Early this afternoon we got a call from the mom of one of Veronica's classmates. She and her daughter wanted to come over for a visit. Sasha quickly told me to put my tools away and stop my Saturday afternoon projects because we were having guests.
As I type this, Sasha is upstairs conversing with the mom over cookies, and the girls are playing with Veronica's friend.
One thing I love about our neighborhood is that it actually feels like a neighborhood. We have friends just stop by for the fun of it. It seems to be easier to connect with those around us than it was last year in our old neighborhood.
I'm very glad to see Sasha and the girls connecting with our neighbors. It makes home feel more like home.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Mark 2 Ministry
I recently finished a personal study on Mark. Today I listened to a sermon by Pastor Dan Reid of Maranatha Church in Rice Lake, Wisconsin on Jesus' healing of a paralyzed man as told in Mark 2. That's twice in just a few weeks when this story has been brought to mind.
This is an interesting and rather strange story that is a favorite of Sunday school classes around the world. Four men try to get to Jesus with their paralyzed friend to have him healed. The house where Jesus is speaking is so packed full of people that they can't get to him, so they climb up on the roof and dig a hole to lower their friend down to Jesus. (How many of us have four friends who would destroy property for us.)
The thing that strikes me about this story is what Jesus does. The first thing he does is tell the man that his sins are forgiven. This, naturally, ticks off the religious leaders of the day as Jesus appears to be playing God. (Of course, we know He was not playing God at all.)
After forgiving this man's sins, Jesus turns to the religious leaders and asks them, "Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?" The obvious answer is that it is easier to say "Your sins are forgiven," because one cannot measure the reality of the statement. If I were to tell a paralytic to get up and walk and he did not (as would likely be the case) I would look like a crazy fool. If I were to tell someone that I forgave their sins (which is in essence a claim to be God) no one could prove that I had not forgiven them.
Jesus does not stop with merely the forgiveness of sin though. He then goes on to heal the man who walked out of the house on his own power.
The theological ramifications of this passage are obvious. Jesus demonstrated his deity in forgiving the man's sin. He backed up his claim by healing the man's illness. Jesus demonstrated his power over sin and sickness.
Today I though of an application to this passage that had not before crossed my mind. Over the past few months I have been involved with a sort of think tank that is looking to integrate the spiritual and physical aspects of ministry. Jesus demonstrated in Mark 2 just how important that is. If we merely tell people of the life changing aspects of the Gospel in the spiritual sense, and yet do not demonstrate it by ameliorating the felt needs of those around us, how will anyone see the reality of what Jesus' love has done in our lives. We will appear to be spiritual people who are useless in the so called real world. However, if we focus only on the felt needs of those around us we will fail to accomplish the most important part of our life on earth by communicating the message of God's transforming grace given to us freely through Jesus' death and resurrection. We need both.
The paralytic received two gifts that day. Those around him probably thought that the second gift was the better one as it was the one they could see. But what good is it to have a whole body for the duration of our life on Earth, and yet enter eternity guilty of sin? The first gift was by far the greater. The second was the proof of the first.
We tend to view ministry as either spiritual or felt needs. Jesus did not separate them. Why should we?
This is an interesting and rather strange story that is a favorite of Sunday school classes around the world. Four men try to get to Jesus with their paralyzed friend to have him healed. The house where Jesus is speaking is so packed full of people that they can't get to him, so they climb up on the roof and dig a hole to lower their friend down to Jesus. (How many of us have four friends who would destroy property for us.)
The thing that strikes me about this story is what Jesus does. The first thing he does is tell the man that his sins are forgiven. This, naturally, ticks off the religious leaders of the day as Jesus appears to be playing God. (Of course, we know He was not playing God at all.)
After forgiving this man's sins, Jesus turns to the religious leaders and asks them, "Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?" The obvious answer is that it is easier to say "Your sins are forgiven," because one cannot measure the reality of the statement. If I were to tell a paralytic to get up and walk and he did not (as would likely be the case) I would look like a crazy fool. If I were to tell someone that I forgave their sins (which is in essence a claim to be God) no one could prove that I had not forgiven them.
Jesus does not stop with merely the forgiveness of sin though. He then goes on to heal the man who walked out of the house on his own power.
The theological ramifications of this passage are obvious. Jesus demonstrated his deity in forgiving the man's sin. He backed up his claim by healing the man's illness. Jesus demonstrated his power over sin and sickness.
Today I though of an application to this passage that had not before crossed my mind. Over the past few months I have been involved with a sort of think tank that is looking to integrate the spiritual and physical aspects of ministry. Jesus demonstrated in Mark 2 just how important that is. If we merely tell people of the life changing aspects of the Gospel in the spiritual sense, and yet do not demonstrate it by ameliorating the felt needs of those around us, how will anyone see the reality of what Jesus' love has done in our lives. We will appear to be spiritual people who are useless in the so called real world. However, if we focus only on the felt needs of those around us we will fail to accomplish the most important part of our life on earth by communicating the message of God's transforming grace given to us freely through Jesus' death and resurrection. We need both.
