While I'm busy typing away on a paper that has distracted me from all else, the following was received from L'Arche in Compiegne as we enter tomorrow into the season of Lent, Careme in French. I am reminded of how this desert season began last year, with a final night of jubilation and dancing as the morrow brought a waking attentiveness to Christ's suffering and our call to enter in with him. May these words guide you as they guide me and others. Pray for the country of France as they enter into this season, for the devout Catholics and emerging charismatic movement to be a light for Christ in the desert of roteness and dead tradition.
« Seigneur avec Toi, nous irons au désert… Les paroles de ce chant, propre au temps de carême, nous invitent à vivre une nouvelle étape dans notre année liturgique. Nous sommes invités à aller au désert, à aller dans ce lieu aride, sans végétation et sans habitation. Un lieu qui, à première vue, est sans intérêt. Rien ne semble s’y passer, rien ne semble arrêter notre attention. Pourtant, je suis bien invité à regarder, non pas autour de moi, mais en moi. Car c’est dans le calme et le silence que je peux entendre Dieu me parler cœur à cœur, que je peux recevoir la lumière de Dieu pour faire la vérité en moi. »
Extrait du Vivre Ensemble, Abbé Denis Raffray.
"Lord, with you we will go into the desert...The words of this song appropriately invite us into Lent, into a new stage in our liturgical year. We are invited to go into the desert, to go into this dry place, without green growth and without life. It is a place that upon first glance holds no interest. Nothing seems to pass by this place, nothing seems to take our attention. And yet, I am clearly invited to watch and look, not at that which is around me, but at myself alone. It is in this peace and in this silence that I can hear God speak to my heart from his, that I can receive the light of God to live truth from my being."
Jennifer's translation
Showing posts with label Prayer Needs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer Needs. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Pray for Europe...and France!
Join Greater Europe Mission in praying strategically for Europe tomorrow, October 23, 2008.
Please visit this website for more information.
Please visit this website for more information.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
And the Wall Came Tumbling Down
This morning after church Nari and I were walking to join Natacha for sandwiches down by the river. Natacha was in charge of an information display for Mozaik at an all-city garage sale wherein students were invited to participate. To the point, on the way Nari and I passed by an entry to a cyber cafe next to UTC that I pass all the time. Today, however, I heard loud “hallelujahs” and worship echoing out into the street from within. Nari kept walking, on the phone with Natacha and not having heard the praises. “Nari!” I called, “listen.” She came running back and then we just turned to one another, quickly forgetting our sandwiches and waiting Natacha, “Tu veux voir?” [do you want to see] A simultaneous, “Yes.”
It was a gathering of no more than 10-15 adults and children in what would be labeled a small ethnic church. A handful of the women were dressed in traditional African wear, which we later found out was more specifically Congolese. We were welcomed in and took our places at the plastic porch chairs, standing and praising. As the pastor powerfully began speak of the Father God, in whom we have victory, and by whom the disobedient devil was banished from heaven, and because of whom we have hope and joy because of the death and LIFE of Jesus Christ, I began to cry then weep. The pastor was loud and powerful, then at other moments tender and inviting, and I realized. I realized I have forgotten what a powerful God we serve. I wept profusely as Nari laid her hand on my back then I, mine on hers, and I saw Xue. I saw the walls of Jericho. I saw crumbling unbelief. And I saw a God who is capable. Who is powerful. Who has the victory and it is my great sin to not believe and follow obediently in the great conviction that he is tearing down walls. As worship continued, we were invited to take the hand of our neighbor or place our hand on the person in front of us, something I haven’t done in church since I left America. A member of the church prayed and again, more profuse weeping as I heard so much of God’s joy and love in his prayer to a God who is glorious, worthy, powerful. Forgive me, for I have sinned and forgotten.
I love church. And even though I’ve gone through rough spells, I always have and will need church in a way I can’t explain. Today I was reminded of the place wherein God has established the Church in the living out of Christian faith, of identifying with a people and learning of a God corporately. Church affects ministry. In its timidity, church teaches us as well timidity. In its carefulness, it teaches us to be careful. In its boldness, it teaches us proclamation. In its teaching emphases, be it stoic intellectual recitations, inspired and informed textual exegesis, proclamations of Gospel through spoken and sung word, it teaches something about the person of God beyond what is simply stated. Through the implicit curriculum of form and function and method of Sunday mornings, or Saturday nights or Friday evenings or whatever, we as members of a church and ministers of the Gospel are equipped, or ill-equipped, to know how to go about our weeks of living with others in his name.
While my job here is to support and not criticize, this morning I realized the French church has as many walls up to a powerful and liberating God as the culture. God is moving in the church, there is no doubt. Nonetheless, values and identities such as homogeneity in form, fear, safety, carefulness, not thinking outside the box, are just as much at work in churches here as they are in the culture. And both church and culture are bound here in a way that saddens and teaches me how to direct my prayers and encouragements. I am not basing this realization off of one morning’s experience in an ethnic church, for there are other instances, and one this week at Passion has led me to see God’s hand in placing these pieces of comprehension before me. Knowing Americans as I do, knowing the energy-expectations of Passion as I do, I realized this by reading the body language and encouragements of the Passion stage—France was and is a tough crowd, even the passionate Christians. Because of so many national wounds, they have learned to play it safe. And sadly, I think, this life becomes best lived with a safe God.
This morning, as Nari and I walked out of this small little church gathering, jaws to the ground with how awesome God’s presence was there, I told her, “I forgot that we serve a powerful God who can tear down walls.” And in further reflection I am reminded of the oft-quoted because it’s SO true line of C.S. Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe concerning Aslan, the lion who symbolizes in this series Jesus. “Safe? Of course [Aslan] isn’t safe. But he’s good.” I serve a good God, who is not safe, who is not timid, who demands that I shout and pray that walls come down.
Note: It is a known fact amongst French national Christians, mission workers, and ethnic Christians (in France this normally means of African origin) that ethnic churches may at times not always have the clearest theologies, namely that there can be incorporated into their beliefs and practices remnants of spiritism and animism. Another visit will help me in discerning, but this morning I heard three in one preached--Father, Son, and Spirit--and did not hear nor discern worship, praise, or pastoral direction that would place me ill-at-ease. Several points in fact confirmed a sincerity and Spirit-led gathering.
It was a gathering of no more than 10-15 adults and children in what would be labeled a small ethnic church. A handful of the women were dressed in traditional African wear, which we later found out was more specifically Congolese. We were welcomed in and took our places at the plastic porch chairs, standing and praising. As the pastor powerfully began speak of the Father God, in whom we have victory, and by whom the disobedient devil was banished from heaven, and because of whom we have hope and joy because of the death and LIFE of Jesus Christ, I began to cry then weep. The pastor was loud and powerful, then at other moments tender and inviting, and I realized. I realized I have forgotten what a powerful God we serve. I wept profusely as Nari laid her hand on my back then I, mine on hers, and I saw Xue. I saw the walls of Jericho. I saw crumbling unbelief. And I saw a God who is capable. Who is powerful. Who has the victory and it is my great sin to not believe and follow obediently in the great conviction that he is tearing down walls. As worship continued, we were invited to take the hand of our neighbor or place our hand on the person in front of us, something I haven’t done in church since I left America. A member of the church prayed and again, more profuse weeping as I heard so much of God’s joy and love in his prayer to a God who is glorious, worthy, powerful. Forgive me, for I have sinned and forgotten.
I love church. And even though I’ve gone through rough spells, I always have and will need church in a way I can’t explain. Today I was reminded of the place wherein God has established the Church in the living out of Christian faith, of identifying with a people and learning of a God corporately. Church affects ministry. In its timidity, church teaches us as well timidity. In its carefulness, it teaches us to be careful. In its boldness, it teaches us proclamation. In its teaching emphases, be it stoic intellectual recitations, inspired and informed textual exegesis, proclamations of Gospel through spoken and sung word, it teaches something about the person of God beyond what is simply stated. Through the implicit curriculum of form and function and method of Sunday mornings, or Saturday nights or Friday evenings or whatever, we as members of a church and ministers of the Gospel are equipped, or ill-equipped, to know how to go about our weeks of living with others in his name.
While my job here is to support and not criticize, this morning I realized the French church has as many walls up to a powerful and liberating God as the culture. God is moving in the church, there is no doubt. Nonetheless, values and identities such as homogeneity in form, fear, safety, carefulness, not thinking outside the box, are just as much at work in churches here as they are in the culture. And both church and culture are bound here in a way that saddens and teaches me how to direct my prayers and encouragements. I am not basing this realization off of one morning’s experience in an ethnic church, for there are other instances, and one this week at Passion has led me to see God’s hand in placing these pieces of comprehension before me. Knowing Americans as I do, knowing the energy-expectations of Passion as I do, I realized this by reading the body language and encouragements of the Passion stage—France was and is a tough crowd, even the passionate Christians. Because of so many national wounds, they have learned to play it safe. And sadly, I think, this life becomes best lived with a safe God.
