...Had a good night sleep. Woke with sunlight streaming through the curtains...
Walked to train station; caught train to Dover Castle. At Dover we walked through the town center and up the hill to the Castle. 70 years ago, the evacuation of the troops at Dunkirk took place, the "Miracle of Dunkirk" saw the rescue of 338,000 Allied Troops.
First we tour the main tower of Dover Castle...
We are led on a tour of the secret wartime tunnels...
After the tunnels we had scones, clotted cream and jam, and tea. Delicious...
Boys and I watch Bruce Almighty then fall asleep....
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27th, From Jason's Diary
8:15am. We stumble down to our first full English Breakfast: Orange juice, coffee (hot chocolate for Julian), sausage, beans, hot tomatoes and bacon...
At 11:00am we walk to the Canterbury Cathedral. What is truly vast and striking from the outside is even more striking and vast from the inside...The vast physicality, grandeur, of the Cathedral communicates clearly what was vital, important and "weighty" when it was built in the middle ages: the wealth, glory and resources of the nation were poured into these sanctuaries to the glory and worship of God...
In the cathedral, at a candle area designated to remember Christian martyrs, we lit two candles to honor two individuals: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Dr. Martyn Luther King...
I purchased a Book of Common Prayer, written to Thomas Cranmer, which has been the guide to the liturgical life of the Anglican Church from the 16th century.
At 3:00pm we walked to the ruins of St. Augustine Abbey, established in the late 6th century by Augustine and which was for centuries a thriving monastic community which followed the rule of St. Benedict. At one time this Abbey was as large as the Canterbury Cathedral is now. But all that is left is a few broken downs walls, arches, foundation stones, the cloister area, etc....
At 11:00am we walk to the Canterbury Cathedral. What is truly vast and striking from the outside is even more striking and vast from the inside...The vast physicality, grandeur, of the Cathedral communicates clearly what was vital, important and "weighty" when it was built in the middle ages: the wealth, glory and resources of the nation were poured into these sanctuaries to the glory and worship of God...
In the cathedral, at a candle area designated to remember Christian martyrs, we lit two candles to honor two individuals: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Dr. Martyn Luther King...
I purchased a Book of Common Prayer, written to Thomas Cranmer, which has been the guide to the liturgical life of the Anglican Church from the 16th century.
At 3:00pm we walked to the ruins of St. Augustine Abbey, established in the late 6th century by Augustine and which was for centuries a thriving monastic community which followed the rule of St. Benedict. At one time this Abbey was as large as the Canterbury Cathedral is now. But all that is left is a few broken downs walls, arches, foundation stones, the cloister area, etc....
Tuesday, May 25th, From Jason's Diary
We left for the airport at 2:55pm. Nathan dropped us off at the airport. By the time we make it through the security checkpoints and arrive at our gate we had about 2 1/2 hours to wait. But I think we were all happy to get out of our house and begin the journey...
We board the plane to England at 9:15. The kids watch Cheaper by the Dozen II while Jenny and I try to sleep. At midnight Judah turned 11. We arrived at Heathrow at 10:00am. Jackie is hot, tired, exhausted; she throws up in a doggy bag on the plane after we have landed. But is very brave about it. We catch the Tube to Charing Cross station, then exit: right into Trafalgar Square. Amazing. Powerful. So much history took place there. We hike to Regent Street to pick up our Heritage Passes that we have purchased. Then, after some confusion (we're still trying to figure out the Tube and Train system) we locate the train to Canterbury; about 1 1/2 hour trip.
In Canterbury we walk to our bed and breakfast, Grey Friars; then went to a birthday dinner for Judah. I had Beef and Kidney, Jacob roast beef, Jenny the soup of the day, Judah and Julian the hamburger, Jackie chicken and chips...
We board the plane to England at 9:15. The kids watch Cheaper by the Dozen II while Jenny and I try to sleep. At midnight Judah turned 11. We arrived at Heathrow at 10:00am. Jackie is hot, tired, exhausted; she throws up in a doggy bag on the plane after we have landed. But is very brave about it. We catch the Tube to Charing Cross station, then exit: right into Trafalgar Square. Amazing. Powerful. So much history took place there. We hike to Regent Street to pick up our Heritage Passes that we have purchased. Then, after some confusion (we're still trying to figure out the Tube and Train system) we locate the train to Canterbury; about 1 1/2 hour trip.
In Canterbury we walk to our bed and breakfast, Grey Friars; then went to a birthday dinner for Judah. I had Beef and Kidney, Jacob roast beef, Jenny the soup of the day, Judah and Julian the hamburger, Jackie chicken and chips...
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Canterbury to Cambridge
On Saturday we left Canterbury East Station and traveled to the London Victoria Station to the tube to catch the train at King's Cross for Cambridge. We walked about 2 1/2 miles to our friends the Hardyman's. 6 miles all together. Safe and sound once again!
Friday, May 28, 2010
The White Clifts of Dover
Walking to Dover, Jason tells the kids, "Think of your shoes as tires." We have to walk about an hour up hill from the train station. Jackie replies, "Dad, my tires are flat." I think we walked about 8 miles today.
-Jenny
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Departure Indy, Arrival - England!
We have arrived safe and sound.
Quote of the Day:
A lesser family would not have survived!
If you just walk long enough - you'll find where you are trying to go.
Quote of the Day:
A lesser family would not have survived!
If you just walk long enough - you'll find where you are trying to go.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Butterflies & Airport Arrival
Yes, I have a nest of butterflies in my stomach. Somehow we were able to get most of our tasks done before Nathan arrived to drive us to the airport.
My next task is to purchase hostess gifts for the friends we will be visiting. Of course, it must be small enough to fit in my back pack and authentically Indiana! The airport is a perfect place to shop.
-Jenny
My next task is to purchase hostess gifts for the friends we will be visiting. Of course, it must be small enough to fit in my back pack and authentically Indiana! The airport is a perfect place to shop.
-Jenny
Day Three: The Epic Jouney Begins
This morning I woke up, made coffee, and sat on our "palapa" (what we call our little sitting/table area) on the front porch. I won't sit there for a long time so I wanted to soak it in.
The sun was edging around the Berend's home and making the maple leaves sparkle. I was enveloped in the warmth of the midwest morning (which I have come to love).
Jacob went for a 3 mile run up the Monon. I tagged along on our bike. Some friends stopped by to spend time with Jenny and wish her goodbye. I played with Jackie and Amos (Partain) in the sandbox (he loves heavy equipment so I pulled some of the boys old backhoes and dumptrucks out).
Later in the morning I cut Jacob's hair. I cut it short in back, and kept it longer on top. He doesn't like it, but I think it looks great.
We've done some last bits of packing and cleaning, but, for the most part it has been a relaxing morning.
We'll miss our home and friends in Indy.
We fly to England tonight at 6:00pm.
- Jason
The sun was edging around the Berend's home and making the maple leaves sparkle. I was enveloped in the warmth of the midwest morning (which I have come to love).
Jacob went for a 3 mile run up the Monon. I tagged along on our bike. Some friends stopped by to spend time with Jenny and wish her goodbye. I played with Jackie and Amos (Partain) in the sandbox (he loves heavy equipment so I pulled some of the boys old backhoes and dumptrucks out).
Later in the morning I cut Jacob's hair. I cut it short in back, and kept it longer on top. He doesn't like it, but I think it looks great.
We've done some last bits of packing and cleaning, but, for the most part it has been a relaxing morning.
We'll miss our home and friends in Indy.
We fly to England tonight at 6:00pm.
- Jason
Sit Back and Watch the Gospel Grow
During the days of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther once commented that the gospel was spreading by its own power. All he had to do was to sit back (in his case, with a beer in hand) and watch it grow, watch it transform individuals and revolutionize the church and sweep through entire nations.
What Luther was referring to is the reality that the gospel is a "power" - it is a message that "gets under your skin" so to speak. The gospel tells us that we are more wicked than we ever imagined but that, through Christ, we are more loved by a Holy God than we could ever dare dream. It teaches us that both of these (our wickedness and God's acceptance and love for us) are true of us at the same time.
When we come to believe this message, God's kingdom power enters into our life. We become more humble and broken then ever before (because it took the death of Christ to save us) but, at the same time, more bold and courageous than ever before (because we are loved and secure in the acceptance of our Heavenly Father).
The reality of the power of the gospel to work while "I sit back and watch" struck me in the last two days.
It struck me first on Monday when Jenny and I had breakfast at Cafe Patachu downtown. On Sunday we had gone on a prayer walk, and then spent the night at the beautiful Conrad Hotel. On Monday we went to breakfast at Cafe Patachu. As we entered we saw two "Redeemerites", Wendy and Jessica, having breakfast together; they were taking time for spiritual friendship, time to encourage and challenge each other. It was so incredibly encouraging to me to see the work of the gospel going on in their lives, even as Jenny and I were off on Sabbatical.