The paralytic received two gifts that day. Those around him probably thought that the second gift was the better one as it was the one they could see. But what good is it to have a whole body for the duration of our life on Earth, and yet enter eternity guilty of sin? The first gift was by far the greater. The second was the proof of the first.
We tend to view ministry as either spiritual or felt needs. Jesus did not separate them. Why should we?
Sunday, October 14, 2012
CTL
I'm in Hungary at the moment attend the City Team Leaders' conference. We have been talking a lot about global partnerships. This makes a lot of sense to me as the Church is meant to be from all nations. It only makes sense that the Church's ministry be from all nations as well.
I was reflecting today on just how natural global relationships have become. My two closest friends are a Polish guy I met while living in Szczecin, and a Texan who is married to a Canadian. I'm married to a Bulgarian. I currently have cousins living in Africa, Asia, and North America. I have never had an English conversation with my father-in-law. Every Wednesday, Sasha takes the girls over to the home of a British woman living in Sofia. Last year I taught English to men from Turkey living in Bulgaria. The list goes on and on.
In the age of the internet, global communication quick and effortless. Just look at the map on this blog. I've had readers from every continent except Antarctica.
It is evident that international relationships mean more today then they ever have in the past. As a ministry leader, I need to evaluate how best to serve not just in my own city, but globally.
Please pray that I do so.
I was reflecting today on just how natural global relationships have become. My two closest friends are a Polish guy I met while living in Szczecin, and a Texan who is married to a Canadian. I'm married to a Bulgarian. I currently have cousins living in Africa, Asia, and North America. I have never had an English conversation with my father-in-law. Every Wednesday, Sasha takes the girls over to the home of a British woman living in Sofia. Last year I taught English to men from Turkey living in Bulgaria. The list goes on and on.
In the age of the internet, global communication quick and effortless. Just look at the map on this blog. I've had readers from every continent except Antarctica.
It is evident that international relationships mean more today then they ever have in the past. As a ministry leader, I need to evaluate how best to serve not just in my own city, but globally.
Please pray that I do so.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Earthquake Damage
Back in May, the Sofia region suffered a major earthquake. This was back before we moved to our current house. Our house is old, but it seemed to withstand the earthquake unharmed. Now however, it appears that there was some damage.
A few weeks ago we noticed that our downstairs bathroom was leaking from the roof. We checked the upstairs bathroom and could find no reason for the leak. The only explanation we could think of was that there was a leaky pipe between the two bathrooms. The plumber came and inspected the problem, and it appears that we were right. When he took down the false ceiling he found this.
The plumber (who knows this house well) thinks that the damage may have been caused by the earthquake. He will come back on Thursday and fix the pipe. He thinks it should be a one day repair job. Hopefully this is the only damage we will find from the earthquake.
A few weeks ago we noticed that our downstairs bathroom was leaking from the roof. We checked the upstairs bathroom and could find no reason for the leak. The only explanation we could think of was that there was a leaky pipe between the two bathrooms. The plumber came and inspected the problem, and it appears that we were right. When he took down the false ceiling he found this.
The plumber (who knows this house well) thinks that the damage may have been caused by the earthquake. He will come back on Thursday and fix the pipe. He thinks it should be a one day repair job. Hopefully this is the only damage we will find from the earthquake.
Monday, September 17, 2012
First Day of School
This morning, school started across Bulgaria. Sophie began her second year in the Bulgarian system, and Veronica had her first day of Bulgarian school. Both of them seemed to love it.
Not only was today the first day of school, but it was also St. Sofia day. It is a day that celebrates St. Sofia, and her three children Faith, Hope, and Love. It is a big holiday in Bulgaria for obvious reasons given the name of the capital. It is also Sophie and Veronica's name day. (Sophie for having the same name as Sofia, and Veronica because the Bulgarian word for Faith is Viara.) The girls followed the Bulgarian tradition of bringing flowers for their teachers for the first day of school, and chocolates for their classmates for their name days.
I have mentioned in previous blog posts how Bulgarian schools are not afraid to include religious aspects like American schools are. This was very clear today. Being the first day of school and a religious holiday, there was an Orthodox priest on hand to bless the start of the school year. This was more then a simple nondescript prayer or hymn you might hear at a graduation ceremony in the U.S. It was a full fledged liturgy. He blessed the whole school and parents by sprinkling us with water, and he presented the school with an icon of Sofia and her daughters after blessing it. The director of the school and the education official both kissed the icon, and the cross the priest was holding.
As an American this was a bit of a surprise to me. I was not bothered or offended by it even though I am not Orthodox. I found it curious. As a boy my school sang both Christmas and Hanukkah songs at the Christmas presentation every year (By the way did you know Jesus celebrated Hanukkah. See John 10:22.), but we never had a religious service during a school function. I have to respect a school system that does not quell culture and spiritual traditions out of a fear of offending people.
