India- Thoughts and Experiences

Yes indeed, India is amazing!
Amazingly colorful, beautiful, noisy and dirty. After I´ve been here now for almost a month, the thing that strikes me most is the experience of contrast. You read about this in books, so one is somewhat prepared but still, to experience it is altogether different. One contrast that strikes me again and again is the one between country and city. Travelling through the country-side, the landscape is of a breath-taking beauty. It is so beautiful, that it brings tears to my eyes. As soon as you get close to a city though the beauty abruptly ends and what you see is garbage and dirt. Passing by a river makes you feel sick because of the smell. In the midst of all the garbage there are animals: Cows, pigs, dogs, cats... The way Indian women dress is another experience of colour and beauty but the houses, shops and even restaurants are in a sad state, often with little sense for an outward attractivity. More contrasts are to be found in the technical realm. Up-to-date mobile phones and internet next to someone who irons clothes by using an ancient iron which is filled with hot coals. And I simply can not get used to the sudden appearance of cows in the middle of traffic or in front of a shop, or somewhere you simply would not expect them to be. The greatest experience are the people I´ve met! Even complete strangers have been so incredibly open, helpful, and of an overwhelming hospitality... amazing India! I´m thankful for the time I´ve had here so far.

About Love

If you´ve never really loved someone, there´s also something missing in your revelation and knowledge of God. The more you love, the greater the risk of getting hurt. Hurt by seperation, brought about in whatever way; circumstances, strife, betrayal, rejection or death. Despite the always present danger of being hurt in and because of love, there is no other way to ever be deeply touched and changed by the God who IS love.
Life without love is being dead alive.
This is what took Jesus to the cross. Love. Suffering from the seperation between God and man-kind, He suffered the seperation from God. No one has greater love, than the one who lays down his life for his friends. Love. Love! Love!!!

The TV Church

Imagine being the leader of a Church. One old Lady comes to you and says: "The music is too loud, if you don´t change it, I will leave." Right after that a young guy comes up saying: "The music isn´t loud enough, if this doesn´t change, I´ll leave." What will you do? Try to find a middle way? Have one service for the old and one for the young? Teach on tolerance?
I think attitude of heart matters in all of us, when it comes to these questions.
We can zap ourselves through the different styles of Church services until we find a program we like, with an attitude that says: I am in control. I decide what I like. I can zap through the channels or turn the program off, whenever I want to. But the body of Christ, no matter which "style" is preferred locally, is not a TV show. And the ultimate control is with God. What does He want me to turn on or off?
The old Lady and the youg guy... can they come together in a spirit of love and put personal preference under God´s greater goal of fellowship?