pühapäev, veebruar 27, 2005
Chris at Camp Loksa
Here are some photos of Chris at Camp Loksa, when he was there with the Mission Team in January. The first two pictures have Chris in them.
He is there this weekend with the Kolgata Baptist Church youth group, and we really miss him!
Evelyn
He is there this weekend with the Kolgata Baptist Church youth group, and we really miss him!
Evelyn
laupäev, veebruar 26, 2005
Noortekodu
What a day! We had a group of eight young people come from the Kopli Corps in Tallin to do a program at the noortekodu (childrens home) where we have been hoping to work more closely. We thought having the group come might help to open the door for the Army to do more work there in the future. That goal was definitely accomplished!
The Kopli group did drama, dance, singing, games and crafts. There were around 25 kids there and at first they sat there quietly and not getting too involved; I think they were unsure what to make of us. But after a short while they really opened up and got into the activities. The Kopli kids interacted well with the children and there was no barrier between them. They threw themselves into learning a dance, had fun squishing home made clay in their hands as they made pencil holders and cheered each other on in the games. It was a great demonstration of God's love in action. The photos below show some of what went on (click on the picture to view a bigger copy).
I spoke with the director about the possibility of me and Evelyn doing something with the children there on a regular basis and she told me that they could really use some activities on Friday afternoons. That is an open door we want to step through!
Christopher is enjoying himself at the youth retreat, although he SMSed me saying, "I'm convinced that porridge and bread with sardines is the wierdest breakfast I've ever heard of." We are so glad he is having this opportunity.
It's days like these that leave me excited, encouraged and wondering what great things God may have in store for us next.
--Tim
Tonight we pray for Evelyn's nephew, David Smith, who is serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq.
The Kopli group did drama, dance, singing, games and crafts. There were around 25 kids there and at first they sat there quietly and not getting too involved; I think they were unsure what to make of us. But after a short while they really opened up and got into the activities. The Kopli kids interacted well with the children and there was no barrier between them. They threw themselves into learning a dance, had fun squishing home made clay in their hands as they made pencil holders and cheered each other on in the games. It was a great demonstration of God's love in action. The photos below show some of what went on (click on the picture to view a bigger copy).
I spoke with the director about the possibility of me and Evelyn doing something with the children there on a regular basis and she told me that they could really use some activities on Friday afternoons. That is an open door we want to step through!
Christopher is enjoying himself at the youth retreat, although he SMSed me saying, "I'm convinced that porridge and bread with sardines is the wierdest breakfast I've ever heard of." We are so glad he is having this opportunity.
It's days like these that leave me excited, encouraged and wondering what great things God may have in store for us next.
--Tim
Tonight we pray for Evelyn's nephew, David Smith, who is serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq.
Tanel from Kopli (center) with some of the kids at the noortekodu.
Playing a game where you had to carry ping pong balls on a spoon. From Kopli are Kristel on the far left and faithful blog reader Kristi on the right. Carrying a ping pong ball in the black and yellow shirt is our friend from the noortekodu Karl-Gustav.
They had to work together in teams to try to build a tower from newspaper as tall as they could.
They linked arms in a circle to sing a fun song together.
from Korn to Christian
"... who has chosen the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior ..."
reede, veebruar 25, 2005
Cold
After a warmer than usual December, we are experiencing a real Estonian winter now. The temperatures are actually near or slightly higher than we had when we first came to Maine last month, but then we were in Reggies warm house. This time we are back in our house and discovering that it is not as well insulated as we would like.
For the past few days the temperatures have been around -10 to -15 c (single digits Fahrenheit) and the cold seems to seep into the house from everywhere. I faithfully light the fireplace downstairs and the wood furnace upstairs. They generate good heat for the areas nearby, but not the whole house. We've been using the electric heaters in the living room and kitchen to add to the warmth. We have stayed away from the upstairs of our house at night, with all of us but Chris sleeping it the big room we have next to the wood furnace. Tonight it is supposed to reach -18 c (around 0 f), so I built up a good fire and we are ready to snuggle under our down comforters.
Now I'm not complaining. This is just part of the experience and we are handling it fine. It means lighting the fire more often and wearing an extra layer of clothing, but we've worked it out. It makes a warm meal and a hot cup of tea that much more enjoyable! The cold spell is supposed to continue for a few more days, but we've got plenty of wood so we are ready :-)
We are excited because some of the teens from the Kopli Corps in Tallinn will be coming tomorrow to do a program at the childrens home we have begun to work with. They will do some dances, games, crafts and the like, which will be great for the kids. Because it is a holiday weekend, many of the children from the home have gone to be with family, if they have any available. The ones we will see are those who had no one to go to. The group from Tallinn are great and I know they will make it special for the kids. We are hoping this will open the door for us to do more work there on a regular basis.
Please pray for the day, that the children will sense the warmth of God's love through the Tallinn young people. And also please pray for Karl-Gustav (who lives at this home). His mother is in the hospital and I will be taking him to see her on Sunday.
--Tim
Tonight we prayed for Evelyn's oldest brother, Danny.
For the past few days the temperatures have been around -10 to -15 c (single digits Fahrenheit) and the cold seems to seep into the house from everywhere. I faithfully light the fireplace downstairs and the wood furnace upstairs. They generate good heat for the areas nearby, but not the whole house. We've been using the electric heaters in the living room and kitchen to add to the warmth. We have stayed away from the upstairs of our house at night, with all of us but Chris sleeping it the big room we have next to the wood furnace. Tonight it is supposed to reach -18 c (around 0 f), so I built up a good fire and we are ready to snuggle under our down comforters.
Now I'm not complaining. This is just part of the experience and we are handling it fine. It means lighting the fire more often and wearing an extra layer of clothing, but we've worked it out. It makes a warm meal and a hot cup of tea that much more enjoyable! The cold spell is supposed to continue for a few more days, but we've got plenty of wood so we are ready :-)
We are excited because some of the teens from the Kopli Corps in Tallinn will be coming tomorrow to do a program at the childrens home we have begun to work with. They will do some dances, games, crafts and the like, which will be great for the kids. Because it is a holiday weekend, many of the children from the home have gone to be with family, if they have any available. The ones we will see are those who had no one to go to. The group from Tallinn are great and I know they will make it special for the kids. We are hoping this will open the door for us to do more work there on a regular basis.
Please pray for the day, that the children will sense the warmth of God's love through the Tallinn young people. And also please pray for Karl-Gustav (who lives at this home). His mother is in the hospital and I will be taking him to see her on Sunday.
--Tim
Tonight we prayed for Evelyn's oldest brother, Danny.
neljapäev, veebruar 24, 2005
Independence Day
flag
Today is Estonian Independence Day marking the 87th year since Estonia first became an independent nation. Like most holidays, it was a flag day and everywhere you went you could see the blue, black and white flying outside of homes and buildings. It is an impressive sight.
We attended an ecumenical church service to commemorate the day at Janni Kirik (St. Johns Church), a beautiful building dating back to the 1300s that had been partially destroyed by the Soviets in 1944 as they took Estonia in World War II. The building is finally being restored, and so to have the service there had great significance. It was interesting to see the crumbled brickwork pillars which rise to the vast arched ceiling and had been pieced together to retain the feel of the original structure. Contrasted with this was the pristine brick work on the upper level where the old stone had been destroyed, and the light-colored wood ceiling with inset modern circular lights. The harmonious clash of old and new could be a metaphor of Estonia today.
The service was packed, with easily 200-300 people. There was no amplification for the speakers, and from our place two-thirds of the way back it was difficult to make out the words that were spoken for the distance and the way the voice would echo in the large cathedral. I really felt for our translator, Ermo, who tried to make out the words and tell them to us, but finally gave up in frustration. But we are still glad we went and were able to see people of all kinds coming together in this way, the participation of ministers from several dominations, and to hear the beautiful vocal music. The building was very cold, though. The weather outside was something like -5 C (23 F) and because the building is still not completely insulated, it did little to keep out the cold. It was a funny sight to see everyone in the pews bundled up in their coats and hats. If anyone had dressed for the occasion, we had no idea!
Afterward, we went to the home of a family who moved to Tartu around the same time we did. She is Australian and he is American, but his family originally came from Estonia and owned a house in Tartu before the Soviets took it over. They were able to reclaim it after the second independence and for a while it was a bed and breakfast, but now they have moved in and are refinishing the place. They had an open house today, and we were able to meet many other foreigners like us who live in Tartu. There was a Christian couple from England who just moved in the past few months, the owner of the local restaurant Wilde Irish Pub who is Irish (of course), the restaurant's new manager (American) and his wife (Irish), and Kevin and Wendy Mason, who are American missionaries. We had a wonderful time just talking and getting to know one another better. I think when you are in another land, you really find community with those who are in your same situation even if they are not from your country.
After we arrived home, our front doorbell rang. I opened the door and found two Morman missionaries on the doorstep speaking to me in rough Estonian. I said to them, "Oh, I speak English," and one of them complemented me on how well I speak English. I had to confess to them that it was because I was American, and this look of surprise came on their faces that was great. They are also American and said how nice it was to speak to someone in English, and it seemed like they also were longing for that same type of community. They were interested to hear that we were here to open the Army's work (although they still tried to interest me in the Book of Mormon), and I invited them to stop by any time they needed to hear someone speaking English. Don't call me a heretic; these guys need to see expressions of God's love too!
So it was quite a day. Tomorrow Chris is going to a weekend youth retreat with a group from Kolgata Baptist Church--and it's going to be at the Army's camp in Loksa! It will be a real chance for him to stretch his Estonian language knowledge. Maybe we can get him to blog about it afterward. Be sure to keep him in prayer.
As we gear up for the opening, we ask for your continued prayers. This independence day reminded me that there is a place for us here.
--Tim
Today we prayed for my father, Gordon Clark.
Today is Estonian Independence Day marking the 87th year since Estonia first became an independent nation. Like most holidays, it was a flag day and everywhere you went you could see the blue, black and white flying outside of homes and buildings. It is an impressive sight.
We attended an ecumenical church service to commemorate the day at Janni Kirik (St. Johns Church), a beautiful building dating back to the 1300s that had been partially destroyed by the Soviets in 1944 as they took Estonia in World War II. The building is finally being restored, and so to have the service there had great significance. It was interesting to see the crumbled brickwork pillars which rise to the vast arched ceiling and had been pieced together to retain the feel of the original structure. Contrasted with this was the pristine brick work on the upper level where the old stone had been destroyed, and the light-colored wood ceiling with inset modern circular lights. The harmonious clash of old and new could be a metaphor of Estonia today.
The service was packed, with easily 200-300 people. There was no amplification for the speakers, and from our place two-thirds of the way back it was difficult to make out the words that were spoken for the distance and the way the voice would echo in the large cathedral. I really felt for our translator, Ermo, who tried to make out the words and tell them to us, but finally gave up in frustration. But we are still glad we went and were able to see people of all kinds coming together in this way, the participation of ministers from several dominations, and to hear the beautiful vocal music. The building was very cold, though. The weather outside was something like -5 C (23 F) and because the building is still not completely insulated, it did little to keep out the cold. It was a funny sight to see everyone in the pews bundled up in their coats and hats. If anyone had dressed for the occasion, we had no idea!
