Delight

The Lord's been reminding me quite a bit about the fact that he DELIGHTS in me and that he loves me immensely. This morning I decided to look up "delight" in the concordance and these are some of my findings (sorry it's a little long):

Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[1] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.[1]Or to give insight

Deuteronomy 30:9
The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers,

1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

2 Samuel 22:20
He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

2 Chronicles 9:8
Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”

Nehemiah 9:25
And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

Esther 6:6, 7, 9, 11
So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”

And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor,

And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’”

So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

Psalm 1:2
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 5:4
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.

Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:11
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Psalm 40:8
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

Psalm 44:3
for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.

Psalm 51:6, 16
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart... For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

Psalm 119:35, 47, 77, 92, 174
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it... for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love... Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight... If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction... I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.

Psalm 147:10
His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

Proverbs 3:12
...for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 5:19
...a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

Ecclesiastes 12:10
The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

Song of Solomon 2:3
[She] As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Song of Solomon 7:6
How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights!

Isaiah 1:11 (Show me Isaiah 1)
“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.

Isaiah 11:3
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Isaiah 62:4
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.

Isaiah 65:12
I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.”

Jeremiah 9:24
...but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Malachi 3:1, 12
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

Romans 7:22
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being
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A few observations (from the verses above but also from the exhaustive list): the word "delight" is used in friendship (such as that between David and Jonathan), between lovers, about one with whom the Lord is pleased, about God's joy, His love, one being happy. Interestingly the word "delight" in the ESV is hardly used at all in the New Testament. I didn't have time to look it up in the Hebrew & Greek, but I'm sure that would provide more insight.

According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, the word we translate into delight is the same root word from which we get "hedonism."

Here is what they say (in Vine's):

Pleasure - NOUN - hepes, 2656 - "pleasure; delight; desire; request; affair; thing"

With respect to "pleasure" or "delight" the example they give is 1 Sam 15:22 - "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" Based on some of the verses in my little search, it can be applied to food, love between a man and woman (such as in Song of Songs),...

Hepes can mean not simply what one takes pleasure in or what gives someone delight but one's wish or desire: "Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow." "To do one's desire" is to grant a request (1 Kings 5:8). "Stones of desire" are precious stones (Is 54:12).

VERB - "to take pleasure in, take care of, desire, delight in, have delight in."

ADJ - "delighting in, having pleasure in" - Psalm 35:27 - "Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

The Daily Office - Prayer

A staff friend is doing doctoral research on Celtic spirituality and asked us to join him in praying through the Daily Office. (I have no idea why it's called that. I'll have to look into it.) The following are taken from: http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/PraytheOffice/

Prayer is just talking to God, so there is nothing magical about these prayers. But there is real depth in them, being taken from Scripture and Church Creeds. As I have begun to pray them, there is definitely a refreshment from the Scripture that reminds me who I am, whose I am, and who my God is.

According to my friend, "One of the profound aspects of this ancient spirituality is a rich rhythm of prayer using the daily office alone and in community. I would like you to experiment praying the Daily Office of the Northumbria Community for the next two weeks. Use at least the Morning and Evening Office daily for personal use and pray the Office together when you meet as teams. The key to praying the office is the rhythm it brings to the day in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Depending on your personal prayers offered it only takes minutes to pray. But, the power of this form is not just in the words offered but creating space in the midst of our urban lifestyles to pray, to listen, and to hear from our Great God and King, Jesus Christ."

So, here it is. Enjoy!
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Morning Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen




Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Call & Response

Who is it that you seek? We seek the Lord our God.
Do you seek Him with all your heart? Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek Him with all your soul? Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek Him with all your mind? Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek Him with all your strength? Amen. Christ, have mercy.

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.


Scripture readings, Meditation, Prayers for others


Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Midday Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen




Opening Sentences

Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.
Establish Thou the work of our hands;
establish Thou the work of our hands.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen

Declaration of faith

We believe and trust in God the Father Almighty.
We believe and trust in Jesus Christ His Son.
We believe and trust in the Holy Spirit.
We believe and trust in the Three in One.

Canticle

Teach us, dear Lord, to number our days;that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Oh, satisfy us early with Thy mercy,that we may rejoice and be glad all of our days. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish Thou the work of our hands. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish Thou the work of our hands, dear Lord.

Blessing

Let nothing disturb thee,
nothing affright thee;
all things are passing,
God never changeth!
Patient endurance
attaineth to all things;
who God possesseth
in nothing is wanting;
alone God sufficeth.

In the name of the Father,and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
---

Evening Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen




Opening sentences

My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

Call & Response

Out of the depths I have cried to You. O Lord, hear my voice.
With my whole heart I want to praise You. O Lord, hear my voice.
If you, Lord, should mark iniquities: Who could stand? who could stand?

I will wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word do I hope.

Expressions of faith

Lord, You have always given bread for the coming day;
and though I am poor, today I believe.

Lord, You have always given strength for the coming day;
and though I am weak, today I believe.

Lord, You have always given peace for the coming day;
and though of anxious heart, today I believe.

Lord, You have always kept me safe in trials;
and now, tried as I am, today I believe.

Lord, You have always marked the road for the coming day;
and though it may be hidden, today I believe.

Lord, You have always lightened this darkness of mine;
and though the night is here, today I believe.

Lord, You have always spoken when time was ripe;
and though you be silent now, today I believe.

Scripture readings, Meditation, Prayers for others

Canticle

In the shadow of Your wings I will sing Your praises, O Lord.

The Lord is my light, my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

In the shadow of Your wings I will sing Your praises, O Lord.

One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I seek;
to dwell in the presence of my God, to gaze on Your holy place.

In the shadow of Your wings I will sing Your praises, O Lord.

I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. O wait for the Lord! Have courage and wait, wait for the Lord.

In the shadow of Your wings I will sing Your praises, O Lord.

