A friend sent me a text today to invite me to break today's fast with him at a local mosque. It's a mosque I've been to quite a few times since I've been in London and I truly LOVE the Imam there. I had other tentative plans tonight but this was worth cancelling. If nothing else I would get to see this guy that makes me smile. So I met up with two friends tonight (both white, American followers of Jesus) and we set out for the mosque.
We are always treated like such kings when we are there. Tonight we were escorted to a room with blue tarps covering the floor, masses of fruit, plates if rice with lamb, and pink milk (yes, pink milk...infused with rose hip). We were shown a place to sit on the floor in this long row of men and we waited. We weren't sure what we were waiting for or if we would recognize it when it happened.
Men around us stared at one another. Some prayed. Few spoke. Then, with little warning the men began taking fruit and eating. Pouring the milk. Scooping rice up with the tips of their fingers and eating. So what else was there to do but join in. We all expected more conversation. We expected more community. But it was more like cattle at a trough. Each to himself making room for another to squeeze in. Shortly after beginning most began clearing up the rubbish and leaving the space. Within fifteen minutes of sitting down we were up again. The room was quickly cleared of the tarps and food. Then the call to prayer began.
As men hurriedly finished cleaning the dulsimer tones of our friend's voice rang over the speakers as he recited the evening prayers - half speaking and half singing. Rows of men formed, bowing in unison, kneeling together, mumbling prayers. And then it was finished. We found ourselves once again greeted by friendly faces curious as to why we had come but more than happy that we had.
We were invited to have a cup of tea and were then set down with plates of food, sweet and savory, cokes, and that pink milk. We gave a few brief introductions and a small crowd of ten or so men gathered around. Then an interesting thing happened. Even just come from the experience I can't remember how it all started but we found ourselves in deep, meaningful conversation about Jesus. Three Christians with fifteen or so Muslim men in a mosque during the heart of Ramadan. The most surprising bit? There was rarely a tinge of animosity or discord. Even when we heard or felt a hint of antagonism tongues were admitedly tamed. And so we went on for what must have been an hour and a half asking questions, listening, being asked questions, and speaking boldly and clearly about the hope that is found in Jesus, the Messiah, God in the flesh.
As I write this blog I'm listening to a track by David Crowder that holds so much truth in light of tonight's experience.
And the problem is this, we were bought with a kiss , but the cheek still turned even when it wasn't hit. And I don't know what to do with a love like that. And I don't know how to be a love like that. When all the love in the world is right here among us, and hatred too, so we must choose what our hands will do. Where there is pain let there be grace. Where there is suffering bring serenity. For those afraid help them be brave. Where there is missery bring expectancy. And surely we can change, surely we can change something.
And the problem it seems is with you and me, not the love who came to repair everything. And I don't know what to do with a love like that. And I don't know how to be a love like that. When all the love in the world is right among us and hatred too so we must choose what our hands will do. Where there is pain let us bring grace. Where there is suffering bring serenity. For those afraid let us be brave. Where there is missery let us bring them relief. And surely we can change, surely we can change, surely we can change something.
9.06.2009
Looking Back...
With only 39! days left before we board our flight back to the US, I have become quite reflective on the last two years. God has done SO MUCH! We have changed SO MUCH! In four months life will change SO MUCH! when Angie has our first child. Considering where we've been and where we are going, I thought I'd blog a bit over the next few weeks about some things that we've seen develop during our time in London.
One portion of the timeline:
Feb 2008: I (Chris) give a talk to a high school Christian club (TFG) and meet several teenagers (Ed, Lucy, Justina, Jenny, James...)
Feb 2008: I meet up with a local youth worker (Tom)
Mar 2008: We have three of these teenagers over for Tex-Mex (Lucy, Jenny, & James)
Mar 2008: I begin popping in on St. John's Youth Club (Tom's church)
Apr 2008: I am asked to help lead Year 10 TFG (with Lucy, Justina, Jenny, & James, among others)
May 2008: World Religions Tour for West London teenagers
Jun 2008: I have a conversation with Ed about evangelism
Jun 2008: Lucy and I talk about how to tell her best friend about her new faith in Jesus
Jun 2008: Ed decides to apply for a counselor position at a Christian camp
Jun 2008: We take Chris R. to Passion World Tour with us
Jul 2008: Jared & Luke lead worship for iGo week
Jul 2008: Ed leads a group of 11-14 year old boys at camp
Jul 2008: Lucy hangs out with our interns and brings her best friend along
Aug 2008: I take Jared to Soul Survivor summer camp
Aug 2008: Ed rings me for prayer while he's away on a boating trip
Sep 2008: Ed decides that he wants to give more of his life to God
..........
..........
..........
(skipping forward)
Jul 2009: Chris R., Luke, Jared, Hannah, Paul, Rebekah, Lizzy, and Adam lead worship for iGo weeks
Jul 2009: We begin to talk to these guys about doing mission in their city and around the world. Preliminary plans to journey with them to the States next summer to tell people about Jesus!
Aug 2009: Lucy and Justina decide that they want to help people at their school understand what it really means to be a Christian! Please pray for them and their friends as they try to make this a reality.
