last catch-up update...
I was blessed to experience Israel for 8 days. I can only say it was one of the most amazing trips I’ve been on. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional but there were times when my tears kept flowing. Now I’ve recently learned my temperament type is melancholy meaning I’m naturally very sensitive but this was ridiculous. The beauty of it all from the countryside of Galilee to the stunning white washed stone city of Jerusalem really toke me aback. But what was most arresting was walking where my Savior walked. The temple mount in Jerusalem, the temple in Capernaum which was the town that served as the base of his ministry for 2 years, the Sea of Galilee area. These made me weep like a baby. These are places that I’ve read about tons of time but now I was experiencing it myself. It really made my Bible come to life. It was beautiful.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Kaldi's Goats Are Owed Much
some catching up to do, part 1 of 2...
A very long time ago, Kaldi an Ethiopian goat herder was out grazing his goats. The goats stumbled upon a berry that gave them a sudden jolt of energy and made them dance funny i.e. it made them high. Kaldi suddenly curious also tried it. Apparently, Kaldi the goat herder also moonlighted as a monk. He introduced the other monks to this substance that kept his goats chipper. The monks used it to stay awake during their all night prayer vigils. Eastern traders on expeditions to Africa got wind of the new stimulant and a world-wide phenomenon was born – the coffee bean. Kaldi may be a thing of legend but Ethiopia claims and is given credit for the birthplace of coffee.
To this day coffee has special place in Ethiopian culture. There is a café serving up delicious Ethiopian style macchiato on likely every other street in Addis Ababa. What is amazing to me is that those coffee shops are ALWAYS packed with people of all ages sipping and socializing NO matter what time of day it is. It’s a way of life. Even more so is the traditional coffee ceremony. Some folks do it once a day others twice. The coffee is brewed in a clay pot over charcoal and typically takes about an hour to brew. A young woman usually brews but all partake. While the coffee is brewing, the family is connecting and neighbors are invited over to truly be neighborly. I am an owner of such a clay pot and have now learned how to brew it the original way so if I ever settle down near one of you, you will be invited over for some coffee Ethiopian style.
The thing I enjoyed most about my time in Ethiopia was the simplicity of life. Despite poverty levels beyond what most Western folk can imagine, people take the time to enjoy each other. They have ceremonies and traditions like the ones mentioned above that ensure conversation and time are enjoyed organically. This I like much!
A very long time ago, Kaldi an Ethiopian goat herder was out grazing his goats. The goats stumbled upon a berry that gave them a sudden jolt of energy and made them dance funny i.e. it made them high. Kaldi suddenly curious also tried it. Apparently, Kaldi the goat herder also moonlighted as a monk. He introduced the other monks to this substance that kept his goats chipper. The monks used it to stay awake during their all night prayer vigils. Eastern traders on expeditions to Africa got wind of the new stimulant and a world-wide phenomenon was born – the coffee bean. Kaldi may be a thing of legend but Ethiopia claims and is given credit for the birthplace of coffee.
To this day coffee has special place in Ethiopian culture. There is a café serving up delicious Ethiopian style macchiato on likely every other street in Addis Ababa. What is amazing to me is that those coffee shops are ALWAYS packed with people of all ages sipping and socializing NO matter what time of day it is. It’s a way of life. Even more so is the traditional coffee ceremony. Some folks do it once a day others twice. The coffee is brewed in a clay pot over charcoal and typically takes about an hour to brew. A young woman usually brews but all partake. While the coffee is brewing, the family is connecting and neighbors are invited over to truly be neighborly. I am an owner of such a clay pot and have now learned how to brew it the original way so if I ever settle down near one of you, you will be invited over for some coffee Ethiopian style.
The thing I enjoyed most about my time in Ethiopia was the simplicity of life. Despite poverty levels beyond what most Western folk can imagine, people take the time to enjoy each other. They have ceremonies and traditions like the ones mentioned above that ensure conversation and time are enjoyed organically. This I like much!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
I want to see a miracle
I want to see one. Lately, I’ve come across quite a few things related to miracles whether it’s in my daily reading or someone I meet who happens to be talking about the topic. It happened again today… twice.
