Thursday, June 20, 2013

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Chinese Learning

The more I study Mandarin the more I appreciate how logical the language is.

Here are a few examples:
  Patriotism: 爱国 (ai guo)
      爱 ai means love and 国 guo means country.
       So patriotism in Chinese is literally "love country".

  Significant: 重要 (zhong yao)
    重 (zhong) means considerable and 要 (yao) means importance.

  Classroom: 教师 (jiao shi)
    教 (jiao) means instruct or teach and 师 (shi) mean room.
    So the classroom is the instruction room.

  Innovation:  革新 (ge xin)
       革 (ge) means change or transform
        新(xin) means new

  受骗 (shou pian): means to be deceived or fooled
      受 (shou) means suffer  and 骗 (pian) means cheat or swindle
      People who are deceived are suffering after being swindled.


As I learn to read and recognize more characters, I am often able to deduce the meaning from new words because I know one part of the character. Thankful for my increasing literacy level.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Hallelujahs

I love music.  A well composed melody is one of my favorite things in the world.  Lately "Hallelujahs" by Chris Rice has been one of my most played songs. The song focuses on the intricate beauty of His creation.  The chorus says:
   Oh praise Him all His might works,
   There is no language where you can't be heard.
   Your song goes out to all the earth.
   Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

I remember crying the first time I heard those words.  What a powerful declaration of His nature.  He created the entire universe and yet still wants to have a relationship with us.  Every single person on this planet (regardless of ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status) is able to communicate directly with the Alpha and Omega. Circumstances cannot change the fact that each human being on this planet is loved and treasured by Him.

Language and cultural barriers don't exist in the Kingdom!  The more time I spend living overseas the more I am overjoyed by this fact.  Getting on the bus each day I hear multiple local dialects, in addition to the national language of Mandarin.  And the best part is that our loving Abba is able to communicate with His children in their heart languages, the languages people were taught as children. Though I am unable to speak proficiently with those around me He is able to touch their hearts in such an intimate way that my feable attempts no longer matter.  Hallelujah---what cause for celebration!