So now, weeks after returning, I find my mind still filled with and touched by our time in Croatia. There still are things to do, one of them being working on some magnetic signs for Kent and Cheri to put on their cars as they drive around. These signs will advertise the school of English, the idea suggested by a few of our team to help them with exposure finding more students.
I drink my coffee out of a mug I purchased in Split (the suggestion via words on it works as a remembrance for me). On it (besides the name of country and city) simple fish painted in blue reminiscent of the sign of the early church. In it, sometimes my rationed Croatian coffee purchased there, and yes, I still miss the eggs! (see my earlier blog). As I imagine all that is happening there, it resonates with a distinct similarity to that which is here. The sole description and soul description is this sense is that both ministries are on the brink of explosion, a dynamic, far reaching expansion engulfing beyond what could be considered humanly possible.
On my citrus trees, there are beautiful, fragrant blossoms that hold the promise of fruit on it's way. There is an explosion of fragrance and flower that fills me with anticipation, and then after being infused with pollen, fertilizing the flower, they wither and die. The process seems to have failed. Next, a small bulb appears, and if watered well, slowly inflates, hidden amongst the color of surrounding leaves. If one were not to look close and examine the tree, one might think there is no fruit. But in time, little by little the branches become laden with dark green globes and growing anticipation rises in the soul of its consumers.
Here, is the stage of which, I find myself resting. With anticipation of fruit, for the fertilization has occurred, the infusion of fullness giving rise to the the abundance. Now is the time for water and final care if the fruit is to flourish, filling the tree. Now is the time for the presence of the fruit to become known.
As the globes bask in the sunlight, their color begins to give away their presence as they flush from green to orange (for my navel and cara cara orange trees), or green to yellow (for my meyer lemon tree). It requires patience, waiting for the fruit to fully ripen on the tree, for the flush takes quite a while, yet, when finally ripe, nothing sings of sweetness, as that of these oranges dripping with full, flavorful glory.
Could this be Inpirata? Could this be New Heights Community Church? Could this be our nation? Is the fruit becoming ripe? Is time pressing on toward harvest? God's word promises fruit for the faithful. Are we even on the path of the faithful? I believe many of us are, and now is the time. Tend to the trees, make preparations for the flushing of the fruit, the flooring flavor of the fruit, filling, yes dripping with sweetness of the glory of the Holy Spirit resting upon us, leading us to new heights in Christ's kingdom. Pray for our nation, our people, our communities, our churches. It's time to move ahead with Christ with the flushing of our fruit, declaring the glory of our God, taking back what is rightfully His, the enjoyment of the fruit of our Lord.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Singing in Strength in Struggle
My internal body clock is stuck somewhere between Croatia and here, exahustingly seeking the comfort of my sheets at 8:30 pm then wrestling with alertness at 2:30 am. I always seem to have the greatest battle readjusting when I move east to west and this trip has been no different. What is more frustrating for me this time is that my intestinal clock seems completely lost in space, with intense pangs of hunger, indigestion at the wickedest hours, and, it feels like its seeking something I have yet figured out. One of the greatest 'comfort foods' is eggs and yet, the yolks are not as orange as those in Croatia, nor are they as tasty. None the less, they are a soothing balm to an out of sorts tract.
My mind rushes back to a time, when talking with Andrea, a caretaker at the hospital I provide musical therapy at, of her sharing that even after purchasing the coffee and the means to prepare it in Croatia, it just doesn't taste nearly the same. For her, it was the coffee, for me, it is the eggs.
It is impossible to 'explain' the difference, just as it is impossible to explain the delicate difference between a life fully submitted to Christ, and one mostly submitted to Him. I find myself now in a place where my experience in Croatia crashes into my daily experience here, and I mean crash at highway speeds. With my body clock rocked, my intestines a bit of a mess, I find that my work a day world is also filled with challenge as well. Now before anyone rush to my rescue and think I am falling apart, neigh, I am far from that. God is gently guiding me through all the twists and turns in a way I've never experienced before. He has given me a new calm, and an incredible peace as I walk with Him.
Just yesterday, I recieved a call from a mother of one of my past students informing me that her daughter had passed away the evening before. We all knew it was coming, those of us who knew this beautiful young life, was touched by her sweetness and zest for each day. Hardest of all was to watch the brain cancer and its treatment rob her of all we had come to see and love in her. Her mother gave me permission to share this news with the staff and with excruciating sadness, the wave overcame our school.
As I walked the campus, many young lives were sad, and God allowed me to come along side providing some of His comfort to them. It was as if He has prepared me for this part of my journey with His promise of hope, knowing that I will see KaSandra when He calls me home as He has her. It is an honor and privilege to walk in the comfort and grace of my Jesus, and I would be unable to provide strength in and of myself.