This morning, as Nari and I walked out of this small little church gathering, jaws to the ground with how awesome God’s presence was there, I told her, “I forgot that we serve a powerful God who can tear down walls.” And in further reflection I am reminded of the oft-quoted because it’s SO true line of C.S. Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe concerning Aslan, the lion who symbolizes in this series Jesus. “Safe? Of course [Aslan] isn’t safe. But he’s good.” I serve a good God, who is not safe, who is not timid, who demands that I shout and pray that walls come down.
Note: It is a known fact amongst French national Christians, mission workers, and ethnic Christians (in France this normally means of African origin) that ethnic churches may at times not always have the clearest theologies, namely that there can be incorporated into their beliefs and practices remnants of spiritism and animism. Another visit will help me in discerning, but this morning I heard three in one preached--Father, Son, and Spirit--and did not hear nor discern worship, praise, or pastoral direction that would place me ill-at-ease. Several points in fact confirmed a sincerity and Spirit-led gathering.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
GEM Day of Prayer for Europe
I invite you to join Greater Europe Mission tomorrow (May 20th) in lifting up the beautiful peoples of Europe before the gracious thrown of God. Please see the following website for country guides, daily devotionals, and resources for prayer.
In praying, I encourage you to also dwell on the text of 2 Peter, which is a heavy and hard read but nonetheless provides significant points of intercession as we dwell on God's desires for the nations of this world. In juxtaposition to its hard-hitting writings concerning God's judgment, I find the following to be both of ministerial and personal comfort--informing our sense of time, reminding us of God's final desire, spurring us on to love and good deeds, and shaping the ways in which we learn to love and serve according to God's wills and the prayers of the people.
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. --2 Peter 3:7-9
In praying, I encourage you to also dwell on the text of 2 Peter, which is a heavy and hard read but nonetheless provides significant points of intercession as we dwell on God's desires for the nations of this world. In juxtaposition to its hard-hitting writings concerning God's judgment, I find the following to be both of ministerial and personal comfort--informing our sense of time, reminding us of God's final desire, spurring us on to love and good deeds, and shaping the ways in which we learn to love and serve according to God's wills and the prayers of the people.
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. --2 Peter 3:7-9
Monday, April 14, 2008
Mid-April Update
I’m writing this blog in advance and for review to accomplish a few things—give a brief update, preview you as to what’s coming down the pipe, and leave you with a few poems/ditties I have jotted in my journal. I also say this: You may not hear from me for a while. I’m giving an update now so you can be praying. Thanks in advance!
So Far
April thus far has been fairly “normal”, and I use that term loosely. GBU, one-on-one’s, L’Arche, meeting up with Compiegne acquaintances and friends. Marie, who I met through JAO and Virginia Hemmerle, came over to meet for sharing and prayer, which is always a blessing. I met up different days with a few UTC students outside the regular GBU loop. Had coffee with Valerie from L’Arche, which again, huge blessing. She has a beautiful testimony and presence and much wisdom on how to serve well at L’Arche. Thursday night I headed to Mozaik’s party, the student group of which Natacha is president. Several GBU students were going and had invited me and it was a blast (even if humorous to me) to join them on the dance floor. I love dancing and it takes all of 60 seconds for me to warm up to bustin’ a move. Last week I was hardly ever home and I have given up cooking for myself beyond the basic and simple. I busted my tail the first weekend of April and week following so I could take a retreat at the McAuley’s house. Wonderfully it worked out for me to be there Friday afternoon through Sunday morning and I experienced most of the time in silence holed up in their basement. Between letter writing, reading, journaling, praying, thinking, oh my, it was divine and much needed. This week I am at L’Arche in the afternoons rather than mornings and students are on vacation (I know, yet again…). This has opened up a great opportunity for me to press forward on my Greek. I fell behind but am slowly getting back on track and if I can say this, really enjoying it. Continue to keep this endeavor in your prayers. I’ve also been busy getting FAFSA for next year finally done, tickets bought, and final month plans made and in the works. What prompted this blog in fact was my purchase of my final ticket home—July 8th. I don’t really know what to do with that. So, I have it. It’s official, I’m leaving France. There…
Natacha in all her glory :)
What’s Coming
This coming weekend I’ll be joining Nari, Armel, and Clement for GBU’s Congres National near Tours, France. The topic for the weekend is “Bible without Borders,” considering the place the Bible is legally not allowed around the globe and the places it is culturally and legally not allowed in France. Nari, Armel, and I have already spoken about taking some time this weekend to strategize for responsibility sharing and turnover for the year to come, and I am excited overall at the momentum GBU has going. Pray for that to continue.
Between now and May 8, there is the regular activities of the week with L’Arche and GBU. April 15 I have a dinner meeting my place with Joel and Francois to plan for the next and final JAO before summer vacation begins. This Thursday is one of the L’Arche assistant’s birthdays, which I have learned normally gets her down. Last week our decoration group made a birthday poster, and Valerie and I have a surprise in the works for her, Martine, Thursday morning and at gouter (snack) time. Pray she may be blessed. Another thing on the L’Arche front, as of next week I will not be there on Wednesdays. This is sad for me because I really look forward to mosaic with Chantal but for all the rest going on, it is necessary and I have both L’Arche’s and GEM’s blessing. Francis and I are also going to meet with a higher-up before I leave in May to discuss my time there and how they would prefer I transition out of my volunteer position. I’m also working out seeing a couple long-time GEM missionaries as well as visiting Faculte Libre de Theologie Evangelique a Vaux-sur-Seine, just west of Paris. I’ll be in Berlin, Germany April 30-May 3 for GEM’s first organization-wide Muslim ministry training. I am very excited about this and cannot wait to give you a report. May 5 I will attend the L’Oise Pastorale (L’Oise area pastor’s bi-monthly meeting) to make a brief announcement about the Passion worship conference and distribute publicity. Pray for reception to the information and encouragement of their students to attend. May 8 I leave for the USA until May 26. During that time I will be helping out with and attending my sister’s art show, going to her graduation, participating in my former roommates’ wedding festivities, and making some headway on details for my July/August move, transition, beginning of studies, and finding a job. I will also be getting in touch with supporters to make plans for seeing you all in July! I am very excited to share face to face with so many of you who have loved and supported me well here.
Prayer Requests
Last week I had lunch with Nari and Xue, and they found out that Xue will be doing a semester abroad in Switzerland in the same city Nari has applied for an internship. Nari has been praying for that opportunity so that she can encourage Xue as she is trying to believe. I ask you to pray explicitly that Xue comes to belief this year and that Nari may be allowed to walk with her with all joy and energy in her first steps. I cannot reiterate enough—THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PRAYER REQUEST! Nari has continued to follow my time with Xue and has been praying for us. Pray that Xue and I may have some pointed discussions in the next few weeks and that Nari will be granted the next privilege of walking alongside her. How personally sweet for me this would be.
I am also hoping/praying to organize a Muslim ministry dinner and roundtable for a handful of GBU students. A couple are already very interested, and given their almost constant contact with many Muslim students, I sense this time would be greatly beneficial. Pray for me to be able to get that organized and facilitated between now and the end of May.
Pray also for final JAO planning, the Passion World Tour Paris stop, ongoing relationships here in Compiegne, and so much more, I can’t even keep up with it. I am hoping to see the Prevotes, and at the least Olivia, before I leave May 8 and continue to keep them lifted up. Madame Bataille asks about them and she is a great encouragement to me here to have the hard conversations. Thad McAuley asked me if there was anything they were afraid of, fears? (a prevalent issue in France). No, I said, they are so happy-go-lucky joyful people. I forgot one thing—Jean-Stephane won’t step foot in a cemetery. He’s afraid of them. Madame Bataille brought this to mind. Perhaps this is an opportunity, I don’t know if that door will be opened; but pray.
