Gabi's Narnia

Christianity in human coating

Received this list from a good friend, who, since she sent it, has already found a fellowship.
I suppose it's pretty much worth sharing it after all.
And obviously, it forms part of my desktop clear-up process, as you could easily guess.
When was I at the Frankfurt airport travelling to hook up with Florian and crew and beloved Connect friends? I suppose more than 2 years ago now...

What kind of fellowship am I looking for?

Long due excerpt through Lea

From pages 98-99 of C.S. Lewis's The Four Loves:

The Companionship was between people who were doing something together—hunting, studying, painting or what you will. The Friends will still be doing something together, but something more inward, less widely shared and less easily defined; still hunters, but of some immaterial quality; still collaborating, but in some work the world does not, or not yet, take account of; still travelling companions, but on a different kind of journey. Hence we picture lovers face to face but Friends side by side; their eyes look ahead.

...

When two people who thus discover that they are on the same secret road are of different sexes, the friendship which arises between them will very easily pass—may pass in the first half-hour—into erotic love. Indeed, unless they are physically repulsive to each other or unless one or both already loves elsewhere, it is almost certain to do so sooner or later. And conversely, erotic love may lead to Friendship between the lovers. But this, so far from obliterating the distinction between the two loves, puts it in a clearer light. If one who was first, in the deep and full sense, your Friend, is then gradually or suddenly revealed as also your lover you will certainly not want to share the beloved’s erotic love with any third. But you will have no jealousy at all about sharing the Friendship. Nothing so enriches an erotic love as the discovery that the Beloved can deeply, truly and spontaneously enter into Friendship with the Friends you already had: to feel that not only are we two united by erotic love but we three or four or five are all travellers on the same quest, have all a common vision.

…

Suppose you are fortunate enough to have “fallen in love with” and married your Friend. And now suppose it possible that you were offered the choice of two futures: “Eitheryou two will cease to be lovers but remain forever joint seekers of the same God, the same beauty, the same truth, or else, losing all that, you will retain as long as you live the raptures and ardours, all the wonder and the wild desire of Eros. Choose which you please.” Which should we choose? Which choice should we not regret after we had made it?

[Italics, quotes, and lack of commas are Lewis’s.]

Alright. This clearing up of files from the Mac's desktop came at a very unfortunate timing since we were sharing our deepest struggles on the phone somewhere between Dorottya Udvar and the Móricz Zsigmond Square earlier today. Do I have any other single, male friend that I am also attracted to? Of course I do, but we don't keep in touch.

Set

Someone once told me that it doesn't matter what you do, simply decide to do one thing and you will excel at it. Then, and most of my life I wanted to argue that by living everything, being everything and always working hard to learn, stay in the loop... all that with marginal depth. It wasn't in vain. However, I am experiencing a new era when I know there is a middle string and all the pearls come attached. The music played on it is a complex concept. Israel, Jewish, God, The End would all qualify as a name.

Outraged

Heard a personal account of a Jewish guy coming to Christ or at least started out on the journey and a legalistic, controlling church leader-couple wanted to brain- and personality wash this person. He succumbed to their drill for a year, then he finally started to have enough. His eyes opened to the manipulative feats and quit.
He spent considerable time in the psychiatric ward, had to take pills for a long-long time and still shivers at the mention of these people's names and the memory they carved into his soul.

I haven't met this guy for a long time, maybe even since high school. But teardrops accumulated in the corner of my eyes and rolled down as I listened to him talk about not only of the hurt that he endured, but the fact that Jesus is nothing to him and can't trust that God is ever going to play a role in his life. That's the end product when we trample on God's grace and act as if we were gods. A wretched life.

We're all richer than we thought

There are teardrops in my eyes. I didn't know such an initiative existed in Hungary. WOW! EVERYONE is rich enough to help and indeed. People with disabilities or handicaps are organising a charity concert to raise money for a new orphanage... Hmmm.

New wave of persecution

Today we went to the prayer tower with some messianic Jewish friends to discuss insights about the Jewish situation and also pray. My colourful friend felt a strong urge to pray in thi s financial crisis when anger and disappointment can easily turn to seek scapegoats, which more than often happen to be the Jews. We collected a rich pool of prophetic, financial and common sense insights and we are all concerned that the Christians have to be educated about replacement theology, about the role of Israel and the fact that God has plans with His people. (ok, the Christians are His people too, but here I am referring to the Jews).