The truth of the gospel power working as "I sit back and watch" struck me a second time this morning as I walked by our co-op garden in our back yard. It is growing, flourishing. The lettuce and radishes are ready to be harvested. And, I realized that when we left, the garden would continue to grow and thrive. I'm especially thankful to those friends, Paul, Kipp and Melissa who are going to care for the garden. But, at the end of the day, all we do is prep the ground, plant seeds, water and weed; the organic growth lies in the seeds and the sun and water. So, in a sense, we sit back and get to watch the garden grow.
The reality of the gospel powerfully working its life-giving, heart-transforming truth deep into the soil of all of our lives while we "sit back and watch" is a great joy and comfort to me today.
-- Jason
What Luther was referring to is the reality that the gospel is a "power" - it is a message that "gets under your skin" so to speak. The gospel tells us that we are more wicked than we ever imagined but that, through Christ, we are more loved by a Holy God than we could ever dare dream. It teaches us that both of these (our wickedness and God's acceptance and love for us) are true of us at the same time.
When we come to believe this message, God's kingdom power enters into our life. We become more humble and broken then ever before (because it took the death of Christ to save us) but, at the same time, more bold and courageous than ever before (because we are loved and secure in the acceptance of our Heavenly Father).
The reality of the power of the gospel to work while "I sit back and watch" struck me in the last two days.
It struck me first on Monday when Jenny and I had breakfast at Cafe Patachu downtown. On Sunday we had gone on a prayer walk, and then spent the night at the beautiful Conrad Hotel. On Monday we went to breakfast at Cafe Patachu. As we entered we saw two "Redeemerites", Wendy and Jessica, having breakfast together; they were taking time for spiritual friendship, time to encourage and challenge each other. It was so incredibly encouraging to me to see the work of the gospel going on in their lives, even as Jenny and I were off on Sabbatical.
The truth of the gospel power working as "I sit back and watch" struck me a second time this morning as I walked by our co-op garden in our back yard. It is growing, flourishing. The lettuce and radishes are ready to be harvested. And, I realized that when we left, the garden would continue to grow and thrive. I'm especially thankful to those friends, Paul, Kipp and Melissa who are going to care for the garden. But, at the end of the day, all we do is prep the ground, plant seeds, water and weed; the organic growth lies in the seeds and the sun and water. So, in a sense, we sit back and get to watch the garden grow.
The reality of the gospel powerfully working its life-giving, heart-transforming truth deep into the soil of all of our lives while we "sit back and watch" is a great joy and comfort to me today.
-- Jason
J's Baseball Team
Highlights from Jason's Baseball Season as coach of the Arsenal Tech JV baseball team.
Chuckle
I woke up this morning and said, "Today, I'm going to England". Chuckle, chuckle... : )
-Jenny
-Jenny
2nd Day
Last night we watched William Wilberforce's' "Amazing Grace" movie. He was an amazing man and as the movie portrayed - full of joy.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with our role in IPS. We have been here 8 years. I feel like I have accomplished so little but then I gain perspective and realize that William Wilberforce worked tirelessly for 27 years...
Today, I have a new perspective. Today I have joy.
-Jenny
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with our role in IPS. We have been here 8 years. I feel like I have accomplished so little but then I gain perspective and realize that William Wilberforce worked tirelessly for 27 years...
Today, I have a new perspective. Today I have joy.
-Jenny
Monday, May 24, 2010
1st Day
Jason and I started our prayer walk around Indianapolis Sunday afternoon.
We set off toward Arsenal Tech. The city can be gritty. You can find yourself surrounded by things that are different than you. Sometimes you see something beautiful.
All spring I have been driving by a yard full of daisies, red and pink poppies and some other blue flowers that I didn't recognize. Since I was walking I had time to linger and enjoy them. I pulled out my camera and realized that my batteries weren't charged! How disappointing. I was wanting to capture the neighborhoods that we spend time in. I was wanting to caputre the city we live in. All of it...
So, Jason and I just prayed as we walked. We prayed for neighbors, for houses, for empty buildings, for Arsenal Tech. We walked down 10th Street to Oriental to Market past School #14. We prayed for Jackie, her friends, and teachers/staff of School #14.
About this time we begin praying for trash. All the trash that has just been thrown on the ground. I think in the last couple of weeks Jason and I have witnessed people just throwing their garbage on the ground and not even attempting to hide the fact. So we prayed for people to notice how their small actions affect others. We also prayed for trash.
About this time we walked by the city jail. A man was walking toward us rolling his suitcase along. Jason and I both had our back packs on so we felt a sense of comrardery. Just as we drew close, the man threw his supersize soda on the grass. It was so obviouse and we were so close. What to do? Do we tell him that it was wrong? Do we pick it up and throw it away? Do we just walk by?
Just before we left our house to start our prayer walk, Brad and Laura Grammer had stopped by to say goodbye. Brad had told us to just enjoy and experience our trip. Just to be.
As Jason and I were struggling to find a response to the obvious litter in front of us I rememberd what Brad had said and told Jason that we just needed to experience this random act of litter being thrown.
We began to think about the man and what may have caused him to discard his litter in that manner. I don't really think there is an answer but for the moment we thought that perhapse his margin was slim and the small act of getting the garbage to the can was to overhwelming.
We continued on our way and contninued to pray.
We set off toward Arsenal Tech. The city can be gritty. You can find yourself surrounded by things that are different than you. Sometimes you see something beautiful.
All spring I have been driving by a yard full of daisies, red and pink poppies and some other blue flowers that I didn't recognize. Since I was walking I had time to linger and enjoy them. I pulled out my camera and realized that my batteries weren't charged! How disappointing. I was wanting to capture the neighborhoods that we spend time in. I was wanting to caputre the city we live in. All of it...
So, Jason and I just prayed as we walked. We prayed for neighbors, for houses, for empty buildings, for Arsenal Tech. We walked down 10th Street to Oriental to Market past School #14. We prayed for Jackie, her friends, and teachers/staff of School #14.
About this time we begin praying for trash. All the trash that has just been thrown on the ground. I think in the last couple of weeks Jason and I have witnessed people just throwing their garbage on the ground and not even attempting to hide the fact. So we prayed for people to notice how their small actions affect others. We also prayed for trash.
About this time we walked by the city jail. A man was walking toward us rolling his suitcase along. Jason and I both had our back packs on so we felt a sense of comrardery. Just as we drew close, the man threw his supersize soda on the grass. It was so obviouse and we were so close. What to do? Do we tell him that it was wrong? Do we pick it up and throw it away? Do we just walk by?
Just before we left our house to start our prayer walk, Brad and Laura Grammer had stopped by to say goodbye. Brad had told us to just enjoy and experience our trip. Just to be.
As Jason and I were struggling to find a response to the obvious litter in front of us I rememberd what Brad had said and told Jason that we just needed to experience this random act of litter being thrown.
We began to think about the man and what may have caused him to discard his litter in that manner. I don't really think there is an answer but for the moment we thought that perhapse his margin was slim and the small act of getting the garbage to the can was to overhwelming.
We continued on our way and contninued to pray.
Prayer Walk
Sunday morning we walked together as a family to church. It wasn't so much about a prayer walk as it was about getting used to being ALL together.
I realized that we were all literally coming from different physical locations. Jacob spent his first year of High School at Tech. Julian has been at the Medical Magnet at Attucks. Jackie has been at our neighborhood School #14 while Judah has been home. Jason has spend his days at Redeemer and I have floated back and forth between all these places.
Can I just tell you how hard it was to walk 5 blocks as a family?!! You can pray that we learn to be all together, work through our male and femaleness and are patient with each others ages.
--Jenny
I realized that we were all literally coming from different physical locations. Jacob spent his first year of High School at Tech. Julian has been at the Medical Magnet at Attucks. Jackie has been at our neighborhood School #14 while Judah has been home. Jason has spend his days at Redeemer and I have floated back and forth between all these places.
Can I just tell you how hard it was to walk 5 blocks as a family?!! You can pray that we learn to be all together, work through our male and femaleness and are patient with each others ages.
--Jenny
Scrambled Eggs & Ice Cream...
Sunday morning, as I was choosing from the buffet which apple desset to have with my eggs, I came upon the ice cream. It was taking me to long to decide wich apple dessert to take so I settled on a small sample of all the apple desserts. Then I thought - way to much apple and I should just take one apple sample - that is until I saw the ice cream! Who says you can't have eggs and ice cream? I just did!!
"Broken Life"
Bring Christ your ev'ry care, if great or small -
Whatever troubles you, O bring it all!
Bring him the haunting fears, the nameless dread,
Your heart he will relieve, and lift up your head.
words: Thomas Chisholm, 1935; music: Joseph N. Partain 2009
Whatever troubles you, O bring it all!
