tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43474866791465427982024-02-19T07:35:46.805+01:00Four For FranceThe adventures of the Williamson family as we live life and seek God together.Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.comBlogger861125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-32021489807692208142016-11-28T17:07:00.000+01:002016-11-28T17:10:03.239+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For the first day of Advent, I wanted to share a G K Chesterton poem with you. It is, in true Chesterton fashion, witty and deep and awe-inspiring. I'm using it as a source of contemplation this Christmas season. May his words touch your heart, mind, and soul, and help you to marvel anew at the wonder of the incarnation.<br />
<br />
<h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">GLORIA IN PROFUNDIS</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There has fallen on earth for a token<br />A god too great for the sky.<br />He has burst out of all things and broken<br />The bounds of eternity:<br />Into time and the terminal land<br />He has strayed like a thief or a lover,<br />For the wine of the world brims over,<br />Its splendour is spilt on the sand.<br /><br />Who is proud when the heavens are humble,<br />Who mounts if the mountains fall,<br />If the fixed stars topple and tumble<br />And a deluge of love drowns all-<br />Who rears up his head for a crown,<br />Who holds up his will for a warrant,<br />Who strives with the starry torrent,<br />When all that is good goes down?<br /><br />For in dread of such falling and failing<br />The fallen angels fell<br />Inverted in insolence, scaling<br />The hanging mountain of hell:<br />But unmeasured of plummet and rod<br />Too deep for their sight to scan,<br />Outrushing the fall of man<br />Is the height of the fall of God.<br /><br />Glory to God in the Lowest<br />The spout of the stars in spate-<br />Where thunderbolt thinks to be slowest<br />And the lightning fears to be late:<br />As men dive for sunken gem<br />Pursuing, we hunt and hound it,<br />The fallen star has found it<br />In the cavern of Bethlehem.<br /><br /> Gilbert Keith Chesterton</span></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-46339400853314632212016-11-05T10:47:00.000+01:002016-11-05T10:49:59.571+01:00Walking Out the One Anothers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are continually learning what it means to be the church. But the idea of living in community, for the sake of the community, is a good place to start.<br />
<br />
Easier said than done.<br />
<br />
We all like the idea of community. We have all seen what happens in those rare moments when a community rallies around a cause and "makes a difference." However, living in community--not just in times of great tragedy or in the wake of a disaster, but in day to day, ordinary, life--is a whole different ball game. And it is both harder and easier than I had imagined. It is also, I believe, the life to which we have been called.<br />
<br />
You know all of those "one anothers" in the Bible?<br />
<br />
Love one another<br />
<br />
Serve one another<br />
<br />
Submit to one another<br />
<br />
Encourage one another<br />
<br />
Confess your sins to one another<br />
<br />
Pray for one another<br />
<br />
Be at peace with one another<br />
<br />
Wash one another's feet<br />
<br />
Be devoted to one another<br />
<br />
Accept one another<br />
<br />
Admonish one another<br />
<br />
Wait for one another<br />
<br />
Greet one another<br />
<br />
Bear one another's burdens<br />
<br />
Bear with one another<br />
<br />
Do not lie to one another<br />
<br />
Consider one another more important than yourselves<br />
<br />
Comfort one another<br />
<br />
Build up one another<br />
<br />
Seek after that which is good for one another<br />
<br />
Stimulate one another to love and good deeds<br />
<br />
Do not speak against one another<br />
<br />
Be hospitable to one another<br />
<br />
Have fellowship with one another<br />
<br />
Living in community provides daily opportunity for me to practice these things. I'm not talking about living in A community. We all do that. And that does provide opportunity to do these things as well. But I'm talking about living IN community.<br />
<br />
What's the difference? Three things: solidarity, proximity, and intentionality. We are not one family trying to do these things in our neighborhood. Instead, we have planted a small community of believers (2 families and 2 singles) within an existing community to BE the church in and for that community.<br />
<br />
Solidarity--we are a community of believers with a shared vision<br />
Proximity--we all live walking distance from each other and from the church<br />
Intentionality--we are taking these "one anothers" seriously in how we interact with each other and the broader community.<br />
<br />
There is so much talk and rhetoric out there in the world about what it means to be a person or a community of faith. But the God who came to dwell among us invites us to also be incarnate in our world, embodying all that He taught us. I'm pretty convinced that the world can not be reached through brilliant arguments and well worded statements of faith alone. I'm pretty convinced that unless and until we are embodying those arguments and statements, we are just clanging cymbals.<br />
<br />
The truth is, the lost people around me simply don't care about going to heaven or to hell. Such ideas are too foreign to their experience and world view. But when they see the "one anothers" being lived out in their midst--THAT, they want. And when I can simply explain that THAT is but a foretaste of heaven, the reality for which we were created, then I have something to share that they want to hear. Then the arguments have some merit. This is where effective evangelism is happening in our context.<br />
<br />
There is no one way or model for this to happen. So as I share a peek into how that is being played out here in Old Lyon, please do not think that I am saying that this is the only way. It is one way.<br />
<br />
In our desire to have a building that not only housed our weekly worship services and daily prayer meetings, but was open to the community all week long, we landed on the idea of opening a shared workspace facility, where we rent desks to self-employed or independent people in need of office space. From 8 am - 6 pm, M-F, the building functions as a Co-Working Venue. But from 7-7:45 am and 6-6:30 pm, M-F, we have prayer meetings in that same space. The people who rent space are invited (but certainly not required) to participate. But they understand that the space is shared with a church and that such activities will be part of the weekly rhythms. We also have our weekly services (called Happy Hour) at 5 pm on Sunday evenings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4pp14gNWhyXjZgwPMzo5n1zOrTLovc_qP3jA4ZQuIyf8SCOvSYjKfnRV0vrYjuIhjTW68H8px9UM_A6FNYm-jBmc2c35wUy-EZc_2eooJYet2W18PAa0jGKWT30-bvin4sxLPE_IQjU/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4pp14gNWhyXjZgwPMzo5n1zOrTLovc_qP3jA4ZQuIyf8SCOvSYjKfnRV0vrYjuIhjTW68H8px9UM_A6FNYm-jBmc2c35wUy-EZc_2eooJYet2W18PAa0jGKWT30-bvin4sxLPE_IQjU/s320/IMG_0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
No matter the day or the hour, we practice the "one anothers." There are four or five of us who are both church members and co-workers, and so as we go to the "office" to do our work (for me, sermon writing, conference prep, networking, coaching) we have the joy and privilege of interacting with our broader community on a day to day basis: loving, serving, speaking truth, sharing joy, practicing hospitality, spurring good deeds. We're living this stuff out both inside and outside of church walls because this church's walls extend into the community.<br />
<br />
Again, this is both easier and harder than I imagined it would be. Easier because it is organic. I am not having to contrive ways to interact with people from the community. I am not having to create "outreach" events or manipulate conversations. We live out our faith with those who work alongside us. But it's harder because I can't compartmentalize and there are no clear boundaries. Sometimes I don't want to "serve one another" (i.e. clean the office) or "have fellowship with one another" (i.e. stop my work to engage in a meaningful conversation). And I am finding myself faced with how challenging these "one anothers" are if we actually try to live them out in our regular daily lives.<br />
<br />
But when we get it right...oh the beauty and the rapture we experience. God is present all the time, but there is a sense of His manifest presence among us when we live this out by His strength and for His glory.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIB_MeUv8xHVOw_KbEeWXu4BONiV1oACHM35gRt-0IkzUoQf9otqD16YO8995zfjSnOCc6luDW0LELV4B6oeZdVNHPjr-1Nod3VWugkgun-IlZoXLK6s4SZvmFM8d5OR-MNj7cqCd3QU/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIB_MeUv8xHVOw_KbEeWXu4BONiV1oACHM35gRt-0IkzUoQf9otqD16YO8995zfjSnOCc6luDW0LELV4B6oeZdVNHPjr-1Nod3VWugkgun-IlZoXLK6s4SZvmFM8d5OR-MNj7cqCd3QU/s320/IMG_0152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Yesterday was one of those days for me. But since this post is getting a bit long, I'll save that story for another day. </div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-8058897058097791782016-10-25T12:00:00.005+02:002016-10-26T09:34:20.436+02:00What's Chasing You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">And my God will meet all your needs</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29462AB" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29462AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> according to the riches of his glory</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29462AC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29462AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 19</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Paul wrote these words to the Philippians, after they had sent him a financial gift. He knew that the gift he had received would have created needs for the Philippians--they had given out of poverty, not abundance. I imagine it was hard for Paul to accept such a gift. In fact, he might have been tempted to return it, except that he had great faith in God's generosity. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">ALL YOUR NEEDS</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">It's quite a promise. And as I was reflecting on this verse this morning, I was reminded of Psalm 23, which concludes with a similar sentiment.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Ps-23-6" id="en-NIV-14242" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; position: relative;">Surely your goodness and love<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-14242N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14242N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> will follow me</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-23-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">all the days of my life</span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The word that is translated "follow" is actually a hunting term that means to chase or pursue. In other words, the goodness of God--his love and his provision--are not things that I need to chase after, they are things that chase after me. Or as Matthew put it, they are simply '"added" to my life as I seek hard after God. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white;">But </span><span style="background-color: white;">seek first </span><span style="background-color: white;">His kingdom and His righteousness, and </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23316B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23316B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">all these things will be </span><span style="background-color: white;">added to you.</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Matthew 6:33</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I had to ask myself if I believe this promise that Paul makes to the Philippians. Do I chase after the blessings or the blesser? Because while it may seem that these two are connected, the pursuit of one will lead me in the opposite direction of the other. I cannot chase both.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If I chase the blessings, I may catch a few of them, but chances are I'll miss both the Kingdom and His righteousness. But if I chase the blesser, I will not only find the Kingdom, I'll find the King. And if I find the King, what else could I possibly need? Does a child starve when her dad is the King? Does she wander about in rags? Is she floundering through life without mission or pupose? Surely not! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, I chase the blessings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't really trust that God is enough, that Christ is sufficient, and that I will be satisfied in Him alone. I say I believe those things, but I live like I don't. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When finances are limited, I stop being generous. When time is limited, I stop being available. When positions are limited, I vie for a place. When options are limited, I lobby for my way. I spend my energy fighting for the things that Jesus gives away for free. As I chase these things, I am chased by worry, fear, and doubt--all of which tell me that I am never going to have enough, do enough, or be enough. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my pursuit of worldly riches, I am impoverished of the riches of his glory. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I pursue Jesus, all the rest is "added." The still waters and calm pastures. The paths of righteousness. The restoration of my soul. These are the things that are chasing me when I chase after the blesser instead of the blessings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So if you want to know what you are really chasing after, all you have to ask yourself is "What's chasing me?" Are you hounded by worry or overcome by peace? Are you running from scarcity or overtaken by abundance? Are you trying to escape isolation or drowning in love? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's chasing you?</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-16377931436199480472016-09-19T08:55:00.000+02:002016-09-19T10:01:26.199+02:00#spiritualadulting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB">Have
you seen the hashtag #adulting?</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB">Here is how "adulting" is
defined in the Urban Dictionary:</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #2c353c;">Adulting (v): to do
grown up things and hold responsibilities such as, a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent,
a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown ups.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But one has to ask the question, "Why has this
newly created verb become necessary?" My generation and my parents'
generation moved into adulthood without needing a verb to describe the process.
We did all that stuff (we still do!), but didn't consider it to be anything
special or unique. It was just what one did as one matured. These things wouldn't
have been worth mentioning and hashtagging on Facebook--if we had had Facebook,
that is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I found myself mocking the #adulting crowd, until I
realized that I am in a similar experience spiritually. Lately I've been having
the sense that God is asking me to grow up in my relationship with him. He's
asking me to become His friend, much in the way my young adult children (who
will always be my children) are becoming my friends as well. They can't stop
being my kids, but the relationship is certainly changing, maturing. And I
rather like it. Can I have the same the experience with with my Father, God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#spiritualadulting<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yep. That's what I'm calling it. It's time for me to
do grown up things and hold responsibilities in the Kingdom of God, God's
kicking me out of the nest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what does #spiritual adulting look like?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm still sort of figuring that out. But it certainly
means that my spiritual hissy fits and temper tantrums just aren't acceptable
anymore. It means that I can't shrink back and whine when there's work to be
done. If I'm hungry, I might just have to learn to cook. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But if I've learned to listen and obey, if I've tuned
my ears to the Shepherd's voice, if I've adapted to His Kingdom ways, then
shouldn't I become agile and adept at the work He intives me to do? Unlike
Gideon, who had to keep checking to make sure that he understood what God was
asking, God should now be able to direct me with the batting of His eye. A
sublte nudge, and I'm off to do what's being asked. Unlike the Corinthians and
Hebrews, who weren't ready for solid food, it's time that I cut my teeth on
some spiritual meat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, I'm finding that the Bible has a lot to say
about #spiritualadulting. But just like I assumed that #adulting was a natural
transition that required no special attention, I think that I imagined that
#spiritualadulting would happen naturally too. The Bible indicates otherwise.
In fact, Paul chides the Corinthians for refusing to move into spiritual
adulthood. It turns out that Neverland is actually more real than we thought.
Many life-long Christians are happy to be playing around, fighting Captain Hook
and swimming with mermaids, when God has clearly said that it's time to leave
the nursery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB">It's great to be a child of God. And I'll never stop
being his child, but it's time to stop my childish ways. God's calling me to
grow up. And I want to step up. </span>How about you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#spiritualadulting.
