I went to the doctor yesterday about some problems I’ve been having with my shoulder. After a fairly quick examination, the doctor thinks that I have tendinitis in my shoulder and prescribed some pills and some physical therapy. I should be back to normal soon.
However, when I got my prescription filled and looked at the box of pills, I was wondering if the doctor was trying to say something about me. After all, he prescribed me Retardtabletten . I honestly burst out laughing when I saw that.
In all seriousness, Retardtabletten just means that they are SLOW dissolving tablets.
[Ok, I know this is politically incorrect to joke about and I'm in no way implying anyone other than myself is retard in this situation.]
The other day while Krista & I were going for a walk:
K: The grass is growing and green.
Me: Yep.
K: The trees are getting leaves and the flowers are blooming.
Me: Yep
K: I think spring is here.
Me: and so are the allergies (awwwcheeeewwww!)
(Update: Woke up to our car having frost all over it so I guess mostly spring is here)
Alex and I the other day after I was getting him to do some chores around the apartment:
A: Why do you always ask me to do all this stuff? I’m just a kid.
Me: Why do you think I had a child?
When you travel around the world there are times you’re going to see things that are politically incorrect from where you come from but not for the location you are in. Like in some places, it perfectly fine to ask someone how much they weigh (or even guess for that matter) but you wouldn’t ask them their first name as you have to wait for that information because its personal. You’ll also sometimes see things you wouldn’t think you’d see like in a record store the label “Black Music” (not a translation – it was in English) for the Hip-Hop/Rap music or like, in the picture to the right, that when literally translated is “Black Man’s Chocolate” as it’s a dark chocolate. Political Incorrectness is something that is regional – not necessarily international so it’s always good to try to understand the local culture as asking for someone’s first name could be like calling someone a bad name.
Wow, the last 40 something days of praying through the countries of Europe was eye opening for me and I hope for those of you that joined me on this journey. Not only did I learn more about some of the countries that I’m in and around but I learned more about prayer and what God can do through it. I got a follow up email from those that worked so hard on the PrayEurope.com website and I’d like to share that with those of you who didn’t sign up for the daily prayer reminder:
PrayEurope 40-40-40 has come to a close and what a blessing it has been! Many of you have told us how much you enjoyed being a part of this initiative. You loved praying and you loved learning more about the countries for which you were praying. We have had more than 28,000 prayers registered on the site since February 17, for a total of 43,000 since we launched the site in August 2008 (and those are just the people who clicked “I prayed”).
Many joined us in prayer by way of email notification without visiting the actual site. Some prayed using Facebook and Twitter only. We know quite a few people who used our prayer initiative in their small groups.
Even though we don’t know exactly how many people prayed, we do know that prayers came from 162 countries around the world. Almost the entire world joined in prayer – talk about unity in prayer! God heard all our prayers and is doing mighty things for His Glory in those countries.
Thank you all, dear prayer warriors, for partnering with us during this journey through Europe and Russia. Let us share with you some of the exciting things God is doing as a result of our united prayers:
- Belgium – “Yesterday evening we had our first evening to speak about a personal relationship with God through Jesus. 30 people attended the evening. Most of them were speechless because it was so new for them. They liked it very much. One man said he was really upside down. He needed time to think it all over. His heart was touched by the Lord.” This retired couple is also sharing Biblical faith each week on a Catholic radio broadcast in Brussels.
- Hungary – “Yesterday, I had the chance to speak in some Hungarian high school English classes. I accompanied a few of the members of our Budapest student ministry.” The speaker is a missionary living in Budapest. Several English teachers turned their class periods over and the group was able to make good connections with students which led to invitations to ministry events off campus.
- Italy – After years of ministry led by expatriate leaders, God has raised up an exceptional Italian couple to lead a large ministry in the country. They come highly recommended, exhibiting boldness for Christ and courageous decision-making skills.
- France – 32 mothers and daughters attended a very special event in the south of France: a seminar presenting sexual purity from a Biblical perspective. Very positive comments have come from follow-up conversations.
- A Miracle in Moldova – “We were shocked!” (the words of Moldovan New Life workers) “The movie is very good. I want to follow the Savior.” (Liubovi, a Transnistrian woman). The region of Transnistra in Moldova has been the most closed to the gospel. But two weeks ago the Magdalena film was shown on three days to overflow crowds. Well over 1,000 people came to the film and others had to be turned away. 80 people attended the first follow-up meeting.
- Latvia – “Despite praying for several years, as recently as two years ago we hadn’t seen any young people come to know Jesus. Through prayer, God brought some ideas to our minds; We needed to pray that an entire group of friends would come to Jesus, rather than one individual at a time.” Since then a small group did come to the Lord and today they are discipling 40 young people.
- Finland – A prayer movement that started in Switzerland (Christustag) and brought together representatives from all 2800 districts in the country in 2004 next made it’s way to Turku, Finland in Oct.2008 as again believers from every part of the country gathered to pray for God’s healing on their land. A continuation of this will take place on May 1. The main item for prayer will be to see the Great Commission fulfilled in this generation. The event is called Christ Day and will take place in a Hockey arena. The organizers are praying for Christian leaders across Europe to join them that day to unite for spiritual renewal, awakening and transformation across Europe.
- Spain – “We are so grateful because our great project XACOBEO’10 is functioning extremely well.” This summer, as Spain celebrates this huge cultural event, believers are coming together to meet the thousands of tourists and pilgrims who will be walking along the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) and possibly staying at Ligonde (a Christian house/way station). “We have almost all the volunteers needed for the project of 22 weeks. They are absolutely needed because without them we couldn’t do the project. This will be a great opportunity because all of our staff will spend a week and may involve many of their disciples. We are also grateful for the funds that God has raised for this project.”
Please continue to pray for the peoples of Europe. This has to continue. Thank you.
Ukraine was the bread basket of the Soviet Union however it was never prosperous under communism. Much of the resources of Ukraine were drawn from the area without much investment put back into the country.
Dear Father,
Please be with the people of Ukraine who are a hard working and gifted group of people. Please provide the opportunities for them to shine and to realize the potential that is within the country without having to leave their homeland to find work. Please be with those that are seeking You that they would come to find You and get to know You. Be with those that have faith in You and show them ways to break out of their isolationist ways and share the life transformation that You have given them with others. Amen.
To know more about Ukraine, please go to PrayEurope.com.
In the United Kingdom, church attendance is on the decline and Muslim minorities are asking for Sharia Law to be implemented in some areas of society. Old churches are being converted into Mosques in the heart of London.
Dear God,
We pray for the people of the United Kingdom that they would see You for who You really are and come to a life changing knowledge of what it means to have faith in You. Please protect the missionaries in the UK and the missionaries from the UK that are in other parts of the world that they may be effective in helping more and more people come to know You intimately. Be with those that are immigrating to this country that they would open themselves up to understand the truth that is behind some of the traditions of this country and that in that exploration, they would meet You. Amen.
To know more about how to pray for the United Kingdom, go to PrayEurope.com.
I went to the doctor yesterday about some problems I’ve been having with my shoulder. After a fairly quick examination, the doctor thinks that I have tendinitis in my shoulder and prescribed some pills and some physical therapy. I should be back to normal soon.
