Today was a good day. One thing I’m learning (among the millions of things) is to have a different standard for how good a day is. In my life these days, no day will be perfect. In fact, I expect something difficult will happen and I expect to have momentary stress or miscommunication nearly every day. So, how do I evaluate whether a day is good or bad? Let me tell you about today: Dace rode with me to work and we had a nice talk (OK I talked on and on mostly!) and then I went into prayers. Velta was leading and I actually seemed able to understand a good amount of it. We sang, which is always an adventure, and today I got the giggles and couldn’t control it but no one seemed upset. Velta is usually sensitive to what we need and today she was right on. I didn’t sleep last night so I was a bit restless and unsettled when I got to work. She gave us about 5-6 minutes of silence which is just what I needed to get ready for the day. I had a different plan for Salvation Army Principles class today – mostly discussion and very little teaching. I wanted to observe the thinking processes of the cadets and as today the theme was the Mission of The Salvation Army, I thought it would be a good opportunity. But, I wasn’t sure, because if the questions didn’t make sense then I would just be stared at! The class was brilliant! They were creative and challenging and forward thinking. One of the inspiring moments was when I was trying to explain this quote from the International Spiritual Life Commission Report.
Our mission is God’s mission. God in love reaches out through his people to a suffering and needy world, a world that he loves…Our identification with God in this outward movement of love for the world requires a corresponding inward movement from ourselves towards God. Christ says’ come to me’ before he says ‘go into the world’. These two movements are in relation to each other like breathing in and breathing out.
This clicked with all of us. I was drawing a picture of this in and out process and it seemed to be just what we all could agree on. The cycle of relationship with God which leads to relationship with the needy world. This idea carried through in all of the following discussions. It was so fun! I think I had a permanent grin on my face because I was so pleased with what was happening. I hope they didn’t think I was laughing at them. Actually, I was feeling very hopeful about the future of our mission in Latvia. They are the future and they get it! And they know how to think!
At lunch we said goodbye to our cook. It was a nice moment – chocolates and prayer – and she fixed very nice apple dessert (at my request.) From the minute lunch ended and for the next 2 hours it seemed that everything went wrong. I’m trying to sort out a new plan for cooking lunch, meeting with cadets about assignments, problems with computers/printers/networks, etc….I was getting very short tempered and trying to get out of the office so I could study for Doctrine class tomorrow. Finally, I told Solveiga I was leaving before I blew up at whoever walked in next (or her). That could have turned this day from a great one into a disaster. But, God is so faithful and on the way home I could feel the tension leaving and my joy returning. I decided this was a moment to practice ‘infinite joy!’ I did pop into Zoe’s office to unload, but it was just because I have to get this stuff out – poor Zoe! And dear friend, Zoe! When I got home I had a nice talk with Lisbeth and then went for a walk to the post office. The day was turning around. Tonight I’ve been studying for class tomorrow which is also so much fun! We’re going to talk about the existence of God and apologetics. That should be interesting to translate!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Ezekiel's vision
Today was ‘Spiritual Day’ day with the cadets. I know it’s a silly name because every day should be spiritual but the point is to set aside one day a month which is devoted to worship and spiritual formation. This was my day to be with them. I had only one word that I knew I wanted to focus on – holiness. But, I didn’t have any idea where to go with it. I thought maybe I would talk about living a life of holiness. I wasn’t getting any inspiration for a particular scripture passage. Finally I opened Soul Shaping which we had used at the Retreat. There was a little yellow post-it which said ‘Later Spiritual Day’. Of course, I had originally planned that I would use this book every time I had an opportunity for spiritual formation with the cadets. So, I started to read and as usual, this was exactly what I needed personally. There was the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones (Ezek. 37:1-14). Ezekiel sees a valley of very dry, very dead bones. First God asks Ezekiel "will these bones live." That’s a weird question for God to ask Ezekiel and Ezekiel gives the only logical answer, “Only the Lord knows.” God tells him to prophesy to these bones. A bit crazy but Ezekiel takes a risk and does it because he knows the God who is asking. The bones begin to take form as humans, with flesh and bones coming together. But, there is no breath in them. Ezekiel must have been disappointed. Why would God allow the miracle to only go so far? Why didn’t the bones come to life when Ezekiel spoke? Because, it was not in Ezekiel’s power to give life. Only when he prayed for the breath of life to come and breathe into the bones did they come alive. He had to realize that God is the only one with that kind of power. He probably experienced disappointment. We can do some things on our own, with our own words. And they may even seem like miraculous things. But, they cannot bring life and we will often experience disappointment. Only when and as the Holy Spirit breathes through us, can there be life. There’s so much more to these few verses. Here’s how Doug Rumford explained our spiritual process as seen in Ezekiel’s vision:
Recognition of dryness apart from God
Let God stir a new dream
Risk stepping out before you know the whole dream
Be ready for disappointment (corpses) – God is in charge
Pray boldly for the Holy Spirit to breathe life into what you do
Expect God to bring the resources together to accomplish things for His Glory
Where am I in this process? I think I’m all over the place! God is stirring something new in me. But, also this whole adventure is a risk and I can’t begin to know the whole dream. I’m learning (over and over again) that I can’t do anything in my strength, without the Holy Spirit’s breath. But, when He breathes I see His glory at work in amazing ways. I’m so glad I’m on this journey and I can assure you, it is never boring!
