In the words of Tu-Pac, "That's just the way it is..."

***I have my motor scooter!!! For some reason, I can’t load it! What’s going on, I don’t know… I’ll get to the bottom of this, and then re-post. If anything, I’ll put the picture in my newsletter.

The scooter is so sweet; it’s like I’m riding a wave-runner around the streets of La Coruña. And, it’s been raining ever since I got it, so I’ve even been getting wet… Just like a real wave runner (This is me trying to stay positive about the weather. I really can’t wait until it clears up and I can take part of a day and just go toolin’ around on the ol’ MO-TO.

This Thursday marked the completion of my first month here. Two thoughts crossed my mind. The first was “Whoa, it’s been a month… That was fast,” and of course the second went something like this: “HolycowIonlyhave10to11monthsleftbeforeIleave.OhmanwhatamIdoing?Ineedtogetcrackin’.Idon’thavemuchtimeandIneedtolearnSpanishfasterthan
IamandIneedtofindplacestoplayandgetthemopedandteachmorepeopleguitar
andreadthebookstheywantmetoandalltheonesIbroughtandspendtimewith
theguysI’mhelpingtodiscipleandnuturemyownspiritualandcommunity
relationshipandreadmoreSpanishanddothisandthatandthisandthat…”
You get the picture…

On a different note. I got lost on the bus this past Tuesday. I took about a tour hour excursion through the countryside south of Coruña and met a lovely older couple who spent 30 years in England (so they spoke great English... God provides!), and a very friendly (and understanding) bus driver named Ricardo (he said I could call him Richard). It was so beautiful, and I had such a great time. I thought a lot about how you've got to take time sometimes to just sit and watch and look and remember. It was such a beautiful day, and I hope I'll go back over there with the scooter. I went to this small little town that's probably about 30 minutes away called Bregua, and you know what, nobody here knows where the heck that is! I was like, "This is so sweet, I've been places nobody else who's been here has been. Awesome!" Not bragging or anything, cause I did get lost. This all started cause I was trying to get to Perillo (per EE yo), and when I asked the bus driver where he was going, I thought he said Perillo... But no, he said Terillo (ter EE yo)... Hehehe... It was great. It was really beautiful,

Well, again, I’m learning a lot. Two lessons that I’m learning I’ll just basically sum up. The first basically results in the second.

First, I’ve been meditating over the lines in John 3:30 and Philippians 2:7, “he must become great, I must become less” and “Your attitude should be that of Christ Jesus… who… made himself nothing” (respectively). I think, after a month, I’m only touching the tip of the iceberg of the beginnings being very humbled, made nothing. The fact that none of this is about me; that I cannot learn Spanish, drive safely, eat meals, build relationships, pray, fast, read, anything apart from the grace of God, that I do all of these and more with His immanent presence and for His Name’s sake, not my own. I really don’t know more of anything to say on this, except that it terrifying and peaceful and right were I’m supposed to be. And it’s confusing the heck out of me. But, again, this is good, and it’s a gift, and, as before, who am I to refuse?

The second is the changes that are happening. Above I have mentioned the spiritual and personal changes, again, just the tip of the iceberg. The second is definitely a social change and one that I in part am excited about and in part fear most. I am meeting some amazing people, forming wonderful relationships, ministering in the name of Jesus Christ, and I’m doing most all of this in Spanish! It’s amazing to me; I’m slowly understanding what’s going on around me and, even more slowly, I’m able to interact with it all.

The change that I feel is happening, and one that I feared would, is that all of this means things will never be the same. I’m changing, I’m gone from the States, where life is still going on and people are changing, and, basically in a nutshell, no matter how hard I try to maintain it, the storyline has changed, the plot has changed and the characters are changing. I thought this was going to be something like, “the next chapter”, but it feels more like a whole new section or different books by the same author that interact, but are completely separate (something like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn: they each have their own book; they interact, but the stories are completely different and their point of view and thoughts are completely different). I knew this would happen, but I guess I was never going to be ready for it. The exciting and scary thing about it all too, is that it’s not over yet.

Thoughts? Thanks for all of you who are keeping up and even responding and interacting with me in all of this. I can’t tell you how much I love and appreciate your responses, emails, prayers, everything! Thank you so much.

I should be sending out a newsletter sometime this next week. It will have some other pictures that I didn’t feel like I should post or didn’t have room to post.

Prayer requests and praises: THE MOTO! PRAISE THE LORD!!! Language aquisition; Boldness in outreach; the youth and an ever-deepening committment to follow Christ; Rob and David are going to being traveling this week encouraging church planting in Italy and Barcelona, pray for effective teaching, shared vision, passion, energy, safety, peace, words to say.

