The Good Earth

This is a fascinating look into the culture of pre-revolutionary China. It's a novel about a Chinese farmer's quest to overcome his destiny as a poor farmer and instead, seek one of wealth. Yet the land he owns, loses, and gains again, by the sweat of his brow, is forever who is he is and lives for. I learned a lot about the Chinese culture from this book, a culture of complexity and beauty.

The Treasure Principle

This is a book by Randy Alcorn that I have been wanting to read for about 2 years now, and have finally read it!  A  powerful book on the eternal perspective of money.  It suggests these 6 Treasure Principle Keys:

#1 God owns everything.  I'm His Money Manager.

#2 My heart always goes where I put God's money.

#3 Heaven, not Earth, is my home.

#4 I should live not for the dot but for the line (the "dot" being our life here on Earth, and the never ending "line" thereafter representing our eternal life in heaven).

#5 Giving is the only antidote to materialism.

#6 God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

I still have a lot to think about on this.  But one thing I know for sure is that Jason and I want to be more generous. We want to give more, and not care about the "things" we have (I've been really wanting to buy a sofa online that we don't "need" and am struggling with the fact that we don't have money for it.) We want to see God provide in incredible ways only so that we can give more again and bless others as God continues to bless us.  I love what Randy Alcorn says, "God distributes wealth unevenly not because He loves some of His children more than others, but so His children can distribute it to their brothers and sisters on His behalf...Abundance isn't God's provision for me to live in luxury. It's His provision for me to help others live" (pg. 75).

Malachi 3:10 has always been a favorite of mine, "Test me in this...and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it."  I'm excited for us to test the LORD with our finances and watch and be amazed at how He will prove Himself faithful.  Stay tuned. 

A Real Snowstorm

They called for it and it came; a very rare occurrence here in Denver. When I woke up this morning at 7:30 there was a very light dusting on the ground and the overcast sky spit small droplets of snow occasionally, but nothing promising the 8-16 inches expected. I made my coffee, grabbed my book (The Spaniard and the Seven Deadly Sins) and went into my temporary workspace (guilty grin). When I emerged from my chamber The Snow had begun to fall heavily. The flakes were large and lumbering often distracted by a slight breeze. I took the first photo at just after 8am. 

Naomi, still under the covers of our bed, continued to sleep; she has an atrocious flu. When she woke up The Snow had kept up and had begun to accumulate on the grass and rooftops, creating the appearance of a gingerbread village.                                                                                   I left at around 11 am

 to do some errands. The snow had become thicker and the wind picked up. Two or so inches had mounded up on everything but streets and walkways. 

I entered a store and shopped for maybe 15 minutes, then came out to a wall of white.

 Almost an inch of snow had piled up on the

 black asphalt parking lot. The snow moved in long ivory pillars across the landscape. "This is my very first real blizzard!" I said, unfortunately not quiet enough for one grumpy customer to say, "I have enough in my life-time, bwah!" as she shook her crooked arm and withered wrist into the air. I sang a psalm to the Snow gods o

n her behalf.  These next photos were taken 

when I got home around 1:30 pm.

As you can see from these photos, the visability was cut down to about 50 or so feet. the temperature dropped from 31 to 25 in only a few hours. 

Anyone reading this posting already knows I am enamored by snow, Its ferocity and tranquility, how it animates lifeless things and creates an occasion for som

e wintry diversion right out side our front yards. People who tell me "you can just drive an hour and have all the snow you want!" obviously don't see the futility of what they are saying. Yes its true, but you know what? I snowshoed down

 17th Ave PKY!! I also made snow angels on 17th Ave! 

It was a fun day. I was able to enjoy a beer with our new landlords next to a fire and spend a day with my wife, snuggled up and watching billows of s

now roll down the empty street. One last hurrah for the Snow 

gods!

It is still coming down and last time I checked we had 13 inches. Feels good.

We're moving!!!

It's hard to believe that we've been in Denver now for 1 year! Our lease ends at the end of April, so we've been looking at different places to move in to. Since Jason will be going to school this fall, we've been looking for a place that we like enough to stay in for the next 3-4 years. We also need something bigger than our little 600 sq ft place. We love to have people over to hang out and eat (and sleepovers, of course!). So, a bigger place was a must, also for the reason that Jason has a separate room to study in. The things we were really wanting were: ideally a duplex or townhome (as it is much more of a "house" feel); hardwood floors, fire place, painted accent walls, character, quiet location, back yard for planting and to relax in, and 2 bedrooms.

