Martha Part 2 (For the Record)

Oh, and just for the record... Martha was the one who ran out to meet Jesus after her brother, Lazarus died. Mary was the finicky, emotional one. So for those other Martha's out there, she plays a very necessary role too , it is by no means all bad! :)

Thanks, Martha

I’ve been accused of being a Martha a lot this week. I will add to that by sharing the thought that floated around in my head off and on yesterday:

I have a book (that I’ve never read) entitled Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I don’t really think my problem is “a Martha world” so much as it is a “Martha-me” (and this is not all bad)…so anyway

I’m not sure if the pinnacle, for me, came when I started to clean up after dinner last night when Drew grabbed my hand and stopped me or if it came when I was taking the last of everyone’s trays up after lunch and one of our visiting pastors simply responded with, “Thanks, Martha.”

Whenever and however it came, it was starred in the face this afternoon when we were given three hours and told, basically, to go away. We weren’t aloud to be in the church or to have our computers. It was intentionally to give us time to just get away with God (and also away from one another) and so I didn’t struggle nearly as much as I could or would have otherwise… but when it was time to go, I grabbed my Bible, in addition to two other books I am reading and headed out.

I have three Bible verses we are supposed to be memorizing…in German. And I’ve wanted to take more assertive steps in learning the language as soon as possible (not just waiting till we are in classes). So I thought about that and various other projects, responsibilities and desires I have. Part of me wanted to dive into any or all of them but I didn’t.

I thought about Mary, and having a “Mary heart.” Instead of taken the time that was given to me to “take care of” any number of things, I decided I would rest. It was wonderful! I sat in a big swing (is in the shape of a shallow bowl) and laid there swinging for a long while. I think it was forty-five minutes or so. There was more than once that I was almost asleep. After that, I swung some more, but I pulled out my i-pod. I have an album on there called “Meditations on the Words of Christ.” I listened to the “song” with the words from John 15 – “I am the vine, you are the branches…” twice. Then I listened to a song (not from that cd) taken from the 139 Psalm.

In the mean time, I was slightly engaged by some children. God brought me joy through them today. They spoke even less English than I spoke German so it was a bit difficult at times, but I met four 8 and 9 year olds. I spend a little time playing with them on the gymnastic bars, hanging and doing flips and such. (I didn’t get hurt!) It was wonderful. We talked a little about fussball (soccer) and the names of the colors and their favorite colors.

One little girl there, Sheila, really grabbed my attention. She was a petite thing, with a fuzzy dark purpley-maroon sweater on. She was sweet and said her favorite color was all the colors. I liked her. The bold one of the group, Lena, was wearing a pink coat (and glasses). Pink is her favorite color. She was outspoken and reminded me a little of myself when I was younger. Mark had an MP3 player, was riding his bike around off and one, picked on the girls quite a bit, and his favorite color is blue. I wondered if they know Jesus loves them.

I left them and spent some time on another play area on the other side of the street (walkway) in the Word. I was in the Psalms a little and then in Matthew 5. I love Matthew 5. I hardly got past the first 2 or 3 verses, I’m not sure why yet, but I have some things to learn. I did read up through “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” but I didn’t really delve in to anything past the first couple verses…

I came back to the church and set some (gorgeous) leaves to be flattened and dried and then spent some time in the sanctuary, praying, singing, being silent, being still, and even moving around. I’m glad I can worship God wherever I am and I have the freedom to do it in both “traditional” and “non-traditional” ways.

My Mary afternoon was refreshing. It’s not only okay but good to be a Martha, and I like that about me, but, it’s also good to be a Mary and so I enjoy my “Mary” moments and continue to learn what it means and how it looks to find the balance between the two.