Blessing

See that ye be at peace among yourselves, my children, and love one another. Follow the example of good men of old and God will comfort you and help you, both in this world and in the world which is to come.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

smells...

so, it just occurred to me tonight that as of late I have begun to smell things that come from somewhere else in the building. earlier today it was smoke, but now it is a fairly strong mediciney menthol/vicks smell. strange.

i'm not quite sure where it's coming from. i'm guessing it's my neighbor "joseph" (who apparently is awake right now watching a semi-humerous tv call-in show -- of course, sound travels just as well as smell does). but it is a bit strange... i've lived in this apartment (and same bedroom) for almost two years and only now am discovering the ... strange and slightly humorous smells

a couple more thoughts for the day

Okay, let me be honest. I get an e-mail like this about every day, but don't actually read it every day. Sometimes I do and that is that. Sometime I read it and do really want to share it with you all. But other times I know the only way I'm going to actually read it and meditate on it at all is if I put it here. So, part of me putting these lists of Scripture here is for your benefit and enjoyment, but part of it is really for myself. Enjoy!
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A Deep Conviction (UNA CONVICCIÓN PROFUNDA)

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." - 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

("Porque todas las promesas de Dios son en Él Sí, y en Él Amén, por medio de nosotros, para la gloria de Dios. Y el que nos confirma con vosotros en Cristo, y el que nos ungió, es Dios, el cual también nos ha sellado, y nos ha dado las arras del Espíritu en nuestros corazones." 2ª Corintios 1:20-22)

"...because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you reeived the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia an din Achaia." - 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7

("Pues nuestro evangelio no llegó a vosotros en palabras solamente, sino también en poder, en el Espíritu Santo y en plena certidumbre, como bien sabéis cuáles fuimos entre vosotros por amor de vosotros." - 1ª Tesalonicenses 1:5)

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:1-2

("Ahora, pues, ninguna condenación hay para los que están en Cristo Jesús, los que no andan conforme a la carne, sino conforme al Espíritu. Porque la ley del Espíritu de vida en Cristo Jesús me ha librado de la ley del pecado y de la muerte" - Romanos 8:1-2)

Marathon Running

Okay, I think I'm really going for it. I'm going to run my second marathon.

Last thursday I was talking to a friend of mine who doesn't run, but who has begun to run and is going to run Madrid's half-marathon the last weekend in April, April 27th. I told her I'd love to do it with her and her friends and that, if possible, maybe I'd even do the marathon in lieu of the half. But...after doing a little research (and coming to my senses a bit - it is in 10 weeks), I think I've decided to train well, to run the half marathon with them, and then a full marathon in June (possibly in the mountains outside of Madrid, fun, ¿no?... I'm still looking into this part).

So, if you happen to be in Madrid on the 27th of April and want to join me, that would be fabulous! Or, if you want to run a full marathon (or even the first half with me) sometime in late June, let me know!

Some Thoughts for the Day

(UN SACRIFICIO COMPLETO)

"... he has appeared once for all at the end of teh ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." - Hebrews 9:26

("... Él se presentó una vez para siempre por el sacrificio de sí mismo para quitar de en medio el pecado." Hebreos 9:26)

"... he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." - Hebrews 9:12

("y no por sangre de machos cabríos ni de becerros, sino por su propia sangre, entró una vez para siempre en el Lugar Santísimo, habiendo obtenido eterna redención." - Hebreos 9:12)

"... looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2

("puestos los ojos en Jesús, el autor y consumador de la fe, el cual por el gozo puesto delante de Él sufrió la cruz, menospreciando el oprobio, y se sentó a la diestra del trono de Dios." - Hebreos 12:2)

Note: taken from an e-mail I got this morning

Things For Which I'm Thankful - From Today

Okay, here is another list of highlights from my day...

1 - Hanging out with Sandra (which actually was Saturday) - but it was definitely a highlight to my weekend

2 - Talking with my best friend in Madrid, Ruth - FINALLY, after a few weeks of busyness - she is the person here who really knows me more or less inside out, good and bad, what is going well, what is not, my hopes & disappointments, and who loves me and who prays for me and about whom i know the same things. Definitely a huge highlight to my day.

3 - The card from my daddy.

4 - Some great time with the Lord in Starbucks, looking at what faith is, His faithfulness, His unchangingness. Amazing!!! We serve an amazing, present, loving, and powerful God who promises to fulfill his promises and to be with us wherever we may go. Definitely another BIG highlight.

5 - Talking to Ana on the phone, another good friend, who is compassionate and who also actually cares about my life - hard and easy.

6 - Taking a step back from the present realities and seeing that, yes, I need to again realize I am not quite superwoman and that that is okay. Focusing on a few things and only one or two big projects at a time is in fact good, wise, and the only advisable thing. I don't have to do everything I want to see happen here this year and it is actually the LORD who is to produce the results, not me. I just need to walk in these truths, which as of late, have been a bit hard to do. I keep on wrestling be wanting to do many HUGE, IMPOSSIBLE things all at once instead of doing one at a time and instead of stepping back. So, it was good of God to yet again remind me that I am a person and that He is present and that He IS delighted with me as I walk by faith and trust him with one step as a time AND that I need to wait on him first.

7 - All the RED in my room and that I'm wearing presently. Somehow the color red makes me happy! Silly, yes, but happy.

8 - Having Mondays to rest a bit, pause, and plan for the week. Somehow, I really don't tend to like Mondays, but they are good. I need Mondays, particularly after the crazy busy weekends I tend to have. Thank you, Jesus, for knowing what I need better than I do myself.

9 - Colony, the band. I think they've probably broken up by now, but my TA in college for Animal Physiology (I was a premed, biochemistry major) was in this band. In my college years they were signed by a big record label, put out a couple of cds, and looked like they might get really big. Anyway I have them on my itunes and am listening to them right now.

Okay, ONE thing that makes me frustrated and angry- my stupid bed that has these wooden planks that on an every few week basis just fall out and send me falling to the ground. (Okay, maybe a bit of an exaggeration since there are about 20 of them. Every week or so one of them falls out making the bed a bit uneven. But then every few months (and just now, thus the frustration) about 7-10 of them all at once decide to fall out and they do send me falling to the ground (or close to the ground). AHHH!!! It is easily fixed, but just frustrating. And a little reminder that I need to invest in a better bed. :-) (And I guess frustration is not all bad because I think I actually figured out a way to at least get some of them to stay in place a bit better. A few nails and a hammer do wonders. And the hammering helps a bit on the frustration :-). I do still need to get a new, less maintenance needy bed, but for the time being it looks like I'm set. At least for the time being...)

10 - I am also VERY thankful that God holds us closely, firmly, lovingly in His strong hands. I love the picture above. This is my prayer, that I would remember His very near presence, that I would allow Him to love me and realize more and more of the depths of that love, that I would rest in Him, and that I would be quick to tell others about His greatness! :-) Ahh! Fresh air!

11 - Some good friends, who are fun, who remind me of what is true, who just listen to me, who just care, who pray for me, who love me, and who are just good friends!!!

12 - Blogs - I have begun to really like using this to process life or just share joys and sorrows or things I find interesting. Fun and good for my heart.

13 - Jesus, the Bible, and being able to talk to Him whenever I want, about anything I want, just as I am without having to put on a mask or guard what I say or how I say it. And I can trust that He listens, that He cares, that He loves me, that He will respond, that He will lead me, that He will change my heart and my attitude and my outlook, that He will make me more like Himself little by little, and that He will help me to reflect him more and more by the Holy Spirit alive within me. Yeah, Jesus, my love and my king!