Afterward, we went to the home of a family who moved to Tartu around the same time we did. She is Australian and he is American, but his family originally came from Estonia and owned a house in Tartu before the Soviets took it over. They were able to reclaim it after the second independence and for a while it was a bed and breakfast, but now they have moved in and are refinishing the place. They had an open house today, and we were able to meet many other foreigners like us who live in Tartu. There was a Christian couple from England who just moved in the past few months, the owner of the local restaurant Wilde Irish Pub who is Irish (of course), the restaurant's new manager (American) and his wife (Irish), and Kevin and Wendy Mason, who are American missionaries. We had a wonderful time just talking and getting to know one another better. I think when you are in another land, you really find community with those who are in your same situation even if they are not from your country.
After we arrived home, our front doorbell rang. I opened the door and found two Morman missionaries on the doorstep speaking to me in rough Estonian. I said to them, "Oh, I speak English," and one of them complemented me on how well I speak English. I had to confess to them that it was because I was American, and this look of surprise came on their faces that was great. They are also American and said how nice it was to speak to someone in English, and it seemed like they also were longing for that same type of community. They were interested to hear that we were here to open the Army's work (although they still tried to interest me in the Book of Mormon), and I invited them to stop by any time they needed to hear someone speaking English. Don't call me a heretic; these guys need to see expressions of God's love too!
So it was quite a day. Tomorrow Chris is going to a weekend youth retreat with a group from Kolgata Baptist Church--and it's going to be at the Army's camp in Loksa! It will be a real chance for him to stretch his Estonian language knowledge. Maybe we can get him to blog about it afterward. Be sure to keep him in prayer.
As we gear up for the opening, we ask for your continued prayers. This independence day reminded me that there is a place for us here.
--Tim
Today we prayed for my father, Gordon Clark.
Prayer Request for Missionaries Here
The following is from our dear friends the Masons. Their daughter Chelsea is our Elizabeth's best friend here in Tartu. They are fellow homeschoolers, and we had co-op with them every Friday during the first half of the school year. Wendy is the unofficial welcome wagon for expats moving to Tartu, and we e-mailed back and forth quite a bit in the months before we moved here. She also spearheaded the launch of a women's prayer fellowship that meets every other Wednesday night, which is what keeps me going! Please pray for them! --Evelyn
Mason-Express is one-stop-shopping for news and ministry of Kevin and Wendy
Mason in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with United World Mission.
--<--
An important note from Wendy:
Hello prayer team! We really need some extra prayer, because it seems we are
under spiritual attack to discourage and derail us. Let me explain . . .
I've gotten well acquainted with doctors' offices during the last two weeks,
because a very suspicious breast lump has been discovered. I know that fear and
anxiety are normal during the diagnosis phase, but I was experiencing something
close to panic attacks. Waves of fear would wash over me, making me want to cry
and throw up all at once. I woke up one morning last week with one of these
waves of fear, and then it dawned on me that this is probably spiritual attack.
I began thinking back over the month since making the decision to move to
Tallinn. SIX very unusual things have happened in that time: our cars have been
broken into twice; we've gotten two $50 parking tickets rather innocently (i.e.
Kevin paid for parking with his cell phone, but accidentally paid for the wrong
car); I received very harsh criticism from a close friend (which sent me
reeling for a week); and now this possibility of breast cancer!
I began fighting back through prayer and worship, using Scripture as my weapon.
I could sense the battle going on around me. One evening while Kevin was away we
were talking by phone. I had a worship CD playing at the same time, and was
describing the battle to Kevin. I said, "When the Word of God is spoken,
Satan has to flee," and at that very second, both the phone and the CD
player quit! Very strange.
The very next morning, little Caroline came to me and said she wanted to ask
Jesus to be her Savior -- no wonder there is battle going on! Just this past
week our mission's leaders asked Kevin to consider becoming an area director --
a role of wider leadership responsibility and a possibility we're considering.
Perhaps this is also a factor in the increased battle.
So back to the medical stuff -- I am scheduled for a surgical biopsy/lumpectomy
on Friday, March 4th. I will have an ultrasound first to determine if there has
been any change or reduction in size. If so, they will wait and just watch it
for a few months. If they find through the biopsy that it is malignant, then
radiation and chemo will be necessary.
I feel generally hopeful, although some days I really struggle to concentrate
and keep myself together just to get through my normal day of homeschooling and
mothering.
All of this has come since we made the decision to move to Tallinn. Is God
saying "no" to this move, or is the move God's will and Satan is
opposing it? Please pray for discernment, protection from the enemy, health,
and encouragement. The next month is filled with important meetings -- big
stuff is happening, so it makes sense that Satan is causing trouble. We feel so
vulnerable, even when we know that God is our defender and has conquered Satan.
Thank you for standing with us during this time -- we are incredibly grateful
for you!
Wendy
Mason-Express is one-stop-shopping for news and ministry of Kevin and Wendy
Mason in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with United World Mission.
--
An important note from Wendy:
Hello prayer team! We really need some extra prayer, because it seems we are
under spiritual attack to discourage and derail us. Let me explain . . .
I've gotten well acquainted with doctors' offices during the last two weeks,
because a very suspicious breast lump has been discovered. I know that fear and
anxiety are normal during the diagnosis phase, but I was experiencing something
close to panic attacks. Waves of fear would wash over me, making me want to cry
and throw up all at once. I woke up one morning last week with one of these
waves of fear, and then it dawned on me that this is probably spiritual attack.
I began thinking back over the month since making the decision to move to
Tallinn. SIX very unusual things have happened in that time: our cars have been
broken into twice; we've gotten two $50 parking tickets rather innocently (i.e.
Kevin paid for parking with his cell phone, but accidentally paid for the wrong
car); I received very harsh criticism from a close friend (which sent me
reeling for a week); and now this possibility of breast cancer!
I began fighting back through prayer and worship, using Scripture as my weapon.
I could sense the battle going on around me. One evening while Kevin was away we
were talking by phone. I had a worship CD playing at the same time, and was
describing the battle to Kevin. I said, "When the Word of God is spoken,
Satan has to flee," and at that very second, both the phone and the CD
player quit! Very strange.
The very next morning, little Caroline came to me and said she wanted to ask
Jesus to be her Savior -- no wonder there is battle going on! Just this past
week our mission's leaders asked Kevin to consider becoming an area director --
a role of wider leadership responsibility and a possibility we're considering.
Perhaps this is also a factor in the increased battle.
So back to the medical stuff -- I am scheduled for a surgical biopsy/lumpectomy
on Friday, March 4th. I will have an ultrasound first to determine if there has
been any change or reduction in size. If so, they will wait and just watch it
for a few months. If they find through the biopsy that it is malignant, then
radiation and chemo will be necessary.
I feel generally hopeful, although some days I really struggle to concentrate
and keep myself together just to get through my normal day of homeschooling and
mothering.
All of this has come since we made the decision to move to Tallinn. Is God
saying "no" to this move, or is the move God's will and Satan is
opposing it? Please pray for discernment, protection from the enemy, health,
and encouragement. The next month is filled with important meetings -- big
stuff is happening, so it makes sense that Satan is causing trouble. We feel so
vulnerable, even when we know that God is our defender and has conquered Satan.
Thank you for standing with us during this time -- we are incredibly grateful
for you!
Wendy
kolmapäev, veebruar 23, 2005
More Photos
Chris and Elizabeth look at a card he received during a birthday party at The Village Cafe in Portland.
Cassandra, Chris, Elizabeth, Uncle Bobby and Peter at the Great Wall of China (or maybe that's the Childrens' Museum of Maine.
Chris (top left, in the red shirt) learns a dance with the mission team.
With some of the cousins in Maine during a birthday party for Chris.
esmaspäev, veebruar 21, 2005
A Visitor
A man just came to the door wanting information about The Salvation Army! We have red shields in our windows, and people often look at them as they pass. One of the (many!) blessings about renting this house is that it is street-level and people can just walk up and ring the doorbell very easily, as this man just did. (In the apartment, you had to get into the building with a code.)
The man did not speak English, and our Estonian is so limited. But we called our new part-time translator (thank God for Ermo!) and he was able to speak with this man and get his phone number so we can arrange to sit down and talk. Meanwhile, we gave him all the propaganda we have on hand.
Please pray for this man!
Just when we feel discouraged (about every few minutes we are tempted to go in that direction!), God sends a stranger to ring our doorbell.
Hurray!
Yesterday we spend the day in Narva. It is always such a wonderful thing for us to go there and see their people and worship with them and be reminded that soon and very soon we will have our OWN people!
Evelyn
The man did not speak English, and our Estonian is so limited. But we called our new part-time translator (thank God for Ermo!) and he was able to speak with this man and get his phone number so we can arrange to sit down and talk. Meanwhile, we gave him all the propaganda we have on hand.
Please pray for this man!
Just when we feel discouraged (about every few minutes we are tempted to go in that direction!), God sends a stranger to ring our doorbell.
Hurray!
Yesterday we spend the day in Narva. It is always such a wonderful thing for us to go there and see their people and worship with them and be reminded that soon and very soon we will have our OWN people!
Evelyn
laupäev, veebruar 19, 2005
Prayer Request -- Major Wesley Sundin
I just saw this e-mail and wanted to share this important prayer request with our faithful blog readers and prayer warriors! The Sundins are probably best known for pioneering the work of The Salvation Army in Moldova (where my sister lives). When we saw them at a Russia/CIS Reunion at the International Congress the summer before we entered Training, we told them of our hopes to serve overseas. They were stationed Stateside at the time, but they remembered that desire of ours, and eventually brought us here to Estonia. Their term here ended just weeks before we moved here, but they are the ones who laid the groundwork for us and opened the door for us to come. Please pray for them, and ask the brothers and sisters you worship with on Sunday to pray for them as well!
While our daughters, Shana and Heather, are with their father at the United Medical Center here in Cheyenne, Wyoming, I want to write and plead for your prayers on behalf of my husband, Wes. He has had difficulty breathing for the last couple of months, but it has gotten increasingly worse until he was hospitalized last night.
He is not able to rest because he cannot breathe properly. The lungs are just not working right. It could be that Zocor which he has taken for about 10 years has weakened the lung muscle. He had a cat scan last night but we don't know the results yet. We are writing you as faithful friends from all over the world to pass on the word that Wes Sundin needs your prayers.
We love and appreciate you!
Major Ruth Sundin
The Salvation Army
601 E. 20th Street
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001-3803
PO Box 385,82003-0385
307-634-2769 phone
307-778-8786 fax
While our daughters, Shana and Heather, are with their father at the United Medical Center here in Cheyenne, Wyoming, I want to write and plead for your prayers on behalf of my husband, Wes. He has had difficulty breathing for the last couple of months, but it has gotten increasingly worse until he was hospitalized last night.
He is not able to rest because he cannot breathe properly. The lungs are just not working right. It could be that Zocor which he has taken for about 10 years has weakened the lung muscle. He had a cat scan last night but we don't know the results yet. We are writing you as faithful friends from all over the world to pass on the word that Wes Sundin needs your prayers.
We love and appreciate you!
Major Ruth Sundin
The Salvation Army
601 E. 20th Street
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001-3803
PO Box 385,82003-0385
307-634-2769 phone
307-778-8786 fax
reede, veebruar 18, 2005
Opening Doors
The lock to the front door of our house has always been tricky. I think it's because the door doesn't fit quite right in the frame, and so it puts tension on the bolt making it harder to unlock.
To open it is a two-handed procedure. First you grab the door handle and pull the door toward you to release the tension on the bolt, then with your other hand you turn the knob to pull back the bolt and at the right moment (which you figure out by experience) while still turning the knob you pull down on the door handle to open the door. Once you are used to it, it can be done in a matter of seconds, but we have had countless guests stuck at the front door trying to get out because they didn't know the trick.
