Tonight I watched the finals of the UEFA League Championship with FC Barcelone defeating Manchester United. It was a well played match that FC Barcelone won 2-0. One of my favorite French players, Thierry Henry, is on FC Barcelone. Both teams last night had a mixture of players from different nations, including South Korea, the Netherlands, UK, France, Spain, and some African ones. Soccer is definitely a worldwide sport.
While watching the king and prime minister shake hands with the players, it struck me that I must have some Spanish blood in me. For the Philippines was a Spanish colony for a couple of centuries, until the U.S. took it over in 1898. I'll never know how much Spanish I have in me. But last night was the first time where I felt some kind of bond with Spain.
Sometime I'll need to meditate more about the Spanish roots that I undoubtably must have. I also have a desire for the first time to visit Spain.
My kids enjoy the story of Jonah. When he is disobeying God and taking a ship to a distant place away from Ninevah, that place was in Spain.
mercredi 27 mai 2009
lundi 25 mai 2009
Reel Spirituality
While waiting around for my son to do his weekly Monday evening swim lesson, I started reading Rob Johnston's "Reel Spirituality." This is a book about how Christians need to learn to get engaged in the discussion about films. We need to develop discernment in "seeing" what we look at. This means looking at films theologically.
Tonight at the monthly Fonderie meeting for artists, B-R showed us clips from 3 films, including one from "The Blade Runner." He and Olivier lead the monthly PaveCine film night.
His reflections triggered some interesting discussion tonight. One point was whether there is truly "Christian art" that exists. Another discussion theme was whether there were artistic activities that help our reflection about God.
It's starting to rain and lighting outside, so I'm going to close and turn of this computer for now.
Tonight at the monthly Fonderie meeting for artists, B-R showed us clips from 3 films, including one from "The Blade Runner." He and Olivier lead the monthly PaveCine film night.
His reflections triggered some interesting discussion tonight. One point was whether there is truly "Christian art" that exists. Another discussion theme was whether there were artistic activities that help our reflection about God.
It's starting to rain and lighting outside, so I'm going to close and turn of this computer for now.
samedi 23 mai 2009
Given the permission to dream
It's Sunday morning and I'm in my office at home. My 2 older kids are playing computer games, while I'm sniffling and wheezing and fighting a summer cold. The cold is irritating and more tiring than I remember colds being. We've been very blessed as a family this summer to have had a very healthy winter with hardly any illness.
During the last couple of weeks, I've been thinking more about the future. In particular, the future of our work in France. A couple of my current readings, particularly a couple of books on leadership by Andy Stanley, have triggered this. He talks about leaders as being people who give people permission to dream. A book by Tim Keller on the parable of the prodigal son has also given some dreams about the the kind of church(es) that I want to see developing in Paris and around the world. I've also been part of a leadership team meeting of the arts ministry I'm with, as well as another meeting this past Wednesday with its founder and executive director.
We're planning a 2 month summer Home Ministry Assignment in the U.S. Even yesterday, I began to try to think outside the box about HMAs, ministry support, and how I would like for these to work out in the future.
We were blessed 10 days ago by a visit of 7 women who were at a women's retreat that my wife attended 2 weekends ago in Lyon, France. They prayed for us and our neighborhood. I probably need to do some dreaming about short-term teams and interns and how that process could and should work out.
As a father and husband, I need to do more dreaming about this as well. As all kids ended up having lunch at school this past Tuesday, I was able to do a lunch date with my wife. We also went to the Parc de la Villette on Thursday, a national holiday in France known as Ascension Day.
Another idea that has struck me is that sometimes certain structures need to get in place in order to allow for greater growth. Some of these structures might seem very difficult or non-existent at this time. However, these disciplines need to happen.
During the last couple of weeks, I've been thinking more about the future. In particular, the future of our work in France. A couple of my current readings, particularly a couple of books on leadership by Andy Stanley, have triggered this. He talks about leaders as being people who give people permission to dream. A book by Tim Keller on the parable of the prodigal son has also given some dreams about the the kind of church(es) that I want to see developing in Paris and around the world. I've also been part of a leadership team meeting of the arts ministry I'm with, as well as another meeting this past Wednesday with its founder and executive director.
We're planning a 2 month summer Home Ministry Assignment in the U.S. Even yesterday, I began to try to think outside the box about HMAs, ministry support, and how I would like for these to work out in the future.
We were blessed 10 days ago by a visit of 7 women who were at a women's retreat that my wife attended 2 weekends ago in Lyon, France. They prayed for us and our neighborhood. I probably need to do some dreaming about short-term teams and interns and how that process could and should work out.
As a father and husband, I need to do more dreaming about this as well. As all kids ended up having lunch at school this past Tuesday, I was able to do a lunch date with my wife. We also went to the Parc de la Villette on Thursday, a national holiday in France known as Ascension Day.
Another idea that has struck me is that sometimes certain structures need to get in place in order to allow for greater growth. Some of these structures might seem very difficult or non-existent at this time. However, these disciplines need to happen.
vendredi 15 mai 2009
The Prodigal God
Today I started reading Tim Keller's book "The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith" (Dutton: NY, 2008). I've heard many good things about Pastor Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church of NYC. But this is my first opportunity to read a book of his.
I feel like I've found a friend, as so much of what I've already read resonates with me, both theologically as well as practically. I now can understand why Redeemer is growing, both as a church, as well as a church starter. I like very much that Keller is doing ministry in a city like NYC, which has many similarities to Paris in terms of its cultural influence. Both Parisiens and New Yorkers tend to be very skeptical people as well.