Recognition of dryness apart from God
Let God stir a new dream
Risk stepping out before you know the whole dream
Be ready for disappointment (corpses) – God is in charge
Pray boldly for the Holy Spirit to breathe life into what you do
Expect God to bring the resources together to accomplish things for His Glory
Where am I in this process? I think I’m all over the place! God is stirring something new in me. But, also this whole adventure is a risk and I can’t begin to know the whole dream. I’m learning (over and over again) that I can’t do anything in my strength, without the Holy Spirit’s breath. But, when He breathes I see His glory at work in amazing ways. I’m so glad I’m on this journey and I can assure you, it is never boring!
Friday, February 24, 2006
European training leaders conference
The beautiful conference center
An afternoon in Stockholm's old city, cold and snowy but fun.
We saw some interesting sculpture!
Dinner in a fancy restaurant
The whole group and me, caught during the last hours of our seminar (I was tired!)
These taken by another delegate (J. Kleman) and stolen right off his site!
Quote for the day
"I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex."
Oscar Wilde (from my Franklin Covey planner!)
Had a great time in our small group tonight. It is what we all need, I think and I expect the Lord is going to do some fun and exciting things as a result. We are all on an adventure with God and now we get to share it with each other. Expect lots of reports!
Oscar Wilde (from my Franklin Covey planner!)
Had a great time in our small group tonight. It is what we all need, I think and I expect the Lord is going to do some fun and exciting things as a result. We are all on an adventure with God and now we get to share it with each other. Expect lots of reports!
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Jeremiah speaks
Today I started a Bible study in the book of Jeremiah. I’m using a new Bible which I was able to buy thanks to some Christmas gifts from home. It’s The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible. I love its commentary and the format. Check it out at http://www.renovare.org/. I’ll write some other time about the virtues of Renovaré. Today I learned again a lesson I should know well. Sometimes God chooses to reinforce a lesson immediately and still I don’t remember the right response. I could blame it on being tired, late or something. But really, I just haven’t made this lesson a habit in my life. So, what was the lesson? Well, you might guess it has to do with language and communication. As I was reading the first verses of Jeremiah I came to this conversation he had with the Lord:
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
[7] But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
[8] Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
[9] Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. Jeremiah 1:6-9
Evie’s translation: “Oh, but Lord I can’t speak to them. I don’t speak Latvian or Russian. But, the Lord said to me, “Don’t say that. You will speak to all I send you and you will say whatever I tell you to say. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, because I am with you. I am putting my words in your mouth.”
Here is some of the commentary on these verses: “When the prophet speaks in response to the call of God, his first word is a word of resistance. The one called for divine work immediately senses his limitations for that work. He tries to beg off, listing his inadequacies. Jeremiah was not being modest…he was simply being truthful. This is quite typical of the call for divine service, and quite beside the point (!)…The story is not about the singular virtues of the one being called. The story is about a risk-taking, bold sort of God who reaches in and calls people for divine service, giving them what they need for that service…This is the sort of God who says, in effect, “I’m getting ready to change, revolutionize, renovate, and reorient the whole world – and guess who’s going to help me? (!)”
Wow! Those are powerful, challenging and encouraging words. They should have gotten me through at least one day, wouldn’t you think? I walked into the office a bit late so prayers had already started. When I went in, they were all talking animatedly in Russian. I could feel my face and body react, as I thought “There is no reason for me to be here. I can’t understand a word.” And I sort of slumped into the chair. I couldn’t shake it, even though Arturs graciously started translating for me. It took me several minutes before I settled down and reminded myself of what I had just read and prayed only an hour earlier. Fortunately, God is gracious and did calm my heart during our prayer time. So, maybe next time my first reaction will be with the right spirit.
