european travels...yes it's for work

I have been a bad blogger. I don't even know how to apologise. And see? I'm using non-American spellings of words.

I am in Germany. Since November began I've been in three countries. Think about it. Today is November 6. I'm tired. But I think I'm actually mostly tired because I've been up since 4:15 this morning. Yeah, booking flights for early mornings. Crazy.

I have been through this crazy, amazing experience over the last ten days. I've been Italy, England and now Germany. I've led worship for OM Italy and also a team in Birmingham called Lifehope. I've visited London and seen good friends. I attended a church in a theatre in London...Grease plays there during the week. Church on Sunday. I attended devotions at Manna House in Bromley.

I just ate lunch with Gary Witherall. And got a lot of ideas. So good.

There's an old Far Side cartoon of student asking his teacher, "May I be excused? My brain is full." I think that's how I feel.

Leading worship has been amazing and difficult all at the same time. I'm learning that all my formulas never work. I'm learning what songs are known both in America and in Europe. I'm learning there's more to this new idea than I ever thought possible.

And I'm making new friends. I like new friends. If you'd like more details, leave a comment and I'll pass on some email updates I've sent out.

Italia

Good food.

Good friends.

Good worship-leading.

Good gelato.

Ooh - good gelato. (Always deserves another mention)

Good coffee.

Good life.

Beautiful scenery.

Beautiful people.

Me likey.

back across the pond

I'm going back to Europe for the third time this year.

Oct 25-Nov 16

I'm super excited and can't wait to see how God moves.

My trip has a few purposes, but one of the main ones is leading worship for different events in Italy and in the UK. I can't wait!

quotes

I'm reading Donald Miller's new book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" for the second time in a row.

Here's a few quotes that I've taken out so far...

Life has a peculiar feel when you look back on it that it doesn't have when you're actually living it. ~Donald Miller

You get a feeling when you look back on life that that's all God really wants from us, to live inside a body He made and enjoy the story and come with us through the experience. ~Donald Miller

If I have a hope, it's that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me specifically into the story and put us in with the sunset and the rainstorm as though to say, "Enjoy your place in my story. The beauty of it means you matter and you can create within it even as I have created you."

midtown

This is my church: Grace Midtown

The pastor preached barefoot last night.

The music was amazing.

We sang a song called "You'll Come" by Hillsong and it spoke right to what I've been learning recently.

And what have I been learning? Waiting on God. My grandma gave Andrew Murray's book of the same title a long time ago and I recently went through it again. It deeply moved my perspective on what God really requires of me in regards to life and decisions and behavior.

Now I'm reading Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge...and learning the same thing.

And what is the 'thing'? It's that God is more concerned about me hanging out with Him than He is about the form and the amount of time. He's also showing me that I worry too much and that really the point is to hang out with Him and He'll sort out everything.

And the coolest part? God is answering some of the questions that I've been asking about...answering my frustrations and blowing me away in regards to opportunities He's putting before me.

He's so amazing. :)

god bag

My mom has a friend who has this thing called a "God Bag." Basically if she's stressed or worried about anything, she writes it down on a piece of paper and puts it in the bag...symbolizing giving it to God to sort out. Something about that Philippians 4 verse comes to mind...oh and also what Jesus said about not worrying...

Anyhow - I've had one that I've not used regularly. But I'm coming to the conclusion that not using it regularly helps me see real answers! The last time I used it was probably in April 2008...I was getting ready to go to South Africa on my own and was pretty sick and really worried about my lack of preparation and also about how I was going to pay for the airfare. Around the same time I was asking God about songwriting and issues in my life and some other things.

Today I went through my "God bag." Over half of the things I'd been worrying about almost a year and a half ago had been taken care of.

I don't even know why I was worried. That's MY God! :)

I found this

"Come unto me all that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." ~Explore 09.01.2009
Originally uploaded by ken215

This photo is INCREDIBLE...

I should also say gorgeous....

Hope you enjoy.

One of the many joys of www.flickr.com/explore

a trip down memory lane

Everyone once in a while I like to look back at where I was on this day in the years I was on the ship. So here's a my attempt at a cool blog post and a shot at the possible memories that might exist from hearing about those places... :)

Sept 1, 1986 - Lome, Togo. Sorry people - no memory except that we were there.

Sept 1, 1987 - Tawau, Malaysia - yup - still no memories.

(I was 6 and 7 years old respectively! What do you expect??? :) )

Sept 1, 1988 - the ship was in Taiwan. I was in the United States on furlough. Probably getting ready to start 3rd grade in Pine City, MN.

Sept 1, 1989 - Gladstone, Australia - this is a place I remember lots and lots. The port where the ship was berthed was really industrial. I remember lots of cranes and such. The best part of being in Australia was the gigantic quaysides which provided ample space for riding bikes. I also remember a park was within walking distance of the ship and we'd often go there to play. Also apparently there was a group of people who did a huge cookout for people on the ship at the same park. And I remember playing with this kid there. Don't remember his name. It happened. Oh and I also just remembered that this was the port where two families with good friends left...the Booths and the Witzkewitzes...wow...that was sad!

Sept 1, 1990 - Phuket, Thailand - I remember the International Night in this port...it was outdoor. And we didn't have any Thai people onboard the ship, so the Thai representative in the Costume Parade was a local. She wore this beautiful pink national costume. This was one of the Int'l Nights my parents let me attend...always good times!

25 Steps to an Adventurous Evening

Step 1: Go to Atlanta to drink coffee with a friend.

Step 2: Decide to go see a movie and drive your own car.

Step 3: Listen to great music and have good conversation.

Step 4: When car decides to lose all 'power', pull over and try to restart.

Step 5: Ask friend to check out car.

Step 6: Wait for car to cool down and then try to restart.

Step 7: Sort out a tow truck when car won't start.

Step 8: Continue good conversation

Step 9: Drive with tow truck to mechanic

Step 10: Dance in parking lot while waiting for Mom to arrive so you can borrow her car.

Step 11: Hang out and talk with Mom for a while.

Step 12: Go to apartment and talk some more.

Step 13: Drive friend back to Atlanta

Step 14: Drive home and park car in office parking lot for Dad to pick up.

Step 15: Put keys in console.

Step 16: Turn on interior light to gather all important items before getting out of car

Step 17: Lock car as you're getting out.

Step 18: Realize that it's 2:15ish in the morning and you've just left the interior light on in your parents' car with the keys locked inside.

Step 19: Try calling parents to no avail.

Step 20: Wish to God almighty that you actually had AAA.

Step 21: Look up locksmiths in the yellow pages.

Step 22: Pick out a locksmith and call.

Step 23: Wait 35 minutes for locksmith to arrive after he'd said he'd be there in 20-25 minutes.

Step 24: Pay an exorbitant amount of money to just turn off the interior light of the car.

Step 25: Go home and climb into bed at 4am and pray that your insurance covers the charge.

a few quotes

A few quotes that are deeply inspiring me right now:

Deepest communion with God is beyond words, on the other side of silence. ~Madeline L'Engle

God is not satisfied until there exists between Him and His people a relaxed informality that requires no artificial stimulation. The true friend of God may sit in His presence for long periods in silence. Complete trust needs no words of assurance. ~A.W. Tozer