It's on. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-45235267067148268572016-09-09T17:44:00.002+02:002016-09-09T17:46:46.962+02:00Ten Totally Trivial Tidbits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Our renovations are almost complete, and the church building will be open and funcitoning soon! In fact, we are already having our daily prayer meetings in the building and Sunday we'll hold services there for the first time. WOOT WOOT!!</li>
<li>Tim Keller wrote a really great little tidbit about "Political Idolatry." If you find yourself using words like "fear" and "evil" when talking about politics or politicians, you might find it helpful. Or convicting. Here's a link: <a href="http://dailykeller.com/the-signs-of-political-idolatry/">http://dailykeller.com/the-signs-of-political-idolatry/</a></li>
<li>Things I don't like about having an empty nest: I miss my boys, I miss my boys, I miss my boys. And I have no "excuse" to make cookies. </li>
<li>Things I like about having an empty nest: No junkfood in the house because I can't use the excuse that I'm buying it for the boys (we're actually losing weight!) and total control of the TV (I'm making up for 20 years of no chick flicks).</li>
<li>True confession: I'm actually watching Star Trek, Next Generation on Netflix. Which probably 1) doesn't qualify as "chick" TV and 2) goes to show that I'm a lot nerdier without my boys around to keep me cool. </li>
<li>I have a new favorite game. It's called Caveman: The Quest for Fire. Only I don't own it and I can't get it in France. I'm hoping to get it next time I'm in the States. You get to hunt dinosaurs and invent baskets and scout out caves...yeah, well, it's better than it sounds. I promise.</li>
<li>Someday I might tell you what David and I got each other for our 24th wedding anniversary. But then again, I might not. Because everybody loves a little mystery.</li>
<li>It seems like everything I'm reading these days, both articles and books, is making reference to the Brothers Karamazov. Which I've never read. So, now I'm reading The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. It might take me the rest of the year.</li>
<li>Chandler is missing speaking French, so sometimes when we text each other we do it in French. </li>
<li>I'm totally struggling to come up with number TEN here. Oh! I know! I tried homemade toothpaste this week. It was made from turmeric and coconut oil and peppermint oil--which was a surprisigly pleasant taste! But the turmeric stains a white sink something awful when you spit it out, so I'm not sure I'll keep using the concoction. </li>
</ol>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-37793683967764471452016-08-29T18:35:00.000+02:002016-09-08T15:48:28.191+02:00Get Lost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Years (and years and years) ago I attend a class about how to share your faith. Rather than suggesting that we start with a Gospel presentation, the teacher said that we should begin by asking questions. Supposedly, as we probed the other persons' belief system, they themselves would begin to recognize that they were lost. The point was that we needed to help people recognize that they were "lost" before we could tell them how to be "found."<br />
<br />
In a sense, going to seminary has been doing a similar thing to me. It has been helping me get "lost."<br />
<br />
Since I was practically born on the second pew of a church, I've spent most of my life feeling "found." I knew what Christians believed. I knew what one must do to be saved. I knew how salvation had been wrought. I knew what the Bible said. I knew (basically) what the Bible meant. I was as found as found could be.<br />
<br />
Or so I thought.<br />
<br />
But class by class, things began to unravel. Questions--BIG questions--started looming large. Doubts moved in and set up house.<br />
<br />
I'm not alone. Thankfully, I have an amazing group of colleagues by my side, a cohort of ministers who are muddling through right along side of me. They challenge me, inspire me, undo me, nourish me, and comfort me. We have gone to the brink together.<br />
<br />
During one class, while peering out over a steep precipice of unknowns, one of my classmates became ashen. Noticing his fallen countenence, our professor asked, "What's wrong? What are you thinking?"<br />
<br />
To which my classmate replied, "I'm just wondering how in the world I'm going to preach this stuff to my church!"<br />
<br />
Our professor exploded, "DON'T PREACH THIS STUFF!!! This is just the stuff with which YOU must wrestle if you are ever to preach well."<br />
<br />
My professor wasn't advocating hiding essential doctrines or watering down the Gospel. He wasn't insinuating that your average everyday Christian doesn't have a genuine faith. He was simply reminding us that going to seminary is both a privilege and a responsibility. We are becoming theologians, guardians of orthodoxy for our generation. And as such, we better know what those who have gone before us thought, and how they arrived at their conclusions, and why (or if?) those conclusions matter. And frankly, that stuff is messy. I wish it were neat and tidy, but it just isn't. Because God entrusted His Good News to human beings, and He continues to do so.<br />
<br />
My professor's point was that we have to let the hard, confusing, difficult truths <i>inform </i>us. And then we have to let the Spirit <i>transform</i> us. Then, and only then, might we be ready to attempt to preach--and to handle His awesome Word of Truth with the dignity and respect it so deserves.<br />
<br />
This "informing and transforming" feels a lot like being lost. And yet...I have the sense that I am being found as well.<br />
<br />
I have found a profound respect for Christian orthodoxy.<br />
<br />
I have found a deeper sense of awe for the person of God.<br />
<br />
I have found a greater appreciation for the Scriptures.<br />
<br />
I have found a surer faith in a few Truths. I've discovered the essentials.<br />
<br />
I have found a genuine admiration for the broad and diverse family of God.<br />
<br />
And I'm learning that not all doubt is unhealthy. Some doubts keep me humble. Those doubts are gifts of grace.<br />
<br />
In the end, learning about God does not take the place of experiencing God. Knowing about Jesus is not the same thing as knowing Jesus. Believing in the Spirit is not that same thing as living in the Spirit. And if there's one thing all the questions and doubts have driven me to do, it's to cling to the One who saved me.<br />
<br />
In fact, I think of when Jesus healed the man who was born blind, and how everyone questioned the poor guy about HOW he was healed. He doesn't know how it happened. All he knows is, "I was blind, and now I see."<br />
<br />
Before seminary, my faith was full of answers. Now my faith is full of questions. But one thing I know: I was blind, and now I see.<br />
<br />
He found me, despite the doubts and questions.<br />
<br />
Jesus changes my life. Jesus makes me whole. Jesus fills my heart. Jesus gives me pupose. Jesus enables me to love. Jesus makes me holy.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure everyone must wrestle with the complexities of faith, but I'm sure that we all go through periods of doubt and questions. In those moments, I suppose we have to take our cue from Jacob, the Old Testament patriarch. We wrestle with God, but we don't let go. We might get wounded in the fight, but we hold on until the blessing comes.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-44755607739575871822016-08-22T15:18:00.000+02:002016-08-22T15:19:13.025+02:00Aisles, Empty Nest, and "I DO"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
August 22, 1992, I walked down an aisle to marry the man that I love.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYnJhIRao0hiOdajQUo7mpyy8b2wnYav4y-Q_y1YwrxIPS-shyphenhyphenpeyDAyOAY7Z5FAa-YFkl6PpGnJk9Bv2KFyHDXGXF7w9HCD8au_HyioZo0RdWibtJFikpRvSDV-4yad8dIxeAF21K04/s1600/Here+Comes+the+BRIDE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYnJhIRao0hiOdajQUo7mpyy8b2wnYav4y-Q_y1YwrxIPS-shyphenhyphenpeyDAyOAY7Z5FAa-YFkl6PpGnJk9Bv2KFyHDXGXF7w9HCD8au_HyioZo0RdWibtJFikpRvSDV-4yad8dIxeAF21K04/s320/Here+Comes+the+BRIDE.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today, August 22, 2016, exactly 24 years later, I watched another man that I love walk down another aisle--an airport corridor, actually, to head back to the States to begin his second year at Liberty University. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTdMMlEzdXaKBUX0bcFD4MNUiMbrbA_25DeZAHrCjCxYMOhtGr9nzU3wSL9kGkfNmTUt6Md5xBtaR4qzevq6gwzTO8km0I2bJMn8e_zzaWuYnCxmif_pS4RCtkJl-wZ-Faf6XkCXy8As/s1600/IMG_0061%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTdMMlEzdXaKBUX0bcFD4MNUiMbrbA_25DeZAHrCjCxYMOhtGr9nzU3wSL9kGkfNmTUt6Md5xBtaR4qzevq6gwzTO8km0I2bJMn8e_zzaWuYnCxmif_pS4RCtkJl-wZ-Faf6XkCXy8As/s320/IMG_0061%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today, August 22, 2016, exactly 24 years later, I received a text message with a photo of another man that I love heading off on a bicycle to his first day of classes at Ivy Tech.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wAvhkowyLlw4R8tKLiKlCJYGpLkKO8zr5aNEtdGTR-hfdkXgyk4qWMRLub5LHtQ0HZKkBZYimOturD_nstTlLhN5fOcZ0tXa3CLwCT570I4m6MwZJJaVBTK3dnroXg07MABmEVLiv5E/s1600/IMG_0078%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wAvhkowyLlw4R8tKLiKlCJYGpLkKO8zr5aNEtdGTR-hfdkXgyk4qWMRLub5LHtQ0HZKkBZYimOturD_nstTlLhN5fOcZ0tXa3CLwCT570I4m6MwZJJaVBTK3dnroXg07MABmEVLiv5E/s320/IMG_0078%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Suddenly, I'm keenly aware of the fact that we officially have an "empty nest." Who knew time could pass so quickly? How I cherished every minute! And I'm eager to cheer them on in their next steps. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Many have warned me about the deep sense of loss that a mother might experience at this point in the parenting journey. I thought that perhaps I'd be immune from such sentiments. After all, I have a pretty full life, a busy ministry schedule, and all sorts of projects in the works, not to mention I'm in seminary. And it's not like those boys have needed much mothering these past few years.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And yet....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yes, something has changed. Its not so much about a loss of identity, but a loss of proximity. They're still my boys, they're just, well, far. Far away from me. Getting on with life. Moving away. Moving on. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As they should.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the meantime, that guy to whom I said "I DO" 24 years ago is sitting by my side, holding my hand. Together we marvel at what has been and delight in what is still yet to be. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img height="320" src="https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13901574_10209994975420111_4102005083947850238_n.jpg?oh=3e0e4e922aca5e03d7856b9641e80e7a&oe=584D6D6A" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one I get to keep.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-58165443767004349792016-08-01T10:23:00.002+02:002016-08-01T10:23:26.703+02:00Changes for Chandler<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This guy has had a rough year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UHpId_KyAZHPBB0W327JKmO2H2LhVeWq3afKwbLkbqWEbsyN1KBrhwRyyptwd0i5kRUGzYBhoMerQM74bPSmgpokVv_h0aXD0_SzXIUxzyeO-Vcb74Fymj8C85kPxAVBVJKgTstRK8s/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UHpId_KyAZHPBB0W327JKmO2H2LhVeWq3afKwbLkbqWEbsyN1KBrhwRyyptwd0i5kRUGzYBhoMerQM74bPSmgpokVv_h0aXD0_SzXIUxzyeO-Vcb74Fymj8C85kPxAVBVJKgTstRK8s/s320/IMG_1275.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
He attempted something that is considered a major challenge--he competed for a spot in medical school in France. It was a gruelling year-long fight, one that felt lost within months. He persevered to the end, and yet, he didn't make the cut. The process is so competitive that only 10-15% of the candidates actually get admitted.<br />
<br />
When he learned his final results, he had some soul-searching to do. He no longer has the option to pursue medicine in France, but he could have chosen to go a different direction here. Or...he could return to the States, where the system gives undergraduates more time to make a decision about their ultimate career direction.<br />
<br />
He has chosen to return to the States.<br />
<br />
So tomorrow, Chandler will board a flight to Chicago, where my dear sister Barbarba will meet him and take him to her hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. Ultimately, Chandler plans to attend Indiana Univeristy, where my sister is a professor. But he'll spend the next year at Ivy Tech, establishing US residency and applying for admission to IU.<br />
<br />
Please pray for Chandler as he makes this major leap. Pray for new friends--maybe even a few who speak French. Pray for direction as he tries to discern whether he wants to go pre-med or change directions. And pray that the overwhelming disappointment over the events of the past year does not steal his joy for what is possible in the years to come.<br />
<br />
From the day he was born, Chandler has been a fighter. He's been knocked down, but never knocked out. He's got a lot more fight in him, and we're cheering him on with everything we've got!<br />
<br />
We love you, Chan. And we couldn't be prouder.</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-47191223707452155572016-07-20T12:39:00.000+02:002016-07-21T10:10:15.760+02:00Holy Fear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">The </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-16649Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-16649Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">fear of the</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">is the beginning of wisdom,</span></i></b></span></div>
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.</i></b></span></span></div>
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Proverbs 9:10</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">“</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-28010X" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28010X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">There is no fear of God before their eyes</span><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">.”</span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Romans 3:18</i></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I suppose it is should not shock me that a world so lacking in reverent fear of God would also be suffering from a serious deficiency of wisdom. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text Prov-9-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">After my last blog post, my sister pointed out that perhaps the problem isn't fear, but <i>misplaced</i> fear. The Bible is clear: those of us who live by grace through faith in the saving work of Christ should be set free from every sort of fear, save one--the righteous and holy fear of the living God. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">This is a fear that reminds us that God is God, and we are not. It is a fear that keeps us humble, grateful, and hungry for justice. It is a fear that refuses to forget that there will be a day of reckoning. And it is a fear spurs us on to love and good deeds as the "out-working" of our salvation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">And while I believe we are invited to experience the lavish riches of God's grace, convinced that we can neither earn nor improve upon its merits, I wonder if we haven't wandered from the work that His grace is meant to accomplish in and through us. We delight so deeply in the love of God--as well we should, but have we neglected his Holiness in the process? The point of our salvation is not to give us a nice, cozy, happy life for all eternity. The point of our salvation is to make us into the image of Christ for the glory of God and the sake of the world. And this is to be done with a level of fear and trembling!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Phil-2-12" id="en-NASB-29404" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">So then, my beloved, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29404B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29404B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29404D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29404D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>fear and trembling;</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-2-13" id="en-NASB-29405" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>for it is <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29405E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29405E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>God who is at work in you, both to will and to work <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29405F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29405F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>for <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">His</span> good pleasure.</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Philippians 2:12-13</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Thankfully, the work is not ours alone. Paul reminds us that it is GOD who is at work in me. But it is precisely <i>because</i> God is at work in me that I should have a sense of holy fear. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">This idea is more easily understood if we put it in human terms. Imagine that your boss was always standing right behind you at work, listening to every phone call, reading every email, viewing every website you visit, watching every game you play, seeing every eye-roll, hearing every sigh. Imagine that this boss is actually eager to see you succeed (not fail!), but that she also has a better understanding of the company's vision, strategy, and goals than you do. In fact, she's the CEO, the CFO, and the Board of Directors all rolled into one. So she's offering you input along the way, feeding you helpful hints, and making sure you have every resource that you could possibly need at your fingertips so that you can do the job that you were hired to do. Might the presence and provision of your superior change the way you work? Of course it would! Because with that type of boss, you'd have both a sense of security that you couldn't fail (grace) and an eagerness to please the one who gave you the job (fear). </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">So I agree, a big part of our problem is misplaced fear. We are often too worried about all of the stuff that God has under control (safety, provision, resources) and not concerned enough about the call that God has given us (do justly, love mercy, walk humbly). </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text Mic-6-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-NKJV-22657" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">He has shown you, O man, what <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">is</span> good;</span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">And what does the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> require of you</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">But to do justly,</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">To love mercy,</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><i><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And to walk humbly with your God?</span></i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><i><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Micah 6:8</span></i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">
