Years ago, we met a man, MT, in Taiwan and had the opportunity to build a relationship with him. His family business was gambling, and I mean gambling BIG TIME. He seemed 
to be really drawn to us. He studied in our English classes, came to parties and outings, and dropped by the house to connect. MT had the opportunity to learn about Jesus many times. He wanted our friendship, but not our God. Oh, he was never ugly or belligerent, but he chose to continue walking in the same habits that he had for years. He loved what he was doing. I’m so glad that Jesus gave us the example of loving people regardless of anything . . . right?! When the time came for us to leave Taiwan and go Stateside for a while, MT gave us a beautiful Chinese painting that hangs in our dining room. He noted that in the mountains in this painting is a building nestled among the trees, and he called it a church building. (May be difficult to see, but it is at the bottom center of the painting near the cliff.) We were very touched by that, but MT as far as we know never made a decision to accept Christ. But we know that God promised that HIS WORD will not return void, so as long as there is life there is HOPE. As far as people are concerned, others may indeed be forgotten, but in God’s eyes they are never forgotten.
You know the story of the man who was planting in the soil and there were 4 different kinds of results from that planting. Well, recently I discovered a Chinese painting that refers to that story as 4 KINDS OF HEARTS.
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear (Matthew 13:3-9). (Publisher of the drawing unknown)
上：四樣的心
下：有一個撒種的出去撒種撒的時候有落在路旁的飛鳥來吃盡了有落在土淺石頭地上的土既不深發苗最快日頭出來一曬因為沒有根就枯乾了有落在荊棘裡的荊棘長起來把他擠住了又有落在好土裡的就結實有一百倍的有六十倍的有三十倍的有耳可聽的就應當聽 馬太福音十三章三至九節
I love the title, Four Kinds of Hearts, because that’s the bottom line of the story. As much as I know this truth, it still breaks my heart to see people make a choice to turn away from God and go their own way, and it hurts even more when they choose a very destructive path.
♥ Please pray for MT and his family to find Christ.
♥ Please pray for our Hokkien partners as they continue to share Christ with all kinds of people who may have one of these 4 kinds of hearts in the story.
♥ Pray for all of us in Hokkien ministry (and beyond) to love people regardless of how they respond to us.
The church has waited a long time to have their own space. Check out the video to see progress on the renovation of the building.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to step aside from our busy lives and give thanks for our mothers. 
All of us have mothers. Some of us celebrate our birth mothers, others give thanks for their adopted or foster mothers or other people who cared for us, and yet still others may not even know who their mothers are OR struggle with abusive care. And then in some circumstances, in the absence of a mother, a father may have provided the needed loving care. But at this occasion, Lord, we ask you to meet the needs of each mother on Mother’s Day.
Sometimes things seem wonderful, but for all of us some days feel too hard. We’re hurting. Struggling. Fighting fear and worry at every turn. Thank you in the midst of it all, you haven’t left us to fend for ourselves. Forgive us for doubting you are there. Forgive us for thinking you’ve forgotten. Forgive us for believing we somehow know the better way.
every situation no matter how wonderful or difficult it may seem. In difficult times, you are Healer and will never waste the grief we carry today. You will use all things for good in some way. Anything is possible with you. Nothing is too difficult for you.
We pray for the peace of your presence to cover our minds and thoughts, as you remind us, the enemy can never steal us out of your hands. He never has the final say over our lives. We are kept safe in your presence forever, whether in life or in death. So no matter what our circumstance, we can trust YOU.
But in a small section of Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, each year the Hok Tek Church of course has an Easter worship and lunch, but also has an Easter parade. They march and distribute special wrapped eggs and greet and bless the families and businesses in the neighborhood. What a CELEBRATION. JESUS IS ALIVE! We have no better GOOD NEWS than that. We serve a living God who loves us enough to give his only son. He came to pay a debt HE did not owe, because we owed a debt WE could not pay. Now, that’s something celebrate!
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