The Irresistible Revolution

Have any of you read "The Irresistible Revolution"? I'm working on it, for the 2nd time, and it's kicking my butt, again! Maybe this time my life might be changed to the core. If not, I'll read it again!
The basis of the book is this:
Isn't there a whole lot more, perhaps a completely different "more" to the call of Christianity, than what the North American church is living and teaching? Are we not called to know and love and serve the poor, "to place them among the princes of our own people" (Psalm 111)? Was our Saviour not a homeless man, who didn't make friends with the good religious people, but sought out the "sinners" and the suffering? And if He knew and cared for the poor, and we claim we are following Him, shouldn't we know the poor? Did He not care for others imaginatively, curing blindness with a mud/spit paste, and zapping 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough for thousands? Did He not invite us into a new family, and way of being where global Christians are not like family, but are in fact our very brothers, sisters and mothers? Did not the early Church reject the way of the Roman world, sharing everything with each other, even fasting so that everyone might eat? Didn't Jesus say to "love our enemies", and wouldn't that mean we don't bomb them? Isn't there a big difference between giving to charities and actually knowing the poor? Didn't Jesus say that the world hated Him, so they would hate us too?
That's it, my synopsis of a 300-something page book, which is far more elloquent, far more butt-kicking and sure to wreck your life. Perhaps the Bible is already speaking these things to you, and you don't need another book to point out the things you've already heard. Or perhaps you are easily forgetful, and culturally stuck, and you can easily skip the "tough" words of Jesus. Perhaps you're like me.
So if you are, if you are wondering if you're missing something, if Christian faith is supposed to be more than what you're living right now. Then buy, borrow, whatever, get the book! And read it. And ask God to give you the courage to read and hear all the words of Christ, not just the ones that would our lives happier, easier, nicer. I don't think Jesus is in that business!

(The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne)

I'm Tall

Do ever have days when something really obvious about yourself is just suddenly more obvious? There are days, just every now and again that I realize I am tall. Really, really tall.
You might be laughing. I'm serious.
I remember one day a couple years ago, I was at work, walking around the office and I looked down, and realized that the ground was a long, long way away.
And then there were those days that I took the MRT in Manila, and while packed like sardines into the women's only carriage I realized I was the only one in upper third of the train. Yeah. (Thanks for reminding me Dad!)
And then today, I was stretching at the gym and I glanced in the mirror to realize that my legs are long, very long, and that it is ridiculous that I can reach all the way to my feet. Of course I would look ridiculous if I couldn't! But you get it.
So today, (as if it were less true on any other day), I feel tall.

Tired

Tired midis crash on my living room floor!

Church Outreach

Last month I participated in a Sunday morning outreach of the Vineyard church I attend here. The church is involved in this community twice a week, and on this Sunday we had church and lunch with about 200 people, in the stifling heat, under a big tent like shack!

The community is a fishing community 10min from my place, and very near the ocean, they have ponds which rise and fall with the tide, these ponds are both full of fish and full of garbage.

And they're the playground of little children.

Because I Have To

I've been telling myself I would blog when I could post some pics from last weeks Clinic Anniversary party. But I feel like it's been too long since I last said anything. And how lame is this, I'm blogging about blogging because I feel like I have to blog.
Well today was my very last Cebuano class. From this point on I'm winging it, and not giving too much time into learning more and more. I've reached a level of fluency at the clinic (read very, very not fluent!), that I feel proud of, considering I've only been speaking the language 3 months. And I hope I get better just by being here and using the language and asking questions. But I have decided that my weekly time of studying grammar and sentence composition is done! And that's a little relieving. I enjoy gaining the language, but man, the whole language learning thing is tough!
I got a very exciting email today, my friend Sonya, who visited me in Manila this spring, is coming back to the Phils in 2 weeks. And lucky me, we'll get to have a couple days to re-catch up, and do some touristy things. I'm excited to see her, maybe we'll even have a couple small adventures!
I'm hoping that tomorrow I can post a few pics from last weeks party. So, be on the alert!
For now, goodbye.

The Week

I've had a good, busy week so far:
- one of my patients named her baby after me!
- finished a good 24hr hour shift this morning.
- visited a patient in the local public hospital, and she's doing much better!
- tomorrow I get to enjoy a free massage with some of my coworkers!
- and Friday we are celebrating the 4 year anniversary of the Clinic!

And today is officially 3 months till I hop on that very, very long flight home! Time flies!

Things I've Thought

So here's the unbelievable truth... I heard White Christmas on the radio last night. For real! And I loved it, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I was about ready to call home to share the joy, when I looked at the clock and decided that a call wouldn't be appreciated.
So as I have said before, there is a LOT of dance built into Filipino culture. But I think I realized something more about it tonight. I was at the gym when the usual "I'm Too Sexy For My Body" aerobics class started, and as usual I joked with some of the trainers about it, and smirked and didn't dance! But as I gawked I realized that it is completely normal here for grown, straight men to work their stuff on the dance floor. I mean 40 year-old men are out there, not self-concious and grooving. Perhaps they don't have any ideas of embarassment?
For now I will not be joining in, I figure 6' tall and white is enough attention, without a dance performance. But you never know, if middle-aged men can dance and no one bats an eye, maybe it would be no more a show for me to join in. I'll let you know if I change my mind.
We had our August Baby Party this week, and I think that Baby Party Day is my favourite of the whole month! All of our moms get together at one time, and they're thanking God, and breastfeeding their babies, and singing and laughing, and showing off their babies! And some of the dads even come, and we coerce them into joining in too, (ok, so they don't breastfeed)! It's just the most tangible thing, I can't ever feel like my efforts here are wasted, I just look at the dozens of healthy, happy moms and babies. Eat cake with them, bless their babes and take lots of pictures! That's a day when joy is pretty easy!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas All!!
Yes, that's right, it's September, so bring on the "Ho-Ho-Ho"s, the red and green, the lights, the carols! After all Septem(ber) is a Brrr month. And to those of you, groaning with disgust at the arrival of another commercialized Christmas season, and those of you determined that such festivities should not, will not begin until December. I warn you: don't come to the Philippines in the Fall!
My Filipina roommate and I turned on the Telly yesterday morning (September 1), just in time for "Wowowee!"; a daily, 3hr long, dance and game show that explains at least half of Filipino culture. In my opinion I've already seen a lifetime supply of this show, which is filmed in Tagalog, and is based on barely dressed dancers doing some questionable dancing, and then having lone audience members repeat said dances and kareoke for cash! The show always starts with a major dance production, smoke, lights, and all, and it takes a good 30-45min for the games to really begin. Well yesterday in all my innocence, I was SHOCKED, when the opening dance was performed to a Christmas carol! Yes, in order to mark the opening of the Christmas season, there were red and green outfits, sequins, a big shining star, and Christmas music!! I'm not even kidding you! I'm told that over the next 4 mths I can expect decorations and carols in the malls, on the radio, on the streets - everywhere.
There are some days that I think I was born to be Filipino, and then there are some days when I stand next to one or smell dried fish and know; I'm Western through and through. And can I say, September 1, is a day I think I was born to be Filipino!