Thursday, July 26, 2018
After a walk and breakfast, the women's study meets for the last time on our porch. We're handing it back to Claudia, who returns from Brazil on Sunday (hurrah!)
--From the study:
It's wonderful to explore what Jesus is doing in scripture and continues to do today.
In John 5, Jesus asks a disabled man, "Do you want to be healed?"
I've always found that questions fascinating. The tendency is to snap off: "Of COURSE! he wants to be healed." But as we discuss, we agree that the man must decide to adopt a new identity if he is no longer ill. He will have to work rather than beg. He will not have "special" (noticeable) status or distinction from those around - he'll just be like everyone else ...
and so it's a good question. It's also one that Jesus continues to ask. He offers us grace, freedom from the sins of the past, healing of body, soul and spirit.
But what if, when we are praying for his help, he stops to ask you - or me,
Some of us prefer to hang on to our broken identities, our revenge, or our familiar ways of functioning in relationships. So, though God wants to heal us, we stay where we are - safe and sick and unhappy.
Take a few minutes to listen as Christ asks you: "Do you want to be healed?"
--
In the evening, a bunch of us study Joshua 11. W leads the discussion of now-and-not-yet, of battles won and still to come, and of our trust in God in the middle of settling into God's plans.
Friday
W and I have breakfast where his Friday study usually meets. Today, we are the only ones (had a heads up, but it gets us out of the house and talking through upcoming opportunities.) No one ever is alone in the neighborhoods - streams of young people, kids, and adults walk together.
W has lunch but I'm not yet hungry. After, we head over to Terry's house to see his progress on wrapping up life in Bandung. He's almost done - the house is clean, empty, and there are just a few things to do. It's bittersweet for us - we've enjoyed his leadership these years in Bandung and will miss him and Sandy so much.
From there, we drop into Café Oz for book group. W grabs some meat pies for supper and heads back home while the women and I discuss our book.
Manju hosts the women's book group while DrHanna leads the discussion with some questions. Today, we're studying Being Wrong, a book each one had trouble finishing. There are so many studies, examples, and quotes that we get snarled in a thicket of research. But we have a lot of back and forth about what it means to "be right" or "be wrong" and if that's even possible.
I get a call, which Dr Hanna kindly interprets - Cocoa is on her way to the house. And indeed, when we get to our neighborhood, W takes Gypsy (our yard dog for a walk). The transporter follows us into our neighborhood and brings out this beautiful creature.
Cocoa runs around the yard, smelling this and that. We go for a walk to stretch her legs after her 3-day trip. I've forgotten what a people-magnet poodles are! Kids, teens, and adults stop and smile. "Anjing lucu!" we hear over and over (=cute dog!) And a few exclaim, "Bonika!" which means a doll or stuffed toy.
When I take Cocoa into the house, Gypsy can come back into the yard. Each time Cocoa goes out in the evening, W takes Gypsy for a walk in the neighborhood. They'll meet tomorrow, after they're familiar with each others' smells. Meanwhile, the LR is improved by the poodle, don't you think?
Saturday
Groan. We took Cocoa and Gypsy out and around a few times at night, not knowing if Cocoa can wait until morning. She patiently lies in her crate from 4:30-6:30am, after wandering around the room earlier to find her perfect spot.
"This is why we don't do puppies," I say to W as we head out before 7am. Judy kindly lets us use her fenced yard for the dogs to meet. W takes the long way around the block while I head straight to Judy's.
We're stopped several times along the way as people want to know what kind of dog she is, if she's ours, and if she's very expensive. ("She's a blessing and a gift from a friend," we reply to ward off potential dognappers.) "Ah, so beautiful!" Yes she is.
Cocoa bounces around the yard and then waits nearby. Gypsy goes wild when he is let off his leash. He dashes past her, inviting her to play and run. She's not sure - she has the cautious nature of my other poodles. Eventually he gets settled down enough to sniff around and we walk back to the house together. She comes in; he stays outside.
