Simplifying and Maximizing

I live a schizophrenic life. There, I said it. This is what I mean...
       I returned two days ago from traveling more than 10,000 miles in 10 days and visiting one of the most beautiful, wealthy places on earth (a valley in Switzerland). I skied, ate great food, sipped expensive (and good) coffee on the ski pistes.
       Yesterday I got home and found that the faucet of the sink in our kitchen is kaput. It would usually cost $100 to replace this. But my friend Jim - who is a contractor - is remodeling someone's kitchen and can get me their old faucet for free. What a deal!
       I am a master at rationalizing my lifestyle, as we all are. I am a missionary who raises financial support and I live a higher standard of living than 90% of the world's population. I justify it by saying that I live a lower standard of living than many other missionaries.
       If this is not crazy-making I don't know what is!
       Well I am trying to formulate and live within some core values around simplifying life and maximizing it (especially about material resources). I have not figured it all out yet, but here is 3 things I am wrestling with:
1. If I can do without something I will try to. I want to always be asking, "how can I simplify my life?";
2. I hope to appreciate more and more the luxuries afforded my family and me (whatever they may be, great and small);
3. I want to maximize every resource - by using it up, fixing it up, or giving it up.

From my friend Troy

This is from my friend Troy with whom we served in Europe for many years.  He and his family moved to Chicago last summer after being part of starting several churches in Madrid. This is insightful and so true.

ten things i never expected when i accepted a call to missions in 1989

1. I would have conflict with co-workers.
2. Uncertainty would be frequent and normal.
3. Asking forgiveness from people on my staff or in my church would minister more to them than any sermon I would preach.
4. Prayer would be hard.
5. Victories would often be followed by sadness.
6. Fame and calling do not coincide.
7. I would own a beagle that likes to eat snot rags.
8. Church could happen without weekly Sunday services.
9. I could wear pajamas while preaching.
10. Ministers have regrets that God redeems. 

A Youth Revolution Goes Viral

It is not mere coincidence that Tunisia ousted their long-standing dictator president, Egypt has erupted in social and political unrest, and that the Hizbollah are demanding that they be allowed to form a government in Lebanon. All of this in a few weeks.
       There is a youth revolution in North Africa and the Middle East which is unfolding before the eyes of the world. It is the voice of disgust from a generation coming of age. 

That generation is exploding in age - more than 40% of the populations of Yemen, Gaza, and Iraq are 15 years old or younger. Wondering where the next socio-political hotspot will be in the next 7 years? Try Yemen.
       More than 50% of all North African countries combined are under 25 years old! That's Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt. Pick your hotspot.
       These are only the Arab countries. Now consider that one-third of Iran (Persians) are under 15 years old, more than 50% of the country is under 30.
       So what does this mean? At the very least it means that there will be tremendous change and upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa for the next decade. It could mean tremendous strife and a greater exodus of young people from these countries into Europe.
       I believe it also means great opportunity for positive change, for the gospel in places previously closed. It will demand risk on the part of Christians, to place ourselves in relation with people from these countries. But to be sure, this is a great opportunity.

God's Beautiful Creation & God's People Together

I just returned from a great week with 40+ people from Crossroads Church of Amsterdam. It was their annual ski week, deep in a valley in the Swiss Alps. It is one of the most breath-taking places on earth really.
       The only thing that rivaled God's creation this week was God's people together. I realized how much I miss the wonder of a multi-cultural community where you hear different languages and have different perspectives on things.
       We worshipped together, laughed together, fell on our bums skiing together (at least some of us), I did a few reflections/teachings from Nehemiah.
       Thanks to all the folks who made this a great week!

In Geneva with Susy before the ski week. This is where it all began for us!

Susy with Janneke (left) and Geer (right) on the slopes.

The Lauterbrunnen Valley from the ski lift. Close to paradise.

Traveling in Winter ...

Traveling from Swiss Alps to Geneva to Washington D.C. to Syracuse, New York today. About 5,000 miles in all. Winter travel is always quite the excitement!

Serve the City Amsterdam Trip - June 1-8

Susy and I are leading a team to Amsterdam from June 1-8 to work with Serve the City. The nucleus of this team will be from our church in Denver, Lookout Mountain Community. However, if you are not part of Lookout you are welcome to join the team with us. Contact me at bnewman5280@gmail.com if you want more information.
       Check out the one-minute promo produced by the good folks of Serve the City in Europe. It's amazing.

Signing Off for a Few Days

We are on the Ski Week in Switzerland with friends from Crossroads Amsterdam. So no posts from me. I'll be back online at the end of this week, no doubt with stories and pictures from the week.

The Gift of a 25-Year Friendship

Susy and I spent a day in Geneva enroute to the ski retreat in the Alps. We had a very short visit with two of our dearest, long-time friends Marcus and Wendy.

Many of us have a friend or two in our lives as Marcus is to me. We have known each other for about a quarter-century. Marcus and Wendy drove us off from our wedding ceremony 23 years ago! We don't see each other often (last time was 5 years ago) but when we are reunited it's like we have not missed a moment. We just connect!