Today the lock finally broke. Chris had gone to get wood from the shed for tomorrow's fires (it's been below freezing almost every day since we got back from America) and when he tried to get back in the door wouldn't open. Elizabeth, who prides herself on her skills with that door, tried in vain, then I tried with no luck. I passed a house key to Chris through the bathroom window, thinking he could open it that way, but it still didn't work. Finally I had to let him in through the back door!
I took the lock off the door and found that a metal piece that draws back the bolt was terribly bent and just couldn't do the job any more. I took the broken part to a locksmith who I knew from past experience spoke English. He didn't have the part I needed, but had one like it from a different brand of lock which he gave to me saying, "If you just cut off some of the metal from the end so it is not so long, and then file down the four edges that go in to draw back the bolt, it will fit just fine." Okay. The problem is that I'm no big handy man, so I thought I might see if another locksmith might have the part I needed. I stopped in a lock shop at a local shopping center and asked if the guy spoke English. He said no, but when I pulled out the broken part he didn't need language to know the problem. He apparently didn't have the right part either, but instead took the bent pieces and carefully straightened them so that it was as good as new. I felt so much better about the idea of using the original part! When he handed the repaired piece back to me I asked "kui palju?" (how much?) and he just waved his hand in a gesture to say, "It was nothing."
I got back home thinking it would be easy work now. Well, it wasn't. I made several attempts and it would never work quite right--I even tried the part the other guy gave me at one point! I finally got it to work well enough that the door is locked from the outside and we can open it from the inside, although it is still quite rough. Tomorrow I'll go back at it and hope I don't have to call in the locksmith.
I don't know that I had any big point in telling this story except that I felt like it, but now that I've started thinking about it I can see how this is much like opening doors for our work here in Tartu. I'm figuring out the right way to do it, finding that there are good Estonians willing to lend a hand or give me the help I need, and having to be willing to try a lot of options to make it work. I'm not too worried about the door or the work here; I've got a sense that God's got it all under control.
--Tim
Tonight we prayed for my sister's youngest daughter, Bethany Kelly.
To open it is a two-handed procedure. First you grab the door handle and pull the door toward you to release the tension on the bolt, then with your other hand you turn the knob to pull back the bolt and at the right moment (which you figure out by experience) while still turning the knob you pull down on the door handle to open the door. Once you are used to it, it can be done in a matter of seconds, but we have had countless guests stuck at the front door trying to get out because they didn't know the trick.
Today the lock finally broke. Chris had gone to get wood from the shed for tomorrow's fires (it's been below freezing almost every day since we got back from America) and when he tried to get back in the door wouldn't open. Elizabeth, who prides herself on her skills with that door, tried in vain, then I tried with no luck. I passed a house key to Chris through the bathroom window, thinking he could open it that way, but it still didn't work. Finally I had to let him in through the back door!
I took the lock off the door and found that a metal piece that draws back the bolt was terribly bent and just couldn't do the job any more. I took the broken part to a locksmith who I knew from past experience spoke English. He didn't have the part I needed, but had one like it from a different brand of lock which he gave to me saying, "If you just cut off some of the metal from the end so it is not so long, and then file down the four edges that go in to draw back the bolt, it will fit just fine." Okay. The problem is that I'm no big handy man, so I thought I might see if another locksmith might have the part I needed. I stopped in a lock shop at a local shopping center and asked if the guy spoke English. He said no, but when I pulled out the broken part he didn't need language to know the problem. He apparently didn't have the right part either, but instead took the bent pieces and carefully straightened them so that it was as good as new. I felt so much better about the idea of using the original part! When he handed the repaired piece back to me I asked "kui palju?" (how much?) and he just waved his hand in a gesture to say, "It was nothing."
I got back home thinking it would be easy work now. Well, it wasn't. I made several attempts and it would never work quite right--I even tried the part the other guy gave me at one point! I finally got it to work well enough that the door is locked from the outside and we can open it from the inside, although it is still quite rough. Tomorrow I'll go back at it and hope I don't have to call in the locksmith.
I don't know that I had any big point in telling this story except that I felt like it, but now that I've started thinking about it I can see how this is much like opening doors for our work here in Tartu. I'm figuring out the right way to do it, finding that there are good Estonians willing to lend a hand or give me the help I need, and having to be willing to try a lot of options to make it work. I'm not too worried about the door or the work here; I've got a sense that God's got it all under control.
--Tim
Tonight we prayed for my sister's youngest daughter, Bethany Kelly.
A Time to Weep
by Loren Eaton
On the last day of my Caribbean honeymoon, I received a call that my dad was sick. He’d had a seizure and a CAT scan indicated the presence of a large mass in his skull — a brain tumor. We immediately altered our flight path and the next night I sat on a dirty hotel room floor near the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and held my new wife while she wept for my father. As planes roared overhead, she wailed, "Loren, why did God have to make us so frail?"
I knew the answer. God had not made us so frail. Indeed, He created mankind in His image to reflect His glory, seating him just below the angels who minister over everyone who will inherit salvation. Only when Satan deceived our first father, Adam, did corruption enter the world. God simply compounded that original corruption by cursing the ground with thorns and punishing the human race with death. Yes, I knew the answer. But I didn't say it. I clung to her and cried as well.
Why did I stay silent? If we believe that correct theology should inform our daily lives, why sweep it under the verbal rug, so to speak? Because while intellectual knowledge is necessary, it’s only half of the equation. The Bible also instructs us to sympathize with others through gut-level grief. The apostle Paul enshrined this principle by writing, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). While instructing the Thessalonian church on the resurrection of the dead, he further emphasized the legitimacy of grief by stating, “[I hope] you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). When Lazarus died, Jesus displayed the idea in action. Not only did he instruct Martha regarding the resurrection, he sobbed over his dead friend—despite knowing he would soon be brought back to life (John 11:17-35). Then there are the examples of other mournful scriptural characters such as David (2 Samuel 18:31-33), Joseph (49:29-50:11), Job (Job 3:1-3) and the Israelite exiles returning from Babylon (Ezra 3:8-13).
My father has recounted to me many stories of kindly saints who have treated him with utmost love. They’ve showered him with phone calls, letters and tears — both privately and publicly. But we’ve all run into individuals who exhibit incompetence or apathy when it comes to sympathizing with the suffering. I know them well because I’ve been one of them until recently. Allow me a moment of boldness: I have come to believe that mourning is an unappreciated spiritual discipline that the evangelical church has lost and needs to reclaim.
Supposing you agree with me (or are at least a little curious), how does one go about honing—for lack of a better word—such a discipline? Well, I have a few humble suggestions. As mentioned above, mourning does not consist in proffering positive theological precepts. Upon hearing of some crushing tragedy, one is doubtlessly going to hear someone say “God is in control.” We’ve all said it. I maintain its truth in my father’s case; the healing powers of Dilantin, Dexamethasone and Temodar take a distant second to divine touch. Scores of books on its ramifications fill bookstore shelves. It and other doctrines can comfort during great trials. But casually tossing off platitudes, aphorisms or one-liners — even when they’re true — can and often does serve as a substitute for shared grief and a way to fill an uncomfortable conversation. Yet to those smack in the middle of a painful situation, hearing doctrinal soundbites they already believe proclaimed to them can seem desperately unhelpful and sometimes insulting.
Mourning centers on others. The human mind has an amazing ability to isolate a snippet of information, correlate it with some ancient commonality and dredge it to the surface of memory. We call it cross referencing and many of us use it to recall old stories. Happy stories. Sad stories. Funny stories. Any kind of story whatsoever lies poised on the tip of the cerebellum, ready to spring at the slightest cue. This is great when you’re trying to keep a conversation going, but not so wonderful when trying to sympathize. Such verbal tennis usually comes across as self-centered. Mourning necessitates empathy and it’s impossible to be empathetic when focusing on anything but the one suffering, no matter how perfectly timed a tale might be.
Mourning requires sensitivity. Whether the situation is medical, social or professional, mourning requires a hearty dose of tact. Forget miracle cures, unsung experts and witty anecdotes about people you know who have miraculously survived hardship. Though you might think your suffering friend might be overlooking a Really Big Helpful Point, understand that your friend might barely be able to see beyond the tip of his nose. Perhaps he already has determined a reasonable course of action. Or maybe he has been plied with so much info from so many sources he is ready to scream. If you want to mourn with him, then mourn. And be careful about asking for too many details. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t shared a meal with the person in question for the past five years, don’t dig.
Finally, mourning needs emotion. This seems so idiotically basic that it might sound inane. Yet it is the capstone of Romans 12:15. Mourning is primarily a non-rational outpouring of emotion. Far too many godly, churchgoing Christians pat a wounded soul on the back Sunday morning, ask about a prognosis or the status of a poor financial situation or the gradual dissolution of a marriage, mouth that they’ll be praying, and go on about their lives as though they have righteously suffered along with that person. But if you don’t find your heart twisted with sympathy while thinking about a person’s pain, you haven’t. One of the reactions concerning my dad I treasure the most came from a friend who has virtually abandoned the Christian faith. He sobbed uncontrollably before unleashing hair-curling curses. Appropriate? No. But I knew he hurt along with me.
“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,” writes the Preacher (Ecclesiastes 7:2). You will find plenty of opportunities to mourn in college and beyond. Don’t waste them. I did for too many years. One of my friends slowly lost his grip on the things of God, completely abandoning the faith before he graduated. Another was partially blinded during a car wreck. Yet another learned that her fiancé was addicted to pornography. And I didn’t mourn with them. It took personal tragedy for me to learn, as Solomon penned, that “sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better” (7:3).
Copyright © 2004 Loren Eaton. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Loren Eaton was formerly with Focus on the Family's Plugged In magazine before moving to Florida to be with his family. He enjoys Chicago deep dish pizza, long walks with his wife, Clara, mystery novels and really hard rock.
The complete text of this article is available at http://www.boundless.org/features/a0000920.html
On the last day of my Caribbean honeymoon, I received a call that my dad was sick. He’d had a seizure and a CAT scan indicated the presence of a large mass in his skull — a brain tumor. We immediately altered our flight path and the next night I sat on a dirty hotel room floor near the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and held my new wife while she wept for my father. As planes roared overhead, she wailed, "Loren, why did God have to make us so frail?"
I knew the answer. God had not made us so frail. Indeed, He created mankind in His image to reflect His glory, seating him just below the angels who minister over everyone who will inherit salvation. Only when Satan deceived our first father, Adam, did corruption enter the world. God simply compounded that original corruption by cursing the ground with thorns and punishing the human race with death. Yes, I knew the answer. But I didn't say it. I clung to her and cried as well.
Why did I stay silent? If we believe that correct theology should inform our daily lives, why sweep it under the verbal rug, so to speak? Because while intellectual knowledge is necessary, it’s only half of the equation. The Bible also instructs us to sympathize with others through gut-level grief. The apostle Paul enshrined this principle by writing, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). While instructing the Thessalonian church on the resurrection of the dead, he further emphasized the legitimacy of grief by stating, “[I hope] you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). When Lazarus died, Jesus displayed the idea in action. Not only did he instruct Martha regarding the resurrection, he sobbed over his dead friend—despite knowing he would soon be brought back to life (John 11:17-35). Then there are the examples of other mournful scriptural characters such as David (2 Samuel 18:31-33), Joseph (49:29-50:11), Job (Job 3:1-3) and the Israelite exiles returning from Babylon (Ezra 3:8-13).