Before noon, we walk down the hill to a coffee shop with both animals. What you can't see is the fireman sitting in the back of the firetruck. He waves traffic to stop as the truck approaches, sirens wailing. Then he waves from his window for traffic to continue after they pass. Sirens alone make little impact. Indonesians are watching for movement rather than listening for another sound in the chaos of traffic noise.
We get stopped a lot - most people have never seen a standard poodle.
They do fine, even with all the attention and exclamations. Both are great on the leash. When we get home, they're free to hang out together. One chooses one end of the porch; the other sprawls on the other side. W has a quick nap as well.
Then W and I get to work - we're presenting an online talk together later this weekend.
Sunday
BIC is having a community potluck for Pastor Terry's farewell talk. W and I get up early and walk the dogs. (I think this may be slimming.)
I make a huge pot of pasta before leading service at 9. We send a few cards around for people to sign and send their love to Sandy, who has stayed behind in Canada. It is truly a wrenching farewell for us, losing our friend. He says a fine and encouraging goodbye. He is commissioned by the church's leadership team, to preach and teach in Canada. And then we gather around to pray for him.
Last Sunday, I sat behind him and sketched my goodbye. (The angle of the photo is skewed so this is more rounded). We won't forget this fine man, intent on hearing from and speaking for God on our behalf.
Lunch is delicious: lots of noodles, rice, sweets. A big bucket of ice cream draws me back twice. "Wow, you must like chocolate ice-cream," says a little girl, looking at my bowl. Yes, yes, I do.
Andrea drops by in the afternoon - but we are so full of food that we don't bother with tea or cookies. That rarely happens! We share some cold water instead.
Monday
Monday is always a long and satisfying day. This morning, a conference is cancelled as our friend is doing other things.
Good timing. W and I are live on Facebook. Pursuit Church Live has asked us to speak on a movie theme, so we choose our last movie night film, Queen of Katwe. The time shift means they're getting the feed Sunday at 5; we're speaking Monday morning at 7. I have my mug of tea in hand.
It's no biggie for me to be alert because of my usual 7:00 conference call. But W exclaims that we've already had an "event" with more to come later in the day. Yes, Monday starts early, but it feels like a rewarding day as we meet with studies and our team.
Prayer:
For all the ways you love us, God, we thank you.
For all the ways you comfort us when we have to say goodbye, thank you.
Today, we accept the new provisions and the future from your hand
With gratitude and trust. Amen
Some of us prefer to hang on to our broken identities, our revenge, or our familiar ways of functioning in relationships. So, though God wants to heal us, we stay where we are - safe and sick and unhappy.
Take a few minutes to listen as Christ asks you: "Do you want to be healed?"
--
In the evening, a bunch of us study Joshua 11. W leads the discussion of now-and-not-yet, of battles won and still to come, and of our trust in God in the middle of settling into God's plans.
Friday
W and I have breakfast where his Friday study usually meets. Today, we are the only ones (had a heads up, but it gets us out of the house and talking through upcoming opportunities.) No one ever is alone in the neighborhoods - streams of young people, kids, and adults walk together.
W has lunch but I'm not yet hungry. After, we head over to Terry's house to see his progress on wrapping up life in Bandung. He's almost done - the house is clean, empty, and there are just a few things to do. It's bittersweet for us - we've enjoyed his leadership these years in Bandung and will miss him and Sandy so much.
From there, we drop into Café Oz for book group. W grabs some meat pies for supper and heads back home while the women and I discuss our book.
Manju hosts the women's book group while DrHanna leads the discussion with some questions. Today, we're studying Being Wrong, a book each one had trouble finishing. There are so many studies, examples, and quotes that we get snarled in a thicket of research. But we have a lot of back and forth about what it means to "be right" or "be wrong" and if that's even possible.
I get a call, which Dr Hanna kindly interprets - Cocoa is on her way to the house. And indeed, when we get to our neighborhood, W takes Gypsy (our yard dog for a walk). The transporter follows us into our neighborhood and brings out this beautiful creature.