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
[7] But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
[8] Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
[9] Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. Jeremiah 1:6-9
Evie’s translation: “Oh, but Lord I can’t speak to them. I don’t speak Latvian or Russian. But, the Lord said to me, “Don’t say that. You will speak to all I send you and you will say whatever I tell you to say. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, because I am with you. I am putting my words in your mouth.”
Here is some of the commentary on these verses: “When the prophet speaks in response to the call of God, his first word is a word of resistance. The one called for divine work immediately senses his limitations for that work. He tries to beg off, listing his inadequacies. Jeremiah was not being modest…he was simply being truthful. This is quite typical of the call for divine service, and quite beside the point (!)…The story is not about the singular virtues of the one being called. The story is about a risk-taking, bold sort of God who reaches in and calls people for divine service, giving them what they need for that service…This is the sort of God who says, in effect, “I’m getting ready to change, revolutionize, renovate, and reorient the whole world – and guess who’s going to help me? (!)”
Wow! Those are powerful, challenging and encouraging words. They should have gotten me through at least one day, wouldn’t you think? I walked into the office a bit late so prayers had already started. When I went in, they were all talking animatedly in Russian. I could feel my face and body react, as I thought “There is no reason for me to be here. I can’t understand a word.” And I sort of slumped into the chair. I couldn’t shake it, even though Arturs graciously started translating for me. It took me several minutes before I settled down and reminded myself of what I had just read and prayed only an hour earlier. Fortunately, God is gracious and did calm my heart during our prayer time. So, maybe next time my first reaction will be with the right spirit.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Training leaders conference
I've been in Stockholm since Thursday and just got home this evening. I was attending a European Training Leaders' Conference. 18 or so of us met to share resources, talk about everything(!), worship, pray and enjoy being with like-minded people. Last year I found it a refuge and retreat from all of the transitional emotions of moving to Latvia. This year I was encouraged, challenged and felt like I was actually an intelligent participant. Some very significant and personal spiritual moments happened, too. I'm still processing what exactly they mean and I'm not sure I'll write much about it here. For now, I can say that the Lord definitely had something important to say to me and He did get my attention. Now, I'm praying for clarity and vision. I'm too tired tonight for thinking, maybe tomorrow I'll have more to say.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
more Olympics
Can't believe I'm going to bed with the USA and Latvia hockey game at 3 to 2 (Latvia winning!) at the end of the 2nd period. But, 1st of all I'm not really a hockey fan. 2nd I'm watching it real time and it's already 11:30 p.m.! I'll find out what happened tomorrow.
Oh, and yes, Latvia did beat out the USA for the medal mentioned below!
Oh, and yes, Latvia did beat out the USA for the medal mentioned below!
Monday, February 13, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Classroom Photos
Lunch - lots of good and fun conversation happens here!
Sarah team teaching Public Ministry with me, ponders her next words of wisdom...
Henrik with translator, Linda, teaches Leadership
Guna team teaches doctrine with meFriday, February 10, 2006
New group and new morning
So, Sarah has decided our corps needs an English speaking small group, which of course includes me. We are having some trouble getting it all together but so far I've been to two meetings. The group includes 4 married couples, 2 married women and me and we rotate homes for meeting. To this point the group has either been all women or all men. Some hope to keep it that way. I don't know what I think. I would enjoy being with the men, but it has been very nice to be with the women at these first meetings. Last night there were 5 of us. Sarah is our leader and we are pretty informal in structure. She plans some 'serendipitous' questions (love those!?) and brings her guitar so we can sing worship songs in English! Then she shares something from a book she's been reading and we discuss it. Of course, there is a lot of additional conversation in between. Then we end with prayer. Oh, and there is food and tea - there is always food and tea in Latvia (not a problem for me.)
