Monthly Archives: February 2009

after a busy day one yesterday, I have enjoyed several valuable conversations including a long wide ranging (as usual) with Doug of Vac.

On the train this morning, I reviewed some of the ideas from The Call by Os Guinness. This material I will present tonight at English Club. The best quote this morning that I read was from Solzhenitsyn’s The Oak and the Calf, “I have done many things in my life that conflicted with the great aims I had set myself  – and something has always set me on the true path again.” (Thanks Pastor Dan for reminding me of this excellent book by Guinness on this topic)  So, dear reader, I suggest that ALL of us consider the words of the Russian (?) novelist and dissident (was he a Christ follower? need research….) who, in this quote, wonders about the a “something” outside himself setting him on track… I believe this to be our Jesus who does care about the path we take and wishes to guide us toward that which He has called us. Please pray for good communicating tonight to one or two groups and tomorrow to a church… that my words will be intentional, of the correct vocab level and at at moderate pace for these, mostly second language hearers. And pray also for continued conversations which are important because they center on the conversant’s relationship with God. Sorry about no pix yet, I haven’t had enough wireless time to upload… maybe tonight? tomorrow? dunno yet.

Several prayers were answered already: I was in a two seat row which allowed me to rest quite well. This morning I enjoyed my fav German sausage and pretzel breakfast. The next blessing was to see Joanna and Lea. Dan & Mario, ‘m passing along your blessings. The goal for tonight is to stay up until 930pm to try to beat the jet lag!

I believe in prayer. So as I travel the next few days, I ask for your prayer.  For good connections between my three flights, for sleep on the plane tomorrow night, for good conversations with ministry partners, for clarity as I speak to a group of young men and women and two churches, for Sweet Anna in my absence, and finally for physical wellness as a lot sickness is going around here and I need to reamin well on the trip. Next post will be from the HeartLand.

P.S. about answered prayer… I’ve posted a new comment about Anne and Naomi since a conversation I had with Anne yesterday.

no, not that one, that’s too soon to count… gotta finish well, right Iren?

No, the countdown I’m talking about is that I am 48 hours, 10 minutes from check in at CHO for travels to the HeartLand! got the haircut, am bout packed and am gonna see Joanna and the rest of the crew… will be speaking about calling (what else) to three groups and having great fellowship with good friends… sleeping on couches, futons, planes, tains and automobiles… eating AMAZING food and taking in the views of Budapest as much as possible… (see above header pic)… so right now I’m packing in anticipation… had a great verse to wake up to, its posted on Twitter… look at link on right… you no twitter? you should…. countdown continues: 48 hours 7 minutes…

in the morning, first one awake

I am almost always first awake, always have been

in the quietness reading the Word

hearing His reminders, like:

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

which just came to life on the screen of my Palm

I am grateful for his assurance

I am thirsty for his Word

I am glad that His word is complete and His message sure

now I think of friends who do not read, do not hear

it makes me sad, because they do not enjoy

the depth that He offers

in the quiet of anytime

stop, listen, hear

His word in the quiet of the morning.

why not begin now? find a quiet spot, click here and read

A new music video from U2’s new album (out shortly) is available from an Irish newspaper. I am a U2 fan, loved U2 3D and might, maybe get to see it again a week from tonite… but I am an old guy. I love the music of U2 because most of it is socially responsible and provocative in a positive way. This video is just that, provocative. It seems, after three viewings, that this video returns to the important U2 theme of anti war… another theme seems to be to urge the recognition of one’s own beauty, and I may have totally missed that. The point I wish to make is that, in my opinion, the most provocative things are the images in the video not the lyric (I found the lyrics and put them in a comment)… some readers of this blog will most likely find some of the images troubling from the standpoint of violence and/or they are sexualy suggestive (I wonder what the PhD who wrote the paper thinks -see previous post) … so consider yourself warned… now just “Get On Your Boots” and click HERE — OH! BE SURE TO GO FULL SCREEN AND TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS!