Xapa to the World

Category: Random

Stuff that doesn’t fit into a box…like me!

  • C.S. Lewis and Friends Blog

    C. S. Lewis
    Image via Wikipedia

     

    So, I’ve had this dream for a while:  to have a group of readers called “C.S. Lewis and Friends.”  Actually, it’s not really just my dream.  It is a brain-child of a group of friends of mine discussed several years ago.  The primary draw at that time was the t-shirts we planned to make and wear, but I digress (The book club we never had but desperately love). 

    I’ve really wanted to have something like a book club relating to C.S. Lewis books and other like-minded or not so like-minded authors.  However, it is next to impossible to gather a group of people together at the same time for multiple weeks to read one book, let alone an infinite number of books.  So, like a bolt from heaven, a thought came into my mind:  Why not a Book Review blog? 

    Not such a unique concept, by itself, but hang on for the kicker.  I can’t read all these books myself, and many times, when I finish a book my only response is, “Wow, that sucked.”  or “Wow, that was great!”  I’m sure that could get boring real quick.  So, my idea is to use your brains a bit by inviting you to write on a blog YOUR thoughts after you’ve read such and such a book.  I know…I’m obsessed with the blogging thing, but I’m pretty jazzed about this idea. 

    The one question that came into my mind was, “What if I don’t agree with what someone is saying?”  Well…that’s why they’re called opinions and I really don’t care what someone says (vulgarity excepted) so long as a discussion can be started.  The great thing about WordPress is that you can have multiple authors on one blog. (I’ve never seen this on a blog-site before…but then again, my experience with platforms is limited.) 

    So, what do you say?  I know I’ve got some super-smart people out there who like to read.  I know that I’ve got some not-so-smart (wink) friends who have had some very smart responses to books and would willingly enter discussions on them.  Let me know if this is something you may be interested in.  If you are, AWESOME!  I will jump for joy and get right on setting it up.  If you aren’t, I will scrap the whole idea and be thrown into the depths of despair for years to come.  If enough are, I’m sure that one or some of my particularly artsy people would be able to come up with a super-cool banner for the blog (and, yes, maybe even a t-shirt!) 

    God bless ya! 

    Sarah ><> 

  • Transition

    Hey everyone: faithful readers and not so much…I have fallen in love with WordPress as a blog platform, and so am relocating there.  I’ve had this blog for forever and would love to just take everything with me, but I think I need a face-lift and a chance for my blog to grow up with me.  So, here’s the new address:

    https://xapatotheworld.wordpress.com

    And so, there you are!  Hope to see you on the flip-side.  I’m going to keep this one up indefinitely until I feel the transition has completely happened.  Also, there’s not much up there just yet, but I will be posting some stuff this afternoon after work. 

    Later and God bless!

    In Him,
    Sarah ><>

  • Abraham, Isaac, Jacob…and China?

    I’m currently tutoring two Chinese restaurant waitresses in English.  They are lovely young women, both about 23 years old, and we are having a great time together.  I’m always amazed how friendships can be forged, even through language barriers (the most common means of communication), and God has not failed in growing a strong relationship between me and these women. 

    I meet with each of them tête-à-tête once a week.  Our time together consists of 15 mins (or so) of Bible Time and then 1.25 hrs English study.  This is based on the format we used when I was in Japan, and I found it worked so well there that I brought it over to my classes here.  The Bible Times are in simplified English, so even if they don’t like the subject matter, they are still practicing and learning English.  They seldom argue against, but frequently act surprised, or withhold questions just so it will be over with sooner.

    We use a kids Bible, since the vocabulary is simpler and the pictures help explain any confusing points.  Idioms are aplenty, however, so it is helpful for learning new expressions.  I find myself laughing at some of the expressions we use everyday that I had never thought much of before.  It’s refreshing to know that many of the idioms we use are duplicated in some manner in other languages.  No matter where you are, or what language you speak, there are certain concepts that are always best explained using an idiom. 

    We have been going in order through the Bible, starting with creation, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  I am on through to Joseph with one woman, but the other is just now in the middle of Jacob’s story.  When I was in Japan, teaching these lessons, it was very easy for my students to pick up how Jacob was a cheat and a liar.  He didn’t care who he stepped on, just so long as he got what he wanted.  This made the redemption of God still choosing him and using him all the more grand because they clearly saw what his sinful character was like.

    However, with my Chinese students, I am having a harder time getting this message across.  When I was in China many years ago, I learned an expression, translated into English.  It went something like this:

    Whichever cat catches the mouse
    wins.

    The idea behind it was to say that, no matter what method that cat used to catch the mouse, if he caught it, then he won.  The ends justify the means.  So, a person like Jacob, who spends his life cheating and lying his way into physical prosperity, is seen as a strong person – maybe even someone to be emulated.  As we are nearing the end of Jacob’s story in our Bible Time, I can’t help but feeling that it’s something that will have to sink in for later musing. 

    Despite this sort of negative conclusion, there has been some good stuff happening.  This last week, the women went with me to a youth revival at my church.  I was helping worship, so bringing them was a lot of fun.  They could see me perform, but also, it was prime opportunity for them to read the Bible in their own language.  I had been hesitant to bring my Chinese/English Bible with me to our lessons, because I didn’t want them to think that I only care about making them Christians.  I do care a great deal about that, but under the umbrella of that goal is to help them assimilate into our country (as much as possible), learn the language, and develop friendships outside of their workplace. 

    I showed them the Chinese Bible pretty quickly and answered any questions they might have about them.  When I asked one woman what her favorite story was that we’ve read in Bible Time, she thought a moment and said, “Jacob.”  I found it for her and she began reading, not lifting her head either until she was done with most of the story and it was time for the meeting to start.  When I showed her where the message would be given from, she glanced over at it, but then went back to reading, this time about Joseph.  The other woman was a bit different.  I started her on the story of the message, The Samaritan woman at the Well, who had done everything wrong, and continued to do everything wrong, but Jesus choosing her anyway.  She seemed captivated with the story.  She read from the beginning of that chapter through two others.  On our way back to her house, she said that it had been “the best day!” and she was so happy. 

    Please pray for these women.  I don’t want to give their names, but you can call them Lee and Sharon.  I appreciate you covering our English lessons (Mondays and Wednesdays) with prayer as well. 

    Thanks for reading!