Sunday Ten time

Can you believe I've been in China for almost a month? So many things to be thankful for this week.
Thank you God for

1. Cafe Alayna and the persons who run it
2. a place to go running (school's dirt track)
3. my new running shoes
4. the new counter and shelves in my kitchen
5. a class of only seven students
6. further information about my job
7. the new Xi'an Metro line (not that Metro, though it's good too)
8. photos from my girlfriend and father to decorate my apartment with
9. my dog back home for providing poop stories that are hilarious from afar
10. My Utmost for His Highest

How can I keep from singing?

I was listening to the St. Olaf Choir singing two arrangements of this hymn. These lines especially stood out to me:

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging.
Since love commands both heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

The full text:

My life flows on in endless song:
     Above earth's lamentation,
I catch the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
     That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
     I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul--
     How can I keep from singing?
What tho' my joys and comfort die?
     The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What tho' the darkness gather round?
     Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
     While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
     How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
     I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smooths,
     Since first I learned to love it.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
     A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his--
     How can I keep from singing?

Computer Technician

While I was out with a friend for lunch yesterday, I got a call from my school asking where I was and why I wasn't home because the computer technician needed to look at my (their) computer and they couldn't get their keys to work in my door. This was the first I had heard about it. I was told that the technician had come from far away and that this was important, so I got home from lunch sooner than I would have. When the technician came, he seemed younger than I. He went to my office, took out a sheet of paper, and wrote down the serial numbers of my computer, printer and air conditioner and left.

Sunday Ten, belated

Well, it looks like I'm already behind on my new tradition. Here's my Sunday Ten, written on Tuesday:
I'm thankful for

1. new friends
2. cheap buses (1 RMB)
3. the apple seller who talked on my phone and gave my friend directions
4. blue skies
5. good novels
6. interesting blogs to read
7. easy, yet tasty, stir frys
8. technology to communicate with the important people in my life
9. Rosetta Stone
10. the humor God gives me in my daily life here

Both the seen and the unseen

Althouse writes a great series of posts on how we as humans often deal with what is seen, but neglect what is unseen.

• Things seen and unseen
• How Dan Quayle got into law school
• Rick Perry's admirable eschewal of anecdotal argument of the HPV vaccine
• "We've got better vision. We've got better ideas. We've got real plans. And we've got better hair."

Sunday Ten

I'm gonna try and start a new tradition as part of my sabbath and each week post ten things that I am thankful to God for. (Thanks for the inspiration, here and here.)

1. my brother (Happy Birthday!)
2. a working washing machine
3. getting a microwave (new) as a surprise on Teacher's Day
4. a good internet connection
5. a nearby Century Mart and McDonald's (American fast food is suddenly more desirable!)
6. time to transition before I begin teaching
7. high speed rail to Xi'an
8. wonderful people to spend last week with
9. a loving girlfriend
10. His daily grace