Missionary

One thing that we hear fairly regularly here is a reminder that we are now missionaries.
Now, understand that it mostly comes as a justification for when things are less than desirable…but none-the-less, I guess it is true.
That is what’s weird for me (that it's true). I don’t know if it is weird because I just don’t consider myself a missionary (I don’t think I ever thought I would be one) or if it is because I find myself asking in response, “Is this what its like to be a missionary? I don’t feel like a missionary.”
I’m just living my life, serving God…in a foreign country. And yeah, I am here to build relationships with people and, for those who don’t know Him, introduce them to God…to make disciples…maybe that makes me a “missionary” after all…

Healthy

I wrote this entry once already but it got lost when I went to publish it. =( I really liked how I had it phrased, we’ll see how this time goes…

Last week in one of our morning sessions (Bible study) we read Ezekiel 47:1-2, and also looked back at Ezekiel 43:1-5. We talked about a few things but what really stuck out to me was God’s desire to heal us. “God desires to make us healthy, not just well,” or something to that effect was the way one person phrased it. He doesn’t just help us or want us to get over our cold, but to make us healthy. My note with that was…”which means God, who is a holy god, is a God of wholeness. He desires to make us healthy- and not just physically but also mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.”

That is HOPE! At least, I find hope in that. God is able to make us healthy. I recognize God as the Great Physician, and even today I was praying for healing for 2 specific individuals, one with breast cancer. But I also praised God for her because she is healthy in the other areas of her life. Do you know someone who is mentally unstable? Do you know someone for whom life just seems to be falling apart? Someone who needs health and healing? Good news! God came to make us whole!

Truth

Thoughts:

1) (from a discussion this week about Velvet Elvis:)
If the truth isn't setting you free, its not truth.

2) (from a bumper sticker & was also on the quote wall)
The truth will set you free, but it will piss you off first.

Christian Pop Culture #1

Steve Green wrote a song approximately a thousand years ago called "People Need the Lord." I personally consider it a Christian pop culture classic because well, I'm fairly confident in saying its been performed at least once in every church I have been a member of, AND in most cases, at least twice a year. I've heard it about half a million times in my short life. (Anyone else thinking, yeah, it and that "On My Knees" song by Jaci no- one-can-pronounce-my-last-name Velasquez)

The message of the song is very good and true. I have an appreciation for the heart with which it was written, but it has now transcended cultural barriers as it was performed - in German - this past Sunday at church. Pop culture classic reaches all time high...I can see it now? Swahili anyone?

Belly-flops On the Playground

Some of you know that I hurt my finger...Here's the story...

A couple weeks ago (my first Saturday back in Germany) the group of us (minus Drew and Bethaney) were hanging out. We had just finished a movie and one of the guys (Larry, who was only here for a week) wanted to go for a walk. I decided to join him. It had been raining earlier in the day but it was a beautiful afternoon. We walked over to the park by the church and found some swings.

They had solid seats (hard plastic) so they didn't fold up around me like many swings do. We were having a decent conversation about life, enjoying the afternoon. I scooted back on the seat so I was sitting on my thighs, just above my knees. Larry started talking about jumping out of the swing. I was getting ready to get off and I put my shoulders/arms in front of the ropes and told him that I don't jump out of swings because I inevitably hurt myself (usually an ankle). I no more than finished the statement when I suddenly found myself swinging back higher than I thought I would be, as I was slowing down to get off...I tried to grab a hold of the ropes but they were caught behind my shoulders thus I proceeded to do a belly flop. (I'm an idiot!)

Larry was caught by surprise to say the least as he heard a big thump, looked back and saw me on the ground. It semi knocked the wind out of me. He asked if I was okay, well, I was in pain and I just laid still for a short while before rolling over to lay some more...Larry's response as i continued to lay there was, "well then, i lay here beside you so you don't look so weird" or something like that (very cool). I was in pain in a couple areas but my right hand was the worst. Underneath the nail on my middle finger bruised almost immediately and was bleeding a little along with the nail next to it...A bit hilarious if you ask me, except for the fact that it really hurt. Everything is fine now, except my finger which is a bit stiff and won't close all the way. This is my life...

Life lesson: Swings and belly flops don't mix!

Books Are Fun*

Okay, so I am reading a few books right now and I want to suggest them to you as some, dare I say it, phenomenal reading. Now, some of these are just good, and even those worthy of the word “phenomenal” shouldn’t get it because then it may set your expectations far too high so… take it for what its worth.

One of the great things about these, however, is the way they keep weaving together, sometimes bringing things full circle for me.