Bring him the haunting fears, the nameless dread,
Your heart he will relieve, and lift up your head.
words: Thomas Chisholm, 1935; music: Joseph N. Partain 2009
Sunday, May 23, 2010
I made the shot!
Today at Redeemer, my spiritual family celebrated my birthday and "de-commissioned" me from my ministry.
Part of the birthday celebration was friends sharing kind words for me, Jenny and the kids. Another part was giving me a beautiful leather basketball and I made the first "inaugural" shot on the newly re-finished gym floor.
With quite a few people looking on, I stepped behind the three point line. One friend was encouraging me to play it safe and shoot a free throw; but I was set on shooting a three. I stepped behind the arc, pulled up my suit sleeves, and launched the basketball. To my utter amazement and surprise it was a swish...absolutely thrilling. One of the highlights of my life!
At the birthday celebration there was another suprise. Foster Pilcher had created these amazing posters. He had taken photographs of Jenny and I, and photoshoped them into Braveheart Posters with me as Braveheart and Jenny as the Queen...In anticipation of our travels in Scotland!
Another great moment was our "de-commissioning". This was a time when the elders communicated that they were carrying on the work of the church; that we could go away and rest and be refreshed without carrying any of the burdens of the ministry.
Tears filled my eyes as the elders prayed over our family and said: "Jason, we want to remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of our hands. For God did not give you, Jenny, Jacob, Julian, Judah, and Jackie a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."
After the service a friend came up to me and shared a story. An African pastor, she said, was told that his greatest gift he had given was leaving. Why? Because the young leaders, the sons, had space to grow and mature into their full stature. Both of us believe and pray that this is happening, even now, at Redeemer.
So...I feel released. I have a great sense of being sent and shepherded and loved.
What a gift from my Heavenly Father and spiritual family. Thank you so much!
Part of the birthday celebration was friends sharing kind words for me, Jenny and the kids. Another part was giving me a beautiful leather basketball and I made the first "inaugural" shot on the newly re-finished gym floor.
With quite a few people looking on, I stepped behind the three point line. One friend was encouraging me to play it safe and shoot a free throw; but I was set on shooting a three. I stepped behind the arc, pulled up my suit sleeves, and launched the basketball. To my utter amazement and surprise it was a swish...absolutely thrilling. One of the highlights of my life!
At the birthday celebration there was another suprise. Foster Pilcher had created these amazing posters. He had taken photographs of Jenny and I, and photoshoped them into Braveheart Posters with me as Braveheart and Jenny as the Queen...In anticipation of our travels in Scotland!
Another great moment was our "de-commissioning". This was a time when the elders communicated that they were carrying on the work of the church; that we could go away and rest and be refreshed without carrying any of the burdens of the ministry.
Tears filled my eyes as the elders prayed over our family and said: "Jason, we want to remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of our hands. For God did not give you, Jenny, Jacob, Julian, Judah, and Jackie a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."
After the service a friend came up to me and shared a story. An African pastor, she said, was told that his greatest gift he had given was leaving. Why? Because the young leaders, the sons, had space to grow and mature into their full stature. Both of us believe and pray that this is happening, even now, at Redeemer.
So...I feel released. I have a great sense of being sent and shepherded and loved.
What a gift from my Heavenly Father and spiritual family. Thank you so much!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
My Prayer for us All
Father in Heaven,
Over eight years ago you called us from our home in Seattle to Indianapolis.
We left our beloved family and dear friends to follow your call.
And you have been with us every step of the way:
You have given us a new spiritual family to love,
And called us to a new city to serve.
Here we have laid our roots,
Learned to be weak and vulnerable,
And how to step boldly into our calling.
Now Father, walk closely with us on our Sabbatical,
Grant us tender and rich memories as a family,
Help Jenny and I cherish each moment with our children,
Help us to discover who they are before you,
So that we might call forth their core identity,
And learn to live with them as your beloved children.
Father, I also pray for our brothers and sisters at Redeemer, our friends and partners in the gospel.
May this be a season of rest for them.
May they discover that you are their True Shepherd.
And may they, in my absence, learn that you are the Builder
and Sustainer of the Church.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon Mark Vanest and the other leaders,
That your redemption would flow through them, broken vessels that they are.
Father I pray for our city that we love.
We are not afraid of the suffering and gritteness and pain in Indianapolis.
But we long for your healing shalom and kingdom reign to come.
And we ask for you to clarify our urban calling - as a church and as individuals.
Break the ugly scars of racism and bring peace between people.
Cover the shame in our the hearts of the children in this city with your grace,
And unite your church as your body to love and serve our city.
Father, I also pray for our family out west.
May our time with them be sweet.
May you weave our lives together again, in history, memories, and in Christ.
Heal any wounds and pain that is there.
And bring your peace.
But Father, most of all, from the deepest part of my heart,
What I really long for and want, beyond all hopes and dreams,
Is that I might know you, your presence, your love, your care,
Just for me, poured out upon me in Christ.
That I might learn to rest in your love.
And that I might learn to lay all my burdens on you,
because you care for me.
All this I pray in Jesus name. Jesus Strong Name. Rock. Refuge. Bright and Morning Star, Prince of Peace, Bread of the World. Savior. Brother. King. Friend. To whom we owe all our allegiance, forever and ever. Amen.
Over eight years ago you called us from our home in Seattle to Indianapolis.
We left our beloved family and dear friends to follow your call.
And you have been with us every step of the way:
You have given us a new spiritual family to love,
And called us to a new city to serve.
Here we have laid our roots,
Learned to be weak and vulnerable,
And how to step boldly into our calling.
Now Father, walk closely with us on our Sabbatical,
Grant us tender and rich memories as a family,
Help Jenny and I cherish each moment with our children,
Help us to discover who they are before you,
So that we might call forth their core identity,
And learn to live with them as your beloved children.
Father, I also pray for our brothers and sisters at Redeemer, our friends and partners in the gospel.
May this be a season of rest for them.
May they discover that you are their True Shepherd.
And may they, in my absence, learn that you are the Builder
and Sustainer of the Church.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon Mark Vanest and the other leaders,
That your redemption would flow through them, broken vessels that they are.
Father I pray for our city that we love.
We are not afraid of the suffering and gritteness and pain in Indianapolis.
But we long for your healing shalom and kingdom reign to come.
And we ask for you to clarify our urban calling - as a church and as individuals.
Break the ugly scars of racism and bring peace between people.
Cover the shame in our the hearts of the children in this city with your grace,
And unite your church as your body to love and serve our city.
Father, I also pray for our family out west.
May our time with them be sweet.
May you weave our lives together again, in history, memories, and in Christ.
Heal any wounds and pain that is there.
And bring your peace.
But Father, most of all, from the deepest part of my heart,
What I really long for and want, beyond all hopes and dreams,
Is that I might know you, your presence, your love, your care,
Just for me, poured out upon me in Christ.
That I might learn to rest in your love.
And that I might learn to lay all my burdens on you,
because you care for me.
All this I pray in Jesus name. Jesus Strong Name. Rock. Refuge. Bright and Morning Star, Prince of Peace, Bread of the World. Savior. Brother. King. Friend. To whom we owe all our allegiance, forever and ever. Amen.
A godly Response to "Differentness" or How-Will-We-Make-It-On-The-Road-For-Two-Months
I talked with my counselor yesterday about "Differentness". What is "Different" is not wrong, it's just different.
We talked about how being out of our house, our beds, our stable environment for over two months would put our family in a lot of stressful, "different" situations.
He said that most people feel uncomfortable when they are confronted with new things; when they are in a new environment; when interacting with people, places (etc.) that are different than they are.
He said that differentness gives us what, he calls, an "Icky Feeling." Most of us, when confronted with differentness move towards blaming the different thing, the context, the person for their icky feelings. They look outward; they get angry and blame the different thing for their icky feelings. They become a "judge" of their context. But, when they do this, they are not acting mature. They are not acting like an adult; they haven't learned to deal with differentness. They are reverting back to a coping and avoidance mechanism.
He challenged me to be aware of this in myself and family. He said that this trip was a great opportunity to look at our own hearts, to look inward. Why do I feel Icky? What's going on inside my heart.
Awareness of the Ickiness in the heart, and of the less mature ways of coping, he said, is the first step toward maturing. If I can learn to admit my weakness, and struggle through the tensions that come with being on the road with a family of six in a foreign country and many different beds, etc., then God will give me grace, make me strong to stay in the long pilgrimage we have before us.
We talked about how being out of our house, our beds, our stable environment for over two months would put our family in a lot of stressful, "different" situations.
He said that most people feel uncomfortable when they are confronted with new things; when they are in a new environment; when interacting with people, places (etc.) that are different than they are.
