Incredible sight walking along the Bund (prom) that night. The Jin Mao tower -4th highest in world- is spectacular. (We went up it today at 9 metres per second!) We caught a ferry over to the other side and wandered where the rich and beautiful gather. Coffee in Starbucks. It was there whilst in the glare of the excessive neon and in the shadow of the tower of Babel that we chatted about the struggles of living as a believer in a society that worships success and mammon and material things and career. I want whilst here to understand better the essence of that problem for L & W and others who have and will return. As L expressed his discouragement at the state church which has taken on so many of Chinese society's values and failed to be counter-cultural, we began to explore the idea of TCH Shanghai! They both long for such quality of community, where the gospel rules and Christ is evident. I want to explore this further with them.
Tonight after a glorious meal, we studied together. Getting the gospel to the centre again. Although, it seems it hasn't moved much if at all in their thinking.
"When we understand that we can be saved by sheer grace through Christ, we stop seeking salvation in these things. The reversal of the cross, the grace of God, thus liberates us from bondage to the power of material things and worldly status."
They understood afresh and were glad that we start our Christian life and continue to live by the gospel of grace.

'Lord may they increasingly be liberated to serve you and others by exemplary gospel lives.'