My evening started out a bit rough as I went home from work. My first impulse was not to go to the group. I went out for a walk and then sat and meditated for a while. The Lord clearly said, "This group is one of my answers to your need. Don't miss it. Go!" So, I went and I'm so glad I did. We had great conversation and seemed to easily be open with each other. 2 of the group are rather new to us, so that wasn't a given. During the prayer time I was praying for one of us and her family when I was totally overwhelmed with emotion. My tears have come much more easily since being in Latvia, part of the humbling process. The girls probably thought it was stress and exhaustion and maybe there was a little of that. But, it was something more. I started to pray for her daughter and I couldn't speak. The Lord reminded me of the burden He had given me while I was the TYS. I became passionate about caring for the children of officers. Since I've been here, once in a while I think about it and wonder how I could do something, but I never have felt moved to any particular action. Last night in that moment of emotion I realized that I was in a room with 4 women who were each somehow involved in ministy, away from their extended families and with young children whose lives would be hugely impacted by this. Just as I pray for my sister's family and the families of my friends at home, I need to consistently pray for these children. I can't plan OK retreats or parties or any TYS type things, but I can pray and I will. And we'll see what happens from there.
This morning I was reading Psalm 27 and I found the answer to my prayer from yesterday for "Infinite Joy". It is 'to live in the house of the Lord forever, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.' Simple and yet, not so.
And here's what I read about the rewards of ministry: "Our place is not the auditorium but the stage - or, as the case may be, the field, workshop, study, laboratory-because we ourselves form part of the creative apparatus of God. He made us in order to use us, and use us in the most profitable way; for his purpose, not ours. To live a spiritual life means subordinating all other interests to that single fact. Sometimes our position seems to be that of tools, taken up when wanted, used in ways which we had not expected for an object on which our opinion is not asked, and then laid down. Sometimes we are the currency used in some great operation, of which the purpose is not revealed to us. Sometimes we are servants, left year in, year out to the same monotonous job. Sometimes we are conscious fellow-workers with the Perfect, striving to bring the Kingdom in. ... Taking responsibility if we are called to it, or just bringing the workers their dinner, cleaning and sharpening the tools. All self-willed choices and obstinacy drained out of what we thought to be our work; so that it becomes more and more God's work in us. from The Spiritual Life by Evelyn Underhill
My evening started out a bit rough as I went home from work. My first impulse was not to go to the group. I went out for a walk and then sat and meditated for a while. The Lord clearly said, "This group is one of my answers to your need. Don't miss it. Go!" So, I went and I'm so glad I did. We had great conversation and seemed to easily be open with each other. 2 of the group are rather new to us, so that wasn't a given. During the prayer time I was praying for one of us and her family when I was totally overwhelmed with emotion. My tears have come much more easily since being in Latvia, part of the humbling process. The girls probably thought it was stress and exhaustion and maybe there was a little of that. But, it was something more. I started to pray for her daughter and I couldn't speak. The Lord reminded me of the burden He had given me while I was the TYS. I became passionate about caring for the children of officers. Since I've been here, once in a while I think about it and wonder how I could do something, but I never have felt moved to any particular action. Last night in that moment of emotion I realized that I was in a room with 4 women who were each somehow involved in ministy, away from their extended families and with young children whose lives would be hugely impacted by this. Just as I pray for my sister's family and the families of my friends at home, I need to consistently pray for these children. I can't plan OK retreats or parties or any TYS type things, but I can pray and I will. And we'll see what happens from there.
This morning I was reading Psalm 27 and I found the answer to my prayer from yesterday for "Infinite Joy". It is 'to live in the house of the Lord forever, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.' Simple and yet, not so.
And here's what I read about the rewards of ministry: "Our place is not the auditorium but the stage - or, as the case may be, the field, workshop, study, laboratory-because we ourselves form part of the creative apparatus of God. He made us in order to use us, and use us in the most profitable way; for his purpose, not ours. To live a spiritual life means subordinating all other interests to that single fact. Sometimes our position seems to be that of tools, taken up when wanted, used in ways which we had not expected for an object on which our opinion is not asked, and then laid down. Sometimes we are the currency used in some great operation, of which the purpose is not revealed to us. Sometimes we are servants, left year in, year out to the same monotonous job. Sometimes we are conscious fellow-workers with the Perfect, striving to bring the Kingdom in. ... Taking responsibility if we are called to it, or just bringing the workers their dinner, cleaning and sharpening the tools. All self-willed choices and obstinacy drained out of what we thought to be our work; so that it becomes more and more God's work in us. from The Spiritual Life by Evelyn Underhill
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Bad days
Ever have a bad day? Try this from Phil Laeger (especially "I Surrender" and "Don't Want the Music") http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/phillaeger
Yes, today was one, but I'm moving on 'surrendered'.