That's just one leg of the journey so far and not even all of that leg. We are on the verge of an awakening, no doubt. And I don't think it's just about this city, but about a generation. Or several generations. How cool is it to be a part of God's grande plan!
8.30.2009
Blossoming
If you haven't read the previous post, read it first.
God is real, alive, and changing lives. Oh how I long for everyone who reads this to be a part of something so beautiful!
This is Lucy's take on the week away last week. My heart skips every time I think about it.
From: Lucy Fishenden
Date: Sun, Aug 30, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Subject: GOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!!
So last week we went off to Dorset camping with 10 teenagers from the estate. After lots of prayer and support from friends the week came together - actually the easiest thing I have ever organised! God was amazing and had given me several visions whilst prayer walking the estate which he then confirmed with scripture that totally blew my mind and left me in a state of complete confidence this was his will. He showed me specific passages to look at during the week and the activities for the week looked such fun - praise God for his hand in EVERYTHING! It was probably the most exciting and fun holiday I have ever had with them and the atmosphere was constantly one of humour, unity, kindness and love for one another - God showed up!!!
To begin with we looked over all their points written down from previous discussions about what they would like this to look like so they really felt heard, valued and empowered that this would be theirs not anyone else's. Twice a day before eating together we had a session which was a bible passage, 5 questions and a discussion, each time with a different teenager leading. We started looking at what Jesus had said before he left his disciples and then moved on through the week to different bits in Acts - the right place to start as we were wondering what our expression of church would be - and it spoke to them so powerfully! I heard from a sermon just before I left "just hold Jesus up and He'll draw people to him" and as that happened it was the most exciting thing to watch. So freeing! They shared and discussed like I have never seen before, from the very first session Monday night too. It was amazing to watch as each person lead, shared and questioned how God was revealing himself to them and them to us - they are really incredible people!
The days were filled with horse riding (which they have been going on about for ages!), swimming in pool and sea, star gazing, night walks through woods, a water park, a day at Longleat, spontaneous river walking(!!!), BBQ's, picnic lunches, pub meals with pool tables and skittles and lots of laughter! It was living with each other for 5 days and sharing all the ups and downs with each person as we shared bits of our lives together. Because of the group that we took as leaders we could relax so much more, knowing they respected us and would be responsible together gave them so much more freedom and the trust given was out to them was returned. The relationships took on a whole new meaning. Some of them I have know for the whole three yrs of being at the estate and so now we really are beginning to feel like family which I just can't describe to you how wonderful that feels.
God moved in each of them so much during the week that even those who have not committed their lives to Jesus yet were close and those who had were really challenged by what they read in the bible about the commitment they had made and how it was not having an impact in their lives let alone other peoples. I heard some of them talking to each other too and they were really thinking deeply over it all.
Each session we prayed too, whether it was for each other or thanking God for who he was and his incredible creation that we were all enjoying so much. Another idea was to listen to God for a name for this group so I encouraged and prepared them a couple of days in advance and then on the last day we took a picnic onto a hill that has the best view of Dorset - it was quite spectacular. The only thing was the rain was seriously threatening! In youth language we 'firmed it' getting a bit wet but praying God would give us favour on our last day. We did our usual reading and discussing and then began to listen for a name. First there was a picture of a photo album which spoke of family, then a picture of birds flying on a formation of a sword, then a pillow that this group would be a place of physical and spiritual rest and safety and then one of the boys who has been furthest away said "I get the words the circle" and another said "what did you say?" He had the same words and you should have seen them all! So we asked God if there was anything else and one by one they owned "The Circle" giving reason after reason for it! Then one of the boys said look up and as we did we all laughed and gasped because what was a stormy rainy sky had become a complete circle of clear blue sky above us with all the clouds perfectly held back - if you drew a circle you would not have got closer to what we saw above us! It was phenomenal! So we decided we would claim Gods name for our group by standing up in a circle holding hands thanking him for the name, the sky, all our pictures, our time together and everything we could! As we stood their one of them laughed and said "there's twelve of us!" (one had stayed in the van having a slight strop so we decided to leave her their!!!) As we all looked at each other in this circle the joy was indescribably - God had spoken to them so powerfully and they were excited about him for the first time ever! Then we ate together and remembered all Jesus has done for us and after our last picnic we ran around like mad things rolling down the hill in utter excitement!
When I woke up at home the following day I checked facebook to see what they were all saying and I had been invited to this group!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TheCircle
Type:
Organizations - Religious OrganizationsDate: Sun, Aug 30, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Subject: GOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!!
So last week we went off to Dorset camping with 10 teenagers from the estate. After lots of prayer and support from friends the week came together - actually the easiest thing I have ever organised! God was amazing and had given me several visions whilst prayer walking the estate which he then confirmed with scripture that totally blew my mind and left me in a state of complete confidence this was his will. He showed me specific passages to look at during the week and the activities for the week looked such fun - praise God for his hand in EVERYTHING! It was probably the most exciting and fun holiday I have ever had with them and the atmosphere was constantly one of humour, unity, kindness and love for one another - God showed up!!!
