Pre-holiday ponderings...

 

This time, in 2 days, God-willing I will be back in that little strange shaped country called England. I thought it might be appropriate to write a short blog entry looking back over the past months - pondering and giving thanks for all God has taught me. There is of course far too much to mention, however here are a few things that spring to mind.

1. Stamps

Very early on in my Greek adventures I encountered something which to this day remains a mystery - stamps. No, not the stamps we use to send letters, but the kind of stamps that reveal if something is authentic or not. I hadn't foreseen how long it would take to do what appeared on the surface a very simple process.

However upon reflection, after meeting many refugees, I now know that being an EU citizen, I actually have it easy. Some people I've met have been waiting years for certain documents, it makes my 3 weeks seems like nothing!



2. Church

Before arriving in Athens, I always knew that I wanted to find a church where I could both belong and serve. During my first two weeks I was thankful for fellowship at the Glyfada Christian Centre. I did however decide to commit to the 2nd Greek Evangelical Church, mainly due to already knowing people from the church, but also it being a little closer to home. I've been really enjoying getting to know people and helping with the feeding ministry on a Thursday. Today we had a special Christmas meal surprise for the guests. Instead of serving the food outside, we invited over 100 people into the church for a meal, Christmas music and also to hear the Christmas message. I had the pleasure of being able to play the piano (it's a Yamaha - my favourite), and even did a few boogie-woogie numbers which was fun! It has been encouraging to hear how God has grown (and continues to grow) the ministry, but also a privilege to serve and learn from all those involved.

3. Helping Hands

Every Tuesday, I go to help serve over 100 refugees a meal at the Helping Hands centre in Omonia (part of Athens). This has been an incredible experience and as mentioned above, just being with the team has been a pleasure and a privilege. What I have discovered from helping with this ministry is that there is real joy to be found in the small areas of ministry.

Sometimes we allow ourselves to think that it is all about delivering the perfect sermon, or planting a thriving church and all these things are good and praiseworthy, but there is great joy to be found in simply handing a refugee a bowl of spaghetti Bolognese. We never know in that moment what part we might be playing in God's great plan for that person's life.


4. School

I am very thankful for my teaching position at the language school. Not only have they been very welcoming, they have also been very patient with me as I settle into the new teaching role. It has also been a pleasure getting to know all the children (and there have been many). I teach a wide age range (8 - 15) so I can't say there isn't variety in what I am doing. The majority of my classes have been a delight to teach and although there have been challenges along the way, I am learning much from the experience.

One of the highlights of the first term has to be an essay I marked from a boy (14yrs I think) who has struggled a bit and produced at a low level in his writing. As I was marking the term tests I almost jumped for joy when I started to read his essay and found some real improvements. I'm now looking forward to the Christmas break and hoping to return fresh and ready for the new term in January.



5. Friends

Over the last few months I have met many people from all different walks of life which has been a real blessing. There have been many Americans, numerous Brits, lovely Albanians and of course an abundance of Greeks. I could add many more nationalities to this list! One thing I think God is teaching me, is that part of the way he is going to change me is through his people. This is why belonging to a church is so important and valuable. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, but I'm finding that being with other believers has been an essential part in the exposing and the repairing of my sinful heart. The writer to the Hebrews (10:24-25) says:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
   
I trust that when (God-willing) I return on the 4th January, there will be many more experiences to be had, and many more lessons to be learnt. I keep saying to friends and colleagues, that most of what I have learnt has come from making mistakes! I'm trying to tell my students this too! I'd like to end this blog entry by sharing with you three things that I can honestly say leave me extremely puzzled.

1. Greek traffic lights - the green man is flashing yet cars (turning left/right) are still allowed to approach with caution (but there's a green man?). All my childhood training thrown out of the window with this one.

2. Motorbikes on the pavement - ok so this kind of makes sense because parking is not the most easiest of motoring tasks. It is however a little unnerving when you're walking on a footpath being approached by a motorbike (or is that just me?).

3. Stamps 

See you all soon!

Cro

One day, two Christmas performances...

 

As the Christmas holidays make their ever speedy approach, I write this blog entry in a somewhat relieved and reflective manner. It has been some week! Today was the big day of my school's Christmas performance. Note to self - when you organise a Christmas performance, ensure you have at least three months of rehearsals. However, after only three weeks, I think our children did a very good job indeed! Ok so Mary wasn't in when the Angel Gabriel visited, and another angel didn't show up at all during one scene, yet on the whole, everyone seemed to have a fun time and surely that's what's important. This has been one of the more challenging weeks as I continue to adjust to the education system in Greece. I am thankful for understanding work colleagues and see it all as a good learning experience. Only 6 days now until I fly back to England for Christmas where I am sure there will be much to reflect on concerning the past four months.

The final song of the big performance!

I can already look back and see how God is teaching me and showing me more of the riches of His abundant grace. This has come through many difficult experiences (mostly cross cultural related), but also through timely moments in reading His living word and also reading many other Christian books. I've also found that God brings into your life people (especially His people) who grow not only to be loving and supportive friends, but also important people in the process by which God uses to change us. This is an uncomfortable blessing at times, but one for which I am extremely grateful and know is deeply valuable as I seek His kingdom and righteousness. I am able to say that I have been blessed now in two countries with such friends.

The Nutcracker was a cracking night!
(get it?)

