12 Days -
That is how long we have to pack everything that we are taking to Ethiopia into 17 suitcases - none of which can weigh more that 70 lbs. Our first attempt weighed in at 97 lbs! HA - I am glad we are weighing them as we go!
Reducing things that you need for a family of 4 into 17 suitcases is not easy. Some things are necessary items that are not availiable in Addis Ababa. Other things are sentimental items that would make some people laugh - you are taking that?
Whatever it takes to make a new home in Africa - we gave the kids some space to pick things that were important to them so that they would begin make choices about the "memories" that we surround ourselves with.
As of today the 17 suitcases were OK to travel to Frankfort Gemany. We will hear soon if they are cleared all the way to Africa - I HOPE SO! Tommorow will tell..........
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Church Fads and Rollercoasters
We took the kids to Cedar Point.
I realized a number of things - one was that I Rode the GEMINI the first year it was open -
I was 12 and Bethany rode it this year when she was 12 the ride turned 30!
I am too old for Roller Coasters - that said - I rode them all (almost - some things are just not worth that much of a time investment)
As we waited for up to an hour for a 3 minute THRILL - I noticed something The New rides have huge waits long and endless lines twisting and turning through well planned metal gates they line the most people up in the least amount of space they can.
The idea of "Church Fads" hit me in one line that was only a 10 minute wait. This coaster was NEW - FAST - TALL - it was the biggest thing that summer.........in 1994.........Now the endless rows of metal gates stood empty - Not many people had to venture back there to wait for the ride. Time passed it by. New rides captured all of the attention of the crowds. That ride did not change at all - but the crowd had moved on. I rode it - it was everything that was advertised in 1994 - it scared me - it shook me - it was a Thrill. But it was not new any more so the people had changed lines. They waited behind metal gates on the NEW ride.
The endless lines of metal gates were empty. This ride will serve thrill seekers for a lot of years but it is no longer a headliner. No longer a fad. Remember the ride has not changed at all!
We in the church often rush to the newest Church fad - it could be a new and cutting edge style choice for our worship team or our atmosphere or our order of service. Maybe it is a new "teacher" or leader that hits the church scene. Everyone begins to get right in line to follow the leader. Some hot new focus grabs a church and we are off to the races. We line up - this is where it is happening - this is the next Thrill ride of faith!
I am not saying it is a bad thing - Change is good - we need to be fresh and open to what God is doing today.
My point in this rant is to say lets not forget there are still some things have been around a while that are just as "good" as they were back in the "day" ( yeah I know that we don't say that anymore)
We also rode the Blue Streak at Cedar Point. Built in 1964 - 2 full years before I was born! That ride had about a 10 minute wait - I waited about 10 minutes to ride the Blue streak in 1978 and I waited 10 minutes in 1994 and now 30 years later I waited about 10 minutes to ride the Blue Streak.
It was just as much of a thrill (execpt on the last ride when the bugs came out - bugs - screaming - yuck - I digress)
It is a classic - I hope they keep it going as long as they can - It is a part of the Cedar Point experience. It is old - it needs a face lift - but it is great.
I waited in the long lines just like everyone else but I had fun with yesterdays thrill just like I did back in the day.
I realized a number of things - one was that I Rode the GEMINI the first year it was open -
I was 12 and Bethany rode it this year when she was 12 the ride turned 30!
I am too old for Roller Coasters - that said - I rode them all (almost - some things are just not worth that much of a time investment)
As we waited for up to an hour for a 3 minute THRILL - I noticed something The New rides have huge waits long and endless lines twisting and turning through well planned metal gates they line the most people up in the least amount of space they can.
The idea of "Church Fads" hit me in one line that was only a 10 minute wait. This coaster was NEW - FAST - TALL - it was the biggest thing that summer.........in 1994.........Now the endless rows of metal gates stood empty - Not many people had to venture back there to wait for the ride. Time passed it by. New rides captured all of the attention of the crowds. That ride did not change at all - but the crowd had moved on. I rode it - it was everything that was advertised in 1994 - it scared me - it shook me - it was a Thrill. But it was not new any more so the people had changed lines. They waited behind metal gates on the NEW ride.
The endless lines of metal gates were empty. This ride will serve thrill seekers for a lot of years but it is no longer a headliner. No longer a fad. Remember the ride has not changed at all!
We in the church often rush to the newest Church fad - it could be a new and cutting edge style choice for our worship team or our atmosphere or our order of service. Maybe it is a new "teacher" or leader that hits the church scene. Everyone begins to get right in line to follow the leader. Some hot new focus grabs a church and we are off to the races. We line up - this is where it is happening - this is the next Thrill ride of faith!
I am not saying it is a bad thing - Change is good - we need to be fresh and open to what God is doing today.
My point in this rant is to say lets not forget there are still some things have been around a while that are just as "good" as they were back in the "day" ( yeah I know that we don't say that anymore)
We also rode the Blue Streak at Cedar Point. Built in 1964 - 2 full years before I was born! That ride had about a 10 minute wait - I waited about 10 minutes to ride the Blue streak in 1978 and I waited 10 minutes in 1994 and now 30 years later I waited about 10 minutes to ride the Blue Streak.
It was just as much of a thrill (execpt on the last ride when the bugs came out - bugs - screaming - yuck - I digress)
It is a classic - I hope they keep it going as long as they can - It is a part of the Cedar Point experience. It is old - it needs a face lift - but it is great.
I waited in the long lines just like everyone else but I had fun with yesterdays thrill just like I did back in the day.
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