21jan，31，09
San Ming Times Updates
Version 2 Vol. #9 January 31st, 2009
Greeting from the Unique City of San Ming, China,
O China, where is your God?

I had to ask this question many times this last couple of weeks. So many people do not know the forgiving power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yesterday, I was working in my woodshop when several high school students came to the children's village wanting to get a look at this crazy white person. When they came I decided to take the day off and I ask this group of young people if they want to go climb a mountain. Though these young people do not like to climb mountains they still wanted to spend time with an American. We climbed one of the highest mountains in San Ming. At the top of this mountain was a monastery; in the monastery were the statues of many gods. When the high school students saw the idols they bowed down to these mere pieces of wood. It pained my heart to see such an ignorant act of worship.
While at the monastery we meet the lead monk who could speak good English. He invited me to bow down and pray to these gods. He even offered me some incense to burn to these gods. I told him I cannot for I am a Christian and I have Jesus in my heart. I then ask him, "Why do the Chinese people have so many gods?" Upon see all the statues I asked if there is one god that is higher than the other gods. He said, "All the gods have equal power". I also asked, "If there is no higher god do the gods often fight for power? I hope I did not offend him, but it seemed that I did for he immediately went to his room and did not return for the rest of the conversation. Thinking I might have offended him I soon left. As I was about 500 feet down the mountain he chased me down and ask me to please come back for he enjoyed the conversation. I hope and pray that one of these days he would be able to recognize the truth.

These last couple of days I have been observing the unique lifestyles of the Chinese people. It is interesting how the Chinese people celebrate the New Years. My heart pains even more when I see the emptiness in people's lives and in their celebrations. I have watched as people consumed many different adult beverages to experience "joyful times". I have travel the local bus system and watched as people get on and off the bus and I wonder where is their God. I have watched as drunks sprawl out in the middle of the street unable to continual moving. Maybe it is just me noticing, but I have noticed prostitution and gays are in the increase. On one of my running trips into San Ming I almost got kissed by a drunken man. O China, where is your God? China, Is God found in your statues or in your alcohol, or what about your new found materialism. Is the true God found in friends or fancy parties? O… China where is your God?
Then I remember…
I know where China's God is…
God left it to me…
To tell the world…
About...
HIS TRUE SAVING LOVE.
Will you join me in telling Christ's story to the WORLD?
Proclaiming Christ,
Stephen Burkholder
PS: Whether it is verbal, or through physical actions, or by both, God's story must be told.