August 31st: Home

August 30th: Ljubliana, Slovenia, Day One

August 29th: Croatia, Day One

August 28th: Naples, Day Three

I have refrained from talking about each picture in order to let the picture speak for itself, but this is worth talking about.

The last three nights I was staying with my friend, Seth. Seth is in the US Navy and is stationed in a small city near Naples named Pozzuoli. Not only is it one of the most beautiful cities that I have seen on my travels, but it is also the city once know as Puteoli. Know the significance? Read Acts 28:11-14...this is the very city in which Paul arrived in Italy before going to Rome! And this church is the church built near the place where Paul landed.

Travelling through Italy has been wonderful historically, but to walk the streets of a small ancient town where Paul once spent a week was one of my highlights. To think back to a time when a young church was flourishing and growing and to know that it is my story too. I am linked to this city, because Paul made disciples, who made disciples, who made disciples, who made disciples...you get it.

August 27th: Naples, Day Two

August 26th: Naples, Day One

August 25th: Rome, Day Four

August 24th: Rome, Day Three

a fourth interlude

Man, I can't keep quiet. I tried to do only pictures, but I have to express myself in words.

That is a picture of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. We went there today. It is by far the most impressive church that I have ever stepped foot in. Michaelangelo (the artist, not the Ninja Turtle) was the architect for the majority of it. Inside and out, it is beautifully constructed. There are only three paintings in the entire church and the rest is decorated by beautifully intricate mosaics that, beyond ten feet away, look like paintings. Ornate marble statues are placed throughout. There is only one window that has stained glass, because Bernini, the "interior decorator", wanted natural light to highlight the sculptures and to radiate off the mosaics and jewels. It is an amazing structure.

But my heart was heavy the entire time I was there.

I couldn't help but wonder what Jesus would think of such a building. I also couldn't help but wonder what things do we create as Christians now that are meant to be impressive, but are ineffectual for building community and proclaiming the gospel.

My heart hurt as our tour guide explained that Michaelangelo wasn't paid for his work on the church because, "it was for the salvation of his soul and to the glory of God." I'm not doubting his heart, but did he get it? Did he understand that the God to whom he was doing this beautiful piece of art was the one who saved his soul? What works am I doing that I feel are earning me my salvation?

My heart hurt when my tour guide talked about the papal throne.



She talked about how the pope viewed himself as the most powerful religious figure in the world and that the succession was Christ, Peter, and then the Pope. Did they get it? Did they get that Jesus wasn't about acquiring power, but serving? I also wondered who are our popes? Is Rob Bell a pope to me? Are we crushed because Darryl isn't the pastor of SBC?

My heart was burdened today. The Vatican was amazing, but stirring. I just hope that just because we are "Protestants" that we don't ever forget that we can fall into the same traps of the Catholic church.

Hair Anniversay

I haven't cut my hair for one year!



August, 2005



August, 2006

April 23rd: Rome, Day Two

a third interlude

So, you may not think that Rome and Philadelphia have too much in common, but for me these two cities will forever be linked. Not because of their food, the amount of Italians who live there, or even their historical importance for each of the countries in which they reside, but because the two biggest fights my dad and I have ever engaged in occurred in those two cities. The latest of which was a meer four hours ago...

The purpose of this post isn't to recount the details, but rather to share the outcome of this fight. As you can see from the picture, my dad and I have reconciled things. Hard things were said, but reconciliation has occurred. All is good and our vacation will continue!

The fight has really caused me to take a hard look at myself. There are lots of different types of sin, but there is something about interpersonal conflict that seems to really affect people. And it digs even deeper when it is with family. This event, this blow-up that occurred this evening, and the resulting heart-to-heart between my dad and I opened my eyes to a huge area of sin in my life.

Altough my dad and I are reconciled my heart is still stirring inside of me.

I know part of it is because of the hurt that we caused each other today, but the majority is because I have been painfully reminded that I am a sinner. Sometimes I forget. I'm not sleeping around. I haven't killed anyone. But I have these flaws...these habits...that can kill. They can kill hearts. They can kill relationships. They can kill love.

I've let some of these habits run unabaited...unprayed for. I don't want to do that anymore.

Today sucked. No doubt. My dad and I were wounded by today.