Busy week, Busy God...

Hello all! I'm sorry I'm posting a little late (I usually try to post sometime on Thursdays) and that as of now there is no accompanying picture (they're on my Powerbook, and this is definitely my roommate's PC I'm typing on). I will get on at some point and fix it (and probably just add it onto this post, and none of the part about not having a picture will make any sense because there will, in fact, BE a picture right next to the words stating there is no picture. What a vicious cycle).

Well, on with the personal update. I got a cell phone. Yes, this is very good, and definitely well timed because my PDA has decided it doesn't like to recharge. So, it's just chillin' in it's little cradle until I can scratch my head long enough to decide I need a second opinion... or heal it with the power of prayer. I probably shouldn't joke about that, and just get the thing fixed. I say all of this because I've been using the Palm for everything (numbers, schedule, bank ledger, photo wallet, music player, Solitare, English/Spanish Bible , and whatnot, all VERY important and VERY vital to my ministry... ok, not all). Anyway, I'd really like to keep using it, but if I'm not able to fix the problem, I've decided to go back to the States... Just kidding, but I'll probably go back to the good ol' fashioned pen and paper and start writing everything down. Dang. I've also paid money for a motor scooter (100cc and red... sweet), but I've got some suprise paperwork I've got to get filled out and prepared before they'll complete the order. Oh the joys of being a foreigner.

Ok, now for the main event. This last weekend we had an Alpha retreat that really challenged (and will hopefully continue to change) the way I think, live, act, pray, everything. It was also at a monatary, which was so awesome and beautiful and I think I'll try and put up a picture of it as well.

Wonderful news: two people on the retreat became Christians!!! Praise God! In the works, the wife of one of the new believers hasn't come to faith in Christ... yet... but has moved from being an agnostic to praying to God! I think both of these are incredable, and hope we continue to surround these people with love and discipleship.

During the night session of this retreat, we talked about the Holy Spirit, the way the H.S. moved in the early church and how the H.S. moves and works today, especially with new believers. Well, a lot went on, but to sum up, I was asked if I wanted to receive the gift of tongues. I said, "no, not really, I'd rather seek prophecy". This doesn't mean I want to tell the future, I was just responding in a 1 Corinthians 14 kind of way. I desire to encourage and build up the church. But then, the twist was that I was then asked if I would be willing to received the gift anyway, especially if God was wanting to give it...

After this was over, I went to my room and thought, prayed, meditated, prayed, read, wrote, prayed for about four hours. Those last words hit me like a ton of bricks! I thought about how much I don't really trust tongues, about how I think I know what's good for the church, how it should be built, what gifts are better than others, etc. This, I soon found out, needs to change in me and in my life. Not just about tongues, but about everything. Who am I? Not God, that's for sure. I can look at 1 Cor. 14, and completely forget chapter 12, "one body, many parts". I need it all.

Now, I don't know what everyone who reads this little blog thinks about tongues, or gifts, or dead gifts, or whatever. After about four hours, all of that seemed pretty irrelevant to me. The point I saw in my life, and in my reaction, and pretty much everywhere I've been is that I tend to react to what suits me, what I'm comfortable with, what I've seen "work" in the past, that I am so "self-aware" and educated (cheif of sinners, I have a degree in Biblical and Religous Studies) that I forget who our LORD and Savior is. I forget to say, as Brother Lawerence does, "My God, I am all Yours; do what You Will with me." If this is my attitude, I will be willing to receive, not just tongues (something I realized I don't know, am afraid of and don't really trust), prophecy, wisdom, faith, but people: broken, sinful, dying, annoying, athiest, gay, murderer, lier, gossiper,Spaniard, American, whatever.

Well, again, this is just sharing what and how I'm learning, seeing, and growing. Thank you all for keeping up with me, praying for me and for the people here and, most of all, joining in the "great cloud of witnesses" in praise and adoration. ¡Dios les bendiga!

Prayer requests/praises: pray for way to fix my PDA or courage to let it go; ease in obtaining a motor scooter; praise for the new believers from the Alpha retreat; pray for a softening of the wife's heart to Christ; praise/pray continued energry strength to minister to the needs of a variety of people; praise/pray for continued growth, learning, loving Christ and Him crucified and loving people; pray for J and P in our youth group as they have a lot of crap in their lives (I can't even begin to be very specific with this); pray for my love for them, and that I would like them, as this is always hard for me to love people I don't really want to; pray for my roommate as he is sick.

Strikes and Gutters...

