July 2007 archives

...and the fire is burning...just back from poland at slot fest--christian arts fest; now on to freakstock in gotha, germany. Still always amazed at the diversity of Jesus friend's globally! All these different reflections of Himself, so many parts of God to know and love! We meet the Jones in germany today who have been in berlin taking in that great city.
Samuel, Andrew's oldest, went and helped at Rock on the Rock fest in Italy--we really wanted to go, but my neck got hurt in poland, and i could'nt drive--pray for continued healing--it is much better after having come to antwerp for a few days of recovery--so soft here in belgium--the people so naturally pastoral and friendly--pleasantness of Christ. Last year, i met a friend who started a christian kindergarden here in antwerp--he is german and has worked hard to make a Kingdom space for kids here with an entirely dutch speaking staff. He is german and likes results, so it has been hard to wait as God forms the staff and team and gives then His Vision. Frank is his name, and he would like to pass it off to a native belgian after five year--pray that he stay encouraged as he builds this place of haven and learning. Also, as we connect more with him, that we would be an encouragement!
Nice this summer to be meeting other artist and creators who bear His Name and allow Him the freedom to express Himself in fresh ways--europe needs us who know and have authentic relationships with Christ--it has had religion, but needs Jesus HIMSELF!! Pray that people will feel His Presence as we pass through the many places He has us in this summer.
We leave for germany tomorrow to rejoin the Jones, and then on to france--keep our energy up as well!
Nice to work with bryce and sam at slot--producing daily tv video shots, and then helping with their shows each evening--they did their huge 3d cube show one night in the main cathedral--it was so gorgeous and like performance art with a huge sharf of light rising up from the mainstage cube to decorate and animate the ancient ceilings of that cathedral in poland--the building was the largest medieval monastery in all of europe!! Slot fest has a website for pictures--we had our camera stolen (which is par for the course in travels, but still frustrating esp for Amy--so pray for her, as she also had her phone stolen--the enemy always hits her in the same way!)
We love and appreciate all your prayers--and be blessed afresh from europe!

Amazing festival of new and old friends in the biggest medieval monastery in europe--very mysterious and enormous--Slot Fest! The polish people are so rich really! Learned sword fighting with abigail and archery with elizabeth Jones--camping with the Jones, and aiding bryce and sam who threw a worship 3d improv each night--the second to last they built the cube which is amazing--sam goes inside and it turns into a performance art happening with bryce and pascal groovin deep on the computers. Their art continues to inspire and improv--also andrew and i got to work for slot tv doing video. Each night the festival has a short called slot tv using graphic arts, and highlights of the day--but all impressionistic--much freedom to shoot artistically. I became obsessed with all the carnival skills being taught at the festival--unlike in america when you go to a ren fest etc, these guys were teaching actual sword fighting and archery and circus skills from guys who have been doing it for generations--very cool! Met lots of very colorful and spirit filled believers with His Heart for the nations--felt like a privelege to be there, and to be serving other leaders of the festival!
Now in prague for a break then on to italy. Just a short post to check in with friends following us in prayer. We were able to pray in many languages at the fest, and really felt free creatively while there. The fest is a good mix of old and new, and less music centered, more arts based, and the ancient castel was a great setting. If anyone needs me, call on my amercican phone.
Should be relaxed by the time we see many of you in france. Denny and Maureen are pressing in for their festival in italy--some warfare so please pray; we may also make it to berlin to see friends--so kee us lifted and not sick.
Sam's oldest girl got sick at slot, she is getting better; also shannon was sick in antwerp, and i think is feeling better now. Today, we miss jessica here in prague camping near where we all used to live! It is her city!
We got to visit with sasa and katka in belgium--they took a respite at our place--good talks about the velvet revolution and the late 80's--i always forget how amazing their testimony of Jesus is! They are planning to be in france with us so that will be cool, and we may see them today here in prague.
anyways, much love from the Way!
dNa

A lot of people have asked me about writing recently, especially how to make time for it and what it takes to write a book. I genuinely enjoy writing, and always have since I was a child. So I always processed my thoughts first through writing, and then through other things. (I used to make up plays and songs, and always set up stages as a kid... I'm not sure where this performing part of me went but I did try being in two bands when I was in my 20s.)

Anyhow, writing for me is a second nature. But there is a difference between writing spontaneously and writing in a more disciplined way. And I think the disciplined part is what people want to know about. It's not easy. There is something about writing that seems inherently solipsistic; when you sit down to do it you have to get past all the thoughts in your head that say, "I have to be doing something else right now" or "someone else needs me". No one else can do it for you, and you have to be alone to do it.

Usually when I sit down to write, the first ten minutes to an hour are filled with every thought but the thing I want to be writing about. I have sat in front of my computer just staring for as much as an hour, maybe typing one word, erasing it, and typing again. The dreaded writer's block.