Crazy Disciple

A gorgeous night

Sitting on the steps to the Opera at Bastille, I wait for a rendevouz
with a dear friend for dinner. The cool night air seems a if it
should be colder, but it's actually quite pleasant. Even a few stars
are showing themselves on this hint-of-spring night in Paris. It's
nights like this, and moments like now that could make a man fall in
love... With a city.

My phone screen

Well I have a TON of catching up to do since returning back from our
ski conference in Les Paccots. I wrote a gazillion emails today, and
have as many to write tomorrow (and a thousand phone calls to make
too!). So I should get back to posting regularly SOON. Until then,
check out the new screen on my iPhone... Yep, that's Jayme! I had so
much fun with my friends from home, and this is just one of the daily
reminders of them, and their love... Man I already moss you guys!
See you soon, ok?

Headed back to Paris

Wow, what an amazing time this has been in Switzerland. Not only did
I get to spend some amazing time with Pastor Mike, Jayme, Dr. Larry,
Janny, and Katie, but I also reconnected with some dear friends in
Geneva and am feeling deeply refreshed And encouraged to push back
into the next leg of this journey in Paris.

I have a short 3.5 hour train ride back, and admittedly, I am missing
Paris. It will be good to be back home. I should be able to finally
share some of the images of this journey, as I will once again have
reliable Internet! Man that will be nice! But tonight, I'm hitting
the ground running and heading to a Bible study in the suburbs. It
will be great to get ban amongst my French friends and family, I have
missed them!

So, as we depart Geneva, I bid goodbye and wish much love to ALL of my
friends in Switzerland. You are all amazing people, incredible hosts,
and dear friends. I'll be back in a couple of months... See you then!

- Sent from my iPhone -

Crazy snow

We still have no Internet here at Les Paccots, and maybe that's the
way it is supposed to be. I mean today we actually TALKED instead of
twittered and facebooked... It was crazy. No, seriously that wasn't
at all how the day went. We had crazy snow last night and all day,
probably a good 18 inches at least... It snowed all day! Now, many
people took to the slopes and braved the deep powder and low
visibility while the American crew got brave and drove into Lausanne.
It snowed the entire way there, and the entire time we were there. It
was a huge blessing to get to hang out with Pastor Mike and the gang,
and we got to really talk about the last five months. I really needed
the time with them, and I was blessed with the chance to have it.

Thanks to some memories of my times there with Joelle, we got quite a
scenic tour of the city. I took so many wrong turns that it became
funny. The funniest part was me driving a nine-passenger van through
the narrow streets of Lausanne while tons of snow fell.... Oh, and
did I mention that we had no tire chains?

We did end up finding some chains and getting them installed (thanks
to Pastor Mike) and they made a world of difference as we drove back
to Les Paccots. I guess however that you are supposed to take them
off on concrete that's only wet... Doh!

Well, maybe we can buy another set tomorrow.

- Sent fron my iPhone -

True refreshment

I am laying in a bed that is too short for my less-than-six-foot frame
in perhaps the most beautiful country in the world, Switzerland. Like
returning to the scene of a crime, I have returned to Les Paccots, the
first place that the vision of this mission to Paris was discussed.
That was almost a year ago, and so much has happened since then...
But also like then, I am here with both C3Paris, and a crew from
Destiny Church. I must say, it's a crazy thing to experience from the
other side.

I can hardly put into words the feeling of seeing Pastor Mike, Jaymz,
Larry, Janny and my new friend Katie... I think that in all truth, I
have not allowed myself to fully miss them, nor anyone from home, as
that deep, heart-felt pain doesn't really accomplish much, and doesn't
make getting through a day any easier. But now, with them back in my
personal space, within hugging distance, I can feel a relaxation in my
heart and mind, a letting down of barriers and walls that can only be
described as feeling like I am back home. Sure 5 months have passed,
but it feels like life has still continued together, and it seems
fitting to be back in this familiar place, where this whole adventure
began.

I can't help but wonder what amazing plans will be uncovered and laid
out in this magical place. Will this later be called the "Les Paccots
Convention" and be forever remembered as where it all began? There is
no way to know yet, but in the meantime, I am just enjoying being with
some people I love very much. Oh, Renae and Mikey... Wish you were
here.

