A Prayer for Haiti – God is Suffering

By Tim on 1/14/2010

How to pray, what to do, and where to look for hope for now and the future… some thoughts from a heart and mind reeling with the effects of catastrophe.

“There are times when events make everything else pale in comparison. I’m in Los Angeles today on my book tour, but the news of Tuesday’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake hitting Haiti is one of those times. Over the past few hours, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off CNN. The tragedy in Haiti is unbelievable — the pictures of the pain and destruction are haunting. My heart breaks for the families and the victims of this tragedy…”

From Jim Wallis. Article in full is here: <<God is Suffering with those who are Suffering in Haiti>>

We personally have friends who have been rescued from the rubble and others who are not yet found. The aftermath of this quake and what it will mean for years to come is staggering. As aid and support rushes in I am hopeful that development efforts in this country will redouble. Prayerfully I ask God to provide hope for this nations surviving mothers, fathers, children. God have mercy.

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Merry Christmas!

By Tim on 12/25/2009

Continue reading “Merry Christmas!”

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Life in the Icebox – Practicing ;-)

By Tim on 12/9/2009

Tonight Ginger and I are in the icebox again (that would be the uninsulated garage converted to a rec. room attached to the house we lived in over the last year). It’s, “good practice” says Ginger. And considering what is coming up that is true. Note: we do have a small electric room heater which we turn on at night; but it is distinctly cold and drafty in this temporary bunker. (Was a balmy 8° outside this morning. Nice!!)

In October we moved out of our home and Seth and Hannah moved in (yeah!! they are officially in while we will be out). We are now technically homeless; staying in the rec. room with all our packed belongings… which has us experiencing some winter “practice”. Might as well experience some of what is to come for our globe traversing family.

Now, Seth and Hannah – having moved from Minnesota, are laughing at us because we think 8° is cold. They are still rejoicing that their noses don’t freeze when they walk outside. Nonetheless, for us – our new climate will include a lengthy winter that is cold… and heating sources are few or not always accessible. For most families, it is typical for a single room in the house to be kept warm. Bundling yourself up is for inside your abode as well as outside.

Tonight as I finished reading, “The Princess and the Goblin to my kiddos Ginger peeked in to show off. She had that, “I’ve just discovered something amazing – but won’t say a word till I have your complete attention” look on her face.

Setting the book aside I took in the view: Thick green wool hat, scarf, winter jacket, pj pants and the final touch: hand sewn foot warmers made from old wool sweaters. She’s warm and outfitted to weather whatever the icebox deals out tonight. Awesome ;-) Just add blankets and we’ll call it a night. Check in tomorrow morning and we’ll give you the latest interior weather report from the ‘Couv!

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1 Corinthians 13 | Cross-Cultural Adaptation

By Tim on 10/26/2009

Here are some thoughts if you want to engage cultures and people around you. Read it through and super-impose it on your own setting, family, community. Some power insight to be had here!

If I speak with the tongue of a national, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I wear the national dress and understand the culture and all forms of etiquette, and if I copy all mannerisms so that I could pass for a national, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor, and if I spend my energy without reserve, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love endures long hours of language study, and is kind to those who mock his accent; love does not envy those who stayed home; love does not exalt his home culture, is not proud of his national reputation.

Does not boast about the way we do it back home, does not seek his own ways, is not easily provoked into telling about the beauty of his home country, does not think evil about this new culture.

Love bears all criticism about his home culture, believes all good things about this new culture, confidently anticipates being at home in this place, endures all inconveniences.

Love never fails: but where there is cultural anthropology, it will fail; where there is
contextualization, it will cease; where there are linguistics, it will vanish.

For we know only part of the culture and we minister to only part, but when Christ is reproduced in this culture, then our inadequacies will be insignificant.

When I was in America I spoke as an American, I understood as an American, I thought as an American; but when I left America I put away American things.

Now we adapt to this culture awkwardly; but He will live in it intimately: now I speak with a strange accent, but He will speak to the heart.

And now these three remain: cultural adaptation, language study, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.

Thoughts? What about the above adaptation causes an internal reaction of “Yes!!” A reaction of “NO!!?” As I read through this I am confronted with the question, does love really trump all – and because it does, how committed am I to this in very practical day in day out ways. Love is not etherial – it comes down to practical actions towards those who my life impacts day in and day out. Intentions are great, but impact is real ;-d

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Daddy You’re in MY Sun!

By Tim on 5/15/2009

She needs a push once in a while on her favorite 3 wheeled vehicle. This means someone needs to stand behind it to give it a go. Likely this comment comes from the fact that over the last couple days the sun actually showed its face. Very nice ;-)

So, she’s grateful for an occasional push – even has the cutest, “sank you!” and then out she blurts, “Daddy, you’re in ‘MY’ sun!!” Oh well honey, let me move that nice bright thing for you to the other side. ;-) "Daddy, you're in 'MY' sun!!"

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Wolf Haven + Lifesong Guys

By Tim on 4/21/2009

Had to be there! A number of photos were taken are viewable here.

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