beholding glory
Posted by Drew | Filed under General
So in Florence this week, almost all of the staff and all of the students I know were out of town. At first it was fine because I wanted some rest, but after 3 days of no meaningful conversations with anyone, I was really anxious to be around people again. But during that time I continued listening to Piper’s sermons on Romans 6-8. If you’re familiar with Piper, you know he doesn’t lightly examine any passage. I listen to most of what he had on Romans 6 and there were at least a dozen sermons just on that chapter. I think he spent something like 3 years teaching through the book. Romans 7 started out with the same thoroughness, with a four part series on verses 1-6. The last series really stuck with me. Dead to the Law, Serving in the Spirit is the name of the series. I don’t think I could do the teaching justice if I tried to summarize comprehensively, but here’s a brief overview.
Essentially Piper explains what it means to die to the law, why that’s a good thing, why Paul is passionate about it, why dying to the Law frees us to be loving people, why dying to the law enables us to bear fruit, and why that fruit is the fruit of Love, specifically, serving in Love. Lots of questions he proposes and answers, lots of clarity on living a life as a Christ follower. I recommend this series.
The beholding glory part actually comes from 2 Cor. 3:18 as Piper compares the glory of the Law, to which we must die, to the glory of the New Covenant into which we enter through Christ. This verse was referenced because verse 6 describes dying to the old written code, and living the new life in the Spirit. 2 Cor 3 describes how Moses’ face had to be veiled because of the glory of the law, and compares the old law, which “was being brought to an end” to the ministry of the Spirit, which is permanent. The glory of this ministry is what we behold as we are transformed. Dying to the law means forgetting our Lists of Christian behavior that we try to follow in order to become like Christ, and being Renewed by the Spirit so that we are able to See and Behold Christ. And it is this Beholding of God’s glory that transforms us and makes us more like Christ. And this beholding is our greatest duty as Believers, therefore it should be our greatest pursuit. And not just for ourselves, but we ought also to seek to behold the glory together with other believers. Pointing toward Christ and being pointed toward Him. In Community. Experiencing Transformation. Sanctification.
I share these thoughts not to communicate well the point of the message, but to encourage anyone who is interested to seek out this resource. Piper says that the truths contained in this passage contain the essence of following Christ. “… released from the Law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code, but in the new life of the Spirit.”
ospedale
Posted by Drew | Filed under General
I found myself yesterday in the ospedale. the hospital. My first experience with the Italian socialized health care. I’m guessing mine was much better than average. Saturday afternoon around 5 during the month of August when most Italians are still on vacation at the beach is probably the ideal time to be in need of a doctor. Well, except most doctors are on vacation too.
Anyway, I know most of you read hospital and are more concerned with WHY I was there than how my experience was. To ease your concern, it was nothing serious at all. I’m not sick, it wasn’t an emergency. I just have a small injury. From running. Well, not from running so much as from falling.
I’ve been running for a long time, and I don’t remember ever falling while running. Well, there was one time… during a race.. but this is a better story.
In June, I registered for the Florence Marathon which takes place Nov. 30. That’s 14 weeks away. I know that because my training schedule starts 18 weeks before the race date. Unfortunately this training schedule started without me. So I jumped right into the long run of week 4 of the training which happens to be an 11 miler. But I planned to do it slow, so I was optimistic that I could do it. Turns out endurance shouldn’t have been my concern as much as coordination.
I have never run with an ipod or any kind of music or entertainment in general. Generally when you’re running in places like Florence you’re not lacking for scenery, and running isn’t so boring. Apparently yesterday at 6 am, I was in need of more entertainment. Just shy of 6 miles into the run, I convinced myself I need a little variety in my workout. At this point I was beginning to climb up the hill towards Piazzale Michelangelo, which if you’ve been to Florence you know is the large open area overlooking the entire city, possibly the most beautiful views available of the city.
And I was in need of variety.
The road up to the Piazzale is lined on both sides with walking/jogging paths. Parts of the path are asphalt, parts are cobblestone. I always stick to the asphalt, because it’s better for the legs. As it turns out, also on the asphalt section on my side of the hill is a hotel with several driving entrances. These entrances are marked simply with a series of chains connected by two posts each, hanging roughly 2 feet off the ground, situated perpendicular to the path, marking either side of each entrance. I would estimate there are about 12 to 15 altogether. It was exactly what I needed to add a little ‘variety’ to my run. It did not disappoint. My run completely changed after I made the decision to attempt these obstacles. I got way more variety than I needed.