We found it!!!! It is a cute all brick duplex. We have the right side of the two. The landlord lives in the left unit. It has 3 bedrooms, a huge living room and dining room that both have painted accent walls, a basement (we are so stoked about this) that has the 3rd bedroom and two other small rooms for storage/wine cooler (Jason plans to brew his own beer too) and whatever else we want to do with them, and the laundry room is down there too. It's super spacious. It is all hardwood floors. And it has a ton of character like arched entry ways, quirky closets, sky light in bathroom, and a funky fun kitchen that has an extended breakfast room for our little table. And then we have a shared yard with the owner who is thrilled about us wanting to plant. We are both into organic gardening and thus super excited to grow our vegetables and herbs.

We are set to move-in the third weekend in April. Funny thing is the duplex is exactly 7 blocks west of where we are at and off the same street. Moving won't be so bad this time! :-) We'll post photos as soon as we are settled in. We will now have a ton of room. Can't wait for you to come visit and stay with us!!

Mother Teresa

A long time hero of mine, Mother Teresa was a woman who breathed and lived Jesus. She dedicated her life to loving and caring for the poorest of the poor - the untouchables, because in each one she saw the human face of God. I just finished reading the only biography that Mother Teresa authorized to be written on her. What an incredible selfless woman after the heart of God. As I write this, I can only imagine Mother Teresa's opposition to me even speaking of the life she lived, for she didn't want anyone to applaud her, but that everything she did and say be only to the glory of God. Here are a few of Mother Teresa's words, and words about her, that have profoundly affected me...

Give me the strength to be ever the light of their lives, so that I may lead them ever to you!

We do not want to do what other religious orders have done throughout history; and begin by serving the poor only to end up unconsciously serving the rich. In order to understand and help those who have nothing, we must live like them...The only difference is that these people are poor by birth, and we are poor by choice.

Learn, my children, to be holy, for true holiness consists in doing God's will with a smile.

What made death of the streets of Calcutta so terrible was the fact that it was frequently the consequence of a lack of concern on the part of others; there was in the world today a disease more awful than leprosy or cancer - namely that of being unwanted.

The Sisters were not allowed to accept anything but a glass of water by way of hospitality, for often that was all that the poor could offer and they must not be made to feel outdone by others who had more luxurious provisions at their disposal.

Our works of love reveal to the suffering poor the love of God for them.

You can do what I can't do. I can do what you can't do. Together we can do something beautiful for God.

In those days she would visit Shishu Bhavan, the children's home in Calcutta, every morning. She would go from one tiny baby to the next, and if she spotted one which was so frail or sick that it seemed likely to die that day, she would wrap it in a blanket and give it to one of the helpers to hold, with the instruction simply to love that child till it died. What mattered was that no child in her care should die without having experienced love.

Mother Teresa called upon those who lived in a world caught up in the race to be rich, powerful and effective, to be aware of their own poverty, to make themselves weak with the weak and no to seek to do big things but only small things with great love.

She urged her Co-Workers not to give from their abundance, but rather to give "until it hurt."

Especially we must take care of our big girls (prostitutes) - in their hunger for love and in their rejection they are inclined to give trouble sometimes. The work with them is more difficult than with the lepers, but they are Christ in his distressing disguise. Help them to pray, pray with them, go among them as one to serve and not be served. Never use the words, "You have been picked up" or "You are a bad girl," etc. She like you and me has been created by the same loving hand of God, for greater things, to love and to be loved.

God has shown his greatness by using nothingness - so let us always remain in our nothingness - so as to give God free hand to use us without consulting us. Let us accept whatever he gives and give whatever he gives and give whatever he takes with a big smile.

I did not know that our work would grow so fast or go so far. I never doubted that it would live, but I did not think that it would be like this. Doubt I never had, because I had this conviction that if God blesses it, it will prosper.

How often had she told those who worked with her that they must be empty in order that God might fill them with himself and his love. To be empty, to be poor in spirit had its price.