I shared about the European Coalition for Israel, and the meaningful political instruction and education my friend does there. We also found the Danish co-operation of wearing yellow stars by everyone when it was ordered for Jews (even if it is an urban legends, they still saved their Jews) exemplary. It is equally important to instruct Christians and at the same time get ready practically. Somehow it is also a burden on my heart that my Jewish friends have no intentions whatsoever to do alijay and go to Israel. Rather, some of them are pondering about moving to Berlin for its cultural relevance and social openness. Some others are considering distant lands such as Australia and New Zealand. But none of them ever mentioned moving to Israel. Interesting. I also have a few friends who did move to Israel, became Israeli citizens and came back to Hungary because life is not all that easy in the Middle-Eastern Western-Balkan country either. Gosh, how would you assist in such a process, i.e. informing Jews about the importance of preparing for escape, escaping to Israel?!? Ahmenidejad seems a bigger threat that the present resurge of anti-semitism and the nationalistic tendencies prevailing all over Europe, which are totally reasonable, especially reading Huntington. Tough question and we are seeking guidance. If you have your two cents and practical ideas, shoot them forth. They are welcome!

Identifying with Iceland

Had I known that this picture was going to mean more than simple identification with the country... At this point we only had a clue about the Icelandic financial disaster and didn't even think that Hungary is going to reach the point of getting more than a dozen times more loan from the IMF.

It is particularly new for me to identify with nations other than Hungary or Israel, but as it seems, it was heavy on my heart and felt as if I represented Katie and Eric, dear friends with a huge heart for the Icelandic people.

And I know I shall see that beautiful land sometime soon... Having read this it is particularly weird and at the same time somehow totally understandable that this tiny nation would spit out any foreign element.

Another amusing aspect was having connected with this crazy Finnish man who whisper-translated to me while we were waiting for our turn to represent the world within the shape of the cross, surrounded by the Finnish flags. Tuomo spent considerable time in Australia and we felt particularly blessed and connected, representing two other nations which happen to be two of those distant islands... :) Where the Gospel has taken roots and the direction seems to go backwards towards Jerusalem again, as in the case of various movements, from all directions of the compass!

And last, but not least here is this greatly formed young Belorussian who moved to Finland, whom I almost scourged for daring to carry an Israeli flag :) but he is indeed a Jew. A messianic Jew! He might not seem that attractive on the shot, but he was put together very well, let me affirm again! It was amazing to see that such a breed does exist, and in a rather attractive way! Ok, I am half-serious here, but honestly, haven't met any Messianic Jew that I would have liked. So, he was the topping on the whole cake... I am being very spiritual, indeed...

EFTP & Kristus-päivä

The gathering (European Forum on Transformation and Prayer) took place on the premises of a Lutheran Church, where the pastor, Pasi (also a good "pasi") looked everything but a traditional Lutheran pastor. He and another Spirit-filled young enthusiastic guy, Hannu, initiated Kristus-päivä. With the blessing of the older generation's more traditional leaders it was a good example of the Fathers' hearts towards the son and vice versa.

The example for Kristus-päivä was the Swiss ChristusTag and Hans-Peter Nüesch was present to encourage and support the Finnish vision of claiming the country back to Jesus. Of course it was immensely moving to see all the municipalities represented as they filled the cross-shaped large wooden frame. Allow me a bit of critical remark. Maybe I am spiritually spoilt, boasting of friends with experience and understanding of spiritual matters I have no touch on whatsoever. Still, I have seen some and since the conference's title contained the two words transformation and prayer it was a bit disappointing to see that more could have been initiated. Explanation is needed, for sure. It's coming.

Finland has some acquired and inherent national groups and minorities among which the Gypsies and the Lapps are the largest after the Swedish-speaking Finns. Short historical note: before the Russian occupation Finland was under Sweden's rule for several hundred years and a great number of Swedes settled in Finland who remained locals, and a minority after the power shift.
This group was well-represented in my opinion. At one point 30 spiritual leaders all prayed for the country among which there were several Swedish speaking ones. \When, Matts, a young Swedish-speaking Finn prayed (see picture), he shared his burden that he carries identifying with the pain of his people group and broke down in tears as he uttered words of forgiveness and the Heavens slip open. It was honest, from the depth of his and God's heart.

When the municipalities all came in, two other couples walked up... a gypsy and a Lapp and stood outside the cross and weren't given a chance to speak up or share a likewise prayer. Everything happened as it should have, somehow I still deeply lacked these people groups from inside the cross, embraced and restored verbally. Maybe some other time, it is only the beginning of such unity anyway. I am telling you, it's the obvious sign of being spoilt by seeing the beauty of more and more of this. Even more, Lord.

The Forum was probably the first "official" place where I felt at ease, without any personal struggles to prove that I am someone or that God imparted some authority. Wow, it was an amazing experience!

I connected with wonderful men and women and there might be new travels and new connections coming along... You shall see my picture on Flickr, here (soon) or Johan's or Mark's.

Kristus - Päivä

You have fav countries and fav people. Petra, Niina and Laura are among my fav one, for sure. Finally, I will visit the finished city of Turku where with my Finnish friends, we are going to FinD funtime, Finn-time and global time.
It is the European Forum on Prayer and Transformation I am going to, under the cover of seeing sweet people and finally the land where ice, water and meat are the same words both in Finnish and in Hungarian! Keep me in prayer and let's hope that my calendar mishap won't prevent me from some cost-cutting!