       Boy, it is just such a special relationship. Marcus and I walked up to the bakery in the morning and bought croissants to bring back to the house. We sat in the little cafe for a half hour and caught up on our lives. We could have stayed there for a couple of days and not gotten bored.

       The cool and "weird" thing is that we frequently over the years we are going through similar life-stage issues and challenges at the same time, so we help each other along as best we can. Or at least have a good laugh at the craziness of our lives.

       As we left Marcus and Wendy's house the other day I thought to myself, "this couple is such a gift of God to our family!" Yes indeed.

The Privilege of Knowing Nate

Last weekend I spent a couple of days with our friend Nate. He and his family go way back with Susy to her teen years in Malibu.
       Nate has Alzheimer's, for about 5 or more years now. Susy helps care for him a couple of days per week, but last week she was at a training seminar while Shirley (Nate's wife) was away. So Nate and I hung out together for Friday and Saturday.

Circa 1994 - Nate and Shirley
with Steven at their house
in New Jersey

       It's difficult for me to capture the stature of Nate as a man. He has been married for 50+ years, four grown children, spent 30+ years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Major General in 1993. I cannot even begin to list the commendations he received over his career, and he probably would not want me to. If you are interested in Nate's biography click HERE.
       These days life is different for Nate, and for all of us close to him. I have grown to know and appreciate him as he is today, and sort of have the luxury of having not known him that well decades ago.
       Nate is teaching me some important lessons as we interact and we help him with his daily routine. Here's some of the lessons:

1. The gift of the "present moment" is all we truly have, whether we have memory loss or not;
2. The phrase "dogs are a man's best friend" makes even more sense with Nate and my dog Bailey;
3. One's dignity endures regardless of life circumstance. Nate is a person of tremendous dignity;

Maj. General Nate Lindsay

And so here is to you, Major General Nathan J. Lindsay!
It is an honor and privilege to be considered among your friends.

Dessert Tonight in GENEVA

To Our Friends in the GENEVA area -
Dessert and coffee tonight at the Orsi's place in Onex, 1900hr. If you have not received an invitation for this "gala event" this is is: YOU ARE INVITED! Love for you to stop by!
At the home of Marcus and Wendy Orsi in Onex.
Call my cell phone for directions: +31 6 292 74 003.

There and Back Again

Susy and I are enroute to Geneva at the moment. We have a layover in Washington Dulles. We are waiting in a lounge, eating free food from United Airlines.
       Traveling together to Europe has gotten me thinking. I'm reminded of the sub-title to Tolkien's The Hobbitt... "there and back again."
       I don't feel as if I am going home to Europe, although Geneva and Amsterdam have been our homes in the past. But I also don't feel like I am leaving home in Denver to go to Europe.
      So I guess the phrase "there and back again" is an apt description of my soul at the moment. I'm glad to have been there in the past and I'm glad to be going back again.

A Film That Captured My Heart

These days I am finding it difficult to articulate what is in my heart about Jews, Muslims, Christians and the relational dynamics between them.
       I often feel misunderstood, probably because I am not totally clear on my vision yet and because there is such dramatic division among these children of Abraham.
       This week I watched the film, "Arranged" and my heart was warmed, stirred. It touched a nerve in me that helps me picture the world I desire to live in, found in the lives of a Muslim woman and Jewish woman who are teachers in New York City.
       If you have a chance, watch this film (it's on Netflix, available to watch online). It will warm your heart ... or at least help you capture a bit of my inner world these days.

Lebanon Erupts in New Power Struggle

The politics of the Middle East is anything but simple and straightforward. This most recent twist in the road in Lebanon is alarming.
       The Hizballah are making a play to take over the Lebanese government. Protests have erupted in the past two days by Sunni Muslims in Beirut. Read the Time article here.
Lebanon in Flames as Sunnis Challenge Hizballah Power Play
       If you are someone who prays please do so.

Tim Keller on Religion's Slippery Slope

Those of us who consider ourselves "religious" or "people of faith" have a problem. A big problem. It's called religion. Listen to Tim Keller's 90-second explanation of the slippery slope to oppression. He had got it right.

Islam in France

It's common knowledge that the fastest growing population in Europe is people from Islamic countries and backgrounds. In some countries - Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium among others - the population shift is dramatic.
       Many people are deeply alarmed by this trend. Politicians from the far right are being elected in some countries because they are running on anti-immigration platforms. Various EU commissions are trying to create policies which provide some control of immigration. There is much talk about how people assimilate (or don't) into cultures.
       I believe that these immigration trends offer one of the greatest Kingdom opportunities the Church has seen since the Reformation. Rather than being driven by fear we have the chance for cultures to meet (and certainly clash at times) and for people to be introduced to Jesus in free western societies.
       This is all full of challenges and there is resistance for sure. Islam as a religion is evangelistic, just as Christianity is. Europeans are hungry for spirituality, and some are converting to Islam. I'm not advocating converting to Islam. I'm just saying this is the reality we are living in and we need to engage rather than retreat.