While watching people who knew her, and listening to the pains in their hearts, there is a distinct difference from those with a relationship with Christ and those whe have not yet found Him. We who trust His soveriegnty and fully know that there is an eternal life for us, while filled with emotion and pain, cling to the hope and promise of the life KaSandra now lives. We see her dancing in heaven freed from the anchor that weighed her soul as she valiantly battled her cancer here. If opportunity was taken, and careful observation made, one would see in her a courageous, noble heart, facing her struggles with dignity and incredible grace.
How interesting it is that one can learn volumes from such a young life. How to cherish each moment, live it with gusto and fill it with laughter, be a real friend to friends, a phenominal student to her teachers and truly the most beautiful of daughters to her mom; and yet, for me, all of this aligns with the deep and powerful work that is being wrought out in my life by the hand of God. He didn't allow me to say good by to KaSandra, but He has placed in me her smile, her zest for life, and most importantly her love for her Savior.
I found myself singing in strength in struggle while in Croatia, and it has come home with me here, back into my own world with verve and power. Drinking deeply in the pain of life, as well as feasting on the monumental joys I walk with Him knowing that He will provide all we need in and through every moment. An incredible peace washes over my soul every day and I know it isn't the jet lag, or my incoherence due to it. It is the gift of my Savior and the Holy Spirit dripping over my life with His love, now spread on those He brings my way to touch with His fingers, and hold with His arms. It is a gift each of us could have, could share, and could bless others with.
Will you join me in carrying the torch of Christ to the souls desperately in need? I feel its time to let Christ transform our world, in most of us, and as He continues to do humbly within me. Lets join Him in the cause of His kingdom and fan into flames the warmth of His glory.
My mind rushes back to a time, when talking with Andrea, a caretaker at the hospital I provide musical therapy at, of her sharing that even after purchasing the coffee and the means to prepare it in Croatia, it just doesn't taste nearly the same. For her, it was the coffee, for me, it is the eggs.
It is impossible to 'explain' the difference, just as it is impossible to explain the delicate difference between a life fully submitted to Christ, and one mostly submitted to Him. I find myself now in a place where my experience in Croatia crashes into my daily experience here, and I mean crash at highway speeds. With my body clock rocked, my intestines a bit of a mess, I find that my work a day world is also filled with challenge as well. Now before anyone rush to my rescue and think I am falling apart, neigh, I am far from that. God is gently guiding me through all the twists and turns in a way I've never experienced before. He has given me a new calm, and an incredible peace as I walk with Him.
Just yesterday, I recieved a call from a mother of one of my past students informing me that her daughter had passed away the evening before. We all knew it was coming, those of us who knew this beautiful young life, was touched by her sweetness and zest for each day. Hardest of all was to watch the brain cancer and its treatment rob her of all we had come to see and love in her. Her mother gave me permission to share this news with the staff and with excruciating sadness, the wave overcame our school.
As I walked the campus, many young lives were sad, and God allowed me to come along side providing some of His comfort to them. It was as if He has prepared me for this part of my journey with His promise of hope, knowing that I will see KaSandra when He calls me home as He has her. It is an honor and privilege to walk in the comfort and grace of my Jesus, and I would be unable to provide strength in and of myself.
While watching people who knew her, and listening to the pains in their hearts, there is a distinct difference from those with a relationship with Christ and those whe have not yet found Him. We who trust His soveriegnty and fully know that there is an eternal life for us, while filled with emotion and pain, cling to the hope and promise of the life KaSandra now lives. We see her dancing in heaven freed from the anchor that weighed her soul as she valiantly battled her cancer here. If opportunity was taken, and careful observation made, one would see in her a courageous, noble heart, facing her struggles with dignity and incredible grace.
How interesting it is that one can learn volumes from such a young life. How to cherish each moment, live it with gusto and fill it with laughter, be a real friend to friends, a phenominal student to her teachers and truly the most beautiful of daughters to her mom; and yet, for me, all of this aligns with the deep and powerful work that is being wrought out in my life by the hand of God. He didn't allow me to say good by to KaSandra, but He has placed in me her smile, her zest for life, and most importantly her love for her Savior.
I found myself singing in strength in struggle while in Croatia, and it has come home with me here, back into my own world with verve and power. Drinking deeply in the pain of life, as well as feasting on the monumental joys I walk with Him knowing that He will provide all we need in and through every moment. An incredible peace washes over my soul every day and I know it isn't the jet lag, or my incoherence due to it. It is the gift of my Savior and the Holy Spirit dripping over my life with His love, now spread on those He brings my way to touch with His fingers, and hold with His arms. It is a gift each of us could have, could share, and could bless others with.
Will you join me in carrying the torch of Christ to the souls desperately in need? I feel its time to let Christ transform our world, in most of us, and as He continues to do humbly within me. Lets join Him in the cause of His kingdom and fan into flames the warmth of His glory.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Decompress Re-Compass
I have been hearing it regularly, in just the past few days, flowing sweetly from the tongues of friends and strangers who have been following this blog about our trip to Croatia. There is a deep appreciation for the words chosen to post, connecting our souls together.