In the midst of this rather hectic week I was however able to escape for an evening of culture of the most highest form. I went with some friends to see 'The Nutcracker'. It's the first time I've been to the ballet and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I'm unable to make any technical dance related comments, all I can say is that some of the women must have extremely painful toes by the end of the night.

The highlight for me has to be how the colour, music and dancing all communicate so clearly a variety of emotions. From fear to relief, happiness to sadness, hope to despair, it really was a pleasure to watch.


This evening I was treated to another performance this time by the Sunday school groups from my church. It was great and especially good to be able to support some friends I have made since living in Athens. The nativity was slightly re-invented with a sweep of the Genesis narrative introducing all the major characters that point us to Jesus. I have to confess that I wasn't able to understand most of it but it was still good to be there.

Christmas performance at my church

My Greek is slightly improving but I am by no means there yet - and probably never will be there (wherever there is). And so I look forward to posting a pre-flght-to-England blog very soon, and of course catching up with family and friends where I can.

Please continue to pray for:

1. My work in the school - that I learn from mistakes and experiences and remain diligent and focussed in my work,

2. My personal walk with Jesus. That I remember that He is all I need - it's all about Him.

3. A good, joyful, restful, fun filled Christmas break.

4. Apostolis / lady from the coffee shop / my neighbours / colleagues - that I may in some way be able to live so they see something of Christ. Ultimately that God would draw them to Himself.   

Soup theology...

Whilst preparing my soup, a thought occurred to me (or rather a picture). Recently I've been thinking about the redemptive purposes of the mundane and how God uses every moment of every day to transform us into the people he has purposed us to be. Firstly, redemption is the act of buying something back, and by his sacrificial death, Jesus Christ paid for our redemption. However, what has this got to do with soup I hear you say? Bear with me.
 

Seeing as soup is a new found activity in my life (not one I'm going to win any prizes for I might add), I started to think about the question - why? Why do we make soup? Perhaps you get enjoyment out of all the preparation i.e. chopping vegetables and other ingredients. Or maybe it's the fact that you can make a massive shed load which lasts a decade. Whatever the reason, I think we all know that the main reason we make soup is to eat it! Nobody to my knowledge serves soup and then prevents the recipients from eating it (to my knowledge). No, in all the work that goes into preparing, chopping and cooking, there is an end result to be delighted in, to be enjoyed, to be eaten! In all the blood (literally in my case although it was only a minor wound), sweat and tears (no tears thankfully), we look ahead to the finished product, the end result. I think that's why homemade soup is so much more enjoyable than soup from a tin can. 

 

I can't think I've ever tucked into a steaming bowl of Heinz tomato and said "ahhhhhh this is absolutely amazing!" (if you know of a moment please correct me). Yet how easily I would settle for the quick, easy instant-ness of tin can soup, compared to the timely, long, arduous process of the homemade. And so it is with us. If you are a believer in Christ, one of God's chosen people, then you are being prepared. For what? To be delighted in, to be enjoyed. Yet change will not happen overnight as so many of us would choose. In His Sovereignty, God takes what may be mundane, what may seem far removed from His redemptive purposes, and in His divine wisdom uses it all for our good and for His glory. 

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians says:

 

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

                                                                                                                 Ephesians 1:11-12

One day we will be there! It may take a long time, there may be much chopping, spilt blood and shed tears along the way, but God has a plan and will do whatever it takes to change us into the people he has purposed us to be. And on that day, as wonderfully pictured through the prophet Zephaniah, there will be much rejoicing among the redeemed.

 

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. 

 

                                                                                                                     Zephaniah 3:17

Where Life Is To Be Found | Paul David Tripp

Seeing as I recommended his book, I thought I'd post this video. Although in this clip he is speaking on the subject of suffering, I think there is some overlap with regards to the book and this sermon. Mainly on the area of 'life' - i.e. created things are not to become our life - life is to be found only in the Creator!

All nations...

The gospel truly is for all nations. At the end of Matthew's gospel, we hear those familiar words of Jesus - 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...'. I was privileged this evening to see something of this in action. I was invited to speak at a new Albanian church plant in Piraeus (south of Athens). As mentioned in the previous blog, I know the pastor from one of the mid-week ministries I help with at the 2nd church. I was unsure what to expect but was warmly greeted at the train station by the pastor and some of the church members. Already I could sense the excitement of this new church and had the pleasure of speaking with one Albanian men about his faith and desire to live a changed life for God.

When we arrived at the church building, a small but suitable space for the meeting, it wasn't until after about 45minutes of chatting with coffee and tea that we started the service (although you could say the service had already begun). To begin with we sang some songs (in Albanian) - I tried to follow and at one point, the lady sat next to me commented with surprise 'you speak Albanian'. Even though I couldn't understand what we were singing, you can't help but get caught up in the praise of the God of all nations.

After about four songs, I was invited to speak and by God's grace the sermon seemed to come across well, especially with regards to speaking with a translator. There wasn't enough time to do the passages from Isaiah 53 and Mark 15 justice, but my two points were 1. On the cross Jesus was our substitute. 2. On the cross Jesus opened a way to God. Please pray that these awesome truths from God's word would work in the hearts of those at the church.

I have just returned home from my fellowship group and again it was another good time. We've finished listening to the sermons from 1 Peter and will have a think about what to do next. Give thanks to God for all these opportunities he has given me to grow in my understanding of who he is, and above all to grow in my love for him.