He said that differentness gives us what, he calls, an "Icky Feeling." Most of us, when confronted with differentness move towards blaming the different thing, the context, the person for their icky feelings. They look outward; they get angry and blame the different thing for their icky feelings. They become a "judge" of their context. But, when they do this, they are not acting mature. They are not acting like an adult; they haven't learned to deal with differentness. They are reverting back to a coping and avoidance mechanism.
He challenged me to be aware of this in myself and family. He said that this trip was a great opportunity to look at our own hearts, to look inward. Why do I feel Icky? What's going on inside my heart.
Awareness of the Ickiness in the heart, and of the less mature ways of coping, he said, is the first step toward maturing. If I can learn to admit my weakness, and struggle through the tensions that come with being on the road with a family of six in a foreign country and many different beds, etc., then God will give me grace, make me strong to stay in the long pilgrimage we have before us.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Things To Do List...
- Attend Jacob's Math Award Presentation
- Judah and Julian's Sports Physical; get paper work, fill out paper work, turn in paper work, schedule appointment, remember appointment!
- Final PTA Mtg
- Go grocery shopping
- Tour Benjamin Harrison's House for Judah's US History.
- Jackie's All Year Honor Program
- Jacob's Sports Physical
- Jacob & Julian clean out lockers & turn in textbooks to media center
- Pay for lost library book
- Request Grant Check
- Attend Jacob's academic awards program.
- Take suits to dry cleaners, pick up suits
- Get house key made for Julian's coming of age celebration in Scotland.
- e-mail teachers and let them know Thursday is kids last day.
- Get soccer shoes for Julian and Judah.
- Headphones for each kid
- Order computer cord for netbook and hope it comes in on time.
- Count Julian's contact lenses and make sure he has enough for the trip
- Buy contact solution that is travel size.
- Return library books
- Notify bank that we will be traveling and not to close our account!
- Check on international cell phone plan.
- Purchase band aids for trip.
- copy important documents.
- Schedule oil change for car.
- Deposit checks at bank.
- Pick up Zoe's ashes.
- Go over final instructions with house sitter.
- Turn in PTA keys, take name off bank account, turn in key card.
- Purchase umbrellas.
- Get Jacob a year book.
- Get Jackie another pair of tennis shoes because the first one was defective.
- Purchase Judah's birthday gifts.
- Celebrate Judah's birthday.
- Purchase Julian's birthday gifts.
- Pack backpacks and do trial walk.
- Replace smoke detector battery.
- Change light bulbs.
- Mapquest airport, train, London's visitor center, B&B
- Pack essential oils
- Finish Judah's school and take tour of Capitol Building
- Pick up (small and able to fit in back pack) hostess gifts for friends we will be staying with.
- Purchase walking shoes and sandals for family.
- Go to Zoo on field trip with Jackie's class.
- Spend time with friends.
- Attend Julian's Awards Ceremony.
- Take pictures of Jason's JV Baseball game.
- Go to Jacob's last track meet.
- Take Julian to last Ortho apt.
- Go to Chiro apt.
- Try to Cook dinner each night.
- Have baseball team over for barbecue.
- Make sure Jackie packs 3 pairs of socks.
- Do a final budget report.
- Find out plane restrictions.
- Pack essential oils.
- Purchase meal worms for lizard.
- Change air filters
- Sit on porch and drink coffee
- Purchase rechargeable batteries for trip.
- Find camera!!
- Purchase electrical power adapter.
- Find out if Tube and Train are the same thing in England.
- Coordinate ride to airport and pick up on return trip.
- Remember 6 family birthdays in the May.
- Clean house.
- Purchase rabbit food and kitty litter for rabbit.
- Purchase small batteries.
- Pick up travel fan.
- Judah and Julian's Sports Physical; get paper work, fill out paper work, turn in paper work, schedule appointment, remember appointment!
- Final PTA Mtg
- Go grocery shopping
- Tour Benjamin Harrison's House for Judah's US History.
- Jackie's All Year Honor Program
- Jacob's Sports Physical
- Jacob & Julian clean out lockers & turn in textbooks to media center
- Pay for lost library book
- Request Grant Check
- Attend Jacob's academic awards program.
- Take suits to dry cleaners, pick up suits
- Get house key made for Julian's coming of age celebration in Scotland.
- e-mail teachers and let them know Thursday is kids last day.
- Get soccer shoes for Julian and Judah.
- Headphones for each kid
- Order computer cord for netbook and hope it comes in on time.
- Count Julian's contact lenses and make sure he has enough for the trip
- Buy contact solution that is travel size.
- Return library books
- Notify bank that we will be traveling and not to close our account!
- Check on international cell phone plan.
- Purchase band aids for trip.
- copy important documents.
- Schedule oil change for car.
- Deposit checks at bank.
- Pick up Zoe's ashes.
- Go over final instructions with house sitter.
- Turn in PTA keys, take name off bank account, turn in key card.
- Purchase umbrellas.
- Get Jacob a year book.
- Get Jackie another pair of tennis shoes because the first one was defective.
- Purchase Judah's birthday gifts.
- Celebrate Judah's birthday.
- Purchase Julian's birthday gifts.
- Pack backpacks and do trial walk.
- Replace smoke detector battery.
- Change light bulbs.
- Mapquest airport, train, London's visitor center, B&B
- Pack essential oils
- Finish Judah's school and take tour of Capitol Building
- Pick up (small and able to fit in back pack) hostess gifts for friends we will be staying with.
- Purchase walking shoes and sandals for family.
- Go to Zoo on field trip with Jackie's class.
- Spend time with friends.
- Attend Julian's Awards Ceremony.
- Take pictures of Jason's JV Baseball game.
- Go to Jacob's last track meet.
- Take Julian to last Ortho apt.
- Go to Chiro apt.
- Try to Cook dinner each night.
- Have baseball team over for barbecue.
- Make sure Jackie packs 3 pairs of socks.
- Do a final budget report.
- Find out plane restrictions.
- Pack essential oils.
- Purchase meal worms for lizard.
- Change air filters
- Sit on porch and drink coffee
- Purchase rechargeable batteries for trip.
- Find camera!!
- Purchase electrical power adapter.
- Find out if Tube and Train are the same thing in England.
- Coordinate ride to airport and pick up on return trip.
- Remember 6 family birthdays in the May.
- Clean house.
- Purchase rabbit food and kitty litter for rabbit.
- Purchase small batteries.
- Pick up travel fan.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Things We will miss...
Things we will miss while we are on sabbatical:
- Summer
- Fireflies
- Swimming at MLK pool with our friends
- Spreading out in our house
- Our own beds and pillows
- Our toys and important stuff...
- The Summer reading program at the Library
- Our garden and fresh tomatoes and homemade salsa
- My flowers blooming
- Knowing were to find exactly what we need
- Play dates with friends
- Being home with no homework
- Sunday morning Worship
- Hearing Jason preach
- Communion
- Playing basketball in the gym
- Our bikes
- Sitting on the front porch drinking coffee
- Zoe and our rabbit Oreo and lizard Ezzy
- Playing TAB soccer
- All the clothes we are not taking with us
- Our Van
- Free time in Indy with friends that only summer brings
- Familiar routines
- Missing out on what all our friends are doing
- Not being here for friends when hard things happen
- Not being here to celebrate when good things happen
- Popsicle walks around the block
- Mowing the neighborhood lawns
- Sleeping in
- Our annual beach trip in May to the Indy Dunes at Lake Michigan
- Celebrating Julian and Judah's birthdays at home with friends
- Opening the refrigerator and pantry at any time and getting food out!
- Summer
- Fireflies
- Swimming at MLK pool with our friends
- Spreading out in our house
- Our own beds and pillows
- Our toys and important stuff...
- The Summer reading program at the Library
- Our garden and fresh tomatoes and homemade salsa
- My flowers blooming
- Knowing were to find exactly what we need
- Play dates with friends
- Being home with no homework
- Sunday morning Worship
- Hearing Jason preach
- Communion
- Playing basketball in the gym
- Our bikes
- Sitting on the front porch drinking coffee
- Zoe and our rabbit Oreo and lizard Ezzy
- Playing TAB soccer
- All the clothes we are not taking with us
- Our Van
- Free time in Indy with friends that only summer brings
- Familiar routines
- Missing out on what all our friends are doing
- Not being here for friends when hard things happen
- Not being here to celebrate when good things happen
- Popsicle walks around the block
- Mowing the neighborhood lawns
- Sleeping in
- Our annual beach trip in May to the Indy Dunes at Lake Michigan
- Celebrating Julian and Judah's birthdays at home with friends
- Opening the refrigerator and pantry at any time and getting food out!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
We Said Goodbye To Zoe Today
14 years ago I smuggled Zoe, a little Bichon Frise puppy, under my coat and into our apartment at Western Baptist College where Jenny was serving as a resident director. Jacob was 1 1/2 years old. We had decided that if the school (which had a "no pet" policy) didn't let us keep Zoe we would leave!
