Dovydas's Xanga

Moving

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 04:11:31 GMT

Just want to let you know that most of my future blogs will be on blogger at http://dovydo.blogspot.com/

The reason for this is that I find blogger a lot easier to navigate. Secondly, I can upload 300 megs of photos for free to blogger. Thirdly, since I can't change the appearance without paying on xanga, and I can with blogger, I decided to move. Call me cheap! Okay, I am cheap. Also, I wanted to have all my blogs in one location. It seemed that I was joining blog groups that didn't have anything to do with xanga. So, since most of my blogs are there, and I really am going to try to blog more.

One of the things that has caught my interest and attention lately, is the fact that we need to have an emergent conversation in Lithuania. So, I created a blog for that purpose. So, I am hoping t facilitate that a bit.

So, I am not going to delete the account, but I will be even quieter than before, if that is possible.

Love-Hate Relationships

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 19:13:33 GMT

I love espresso because it tastes so strong and leaves such a good taste in your mouth for a long time afterwards.

I hate espresso because it keeps me up until 2:00 a.m., at least when I drink it after 12:00 noon!

I love preaching in Lithuanian as I did today.

I hate not being able to speak freely and having to stick to my notes.

I love planting this emerging church and the people that I am influencing for the Kingdom.

I hate the way that I pressure myself by reverting ever so frequently to the "bigger is better" and the whole idea that I need to perform better if I am to fulfill my role in God's mission.

I love computers and all the cool things they do like helping to balance the checkbook, write e-mails, blog entries, edit web pages, talk for free (sort of) over the internet, and bring news and politics to my fingertips.

I hate computers, especially the laptops the way they heat up your legs when you use them too long, the way the cords break by the power pack and getting one overseas is a pain in the neck, the way the new internet provider's modem needs to be re-booted a couple times a day, and especially they way your wife's computer, which happens to be the newest by the way, is always needing some fine tuning,

I love my wife.

I hate the way I forget to treat her like a queen sometimes.

I love my two girls.

I hate that they will both be gone and we will have to not see them too often.

Those are my thoughts at this late hour (02:17:00, 18 September, 2006)

Concerning Preaching

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:18:08 GMT

Thanks for the comments balticblond on my last post, I always appreciate your input.

I have read Pagitt's book on preaching and have incorporated a lot of what he discusses there. I am trying to tell the story of the Bible when I preach or give my talks. I always incorporate a significant amount of time at the end for discussion within the group. Kelyje is small enough where it works quite well, and I think people like it. I think what I am looking for is that my preaching would me less didactic, and more narrative. I guess my very modern background weighs heavily on me; slowing me down.

I have totally abandoned the three points all starting with "C" kind of thing. Thanks for reminding me about being self-disclosing. I really need more of that in my talks. I am quite open in my relationships, but need to be more so in my talks.

Beyond acknowledging regularly that I don't have it all figured out yet, I am not sure how to teach truth in an inclusive way. I am still trying to get my mind around truth that is not exclusive, especially when you have done the biblical work and have testimonies to demonstrate.

Welcoming people to come along side our lives is really a lot of what we are doing at this time. We are just getting started here.

"Think of teaching as bringing folks along side your life as you live and learn, inviting them into your experience of faith-- " I like that.

gera nuotrauka dude!

Preaching

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:07:00 GMT

What is the key to postmodern preaching? I am struggling with trying to figure out how to not be too modern in my messages, i.e., give them all the answers and at the same time, be a proclaimer of biblical truth and experience.

Any insights? Resources? Online resources?

2 Months

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:14:36 GMT

2 months have passed (since June 25th there have actually been 10 Sundays!) since the the opening of Kelyje to the public. We have been anxiously awaiting our website to get online. They are working on template now after we have worked together to design it. One of the things this has produced is a logo:

Pretty cool eh? We like it.

We are planning a couple of concerts. One in September and one in October. "Pakeliui" our cafe will be hosting many concerts and events designed to facilitate our ongoing interaction with those who are not attending church.

Started a new series yesterday called, "Who is Jesus?" The first question we discussed was, "Why is Jesus so Important?" Overall there was a good response

On another topic, the book I am reading, is excellent. I understand it's predecessor is also a good read.

The weather is wet here! I am not looking forward to the long, cold, damp, winter here. Fortunately, we have a sauna! We will be pretty busy too.

Launch

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 16:05:39 GMT

Well, we just launched Kelyje! It went well for the first time. I was so proud of my team and all of the energy they put into this week.

