Culture Shock

Here's a list of things I've spent more time doing lately than paying attention to American politics: - changing diapers - reading about the best strategy to incorporate when forming a baseball lineup - blogging (and you know that has been rare) - washing my car (rarer still) What's my point?  Following what's going on in D.C. has become rarer than a Chicago Cubs 5 game winning streak.  Yet anyone who googles "Orahovica" or "Culture Shock Croatia" (which happens more frequently than I thought) can find out my political views in under 1 minute flat if they click on the " politics " label on the right hand side of the blog.  They (you?) may be surprised to find out that though I am an Evangelical Christian, I quite unashamedly would have voted for Barrack Hussein Obama in 2008.   Of course the next question is "well what do you think of him now?" I surrender.  I simply don't know enough to offer an opinion. I haven...

Our two year old, Enoh, is close to being potty trained.  But he's not quite there yet.  So every opportunity I have to help him remember to go to the bathroom is a valuable one.  For example, today, after his nap I said: "Enoh, what's the first thing we have to do after our nap?" After pausing to rub his eyes, he responded with enthusiasm: "Wake up!" Unable to correct him, I laughed and admitted his answer was better than the one for which I had devised the question.  As I sat and waited for him to finish his business I began to think about the implications his response had on my life.  So I went to the revelation of Truth itself and found this written in Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus: "Wake up sleeper..." As a strong believer in the fact that there's "no text without context" I backed up a bit to find out what it was that Paul was getting at here.  He's talking about being visible.  How are we supposed to be v...

Wonderfully terrifying The measure of which A being Or not yet? Or more so? Is so closely intimate Harrowingly acquainted With our deepest Our blackest Our coldest But infinitely higher And separated Outside of ourselves Oh the heights to which we can reach And grasp! And hold! Not my grip It could not hold the weight Of thick vapor Of massive hollowness No I am nothing And the audacity Which compels my mind to step up On crippled legs Or beaten back That was his doing His perfectly glorious intercession

Any guesses what these three signs in Ljubljana Slovenia mean? 1. 2.  3. 

New Yorker  1983    The longer I'm married to my wife the more I realize how amazing she is.  As the mother of 2 boys under three and another one in the womb, a part-time youth worker who gives it her full devotion and the one in charge of all the logistical details of 4 weeks of summer camp, somehow she finds a way to get it all done well. So her birthday today is not just a celebration of another year.  It's a day to celebrate the life of a devoted mother, selfless wife and an uncompromising woman of God. Petra, you are amazing. Volim te do neba visoko.

I've been like a little kid the last few days.  Just ask my wife.  She'd tell you I've been giddy, maybe even a little immature.  Why?  Because I'm excited about the first baseball game ever in Orahovica.  A few thoughts: New things are hard to find in this part of the world.  No matter what aspect of life we're talking about - religion, recreation, raising kids - people like to do things the way they've always been done.  So the fact that so many people are involved in "America's pastime" here in small-town Orahovica is exciting.  I'm proud of my team (made up of both boys and girls) who have been disciplined and dedicated to learning a sport they've never watched.  I'm thankful for the team from Slavonski Brod who are driving from an hour + away to play against us.  I can't imagine having an easier time arranging this event than I've had with their coach. Thanks Garret for making this such a pleasure to organize! Who'...

Daddy always said there's a reason why the words "creation" and "Croation" are so similar.  Well there's another wordplay mommy likes to point out - sLOVEnia.  We had the chance to make the 5 hour drive to small village Slovenia this past weekend.   Of course we got to spend time with our four cousins who live there.  We also saw some of their pigs.  My brother's not nearly as brave as I am so mommy had to hold his hand on the pig while daddy took the picture.    We also were able to participate in the annual Day of the Region.  They always bring out all the animals.  Again, my brother looked... ....while I was glad to touch.   Even daddy didn't care to pet this guy.  On May 1st they always decorate a really tall tree and put it up.  If you thought your Christmas tree was tall last Christmas, take a look at this one.   Here's the final product: We got thrown around a bit... My brother got to rock out with his cousin...