Poems
Metro
You notice that there is no noise
sauf les americains
Who are just so excited and don’t know better
And the hormonally-driven anxious teenagers shouting for attention
You notice that no one smiles
and there is certainly never laughter
You notice that everyone is reading something
and you feel out of place if you’re not
You notice that everyone exits walking the same quick pace that the train parts
You notice that you learn the manners of the metro,
how to enter, exit, sit, stand
You learn to ignore others
and get yourself where you need to go
You learn to occupy your space
and neglect that it is shared
You learn how to avoid direct eye contact
but still manage to people watch
You learn to stop looking out the window
for a glimpse of sunlight or someone you know
Because this is after all a black tunnel
You stop listening to the voices and conversations around you
You start automatically attaching pod to ear
You stop smiling even when the accordion-player begs you to
You start trying to blend in by looking devoid of emotion
You stop wondering how long it takes to get from place to place
You start allowing a standard 45 minutes, apologizing if late, roaming if early
That’s the life of the metro
Its power to which we succumb
Without thinking
Because we need to get to wherever it is we’re going
Forget the journey
Repetition
And it is sometimes
in the repeating
That we can remember
Jesus, je sais que tu es la
It takes the melody and the silence
to recall for us his presence
Because prone we are to forget, or neglect, or ignore
Baptism
Wash me in the waters
O Thou Spirit most divine
Refresh me and renew me
Reminding, the life coursing thro’ ‘tis thine
Wash me in the waters
Cleansing, may they be
Recalling that my choice of thee
Doth bind for eternity
Wash me in the waters
Fresh baptismal flow
Surrounding and engulfing be its
Glisten and its glow
Wash me in the waters
Making me anew
Reborn and re-envisioned
Yours again, me in you
Oh wash me in the waters
Which for me is life
Yours I come, leaving at the altar
My human grief and strife
For thou O God, art Lord alone
Of me and all the land
Of all the peoples and the places
Countless as the ever-baptized sand
Entering Silence
Profound is the silence ever widening before me
Evidencing the distractions cluttering space
inviting and wanting all that is holy to enter
A gift to sit and hear only the creaking of wood and passing of outside cars
as silence falls and reigns in a space
Meant for awed worship
Entering Silence Two
The bell tolls, but unheard
Only a mark of my mind,
That it has begun, this retreat into returning as we came
Silence
What glory is it, I admit,
To have left behind all that would pull and entangle
For prolonged moments of being
That it could always be as this,
Friday evening falling
With no thoughts of where to be, what to do, what’s forgotten
Only Be is what lies before me
And it is as if my entire body, down to the nerves in my feet know
Beautiful is this glory
All that floods me now is the joy of what is to come
Amplified by the joy of what is now
How great thou art
How great it is
Simultaneous wonders to me
Silence falls, sun remains,
And flooding in, come they both
When I Stop to Think
Someday you’ll wake up
And be 30, 50, 80
Will it all have been one pursuit after another
Without end
Continuous striving
And no rest
May there be points of conclusion and closure
With ability to look back and rejoice
Forward and dream
Down and delight
May it all be lived as a gracious gift
Unsure, but in need of fidelity
Commitment
Grace
And Love
So Far
April thus far has been fairly “normal”, and I use that term loosely. GBU, one-on-one’s, L’Arche, meeting up with Compiegne acquaintances and friends. Marie, who I met through JAO and Virginia Hemmerle, came over to meet for sharing and prayer, which is always a blessing. I met up different days with a few UTC students outside the regular GBU loop. Had coffee with Valerie from L’Arche, which again, huge blessing. She has a beautiful testimony and presence and much wisdom on how to serve well at L’Arche. Thursday night I headed to Mozaik’s party, the student group of which Natacha is president. Several GBU students were going and had invited me and it was a blast (even if humorous to me) to join them on the dance floor. I love dancing and it takes all of 60 seconds for me to warm up to bustin’ a move. Last week I was hardly ever home and I have given up cooking for myself beyond the basic and simple. I busted my tail the first weekend of April and week following so I could take a retreat at the McAuley’s house. Wonderfully it worked out for me to be there Friday afternoon through Sunday morning and I experienced most of the time in silence holed up in their basement. Between letter writing, reading, journaling, praying, thinking, oh my, it was divine and much needed. This week I am at L’Arche in the afternoons rather than mornings and students are on vacation (I know, yet again…). This has opened up a great opportunity for me to press forward on my Greek. I fell behind but am slowly getting back on track and if I can say this, really enjoying it. Continue to keep this endeavor in your prayers. I’ve also been busy getting FAFSA for next year finally done, tickets bought, and final month plans made and in the works. What prompted this blog in fact was my purchase of my final ticket home—July 8th. I don’t really know what to do with that. So, I have it. It’s official, I’m leaving France. There…
Students dancing at Mozaik's party
Natacha in all her glory :)
Julien, Jacque, me, and Chantal during mosaic, the craft
What’s Coming
This coming weekend I’ll be joining Nari, Armel, and Clement for GBU’s Congres National near Tours, France. The topic for the weekend is “Bible without Borders,” considering the place the Bible is legally not allowed around the globe and the places it is culturally and legally not allowed in France. Nari, Armel, and I have already spoken about taking some time this weekend to strategize for responsibility sharing and turnover for the year to come, and I am excited overall at the momentum GBU has going. Pray for that to continue.
Between now and May 8, there is the regular activities of the week with L’Arche and GBU. April 15 I have a dinner meeting my place with Joel and Francois to plan for the next and final JAO before summer vacation begins. This Thursday is one of the L’Arche assistant’s birthdays, which I have learned normally gets her down. Last week our decoration group made a birthday poster, and Valerie and I have a surprise in the works for her, Martine, Thursday morning and at gouter (snack) time. Pray she may be blessed. Another thing on the L’Arche front, as of next week I will not be there on Wednesdays. This is sad for me because I really look forward to mosaic with Chantal but for all the rest going on, it is necessary and I have both L’Arche’s and GEM’s blessing. Francis and I are also going to meet with a higher-up before I leave in May to discuss my time there and how they would prefer I transition out of my volunteer position. I’m also working out seeing a couple long-time GEM missionaries as well as visiting Faculte Libre de Theologie Evangelique a Vaux-sur-Seine, just west of Paris. I’ll be in Berlin, Germany April 30-May 3 for GEM’s first organization-wide Muslim ministry training. I am very excited about this and cannot wait to give you a report. May 5 I will attend the L’Oise Pastorale (L’Oise area pastor’s bi-monthly meeting) to make a brief announcement about the Passion worship conference and distribute publicity. Pray for reception to the information and encouragement of their students to attend. May 8 I leave for the USA until May 26. During that time I will be helping out with and attending my sister’s art show, going to her graduation, participating in my former roommates’ wedding festivities, and making some headway on details for my July/August move, transition, beginning of studies, and finding a job. I will also be getting in touch with supporters to make plans for seeing you all in July! I am very excited to share face to face with so many of you who have loved and supported me well here.
Prayer Requests
Last week I had lunch with Nari and Xue, and they found out that Xue will be doing a semester abroad in Switzerland in the same city Nari has applied for an internship. Nari has been praying for that opportunity so that she can encourage Xue as she is trying to believe. I ask you to pray explicitly that Xue comes to belief this year and that Nari may be allowed to walk with her with all joy and energy in her first steps. I cannot reiterate enough—THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PRAYER REQUEST! Nari has continued to follow my time with Xue and has been praying for us. Pray that Xue and I may have some pointed discussions in the next few weeks and that Nari will be granted the next privilege of walking alongside her. How personally sweet for me this would be.
I am also hoping/praying to organize a Muslim ministry dinner and roundtable for a handful of GBU students. A couple are already very interested, and given their almost constant contact with many Muslim students, I sense this time would be greatly beneficial. Pray for me to be able to get that organized and facilitated between now and the end of May.
Pray also for final JAO planning, the Passion World Tour Paris stop, ongoing relationships here in Compiegne, and so much more, I can’t even keep up with it. I am hoping to see the Prevotes, and at the least Olivia, before I leave May 8 and continue to keep them lifted up. Madame Bataille asks about them and she is a great encouragement to me here to have the hard conversations. Thad McAuley asked me if there was anything they were afraid of, fears? (a prevalent issue in France). No, I said, they are so happy-go-lucky joyful people. I forgot one thing—Jean-Stephane won’t step foot in a cemetery. He’s afraid of them. Madame Bataille brought this to mind. Perhaps this is an opportunity, I don’t know if that door will be opened; but pray.
