so...
i finally found out where the shanghai community fellowship church was located, and how to get there, and what time the english service started...and so today at about 3:15 i left my room, and narrowly made it in time for the 4pm start time [gotta leave a little earlier next time]. of course, it didn't help save time when i forgot my subway card in the room and had to spend more time buying individual tickets at the kiosks...ughh. [sidenote: the subway today--line 1 anyway--was by far the most crowded i'd experienced...it was amazing to see/feel how many people could be squeezed into the metro...
okay okay, anyways, back to church. the church was perfectly fitting for china--dilapidated look, yet suitable enough. [also, it was very compact/space-saving inside! ha] however, besides simply seeing how many believers were present [and those locals who were leaving from the afternoon chinese service], the first moment when i was just like "wow..." was when i found a seat and had just removed my coat only to then hear a somewhat familiar tune playing overhead. coming from the loudspeakers was most definitely the tune to "my redeemer lives"--a song that i've heard and loved hearing for years now...except i noticed that i couldn't quite hear the words i was accustomed to hearing...then i noticed it--the song playing over the crummy loudspeakers was the chinese version of the song "my redeemer lives"...it was a moment that i will hopefully never forget, as at that moment, i really still don't even know what thoughts i was having or emotions i was feeling...i just know that something inside me jumped with like "giddiness" or like that feeling you get when you see justice served or indignations overcome in movies...it was surreal.
then the song seemingly finished, and then started again, in the original, english version. [actually kind of a let-down at the moment! ha..]
the church is certainly different than what i am used to--not much going for it as far as decor, technology, or grandeur; however, once inside and worshipping with probably nearly 2000 tightly quartered internationals in this awesomely-ridiculous city...it was soothing. the music was by most accounts terrible--as far as organization, precision, and sound...but then again, it didn't matter. we sang and we sang and we sang for what felt like nearly an hour. it was wonderful. the lead vocalist/guitarist was pretty much...flat-out...tone-deaf/terrible by most musical standards. but he simply didn't seem to notice or care...he just played sometimes and sang as best he could...and it was just surreal to see so many different types of people gathered in one place...all with the same passion and desire. i also saw a deaf man near me earnestly signing away to each song as the rest of us sang aloud...there were people clapping, some swaying, some with arms lifted high! during that time, and during the Lord's supper, and throughout the message--it seemed that no one had any inhibitions...no one had any worries or fears...they just were simply and passionately praising Him.
the experience today was awesome...and just what i think i needed. the sermon [whose subject was marriage and the roles of both husbands and wives] was one i'd definitely heard before, yet some new points were made, and i took some significant notes. it kinda made me feel especially lonely for awhile though...anyways, he did mention a book throughout, called his needs : her needs, and it seemed to be very useful/on-point...so maybe later i will be able to pick up a copy, read a little more, and report back...however, the energy i felt when i first started this thing a few minutes ago is quickly disappearing...so i must call it a night. anyways, i hope all is well with everyone...and i hope to write more often like i proclaimed i would at the beginning...maybe just some more snippets like this would at least be doable?...
and so for now...再见从上海
this entry, i'll leave with a few of the "Christian one-liners" someone sent me recently...[they're pretty good/clever]:
- "Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous."
- "Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors."
- "People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church."
s.o.t.d. [fitting i thought...and also a recent hit on my iPod...]:
"when a man loves a woman" -- Percy Sledge
and a quote as well:
"Fear stands for:
- False
- Evidence
- Appearing
- Real "
-- Zig Ziggler
2:08am. 03/09/09. [shanghai].
w/p
No comments:
Post a Comment