Friday
Aug 20, 2004 Print This Post
FRIDAY MORNING
Last night was amazing! Instead of doing the traditional worship/message thing, I opened it up after the worship and asked them what they are dealing with, etc. It was so cool, partially because the very thing I had prepared to teach on was what was brought up. In fact, the guy who started the conversation actually used the passage I was going to use as my main text! (This has actually happened several times so far…weird how God works) We talked for a very long time, then I asked everyone if they wanted to continue, and they sad yes, so we took a 5 minute break and went back at it for another hour or so!
I’ll tell you what, these kids are cool. Grace and I are really enjoying getting to know them. I kinda feel like we are part of their group now. Today, we are changing up what we are doing because of last night’s time.
Well, it’s time for breakfast!
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
So today has been a pretty good day. We had a good time this morning discussing how to hate sin and love people. A lot of conversation surrounded the concept that Christianity is really a faith of things held in tension. It’s really a both/and faith, not an either/or faith if that makes sense.
This afternoon we were going to head into town to do some exploring but it broke out in some pretty heavy storms and we stayed and goofed around. We played a little foosball, then we played a game we invented. It is basically a card game based on “Rich Man, Poor Man” if you have ever played that. But we put an intensely capitalist spin on it and made it extra vindictive. We started with 12 or 13 people and eliminated people as we went. Yes, yes, I won. And Grace was second place. The two Americans living in America won the capitalist game. It’s a beautiful and scary thing.
FRIDAY NIGHT
One of the highlights of this trip has been getting to know Daniel Goering. He is a pastor at the church in Dortmond, Germany. He is a great thinker (reminds me of Paul DenHerder) who sits in a meeting and just processes info. By the time he speaks up, he really has something to say. In addition, he seems to know the word so well. It is amazing. It has kinda inspired me to get into the word more.
Tonight was a blast. We had a two hour conversation about gray areas. Specifically, how do we determine what is a gray are in differing cultures. For instance, the first day we met up with the team from Italy, we had dinner, including beer with the family and the 18 year old had one. Then, yesterday, one of the teens walked into the place we are staying, drinking a beer.
Then there is the issue of nudity. One family just got back from the south of France wear everyone was enjoying the summer au naturale.
The conversation was awesome. These teens have great heads on their shoulders and are really good at thinking things through. So cool.
Then I beat Grace at air hockey. Life just remains so good.