C.S. Lewis said to me today: "The New Testament has a lot to say about self-denial, but not as an end in itself. We are told to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses in order that we may follow Christ; and nearly every description of what we shall ultimately find if we do so contains an appeal to desire. If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in...and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblusing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling around with drink and sex and ambition (his words, not mine!) when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. from The Weight of Glory
I want to take God up on His offer of "Infinite Joy"!
Yes, today was one, but I'm moving on 'surrendered'.
C.S. Lewis said to me today: "The New Testament has a lot to say about self-denial, but not as an end in itself. We are told to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses in order that we may follow Christ; and nearly every description of what we shall ultimately find if we do so contains an appeal to desire. If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in...and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblusing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling around with drink and sex and ambition (his words, not mine!) when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. from The Weight of Glory
I want to take God up on His offer of "Infinite Joy"!
news from Haiti
Thanks for your continued prayers. Here's a link if you want to follow the news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4692454.stm
Greetings,
Thanks for the prayer.The election was yesterday, at least the first part, there will probably be a run off in March. The polls opened 3 hours later, so there were some mad people and some doors broken down. After they opened the polls things went pretty well for Haiti. Only one really violent incident. Many more people than expected turned out to vote, so I think that is good. Ketsia voted after she heard the poll in our area didn't have a lot of people. Now we pray the vote counting will be honest. God bless, Steve
Greetings,
Thanks for the prayer.The election was yesterday, at least the first part, there will probably be a run off in March. The polls opened 3 hours later, so there were some mad people and some doors broken down. After they opened the polls things went pretty well for Haiti. Only one really violent incident. Many more people than expected turned out to vote, so I think that is good. Ketsia voted after she heard the poll in our area didn't have a lot of people. Now we pray the vote counting will be honest. God bless, Steve
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Life with cadets
What happens when the translator gets bored?!
The first quiz...
The first field training Sunday...
He can multitask!
A little Latvian music
Here's what I'm listening to now. Although the website has the songs in English, I'm listening in Latvian. It's great! Unfortunately my favorite doesn't seem to play on the website - "How Wonderful Your Name." This weekend I was in a missions conference and we sang this in Latvian. The chorus is simply "Alleluia". As we sang I could feel the praise being lifted to the Lord, no matter what our native language. And I could almost sense the angels singing with us. A little bit of heaven right here in Riga! Check him out. The website says he will be in the US in April/May. http://www.valdisindrisonoks.lv/
Something from my devotions last week:
Real training for service asks for a hard and often painful process of self-emptying. The main problem of service is to be the way without being 'in the way'. And if there are any tools, techniques and skills to be learned they are primarily to plow the field, to cut the weeks and to clip the branches, that is, to take away the obstacles for real growth and development. Training for service is not a training to become rich but to become voluntarily poor, not to fulfill ourselves but to empty ourselves, not to conquer God but to surrender to his saving power. All this is very hard to accept in our contemporary world, which tells us about the importance of power and influence. But it is important that in this world there remain a few voice crying out that if there is anything to boast of we should boast of our weakness. Our fulfillment is in offering emptiness, our usefulness in becoming useless, our power in becoming powerless.
from Reaching Out by Henri J.M. Nouwen
Something from my devotions last week:
Real training for service asks for a hard and often painful process of self-emptying. The main problem of service is to be the way without being 'in the way'. And if there are any tools, techniques and skills to be learned they are primarily to plow the field, to cut the weeks and to clip the branches, that is, to take away the obstacles for real growth and development. Training for service is not a training to become rich but to become voluntarily poor, not to fulfill ourselves but to empty ourselves, not to conquer God but to surrender to his saving power. All this is very hard to accept in our contemporary world, which tells us about the importance of power and influence. But it is important that in this world there remain a few voice crying out that if there is anything to boast of we should boast of our weakness. Our fulfillment is in offering emptiness, our usefulness in becoming useless, our power in becoming powerless.
from Reaching Out by Henri J.M. Nouwen
Monday, February 06, 2006
Steve and Ketsia in Haiti
My brother Steve and his wife Ketsia are living in Haiti, running a Salvation Army Children's Home in Port au Prince. You probably have heard about the unrest and upcoming elections there. The elections are Tuesday and there is a great possibility for violence surrounding this event. Steve asks us to pray for the country and it's people. I would also ask you to pray specifically for Steve, Ketsia and the kids in the home. Also, Ketsia is currently working to get her US residence permit. Please pray for this, too.