</span></span>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">Jesus exemplified this charge, proclaiming the year of jubilee by working justice on behalf of the oppressed, by extending mercy to the masses (which he saw as helpless and harassed), and by living in constant, humble, submission to the Father. This is where the fear of God and the freedom from all other fears converge. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">If I fear being treated unjustly and don't fear God, I won't be free to seek justice. The Bible teaches that the justice of God is found when I relinquish my rights (<i>"Why not rather be wronged?"</i> I Cor. 6:7), relinquish my possessions (<i>"Go and sell all that you have and give to the poor"</i> Mark 10:21), and relinquish my power (<i>"For God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong"</i> I Cor. 1:27). </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">If I fear being treated unkindly and don't fear God, I won't love mercy, I'll tend towards cruelty. The Bible teaches that the mercy of God is given to the undeserving <span style="font-family: inherit;">(<i>"</i></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His </i></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;"><i>mercy"</i> Titus 3:5), the mercy of God is limitless ("<i>His mercies never come to en end" </i>Lam. 3:22), and that mercy is found in giving it away <span style="font-family: inherit;">(<i>"</i></span></span><i><span style="text-align: left;">Blessed are the </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;">merciful</span></i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>, for they will be shown mercy"</i> Matt. 5:7).</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">And if I fear being overlooked and I don't fear God, I won't walk humbly with my God, I'll seek to elevate myself. The Bible teaches that the way up is down, (<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-size: 16px;">"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up"</i> </span>James 4:1) and that I should seek what is best for others<span style="font-family: inherit;"> (<i>"...</i></span></span><i><span style="text-align: left;">each of you should, in </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;">humility</span></i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself</i>" Phil 2:3). </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">As I decide NOT to fear anything except GOD, I will become an agent of His justice and a lover of His mercy. Only then will I be humble before him, eager to work to please Him. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><span style="text-align: left;">Tying this to the last post, then, I suppose I need to ask myself, "What would it look like to put a fear of God at the heart of gun debate?" </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><span style="text-align: left;">"What would it look like to put a fear of God at the heart of the immigration debate?" </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">"What would it look like to put a fear of God at the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement?" </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">How do I, a </span></span>follower of<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> Christ, engage my culture on each of these issues in a way that </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">exemplifies</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> a right and holy fear of God without giving any room to fear of another kind? These are good questions, and again, I'm not sure I know the answers. But I want to wrestle with these thoughts and seek the peaceable wisdom of God so that I might discern His good, pleasing, and perfect will. </span></span></span></div>
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-2-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-45334053467114389632016-07-11T10:39:00.000+02:002016-07-14T09:26:21.705+02:00Reflecting on Current Events<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What a week you've had, my fellow Americans. And how very far away I feel from it all. Yet, you are near to my heart. I am one of you.<br />
<br />
It's moments like this when wordsmiths like me are out like mad on the web trying to make pithy statements or dazzling observations. Facebook lights up with soundbites and hashtags. All of us, trying to make sense of a world that seems senseless.<br />
<br />
Knowing my words won't add anything new to the conversation, I can easily retreat to silence. But there is danger there, too. Because silence can communicate contentedness with the status quo, complicity with all that is wrong. So while I do not expect to add anything new, I must say something.<br />
<br />
The first thing that I will say is that I am ignorant, which means that the best thing I can do is shut up and listen to those who are less ignorant than myself. As a white American, I have privileges and opportunities that I don't even realize I have. I cannot understand what it is like to be a minority. It's not that I don't want to understand. It's that I can't. So when I am tempted to spout off solutions or to claim that my experience is representative of another person's experience, I do not reveal my wisdom, I reveal my ignorance. This is not to say that I should not try to understand, but I must realize that I am only going to be able to achieve an intellectual level of understanding and not an experiential level.<br />
<br />
At the intellectual level we can study statistics and trends, we can talk about "equality" and "opportunity." We can make laws and sign petitions and have debates. Even better, I can lean into my friendships with minority people in an effort to hear and learn from their experiences. I can stop listening only to the voices of those who sound like me and listen to the voices that challenge my paradigm. These voices may not change my mind, but they will expand my heart and help me to have compassion. And I need to really listen. Listen to understand, and not just to refute. I need to imagine the possibility that there are things I don't yet know, haven't yet encountered, or have wrongly dismissed. Such listening might open me up to a new perspective. It could help me to think more deeply and sincerely about the complexity of the problems. It could lead to better solutions.<br />
<br />
Oh but that IS such hard work. And we live in a world that prefers quips and tweets. We're all looking for that one meme that is going to bottom-line it for us. Deep thinking is no longer valued. And, sadly, we evangelical Christians can be more about categorizing issues into black and white, right and wrong, than wrestling with complexities. Why do we do that?<br />
<br />
Remember how angry Jesus would get at the Pharisees, who were tithing down to the tiniest cent while failing miserably at loving others? They were working so hard at being right that they failed to seek true righteousness. Mercy can't be measured, so it fell off their radar.<br />
<br />
The second thing I will say is that from a distance, at least, the United States appears to be a nation gripped by fear. Given the challenges and difficulties of life, fear is a natural human response. But fear is not a God-honoring response. Fear begets hate. I'm pretty sure that's why "Fear not" is the most repeated command in the Bible. But the inverse is also true--perfect love casts out fear. So if you really need a black and white barometer, why not use this one: "Am I being motivated by love or by fear?"<br />
<br />
Fear, unchecked, will be the death of us. It is becoming the guiding force of political and social issues, and it is not healthy! Fear is at the heart of the gun debate. Fear is at the heart of the immigrant debate. Fear is at the heart of racism. Fear is at the heart of the bathroom debates, for heaven's sake! And fear is at the heart of the all the election rhetoric.<br />
<br />
Look at the fear-mongering that goes on, particularly from Evangelical Christian leaders. On his own <a href="http://drjamesdobson.org/news/dr-james-dobson-on-trumps-christian-faith" target="_blank">website</a>, James Dobson defends his support of Trump by saying, "Hillary scares me to death." This is not good leadership, it isn't even Biblical, for he is rooting his decision in fear. Ben Carson, a man many of us respected, has said things like "Hillary is of the devil." And fear of Trump is worn like a badge of honor by, well, just about everyone. Both sides are trying to garner support for their candidate by painting the scariest picture of the other person. Fear. On all sides.<br />
<br />
Let's not take our fear to the voting booth or the pulpit. Let's take our fear to Christ, confess it as sin, and ask for His wisdom and discernment to be our guides. Let's step back from the hysteria. Listen to the words of James chapter 3:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Jas-3-16" id="en-NASB-30336" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">For where <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30336A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30336A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>jealousy and </span><span class="text Jas-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">s</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">elfish ambition exist, </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">there is disorder and every evil thing.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-3-17" id="en-NASB-30337" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">But the wisdom <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30337B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30337B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>from above is first <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30337C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30337C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>pure then <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30337D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30337D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>peaceable, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30337E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30337E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>gentle, reasonable, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30337F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30337F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>full of mercy and good fruits, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30337G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30337G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>unwavering, without <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30337H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30337H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>hypocrisy. </span><span class="text Jas-3-18" id="en-NASB-30338" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.</span></i></b></span></blockquote>
Here we have a filter to determine if what we are doing or thinking is aligned with God's wisdom or not. Don't ask "Is it scary?" Ask "Is it pure (or is it impure)? Is it peaceable (or is it hostile)? Is is gentle (or is it harsh)? Is it reasonable (or is it rediculous)? Is it full of mercy (or is it cruel)? Is it unwavering (or is it faltering)? Is it without hypocrisy (or is it hypocritical)?" And then consider how you share your views. Are you sowing in peace (or are you sowing in dissention)? And just an aside--there is not a single news station in the US that is NOT sowing dissention. So maybe turn off the TV and the radio and read more newspapers. Most are available online these days, and this access to the written word allows you to search out all sides of an issue while refusing to support the inflammatory, baiting, fear-mongering rubbish that permeates the airwaves. Try to find facts, and take time to think constructively about the facts that you find.<br />
<br />
Let me end where I began. I am ignorant. But I also have the advantage of viewing things from outside the American arena--which offers a unique perspective. I have so much to learn, and the more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know. So I'm simply sharing what I think to be my best contribution to the important conversations that are swirling all around us. Two things I am committing to do: Listen more and fear less.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
************************************************************</div>
The following are links to articles or books that I have found helpful. None of them are perfect, and I do not agree with everything that is found in them. But I do find that reading these things is helping me to understand the complexity of these issues, to think more deeply about solutions, and to consider what my best contribution might be. Believe it or not, there are a lot of very smart people of integrity on all sides of these issues.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://fusion.net/story/170591/the-next-time-someone-says-all-lives-matter-show-them-these-5-paragraphs/" target="_blank">Here</a> is a link to a short article that explains why #AllLivesMatter may be an uninformed and unhelpful respose to #BlackLivesMatter.<br />
<br />
Colleen Mitchell, a Catholic missionary in Costa Rica, speaks truth in her article, <a href="http://www.blessedarethefeet.com/10-reasons-i-dont-want-to-be-your-white-ally/" target="_blank">"10 Reasons Why I Don't Want to be You White Ally."</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://tcpca.org/2016/03/17/in-love-with-donald-trump/" target="_blank">This</a> is the best article I've read on why Trump is so popular with evangelicals.<br />
<br />
I really appreciate <a href="http://www.babymakingmachine.com/2016/07/your-fear-is-killing-my-family-why-are-you-supporting-my-white-cop-and-not-my-black-son.html" target="_blank">this</a> insightful article from a woman with a black son and a husband who is a white police officer.<br />
<br />
If you haven't yet read <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Same-Kind-Different-Modern-Day-International-ebook/dp/B007FZXJGA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468223848&sr=1-1&keywords=the+same+kind+of+different+as+me" target="_blank">The Same Kind of Different as Me</a>, </i>I highly recommend it. It's an easy but poignant book.<br />
<br />
I was challenged by bell hooks' book<i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bell+hooks+where+we+stand&sprefix=bell+hooks+Where+%2Caps%2C906" target="_blank">Where We Stand: Class Matters</a>.</i> Some of her writing is inflammatory and she does not provide sufficient research to support her harsh judgements; however, I must admit that some of her claims ring with truth and have made me think twice about the ramifications of our consumerist culture and how consumerism is linked to racism and sexism. This book is hard for a white middle/upper class audience to read because it is highly critical. But if you read it, seek to leave room for conviction and try not to dismiss all of it just because some of it is over the top.<br />
<br />
Another good book on consumerism is William T. Cavanaugh's book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Being-Consumed-Economics-Christian-Desire-ebook/dp/B001E96JC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468224032&sr=1-1&keywords=being+consumed" target="_blank">Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire.</a> </i><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-88309837488254385422016-07-01T11:30:00.000+02:002016-07-01T11:32:07.885+02:00Renovations Have Begun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Evangelical Church of Old Lyon has begun renovations on the building that we are renting!!! For our first event in the building, we hosted an evening of Prayer and Worship. Sitting on bags of concrete mix, we invited the Spirit to take his place among us. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXTFFY2dyPIzb9bXiQzRVDokg9H6Jm7MP62FDHMVhMFUt3y3QuhxGmjknQuIf37W49pM0-SFllKq1NBcXnYSkh0zNz8MXU3Cc5qlTfwdgwf0ILE3cXuC6Wb4nqgVO8YFz5iGbVW8L7xA/s1600/David+playing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXTFFY2dyPIzb9bXiQzRVDokg9H6Jm7MP62FDHMVhMFUt3y3QuhxGmjknQuIf37W49pM0-SFllKq1NBcXnYSkh0zNz8MXU3Cc5qlTfwdgwf0ILE3cXuC6Wb4nqgVO8YFz5iGbVW8L7xA/s320/David+playing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We won't be having services in the building until September because we have a lot of work to do to prepare the space to serve it's multi-purpose function. Do you see the word "co-working" on the door? </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLhentTsnFJ9nxa6gR4GEHgbBalEJoMSfZeI4jw1iYKUkBeSXpbsr4k2R4SwMUxhvYAfNlGFDJJd7Rmz5Y69-01W_bgFO_0qT-AFXc4l5YHW-4j-cy16-Hvql_AcSgt0S5Gb_61-AEf4/s1600/window+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLhentTsnFJ9nxa6gR4GEHgbBalEJoMSfZeI4jw1iYKUkBeSXpbsr4k2R4SwMUxhvYAfNlGFDJJd7Rmz5Y69-01W_bgFO_0qT-AFXc4l5YHW-4j-cy16-Hvql_AcSgt0S5Gb_61-AEf4/s400/window+church.jpg" width="400" /></a></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Our plan is to offer shared workspace to entrepeneurs (M-F), where networking and community-building will happen organically. There will be a living room-like meeting space available for use for those who co-work in the building, but this same space will be used for our community prayer times and devotionals Monday- Friday from 7:00-7:45 am and from 6:00-6:15 pm. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxfAG08HXzssRCJsUdq3fgQ-gTtV9rGuPoBl9_spmecQOWcbhtZjGpDN4vq5TLKzHu4c9wIQH1SMTfUAmyAUMKoBagb8nUhJ10NbvCrJDG1VW0wVm_81yO8faMDgvoJqXZHKdgrzs4Mg/s1600/IMG_1089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxfAG08HXzssRCJsUdq3fgQ-gTtV9rGuPoBl9_spmecQOWcbhtZjGpDN4vq5TLKzHu4c9wIQH1SMTfUAmyAUMKoBagb8nUhJ10NbvCrJDG1VW0wVm_81yO8faMDgvoJqXZHKdgrzs4Mg/s200/IMG_1089.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8RCB43swRwYMYI-u-C1ebQ8OyCcCORnSGfLk2oRiVK86sGKJMegWxWzwkksCivUkLWg91QnaBOEOgoRZhTY7_7ChpoHCDfbggUFHUcnDaNWMnvIXuI96BVr_BB5-8Zo2lA8wt92Z46o/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8RCB43swRwYMYI-u-C1ebQ8OyCcCORnSGfLk2oRiVK86sGKJMegWxWzwkksCivUkLWg91QnaBOEOgoRZhTY7_7ChpoHCDfbggUFHUcnDaNWMnvIXuI96BVr_BB5-8Zo2lA8wt92Z46o/s200/IMG_1090.