The temperature here today is expected to reach around 89F as a high, with a low around 70F. We need to drink a lot of water. I'll be leaving the campus with a group just after lunch to serve over in Hurlingham. We'll be back kinda late tonight, if I remember correctly. The upcoming days are looking full, with most of the events being 8-12 hour things for us.
Please pray for the continuing safety of the many, many people who are doing construction on the Bruno Radi Convention Center. Please pray for the people we serve in the various communities. Please pray for this weekend's women's conferences, and for the big events with Stephen Manley and Felix Vargas next week, and for the big shindig next Saturday, and for all the smaller-group ministries we're engaging in. God is at work here.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Hospitality
"Taboo" is one my favorite group games. The goal is to get one's team to say a particular word, without using any of five words given. For example, the clue-giver might try to get the group to say "cheese" without ever saying "milk" or "dairy" or "pizza" or "burger" or "cow." To do that, the clue-giver might say "I put this orange-colored slice of food on a bun with meat products made from an animal that says moo." In the meantime, the group guesses, Charades-style, as the clue-giver continues giving clues until the correct answer is discovered.
That describes my current experience surprisingly well. I know some of the very basics of Spanish, but I don't know a lot. Many verbs I've never learned, and my conjugation is pretty much limited to the present tense. Amazingly, though, I've been able to understand and communicate with a small measure of adequacy, Taboo-style. I may not know the words or conjugations for "We should turn off the overhead light out of respect for our roommates who are trying to sleep," but I could say in Spanish, "Please no use the much much light now because other sisters they to sleep. Bathroom light is little light is good." Of course, I've also had many, many opportunities to practice saying "more slowly, please" and "I'm sorry, one more time," and "one moment please because I need an interpreter."
I read (or heard?) recently that hospitality can be defined as making space for someone you don't have to make space for. It's not just about entertaining in one's home; it's an attitude of accepting and honoring others. When I think of hospitality here, I think of the linguistic hospitality we have been experiencing and practicing. It would be easy at meals to sit just with those with whom we can easily converse. It would be easy when translating worship services to ignore the funny little side comments which aren't related to the message, rather than spend the time translating them so the majority can understand. It would be easy on ministry outings to leave the one-on-one ministry to those who speak Spanish fluently. But it would not be hospitable. We make room for others in our lives when we include them in our conversations, help them to laugh with us, and exert the extra effort needed to understand each other. I am particularly thankful tonight for the hospitality of the people around me. Not only has it been useful for small tasks, combining my broken Spanish with others' broken English has allowed us to worship God together, to participate in ministry together, and to share parts of our lives together. And that is very exciting!
That describes my current experience surprisingly well. I know some of the very basics of Spanish, but I don't know a lot. Many verbs I've never learned, and my conjugation is pretty much limited to the present tense. Amazingly, though, I've been able to understand and communicate with a small measure of adequacy, Taboo-style. I may not know the words or conjugations for "We should turn off the overhead light out of respect for our roommates who are trying to sleep," but I could say in Spanish, "Please no use the much much light now because other sisters they to sleep. Bathroom light is little light is good." Of course, I've also had many, many opportunities to practice saying "more slowly, please" and "I'm sorry, one more time," and "one moment please because I need an interpreter."
I read (or heard?) recently that hospitality can be defined as making space for someone you don't have to make space for. It's not just about entertaining in one's home; it's an attitude of accepting and honoring others. When I think of hospitality here, I think of the linguistic hospitality we have been experiencing and practicing. It would be easy at meals to sit just with those with whom we can easily converse. It would be easy when translating worship services to ignore the funny little side comments which aren't related to the message, rather than spend the time translating them so the majority can understand. It would be easy on ministry outings to leave the one-on-one ministry to those who speak Spanish fluently. But it would not be hospitable. We make room for others in our lives when we include them in our conversations, help them to laugh with us, and exert the extra effort needed to understand each other. I am particularly thankful tonight for the hospitality of the people around me. Not only has it been useful for small tasks, combining my broken Spanish with others' broken English has allowed us to worship God together, to participate in ministry together, and to share parts of our lives together. And that is very exciting!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Hola!