To begin with we looked over all their points written down from previous discussions about what they would like this to look like so they really felt heard, valued and empowered that this would be theirs not anyone else's. Twice a day before eating together we had a session which was a bible passage, 5 questions and a discussion, each time with a different teenager leading. We started looking at what Jesus had said before he left his disciples and then moved on through the week to different bits in Acts - the right place to start as we were wondering what our expression of church would be - and it spoke to them so powerfully! I heard from a sermon just before I left "just hold Jesus up and He'll draw people to him" and as that happened it was the most exciting thing to watch. So freeing! They shared and discussed like I have never seen before, from the very first session Monday night too. It was amazing to watch as each person lead, shared and questioned how God was revealing himself to them and them to us - they are really incredible people!
The days were filled with horse riding (which they have been going on about for ages!), swimming in pool and sea, star gazing, night walks through woods, a water park, a day at Longleat, spontaneous river walking(!!!), BBQ's, picnic lunches, pub meals with pool tables and skittles and lots of laughter! It was living with each other for 5 days and sharing all the ups and downs with each person as we shared bits of our lives together. Because of the group that we took as leaders we could relax so much more, knowing they respected us and would be responsible together gave them so much more freedom and the trust given was out to them was returned. The relationships took on a whole new meaning. Some of them I have know for the whole three yrs of being at the estate and so now we really are beginning to feel like family which I just can't describe to you how wonderful that feels.
God moved in each of them so much during the week that even those who have not committed their lives to Jesus yet were close and those who had were really challenged by what they read in the bible about the commitment they had made and how it was not having an impact in their lives let alone other peoples. I heard some of them talking to each other too and they were really thinking deeply over it all.
Each session we prayed too, whether it was for each other or thanking God for who he was and his incredible creation that we were all enjoying so much. Another idea was to listen to God for a name for this group so I encouraged and prepared them a couple of days in advance and then on the last day we took a picnic onto a hill that has the best view of Dorset - it was quite spectacular. The only thing was the rain was seriously threatening! In youth language we 'firmed it' getting a bit wet but praying God would give us favour on our last day. We did our usual reading and discussing and then began to listen for a name. First there was a picture of a photo album which spoke of family, then a picture of birds flying on a formation of a sword, then a pillow that this group would be a place of physical and spiritual rest and safety and then one of the boys who has been furthest away said "I get the words the circle" and another said "what did you say?" He had the same words and you should have seen them all! So we asked God if there was anything else and one by one they owned "The Circle" giving reason after reason for it! Then one of the boys said look up and as we did we all laughed and gasped because what was a stormy rainy sky had become a complete circle of clear blue sky above us with all the clouds perfectly held back - if you drew a circle you would not have got closer to what we saw above us! It was phenomenal! So we decided we would claim Gods name for our group by standing up in a circle holding hands thanking him for the name, the sky, all our pictures, our time together and everything we could! As we stood their one of them laughed and said "there's twelve of us!" (one had stayed in the van having a slight strop so we decided to leave her their!!!) As we all looked at each other in this circle the joy was indescribably - God had spoken to them so powerfully and they were excited about him for the first time ever! Then we ate together and remembered all Jesus has done for us and after our last picnic we ran around like mad things rolling down the hill in utter excitement!
When I woke up at home the following day I checked facebook to see what they were all saying and I had been invited to this group!!!
------------------------------
TheCircle
Type:
This is A Group For The People At THe Trust.
During Our Week Away At Dorset We Done Loads Of Fun Activites And CHilled Out N Relaxed With Each other.
we Had Talks About Our Religous Views And Gained Alot Out of them.
We Created the name THe Circle As God Has CHosen That For us. We Were Sitting In a Field and George Thought of circle for a strange reason. then there were hints.
We Were all in a circle
we were having out last picNic.(LAST SUPPER)
there Were 12 of us at the time(12 APOSTLES)
and we were in a circle of sunshine surrounded by clouds.
cant get any more real than that.
we plan to meet everyweek and have lil talks about whatever and everything.
i hope you all are interested and you will join.
On Behalf of The Circle And The Trust!
Like he said "you can't get more real that that!" The whole thing is mind blowing - Praise God! Thank you for all your prayers, I hope you get excited reading this!
One thing is for sure though, the enemy will not like it - we will need even more prayer covering right now.
*Specifically for our physical safety - I am not sure why I feel that is so important but I do!
*Pray for all these seeds to be watered and protected from the destroyer
*Pray for unity, love, joy and a connectedness between us all
*Pray for further vision, clarity, wisdom as we move forward
*And for Gods Kingdom to come in our lives and then for us to have an impact on our society
I also want to cover it all in thanks continually! This is God's work, his moving, his doing and his GLORY. Thanks for being on this prayer list I value you all hugely. May you all be blessed and experience his goodness today!
Lots of love Lucy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
New Church
I don't know that I've ever been more excited about something than this. We seem to have stumbled into the path of God and I find myself watching this beautiful part of creation unfold with more beauty than a blossiming flower or newborn baby. I don't think my words can even begin to capture the excitement so I am posting a message from my friend who is deeper in the heart of this than I am.
From: Lucy Fishenden
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 2:18 PM
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 2:18 PM
Subject: Another trip!