I am anticipating a great meeting connecting with Tomas Sandell, who heads up the European Coalition for Israel, and deep personal times with 24-7 and Connect friends.

 Back on Tuesday, the night of the 21st.

Zion ist (auf Deutsch und Englisch)

We were told Yad Vashem is a must. So we obeyed. Although I have been to some extremely impressive museums before, like the House of Terror and the Warsaw Uprising Museum it was a very well organised, entirely personal and informative tour. We sobbed many times, Mom was mostly touched by the personal horror, I was abhorred by world leaders' ignorance and responsibility. It was also immensely moving to walk out of the exhibition hall and have the glorious view of the Promised Land in front of us. All must acknowledge that the Shoah basically contributed to the establishment of the State of Israel and to walk into the light, out of darkness was profound and filled us with hope.

There were some notes I took that might be noteworthy to share, they are as follows:

1. At the Evian Conference only the Dominican Republic was willing to take Jews in. There is still a small community living there!
2. Was also remarkable to read about Marshal Petain's contribution to measures against Jews in North Africa, in the territory of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia... the praiseworthy outcome is that the North African Jewish population wasn't exterminated like their continental brothers and sisters. Here. Interesting to think that in those hard-core Mus'lim places the Jews survived and weren't detained while on the continent of the Enlightenment and Assimilation they suffered a terrible fate.
3. I didn't know that it was in Wannsee, which is on the way to Potsdam from Berlin, that the Final Solution was crafted on 20 January, 1942 during the Wannsee Conference.
4. It was also formerly unknown to me that American and British forces bombed a refinery as close as 8km to Auschwitz III and still didn't destroy the concentration camps. It was really spooky to see the exact same photo exhibited as this one.
5. There were Hungarians listed as the Righteous Among the Nations. It was overly moving...
6. A huge map also featured tiny screens where various happenings could be followed on these locations. To see the Jews deported on the streets that I walk almost every day and see the same buildings was spooky.
7. Cyprus played a role in helping people to the land of Israel which was slightly impeded by the British.
8. Honestly, the more I read about the responsibility of the British, the more appalled I am (we are). Seemingly the British are not concerned with this. I'm trying to remain balanced, but cannot get over the fact that England didn't keep its promise, did this and was ultimately balancing her very fragile interests in the Middle East. Hope there will be different responses than what we have previously encountered...
9. Some might argue that a blind support of Israel from Evangelicals is a serious mistake and I couldn't agree more. It's better to shut up and just watch instead of trying to push in the realm of the visible and not really grasp the invisible. But it is likewise a serious failure of the christian to dismiss Israel, the land and the nation as a geopolitical entity for God is truly going to work through the physical realities comprising Israel now. I am kind of settled with the understanding that the end times are near, the times speak volumes about that and we each need to act according to our calling. As long as God keeps speaking about Israel, we shall follow. If reading all this you have drawn the conclusion that I consider the State of Israel a white lamb harmlessly grazing on the board of world history's game, let me make it clear - although there is an overlap between the modern State of Israel and the nation of Israel, God won't really care about israeli politics when he fulfills the remaining prophecies...
10. Yes, I was Messianic even before. Walking towards the East (Golden) Gate from the outside, down on the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and prophesying over it on the inside on Temple Mount made a lasting impression on me. Jesus was probably the most tangible in my life standing there, "seeing" him come in. Maybe it won't have this dramatic effect on you, but it changed my thinking for good. Jesus is going to return physically, and he is going to do that there... Jerusalem is utterly divine, indeed.
11. One experience that I am now going to fail at depicting in words is the Shabbath celebration at the Wailing Wall, Western Wall or Kotel. To have it seen filled to the brim... not knowing the prayers in Hebrew I was confined to enjoy the sight and noises and the dance! Imagine when 60-70 or even more young girls/ladies start dancing and rejoicing :) At that point it was the guys who started to peek over the fence... And because it is forbidden to take pictures I confined myself to these only one or two shots, here. We stayed here for at least until 9-9:30 when the Shabbath came in and enjoyed walking the streets along with the crowd although according to Mom we were outsiders. It was immense privilege to be here, on a Shabbath and at the Wall. Wow, if places in general have spiritual importance what could be said of this location?!? I can only encourage everyone to go and make sure to be there on a Friday! And prepare with tissues, many tissues!!!
12. The Jews are called the people of the Book... Gosh, reading verses like Isa 2:4 "in original", which is a vision of peace, 2:3 about redemption & end times, fulfillment, see the Aleppo Codex in original and see Ez 37:14 emphasized in the Israel Museum!!! Priceless experience!