The Language Barrier

A friend posted this blog on facebook today.  I had to respond. 

Read the blog & respond with your thoughts as well.  The Romanian American Church Problem

My response:

The big issue presented in this article is the Romanian language.  If we are talking about church, the biggest issue should be how to best communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many people are worried about their culture/language rather than the true problem of the church: how to present the gospel in a relevant way.

We should be solely concerned about how to best display the gospel to the current culture & not be so worried about maintaining that specific culture. I have no problem with maintaining culture but, if you're worried about language & culture, go start a Romanian country club or something.

 If you are worried about the gospel of Jesus Christ, then do everything you can to be relevant to the people of the day, present it in the language of the country & in the culture of the country.

Language & culture should not be placed on the same level as the problem of getting the gospel of Jesus Christ out. Jesus Christ should be our sole aim, drive & passion. Everything else is secondary.

Like Paul says compared with Jesus, everything else is dung, literally crap. ‎"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." -Philippians 3:8

The Process

Journal from October 2010:

I went to the Getty Museum yesterday.  As I saw how they make a bronze statue, it made me realize the long, difficult & oft times confusing process of making a work of art. Even with in depth explanation, I had a hard time understanding the importance of some of the steps.

I found myself asking "And why is this step important? What's the big deal?"

 I realized then that I didn't get it, even with explanations & examples, I just didn't understand.

 And so it is with God. If I don't get a human process explained in details, of course I'm not going to get the divine process.

I am so ignorant & oft times unaware of God's working and His plans in this life. So many times they seem confusing, silly, and even off, but God is doing something.

I can trust his artistic skill in making all things work together and making life exceedingly, and abundantly beautiful.

I trust you Daddy, I love you Daddy, you are Lord of all!! 

Mirrors & Smoke

Thoughts while I was visiting sunny California in July of 2010

God wants us to find out the secret of life from the poor, the sick, the hungry, the ugly, the desperate, the weak ones of the earth.  They will burst the bubble of god-like existence that we so desperately want to live in.  It is in them that we find what it means to truly be human. 


We are so good at putting on facades - like we've got it all together- like we're so happy & satisfied.  I must really look like I've got it all together, but I have major issues. The more I get to know people, shy & extrovert alike, ugly & beautiful the same, all have issues. 

In fact, the ones with the most laughs & beauty seem to be the ones with the biggest issues.  It's a big show & we're all actors.  Oh to be who we really are.  To know we can be known & know each other for what we are. 

I know only Christ can make us free to know & be known.  One thing's for sure: people are not what they appear to be.  There is so much depth & complexity in the human soul than what he/she lets us see. 

Far off land

A poem I wrote sometime in 2005

The distance of a faraway land calls us
it's something we can't escape

we write it in our books, sing it in our songs
as our souls ache with longing for something we've misplaced

something we can't replace

distant in some far off land there's a story that can't be erased

Isn't it clear we are not home here?

We belong where winter is over & the clouds have just begun to part

When all the world has forgotten the song we all once knew so well

our hearts are still humming the tune ...

What Jesus Looks Like

Last night me & the girls were talking about God at our book study on "Crazy Love."  One of the questions was: "If someone asked you to physically describe Jesus, what would you say?"

Here's my answer:

March 10, 2011

Jesus has fire in his eyes & a sword in His hand.  He is an agile warrior.  Strong. Mighty.  He walks like a King.  Not a King who is arrogant or haughty, but a King who can look you in the eye & see straight into your heart. 

Jesus has a staff in one hand, a lamb over His shoulder, & a sword on His back.  And when Jesus shoots an arrow, He's always on target. 

His hands are calloused, yet His touch is gentle.  He's a man's man working in the carpentry & farming. 

My Sources:
Psalm 23
Psalm 45
Revelation 1:14
John 15