incarnational

I've always hated that word. Perhaps because I never fully understood it. It always sounded overly theological. Not until this year have I begun to process its implications towards living it out as a church.

Christ models that it is possible to be both God and human at the same time. How, I still get confused. That's a pretty terrifying thought to be honest. It seems to me that throughout history the church has retreated into deifying Jesus so thoroughly that the human Christ often times can't be seen. To this otherworldly, superspiritual Jesus I simply have to offer myself; my worship, my devotion. By the ordinary, human peasant Christ I am challenged that maybe it's possible to be both human and Godlike. I've been reading in Matthew, and the scene is after Jesus began teaching in the synagogue and returned to his home town and got this response:

"Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?" (Matt 13)

Here's my distress: How the heck could Christ be the Messiah, the human incarnation of God, the second person of the Trinity for thirty years and no one at home noticed? How does that happen? Nobody in Nazareth smiled with a wink and said, "I always thought there was something special or unique about that kid." Instead they wonder how he got all that power and ability. Somehow Jesus could be fully God and blend into Galilean soceity-hardly the most poious or sophisticated culture-without creating some type of effect. This perspective on the incarnation bothers me because it dangerously invites me to follow Christ in all his ordinariness as well as his godliness. The incarnation demands that we neither retreat into our own little Christian worlds nor offer ourselves freely to the values of secular culture. It's safe to say that's the most dangerous place to be. (On the other side of emphasizing the deification, gnostic gospels are becoming popularized, particularly in the US where Christian history is being rewritten because it is claimed that it was the creators of the early church after Christ that made Him into the saviour....i.e. the other gospels such as the most recent Judas Gospel. There is the danger to claim that he was never beyond human status)


Interestingly, the story could be seen as almost completely undermining the divinity of Jesus. It is included because it is a dangerous memory for followers of Christ. We are called, like Christ, to be godly, but we are expected to live it out fully in the midst of others. There is no more dangerous yet exciting path than the one trodden by Jesus. There is no better setting to be incarnational than church planting where you have no where to "retreat".

Eikon is and will continue to be incarnational. me like that word.

You

Started a series entitled "YOU" that we're really enjoying. Tony has shared that the heart of the Gospel is not God, Christ or the Church. The heart of the Gospel is ultimately about you. Hopefully I'll get some video feeds up because this idea is often overlooked.

Recent Wedding

I wanted to show my latest wedding I shot of a friend from home. It was a delight to shoot this couple and was a whirlwind trip.

I arrived home to get some sort of stomach flu, of which i haven't had in many many years and left me completely bed-ridden for the last few days. Everytime I get up I render myself queezy and go straight for my "bowl".....this sucks.

Click HERE to watch slideshow

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!!!

After a grueling night of sleepless travel, Dave arrived home yesterday exhausted...and 26! Knowing a big birthday bash would've been furthest from his energy levels, 'relaxation' was the name of the game. Comprised mostly of a hot bath, a professional swedish massage in our living room, and fondue (Maralyn Mathias' famous recipe), I think he successfully spent most his birthday in a proper, half-awake haze. :)

On his still-sleepy behalf, thanks to everyone for all the birthday messages!!

In character though, he is eager to defy jet-lag and get back to Eikon! We had a great gathering yesterday, joined by a few new folks from the community. We recently purchased a keyboard, which was a great addition to worship! We have a few very talented musicians in our group, so we're excited to continually build on this facet of Eikon.

A few big 'next phases' for Eikon are on the agenda for coming weeks:
- Starting to build a nursery/sunday school: We have a few families now attending Eikon and we'd really like to make provisions for children. We have an adjoining room that we'd like to make 'kid-friendly', by collecting various toys, crafts, and sunday school materials (DVDs)...all as transportable as possible.

- A missions team from Toledo, OH is coming to work with us July 14 - 21, which we are really excited for! We are planning projects for them and looking forward to their support and encouragement!

- We will be sponsoring an outdoor ceilidh in the Meadows during the week that the OH team is here. This, too, we're starting to organize: we'll be targeting nearby student communities with Eikon advertising as a build-up to the event.

- Really digging into the logistics of a student ministry, to be launched in the Fall with a Fresher's Week campaign.

All that to say, we are gearing up for a great summer and appreciate your continued prayers and support!

Happy Birthday Dad!

...apparently bagpipers take requests if you drop a few pounds in their case!

What's goin on?

It's been a very productive week! We got home from Barcelona at midnight-thirty on Sunday and the next morning I was on a train to Aberdeen to meet with Sarah Malcolm (Director of Radiate--Chi Alpha--Aberdeen). This was the first time we've been able to meet since she agreed to mentor me back in April. I already consider her a trusted friend; I appreciate most her wisdom and authenticity. Not only that, but she will surely be an extremely great help as Dave and I seek to start this new student ministry in Edinburgh!

Our chats helped me put to words some core convictions that I have developed since being here in Edinburgh. Briefly stated, I am increasingly committed to the idea that we, as Christians, must be people of action, catalysts for change. As Tony says it, 'Church is a verb.'

So what are we DOING? What are we doing to generously and selflessly love and serve our community? What are we doing to protect and respect the environment, His creation? What are we doing to fight injustice, in our backyard and on a global scale? What are we doing to deepen our relationships with others and with Him?

These are just a few of the many questions tumbling through my head these days.

On another note, Eikon is looking to launch a bit of a publicity campaign, for which we are putting together various materials, including an ad in a free local newspaper ('The Skinny') and some new showcards (pictured).