My father has recounted to me many stories of kindly saints who have treated him with utmost love. They’ve showered him with phone calls, letters and tears — both privately and publicly. But we’ve all run into individuals who exhibit incompetence or apathy when it comes to sympathizing with the suffering. I know them well because I’ve been one of them until recently. Allow me a moment of boldness: I have come to believe that mourning is an unappreciated spiritual discipline that the evangelical church has lost and needs to reclaim.
Supposing you agree with me (or are at least a little curious), how does one go about honing—for lack of a better word—such a discipline? Well, I have a few humble suggestions. As mentioned above, mourning does not consist in proffering positive theological precepts. Upon hearing of some crushing tragedy, one is doubtlessly going to hear someone say “God is in control.” We’ve all said it. I maintain its truth in my father’s case; the healing powers of Dilantin, Dexamethasone and Temodar take a distant second to divine touch. Scores of books on its ramifications fill bookstore shelves. It and other doctrines can comfort during great trials. But casually tossing off platitudes, aphorisms or one-liners — even when they’re true — can and often does serve as a substitute for shared grief and a way to fill an uncomfortable conversation. Yet to those smack in the middle of a painful situation, hearing doctrinal soundbites they already believe proclaimed to them can seem desperately unhelpful and sometimes insulting.
Mourning centers on others. The human mind has an amazing ability to isolate a snippet of information, correlate it with some ancient commonality and dredge it to the surface of memory. We call it cross referencing and many of us use it to recall old stories. Happy stories. Sad stories. Funny stories. Any kind of story whatsoever lies poised on the tip of the cerebellum, ready to spring at the slightest cue. This is great when you’re trying to keep a conversation going, but not so wonderful when trying to sympathize. Such verbal tennis usually comes across as self-centered. Mourning necessitates empathy and it’s impossible to be empathetic when focusing on anything but the one suffering, no matter how perfectly timed a tale might be.
Mourning requires sensitivity. Whether the situation is medical, social or professional, mourning requires a hearty dose of tact. Forget miracle cures, unsung experts and witty anecdotes about people you know who have miraculously survived hardship. Though you might think your suffering friend might be overlooking a Really Big Helpful Point, understand that your friend might barely be able to see beyond the tip of his nose. Perhaps he already has determined a reasonable course of action. Or maybe he has been plied with so much info from so many sources he is ready to scream. If you want to mourn with him, then mourn. And be careful about asking for too many details. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t shared a meal with the person in question for the past five years, don’t dig.
Finally, mourning needs emotion. This seems so idiotically basic that it might sound inane. Yet it is the capstone of Romans 12:15. Mourning is primarily a non-rational outpouring of emotion. Far too many godly, churchgoing Christians pat a wounded soul on the back Sunday morning, ask about a prognosis or the status of a poor financial situation or the gradual dissolution of a marriage, mouth that they’ll be praying, and go on about their lives as though they have righteously suffered along with that person. But if you don’t find your heart twisted with sympathy while thinking about a person’s pain, you haven’t. One of the reactions concerning my dad I treasure the most came from a friend who has virtually abandoned the Christian faith. He sobbed uncontrollably before unleashing hair-curling curses. Appropriate? No. But I knew he hurt along with me.
“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,” writes the Preacher (Ecclesiastes 7:2). You will find plenty of opportunities to mourn in college and beyond. Don’t waste them. I did for too many years. One of my friends slowly lost his grip on the things of God, completely abandoning the faith before he graduated. Another was partially blinded during a car wreck. Yet another learned that her fiancé was addicted to pornography. And I didn’t mourn with them. It took personal tragedy for me to learn, as Solomon penned, that “sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better” (7:3).
Copyright © 2004 Loren Eaton. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Loren Eaton was formerly with Focus on the Family's Plugged In magazine before moving to Florida to be with his family. He enjoys Chicago deep dish pizza, long walks with his wife, Clara, mystery novels and really hard rock.
The complete text of this article is available at http://www.boundless.org/features/a0000920.html
neljapäev, veebruar 17, 2005
Heaven
So, my mother's dying. She lives in America and I live in Estonia. I'm not so much upset that she will die some day (won't we all?) as that I am not there with her while she is in the process.
Anyway, these two choruses from my childhood came to mind today, and I thought I'd share them:
Away far over Jordan
We'll meet in that land
Oh, won't that be grand
Away far over Jordan
We'll meet in that beautiful land, so grand
If you get there before I do
Look out for me
I'm coming too
Away far over Jordan
We'll meet in that beautiful land, so grand
I hope you can picture the kids doing the motions to this song!
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that fair land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder
My spirit will wander
Upon the streets that
Are purest gold
We used to sing this song while climbing up Munjoy Hill!
Evelyn
Anyway, these two choruses from my childhood came to mind today, and I thought I'd share them:
Away far over Jordan
We'll meet in that land
Oh, won't that be grand
Away far over Jordan
We'll meet in that beautiful land, so grand
If you get there before I do
Look out for me
I'm coming too
Away far over Jordan
We'll meet in that beautiful land, so grand
I hope you can picture the kids doing the motions to this song!
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that fair land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder
My spirit will wander
Upon the streets that
Are purest gold
We used to sing this song while climbing up Munjoy Hill!
Evelyn
"They Were Terrified and Cried Out to the Lord"
"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.... The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13-14)
kolmapäev, veebruar 16, 2005
8:00
At 8:00 this morning, Tim met with fellow pastors in Tartu (Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox) for prayer. He was able to introduce The Salvation Army and invite them to our opening meeting on 26 March (I hope you will all be praying for this meeting!).
The question came up of whether or not the SA is a "church" and at least one pastor was shocked that Tim has never been baptized (in water)! But overall, the group was friendly and receptive and supportive.
At 8:00 tonight, I will meet with fellow missionaries in Tartu for prayer.
We really miss our ecumenical group in Delaware County PA, especially during Wednesday nights of Lent (when we always met). But we are grateful for these new friends (more than that, brothers and sisters!) God has brought into our lives.
I hope you have a group of people you get together with -- at least once or twice a month -- for prayer and fellowship and all that jazz!
Evelyn
The question came up of whether or not the SA is a "church" and at least one pastor was shocked that Tim has never been baptized (in water)! But overall, the group was friendly and receptive and supportive.
At 8:00 tonight, I will meet with fellow missionaries in Tartu for prayer.
We really miss our ecumenical group in Delaware County PA, especially during Wednesday nights of Lent (when we always met). But we are grateful for these new friends (more than that, brothers and sisters!) God has brought into our lives.
I hope you have a group of people you get together with -- at least once or twice a month -- for prayer and fellowship and all that jazz!
Evelyn
teisipäev, veebruar 15, 2005
An Encouraging E-mail
The following encouraging e-mail came our way, and we have permission to share some of it with you.
We have been living vibrantly since coming to ____________ as Corps Officers in July. I do not lie! This appointment sealed and confirmed our calling time after time. We are sooo happy to be here. The congregation is growing. Every Sunday, half or more of the people are new. New visitors are a regular sight, and the people have a spirit of anticipation. A lot is on our plate, but I wouldn't have it another way.
The Advisory Board, the Corps Council, the Bible Studies, the Holiness Meetings, the interaction with DHQ, managing employees, etc... makes me feel alive. You were right when you encouraged us to "Hold on," and I can't thank you enough for being a good friend when we needed such encouragement. You are aware that there were numerous times we thought about leaving officership while in __________. We've never had such a thought since being here.
I am reminded of a song from the good ol' Salvation Army Song Book:
Song #805/746
1.In the fight, say, does your heart grow weary?
Do you find your path is rough and thorny,
And above the sky is dark and stormy?
Never mind, go on!
Lay aside all fear, and onward pressing,
Bravely fight and God will give his blessing;
Though the war at times may prove distressing,
Never mind, go on!
Chorus
When the road we tread is rough,
Let us bear in mind,
In our Saviour strength enough
We may always find;
Though the fighting may be tough
Let our motto be:
Go on, go on to victory!
2.Faithful be, delaying not to follow
Where Christ leads, though it may be through sorrow;
If the strife should fiercer grow tomorrow,
Never mind, go on!
Cheerful be, it will your burdens lighten,
One glad heart will always others brighten;
Though the strife the coward's soul may frighten,
Never mind, go on!
3.When downhearted, look away to Jesus,
Who for you did shed his blood most precious;
Let us say, though all the world should hate us:
Never mind, go on!
Do your best in fighting for your Saviour,
For his sake fear not to lose men's favor;
If beside you should a comrade waver,
Never mind, go on!
by Richard Slater
Oooooh, that sure is good stuff! All things I needed to hear today!
Evelyn
We have been living vibrantly since coming to ____________ as Corps Officers in July. I do not lie! This appointment sealed and confirmed our calling time after time. We are sooo happy to be here. The congregation is growing. Every Sunday, half or more of the people are new. New visitors are a regular sight, and the people have a spirit of anticipation. A lot is on our plate, but I wouldn't have it another way.
The Advisory Board, the Corps Council, the Bible Studies, the Holiness Meetings, the interaction with DHQ, managing employees, etc... makes me feel alive. You were right when you encouraged us to "Hold on," and I can't thank you enough for being a good friend when we needed such encouragement. You are aware that there were numerous times we thought about leaving officership while in __________. We've never had such a thought since being here.
I am reminded of a song from the good ol' Salvation Army Song Book:
Song #805/746
1.In the fight, say, does your heart grow weary?
Do you find your path is rough and thorny,
And above the sky is dark and stormy?
Never mind, go on!
Lay aside all fear, and onward pressing,
Bravely fight and God will give his blessing;
Though the war at times may prove distressing,
Never mind, go on!
Chorus
When the road we tread is rough,
Let us bear in mind,
In our Saviour strength enough
We may always find;
Though the fighting may be tough
Let our motto be:
Go on, go on to victory!
2.Faithful be, delaying not to follow
Where Christ leads, though it may be through sorrow;
If the strife should fiercer grow tomorrow,
Never mind, go on!
Cheerful be, it will your burdens lighten,
One glad heart will always others brighten;
Though the strife the coward's soul may frighten,
Never mind, go on!
3.When downhearted, look away to Jesus,
Who for you did shed his blood most precious;
Let us say, though all the world should hate us:
Never mind, go on!
Do your best in fighting for your Saviour,
For his sake fear not to lose men's favor;
If beside you should a comrade waver,
Never mind, go on!
by Richard Slater
Oooooh, that sure is good stuff! All things I needed to hear today!
Evelyn
esmaspäev, veebruar 14, 2005
Happy Valentine's Day! Õnne Sõbrapäev!
Today Elizabeth gave Winnie-the-Pooh valentines and Hershey's kisses (bought by Auntie Mary-Kay when we were in America together!) to some of her friends here in Tartu:
Zach & Abigail Cupery
Chelsea, Cameron, Caroline & Chad Mason
Cader Schatzman
Josh, Amalie & Daniel Viinalass
She still has some more to deliver tomorrow:
Joshua, Patricia, Elizabeth, Hannah, Jonathan, Stephen & Katie Harrison
Lauri Kontson
Karl-Gustav Mutso
We got a package in the mail from sessionmates (fellow Crossbearers) Jud & Lori Laidlaw.
In Estonia, today is called Friend Day, and we are so grateful for friends!
Tonight we watched Cheaper by the Dozen, which was a Christmas gift from Tim's brother Tom and family.
"Do not forsake your friend ... better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away." (Proverbs 27:10)
We thank God for friends, for neighbors (ours shoveled our front walk for us this afternoon!), and for family!