Listen and Read!
I've been listening to some new CDs on my way to and from the office. (I have a car now and the greatest pleasure from it is the CD player!) Remember I'm electic! Check these out:
Ray Charles "Genius Loves Company" (great driving music, especially love "You Are My Sunshine!")http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMPYZY/102-5900984-2804108?v=glance&n=5174
Jonathan Andrews "Overcoming Gravity" (I love this guy! p.s. married to Jill Getz)http://www.jonathanandrews.net/store.htm
And I can't wait for this one... Marty Mikles "Running In Circles" (check out the clip for "How Great Thou Art")http://www.martymikles.com/music.html
I haven't had a lot of time for extra reading these days, although my 'to read' pile is calling my name! There are some great articles in the new issues of Journal of Aggressive Christianity which don't take long to read but will definitely stay with you for a while. http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
Ray Charles "Genius Loves Company" (great driving music, especially love "You Are My Sunshine!")http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMPYZY/102-5900984-2804108?v=glance&n=5174
Jonathan Andrews "Overcoming Gravity" (I love this guy! p.s. married to Jill Getz)http://www.jonathanandrews.net/store.htm
And I can't wait for this one... Marty Mikles "Running In Circles" (check out the clip for "How Great Thou Art")http://www.martymikles.com/music.html
I haven't had a lot of time for extra reading these days, although my 'to read' pile is calling my name! There are some great articles in the new issues of Journal of Aggressive Christianity which don't take long to read but will definitely stay with you for a while. http://www.armybarmy.com/jac.html
Thursday, February 02, 2006
what I've been thinking about
Miracles big and small – Today Sarah was trying to get the corps ready for a big missions conference and she needed to find a lost key. With about 40 keys between us, we went to the door and the very first key she tried worked! (I told her I would put it on my blog!) All 6 of the new uniforms we ordered for the cadets fit and arrived 2 days before the welcome. We still have happy cadets. The SA Principles class theme for the last two weeks has been the International Salvation Army and SA Structures. What could be more perfect than to have the High Council meeting during that time? We watched the web casts and talked about how it all fit together. And the text book I’m using is “Who Are These Salvationists?” written by Shaw Clifton, our new General. We spent some time figuring out how to say and spell his name in Latvian. OK, sometimes we get silly, especially over language. Here it is: Šoa Kliftons
Things I take for granted – Having my own good Bible (or 10-12 of them) on Sunday I finally got around to giving my small group their Christmas gifts – a new youth Study Bible from the USA. I wasn’t sure how they would feel about it, since it was in English and well, not all American kids would be happy to get a Bible for Christmas. But, the first one opened hers and squealed (really) with delight. Then one by one they opened them with eager faces and real delight when they saw what it was. They weren’t trying to be nice or polite. They really were very excited about it! And that was my last time with the group as their leader. Dace will lead them now. It’s a good memory to end with. Solitude Sarah preached about silence and solitude on Sunday. I don’t always appreciate how much easier it is for me (as a single person) to find this. Not that it isn’t work for me and there aren’t distraction and interruptions. But most of the demands on my time come from me. I have to discipline myself and be diligent. I am rich not in a worldly way, but in so many blessed ways. I was reading Luke 6 one morning and on the same day I was showing our training center to Malcolm, a Riga pastor who is going to help us with some teaching. He leads a church who owns no building. So, at each turn he commented about what a nice and warm place we have. And I was able to tell him about so many different supporters who have helped us – my home territory and the Swedish Training College, especially. I was reminded of this verse: Luke 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. “ I took this not as a negative condemnation, but a gentle warning from the Lord not to take our lovely center for granted or get too comfortable with our setting. We need to be thankful and to give in return (not sure what yet, but the day will come.) Time for preparing and no need to hurry. Everything about life in Latvia is slower than home, at least for me. I admit that the first year I was here, I was often frustrated with too little to do and some boredom. But, when I finally settled in, I found time for study, prayer, friendships and enjoying life here. My early blogging reflects much of that. Now that the pace has picked up I am so grateful that I had that time. But, I also have discovered that I have really learned to slow down. I don’t live life by the minute like I used to. I’m using the drive time to work as Solitude time and I take the longer route, don’t try to be at the front of the line and let cars cut in front of me, with no rude words or stress over it. Amazing! I’m not working 24 hours a day, even though I probably could. I do what I can and leave the rest for the next day. Admittedly, that does sometimes cause me stress, but I am determined not to return to workaholic tendencies.
