I have found that over the past few years I have been putting more and more time and work into magic. I have taught a college course in magic for two years running, have hosted a magic club for students, and have performed at the university: banquets, lectures, stage programs, and other events. Recently, however, I have been reminded of what is most important in life.
An elder from my church once told me that there are three big decisions that guide the course of a person's life. He said that the answer to these three questions determine everything else:
1. Who or what is your Lord?
2. Who will you marry?
3. What will you do with your life?
My elder said that everybody serves something whether it be money, success, pleasure, romantic love, or even an idealistic cause. At age 30 I was set free from a life of alcoholism and despair. I was baptized as I decided to give the God of the Bible first place in my life. My response to question number one was to follow Jesus.
1. Who or what is your Lord?
2. Who will you marry?
3. What will you do with your life?
My elder said that everybody serves something whether it be money, success, pleasure, romantic love, or even an idealistic cause. At age 30 I was set free from a life of alcoholism and despair. I was baptized as I decided to give the God of the Bible first place in my life. My response to question number one was to follow Jesus.
For about seven years, I spent most of my time and energy in Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service to the church. At age 38, I felt led to serve in China as an English teacher to the glory of God, sharing my life and faith with the Chinese people. Two years later, I met my wife in Chinese language school in China in a wonderful divine appointment. We discovered we both came from the same area and had studied in the same English department, but we had never met until we had both followed the Lord's direction to serve in China. We went home to get married in 2002, about the same time as my interest in magic was renewed. While at home we had our first baby, Hannah.
Our son John was born in 2006 in Beijing as we had returned to serve in China together as a family.
KRISTIN IN THE RICE FIELD
Kristin had answered the third question in 1994 by coming to China to share her life in the same way I had. We became strangers in a strange land, inivited to China by the university to teach English and share our lives with the students.
From 2004 to 2010, we have shared our lives as a family with the students and people of China--in the classroom, on the campus, in our home and in their homes.
Now in 2010, we feel led to return to the USA. We want to continue to choose wisely what we do with our lives. I am thankful that the Lord has given us his promises, his leading, our family, work, service, and so many other things--including magic. And--wherever we go, whatever we do--we want to do everthing to the glory of God.
And that is the place of magic in my life!