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;">On Sundays, the desks will fold up (like Murphy beds) and the space will be used for weekly church services. All prayer meetings and church services will be evangelistic in nature and open to the public, and our hope is that the space will become a place where the Kingdom of God is visible and active in all aspects of life. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnp1qHWeBAJKITIfrEWkE4TgEiMeuGAESOp0pMPjehPcpWArNFoD_m5bpZdCUZHPaG3ZmYWgSiwqOLdvnLnb3xjgqGtqdLAnbxcFcEeLzEreRzXVwnGquE5k7GT1DdAwU0ZEBB1u6dv4/s1600/Sophie+playing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnp1qHWeBAJKITIfrEWkE4TgEiMeuGAESOp0pMPjehPcpWArNFoD_m5bpZdCUZHPaG3ZmYWgSiwqOLdvnLnb3xjgqGtqdLAnbxcFcEeLzEreRzXVwnGquE5k7GT1DdAwU0ZEBB1u6dv4/s320/Sophie+playing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Because the average size of an established evangelical church in France is about 80 people, it is difficult for congregations to be able to sustain the costs of a building. The co-working space will not only allow us to reach and bless our community M-F, it will enable the young church plant to be viable financially for the long run.</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-60320847498489497382016-06-29T17:57:00.001+02:002016-06-29T18:02:13.928+02:00Where's the Fruit?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where is your proof?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Disciples don't get club cards for their key chains. They don't have T-shirts with "Fishers of Men" logos. They don't get special name tags or wrist bands. So how are we known? What evidence do we have?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It turns out Jesus did give us a calling card. He said it so plainly we easily miss it. The proof is in the fruit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">My </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-26708H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-26708H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">so</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">prove to be My disciples. </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">John 15:8 NASB</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Let's be clear, fruit is not a requirement for salvation, but it IS evidence of discipleship. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Why? </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Because according to John 15 (and like a bazillion other verses) if I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God lives in me. The very God who created the universe cannot dwell in a living human being without leaving traces of His presence. Those traces of His presence are called "fruit." </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Sometimes fruit manifests itself through our character:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Gal-5-22" id="en-NASB-29185" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>But <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29185AQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29185AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the fruit of the Spirit is <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29185AR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29185AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,</span><span class="text Gal-5-23" id="en-NASB-29186" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>gentleness,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29186AS" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29186AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>self-control; against such things <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29186AT" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29186AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>there is no law.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Galatians 5:22-23</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">And sometimes the fruit manifests itself through our actions:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Col-1-9" id="en-NASB-29475" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">For this reason also, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29475A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29475A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>since the day we heard <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">of it</span>, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29475B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29475B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29475D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29475D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>wisdom and understanding,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Col-1-10" id="en-NASB-29476" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">so that you will <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29476E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29476E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Him</span> in all respects, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29476G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29476G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God...</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Col-1-10" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Colossians 1:9-10</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the point is, there is fruit. Or there should be. And if there isn't fruit, we should be alarmed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And maybe we are. But what is our response?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think that I go into problem solving mode. I read books and go to conferences and scour the web to find Five Quick Fixes for Fruitlessness or Seven Easy Steps to See More Fruit. These "helpful" resources often talk about things that we think we can do to in order to produce fruit in our lives, to prove that we are true disciples. They tell us how to improve bad soil, how to protect ourselves against lousy weather, or how to deal with pest problems. I roll up my sleeves and get to work, missing one very important point: IT'S NOT MY JOB TO PRODUCE THE FRUIT. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I'm only called to bear the fruit!</i> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God produces the fruit. And everything I need in order to bear fruit comes from the vine. If I'm connected to the vine, I WILL bear fruit. If I'm connected to the vine, I can't NOT bear fruit. So I can't blame the soil, the weather, or the bugs. The only reason Jesus gives for fruitlessness is disonnectedness. Therefore the only solution is to abide in Christ.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NASB-26705" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-26705E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-26705E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>John 15:5</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But me? I would rather be pulling weeds or spraying fertilizer. These things are so much easier to do than just abide.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why? Because "abiding" is never done. I can never check it off of my checklist, because it has to be lived 24/7/365. We can't achieve it, we can't obtain it, we can't complete it. We can only live it. Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, if I'm not bearing fruit, it is likely because I'm busy doing things that I think will produce fruit and forgetting to abide in Christ. I get impatient with the process, and like a kindergartener who buried a bean in paper cup full of soil, I grow weary with the waiting. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's important to pay attention to fruit. Not just to prove we are disciples, but to know if we are abiding. The funny thing is, I'm not sure I even know what it looks like and feels like to abide. I'm better at being busy. I'm learning to abide. I have a long way to go, but here are three ways that I attempt to "abide in Christ" each day. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Silence: </b>I begin every day with 10-20 minutes of <a href="http://fourforfrance.blogspot.fr/2014/07/silence.html" target="_blank">silence</a>. I sit still, in the presence of God, and I say nothing. I let my swirling thoughts quiet down, and I wait on the Lord. I don't read anything, I don't have music on, I don't pray, I don't write. I just listen. And whether God speaks or not is less important than the fact that I have spent time with Him. Abiding in very literal sense. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Community: </b>I take time to pray with others. Together, we abide in Christ by reading His word, singing His praises, confessing our sins, and seeking His guidance. For some reason, I used to see abiding as a solitary endeavor, but clearly if we are to do it all the time, then we need to be able to abide in community as well. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Slowing: </b>I'm active and decisive. I like to go fast. In so doing, I often rush ahead of the Spirit, trying to produce fruit. For some of you, you will need to pick up the pace to keep in step with the Spirit. Me? I need to slow down. When I purposefully match my steps to His, then in all that I do, I abide.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All of these are hard for me. And all of these are good for me. And the promise is sure: IF I abide, the fruit is guaranteed. If I abide I can't NOT bear fruit. And when I bear it, it is so completely holy, so perfect, so pure, that it proves that God lives in me. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I know I'm a disciple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What fruit are you bearing these days? How do you abide in Christ? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-89792879320067409982016-06-17T14:18:00.000+02:002016-06-19T13:31:43.214+02:00Ten Totally Trivial Tidbits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: left;">1. This week I visited Geneva for the first time. While there I went to the famous Reformation Museum, and I bought this replica of a 15c board game, which is a sort of Calvinist form or "Chutes and Ladders." The instructions crack me up, and include rules such as "If a player landing on square 24 knows the principal quality attributed to King Solomon they can move forward two squares. If not, they must contemplate their ignorance whilst losing a turn." We've played it once. I spent most of the game stuck on square 31 "lamenting with Jeremiah." I never made it to paradise. I'm glad the game does not have the power to predetermine my eternal state!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzimr3oUZzv1HFye6YX-2TFcgBSq_GT_6LwKkv6tUmJqaZvJXYqHwiKSRKldHJc_zfUdzGSpAu7kzstaCAYg4jaO5KYPdUGYdVdXqPP_McZqxt_XCYDWZ8b4IuwxbAGa8s3X8xEAdfgQ/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzimr3oUZzv1HFye6YX-2TFcgBSq_GT_6LwKkv6tUmJqaZvJXYqHwiKSRKldHJc_zfUdzGSpAu7kzstaCAYg4jaO5KYPdUGYdVdXqPP_McZqxt_XCYDWZ8b4IuwxbAGa8s3X8xEAdfgQ/s320/IMG_0524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
2. I'm working on a baby blanket for Virginia, my assistant. She's due in October with her first baby. It's a great pattern, and I'm sure I'll use it again. No photos for now...but I'll post some once it's completed.<br />
<br />
"Assistant?" you ask. YES! Because sometimes God does even more than we ask or imagine! I've been praying for a few months for an assitant--a bilingual person who could volunteer about 5 hours a week to help me with marketing and communication for Elan, the French association that I am in the process of launching. One day, about two months ago, Virginia came to our church with her husband. They live in the neighborhood and were looking for a local church that they could call home. She is a young French woman with a Masters in English who is currently not employed. When she found out she was pregnant, she put her job search on hold, deciding that she did not want to dive into a new career on the brink of motherhood, At the same time, she felt like she had way too much time on her hands and had been praying about ways she could spend her time that would be beneficial for the Kingdom of God. When I told her that I was looking for an assistant, but that I would not be able to pay her (at least for a year) she said that she would be interested in the position. We sat down and did a semi-formal interview. She was captivated by the idea of helping missionaries to transition to the field and delighted with the possibility of being able to use her language skills. We clicked, and Virginia agreed to work for me on a volunteer basis for about 5 hours a week. So at least one morning a week, Virginia comes to our home and works alongside me, answering emails, creating contact lists, and doing some translation She will also help create a website and market Elan to missionary sending organizations. Virginia is becoming a dear friend, and I am so thankful for her partnership in ministry.<br />
<br />
3. This week I hosted a day-long meeting with French partners and missionary leaders to talk about Elan and officially create the organization. I had twelve participants, an even mix of French and non-French. It was a productive day!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ9HhtaMKm1CduCI09tsHeCYNcOX5ebvraYSmdbV832dx-zRGoaeq2Iif76EZJ50fXCdHJlRx2_rnGsCfFG0jtTyuIKmTUv5Tu077fdmahfUWvQk2aLnH6xU6irPyJbebreKdqTU2_40/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ9HhtaMKm1CduCI09tsHeCYNcOX5ebvraYSmdbV832dx-zRGoaeq2Iif76EZJ50fXCdHJlRx2_rnGsCfFG0jtTyuIKmTUv5Tu077fdmahfUWvQk2aLnH6xU6irPyJbebreKdqTU2_40/s320/IMG_1051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. It is SO MUCH FUN having Graham aand Chan BOTH in the house for the summer months. Since David and I are still working full time and I am still in classes, we have asked the boys to each plan and prepare two meals per week. They are doing a great job, and we are eating well! Chan has made pork chops with blue cheese and pears, and Graham has made japanese dumplings! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. While in Geneva, I had some time to lay down and watch the clouds go by. As I lay, I looked up and saw this lovely sight. It's like God was saying, "Hey there, little one. I love you." </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHJyNdXomXA2eFnMAsNXq88oT8-e7isP9HQIfr7i-OxMUHg1Fkbygcztk-ibk7OAczIJUcRxt8_xJqXeiyy5fZVvG_S8tTjvxwsHQdBNoFlSfsCs0WrUkqCN8Fv594FM3ryxm5s6BdHo/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHJyNdXomXA2eFnMAsNXq88oT8-e7isP9HQIfr7i-OxMUHg1Fkbygcztk-ibk7OAczIJUcRxt8_xJqXeiyy5fZVvG_S8tTjvxwsHQdBNoFlSfsCs0WrUkqCN8Fv594FM3ryxm5s6BdHo/s320/IMG_1069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. I'm currently taking a class on American Church History. My professor is a Native American of Cherokee descent. Let's just say that the class did not begin with the arrival of the Pilgrims. It is ironic to me that so many settlers, who were fleeing religious persecution, quickly became religious persecutors. The things that were done in the "name of God" are beyond comprehension. And yet, in the end, the Republic that was born offered more religious freedoms and boasted more religious diversity that had ever been found in one place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. I now officially wear glasses. Not just reading glasses, all day, every day glasses. My friend who is a Fashion Consultant advised me to go with a neutral color for frames. Which makes a lot of sense. I picked pink. Which kind of goes against the general understanding of the word "neutral." Oh well! I liked the pink ones best. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. I've been taking a calligraphy class this year at the local community center. I'm not very good at it. I can spend three hours practicing a single letter, and still not get it just <strike>write</strike> right. But here is my first attempt at writing out a whole quote. This is a favorite quote from <span style="color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">Ijeoma Umebinyuo </span>in "Diaspora Blues" and it resonates with me deeply, as an expat. It says, "So, there you are. Too foreign for here. Too foreign for home. Never enough for both."</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgPBvtyBx0oaJeKM40ZuXG72hXBZZQdcgDduv59s6OHuVUHMBA_yrFTUecl1OCfq8bUCWUHbyxZLTeItnm1__7unTsL36hvG4VPYWnFwYF1tpzvjOHhHqeKR1DZ363pD4C5D8tDuBAAU/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgPBvtyBx0oaJeKM40ZuXG72hXBZZQdcgDduv59s6OHuVUHMBA_yrFTUecl1OCfq8bUCWUHbyxZLTeItnm1__7unTsL36hvG4VPYWnFwYF1tpzvjOHhHqeKR1DZ363pD4C5D8tDuBAAU/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
9. The weather has finally turned warm here in Lyon. Which makes me want to eat ice cream. A lot. Every single day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
10. The European Cup (or Euros) is currently going on, and France is the host country this year. The Euros is a once every four years Europe-wide soccer tournament. Matches are held in all the major cities of the host country--which means many matches are being played here in Lyon. Fans from all across Europe and flooding into France, and there is a general spirit of excitment in the air. We are watching at least one match a day, and loving every minute of it. So far, France is undefeated! Allez les bleus !</div>
<br /></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-13201368335987808902016-06-13T14:33:00.000+02:002016-06-13T14:34:24.104+02:00La Place la Moins Importante<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">***Traduction de l'article "<a href="http://fourforfrance.blogspot.fr/2016/05/the-least-important-place.html" target="_blank">The Least Important Place</a>," publié 26 mai 2016 sur Four For France</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Par Virginia LE BIHAN</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quand j’étais adolescente, ma famille est allée en thérapie. A l’occasion de notre première
visite, le conseiller familial avait placé dans son bureau des chaises de taille et de confort
variés. Lorsque nous sommes entrés, il a porté son attention sur la manière dont chaque
membre de notre famille a choisi son siège. Avant qu’aucun de nous n’ait pu ouvrir la bouche,
le conseiller était déjà capable d’analyser certaines dynamiques de notre famille rien qu’en
observant la manière dont nous étions entré et nous étions installés. Moi par exemple, étant la
plus jeune, j’ai souvent été reléguée à la table des petits ou sur une chaise pliante selon les
contextes. Pour cette raison, bien que je fus la première personne à pénétrer dans son bureau,
j’ai choisi le siège que j’ai perçu être le moins confortable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le conseiller en a pris note.