Evelyn
Zach & Abigail Cupery
Chelsea, Cameron, Caroline & Chad Mason
Cader Schatzman
Josh, Amalie & Daniel Viinalass
She still has some more to deliver tomorrow:
Joshua, Patricia, Elizabeth, Hannah, Jonathan, Stephen & Katie Harrison
Lauri Kontson
Karl-Gustav Mutso
We got a package in the mail from sessionmates (fellow Crossbearers) Jud & Lori Laidlaw.
In Estonia, today is called Friend Day, and we are so grateful for friends!
Tonight we watched Cheaper by the Dozen, which was a Christmas gift from Tim's brother Tom and family.
"Do not forsake your friend ... better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away." (Proverbs 27:10)
We thank God for friends, for neighbors (ours shoveled our front walk for us this afternoon!), and for family!
Evelyn
pühapäev, veebruar 13, 2005
Where I First Got the Idea for My Tattoos
"The Second World War interrupted the Army's work in Burma, with little recorded of the intervening war-time years. Mrs. Commissioner Solveig Smith, in her book By Love Compelled, tells the story of Adjutant Saw Kedoe who, when deprived of his uniform, and without a shirt to put on, had the Army crest tattooed on one shoulder and the Army flag on the other. A permanent witness to whom he belonged!"
p. 57
Mobilized for God
The History of The Salvation Army
Volume Eight
1977-1994
by Colonel Henry Gariepy
It is interesting to me to note that Estonia is not mentioned in this book, as the work did not re-open here until 1995!
Evelyn
p. 57
Mobilized for God
The History of The Salvation Army
Volume Eight
1977-1994
by Colonel Henry Gariepy
It is interesting to me to note that Estonia is not mentioned in this book, as the work did not re-open here until 1995!
Evelyn
neljapäev, veebruar 10, 2005
Random Thoughts
Tomorrow Chris and I will go to Tallinn for the next Mission Team rehearsal. This was so important to Chris that we planned our time in America to fit between the first and second rehearsals!
It really is a joy to be involved with the young people here. They have such a genuine sense of enthusiasm, and they all work together amazingly well. Being with them is an encouragement to me! I think giving these young people the tools and the training--and ultimately the opportunity--to reach other young people will open up a whole new world to them, as well as bring their generation to Christ. The potential here is great, so I ask that you pray for the Mission Team as they prepare for outreach.
I really feel like we are back to work in Estonia now with this rehearsal on Friday night and Saturday, then on Sunday we will go to Narva to do the Sunday meetings. Plus on Saturday night we will attend the Going Up youth event here in Tartu. It is great to be back in the swing of things!
The biggest challenge now is finally overcoming jet lag. Peter has still been waking up for several hours in the middle of the night, so Evelyn or I have taken turns staying up with him, but it can be exhausting the next day. Evelyn said I fell asleep during our family prayer time tonight, but I don't believer her. I am being optimistic about tonight, though, because we intentionally woke Peter up earlier today and didn't let his naps go so long (I feel like such a bad parent) hoping that it will help him sleep at night. It may work because he fell asleep around 30 minutes ago, where he used to conk out at around 7:00 p.m. and wake up again at midnight. The real test will come after midnight tonight!
I feel like these are random thoughts spilling from an over-tired mind, so I'll close by saying that I know many of you have been praying for us as we return to life here, and God has been faithful. Thank you for your part in bringing us back safely to the place we know God wants us to be.
--Tim
Tonight we prayed for my brother's oldest son, Adam Clark.
It really is a joy to be involved with the young people here. They have such a genuine sense of enthusiasm, and they all work together amazingly well. Being with them is an encouragement to me! I think giving these young people the tools and the training--and ultimately the opportunity--to reach other young people will open up a whole new world to them, as well as bring their generation to Christ. The potential here is great, so I ask that you pray for the Mission Team as they prepare for outreach.
I really feel like we are back to work in Estonia now with this rehearsal on Friday night and Saturday, then on Sunday we will go to Narva to do the Sunday meetings. Plus on Saturday night we will attend the Going Up youth event here in Tartu. It is great to be back in the swing of things!
The biggest challenge now is finally overcoming jet lag. Peter has still been waking up for several hours in the middle of the night, so Evelyn or I have taken turns staying up with him, but it can be exhausting the next day. Evelyn said I fell asleep during our family prayer time tonight, but I don't believer her. I am being optimistic about tonight, though, because we intentionally woke Peter up earlier today and didn't let his naps go so long (I feel like such a bad parent) hoping that it will help him sleep at night. It may work because he fell asleep around 30 minutes ago, where he used to conk out at around 7:00 p.m. and wake up again at midnight. The real test will come after midnight tonight!
I feel like these are random thoughts spilling from an over-tired mind, so I'll close by saying that I know many of you have been praying for us as we return to life here, and God has been faithful. Thank you for your part in bringing us back safely to the place we know God wants us to be.
--Tim
Tonight we prayed for my brother's oldest son, Adam Clark.
kolmapäev, veebruar 09, 2005
Back to Work
I can't believe that I didn't blog the whole time we were in America. Evelyn kept reminding me to but I never felt motivated. Now that we are home again in Estonia, I am ready to write again.
I am also ready to get back to work. With the "opening" of the corps only a month and a half away, there is a lot to do to get ready. Today I met with the owner of the Illusioon once again to go over the plans. Tomorrow we will sign an agreement to finalize everything. Now we just have to work up the publicity material, arrange permission for the open air, invite the special guests, distribute the publicity material, contact the newspapers, arrange for translators, arrange for food for the band, make a back-up plan if the weather is too bad for an open air ... and I'm sure other things that re not coming to me at the moment. Easy, huh?
We don't feel stressed overall, though. It will be a lot of work getting it all together, but it can happen. We just ask for your prayers that we will have wisdom in the decisions we make and the plans we lay out so that every aspect will reflect God's plan.
We are also excited because the idea came to us that the Illusioon may be the perfect place to hold our Sunday meetings. It is in an ideal neighborhood and has more than enough space for us to grow! We will be talking to the owner about this idea tomorrow, so please keep this in your prayers also.
It is truly great to be back in Tartu. It wasn't difficult at all to slip back into life here. Going to the grocery store, having tea with a friend, hearing the Estonian language spoken all around us, seeing the familiar houses and buildings in town--these things all felt so comfortable. Last night we went to a restaurant and had some good Estonian cooking; we kept commenting on how this tasted like the best food we have ever had! I know it was an exaggeration, but it was just one more thing to remind us that we are in the right place. We are home again--and we are ready to get back to work.
--Tim
Today we began a series of Lenten devotions as a family, and like we did at Christmas we will be praying for a different family member each day. Today we prayed for my niece, Abigail Clark.
I am also ready to get back to work. With the "opening" of the corps only a month and a half away, there is a lot to do to get ready. Today I met with the owner of the Illusioon once again to go over the plans. Tomorrow we will sign an agreement to finalize everything. Now we just have to work up the publicity material, arrange permission for the open air, invite the special guests, distribute the publicity material, contact the newspapers, arrange for translators, arrange for food for the band, make a back-up plan if the weather is too bad for an open air ... and I'm sure other things that re not coming to me at the moment. Easy, huh?
We don't feel stressed overall, though. It will be a lot of work getting it all together, but it can happen. We just ask for your prayers that we will have wisdom in the decisions we make and the plans we lay out so that every aspect will reflect God's plan.
We are also excited because the idea came to us that the Illusioon may be the perfect place to hold our Sunday meetings. It is in an ideal neighborhood and has more than enough space for us to grow! We will be talking to the owner about this idea tomorrow, so please keep this in your prayers also.
It is truly great to be back in Tartu. It wasn't difficult at all to slip back into life here. Going to the grocery store, having tea with a friend, hearing the Estonian language spoken all around us, seeing the familiar houses and buildings in town--these things all felt so comfortable. Last night we went to a restaurant and had some good Estonian cooking; we kept commenting on how this tasted like the best food we have ever had! I know it was an exaggeration, but it was just one more thing to remind us that we are in the right place. We are home again--and we are ready to get back to work.
--Tim
Today we began a series of Lenten devotions as a family, and like we did at Christmas we will be praying for a different family member each day. Today we prayed for my niece, Abigail Clark.
Lent
As we did during Advent, we are praying for each member of our extended families during Lent.
We are using the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, and invite you to use that with us! It is available in languages other than English, including Estonian! How cool is that!
Peter is still totally on American time, and I am compltely exhausted from staying up with him all night long. Please pray that soon we will recover from jet lag and get back to a more normal schedule!
Evelyn
We are using the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, and invite you to use that with us! It is available in languages other than English, including Estonian! How cool is that!
Peter is still totally on American time, and I am compltely exhausted from staying up with him all night long. Please pray that soon we will recover from jet lag and get back to a more normal schedule!
Evelyn
teisipäev, veebruar 08, 2005
Tale of the Chipmunk
by Reginald Douglas Mortimer Younger Groff III
A few days back, I was determined to find out and get rid of the little feet we were hearing in our living room ceiling. They were especially raucous when the TV was on at nighttime. Apparently, it must have woken them up and made them hostile, whomever they were.
My daughter begged for their lives and I am softy anyway, so my cousin and I bought some "have a heart" mouse traps thinking it had to be mice since Bobby was told by an expert that chipmunks hibernate all winter (at least if they don't have TV below them). So I started by trying to remove the light fixtures hoping to get up in the ceiling. The first living room light took me 5 minutes to take down only to realize a large metal box blocked any hopes of getting through. It then took me about 30 minutes to get it back up again with very tenuous screw fittings and one bulb that suddenly didn't work. I gave up that night. The next night, we took a different light out of the ceiling. My cousin was able to bend back some metal so that we could not only set the traps but place a video camera and a battery-operated light to see who it was we had for guests.The peanut butter had a strong smell and within 5 minutes, we had a cute little chipmunk jumping all over the place. Only trouble was, it was either too smart for the traps or it didn't fit. We baited the outside with a little peanut butter just to get the critters hooked. As we watched the video, we saw the chipmunk hit the little trap doors so it could no longer get at the peanut butter. Of course it did what any self-respecting nut gatherer would do. One by one it picked up the traps and dragged them away into the darkness of my ceiling to be used as house furniture or as conversation pieces.
The next day my cousin and I went to the big Paris Animal Feed hardware store determined to buy a chipmunk trap that would certainly capture the creature without killing it. For just under $20 we bought the long cage with dual doors and all sorts of springs and levers. We were very proud of ourselves. Of course it didn't fit into the hole all the way. The inner ceiling was too low and our trap too long; we we did what anyone with a too-long trap would do. We stuck it in as far as it would go, braced the bottom end with two boxes on top of our bookcases, fired up the camera, lit up the lights and watched. As chipmunks would approach the strange metal contraption that was smeared with peanut butter, you could tell they were very alert. The first Chippy used its tail and back feet to keep the trap lid open as it stretched out and ate all of the peanut butter inside. Apparently because the trap was tilted down at a 45-degree angle, they weren't willing to just jump in.
On the next attempt we put the peanut butter at the farthest end so that they couldn't just hang in and get the good stuff. Watching the video, we not only saw two chipmunks jumping all over the trap, one actually got shut in as it gorged itself on that brown creamy dessert. When it was done eating it opened the "trap door" and went about its business showing us who were the real mice in this game.
Last night I reset the trap with a feeling of "oh well, at least the hole is being blocked by something." This morning I find the trap dislodged and the cat acting very suspicious. Obviously the cat had made it to top of the bookcase and had the idea of getting up into that hole. At this point, however, we noticed something was behind the toy soldier display case and the cat was going bonkers trying to get at it. There we found a Chippy holding on for dear life. Apparently it had met the cat earlier. I put on some gloves at the urging of my wife who thought I'd surely be bitten and get rabies, and managed to carefully slide the case out so the Chip would drop. I had my daughter, Casey, put the cat in the cellar just as the chipmunk ran behind the nearby bookcase that resided underneath the former light fixture's now-gaping hole.