I always embark on my expeditions with my camera fully poised to picture the moments of magic and beauty of the experience, yet while I return with well over a thousand images, I find my heart and soul more drawn to my blog than revisiting the images. One of my dear friends familiar with my writing has told me that this trip has done something to transform my writing into something much deeper than before.
Decompression, required by the diver's body with the bends (caisson disease),takes time, tricking the body into thinking it is back at depth by increasing the surrounding evironment of air, back to the resembling the great pressure of the seas, shrinking nitrogen's bubbly balloons within the body. Failure to do so causes a rapid death. Once the body is 'back at depth' only a slow and lonely, time consuming process, gradually reducing the pressure will allow the body to deal with the excess nitrogen until it can remain in balanced levels within.
I found myself now in the throws of the bends without the ability to return to depth, until I finally remembered my many musings poured out onto my netbook as I was in the throws of the depths of my dive. My mind started diving into the many things I had captured, including a recording of the church service we attended the morning after our arrival. I need time to listen, time to decompress and re-compass my life following such an amazingly complex dive.
My compass for life was being set for personally uncharted waters with uncharted depths. The more I muse and munch on the morsels of my expereince, the more I find that my life has been re-compassed. My old compass was that of a seeker, looking and sailing towards God, yet it seems that He has given me a new compass, one that seeks the uncovering of His glory through the lives of the people He places around me. It is a refined compass calling me to a refined heart of service. All the waters before me now lie uncharted, as they were before, yet I have a new tool of confidence to move ahead. This new compass will lead me in new ways to see the hand of God no longer through His word alone, but through the lives allows me to share in this voyage, a sort of living word. Is not His word, the Bible, filled with the accounts of the interaction between God and His people and the people and their God? Did this testimony stop once the final pens were put down? Is not God at work today, in our lives as He was even then?
It may take weeks, even months for me to decompress and walk my re-compassed life. I believe my blog will be a vital part of this decompression time, revisiting, reliving, reexamining, all while continuing to explore the newly uncharted waters ahead.
My prayer for all who engage with me on this voyage, walk into each day, with a new sense of seeing, seeking, and serving our Lord of grace, compassion and majesty, as we walk together with Him.
I always embark on my expeditions with my camera fully poised to picture the moments of magic and beauty of the experience, yet while I return with well over a thousand images, I find my heart and soul more drawn to my blog than revisiting the images. One of my dear friends familiar with my writing has told me that this trip has done something to transform my writing into something much deeper than before.
Decompression, required by the diver's body with the bends (caisson disease),takes time, tricking the body into thinking it is back at depth by increasing the surrounding evironment of air, back to the resembling the great pressure of the seas, shrinking nitrogen's bubbly balloons within the body. Failure to do so causes a rapid death. Once the body is 'back at depth' only a slow and lonely, time consuming process, gradually reducing the pressure will allow the body to deal with the excess nitrogen until it can remain in balanced levels within.
I found myself now in the throws of the bends without the ability to return to depth, until I finally remembered my many musings poured out onto my netbook as I was in the throws of the depths of my dive. My mind started diving into the many things I had captured, including a recording of the church service we attended the morning after our arrival. I need time to listen, time to decompress and re-compass my life following such an amazingly complex dive.
My compass for life was being set for personally uncharted waters with uncharted depths. The more I muse and munch on the morsels of my expereince, the more I find that my life has been re-compassed. My old compass was that of a seeker, looking and sailing towards God, yet it seems that He has given me a new compass, one that seeks the uncovering of His glory through the lives of the people He places around me. It is a refined compass calling me to a refined heart of service. All the waters before me now lie uncharted, as they were before, yet I have a new tool of confidence to move ahead. This new compass will lead me in new ways to see the hand of God no longer through His word alone, but through the lives allows me to share in this voyage, a sort of living word. Is not His word, the Bible, filled with the accounts of the interaction between God and His people and the people and their God? Did this testimony stop once the final pens were put down? Is not God at work today, in our lives as He was even then?
It may take weeks, even months for me to decompress and walk my re-compassed life. I believe my blog will be a vital part of this decompression time, revisiting, reliving, reexamining, all while continuing to explore the newly uncharted waters ahead.
My prayer for all who engage with me on this voyage, walk into each day, with a new sense of seeing, seeking, and serving our Lord of grace, compassion and majesty, as we walk together with Him.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Reentry, Rest and Revisiting...
It will take time to reenter back into our culture and just the touching, seeing, and holding all the things that filled our lives before we left, brings great refreshment to a wandering, weary, wistful soul. For some of us, it will be a quick turnaround, back into the routine, starting off where we were when we left, but, we will be inserted into that routine with a piece of the transformation that has shaped our last nine days. As I said in an earlier blog, the tales, the purpose and the unfolding of the details to you, our dear prayer partners and friends, will slowly be consumed and digested much like a bagel, a bite at a time. For if we were to share with you by shoving it all into your mouths, you would neither enjoy or be able to take it all in, being choked by the overtaking fullness of salivary glands trying to catch up to an overstuffed mouth.
