Karnevalzeit - Time for Carneval!

Finally getting round to a new post! It's been a busy few months. From November to February I have been working on 'die Notaufnahme', the emergency department for internal medicine - a busy, challenging and learning-rich experience. My last shift was particularly memorable, with the first festivities of Karneval beginning that day. Imagine a drunken warzone with clowns. Shortly after being greeted by a nurse in an orange wig, I began to take a history from a Sumo wrestler. A further 15 minutes was then spent trying to persuade an argumentative Cowboy to give a urine sample for toxicological screening. Highlight of the shift however was when a patient asked me to pray with her. She'd overheard me talking the night before to another patient that I knew from my church. She said that she also trusted in Jesus but was scared about what lay ahead. It was an immensely moving experience and dare I say it provided more peace and reassurance to the patient that the senior ward round that morning.

I'm now preparing to head back to the UK. From April I will be working in internal medicine again in lovely Preston. However, before I head back to the UK, there's just about time for a trip with my friend Dilu to Mainz for Karneval (see photos). 40 days to Easter!

Operation World - Russia

Browsing through the world section of thegospelcoalition.org blog, I discovered that operation world now has short movie clips on many countries, summarising the situation and listing a few pertinent prayer requests.  The one on Russia is quite insightful, showing some of the darkness society faces, the challenges experienced by Christians, and a humble desire for God and his plan to be glorified in their land.  Worth a watch.

John Piper in Russia

An interesting and wise insight into the challenges facing the church in contemporary Russia and the USA, given by John Piper (translation in Russian).  The personal and pastoral advice are immensely valuable.

From Britain, contemplating east

I am British, I live in Britain, I am surrounded by a British worldview.

There are however many other countries and languages in the world.  Strange as it may seem, the members of these nations don't always share conclusions with my countrymen.  Their worldview is different, shaped by differing external influences, challenges and resources.

There is immense richness and value in metaphorically stepping into a pair of foreign shoes.  Doing so you opens the door to a whole new perspective, not necessarily the right or wrong one, however doubtlessly different.  This has huge currency when considering what's important in life.  Seeing how another language and culture perceives the gospel - the core of Christian faith - shows me ever greater the immeasurable riches that are found in being part of God's family.

The opportunities I have had (and hope to have in the future) of visiting central and eastern Europe have been incredibly valuable to me in enhancing my outlook, service, knowledge of and for Jesus.  The aim of this blog is to be a reflection on these and my contemplations east, as I continue to gain and learn from the world outside of the shores of "jolly ol' Blighty"!


So, to quote scripture:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God - Colossians 1:9-10  

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Colossians 2:1-3