I spent a few hours this week reading an old Moody Press book called “Queen of the Dark Chamber” by Christiana Tsai (Cai), an autobiography.
First of all, her description of growing up in China mirrored a Chinese TV show I’d watched to help me learn Chinese. It was uncannily alike, and lent much credibility to Chinese entertainment media! They seem to accurately portray some historical and cultural things, all very fascinating.
Christiana’s (her Chinese name seems to be “7th Daughter”) story is leaps and bounds more exciting and even beyond belief than the made-up stories in Chinese TV. It’s really hard to believe, but I do.
I believe in a supernatural God, and He is able to do supernatural things.
Demons, so real in that culture, can only mimic God’s power. They can keep souls in bondage to evil and wickedness. We are all born in sin. Only the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to Christ’s victory over sin and death on the cross. That He rose again is evidence of His supremacy and that He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
He is Lord. The demons must bow to Him.
In our global Post-Modern society the push to downplay supernatural activity is in China, too. Actually China is a perfect example of Metamodernism. The atheism of Communism plus the fast-growing push of economic capitalism there has given rise to the digital age of Metamodernism. Mostly in the high population areas.
There is still fascination and belief in evil and the spirits attached to it, and since China still has a percentage of illiteracy (Chinese is really hard!) the old ways die hard.
Evil is real.
The book I read had a personal story that was amazing, but the reason Cai and her godmother Mary Leaman had significance was their life-work of creating a Chinese phonetic New Testament. This all happened in the 1920’s and 1930’s amidst huge political upheaval.
Leaman demonstrated the remarkable ease of reading the phonetic system for all levels of Chinese society to countless officials. Cai helped her in her work, despite terrible physical ailments. I looked up Chinese phonetics and saw it is really Pinyin, but there must have been some added information by Leaman, and her father, Charles. I didn’t research it deeply, but there was no mention of their contribution in my initial diggings.
But God knows their work, and Christiana Cai’s, too. I will try to look into this a bit more.
I’m reading books that connect ancient Chinese script to the Hebrew Otiot, and this is also fascinating. Chinese scholars get riled about this connection, but sometimes you simply see what is there to be seen!
Shang-ti was alike to El Shaddai in multiple ways! Sacrifices of bulls to Shang-ti continued until the beginning of the 20th century! Spending time trying to read and understand Chinese characters is not for the faint of heart. It’s really hard. Each stroke represents something deep, and putting things together is actually an art form.
Chinese see poetry, art, meaning, and cultural heritage in each character.
Such a world within a language!
Back to humble little Corgi Hollows. I know that Cai’s book is hard to come by now. I looked on various internet sites. It’s expensive. I was able to read a church library copy. I just love missionary biographies. The evidence of supernatural power and commitment to our faith is so inspiring.
Cheri announced that she (and I) can take a course at the University of Minnesota on Chinese Calligraphy next fall. We haven’t registered for it yet, but I’m very tempted. So is she. I think it would be a fun thing to do together, and very fascinating.
Cheri also announced that she will spend the summer on an adventure in Alaska. She really loves Alaska! She found a summer job up there.
I will be moaning and groaning and weeping and toiling without her.
But the summer will pass. Ed may move back and forth from his place frequently to do garden work and other…
So much to do at Corgi Hollows, always.
He is really wanting to put his Japanese garden into reality and planning stages have been explored. The ground must be broken! I will have to film the first shovel-full for posterity.
April 19 is a day I feel connected to and grieving with some of my Asian friends that I’ve gotten to know. The death of one popular young man on this date two years ago has unified many thousands of people in grief and loss. It is a time to pray and hope that the truth and comfort of Jesus will become real to many of them. Some of his closest friends are believers, and I am still hopeful that they were able to quietly share Christ with him before he passed away.
It seems to be an Illuminati-significant day, as well. I still observe these connections. Once you see it you cannot un-see it.
Yes, Jesus is coming soon. When the global order reveals itself as it has been progressively doing, we can look up because our redemption draws nigh. That’s Biblical.
MARANATHA!