Last Post from Beijing

We are headed home this am. The trip has been incredible with so many sights and sounds from a city and its people trying as best they can to welcome the world. The officials even promised to allow web visitors in the country to have access to Amnesty International and Voice of the Martyr's websites (www.amnesty.org and www.persecution.org) during the Games. I just checked both out and they do work fro here in this apartment.

Yesterday we visited Lama Temple and the Temple of Heaven sites. I did not know if these were now cultural sites only or if open worship took place there. Much to my dismay and sadness, Lama Temple has plenty of idol (Buddha) worship still going on. Its also a big business on the temple grounds and it surrounding businesses selling incense to be burned. Many people offering prayers for a variety of reasons I am sure to lifeless carvings, the largest one was a 60 foot Buddha carved from a single piece of wood. As we toured the sites I noticed that varying images were for varying things such as prosperity, peace, love, etc. The very things many prayers are prayed each day. I was almost overcome with the hopelessness of it all as people bowed and rendered worship to wood that cannot ever help. Yet in this place, no one would dare speak aloud of Jesus Christ, the only One Who is Hope and Love and Truth. The only One worthy of praise. 

As we walked and talked yesterday taking all of this in, we realized that apart from the Lord, everyone is lost and hopeless. In His grace and Mercy, believers have been granted pardon and freedom. Remember the litmus test, "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son, does not have the life" or "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Apart from Me, no one comes to the Father". There are no degrees of "lostness". Those who do not know Jesus are as far away as anyone worshipping idols. At least they realize they are seeking help from beyond themselves. 

The underground church of Christians here are on the move. God is doing a miraculous thing among them. I am committed to pray for the people of China but have a renewed sense of urgency  for those on my Andrew List and those around me. For that, I am thankful. 

We wrap this up today with a really long flight leaving here around noon (Beijing time, midnight at home) and fly to Korea. We have a 3 hours layover and then fly until 7pm EST to Atlanta. Then we will drive home from there. That will take a few days to get over!!