Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category
Posted on December 11, 2009 - by Larry - 1 Comment
Dependence
Today I am writing from Ukraine. This is my first time here. Though it is not extremely far from Southwest Germany it is a very different culture and way of life here.
I arrived yesterday at about 2:30 pm after about a one hour wait in line at passport control. It was already getting dark. Grey clouds. A little snowy. I have only met one person from the Ukraine that speaks English. Even the words on the signs are hard to read. The words are in Cyrillic. I was able to guess at some of the letters since they reminded me of Greek.
I had dinner with some workers who live here and then I was dropped off at the hotel. Again, no one that I tried talking to spoke English.
- I do not speak Russian
- I have never been to the city
- Signs are all in Ukrainian and I do not recognize the letters.
- Not many English speakers
- Dark when I arrived
- In a hotel not knowing anyone
What do you do?
Are there some “first things” you do when you arrive to a new place?
It hit me this morning again. I hate that I must be reminded of this so much.
Being here reminded me of the total dependence upon the Lord that we must have daily on the field.
More on this city and some things I am learning later but this post is about something that should be an automatic for me. We need to be dependent on the Lord. There is something about going to a foreign place and not knowing how to do anything that makes you stick pretty close to the Lord. It does not have to be this way. I need to daily depend on the Lord regardless of where I land. Sure there are some “first things” that I need to do when I arrive in a new place that can help me learn the city and culture but the realization is that I need to depend upon the Lord.
What do you do when you land in a new place?
Posted on December 8, 2009 - by Larry - 1 Comment
London
This past week I was in London doing some prep work for our upcoming Jet Set tour to London and Paris with The Upstream Collective. It was a great trip for several reasons. One reason was that my son Parker and my wife Susan were able to go with me.
Because my wife is a teacher at Black Forest Academy and of course my son a student they do not always get to participate in my ministry. It was great having them along for the weekend. We worked hard and had some fun.
My top five treats in London
- Krispy Kreme Donuts – I only had them twice but they were good.
- Watching my son go crazy on Denmark Street where we visited shop after shop of music stores. He is a guitarist.
- We saw the musical “Wicked”. It was indeed wicked (which use to mean good)
- The lighting of the Christmas tree on Thursday night. Norway gives London a tree each year. It is always great to be in a square with atleast 500,000 people.
- Being able to reconnect with several friends who live in London and spend some time with them.
I also want to list another top five of sorts.
1. Had lunch with a person who is working in London and part of our Skybridge Community . It is so encouraging to see people living out their lives incarnationally in the marketplace here in Europe.
2. Talked with a person who is an artist and is doing a spectacular job connecting with other artists in London and being the salt and light in that community.
3. Visited the wonderful folks at Westminster Chapel where we will be next May for a few of our days there. Ed Stetzer will be preaching there on May 23rd. The Upstream Collective and Acts 29 Western Europe will be hosting a one day conference there called Dwell on May 22nd. More on that later.
4. Spent time with an imb worker is who hoping to find creative partnerships with North American churches to engage the burroughs of London. What is really cool is how this guy is a catalyst for connecting these churches with existing ministries and churches and the collabroration that is going on is great.
5. The continual amazement at how the world really is in London. There are so many opportunities there to share the Gospel with many of the people groups in the world. I love working in Europe. I think it is one of the most strategic places in the world to be involved in missions. I have learned so much since 2001 about ministry here. I have much more to learn. Not to make an huge advertisement but Caleb Crider and I are really pumped about being with Alan Hirsch at the churchplanters.com conference where we will be doing a pre- conference workshop entitled “Back to the Future: Lessons from Europe” and how that can apply to church planting in the states today. If you can come to that please sign up on their site.
Posted on October 30, 2009 - by Larry - 2 Comments
Culture
I know I am in the middle of my “Church Learning a Foreign Language” series. I have my next post ready for Monday and it is full of some great links and ideas from a person who is a language coach for overseas workers here in Europe.
Learning language is important. However, another aspect of living overseas is being able to adapt to the culture. I have seen people who have done well in learning a second language really struggle in adapting to another culture.
Last night we went to Herbstmesse in Basel.
It is quite a BIG event. I read where it has been going on for almost 500 years. It is like going to a county fair but in an urban setting and it is totally spread out all over the city. I love the giant Ferris Wheel in front of the church. It is quite fun. I did not see the livestock or petting zoo. I did not see the “Fairest of the Fair” contest. I doubt they have one. However, there are a lot of food options. Check out this link.
But it is an important part of the city life in Basel during this time of the year. It is an important cultural event. We have been every year that we have lived here and love it. I must admit it costs quite a bit per ride (the exchange rate is not friendly to us right now) so we do not do many rides but the kids love it and it is chance to hang with their friends and a chance for us to try some yummy food.
What are the events you should go to in your city? How important is your presence there?
What do you learn about the people when you go to these festivals.?
Can learning be fun? I think so.