Dear All,
From some amazing conversations at and after Focus we are launching something that will be an expression of church with the young people. They say they want to start something different and come together to explore what church is for them. Church is boring and dull and they really do not want to go - but they do want to know this Jesus we keep speaking about! This is really exciting but pretty nerve wracking too, I feel I can't see a step further than I am taking right now! We would all love your prayers!
This is not just a another small group or mid-week gathering of youth and us to lead it, it's about being church with them all through the week. All through the years. The early Christians met daily, they shared their lives with one another and practiced what it really meant to be followers of Christ together. We want to practice with them. Doing life together praying about where we all put our tithe - our sacrifice, in the pot and pray where were it should go. What's in my fridge belongs to you. When one of them wants to talk till 4pm, you do it. Eating together and sharing ideas, stories, pain and laughter. Wrestling with God's word together and sharing it bravely with others at whatever cost to us.
I feel this is something precious and fragile and have seen what happens when you get it wrong. I have spent three years trying to do something like this and all groups have never really had any life in them. These young people are now saying they want to do something different, try church their style whatever that looks like - figuring it out together. Not us planting or superimposing what we know onto a new group or leading them to where we are or where we want or think they should be. And we are not their culture, we can try and get in it as much as possible and join in the journey but fundamentally we are participating in a glorious thing God is and will do. Our role is not to lead - we don't know where it is going! But to walk with them whilst they discover their expression of church within their culture and praying praying praying. Praying God would release his gifts wildly among them, praying for the leaders of the group to emerge, praying Jesus would dwell among us and teach us how to follow him together, praying we would see his kingdom come in our lives and in the lives of those around us, praying God would do the unimaginable within us - that he would set our hearts on fire for his cause and that love would flow crazily between us like the most incredible family ever seen. Praying this estate would catch that flame and be changed dramatically, radically and permanently. Sound familiar?!
This is life with these young people, we want them to know they fit into a body, that they are becoming part of that body - our disciples look pretty unusual too! They don't naturally fit into what we know of as church but they do fit into Church. Somewhere somehow there will be a connection - we are all the body. But for these rough, unique teenagers church is not appealing so we need to figure something out - Jesus did it. They will challenge what we think we know and they can take this somewhere we don't and can't.
I am hanging to God like nothing else right now - I don't know where this is or will go but I see where it could go and that is the vision - an army of young people passionately pursuing Jesus and transforming their own community. Please do pray for wisdom, bucket loads of it!
We launch this new idea with a holiday with 12 of them - funny that! We are going camping and doing all sorts of fun things. Do pray that it is a blessing and that God uses this to start us all off on the right track giving each of us a chance to explore our gifts and talents.
Any ideas, points, wisdom any of you may have I would LOVE to hear!
THANKYOU! Big blessings to you all x
Love Lucy xxx
Dear All,
From some amazing conversations at and after Focus we are launching something that will be an expression of church with the young people. They say they want to start something different and come together to explore what church is for them. Church is boring and dull and they really do not want to go - but they do want to know this Jesus we keep speaking about! This is really exciting but pretty nerve wracking too, I feel I can't see a step further than I am taking right now! We would all love your prayers!
This is not just a another small group or mid-week gathering of youth and us to lead it, it's about being church with them all through the week. All through the years. The early Christians met daily, they shared their lives with one another and practiced what it really meant to be followers of Christ together. We want to practice with them. Doing life together praying about where we all put our tithe - our sacrifice, in the pot and pray where were it should go. What's in my fridge belongs to you. When one of them wants to talk till 4pm, you do it. Eating together and sharing ideas, stories, pain and laughter. Wrestling with God's word together and sharing it bravely with others at whatever cost to us.
I feel this is something precious and fragile and have seen what happens when you get it wrong. I have spent three years trying to do something like this and all groups have never really had any life in them. These young people are now saying they want to do something different, try church their style whatever that looks like - figuring it out together. Not us planting or superimposing what we know onto a new group or leading them to where we are or where we want or think they should be. And we are not their culture, we can try and get in it as much as possible and join in the journey but fundamentally we are participating in a glorious thing God is and will do. Our role is not to lead - we don't know where it is going! But to walk with them whilst they discover their expression of church within their culture and praying praying praying. Praying God would release his gifts wildly among them, praying for the leaders of the group to emerge, praying Jesus would dwell among us and teach us how to follow him together, praying we would see his kingdom come in our lives and in the lives of those around us, praying God would do the unimaginable within us - that he would set our hearts on fire for his cause and that love would flow crazily between us like the most incredible family ever seen. Praying this estate would catch that flame and be changed dramatically, radically and permanently. Sound familiar?!
This is life with these young people, we want them to know they fit into a body, that they are becoming part of that body - our disciples look pretty unusual too! They don't naturally fit into what we know of as church but they do fit into Church. Somewhere somehow there will be a connection - we are all the body. But for these rough, unique teenagers church is not appealing so we need to figure something out - Jesus did it. They will challenge what we think we know and they can take this somewhere we don't and can't.
I am hanging to God like nothing else right now - I don't know where this is or will go but I see where it could go and that is the vision - an army of young people passionately pursuing Jesus and transforming their own community. Please do pray for wisdom, bucket loads of it!
We launch this new idea with a holiday with 12 of them - funny that! We are going camping and doing all sorts of fun things. Do pray that it is a blessing and that God uses this to start us all off on the right track giving each of us a chance to explore our gifts and talents.