So, together, patiently, we will unfold with you, bit by bit, piece by piece, the overwhelmingly trans-formative power of the trip God has led us through. Even as I sit here drinking my cup of Cafe Hrvatska, I come to realize that though I purchased the exact coffee we enjoyed every morning, while drinking it here, on my dining room table, in what was my usual setting, the coffee does not taste exactly the same as it did in the quiet of the great meeting room alone with my Lord. His presence, is still here, but somehow, the different air, the lack of my Croatian surroundings recolors everything I do, remember and enjoy from our trip.
It was fun watching Kent and Cheri enjoy my Croatian beer battered fish taco creation with Mexican rice and attempt at refried beans assisted by sous-chefs Stuart and Lauri. The taste of home and something long ago remembered, brought a balm of comfort to weary souls (especially Kent and Cheri) who have given up so much of their comfort to enter into a whole other world in the name of Jesus Christ. Just as now my cup of Croatian coffee reaches into what was once my every day routine, both are relished with deep sweetness and an overwhelming sense of the cost of serving Christ.
Do you get it? Have you been hearing a tug from our Lord to open your eyes to see that the adventure with God is challenging? But nothing, absolutely nothing is more powerfully revealing of His hand, into and from our lives, into the lives of others on this blessed journey. I left a part of my heart there with Kent and Cheri, Jill and Hervoje, Niki and Trent, Denny and the rest of the church, the rest of the people, and the entire nation of Croatia. A part of their hearts are now found in mine, a transforming flame for the life that Christ has set inside me, inside each of us.
God reminds us through Paul that worshiping Him requires us to lay down our bodies as a living sacrifice in Romans 12:1. He states:
Ro 12:1 Therefore, I urgently encourage you, brothers, in view of the powerful transformation of God’s mercy placed into your lives, that you completely surrender your bodies, your beliefs, your expectations, your hopes and dreams, as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this being your spiritual act of worship to He who has redeemed and restored and even created all that you are. (emphasis added by author).
This trip was not only intended for the nine of us who physically stepped onto the airplanes, stepping off into a foreign land, living briefly there, meeting some incredibly faithful ones who have done exactly what Paul encourages all of us to do, but also for you; all of you who read this blog, and examine our hearts now having gone and returned as part of our team.
I pray that God will soon allow me to return, or that He might indeed ask my stunning bride and I to go into the ends of the earth for Him, but only time will tell if that is His will. For now, I have been given a glorious gift from those in Croatia, and from those who went with me, pouring themselves into my life as I walked a difficult road there, without my dearly beloved Carrie.
God has miraculously restored my nearly ruined heart of ten years ago back health. He has indeed healed my heart, both physically and spiritually. He has shaped this heart with a tenderness I often find uncomfortable as a man, yet I am grateful that I allow my heart to be moved, deeply moved, by the stuff of life and living for my glorious Savior. I am thankful that He continues to take me through very dark and difficult times, etching within me His fingerprints as I walk weakly through the turnstiles in life that He leads me through.
There is only one way to transform a nation bent on destruction. To be, live and do the life poured out before our Savior. It will cost us our lives, but in the end bring the restorative, absolutely transforming power of God into the hearts of many who are lost; looking for hope, looking for eternal rest and purpose. Looking for the kingdom that will not perish, though their bodies will.
It is time for all of us to stand and find courage to live, fully live, what we know is truth. Who we know will bring it to our world, and rescue those who we cross in our daily lives, not only on foreign soils, but in the hearts of people here, on familiar soils with hearts of foreigners for they know not of the kingdom where they belong. Before this trip, I could have gone through life, without a care for Croatia and its people. But I return knowing that God wants their hearts, as He does the hearts of my connections here in my community. The mission is exactly the same, wherever He puts us, wherever He takes us, with whomever He allows to cross our paths.
This journey was for you too. You who are now linked with our hearts. You who are our friends and now will be connected to Kent and Cheri, Hervoje and Jill, Trent and Niki, and a host of those who have been called to Croatia, as well as to the people. We took our trinkets of life here to the people and leaders God has called there. We brought home our trinkets as monuments of our time with the people, for as we reenter, rest and revisit from time to time our great adventure of bringing more of Christ to Croatia. Now the question remains...Where and how will we continue to invest the more valuable gifts of God into the hearts of those around us now, where we are, and as He leads us? As we reenter, find rest, and continue to relive all that has been revealed to us on this trip, our prayer is that all of Croatia, all of our friends and family here at home, will connect deeply to the call Christ has placed within each of our hearts connected along this journey we call life. For He is the life, and our lives are to be His.
So, together, patiently, we will unfold with you, bit by bit, piece by piece, the overwhelmingly trans-formative power of the trip God has led us through. Even as I sit here drinking my cup of Cafe Hrvatska, I come to realize that though I purchased the exact coffee we enjoyed every morning, while drinking it here, on my dining room table, in what was my usual setting, the coffee does not taste exactly the same as it did in the quiet of the great meeting room alone with my Lord. His presence, is still here, but somehow, the different air, the lack of my Croatian surroundings recolors everything I do, remember and enjoy from our trip.