In reality, it’s a little misleading to suggest that I attempted these (pl) obstacles (pl). I didn’t even make it over the first one. It occurs to me now, that it’s likely that making jumps when my legs are fresh requires significantly less effort than when my legs have been running for 45 minutes. But I almost made it. If my shoe were a half size smaller, I wouldn’t be telling this story. And you wouldn’t be laughing at my expense. Maybe I should have waited to include the detail about my injury being small.
I didn’t realize what was happening until my left hand was squarely planted on the ground and I had instinctively tucked my shoulder to roll through the fall, immediately hopped back up as if nothing had happened, and continued jogging, though slightly dazed. I THINK there was a car driving by that stopped for a closer look… and no doubt a laugh. I couldn’t pretend nothing had happened, but I didn’t have to look at them. I knew my hand hurt, but the pain wasn’t too bad. I wasn’t going to stop. But after another 100 yards or so, I realized that blood was running down my hand and leaving dark red dots on my mostly white running shoes. I knew I was at least 4 miles from home, possibly more, I had no desire to quit my run early, but I had to do something. A man on a bike who may or may not have seen the incident stopped to ask if I needed anything. He shared some water to rinse off my hand, and I decided my shirt would be the best option for covering the wound. This wasn’t a simple decision because I never see Italians running without shirts. Running in spandex.. I see that all the time, but shirtless would seem inappropriate. But it was my best option, so I wrapped my shirt (also white) around my hand and kept going.
But I had a long way to go. I had never run this route before, and wasn’t sure how long it would take me to get back. My hope was that it would be 5 miles or less so I could finish my 11 miles and be done. Unfortunately, the road past the piazza was longer than I remembered, and I wasn’t sure about the way back to my apartment from the other side I got to the end of the road at mile 9.5. The only roads I knew that would take me back fastest went right through the middle of town, past the Ponte Vecchio, the Pitti Palace, Piazza della Republica, the Duomo, Piazza San Marco… An American running through italy with his shirt wrapped around his hand dripping in sweat, weaving through the crowds… thankfully there were only a few people out at 7 a.m, and very few of them were Italian.
But I made it back, cleaned myself up the best I could. My biggest concern was that dirt or small pebbles got into the wound, and I couldn’t get them out. I waited most of the day, but decided at the end to see the doctor to make sure it was clean. He aggressively removed all doubt, gave me some medicine, a fresh tetanus shot, and a smile. I do love the element of socialized medicine that makes all that free.
The best part of the story.. well for me, anyway - everyone else probably enjoys the falling part, was that the doctor was a believer. He goes to a church that I’ve attended several times, and he’s familiar with Agape. That NEVER happens.
august
Posted by Drew | Filed under General
I made it back to Italy safely. This news is a little late getting to you, and I apologize. I hope no one was worried. I long ago tried to condition my mom not to worry if I don’t call upon arrival. I usually just forget. Though I have done much better in the last few years. She already knows I’m here, don’t worry.
It has been a wild month, though. I left the US on July 28th, landed in Rome on the 29th, trained up to Florence that afternoon, then the next day took a 10 hour train down to Calabria where the Reconciliation church hosted a summer campeggio on the beach for Italian “youth” (age 18-30). Being in a part of the country we dont’ see much, several of our staff took advantage of some free places to stay and a friend with a car to do a little extra traveling, And since about 80% of the Italians in Florence move to the beach for the month there was no reason for us to hurry back. So I just got back to my apartment a couple days ago, and was able to sleep in my own bed for the first time since June 1.
My cure for jet lag was to dive into a service team for the Settimana Biblica, the week preceding the youth Campeggio. My main duty was to wash dishes, which took between 5 and 8 hours each day since meals are so important, and feeding 120 people creates a lot of dirty dishes.. especially since every meal is 3 to 4 courses. We started each morning at 6:30, and the day’s schedule ended at 12:30 a.m. The next week was the same, except I was placed in a room with 12 Italians. That might have been an oversight because anytime someone in charge of the camp found out who my roommates were the responses were always either great surprise, or deep compassion. So my cure for jetlag was to create for myself a stronger reason to feel tired so that jet lag had no room to influence me. Thankfully, the folks running the camp made espresso in abundance each morning and again every afternoon after lunch.
From a ministry perspective, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this was the best week I’ve had in Italy. 90 Italian college students gathered for worship and teaching and fellowship, under the theme Passione per la Nazione. Passion for the Nation. Reaching Italy for Christ. These are the type of Italians we are praying that God would raise up, and here they are. The camp director really wanted us there so that we could be an example for the students to see that there are people who are qualified to be much more successful in the worlds eyes, but have chosen to follow God’s call and serve Him full time. He really wants to see these youth make the same commitments. We would love to see that too. It’s a little humbling to think that the greatest impact we can have is just showing up. But if that’s what is most helpful, then we’re happy to do it and let God work.
More about the camp later
