Political Tensions

There has been much political turmoil in Bucharest these days as the minority parties in Parliament recently tried profusely to pass several "no-confidence" motions against the Prime Minister Emil Boc (pictured left) and President Traian Basescu, both of the ruling PDL (Liberal Democrat) party. Romanians are growing increasingly restless with the government's inability to tackle pressing issues, and much like in the US, the ruling party is being pummeled in the polls. Just a few years ago, the Parliament impeached current President Traian Basescu, but he was reinstated on a national referendum and then re-elected last year. Romania is in a major crisis, as prices continue to rise, but salaries are being slashed. The government has asked those on their pension to accept a significant reduction of almost 50 percent--and many have claimed that the pension salaries were already "scandalous." All of this led to over 30,000 protestors, mainly union employees to march upon the Parliament last week in massive protest demonstrations. Please pray that the government of Romania would address the needs of the people and for stability in this turbulent time.

Sheep on the Interstate

Gotta love the sheep in the passing lane on the Bucharest-Pitesti autostrada! :)

Roma Deportations

In August, the French government decided to aggressively deport it's Roma (gypsy) population mostly to Romania and Bulgaria. Thousands of Roma people are being rounded up, put on buses or planes and sent back to Bucharest--many uncertain about their futures. The Romanian government has called the deportations a violation of the European Union Human Rights laws. Sarkozy and the French responded by saying that any independent country has the right to deport someone without proper documents. It's a complicated mess--since many of the Roma don't even have proper Romanian documents--many children without birth certificates. Traditionally a nomadic people, the Roma themselves immigrated to Romania and today Romania has the largest Roma populaton in Europe. They are much maligned and discriminated against in Romania--many Romanians frustrated by the image the Roma people have created of Romania abroad. Thus, it will be interesting to see how these deportations play out.

New Insights

I was really challenged at a recent conference to think about the CHURCH. Here are some thoughts to consider:

• A definition of "ministry": God's people answering the prayers of the nations.
• A church that is not "replicating" is not a church, but rather a Christian "club".
• How much of our traditions is hindering people from discovering Christ?
• If you have never forgiven someone for a DEEP wound; if you have never RECEIVED forgiveness when you might not have deserved it; if you have never experienced what it is to LIVE on grace, and grace alone....do you really UNDERSTAND the GOSPEL???
• Why do we stop at bringing someone TO Christ and not disciple him/her into really KNOWING Christ?
• The local church is the hope of the world
• Grace is undeserved, that's why it's called "grace"
• In the year 2010, almost EVERYTHING depends on RELATIONSHIPS
• There's ALWAYS something you don't know
• Our faith journeys are just that--journeys--we walk along the path, we go the wrong way, we get lost--but Christ helps us pick up the pieces.
• If life were perfect and we never failed or stumbled---how would we ever grow wiser--how would we ever learn or grow??
• Friends are precious---if you want to receive their ALL you must give your ALL

Just some things I'm thinking about!

Discipleship Making conference

Just got back from a great conference on looking at how we can reach non-christians and post-modernists for Christ through small groups. I enjoyed studying God's Word with my colleagues and was challenged by a new approach to to study the Bible and to make true disciples of Christ, not just "converts." The basis is KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid). In the world we live in today, it is still all about relationships---being genuine, authentic, and investing in the lives of others. Here I am with my colleague Jorge from Brazil.