Any ideas, points, wisdom any of you may have I would LOVE to hear!
THANKYOU! Big blessings to you all x
Love Lucy xxx
6.27.2009
My Response
I was sent this video today and thought I'd share my perspective. Post a comment with your thoughts if you'd like to have a conversation on it.
I wouldn't argue the numbers in the video at all. Without looking anything up, they sound about right. But the whole video troubles me. There's so much emphasis on keeping a culture, as if the West is God's culture. Christianity is not a culture. Yes, it should impact and influence culture, but the culture of the Old Testament was VERY different than the culture of Jesus day, which is even more different than today's Western culture. In fact, most Muslim cultures are closer to that of Jesus time than our American or European cultures.
The statistics in this video should not be threatening. They should be exciting! What does all of this really mean? We live in a segregated world with hostility towards those that are different than us. Even this video conveys hostility in some sense. It seems to say that Christianity needs to conquer Islam. The same is true on the other side of the fence. There are Islamic states that are hostile towards the West (mainly because they falsely associate Christianity with the West). Followers of Jesus cannot enter these countries without fear for their life. But look what God is doing. We don't have to go into those countries because the people from those parts of the world are coming to us. We have an AMAZING opportunity to share true hope, true love with people who otherwise may never have an opportunity to hear, simply because they are moving into Western Europe!
As Americans who follow Jesus, we MUST stop viewing the world through our cultural lenses and find the heart of God. There is no place on earth even remotely like the US. There is currently NO culture as rooted and close to Christian morality and rhetoric. In the video he compares population growth in Southern France, "traditionally one of the most populated church regions in the world" with the growth of Islam. But it isn't said that Christianity is NOT the majority faith in France and has not been for some time. That's not because other faiths are growing so rapidly, it's because Christianity is dying off. I have been told by people who would know that less than 2% of the French population are followers of Jesus. The predominant worldview in both France and Britain is secularism - NOT CHRISTIANITY!
A friend of mine said something profound yesterday, "Ignorance breeds hatred." The vast majority of Americans are ignorant about the rest of the world. I was walking down the street in London yesterday with some American university students who thought these men we passed were Muslim but in reality they are Sikh, a completely different faith (and nothing against these friends. It's simply a lack of exposure). American media lumps all Muslims into one category, but in reality, the Muslim faith hinges around the culture of the nation. In 1987 the Turkish, Muslim government issued a regulation forbidding female university students from covering their head in class. Somali's from the north of the country consider themselves African before they are Muslim. I have heard an Imam (Muslim priest) say that he believes Christians and Jews to be his brothers in faith more so than some other Muslim sects. I would venture to say that there are more divisions within Islam than there are Christian denominations, and they vary much more drastically.
The American church so often speaks out of ignorance rather than love, and it doesn't do any good for those of us trying to help people find their way to Jesus. Followers of Jesus MUST stop speaking from an American, conquering worldview and have broken hearts for the souls of men. "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died" (2 Cor 5:14). Jesus said that I have to lose my life in order to gain it. That means that my own perspective on the world has to die.
Yesterday I stood in a Hindu temple while 100 people worshiped their idols, and I prayed for them, and I had a conversation with one man about Jesus. In a mosque with 50 boys studying the Koran, I sat next to a Muslim man and we talked about Jesus. Two weeks ago, a lady dared to step into a Sikh Gurdwara, out of her comfort zone, and found herself in conversation with a Sikh woman talking about Jesus. This woman put her faith in the one true God that day.
I would encourage followers of Jesus in the US to stop fighting against trends like those presented in this video and start loving people. Stop focusing on other religious groups and be in lives. Stop talking about things that we haven't experienced and share what we have experienced - God's amazing love! Go to a Hindu Temple, Sikh Gurdwara, Islamic Mosque and talk to people because "Christ's LOVE compels us", not because we are going to conquer these people. The vast majority of the American population would have to travel up to several hours to get to their nearest place of worship from one of these faiths, but isn't the story of God's love for people worth it?
If you can't tell, this hits one of my buttons. I could go on and on, but I'll stop for now. Maybe you can help to create change in your part of the world.
5.06.2009
Because I haven't blogged in AGES!
Funny story...Yes, this is true. I actually experienced it with my own eyes and ears.
I was in the States a few weeks ago for a short few days. On my return flight, I was bumped up to first class (I know, suffer). After just a few minutes I concluded that this couple across from me (with their son and his wife sitting behind them) MUST have been from Oklahoma (ok, I will concede that they could have been from Texas, but I don't want to believe it). They took some time to settle in and fiddle with the chair levers and t.v. as if they had never before flown. Then, they took out the little flight bag that we were given. The son (probably in his early 20's) leaned forward to his dad and said, "I bet you can't guess what's in the bag without opening it." He felt around and listed a few items, but soon came across an item that utterly baffled him. He thought for a bit and then said to his son, "Is that what I think it is?" Feeling from the outside, they were positive that it was a tampon. It was a toothbrush. SO funny!
