2 MINI-MESSAGE: 
"A tale of 2 coins"
These are Canada 50 cent pieces. We never see these coins in circulation in Canada or the USA now. Many people don't know these American and Canadian coins exist! I remember as a child trying to collect these coins -- I was so excited when I found one. Clearly a valuable item for a child or someone who appreciates them.

- My son, Youen is interested in coins
- The church Youth Group talked about the needs of poor Indian children and hard life of missionary children.
- He was touched be need of Indian children. 
- He has little money (no job) and very rarely caries any with him. 
- But He did have these 2 coins in his pocket -- He had a third coin  which he gave to one of his best friends.
- He placed these 2 coins in the offering.
- He simply thought: Maybe a poor child or a missionary child could enjoy having something special that no one else has.

Next Day
- A church leader came to complain to me about "mafan". someone (sure knew who it was!) had deposited 2 Canadian half-dollars in the offering plate.  Can I exchange for the money in TAI$?  - I explained how significant these coins were -- but it made no impression. These two small coins were "mafan" making the collection of money difficult.

Lesson 1:
Jesus said: Mat_7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."
- Tample under feet: Taiwan person could not appreciate these coins
- Rend you: He considered the coins trouble
--> This is natural. Of course a pig won't appreciate pearls -- he expects garbage to eat.  Of course the pig will be angry, he is expecting garbage to eat.
--> Of course a Taiwanese can not appreciate this gift.

* Are we like pigs? -- we hear the priceless words of God each week preached and we have the opportunity to read our own Bible everyday. Do we appreciate it?  Or are we like the pigs?
* we have something extreemely valuable: "The gospel of Christ, the wisdom of Christ. But unfortunately there are many whose ears are closed."


Lesson 2:
(Originally I thought that the friends Youen had given his precious  coins to did not appreciate it -- but it turns out he put them in the offering himself.)

I then remembered a story of Jesus.  Clearly significant because both Mark(12:42) and Luke (21:1) decided to put in in their gospels.  When God has something once in Scripture we should take note.  When God has a story recorded twice in Scripture, I think he is probably telling us that this is important: pay attention. Lets read the story:
Luk 21:1-4 "He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins."

She put 2 mites into the offering plate while rich people placed big money.  Those around did not appreciate this.  Probably they also thought was "much trouble" to count the money -- So many NTD$1000 bills and then a few NT$1 coins.-- mafan.  The people did not appreciate the widow's sacrifice.

But what does Jesus say? "Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.Ħħ

--> Jon be careful how we judge others and their contributions. We see things on the outside perspective. Things are not always as they initially appear to us. God may see it very differently was he looks on the heart.