14 - My friend, Sarah Mueller's amazing voice. She was a part of Cheating Kay and does some work with her husband Thomas who is Miller Howell. Anyway, I'm listening to some of their old stuff and just love to hear her sing.

15 - Hearing great stories about how God is at work in others' lives, particularly in the small seemingly insignificant, but very important to us, details. Thanks Ryan!

16 - Rice cakes, peanut butter, honey, and raisins and carrots & my neighbor's rabbit paté. Unfortunately I need to go shopping, so this was my dinner. I really do like rice cakes, though. They are part of my dinner thanks to my roommate Anna.

(Note: As of late, I tend to make these lists of top 10 or more when I'm having a kind of blah day to remind myself of what is actually good. Somehow it helps to take the dark cloud of overwhelmedness or gloom away. Just FYI and insight into my life. By the way, it really does change my whole outlook. I've also begun to do it with people too whom make me angry, so that I don't demonize them and can see something good in them.)

My Dad

Okay, I think I have one of the sweetest dads in the whole world. Today I got an envelope full of random stuff, but it included a valentine's day card from my parents. I somehow forget how sweet my dad is. I mean this card was super sweet and is definitely uncommon to get from my dad. In fact, often he gives me a few cards for valentine's day because he can't decide on just one.

On my birthdays he has sent flowers... And he always tells me how proud he is of me, how beautiful I am, how much he loves me,... He often gets choked up with how proud he is of what I'm doing with my life... And he always tells me how great my newsletters are, my ministry webpage is, or just about everything I do. Since I was little he has told me how excited he was that I was born, how special I am to him being his first born, how much he hoped that I'd be a little girl before I was born,...

He is my dad who has always been quick to give me a hug, a kiss, to let me sit in his lap, to tell me how much he loves me. No, my dad isn't perfect, but it is clear that he thinks the world of me because I am his daughter. So, here is the hallmark card he sent (yes, it's definitely sentimental; yes, it's super sweet; and even though it's a pre-made card, they could be easily his words):

"When I look at the woman you've become and remember the little girl you were, I realize how many years have passed and how much things have changed. And although we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, I can't help but be proud of the life you've created for yourself. You grew up to be your own person and went off into the world with so many hopes and dreams. You've matured into a thoughtful, caring woman while still holding on to your sense of wonder and fun.

You are the daughter every mother [and Dad] wishes for. And even though some things have changed, other things haven't changed a bit. I still want nothing but the best for you, just like I always have... And I still love you more, much more than you could possibly imagine [- well, that's not true... you can imagine infinity... and that\s how much we love you!]

Happy Valentine's Day

Love, Mom and Dad

[* Infinity is a measure of a parent's love for their kids. After you've given all the love you think there is, you find that there's an equal amount of love left to give! Love you bunches!]"

And the card is full of hand drawn hearts and the added words my dad put in. My dear, sweet parents!

Highlights of My Day - Today and Yesterday

These are in no particular order, just a mix of the order they came to mind and their chronological order, or the reverse chronological order, starting with today and then yesterday.

1. Talking with Bekah - who will be joining me here in the fall or before to work with Ágape - it always encourages me to share with her what is going on, what I'm dreaming for Madrid, just talk about life, etc.,

2. The great photos at National Geographic's Webpage - http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/

3. Church - both at Cristo Vive Canillejas (my church) and Salem (a friend's church) - and good sermons (both interestingly on suffering)

4. Thinking about and telling Bekah about possibilities for this semester with Ágape. Very exciting stuff!

5. God's amazing, awesome presence & the joy he gives us

6. Rain - particularly when I'm inside listening to it from the warmth of my apt

7. Possible new friends - Diana, Yolanda, Gaudi (yep, really his name), Elisabeth & company

8. Good, present friends - Ruth, Sara, Sandra, Tamara, Jomi, Ana, Karen, Catha, Karin, Leah, Chema, Miguel Ángel, David, Pablín, Drew and many others (i just the one's i've seen or talked to in the past couple days)

9. Dancing & Music - thanks to Ni Uno Bueno, Elisabeth, Miriam, Yoana, Anabel, Star Cafe, ...

10. A clean room

11. My sewing machine & getting some pants hemmed (exciting, i know)

12. Resolving conflict

13. Good friends to talk through life with

14. EJE

15. The Bible

16. Fun shoes (here, specifically semi-comfortable heels that can be danced in) and fun, cute clothes

17. Challenges, Seemingly impossible things, Dreams, Hopes,...

Two Things That Made Me Happy Today

I just had a great night out! You may ask what made it such a great night. Well... first I listened to a great band of some friends, which has both great music and puts on a great show - with a bit of ska, salsa, tango, rock... One of the highlights of the night was dancing the night away both during the concert and then with Elisabeth (who happened to be next to me during the concert). I have missed having dance parties with my roommates from last year and tonight most definitely matched one of our famous dance parties. Yeah!!!

The band I watched is "Ni Uno Bueno" and they just put out an EP, which you can listen to at http://www.niunobueno.com

Secondly, prior to going to the concert I was cleaning and hemming some pants (very exciting, i know). As I was getting ready, I put on the "Across the Universe" soundtrack in prep for the concert and sang along. Now that I'm back from the concert (and am too awake to sleep yet) I put it on again. I must say that it is great! So, that is my second happy thing.

Anger

Okay..., so I'm taking this from a friend's blog (http://www.allkindsoftime.blogspot.com/) because it's really good stuff. And, actually it is notes taken from a sermon he listened to, in NYC (my justification for putting it on my blog). It is a sermon by Tim Keller at Redeemer Presbyerian, who by the way is one of my favorite people to hear preach. I've only spent a summer and a spring break in NYC, but it is definitely an amazing church.

So here it is. Enjoy! It definitely was something I needed to hear today, which I will write more about later.
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Tim Keller: The Healing of Anger
October 17th, 2004 - Redeemer Presbyterian Church, East Side Morning Worship Service
Text: Proverbs 14:29-30; 15:1,18; 16:32; 19:11,19; 24:28-29; 25:21-22

29 A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but passion is rottenness to the bones.

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
but a patient man calms a quarrel.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

11 A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty;
if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive.
29 Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did."

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

What is wisdom?