I was in the States a few weeks ago for a short few days. On my return flight, I was bumped up to first class (I know, suffer). After just a few minutes I concluded that this couple across from me (with their son and his wife sitting behind them) MUST have been from Oklahoma (ok, I will concede that they could have been from Texas, but I don't want to believe it). They took some time to settle in and fiddle with the chair levers and t.v. as if they had never before flown. Then, they took out the little flight bag that we were given. The son (probably in his early 20's) leaned forward to his dad and said, "I bet you can't guess what's in the bag without opening it." He felt around and listed a few items, but soon came across an item that utterly baffled him. He thought for a bit and then said to his son, "Is that what I think it is?" Feeling from the outside, they were positive that it was a tampon. It was a toothbrush. SO funny!
3.31.2009
Bees
One thing we have noticed since being here in jolly old England is the lack of bugs. That's (obviously) not to say that there are NO bugs but they are few and far between. Especially the flying ones. Well, we certainly saw a flying one tonight. I'm sitting here at the table on my computer and Chris is on the couch on his computer and he says, did you hear that noise? I didn't. Then a few seconds later he says, there it is again! He said it was a strange humming sound. Then he jumped up off the couch, freaking me out, and went to the other side of the room. So the noise turned out to be.....
A giant bumble bee! It was flying around a bit and then landed on top of the bookshelf and just sat there for a while. We were trying to figure out what to do: kill it or try to shoo it out the window. We didn't have a fly swatter; I suggested spraying it with hairspray, but Chris said he didn't want to kill it just try to make it leave. Then he got an idea and came back with these:
He came back with what our old shower curtain rod and a tennis racket (in its case). First he used the tennis racket to swing hard right by the bee hoping to blow it or scare it or something and that wasn't working. So he tried poking it with the curain rod but it didn't move! After a few minutes longer Chris decided he wasn't so concerned if the bee died or not. So then he had it cornered against the wall and decided to use the rod to smash him up against it. After a few extra pokes just to make sure, the bee lay dead on the floor. Even though I knew it was dead I still approached rather timidly to get this shot:
It probably doesn't come across in the picture but that bee was so huge! So after all that Chris asked if I would pick it up off the floor! Which was fine - I would rather be the one to pick it up off the floor than be the one to try and kill it. Anyway, fun times at the Lynch's.
A giant bumble bee! It was flying around a bit and then landed on top of the bookshelf and just sat there for a while. We were trying to figure out what to do: kill it or try to shoo it out the window. We didn't have a fly swatter; I suggested spraying it with hairspray, but Chris said he didn't want to kill it just try to make it leave. Then he got an idea and came back with these:
He came back with what our old shower curtain rod and a tennis racket (in its case). First he used the tennis racket to swing hard right by the bee hoping to blow it or scare it or something and that wasn't working. So he tried poking it with the curain rod but it didn't move! After a few minutes longer Chris decided he wasn't so concerned if the bee died or not. So then he had it cornered against the wall and decided to use the rod to smash him up against it. After a few extra pokes just to make sure, the bee lay dead on the floor. Even though I knew it was dead I still approached rather timidly to get this shot:
It probably doesn't come across in the picture but that bee was so huge! So after all that Chris asked if I would pick it up off the floor! Which was fine - I would rather be the one to pick it up off the floor than be the one to try and kill it. Anyway, fun times at the Lynch's.
2.20.2009
Bring on the Vitamin D
The sun was shining today. I realize that for most people this is not the most exciting piece of news you've ever heard. But on a winter day in England this is a momentous occasion. As I walked to a cafe this morning to meet Chris for lunch, not even needing my jacket, my spirits were lifted by the presence of the sun unhindered for once by the clouds. There is a couple with our company looking at coming to London. They've been in Scotland and the husband became very ill by what turned out to be a severe Vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sunlight. So obviously it can be a very serious problem. We were told recently by our supervisors that we both looked really pale. I believe it. I look back at pictures of us before we came here and it's crazy how tan we looked! I look at myself now and you'd think my skin had never seen the sun before. It's easy to find yourself feeling down during these gloomy winter months. But on a rare winter day like today when the sun is out for more than five minutes I say, bring on the Vitamin D!
2.08.2009
Snow Day
So Monday we had an unusual day here in London. Starting from about Saturday the weather forecast kept saying that the "Russian Snow" was coming. So on Monday morning we woke up to more snow than London had seen in 18 years. It actually started the night before so I went just outside our flat and made a snowball and brought it in to show our friend who was staying with us. In honor of the Russian snow she affectionately named our snowball Vladamir. London isn't exactly a city with snowplows waiting at the ready so the city basically shut down on Monday. Schools were closed, most people didn't go to work, and public transport wasn't running. We walked over to our supervisor's house via the golf course to play in the snow. There were loads of kids out playing and building snowmen. For those who are used to such snows I know this isn't a big story, but it is quite uncommon for us Texas folk! Here are some pictures from our snow day.
me outside our flat with a snowball
looking at our flat (we're on the left)
looking out and to the left of our flat
this is the golf course - really!
playing with my camera, taking fun photos
Chris making the head for the snowman
playing again
Vladamir the snowman sitting on the couch
me outside our flat with a snowball
looking at our flat (we're on the left)
looking out and to the left of our flat
this is the golf course - really!
playing with my camera, taking fun photos
Chris making the head for the snowman
playing again
Vladamir the snowman sitting on the couch
1.15.2009
A conversation about a bus.