I know that I've just put up stuff like scenery, but I love it! This is a walkway along the part of the city that fills up with the tides. I just can't get over it. It's beautiful! I'll try and post some more interesting pictures, maybe even ones with people in them... like me... later.

Well, here it is, officially two weeks into my time here. It’s been quite a ride so far. Ups, downs, strikes and gutters. I tried to get a cell phone yesterday, and was rejected for a plan. I could get a “pay by the minute”, which I think is what I’ll end up doing. Apparently, you have to sign a contract for 18 months, and my visa is only for a year, so, I think that’s why it got rejected. It’s hard not to be a little hurt by stuff like this though. I can’t really put my finger on it, but it feels like the government and therefore other companies and official type places like cell phone companies don’t take me seriously, like I’m not a real person to them.

However, I do feel like this probably a time where I’m being stripped of myself. A cell phone, I well know, can be a status symbol, much like clothes, cars, houses, computers (like mine), etc. I was telling my roommate, who was there yesterday trying to help, that I think not getting this cell phone (an amazing piece of work that I would have had for years, all the bells and whistles) is a another way God is helping me stay humble. And then, we are both learning each other’s language, he didn’t know what “humble” meant. So, in the middle of the mall, I got down on my knees and bowed my head down low. Not that this is what humble is 100% of the time, but it was enough for him to get the idea. And on a side note, this was in the middle of a supermarket/mall, and made for a very humble experience for myself. Funny how that all works out.

I have been recently noticing how close in proximity I’ve been coming with Christians and non-Christians. It’s very exciting, and even at times, it feels very new. I wrote an email to one of my good friends, trying to wrap my mind around what is going on, and I thought I’d share this portion of it:

“We have an Alpha retreat this weekend to a catholic monastery. I'm pretty excited. Alpha is a course designed as an introduction to Christianity. And, you guessed it, not everyone going is a Christian. This just boggles my mind! I just can't tell you how hard it is to get my mind around the concept of inviting non-Christians (or pre-Christians as some would say) to a retreat. What the?!?! It's amazing though. And I don't speak Spanish! Can God use even me, someone who's awkwardly walking onto the scene, a big oaf, seems to be unintelligible for the most part, and yet, here he is. I guess so, cause here I am. Good and new news to me. Imagine that: going through my whole life as a Christian and never really reaching out... It's crazy.”

Many of you reading may have done a lot of ministry with Alpha or programs that are like it. I never have. And you know what else? I’ve been on a lot of mission trips as well, and this is one of the first times of spent more than five minutes with people who aren’t Christians (though this might seem like hyperbole, I really don’t think it is. I’ve been thinking about this for the past two weeks). I don’t really know how much more to write now about all of this, but suffice to say it’s truly amazing to me I’ve been a Christian this long, and I feel that this is really the first evangelism/seeking the lost I’ve ever really done and been a part of. I’ve never been this close to the lost for this much time before. As Derek’s new song goes:

“Poverty is so hard to see
When it’s only on your TV
And twenty miles across town
Where we’re all living so good
That we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
Where he’s hungry and not feeling so good
From going through our trash

He says, more than just your cash and coin
I want your time, I want your voice
I want the things you just can’t give me”
-“Rich Young Ruler”, by Derek Webb

I’m not saying these people are poor, maybe poor in spirit, but they are very well off. I just wonder if before now, I had moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood (I’m not talking about my parents’ choices either, I’m talking about mine). I do feel that in high school I removed myself from the needy, hurting, poor youth who I went to school with, just because they weren’t Christians, and have continued that trend. I guess this is public confession time, and/or sharing my heart, but it’s very easy to put up little Jesus walls around myself, and then the rest of the world doesn’t understand because I don’t speak they’re language (literally and figuratively). And voila! In an effort to keep myself holy and even to build relationships with other Christians, I’ve become a Pharisee.

I hope all of this makes sense. I’m still working a lot of this out with my head, my community, and my LORD. However, I thought I’d share the conversation, share the story (sorry if this sounds too cliché or emergent for everyone who’s heard this before). Please continue to pray that I would be conformed to the likeness of Christ, in His life and even in His death. Pray also for this retreat. I'm excited to see what the LORD does, always hoping and expecting He will call more to Himself.

These posts keep getting longer. Pray for the strength and long-suffering of your eyes as well.

Update: Jessica and Rebecca are doing much better. Thank you for your prayers. Also, I got some more paperwork processed which will allow me to stay for a year and not get kicked out in May. Thank you so much for your prayers and support, kind words and endless encouragement. Dios les bendiga!