It's technically Monday morning, but not by much. I'll call this Sunday night in Argentina.
My mind is filled with thoughts and images and sounds and smells from this day. There are many, many stories. Of all of them, though, the one which has taken up residence in my mind as I prepare for sleep is the story Yolanda told to the children of Samuel being called by God. I speak much English, little Spanish. Yolanda speaks much Spanish, little English. So I cannot tell you with confidence what she said, but I can tell you what I realized as she spoke.
Samuel was a little boy in the Bible who had been committed to God by his mother even before he was born. He was raised in the temple, serving God under the direction of Eli. But he did not actually know God. One night, though, God called to him, "Samuel! Samuel!" The kid didn't understand, and went to Eli, thinking it was Eli who had called. Eli probably didn't enjoy being awakened in the middle of the night, and may not have been firing on all cylinders, but after a bit of repetition he realized what was happening, and instructed Samuel to respond, "Speak, for your servant is listening" (I Samuel 1-3).
What struck me was not (as far as I know) what Yolanda said about this event. What I saw was the children listening. God has been calling to them, but they haven't necessarily recognized it as the voice of God. We are not here to push people to Jesus, but rather to introduce them to the One who has been there all along, the One who has been calling to them in many places and in many ways, and to help them enter and grow in relationship with God.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
My mind is filled with thoughts and images and sounds and smells from this day. There are many, many stories. Of all of them, though, the one which has taken up residence in my mind as I prepare for sleep is the story Yolanda told to the children of Samuel being called by God. I speak much English, little Spanish. Yolanda speaks much Spanish, little English. So I cannot tell you with confidence what she said, but I can tell you what I realized as she spoke.
Samuel was a little boy in the Bible who had been committed to God by his mother even before he was born. He was raised in the temple, serving God under the direction of Eli. But he did not actually know God. One night, though, God called to him, "Samuel! Samuel!" The kid didn't understand, and went to Eli, thinking it was Eli who had called. Eli probably didn't enjoy being awakened in the middle of the night, and may not have been firing on all cylinders, but after a bit of repetition he realized what was happening, and instructed Samuel to respond, "Speak, for your servant is listening" (I Samuel 1-3).
What struck me was not (as far as I know) what Yolanda said about this event. What I saw was the children listening. God has been calling to them, but they haven't necessarily recognized it as the voice of God. We are not here to push people to Jesus, but rather to introduce them to the One who has been there all along, the One who has been calling to them in many places and in many ways, and to help them enter and grow in relationship with God.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
God's Time
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven...."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)
There is usually what feels like a sudden silence after the flurry of Christmas passes and the new year begins. This year is different. I find myself needing to stop and nurture a post-Christmas silence in my soul. We need such times.
We received a unique calendar this year for Christmas. Rather than the standard (to us) format of printing a month or week or day on each page, it is arranged according to the Christian (liturgical) seasons. The first day of this calendar was not on January 1, but on December 2 -- the first day of Advent. After a page for the weeks of Advent is a page for the twelve days of Christmas. Today we enter Epiphany -- a time when we acknowledge and experience again the person and mission of Jesus. It is a time to think particularly of growth and discipleship, of God drawing us into focused relationship with Him through Christ.
This calendar was a little disorienting at first. I'm accustomed to thinking in terms of weeks and months. But this particularly calendar quickly grew on me, particularly as I went searching to find out more. According to the website I found, this calendar was created to encourage and help Christians "living in God's time" as we journey together through the story of God each year. Christians in more liturgical denominations have been living by similar calendars for many, many, many years. I look forward to joining them in it.
More on the lectionary later. In the meantime, here are the passages for today:
and a season for every activity under heaven...."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)
There is usually what feels like a sudden silence after the flurry of Christmas passes and the new year begins. This year is different. I find myself needing to stop and nurture a post-Christmas silence in my soul. We need such times.