The first time, I was reading Acts 3. The story in brief - a man who was lame since birth was instantaneously healed. How? By faith. Jesus was not physically present but the healing was done in his name by people who believed that Jesus was God and that meant he had the power to heal. This type of stuff just doesn’t happen every day. Most people can’t say they’ve experienced a miracle and when they do we doubt them. I think this is why I want to see one. Because it defies logic and proves to me once again (most honest folks need a reminder every now and again) that there is a God and if he really is who he says he is he WILL on the regular defy human logic.
The second time, I was waiting for a meeting to start and opened up a devotional book to today's date. The entry just seemed so relevant that I wanted to share.
"It Defies Logic
Those who saw Jesus – really saw him – knew there was something different. At his touch blind beggars saw. At his command crippled legs walked. At his embrace empty lives filled with vision.
He fed thousands with one basket. He stilled storms with one command. He changed lives with one request. He rerouted the history of the world with one life, lived in one country, was born in one manger, and died on one hill….
God did what we wouldn’t dare dream. He did what we couldn’t imagine. He became a man so we could trust him. He became a sacrifice so we could know him. And he defeated death so we could follow him.
It defies logic. It is a divine insanity. A holy incredibility.
Only a Creator beyond the fence of logic could offer such a gift of love.“
From Grace for the Moment Volume 2 by Max Lucado
The first time, I was reading Acts 3. The story in brief - a man who was lame since birth was instantaneously healed. How? By faith. Jesus was not physically present but the healing was done in his name by people who believed that Jesus was God and that meant he had the power to heal. This type of stuff just doesn’t happen every day. Most people can’t say they’ve experienced a miracle and when they do we doubt them. I think this is why I want to see one. Because it defies logic and proves to me once again (most honest folks need a reminder every now and again) that there is a God and if he really is who he says he is he WILL on the regular defy human logic.
The second time, I was waiting for a meeting to start and opened up a devotional book to today's date. The entry just seemed so relevant that I wanted to share.
"It Defies Logic
Those who saw Jesus – really saw him – knew there was something different. At his touch blind beggars saw. At his command crippled legs walked. At his embrace empty lives filled with vision.
He fed thousands with one basket. He stilled storms with one command. He changed lives with one request. He rerouted the history of the world with one life, lived in one country, was born in one manger, and died on one hill….
God did what we wouldn’t dare dream. He did what we couldn’t imagine. He became a man so we could trust him. He became a sacrifice so we could know him. And he defeated death so we could follow him.
It defies logic. It is a divine insanity. A holy incredibility.
Only a Creator beyond the fence of logic could offer such a gift of love.“
From Grace for the Moment Volume 2 by Max Lucado
Monday, August 2, 2010
Commence blogging
So, I should have started this about 9 months ago but the non-technical portion of my brain was convinced a blog would be more effort than benefit. But I was wrong.
I figure this is the best way to answer the questions I get the most: where are you, what are you doing and why. Typically they come in that order. Rarely do I leave the person with a sufficient enough answer to remove the bewildered look on their face. Maybe I’ll do better when I get a series of shots to make my case…
Where – Entebbe, Uganda
What – I’m helping a couple here with their ministry which includes a church, a school from pre-K to grade 2 (they are adding a grade each new school year), a small farm whose produce goes to local widows, and a medical missions team that minister to 8 of the 40 or so islands on the Ugandan portion of Lake Victoria that house many of this society’s outcasts including those with AIDS.
Why – Time is precious; why not use it toward things that are worthy of your time. I think sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in words and action is that such thing… really the principal thing. So, why not?
I will try to use the next few entries to catch folks up on Ethiopia, Israel and the Wild West of North America (not really all that wild) before I share about Uganda.
I figure this is the best way to answer the questions I get the most: where are you, what are you doing and why. Typically they come in that order. Rarely do I leave the person with a sufficient enough answer to remove the bewildered look on their face. Maybe I’ll do better when I get a series of shots to make my case…
Where – Entebbe, Uganda
What – I’m helping a couple here with their ministry which includes a church, a school from pre-K to grade 2 (they are adding a grade each new school year), a small farm whose produce goes to local widows, and a medical missions team that minister to 8 of the 40 or so islands on the Ugandan portion of Lake Victoria that house many of this society’s outcasts including those with AIDS.
Why – Time is precious; why not use it toward things that are worthy of your time. I think sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in words and action is that such thing… really the principal thing. So, why not?
I will try to use the next few entries to catch folks up on Ethiopia, Israel and the Wild West of North America (not really all that wild) before I share about Uganda.
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