Dans le chapitre 14 de l’évangile de Luc, on voit Jésus faire des observations similaires.
Alors qu’il était invité dans la maison d’un Pharisien haut placé, et que les autres invités
arrivaient, il remarqua comme ils entraient et prenaient les meilleures places à la table. Le
maître sait reconnaître un moment d’enseignement quand il en voit un, et offrir une leçon
d’étiquette, qui s’applique aux invités comme aux hôtes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Récemment, j’ai été amenée à réfléchir à cette histoire à travers le prisme de la mission. En
tant que missionnaires, nous sommes des invités. Les habitants du pays dans lequel nous nous
rendons, les hôtes. Je pense que les remarques faites par Jésus en Luc sont pertinentes pour
nous, primordiales même. Après avoir passé l’année dernière à étudier la productivité et la
durabilité de la présence missionnaire, je décèle des connexions avec cette histoire biblique. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le passage commence par Jésus remarquant «la manière dont les invités choisirent les places
d’honneur ». </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quand j’ai lu ça, je me suis demandée « Jésus ne ferait-il pas la même observation des
missionnaires arrivant sur le terrain ? » N’avons-nous pas tendance nous aussi à débarquer et
à adopter des rôles de leaders ? Arrivons-nous avec un certain degré de suffisance ?
Considérons-nous que ce que nous avons à offrir (l’Evangile !!!) nous donne le droit
d’occuper des places d’importance et de plus grande visibilité ? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nos motivations et notre hâte peuvent bien être saintes, mais notre manière de faire est
douteuse et défaillante. Oui, nous avons reçu un appel. Oui, nous avons une mission à
accomplir. Oui, nous avons un message à délivrer. Oui, nous avons une vision à offrir. Et
pourtant, nous restons des invités. Et notre manière d’entrer va nécessairement impacter la
façon dont notre message va être perçu. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Si nous arrivons en nous attendant à être écoutés, attendus pour répondre à un besoin,
respectés, et valorisés ; si nous avons confiance dans nos ressources, nos outils, et nos
objectifs, nous graviterons naturellement aux places les plus hautes. En tête de classe. Au
devant de l’église. Nous serons tentés de dire à nos hôtes comment ils devraient gérer les
choses, proposant des cours et des séminaires… comme si nous – les invités – devions servir
le plat principal. Alors que ce n’est même pas notre maison. Pas notre fête. Pas chez nous.
Alors comment devrions-nous entrer ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">« Lorsque tu es invité par quelqu’un à des noces, ne te mets pas à la meilleure place, de
peur qu’il n’y ait parmi les invités une personne plus importante que toi et que celui qui
vous a invité l’un et l’autre ne vienne te dire « laisse-lui la place ! » … Mais lorsque tu es
invité, va te mettre à la dernière place … » </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Que se passerait-il si les missionnaires arrivaient et prenaient la place la moins importante ?
Pourrions-nous entrer en scène et servir ? Pourrions-nous offrir ce que nous avons en adoptant
une posture plus humble ou d’égal à égal, plutôt que de manière supérieure ? Pensez à Jésus,
le premier missionnaire interculturel, qui a choisi de naître dans une étable, a grandi comme
un enfant quelconque, a été ministre auprès des pécheurs. Il aurait pu se positionner comme
grand prêtre à la synagogue locale. Mais à la place, il a touché des lépreux, parlé à des
femmes à la réputation ternie, lavé des pieds ! Je dirais que Jésus, de bien des manières, a pris
la place la moins importante. Et c’est ainsi qu’il illustre la vérité de son message. Même lui
est venu pour servir et non pour être servi (Marc 10 :45). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jésus a donné un chemin exemplaire. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A mon avis, cela veut dire que moi aussi, je dois intervenir humblement, reconnaissante du
privilège d’être ne serait-ce qu’invitée. Je dois me mettre en retrait, pour observer et
apprendre discrètement. Ce qui ne veut pas dire attendre mon heure, jusqu’à ce que je puisse
sauter dans l’arène. Ni attendre un moment de flottement dans une conversation pour enfin y
prendre part et proposer mes idées. C’est mettre mes plans et mes objectifs de côté – pour un
temps au moins. Observer et apprendre, c’est poser plus de questions et proposer moins de
solutions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">En prenant le temps d’observer et d’apprendre, je pourrai m’émerveiller devant la sagesse et
la perspicacité de mes hôtes. Je donnerai mon temps, mon énergie et mes ressources pour
servir leurs projets. Je travaillerai à leur succès. Je prendrai conseil auprès d’eux. J’adopterai
leur manière de faire les choses. Et c’est ainsi que je commencerai à voir les faiblesses et les
défauts de mes propres plans. J’encouragerai mon hôte à me donner des retours, à m’aider à
modifier, préciser, ou même abandonner certains objectifs. Jusqu’à ce que je sois invité à agir
autrement, je resterai à la place la moins importante – à laver des pieds et à mourir à moimême. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mais il y a une autre facette à cette histoire. L’hôte aussi a un rôle à jouer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Et voici les paroles de Jésus concernant les hôtes : </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>« … afin qu'au moment où celui qui t'a invité arrive, il te dise: ‘Mon ami, monte plus
haut.’ Alors tu seras honoré devant [tous] ceux qui seront à table avec toi. »</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">et … </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">« Lorsque tu organises un dîner ou un souper, n'invite pas tes amis, ni tes frères, ni tes
parents, ni des voisins riches, de peur qu'ils ne t'invitent à leur tour pour te rendre la
pareille. Lorsque tu organises un festin, invite au contraire des pauvres, des estropiés,
des boiteux, des aveugles… » </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le rôle de l’hôte est d’inviter les autres, et même les rejetés, à entrer. Celui qui reçoit doit être
en mesure de connaître les forces et les dons que chacun des invités possède, et chercher à
installer ces invités aux places d’honneur. Jésus sait que nous avons tendance à nous sentir
plus à l’aise avec ceux qui nous ressemblent, et nous pouvons donc souvent construire nos
vies et nos ministères au sein de groupes d’affinité : nos amis, nos frères, nos proches parents,
les personnes de même nationalité que nous … Jésus invite les hôtes à regarder au-delà de
leur réseau habituel pour voir aussi ceux qui sont différents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Les habitants du pays d’accueil sont les hôtes. Ils sont les seuls à pouvoir ouvrir la porte de
leur culture aux missionnaires. Ce sont eux qui peuvent désigner à quelle chaise chaque
missionnaire peut s’asseoir à la table, afin que chacun puisse donner sa meilleure contribution
au travail dont le Royaume de Dieu a besoin dans ce pays. Les missionnaires peuvent et
doivent apporter leur énergie supplémentaire, leur perspective et leurs dons à leur terre de
mission. Et si ces richesses sont abandonnées à languir à la table des petits, alors c’est gâcher
les ressources du Royaume. Les membres des églises doivent aussi chercher à comprendre et
à découvrir les richesses que des personnes extérieures peuvent apporter à la table. Car ils
peuvent eux aussi choisir l’humilité pour mieux reconnaître les brèches et les faiblesses que
comportent leurs propres systèmes, et ainsi accueillir le missionnaire comme un envoyé de
Dieu pour combler ces brèches. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Si le missionnaire s’installe dans un pays où il y a déjà une présence chrétienne, il doit se
soumettre aux locaux. Nous sommes leurs invités. Ils sont nos frères et sœurs en Christ. Nous
devons commencer par leur témoigner du respect, de l’admiration, de l’intérêt et notre
capacité à nous laisser enseigner par eux. Nous devons établir une relation de confiance et
d’amitié sincère. Nous avons besoin, oui vraiment, de nous asseoir à « la dernière place »
jusqu’à ce que nous soyons invités à monter plus haut. Et nos hôtes doivent eux aussi
apprendre à donner ces invitations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Et s’il n’y a pas de présence chrétienne dans notre pays d’accueil ? Même dans ces cas-là, je
dirais qu’il y a une période obligatoire d’observation, d’apprentissage, et d’écoute de la
culture locale avant de se lancer dans la réalisation des nos objectifs … Quand Paul est arrivé
à Athènes, il s’est imprégné de la culture avant de commencer à prêcher. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">C’est pour cette raison que je travaille actuellement en France à la création d’une association
multiculturelle qui accompagnera les missionnaires dans leur adaptation au terrain. Cette
association s’appellera ELAN, et je vous en dirai plus dans les semaines et mois à venir. La
vision de ce projet est née du désir de mon cœur de voir une plus grande collaboration et
coopération pour l’avènement du Royaume de Dieu. Mais elle est ancrée dans la croyance que
Dieu nous appelle à la communauté … autour d’une table … où l’étiquette a de l’importance.</span></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-53432919104133244152016-06-12T15:06:00.000+02:002016-06-12T15:10:14.503+02:00The Now and Not-Yet Kingdom of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<img height="360" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CkXxYy7WUAAZ8dC.jpg:large" width="640" /><br />
<br />
For the past three years I have had the joy and the privilege of working with and learning from these 49 men and 2 women. Representing at least nine different evangelical denominations, we met together every six months with the goal of accelerating the rate of church planting in France. Among the participants, there is a vision to plant ninety new churches over the next three years...some denominations planting as many as 30 churches in that time frame, some as few as 4. All seeking to make their best contribution towards seeing God's kingdom come in France.<br />
<br />
I was not on a denominational team for this project, but on the team that was facilitating the gatherings. My specific role was to plan and lead the times of spiritual reflection and formation. The facilitation team had decided early on that we wanted each gathering to be marked by a spiritual rhythm, so we did not simply begin and end each day with prayer; rather, we paused several times each day to read scripture, intercede for each other, and listen to God.<br />
<br />
One of our final spiritual exercises was to build an "Altar of Remembrance." First we read the story of Moses and the battle of the Amalakites. At the end of the story, Moses builds an altar to the Lord and calls it, "The Lord Is My Banner." I talked about how the name given to an altar expressed both gratitude for what God had done and hope for God would do in the future. I then asked each person to consider what name they would give to an altar that was built to commemorate what God had done in and through us over the past three years. Next, each participant was given a card that had his or her own photo attached to it. They were asked to write the name of their altar next to their photo. Finally, each person was invited to come to the front of the room to share the name of their altar, and then to add their card to our communal altar. In this way we proclaimed together what God has done AND declared our hope for what He would continue to do. Here was how our altar turned out:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd-0NYfWsGbPgJuauLlb5H-WnKyVh0vhJWzXqiUq3JNSDlSDuaqqnTGHBBHY53wAP1oUyH4aYAeqeh2TBc1E2_UIT-KHHGvIibJfyjK2hOExgr3bJUAp9WHA3xxrVB6zlX_jJ5_cSxRo/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd-0NYfWsGbPgJuauLlb5H-WnKyVh0vhJWzXqiUq3JNSDlSDuaqqnTGHBBHY53wAP1oUyH4aYAeqeh2TBc1E2_UIT-KHHGvIibJfyjK2hOExgr3bJUAp9WHA3xxrVB6zlX_jJ5_cSxRo/s320/IMG_1026.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhrn9DfOlKRvskRx9_A0Fgf7_NbtvYlq8tKNOP4b4ivGqFPETlUwPoa388X-ICIiTc9bIs-Dhxym-489DDGlrrCAWWWA-0iRE6CSgtCqz8Np1uTBOUcffqAJcXt6k5-8hV_Ccw0iX8EA/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhrn9DfOlKRvskRx9_A0Fgf7_NbtvYlq8tKNOP4b4ivGqFPETlUwPoa388X-ICIiTc9bIs-Dhxym-489DDGlrrCAWWWA-0iRE6CSgtCqz8Np1uTBOUcffqAJcXt6k5-8hV_Ccw0iX8EA/s320/IMG_1028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was a holy moment. We concluded by singing several songs of gratitude and praise together. So there's a small peek at one of the ways God is working in France. To Him be the glory!</div>
<br /></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-19926171849288710222016-05-26T10:35:00.002+02:002016-05-26T10:41:32.516+02:00The Least Important Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: left;">
When I was a teenager, my family went to counseling. On our first visit, one of the things that that counselor did was place chairs of various size and comfort level in his office, and as the family entered, he paid attention to which family members took which seats. Before any of us opened our mouths the counselor was already able to analyze some of our family dynamics by observing how we entered the room and which seats we chose. For example, I, a youngest child, had often been relegated to the "kid's table" or the folding chairs in any given setting. For that reason, even though I was the first person to enter his office, I chose what I perceived to be the least comfortable seat. The counselor took note.<br />
<br />
In the fourteenth chapter of Luke, we see Jesus making similar observations. He had been invited to the house of a high-ranking Pharisee, and as the other guests arrived, he noticed that they were coming in and taking the best seats at the table. The master recognizes a teachable moment when he sees it, and he offers a lesson in etiquette--one that applies to both guests and hosts.<br />
<br />
Lately I was drawn to consider this story through the lens of missions. As missionaries, we are guests. Those in the countries to which we go are hosts. And I think the points that Jesus makes here in Luke are relevant to us. In fact, I think they’re critical. After having spent the last year studying missionary effectiveness and sustainability, I’m seeing some connections to this story.<br />
<br />
The passage begins with Jesus noticing “how the guests chose the places of honor.”<br />
<br />
When I read that, I asked myself, “Might Jesus make the same observation about missionaries arriving on the field?” Do we, too, tend to come in and assume leadership roles? Do we enter with a sense of self-importance? Do we consider that what we have to offer (the Gospel!!!) entitles us to occupy places of prominence and visibility?<br />
<br />
While our motivation and urgency may be holy, our means are messy and broken. Yes, we have a call. Yes, we have a mission. Yes, we have a message. Yes, we have vision. And yet…we are guests. And how we enter will necessarily impact the way in which that message is received.<br />
<br />
If we come expecting to be heard, needed, respected, and valued, if we have confidence in our resources, tools, and agendas, we will naturally gravitate to the highest places. To the head of the class. To the front of the church. We will be tempted to tell our hosts how it should be done, offering our classes and training seminars, as if we—the guests—should serve the main dish. But it isn’t even our house. It’s not our party. Not our place.<br />
<br />
So how should we enter?<br />
<br />