Total surrender to her meant not seeking to be put out on the street but accepting the loss of all possessions and being put out on the street if that was the will of God. "Total surrender is to accept whatever he gives and give whatever it takes with a big smile. It is to accept to be cut to pieces and yet every piece to belong only to him. We must accept emptiness, accept being broken to pieces, accept success and failure. To give whatever it takes - if it takes your good name or your health - that is surrender and then you are free."

God has not called me to be successful. God has called me to be faithful.

From the very beginning she had made a deliberate choice to serve the poorest of the poor, not simply the poor but the very poorest among them.

She saw the Christ in every man...the same logic that induced her to go where others feared to tread, to tend the nauseating wounds of the leper or work at great personal risk in places of violence and pain.

Jesus, it is for you and for souls!

Be only all for God.

What a stud

Teaching Spanish

Today was my last day teaching Spanish for the school year (sad). It has been a blast! We celebrated with Mexican pastries and goodie bags. Here's a pic of my 10 3rd graders (adorable, aren't they?) I knew I loved teaching Spanish, but alwasy envisioned myself teaching in a high school. In the 6 months of teaching Spanish to elementary kiddos I've discovered that I love elementary aged children. They are such fast learners and are so fun to teach because they love to learn. I forgot what it was like to worship the ground my teachers walked on. :-) Because of this experience, I'm in the process of pursuing the opportunity to teach full-time...either Secondary Spanish in a middle school or high school, or teaching in a bilingual elementary classroom. Some of the highlights of my teaching experience have been: creating the lessons, planning fun activities, teaching them Spanish culture, building relationships with my students, seeing their faces light up when they "get it", and loving on them. I can't wait to have my own classroom some day!

Our future in Spain

Here is a letter that we wrote to our dear friends in Basque Country updating them on our current plans/thoughts of returning to Spain some day. Thought you'd like to read it too as you know how much Spain is our hearts...

Kaixo!

The whole topic of Spain for us is very difficult to decipher -much more- explain it to other people. The hesitancy that I have is not with the question of Spain, specifically Basque; that for us is clear. The question is more the nature of any desire I have for us to be there mixed with the -I believe- God instilled passions and skill sets that we have as individuals as well as a couple. In some ways it’s like an exam. The obvious questions you finish first, get them out of the way and move on to the harder ones. The ones that I am stuck on, that don't seem to have obvious answers are:

-We're missionaries, but are we traditional ones? And does that even mean over seas?

-I'm a teacher, but of biblical truths in ministry or of academics in a school/college setting that’s not Christian while still being a part of the churches mission/community?

-I'm intrigued by the Basque culture and people, but is that merely an interest like I'm interested in other cultures, or is it a God given drive to see this specific people know Him; something that I will work tirelessly for until my death? Or is it more general, in that there's no specific geological and cultural call as much as it is a drive for humanity as a whole to know Him, which can be done anywhere with out a specific "calling"?

There are more, but these are the ones for me that I have no real answer to, and, maybe, I need to be o.k. with having no answers right now.

But I am really torn. Since I began to follow Christ, I have fallen in love with the study and teaching of scripture, and I believed that if anyone has any passion for the word and teaching it, that they by necessity need to be in ministry. It was inseparable to me and inconceivable that such a person would not be in "ministry". That being said, the thought of not being a traditional missionary contradicts a pattern of thought that I have had for many years, and to imagine something other than that immediately flags a warning sign of heresy (humor intended).

How this is affecting our course to Spain is in a few ways. The heaviest issue on my heart is education. But in what? As weird as it feels to say, it’s not in biblical studies that I feel a pull to. Its Secular Literature and History. This is an important fact about me. I think that through these two areas of study, we can learn more about us and the world and God than through just a Biblical education. The Humane Sciences have been secular, but what if a Christ impassioned professor teaches these areas of study? I happened to have had such a prof. in junior college and it was in her class that my world was turned up side down. That being said, do I study with the intent and purpose of getting a job in Spain, or the US? Well, if I plan on missions, such as working with BIDAIA or planting a church and mentoring leaders etc. then does it really matter? Couldn't I just go to school anywhere and take as long as I want? Practically, yes. But I don't have peace with just any education, just anywhere and eternally. The prospect of Spain has begun to loom, not inspire and to weigh on me, not enthuse. These words are very difficult to write in that I have not said them to anyone besides Naomi, and that was this week. I can’t imagine life without Spain in it, but it’s the nature of being in and a part of Spain that is changing, not the interest with the country and culture.

