Don't worry, they'll go away!

There's a great story in Acts that I love reading. It's one of the few times that one of the religious leaders actually seems to have any sense. (Acts 5:17-6:7)

You see, the high priest and his flunkies were all ticked off at these new "Christ-followers" who were disrupting their comfortable order to everything. They dared to enter the temples and teach about this Jesus who was crucified, and they even went so far as to say that the religious leaders had killed him!

So they arrested the rag-tag troop, and threw them in prison. But then they went to the prison, and the Christ-followers weren't there. Somehow they'd walked right past the bars and guards and were once again in the temple teaching. "Odd, but no matter, we'll arrest them again," the religious leaders thought.

But then it gets good, and intelligent. One Pharisee, a guy named Gamaliel, stood up and captured the attention of the other hot-shots. Obviously a history buff, he wowed them with some knowledge and suggested learning from the past. He told them about other little movements: A guy named Theudas showed up one day, created a fuss, and about 400 people began following him. But then he was put to death, and the followers just sort of dispersed and went home. Another time, a Galilean named Judas started a revolt, and his team raised quite a fuss. Till he was killed, then they all went home.

"So," says Gamaliel, "Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Finally! Some intelligence from the religious community. If it's of man, it will fail. If it's of God, there's nothing we can do to stop it. 2000 years have passed now, I wish Gamaliel could be here today to tell us which one it was...

Cookouts and Fireworks

After staying home last year with little fanfare, we decided this year that one holiday we will always celebrate while living abroad is July 4th. American Independence Day has always been a holiday close to both of our hearts. We have childhood memories of giant family cookouts, afternoon fun, and night-time fireworks over the city and the lake. As married adults, our July 4th celebrations entered a whole new domain with the Scott-Standiford backyard pyrotechnic extravaganza. Now living overseas, we realized that we can share this holiday and the fun of it with American and national friends alike. No matter what country or culture you're from, who can pass up a cook out, fun and games, and blowing things up? Wherever we find ourselves for the rest of our lives, July 4th will always be a party at or near our home.

This year, we cooked pizza and chocolate chip cookies on Saturday, along with 8 of our closest friends in TZ (American and Tanzanian). Then we played card games and telephone pictionary and called it a night. On Sunday, we journeyed to the US Embassy in Dar Es Salaam for a cookout of burgers and hotdogs, complete with blow up games, cupcakes, a dunkbooth, and a classic fireworks display. I was quite saddened that there was no Dr. Pepper to be found at the Embassy's party :(. When the night did turn to dark (7pm, as it's the middle of winter here!), the fireworks lit off and Sawyer was a real trooper. For about the first 20 sonic booms, he hugged into his daddy and took it in, but then a look of uncertainty turned to a pout and a lip quiver that almost morphed to a cry. When it ended, he relaxed his grip and put forth his signature smile that all was ok in the world!

Sawyer enjoyed his first 4th of July along with his parents. His stars and stripes shirt which proclaimed "I love the USA" was appropriate for the day, and only slightly ironic as he's never actually been to the USA. But soon, he shall learn to love it!

Little Sawyer, Little Daddy

Sawyer continues to follow in the footsteps of Daddy, but poor guys still looks like me too! Seems to be growing into it as much as he's growing out of it!

The Crater of Life

On our way home from Nairobi last week we took a day trip to visit the world famous Ngorongoro Crater. The Crater is a massive, well, crater that is constantly teeming with life. You may recognize it from the old John Wayne "Hatari" movie (filmed there) or from the beginnings of life, as some people speculate that life on this earth, maybe even in human form could have begun here. I can't say much to that theory, but I can say that it was a truly amazing and breathtaking place that was packed with wildlife. A great place to see at least once in a lifetime!