Hallelujah!

Well, we found the church that we will be attending during our tour here in Germany!  And it wasn't that hard, really, because the church is about a 25-foot walk from our hotel.  No kidding.  However, when we move on post, we'll have to take the bus; which is how most of the folks make their way to the chapel (since parking is limited on the entire kaserne).

We attended the contemporary service, which is reminiscent of our church back home in Colorado Springs.  The congregation itself isn't too big and is just the kind of group that we would like to become intimately involved with.  As a matter of fact, both Malu and I intend to help out in the choir!

I haven't been to a military church in years.  So being there reminded me so much of all the Protestant churches that I grew up in with my family.  All the churches in the Army are set up pretty much the same.  They even smell the same.  So it brought back a lot of memories of my mom and I singing in the choir, my dad reading the Scriptures, and my brother being an acolyte.  The church is vibrant with activity. There's even a church potluck coming up in a few weeks.  Sina seemed to enjoy herself (see picture).  She especially enjoyed all the attention she received from many of the church members.  They couldn't get enough of her big cheeks and her cute leopard outfit. 

I really think that we're going to love our new church family.  I thank the Lord for enabling us to find one so fast, and so easily!

Well, I'm into my second full week of inprocessing.  This week includes a tour of the German hospitals in the city.  Since the clinic on post is only a family practice clinic (and it already operates at max capacity), we may find ourselves visiting a hospital off post.  Not only that, German hospitals aren't like the ones back home.  They are not designed to treat a multitude of medical problems, issues, or ailments.  For example, if Sina got sick and we had to take her to a pediatrician, we'd have to take her to a hospital across town that specifically treats children.  So the hospital tour is a big deal and it will be our first time in downtown Stuttgart.  What's really nice is that the child development center has given us free childcare vouchers for our inprocessing week.  So we'll be putting Sina in daycare while we're out on the tour.  We're kind of nervous about it, but children aren't permitted on the tour.  Please pray that it will go well!

Anyway, it's getting late on our side of the world.  I wish all of you a happy start to the week!

Abundant Living & Jim Caviezel

I recently started to go to the Abundant Living Faith Center, a contemporary, non-denominational church here in El Paso. My friend, Joy, introduced me to the place and I love it. It reminds me so much of my church back home in Colorado Springs--only it's bigger and the facility is like nothing I've ever seen before. The church itself looks like half an arena with stadium seating and huge high definition screens, complete with a contemporary band/choir. The nursery and children's area looks like a scene of the "Bug's Life" ride at Disney World. Heck, if I were a kid, I'd LOVE dream about going to church every day! It's simply amazing. And the greatest thing about the place is that the pastor is fantastic. I leave feeling spiritually filled every time.

Today was a special day. Not only did they do a special for Mother's Day, but Jim Caviezel was a guest during the service today! Jim Caviezel is best known for his role in the movie, The Passion of the Christ, in which he played Jesus. When I think of the movie, I still can't put into the words how I felt when I saw it debut in the spring of 2004. I cried pretty much the entire time.

And Jim spoke very candidly and passionately about his experience portraying this role and about his faith. What also impressed me about him was that he was (and not surprisingly so) so well composed. Not loud or overzealous at all. Just very poised and eloquent...and even funny at times.

It's funny, most people think first of the Passion movie when they think of Jim Caviezel, but I immediately think of the first movie I saw him in...The Thin Red Line. He played the psycho Soldier husband to the chick in the film (can't remember who she was) and I remember being terrified of him when I went home. I mean, he's got those piercing eyes that just freak the crap out of you.

So when I went to get his autograph on the set of audio CDs that he's promoting, which I bought (The Word of Promise Audio Bible), I couldn't even look straight into his eyes once he finished signing them. He looked up and we made eye contact for milliseconds and then I quickly turned my gaze away. Those blue eyes totally wigged me out. And he said something and I think I shook his hand and told him thank you for coming and went on my merry way. Oh, what the heck...I'll just come out and say it. The guy was just so handsome, I didn't really know how to react.

There, I said it. I mean look at the guy. But I walked out of the service having heard a great message and armed with the entire Bible on CDs that I know I will enjoy listening to. If you're interested in getting your own set, click on the link that I set up above.

May all of you be blessed this Mother's Day and throughout the week! And thanks to Joy for introducing me to such an awesome church.