But I am also thankful, because our relationship has been reconciled...AND, it has opened my eyes to sin...sin that has probably been causing hurt in others...and I don't want that anymore...

August 22nd: Florence, Day Two

August 21st: Florence, Day One

a second interlude

Last night I was alone in Venice. Obviously, I wasn't totally alone, because I am traveling with my parents, sister, and brother-in-law through Europe, but I was alone. I don't think there is another city in the world (sans Paris) that can make you feel so alone. Gondolas, beautiful architecture, great Italian food, wine...it is just oozes romance.

So, as my parents walked back to the hotel and my sister and Paul rode a gondola, I took pictures and thought a lot about being alone. I was really trying to fight the feeling. I said to myself, "Self, don't feel this way. A single Christian is supposed to be joyous. You are supposed to happily wait for the right girl to come along. You should enjoy this time." But no matter how much I told myself that, I just couldn't buy it. I couldn't convince myself.

So, I walk and talked to God.

I asked Him what He thought.

He didn't respond.

I am OK with that. So I walked some more and talked to Him some more. I still didn't get any response. I was still desiring to be with someone. To have someone to share this moment with. To have someone to walk through the streets of Italy with.

So, I walked some more. Talked to God some more.

To be honest, I never really felt better. I never had that feeling go away.

Tonight, I walked around again alone. This time the setting was Florence. It's not as romantic as Venice, so I didn't think about it as much.

One thing I did realize though is that it is OK to long to be with someone. Men were created to be with women and women with man. But, on the other hand, our sexuality isn't tied to whether we are with someone or not. My maleness isn't incomplete if I don't have a wife. I have a friend who has decided to remain celebate. He feels that is his call. I respect him for that. He is so passionate about the Lord and is totally sold out to his ministry. His sexuality isn't tied to whether he has a wife or not.

So, as I sit here and ponder my singleness, I am thankful that God has created me with this desire to be with someone. I am thankful that I have Him to talk to about it. I am thankful that even if He doesn't answer or provide me with an overwhelming satisfaction of being single, that He is there. That He cares about my desire to be married.

And, I'm thankful that he hasn't given me the gift of celebacy... :)

August 20th: Venice, Day Two

August 19th: Venice, Day One

August 18th: Munich, Day Two

August 17th: Munich, Day One

an interlude

I attempted to only post pictures during this project, but I realized that so much of who I am is found in story. True, a picture can tell a thousand words, but I still need to story-tell. So, here is the first.

Faithful readers of my blog will know the term "lolipopping". For a detailed explaination see one of my previous posts. So, for the first time in my life, yesterday, I was lolipopped! We were driving to a castle and I made the mistake of not noticing the two signs above. One is a no driving symbol and the other is a Walking Zone.

Right when I saw the officer, I knew it was going to happen. His left arm flew out the window and extending from it was the dreaded lolipop! He signaled me to pull over, so I did. Right as he did I realized I didn't have my passport with me. Now, before you say, "You idiot". When you live everyday in Europe, you begin to realize that you don't always need to carry your passport everywhere.

So, in broken Czech I began to explain to the officer everything. He wasn't too pleased. At one point a Czech in a USA shirt walked up to see if I needed help. When he heard I didn't have my passport he said, "Oh, I don't think I can help you there." So I began to throw out all the Czech prases I knew, "I'm sorry." "I'm an idiot", etc. I actually used the Czech word: blbost which is a softer form of idiot and a VERY Czech word. After I said it he kinda laughed and said (in Czech) "Good Czech".

Fortunately, he let me off with a stern warning. I really count it a miracle, cause Czech cops aren't known for their grace. Especially to foreigners...especially to foreigners without passports. I think if I wouldn've been Czech I would've gotten a ticket. I think if I wouldn't've been able to speak any Czech I would've gotten a ticket, but for some crazy reason, he was amused by my crappy, broken Czech and I think that is the only thing that saved me.

August 16th: Prague, Day Three

August 15th: Prague, Day Two

August 14th: Prague, Day One

August 13th: Vienna

EuroTrip: A Picture a Day

My family and I began our Euro vacation yesterday. I've decided to post a picture a day to give you a taste of what we are doing and seeing. I intended to start last night, but due to unbelievably slow internet, the picture wouldn't post, so I had to postpone it until today. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to post a pic each day...I'll do my best.