Our much loved intern, Sarah Penrod, has officially completed her internship with us! In fact, tonight was her last night of work at the hostel! She has done remarkably well here and has been such a blessing to me and to us. Kim, her older sister, is flying in tomorrow and will stay with us for a week while she and Sarah enjoy the city as tourists.

Also flying in tomorrow is Calvary's own Liz Davidson, who is coming to work with Eikon for a couple weeks, offering to help in any way she can; we are excited to have her with us!

Barcelona

Just arrived back from what was an amazing time just outside of Barcelona, Spain. Every 3 years, AG World Missions hosts an All-Europe retreat for missionaries and their families. There were over 1000 missionaries and kids at the event, many of whom I have known for many years from Calvary and so many new faces we had the pleasure of spending time with. I could write far too long about the people and stories we heard and shared with one another. These missionaries are some of the most passionate, genuine people I've ever met. Such diverse ministries in almost every European country: radio station ministry in Iceland, church-planters like ourselves, campus ministry pastors, ministries reaching diplomats and politicians, media, childrens.....you name. We had morning and evening meetings, spending time in honest worship, great messages from Jim Bradford of Central Assembly, and enjoying the beach and theme park connected to the resort.
Kate and I getting psyched for a roller coaster at Universal Studies
A great couple we met, Brett and Courtney who are starting a Campus Ministry in Norway
Tim Southerland, our Area Director and such a blessing to have him in our lives. He's constantly emailing and calling to see how everything is and giving us wisdom from his many years on the mission field.
the resort all the missionaries stayed it, it was one of the nicer places we've stayed in a long time.

the balmoral

Enjoyed a nice cup of tea at The Balmoral Hotel, arguably the nicest hotel in Edinburgh. Word around the street was Michael Jackson, J-Lo and Eminem stayed there at one point....woohoo. The dinner is astronomical, but the tea is affordable and gives one a taste of the high-life, if just for an evening. My parents have been amazing this entire week. Dad has been working on our bathroom all week, finally allowing us a shower (we've been bathing...is that too much information?). We toasted the other night to taking showers. I must say that's a first.

It was nice to share the final evening with Reverend Tony and Dr. Foley. We really do love this couple and sincerely mean it. We couldn't be more excited to serve under them. Tony shares some great insight on the Eikon Website, check it out sometime. Eikonedinburgh.com, click on blog.

Off to Barcelona for a few days......European Missions Conference......75, mostly sunny!

Sailing

(I took this shot on the sailboat overlooking The Highlands and a lighthouse)
Had a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel on a 65 ft. sailing boat for 3 days in the Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland. They are little known, isolated islands that is home to deep-rooted history and varying populations of 100 people.
Maxwell started the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, a non-profit research and educational group focused on cutting edge dolphin and whale research off the coast of Scotland (yes, there are tons of varying species of whale and dolphin here. I had no idea, and most don't.)

The weather was perfect for 3 days, slept on a boat the entire time and worked on board with 5 other Scots. From a cultural outlook, it couldn't have been more original and refreshing. If anyone has sailed before, you know it's the epitome of teamwork. I was hugging everyone by the time I got off the boat because we all worked so closely together. We'd sit together in the evening, full moon overhead with the sun slowing setting over the endless ocean, laughing and telling stories.

The Lord continues to make availabe the most obscure opportunities to experience His world, the diversity of His people, and the expansion of Kate and myself's love and passion for the mission of Christ.



Watch this video on the experience: Click HERE

grilling on the mile

Did this a few days ago and got a kick out of it. We have a small walk-space outside our window that overlooks The Mile and I decided to buy a grill and make some kebabs. I think we were the first to ever grill on The Royal Mile in Edinburgh.....taste of home with a dose of stupidity.



Click HERE to view

potluck and guests

Had a great potluck following a really wonderful service. People made there way over to our flat about 20 feet from the church and spent the afternoon eating 'till we were fat, well, not kate or myself.


There are a few different couples over, so it's been fun making sure everyone is settled and somewhat entertained. Roxanne and Dave Valestin are over from Calvary on their 25th wedding anniversary. I love what they're doing: going to various places overseas where they've been on missions trips to reconnect with pastors and friends. I hope we do something like that when we've been married that long.

Kim and Chad Sasser are a young couple from Texas who are considering coming over to Edinburgh and both attend Uni for a PhD, work, and assist in a ministry. Great couple and hope to see them come back in the fall.

happy birthday katusk

Katherine "katusk" Schmidgall has officially turned 24 years old (round of applause). It's been one sweet date for me because cinco de mayo is a great reminder, though I'd never forget such a monumental day.

kate loves getting birthday emails, hook her up: kate@katherineann.com

My parents arrived a few days ago, and it's been a blast having them. Kate, Sara, myself and the 'rents went to her favorite restaurant in town (thai cuisine). We spent the day at the beach, tossing the frisbee and enjoying our sweet new ride, and then finished dinner and kept the party going with some desert and games back at the flat.

The low-point was when I gave kate flowers and 30 minutes later some flowers arrived from her brother Justin that towered over my pathetic attempt. Thanks Jay.

summer travel

Looking forward to a summer of traveling:
-Spain next week for a missions conference.
-The US the following week for a wedding.
-Niece, France for a networking conference.
-Belgium for a campus ministry conference.
-Jerusalem for photojournalism.
-Rome to meet close friends.


We've been here for 8 months and haven't had much opportunity to get to other parts of Europe,should be fruitful and and good time to re-energize.