(In no specific order)
(1) The first is Grace for the Moment II by Max Lucado. I’m a big fan. They are short day-by-day devotionals. The back of the book speaks truth so simply and clearly, “God loves you simply because he has chosen to do so.” (Amen.)

(2) The second is a bible study I am doing on the life of Paul. Its good stuff too. The very day we were talking about some of the cultural barriers of the Germans, I read about Paul facing some similar hardships. It is hard for me to go into this as I cannot do justice in explaining the issue and the reasons for it. So, with grace, stick with me in this inadequate explanation:
The author wrote about the spirit of indifference Paul faced in Athens. In his case, there was open-mindedness to a fault. “Every new idea offered them the opportunity to have a good, healthy debate; and then go away virtually unchanged (Moore, 97).” Beth Moore goes on to talk about praying for the nations. She writes, “Today’s lesson will change the way I pray about the nations. I cannot count the number of times I’ve asked God to crumble the spirit of opposition and persecution in many nations were Christians are a small fighting force. I will still continue to ask God to strengthen and protect those facing opposition and persecution. However, I now find my heart drawn across the map to places where a quieter dragon of perhaps equal force has made his den—the spirit of indifference.”
Germany, in many ways, is one of those nations. The general understanding that God brought to me that day about the people here through some of the leaders here as well as this life lesson from Paul was beautiful.

Here’s where the real recommendations come in. Wow! What great books!

(3) Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller is well… a book of “nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality.” May I just say, for the love, read the book! Before this post gets any longer I will leave it at that and most more soon on the book…but that’s the heads up for when I reference it.

(4) Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell is the fourth and final book of the day. (I feel like this is at the end of a Reading Rainbow segment.) We are reading this book as a group. It’s rocking my world in a very good way. Tonight I was asked, “If you could meet any three people, who would they be?” At the top at that list was Rob Bell. Have you seen any of the Nooma video series? I love this guy! I know I don’t know him, but none the less, I am honored to call him my brother in Christ and I think he’s so stinkin’ cool! Again, enough rambling…I will write more very soon…

Seriously though, go to your local library, or book store and at least look at Blue Like Jazz and Velvet Elvis…and then buy and read them. =)

*that’s for you, mom =)

The Bread of Life and a Broken Heart

Drew spoke Sunday night. He started with the scripture from John 6:16-21. It tells of Jesus walking on the water and though it is a miracle, it is also a bridge between two other significant stories. The first is of Christ feeding the five thousand and follow up to that in a time in which Christ claimed to be the Bread of Life. He remarks on Moses and Israelites receiving manna from heaven but it wasn't Moses who gave it, it was God.

The service was virtually over and then I found myself sitting in a pew, in a Nazarene church in Germany, utterly broken. I said, "Lord, am I really crying again?" As this was not the first time I found myself bawling since my arrival in Germany.

The truth of the Word penetrated my heart again that night. It wasn't that it was new or revolutionary to me. But I thought of the students we had been around the previous week as we ate at the menza (university cafeteria). It is something that would be new to them. I thought about LIFE that Jesus came to give. True, meaningful, abundant life...not just surviving or getting by, but really living.

I spent some times on my knees (and with my team) at the alter... I was a bit of a mess, admittedly. But I found myself asking that God would continue to break my heart... for the people here in such a way that it would propel me to a love, care, and build relationships with them to show and offer them life, not just something for today. But life- fully- with hope, joy and peace. ...to give them the opportunity to eat of the Bread of Life.

Taking A Walk

Hans new thing is Nordic Walking. It is a big hit here. Cris (Hans' son) thinks he is nuts. He (Cris) told him (Hans) that he won't even listen to what he has to say on the subject until he has done it for at least a year... It is quite humorous.

We were on a retreat this past weekend out in the German country side. After lunch each day we'd have a couple hours of free time and then we'd go for a walk. (We walk a lot here =) So, we went walking and Josh and I joined Hans with Nordic walking sticks (said to work 90% of your muscles). We drove to an area more outside the countryside town of Mucke (pronounced Murk-tuh) and went walking through the woods. It was a great trail and the three of us quickly took the lead. We found out later that the rest of the group stopped to play on a seesaw.