In 1st Kings 3, Solomon prayed for a heart that could determine right from wrong. Wisdom is not less than being moral and good, but knowing what the right course of action is in vast majority of situations that the rules do not address. You will not become a wise person until you learn how to handle anger in yourself and others

The 4 things you must know about anger to be wise:
I) Dangerous Power of Anger
II) Basic Goodness of Anger
III) Why Anger Goes Wrong
IV) How it can be Healed


I) Dangerous Power of Anger

Anger: the dynamite of the human soul - can disintegrate and destroy:

A) Your body (v. 30 - passion is rottenness to the bones) - it has been medically proven that anger is far worse on your body than any other emotion - leads to heart disease and all kinds of physical ailments

B) Community (v. 18 - a hot-tempered man stirs up dissention) - when you get angry you throw words around like weapons - words have an enormous power

C) Your wisdom (v. 29 - a quick-tempered man displays folly) - after you cool off from anger, you feel like a fool, because you were - your view is distorted and you make foolish decisions

D) Your will/ability to make smart choices (v. 19 - if you rescue him, you will have to do it again) - of all the emotions, anger is the one most like an addictive substance - it leads you into denial / hides itself. Denial leads to more anger, more problems, and therefore even further anger to remain in denial about it. (Citation of a Psychology Today article that quoted a letter to a newspaper counselor about her advice to a mother to let a child kick the furniture to get the anger. The writer spoke of her younger brother who grew up kicking the furniture and now kicks not only the furniture, but now his wife and kids. 20-30 years ago, venting your anger was the cure. Secular psychology is beginning to see the addictive nature of anger.)


II) Basic Goodness of Anger

Slow anger (v. 32 - He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty) - the ideal is slow anger, not no anger, or blow up anger

- it is a sin to never get angry, and it is a sin to blow up in your anger

- Eph 4:26 (Paul) "be angry, but sin not" - an imperative: not "you will be angry" but "you should be angry (sometimes)"

- John Chritensen (early American preacher) - perfect summary of anger: "He that is angry without cause sins, he that is not angry when there is cause, sins. For unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices."

- Slow anger is an attribute of God - Ps. 103:8

- Exodus 34 - Moses asks God to "show me Your glory," God responds "I will declare My name for you...I am the Lord, slow to anger."

- Many New Yorkers have an issue here: "I believe in a God of love, not a God who gets angry." If you never get angry about anything, you don't love anything. Anger is a love response to a threat to the object of your love.

- Becky Pipper: "Think how we feel when we someone we love ravaged by unwise actions or relationships. Do we respond with benign tolerance as we might towards strangers? Far from it. Anger isn't the opposite of love, hate is, and the final form of hate is indifference. The more a father loves his son, the more he is angry at the drunkard, the liar, the traitor in his son. And if I, a flawed, self-centered woman can feel this much pain and anger over someone's condition, how much more a morally perfect God who made them."

- Love in its uncorrupted origin is moving to deal with a threat - anger is love in motion to deal with a threat toward that which you really love (to disintegrate the threat) - to see what your heart loves the most, you need only ask what you are defending.


- Romans 1: God is continually angry because He loves us; in the Gospels, Jesus (continually perfect) was angry at the moneychangers in the temple (John 2), angry at the religious leaders (Mark 3), angry at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11) - Greek words describing his emotions were incredibly strong (bellows, snorts with anger) - He gets angry but sins not.

- Individualistic cultures emphasize personal rights and over-value anger as something that should be expressed, whereas Moral/Traditional cultures emphasize the family and see anger as something that should be repressed. The Biblical approach sees both the Basic Goodness and the Dangerous Power


III) Why Anger Goes Wrong

- (v. 28-29): anger disproportionate / inappropriate to the cause - our anger is disordered.

- Augustine: Disordered Loves - we take good things into ultimate things, instead of loving them, we look to them for the ultimate comfort only God can give. Ex. of romantic love - turning the need for the other person into an absolute necessarily disorders the love.


Disordered love creates disordered anger:

A) Disordered in its causes: we are angry for ourselves, not injustices done to the oppressed. We get incredibly angry over causes we shouldn't be, and we do not get angry over causes that we should be.

B) Disordered in its proportions: our anger usually feels uncontrollable

C) Disordered in its goal: ordered (loving) anger seeks to do surgical strikes against the anger (like a parent seeking to destroy the foolishness in a child). Loving anger goes after the problem, not the person.


Levels of Disorder:

1) Things that make us angry every day

2) Things we haven't been able to forget or forgive (heats up level one - like a man slighted by a woman who is more prone to be easily offended by all women)

3) Things we've decided we need instead of God (family, job, etc) - the bedrock anger of self-pity against God Himself (heats up levels 2 and 3)


IV) How it can be healed

A) Have to admit you are angry: get in touch with the reality of it – you must own and admit it. People commonly say: "You deserve anger, but I'm not angry" (really means "You deserve anger, but I'm above you"). Even owning up to your anger is an act of vulnerability / weakness. Refusal to do this not only prohibits reconciliation, but also heats up level 2 angers, and creates a "root of bitterness" (Heb. 12) - roots become shoots become trees become forests. You become utterly controlled by your anger.

B) Analyze your anger: (24:28-29) - (self talk) - Angry person speaking to himself - anger is not so much because of what you've lost but because of what you tell yourself that you are defending (most often your pride / ego / self-esteem). Citation of Jeremiah 45 (KJV) "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not." We must question what is so important to us that we get angry - this question identifies our idols. (Example of mother who had God's love as an abstract idea but son's love as an idol - couldn't forgive anything that would come between her and her son's love)

C) Transform your anger: (15:1; 25:21-22) - When you experience anger, don't be angry back, but rescue the enemy from the anger. Wisdom literature of ancient world goes over the top in using this redemption language with enemies. Example of dealing with a child's disordered anger: a) give into it - evil wins, b) fight back in anger - evil enters your life as well, or c) surgical strike: get mad a the foolishness in the child, insist on the truth gently, and absorb the anger and the pain.


Conclusions:

Proof that we are mad at God - when He became human, we were angry. We got our angry hands on Him, and He absorbed our disordered anger and said "Father, forgive them." He took not only our undeserved anger but also the cup (ref. to OT cup of anger) - the anger we deserved: ultimate example of loving the sinner and hating the sin - the ultimate surgical strike - taking this into our lives will heal the level 3 anger.

"Jesus said: 'Love your enemies, that you may be children of your Father which is in heaven.'

Of course you say, 'All this about loving enemies is not practical. Life is a matter of getting even, of hitting back, of dog-eat-dog. Well, maybe in some distant utopia the ideal will work, but not in the hard cold world in which we live.'

My friends, we've followed the so-called practical way for a long time now. Time is cluttered with the wreckage of communities which surrendered into hatred and violence. We are going to follow another way: we will not abandon our righteous efforts. With every ounce of our strength we will continue to rid the nation of the incubus of segregation. But we will not in the process relinquish our privilege and our obligation to love. While abhorring segregation, we will love the segregationist. This is the only way to build the beloved community.

To our most bitter opponents we say 'We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will continue to love you. We cannot obey your unjust laws, because non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as it is to cooperate with good. But throw us in jail, we will still love you; send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our community and beat us, and we will still love you. But be ye assured that we will wear you down.