After the service, there was dancing, a series of poems and songs, and then a parade in which our girls marched into the school with their classmates to the ringing of a school bell.
Class is in session. Here we go!
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| Sophie with her teachers. |
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| Veronica with her flowers ready for her first day. |
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Changes at the Airport
Yesterday we dropped of some friends at the airport. As we got off the elevator to get in line for check-in, we were greeted by a security officer who asked us if we were all flying. I informed her that only three of us were flying. Sasha and I were just the "porters." We were then informed that only those flying would be allowed to proceed to the check-in area.
We were a little stumped by this. We were all used to not being able to escort our friends to the gate and watch them board the aircraft. It has been over a decade since gate good-byes were a regular practice in most airports, but not being allowed even to go to the check-in with friends was a new one for us.
I asked the security guard why this was the case. She told me that it is a new security measure related to Israel. That was all I could get out of her on the subject. Perhaps this was a one time thing for some dignitary of Israel's protection. Perhaps it has something to do with the terrorist attack in Burgas earlier this summer, or the fact that yesterday was September 11th.
I have heard that flights to and from Israel are no longer posted on the departure and arrival screens in Bulgarian airports. I certainly saw nothing listed yesterday. Perhaps this added security at the entrance will be a permanent thing, or maybe it is just when there is travel to or from Israel in progress. If it saves lives I'm all for it. We all know Israel has its share of enemies, and I do not want to continue to see Bulgaria serving as a proxy battleground against God's chosen people.
We were a little stumped by this. We were all used to not being able to escort our friends to the gate and watch them board the aircraft. It has been over a decade since gate good-byes were a regular practice in most airports, but not being allowed even to go to the check-in with friends was a new one for us.
I asked the security guard why this was the case. She told me that it is a new security measure related to Israel. That was all I could get out of her on the subject. Perhaps this was a one time thing for some dignitary of Israel's protection. Perhaps it has something to do with the terrorist attack in Burgas earlier this summer, or the fact that yesterday was September 11th.
I have heard that flights to and from Israel are no longer posted on the departure and arrival screens in Bulgarian airports. I certainly saw nothing listed yesterday. Perhaps this added security at the entrance will be a permanent thing, or maybe it is just when there is travel to or from Israel in progress. If it saves lives I'm all for it. We all know Israel has its share of enemies, and I do not want to continue to see Bulgaria serving as a proxy battleground against God's chosen people.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
A Subway or Museum
On August 31st, Sofia opened its second subway line. The final stop on the line is just a few blocks from our house. The girls have been looking forward to taking the underground train, so today, just for fun, we all took a ride down town.
While the construction workers were digging out the tunnels for this new train they discovered something they didn't expect. Under Sofia lies an ancient and all but forgotten city that dates back at least 2,500 years. I knew they discovered ruins and had to take precautions to preserve the historic artifacts they discovered, but I had no idea just how much they found.
We got off the train at the Serdika stop in the heart of downtown Sofia. Within a few blocks we could walk to the Presidential complex, the primary judicial building, or the Bulgarian Parliament. We could see the main city mosque, a prominent Orthodox Christian cathedral, and one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Just above the station is the statue of St. Sofia that replaced the statue of Lennon after the fall of Bulgaria's socialistic dictatorship toward the end of the last century. Yet we were not looking up at any of theses amazing sites. We were looking down as an army of excavators worked in the scorching heat to uncover the mysteries of Bulgaria's ancient history.
The station itself is pretty impressive as well. Having lived in Chicago for 4 years, I am no stranger to subways. This one is unlike any I have ever seen. Along the platform are artifacts in glass cases, and all around you remnants of a lost city are open to view. It was more like a museum then a mass transit station.
It is very exciting to be in Sofia as these discoveries are being made. Our girls learned a bit about the history of their mother's country today. So did we.
While the construction workers were digging out the tunnels for this new train they discovered something they didn't expect. Under Sofia lies an ancient and all but forgotten city that dates back at least 2,500 years. I knew they discovered ruins and had to take precautions to preserve the historic artifacts they discovered, but I had no idea just how much they found.
We got off the train at the Serdika stop in the heart of downtown Sofia. Within a few blocks we could walk to the Presidential complex, the primary judicial building, or the Bulgarian Parliament. We could see the main city mosque, a prominent Orthodox Christian cathedral, and one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Just above the station is the statue of St. Sofia that replaced the statue of Lennon after the fall of Bulgaria's socialistic dictatorship toward the end of the last century. Yet we were not looking up at any of theses amazing sites. We were looking down as an army of excavators worked in the scorching heat to uncover the mysteries of Bulgaria's ancient history.
The station itself is pretty impressive as well. Having lived in Chicago for 4 years, I am no stranger to subways. This one is unlike any I have ever seen. Along the platform are artifacts in glass cases, and all around you remnants of a lost city are open to view. It was more like a museum then a mass transit station.
It is very exciting to be in Sofia as these discoveries are being made. Our girls learned a bit about the history of their mother's country today. So did we.
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