be convinced that Jesus is the Lord, Who has been preached to the Gentiles, and be glorified in eternity.
“God’s house is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth. And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in the Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among nations, has been believed on in the world, has been received up in glory.”
“Out of the blue, he announced that if Emperor Akihito ever expects to visit South Korea, he should first apologize for Japan’s colonial rule of the peninsula before and during World War II. Many Japanese regarded Lee’s words as an insult to the emperor, and Japan’s legislators once again asserted their country’s claim to the islets. Last week Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda infuriated the South Koreans on another sore topic, saying there’s no evidence that proves Japan’s imperial army forced Korean women to work as sex slaves.”
This paragraph was quoted from this week’s issue of Newsweek, of which the cover story was highlighted with this headline—“A tiny clump of islets pushes Japan and South Korea to the brink.”

Sep. 9
“It’s not that Japan is oblivious to its dark past, or unrepentant. Although the country’s right-wing politicians may dispute the details of its imperial past, most Japanese recognize that many terrible acts were committed in their country’s name. Nevertheless, even those ordinary people are running of patience with Seoul’s demands for apologies. As they see it, Japanese prime ministers have apologized over and over. The Japanese government actually set up a special fund back in 1995 to compensate the comfort women. It ended in failure after right-wing activists in South Korea persuaded several former comfort women not to accept the money, claiming that it wasn’t an “official” compensation or apology from Japan.”

Sept. 10
I spent almost whole day preparing for the classes of these two weeks. For the students of Tung-nan University, I will teach the grammatical point of the structure of a sentence, listening comprehension, and some reading materials. So, I will Xerox the reading materials tomorrow. Besides, for the students of the college of nursing, with the help of Teacher Tsai, I have uploaded the digital teaching materials. Furthermore, I prepared to upload the teaching outline within this week. I am happy to have a chance to receive the computer engineer, who is thus invited to a lunch with me on Sunday. Although he is disabled, I am willing to respect and receive him with a kind heart and the love of Christ.
This morning, my wife Spring prayed to the Lord, saying that my son Ian perfected her life for she learned a lot from teaching Ian and seeing Ian make much progress in every way. She also told me that she did not know how she could struggle through these two years especially the first year when I had been mentally sick again. I have to praise the Lord, for He gave me instant words and abundant grace to help Spring to face such challenges of dealing with my health problem and taking a good care of my kids even when I had collapsed.
I am determined to make progress in my health and professionalism, learning how to experience Christ in whatever difficulties I confronted. I have to keep exercising, pray reading the Scripture, and try my best to teach students at all costs.
In addition, I heard a sermon yesterday on a parable of prayers. A widow perpetually harassed a judge who did not respect men and not fear God, so the judge eventually avenged her. Likewise, if we constantly pray, our prayers of faith can be answered by God. I will always pray for my family and health, and even economy, hoping that God will answer my prayers and help me out of all adversities.

Sept. 11
Today I enjoyed a long-time presence of Spring. We ate breakfast and lunch together, exchanging ideas and reading the Bible and praying to the Lord. We also encouraged by the good TV show of this morning, of which the sermon stressed the importance of God’s words. The practice of morning watch and night prayer can help us to be committed to a steady and constant communication with God. God’s words are life and Spirit, Which moved us and bore fruits within us. God’s logos can become instant words applied to our personal situations. The instant words are powerful enough to discern our ideas and restore our impaired mind. Furthermore, the instant words can wash our minds, cleansing sins and releasing us from all bondages of sins.

Sept. 12
Last night, the assistant of English Department of Tung-nan University emailed a wrong message to me, disturbing and interrupting my mind. In her e-mail, she referred to me as a part-time lecturer instead of an assistant professor. And then, I emailed back to confirm the title. Finally, she apologized to me, recognizing that she used a wrong title. Due to the disturbance, I communicated with Spring, who used nice words to comfort me, saying that the service of students was meant to serve God, and that I did not need to care about the title and payment. Thank God for taking away the cross from me. I was eventually released from the burden of my heart.
In addition, according to breaking news of CNN, the US embassy compound in Cairo was harassed by Egyptian protesters, who had staged the protest for a US produced film blasphemed their Muslim prophet.
“Universal history is a feasible ideal, but demands a union of historical and philosophical thought: the facts must be understood as well as narrated, seen from within and not only from outside.” Perhaps a moral lesson or a biblical principle can be derived or learned from a historical fact. For example, in studying the Bible, the history of Israelis can teach Christians some moral or spiritual lessons.