One day we will win freedom, but not only for ourselves, we will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and so our victory will be a double-victory. The great military leaders of the past have gone, and their empires have crumbled and burned to ashes, but the empire of Jesus, built solidly and majestically on the foundation of love is still growing. May we solemnly realize that we shall never be sons of our Heavenly Father until we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us as He did for us." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8

Getting to know someone

I am realizing that Spanish culture is changing me, more in just the hours I eat, the language I speak most of the time, the clothes I wear, etc., Back in the cross-cultural training I went through a couple of years ago, they talked about us being square headed people going into a round headed culture. Little by little (poco a poco), we'd have corners chopped off our square head, making us look more like (although never fully) a round head. In actuality we'd be more like stop sign heads, or octogons, or whatever. So at the conference I recently I went to in southern Spain I was asked what was one of the things that I either willingly or unknowingly had had chopped off of my square head. I don't remember what I said, but it got me thinking a bit. One of the ways by head's been chopped off and I think is still being chopped at, is how you get to know someone. I don't fully understand it, but I do know that sometimes when I am with americans who live in the US I feel a bit like a weirdo. I am a little less quick in sharing or asking others to share a lot of personal information. I do still ask questions, but I'm finding that I often ask a really general question if I do and that it is more normal to share something about myself and then expect the other to do the same, or vice versa.

Like I said, I haven't figured it out, but I've been told that American culture asks questions to get to know someone (which is true) and that European culture share-share getting to know someone. Recently I meant some people who just arrived to Madrid and they asked me about a million and one questions. After awhile they said, "Feel free to ask if you have any questions for us." Now, granted I was tired, had just answered a million and one questions (mainly about ministry stuff), but my mind was fairly blank. I did ask them several things, but it was then that I told them the whole square-round-stop sign head analogy and how this was one of the ways Spanish culture had changed me a bit.

Love, Love, Love

Last night my good friend Karin and I trekked over to Salamanca (due west) for the night. I must say that Salamanca is definitely fun, college town that reminded me of living in Lawrence, KS. As we walked the streets there were college students everywhere dressed as cupid or disfrazado (dressed up) as any number of things. We later found out they just finished exams and it is the day of the patron saint of one of the facultades (school of law or whatever it was), so everyone was going out all dressed up.

Our purpose for going was to see some friends of mine who lead a college ministry there called "En Vivo" and have both a local and a weekly meeting. Students here in Madrid are mostly still de examenes, so it was a good night to take off. (Let me just say that it was great - the trip, the meeting, and the people! It reminded me a lot of a weekly meeting we'd do in the States, with a bit of a Spanish twist.)

The subject, being Valentine's Day, or día de enamorados / día de san valentín, was LOVE. Sofía, one of the staff at En Vivo, gave the talk. She talked about her and Jesse (her husband)'s first date and how their relationship unfolded with a lot of witty comments along the way. Then she talked about the book Song of Songs from the Bible. She read Song of Songs 2:7, "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

She then talked about the three types of love found in Hebrew. Both Rob Bell (with Nooma - www.nooma.com) and Sofia both described these loves with three flames, which can burn individually, but burn much brighter and more fully together.

First is "raya," which is the type of love you have between friends. It is found in Song of Songs 4:7 (amongst others), "You're beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless."

Second is the word "ahava." As Rob Bell explains it, "Ahava is the love of the will... This is way more profound than fleeting romantic feelings. This is much more than temporary urges. Ahava is making a decision to join your life to the life of another. This is an emotion that leads to commitment. Ahava is found in Song of Songs 8:7, "Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned."

The third Hebrew word for love, which is also found in Song of Songs, is the word "dode." It is the one we are more accustom to being associated with "love" at least in many contexts. It is the sexual, physical element in a love relationship. Dode literally means "carouse," "rock," "caress." It's the love described in some of the more explicit passages in Song of Songs. "May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine." (Song of Songs 1:2)

As Sofia (and Rob Bell) said, these three types of love, these three flames are meant to burn as one, moving from a small little spark or flame on a candle to a much larger, more sustaining fire. In the Nooma film Rob Bell made, it goes from a small fire to a huge bonfire you can see from miles away.

Love is not just physical and sexual, but also friendship and commitment. The "ahava" (willful love) and "raya" (friendship) are what take more intentionality and time. "Dode" love is important too, but it generally is not the hardest of the three to create.

This is really the bare basics of the talk, but I thought it was a great way to introduce the idea of what God says about love and also a great reminder of the type of love God desires for us - one rich and full of life.

In a pit with a lion on a snowy day

I just started reading the book "In A Pit With a Lion On A Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. And I have to say that thus far I am loving it. It talks about trusting God to do the impossible. (Which totally speaks to me. I love a challenge and I love the stories of God (and the stories in my own life) of God doing the IMPOSSIBLE. They are amazing and they remind me of who God is, of His power, His mighty, His awesomeness.) It also speaks to me because this year has definitely been full of more challenges than normal and obstacles / challenges that sometimes can seem insurmountable. So, it's good to be reminded of what is true of God and of us as his children. Yes, it may seem foolish or crazy, but our God is in the habit of doing the impossible and he does delight in us stepping out in faith, trusting him alone to hold us. So...since I can't just type the whole first couple chapters for you, I figured I'd at least put some of the passages of Scripture he sights and some quotes.

"You are responsible forever for what you have tamed." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"There was also Benaiah son of Johoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two of Moab's mightiest warriors. Another time he chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it. Another time, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with it... And David put [Benaiah] in charge of his bodyguard." - 2 Samuel 23:20, 21, 23

"How much happier you would be, how much more of you there would be, if the hammer of a higher God could smash your small cosmos." G.K. Chesterton

Judges 6-7 (which by the way is one of my favorite passages in Scripture) -- here below is just Judges 7:2-23

"The LORD said to Gideon, 'The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.' ' Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.

And the LORD said to Gideon, 'The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' shall not go.' So he brought the people down to the water. ANd the LORD said to Gideon, 'Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.' And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the LORD said to Gideon, 'With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.' So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. ANd he send all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

That same night the LORD said to him, 'Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.' Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp. And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, 'Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so the tent lay flat.' And the comrade answered, 'This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.

As soon as Gideon hear the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, 'Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand.' And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. And he said to them, 'Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.'

So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. THen the tree companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, 'A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!' Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. When they blew the 300 trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian."

" 'My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' " Isaiah 55:8

"Your best thought about God on your best day falls 12.3 billion light-years short of how great and how good God really is. We underestimate God's goodness and greatness by at least 12.3 billion light-years ["as high as the heavens are above the earth"]... Maybe it's time to stop placing four-dimensional limits on God. Maybe it's time to stop putting God in a box the size of your cerebral cortex. Maybe it's time to stop creating God in your image and let Him create you in His. The more we grow, the bigger God should get. And the bigger God gets, the smaller our lions become." Mark Batterson (p. 28, 29)

"Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, 'See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.' And he answered, 'Go.' Then one of them said, 'Be pleased to go with your servants.' And he answered, 'I will go.' So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water and he cried out, 'Alas, my master! It was borrowed.' Then the man of God said, 'Where did it fall?' When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. And he said, 'Take it up.' So he reached out his hand and took it." - 2 Kings 6:1-7

(Note: pay attention to the axe. It is not a normal thing that iron would float!)

"Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.' So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." - John 6:7, 11-13

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Dios, Nuestra Poderosa Roca

Here's some other thoughts for the day and a picture from where I went rock climbing this weekend (in Cuenca, about two hours outside of Madrid).

God, Our Powerful Rock (DIOS, NUESTRA PODEROSA ROCA)

"There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God." - 1 Samuel 2:2

("No hay Santo como Jehová; Porque no hay ninguno fuera de ti, Y no hay refugio como el Dios nuestro." - 1ª Samuel 2:2)

"For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?" - Psalm 18:31

("Porque ¿quién es Dios sino solo Jehová? ¿Y qué roca hay fuera de nuestro Dios? - Salmo 18:31)

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God." - Psalm 62:5-7

("En Dios está mi salvación y mi gloria; En Dios está mi roca fuerte, y mi refugio." - Salmo 62:7)


"But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.'" - 2 Timothy 2:19

("Pero el fundamento de Dios está firme, teniendo este sello: Conoce el Señor a los que son suyos; y: apártese de iniquidad todo aquel que invoca el nombre de Cristo." - 2ª Timoteo 2:19)

Ethiopia & Starvation - PROPOSAL NR. 19 + GIFT, Anno Dijstra

This is the third of the Madrid Abierto exhibits -- "PROPOSAL NR. 19 + GIFT" by Anno Dijstra. This is actually the first thing that caught my eye from the Madrid Abierto installations. I was walking down the Castellana between Colón and Cibeles on the way (ironically) to check on some five star hotels for a pianist who is coming in April to play for some of the more distinguished political figures and musicians on our behalf. It's a great honor to have him. But the irony comes when I passed this statue of a starving boy in Ethiopia, in the middle of the sidewalk.

I had just gotten back from Paris and looked at a friend's pictures of shantytowns in Africa, feeling a bit of the tension between the way the west lives in comparison with much of the rest of the world. I had also begun to read "Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne which also points out this disconnect between the way most of us live and are completely (or nearly) oblivious to what is going on around the corner, in another part of the world. Now I don't think we all need to move to Ethiopia, but I do think we (including myself) can be more conscious of how our lives affect others, challenge ourselves and others to make a difference in the well-being of others by living a bit more simply, and by educating ourselves about what really is going on around the world. I mean, if we live in the richest countries in the world, our countries and people are probably in a place to help and to make a difference.

So, anyway, I saw this statue which is the size of an actual kid and where you can see his bones and enlarged, malnourished stomach. And in the background there is a strategically placed car with a trunk full of food. I thought about what an incredible idea it was to bring that which is so far removed from our daily lives (at an emotional and conscious level) to our normal, everyday life.

"Obliged seeing

A witness of the famine in Ethiopia in 1984, 14 years old, Anno was watching television at home.

A memory of a scene seen on television. An image with which one is not directly related to, immaterial, elusive, without a location, floating through the air. One can't go back to the place where the drama happened. The television in the living room is the location where it happened, but the television shows already other images and there is nothing in this living room that refers to the drama.

How free is watching without engaging? In other words, can a witness become guilty because of what he sees?." (taken from http://www.madridabierto.com/en/artistical-interventions/2008/anno-dijkstra.html)

La Guerra Es Nuestra - The War is Ours

The second installation of Madrid Abierto that caught my eye is "La Guerra Es Nuestra" by Annemarie Ho & Inma Lee.

What I like about this one is that it demands that we cannot merely be passive in the world, be it with the war, the election, poverty, hunger, the gospel,... We are part of the world and thus whether actively or passively our decisions or lack thereof have an impact.

This picture is a little hard to see, but look at the top of the building where it says "La guerra es nuestra" in black. It is on Gran Via, one of the main big streets in downtown Madrid.

"The piece is a large sign with the statement "La guerra es nuestra" spelled out in black, back-lit lettering, which is attached to the façade of the Círculo de Bellas Artes.

The sign utilizes a format that is most often seen on storefronts -the viewer may initially overlook the sign, as we are often indifferent to new information and media that is constantly being introduced to us, but a second glance may procure a different reaction. Moreover, the placement of such a sign on a well-known cultural building leads to a juxtaposition of the political onto the beautiful and the historical.

The initial reference in the statement "La guerra es nuestra" is, of course, the war in Iraq. But the statement is also open-ended; the "war" or the "guerra" can refer to anything that incites concern in the viewer. In Madrid, this might be the activities of the Basque group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) or the need for more affordable housing within the city. The goal of the artists is to show that everyone is a voluntary participant in the political. Indifference is a statement, as much as waging a war or being involved in political activism." (taken from http://www.madridabierto.com/en/artistical-interventions/2008/annamarie-ho-inmi-lee.html)

Not For Sale - No Se Vende

As I've walked around Madrid, the new installations of "Madrid Abierto" has caught my attention. In the next 3 blog entries I'll share some of the pictures and explanations from their webpage.

"Not For Sale" (by Alicia Framis & Michael Lin) is the first one, speaking to the selling of kids around the world, be it for child labor, child soldiers, child prostitution,...

"Alicia Framis presents her most recent work, the majority of which was prepared in Shanghai, where she currently lives and works... Not For Sale is a work in progress that analyses the situation of children who are sold all over the world. The project began in the city of Bangkok, Thailand, where Framis produced a first portrait of a naked chets child but a necklace that read "not for sale."

At first glance, the images are gentle and sweet. The children are smiling and appear healthy and happy. It is only on close inspection that what Framis seeks to emphasise comes to light: the reality of the fragile and dangerous situation that many children currently find themselves in. From the moment we are born, a price tag is placed on us, and many children face the real risk of becoming just another product of the global market." (taken from http://www.madridabierto.com/en/artistical-interventions/2008/alicia-framis-michael-lin.html)

Sea Kayaking on the Mediterranean

Okay, my kayaking on the Mediterranean coast wasn't quite as action packed as this picture seems to imply, but it was definitely fun.

During my time in Nerja, a bit east of Málaga along the southern coast of Spain, we had a day to explore and do whatever. (Unlike me, most of the people at this conference live in countries other than Spain and in fact many of them live in countries that only have a few hours of daylight right now. Places like Siberia (seriously), Sweden,... So for them, the sun and beach and Spain is even more of a retreat.) Since some of us live in Spain and don't really want to sit on a bus for half the day to see something (Gibralter or Granada) we could see another time, we looked into some options closer to Nerja.