We received a unique calendar this year for Christmas. Rather than the standard (to us) format of printing a month or week or day on each page, it is arranged according to the Christian (liturgical) seasons. The first day of this calendar was not on January 1, but on December 2 -- the first day of Advent. After a page for the weeks of Advent is a page for the twelve days of Christmas. Today we enter Epiphany -- a time when we acknowledge and experience again the person and mission of Jesus. It is a time to think particularly of growth and discipleship, of God drawing us into focused relationship with Him through Christ.
This calendar was a little disorienting at first. I'm accustomed to thinking in terms of weeks and months. But this particularly calendar quickly grew on me, particularly as I went searching to find out more. According to the website I found, this calendar was created to encourage and help Christians "living in God's time" as we journey together through the story of God each year. Christians in more liturgical denominations have been living by similar calendars for many, many, many years. I look forward to joining them in it.
More on the lectionary later. In the meantime, here are the passages for today:
- Isaiah 60:1-6
- Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
- Ephesians 3:1-12
- Matthew 2:1-12
Friday, November 30, 2007
Pilar, Argentina
Extreme Nazarene 2008 is like a missions trip on steroids. Approximately three hundred people will travel from various places in the USA, plus even more people from at least eight other nations -- Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Spain, Ukraine, and Venezuela. One of the main projects there will be completion of the Bruno Radi Convention Center. It's not the typical mission trip project, but it should be an excellent investment. Here's why:
- The BRCC will seat 2600 people in a multipurpose auditorium, and house 600 people in 50 dorm suites.
- It will be used by the Nazarene Church in South America to develop leaders.
- It will be a place for large-group meetings and conferences, including worship, discipleship, and community outreach.
- It will generate revenue by opening the building for concerts, indoor sports leagues, etc., and that revenue will be re-invested in ministry through development of leaders (target of 5000 trained leaders by 2013) and planting of churches (target of 5000 new churches by 2018).
In addition to construction, Extreme '08 participants will engage in community service projects, evangelism events, and worship.
It sounds to me like a great investment in God's kingdom, and I'm excited that I'll be there.
Monday, November 19, 2007
My Friend Norm
I love Norm. I admire him, too. He has a sweet spirit, a gentle nature, a friendly laugh. He was part of our care group several years ago. It certainly wasn't a choice of convenience; he traveled quite a bit to get there. But he loved us and adopted us and apparently decided we were worth the time and effort and fuel and all that. Norm is one of those people in my life who helps me to really understand that "we love because [God] first loved us" because I've seen this dynamic in Norm's life.
I talked with Norm again today. He moved across the country awhile back to be close to family, but we still chat occasionally by phone. He mentioned friends from here, and told me about his family there. I was reminded how much he loves his grown-up "kids." I know who he'll be with for Thanksgiving, and how he'll bless others for Christmas. You know my favorite part of the conversation? When Norm smiled -- you can generally hear a good smile over the phone -- and said, "The Lord's blessed me real good." He listed blessings upon blessings that I too often take for granted.
I think Norm's demeanor is contagious. I certainly hope it is.
I talked with Norm again today. He moved across the country awhile back to be close to family, but we still chat occasionally by phone. He mentioned friends from here, and told me about his family there. I was reminded how much he loves his grown-up "kids." I know who he'll be with for Thanksgiving, and how he'll bless others for Christmas. You know my favorite part of the conversation? When Norm smiled -- you can generally hear a good smile over the phone -- and said, "The Lord's blessed me real good." He listed blessings upon blessings that I too often take for granted.
I think Norm's demeanor is contagious. I certainly hope it is.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Memorable Travel
I traveled to Nampa on Monday for a meeting. There wasn't a lot of wiggle room in the schedule for any snafus. You know how some days, especially when there are several arrangements coordinated, absolutely anything that could go wrong does go wrong? I'm thankful this wasn't one of those days. In fact, that morning was filled with good things, like a big gift wrapped up in several otherwise-ordinary hours.