Sept. 13
“Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry yesterday issued a strong protest to Japan over the latter’s decision to purchase several disputed islets in the East China Sea that are claimed by Taipei. ‘We lodged a severe protest over Tokyo’s so-called move to nationalize the Tiaoyutai Islands, which has seriously infringed on Taiwan’s sovereignty, jeopardized bilateral ties and escalated regional conflicts,’ Foreign Minister Timothy Yang said at an emergency press conference yesterday in Taipei”
This lead went with the headline “Japan Island purchase draws ‘severe protest.” And the sub-headline was as follows—“MOFA summons Japanese envoy to Taiwan after reported signing of deal.”
The disputes over the territory also sparked a tension between Tokyo and Seoul. President of Korea even personally visited the islets to claim its sovereignty, igniting a strong nationalism. On the one hand, he appeared to use this move to raise his own approval ratings. On the other hand, he intended to take advantage of the world’s situation to strengthen his rule despite his unpopularity.
In addition, Taiwan’s president Ma Ing-jeou not only issued public statements to claim Taiwan’s sovereignty but paid a visit to an islet in order to protest over Japan’s unilateral move to purchase the disputed islets.
Furthermore, China was also angered by Japan’s move so that certain Chinese took to the street to show their strong protest. So, the situation of East Asia was extremely tense. The US thus called for the unity of the nations in East Asia. We still needed to watch closely the recent development of the international disputes over the territory. God be with us and have mercy on us.

Sept. 15
“Confucian Comeback—China remains divided over reviving its ancient sage.” “The Communist Party catapulted into power by attacking the Confucian order, which it said perpetuated inequality. Indeed, Confucius is credited with promoting a social hierarchy in which roles are strictly defined: students defer to teachers, kids revere elders, wives serve husbands, and citizens obey rulers—unless they become abusive, in which case citizens are justified to rebel.”
Since Sept. 28 is a national holiday to remember Confucius, the greatest teacher in Chinese history, the revival of Confucianism in China is really something worth observation.
Besides, our family paid a visit to Brother Yi, who had long lived in Simen Street and cared about me decades ago. It was actually a warm reunion in which we exchanged thanks, presents, and opinions, and enjoyed a big lunch. His parents and wife received our family kindheartedly, showing forth the love of brotherhood and Jesus Christ. And this also made me to recall those years of learning God’s words and brotherhood in the local church of Simen Street. Thank God for the reunion and warm reception, which also taught my kids how to respect and remember and even learn from the elders who had cared about us and deserved our remembrance and respect.

Sept. 16
“Eleven years after 9/11, al Qaeda is fighting back. Despite a focused and concerted American-led global effort—despite the blows inflicted on it by drones, SEALs, and spies—the terror group is thriving in the Arab world, thanks to the revolutions that swept across it in the last 18 months. And the group remains intent on striking inside America and Europe.”
This paragraph was quoted from the latest issue of Newsweek. And after the Sunday worship, I went to the MRT station to meet a new friend, who I recently knew at the university of nursing, inviting him to a simple lunch. The meal took me about two hours. During the lunch time, I exchanged ideas and information with Teacher Tsai, who promised that he would help promote my translation business. Meanwhile, he also told me some inside information like personnel struggle at the university. Although he was disabled, he was so busy helping with the school computing operation and teaching various computer classes at community universities. Surprisingly enough, he had contacted the gospel when he was hospitalized for a surgery. He mentioned the name of Lord Jesus Christ, recalling his sweet experiences while he was suffering from his disease.

Sept. 18
“U.S.-based manufacturing is a vital part of a successful, diverse economy—and, as more companies are finding out, it’s good for business, too.”
“The U.S. produces 21 percent of the world’s manufactured products. That’s just six percent less than China and Japan combined. U.S. manufacturing produces 11.7 percent of the nation’s GDP, and supports 17 million jobs in the U.S. But perhaps most important is the role manufacturing plays in the success of other sectors.”

Sept 19
There were five students at the university of nursing asking for help, requiring me to pay for their English textbooks. I was weak in my personal finances these years, so I needed to turn to Spring for help. I am desperate for God’s grace for without Lord’s grace I can not stand firm in these workplaces.
Thank God for these challenges which put me in a position crazing for Lord’s grace.
“It is this confluence of community, comedy, and cuisine that gives Osaka a street-level vitality and appeal of its own. And yet the city is not without its problems. It has the largest homeless population in Japan, and its unemployment rate is higher than the national average. The migration of business to Tokyo from Osaka has been arrested by last year’s Great East Japan Earthquake, but bankruptcy continues to rise. Nevertheless, Osaka remains an economic powerhouse;”

Sept. 21
“Cabinet vote is will of public: Control Yuan: KMT lawmakers promise to veto no-confidence vote against premier”
“The no-confidence vote against the Cabinet led by Premier Sean Chen, initiated by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, is in-line with public sentiment,” Wang Chien-shien, president of the government watchdog Control Yuan, said at a media luncheon yesterday morning.”
A Cabinet reshuffle was under way these two days, manifesting people’s dissatisfaction of the current economic performance in Taiwan. Hopefully, the Cabinet shakeup could appease the public sentiment.
In addition, I finished the teaching service of this week on Friday morning. I have enjoyed the please and enjoyment of experiencing Lord’s grace in teaching college students basic-level English. I used to read the name list of the whole class and pray for every student before entering the classroom. I Xeroxed handouts for them without charging them and I was also willing to give them some refreshments to encourage them, trying to pointing out an inspiring way for them to learn and improve their English. Furthermore, I have learned how to use digital teaching materials to strengthen the teaching effect. I love this teaching job enthusiastically.
Tonight, my family will go to Joy’s kindergarten for a mid-autumn festival barbecue. Each of us was charged $NT 250. That’s fine. We will enjoy ourselves under the bright moon, recalling all the good old days we had traced in the past.