Wes had been kayaking in Nerja before so we decided to head up the coast and kayak in the ocean. We started off just carrying the kayaks to the shore, doing some group calisthenics, and kayaking 101 instructions about how to row, how to maneuver, and how to reenter if you flip. We then got in the water and took off.

We went through several caves, which only the kayak would fit through. We saw some schools of fish. We saw goats from the side of the cliffs. We saw a few small waterfalls. We saw something called tomatito which looks like a red tomato-esce sea urchin of sorts but is extremely poisonous. One kayak flipped I think a total of 5 times. A lot of fun was had. And we got a great workout - 3 or 4 hours basically of none-stop rowing.

Afterward we enjoyed some local paella in the outside ocean air, which was amazing (considering that I wasn't actually cold in the tank top i had one).

Sevilla, Mexican food, Army bases

It's time for a story! A blast to my former life in Spain, in Sevilla.... in 1999.

It was my first year in Spain. There were five of us on the STINT team there and I was loving Spain, loving the adventure of life overseas, and excited about how God was going to work. We had now been in Sevilla all of a couple months. Since we had yet to find good Mexican food in Sevilla (Unlike the common American myth that Spain has tacos, burritos and is just the mothership of Mexico, Spanish food is NOT spicy and VERY different from Mexican food.), we had decided to throw our Spanish friends a real Mexican party.

We had heard from a reliable source (David - a spanish friend) that we should head to the local army base to get the food since they had American stores there with everything we would need. I had never been on an army base, but David assured us that all we needed was our US passport and we would be fine. So, Tawnny, Ann, and I found the bus that headed to the town where the base is situated, about an hour or so away. When we got there we looked for a taxi and told him to take us to the base.

We got to the guard at the base, showed him our passports, and told him that we were going shopping (that was our business on the base). He waved us on and directed us to the grocery store. We were in supermarket heaven. There were Pyrex dishes that cost half their normal price. Tawnny and Ann stocked up on Dr. Pepper. There were tortilla chips, flour tortillas, corn tortillas, salsa, chili pepper,... You name it they had it. So we stocked up. All we could carry in our backpacks and arms we bought.

So we get into the line to check out and as we are nearing the cashier I ask the man behind us how we get back to Sevilla. Is there a bus? Or do we have to call a taxi? Or what? He then asks how we got there and I of course tell him. We wanted to buy mexican food supplies for a party we were having, so we took a bus, then a taxi, and now we just needed to get home. He said that there was an employee bus that too off from the hotel later that day, but that he didn't know the hours. He then asked if we had a military ID and of course I said "no." He asks how we got on base. I tell him that we just showed them our passports and told the guards we were going grocery shopping. He says that we're not really supposed to be there, but just not to make a big deal of it. He says he has no idea how we're going to get back, but that our best bet is to head over to the hotel.

About this time we start to check out. I check out and then Tawnny checks out. Somewhere after we've both signed for it I must have asked the guy one more thing and the cashier then asks for our ID. Mind you we've already checked out. We say that we don't have a military ID and she begins to freak out, I mean really go nuts. "But you can't be here." "You can't buy this food." She just keeps on making statements, which we were obviously completely oblivious to up until now.

I offer to return it and she just continues to say that we can't buy it (when we already have). I ask for the third or fourth time if she wants us to return it and still all she can say is that we're not supposed to be there. So we leave and assume that the army police will now come to arrest us or shoot us or something horrible. Or that we will at least not make it back to Sevilla.

We sit on a bench. Ann and Tawnny drink their Dr. Pepper. We pray. And then we head over to the hotel.

We enter and there is CNN in English on a huge television screen. Since I now know we weren't really supposed to be there I just ask when the bus comes and the maitre-de says in about an hour. I ask if there is another one and she says no. So we sit down and I am fluctuating between just trusting it will all work out and expecting the police to come for us. The van arrives and we get on with all the employees and, while being fully honest, try not to disclose too much information. The bus takes us virtually to our house and all is well.

A couple days later we make an amazing mexican extravaganza, which our friends love, and for the next couple years I enjoy my cheap pyrex casserole dishes. Never again do I venture to an army base, but I will forever have imprinted in my mind the picture of us sitting there waiting for some men with guns or a bus to come by.

Rabbits, Hares, Paté, and Conflict Avoidance

So... I haven't yet gotten the nerve up to talk to "Joseph" about his 3am blaring television. KayakGirl (Becky) actually has a decent point. The poor man who lost his wife two years or so ago probably is an insomniac and has no clue that his lack of hearing and intent to lull himself back to sleep irritates me (which may be why i should actually say something, but I partially just want to get over it (if possible) - we'll see...).

Additionally, he has begun to take a liking to us, his young american neighbors. He seems to have a fascination in general with the US and often just needs someone to listen to him. Today on the way out the door he stopped me and said he had some homemade paté for me, if I liked paté. I do, or at least some paté, so I now have some homemade rabbit paté. Joseph hunts, so he actually killed the rabbit, soaked it for awhile in vinegar, olive oil, and spices, added chicken liver, some cognac, lots of sherry, and some other stuff, stewed it awhile, and voila. You can't really be upset at someone who just needs a friend and someone to bestow upon his cooking.

Somehow I'm not sure that the path of least resistance nor avoiding conflict is actually the best route. Even as I write this I am struck by the fact that everything in me says that I need to mention his TV. I just want to keep the peace and keep on good terms with my neighbor. But experience and conviction tells me that in would be better to just nip it in the bud and trust God to work in the midst of it all. We'll see, but it is true that resolving conflict does in fact decide to engage versus just allowing walls and distance to be built. (Okay, I'm definitely "verbally" processing.)

So... one more little Joseph story... with several rabbit trails added as a bonus. Joseph, as I will call him, has given us great gazpacho (a yummy cold tomato soup typical for summer and of spain), always likes us to see the improvements he makes to his house (like the fancy new bathroom he put the end of 2007). So, I think I had brought him some cookies or brownies or pumpkin something I had made for some event. He had just gone hunting, so after showing me the new additions to his apartment he offered me pheasants. I said no thanks, not really knowing how they would come and also because you almost always first say no just to be polite. He of course insisted and then pulled 2 freshly killed pheasants out of a bag he had, feathers, heads, talons, and all. He said he had more than he could eat and that his freezer was filling up quickly (which he of course showed me and described in detail). I thought about it briefly and then decided it wasn't the day I wanted to learn to pluck and prepare a fresh pheasant. But I am learning that Joseph knows quite a bit about cooking, not just spanish staples like tortilla de patata and gazpacho but he also knows how to make some of the delicacies and home-cooked stuff I'd love to learn how to make. He's bringing over the recipe later for the paté and I may have to make a list of things I'd like to learn how to make.