I went to the garage and found a small butterfly net and asked my wife, Bea, and daughter, Casey, to guard it from running to the entertainment center. Fortunately the carpet had just been washed so most of the furniture was still in the kitchen. I had them open the hall door and the outside door. I went to the tightest side of the bookcase and began thrashing with the net until the Chippy finally gave run. Bea and Casey stood their ground screaming a high-pierced scream like no other banshee could make. I am sure the heart of that chipmunk nearly exploded as it ran for the door. Instead of going through it properly, the most direct line was the crack between the wall and hinge. It had some difficulty but I can still recall its little butt all bunged up until it finally squeezed through and then ran out into the snow. As the girls laughed tears of relief, I imagined that the Chip made a B-line for the same hole in my house it found to begin with. It's probably plotting my demise as I type from some high warm perch even now.
Reggie with Ivana Trump
Reggie shooting an ad
Reggie cleanshaven
Reggie on location
Reggie, Beate & Cassandra were our generous hosts when we recently visited America for 4 weeks. We are eternally grateful for them opening their home and their lives to us! Christopher is well-acquainted with the nightly antics of these chipmunks, as he could hear them running around half the night under the floor where he was sleeping!
A few days back, I was determined to find out and get rid of the little feet we were hearing in our living room ceiling. They were especially raucous when the TV was on at nighttime. Apparently, it must have woken them up and made them hostile, whomever they were.
My daughter begged for their lives and I am softy anyway, so my cousin and I bought some "have a heart" mouse traps thinking it had to be mice since Bobby was told by an expert that chipmunks hibernate all winter (at least if they don't have TV below them). So I started by trying to remove the light fixtures hoping to get up in the ceiling. The first living room light took me 5 minutes to take down only to realize a large metal box blocked any hopes of getting through. It then took me about 30 minutes to get it back up again with very tenuous screw fittings and one bulb that suddenly didn't work. I gave up that night. The next night, we took a different light out of the ceiling. My cousin was able to bend back some metal so that we could not only set the traps but place a video camera and a battery-operated light to see who it was we had for guests.The peanut butter had a strong smell and within 5 minutes, we had a cute little chipmunk jumping all over the place. Only trouble was, it was either too smart for the traps or it didn't fit. We baited the outside with a little peanut butter just to get the critters hooked. As we watched the video, we saw the chipmunk hit the little trap doors so it could no longer get at the peanut butter. Of course it did what any self-respecting nut gatherer would do. One by one it picked up the traps and dragged them away into the darkness of my ceiling to be used as house furniture or as conversation pieces.
The next day my cousin and I went to the big Paris Animal Feed hardware store determined to buy a chipmunk trap that would certainly capture the creature without killing it. For just under $20 we bought the long cage with dual doors and all sorts of springs and levers. We were very proud of ourselves. Of course it didn't fit into the hole all the way. The inner ceiling was too low and our trap too long; we we did what anyone with a too-long trap would do. We stuck it in as far as it would go, braced the bottom end with two boxes on top of our bookcases, fired up the camera, lit up the lights and watched. As chipmunks would approach the strange metal contraption that was smeared with peanut butter, you could tell they were very alert. The first Chippy used its tail and back feet to keep the trap lid open as it stretched out and ate all of the peanut butter inside. Apparently because the trap was tilted down at a 45-degree angle, they weren't willing to just jump in.
On the next attempt we put the peanut butter at the farthest end so that they couldn't just hang in and get the good stuff. Watching the video, we not only saw two chipmunks jumping all over the trap, one actually got shut in as it gorged itself on that brown creamy dessert. When it was done eating it opened the "trap door" and went about its business showing us who were the real mice in this game.
Last night I reset the trap with a feeling of "oh well, at least the hole is being blocked by something." This morning I find the trap dislodged and the cat acting very suspicious. Obviously the cat had made it to top of the bookcase and had the idea of getting up into that hole. At this point, however, we noticed something was behind the toy soldier display case and the cat was going bonkers trying to get at it. There we found a Chippy holding on for dear life. Apparently it had met the cat earlier. I put on some gloves at the urging of my wife who thought I'd surely be bitten and get rabies, and managed to carefully slide the case out so the Chip would drop. I had my daughter, Casey, put the cat in the cellar just as the chipmunk ran behind the nearby bookcase that resided underneath the former light fixture's now-gaping hole.
I went to the garage and found a small butterfly net and asked my wife, Bea, and daughter, Casey, to guard it from running to the entertainment center. Fortunately the carpet had just been washed so most of the furniture was still in the kitchen. I had them open the hall door and the outside door. I went to the tightest side of the bookcase and began thrashing with the net until the Chippy finally gave run. Bea and Casey stood their ground screaming a high-pierced scream like no other banshee could make. I am sure the heart of that chipmunk nearly exploded as it ran for the door. Instead of going through it properly, the most direct line was the crack between the wall and hinge. It had some difficulty but I can still recall its little butt all bunged up until it finally squeezed through and then ran out into the snow. As the girls laughed tears of relief, I imagined that the Chip made a B-line for the same hole in my house it found to begin with. It's probably plotting my demise as I type from some high warm perch even now.
Reggie with Ivana Trump
Reggie shooting an ad
Reggie cleanshaven
Reggie on location
Reggie, Beate & Cassandra were our generous hosts when we recently visited America for 4 weeks. We are eternally grateful for them opening their home and their lives to us! Christopher is well-acquainted with the nightly antics of these chipmunks, as he could hear them running around half the night under the floor where he was sleeping!
esmaspäev, veebruar 07, 2005
We Are in a War
OneVoice Devotional
Monday, February 7, 2005
Dear Friend,
We are in a war - fighting fallen angels now in league with Satan. Our army is
much more valuable than any in the physical realm - it is the army of the Lord!
Not one inch of progress will be uncontested by Satan and his minions. In
Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul warns of Satan's plans directed toward each of us. In
other words, Satan tailors his attacks to fit each person. If you're in the
military, you know the tactics of warfare are always changing and that soldiers
must be continually instructed and familiarized with these new techniques. What
soldier goes into battle without proper training? The results would be
disastrous! We, too, need to be consistently equipping ourselves with new and
improved weapons of warfare and be alert to how the enemy of our souls may be
changing his strategy. We must intently scope out areas in our lives and in
those we love where the enemy may be trying to get a foothold!
"We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the
Devil's strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that
keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious
ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
This is a very real war and we need to be dressed in full armor. Let Christ
Jesus Himself be the armor that you wear. "But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
(Romans 13:14) He is truth, righteousness and peace. Our faith and salvation
is in Him Who is the Word.
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with
all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:14-18
Notice that the only unprotected part in the armor is the back. This tells us we
must not turn and run, but to continually advance, taking back territory lost to
the enemy from the Fall. Paul urged his readers to "make the most of the
time" - being continually active in Christian witness and service.
Remaining on the offensive includes knowing where the battle is being fought.
The first activity mentioned once we have donned the armor is prayer. The place
and time of your prayer will be the battle's focal point.
Take a stand in Him, come to your enemy without fear, responding only in the
power and with the love of Christ. He is your armor; you are hidden in Him. Your
weakness, fear, and hostility will be covered by His strength, courage and
love.
We engage in spiritual warfare by the sheer act of pursuing Christ. Scripture
admonishes us to stand firm against the Devil and the evil forces of this world
by employing the full armor of God. BIBLE ANSWER MAN's Hank Hanegraaff tells
more in his FREE article, "What is Spiritual Warfare?":
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/lwghkd_ibbftf.html
Thoughts are extremely powerful tools that Satan can use to hinder our
relationship with Christ. Dr. Charles Stanley of IN TOUCH shows us how we are to
counteract negative thoughts that may infiltrate our mind. Read more in his FREE
article, "Whatever is True":
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/qmazlm_ibbftf.html
May the Lord richly bless you!
The Oneplace.com Team
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/culanh_ibbftf.html
Listen for Life!
--
To no longer receive email from this list send a blank email to mailto:unsub-ibbftfmbcg@crosswalkmail.com
OR send a postal mail to:
9401 Courthouse Rd., Ste 300
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Monday, February 7, 2005
Dear Friend,
We are in a war - fighting fallen angels now in league with Satan. Our army is
much more valuable than any in the physical realm - it is the army of the Lord!
Not one inch of progress will be uncontested by Satan and his minions. In
Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul warns of Satan's plans directed toward each of us. In
other words, Satan tailors his attacks to fit each person. If you're in the
military, you know the tactics of warfare are always changing and that soldiers
must be continually instructed and familiarized with these new techniques. What
soldier goes into battle without proper training? The results would be
disastrous! We, too, need to be consistently equipping ourselves with new and
improved weapons of warfare and be alert to how the enemy of our souls may be
changing his strategy. We must intently scope out areas in our lives and in
those we love where the enemy may be trying to get a foothold!
"We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the
Devil's strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that
keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious
ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
This is a very real war and we need to be dressed in full armor. Let Christ
Jesus Himself be the armor that you wear. "But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
(Romans 13:14) He is truth, righteousness and peace. Our faith and salvation
is in Him Who is the Word.
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with
all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:14-18
Notice that the only unprotected part in the armor is the back. This tells us we
must not turn and run, but to continually advance, taking back territory lost to
the enemy from the Fall. Paul urged his readers to "make the most of the
time" - being continually active in Christian witness and service.
Remaining on the offensive includes knowing where the battle is being fought.
The first activity mentioned once we have donned the armor is prayer. The place
and time of your prayer will be the battle's focal point.
Take a stand in Him, come to your enemy without fear, responding only in the
power and with the love of Christ. He is your armor; you are hidden in Him. Your
weakness, fear, and hostility will be covered by His strength, courage and
love.
We engage in spiritual warfare by the sheer act of pursuing Christ. Scripture
admonishes us to stand firm against the Devil and the evil forces of this world
by employing the full armor of God. BIBLE ANSWER MAN's Hank Hanegraaff tells
more in his FREE article, "What is Spiritual Warfare?":
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/lwghkd_ibbftf.html
Thoughts are extremely powerful tools that Satan can use to hinder our
relationship with Christ. Dr. Charles Stanley of IN TOUCH shows us how we are to
counteract negative thoughts that may infiltrate our mind. Read more in his FREE
article, "Whatever is True":
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/qmazlm_ibbftf.html
May the Lord richly bless you!
The Oneplace.com Team
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/culanh_ibbftf.html
Listen for Life!
--
To no longer receive email from this list send a blank email to mailto:unsub-ibbftfmbcg@crosswalkmail.com
OR send a postal mail to:
9401 Courthouse Rd., Ste 300
Chesterfield, VA 23832
God Is Good ... All the Time
My theme for the month we were in America was "God is good ... all the time!" It was what I clung to as we were all sick, as I worried about my mother, as I said good-bye.
We even taught the phrase in Estonian to the folks in Salem and Portland when we did the Sunday meetings there. But we got it wrong! Our friend Tõnis came over last night (how nice to have tea and prääniks with an Estonian friend again!) and told us that while the word "kõik" does mean all, in this instance it would be more correct to say "Jumal on hea (God is good) "KOGU aeg" (all the time). As that is about a million times easier for us to say, I wish we had known a month ago!
