English Conversation @ Cafe Coze

Tuesday I went to Cafe Coze. Coze (Czech for "huh?") is a monthly English conversation clubs run by several Christians from different mission agencies, including ESI. I have been helping with the club for the past three years now and have enjoyed getting to know many of the students that come, as well as the other missionaries who help lead the group. This was a fairly typical meeting, so it will give you an idea of what happens.

We gathered at 4:30 pm (which really means from 4:30 to 5) and greeted one another and had some general conversations. I spoke with Jakub for awhile. He is in his senior year of high school (4th class at gymnazium), so he has a lot on his mind these days. Jakub will take the maturita (high school leaving exams) next month in English, Czech, math, computer programming, and I think one other subject. These exams are fairly intense: they have to speak for 8-10 minutes on a variety of topics and then are graded on how they did. These grades determine whether they graduate, but also influence the colleges they can attend (although the colleges have their own entrance exams in June). Kuba (short for Jakub) wants to study programming, so that he can eventually work as a programmer.

Then came the mixer: this is some sort of game to remind or teach us each other's names. We played a variation of the 'rhythm' game. I'm not very good at this game, so I messed up the rhythm twice. Oh, well.

Then one of the other ESI teachers, Chrissy, led the group in a discussion about fate. First, she had us listen to the song, "Time of Your Life," by Green Day. With lines like "Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go," it lends itself to a discussion about whether we are in charge of our lives or if forces beyond our control are ruling us. "It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right" -- sometimes surprises can turn out all right.

Next, she had us talk about a decision we made that was life-changing. I thought of many I could have shared, but ended up talking about my time in Alaska working with Eskimo elders in an adult day care (it was during seminary). The seminary had a requirement that we spend 2 weeks in another culture experiencing ministry there. It really openned my eyes to the fact that people really live in different ways in the world that actually work. That may seem simple, but the power of that insight and experience have led me to think more broadly about what it means to be a Christian and openned my mind to the possibility of living in Prague.

Jahoda (means 'strawberry') shared about her decision to become a Christian a couple years ago. She's the only Christian in her family, I think, so it's been hard at times, but she found such a purpose and love and community that it's been worth it.

We wrapped up with Brian (the guy who runs the show) making some announcements about upcoming Cozes and such. Then we mingled a bit and left . . . until next time.

DisciplesWorld Article on Hosea

I was contacted a couple months ago to write an article for DisciplesWorld magazine, the Disciples of Christ mag. They have a great series, "Browsing the Bible," where they are going through the Bible book by book, one per issue. Each book of the Bible is introduced by the editors, then two different Disciples are asked to write, often one scholar and one pastor. The point is to introduce the book and its relevance to contemporary Christian life.

They asked me to write on the book of Hosea. The timing was a bit crazy, as the deadline for the article was Feb 27th, just one day before my doctoral dissertation defense. I decided to go ahead and write the article anyway, and I'm glad I did. I like that they are doing this series, and it's nice to have something published in the denomination's magazine. More people probably read that than will read many of the articles I will publish in scholarly journals ;-> Look for "Wooing to Heal" in the April 2006 issue.

A/typical Trip to Church

After a short bus ride, we entered the metro (subway) to cross town to where we would catch another bus to church. On the metro, we sat across from a young man who was reading . . . a Bible that was in German. However, when he answered his mobile (cell phone), he spoke Czech. [Now, seeing any Czech, let alone a young man, reading a Bible on the metro is an unusual sight.] Then there was the group of Italian tourists; the man had his camcorder dangling from his neck. It was clear that they were Italian from what they said (loud enough for all to hear). Then a couple entered speaking English: "And then I was talking to Gary." "Which Gary?" "You know Gary." "I don't know Gary." Of course you do. . . . " Finally, there was the baby who looked a bit hungover as she looked back at us. At last we arrived at Dejvicka to catch the bus: "Konecna zastavka, prosime vstupte. Terminus, please leave the train." All in all, an unusual, but not completely atypical trip across Prague on the metro.