My mind was elsewhere as I boarded the shuttle bus at the airport, and I was a little surprised to look around and see all the people. I would have been fine standing, but a gentleman stood with a smile and offered me his seat, and it was nice to rest a few moments, too. The security line was incredibly short, and the good folks there were being thorough, but efficient. I chatted with a TSA fellow as I prepared luggage, shoes, and all that for the electronic inspection. I had... um... opportunity to interact with another TSA person because I had accidentally packed some undeclared liquids. He was professional, respectful, and brief as he searched my luggage and explained the most recent rules which I had broken. Our flight boarded easily, there were extra seats which allowed more elbow room, and it arrived at the destination with time to spare. As if all that weren't enough goodness for the day, I had the privilege of being served by Dorothy on the flight. She offered drinks, served them, and even brought a second cup of soda, all with eye contact and a friendly smile. The interaction at the car rental place was similar -- prompt service by a personable individual who knew her job and did it well. The weather was good, the roads were not too busy, and I even had time to stop for a quick lunch before the meeting.
I'm glad I arrived at the meeting safely and on time. But more than that, I am thankful for the many people -- mostly people whose names I don't know, and whom I may never see again -- who made the trip pleasant simply by being professional and by being friendly.
My mind was elsewhere as I boarded the shuttle bus at the airport, and I was a little surprised to look around and see all the people. I would have been fine standing, but a gentleman stood with a smile and offered me his seat, and it was nice to rest a few moments, too. The security line was incredibly short, and the good folks there were being thorough, but efficient. I chatted with a TSA fellow as I prepared luggage, shoes, and all that for the electronic inspection. I had... um... opportunity to interact with another TSA person because I had accidentally packed some undeclared liquids. He was professional, respectful, and brief as he searched my luggage and explained the most recent rules which I had broken. Our flight boarded easily, there were extra seats which allowed more elbow room, and it arrived at the destination with time to spare. As if all that weren't enough goodness for the day, I had the privilege of being served by Dorothy on the flight. She offered drinks, served them, and even brought a second cup of soda, all with eye contact and a friendly smile. The interaction at the car rental place was similar -- prompt service by a personable individual who knew her job and did it well. The weather was good, the roads were not too busy, and I even had time to stop for a quick lunch before the meeting.
I'm glad I arrived at the meeting safely and on time. But more than that, I am thankful for the many people -- mostly people whose names I don't know, and whom I may never see again -- who made the trip pleasant simply by being professional and by being friendly.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Finding Jesus
Have you seen the Waldo books? Waldo is a very specific character hidden in busy scenes which contain many, many other figures. I'm not very good at finding him, it seems. Anyway, I saw a children's book similar to a "Where's Waldo?" in a catalog this week. This being a catalog filled with religious things, though, the difference was that children search through the pictures for Jesus and other biblical figures. I don't quite know what I think of the "Where's Jesus?" book but, of course, my thought train shifted to a parallel track....
Something was different the past couple of days as I moved about from place to place. It look longer than it should have to realize what it was: Christmas decorations! We've been making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas and various other travels coming up in the next couple of months, too. Sometimes life starts to feel like a page out of Waldo -- stuff going on everywhere we look, and it's hard to really focus on what we're looking for.
Back to the children's book -- "Where's Jesus?" I've spent some time with kids who are surprisingly good at finding Waldo wherever he may be. As far as I can tell, they don't have Waldo-finding superpowers. They've just spent enough time in Waldo books that they can pick him out of a hectic crowd. That's what I'm looking for. I want to become so accustomed to looking for Jesus everywhere -- that's where he is, after all -- that I can spot him in any kind of craziness.
Something was different the past couple of days as I moved about from place to place. It look longer than it should have to realize what it was: Christmas decorations! We've been making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas and various other travels coming up in the next couple of months, too. Sometimes life starts to feel like a page out of Waldo -- stuff going on everywhere we look, and it's hard to really focus on what we're looking for.
Back to the children's book -- "Where's Jesus?" I've spent some time with kids who are surprisingly good at finding Waldo wherever he may be. As far as I can tell, they don't have Waldo-finding superpowers. They've just spent enough time in Waldo books that they can pick him out of a hectic crowd. That's what I'm looking for. I want to become so accustomed to looking for Jesus everywhere -- that's where he is, after all -- that I can spot him in any kind of craziness.
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