<b><i>“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host….But when you are invited, go and take the least important place.”</i></b><br />
<br />
What would happen if missionaries arrived and took “the least important place”? Could we come in and serve? Could we offer what we have from below or beside, rather than from above? Think about Jesus, the first cross-cultural missionary, who chose to be born in a barn, raised as a commoner, minister with fishermen. He could have stepped into a head rabbi position at the local synagogue. Instead he touched lepers, talked to scandalous women, and washed feet. I’d say, in most ways, Jesus took the least important place. And his means of sharing his message only helped to illustrate its truth. Even he did not come to be served, but to serve (Mk 10:45).<br />
<br />
Jesus modelled the way.<br />
<br />
For me, that means I, too need to enter humbly, grateful for the privilege of even being invited. I need to sit back, quietly, watching and learning. This is different than biding my time until I see a place that I can jump in and take. It’s different than waiting for a lull in the conversation when I can speak up and propose my ideas. It’s setting aside my plans and agendas—for a time. When I watch and learn, I’ll ask more questions and offer fewer solutions.<br />
<br />
When I watch and learn, I’ll marvel at the wisdom and insight of the hosts. I’ll give my time, energy, and resources to serve their plans. I’ll work for their success. I’ll take their advice. I’ll adapt to their way of doing things. And as I watch and learn, I’ll begin to see the weaknesses and flaws in my own plans. I’ll invite the host to give me input, to help me modify, refine, or even scrap my plans. Until I am invited to do otherwise, I will stay in that “least important place”—washing feet and dying to myself.<br />
<br />
But there is another side to the story. The host has a role to play, too.<br />
<br />
Here are Jesus’ words to the hosts:<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>“…when your host approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.”</i></b><br />
<br />
And…<br />
<br />
<b><i>“When you host a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid. But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.”</i></b><br />
<br />
The role of the host is to invite the other and outsider to come inside. The host is to recognize the strengths and the gifts of the guests, and seek to provide those guests places of honor. Jesus knows that we tend to be more comfortable with people who are like us, and so we can often build our lives and ministries around our own affinity groups. Our friends, brothers, relatives, fellow nationals. Jesus invites the host to look beyond her normal network to those who are different.<br />
<br />
The nationals are the hosts. They are the only ones who can open the door into the culture for the missionaries. They are the ones who can pull out a seat at the right place at the table, so that each missionary is able to make his best contribution to the Kingdom work that is going on in that country. Missionaries can and should bring valuable energy, perspective, and gifts to the host countries. And if those gifts are left to languish at the kiddie table, then Kingdom resources are sadly wasted. Insiders, too need to seek to understand and discover the contributions that outsiders can bring to the party. They too, could benefit from a dose of humility that acknowledges gaps and weaknesses they have in their own systems and welcomes the missionary as an emissary sent by God to fill in those gaps.<br />
<br />
If going to a country where there is a Christian presence, the missionary must submit to the nationals. We are their guests. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must start by showing respect, admiration, interest, and teach-ability. We must build trust and genuine friendship. We need, yes <i>need</i> to sit at the lowest place until we are invited up. And the hosts <i>need</i> to extend those invitations<br />
<br />
But what if there is not a Christian presence? Even then…even then, I would say there is a mandate for a period of watching, learning, and listening to the culture before we begin to implement plans. When Paul arrived in Athens he made observations about the culture before he began to preach.<br />
<br />
For this reason, I am working to create a multi-cultural association in France that will accompany missionaries in their transition to the field. That association is going to be called Elan, and I’ll be telling you more about it in the weeks and months to come. The vision was birthed out of my heart’s desire to see greater collaboration and cooperation for the sake of the kingdom of God. But it is rooted in the belief that God calls us to community…around a table…where etiquette matters. </div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-28996163970149386842016-05-18T14:10:00.002+02:002016-05-18T14:10:58.438+02:00Outreach in Old Lyon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcItWMiX5Gkt-yo0capUmPAQUrPJSHrdKKY9fGLhAi95O0xEvOKv7ejPc-xhKg0kmhTP6EZVUBU_3JmJUJCuarh5LXeYizeFeALmjbirMimB1IWXrJLpABqyf6YzCtG3sXmSCc0d9PGJQ/s1600/DSC02566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcItWMiX5Gkt-yo0capUmPAQUrPJSHrdKKY9fGLhAi95O0xEvOKv7ejPc-xhKg0kmhTP6EZVUBU_3JmJUJCuarh5LXeYizeFeALmjbirMimB1IWXrJLpABqyf6YzCtG3sXmSCc0d9PGJQ/s200/DSC02566.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93wztKmdnhLPNf2Hiktch3Vp195mf33QwutJRXgX8r-uaeWS2ppSIkImeayyYgadDUv-uEAk66ZnLJtFmGljRBjTOieaxiQCzv11hRR4xG0KhhpcxWyAxCmrKWTd1kUZqjoiYoa69tuc/s1600/DSC02567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93wztKmdnhLPNf2Hiktch3Vp195mf33QwutJRXgX8r-uaeWS2ppSIkImeayyYgadDUv-uEAk66ZnLJtFmGljRBjTOieaxiQCzv11hRR4xG0KhhpcxWyAxCmrKWTd1kUZqjoiYoa69tuc/s320/DSC02567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All of the evangelical churches of Lyon are working together in a two-week long initiative called "Un Coeur pour Lyon" (A heart for Lyon) in an effort to touch the people of our city with the love of God. As part of the initiative, our church plant hosted an event on Sunday for families in our neighborhood. It was so much fun!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j_PyNYjXawYVqnFB9XSpolOtYQsw-7YUgg7YiIYegTMGAfQyRsxIz0EwPr2JNRtnkeJv5KRgMDIF2nB_UVNHXUqbC76teZwrZa0FC8fjjM95m2Cnjnj9LBYso8s8tUMAU2ewWYR0dMQ/s1600/DSC02575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j_PyNYjXawYVqnFB9XSpolOtYQsw-7YUgg7YiIYegTMGAfQyRsxIz0EwPr2JNRtnkeJv5KRgMDIF2nB_UVNHXUqbC76teZwrZa0FC8fjjM95m2Cnjnj9LBYso8s8tUMAU2ewWYR0dMQ/s320/DSC02575.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2QT-u69-GDUimJnZq8_JnOngS6CiAzZBE3KX-SG2jq5QrUHc67ZdhjOwcvXhEfwba-tXgbyG-hcvZvreJUFVqQ8ItBFPA9uUzFXpoEyWcpy7SYrCyFOdCAGbs9B1WjBWr4SMwvczBAA/s1600/DSC02580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2QT-u69-GDUimJnZq8_JnOngS6CiAzZBE3KX-SG2jq5QrUHc67ZdhjOwcvXhEfwba-tXgbyG-hcvZvreJUFVqQ8ItBFPA9uUzFXpoEyWcpy7SYrCyFOdCAGbs9B1WjBWr4SMwvczBAA/s320/DSC02580.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a workshop where children could make mosaics from painted eggshells. Parents sat and visited with us while their kids created mini-masterpieces. It was our first official outreach activity as a church, and we really enjoyed getting to know more people in our neighborhood.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qVv28GzBkr-IJ7h87rFqwFRpXAPaPpP0uNHtmmLBheB9W43RNw7qX3FGpI7tc9W5lDRV12koDrFUrZJrjnWp6HWdxz7IHQnfXV4KnDkGlT-cYstpQeToMuZrEJQGbzSkXZqKdXvXoJc/s1600/DSC02604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qVv28GzBkr-IJ7h87rFqwFRpXAPaPpP0uNHtmmLBheB9W43RNw7qX3FGpI7tc9W5lDRV12koDrFUrZJrjnWp6HWdxz7IHQnfXV4KnDkGlT-cYstpQeToMuZrEJQGbzSkXZqKdXvXoJc/s320/DSC02604.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxOPY1PT-M0_WlCgHwoRYJFb1cx8ybJFuIT0XGARJcKOeelV05KupwUezcQ19w1Pz5ZQONo9YvKnb_a_X6zPDqL8J09swCtyzcZ7QJ3VVPb_W6OzRLzpKJT6pMg5B4TK3MvxGhZTCgzg/s1600/DSC02583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxOPY1PT-M0_WlCgHwoRYJFb1cx8ybJFuIT0XGARJcKOeelV05KupwUezcQ19w1Pz5ZQONo9YvKnb_a_X6zPDqL8J09swCtyzcZ7QJ3VVPb_W6OzRLzpKJT6pMg5B4TK3MvxGhZTCgzg/s200/DSC02583.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iByAYWhGuDPUtXn_D2xTOKfyHgQKbCdweKdmRNxDBJn__1uhGHi0XMW9NQJFjkQj0j1cDTAGXQByxQ4NWNOsMxINTKWxkHfRLSrXA3k3bIa4zMnv19Icersk2CZweX96t1kElO1o-Xo/s1600/DSC02584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iByAYWhGuDPUtXn_D2xTOKfyHgQKbCdweKdmRNxDBJn__1uhGHi0XMW9NQJFjkQj0j1cDTAGXQByxQ4NWNOsMxINTKWxkHfRLSrXA3k3bIa4zMnv19Icersk2CZweX96t1kElO1o-Xo/s200/DSC02584.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtWCkQjhljWwe88C0oob431pGOOYCPZ8wmMwT0OLEzViMdGUkfnUfCVVDU7rbqKsT_gmvv6Jt-FbvBtnv9UuZJegvi3zLs4WmBHjXh8X7vnFcK15vyMuaH2W6kbzyxGF9gdB1n1qBU0A/s1600/DSC02585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtWCkQjhljWwe88C0oob431pGOOYCPZ8wmMwT0OLEzViMdGUkfnUfCVVDU7rbqKsT_gmvv6Jt-FbvBtnv9UuZJegvi3zLs4WmBHjXh8X7vnFcK15vyMuaH2W6kbzyxGF9gdB1n1qBU0A/s200/DSC02585.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXBRMtSyKvxN9Vwu4J6N6_lXKJqSC6K-JxL3_RhRUToRTpb8g8dsideCAsIFH43oFlmG1N6kgPKuH5ODhiZim2XRi_a9sd6OyU4aATME4-_MDdkTnpDdd0Z7fS8k03GGLL_nCl_WZ_i0/s1600/DSC02592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXBRMtSyKvxN9Vwu4J6N6_lXKJqSC6K-JxL3_RhRUToRTpb8g8dsideCAsIFH43oFlmG1N6kgPKuH5ODhiZim2XRi_a9sd6OyU4aATME4-_MDdkTnpDdd0Z7fS8k03GGLL_nCl_WZ_i0/s200/DSC02592.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
David and another church member made balloon swords and balloon animals, much to the delight of many littles. Adults were invited to write messages on postcards, and then attach the postcards to helium balloons to send off to unknown recipients. People wrote simple words of encouragement such as "you are beautiful" and "you are loved" and then released their words to wherever the winds might take them.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWznsQP4r6EPPZemR0_9Ty9L9W-dhe2_t8Z0A1DjfZnlFKaVf9TlHVCvy52t_wDG4LKApPIxOUBy-NBBp_yAHwCLpHpbhIj6Dp_nIc6Z02ha7fMMO0RALo1cGFLdIhr2MdKSaFmD1sv4s/s1600/DSC02587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWznsQP4r6EPPZemR0_9Ty9L9W-dhe2_t8Z0A1DjfZnlFKaVf9TlHVCvy52t_wDG4LKApPIxOUBy-NBBp_yAHwCLpHpbhIj6Dp_nIc6Z02ha7fMMO0RALo1cGFLdIhr2MdKSaFmD1sv4s/s320/DSC02587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We served homemade cakes and cookies, and as people enjoyed the goodies we shared a bit of our vision for the neighborhood. We also handed out invitations to evangelistic events (similar to a Billy Graham crusade) that will be held next weekend in a large stadium in Lyon. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNWROopIKEZgx0rdJKD0reIJ-tE_ZDNPcnYBi8E2Rtrrmwt_z63_dKFO1tXh5W_Ni5K00kQzjJdkd1ivWXPWSmQsucbQkNWz7Ql6g4-Q3Ic_hVIgUEl4aQ8rp7i98J-uLGRDg-QYI2zQ/s1600/DSC02586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNWROopIKEZgx0rdJKD0reIJ-tE_ZDNPcnYBi8E2Rtrrmwt_z63_dKFO1tXh5W_Ni5K00kQzjJdkd1ivWXPWSmQsucbQkNWz7Ql6g4-Q3Ic_hVIgUEl4aQ8rp7i98J-uLGRDg-QYI2zQ/s320/DSC02586.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was pure joy to be out in the sun sharing the love of the Son with the people in our <i>quartier.</i> And it was a geuine team effort--with new members of our tiny church plant taking the lead in planning and executing the endeavor. This is what it means to BE the church. We look forward to doing similar events in the future. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYQzYXvm7OR5WPBYUJqIAo6P4bUGlgiyTCaYuIj19toqwe-9eenp4oBphvRb5uBYCZSG1DTTfwqcmy2CA-kI0xyKzoPlcy1jHXSS4wXOoZnL9_-ODm471HBAXbg7MxfnxF5UKfNIGQVE/s1600/DSC02613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYQzYXvm7OR5WPBYUJqIAo6P4bUGlgiyTCaYuIj19toqwe-9eenp4oBphvRb5uBYCZSG1DTTfwqcmy2CA-kI0xyKzoPlcy1jHXSS4wXOoZnL9_-ODm471HBAXbg7MxfnxF5UKfNIGQVE/s320/DSC02613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-38361710688388338412016-05-09T15:42:00.002+02:002016-05-09T15:42:35.538+02:00A Colorful Break<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last week was my break between my Spring and Summer semesters. Plus, because of the Ascension holiday in France, we had a four-day weekend from work! So I took full advantage. I started the week by finishing a baby blanket for a dear friend who is due next month. With some extra yarn I made a little monster that turned out so cute I almost kept him!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetP7kKAuSpmYAMfLYAaFay8skUxLfyF5ggJ5ijmrHten8d7FKspYQxDwn3gbtAeMzZwG1t37d1zMebt8a_79sK_0wbYkfmQ51Sfi2Oo4YlOOoCW5Xlr-6JeHFsTXDk8zedwK1ldHeLtM/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetP7kKAuSpmYAMfLYAaFay8skUxLfyF5ggJ5ijmrHten8d7FKspYQxDwn3gbtAeMzZwG1t37d1zMebt8a_79sK_0wbYkfmQ51Sfi2Oo4YlOOoCW5Xlr-6JeHFsTXDk8zedwK1ldHeLtM/s320/IMG_0930.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nIzeI1A0gdruJubGBQPJMtqV1yuNsCNncJcK9uuqC-Z0O7HMPsViIkFPpPMlwl7B5rhAiuSpOAu-Zrb95He-l2lRl95PwNZbQ0AyQ5vKBKTnRvH8esO3YBlfbA12Wx7Nn0ZSz3VcuZ4/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nIzeI1A0gdruJubGBQPJMtqV1yuNsCNncJcK9uuqC-Z0O7HMPsViIkFPpPMlwl7B5rhAiuSpOAu-Zrb95He-l2lRl95PwNZbQ0AyQ5vKBKTnRvH8esO3YBlfbA12Wx7Nn0ZSz3VcuZ4/s320/IMG_0943.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One sunny evening I met this cute boy for a pre-dinner drink. We thoroughly enjoyed being out and about in the city we now call home. Lyon is lovely, and we love being able to walk from our apartment to riverside cafés--living like locals. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpUSOxf4IC-d6bKzhUePqErSjnTJ-SBzHdDXzYHnlRYqpCPjzQXNRBT3YV6pED2FUwaVnxjHhRLQIAMSFNVkjmEV3vogbw_eXAsGKJN3ziiQBYYMO2C5omsIJsdWiQuy4zoDb-fhVi4E/s1600/IMG_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpUSOxf4IC-d6bKzhUePqErSjnTJ-SBzHdDXzYHnlRYqpCPjzQXNRBT3YV6pED2FUwaVnxjHhRLQIAMSFNVkjmEV3vogbw_eXAsGKJN3ziiQBYYMO2C5omsIJsdWiQuy4zoDb-fhVi4E/s320/IMG_0936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
David brought some beautiful rhubarb home from the market one day, and I quickly turned it into a crisp that we devoured with great big scoops of vanilla ice cream.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo3ahmqHiivnLuRdv4zI5yAEgloOlBFeg3pSaetlNZBOh83q81ahUj1g6X91aKxhpzOM0Pj_kiLLnl8rvaZ2zOWiHb15DeypouyhLW2k_uKZ136w_wDPan5paO6Bh5xQe7XhcXLt4sgQ/s1600/IMG_0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo3ahmqHiivnLuRdv4zI5yAEgloOlBFeg3pSaetlNZBOh83q81ahUj1g6X91aKxhpzOM0Pj_kiLLnl8rvaZ2zOWiHb15DeypouyhLW2k_uKZ136w_wDPan5paO6Bh5xQe7XhcXLt4sgQ/s200/IMG_0927.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And I spent a delightful afternoon with two friends from church, painting eggshells that are going to be used in an outdoor outreach next weekend. We are going to offer (among other family activities) a workshop for kids to make mosaics out of eggshells. After being painted, the shells were smashed into tiny peices, to be used as the "tiles" for the mosaics. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aUjLj6vDSd2et-k5BX-QRltEJSfUoaCfSTqm2MedoQ4XnFVoxzHiSZNb-Yd0y45T2ut3froRNit-62WphZiHEjO3gonEjoJ0KsIiJC0tr_mCRGBbw4TGpaJ8Eboaf0adf25FIALBCg4/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aUjLj6vDSd2et-k5BX-QRltEJSfUoaCfSTqm2MedoQ4XnFVoxzHiSZNb-Yd0y45T2ut3froRNit-62WphZiHEjO3gonEjoJ0KsIiJC0tr_mCRGBbw4TGpaJ8Eboaf0adf25FIALBCg4/s400/IMG_0934.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also spent several hours relaxing on the couch with these cuties and a good book. I'm rested and refreshed and ready to dive back in to school and ministry.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHduHF1_8mHEVT6_9a57IzdNuV00S3jgVNXRcok6kWjqC7iK1hmzubUL3A2NFFIdlagnWadL7L-OoN8EMwnuiErTSgxf_cGoc5Nfs50zvUx2I0IgtcSEc4HqpYcRgG1H7y4bhPgXVzzc/s1600/20160507_202853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHduHF1_8mHEVT6_9a57IzdNuV00S3jgVNXRcok6kWjqC7iK1hmzubUL3A2NFFIdlagnWadL7L-OoN8EMwnuiErTSgxf_cGoc5Nfs50zvUx2I0IgtcSEc4HqpYcRgG1H7y4bhPgXVzzc/s320/20160507_202853.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-18569853163996965872016-05-05T10:20:00.000+02:002016-05-05T10:20:25.477+02:00Le Chambon-sur-Lignon: City of Refuge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On a remote plateau in the Haute-Loire department