Notre Dame

Walked up to the top of the Notre Dame cathedral today after church, and it was an amazing site.   It's interesting how difficult it is to take artsy and breath-taking photos when the area around you is so ornate.  None the less, I snapped off a few hundred attempts and have to share a few of the highlights.   Obviously, the gargoyles really caught my eye.  I was struck, over and over by how much detail goes into every piece of this building.  Even the limestone steps, literally thousands of them, were ornate.  Furthermore, those same steps, once square and perfectly placed, showed the indentations and progressive-wear of many hundreds of years of people climbing them.   The experience was inspiring.  While this may be one of the most popular of tourist spots in Paris, it is surely one that should not be missed.   Just be prepared to climb stairs...  a LOT of them.    

Soirée Patinoire

The Change Paris team went ice skating tonight.   Nothing too crazy, just a little outdoor skating at the Hotel De Ville in the middle of Paris.  I quickly realized that skating with a camera is not a good idea...   none the less, I found a great place to plant my backside and shoot the crazy antics of a team of people whom are sold out to Christ, and determined to change this remarkable city.   It was fun, but even more than that, it was memorable and a great opportunity to make new friends, strengthen relationships, and play...   there is something so magical about play.

         

Creativity is the natural result of Spirituality

Next week, a large chunk of C3Paris will be headed to the mountains of Switzerland for a five day ski camp.  For me personally, this is a really big deal, as I get to see some dear friends from home, and share a few days, moments, hugs, and stories with them.   It will be refreshing, I am certain.  

On Tuesday night, after Pastor Mike (yes, Pastor Mike Goolsbay) speaks to the group, I will be giving a workshop on Creativity.  It's the first time I have tried such a thing, but having been through several myself, I am hoping to convey some of those experiences to all of these wonderful friends.   The idea behind the workshop is to "gag the inner critic" to get past the ideas of judgement or even analysis of our creations but instead to engage in, and experience creativity in its purist form. 

Now before you start thinking that I am some genius, I simply must give credit where credit is due.  This style of workshop is something I encountered and went through with the Origins conference in Eimeldingen.   The core value of Creativity being a path to, and a result of spirituality was a concept uncovered by many people smarter than me, and it is being engaged in all over the world.   My mission, consequently, is to engage in some of those same methods with the C3Paris church body, and hopefully bring about some opportunities for deeper access to both creativity and the natural predecessor and product, deeper spirituality.

If nothing more, it will be a time when we can connect into our own creative juices and hopefully understand a little more of who God is...   because he is the ultimate creator.  

The Jerk and Happy Thoughts

This weekend was amazing; as we get prepared to unveil a new set of ideas, dreams and concepts to several churches NEXT WEEK...  (be praying and watching for updates) I am reminded over and over again what it means to be a missionary and what it means to be completely engaged in this LIFE that God has handed to me.   It is an amazing journey, and I am so fortunate as to go on this journey with such amazing people.   I keep saying over and over again (this seems to be my mantra of the month) that we get to CHOOSE everyday if we are going to be a part of the revolution for Christ, or if we are going to sit back and let life happen to us.   I choose to ENGAGE!!!   I was just speaking with Mark last night and we both are excited to never have to look back and wonder what might have happened if we risked more, or if we reached for more...   those are some truly priceless gifts.

So what does all of this have to do with "The Jerk" ?   Really not much, except that I found out this morning that Mark had never seen this classic American comedy.  A quick check on iTunes. a click or two, and the movie begins downloading.   Tonight, after Bible studies in the 15th arrondesmont (at Céline's place) Mark will finally be exposed to this 1979 CLASSIC of a comedy.   I'll either be ridiculously embarrassed, OR we will laugh for 91 minutes without ceasing.  Heck, maybe it will be somewhere in the middle.   Either way, today is going to be a GREAT day. 

Centre Georges Pompidou - sans Post

Centre Georges Pompidou, originally uploaded by scottmocha.

Here's the original of the image preceding this one (in the post below this one) this is how it looks coming out of the camera.