So, friends, let's say it together. God is good! All the time! Jumal (YOOmal) on hea (HAYa) kogu (KOgoo) aeg (AHegg).
Very good! Tubli!
It is so wonderful for us to be back in our own house. What a blessing it is to us! Today we closed out our old apartment, and while it was sad to leave a place I loved so much, it was great to come home. These are true luxuries of life, and I am so aware that so many do not have them: to sleep in your own bed, to be warmed by your own fire, to cook in your own kitchen, to have friends and family who love you.
Now that we are back home in Tartu, we promise to be more faithful with our blogging! Please tell everyone you know about our blog! I always said in Chester, we need all the help we can get! That is certainly true here as well, and we covet the prayers of those who read our blog faithfully. Thank you!!
Evelyn
We even taught the phrase in Estonian to the folks in Salem and Portland when we did the Sunday meetings there. But we got it wrong! Our friend Tõnis came over last night (how nice to have tea and prääniks with an Estonian friend again!) and told us that while the word "kõik" does mean all, in this instance it would be more correct to say "Jumal on hea (God is good) "KOGU aeg" (all the time). As that is about a million times easier for us to say, I wish we had known a month ago!
So, friends, let's say it together. God is good! All the time! Jumal (YOOmal) on hea (HAYa) kogu (KOgoo) aeg (AHegg).
Very good! Tubli!
It is so wonderful for us to be back in our own house. What a blessing it is to us! Today we closed out our old apartment, and while it was sad to leave a place I loved so much, it was great to come home. These are true luxuries of life, and I am so aware that so many do not have them: to sleep in your own bed, to be warmed by your own fire, to cook in your own kitchen, to have friends and family who love you.
Now that we are back home in Tartu, we promise to be more faithful with our blogging! Please tell everyone you know about our blog! I always said in Chester, we need all the help we can get! That is certainly true here as well, and we covet the prayers of those who read our blog faithfully. Thank you!!
Evelyn
teisipäev, veebruar 01, 2005
from the Journal of Aggressive Christianity
Being What We Are
by Commissioner Wesley Harris
IN his excellent new book, Turning points. Major Allen Satterlee writes that the Army is ‘most like the platypus, that creature that defies classification because it is neither mammal nor fowl. It has fur and appears mostly mammal. But then there are those webbed feet and the eggs it lays. The platypus is not terribly bothered by the problems we humans have in classifying it. It simply is what it is. We in The Salvation Army need to quit wringing our hands about what is different about us and rejoice that God has allowed us our own distinct identity’.
I say ‘Amen’ to that and am sorry that in some quarters there are Salvationists who seem to have an identity crisis. I believe that we should keep our nerve and humbly dare to be different if, as it appears, that is what God intended.
In recent years there has been an increased tendency in some places to refer to our corps as churches. Now of course, from the beginning Salvationists have believed that they have been part of THE Church and a lively limb of the Body of Christ. But generally they have not taken on ecclesiastical terms and titles, so why do so now?
I mean no disrespect to Christian friends outside the Army if I say that at least in Australia, the very secular part of the world where I live, the word ‘church’ does not conjure up a very good brand image. I wish it were otherwise, but here ‘churchianity’ has little general appeal, particularly to the young, although spirituality is far from dead in our post modern society.
As a reason for change of terms some may cite the fact that many see the Army only as a social agency and do not realise that our buildings are not only centres for welfare but places of worship. Then, without taking on a lot of ecclesiastical baggage through the use of church terms, that notion might be corrected by a notice describing the building as a ‘place of worship and service.’
I visited a corps where the upwardly mobile young corps sergeant-major preferred to be known as ‘the senior elder’ whatever that might mean to the secular mind. I wondered whether there were sociological reasons behind a preference for church terms. Perhaps ‘going to church’ sounded a little more respectable than ‘going to the Army’!
Personally, I prefer dynamic Army terms strange as they may appear to some. Rather than abandoning our image we should build on it. People think of the TSA as a ‘people’s army’ down to earth and ‘there when they’re needed’. If we are confined to our citadels and oblivious to the big world outside then we are not what people expect of us. Even more important we are not being true to our God-ordained mission. But thank God for many corps which are reaching out and drawing people into an accepting community.
In retirement I have knocked on hundreds of doors while our band has been playing in the streets, without one rebuff. The acceptance – even by those awakened from their Sunday morning slumbers – has been incredible. If I had been dressed in mufti and representing most other groups there would have been a lot more explaining to do!
I have often prayed that we Salvationists may be as good as people think we are. Apart from the grace of God most of us know that we are very ordinary indeed. But we have a ‘goodly heritage’ which can commend us to people and help us in our ministry. It is true that many who admire the Army do not consider joining us but there is little evidence that changing uniforms for vestments or bands for bells would bring more recruits.
Some of the most enthusiastic people I know are people who are new to the Army and see it with new eyes but there are others, long in the service, whose Salvationism has not gone stale but who are still enthusiastic about the movement despite the fact that it has faults - being made up of people like some of us.
Rather than being pale, carbon copies of other groups we should be ourselves. The Universal Church should not be characterised by dull sameness. We may well admire other expressions of Christianity but we don’t have to ape them. There is a diversity of gifts and we can rejoice in those God has graciously given to us in the Army.
© Copyright 1998-2004 JAC Online, Inc. All rights reserved.
by Commissioner Wesley Harris
IN his excellent new book, Turning points. Major Allen Satterlee writes that the Army is ‘most like the platypus, that creature that defies classification because it is neither mammal nor fowl. It has fur and appears mostly mammal. But then there are those webbed feet and the eggs it lays. The platypus is not terribly bothered by the problems we humans have in classifying it. It simply is what it is. We in The Salvation Army need to quit wringing our hands about what is different about us and rejoice that God has allowed us our own distinct identity’.
I say ‘Amen’ to that and am sorry that in some quarters there are Salvationists who seem to have an identity crisis. I believe that we should keep our nerve and humbly dare to be different if, as it appears, that is what God intended.
In recent years there has been an increased tendency in some places to refer to our corps as churches. Now of course, from the beginning Salvationists have believed that they have been part of THE Church and a lively limb of the Body of Christ. But generally they have not taken on ecclesiastical terms and titles, so why do so now?
I mean no disrespect to Christian friends outside the Army if I say that at least in Australia, the very secular part of the world where I live, the word ‘church’ does not conjure up a very good brand image. I wish it were otherwise, but here ‘churchianity’ has little general appeal, particularly to the young, although spirituality is far from dead in our post modern society.
As a reason for change of terms some may cite the fact that many see the Army only as a social agency and do not realise that our buildings are not only centres for welfare but places of worship. Then, without taking on a lot of ecclesiastical baggage through the use of church terms, that notion might be corrected by a notice describing the building as a ‘place of worship and service.’
I visited a corps where the upwardly mobile young corps sergeant-major preferred to be known as ‘the senior elder’ whatever that might mean to the secular mind. I wondered whether there were sociological reasons behind a preference for church terms. Perhaps ‘going to church’ sounded a little more respectable than ‘going to the Army’!
Personally, I prefer dynamic Army terms strange as they may appear to some. Rather than abandoning our image we should build on it. People think of the TSA as a ‘people’s army’ down to earth and ‘there when they’re needed’. If we are confined to our citadels and oblivious to the big world outside then we are not what people expect of us. Even more important we are not being true to our God-ordained mission. But thank God for many corps which are reaching out and drawing people into an accepting community.
In retirement I have knocked on hundreds of doors while our band has been playing in the streets, without one rebuff. The acceptance – even by those awakened from their Sunday morning slumbers – has been incredible. If I had been dressed in mufti and representing most other groups there would have been a lot more explaining to do!
I have often prayed that we Salvationists may be as good as people think we are. Apart from the grace of God most of us know that we are very ordinary indeed. But we have a ‘goodly heritage’ which can commend us to people and help us in our ministry. It is true that many who admire the Army do not consider joining us but there is little evidence that changing uniforms for vestments or bands for bells would bring more recruits.
Some of the most enthusiastic people I know are people who are new to the Army and see it with new eyes but there are others, long in the service, whose Salvationism has not gone stale but who are still enthusiastic about the movement despite the fact that it has faults - being made up of people like some of us.
Rather than being pale, carbon copies of other groups we should be ourselves. The Universal Church should not be characterised by dull sameness. We may well admire other expressions of Christianity but we don’t have to ape them. There is a diversity of gifts and we can rejoice in those God has graciously given to us in the Army.
© Copyright 1998-2004 JAC Online, Inc. All rights reserved.
from The Wittenburg Door
God's interview with Larry King about the tsunami...
Larry King: So, how are things?
God: Good, all things considered. I am excited about the new season of "The Bachelor"... Did you see the season premiere last night?
Larry: No. I only watch my own show.
God: I know. I was just checking.
Larry: So, let's get down to it. The tsunami. What's the story?
God: Well, what do you want to know?
Larry: To start with, the world seems to think You have some explaining to do. Do You care at all about what goes on down here?
God: Larry, I guarantee you that My Son and I have wept harder over this than you can fathom. My question for you is, "Do you HUMANS care at all what is going on down there". As I look into your hearts, I realize that many of you are disturbed about the tsunami because it proves your own helplessness, not because you are truly compassionate people.
Larry, do realize that for every week that passes on this planet, close to 300,000 people die of starvation? That is twice as many as died in the tsunami, BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK! Where is your outcry for them? Where is the news coverage? Where are the telethons with the movie stars?
The reality is, most of you only care when something invades your sense of security.
Larry: Sounds like you are dodging the question and pointing the finger. The question still remains, "Why? Why would You do this?"
God: Why do you think I did this?
Larry: Well, it seems that every pastor who gets some airtime says that "God was trying to get our attention", or that "God was punishing us." Some even say that "God chose to let it happen". Isn't this kind of death and destruction a little dramatic for teaching mankind a lesson? Doesn't that kind of punishment seem unfair, I mean, what did those Indonesian kids ever do to You? Are You powerless to prevent these things? Come on, give us the real story?
God: Yeah, those pastors can get annoying. They run their mouths without really thinking or praying about it. I think if they opened the Bible a little more, instead of just quoting it in their best sellers or throwing it at people, they might start pointing as many people to Me as they do away from Me!
Larry: So what are they missing? I want the truth.
God (with a snicker and an amazing Jack Nicholson impression): You can't handle the truth.
Larry: Sure I can. What do You have to say for Yourself?
God: Well, let's start with the "Trying to get your attention" theory. I am amazed that you folks only consider this theory when the bad stuff happens. Do you think that there is a second that goes by that I am not trying to get your attention? Do you not see that everything I have done, from the stars in the sky, to the cry of a newborn baby, to the life of My Own Son, is an attempt to get your attention?
Larry: So, are you saying that the tsunami WAS or WAS NOT a deliberate attempt to get our attention?
God: Was not. Do you not remember My Son saying, "It is a wicked and perverse generation that asks for a sign?".
Larry: I vaguely remember. What are You trying to say?
God: My Son showed you more miraculous and inexplicable signs than this tsunami. Imagine Him walking on top of that tsunami, or commanding it to stop, or bringing back to life someone who died because of it, four days later.
Larry: Wow. That would be some sign! Think He would do any of that on my show?
God: Point is, mankind tends to either be entertained by signs or explain them away, but very rarely do signs convict any of your hearts. I am not going to kill 150,000 innocent people just to make a point that most of you will ignore.
Larry: Granted. So, was it a form of punishment then?
God: Self knows you deserve it! But no.
Larry: But isn't that what You do, "punish the wicked" and things like that?
