FIRST ENTRY: "TO ALL READERS..."

Hi there, Reader:

You must be either incredibly bored or incredibly gracious to be reading this blog. I still don't know what "blog" means or what it's etymology is, though I suspect it's short for "web log." Who knows? I'm starting this because a few friends have suggested it, especially that I would make my public prayer letters more accessible to people.

Yeah, I'm a missionary, at least I'm preparing to be one, & God has been very gracious with me in adopting me as His child & putting me in His kingdom's service.

My favorite Bible passage follows: "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 7,8). Yes, Christ died for me waaaaaaay before I ever repented or even knew He or I existed. His love for me precedes even my existence. And because of His love, I live.

Here's what I recently prayed when writing my latest prayer letter (2005 June 3):
"Dear God, please use this letter to be a blessing to Yourself & to all its readers. Guide me in writing it, & help my ideas to flow in a manner that clearly honors You. Above all I desire that its readers would be encouraged to find all of their satisfaction in You alone, & that You would be glorified not just in the words of this letter but even more so in the lives transformed by Your message of grace through me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."

That prayer also applies to this whole blogging thing. May Jesus be praised.

Humbly Yours,
Sidney Stephen Chiayee Wu

(All previous newsletters were subsequently uploaded)