Poems
Metro
You notice that there is no noise
sauf les americains
Who are just so excited and don’t know better
And the hormonally-driven anxious teenagers shouting for attention
You notice that no one smiles
and there is certainly never laughter
You notice that everyone is reading something
and you feel out of place if you’re not
You notice that everyone exits walking the same quick pace that the train parts
You notice that you learn the manners of the metro,
how to enter, exit, sit, stand
You learn to ignore others
and get yourself where you need to go
You learn to occupy your space
and neglect that it is shared
You learn how to avoid direct eye contact
but still manage to people watch
You learn to stop looking out the window
for a glimpse of sunlight or someone you know
Because this is after all a black tunnel
You stop listening to the voices and conversations around you
You start automatically attaching pod to ear
You stop smiling even when the accordion-player begs you to
You start trying to blend in by looking devoid of emotion
You stop wondering how long it takes to get from place to place
You start allowing a standard 45 minutes, apologizing if late, roaming if early
That’s the life of the metro
Its power to which we succumb
Without thinking
Because we need to get to wherever it is we’re going
Forget the journey
Repetition
And it is sometimes
in the repeating
That we can remember
Jesus, je sais que tu es la
It takes the melody and the silence
to recall for us his presence
Because prone we are to forget, or neglect, or ignore
Baptism
Wash me in the waters
O Thou Spirit most divine
Refresh me and renew me
Reminding, the life coursing thro’ ‘tis thine
Wash me in the waters
Cleansing, may they be
Recalling that my choice of thee
Doth bind for eternity
Wash me in the waters
Fresh baptismal flow
Surrounding and engulfing be its
Glisten and its glow
Wash me in the waters
Making me anew
Reborn and re-envisioned
Yours again, me in you
Oh wash me in the waters
Which for me is life
Yours I come, leaving at the altar
My human grief and strife
For thou O God, art Lord alone
Of me and all the land
Of all the peoples and the places
Countless as the ever-baptized sand
Entering Silence
Profound is the silence ever widening before me
Evidencing the distractions cluttering space
inviting and wanting all that is holy to enter
A gift to sit and hear only the creaking of wood and passing of outside cars
as silence falls and reigns in a space
Meant for awed worship
Entering Silence Two
The bell tolls, but unheard
Only a mark of my mind,
That it has begun, this retreat into returning as we came
Silence
What glory is it, I admit,
To have left behind all that would pull and entangle
For prolonged moments of being
That it could always be as this,
Friday evening falling
With no thoughts of where to be, what to do, what’s forgotten
Only Be is what lies before me
And it is as if my entire body, down to the nerves in my feet know
Beautiful is this glory
All that floods me now is the joy of what is to come
Amplified by the joy of what is now
How great thou art
How great it is
Simultaneous wonders to me
Silence falls, sun remains,
And flooding in, come they both
When I Stop to Think
Someday you’ll wake up
And be 30, 50, 80
Will it all have been one pursuit after another
Without end
Continuous striving
And no rest
May there be points of conclusion and closure
With ability to look back and rejoice
Forward and dream
Down and delight
May it all be lived as a gracious gift
Unsure, but in need of fidelity
Commitment
Grace
And Love
Friday, April 4, 2008
In Memory and In Hope
In the midst of many comings and goings this week, I have also been deep in thought concerning life and death, grace, the logic of the Bible, and Jesus. I tossed and turned Wednesday night, waking up several times trying to put together thoughts on Jesus as light, Jesus as truth, Jesus as the Word, and Jesus as the beginning...thanks to the Gospel of John and anticipated getting together with Xue. I didn't wake up with any conclusions but did draw out a sketch to help me sort through the logic of John 8:31-47, which had been the GBU Bible study and complimented nicely what I was already praying through for Xue. Several items have raised the life/death questions in front of me, and I'm not seeking anything conclusive other than to sit in the mire that sometimes is this life and leap in the joy that is also at times this life.
For some reasons, the following words brought me to tears tonight and I wanted to share them. We remember Martin Luther King, Jr.'s tragic death tomorrow, at the same time rejoicing in his victorious life. We remember others' lives in a similar way. We celebrate those newly given to us as well. And King's words on who is our God and what is the Christian hope press on me in a way that tenderizes my heart and reminds me, no matter the work--be it reconciliation of peoples to peoples, of peoples and persons to God, of speaking truth, of being truth--it will always be the drums of Easter which give any of it meaning.
"I conclude by saying that each of us must keep faith in the future. Let us not despair. Let us realize that as we struggle for justice and freedom, we have cosmic companionship. This is the long faith of the Hebraic-Christian tradition: that God is not some Aristotelian Unmoved Mover who merely contemplates upon himself. He is not merely a self-knowing God, but an other-loving God (Yeah) forever working through history for the establishment of His kingdom.
For some reasons, the following words brought me to tears tonight and I wanted to share them. We remember Martin Luther King, Jr.'s tragic death tomorrow, at the same time rejoicing in his victorious life. We remember others' lives in a similar way. We celebrate those newly given to us as well. And King's words on who is our God and what is the Christian hope press on me in a way that tenderizes my heart and reminds me, no matter the work--be it reconciliation of peoples to peoples, of peoples and persons to God, of speaking truth, of being truth--it will always be the drums of Easter which give any of it meaning.
"I conclude by saying that each of us must keep faith in the future. Let us not despair. Let us realize that as we struggle for justice and freedom, we have cosmic companionship. This is the long faith of the Hebraic-Christian tradition: that God is not some Aristotelian Unmoved Mover who merely contemplates upon himself. He is not merely a self-knowing God, but an other-loving God (Yeah) forever working through history for the establishment of His kingdom.
And those of us who call the name of Jesus Christ find something of an event in our Christian faith that tells us this. There is something in our faith that says to us, "Never despair; never give up; never feel that the cause of righteousness and justice is doomed." There is something in our Christian faith, at the center of it, which says to us that Good Friday may occupy the throne for a day, but ultimately it must give way to the triumphant beat of the drums of Easter. (That's right) There is something in our faith that says evil may so shape events, that Caesar will occupy the palace and Christ the cross (That's right), but one day that same Christ will rise up and split history into a.d. and b.c. (Yes), so that even the life of Caesar must be dated by his name. (Yes)"
For entire speech, click here.
In Memory of Anna Woodiwiss and in the Hope of Caleb Benjamin
Friday, March 28, 2008
Prayer reminder
Hello. I promise I'll get a longer update in. There is SO much...the mammoth Sunday edition will hopefully make its appearance.
However, please remember to pray for tomorrow evening, March 29th at 8pm, which is between 5 and 9 hours later than most places in the states. I'll be teaching on prayer for the JAO group. Pray that the Spirit would animate my words across the language limits and that a spirit of prayer would be encouraged and sparked by both the teaching and gathering together in prayer afterward. I'll paste in the outline below (in French for them to take notes) so you can pray through the different Scripture points.
I. L’introduction
II. L’Ancien Testament
A. Moise [Exode 33:1-23]
B. Anne [I Samuel 1: 1-20]
C. Ezekias [II Rois 18:3-8; II Rois 18: 26-37; II Rois 19 :14-19 ; II Rois 19:20; 32-37]
D. David [Psaume 51]
III. Jesus
A. L’enseignement [Luc 11:1-13]
B. L’exemple [Jean 17]
C. L’habitude [Luc 6:12-16; Matthieu 14: 22-24; Marc 1: 35-39]
IV. La Conclusion
Pray specifically for our time after teaching as I help facilitate prayer together.
However, please remember to pray for tomorrow evening, March 29th at 8pm, which is between 5 and 9 hours later than most places in the states. I'll be teaching on prayer for the JAO group. Pray that the Spirit would animate my words across the language limits and that a spirit of prayer would be encouraged and sparked by both the teaching and gathering together in prayer afterward. I'll paste in the outline below (in French for them to take notes) so you can pray through the different Scripture points.
I. L’introduction
II. L’Ancien Testament
A. Moise [Exode 33:1-23]
B. Anne [I Samuel 1: 1-20]
C. Ezekias [II Rois 18:3-8; II Rois 18: 26-37; II Rois 19 :14-19 ; II Rois 19:20; 32-37]
D. David [Psaume 51]
III. Jesus
A. L’enseignement [Luc 11:1-13]
B. L’exemple [Jean 17]
C. L’habitude [Luc 6:12-16; Matthieu 14: 22-24; Marc 1: 35-39]
IV. La Conclusion
Pray specifically for our time after teaching as I help facilitate prayer together.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Ye of Little Faith
I was recently asked, “Is that the first thing you’ve received by faith?” by a friend after recounting a story of how I waited and waited for a pair of shoes to go on final markdown. (In the midst of the sale at one point, I was told there were no more of this shoe left. I returned to later to find a pair, in my size. Thus my elation!) It was an issue and purchase from the beginning I felt I needed to wait and pray on, and to trust and have faith. To my friend’s question, I thought nothing of it. “No, my whole life is a product of faith. Not the first…,” I responded, brushing it off and thinking nothing of the question again. Until today.
GBU students set up an informational stand for the student activity kick-off this morning. Replete with speakers and music, books, a band-dessine (adult cartoon book), sign-up sheet, and informational posters, students rotate throughout the day sitting at the table offering information to all who pass. I dropped by after lunch to visit with Corinne and bring some candies to pass out. Nari was all smiles engaging students as they passed. Natacha skipped back and forth from Mozaik’s (African student group) table and GBU, introducing students to both. Corinne munched her lunch and invited passing students to sign up for emails and explained more what the group is. Clement discussed the band-dessine with passing students and another Clement arrived as I was leaving. Nari took the information of the Catholic student group’s representatives so we can hopefully organize a joint activity at some point this semester. Armel (do you remember him from camp? he’s back!) dropped by to check in between classes and say hello. The sign up sheet was filled on the front and new names were being added to the back. This all happened in the course of a little over an hour.
Several students, one in particular, showed little interest when they realized what we were. In their eyes I could see avoidance. Others were more open to hearing what students had to say, even though in the end they said it really didn’t interest them “but thanks.” Still others listened well and decided, sure, I’ll sign up. One young student Nari spoke with particularly struck me. He and two friends arrived for the Mozaik table but not before ever bubbly outgoing Nari asked if they were interested in signing up on the email list. She looked at one student asking, as he seemed to not be too engaged, “Are you Muslim?” He was and as she responded, “you’re welcome to come,” and he reached for the Bible. He flipped through it with his friend and turned to Nari, “I’ll sign up, this interests me.”