Today, I carried Zoe through the doors of a local vet clinic, and held her in my arms as she was put to sleep.
It is amazing how our pets lives intermingle with our own. A chapter of our family's life has forever closed. A wound has been opened. "We must endure their going hence."
-Jason
Today, I carried Zoe through the doors of a local vet clinic, and held her in my arms as she was put to sleep.
It is amazing how our pets lives intermingle with our own. A chapter of our family's life has forever closed. A wound has been opened. "We must endure their going hence."
-Jason
Sabbatical Sadness...
Our dog, Zoe, is not doing very well. She is 14 years old. Last night I was praying that God would make it evident that it was the right decision to put her to sleep. This morning as I lifted her, I felt a large lump on her chest cavity. It is now evident.
One sabbatical sadness has been worrying over Zoe and how she would do without us. Now we will no longer need to worry and she will no longer need to be in pain and suffer.
One sabbatical sadness has been worrying over Zoe and how she would do without us. Now we will no longer need to worry and she will no longer need to be in pain and suffer.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
I Cried Today
This morning I talked with a friend. I shared how I felt like I was "coasting" in my spiritual life, especially in the area of prayer. I commented how ironic that was, because a big part of my sabbatical will be, I hope, being renewed in my prayer life and growing in my vision for the role of prayer in the life of the church.
My friend - as friends do - spoke the truth to me. He warned that it is easy for me to move quickly to the global perspective, to big visions. Instead of doing that, he urged me to not think about prayer in light of the church or my ministry but to simply experience intimate prayer as a son of God, in communion with my Father.
As he spoke, my eyes filled with tears. Then I couldn't stop them from flowing. Why? Because his words reminded me of the sweet early days of my walk with God: when I was 18 and my heart has been awakened by God's grace, and prayer to my Father tumbled out of my soul; those days when I would walk through the woods praying, crying out for my friends to come to experience the love of God as I had; those days when at Western Baptist College I would pray alone, under the stars, or with the rain falling on me as I lay facedown on the grass; those days of unspeakable intimacy with God.
As a pastor engaged in professional ministry it is my vocation to pray, to be a man of prayer. And, over the years, I have experienced times of unspeakable intimacy with God; moments I would not trade for all the riches of the world. However, the cares of life and burdens of leading a growing congregation - professional ministry -have chipped away at that intimacy in prayer.
So, as my friend spoke, I cried.
I cried because my heart longs - more than anything else - for that intimate communion with my heavenly father. I cried because my friend loved me enough to challenge me. And I cried because my Heavenly Father, in pursuing and unceasing love, used my friend's words to remind my own heart of those deepest of longings and to give me resolve to once again, without the trappings of pastoral ministry, "seek his face evermore."
My friend - as friends do - spoke the truth to me. He warned that it is easy for me to move quickly to the global perspective, to big visions. Instead of doing that, he urged me to not think about prayer in light of the church or my ministry but to simply experience intimate prayer as a son of God, in communion with my Father.
As he spoke, my eyes filled with tears. Then I couldn't stop them from flowing. Why? Because his words reminded me of the sweet early days of my walk with God: when I was 18 and my heart has been awakened by God's grace, and prayer to my Father tumbled out of my soul; those days when I would walk through the woods praying, crying out for my friends to come to experience the love of God as I had; those days when at Western Baptist College I would pray alone, under the stars, or with the rain falling on me as I lay facedown on the grass; those days of unspeakable intimacy with God.
As a pastor engaged in professional ministry it is my vocation to pray, to be a man of prayer. And, over the years, I have experienced times of unspeakable intimacy with God; moments I would not trade for all the riches of the world. However, the cares of life and burdens of leading a growing congregation - professional ministry -have chipped away at that intimacy in prayer.
So, as my friend spoke, I cried.
I cried because my heart longs - more than anything else - for that intimate communion with my heavenly father. I cried because my friend loved me enough to challenge me. And I cried because my Heavenly Father, in pursuing and unceasing love, used my friend's words to remind my own heart of those deepest of longings and to give me resolve to once again, without the trappings of pastoral ministry, "seek his face evermore."
10 Days till Sabbatical...
This week I am trying to get as many jobs done as possible. Everything is now coming down to the wire.
I had to order a new power cord for my netbook. I hope it gets here in time! I did pick up a cord from Fry's but it doesn't really fit...
Julian and Judah take their sports physicals today for fall sports. They begin practice the day after we return! Judah got his soccer shoes yesterday.
Tonight is my last PTA meeting. I am the president and am ending my term. All I have left to do is turn in my keys.
We have a school or church activity each night of this week. I would love to go out for coffe one last time with you all but alas, I will look forward to catching up in the fall.
-Jenny
I had to order a new power cord for my netbook. I hope it gets here in time! I did pick up a cord from Fry's but it doesn't really fit...
Julian and Judah take their sports physicals today for fall sports. They begin practice the day after we return! Judah got his soccer shoes yesterday.
Tonight is my last PTA meeting. I am the president and am ending my term. All I have left to do is turn in my keys.
We have a school or church activity each night of this week. I would love to go out for coffe one last time with you all but alas, I will look forward to catching up in the fall.
-Jenny
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Tool Kit for our Trip
Jenny and I are hoping to use this trip to intentionally develop a "tool kit" to help our family interact with each other in healthy, mature, responsible way.
Here are a list of those "tools" that we are taking with us, talking to each other about, and hopefully will put into practice when we are spiralling down (as we often do) into conflict, blameshifting, despair, attack, etc.
Traveling together for almost three months will, I am sure, provide numerous opportunities to put these tools into practice!
Tool #1: Peacemaking. When you are in a conflict you can (A) overlook the conflict, forgive the other person, cover the wrong with love - "love covers over a multitude of sins." (B) Work it out; stay in relationship; talk through the conflict; or (C) Go get help; ask someone to help mediate, help you interpret what is going on.
Tool #2: Mourn & Grieve Loss. Life is full of disappointments. To be healthy we need to learn how to mourn and grieve over those disappointments, not "shove them down" and pretend they don't hurt. We want to affirm the practice of mourning and grieving as a healthy part of life.
Tool #3: Accept Responsibility. Accept total responsiblity for your own emotions and attitudes. No one else is responsible; don't blameshift. And don't bear the weight of guilt and shame if someone else is spiralling down in negative emotions. Know that they are responsible for their own emotions and attitudes; you take responsibility for your own.
Tool #4: Recover Gracefully. When something bad happens, when you fall apart, crash, implode...you don't have to be paralyzed and hopeless. You can recover gracefully. You can ask forgiveness, you can repent. (We got this phrase, "recover gracefully" from a dear friend of ours who works for AT & T. She uses this in major stress/conflict situations.)
Tool #5: Ask for more information. Investigate. When angry or frustrated by another person ask - "are they wrong/bad or just different?" Many times we are frustrated just by the "differentness" of another person. But this is an opportunity to get to know them better, to find out what makes them tick. Before just ruling out another person's ideas, perspective, etc. say, "give me more information...why is this so important to you?
Tool #6: Find your Voice. Help others understand you. This is closely related to Tool #5. Just like it is important that you take time to get to know others, you also have to become confident in your own perspectives and approach to life; you have to feel safe enough to share what you would like to do. So learn to share "information" with others about what you want to do, what would be exciting to you.
Tool #7: Give and Receive Joy. Smile in delight when your family/friends enter. Be genuinely excited to see them. One of our deepest needs is to be delighted in and cherished - not because of what we do but because of who we are. Learn to communicate joy to just be in the presence of each other. And, learn how to receive joy and delight from others.
These are just a few of the tools I'm sure we'll need on the trip.
Any other suggestions?
- Jason
Here are a list of those "tools" that we are taking with us, talking to each other about, and hopefully will put into practice when we are spiralling down (as we often do) into conflict, blameshifting, despair, attack, etc.
Traveling together for almost three months will, I am sure, provide numerous opportunities to put these tools into practice!
Tool #1: Peacemaking. When you are in a conflict you can (A) overlook the conflict, forgive the other person, cover the wrong with love - "love covers over a multitude of sins." (B) Work it out; stay in relationship; talk through the conflict; or (C) Go get help; ask someone to help mediate, help you interpret what is going on.
Tool #2: Mourn & Grieve Loss. Life is full of disappointments. To be healthy we need to learn how to mourn and grieve over those disappointments, not "shove them down" and pretend they don't hurt. We want to affirm the practice of mourning and grieving as a healthy part of life.
Tool #3: Accept Responsibility. Accept total responsiblity for your own emotions and attitudes. No one else is responsible; don't blameshift. And don't bear the weight of guilt and shame if someone else is spiralling down in negative emotions. Know that they are responsible for their own emotions and attitudes; you take responsibility for your own.