of France, the residents of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon and its surrounding villages sheltered
and protected hundreds of refugees during World War 2, the majority of which
were Jewish children. The hospitality of
the plateau stands in sharp contrast to the violence and bigotry that permeated
Europe, and their efforts—though illegal at the time—garnered the praise of the
French and Israeli governments decades after the end of the war. </span></span><br />
<br />
<i><b>-This is the introduction to the research paper that I wrote for for my Christian History and Theology class. For those who would like the read all twelve pages, simply click on the link below.</b></i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-I7NlNUYGpfamJzLUpiYnV2elE">https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-I7NlNUYGpfamJzLUpiYnV2elE</a></div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-71758897942513658312016-04-22T19:04:00.000+02:002016-05-28T16:24:31.745+02:00Where Is My Super Suit?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is a temptation for a missionary to think of herself as a sort of super hero, a savior, a rescuer. We kind of like being needed. And if we think that we have some indispensible wisdom, tool, or key to the Gospel, then we're quite likely to enter our host culture with our hands on our hips, chest puffed out, and a "Aren't you glad that I showed up!?!" attitude.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media0.giphy.com/media/129VQ9xjNsjIVW/200_s.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Afficher l'image d'origine" border="0" src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/129VQ9xjNsjIVW/200_s.gif" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But then if we aren't needed, why do we go? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh, but I think we are needed. The question is not "Is there a need?" The question is "What is the need?" And maybe even more importantly, we need to ask, "What is my best contribution?" Must the foreign missionary always lead the charge? Or might my best contribution be a listening ear, a helping hand, and a teachable spirit?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The challenge is that most Americans don't know how to show up just to be present and participate. We're typically trained, equipped, and sent as leaders, and by the US understanding of "leader," that means that we're going to have our own plans and vision and goals. We have mission statements! We have resources! We have know-how! We have funding! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We come to do. We're comforable in capes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Résultat de recherche d'images pour "No Capes"" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But what if we came like Jesus?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What if we asked more questions? What if we gave away our power? What if we dined with more sinners, washed more feet, and carried more crosses? What if we lived by the upside-down principals of the Kingdom, and really did take the lowest place? Will I enter in humbly, and only move to a place of honor and visibility if invited by my host?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think there is a fear among us, those who go to foreign places for the sake of the Gospel. The fear is that if we aren't fixing and solving, we're failing. But what if we're called to participate rather than initiate? What if we're meant to be the servant rather than the leader? What if our presence is more valuable than our presentations? Will I enter into the work that robs me of my super hero persona? Can I have goals and ambitions for the Kingdom of God that don't put me on top? Can I write a mission statement that is based on yielding, listening, and joining?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images-cdn.moviepilot.com/image/upload/c_limit,h_806,w_1668/t_mp_quality/dash-track-scene-pixar-incredibles-signs-youre-a-rundisney-runner-five-horrifying-visions-of-the-future-disguised-as-pixar-films-png-277562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Afficher l'image d'origine" border="0" src="http://images-cdn.moviepilot.com/image/upload/c_limit,h_806,w_1668/t_mp_quality/dash-track-scene-pixar-incredibles-signs-youre-a-rundisney-runner-five-horrifying-visions-of-the-future-disguised-as-pixar-films-png-277562.jpg" height="154" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Can we consider the possibility that as strangers, we might be wise to yield to our indigenous brothers and sisters? Or will we assume that God only calls us to lead? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All the way back in 1907, during the height of the missionary era, V.S. Azariah, the first Bishop in India, said, "No country can be fully evangelized except by its native sons." He went on the speak at the first World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh saying,"Through all the ages to come the Indian church will rise up in gratitude to attest the heroism and self-denying labors of the missionary body. You have given your goods to feed the poor. You have given your bodies to be burned. <i>We ask for love.</i> Give us FRIENDS."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Can I be content to give love? To be a friend to the French Church? Or will I worry that I just won't have enough bullet points in my newsletter if I'm not running the show?</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">More recently, missiologists such as David Garrison of the International Mission Board have studied church multiplication movements and noted that whenever a movement happens, "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;">local leaders, and not outside ministers or missionaries, give direction to the movement and take responsibility for it."</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
When French people ask us what we are doing here, we tell them that we are here to support the National Council of French Evangelicals' goal to have one church for every 10,000 people in France. We are here to join their efforts in facilitating a church planting movement. But then we are quick to say that we are not leading the church planting team here in Lyon. We believe that French people will plant the best French churches. We are here to help. To serve. To encourage. To bless. And we are thrilled to be in the helper roles. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We hope to open a regional training center, to equip and empower French church planters, but even there we will work with and yield to French leadership. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Does that mean that I no longer consider myself a leader? Of course not. I can't help being a leader. That is who God made me to be. But my understanding of what a leader does and how a leader can lead are definitely changing. I am leaning more and more into flat models of leadership and gaining a deep appreciation for collaborative work. There are venues where I am blazing a trail (I can't help it!) but I'm making sure that I'm building a coalition on the way, inviting other leaders in, and benefiting from mutual submission from the start. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am leading differently. I am listening more. And amazingly, I am seeing more fruit. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-58165245187269520802016-04-20T18:23:00.001+02:002016-04-20T18:23:42.793+02:00Ten Totally Trivial Tidbits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>It's the end of the term, so I am swamped with writing papers. I'm thinking about publishing one of them here on the old blog--but it's like 12 pages long! Would anyone want to read it? It is on an interesting topic. It's about a French village that saved about 800 Jews, mostly children, by hiding them throughout the Nazi occupation.</li>
<li>We discovered an amazingly wonderful Thai restaurant in Lyon. I'm SO happy about it!</li>
<li>Our church has found a building to rent!!! We have some renovations to do to it, but hope to be able to move in in July. It's just a couple of blocks from the metro station, right in our neighborhood. Hip Hip Hooray!</li>
<li>Major bonus about city living: the pets have been completely flea-free since our arrival in Lyon.</li>
<li>David has started running with me. He has one rule. I'm not allowed to talk. He can run much faster than I can, but I can go further. So we take turns setting the pace, and in a few months we'll probably both be going further faster. </li>
<li>Graham is going to come HOME for the summer! And we are all four totally excited about it. The downside is he won't be able to work (He doesn't have a visa that allows him to get employment in France). So we're praying for a great campus job for him for the next school year so that he'll be able to earn his share of his tuition. But getting to be together as a family for three whole months sounds so very super dreamy to me!</li>
<li>Chan and David both have birthdays within the next six days, and I don't have a clue what to get them. Any ideas?</li>
<li>I just saw that a forty year old gymnast from Uzbekistan qualified for the Olympics. Maybe there's hope for me yet....</li>
<li>Spring is in the air, and sadly, in my sinuses. I hate allergies. But I love Spring. Why must they always go together?!?</li>
<li>I'm currently accepting suggestions for good FICTION summer reading. Go!</li>
</ol>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-49405688309539801062016-04-09T11:38:00.002+02:002016-04-09T11:39:49.587+02:00Does my work matter?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="text Exod-17-11" id="en-NASB-1995" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Exodus 17:11</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Moses stands on top of a hill, observing the battle. He's not in the battle, so to speak, but watching from a safe distance. Joshua is the one who's in the fray, leading the army in the fight. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">But Moses notices that when he raises his hands (in which he is holding the Staff of God), the Israelites dominate, and when he lowers his hands, the Israelites lose. Suddenly Moses is not just a distant oberver, but one who is affecting the outcome of the battle. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">What is going on here? Does God's power to help the Israelites <i>really</i> depend on Moses' stance? If God is, indeed, the omnipotent God of the universe, why in the world would Moses be required to do these hilltop aerobics? </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">I've been thinking a lot about this story, wondering what it teaches about God's work and my work. I'm fairly Reformed in my theology, believing that God in sovereign over all; yet, stories like this tell me that God somehow invites, values, and even depends on human participation. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's the phrase "<i>depends on</i>" that makes me cringe--that challenges my theology. If God is truly sovereign, then can He depend on His own creation to enact His own will? Not must He, but can He?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Something in me really prefers to think of God as acting outside of and apart from human participation. Life just feels safer that way. I like the theology that lets me believe that everything depends on God and nothing depends on me. This is the only way that things can turn out right, right?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But Moses had to raise His hands.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And when Moses gets tired, God doesn't say, "No problem, Mo! I gotcha covered. Thanks for doing your little bit, but the hand business was just a gimmick to make you feel needed. Take a break, rest your weary arms, and I'll clean up this mess on my own." Moses is not let off the hook, even when the job exceeds his abilities. This is where Aaron and Hur come in.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-1996U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-1996U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Exodus 17:12</span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">The task that God gives Moses to do is too hard for Moses to do alone. So he has to get help. And in the end, the Israelites win. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Why? Because God was with them. And because God worked through them. Time and time, throughout scriptures, we see this same phenomenon: God enacts His will through human participation. He's sovereign, so he doesn't HAVE to do it that way. But He's sovereign, so He CAN do it that way. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">And I think God is still choosing to enact His will through human participation. Which means that the way I spend my life matters. What I do and say matters. The things that seem small and insignificant are impacting lives and winning (or losing) battles. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">God is depending on me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Dang, that sounds blasphemous for some reason. Why would God depend on creatures that He knows are flawed and broken and weak? Sounds like risky business to me! If I were God...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Yes, if I were God, I would do everything myself. Then I could be sure that things would be done perfectly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">But God, who is perfect, does not seem to need perfection from me. He chooses to depend on my imperfect participation. In fact, messy human participation is an overarching theme in God's great story--from Abraham to Jacob to Moses to Rahab to Ruth to David to Jonah to Peter to Martha to Paul. None of them did God's work perfectly. All of them participated imperfectly. Yet, all of their works have been woven into the story that continues still today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">So as I ponder the story of Moses and the battle of the Amalekites, I'm discovering some things that apply to my life and the way that God is asking me to participate in His work in the world: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>The importance of self-awareness</b>: Moses was aware of his stance, and the impact that his stance was having on the situation. Am I aware of my stance in any given situation? Do I pay attention to how that stance is affecting other people or the circumstances in which we find ourselves?</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>The importance of community</b>: Moses was unable to complete his task on his own. It had nothing to do with his willingness or his obedience, he simply did not have the strength he needed. He had to depend on others. When God invites me to participate in His work, do I take a Lone Ranger approach, or do I follow God's lead and choose to depend on others? Do I, like God, eagerly invite the participation of broken people? Will I value participation over perfection?</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>The importance of intercession</b>: Moses held his ground as an intercessor, he didn't run into the battle himself when things looked bleak. I can be tempted to try to get involved in battles that are not mine to fight. Often my role, like Moses', is to watch and pray, not go and fix! This is a place of great faith, believing that God will act in response to my prayer; trusting that holding vigil might be my best contribution to a victory.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>The importance of praise</b>: At the end of the battle, Moses built an altar, naming it "The Lord is My Banner." Moses did not mistake his own participation for the reason that Israel was victorious. As Moses lifted up God, the Israelites won. The power for victory is only ever present when God is present and lifted up. Can I fully participate in God's work without seeking the glory for the outcome? Do I remember that God is always the perfector? And do I praise Him for every victory?</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Moses built an </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-1999X" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-1999X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">altar and named it </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-1999Y" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-1999Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">The</span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> is My Banner. Exodus 17:15</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-2350595088155067402016-03-31T14:57:00.002+02:002016-03-31T14:57:26.553+02:00How will you vote?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What kind of a voter are you? I don't mean are you a Democrat or a Republican. I mean are you anxious or are you at peace? Are you mad or are you motivated? What's going on in your heart when you think about the coming election?<br />