Cocoa runs around the yard, smelling this and that. We go for a walk to stretch her legs after her 3-day trip. I've forgotten what a people-magnet poodles are! Kids, teens, and adults stop and smile. "Anjing lucu!" we hear over and over (=cute dog!) And a few exclaim, "Bonika!" which means a doll or stuffed toy.
When I take Cocoa into the house, Gypsy can come back into the yard. Each time Cocoa goes out in the evening, W takes Gypsy for a walk in the neighborhood. They'll meet tomorrow, after they're familiar with each others' smells. Meanwhile, the LR is improved by the poodle, don't you think?
Saturday
Groan. We took Cocoa and Gypsy out and around a few times at night, not knowing if Cocoa can wait until morning. She patiently lies in her crate from 4:30-6:30am, after wandering around the room earlier to find her perfect spot.
"This is why we don't do puppies," I say to W as we head out before 7am. Judy kindly lets us use her fenced yard for the dogs to meet. W takes the long way around the block while I head straight to Judy's.
We're stopped several times along the way as people want to know what kind of dog she is, if she's ours, and if she's very expensive. ("She's a blessing and a gift from a friend," we reply to ward off potential dognappers.) "Ah, so beautiful!" Yes she is.
Cocoa bounces around the yard and then waits nearby. Gypsy goes wild when he is let off his leash. He dashes past her, inviting her to play and run. She's not sure - she has the cautious nature of my other poodles. Eventually he gets settled down enough to sniff around and we walk back to the house together. She comes in; he stays outside.
Before noon, we walk down the hill to a coffee shop with both animals. What you can't see is the fireman sitting in the back of the firetruck. He waves traffic to stop as the truck approaches, sirens wailing. Then he waves from his window for traffic to continue after they pass. Sirens alone make little impact. Indonesians are watching for movement rather than listening for another sound in the chaos of traffic noise.
We get stopped a lot - most people have never seen a standard poodle.
They do fine, even with all the attention and exclamations. Both are great on the leash. When we get home, they're free to hang out together. One chooses one end of the porch; the other sprawls on the other side. W has a quick nap as well.
Then W and I get to work - we're presenting an online talk together later this weekend.
Sunday
BIC is having a community potluck for Pastor Terry's farewell talk. W and I get up early and walk the dogs. (I think this may be slimming.)
I make a huge pot of pasta before leading service at 9. We send a few cards around for people to sign and send their love to Sandy, who has stayed behind in Canada. It is truly a wrenching farewell for us, losing our friend. He says a fine and encouraging goodbye. He is commissioned by the church's leadership team, to preach and teach in Canada. And then we gather around to pray for him.
Last Sunday, I sat behind him and sketched my goodbye. (The angle of the photo is skewed so this is more rounded). We won't forget this fine man, intent on hearing from and speaking for God on our behalf.
Lunch is delicious: lots of noodles, rice, sweets. A big bucket of ice cream draws me back twice. "Wow, you must like chocolate ice-cream," says a little girl, looking at my bowl. Yes, yes, I do.
Andrea drops by in the afternoon - but we are so full of food that we don't bother with tea or cookies. That rarely happens! We share some cold water instead.
Monday
Monday is always a long and satisfying day. This morning, a conference is cancelled as our friend is doing other things.
Good timing. W and I are live on Facebook. Pursuit Church Live has asked us to speak on a movie theme, so we choose our last movie night film, Queen of Katwe. The time shift means they're getting the feed Sunday at 5; we're speaking Monday morning at 7. I have my mug of tea in hand.
It's no biggie for me to be alert because of my usual 7:00 conference call. But W exclaims that we've already had an "event" with more to come later in the day. Yes, Monday starts early, but it feels like a rewarding day as we meet with studies and our team.
Prayer:
For all the ways you love us, God, we thank you.
For all the ways you comfort us when we have to say goodbye, thank you.
Today, we accept the new provisions and the future from your hand
With gratitude and trust. Amen
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