I’ve been away from the blog world for quite some time now and i must admit that it’s been good. It’s with great resistance that i’m coming back and once again documenting my life for you. Taking several days to not think about about writing here has been wonderful. The only reason i’m coming back is because i’m continuing to get emails from people who have expressed how much they enjoy reading what’s going on in my life.

I’m not sure how much content i’ll post here in the near future. Maybe i’ll jump right back into doing daily posts or maybe i’ll enjoy taking it slower and writing less frequently.

With that in mind, let’s catch up for a second:

I’m currently sitting at a breakfast table in Hong Kong with a lukewarm cup of coffee. Two days ago i flew in from Chiang Mai, Thailand. With overcast skies and cool temperatures in Hong Kong i’m staring out the window trying to get my mind around what just happened in Thailand. It was such an amazing time that i honestly don’t know where to begin. My heart is full and my spirit is renewed. After the conference was over i walked through the empty room where hundreds of teachers had gathered just hours before and i thanked God for the moments that we shared there. I looked around and took it all in. I’m convinced that people walked away different than when they arrived. I’m convinced that teachers are going back to their campuses with a renewed sense of vision, purpose, and passion.

As i begin to come down out of the clouds from “conference world” i just want to make sure that i remember every moment from those days. I’m stepping into a full schedule for the next few months that includes a whirlwind of travel and exciting projects. I’m forever thankful for your friendship.

God is good to me. His favor is upon me. He alone is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine and i’m currently in the midst of that great joy.

Your friend,
Biscuet

Step one is that the nice Thai ladies wash your feet in a small plastic basin and it feels all too familiar to those awkward moments on the last night of youth camp. Next, you sit on a nice padded cushion above a tank of hundreds of cruising little sucker fish. Then you put your feet in. Instantly those hundreds of fish latch onto your feet and the first human reaction is to yank your feet out of the water. But you don’t. You clinch your teeth, scream, squirm, and ball up your fists real tight. The fish are eagerly nibbling away your dead flesh. It’s a cross between an unwelcome tickle fight and a scene from Indiana Jones. The first five minutes are horrific and hilarious. There’s no way to get around that. The remaining time is relaxing, soothing, and you’re even level-headed enough to snap a quick photo.

PS: Mom, they don’t really suck your blood. In the biz we call that a catchy title.

This is my friend, Karl. Karl is one of the kindest and most intellectual people i have met in quite some time. He’s a thinker, but he’s humble about it. Talking with Karl makes my brain feel like it’s in the gym pumping iron. I love it. When in Thailand, many deep discussions happen around tables just like the one pictured above. Today’s topic: the theology of development. What does that mean exactly? Many things i suppose. The idea is that development is anything that improves or adds to a society or culture. We were discussing that from a Christian perspective; there must be a theology behind our development. Let’s not dive too deep here. It’ll suffice to say that if you have any inklings toward community development, culture-making, dignity for the poor, or redemptive work then you would have wanted to be sitting on the other end of that table. Thanks Karl. My mind feels refreshed again today!

Last night i sat at a restaurant with friends for about 4 hours. We decided that there’s nothing to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand after dark unless you’re into going out and getting into trouble (drinking and prostitution is the night life here). So, with that in mind, here’s a typical day:

• Wake up early.
• Take a luke-warm shower.
• Stumble out of my hostel and find a new place to eat breakfast.
• The breakfast is always the same: eggs, toast, bacon, coffee and juice. (about $4)
• Check email and catch up.
• Wander aimlessly around town.
• Hope that i bump into someone i know (this usually happens and isn’t hard to do).
• Consider buying something cool from some random cool shop.
• Sit down at a cafe and drink a fruit smoothie.
• Walk by Starbucks and look inside to see if i know anyone.
• Wander aimlessly some more.
• Read a book.
• Consider lounging by the pool.
• If it’s hot maybe i’ll take an afternoon nap.
• Start thinking about dinner.
• Drink another smoothie.
• Start contemplating dinner (mexican, american, jerusalem falafel, pad thai, so many choices).
• Sun goes down.
• Sit around with friends and stare at each other.
• Back to the hostel for another round of emails and work.
• Bed.

Here’s a short snapshot of what Bangkok was like during my one day visit: