I have put off for too long this entry. There is no inspiring or cool title that encapsulates all that has happened. So here goes.
Last Sunday morning we visited the young church "Un Coeur pour Paris" ("a heart for Paris"). Starting this month, it meets Sunday mornings at the arts space where our art ministry center is located. I hadn't been there for a "church" type of meeting since our Jessica's memorial service. I couldn't help but flash back to that meeting on November 8. Pastor Michel gave another interesting sermon that was user friendly to artists. Our kids enjoyed playing with some other kids their own age. Trafic flowed nicely on Sunday morning and parking was easy to find as well. So we'll be back here again.
Weatherwise, we've gone from snow that stuck around for nearly a week to a warm day yesterday where our son got to try out a new bike. On Tuesday, some former neighbors with twins gave us their 2 bikes that they had grown out of. Then on Wednesday I went out to Maisons-Lafitte in the western suburbs to pick up another bike that some friends also gave us. So now we have 3 bikes for our kids. It's surprising how God provided for this desire.
Yesterday I met with a young couple who arrived in Paris 3 months ago with another agency. They are about the age I was when I first arrived in France 21 years ago. It was neat to get to talk with them. One thing that I hope to spend more time doing is coaching of new workers in Paris. I've been doing some e-mails this week dealing with some issues of new people arriving in Paris for ministry, such as housing and language acquisition. There seem to be a large wave of new people here or in the process of coming to Paris. I enjoy networking and coaching.
I've been doing some reading and reflection time this month in the Psalms, Proverbs, Nehemiah, and Acts. I've started reading a book called "Visionneering" by Andy Stanley of Northpoint Church in Atlanta. It's good to get back to some basics again.
Through Facebook, I've been in touch with some peers from youth group in the 1970s, as well as some young people I worked with in the 1980s. Interesting to be able to stay connected with so many through this tool. Like all technology, it is a double edged sword with potential for great good and great evil.
Tomorrow night we're planning on going as a family to "Verticale," the monthly prayer and worship evening that la Fonderie helps coordinate. I'm curious to see how our kids like it.
The son-in-law of the senior pastor of a supporting church was the pilot of a helicopter in an accident at Texas A&M University earlier this week. It appears to have been caused by mechanical failure. One of his crew died and another one is in critical condition. Ellis, the pilot, has some major broken bones as well, but doesn't appear in danger of dying. But I guess that this accident will also have some emotional and psychological challenges for him, as well as spiritual ones, in the days ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. This is a reminder of how fragile life really is.
vendredi 16 janvier 2009
jeudi 8 janvier 2009
Good news, Bad news
I spent some time looking at our financial support papers from our organization. Despite the tough economic times in 2008, the donations toward our support have been about the same as they were the last 3 years. In calculating the gifts made directly to us, 2008 has been a good year. As usual, December contributions were the double of our average month.
As for bad news, I received it about the son that our friends Joy and Steve are expecting for April in Illinois. During an ultrasound last week, they learned that their unborn son has club feet, a couple of heart problems, and potential problems related to hand grasp. Reading their report brought back memories of the maternity ward when they couldn't track a heartbeat in Jessica.
I've been listening to some of the songs that brought me much consolation during that first week after her death. Thankfully, their son is still alive. Hopefully his potential health challenges may be resolved either by miraculous or medical means.
Our thoughts and prayers are with this family, who already have 4 other children. May God do good unto all of them, including the boy in the womb.
As for bad news, I received it about the son that our friends Joy and Steve are expecting for April in Illinois. During an ultrasound last week, they learned that their unborn son has club feet, a couple of heart problems, and potential problems related to hand grasp. Reading their report brought back memories of the maternity ward when they couldn't track a heartbeat in Jessica.
I've been listening to some of the songs that brought me much consolation during that first week after her death. Thankfully, their son is still alive. Hopefully his potential health challenges may be resolved either by miraculous or medical means.
Our thoughts and prayers are with this family, who already have 4 other children. May God do good unto all of them, including the boy in the womb.
mercredi 7 janvier 2009
New intern Em
Last night I left for the airport around 11:00 p.m. to pick up Em, an Australian university student who is doing a 1 month short-term internship in Paris. The Australian director of our organization told us about her last June and the doors opened up for her to be with us now. She's the first worker we've ever had whom our agency recruited for us, which is cool.
As she had only seen snow a couple of times, she seemed to have as much fun taking our son to play in the snow this morning as he had. It is about 100 degrees F. at her home, while it's below freezing here.
I dropped her off at a children's ministry this afternoon, where she will help with tutoring children most Wednesdays. It was nice to provide some help. She'll tutor in English, as well as in math.
I've been in e-correspondance about some of the challenges of bringing short-termers to Paris. Finding housing is often the biggest one. I'll probably write more about these challenges another time. In some ways, having a base (like the Celts used to do in mission) that could provide housing for short-termers would be a solution. However, this would involve a tremendous expense, especially in Paris.
As she had only seen snow a couple of times, she seemed to have as much fun taking our son to play in the snow this morning as he had. It is about 100 degrees F. at her home, while it's below freezing here.
I dropped her off at a children's ministry this afternoon, where she will help with tutoring children most Wednesdays. It was nice to provide some help. She'll tutor in English, as well as in math.
I've been in e-correspondance about some of the challenges of bringing short-termers to Paris. Finding housing is often the biggest one. I'll probably write more about these challenges another time. In some ways, having a base (like the Celts used to do in mission) that could provide housing for short-termers would be a solution. However, this would involve a tremendous expense, especially in Paris.
lundi 5 janvier 2009
It's snowing in Paris?!
Since we caught some snow in Alsace in December, our son has been longing for snow. He associates it with Christmas and the first Narnia chronicle. In my 14 1/2 years in Paris, we've rarely had snow that stuck on the ground. This morning we woke up to snow on the ground for the 2nd time in a week!
But instead of melting as usual, it's still snowing outside and getting thicker. The 2nd & 3rd are from our back window looking into the large courtyard, while the last 2 are from our front window looking onto our street.
While I can't confirm this, I think that someone the God who controls the weather saw the desire and heard the prayers of our 6 year boy for snow this Christmas season. He has struggled the most with Jessica's death. I think that this snow is God's way of reaching out to our son in way that is especially meaningful to him. While God is transcendent and completely other from his universe and his creatures, He also is immanent in stepping into our world. Christmas is an annual reminder of God becoming flesh and "tabernacling" among us.
dimanche 4 janvier 2009
Praise the LORD, O my soul (Psalm 103:1)
This morning we visited a church near the Bastille Tower. Historically, the Bastille represents the French Revolution, which overturned the monarchy and brought of the heads of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, as well as thousands of others. The Revolution was also one against the Church, at least how it was corruptly linked to the monarchy. It was a Church that was ugly, power hungry, and didn't serve poor. It was just the opposite of the values that Jesus espouses in the Beatitudes.
In some ways, even 200 years later, the Revolution still has repercussions on the French psyché, the French soul. Some still see the Church as being corrupt, power hungry, ugly, and self-serving.
The building where we worshiped is a historic monument famous for its dome. It was designed and constructed in 1632. It was originally a chapel in a convent known as the "Convent of St. Mary of the Angels." The convent was destroyed in the years after the French Revolution, while the church was renamed. On December 3, 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte offically gave Protestants this chapel for their services, making it the first Protestant church building in Paris. It was classified as a historic monument in 1887 under the name "St. Mary of Angels." A few years ago, the church parish changed the name to "l'Eglise Réformée du Marais" (the Reformed Church of the Marais).
The service was fairly simple, with the pastor leading the service, as well as preaching. He began by asking for everyone present to be touched by at least a little bit of God's presence during the service. A woman led vocally the songs while the pastor accompanied on the piano. Words were posted with a video projector. We sat up in a section that had a table for children. Our kids drew and played quietly during the whole service.
It's pastor gave a new year's sermon based on Psalm 103. Like last week's sermon, it wasn't overly complex or hard to follow. He stuck to the text, rather than forcing out his pet theme or jumping around to unrelated texts that dealt with his pet theme. It's been awhile since I've heard some good preaching from a text, so I've really enjoyed the last 2 weeks.
He talked about the "soul," which has 3 parts: mind, will, and emotions. In this psalm, he said that the 3 parts should inter-relate and speak to each other. When tragedies come, it's important that they speak to each other. Certainly after Jessica passed away, the Holy Spirit spoke to all 3 parts of my soul.
Certain church movements focus on one of these 3 parts, such as the Reformed Church often focusing on the mind. (This is probably true of many evangelical churches as well). But it's important to have all 3 parts inter relating.
In 2009, I hope to achieve a better balance of all 3 parts of my soul working and relating.
Right now, it's good to have this time to visit a few different churches. Certainly we don't want to be in this state for the long-term. But it's important to get back to some of the basics of what the church is to be about, as well as specific ways that me, my wife, and children can all relate and integrate and serve in a specific body.
In some ways, even 200 years later, the Revolution still has repercussions on the French psyché, the French soul. Some still see the Church as being corrupt, power hungry, ugly, and self-serving.
The building where we worshiped is a historic monument famous for its dome. It was designed and constructed in 1632. It was originally a chapel in a convent known as the "Convent of St. Mary of the Angels." The convent was destroyed in the years after the French Revolution, while the church was renamed. On December 3, 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte offically gave Protestants this chapel for their services, making it the first Protestant church building in Paris. It was classified as a historic monument in 1887 under the name "St. Mary of Angels." A few years ago, the church parish changed the name to "l'Eglise Réformée du Marais" (the Reformed Church of the Marais).
The service was fairly simple, with the pastor leading the service, as well as preaching. He began by asking for everyone present to be touched by at least a little bit of God's presence during the service. A woman led vocally the songs while the pastor accompanied on the piano. Words were posted with a video projector. We sat up in a section that had a table for children. Our kids drew and played quietly during the whole service.
It's pastor gave a new year's sermon based on Psalm 103. Like last week's sermon, it wasn't overly complex or hard to follow. He stuck to the text, rather than forcing out his pet theme or jumping around to unrelated texts that dealt with his pet theme. It's been awhile since I've heard some good preaching from a text, so I've really enjoyed the last 2 weeks.
He talked about the "soul," which has 3 parts: mind, will, and emotions. In this psalm, he said that the 3 parts should inter-relate and speak to each other. When tragedies come, it's important that they speak to each other. Certainly after Jessica passed away, the Holy Spirit spoke to all 3 parts of my soul.
Certain church movements focus on one of these 3 parts, such as the Reformed Church often focusing on the mind. (This is probably true of many evangelical churches as well). But it's important to have all 3 parts inter relating.
In 2009, I hope to achieve a better balance of all 3 parts of my soul working and relating.
Right now, it's good to have this time to visit a few different churches. Certainly we don't want to be in this state for the long-term. But it's important to get back to some of the basics of what the church is to be about, as well as specific ways that me, my wife, and children can all relate and integrate and serve in a specific body.
Psalm 103 (New International Version)
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
samedi 3 janvier 2009
Catching and Surviving Every Wave
My dad sent this article by James Goll to some of his friends. As 2009 has just begun, I find the article very pertinent for my life.
I've already felt that 2009 needs to be a year of more focused prayer. Goll's suggestion that, in between waves of revival, we need to walk in possible re-alignment seems true. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the next few months.
Catching and Surviving Every Wave
by James W. Goll
The ebb and flow of revival throughout church history has often been compared to that of the tidal flow of the ocean. The tide comes in and out with subsequent waves of activity in between. Such it is with God’s manifested presence and this wonderful thing called “revival”, “the move of God’s Spirit” and even “city transformation”.
We don’t want to settle in and passively become the stewards of the “best of the past.” We must press into the heart of God and cry out for a fresh outpouring of His grace in our time! The question then can be asked, “What does it take to catch the next wave?” To begin answering that question, let’s do a review by glancing at some of the classic characteristics of historic revivals of the past to learn some lessons in order to progressively move on.
Five Historic Characteristics of Revival
Let’s start this journey by considering five over all characteristics of classic revival.
1. Passionate Denunciation of Sin
2. Revelation of God’s Holiness
3. Deep Awareness of the Love and Mercy of God
4. Heightened Consciousness of Eternity
5. Experiential Conviction of Sin
Three Preliminary Stages
There are often three simple preliminary stages of revival.
1. An Intense Hunger for Change
2. Prayer to God to Change Things
3. Networking towards Unity
We can miss the major moves of God by not appreciating and participating in the little things in God. Do not over look the days of small beginnings. Give yourself to the Lord and to His purposes in your generation.
Making It Personal – How Did It All Begin for You Anyway?
Do you remember what things were like when you first met Jesus? Or perhaps your new page came when you were baptized into or filled with the Holy Spirit or when you stepped into the river for the first time. Everything was new. Your Bible was new. Your heart was new. Worship was electric (even with guitars out of tune!). You saw nature through God’s eyes. People were your moving targets for displays of the lavish love of God. All things were new….
Then you grew up. Perhaps you began to become hardened. Perhaps a spiritual leader hurt you. Perhaps you were a part of group that went into excess or even error. Maybe you have become a good observer today who sits and watches others at play and you give score cards on the latest sermon, prayer meeting, emphasis of the Holy Ghost or worship CD. And now, perhaps, you now sit on the sidelines and warm the seat of the scoffer.
The primary issue is the condition of one’s heart. Yes, we must fight to maintain a child like heart that trusts and believes and is awed by the moves of God’s delightful presence. In the natural, in between the ocean’s waves, there is often debris that is washed upon the shores. Then it becomes clean up time. Often it is that way in “moves of the Spirit” as well. It is fun riding the waves, but in between there can be a lot of junk to deal with. But I have learned that is necessary to have both the delightful times and the mundane times as well. We do move from glory to glory, as He becomes the prize of our life and the object of our true heart’s devotion.
As I have studied historic moves of God and even gotten out my spiritual surfboard to catch a few waves myself, I have found some common traits and cycles in Catching and Surviving Every Wave. So let me share a few of these survival skills with you to aid you in your journey.
The Beginning Is Characterized By:
o Zeal
o Fresh Faith
o Counting the Cost and Not Looking Back
Then In Between the Waves We Need to Walk In:
o Forgiveness
o Worship, Prayer and Devotion to the Word
o Possible Re-alignment
To Be Able to Move On into That Which Is New We Must:
o Have an Awakened Heart
o Cultivate a Love for Adventure
o Have Anticipation
As we Posture Ourselves Properly the Cycle Begins Again:
o Zeal with Wisdom
o Tried and Tested Faith
o Looking Forward and not over the Shoulder
Let’s lift our Vision Higher!
I challenge leaders around the world, wherever I go - to get God’s view of their assignment. Pastor a city - not just your flock! Come shoulder to shoulder with others in your area and just see what the Lord will do! Come lock arms with other pastors, intercessors and marketplace leaders and do something together for Jesus sake!
The whole context of the teaching of I Corinthians 12 on the body of Christ is not set in the context of one congregation in a city. Remember, it says something like, “Can the eye say to the hand, I have no need of you?” Can Charismatic hands of healing say to the Evangelical shoes of the gospel of peace, “I have no need of you?” The Calvinist needs the Armenian and the Pentecostal needs the Liturgical! We really do need one another to exhibit the fullness of God’s love.
Heaven help us to identify the redemptive gifts of God found in each of the tribes of the Lord’s body and learn to cooperate with one another! And let us learn to catch and survive every wave of God’s amazing Spirit in Jesus Name!
We need You Holy Spirit to teach us Your ways. Guide us in the path of ever increasing faith, hope and love for Jesus Christ sake. Help us to learn from the past and yet receive the next crashing wave of Your great presence today. Thank you for teaching us and guiding us into some of the lessons on how to catch and survive every wave in Christ’s name! Glory to God! Amen and Amen!
Thanks!
James W. Goll in Pasadena
President of Encounters Network
I've already felt that 2009 needs to be a year of more focused prayer. Goll's suggestion that, in between waves of revival, we need to walk in possible re-alignment seems true. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the next few months.
Catching and Surviving Every Wave
by James W. Goll
The ebb and flow of revival throughout church history has often been compared to that of the tidal flow of the ocean. The tide comes in and out with subsequent waves of activity in between. Such it is with God’s manifested presence and this wonderful thing called “revival”, “the move of God’s Spirit” and even “city transformation”.
We don’t want to settle in and passively become the stewards of the “best of the past.” We must press into the heart of God and cry out for a fresh outpouring of His grace in our time! The question then can be asked, “What does it take to catch the next wave?” To begin answering that question, let’s do a review by glancing at some of the classic characteristics of historic revivals of the past to learn some lessons in order to progressively move on.