<br />
Can we take a minute and stop talking about Trump and Sanders and Cruz and Clinton and Kasich, and talk instead about you?<br />
<br />
More than WHO you vote for, I care HOW you vote.<br />
<br />
<b>Please, oh please don't vote in fear!</b> Don't vote for someone you don't even like just because you are afraid that another person would be worse. Make sure that you actually trust and believe in the person whose name is on your ballot, even if that means that you have to write someone in. The fear-mongers will tell you that you are throwing your vote away if you do that. You are not. You are responsible for your vote, not for the outcome. Make sure that when you vote, you have peace and a clear conscience about your choice. Leave the outcome to God.<br />
<br />
<b>Please, oh please, don't vote angry!</b> I know that many people are struggling and frustrated with the current state of government. If you are overcome with righteous anger, then you have most likely already gotten involved at the local level in causes that you really care about. This is a good use of such energy. But if you aren't angry enough to have put your own blood, sweat, or tears behind the issue, then you're pretty much just a whiner who wants other people to fix things. Trust me, none of the politicians are going to do that for you. Some might do it with you. Sit down with people who care about the things you care about and find someone or something that you can be FOR, not just against. For a great resource about how to get involved locally to make an impact for the Kingdom of God, check out <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Parish-Neighborhood-Transforming-Discipleship/dp/0830841156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459428957&sr=8-1&keywords=the+new+parish" target="_blank">The New Parish</a></i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Please, oh please, don't vote stupid!</b> The presidential race gets all of the attention, but there are a ton of local races and ballot measures that are much closer to home--these matter too! Get educated about the issues, know how those measures will effect your community and your neighbors and your schools. Talk to your friends, but also try to hear the thoughts and ideas of a few people who think differently than you do. Try to understand all of the angles so that your vote is informed.<br />
<br />
<b>Please, oh please, don't have anything to do with the nastiness!</b> Let's raise the level of the conversation. Don't post anything on Facebook that is cruel or demeaning. Don't belittle or demonize people who vote differently than you do. Write to candidates and tell them that the negative ads are unhealthy and wrong. Refuse to watch news stations that are incendiary. We all hate the tone of elections, and yet they keep getting worse. It's time to say, "NO MORE!" Stop validating their bad behavior by sensationalizing it. And definitely don't retweet it.<br />
<br />
We have a few choices to make--not just the WHO of this election, but the HOW. Keep your heart and your soul pure in the process, free from malice and spite. Because how we, the voters, conduct ourselves in this process may do more for the health and unity of our country than any single candidate possibly could.</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-37153781084200275942016-03-25T12:52:00.000+01:002016-03-25T12:59:46.703+01:00A Friend of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been spending some time trying to figure out what it means to be a friend of God. I have some idea of what it means to be a God's child, God's servant, God's beloved, and God's ambassador. But lately I've had the sense that God is inviting me to be His friend. And I'm not exactly comfortable with the idea.<br />
<br />
To be God's friend would mean that I would have to grow up. Friendship carries a heavier responsibility, and I'm not sure that I can handle it. I much prefer the role of the "damsel in distress" when it comes to God. Friendship feels beyond me. Yet, something about the invitiation is compelling. It seems that God is asking me to discover a new way of interacting with Him, to explore an undiscovered aspect of our relationship. In essence, I think God is asking me to mature in the way that I engage with Him.<br />
<br />
It's sort of like the transition I'm going through in parenting my young adult children. I'm still their mom. I'll always be their mom. But it would be rediculous if I still parented them the same way that I did ten years ago. We are making the bumpy move to an adult-adult relationship, and while it's a bit of an awkward dance for the time being, I know we need to keep moving in that direction, because there is nothing for us in the old parent-child relationship. We just can't (and shouldn't) live there forever. While it's silly and downright dangerous for parents to try to be friends with their eight year old children, it's just and silly for a parent to relate to an adult child as if the child were still eight. The relationship changes as the child matures.<br />
<br />
Yes. And this is what I think God is saying. He wants to relate to me as an adult child--as a friend. It's time for me to grow up.<br />
<br />
But how? What does friendship with God look like? I'm starting my journey to answer that question by studying the life of Abraham--because Abraham is the first person in the Bible that God refers to as His friend (see Isaiah 41:8). I'm particularly paying attention to the things about God and Abraham's relationship that are distinct from the ways a child or servant relationship looks. For example, Abraham obeyed God--but this is something a servant or child would do, so it doesn't necessarily show how Abraham was God's friend. Abraham also believed God--his faith is legendary. But that, too, is something a child of God does. It is certainly a quality that is present in friendship, but it is not unique to friendship.<br />
<br />
So one of the first places I see a friend to friend interaction between God and Abraham is in Genesis chapter 18. Having appeared to Abraham to announce the impending birth of Isaac, God says to Himself, "Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" Reading the rest of the chapter, we quickly discover how God answers His own question--He decided to share His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with Abraham.<br />
<br />
Sharing plans--that is something that friends do. Jesus makes this clear when he says to his disciples in John 15:15, <i>"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not kow his master's business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." </i> So Genesis chapter 18 had my attention! God is treating Abraham like a friend by making His business known to Abraham. How will Abraham handle it? What does Abraham do to engage in a friendship with God?<br />
<br />
Abraham certianly doesn't say, as a servant might have said, "Good plan, boss! How can I help?" Nor does he whimper like a child, crying, "Oh No! That sounds mean!" Instead, Abraham neogitates with God.<br />
<br />
Audacious? Maybe. But Abraham isn't flippant or haughty in his negotiation. He is diplomatic and wise, and God welcomes the dialogue. Imagine the scene.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Gen-18-23" id="en-NASB-448" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">Abraham came near and said, “<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-448Y" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-448Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?</span><span class="text Gen-18-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px;"><b> </b></span><span class="text Gen-18-24" id="en-NASB-449" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">it</span> away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Gen-18-25" id="en-NASB-450" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">treated</span> alike. Far be it from You! Shall not <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-450Z" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-450Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the Judge of all the earth deal justly?</span><span class="text Gen-18-25" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">”</span></i></span></blockquote>
First, I love how the passage begins with "Abraham came near...." When a friend confronts a friend, he doesn't pull back and put up walls, he draws near. He enters in. He says with his body, "I'm with you" even as he says with his words "I don't like your plan." A friend of God comes close.<br />
<br />
Second, Abraham appeals to God's character, he reminds God of His own justice. Friends know each other well enough to say, "Your actions don't seem to be congruent with who I know you to be." A friend will ask the hard questions, will risk being rejected for the sake of speaking truth.<br />
<br />
Third, Abraham mediates. He intercedes for the the people of Sodom; he intercedes for his nephew, Lot. And this may be the essential element of friendship with God. I think that THIS is perhaps the main reason that God shares His plans with His friends--to invite them to intercede. We see this again with another one of God's friends, Moses. God shares His plan to destroy all of Israel with Moses, and Moses intercedes for Israel. God wants friends who will act as mediators, intercessors, peacemakers.<br />
<br />
God welcomed Abraham's plea. God bent to Abraham's request--all the way to agreeing that if just 10 righteous people could be found in Sodom, God would spare the entire city. But God knew that there were no righteous people in Sodom. Not even Lot was worthy of being saved. It was out His compassion for Abraham that God saved Lot (Genesis 19:16). In the end, God's plan stayed the same. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. But God's justice and compassion were also revealed, and perhaps the decision to save Lot and his family were the results of Abraham's mediation.<br />
<br />
This is not to say that I don't believe in the absolute sovereignty of God. It is to suggest that God chooses to enact His perfect will through the prayers of His friends. Perhaps my willingness to stand in the gap--to come near to God, appeal to His character, and mediate for His creation--is exactly what God is looking for in a friend.</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347486679146542798.post-91306391681792914272016-03-23T09:39:00.000+01:002016-03-23T09:42:31.339+01:00God is Building His Church in Vieux Lyon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last Sunday, there were 24 adults and 2.5 children at our worship gathering. This is the church plant in Vieux Lyon...these people ARE the church. We started as a team of 5, and even though we haven't officially launched, people are coming.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7f-pAePPgv7E07DSRP1jCc3dQaHjkNq4SmusndgbkOTFMxJXC6nMq0n1PhhKVnZGObkWzR2jFxLxl_Hx9pUQZdAGA0re9y0FuxwKTRigauCr0aEwT2CheqlvdIEjBaIYQTac0jGPRaU/s1600/Chruch+Plant+Vieux+Lyon+March+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7f-pAePPgv7E07DSRP1jCc3dQaHjkNq4SmusndgbkOTFMxJXC6nMq0n1PhhKVnZGObkWzR2jFxLxl_Hx9pUQZdAGA0re9y0FuxwKTRigauCr0aEwT2CheqlvdIEjBaIYQTac0jGPRaU/s320/Chruch+Plant+Vieux+Lyon+March+2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some people find our service time and location on our <a href="http://evangeliqueduvieuxlyon.fr/equipe/" target="_blank">website</a> and just show up. Some have been invited to come. One of our regular attenders has brought just about everyone she knows, and some of her friends have stuck around. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are careful not to invite people from established churches--we do not belive in church planting by division! Most of our current attenders are students and young professionals who have not yet found a "home" church in Lyon. They come from various denominational backgrounds, and most describe themselves as "young" Christians, that is to say, newer to the faith. Some had walked away from the church for a time, but were feeling a need to find their way back to God and His family. Some are seekers. We strive to meet each person where they are, and then invite them to take the next step towards Christ.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
God is building His church in Vieux Lyon, and we are privileged to be a part of it.</div>
<br />
Next steps? We clearly need a building as we have quickly outgrown the living room in the apartment where we are currently meeting. We have found a location that would meet our needs here in our neighborhood, but there are several hurdles in front of us--one of which in financial. Even just to rent a space in Vieux Lyon, there is a large sum that must be paid upfront. It is an expense that can be recouperated if we move, but we still have to be able to make the initial investment. Please pray that if this is that place that God has chosen for us, He will open wide the doors.<br />
<br />
The location that we are considering would have enough space for a our daily prayer meetings, our weekly worships services, and a classroom for a Regional Church Planting Training Center, which we hope to launch in the Fall of 2017. It also has a large room that would serve as shared office space. We will be able to rent out several office cubicles to people in the comminuty who are in need of such a work space, and this will help pay for the monthly rent of the entire building. This is the type of model that is needed in France, where the average church size is 50-80 people. Small congregations cannot afford to pay rent, utilities, etc. By having an income source that will also offer a useful service to the community we will not only enlarge the breadth of our social network, we will also be able to afford a building that is centrally located.<br />
<br />
God is on the move in Lyon! Pray with us for wisdom and grace as we seek to keep in step with the Spirit. May we do all things by His strength and for His glory!</div>
Four for Francehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12977798759538666890noreply@blogger.com0