With all that said, one question has been answered: I am a teacher, and believe in a need for God fearing Christians to be more a part of secular education both here in the US and in Spain.

So, as to the question of studying in the Basque country part-time; I don't feel that this is a good move for us right now. Initially, I was thrilled at the possibility, but what this possibility arose were the really hard questions I had not yet begun to wrestle with as a person in Christ. A B.A. in Humanities from the Basque Country does not give me any avenues here in the US and limits me in any post-grad work here also. This is important because we are not sure anymore that Spain is a place of permanence for us as missionaries. That’s an entirely different email, and I already feel bad for taking as long as I have in this one.

The plan for now is to keep course to finish school here in the next 3-4 years, and then after that, I want to consider post-grad work in Basqueland because I am really intrigued by Basque literature and history and would in fact love to be a part of a church there. But I am no longer certain that that means being a paid missionary at that church, but rather an integral part of the community through being a post-grad student and possibly a teacher.

One last piece I need to get through is to be transparent about my fears and frustrations. I have just reread the letter and I hear familiar voices in my head asking me sincere questions about the pursuits I mentioned:

"Jason, you seem really bent on your education and less focused on the Great Commission, more focused on your personal agenda and not Gods eternal plan. Your degree will not be eternal, but your work for Gods kingdom is. Aren't you getting the cart and the horse flipped? Spain has been a big part of your and your wife's dream, why are you willing to forfeit that?"

These questions loom heavily over me and I am honestly scared of making a decision that disappoints my Father and that hinders His plan for us. Yet, here’s where I have peace: I believe that His plan is revealed within His people individually; and as a married couple, these come together with mutual sacrifice and understanding to be best used in a unity of diversity. I realize that I’m very Existential in saying this: God’s plan is a personal revelation and not a corporate one; not algebraic in cut and dry pieces, but very subjective and personal; that the Great Commission is designed to fit the unique makeup, skills and passions of individuals in Christ –It’s a mission statement, not a missional model. This perspective, which I believe to be true, allows me to study freely in a secular school and work a secular job in any nation because I live under the guidance of Christ and the Mission of sharing Him wherever I am in whatever I do. This eliminates the looming aspect of being destined for a specific place despite my heart’s pull towards another direction with out the fear of disobeying God and reaping the harvest of a bad decision the rest of my life. In a nutshell: God guides through an individual’s heart with inherent skills and desires he gives them.

I do fear that the Christian environment that I have been a part of for so long will believe that to put such an emphasis on secular schooling and profession is not Godly or eternal. But I cannot refuse my heart’s cry and that is for Christ but in a different context than what I originally thought. I really don't believe that this is ungodly or making a wrong choice anymore.

I apologize for the lengthy email, but it just couldn't be done more succinctly. I would really appreciate your honest thoughts and criticisms. You are our dear friends and your advice & correction etc are cherished.

Con cariño,

Jason and Naomi

Frauds on Craigslist

The following is of a dialogue via email I had with yet another fraudulent craigslist landlord. Out of the 30 or so emails i have sent off to adds for housing on craigslist, about 10 have not been frauds like this. I am not joking, i get the same recycled emails with different names each time i inquire about a property. So, I finally have had enough and responded to one of these vermin with the same candor and dubiousness that they schlep out! It begins with my inquiry then his response, then my concluding response. Enjoy!

Good morning,

My wife just emailed me the posting to look at -which we both really like- but I wanted to know where it was located generally (if you're uncomfortable giving specifics). We are looking for a place that has all the amenities mentioned in the add and would possibly like to see it this evening. 

Thank you, 

Jason 

Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:20:58 -0700
From: wiegersabine@rocketmail.com
Subject: Re: Post on Craigslist
To: peetscafe@live.com