Some random facts I found out about rabbits / hares, looking for a picture:
+ At present, Spain is the third largest producer of rabbit meat in the World, after China and Italy.

+ Apparently there is a difference between "rabbits" and "hares," and the meat in my paté is actually from a hare. Hares do not bear their young below ground in a burrow as do other Leporidae, but rather in a shallow depression or flattened nest of grass called a form.

Hares are adapted to the lack of physical protection, relative to that afforded by a burrow, by being born fully furred and with eyes open. They are hence able to fend for themselves very quickly after birth — that is to say, they are precocial. By contrast, the related rabbits and cottontail rabbits are altricial, having young that are born blind and hairless.

All rabbits (except the cottontail rabbits) live underground in burrows or warrens, while hares (and cottontail rabbits) live in simple nests above the ground, and usually do not live in groups.

Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and have black markings on their fur. Hares have not been domesticated, while rabbits are often kept as house pets.

+ Hares are very fast moving. The European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) can run at speeds of up to 70 km/h (45 mph).

Highlights from Nerja

I had the great privilege of spending last week in Nerja, Spain (southern Spain, a bit east of Málaga) for an ICS / STINT conference of CCC's International Campus Staff and interns. While I likely will write more either on my ministry webpage, in a newsletter, or here, I figured I might as well share some of my highlights and things I learned / am learning from that time.

Highlights

1 - Spending great time with some amazing and fun friends and colleagues from across Western Europe and other parts of the world.

2 - Having people to play some great games of ultimate, soccer/football, to go kayaking on the ocean for 3+ hours, and to play a game of settlers.

3 - Listening to Eric & Elizabeth share both from the Word of God and from their lives what it means to walk by faith, in gratitude, and in humility. The women also got some time alone with Elizabeth to hear about some of the crazy and supernatural stories of God's sovereignty in their lives and things that only seem to find a place in Hebrews 11 amongst the heroes of the faith. (Due to the sensitive nature of them, I can't really share them in full here, but would love to share more. I am truly in awe.)

4 - Hanging out with other Spain staff. Hanging out with the Toulouse team. Hanging out with other International Campus Staff.

5 - The amazing ocean and mountains, both in near sight from where we stayed.

6 - Great time with the Lord to reflect back upon this year thus far and with the loud sound of waves crashing in the background.

7 - Having some face-to-face conversations about the future of Madrid, Western Europe, Spain, etc., and about getting some more staff here.



Some of the things I learned / am learning as a result of that time

1 - Probably the number one thing that God seemed to be impressing upon me is that he is DELIGHTED by me and in me. Along with that that he loves me immensely and that he wants me to walk by faith independent of what results.

2 - I'm continuing to learn what it means to walk by faith and no by sight and without trying to put God in my box of how and when He needs to work. Yet again, I am also learning again to let go and not seek to "fix" or control things (which in actuality are very much out of my control).

3 - I also was reminded again of why I'm here, why I am passionate about others hearing the Gospel and growing in what it means to know and be awed by God. In this I am reminded of the great worth of the Gospel and how it has transformed me and transforms others.


These are really just some of the big brushstrokes, which when I have time I can flesh out a bit more.

My Neighbor

I should actually be asleep right now. It is 2:22 am. And yet while I remain awake, my neighbor who one of my roommates calls "Joseph," is also very much awake (or at least his very loud television is).

Somehow it seems a common occurrence that Joseph around 2 or 3 am turns his television up to unprecedented volumes. Currently it sounds like the news, but he also is flipping channels, which scares me a bit. I am not so much bothered by the frequent blaring (really) classical or opera music early in the morning (particularly on saturday, when I'm sleeping in a bit). It literally sounds as if an orchestra is serenading me and actually present in my room with me. That doesn't bother me that much because, really, of all the noises your neighbor can make blaring classical music is by no means the worse.


But horribly loud war movies, even horribly loud news, at 3 am is not exactly my cup of tea. I need to say something to him and just haven't gotten up the nerve to do so. I guess I can be thankful that it is just the news. Unfortunately (which is part of why I was a bit embarrassed to say anything), often the late night blaring tv shows are not just war movies and load news, but instead some sort of exotic, porn, which either gets me to bang on the wall (which never helps and just makes me more angry), go sleep on the couch, put on my ipod, and/or just pray for him, for my heart, and that it would just go away.

My theory (I seem to like to figure things out, so always have some answer for the WHY questions, even if I really have no idea) for the extreme volume levels is that he just falls asleep and then hits the remote by accident. He is an elderly man, so his hearing may have something to do with it, or maybe he just likes the surround sound effect and is oblivious to the fact that other people in the building may actually be sleeping, or at least were sleeping or near asleep prior to the unruly noise.

So, I guess I can be thankful that tonight (a) I'm already awake so was not awakened, (b) it is just loud news (which by the way just ceased), and which (c) will actually enable me to say something without having to talk about the various subjects of his viewing practices. If you think about it, I'd love your prayers in this... both for my patience and my conversation with Joseph (who in all other ways is a great neighbor).

Oh no, it's back. Oh, now it's gone.... Nope, now it's back, but just music, oh and he actually turned it down a bit. Amazing!... Oh, now we have a war movie it sounds like. Well, now I actually am going to get some rest.

Well, I am still in Paris (with just a good night sleep and half a day left) and loving it. It is almost 23:30 and we had a quite night of camembert, smoked salmon, french bread, bordeaux wine, the great dark chocolate the hotel leaves every night with a weather report for the next day, and some clementines in our hotel room. I'm trying to catch up, or begin to catch up on e-mail, after a week of having no internet connection (not all a bad thing) and noticed it was raining somewhat hard. So of course I peaked my head out the window to see the rain and the incredible view of the Eiffel Tower that we have (which I had forgotten about in the meantime). It was glittering, which it does half the time at night, fluctuating between the glittering/sparkling and the just normal lights. Definitely enchanting, which is my word to describe the trip, definitely enchanting.

je t'aime, paris

Let me just say that I love Paris. I just arrived last night and have enjoyed an absolutely fabulous day of divine food (crepes, smoked herring on a bed of lettuce, espresso, raisin bread, incredible wine & cider, duck, dark chocolate,...), people, and an amazing hotel (thanks to a generous friend). Our room is tucked away in an upscale neighborhood, but from our window you can see the eiffel tower down the road. It is amazing!

While I'm adding little tidbits, I must say that the parisians we've encountered have been some of the kindest, friendliest, most helpful people we could find. And, while I attempt to communicate as much as I can in french, my french is fairly pathetic and rarely comes out quite the way i wish it would. But Paris is enchanting, amazingly majestic and beautiful, and I wish I had more than 2 and a half days here. I guess that just means that I'll have to come back. I'll write more when I'm a bit more awake.