We kept walking and well, Josh and Hans, in their infinite wisdom got us lost. I take no responsibility because everyone knows I stink at directions and I was not leading...Anyway, Josh's great idea of the afternoon was to always turn left...he didn't really realize it, but that's what he did. I had a moment of relief when, over an hour and a half into the trek, we finally walked back down hill for the first time. We just kept walking and walking and by the time we emerged from the woods we were in another town 8km away from where we started. We figured we walked a good 6 miles.

The rest of the group was back at the van (as it was pretty much time to be back at the campground for dinner) and we were, well, not. (Drew and Hans had cell phones) And to make it even better, Hans had the van keys...of course! We ended up getting some help from some locals. They called a taxi for us. So we rode back to the van and then made it back to dinner an hour late. We were closer to the campground than our original starting place where we came out. We had a lot of good laughs and I wasn't deathly sore the next day. And like my dad said, "If you had to get lost, turned-around, whatever...at least you were in good company!"

A thought...

I can't even tell you who said this but it has been on my mind with increasing measure over this last week...

"We will never know the resources of God until we attempt the impossible."

Jumping in... (our team)

Okay, so maybe I will get around to kind of posting the story on how I got to Germany and what in the world I am doing here, but for now I really just want to jump in and give some quick updates, tell some stories, you know...

We'll start with this:
We are a team of 7 right now. Pastor Hans, Drew, Bethaney, Josh, Kelly, Emily, and me.
I want to tell you some about each one, but I can't begin to do them justice so here's the QUICK run down:

Hans is basically the senior pastor of the church here in Frankfurt, but there are some things changing so Hans still has various responsibilities and is the main preaching pastor, but his son Cris has taken on many of the other senior pastor roles. He has been "freed" to focus more time and attention on Project Noah, etc. He is our mentor.

Drew is the youth pastor here. He is in his third year here (in Germany from the US) and is a wonderful, fun leader and example of Christ. I respect him thoroughly for who he is and what he is doing, but it is necessary to note that he can be a goof-ball. We graduated the same year (high school), so we are the same age.

Bethaney has been here for 9 months now. She is from Florida and is super busy both with us, helping Drew with the youth and also other things...Though I'm still not sure exactly what. She graduated from Trevecca as an English major and is also deeply respected and loved, and she's funny too! (She is 24)

We have 2 people here from Drew's "home" church in Virginia. Kelly (24) and Josh (21). Kelly majored in Communications (w/ an emphasis in audio broadcasting) at Liberty University and was working with kids in an after school program before she came here. Josh would have been a junior at Olivet this year changing his major from youth ministry to cross-cultural (missions) ministry.
Kelly has been staying with Bethaney (but will be moving soon, hopefully as it is in very tight quarters). Josh is living with Drew next door to the church.

Emily is from Kentucky and we are both staying with a wonderful couple from the church. She is a religion major at Trevecca and would have been going into her sophomore year there. She is 19 and plays soccer for Trevecca. (She's SO good!) She was here w/ a team from the college this summer, which is how she learned about the program. She lives in the apartment with the couple, I live in a room in the basement. It's a nice size room with a comfy bed. My only complaint is that I have no closet or drawers =)

The couple we are staying with are older and we were told almost everyone stays with them. Bethaney lived with them the first month she was here. They have a son who is married and has a child or two and a daughter who is an artist. Her work is displayed mainly in her old bedroom (where Emily lives) but throughout the house. There is a big mural on the wall in my room. Pretty cool...

This post is more than long enough so I will leave it at that. More soon...

It Begins...

To start all this, it makes sense to me to give a little explanation on "this whole thing." I intend to give a real intro soon, but in the mean time I will say a word on how this blog got its name. It comes from a quote from the book Brokenness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It is one that I often carry with me. As I consider the circumstances of my life (this "faith journey" or "adventure" if you will) I come back to this quote time and time again,

"To know God, to live in His presence and to be occupied with a vision of His holiness is to know how foolish and frail we are apart from Him and to be broken from a preoccupation with ourselves."

more to come...