It was fun watching Kent and Cheri enjoy my Croatian beer battered fish taco creation with Mexican rice and attempt at refried beans assisted by sous-chefs Stuart and Lauri. The taste of home and something long ago remembered, brought a balm of comfort to weary souls (especially Kent and Cheri) who have given up so much of their comfort to enter into a whole other world in the name of Jesus Christ. Just as now my cup of Croatian coffee reaches into what was once my every day routine, both are relished with deep sweetness and an overwhelming sense of the cost of serving Christ.
Do you get it? Have you been hearing a tug from our Lord to open your eyes to see that the adventure with God is challenging? But nothing, absolutely nothing is more powerfully revealing of His hand, into and from our lives, into the lives of others on this blessed journey. I left a part of my heart there with Kent and Cheri, Jill and Hervoje, Niki and Trent, Denny and the rest of the church, the rest of the people, and the entire nation of Croatia. A part of their hearts are now found in mine, a transforming flame for the life that Christ has set inside me, inside each of us.
God reminds us through Paul that worshiping Him requires us to lay down our bodies as a living sacrifice in Romans 12:1. He states:
Ro 12:1 Therefore, I urgently encourage you, brothers, in view of the powerful transformation of God’s mercy placed into your lives, that you completely surrender your bodies, your beliefs, your expectations, your hopes and dreams, as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this being your spiritual act of worship to He who has redeemed and restored and even created all that you are. (emphasis added by author).
This trip was not only intended for the nine of us who physically stepped onto the airplanes, stepping off into a foreign land, living briefly there, meeting some incredibly faithful ones who have done exactly what Paul encourages all of us to do, but also for you; all of you who read this blog, and examine our hearts now having gone and returned as part of our team.
I pray that God will soon allow me to return, or that He might indeed ask my stunning bride and I to go into the ends of the earth for Him, but only time will tell if that is His will. For now, I have been given a glorious gift from those in Croatia, and from those who went with me, pouring themselves into my life as I walked a difficult road there, without my dearly beloved Carrie.
God has miraculously restored my nearly ruined heart of ten years ago back health. He has indeed healed my heart, both physically and spiritually. He has shaped this heart with a tenderness I often find uncomfortable as a man, yet I am grateful that I allow my heart to be moved, deeply moved, by the stuff of life and living for my glorious Savior. I am thankful that He continues to take me through very dark and difficult times, etching within me His fingerprints as I walk weakly through the turnstiles in life that He leads me through.
There is only one way to transform a nation bent on destruction. To be, live and do the life poured out before our Savior. It will cost us our lives, but in the end bring the restorative, absolutely transforming power of God into the hearts of many who are lost; looking for hope, looking for eternal rest and purpose. Looking for the kingdom that will not perish, though their bodies will.
It is time for all of us to stand and find courage to live, fully live, what we know is truth. Who we know will bring it to our world, and rescue those who we cross in our daily lives, not only on foreign soils, but in the hearts of people here, on familiar soils with hearts of foreigners for they know not of the kingdom where they belong. Before this trip, I could have gone through life, without a care for Croatia and its people. But I return knowing that God wants their hearts, as He does the hearts of my connections here in my community. The mission is exactly the same, wherever He puts us, wherever He takes us, with whomever He allows to cross our paths.
This journey was for you too. You who are now linked with our hearts. You who are our friends and now will be connected to Kent and Cheri, Hervoje and Jill, Trent and Niki, and a host of those who have been called to Croatia, as well as to the people. We took our trinkets of life here to the people and leaders God has called there. We brought home our trinkets as monuments of our time with the people, for as we reenter, rest and revisit from time to time our great adventure of bringing more of Christ to Croatia. Now the question remains...Where and how will we continue to invest the more valuable gifts of God into the hearts of those around us now, where we are, and as He leads us? As we reenter, find rest, and continue to relive all that has been revealed to us on this trip, our prayer is that all of Croatia, all of our friends and family here at home, will connect deeply to the call Christ has placed within each of our hearts connected along this journey we call life. For He is the life, and our lives are to be His.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Of Weaving and Leaving
As we prepare to come home, our minds are flooded and filled with the myriad of experience, interactions, excursions, and living the life of Americans in Croatia, with an additional twist. And the twist is on us. Probably everyone of us came with expectations and dreams of what this week would be like, and most assuradly, very few of us have encountered the experience we expected. This process is so extraordinarily deep, so life changing that it will take a while to process, and a while to share with each of you, our individual journeys.
What can be shared in the brevity of a blog is that nine people shared nine days of their lives together, with many incredibly grace filled, God inspired people, who themselves have a heart of obedience to Jesus Christ. There is no other way to understand the heart of a ministry to a people than to visit and walk in the shoes of the called, even if only for a very, very brief time.
