Worldly Holiness

In point of fact, today it seems the map for a vital Christian life follows a different pattern. One can be inward or outward in their expression of spirituality, but does not need to be both. We can be specialists. One can be either heavenly minded or earthly good. It looks something like this. The option perhaps most emphasized today as an evangelical, is the path of being fully devoted to action, a political or moral cause, and to getting things done. Those that show special promise are invited into leadership positions where they can lead the troop of Christian doers! I’m exaggerating a bit to prove a point. Admittedly, there are people in leadership on the action side of the equation who are also devoted to prayer and the cultivation of spiritual habits. These are people who have a compass more than a weather vane to guide their lives, in my humble opinion. Nevertheless, the point can be made that more and more we are challenged to be action oriented. Less important are the skills of interpreting spiritual traditions, or understanding and working with the inner map of the soul—or asking the vital questions of what action we should be engaged in to begin with. The action pathway focuses on getting my hands dirty.

The alternative path, less emphasized in my tradition, stresses going into my inner closet where I focus on prayer, study of scripture and spiritual disciplines. There actually seems to be a healthy corrective in this direction today in some quarters of the evangelical tradition, finally learning from our Catholic friends. My only concern is that we may miss the point if we focus on specialization and alternative options in our approach to spirituality, where the inward piece becomes unique to an individuals’ path, an option for some that we can pick if we are so wired, but not a norm of faithful discipleship. Needless to say, I am not satisfied with this schizophrenic, either-or approach to the spiritual life. As I have pursued my disquiet over the years, I found that my particular tradition, the Evangelical Covenant Church, provided some great historical models and theology for integration even if my experience in the church has not always encouraged bringing these two poles together. Curiously, the topic found expression in my undergraduate studies and a fascination with the Jesuits almost 30 years ago. Today, it continues to show up in my doctoral dissertation which focuses on developing a “holy worldliness” [see "Deep Stuff" in this blog listed above]. I’m still trying to live with the tension of living an Inward-Outward Journey. Stayed tuned to these pages. Contribute some of your thoughts. Look at the pictures. Pray–and follow the Lord as you serve others and meet the needs in our world.

Andrés

Last Sunday (now 2 Sundays ago) I had the wonderful opportunity of being part of the first ordination service in Spain for the Covenant church. The Sunday service of ordination was the culmination of three intense days of interviewing, praying and discussing issues of leadership, ordination and ministry in this context of my new home—Spain! A curious piece, very curious I might add, was the fact that all but two of our seven candidates were from Latin America. This is a trend that I had read about but only began to grasp as I listened to the stories and got to know our new church leaders in Spain. I had the privilege of being with this group as invited guest to an add-hoc ordination committee. Wow, what a blessing. I got goose bumps as I listened to our youngest candidate share of her vision to serve in medical missions in India. Her story of faith and obedience put me to shame. Her father and mother, also involved in separate interviews, had established an agency to support Latin American missionaries and were already supporting in part twelve missionary couples serving in different places around the world. Another candidate who had served in Brazil, as well as Argentina, Italy, and Spain, gave me a shirt from Brazil for the ordination service. I had not planned well in my packing for the trip. A fellow missionary loaned me a tie he had purchased in Africa. There I stood in the ordination service, reading scripture in Spanish, wearing a shirt from Brazil, a tie from Kenya, and underwear from the United States. Maybe I should just say I had an American passport.

All of this struck me. This is the work God has called me to at this time. He has called servants from many cultures to serve him in proclaiming the Gospel to many places. What a privilege. It is an exciting time to be alive. Let me paint a picture of what God seems to be up to. Think of my wardrobe last Sunday as a metaphor. Latin Americans [my shirt from Brazil, the candidates in the interviewing] are being called to serve in places like Africa and India [my tie from Kenya and story of Laura], spending time in Spain for further training and experience alongside missionaries, in the context of the local church in Spain. I am not the lone American missionary in an important mission with the Mosaics Project [see Mosaics Bio], but rather part of a larger thing that God is doing in the world. I am in partnership with others. I really, really thank God for that. It is such a privilege and honor. It is also very fascinating and freeing to know that I step in to the larger picture of what God is doing, to play a part and depend on Him—and you! I am here because of people´s faithful prayer and financial support. This seems to be the pattern God uses when he is doing mission in the world. Read Romans 15:22-29 today. It is not exactly my story but it is very similar. Pray for us, that we may fulfill what God has called us to in these days. Pray that God will give us an open door with our focus groups here in Barcelona.

Mil Gracias!

I needed a break from the office today so I took a walk, and ride on the metro. The sky looked good, that is clear, for taking pictues so I scrambled up to Park Guell, a place where you get good views of the city as well as an up close look at Gaudi´s mosaic work. By the way, that is the Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family) cathedral behind me on the right. Click the picture for a larger version. They are still working on erecting the 12 spires, representing the 12 apostles. On the left is a modern office building they describe as an inverted cigar. We go to church close to these two sites and also have some emerging ministry contacts in that area as well. Anyway, after this little trip up the hill, I returned home refreshed and ready to go another 6 to 8 hours, after a short nap–grin!

I read in the news that rain is coming hard to Seattle, but that the Seahawks finally won a game! They are having record rainfall and experiencing the worst potential flooding in 10 years. Wow, could that really be? What is the difference between wet and soggy anyway? Well, think about it for a bit. The volume of water spilling over Snoqualmie Falls was reportedly flowing at a rate of 69,000 cubic feet per second, eclipsing the old record of 50,000 cubic feet per second. That is a lot of water. I was there this summer before we packed up to leave for Barcelona. I think the riverbed where I stood with my sister in June is probably 15 feet underwater, or more! I miss Seattle, really, but I´m not sure why. Go figure. I guess we are a little lonely in this new place, taking a while to develop new friendships. Pray for us in that regard.

Hey, I´m off to Turkey this week for an important conference. Pray for me, and the family in my absence. Pray for our kids in Ecuador and Chicago, whom we dearly miss as well. Pray that we all yield our lives to God´s will and direction. Pray for friends too.

I keep updating the photos in my flickr badge to the right so keep checking back. Click the moving parts with your mouse to get bigger versions of the pictures. These are just thumbnails. I have added some pictures from interesting visits in and around Barcelona, namely–the Montserrat monastery nestled in the hills above the city and the Boqueria market downtown which makes Pikes´ Place pale in comparison. The goat heads from the market are featured. Here´s looking at you. There are additional photos from the ordination service in La Coruña as well. Further down on the right sidebar, I´ve also posted a link to some of the books in my library, most of them I was able to bring with me. Then you will find a link to my wish list of books I hope to read in the next year. Enjoy!

Bendiciones,

Muchas Gracias! Hasta pronto. Andres

Thanks to my sister for the following. She is the funny one in the family and has helped keep us all laughing through life. Love to Signe! Warning to the more sophisticated among us–hope your sensitivies are not offended.

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

   1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto, the blockage will be almost instantly removed.

   2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.

   3. You can avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat just by using the sink.

   4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use an egg timer.

   5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

   6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you will be afraid to cough.

   7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget all about the toothache.

   8. Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:

      In life, you only need two tools – WD-40 and Duct Tape.

      If it doesn't move but should, use the WD-40.

      If it should not move and does, use the duct tape.

   9. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

  10. Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.