Sept. 23
The sermon of this Sunday was on the blessings and multiplication of five loaves of bread and two fishes. We consecrated our only talent, abilities, time, and money to the Lord, expecting God to multiply it to become the blessing of people.
On Monday I need to teach four-hour-long English. The lesson planning is as follows. The sequence of teaching will be in this order—grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening comprehension. Grammar’s theme is three different kinds of clauses, and the agreement of subjects and verbs. My explanation is required to be concise and to the point. And to the students of Monday, the basic-level vocabulary seems enough. And then, three articles will be explained. And at the end of the class, I will play the DVD of Taiwan on the Go. Surely, I will call the name of each student to check their presence.
“US distrust in news media hits fresh high.” “Add the news media to the list of institutions that Americans did not trust. A Gallup poll released Friday showed a record 60 percent of Americans have little or no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly. The poll showed distrust is up from the past few years, and has been rising since 2004. The record distrust in the media, based on a survey conducted September 6-9, means that negativity towards the media is at an all-time high for a presidential election year. The gap between negative and positive views—20 percentage points—is by far the biggest Gallup has recorded since it began asking the question in the 1990s. Gallup said trust in the media was much higher, and more positive than negative, in the years prior to 2004, and was as high as 72 percent in the 1970s.”

Sept. 25
“Coast Guard vows to protect protestors.” “If Japan acts with hostility, we will not rule out opening fire: military.” “Yilan fishermen set sail for the Diaoyutais in the ‘protect fishing rights for survival’ protest yesterday. This is the largest civilian protest over the sovereignty of the islands in recent years.” “Fishermen leave from Nanfang-ao Port in Yilan County, yesterday. Banners on the ships express anger at Japan’s ‘nationalization’ of the islands and the trampling of local fishermen’s fishing rights.” “President Ma Ying-jeou gestures at a welcoming event for foreign guests in the Presidential Office, yesterday. Ma said that Taiwanese fishermen are infuriated by the Japanese coast guard’s constant inference of their fishing operations near the disputed Diaoyutais islands in the East China Sea.” “Coast Guard Administration Minister Wang Ginn-wang points to a map of the Diaoyutais operation at the Legislative Yuan internal Administration Committee conference in Taipei, yesterday. Wang stressed that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will not join arms in the sovereignty fight over the islands. The GGA is to send 10 patrol ships to protect fishermen protesting near the Diaoyutais in the East China Sea.”
These headlines and leads were quoted from today’s China Post. Concerning the fishing rights of Taiwanese fishermen protesting by setting sail to Diaoyutais, the solution was expected by diplomatic negotiations. Although the Ministry of National Defense claimed that it would not rule out the option of opening fire in protecting the fishermen, the government I thought won’t take the risk.
Yesterday, almost every student in my class bought a copy of the grammar text book so I was happy for that. I thanked God for this. I also treated students yesterday some MacDonald’s instant food to show my extra care and love for them. By taking care of these students, I enjoyed joy and happiness and my heart was made bigger, as well. I loved to pray for all of them, and through the love of Christ I grew in mind and spirit and wisdom with them.
My dear Ian and Joy rushed to the door while hearing the doorbell to welcome me back. And Ian gave a cup of hot milk to comfort me. I did enjoy their love and passion. Thank God for my students and my kids.

Sept. 30
“CPC says Bo will face ‘justice,’ sets Nov.8 transition.” “Disgraced politician stripped of party membership and positions.” “Disgraced politician Bo Xilai will “face justice” for a litany of crimes, China said Friday as it announced the Communist Party would open a pivotal congress to select a new a leadership on Nov. 8.
“CLA minister’s resignation approved, deputy to be successor.” “Premier Sean Chen yesterday approved Labor Minister Wang Ju-hsuan’s resignation, and named her
deputy as the successor.” “Chen told the press following a question-and-answer session at the Legislature that he had approved the resignation at noon, and had reported the situation to President Ma Ying-jeou.”
These two paragraphs were headlines and leads of the latest news concerning the national and international situations. China will undergo a once-in-a- decade power transition in November. In addition, Taiwan’s government can not push for the minimum wage hike in facing the slowdown of current economy.