Five Historic Characteristics of Revival
Let’s start this journey by considering five over all characteristics of classic revival.
1. Passionate Denunciation of Sin
2. Revelation of God’s Holiness
3. Deep Awareness of the Love and Mercy of God
4. Heightened Consciousness of Eternity
5. Experiential Conviction of Sin
Three Preliminary Stages
There are often three simple preliminary stages of revival.
1. An Intense Hunger for Change
2. Prayer to God to Change Things
3. Networking towards Unity
We can miss the major moves of God by not appreciating and participating in the little things in God. Do not over look the days of small beginnings. Give yourself to the Lord and to His purposes in your generation.
Making It Personal – How Did It All Begin for You Anyway?
Do you remember what things were like when you first met Jesus? Or perhaps your new page came when you were baptized into or filled with the Holy Spirit or when you stepped into the river for the first time. Everything was new. Your Bible was new. Your heart was new. Worship was electric (even with guitars out of tune!). You saw nature through God’s eyes. People were your moving targets for displays of the lavish love of God. All things were new….
Then you grew up. Perhaps you began to become hardened. Perhaps a spiritual leader hurt you. Perhaps you were a part of group that went into excess or even error. Maybe you have become a good observer today who sits and watches others at play and you give score cards on the latest sermon, prayer meeting, emphasis of the Holy Ghost or worship CD. And now, perhaps, you now sit on the sidelines and warm the seat of the scoffer.
The primary issue is the condition of one’s heart. Yes, we must fight to maintain a child like heart that trusts and believes and is awed by the moves of God’s delightful presence. In the natural, in between the ocean’s waves, there is often debris that is washed upon the shores. Then it becomes clean up time. Often it is that way in “moves of the Spirit” as well. It is fun riding the waves, but in between there can be a lot of junk to deal with. But I have learned that is necessary to have both the delightful times and the mundane times as well. We do move from glory to glory, as He becomes the prize of our life and the object of our true heart’s devotion.
As I have studied historic moves of God and even gotten out my spiritual surfboard to catch a few waves myself, I have found some common traits and cycles in Catching and Surviving Every Wave. So let me share a few of these survival skills with you to aid you in your journey.
The Beginning Is Characterized By:
o Zeal
o Fresh Faith
o Counting the Cost and Not Looking Back
Then In Between the Waves We Need to Walk In:
o Forgiveness
o Worship, Prayer and Devotion to the Word
o Possible Re-alignment
To Be Able to Move On into That Which Is New We Must:
o Have an Awakened Heart
o Cultivate a Love for Adventure
o Have Anticipation
As we Posture Ourselves Properly the Cycle Begins Again:
o Zeal with Wisdom
o Tried and Tested Faith
o Looking Forward and not over the Shoulder
Let’s lift our Vision Higher!
I challenge leaders around the world, wherever I go - to get God’s view of their assignment. Pastor a city - not just your flock! Come shoulder to shoulder with others in your area and just see what the Lord will do! Come lock arms with other pastors, intercessors and marketplace leaders and do something together for Jesus sake!
The whole context of the teaching of I Corinthians 12 on the body of Christ is not set in the context of one congregation in a city. Remember, it says something like, “Can the eye say to the hand, I have no need of you?” Can Charismatic hands of healing say to the Evangelical shoes of the gospel of peace, “I have no need of you?” The Calvinist needs the Armenian and the Pentecostal needs the Liturgical! We really do need one another to exhibit the fullness of God’s love.
Heaven help us to identify the redemptive gifts of God found in each of the tribes of the Lord’s body and learn to cooperate with one another! And let us learn to catch and survive every wave of God’s amazing Spirit in Jesus Name!
We need You Holy Spirit to teach us Your ways. Guide us in the path of ever increasing faith, hope and love for Jesus Christ sake. Help us to learn from the past and yet receive the next crashing wave of Your great presence today. Thank you for teaching us and guiding us into some of the lessons on how to catch and survive every wave in Christ’s name! Glory to God! Amen and Amen!
Thanks!
James W. Goll in Pasadena
President of Encounters Network
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