Best of the Rest

Since I committed to only one pic a day, there were many days where I was faced with a tough choice. That being said, for your viewing pleasure, I've decided to post those pics that barely missed the cut...








munich: beer garden















munich: park















venice: on a boat















venice: in a square














venice: view from a dock














florence: people in a square
















rome: paul taking a pic

















rome: coliseum battle














rome: stairs














rome: coliseum at night














adriatic: sunrise on a boat

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