We started with a couple songs by the band and then I welcomed everyone in Lithuanian. It is a practice I plan to continue so as to expand my confidence in my language ability.

The Bishop showed up and asked to bring greetings. So I let him!

One of the guys led us in reading the Nicene Creed. I preached on Philippians 1:6. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete until the day of Christ Jesus. This was followed by some good interactions.

Our awesome band led us in some passionate worship. The interpreter shared about communion and then Josh explained the four stations: Prayer, journaling and poetry, art, and offering. That lasted about 10 minutes. We finished it with the Lord's Prayer, which is beautiful in Lithuanian by the way.

Overall I am very excited and am relieved and tired. I am going to bed now!

Thanks for your prayers!

Glad it is over!

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 17:19:51 GMT

Oh what a week! It all started last Saturday when we had the Teen Challenge guys, and a few others help us move from our old town 3story apartment to a newer cheaper apartment in a different part of town. The guys trashed the paper thin walls on one side of the stairwell and we had to repair and paint almost the whole place. In a futile attempt to please the landlord, we filled up the holes we made by hanging up pictures (cement walls for the most part) painted the walls and cleaned the place really well. You can pray about this situation as she seems desparate to force us to pay more than we are obligated. We have sought out the council of an attorney.

On the other end of the move, we are trying to get settled in our new apartment. We had a wireless hot spot last weekend and then it disappeared for the week, and has reappeared this weekend. Hopefully on Tuesday we will get our own Internet connection hooked up. Oh yeah, I broke the handle off the door of the front loading clothes washing machine. That should be fixed Tuesday as well. The apartment has a sauna in it so we have it filled with clothes!

Our Kelyje gathering went well today. I am preaching through my vision and our core values. We have covered the overall vision and now have plowed through three of the 8 core values:

Missional
Cultural Relevance
Authentic Relationships

In talking about authentic relationships, I am realizing just how much we lack authenticity in our relationships. It all goes back to loving as Jesus said to love Jesus loved in an authentic way that left no doubt as to his motivation or the depth of his love. Oh, that the church could have that kind of love

Friday, March 24, 2006

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:27:47 GMT

I am back at home in Lithuanian now and have gotten the essential Internet connection back up. I feel like I am back in touch with the world again. No luck on the Lingo Phone connection yet. Forgot how I did it!

I am anxious to get back to work on the new church plant, Kelyje! Kandra and I really missed our church planting team. There are so many decisions to be made. Pray for wisdom!

Later

It's Been a While

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 23:17:40 GMT

It has been quite a while sinced I have blogged. I have come back to the US for back surgery on my L5-S1 herniatied disc. I had the surgery February 2. It is doing fair. Still having some pain in my rear end and leg but that supposedly is expected to go away. I am on drugs to keep the pain down, so I am out of it a bit. Looks like we will be back in Lithuania in mid to late March. The church is going on but we really feel like we need to get back there and be with our friends.

Take care.

David

Merry Christmas!

Sun, 25 Dec 2005 17:52:23 GMT

Just want to take time to wish the readers of my rather humble blog a Merry Christmas! I am really amazed at the awesomeness of the incarnation. God putting on human flesh, walking amongst us, eating our food, getting dirty, worshipping the Father with the same restraints as we do, and then doing the ultimate: dying a death on a cross. The incarnation was essential to the cross. The cross essential to the resurrection. The resurrection essential to our entering into a relationship with this transcendent God. Pretty cool! That is something to be "Merry" about.

We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner last night with the Adams, some Campus Crusade for Christ people that live across the street and with our colleague Danell. We served raclette, a swiss dinner of potatoes, melted cheese, grilled meats and vegetables. It is better than it sounds. If you have never eaten it and someone invites you to participate in this extended dinner, take advantage of it.

After getting out of our pajamas in the late afternoon we made Quesadillas and went the McClung's house for the team Christmas dinner. The theme was Mexican food: Enchiladas, Quesadillas, and Tacos. Not exactly my idea of a Christmas dinner. But then, I come from a family where food is of utmost importance at the holidays. YES! Traditional foods are only to be surpassed and superseded when by consensus the recipe is of such excellent quality that it merits a spot in the traditional holiday foods menu. Oh it is not that serious, but almost! Tacos would never fly on Christmas. Not in a million years!

Well, it is almost 1:00 a.m. on Dec. 26th, so, I am going to go to bed!

Merry Christmas again!