The complexities of life, living, and laughing and, yes crying are all part of the tapestry that is the journey. We have been the threads attached to the shuttle cock of the Master's loom. Examine it too close and you will not see the beauty of this part of the weave He has put in the tapestry, but understand that in time, all it's beauty, all its vibrant colors will remain as a testimony of the trip of a lifetime. Not because of the beautiful place our Lord has brought us to, not because of the wonderful hosts and leaders of His cause here, but because we each have allowed ourselves to be woven into this glorious part of His tapestry.
It is my belief that this blog will not end here. Neigh, it is just the start of what should prove to be a longer, more complete tapestry. Rest assured. Nine people have walked the sands of Croatian beaches, the cobbles of Croatian streets and walkways. Nine people have visited coffee shops, ate in restaurants, helped in English classes, walked and stood where believers were slaughtered as entertainment, visited with other believers, and worked with all their hearts as unto the Lord. And it is becuase He is faithful, He will reap the harvest of those He chooses to call. Our prayers are for the nation of Croatia, that hope will rise up in the hearts of its people. Not an empty hope, but one of eternal benefit, eternal peace.
Surely God is doing His great work here. Surely His glory shines on these people. We have seen it for ourselves, now being woven with them. While we are leaving, no one can take away the weaving God has worked into His tapestry for His glory.
What can be shared in the brevity of a blog is that nine people shared nine days of their lives together, with many incredibly grace filled, God inspired people, who themselves have a heart of obedience to Jesus Christ. There is no other way to understand the heart of a ministry to a people than to visit and walk in the shoes of the called, even if only for a very, very brief time.
The complexities of life, living, and laughing and, yes crying are all part of the tapestry that is the journey. We have been the threads attached to the shuttle cock of the Master's loom. Examine it too close and you will not see the beauty of this part of the weave He has put in the tapestry, but understand that in time, all it's beauty, all its vibrant colors will remain as a testimony of the trip of a lifetime. Not because of the beautiful place our Lord has brought us to, not because of the wonderful hosts and leaders of His cause here, but because we each have allowed ourselves to be woven into this glorious part of His tapestry.
It is my belief that this blog will not end here. Neigh, it is just the start of what should prove to be a longer, more complete tapestry. Rest assured. Nine people have walked the sands of Croatian beaches, the cobbles of Croatian streets and walkways. Nine people have visited coffee shops, ate in restaurants, helped in English classes, walked and stood where believers were slaughtered as entertainment, visited with other believers, and worked with all their hearts as unto the Lord. And it is becuase He is faithful, He will reap the harvest of those He chooses to call. Our prayers are for the nation of Croatia, that hope will rise up in the hearts of its people. Not an empty hope, but one of eternal benefit, eternal peace.
Surely God is doing His great work here. Surely His glory shines on these people. We have seen it for ourselves, now being woven with them. While we are leaving, no one can take away the weaving God has worked into His tapestry for His glory.
Transforming Trip
God has blessed me with eyes to see into the lives of people and honed these eyes while on this trip. I am not at liberty to share my understandings of Christ working in each heart, but you can speak to each of us to discover that which they percieve He has started within their hearts from this trip. What I am at liberty to share is my overall perceptions and thoughts as He has worked in me and through us as a team.
Steven Curtis Chapman sings a song about seeing the fingerprints of God on us, and nothing seems to say it better than that. On this trip, I have seen God's fingerprints covering the lives of our team, and I have seen each member of our team leave their fingerprints (who God has made us into) on this place and people, including the hearts of our host, Kent and Cheri.
We have come here to live and walk amidst the hearts of Croatians and our host, but mostly to do so along side of our Savior. When I spoke of the 'sweetness' of building a team, working as a team, coming as a team and living as a team, I have come to discover that the pastries here are not nearly as sweet and the ones we have at home, but the love of Christ rising in the hearts in each of us here has added incredible sweetness to our hearts as we work and live together. You see, sweetness comes in many ways, and there are many ways to 'taste' it.
How often, in the busyness of life, we relegate our lives to experience only the tangible, natural sweetness our tastebuds can experience. While it may temporarily satisfy our desire for such pleasure, it is only a temporary cure, even a mask of the true and deeper sweetness that our Lord wants to invest into us; the sweetness that can only be tasted with spiritual tongues, and enticed with spiritual eyes.
Can you see it? Can you taste it? Do you long for more of it? Again I say, oh taste and see that the Lord is good! There is NOTHING of richer sweetness than the presence of God, working in, amoung and through His people.
Steven Curtis Chapman sings a song about seeing the fingerprints of God on us, and nothing seems to say it better than that. On this trip, I have seen God's fingerprints covering the lives of our team, and I have seen each member of our team leave their fingerprints (who God has made us into) on this place and people, including the hearts of our host, Kent and Cheri.