If you read our recent prayer updates, then you have definitely heard about the atheist bus advertisements in London. Well, a few days after I posted that update I read that a Christian organisation in England has submitted a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority with a demand that the adverts be removed. (read the article here)
Well, in abnormal fashion, I decided to email the organisation to understand why they might take this step. Below is our correspondence (slightly edited for time sake). Thought you might be interested.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Chris
To: Christian Voice
To whom it may concern,
I just read an article on the BBC online about a complaint your organisation made to the ASA about the public transport adverts unveiled on 6 Jan that say "There's probably no God." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7818980.stm )
I have a question and a quick statement:
What do you hope to accomplish with this complaint and how does it increase the glory of God in Britain?
I have spoken with or heard of no less than half a dozen followers of Jesus who have already had positive conversations about God with people not following Jesus solely because of this advertisement campaign. Personally, I am extremely excited about the potential of these adverts to prompt people to think about God. But followers of Jesus MUST respond as Jesus would to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with people who normally don't give the subject much mind. We must listen intently and ask probing questions that provide a canvas on which we can display God's love found in Jesus. I had a conversation with a teenager a few days ago who has seen this potential and taken advantage of the opportunity. He and a mate saw one of the adverts and he just started asking questions of this atheist friend. In the end, his friend was a bit more accepting of the potential for God's existence.
Can God not use what was meant for harm to bring glory to His name? I hope that you do not take this as an attack on you. By no means is it meant that way. I simply hope that the followers of Christ in Britain will take every opportunity to bring glory to the name of Christ.
God bless...
---------------------------------------------------------------
From: Christian Voice
To: Chris
Yours sincerely...
---------------------------------------------------------------
From: Chris
To: Christian Voice
First, please do not hear me to be "upset". I simply hope to have a conversation with a brother and, hopefully, learn from each other.
Both the story of Solomon and John 8:44 are in the context of those who already profess to follow the One God. Scripture is very clear from beginning to end that we are ALL "wicked" and can ONLY overcome that wickedness through faith (since Jesus' resurrection, in Him). I won't quote the scriptures because I'm confident that you know them. I can't recall a single moment which Jesus spoke against Caesar or the Roman government. And by this time Caesar considered himself god. I can't recall a single time that Jesus rebuked a group outside of the Jews. If you can think of one, please share. But for the most part, Jesus only spoke to the Jews (or those closely related), so...
Let's look at Paul for a bit. In Acts 17 we find him in Athens. As I'm sure you are well aware, he looks around and sees the city full of idols. We don't know exactly what the ensuing conversations entailed, first with the Jews and worshipers of God, then with people in the marketplace and philosophers. But we do know that he was "telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection." The next part is the interesting bit. He is taken to the Areopagus to argue his point. There are several views on the function of the Areopagus at this time, but it suffices to say here that they were a recognised council who were looked to for wisdom and discernment. Presumedly, this would be the time when Paul would make a case for the important things. Under the supposition of your response, Paul should have taken this opportunity to request the removal of the idols from the city. But he doesn't. Instead, he uses the idols as a platform to communicate the truth. And even to the end of his dissertation in Athens, we have no record of him even mentioning the removal of these idols.
So, no, i do not believe that Jesus would have taken the time to speak against this untruthful ad. I believe that He would have taken every opportunity to love people and share the truth with people (not entities).
Well, in abnormal fashion, I decided to email the organisation to understand why they might take this step. Below is our correspondence (slightly edited for time sake). Thought you might be interested.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Chris
To: Christian Voice
To whom it may concern,
I just read an article on the BBC online about a complaint your organisation made to the ASA about the public transport adverts unveiled on 6 Jan that say "There's probably no God." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/
I have a question and a quick statement:
What do you hope to accomplish with this complaint and how does it increase the glory of God in Britain?
I have spoken with or heard of no less than half a dozen followers of Jesus who have already had positive conversations about God with people not following Jesus solely because of this advertisement campaign. Personally, I am extremely excited about the potential of these adverts to prompt people to think about God. But followers of Jesus MUST respond as Jesus would to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with people who normally don't give the subject much mind. We must listen intently and ask probing questions that provide a canvas on which we can display God's love found in Jesus. I had a conversation with a teenager a few days ago who has seen this potential and taken advantage of the opportunity. He and a mate saw one of the adverts and he just started asking questions of this atheist friend. In the end, his friend was a bit more accepting of the potential for God's existence.
Can God not use what was meant for harm to bring glory to His name? I hope that you do not take this as an attack on you. By no means is it meant that way. I simply hope that the followers of Christ in Britain will take every opportunity to bring glory to the name of Christ.
God bless...
---------------------------------------------------------------
From: Christian Voice
To: Chris
Hi Chris,
Greeting to you in our Lord's precious name.
I don't know why you are so upset at my reporting the bus adverts to the ASA on grounds of substantiation and truth.
It's really good that conversations have started because of them, but that does not mean Christians should excuse wickedness because some good has come of it. Does Solomon's birth excuse David's adultery?
Read John 7:7 and 8:44 and then tell me that Jesus would not have spoken against this untruthful ad!