And about the new General. It has been a new experience for me to be so interested and in prayer about our leader. During past High Councils, I have prayed and was curious. But this time was different. Why? 1. I’m teaching cadets! And for most of them this was something very new and an unknown process. 2. I’m in praying Latvia! So, of course, we have been praying throughout this process. I have several friends who were members, translators or would somehow be affected. And, because my own prayer life has grown here, I also was praying more earnestly and specifically. The night we heard the announcement, Graeme said something about all of the prayer directed to this decision and that it would be interesting to see why Shaw Clifton was the right man for this time. I have heard him teach about ethical issues and was challenged and motivated in my own thinking. There are some ethical issues about which we should be taking a bolder stand. Also, his experience in Pakistan seems to me to be timely. Then today he chose a woman to be the Chief of Staff. I know nothing about her but this seems to be a good sign for the future. (I know, there are many who would be more pleased if he had chosen a married woman.) Let’s see how God chooses to use this man and the Army for this time. And let’s continue to pray fervently that Jesus Christ will remain our true Leader.
Things I take for granted – Having my own good Bible (or 10-12 of them) on Sunday I finally got around to giving my small group their Christmas gifts – a new youth Study Bible from the USA. I wasn’t sure how they would feel about it, since it was in English and well, not all American kids would be happy to get a Bible for Christmas. But, the first one opened hers and squealed (really) with delight. Then one by one they opened them with eager faces and real delight when they saw what it was. They weren’t trying to be nice or polite. They really were very excited about it! And that was my last time with the group as their leader. Dace will lead them now. It’s a good memory to end with. Solitude Sarah preached about silence and solitude on Sunday. I don’t always appreciate how much easier it is for me (as a single person) to find this. Not that it isn’t work for me and there aren’t distraction and interruptions. But most of the demands on my time come from me. I have to discipline myself and be diligent. I am rich not in a worldly way, but in so many blessed ways. I was reading Luke 6 one morning and on the same day I was showing our training center to Malcolm, a Riga pastor who is going to help us with some teaching. He leads a church who owns no building. So, at each turn he commented about what a nice and warm place we have. And I was able to tell him about so many different supporters who have helped us – my home territory and the Swedish Training College, especially. I was reminded of this verse: Luke 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. “ I took this not as a negative condemnation, but a gentle warning from the Lord not to take our lovely center for granted or get too comfortable with our setting. We need to be thankful and to give in return (not sure what yet, but the day will come.) Time for preparing and no need to hurry. Everything about life in Latvia is slower than home, at least for me. I admit that the first year I was here, I was often frustrated with too little to do and some boredom. But, when I finally settled in, I found time for study, prayer, friendships and enjoying life here. My early blogging reflects much of that. Now that the pace has picked up I am so grateful that I had that time. But, I also have discovered that I have really learned to slow down. I don’t live life by the minute like I used to. I’m using the drive time to work as Solitude time and I take the longer route, don’t try to be at the front of the line and let cars cut in front of me, with no rude words or stress over it. Amazing! I’m not working 24 hours a day, even though I probably could. I do what I can and leave the rest for the next day. Admittedly, that does sometimes cause me stress, but I am determined not to return to workaholic tendencies.
And about the new General. It has been a new experience for me to be so interested and in prayer about our leader. During past High Councils, I have prayed and was curious. But this time was different. Why? 1. I’m teaching cadets! And for most of them this was something very new and an unknown process. 2. I’m in praying Latvia! So, of course, we have been praying throughout this process. I have several friends who were members, translators or would somehow be affected. And, because my own prayer life has grown here, I also was praying more earnestly and specifically. The night we heard the announcement, Graeme said something about all of the prayer directed to this decision and that it would be interesting to see why Shaw Clifton was the right man for this time. I have heard him teach about ethical issues and was challenged and motivated in my own thinking. There are some ethical issues about which we should be taking a bolder stand. Also, his experience in Pakistan seems to me to be timely. Then today he chose a woman to be the Chief of Staff. I know nothing about her but this seems to be a good sign for the future. (I know, there are many who would be more pleased if he had chosen a married woman.) Let’s see how God chooses to use this man and the Army for this time. And let’s continue to pray fervently that Jesus Christ will remain our true Leader.
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