Today I watched the closing ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics. For the last 16 days, I've enjoyed being able to watch live in the morning many of the events live, as Beijing is 6 hours ahead of Paris. We were in the U.S. 4 years ago during the Athens Olympics and in France for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. I was in Paris and single during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and at candidate school in Elgin, Illinois for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics that the Dream Team dominated in men's basketball. I was in Albertville, France during the 1988 Seoul Olympics and in NJ right out of college for the 1984 Los Angeles games.
Over the years, the world political scene has changed. Since the Berlin Wall fell in 1990, the U.S.'s fierce competition against Cuba, the former U.S.S.R., and the former East Germany has decreased. Today, China had the most gold medals, but the U.S. had the most total medals. In team sports, the U.S. generally did well: gold medals in men's & women's basketball, men's volleyball, women's soccer, as well as pairs that won the men's & women's beach volleyball. The U.S. got silver medals in women's volleyball, women's artistic gymnastics, men's & women's water polo, and women's softball, while getting the bronze in men's artistic gymnastics. Michael Phelps fulfilled his desire for 8 gold medals (including 7 world records) in 5 individual and 3 relay events. Natasha Lumpkin (sp) won the women's all around gymnastics gold medal.
Now the biggest rivalry is between the U.S. and China. It's funny how sports & politics are often related. China did a good job in pulling off these games, particularly with amazing opening and closing ceremonies.
I love it when the world's nations are together. This morning in church, the preacher mentioned John Wesley's quote that "The world is my parish." The nations of the world are God's, even though all haven't yet bowed the knee to Him.
Now that the Olympics are done, it's time to get geared up for my kids' starting school in 9 dyas. La Rentrée 2008 is nearly upon us. But it's been a good summer here in Europe.
dimanche 24 août 2008
lundi 11 août 2008
Comings and Goings
Today our friends Daniel & Anne-Sylvie moved from Paris to Alsace in eastern France. For the past 4 years, Anne-Sylvia has worked as guardian at our church of the past 8 years. Over these years, there have been 4 different guardians, with Anne-Sylvie having the longest tenure of them.
They are the 4th & 5th people whom our kids enjoyed going to on Sundays who have departed from the church in the last several months. It will be strange to not have Daniel, Anne-Sylvie, Brent, Liz, and Antoinette around. They and many others have departed from the church for a variety of different reasons. 4 of these 5 have moved out of the area, so it was obvious that they would need to change churches. But many others still live in the area, but have sought out other church pastures for different reasons.
After 8 years at our current church, we don't take lightly any considering about changing churches. But for a variety of different reasons, we also are considering a change. We don't want to be consumers of programs without getting involved ourselves. But we are looking for certain ministry priorites that are important for our well being and especially for the spiritual development of our children. I want them to enjoy going to church, rather than drudging it. I want them lin appropriate was.
But for now, it's time to go to bed!!
They are the 4th & 5th people whom our kids enjoyed going to on Sundays who have departed from the church in the last several months. It will be strange to not have Daniel, Anne-Sylvie, Brent, Liz, and Antoinette around. They and many others have departed from the church for a variety of different reasons. 4 of these 5 have moved out of the area, so it was obvious that they would need to change churches. But many others still live in the area, but have sought out other church pastures for different reasons.
After 8 years at our current church, we don't take lightly any considering about changing churches. But for a variety of different reasons, we also are considering a change. We don't want to be consumers of programs without getting involved ourselves. But we are looking for certain ministry priorites that are important for our well being and especially for the spiritual development of our children. I want them to enjoy going to church, rather than drudging it. I want them lin appropriate was.
But for now, it's time to go to bed!!
Comings and Goings
Today our friends Daniel & Anne-Sylvie moved from Paris to Alsace in eastern France. For the past 4 years, Anne-Sylvia has worked as guardian at our church of the past 8 years. Over these years, there have been 4 different guardians, with Anne-Sylvie having the longest tenure of them.
They are the 4th & 5th people whom our kids enjoyed going to on Sundays who have departed from the church in the last several months. It will be strange to not have Daniel, Anne-Sylvie, Brent, Liz, and Antoinette around. They and many others have departed from the church for a variety of different reasons. 4 of these 5 have moved out of the area, so it was obvious that they would need to change churches. But many others still live in the area, but have sought out other church pastures for different reasons.
After 8 years at our current church, we don't take lightly any considering about changing churches. But for a variety of different reasons, we also are considering a change. We don't want to be consumers of programs without getting involved ourselves. But we are looking for certain ministry priorites that are important for our well being and especially for the spiritual development of our children. I want them to enjoy going to church, rather than drudging it. I want them lin appropriate was.
But for now, it's time to go to bed!!
They are the 4th & 5th people whom our kids enjoyed going to on Sundays who have departed from the church in the last several months. It will be strange to not have Daniel, Anne-Sylvie, Brent, Liz, and Antoinette around. They and many others have departed from the church for a variety of different reasons. 4 of these 5 have moved out of the area, so it was obvious that they would need to change churches. But many others still live in the area, but have sought out other church pastures for different reasons.
After 8 years at our current church, we don't take lightly any considering about changing churches. But for a variety of different reasons, we also are considering a change. We don't want to be consumers of programs without getting involved ourselves. But we are looking for certain ministry priorites that are important for our well being and especially for the spiritual development of our children. I want them to enjoy going to church, rather than drudging it. I want them lin appropriate was.
But for now, it's time to go to bed!!
samedi 9 août 2008
11 year wedding anniversary
11 years ago I tied the knot with my wife. Little did I know what I was getting into, even though I was nearly 36 at the time. Marriage has definitely been a school of life and character building for me. My wife and I are naturally different in many ways, which sometimes brings conflict, but also brings complementarity & a variety of perspectives, skills, and approaches to life.
We've travelled many tens of thousands of miles together by car and plane. Last week she voiced that one thing that we enjoy doing together is exploring new places. We've been to many places together these past 11 years. These include the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Hungary, Switzerland, and many sections of France and the U.S.
We've helped produce 3 children, with a 4th due in November. We were only planning on 2 when we got married, and not even sure if that would be possible, due to some fertility problems in my wife. But God graciously healed her body and has made it a place that carries life.
What do the next 11 years hold? Only God knows. Each day is a gift from Him to be enjoyed and fully lived, as we aren't guarantied tomorrow. But we can trust in God's goodness & provision & generosity, just as we've seen them these past 11 years.
It is nice to have the same roommate, except for the few times that I travel for ministry reasons. We're still discovering things about each other, but definitely know each other better than we did 11 years ago.
We've travelled many tens of thousands of miles together by car and plane. Last week she voiced that one thing that we enjoy doing together is exploring new places. We've been to many places together these past 11 years. These include the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Hungary, Switzerland, and many sections of France and the U.S.
We've helped produce 3 children, with a 4th due in November. We were only planning on 2 when we got married, and not even sure if that would be possible, due to some fertility problems in my wife. But God graciously healed her body and has made it a place that carries life.
What do the next 11 years hold? Only God knows. Each day is a gift from Him to be enjoyed and fully lived, as we aren't guarantied tomorrow. But we can trust in God's goodness & provision & generosity, just as we've seen them these past 11 years.
It is nice to have the same roommate, except for the few times that I travel for ministry reasons. We're still discovering things about each other, but definitely know each other better than we did 11 years ago.
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