Between the fearful faces, the hesitant, the disinterested or curious, the open, the warm and friendly, I sat in my chair struck by two realities. One, the GBU students have no choice but to be bold in their sharing and faith. Absolutely every GBU student I saw interacted verbally with students passing, friends or unknown, and kindly and openly invited any and all. I went to Wheaton College, a small, Christian liberal arts school, and I LOVED every minute there and don’t for one minute wish it to be different. I don’t think I would be in France in my current capacity if it weren’t for Wheaton. But there are moments, such as this one today, when I wish during those four years I would have had more need and press to be bold in my faith as these students. Their circumstances have equipped them in a way mine did not. Two, I lack faith and I cannot honestly say that I have trusted in God to provide by faith the way my friend asked of me earlier or the way I see these students being bold in their simply inviting. As the particular Muslim student flipped through the Bible then said “this interests me,” I started praying for all the names on the sign-up sheet, that GBU students would be blessed to see God move and call their friends to himself.
As I walked home I kept praying and turned after to reflecting on what I had prayed. Lord, do I really trust that indeed you can deliver on what I and others am asking? Do I have faith that the young man looking at the Bible might one day be your son? Do I have faith not to just entrust others to you but to keep coming back asking for them? (Luke 11:5-13)
I further thought on how the Enlightenment in all of its splendor (note smidgen of sarcasm) has rendered much of France skeptical and fearful of anything out of the box. I recalled the cartoon of a blind man walking with a stick saying, “I only believe in what I can see.” I thought about our human need for proof and reason and how even the most illogical folk, i.e., French, demand it to believe in anything. Then I thought about myself. I’m a disciple of Jesus. I believe his life and words mean something more than just a good way to live. I pray fervently and often. But I lack faith. I don’t honestly believe in the way of bold faith that Scripture and Christ’s life calls me to do. Did my shoes excite me only because I saw God provide out of faith and prayers, or because I never go out on a limb to have the kind of faith that they required? Do I have faith in my prayers, through incessant pounding on God’s door, in how I wait and trust, in bold words I speak, in releasing that which I know God, and not I, is doing?
Recently I’ve been spending my devotional time in Isaiah, which I think is perhaps my favorite book of the Old Testament book. It does wonders for blowing the top off of God, off of how we envision nations called to him, off of how the Israelites imagined their Jesus would come, off of the Gospel, redemption, justice, and grace. I have a nice theological treatise formed in my head from all of this and it really is—it’s nice. I can handle it in my heart and in my head. It challenges me in who I see God to be and how I see his world. Problem is, “nice” doesn’t get anything done. “Nice” does not transform my sweet prayers into persistent, loud, annoying, I’m not leaving until you give me what I’m asking for knocking. “Nice” doesn’t flip my vision of each and every human being and soul and broken system upside down and see them as beloved daughters and sons and restored. “Nice” keeps me safe as well as them. Try as hard as I might to not live or think in terms of a humanly boxed God, here he goes again, showing me that indeed I have boxed him and his ways in and that my faith needs some stretching. My friend was right to ask, “Is that the first thing you’ve received by faith?” While it’s not, I cannot honestly my faith is as strong as I would like to think it.
With all of this rolling around in my head, I came home and directly went the first two places I often go—Bible and music. John 1:1-18 always proves helpful for me. In particular today I noted, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”; “the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world”; “he came to his own, and his own people did not receive him, but to all who did receive him…he gave the right to become children of God.” I turned to Grits and their song Believe and prayed through the truths they sing—
“…It’s hard to conceive
What the mind can’t comprehend
And harder to believe
What the eyes can't understand
We look to theory, philosophies and thought
For a sure foundation
In a belief we once sought
While the shadow of truth
Cast an image so clear
The closer it gets
We reject it out of fear
If we really wanted truth
We would give our lives for it
Walk in its direction of light…”
I may not be a science-oriented, show me the proof or else type of person. I may also not be the most skeptical or visionless because I was born optimistic. I may not be turning from the GBU table in disinterest or mistrust. But perhaps my prayers and actions resemble them just the same. Too soft. Too safe. Too doable. Too manageable. See, I think God wants the unmanageable and is challenging me personally to come to him and go out in faith, trusting that in fact, he can do the unthinkable. I think he also wants his welcome mat worn out with my scrubby (new ☺) shoe prints. I really believe he sees every person on this globe as he saw unfaithful Israel in the book Hosea, as Ruhama (“she has received mercy”) and Ammi (“my people”); but he’s waiting for his people to do something about it! Throughout Scripture we see patterns of God, yes God, wrestling with his own judgments and punishments, with his hunger for righteousness but his simultaneous acquiescence to love. (If there ever was one to throw a curve ball, it’s Yahweh.) And in the midst, he plants his people, individuals and those he has gathered, to come to him and remind him of his promises. It’s not that he’s forgetful. It’s not that he is doesn’t know how to make up his mind. It’s that this non-laissez-faire God has placed within his regulated spiritual economy free agents called to live and act by faith, in their prayers, in their being wed to a prostitute, in their pleading as David, do not forget me or turn away, in trusting that there is a High Priest interceding and a Holy Spirit turning our illogical prayers into done deals. Do I have the faith then, to join with the witness of Scripture and history, to ask, nay, demand his opening rigid minds and chilled hearts to his liberating love? I think that’s what France needs, at least here in Compiegne. Perhaps it is the least God would do.
Pray as I grow in faith and learn to pound the door.
GBU students set up an informational stand for the student activity kick-off this morning. Replete with speakers and music, books, a band-dessine (adult cartoon book), sign-up sheet, and informational posters, students rotate throughout the day sitting at the table offering information to all who pass. I dropped by after lunch to visit with Corinne and bring some candies to pass out. Nari was all smiles engaging students as they passed. Natacha skipped back and forth from Mozaik’s (African student group) table and GBU, introducing students to both. Corinne munched her lunch and invited passing students to sign up for emails and explained more what the group is. Clement discussed the band-dessine with passing students and another Clement arrived as I was leaving. Nari took the information of the Catholic student group’s representatives so we can hopefully organize a joint activity at some point this semester. Armel (do you remember him from camp? he’s back!) dropped by to check in between classes and say hello. The sign up sheet was filled on the front and new names were being added to the back. This all happened in the course of a little over an hour.
Several students, one in particular, showed little interest when they realized what we were. In their eyes I could see avoidance. Others were more open to hearing what students had to say, even though in the end they said it really didn’t interest them “but thanks.” Still others listened well and decided, sure, I’ll sign up. One young student Nari spoke with particularly struck me. He and two friends arrived for the Mozaik table but not before ever bubbly outgoing Nari asked if they were interested in signing up on the email list. She looked at one student asking, as he seemed to not be too engaged, “Are you Muslim?” He was and as she responded, “you’re welcome to come,” and he reached for the Bible. He flipped through it with his friend and turned to Nari, “I’ll sign up, this interests me.”
Between the fearful faces, the hesitant, the disinterested or curious, the open, the warm and friendly, I sat in my chair struck by two realities. One, the GBU students have no choice but to be bold in their sharing and faith. Absolutely every GBU student I saw interacted verbally with students passing, friends or unknown, and kindly and openly invited any and all. I went to Wheaton College, a small, Christian liberal arts school, and I LOVED every minute there and don’t for one minute wish it to be different. I don’t think I would be in France in my current capacity if it weren’t for Wheaton. But there are moments, such as this one today, when I wish during those four years I would have had more need and press to be bold in my faith as these students. Their circumstances have equipped them in a way mine did not. Two, I lack faith and I cannot honestly say that I have trusted in God to provide by faith the way my friend asked of me earlier or the way I see these students being bold in their simply inviting. As the particular Muslim student flipped through the Bible then said “this interests me,” I started praying for all the names on the sign-up sheet, that GBU students would be blessed to see God move and call their friends to himself.
As I walked home I kept praying and turned after to reflecting on what I had prayed. Lord, do I really trust that indeed you can deliver on what I and others am asking? Do I have faith that the young man looking at the Bible might one day be your son? Do I have faith not to just entrust others to you but to keep coming back asking for them? (Luke 11:5-13)
I further thought on how the Enlightenment in all of its splendor (note smidgen of sarcasm) has rendered much of France skeptical and fearful of anything out of the box. I recalled the cartoon of a blind man walking with a stick saying, “I only believe in what I can see.” I thought about our human need for proof and reason and how even the most illogical folk, i.e., French, demand it to believe in anything. Then I thought about myself. I’m a disciple of Jesus. I believe his life and words mean something more than just a good way to live. I pray fervently and often. But I lack faith. I don’t honestly believe in the way of bold faith that Scripture and Christ’s life calls me to do. Did my shoes excite me only because I saw God provide out of faith and prayers, or because I never go out on a limb to have the kind of faith that they required? Do I have faith in my prayers, through incessant pounding on God’s door, in how I wait and trust, in bold words I speak, in releasing that which I know God, and not I, is doing?
