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Blog
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Wednesday, 15 November 2006 00:00 |
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
Silas' eyes gleamed over his yogurt. "I'm so glad my classmates get to hear about God." He was looking at his cahier de vie (life notebook) sitting on the breakfast table. The story started about a week earlier. We were celebrating St. Martin's day with Silas' class, each child carried a hand made lantern on the end of a stick. A candle flickered inside the thin colorful paper. They sang traditional songs in both German and French. "Daddy," Silas said. "I don't think many of the kids at school know about God. I would like to tell them about God in my cahier de vie."
Every Monday morning the students bring in their notebooks and share something about their weekend or life in general. They draw pictures or paste photos and write their thoughts. We translate what Silas says into French so his teacher can share it with his class. Silas was very serious as he worked on his project, drawing a cross under a blue sky. This is what he said,
"I would like to tell you about the Lord God, Jesus Christ. You can read about him in the Bible. I would like to tell you a verse from the Bible. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life - John 3:16. Jesus is the most important thing. If you believe in him and ask him into your heart you will be saved from your sins. Sin means doing wrong."
Sincere care for his classmates and the hope of sharing his faith put an enormous smile on Silas' during breakfast. Later that day, Silas came running up the stairs, his eyes were wet and his voice cracked as he spoke. "Daddy, we have some bad news. The French government doesn't let people talk about God in school." It was as I'd feared. Silas' teacher couldn't share his notebook with the class. The director of his school explained to me today that even though that is in Silas' heart, at school we have to leave religion at the door. Secularity is an untouchable pillar of the school system. The spiritual oppression we know all too well in France squeezed me. I wanted to ask him how he thinks it feels to tear your heart out every morning, to be asked to lay aside an integral part of who you are.
Silas cried when his teacher told him she couldn't read his cahier de vie. Maybe he felt left out, but mostly it was because he wanted so badly his classmates to hear about God. I don't remember the last time I shed tears for those who don't know the Lord. Jesus cried out over Jerusalem, "how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."
How heavy the weight of eternity can be. Let's make a difference in someone's life! |
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Friday, 15 September 2006 00:00 |
Who can hear the William Tell Overture and not think of the Lone Ranger? I was beyond belief when Aric, a college friend, told me that he actually thought of William Tell. Who or what do you think of?! During Silas' home school, we read a book called The Apple and the Arrow, recounting the story of William Tell. Did you know Tell played a role in Switzerland gaining its independance? How much of his story is history and how much is legend really can't be known, but it's a remarkable story. "Do you know that William Tell had an overature written for him?" I asked Silas. Here is a clean slate, I thought. Silas has never seen the Lone Ranger, so I can put the correct association with the music! With much anticipation, for both me and Silas, I put on the famous overture. Silas listened with intent. Finally he spoke, "That music is from Thomas and the rocket engine! That's what they play when he's being pushed by the rocket!" Aaah. My plan foiled, there was nothing I could do. The creaters of Thomas the tank engine had gotten to him first!
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Thursday, 31 August 2006 00:00 |
 Stonehenge is a magnificent structure. Why was it made? How was it made? We still don't know. Maybe what's most remarkable about Stonehenge is that it's still here. There were many other henges built, some were circular ditches in the ground and some with wooden posts. But for some reason, thousands of years ago, someone with the vision and ability said, "I want to make this structure out of stone." And it's still here today for us to walk around holding the audio tour to our ear.
Being from the United States I learned a lot of American history growing up. In Europe, however, you feel the depth of the history. You can walk on stone streets laid before Christ ... or see ornate stone churches that still stand after hundreds and hundreds of years. It's not that America's history is absent, it's just that those living there hundreds of years ago didn't build with stone. We don't have a real long term mentality asking what will this building look like three hundred years from now.
Then I think about my life. What am I building with? We live in an ephemeral age, holding our photographs on disks that may not be readable in 50 years, writing on web sites that may not exist past this season. What will our grandchildren's grandchildren say about the 2000s? What am I building that is in stone?
Peter writes to those who believe in Christ, "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4,5)
In the spiritual realm, Jesus is stone, and so we become when we believe in Him. When we share Christ with others, we help build a spiritual house of stone that will last forever.
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Thursday, 01 June 2006 00:00 |
 We had a fairly intense visit to Birmingham and Rennes. May says she's going to pay closer attention when I plan our travel itinerary. But we were only late for two out of three connections! I'm convinced that God actually delayed our flight home 1 hour so that we could be on it.
In Birmingham we stayed at the home of Andy and Tiffany Atkins, the national director for the UK. We were privileged to spend so much time with them, asking tons of questions, getting a feel for the culture and trying to picture what it might be like to live there. The time was intense, and we're still assimilating all of the information. Birmingham is a large, formerly industrial city that's finding its identity. The downtown is fairly newly built, and is amazing. What was more amazing is the Krispy Kreme donut shop we saw, and that there is a Costco there! Many of our questions were about British culture, since we've never lived there. We learned a lot, especially on the language side. A note to Americans who visit the UK, don't ask mention someone's "khaki pants" or refer to your "fanny pack". They have entirely different meanings there. Proper is a good word to describe the people there. One point to consider is that the cost of living in the UK is incredibly high. There would be a number of challenges and adjustments.
 Rennes
There are plusses and negatives - lots to think through. Thanks for praying for our time. The boys were very well taken care of, and seemed to have had lots of fun. Silas and his brother are extra cuddly with us back, which is nice. Efrem developed a new look that surprised us, a furled eyebrow "what you talkin about?!" kind of look. We'll try to capture it in a photo. A bruise on his forehead is thankfully all Efrem sustained from tumbling down a flight of stairs. Some of us make the angels work overtime! |
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