Tool #4: Recover Gracefully. When something bad happens, when you fall apart, crash, implode...you don't have to be paralyzed and hopeless. You can recover gracefully. You can ask forgiveness, you can repent. (We got this phrase, "recover gracefully" from a dear friend of ours who works for AT & T. She uses this in major stress/conflict situations.)
Tool #5: Ask for more information. Investigate. When angry or frustrated by another person ask - "are they wrong/bad or just different?" Many times we are frustrated just by the "differentness" of another person. But this is an opportunity to get to know them better, to find out what makes them tick. Before just ruling out another person's ideas, perspective, etc. say, "give me more information...why is this so important to you?
Tool #6: Find your Voice. Help others understand you. This is closely related to Tool #5. Just like it is important that you take time to get to know others, you also have to become confident in your own perspectives and approach to life; you have to feel safe enough to share what you would like to do. So learn to share "information" with others about what you want to do, what would be exciting to you.
Tool #7: Give and Receive Joy. Smile in delight when your family/friends enter. Be genuinely excited to see them. One of our deepest needs is to be delighted in and cherished - not because of what we do but because of who we are. Learn to communicate joy to just be in the presence of each other. And, learn how to receive joy and delight from others.
These are just a few of the tools I'm sure we'll need on the trip.
Any other suggestions?
- Jason
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Eric Liddell: Chariots of Fire
One of my great heroes has been Eric Liddell. I ran Track and Cross Country in high school and my Sophomore year of college. I have always loved running and the freedom I feel when I run. When I didn't have words to express my frustrations as a teenager, running was a way for me to pound those frustrations out. I had time to think, to be, and just to run. I knew who I was.
I didn't realize how significant Eric Liddell's life was until I watched a documentary. There was so much more to him than just "being" a runner. My Sophomore year of college I knew I needed to make a decision about who I was. I will never forget the day I told my coach that I couldn't run any more. I knew he would not understand for I hardly understood myself. My identity was so wrapped up in running that I knew I needed to make a break. This was one of the hardest breaks I have ever made.
I wish I could have read these two quotes together by Eric when I was in college. They pretty much sum up my life.
“We are all missionaries. Wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ.”
"I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run, I feel His pleasure."
I can't run much now and I never really was fast...but I am looking forward to running/walking where Eric Liddell ran in Edinburgh, Scotland and feeling God's pleasure on our sabbatical!
-Jenny
Eric Henry Liddell (16 January 1902 – 21 February 1945) was a Scottish athlete, rugby union international and missionary. His surname is pronounced /ˈlɪdəl/ and rhymes with fiddle.
Liddell was the winner of the Men's 400 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris. He was portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire.
Born in China, Liddell returned there as a Protestant missionary in later life.
Biography
Eric Liddell, often called the "Flying Scotsman" after the record breaking locomotive, was born in Tianjin (formerly transliterated as Tientsin) (Chinese 天津) in North China, second son of the Rev & Mrs James Dunlop Liddell who were Scottish missionaries with the London Missionary Society. Liddell was born in 1902 and went to school in China until the age of five. At the age of six, he and his brother Robert, eight years old, were enrolled in Eltham College, Mottingham, a boarding school in England for the sons of missionaries. Their parents and sister Jenny returned to China. During the boys' time at Eltham their parents, sister and new brother Ernest came home on furlough two or three times and were able to be together as a family - mainly living in Edinburgh.
At Eltham, Liddell was an outstanding sportsman, being awarded the Blackheath Cup as the best athlete of his year, playing for the First XI and the First XV by the age of 15, later becoming captain of both the cricket and rugby union teams. His headmaster described him as being 'entirely without vanity'.[citation needed]
Eric Liddell became well-known for being the fastest runner in Scotland while at Eltham College. Newspapers carried the stories of his successful track meets. Many articles stated that he was a potential Olympic winner, and no one from their country had ever won a gold medal before.
Liddell was chosen to speak for Glasgow Students' Evangelical Union (GSEU) because he was a strong Christian. The GSEU hoped that he would draw large crowds, so that many people would hear the Gospel. The GSEU would send out a group of eight to ten men to an area where they would stay with the local population. It was Liddell's job to be the lead speaker and to evangelize the men of Scotland.
University of Edinburgh
In 1921, Eric joined his brother Rob at the University of Edinburgh to study Pure Science. Athletics and rugby played a large part in Eric's university life. He ran in the 100 yards race and the 220 yards race for Edinburgh University and later played for the Scottish national rugby union team. He played rugby for Edinburgh University and in 1922 made his way into the very strong Scottish backline. In 1922 and 1923, he played in seven out of eight Five Nations matches with A. L. Gracie. In 1923 he won the AAA Championships in athletics in the 100 yards race (in a British record of 9.7 seconds: this record would not be broken for the next 35 years) and 220 yards (21.6 seconds). He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree after the Paris Olympiad in 1924.
Once every four years Edinburgh University will hold a parade in honour of Eric Liddell's devotion to his cause.[citation needed]
Eltham College's sports centre was named "Eric Liddell Sports Centre" in memory of Eric Liddell.
Paris Olympics
Eric LiddellDuring the summer of 1924, the Olympics were hosted by the city of Paris. Liddell was a committed Christian and refused to run on Sunday (the Christian Sabbath), with the consequence that he was forced to withdraw from the 100 meters race, his best event. The schedule had been published several months earlier, and his decision was made well before the Games began. Liddell spent the intervening months training for the 400 meters, an event in which he had previously excelled. Even so, his success in the 400m was largely unexpected. The day of 400 meters race came, and as Liddell went to the starting blocks, an American masseur slipped a piece of paper into Liddell's hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30, "Those who honor me I will honor." Liddell ran with that piece of paper in his hand. He not only won the race, but broke the existing world record with a time of 47.6 seconds. A few days earlier Liddell had competed in the 200 metre finals, for which he received the bronze medal behind Americans Jackson Scholz and Charles Paddock, beating Harold Abrahams, who finished in sixth place. (This was the second and last race in which these two runners met.)
His performance in the 400 metres in Paris remained a world record for four years, and a European record for 12 years, until it was beaten by another British athlete, Godfrey Brown, at the Berlin Olympics.
After the Olympics and his graduation, Liddell continued to compete. Shortly after the 1924 Olympics, his final leg on the 4 x 400 metres race in a British Empire vs. USA contest helped secure the victory. A year later, in 1925, at the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) meeting in Hampden Park in Glasgow, he equalled his own Scottish championship record of 10.0 seconds in the 100 yards, won the 220 yard contest in 22.2 seconds, won the 440 yard contest in 47.7, and participated in a winning relay team. He was only the fourth athlete ever to have won all three sprints at the SAAA, achieving this feat twice: in 1924 and 1925.
Because of his birth and death in the country some of China's Olympic literature lists the Scotsman as China's first Olympic champion.[1]
Service in China
Liddell returned to Northern China where he served as a missionary, like his parents, from 1925 to 1943 - first in Tianjin and later in the town of Xiaozhang,[2] Zaoqiang County, Hengshui, Hebei province. During this time he continued to compete sporadically, including wins over members of the 1928 French and Japanese Olympic teams in the 200 and 400 metres at the South Manchurian Railway celebrations in China in 1928 and a victory at the 1930 North China championship.
Liddell's first job as a missionary was as a teacher at an Anglo-Chinese College (grades 1-12) for wealthy Chinese students. It was believed that by teaching the children of the wealthy that they themselves would later become influential figures in China and promote Christian values. He used his athletic experience to train the boys in a number of different sports. One of his many responsibilities was that of superintendent of the Sunday school at Union Church where his father was pastor. Liddell lived at 38 Chongqing Dao (formerly known as Cambridge Road) in Tianjin and a plaque still stands today to commemorate his former residence. He also helped build the Minyuan Stadium in Tianjin. He suggested that it be copied exactly from Chelsea's football ground as he had run there previously, and this was said to be his favourite running venue.
During his first furlough in 1932, he was ordained as a minister of religion. On his return to China he married Florence Mackenzie of Canadian missionary parentage in Tianjin in 1934. Liddell courted his future wife by taking her for lunch to the famous Kiesling restaurant which is still open in Tianjin. They had three daughters, Patricia, Heather and Maureen, the last of whom he would not live to see. The school Eric taught at is still used as a school today. One of Liddell's daughters visited Tianjin in 1991 and presented the headmaster of the school with one of the medals that Eric had won for athletics.[citation needed]
In 1941 life in China was becoming so dangerous that the British Government advised British nationals to leave. Florence and the children left for Canada to stay with her family when Liddell accepted a new position at a rural mission station in Shaochang, which gave service to the poor. He joined his brother, Rob, who was a doctor there. The station was severely short of help and the missionaries who served there were exhausted. There was a constant stream of local people who came at all hours to get medical treatment. Liddell arrived at the station in time to relieve his brother who was ill, needing to go on furlough. Liddell suffered many hardships himself at this mission station.
