Sunday, December 03, 2006
Rambling at 5:30 AM
How's that old Chicago song go? "It's 5 or 6 to 4..."?
I preached last Sunday. My preparations led me to Jonah, again. I'm afraid I may have given almost the same sermon some time in the last few years. It felt familiar to me. I'm getting older. I tell the same stories over and over to my friends and family, too!
Jonah is not really about the fish, you know. Nor is Jonah a hero. The whole point is that God loves the wicked, evil city. His people, like Jonah, tend toward the human (sinful) attitude of love your neighbor and hate your enemy. As Jesus taught, "Love your enemy" and you'll be like God. For a country boy like me, loving this crowded, dirty city of 3 million Muslims (mostly) is not natural. But it isn't natural or easy for anyone. So, I challenged our little congregation to love Dakar. More specifically, I asked them to love their neighborhoods, to know people, to care, to be courageous enough to talk about Jesus, as well as be kind, to live lives of integrity in the midst of the chaos that is city life.
It's 5:30 in the morning on a Sunday. I slept fine. But now I'm awake. I've got to get my thyroid medication levels checked again. Or was it that iced tea at supper?
I've not posted a blog since Thanksgiving, I see. The camera quit working and that has really been a block for me, I guess. Let me see if I can be picturesque in my writing instead!
I preached last Sunday. My preparations led me to Jonah, again. I'm afraid I may have given almost the same sermon some time in the last few years. It felt familiar to me. I'm getting older. I tell the same stories over and over to my friends and family, too!Jonah is not really about the fish, you know. Nor is Jonah a hero. The whole point is that God loves the wicked, evil city. His people, like Jonah, tend toward the human (sinful) attitude of love your neighbor and hate your enemy. As Jesus taught, "Love your enemy" and you'll be like God. For a country boy like me, loving this crowded, dirty city of 3 million Muslims (mostly) is not natural. But it isn't natural or easy for anyone. So, I challenged our little congregation to love Dakar. More specifically, I asked them to love their neighborhoods, to know people, to care, to be courageous enough to talk about Jesus, as well as be kind, to live lives of integrity in the midst of the chaos that is city life.
We had a visitor that Sunday morning. John came in from Michigan on the South Africa flight. He is a friend of the Oliveiras and others and had reservations at the Phare. But John isn't a missionary. Or, at least, he isn't one in a formal sense. He is a middle-aged businessman, an entrepreneur. He has a great idea for a product for Senegal and hopes to start a factory here. He loves Jesus. His product will be helpful for the development of the country. He wants to be salt and light in the regular working world. "Business as mission" is the phrase that folks use for this. If his contacts with government officials go well, he hopes to move to Senegal with his family and establish themselves out near Thies.
John is still here at the Phare. We've seen a lot of him and have enjoyed his company at several meals and many "drop-ins." Jane gave him a lift to the International Fair yesterday. On Friday, I went with him to a massage therapist as guide and interpreter. (His French is a bit rough.) His back had been bothering him more and more all week. He finally was able to track down this lady through the missionary community. He really could use an osteopath, but we haven't been able to find one. Last Sunday he even played basketball with us in the afternoon. (No, I don't think that is the source of his back issues!)
Friday, after his massage John stopped by Dakar Academy. We were there for a Movie Night. The Seniors offered corn dogs, chili dogs and hamburgers before we watched "Cars" under the stars. John ate and chatted with a bunch of folks, but headed home when the movie started. He was there long enough, however, to decide that DA would be wonderful for his daughter. If they come, of course, he and his wife have to figure out schooling options for their teens. There aren't many options in Thies. Homeschooling is certainly possible. These days through the internet you can do distance-learning anywhere. Also, there is a small WEC mission school that uses the British system within commuting distance. But for teens, any move is tough and the need for the social side of things is pretty high. Seeing the DA community with its "hair down" helped him visualize his daughter being there and being happy.
OK. It's still dark, but the mosque is calling again and the stray cat is howling at the window and I want some coffee. I'll settle for this post for now. It's not picturesque, but it will have to do!
(OOOO. I figured out how to cheat! I added clip art and other people's photos! I hope you like it.)
Friday, after his massage John stopped by Dakar Academy. We were there for a Movie Night. The Seniors offered corn dogs, chili dogs and hamburgers before we watched "Cars" under the stars. John ate and chatted with a bunch of folks, but headed home when the movie started. He was there long enough, however, to decide that DA would be wonderful for his daughter. If they come, of course, he and his wife have to figure out schooling options for their teens. There aren't many options in Thies. Homeschooling is certainly possible. These days through the internet you can do distance-learning anywhere. Also, there is a small WEC mission school that uses the British system within commuting distance. But for teens, any move is tough and the need for the social side of things is pretty high. Seeing the DA community with its "hair down" helped him visualize his daughter being there and being happy.OK. It's still dark, but the mosque is calling again and the stray cat is howling at the window and I want some coffee. I'll settle for this post for now. It's not picturesque, but it will have to do!
(OOOO. I figured out how to cheat! I added clip art and other people's photos! I hope you like it.)