I thought it important for this first post to be an introduction of sorts. So you can know the characters in this mini-documentary!



(from left to right)

Paul, aka Svagr (Brother-in-Law in Czech), aka the Outsider. 30, 6'0", 95 Kg (all weights will be in kilos to mask the true weight from Americans). Rumor has it Paul has been training for this trip by locking himself in a closet with three stubborn Italians and a stubborn Albanian. You would think being married to my sister would be enough training, but everything changes when you throw the rest of us into the mix. In search of peace.

Meghan, aka Sis, aka the Firecracker. 25, 4'11", 46 Kg. Don't let her small frame fool you. She can bring the pain. In search of Crown Jewels and purses.

Gary, aka Dad, aka Beefcake. 51, 5'7", 84 Kg. Balding, but beautiful, he is the patriarch of this ragtag fam. Bringing his crooked back and all, he makes his first appearance in Europe. In search of castles, history, and more history.

Laura, aka, Mom, aka The Gentle Italian. 53, 5'0", 54 Kg. Will be teaming up with Paul to calm the other three down. Her motherly love and grace will be the only thing to keep Meghan, Gary, and Nate from tearing each other to pieces. Also making her first appearance in Europe. In search of unity, love, and the Homeland (Italy!).

Nate, aka me, aka The Talker. 28, 5'9" (OK, 5'8" and a half...OK, 5'8"), 86 Kg. "Excited" to drive another 10,000 Kilometers in my car. But, more excited to be with my fam. In search of people who will listen to me talk, and the 5 B's of a good vacation (Books, Bronzage, Beach, Booze, and Babes).

HADUKEN!

A couple months ago I posted about a couple of guys that I met during the summer...Josh and Will.
















In that post I mentioned that we liked to Haduken! and Tiger Uppercut things. Here is the conclusion to those statements...

During dinner one night, my friend Amy asked our friend Laura to "make that Asian sound you always make". So in a voice that no girl should be able to make, she yells out "HADUKEN!" and thrusts her hands forward simulating the motion made to shoot a fire ball out of ones hands. Immediately, all the guys at the table are time machined back to fifth grade and the countless hours of playing Street Fighter. This led us to discussing other important moves like "Tiger Uppercut" and Chun Li's famous sound off, "Yatai".

As we spent more time together and as the conversation turned from reality to fantasy (as it often does with boys) we began to discuss the sweetness of possessing the power to Haduken! and Tiger Uppercut things. So, after much anticipation, I offer you our lists of things that we'd like to Haduken! or Tiger Uppercut...




















Josh would like to Haduken:

one: 4th grade
two: republicans
three: democrats
four: first dates
five: florida
six: whoever it was that took my two dads off the air
seven: second dates
eight: eye crusties
nine: dating in general
ten: nickelback....because we get it that you're really really upset about a girl leaving you




















Willie owen would like to Tiger Uppercut:

one: the feeling you get when you wake up from sleeping really well and you realize you are late for something important
two: medium sized fast-moving spiders
three: sunburns
four: the way i act around girls
five: the way i don't act around girls
six: little bobby from elmington way




















I would like to HADUKEN!:

one: potholes
two: the oil that gathers on top of the peanut butter if you don't use it frequently enough
three: being single and 28
four: PCs
five: christian t-shirts (especially the lord's gym)
six: junk email
seven: wet socks

Lollipop

n. a flat, rounded candy on the end of a stick

v. the means by which a Czech Police officer pulls someone over in the Czech Republic (termed by me as "lollipopping")

Sometimes cops in the Czech just pull you over randomly. The way they do it is by sticking this lollipop-looking-thingy out and pointing to the side of the road.















They really don't need a reason to pull you over. They just do it. Then they look to see if there is something you are doing wrong and give you a ticket. It is oh so Communistic.



I've been lollipopped twice in my life. The first was in the summer of 2001 in Poland. The second was this Spring. I'm thankful that I have managed to avoid the lollipop so far this summer (knock on wood). Everytime I drive passed a cop this summer I just begged, "Don't lollipop me, don't lollipop me..."

This is not a picture of me being lolipopped: