Tad's Life

Boy, not having a camera is inhibiting my blogging. Sorry.

Or maybe it is the fullness of life.

Sunday I preached on Jonah again. This time it was in English at the church meeting at Dakar Academy. It wasn't quite the same sermon as when I preached in Ouakam a couple weeks back. I focused on loving the Other, instead of on loving the City. And being in English to many North Americans, my thoughts could connect to common ground a lot easier. Talking about my thoughts in a taxi struck a common cord for many.

Of course, preaching to my peers and facing a significantly larger group than the 15 usually at Ouakam both distracted me at times before hand. It's that old worry of failure, of not being liked or respected or whatever. And there is always the rush of just straight out irrational fear that comes in the minute before walking up front. Once I was up there, though, the Spirit gave me a real liberty to just talk. I actually enjoyed it a lot.

This is a new insight, really. I don't know that I've ever realized it before, but I get pleasure from talking to a group. At least I do when I feel like I am connecting. It must be what actors feel when they are doing live theater. I am still thinking it through. I can't figure out if it is a good thing or a bad one or just neutral. Is this an ego thing? Is this just human relationship stuff? I don’t know. I’m sure it would make a really bad prime motivation for preaching! But as a little icing, as an encouragement for the ego risk involved in standing up in front and revealing your heart, as a benefit to balance out the hard work, it’s probably just fine. If God asks me to preach, of course, I’ll preach. If He makes it enjoyable, I should probably just say thanks!

One nice thing about preaching in English is that things just come to mind as I’m speaking. Funny things. Insightful turns of phrase. You know. Sometime that happens in French, but it’s rare.

Sunday I was talking about Jonah being swallowed by the fish. Now, this is no kids’ story. That is really a gross image, being trapped in the stomach of a fish for days, covered in intestinal fluid. I had just seen "Men in Black" with Jonathan a few days before. I reminded folks of that Bug, the monster cockroach, and Tommy Lee Jones, agent K, getting it to swallow him. He shoots the thing from the inside and emerges alive and victorious, but completely covered in goop. The congregation includes many, many high school kids! I figured they had the scene memorized and would see Jonah much more clearly with that image in front of them!

Anyway, the Bible story goes on to talk of Jonah’s repentance. From the depths of darkness, he turns to God and finds himself forgiven and rescued. He prays: "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." God sends the fish to land. It vomits him onto the shore.

There stood Jonah, covered by grace........................................... and slime.

// posted by Tad @ 7:45 PM