Recently I’ve been spending my devotional time in Isaiah, which I think is perhaps my favorite book of the Old Testament book. It does wonders for blowing the top off of God, off of how we envision nations called to him, off of how the Israelites imagined their Jesus would come, off of the Gospel, redemption, justice, and grace. I have a nice theological treatise formed in my head from all of this and it really is—it’s nice. I can handle it in my heart and in my head. It challenges me in who I see God to be and how I see his world. Problem is, “nice” doesn’t get anything done. “Nice” does not transform my sweet prayers into persistent, loud, annoying, I’m not leaving until you give me what I’m asking for knocking. “Nice” doesn’t flip my vision of each and every human being and soul and broken system upside down and see them as beloved daughters and sons and restored. “Nice” keeps me safe as well as them. Try as hard as I might to not live or think in terms of a humanly boxed God, here he goes again, showing me that indeed I have boxed him and his ways in and that my faith needs some stretching. My friend was right to ask, “Is that the first thing you’ve received by faith?” While it’s not, I cannot honestly my faith is as strong as I would like to think it.
With all of this rolling around in my head, I came home and directly went the first two places I often go—Bible and music. John 1:1-18 always proves helpful for me. In particular today I noted, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”; “the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world”; “he came to his own, and his own people did not receive him, but to all who did receive him…he gave the right to become children of God.” I turned to Grits and their song Believe and prayed through the truths they sing—
“…It’s hard to conceive
What the mind can’t comprehend
And harder to believe
What the eyes can't understand
We look to theory, philosophies and thought
For a sure foundation
In a belief we once sought
While the shadow of truth
Cast an image so clear
The closer it gets
We reject it out of fear
If we really wanted truth
We would give our lives for it
Walk in its direction of light…”
I may not be a science-oriented, show me the proof or else type of person. I may also not be the most skeptical or visionless because I was born optimistic. I may not be turning from the GBU table in disinterest or mistrust. But perhaps my prayers and actions resemble them just the same. Too soft. Too safe. Too doable. Too manageable. See, I think God wants the unmanageable and is challenging me personally to come to him and go out in faith, trusting that in fact, he can do the unthinkable. I think he also wants his welcome mat worn out with my scrubby (new ☺) shoe prints. I really believe he sees every person on this globe as he saw unfaithful Israel in the book Hosea, as Ruhama (“she has received mercy”) and Ammi (“my people”); but he’s waiting for his people to do something about it! Throughout Scripture we see patterns of God, yes God, wrestling with his own judgments and punishments, with his hunger for righteousness but his simultaneous acquiescence to love. (If there ever was one to throw a curve ball, it’s Yahweh.) And in the midst, he plants his people, individuals and those he has gathered, to come to him and remind him of his promises. It’s not that he’s forgetful. It’s not that he is doesn’t know how to make up his mind. It’s that this non-laissez-faire God has placed within his regulated spiritual economy free agents called to live and act by faith, in their prayers, in their being wed to a prostitute, in their pleading as David, do not forget me or turn away, in trusting that there is a High Priest interceding and a Holy Spirit turning our illogical prayers into done deals. Do I have the faith then, to join with the witness of Scripture and history, to ask, nay, demand his opening rigid minds and chilled hearts to his liberating love? I think that’s what France needs, at least here in Compiegne. Perhaps it is the least God would do.
Pray as I grow in faith and learn to pound the door.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Newsletter Addendum
As promised, here is the addendum to my recent e-newsletter update. I apologize for the not-very-interesting to read bullet points. My creative juices are not flowing...
February Recap
February Recap
- Had more opportunities to connect with L'Arche through an assistant lunch, a few community parties/events, a week-end teaching time centered on one of the founders of L'Arche, etc. Had coffee with Marta, a German assistant in one of the foyers (houses/communities).
- Met a couple English-speaking international students whom I've been able to have over for dinner.
- Joel, Francois, and I met for our JAO planning meeting for March's gathering. Our team has a balance of strengths and gifts and I'm excited to help as they ask.
- Xue and I were able to meet once over the vacation and I am encouraged by her enthusiasm to continue meeting when she returns this coming week.
- GBU students left for their month-long vacation but in their absence Nari has generated some ideas via email for outreach and semester kick-off. After seeing Natacha at church this morning (yes! you read that right...and with a friend she's encouraging to come to church and GBU!!!), I am so pumped for students' return tomorrow.
- Received an email from Mahina asking for help in coordinating a 2-week stage (internship) for a German student she met while doing her own stage in Germany. I am pursuing opportunities at L'Arche as well as a short-term au pair position with the Prevotes.
- Pray that I can be an encouragement to different assistants who live in the L'Arche foyers as well as continue to serve as needed in the daily work at Moulin. They increasingly ask me to take activities by myself when staff members do off site trainings (and apparently they've decided I do the kitchen well :) ). I am blessed by the offer of trust.
- Pray for opportunities to connect further with international students at the university (UTC). I have realized this a significant population at UTC given the small size of a little over 2,000. They regularly have 50-100 international students who study, research, or do internships for 3-12 months. I can't spread myself too thin into this area, but it is exciting to love on those I can (amazing what a home-cooked meal can do for home-sick souls) with my time here.
- BIG PRAYERS!!! Francois asked me to teach at the next JAO, March 29th at 8pm. We are opening it up at 7pm for a casual potluck sort of dinner so pray both for my preparation and teaching then as well as who all attends. I will be teaching on why and how we study the Bible, what are the benefits, and in what spirit do we engage Scripture. Pray that it would be not only my words but the Spirit that works to fire a hunger in attendees to press into the Scriptures.
- Pray that I would be wise and sensitive to how the Spirit would guide me in encouraging Xue to experience the life and love of Jesus.
- Pray for GBU semester kick-off during March--OIA (Bible study method) training provided by GBU's northern France regional representative; organizing for an outreach in April using the life and teaching of Martin Luther King, Jr. to pique non-GBU students' interest; reconnecting with the GBU women; finding two dates in March for hosting a GBU women gathering as well as inviting my friend Zola to share his testimony (tentatively, March 29th and March 14th respectively).
- Pray for the stage coordinating to go smoothly and well, that all will be served well by our collective efforts to introduce a German student to French life. Pray as well for my time with Mahina. I'm sure we'll eat together at some point this week or weekend, so just continue to lift our time up. Such a delight!
- Pray for the JAO local Bible study, not to be confused with the regional meetings. We will meet March 8th to study Hebrews 5.
- I will be joining the Prevotes for Easter in Touquet!!! Um, I don't think I need to write any more on that. :)
- Upon my return to the United States (I get weepy just thinking about it), I will begin an MDiv at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. In preparation I need to review some different parts of the Bible as well as learn Greek. Yes, that's right. I have started my studies already, but as you can imagine, it is difficult to work that in with everything else here. However, for financial and timing reasons, it is imperative that I learn it and learn it well so that I can begin on track. PLEASE pray for discipline, finding the time, and retaining the information.
- My body has been abnormally out of whack and I have experienced physical discomfort and pain in ways I never have. I also do not sleep consistently deeply although in spurts I do. I have had neither of these issues before. A caveat however--It is always good to talk about the things and realities of God with kindred minds and hearts, an opportunity I have very little of here. In the midst, however, I spent yesterday with my friend and sincere spiritual encouragement Zola in Paris. He understood and named some of my spiritual realities here and coupled with prayer time with a French friend Marie earlier this week, my soul has been nourished. That said, I awoke this morning after deep sleep fully wide awake with the first ring of my alarm (former roommates will understand the importance of this). When I went to stretch nothing in me hurt. I literally skipped to the coffeemaker. I even wore heels to church and I have not been able to wear anything but tennis shoes in some time. That said, I am now acutely aware that perhaps my pain has a spiritual nature as well. Since my heart and spirit is one hard thing to deter and discourage since my arrival, I am wondering if another angle has been taken. So, I write all that to ask for your prayers in what may perhaps very truly be a spiritual battle around my body. This happens to coincide with a heart that has been increasingly broken and sensitized for spiritual and physical needs here. I don't understand it all, but I ask for your prayers of protection for the battle that I realize I with many are in the middle of here. France is not easy, and as Zola said, "and where you're at, whew, even tougher...", i.e., the weather, the north, the history. Pretty depressing place (more on that later).
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
"Slow Month"
This was supposed to be posted Sunday; then “slow month February” took over and I never finished it…
I recently wrote in my monthly supporter update newsletter that February looked to be a slow month. Funny thing about slow months. I don’t really do them. I am practically incapable. Walked in about 45 minutes ago from church and lunch afterward with the young adults there. I’m having my mid-afternoon coffee and knocking out calls for planning this week and some emails before heading out to meet Heather for a walk in the forest before she leaves tomorrow definitively for the states. Heather is a student I met through GBU and church and although our schedules are very different, we have found time to hang out and it has been refreshing for both of us to both practice French with native English-speakers and break into English when it just became too much…and we just needed a friend who understood. That said, last week was full between Festival at L’Arche, a doctor’s visit to Beauvais (a city one hour west of Compiegne) for my official “you can stay in France” paperwork, regular hours at L’Arche, a lunch newly added to my weekly agenda with L’Arche assistants, French tutoring, hanging out with Heather and other international students stuck here during the vacation for Friday night dinner…etc, etc.