Thank you again for your email. Let me ad some other details.
There is also one parking space available. I accept pets (cats and dogs) in the apartment.
You will have in the apartment 2 br and one livingroom. It is furnished and also with all appliances in kitcen and bathroom.
If you have furniture or if you do not want to use my furniture I will remove mine and you will bring your own.
Right now i am in London  United Kingdom, i will be here for the next 3 years with business, i am looking for a serious person to move in the apartment right now and for long term and that is why i am rentig for this great price. I cannot come to the US to show you the apartment so the transaction will be done via an neutral company : PayPal.
It is located at : 1512 Larimer     Denver  CO 80202
2 Bedrooms, 2 baths, living room, 2 closets, over 1660 sqft, all bills included in the monthly rent of 750$ .First month's advance, $800 deposit. The monthly rent includes all utilities and amenities fees.
I will need your details where to send the apartment keys and rental agreement: Name, Address, City, Zip. I have nobody in the US that can show you the apartment, i am now in London  for the next 3 years, i can only rent the apartment using a third party neutral company: PayPal Transaction, they are the leader in payment transactions,offer Purchase Protection, recommended by eBay, accredited by the Better Business Bureau. They will hold the deposit from you until you have inspected the apartment, so you can take a look before committing to a lease. The keys and paperwork can be delivered at your address .
The transaction will be done via one of the most trusted names on the internet: PayPal.
PayPal is the nr1 option when paying on ebay, they are the lead merchant for credit card payments over the internet, the are accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and offer Purchase Protection .All this can be verified and is 100% legitimate.
They will be the guarantor for our transaction, so when you will send the deposit, they will hold the payment details until you have inspected the apartment. You do not have to commit to a lease if you do not want the apartment and in that case the deposit will be returned back to you the same day.
The apartment is very close, in walking distance to local transport, bus etc. has just been renovated, totally finished, flexible lease, is nice, clean, quiet, has all the facilities and the utilities anyone would need including electric Utility, Cable TV, 2 PARKING SPACES,  Air conditioning, high speed Internet, workout facility, well behaved pets are allowed. Maintenance problems will be resolved by a specialised company and i will be billed for any maintenance work that is done. You can also rent the apartment with your furniture, i have a spacious room in the building's basement where the furniture from my apartment can be stored, in case you want to bring your own.
The rent is for the whole apartment NOT just a shared room. This is not a sublease, etc, i am the OWNER. You can rent the apartment furnished and unfurnished.
Please tell me a bit more about you, i am looking for someone quiet, serious and responsible.
Thank you,
Sabine.
See pictures of the apartment bellow :

My response:

Hello Sabine!

How enchanting was indeed your email! Why, you use such great english, indeed! Well yes, my wife and I are very trusting people and put all of ourselves into everything we do! So, to see that you are looking for people such as us who are willing to risk everything on just a persons word, we were delighted! Now, considering that we are exceptional tenants and every landlord would want us to stay in their properties because we are so trusting, hard-working, reliable and honest, we expect the same from a landlord. You sound so honest and very likable, much like a landlord we want. You see, the whole relationship has been wrong since the feudal era of this wonderful world. The landlord should be the one chosen by the tenant and not the other way around. Why would I say such a preposterous thing? Because we are the ones living under your lordships care! And, since we have a choice, too, not being desperate individuals, we want to choose carefully who we pay our hard earned money to. That being said, in order for us to use the reliable and neutral third party of Pay Pal, and that, without any actual person here to show us into the property before we send our hard earned and pure money into your lordships hands, we would like a few things from you, too, to ensure that we want you over the property. And considering you comply with our requests as well, we will gladly entrust ourselves to you, including Prima Nocta with our fair maiden cow. 

Things we want from you:

Full Name:

Age:

Aprox. weight:

Height:

Home address:

DOB:

Passport number:

Social Security Number:

License number:

Major credit card numbers (only one or two with the highest limits):

Parents names:

Parents SSN(s):

Parents DOB(s):

All employers in last 10 years:

Supervisors names, addresses, SSN, DOB:

Your Car Make/Year:

License plate number:

VIN:

Now Sabine, this may seem a bit presumptuous of us, to ask all these personal details of your life which you guard and preserve as best as possible, no?

Well, perhaps you might consider that other people beside you feel the same way and don't necessarily like to willingly give away all that is dear and close to them with out first being reassured that the one their giving thus information to is them-self a worthy person. So, since we see eye to eye now, or vis-a-vis as your close neighbors would say, we can proceed and benefit from mutual stupidity!

Have a fine and splendid day, Lord Sabine!

Philosophical Deduction On Why Autumn and Winter Are Best

"Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm." - Blaise Pascal

"...to enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in its self. If you flatter yourself that you are all over comfortable, and have been so a long time, then you cannot be said to be comfortable any more." Herman Melville  "Moby-Dick"