We have come here to live and walk amidst the hearts of Croatians and our host, but mostly to do so along side of our Savior. When I spoke of the 'sweetness' of building a team, working as a team, coming as a team and living as a team, I have come to discover that the pastries here are not nearly as sweet and the ones we have at home, but the love of Christ rising in the hearts in each of us here has added incredible sweetness to our hearts as we work and live together. You see, sweetness comes in many ways, and there are many ways to 'taste' it.
How often, in the busyness of life, we relegate our lives to experience only the tangible, natural sweetness our tastebuds can experience. While it may temporarily satisfy our desire for such pleasure, it is only a temporary cure, even a mask of the true and deeper sweetness that our Lord wants to invest into us; the sweetness that can only be tasted with spiritual tongues, and enticed with spiritual eyes.
Can you see it? Can you taste it? Do you long for more of it? Again I say, oh taste and see that the Lord is good! There is NOTHING of richer sweetness than the presence of God, working in, amoung and through His people.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Partners in Prayer...
To our dear sweet partners who have held us up this week, we have yet another favor to ask. Tonight we will host a party at Inspirata. It will be a coffee bar with light snacks, music and games! We are hoping that many here will want to spend a bit more time with us before we finish our week. The glory of our Lord has truly filled this place! Now we would love for His glory to fill the people with whom we've spent some time with here.
This is a mighty work! He is a mighty God. Please ask Him to bless our time together tonight and that people would strangely be pulled to and follow through on that pull to drive themselves here (and it would be a miraculous feat at over $4 a liter for lousy gas). None the less, we have seen plenty of miracles here this week, all of which were unexpected. How sweet it would be to have an large, unexpected crowd of curious Croatians here tonight.
Thank you again for your prayers and we'll watch as the glory of our Lord unfolds before us!!
This is a mighty work! He is a mighty God. Please ask Him to bless our time together tonight and that people would strangely be pulled to and follow through on that pull to drive themselves here (and it would be a miraculous feat at over $4 a liter for lousy gas). None the less, we have seen plenty of miracles here this week, all of which were unexpected. How sweet it would be to have an large, unexpected crowd of curious Croatians here tonight.
Thank you again for your prayers and we'll watch as the glory of our Lord unfolds before us!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Much Needed Update...
I would like to appologize for not updating the blog recently. I have been violently intestinally ill and slowly recovering, finaly figuring out that it was the lack of protein in my diet and lack of regularity of eating that has set my body off. Finally, now, I am back on track.
I was unable to go to Bosnia because of my illness, but Stuart did an excellen job recording some images for me, and I will post them as soon as I find some time to edit them and place them on my Facebook or a few on the blog. I have placed numerous images on my Facebook page, and if you are not a friend of mine and want to see the pictures, look me up.
What has been fun for us, is trying to use our Croatian in the marketplace and in restaurants. Julie is by far the the most outgoing of our group and having a great time impressing the Croatians with her Hrvatski. It was fun to watch Peter (prounounced Pate-er) our waiter warm up to us as Julie launched in to her Hrvatski with me following suit. The restaurant was not crowded and Peter took the time to talk with us, as we found out more about he and the surrounding area. He went out of his way to give us excellent service and even calculated Julie's bill into U.S. dollars as payment for her check. Peter stopped by our table more often than he did the others and really enjoyed our presence there. It was warm, and engaging, especially with the heaters going in the cave like outdoor section of the restaurant.
While it takes time to build relationships with Croatians, some, especially the public workers seem to appreciate our being here, and go out of their way to make sure we are finding what we need. Whenever we get 'stuck' in our limited Croatian, they find one of the employees who can help us. Whenever we don't understand how the store works (like finding the 'number' of the fruit, veggie or nuts we are purchaseing, going over to the scale, typing it in and printing out the label) they gracefully assist us with it all.
Initially, it seems so overwhelming. Everything is new. Everything is different. We find ourselves trying to figure out which is the mustard, which is the mayonaise and catsup (they all come in tubes here). Foods and food containers are all different. Just going grocery shopping is a new challenge. But we are finding our way. We are learning much about Croatia and Croatian way of life. We are getting a taste of being a stranger in a strange land, and growing because of the experience. It will take weeks to process all that we have experienced in such a short time here.
I was unable to go to Bosnia because of my illness, but Stuart did an excellen job recording some images for me, and I will post them as soon as I find some time to edit them and place them on my Facebook or a few on the blog. I have placed numerous images on my Facebook page, and if you are not a friend of mine and want to see the pictures, look me up.
What has been fun for us, is trying to use our Croatian in the marketplace and in restaurants. Julie is by far the the most outgoing of our group and having a great time impressing the Croatians with her Hrvatski. It was fun to watch Peter (prounounced Pate-er) our waiter warm up to us as Julie launched in to her Hrvatski with me following suit. The restaurant was not crowded and Peter took the time to talk with us, as we found out more about he and the surrounding area. He went out of his way to give us excellent service and even calculated Julie's bill into U.S. dollars as payment for her check. Peter stopped by our table more often than he did the others and really enjoyed our presence there. It was warm, and engaging, especially with the heaters going in the cave like outdoor section of the restaurant.