---------------------------------------------------------------
From: Chris
To: Christian Voice
First, please do not hear me to be "upset". I simply hope to have a conversation with a brother and, hopefully, learn from each other.
Both the story of Solomon and John 8:44 are in the context of those who already profess to follow the One God. Scripture is very clear from beginning to end that we are ALL "wicked" and can ONLY overcome that wickedness through faith (since Jesus' resurrection, in Him). I won't quote the scriptures because I'm confident that you know them. I can't recall a single moment which Jesus spoke against Caesar or the Roman government. And by this time Caesar considered himself god. I can't recall a single time that Jesus rebuked a group outside of the Jews. If you can think of one, please share. But for the most part, Jesus only spoke to the Jews (or those closely related), so...
Let's look at Paul for a bit. In Acts 17 we find him in Athens. As I'm sure you are well aware, he looks around and sees the city full of idols. We don't know exactly what the ensuing conversations entailed, first with the Jews and worshipers of God, then with people in the marketplace and philosophers. But we do know that he was "telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection." The next part is the interesting bit. He is taken to the Areopagus to argue his point. There are several views on the function of the Areopagus at this time, but it suffices to say here that they were a recognised council who were looked to for wisdom and discernment. Presumedly, this would be the time when Paul would make a case for the important things. Under the supposition of your response, Paul should have taken this opportunity to request the removal of the idols from the city. But he doesn't. Instead, he uses the idols as a platform to communicate the truth. And even to the end of his dissertation in Athens, we have no record of him even mentioning the removal of these idols.
So, no, i do not believe that Jesus would have taken the time to speak against this untruthful ad. I believe that He would have taken every opportunity to love people and share the truth with people (not entities).
1.07.2009
Update
So apparently we are not doing so great at updating this. Perhaps because we get busy. Perhaps because we don't feel we have anything interesting to say - on a regular basis anyway. But I thought I would take this opportunity to write while I sit here drinking my tea trying to stay warm. We had a great Christmas although it felt a bit strange, being our first one with no family. We made an American breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and buscuits and gravy. It was so good! Chris and I had gotten each other gifts so we opened those in the morning while we waited for our families in Texas to wake up.
Chris got an ipod touch, a new scarf, and some su doku books. I got a new ipod and tickets to Royal Albert Hall where they will show the first Lord of the Rings movie with the musical score being played live by the London Philharmonic. Then we started one of my new traditions:
That's right - we watched a Charlie Brown Christmas! I was probably more excited about it than Chris was, but whatever. Then we skyped with our families and opened our gifts from them which was kind of an odd experience, but it worked and it was better than not seeing them at all! So here are some skype pictures:
This is my side of the family: aunt and uncle on the left, granny in the middle, mom and dad on the right, and brother up top.
Mom wearing her Christmas hat while my brother looks on.
Chris with his brother and sister-in-law, Philip and Lacey, and his sister Amber's little boy.
Chris' sister and brother-in-law, Joe and Amber, and their little boy, Ciro.
So we had a really great Christmas and made some great memories. Chris was in Portugal over New Year's Eve, but I watched the countdown on BBC.
So now as we begin the new year, this is the calm before the....well, not storm exactly, but a busy time anyway. We have two interns coming later this month for six months who will be working with us and Chris will also be getting ready for another busy summer. Next Thursday I will start attending a photography class that I am really excited about. It's something I've wanted to do for a while and will give me great opportunities to meet people and hopefully share Christ into their lives. That part makes me a little anxious, knowing that I have a bigger purpose in mind. But it's good to get outside our comfort zones even if it's not always comfortable. So that's what we've been up to and we appreciate your prayers as we continue to speak Jesus into lives here in London.
Chris got an ipod touch, a new scarf, and some su doku books. I got a new ipod and tickets to Royal Albert Hall where they will show the first Lord of the Rings movie with the musical score being played live by the London Philharmonic. Then we started one of my new traditions:
That's right - we watched a Charlie Brown Christmas! I was probably more excited about it than Chris was, but whatever. Then we skyped with our families and opened our gifts from them which was kind of an odd experience, but it worked and it was better than not seeing them at all! So here are some skype pictures:
This is my side of the family: aunt and uncle on the left, granny in the middle, mom and dad on the right, and brother up top.
Mom wearing her Christmas hat while my brother looks on.
Chris with his brother and sister-in-law, Philip and Lacey, and his sister Amber's little boy.
Chris' sister and brother-in-law, Joe and Amber, and their little boy, Ciro.So we had a really great Christmas and made some great memories. Chris was in Portugal over New Year's Eve, but I watched the countdown on BBC.
So now as we begin the new year, this is the calm before the....well, not storm exactly, but a busy time anyway. We have two interns coming later this month for six months who will be working with us and Chris will also be getting ready for another busy summer. Next Thursday I will start attending a photography class that I am really excited about. It's something I've wanted to do for a while and will give me great opportunities to meet people and hopefully share Christ into their lives. That part makes me a little anxious, knowing that I have a bigger purpose in mind. But it's good to get outside our comfort zones even if it's not always comfortable. So that's what we've been up to and we appreciate your prayers as we continue to speak Jesus into lives here in London.
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