John Gunter

Thoughts on Life and Living

7 reasons I need (and want) to read the Bible daily

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This article is a follow-up from “I was nearly crushed by a car today…and 2 life principles observed“.

At an orphanage three years ago. . . only in the Bible do we find hope for situations such as this.
At an orphanage three years ago. . . only in the Bible do we find hope for situations such as this.

‎I’ll be honest; I’ve been abnormally stressed the past few weeks. Not proud of this, but it is true.

For one, I always get uneasy living in Asia in the spring when people are inevitably leaving here. Another reason is there has been an unusual amount of activity in my life. Mostly good stuff (with the exception of Tracy’s sickness), but just lots and lots of stuff that I have needed to do, people I have hosted, meetings I have attended, classes I have taken. On top of this, I am moving to yet another apartment this week.

The accumulation of all of this “stuff” has left me tired, haggard, emotionally depleted, and a bit discouraged. I brought all of this to a local coffee house this morning.

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My thoughts on weddings. . . (a series continued)

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The wedding of Patrick and Patty Ku. . . good times.
The wedding of Patrick and Patty Ku. . . good times (not a great “hair day” for me, though).

Since June is all about weddings AND people rarely hear perspective on weddings from single men, I thought it would be fun to write a series on weddings.

I have been blessed to have been to 2,395,103,984 weddings over the years.  Also, I’ve been in the wedding party for many wonderful friends and family members.  I have seen and learned much from these experiences.  So, in this series of blog posts, I have written thoughts and stories along these lines.

I wrote most of this series last summer.  However, many people are now reading my blog who were not back then.  Therefore, I thought it would be fun to re-introduce it.

This past weekend, I attended yet another wonderful wedding here in Asia.  It was incredible seeing one of my best local friends celebrate God’s provision of a spouse for her.  It was a time of rich worship, strong fellowship with the others in attendance, and the usual pageantry and comedy which comes from wedding ceremonies.  I will write a post on this past wedding within the next week or two.

Here are the posts and articles I have written on weddings. . .

I was nearly crushed by a car today…and 2 life principles observed

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Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.
Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.

This morning, around 10am, I was helping my friend Rush Stuart with the TV he had just purchased. We were in a very busy section of town, where there are many electronic stores. Many people and cars and motorcycles and buses and three-wheel Asian contraptions were going every which way. People were crossing streets talking on cell phones and carrying obscene amounts of “stuff” everywhere. It was a typical Asian street scene. In a word, chaotic.

After 11 years here, I have gotten used to scenes such as this. Actually, I have become impervious to them. They aren’t stressful or exciting or strange or colorful; they just are. This morning was a scene such as this. A scene I have lived in for much of my last 11 years.

Anyway. . . as Rush and I walked to cross this chaotic street, Rush in back and I in front, we were carrying his new TV to my car. Nothing unusual. Then. . .

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Praying for my friend, Tracey. . . as her journey continues

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If you have not read my post, Let me tell you about my friend, Tracey. . . and her current journey, you might want to do so now.

Tracey and Craig Clarke taken this year from their home.
Tracey and Craig Clarke taken this year from their home.

I’m currently sitting in the corner chair of the Starbucks closest to my apartment. I have an appointment here in a few hours, but came early to have a place to simply sort out life and pray. I’m pensive and contemplative. Mostly, I am just hurting.

I awoke to a text from dear friend and brother in Christ and life, Craig Clarke. See the actual message on the right.

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The sex trade in my neighborhood…and fighting for the eternal TODAY

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One of the posters of the "End it" campaign to go again human trafficking.
One of the posters of the “End it” campaign against human trafficking.

This morning, as I approached my car in the parking deck of my apartment complex, I noticed a “business card” lodged on the window of my driver side door.  This is not an uncommon form of advertising here, so I didn’t think anything of it.

I picked up the card, glanced at it, and immediately realized it was a service that provided “pretty girls” for their clients, complete with a 24 hour service line to call.  Unfortunately, I was not taken back, because this type of service is also not uncommon in this part of the world.

There are many emotions and thoughts as I get “business cards” like this one and the world they represent.  Bondage.  Depression.  Desperation.  Sadness.

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