Glasses for Everyone

I don't remember if I mentioned that we have all been doing the dental and eye exam check-ups here lately... and Karmia was the winner in the dental area... she had zero cavities... even after a whole year between check- ups.... but now ... as you see... she has a strong does of dad's genes and now has her first pair of glasses ... so far she seems to like them. Really she only needs them for reading... but so far she seems to enjoy wearing them all the time.... even I'm getting a pair of glasses again.... it's been four years since I had laser surgery and one of my eyes is weakening again... oh well... As for the mold of teeth... well... those are Angela's. These will be evaluated by our insurance to validate that she needs braces, so we won't have to pay for them 100% anyway.

Brian Doerksen Comes to Cairo

It was really great to have Brian Doerksen and his band extend their tour to include Cairo... although I'm delinquent in posting about it since they were here last weekend... opps... well, anyway, it was still great to hear "Light the Fire Again", "Faithful One", and "Come, Now is the Time to Worship"... along with many other songs that he's written... here... in Cairo. Brian's message from Psalm 23 was about the characteristics of sheep was a great set up for our own cell groups study in Matt 25:31-46... with the sheep and the goats... anyway, they led the regular services on Thursday and Friday and then had a concert on Saturday night at the local softball field... which was quite the feat! Well done to MCC and especially Mark for coordinating the whole thing. Our whole community got to enjoy some truly heavenly music for a change :-)
Thanks Brian from coming to town, we truly enjoyed it!

God's Love & Forgiveness

I was talking with a friend the other day and I asked how his relationship with God was these days... I also asked if he had found a good church to attend in his area... and his reply was "I went to a church here once but didn't go back because I was afraid of what God would reveal to me about myself".... and he also told me that he was afraid if he started to get close to God again... that God would turn His back on him...

I was actually surprised by his answer... I tried to explain that the Lord is not one to withdrawal from us... it's actually quite the opposite... we are told in Isaiah 55:6-7 to "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked (all of us) forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

There's a lot in there about how much our heavenly Father loves us and wants to drawl us near to Him... we don't have to clean ourselves up to come to Him... He just wants us to come... He'll take care of the rest. He desires to forgive us and to have us near... but the key is we have to come to Him.

Greek Tragedy

It's interesting, I don't remember if I've ever read any of the Greek Tragedies while in High School... British Lit and Shakespeare, yes... but in any event I'm taking basic Humanities next semester and started reading Sophocles and The Theban Plays... and I've actually enjoyed it... what's more, I have found it very interesting to see that there was a concept of honoring one's word... no matter the cost to oneself... 2,400 years ago. I at least see why this book is part of the course curriculum now ... it's quite a lesson in honor, even in the incredibly weird stories given...

While reading Antigone I was impressed with her statement "We have only a little time to please the livings, but all eternity to love the dead." Wow... that's absolutely right... and in the context she was saying this she knew the right thing she needed to do could cost her her life... and then I think of how this relates to life today... it's not about being a "man pleaser" that is important in this life now, it's about doing what is right now... and that will have eternal rewards from our Heavenly Father. It's a matter of living a life that is surrendered to the will of Christ today... and everyday.

Friday Afternoon

What do you do on a lazy Friday after noon? Go out to the local wadi and enjoy some time with friends that's what! There's just something about being out in the rugged outdoors and enjoying letting the kids run without worrying where they are... or what they're doing.

I look at this countryside and can't help but think of David and his prayer in Psalm 61.... "Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."

And it's Still Busy Here

But what else could take up all our time here? Back to school events... a wedding where Angela was the Bride's maid and Mia was the ring bearer... best wishes to Sam and Cathy as they begin their lives together... but we've had dental exams this last week... eye exams... and now that we've been here just over one year, it's time to re-register the car... then there's all our regular commitments through the week... Well, life in Cairo keeps us busy that's for sure.

14th Anniversary

Wednesday the 12th was our 14th anniversary... and my bride was so nice to take this years celebration of our vows to another level by scheduling dinner out, we ate at the Bukahara (Indian cuisine) and then surprising me by reserving a room for just the two of us at the JW Marriott... she went so far as to pack for me and didn't let me know we were going to the hotel until AFTER dinner :-) and indeed it was great to have some time just for us without the girls. A little massage and some more time just resting in the lawn chairs on the sand gave us time to just relax and chat. It's the chatting part where a marriage is really built. Thank you Mahal for a great anniversary.

The Dairy of a Cairo Driver

It's been a while since I've written, but one thing that sits on my mind is driving here in Cairo and all the different things I see going back and forth to work here.... Things like a guy driving his pick-up truck with his head out the window to see where he's going... because the windshield is shattered and he couldn't see where he was going otherwise... or maybe the people in a little cab with a bicycle on the roof... and arms coming out of each window to hold it on the roof as they drive along... or there are the single car accidents where people seem to be attracted to the light pools with the center of their hoods. I'm actually surprised how strong those polls are because they never seem to fall from the hit ... as the cars here are no match for them when they hit 'em. Then the trucks with their loads of cargo... or rubbish loaded so high you just wonder if the truck is going to tip over... not that I haven't seen that either... an 18 wheel truck laying upside down on the freeway like a "dead cockroach" with all 18 wheels pointing towards the sky... with a few 100 backs of something on it... or maybe two guys on a moped, with one of them holding a satellite dish... there are so many times I wish I "had a camera" for things I see... well... driving here is truly an interactive experience... and honestly... I wouldn't trade these driving experiences for the roads back home!