Fran and I are having a great time on vacation with the kids . . .

On this day a few years ago my bride, the love of my life, was born.
Today we’ll celebrate. Happy Birthday Fran!

Read all about it right HERE

Below is a link to a blog / website by a Canadian who lives in Taiwan. He received permission from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ottawa, Canada to publish some really nice photos from around Taiwan. We live on a beautiful island. Click the link and enjoy!

Taiwan Beauty Photo Gallery! 15 Colorful Landscape Pictures!.

The Saturday before Easter a new church was born in Taipei. Its name is:

The last Saturday of May (Memorial Day Weekend) we had a church-wide fellowship cook out supper. Hamburgers, hotdogs, and (almost) all the trimmings. Good food, fellowship, music, and preaching. Here are a few pictures click one to see it larger:

See all our online photos here

At Flickr there are some photos that are hidden from the public – ask to be a friend.

Finally, I passed the Chinese test! (I’m not certain that is a correct Chinese sentence

I just received word from our language director that I passed the language requirement for my job! (The requirement is very low.)

Although we have lived here for some time now, this is the first language “test” either of us have taken.

I am so relieved   NO MORE PRESSURE!

edit: I talked with my language teacher this morning and found out that I had indeed said it wrong   The verb I used for passed cannot have an object. So, if I want to use that verb, I must say:  Zuìhòu, wǒ de hànyǔ kǎoshì jí gé le!  -OR-  use a different verb . . .  Zuìhòu, wǒ tōng guò le hànyǔ kǎoshì!

Click the image below to read the latest update

One day soon I will get caught up enough to begin posting again . . . .

Wheaton, IL (May 13, 2010)—Crossway is pleased to announce the new ESV Online. A key part of Crossway’s ESV Digital initiative, the ESV Online is a powerful and convenient tool giving access to the ESV Bible and other resources for understanding and applying God’s Word.

If you haven’t read the ESV or checked out the Study Bible – you’ve really missed out. It is a very nice translation and a beautiful study bible. Click below for all the details!

Crossway.blog » Introducing the New ESV Online!.

Weird,

After having lived in this city for almost 10 years and seeing how crowded it is, I’m more than a little surprised that the government would propose such a program.

Taiwan is taking drastic action to address its record low birth rate by paying couples to have babies.

The cost of having a baby is putting couples off in Taiwan

The government in the capital Taipei said it would give 20,000 Taiwan dollars (£429) for every newborn from 2011, plus monthly subsidies to lower-income families with children under five.

“We hope the comprehensive plan will let young people feel more relaxed about having children,” Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin said.

“As a mayor, my top priority is to tackle the issues of low birth rates and an ageing population,” he added.

Birth rates in Taipei were at an all-time low in 2009 with fewer than 20,000 babies born.

The drop of 40% from a decade ago is attributed to financial concerns, especially the rising cost of childcare.

This incentive is the latest in a series of proposals to encourage births and the programme is expected to cost three billion Taiwan dollars annually.

The city government is concerned that a decrease in population will lead to serious social and economic problems in the future.

The island’s birth rate stood at 8.29 per 1,000 people last year, according to official figures.

That compares with a global average of more than 20 births per 1,000 people, according to the United Nations.

Taipei Government To Pay Couples To Have Babies As Birth Rate Reaches Record Low | World News | Sky News.

The April East Asian Peoples Update is now available.

Click HERE to read all about it!