God: First of all Larry, the only thing that defines wickedness when it really comes down to it, is a choice to not choose Me. And that is a choice that even my most passionate children struggle with on a daily basis. That was kind of the whole point of My Son, to give you a hope, a vehicle, something to acknowledge your desire to be in a relationship with Me, even though you continue to blow it.
Larry: So then, are You punishing those who don't acknowledge Jesus?
God: No, not yet.
Larry: So, why then do people die tragically?
God: Larry, how old are you?
Larry: 78.
God: Larry.
Larry: 88
God: LARRY..
Larry: Alright, alright, I am 114.
God: Thank you. Larry, are you excited to die?
Larry: No, not really.
God: But why? Haven't you lived a great life? You have had more success than most will ever even dream of. You have had almost as many wives as Solomon. You've got enough money to cryogenically freeze yourself for a couple of millennia. I would guess that you would even say that you have no major regrets, right?
Larry: Yeah, so?
God: Well, as I hear most people talk about it, "they just want to live a good, full, life before they die". They say this, as if the sting of death is taken away by having "lived well". But the reality is, death hurts our hearts whenever it comes. Death is always tragic. Whether you die at 1 or 100, most people would always choose for a longer life. It's part of what makes you human.
Larry: Okay, agreed. Continue.
God: Point is, in this day and age, I do not use death to punish the overly wicked. The sad fact is, death is part of the deal, part of life. Adam & Eve brought it on mankind. Their willing choice separated them, and everyone after them, from the tree of life. Even then, I didn't punish them as much as I just followed through on my promise. Kind of one of the tough parts about being God. Having to stick to your word and all.
Life is 100% fatal, Larry. That is the way it is. My goal for your "first-time around" is not to take away death, but for you to learn to love me, because I choose to comfort you through it. "Yea, though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for I AM with you". NOT, "you will fear no evil, because I take you out of the valley".
Larry: So you're saying you weren't trying to make a point or deliver judgment?
God: Think about it Larry. Pretty much every time I did that in the Old Testament, I also gave you a prophet. I gave you someone who could clearly speak to the hearts of men about why this happened? Have you seen one yet? Have you seen one with any of the tragedies you can remember? I am not trying to make a point or punish people.
Larry: What about all the little kids who died, who never had an opportunity to make an educated choice about you?
God: Don't worry about them. I am a fair and just God, Larry.
Larry: What does that mean?
God: If I tried to explain it to you, your greasy hair would catch on fire and your head would explode. My judgment and grace are beyond your conceiving.
Larry: So, last question before we go to our break. If You are the all-powerful God, and could stop this, why didn't You?
God: It is all about free choice Larry.
Larry: How so?
God: This life is a crucible. Do you know what a crucible is used for, Larry?
Larry: It's a book, right?
God: Ummm. Anyway, a crucible is something used to heat things up and refine them, so that their purity can be discovered. I have allowed life to be like that. Truth is Larry, I don't care about judgement, or miracles, or signs, all I care about is you, and winning your heart.
Larry (smiling bashfully): Thanks.
God: Larry, you have been married so many times that only scientific notation can express it. Did all those women enter into it of their own free will?
Larry (chuckling): You can't prove otherwise.
God: Would you have wanted any of them to be "forced" into marrying you?
Larry: No.
God: Ever wonder if any of these amazingly gorgeous, significantly younger women you were marrying were doing it just for the money?
Larry: Wives 5 - 12.
God: Bummer, huh?
Larry: Yep.
God: I don't want to wonder, Larry. I want to know that those who choose Me, choose Me in sickness and in health. In poor and in plenty. The minute I begin tinkering with the way the world is, you'd either forget Me, or love Me for the wrong reasons.
Am I powerless? No, I am more powerful than you can conceive. Do you know how much will-power it takes to watch those you love make a mess of their lives, and reject Me in the process?
Tsunamis, tornadoes, heart attacks, birth defects, cancer from second-hand smoke, murder, whatever, are all products of a fallen world. That's all there is to it. I don't make it happen, but I desperately want to help you pick up the pieces.
I want a relationship with you. But, before I spend an eternity with you, I want to know that you want Me too. That is what this life, with all its good and bad is. It's a chance for you to give me an authentic "Yes" or "No".
Larry: Can I say, "maybe"?
God: Maybe. But remember, life is shorter than you think Larry.
By T. Pylus
Online Extra, February 2005
Larry King: So, how are things?
God: Good, all things considered. I am excited about the new season of "The Bachelor"... Did you see the season premiere last night?
Larry: No. I only watch my own show.
God: I know. I was just checking.
Larry: So, let's get down to it. The tsunami. What's the story?
God: Well, what do you want to know?
Larry: To start with, the world seems to think You have some explaining to do. Do You care at all about what goes on down here?
God: Larry, I guarantee you that My Son and I have wept harder over this than you can fathom. My question for you is, "Do you HUMANS care at all what is going on down there". As I look into your hearts, I realize that many of you are disturbed about the tsunami because it proves your own helplessness, not because you are truly compassionate people.
Larry, do realize that for every week that passes on this planet, close to 300,000 people die of starvation? That is twice as many as died in the tsunami, BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK! Where is your outcry for them? Where is the news coverage? Where are the telethons with the movie stars?
The reality is, most of you only care when something invades your sense of security.
Larry: Sounds like you are dodging the question and pointing the finger. The question still remains, "Why? Why would You do this?"
God: Why do you think I did this?
Larry: Well, it seems that every pastor who gets some airtime says that "God was trying to get our attention", or that "God was punishing us." Some even say that "God chose to let it happen". Isn't this kind of death and destruction a little dramatic for teaching mankind a lesson? Doesn't that kind of punishment seem unfair, I mean, what did those Indonesian kids ever do to You? Are You powerless to prevent these things? Come on, give us the real story?
God: Yeah, those pastors can get annoying. They run their mouths without really thinking or praying about it. I think if they opened the Bible a little more, instead of just quoting it in their best sellers or throwing it at people, they might start pointing as many people to Me as they do away from Me!
Larry: So what are they missing? I want the truth.
God (with a snicker and an amazing Jack Nicholson impression): You can't handle the truth.
Larry: Sure I can. What do You have to say for Yourself?
God: Well, let's start with the "Trying to get your attention" theory. I am amazed that you folks only consider this theory when the bad stuff happens. Do you think that there is a second that goes by that I am not trying to get your attention? Do you not see that everything I have done, from the stars in the sky, to the cry of a newborn baby, to the life of My Own Son, is an attempt to get your attention?
Larry: So, are you saying that the tsunami WAS or WAS NOT a deliberate attempt to get our attention?
God: Was not. Do you not remember My Son saying, "It is a wicked and perverse generation that asks for a sign?".
Larry: I vaguely remember. What are You trying to say?
God: My Son showed you more miraculous and inexplicable signs than this tsunami. Imagine Him walking on top of that tsunami, or commanding it to stop, or bringing back to life someone who died because of it, four days later.
Larry: Wow. That would be some sign! Think He would do any of that on my show?
God: Point is, mankind tends to either be entertained by signs or explain them away, but very rarely do signs convict any of your hearts. I am not going to kill 150,000 innocent people just to make a point that most of you will ignore.
Larry: Granted. So, was it a form of punishment then?
God: Self knows you deserve it! But no.
Larry: But isn't that what You do, "punish the wicked" and things like that?
God: First of all Larry, the only thing that defines wickedness when it really comes down to it, is a choice to not choose Me. And that is a choice that even my most passionate children struggle with on a daily basis. That was kind of the whole point of My Son, to give you a hope, a vehicle, something to acknowledge your desire to be in a relationship with Me, even though you continue to blow it.
Larry: So then, are You punishing those who don't acknowledge Jesus?
God: No, not yet.
Larry: So, why then do people die tragically?
God: Larry, how old are you?
Larry: 78.
God: Larry.
Larry: 88
God: LARRY..
Larry: Alright, alright, I am 114.
God: Thank you. Larry, are you excited to die?
Larry: No, not really.
God: But why? Haven't you lived a great life? You have had more success than most will ever even dream of. You have had almost as many wives as Solomon. You've got enough money to cryogenically freeze yourself for a couple of millennia. I would guess that you would even say that you have no major regrets, right?
Larry: Yeah, so?
God: Well, as I hear most people talk about it, "they just want to live a good, full, life before they die". They say this, as if the sting of death is taken away by having "lived well". But the reality is, death hurts our hearts whenever it comes. Death is always tragic. Whether you die at 1 or 100, most people would always choose for a longer life. It's part of what makes you human.
Larry: Okay, agreed. Continue.
God: Point is, in this day and age, I do not use death to punish the overly wicked. The sad fact is, death is part of the deal, part of life. Adam & Eve brought it on mankind. Their willing choice separated them, and everyone after them, from the tree of life. Even then, I didn't punish them as much as I just followed through on my promise. Kind of one of the tough parts about being God. Having to stick to your word and all.
Life is 100% fatal, Larry. That is the way it is. My goal for your "first-time around" is not to take away death, but for you to learn to love me, because I choose to comfort you through it. "Yea, though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for I AM with you". NOT, "you will fear no evil, because I take you out of the valley".
Larry: So you're saying you weren't trying to make a point or deliver judgment?
God: Think about it Larry. Pretty much every time I did that in the Old Testament, I also gave you a prophet. I gave you someone who could clearly speak to the hearts of men about why this happened? Have you seen one yet? Have you seen one with any of the tragedies you can remember? I am not trying to make a point or punish people.
Larry: What about all the little kids who died, who never had an opportunity to make an educated choice about you?
God: Don't worry about them. I am a fair and just God, Larry.
Larry: What does that mean?
God: If I tried to explain it to you, your greasy hair would catch on fire and your head would explode. My judgment and grace are beyond your conceiving.
Larry: So, last question before we go to our break. If You are the all-powerful God, and could stop this, why didn't You?
God: It is all about free choice Larry.
Larry: How so?
God: This life is a crucible. Do you know what a crucible is used for, Larry?
Larry: It's a book, right?
God: Ummm. Anyway, a crucible is something used to heat things up and refine them, so that their purity can be discovered. I have allowed life to be like that. Truth is Larry, I don't care about judgement, or miracles, or signs, all I care about is you, and winning your heart.
Larry (smiling bashfully): Thanks.
God: Larry, you have been married so many times that only scientific notation can express it. Did all those women enter into it of their own free will?
Larry (chuckling): You can't prove otherwise.
God: Would you have wanted any of them to be "forced" into marrying you?
Larry: No.
God: Ever wonder if any of these amazingly gorgeous, significantly younger women you were marrying were doing it just for the money?
Larry: Wives 5 - 12.
God: Bummer, huh?
Larry: Yep.
God: I don't want to wonder, Larry. I want to know that those who choose Me, choose Me in sickness and in health. In poor and in plenty. The minute I begin tinkering with the way the world is, you'd either forget Me, or love Me for the wrong reasons.
Am I powerless? No, I am more powerful than you can conceive. Do you know how much will-power it takes to watch those you love make a mess of their lives, and reject Me in the process?
Tsunamis, tornadoes, heart attacks, birth defects, cancer from second-hand smoke, murder, whatever, are all products of a fallen world. That's all there is to it. I don't make it happen, but I desperately want to help you pick up the pieces.
I want a relationship with you. But, before I spend an eternity with you, I want to know that you want Me too. That is what this life, with all its good and bad is. It's a chance for you to give me an authentic "Yes" or "No".
Larry: Can I say, "maybe"?
God: Maybe. But remember, life is shorter than you think Larry.
By T. Pylus
Online Extra, February 2005
