Worldly Holiness

Escriba in Barcelona on May 5th-Enjoying Cava with Friends for my B-day, originally uploaded by papalars.

Last Saturday I went out with Carol and some friends from Norway to celebrate my 50th Birthday! The wife of this couple actually said she had recently turned 50 as well but didn't tell anybody. Maybe that is a female trait, not wanting the world to know they are 50. For the most part, I feel pretty good about turning this corner. It is a milestone, right. I don't feel physically that different from one day to the next, so why fret.

We started the afternoon at 4 Cats, an artsy restaurant where Picasso was known to hang out. After a wonderful time of visiting with our friends, they seemed to want to continue the celebration so we meandered over to this place called Escriba off of Las Ramblas. And I took a picture of course. It is a famous corner in Barcelona, a common destination for tourists. We had a delightful time outside under the sun, with a little bottle of cava to continue the celebration.

We made contact with our new friends through the American School where Erick attends. They are here for just one year, having wanted to experience another culture and language for their entire family. The dad returns to Norway for about 15 days each month to do hand surgeries in several hospitals, returning to sunny Barcelona to spend time with his family on the off weeks. Carol and I commented after a wonderful time together how God has been so good to us in each place we have lived overseas. We can count several significant friendships that have formed with very interesting people who have been like us, aliens in a strange land. The gift of friendship is important when you drop into a new place. It can be very lonely and often the ministry can be isolating. In our case, we are essentially alone, forging a new path for something we trust God will add people to down the road. But we are pioneering something here, so we don't have a ready set team to join. We knew that coming in, and were OK with that fact. It is just very good to have some friends. And God has richly blessed us in that aspect here in Barcelona. We still get lonely, but God has also provided for us along the way in spectacular fashion.

By the way, my dissertation is coming along well. I'm working on a deadline of June 1st and have about another 60 pages to go. The topic and areas on which I am writing my profound thoughts can be found under the heading "writing" across the top banner of this blog. My theological reader is Ray Anderson at Fuller Seminary, the professor of church history and one of the experts on the theology of the Emerging Church movement. His book, An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches, is on my coffee table and is the source of several of my footnotes for this dissertation. I'm writing a section currently on the spiritual disciplines. By the way, did you know that our American form of Christianity is syncretistic? That is a term we usually reserve for talk about missionary work, but I have concluded, along with some other thinkers, that we have that problem in American Christianity. It is the problem when a surrounding culture dilutes the Gospel message, losing its power to make changes in lives and the culture. If you care to know more, ask me by email. Hints can be found on my dissertation proposal under the banner I mentioned above. 

This next week, I am planning on visiting my Arabic teacher again. We are building a significant relationship and God seems to keep calling me into his space. I feel like I am visiting Cornelius in his house each time we sit down together. By the way the story in Acts 10 parallels my journey. Many of the same issues are things we are dealing with as we think of how the Gospel becomes uncluttered with the western "Christian" package for our focus friends. Read it this week and pray for us in how we share the good news. My approach is to build bridges of trust that will bear the weight of the Gospel of Christ that I share with him. Well, here is to turning 50!! By the way, I turn that magical number on May 9th. Christ is the joy of my life.

Beating Out the Competition in Plaça Cataluña, originally uploaded by papalars.

My sister is a regular source of funny stuff. I usually don't like to just post garbage jokes so you need to know that this one passed the screening. Also, things have been a little heavy in my life lately and on this blog so I thought it was time to add a little light fare for a change. This picture was a fun capture down in Plaça Cataluña several months ago but I have not posted it here yet. So, enjoy the combo and have some fun this week. Pray for the missionaries you know. Pray for God to help them have a sense of humor and to find joy in what they do, the people they serve and the place they live. Pray also for their families, children and loved ones from whom they are separated. Thanks.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
— Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
— Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
— Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
— Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
— Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
— Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
— Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
— Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
— Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
– - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
— Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
— Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
— Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is……..
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck hit her.
— Ricky, age 10

Flower, originally uploaded by papalars.

One of the responses to this photo on my blog said this looks like a party, like the flowers are celebrating something. I found the comments fitting as well as suggestive. Nature once again comes to our aid in leading the song through life, the good, bad, the mediocre and the sublime pieces that make up life.

This last month has been difficult for me. There are many aspects that have contributed to this being the case, most recently a fowl cold that has put me on my back for about a week, effectively eliminating any residual energy for writing, taking pictures, getting out, let alone doing ministry. Other things have also added to the burden of April this year. Some looming deadlines have not paused during this month either so now as I'm coming out of the hole and they are looming that much more, coming at me faster than last week! Eeeches. Sometimes life works this way. This is when I need to be reminded by God's creation that with God, there is the promise of new life each day. In the midst of lament, I am reminded that, "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is thy faithfulness." [Lamentations 3:22-23].

Henri Nouwen reminds us in his little volume, Clowning in Rome, that "it is sad that in our days we no longer believe in the ministry of nature to us. We so easily limit ministry to work for people by people. But we could do an immense service to our world if we would let nature heal, counsel, and teach again" [p. 93]. The other day, after several days of hiding away inside with my cold, I got out to the local park and found the flowers were able to minister to me. Without demanding they be noticed, without making noise, they made the quiet but unmistakable statement that God's lovingkindness never ceases. In the context of a difficult month, they were nice and welcome reminders that God is good.

Flowers, and nature, however, are generally not demanding our attention, so can go unnoticed. I can think of a qualification to that statement even as I made it, like storms for instance, or the kickback we are beginning to see from global warming. Having said that, however, nature generally does not force us to listen. But we miss this little and significant piece of God's handiwork, along with it access to the language of the soul, at our own peril. Again, Nouwen reminds us that "our difficult and very urgent task is to realize that nature is not primarily a property to be possessed, but a gift to be received with admiration and gratitude."

I am right there. I don't like to work in gardens. Weeds, dirt under the nails, sore knees. Not my cup of tea. But it is in the garden, at least those tended by others, where I have recently found new strength, perspective, and reminder of God's unfailing mercy and faithfulness. That is something to celebrate, with pompoms!