What do I have prevu (literally, “pre-seen” or planned) for this week? Well, after a few phone calls Xue and I are having lunch Friday, I’m meeting up with one of the younger L’Arche assistants for coffee tomorrow, will be hosting Francois and Joel for our JAO planning meeting Tuesday night, having lunch with L’Arche assistants again as well as my French tutoring Thursday, hanging out with Joy McAuley and kids Thursday night while Thad is out of town, and headed back to Touquet with the Prevotes for the weekend. They have requested I prepare another American brunch like I did over Christmas break because the kids can’t stop talking about it and want a “refaire” (redo). Somewhere in here I need to deal with finances, taxes, studies, and look ahead to a few details that need to get determined for March and April. Although February is less than half over and I am in no mood to rush, it’s flying fast and I can hardly believe it. Besides what I have written, here’s a couple of other things in closing I want to share.
Having not done much house-keeping, grocery shopping, or laundry in a couple of weeks, Saturday was marked out to be so. I had opted to walk to market rather than bike because I like to vary my mode of transportation within the week plus it has felt like spring all week and I wanted to be outside on foot for as much of my moving about yesterday as possible (which was a bit considering my multiple trips to hauling to market, grocery store, laundry, etc.). I was very glad I had because as I was leaving centre ville after market I ran into Valerie from Moulin also on foot. Valerie is an Irishwoman who has worked with L’Arche for what I gather has been 10-15 years. Of all the people I have met and encountered here, she above most has been a gift and steady encouragement. We work well together and while she is introverted and I am extraverted, somehow I find us a bit similar. Our senses of beauty, how she works with people at L’Arche and how I seek to emulate, our need for space and community, in all I have greatly appreciated her.
But here’s where I’m going to break it down and just get personal. If lately you have read my blogs you’ll notice I the person Jennifer am doing stinkingly well here in the milieu of relationships and ministry. This fits well with what I recently wrote a friend back home: “Too often I think Christians especially don't let themselves personally exist (does this make sense?) and just go about what they know they are to be doing without doing the hard personal work that equips us for an outward life. I am continually with each new season convinced that my outward ministry and living can only be as effective and infused by the Holy Spirit as is my inward life; which requires time and attention and not feeling guilt about it either.” That said, it only seems thus fitting to me that if outwardly God is drawing me to people, inwardly he is giving me deep satisfaction and joy in himself and others. What does this have to do with Valerie? Well, we are both single women remarkably content and really even more so than that, convinced that God has called and is using us as we are for his purposes. As she so wonderfully said, “If my family had had their way, I would definitely have been married by now. But I just knew I was called to something else.” Thank you. No, I have not personally written off marriage and family (as a wise mentor once said, it doesn’t matter what you’re called to later but what you are called to as you are now), but I’m going to be the no holds back, infamous for my opinions Jennifer here: I have encountered a number of evangelical Christians who cannot fathom my being content, my being satisfied, my being found and created by God quite whole and remarkable alone, my not longing and weeping at night for husband and babies. In fact, I have had a couple encounters where I have been made to feel that something must indeed be terribly wrong with me as I am. (of course, something is always wrong with us; we are indeed fallen, broken little things; however…) As I told Valerie, “sometimes it’s hard, it’s like they don’t really want me to be content, you know, they just can’t get what’s so full and joyful about my life, like I’m missing something.” (geez, and I’m young, makes me really excited for 30!) While she has had to deal with family, Valerie lives in both the community of L’Arche where many single folks serve and are welcomed and the Catholic community, full of nuns and priests whose lives are counted as quite full and worthy. Finding that space in evangelical Christendom, well, um, it’s frustrating and at times quite frankly, angering. We continued our discussion on this topic along varying degrees—talking about coming and going alone from our apartments, taking care of all aspects of life including finances, maintenance, etc, etc., how we have to be extra-cautious as English-speakers (and especially me as an American, she noted) in France around men—and my soul was buoyed up to no end as I practically skipped the rest of the way home. Thank you, God, I thought for the women he has placed into each stage of my life who encourage me with their learned wisdom and examples. Sometimes all I need is to hear another person’s story at which I can rejoice at the seemingly inexplicable full pleasure of it all.
Please hear me and do not get me wrong. I value family and marriage and all it entails and I support any man’s or woman’s decision to live according to the serious commitments they require. But I also support and understand that in fact callings besides family and marriage exist which require the same seriousness of commitment. Perhaps to our detriment many have elevated the sacred institutions of marriage and family in a way that doesn’t allow room for, well, me and Valerie and our like. I get a serious kick out of seeing how God uses me, and in boldness and I hope not overconfidence, I can honestly say at this stage of my life I have made choices in ways I live according to where the Holy Spirit leads that have indeed required significant commitment. And I have no wedding band and no babies. I guess, in a sense, this is a post not just for me but for the many other men and women who are pitied or derided for “lacking,” but as I will use a movie line from I don’t know where, “In what way lacking?” As Paul writes, I lack for nothing.
Moving on…This past week has been one I will look back and call a “week of vision.” Without getting into all the details, it has been a week where in a sense I have seen God peel hindrances off my eyes to look towards possibilities, potential, visions. And it is freaking awesome!!! As I met new students, L’Arche assistants, ran into folks in the road or at market, met new neighbors, I sense I have been given “new eyes to see.” Like, those international students, they’re going to get a dinner invite. And L’Arche assistants, having coffee with one and Sunday afternoons will be increasingly wonderful times for walks in the forest with a group, so I think I’ll be calling up a foyer (house) or two to arrange that. Likewise, when I walk around town, sometimes I put in my ipod, really because speaking French all the time is exhausting and I do truly want to look unavailable to chat. Except that, I am missing opportunities; so I’ve opted to leave the ipod at home. Since then I’ve run into several folks and was able to help a neighbor. I am also focusing my prayers on France and trying to get a sense of what God is and would do here…which can’t help but be vision-giving. He has been faithful to lead me to listen more and talk less (truly a great feat, even for Lord Almighty) and I am pumped to continue. As well, I stumbled upon Romans 9-10 and well, that’s just a wonderful set of passages and actually fits well with what I’m learning in Isaiah. The interplay between Jew and Gentile in Romans complements so beautifully the movement of Yahweh God between nations in Isaiah. Every time I press God with questions, he returns singularly himself. Oh, and another thing, received some Biblical interpretation materials in French that I’m sifting through along with some English books to put together a self-study packet for one of GBU’s students who left for the semester. This too requires vision (and time!) and I pray over what to highlight and what to leave out.
Writing this Tuesday night before posting, finally…
It’s 11:45pm, my desk is an absolute disaster because at last count there are 13 books on it and numerous tumbling piles of important stacks of papers that I need to tend to and clear before I leave for Touquet! Monday is Olivia’s birthday and I get to be with the family. Also tumbling over my apartment are remnants of the meal shared with Francois and Joel. They left about 11pm and I blame myself entirely--I served a 5 course meal. Rarely do I keep bedtimes in mind when planning for hosting others. When I apologized for the cheese platter, that there were not proper choices of cheeses (i.e., variety and 5 cheese families represented), they looked at me and said, “So you take this French culture thing seriously, no?” Which means, yes. ☺ Anyway, our next JAO will be March 29th, which gives me time to prepare to do the teaching! I know, what?! But Francois asked if I would and after a series of questions to insure that he wanted me to and was not just being nice, I said, as long as you’re not afraid, I’m up for it. So!!! You can start praying NOW for March 29th. Fortunately we shifted around other responsibilities so all I have to do is prepare and get the hospitality items together. I’m going to work with my French tutor over the course of a couple of weeks after I study and write to get it all in proper, working, understandable French.
And a friendly FYI, you may not hear from me for a while. Again, “slow month” not really working out to be so and I think I might be overwhelmed. I have so much always I want to write and share and I hope you have a sense at least of what I’m involved with this year. But, trying to keep expectations real and manageable and I hope you will understand.
I recently wrote in my monthly supporter update newsletter that February looked to be a slow month. Funny thing about slow months. I don’t really do them. I am practically incapable. Walked in about 45 minutes ago from church and lunch afterward with the young adults there. I’m having my mid-afternoon coffee and knocking out calls for planning this week and some emails before heading out to meet Heather for a walk in the forest before she leaves tomorrow definitively for the states. Heather is a student I met through GBU and church and although our schedules are very different, we have found time to hang out and it has been refreshing for both of us to both practice French with native English-speakers and break into English when it just became too much…and we just needed a friend who understood. That said, last week was full between Festival at L’Arche, a doctor’s visit to Beauvais (a city one hour west of Compiegne) for my official “you can stay in France” paperwork, regular hours at L’Arche, a lunch newly added to my weekly agenda with L’Arche assistants, French tutoring, hanging out with Heather and other international students stuck here during the vacation for Friday night dinner…etc, etc.
