With the End in Mind

The 2pm class was cancelled for lack of sign-ups, and those that did were asked to come to the evening class where there would be more people, which they did. So that freed up the afternoon, and Ron, Peggy, Pam and I, along with Lawrence (a co-worker of Pam's from England) and Ruslana (a Moldavian woman who works in Antalya and attends the church, took a boat ride out of the Kaleici (Old Town) Harbor. This was the harbor that the Apostle Paul departed from (Acts 14:25-26). At that time the area was referred to as Attalia. The picture at the left would have been the view Paul had as he sailed away (well, minus all the buildings...). Thinking of Paul's leaving caused me to think that I, too, will be leaving. Which was odd because I just got here! Yet not so odd, because the best way to arrive anywhere is to know that you will be leaving...because when your really know that, it can help to make sure that when the time comes to leave, you will not have wasted your time there. It's the old, "Living with the end in mind" idea, and it prompted a reminder to me to keep doing just that. Without rushing...without obsessing...without anxiousness of any kind - to simply be attentive to every moment and opportunity, and respond with the graciousness of God.

We had our largest and most responsive class yet tonight - the Active Parents of Teens. I think because many of them are in the middle of the reality of raising teenagers, they have come with an energy and interest to learn and get help in what they are facing. We made some adjustments in the presentation - in both content of the teaching and the way we presented the material - and the wisdom of both decisions was evident. I felt more free tonight than in the two other classes, which, I think, indicates I'm feeling more at home here. Now we wait a week and see who comes back...or even (and for this I hope) who shows up who wasn't here this weekend.

Tomorrow we get to worship with the Turkish Christians, and I will get to preach. Pray for me and that the Holy Spirit uses the words I use to edify and encourage the believers. I always have a hard time picking a sermon to preach in another language because I use too many words that lose their nuance in translation...plus factoring in translation, most of my sermons would be too long. (I know what you're thinking...). If we get up early enough, we plan to take in the International Church service first, which will be in English.

wow...I just dozed off and typed some really weird-looking combination of characters! Time to stop. :)

Charlie