Posted on June 20, 2009 - by Larry - 3 Comments
Larry visits Mars Hill
Yesterday we went into Athens to see the sites. We made it to Mar’s Hill. I will tell you about a really cool ministry connect we made there in my next post.
The book of Acts comes alive here as you walk around the marketplace, the temple sites, Mar’s Hill.
I am standing next to his speech as recorded in Acts 17. I giving you the English version in case you cannot zoom in and read it in Greek.
22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
I must say when you come to Athens you must try the “Frappe“. I doubt the Apostle Paul was able to experience this aspect of Athenian life but the”iced coffee drink” is something to remember.
More Soon.
Posted on January 20, 2009 - by Larry - 2 Comments
Marsielle, France
Bonjour.
I was able to spend a few days last week in Marsielle presenting a few sessions at a training event. I was also able to get a preview into the May 2009 Upstream Collective vision trip to that city. We will be touching down in two cities: Rome and Marsielle.
Marsielle is an awesome city and one that will be a fascinating place to explore with the pastors who are coming along on this journey.
Some fast facts:
The picture you see above is a beautiful cathedral called Notre Dame de la Garde and it overlooks the old port into Marsielle. The idea is that “Mary” overlooks the city and protects the ships as they come in and out of the harbor.
Notre Dame de la Garde also overlooks Chateau d’If famous from the book by Alexandre Dumas entitled: The Count of Monte Cristo.
Also:
- It is the oldest city in France. Marsielle was settled in 600 BC by the Greeks.
- It is the third largest urban area in France with nearly 1.5 million people.
- Some demographic studies show that over 25 percent of the population are people from North Africa. For a great blog on ministry opportunities with these people groups check out this.
- There are also said to be almost 80,000 Jews making it the third largest urban Jewish community in Europe.
As in many cities in Europe there are beautiful buildings and scenery but the spiritual needs are vast. In reading some bible commentaries this week on the book of Acts I read this quote. The late Noel O. Lyons, for many years director of the Greater Europe Mission, used to say, “Europe is looked over by millions of visitors and is overlooked by millions of Christians. Europe needs the Gospel today as it did in Paul’s day..”
If you are interested in this vision trip please visit www.theupstreamcollective.org
Posted on October 20, 2008 - by Larry - 0 Comments
Chains
We approached the front of the cathedral towards the area where they currently have mass. The church is the second largest church in that city behind St. Peter’s. There is a huge open area for people to come into. It was empty for the exception of a few tourists. When I say the word huge I really should write it like this: HUGE. By the way, one of our hosts for the week told us that only about 11 percent of Italians regularly attend Mass and 75 percent of them are over the age of 60. There are less than one percent of the people in the country that would say that they have a personal relationship with Jesus. Italy is definitely a country that we would describe as post Christian. Near the front of the church you will find the crypt where it is said that Paul is buried. This is where you will find his chains and see his tomb. It is covered with glass and you can look down towards it.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Paul, Ephesians 2:8
My heart broke for these people for there is nothing that we can do or even rub that can get us closer to God or give us power or luck. It is only by grace that we have been saved. I remembered and I am totally grateful for the chains that he wore as he boldly proclaimed the gospel in a hostile world but I am so thankful for the grace from our Lord that gives us life and freedom. Thank you Paul for teaching us that as well.
Posted on September 27, 2008 - by Larry - 2 Comments
House Church in Italy – Photo of the Week
Posted on September 21, 2008 - by Larry - 2 Comments
the photo of the month
Posted on April 19, 2008 - by Larry - 0 Comments
Where I Live
I often will be asked in the states “where do you live?”
I tell them Western Europe. They really feel sorry for me.
Of course I could not imagine why. grin.
I think we suffer in other ways like the 1.62 exchange rate. When we moved to Europe in 2001 we could go to the grocery store and spend 100 euros and only 70 US dollars came out of our account. Now 162.00 dollars comes out. The views are expensive for sure.
But this is not why we are here. We have a desire to see people here come to know, experience and live abundantly by as followers of Jesus.
So while we may have some cool views. We most certainly have beautiful castles and churches however it does not take long being here to realize that for all of the “Coolness” of Europe it is a place in need of Jesus.
Check out this article that a co-worker passed to me this week. It helps paint a picture of the spiritual condition of the young people here. While there are glimpses where we see how young people desire spiritual conversations it is not the Christian church where they are going to find their answers. In fact they are going almost everywhere but the church. This presents a problem if your church is trying to “attract” young people (I would add anyone for that matter).
If you are trying to attract people to your church then you are assuming that you have people wanting to come. I think that day is over here. The church (people not a building, place or just the pastor) has to find ways to live out their faith in their daily lives (incarnationally) so that they have natural opportunities to share Jesus in a every day context.
I would also add that even though this article speaks of how some German youth are seeking spirituality I do not think it is the norm. For many spirituality is not a bleep on the radar screen. in Europe. I hope as you read this article you might say a prayer for the youth in Europe. Say a prayer for the people that are serving over here both as internationals trying to make a difference and for nationals who are trying to reach young people for Christ in Europe.
adios.
LMc