What do I have prevu (literally, “pre-seen” or planned) for this week? Well, after a few phone calls Xue and I are having lunch Friday, I’m meeting up with one of the younger L’Arche assistants for coffee tomorrow, will be hosting Francois and Joel for our JAO planning meeting Tuesday night, having lunch with L’Arche assistants again as well as my French tutoring Thursday, hanging out with Joy McAuley and kids Thursday night while Thad is out of town, and headed back to Touquet with the Prevotes for the weekend. They have requested I prepare another American brunch like I did over Christmas break because the kids can’t stop talking about it and want a “refaire” (redo). Somewhere in here I need to deal with finances, taxes, studies, and look ahead to a few details that need to get determined for March and April. Although February is less than half over and I am in no mood to rush, it’s flying fast and I can hardly believe it. Besides what I have written, here’s a couple of other things in closing I want to share.
Having not done much house-keeping, grocery shopping, or laundry in a couple of weeks, Saturday was marked out to be so. I had opted to walk to market rather than bike because I like to vary my mode of transportation within the week plus it has felt like spring all week and I wanted to be outside on foot for as much of my moving about yesterday as possible (which was a bit considering my multiple trips to hauling to market, grocery store, laundry, etc.). I was very glad I had because as I was leaving centre ville after market I ran into Valerie from Moulin also on foot. Valerie is an Irishwoman who has worked with L’Arche for what I gather has been 10-15 years. Of all the people I have met and encountered here, she above most has been a gift and steady encouragement. We work well together and while she is introverted and I am extraverted, somehow I find us a bit similar. Our senses of beauty, how she works with people at L’Arche and how I seek to emulate, our need for space and community, in all I have greatly appreciated her.
But here’s where I’m going to break it down and just get personal. If lately you have read my blogs you’ll notice I the person Jennifer am doing stinkingly well here in the milieu of relationships and ministry. This fits well with what I recently wrote a friend back home: “Too often I think Christians especially don't let themselves personally exist (does this make sense?) and just go about what they know they are to be doing without doing the hard personal work that equips us for an outward life. I am continually with each new season convinced that my outward ministry and living can only be as effective and infused by the Holy Spirit as is my inward life; which requires time and attention and not feeling guilt about it either.” That said, it only seems thus fitting to me that if outwardly God is drawing me to people, inwardly he is giving me deep satisfaction and joy in himself and others. What does this have to do with Valerie? Well, we are both single women remarkably content and really even more so than that, convinced that God has called and is using us as we are for his purposes. As she so wonderfully said, “If my family had had their way, I would definitely have been married by now. But I just knew I was called to something else.” Thank you. No, I have not personally written off marriage and family (as a wise mentor once said, it doesn’t matter what you’re called to later but what you are called to as you are now), but I’m going to be the no holds back, infamous for my opinions Jennifer here: I have encountered a number of evangelical Christians who cannot fathom my being content, my being satisfied, my being found and created by God quite whole and remarkable alone, my not longing and weeping at night for husband and babies. In fact, I have had a couple encounters where I have been made to feel that something must indeed be terribly wrong with me as I am. (of course, something is always wrong with us; we are indeed fallen, broken little things; however…) As I told Valerie, “sometimes it’s hard, it’s like they don’t really want me to be content, you know, they just can’t get what’s so full and joyful about my life, like I’m missing something.” (geez, and I’m young, makes me really excited for 30!) While she has had to deal with family, Valerie lives in both the community of L’Arche where many single folks serve and are welcomed and the Catholic community, full of nuns and priests whose lives are counted as quite full and worthy. Finding that space in evangelical Christendom, well, um, it’s frustrating and at times quite frankly, angering. We continued our discussion on this topic along varying degrees—talking about coming and going alone from our apartments, taking care of all aspects of life including finances, maintenance, etc, etc., how we have to be extra-cautious as English-speakers (and especially me as an American, she noted) in France around men—and my soul was buoyed up to no end as I practically skipped the rest of the way home. Thank you, God, I thought for the women he has placed into each stage of my life who encourage me with their learned wisdom and examples. Sometimes all I need is to hear another person’s story at which I can rejoice at the seemingly inexplicable full pleasure of it all.
Please hear me and do not get me wrong. I value family and marriage and all it entails and I support any man’s or woman’s decision to live according to the serious commitments they require. But I also support and understand that in fact callings besides family and marriage exist which require the same seriousness of commitment. Perhaps to our detriment many have elevated the sacred institutions of marriage and family in a way that doesn’t allow room for, well, me and Valerie and our like. I get a serious kick out of seeing how God uses me, and in boldness and I hope not overconfidence, I can honestly say at this stage of my life I have made choices in ways I live according to where the Holy Spirit leads that have indeed required significant commitment. And I have no wedding band and no babies. I guess, in a sense, this is a post not just for me but for the many other men and women who are pitied or derided for “lacking,” but as I will use a movie line from I don’t know where, “In what way lacking?” As Paul writes, I lack for nothing.
Moving on…This past week has been one I will look back and call a “week of vision.” Without getting into all the details, it has been a week where in a sense I have seen God peel hindrances off my eyes to look towards possibilities, potential, visions. And it is freaking awesome!!! As I met new students, L’Arche assistants, ran into folks in the road or at market, met new neighbors, I sense I have been given “new eyes to see.” Like, those international students, they’re going to get a dinner invite. And L’Arche assistants, having coffee with one and Sunday afternoons will be increasingly wonderful times for walks in the forest with a group, so I think I’ll be calling up a foyer (house) or two to arrange that. Likewise, when I walk around town, sometimes I put in my ipod, really because speaking French all the time is exhausting and I do truly want to look unavailable to chat. Except that, I am missing opportunities; so I’ve opted to leave the ipod at home. Since then I’ve run into several folks and was able to help a neighbor. I am also focusing my prayers on France and trying to get a sense of what God is and would do here…which can’t help but be vision-giving. He has been faithful to lead me to listen more and talk less (truly a great feat, even for Lord Almighty) and I am pumped to continue. As well, I stumbled upon Romans 9-10 and well, that’s just a wonderful set of passages and actually fits well with what I’m learning in Isaiah. The interplay between Jew and Gentile in Romans complements so beautifully the movement of Yahweh God between nations in Isaiah. Every time I press God with questions, he returns singularly himself. Oh, and another thing, received some Biblical interpretation materials in French that I’m sifting through along with some English books to put together a self-study packet for one of GBU’s students who left for the semester. This too requires vision (and time!) and I pray over what to highlight and what to leave out.
Writing this Tuesday night before posting, finally…
It’s 11:45pm, my desk is an absolute disaster because at last count there are 13 books on it and numerous tumbling piles of important stacks of papers that I need to tend to and clear before I leave for Touquet! Monday is Olivia’s birthday and I get to be with the family. Also tumbling over my apartment are remnants of the meal shared with Francois and Joel. They left about 11pm and I blame myself entirely--I served a 5 course meal. Rarely do I keep bedtimes in mind when planning for hosting others. When I apologized for the cheese platter, that there were not proper choices of cheeses (i.e., variety and 5 cheese families represented), they looked at me and said, “So you take this French culture thing seriously, no?” Which means, yes. ☺ Anyway, our next JAO will be March 29th, which gives me time to prepare to do the teaching! I know, what?! But Francois asked if I would and after a series of questions to insure that he wanted me to and was not just being nice, I said, as long as you’re not afraid, I’m up for it. So!!! You can start praying NOW for March 29th. Fortunately we shifted around other responsibilities so all I have to do is prepare and get the hospitality items together. I’m going to work with my French tutor over the course of a couple of weeks after I study and write to get it all in proper, working, understandable French.
And a friendly FYI, you may not hear from me for a while. Again, “slow month” not really working out to be so and I think I might be overwhelmed. I have so much always I want to write and share and I hope you have a sense at least of what I’m involved with this year. But, trying to keep expectations real and manageable and I hope you will understand.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Prayer requests
- GBU starts our Bible study on Luke tomorrow (10/2)! Pray that the time together will encourage Christians and show love to those seeking. Also pray for the vision being cast by students who attended the retreat.
- French oral presentation--I'm the first to go in my French class Thursday. Pray for solid preparation and creative and scholarly engagement with the material and class. My prayer in this course is to witness through my discipline and commitment to learning the French language.
- Personal Bible study--I'm relishing being in Scripture quite a bit in French and English. Cover my time in study and prayer. May I be equipped by the Spirit for the moments brought my way to share.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Transportation
Here's a prayer request for you--after a lovely morning at L'Arche and afternoon of spiritual recharge in Paris with Zola (co-worker from Chicago Hope Academy), I returned to Compiegne to pack my bags and head out before the sun rises for the GBU retreat. In between the two discovered my lovely new bike and only means of transportation besides my feet was lovingly removed from its locked position by someone who I gather needs it more than I. So, first my car, now my bike. I'm just staying away from all vehicles in general...but you can pray that insurance covers it.
Please also pray for our GBU retreat. We're five people total, which is quite exciting given our university size of 2,000. Pray that we use the time wisely casting vision, praying, and encouraging one another. I'm SO excited to go and count this as such a privilege.
Please also pray for our GBU retreat. We're five people total, which is quite exciting given our university size of 2,000. Pray that we use the time wisely casting vision, praying, and encouraging one another. I'm SO excited to go and count this as such a privilege.
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