If you don't know already, TCM stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine. You know, apothecary tables, acupuncture, dried lizards and bugs, medicine so bitter you might think the cure is worse than the disease. You name it, I do it. There's one method of healing that I had forgotten, one that my friend reminded me of in a big way. After reading my last blog and knowing I was in pain, he came all the way over from Concord with his cupping set in hand. Now for those of you who are die hard, "Friends" fans, cupping is not what you may think. Rather, cupping is an ancient form of healing that uses tiny little fish bowls and fire to create a vacuum that pulls out areas of deep muscle damage. Nowadays, people use plastic cups and air suction, but the principle remains the same.

My friend is an enthusiast, to say the least. Going at my back and shoulders, his natural zeal was only stoked to a fever pitch when he saw my skin turning black and blue (which is a sign the treatment is working.) Again and again, more and more, he went at until it looked as though I had gone 10 rounds with a Kraken. I do look kind of scary, sort of like some bizarre animal covered with purple spots. Tonight, I'm going to put on a tank top and go to the busiest place I can find and see if people stare or run away in fright. Still, I must say it seems to work. Although I am not completely pain free, I feel much looser and am able to move my arms without crippling pain. Like I said, praise God for TCM! 

What, might you ask, is a pastor doing messing around with these ancient oriental dark arts? How can he give God credit for such things? Let me answer that question. You see, Chinese history and culture goes back 4500 years! This is significant because as a Bible-believing Christian, I actually believe that there was a worldwide flood that wiped out the entire human race except for 8 people (Noah's Ark). According to the Bible, that flood happened not too long before the beginning of documented Chinese history. Yes, I actually believe that Adam and Eve are our ancestors, and that we have all descended from one of Noah's three sons, instead of some imagined ancient monkey man. (If you would like to engage in a friendly discussion about Darwinism, Evolution, and the evidence for Intelligent Design, let's make a coffee date!)

Anywho, since Chinese history and tradition go back so long, I believe that a lot of the wisdom of the ancients have gotten passed down through Chinese literature and traditional medicine. You can actually see this in the Chinese word, 沿 , for "to hand down." Notice the clear references to Noah and the flood in the word itself. On the left side, there is the classic reference to water 氵. But why 8? Because, although there were many animals on the Ark, only 8 people survived: Noah, his 3 sons, and all their wives. (八 = 8 and 口= mouth or person). Now what does water and 8 people have to do with “handing something down?” Nothing, unless it was common knowledge that all of society existed because of the wisdom and courage of the original eight survivors of the Flood.

There's another Chinese word, the one for, "large ship," 船, that clearly refers to the same event. Here, you see on the left, the Chinese pictograph for a small boat, 舟. But then on the right side, you see again the 8-people reference (八 = 8 and 口= mouth or person). Now, if I wanted to come up with a Chinese word for large ship, I might use the number for a 1000, 千, or 10,000, 萬, but never 8, unless of course, I was referring to one of the biggest boats the world has ever seen, namely Noah's Ark.

And so, I believe that God, in His original plan for Paradise with mankind, had given to humans all sorts of wisdom to know how to use the natural blessings in the world to enjoy a healthy and blessed life. Since Chinese tradition goes so far back, perhaps some of Noah's wisdom had been passed down, 沿, through his sons.

I have so much more to share about this subject. (I'm really into this right now.) There are actually quite a few books published on how words in the ancient Chinese language give obvious and irrefutable evidence of Genesis as written in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Let me leave you with two Chinese words that give the key to living a blessed and happy life. First, the ubiquitous   “blessed,” 福, which literally says, "one (一) man (口), in a garden (Eden) (田), with God (礻)."

And the other is even more specific. This word, meaning happiness, 祥, is God, 礻,with the Lamb, 羊. “Behold the Lamb of God (Jesus) who takes away the Sins of the World.” – John 1:29

Have a 福 day.