While it takes time to build relationships with Croatians, some, especially the public workers seem to appreciate our being here, and go out of their way to make sure we are finding what we need. Whenever we get 'stuck' in our limited Croatian, they find one of the employees who can help us. Whenever we don't understand how the store works (like finding the 'number' of the fruit, veggie or nuts we are purchaseing, going over to the scale, typing it in and printing out the label) they gracefully assist us with it all.
Initially, it seems so overwhelming. Everything is new. Everything is different. We find ourselves trying to figure out which is the mustard, which is the mayonaise and catsup (they all come in tubes here). Foods and food containers are all different. Just going grocery shopping is a new challenge. But we are finding our way. We are learning much about Croatia and Croatian way of life. We are getting a taste of being a stranger in a strange land, and growing because of the experience. It will take weeks to process all that we have experienced in such a short time here.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Cultural Connections
Our time together here passes slowly, much like the culture and way of the people. It is a refreshing change for those of us who usually have packed schedules and too much to do. Not that there aren't things to do here, but down time is available and today's walk around the island and wonderful gourmet lunch was incredible!!! For those of you expecting images of our meal, sorry, I didn't take my camera. Yes, you heard right, I didn't take my camera!
One of the things that has been impressed upon my heart is my need to 'let go' of some of the things which tend to clutter up my experience here. There is a time for capturing in more permanent ways trinkets to jog the memory and times to take and carry only the memories. What I found interesting is the whole time we were there, the experience was so rich, that I really wanted images and only images could do our experience justice. Yet I was relegated to watch others capture the time with their cameras. An interesting juxtaposition for me. In many ways, though, I was unable to 'hide' behind my camera and engaged in deeper conversation without the peppering distraction of 'photographic' moments.
What has been good for us is having the time to 'drink' in the culture, and build stronger cultural connections. It is amazing how, in such a short time, we have moved from wading in the pool, to swimming in the deep end. We are buying some of our food and cooking some in our rooms here, and that interaction has pushed us into the community, going through some of the same experiences Kent and Cheri went through when they were first here. Everywhere we go, we catch the gaze of the people around us as obviously we look like tourists. The good weather for the past few days have the people out and about with us in their midst.
Last night Lauri, and Jeanelle and Eileen worked with Cheri and three students in the school of English. Tonight, Brian, Eileen and Bob will work with Cheri and a few students. Stuart, Jen and Lauren will work in a later class with Hervoje. We are learning and doing, coming along side with them. Julie and Stuart are also meeting with Hrvoje to plan for working with college students in his English class.
He is excited to have native speakers working with him.
Tomorrow, some of us will be traveling to Bosnia where there will be snow and much colder conditins. We will be visiting with Trent and Niki exploring their work reaching out to the people with education in health and welfare. Stuart, Lauren and Bob will be leaving early to come home and help Dennis with a gathering of college students. He wants us to add our music talents with him, and have Bob share his testimony with them.
We are thrilled to be working together, meeting people and discovering more about their lives here, walking the street and eating in restaurants making wonderful cultural connections.
One of the things that has been impressed upon my heart is my need to 'let go' of some of the things which tend to clutter up my experience here. There is a time for capturing in more permanent ways trinkets to jog the memory and times to take and carry only the memories. What I found interesting is the whole time we were there, the experience was so rich, that I really wanted images and only images could do our experience justice. Yet I was relegated to watch others capture the time with their cameras. An interesting juxtaposition for me. In many ways, though, I was unable to 'hide' behind my camera and engaged in deeper conversation without the peppering distraction of 'photographic' moments.
What has been good for us is having the time to 'drink' in the culture, and build stronger cultural connections. It is amazing how, in such a short time, we have moved from wading in the pool, to swimming in the deep end. We are buying some of our food and cooking some in our rooms here, and that interaction has pushed us into the community, going through some of the same experiences Kent and Cheri went through when they were first here. Everywhere we go, we catch the gaze of the people around us as obviously we look like tourists. The good weather for the past few days have the people out and about with us in their midst.
Last night Lauri, and Jeanelle and Eileen worked with Cheri and three students in the school of English. Tonight, Brian, Eileen and Bob will work with Cheri and a few students. Stuart, Jen and Lauren will work in a later class with Hervoje. We are learning and doing, coming along side with them. Julie and Stuart are also meeting with Hrvoje to plan for working with college students in his English class.
He is excited to have native speakers working with him.
Tomorrow, some of us will be traveling to Bosnia where there will be snow and much colder conditins. We will be visiting with Trent and Niki exploring their work reaching out to the people with education in health and welfare. Stuart, Lauren and Bob will be leaving early to come home and help Dennis with a gathering of college students. He wants us to add our music talents with him, and have Bob share his testimony with them.
We are thrilled to be working together, meeting people and discovering more about their lives here, walking the street and eating in restaurants making wonderful cultural connections.
Monday, March 15, 2010
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