It is good to have a low-key weekend after some travels for conferences (Norway, Gothenburg, Växjö within 3 weeks). We started the day in church.
The choir music here is great!
It was also Scout Sunday and the fall Thanks-saying-day with an auction of homemade treats during fika time after church. So, it made for an exciting a full time at church.
After the service, a woman with three young children sought me out and thanked me for what I shared in the sermon last Sunday. She said that she’s been thinking about the message all week and even talked with her coworkers at lunch on Friday about it.
I didn’t reflect on this last Sunday, because it is a bit awkward for me to do this for several reasons. The main reason is that it really isn’t about me. I’m just one beggar telling another beggar where to find food (adapted from D.T. NILES, New York Times, May 11, 1986). I just want to be like John the Baptist (though not in dress or diet!), pointing to Jesus.
I chose Numbers 13-14 to preach on. Yes, this is crazy! Old Testament and two whole chapters! But I summarized the chapters and relayed how this story comforts and challenges me, as one who seems to worry quite a bit. The moms really resonated with worrying over children. However, this account in Numbers tells of how the fears of the Israelites prevented them from receiving the gift that God had set aside for them, the Promised Land. God has over and over and over demonstrated tender love and trustworthiness to me, even through Eric’s cancer and death. So, why do I worry? I keep having to learn to trust (currently with Swedish language learning). But even when we get caught up in worry and question the trustworthiness of God, God is gracious and will eagerly renew and restore us. (The Israelites were forgiven even before they acknowledged their rebellion or asked for forgiveness!) So, I’m glad it was received well, but really for the sake of those who need encouragement from this good news!
The real challenge was the second service, which was more traditional and had more older people who are less comfortable in English. So, instead of a simultaneous interpretation for the few who wanted headphones, they had a consecutive interpretation. I speak a phrase, and it is translated. I speak another phrase, and it is translated. Wow, this was belabored and hard to have any smooth delivery. I tried to simplify a bit to decrease the time, but it gets quite long this way. However, it did make me even more resolute on learning Swedish!
I spent most of the afternoon today with more Swedish language learning. But here’s a fun video from a break: a competition between a Swede and Norwegian skiing through IKEA!
Anya is over at a friend’s house for a group dinner tonight. She and Sarah made “my” chocolate cake for the dinner. The host is a vegan, and the cake without frosting is vegan-friendly. Anya is thriving!
With blessings,
Beth
The IKEA video is OUTSTANDING!! I laughed all through it and I didn’t need to even read the transcript below!!! Even I make “YOUR” chocolate cake at times. . . like the banana bread. . . can’t mess it up!!!
It’s even better the second time around. . . I had to watch it twice!!!
Actually I thought the Swedish customers were the more amazing! They hardly flinched and no one swore or anything! Very different reactions from the USA if the competition had been held here. Those guys were quite good athletes as well!
Now on a more sober note. I too wrestle with worry but I find that I’m able to let go of different things easier than Mark does and he worries about other aspects of life. It’s something we both try to die to each day.
I’m sorry they didn’t mention the Finnish skier, but he stopped at the meatball counter and still hasn’t crossed the finish line.