There were battles all around between the advancing Japanese soldiers and the Chinese Eighth Route Army[3]. When the fighting reached Shaochang the Japanese took over the mission station and Liddell went back to Tianjin. In 1943, Liddell was interned at the Weihsien (now known as Weifang) Internment Camp with the members of the China Inland Mission, Chefoo (now known as Yantai) School, and many others. Liddell became a leader at the camp and helped get it organized. Food, medicines, and other supplies ran short at the camp. There were many cliques in the camp and when some rich businessmen managed to smuggle in some eggs to the camp, Liddell shamed them into sharing them with the rest of the camp. Fellow missionaries were forming cliques, moralising, and acting selfishly. Eric kept himself busy by helping the elderly, teaching at the camp school Bible classes, arranging games and also by teaching the children science. He was known to the children as Uncle Eric.[4]
It was also claimed that one Sunday Liddell refereed a hockey match to stop fighting amongst the players as he was trusted not to take sides by the two teams. One of Liddell's fellow internees, Norman Cliff, later wrote a book about his experiences in the camp called "The Courtyard of the Happy Way" which gave details of all the remarkable characters in the camp. The writer stated that Liddell was "the finest Christian gentleman it has been my pleasure to meet. In all the time in the camp, I never heard him say a bad word about anybody." The camp was originally a mission school named The Courtyard of the Happy Way. (Chinese: 樂道院, which could also mean the Campus of Loving Truth).[5]
In his last letter to his wife, written on the day he died, he talks about suffering a nervous breakdown in the camp due to overwork, but in actuality he was suffering from an inoperable brain tumour, to which being overworked and malnourished probably hastened his demise. He died on 21 February 1945, five months before liberation. He was greatly mourned not only at the Weihsien internment Camp but also in Scotland as well. A fellow internee, Langdon Gilkey, was later to write, "The entire camp, especially its youth, was stunned for days, so great was the vacuum that Eric's death had left." According to a fellow missionary Liddell's last words were, "It's complete surrender" in reference to how he had completely surrendered his life to his God.[6]
In 2008 it was revealed by the Chinese authorities that Liddell had given up an opportunity to leave the camp and instead gave his place to a pregnant woman. Apparently, the Japanese did a deal with the British, with Churchill's approval, for prisoner exchange. Therefore, because Eric was a famous athlete he was one of the chosen as part of the prisoner exchange. However, he gave his place to another. This information was released near the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by the Chinese government and apparently news of this great act of sacrifice came as a surprise even to his family members.
Fifty-six years after the 1924 Paris Olympics, Scotsman Allan Wells won the 100 metre sprint at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. When asked after the victory if he had run the race for Harold Abrahams, the last 100 metre Olympic winner from Britain (in 1924), Wells replied, "No, this one was for Eric Liddell."
Eric Liddell was voted in The Scotsman newspaper in an 8 August 2008 poll as the most popular athlete Scotland has ever produced.
Memorial
In 1991, a memorial headstone, made from Isle of Mull granite was unveiled at the former camp site in Weifang, erected by Edinburgh University. A few simple words taken from the Book of Isaiah 40:31, formed the inscription: "They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary." The city of Weifang, as part of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the internment camp, commemorated the life of Liddell by laying a wreath at the memorial headstone marking his grave in 2005.
Liddell is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on February 22.
Chariots of Fire
The 1981 film Chariots of Fire commemorated the Olympic triumphs and contrasted the lives and viewpoints of both Liddell and Harold Abrahams, with Ian Charleson portraying Liddell. One inaccuracy in the movie surrounds Liddell's refusal to race in the 100 metres. The film portrays Liddell as finding out that one of the heats was to be held on a Sunday as he was boarding the boat that would take the British Olympic team across the English Channel on their way to Paris. Actually, the schedule and Liddell's decision were known several months in advance, though his refusal to participate remains significant. (Liddell had also been selected to run as a member of the 4 x 100 relay and 4 x 400 relay teams at the Olympics but also declined these spots as their heats, too, were to be run on a Sunday.)[citation needed]
The scene in the movie where Liddell fell early in a 440 yard race in a Scotland-France dual meet and made up a 20-metre deficit to win the race is, however, historically accurate except that the actual race was during a Triangular Contest meet between Scotland, England and Ireland at Stoke-on-Trent in England in July 1923. Liddell was knocked to the ground several strides into the race. He hesitated, got up and went after his opponents, now twenty metres ahead. He caught the leaders shortly before the finishing line and collapsed in exhaustion after crossing the tape.[citation needed]
Liddell's unorthodox running style as portrayed in the movie, with his head back and his mouth wide open, is also said to be historically accurate. At an athletics championship in Glasgow, a visitor watching the 440 yard final in which Liddell was a long way from the leaders at the start of the last lap (of a 220 yard track) remarked to a Glasgow native that Liddell would be hard put to win the race. The Glaswegian merely replied, "His head's no' back yet." Liddell then threw his head back and with mouth wide open caught and passed his opponents to win the race.
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"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaih 40:31
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Volcanoes and Train Strikes...
Looks like we are in for a real adventure with pending volcanoe irruptions from Iceland disrupting air traffic and possible train strikes in England. Friends we will visit in Edinburgh had traveled to the US this past month and were stuck for 2 1/2 weeks before the volcanic ash cleared from the skies allowing flight travel to resume and their eventual return home.
Another family friend from England reports there may be train strikes...which of course is how all of our travel will be done!
We are in for a real adventure!
-Jenny
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Charles Simeon
Ray Bakke, in his book which I mentioned in the previous blog, The Urban Christian, tells the story of reading a book that profoundly changed his life and his understanding of his urban calling.
It is a book I've wanted to read for a long time. I hope to purchase it in Cambridge and read it during our travels in Great Brittain. Moule's biography of Charles Simeon (1759-1836), published in 1895.
Bakke writes:
"Simeon had been a student of the theological faculty of King's College, Cambridge, in England. The famous university town was not as pretty in the late eighteenth century as it is now - in fact, it was a mess. Rural people were pouring in from the impoverished countryside to fuel the Industrial Revolution. The well-to-do Cambridge residents and students hated these poor people who filled the crumbling hovels in the back streets of the city.
Simeon walked through the city and stood outside the 700-year-old Holy Trinity Church, naively praying, "Lord, give me this church so that I may minister to these people." The Church had been Catholic, and then Anglican, and was now reduced to a tiny congregation, most of whom were quite indifferent to the plight of the masses outside the church. The bishop made Simeon the vicar because he had no one else interested in this unappealing situation.
Simeon began his ministry by going from door to door through his parish, approaching people with the words, "My name is Simeon. I have called to enquire if I can do anything for your welfare." His friendliness so affected the poor peasants that they began to attend the church. Unfortunately, their smelly clothes and unwashed state offended the better-off members who paid rents to the church for their pews. They were appalled by the company they were forced to keep and protested to the bishop to get rid of this man who was ruining their church. The bishop kept Simeon on, saying that a little life was better than death.
The paid-pew crowd had not finished yet. They locked their pews so they were not available in the mornings, and hired a guest lecturer to preach to them on Sunday afternoons, in the manner to which they were accustomed. Undaunted, Simeon bought timber out of his forty-nine-pounds-a-year salary and made portable benches for his Sunday-morning congregation. Each week he would set them up in the aisles and foyer, before opening the doors and invite the people of the city to enter.
This went on for eleven years, and Simeon's patience was sustained by the philosophy "if half the people get a double blessing, I'll be satisfied." Then, in Simeon's twelfth year, revival came. The wall of conflict came down, and the congregation united. Simeon stayed there for fifty-four more years, and his career was astonishing. He continued to work with the poor. He was dean five times of the theological faculty of Kings College, and he influenced and informed dozens of young pastors. Like Luther, he never stopped lecturing.
Out of the ministry he founded, God raised up Inter-Varsity; the Cambridge Seven; a mission to China; and C.T. Studd and Henry Martyn, who went to India and translated the Bible into Urdu. Simeon created a network of influence throughout England as his young pastors began to find their way into all its industrial cities.
Each month he traveled to London to meet William Wilberforce, Lord Shaftesbury, members of Parliament and others in the Clapham Sect. They had one agenda: to abolish slavery in the British Empire. When Britain colonized Australia with convicts, it was Simeon who appointed a chaplain to accompany the first boatload to Sydney. This chaplain created the Archdioce of Sydney, and Simeon's mark is still on the Anglican church in that city."