This book deals with the story of the 2 lost sons, which has often been called "The Prodigal Son." I did a lot of reflection on this story in 2002 and have read and reread Henri Nouwen's "The Return of the Prodigal" a number of times. So much of what I read today wasn't new information. However, Keller seems to understand where urban people are and can relate to them.
There are so many quotable sections of the book.
In his chapter "The People around Jesus," Keller writes (pp. 16-17):
In his chapter "Refining Sin," Keller writes (p. 43):
I feel like I've found a friend, as so much of what I've already read resonates with me, both theologically as well as practically. I now can understand why Redeemer is growing, both as a church, as well as a church starter. I like very much that Keller is doing ministry in a city like NYC, which has many similarities to Paris in terms of its cultural influence. Both Parisiens and New Yorkers tend to be very skeptical people as well.
This book deals with the story of the 2 lost sons, which has often been called "The Prodigal Son." I did a lot of reflection on this story in 2002 and have read and reread Henri Nouwen's "The Return of the Prodigal" a number of times. So much of what I read today wasn't new information. However, Keller seems to understand where urban people are and can relate to them.
There are so many quotable sections of the book.
In his chapter "The People around Jesus," Keller writes (pp. 16-17):
Jesus' teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day. However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect. The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted are not attracted to contemporary churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw the conservative, buttoned-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church. That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did. If our churches aren't appealing to younger brothers, they must be more full of elder brothers than we'd like to think.
In his chapter "Refining Sin," Keller writes (p. 43):
Here, then, is Jesus' radical redefinition of what is wrong with us. Nearly everyone defines sin as breaking a list of rules. Jesus, though, shows us that a man who has violated virtually nothingon the list of moral misbehaviors can be every bit as spiritually lost as the most profligate, immoral person. Why? Because sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge must as each son ought to displace the authority of the father in his own life.
mercredi 6 mai 2009
Big families
It's nearly 3:00 a.m. and I'm still working on stuff. It's nice to have everyone sleeping, as it's easier to think and get things done. As I work out of home a lot, it's hard to be creative thinking when everyone is around. Fortunately, it was a productive day.
As I'm doing some busy work, I'm watching a documentary on large families in France on the film "C'est Quoi l'Amour" ("What is love?") It's nice to see some of the family life here and see that some of the past and current family "dramas" in our home are also happening in the lives of these families with 5 to 8 kids. One psychologist just said that having a large family is like running an enterprise. One comment that all the mothers made is that they need to run their homes in an orderly, almost military-like way.
I received an e-mail of the birth of Anna to friends Luc and Karen. We've known Karen since 1996 and rejoiced with her marriage to Luc 1 1/2 years ago. Karen and I lead a small group at another church in 1996. She looked radiant at her wedding and now she's a mom. Luc is a conscientious man who will be a great father. I'm glad to be able to rejoice with them, rather than feeling sad or jealous of them.
Other necessities for having large families are giving up on perfectionism and helping divide up the family tasks among all the children.
We have a number of contacts in our neighborhood who just have 1 child. After having seen how some of them act, I would have some concern if one of my kids married someone from an only child situation. I love seeing my kids relate (at least most of the time, when they aren't in a dispute). They are learning how to relate to other in the world as they relate together.
Another point is that it's good for parents to show that they aren't perfect and that it's ok to not be perfect. I have a harder time with this pertinent point.
Another point is that one of the father's roles is to be a separator between the mother and the children. Interesting.
Another point is that it is a particular "calling" or chosen style of life to have a large family, as it involves certain sacrifices. For children, it teaches fraternity and community. But having a large family doesn't always mean being together. In fact, it's important for kids to have some alone time, by themselves, as well as with the mom or dad.
There is always laundry to do and life often involves early mornings and late nights.
As I'm doing some busy work, I'm watching a documentary on large families in France on the film "C'est Quoi l'Amour" ("What is love?") It's nice to see some of the family life here and see that some of the past and current family "dramas" in our home are also happening in the lives of these families with 5 to 8 kids. One psychologist just said that having a large family is like running an enterprise. One comment that all the mothers made is that they need to run their homes in an orderly, almost military-like way.
I received an e-mail of the birth of Anna to friends Luc and Karen. We've known Karen since 1996 and rejoiced with her marriage to Luc 1 1/2 years ago. Karen and I lead a small group at another church in 1996. She looked radiant at her wedding and now she's a mom. Luc is a conscientious man who will be a great father. I'm glad to be able to rejoice with them, rather than feeling sad or jealous of them.
Other necessities for having large families are giving up on perfectionism and helping divide up the family tasks among all the children.
We have a number of contacts in our neighborhood who just have 1 child. After having seen how some of them act, I would have some concern if one of my kids married someone from an only child situation. I love seeing my kids relate (at least most of the time, when they aren't in a dispute). They are learning how to relate to other in the world as they relate together.
Another point is that it's good for parents to show that they aren't perfect and that it's ok to not be perfect. I have a harder time with this pertinent point.
Another point is that one of the father's roles is to be a separator between the mother and the children. Interesting.
Another point is that it is a particular "calling" or chosen style of life to have a large family, as it involves certain sacrifices. For children, it teaches fraternity and community. But having a large family doesn't always mean being together. In fact, it's important for kids to have some alone time, by themselves, as well as with the mom or dad.
There is always laundry to do and life often involves early mornings and late nights.
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