Bakke continues, "As I read Moule's biography, I began to feel a kindred spirit with all these people who had been concerned with urban-mission issues more than a hundred years ago. I knew my life was being changed. Here was a pastor with an urban mission who worked with the poor, was an evangelist, discipled people, lectured at the university, wrote magnificent commentaries and still had time to go to London to work to stop the slave trade. I had a vision of what urban pastors and churches can do. The relationships of evangelistic, social, academic ministries with pastoral caring and political activity all came together in the career of Charles Simeon."
I'm looking forward, on my sabbatical, to reading this book about Simeon. Even more than that, I'm looking forward to returning refreshed and renewed in my urban calling in Indianapolis!
It is a book I've wanted to read for a long time. I hope to purchase it in Cambridge and read it during our travels in Great Brittain. Moule's biography of Charles Simeon (1759-1836), published in 1895.
Bakke writes:
"Simeon had been a student of the theological faculty of King's College, Cambridge, in England. The famous university town was not as pretty in the late eighteenth century as it is now - in fact, it was a mess. Rural people were pouring in from the impoverished countryside to fuel the Industrial Revolution. The well-to-do Cambridge residents and students hated these poor people who filled the crumbling hovels in the back streets of the city.
Simeon walked through the city and stood outside the 700-year-old Holy Trinity Church, naively praying, "Lord, give me this church so that I may minister to these people." The Church had been Catholic, and then Anglican, and was now reduced to a tiny congregation, most of whom were quite indifferent to the plight of the masses outside the church. The bishop made Simeon the vicar because he had no one else interested in this unappealing situation.
Simeon began his ministry by going from door to door through his parish, approaching people with the words, "My name is Simeon. I have called to enquire if I can do anything for your welfare." His friendliness so affected the poor peasants that they began to attend the church. Unfortunately, their smelly clothes and unwashed state offended the better-off members who paid rents to the church for their pews. They were appalled by the company they were forced to keep and protested to the bishop to get rid of this man who was ruining their church. The bishop kept Simeon on, saying that a little life was better than death.
The paid-pew crowd had not finished yet. They locked their pews so they were not available in the mornings, and hired a guest lecturer to preach to them on Sunday afternoons, in the manner to which they were accustomed. Undaunted, Simeon bought timber out of his forty-nine-pounds-a-year salary and made portable benches for his Sunday-morning congregation. Each week he would set them up in the aisles and foyer, before opening the doors and invite the people of the city to enter.
This went on for eleven years, and Simeon's patience was sustained by the philosophy "if half the people get a double blessing, I'll be satisfied." Then, in Simeon's twelfth year, revival came. The wall of conflict came down, and the congregation united. Simeon stayed there for fifty-four more years, and his career was astonishing. He continued to work with the poor. He was dean five times of the theological faculty of Kings College, and he influenced and informed dozens of young pastors. Like Luther, he never stopped lecturing.
Out of the ministry he founded, God raised up Inter-Varsity; the Cambridge Seven; a mission to China; and C.T. Studd and Henry Martyn, who went to India and translated the Bible into Urdu. Simeon created a network of influence throughout England as his young pastors began to find their way into all its industrial cities.
Each month he traveled to London to meet William Wilberforce, Lord Shaftesbury, members of Parliament and others in the Clapham Sect. They had one agenda: to abolish slavery in the British Empire. When Britain colonized Australia with convicts, it was Simeon who appointed a chaplain to accompany the first boatload to Sydney. This chaplain created the Archdioce of Sydney, and Simeon's mark is still on the Anglican church in that city."
Bakke continues, "As I read Moule's biography, I began to feel a kindred spirit with all these people who had been concerned with urban-mission issues more than a hundred years ago. I knew my life was being changed. Here was a pastor with an urban mission who worked with the poor, was an evangelist, discipled people, lectured at the university, wrote magnificent commentaries and still had time to go to London to work to stop the slave trade. I had a vision of what urban pastors and churches can do. The relationships of evangelistic, social, academic ministries with pastoral caring and political activity all came together in the career of Charles Simeon."
I'm looking forward, on my sabbatical, to reading this book about Simeon. Even more than that, I'm looking forward to returning refreshed and renewed in my urban calling in Indianapolis!
Urban Calling
One of the purposes of the Sabbatical, for our family, but also for our church, is to explore our urban calling.
By exploring our urban calling I mean answering questions like these: what does it mean to live as Christians in the urban context that God has called us to? What does it mean to love and serve Indianapolis? How can we not "use" the city or be "conformed" to the city, but, as the church, live as a counter-cultural "city within the city"? What does it mean to exist as the church for the "peace and prosperity" of the city?
To help me reflect on this important questions I am reading Ray Bakke's The Urban Christian. Bakke is a leading Christian urban life and ministry thinker. So, though the book is a bit dated (written in 1987), I expected to be challenged.
What I did not expect, was to find so many similarities in our stories. Ray Bakke was raised in "a remote rural valley near the Canadian Border in Washington State." It turns out that I've taken youth groups on trips to the cabin owned by his family in this remote rural valley!
Bakke's first real urban experience was in Chicago when he attended the Moody Bible Institute. The first big city I lived in, really experienced, was Chicago (though we lived in the suburbs, we spent quite a bit of time in the city) while I attended Trinity Divinity School.
From Chicago, Bakke and his wife Corean, moved to Seattle where he pastored an urban congregation. Seattle was also the first city Jenny and I really lived in. It is where we fell in love with city-life: its grittiness and glory. It is in Seattle that we began to understand that we were called to urban ministry.
Eventually Bakke and Corean moved back to Chicago where he gave his life to ministry in the inner city. I was especially encouraged by his description of their "family life" in the city, and their role in the public school system of Chicago (158-178).
In the same way, God has called our family to Indianapolis. To share solidarity with the suffering of our city. To not run from its problems. And, in some small way, to be a part of its renewal.
If you are interested in exploring your urban calling I highly recommend this book to you: Ray Bakke, The Urban Christian, Inter Varsity Press.
By exploring our urban calling I mean answering questions like these: what does it mean to live as Christians in the urban context that God has called us to? What does it mean to love and serve Indianapolis? How can we not "use" the city or be "conformed" to the city, but, as the church, live as a counter-cultural "city within the city"? What does it mean to exist as the church for the "peace and prosperity" of the city?
To help me reflect on this important questions I am reading Ray Bakke's The Urban Christian. Bakke is a leading Christian urban life and ministry thinker. So, though the book is a bit dated (written in 1987), I expected to be challenged.
What I did not expect, was to find so many similarities in our stories. Ray Bakke was raised in "a remote rural valley near the Canadian Border in Washington State." It turns out that I've taken youth groups on trips to the cabin owned by his family in this remote rural valley!
Bakke's first real urban experience was in Chicago when he attended the Moody Bible Institute. The first big city I lived in, really experienced, was Chicago (though we lived in the suburbs, we spent quite a bit of time in the city) while I attended Trinity Divinity School.
From Chicago, Bakke and his wife Corean, moved to Seattle where he pastored an urban congregation. Seattle was also the first city Jenny and I really lived in. It is where we fell in love with city-life: its grittiness and glory. It is in Seattle that we began to understand that we were called to urban ministry.
Eventually Bakke and Corean moved back to Chicago where he gave his life to ministry in the inner city. I was especially encouraged by his description of their "family life" in the city, and their role in the public school system of Chicago (158-178).
In the same way, God has called our family to Indianapolis. To share solidarity with the suffering of our city. To not run from its problems. And, in some small way, to be a part of its renewal.
If you are interested in exploring your urban calling I highly recommend this book to you: Ray Bakke, The Urban Christian, Inter Varsity Press.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Nightmares continue...
Last night I dreamed that all the jobs I got done that day - came undone by the next morning when I woke up! I can't tell you how relieved I was when I realized it was just a dream!
-Jenny
-Jenny
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 1st...
Today is May 1st - Final Countdown Begins!
I had my 2nd nightmare. We arrived around 7:30pm at the place were were to stay the night and found people sleeping in our beds!!!
I also checkout out a BBC Television series on Robin Hood in preparation for our trip. Is Sherwood Forest a real place in England?
Does anyone have a good King Aurther movie to recommend to us? We will be stopping by Tintigal.
Judah and I toured the Benjamin Harrison House as a final wrap up on our US History. We found out that the Harrison Family came from England and the 5th generation Harrison was a signer of the Declaration of Independance!
I had my 2nd nightmare. We arrived around 7:30pm at the place were were to stay the night and found people sleeping in our beds!!!
I also checkout out a BBC Television series on Robin Hood in preparation for our trip. Is Sherwood Forest a real place in England?
Does anyone have a good King Aurther movie to recommend to us? We will be stopping by Tintigal.
Judah and I toured the Benjamin Harrison House as a final wrap up on our US History. We found out that the Harrison Family came from England and the 5th generation Harrison was a signer of the Declaration of Independance!
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