Solitary Summer
How can I describe the last months? I spent last summer hiking through the breathtaking hinterlands of Northern Spain and running a refuge in a cow town amongst throngs of friends, relatives, pilgrims, and neighbors. This year, as the rest of the Agape staff headed for the hills, I retreated into my cave in Barcelona. For two months I have been working away day and night in relative obscurity. It is an awesome thing to be alone with one’s self. Not a few wise people have suggested that the reason we busy ourselves and fill all the nooks and crannies of our lives with noise and entertainment is because we dread our own company. Well, my own company has not been all tea and pleasantries. In these many undistracted hours I have dwelt at length with my will’s unrelenting equivocation, with ulcer –inducing anxiety about rent and bills, and with feelings of inadequacy from pushing up against the limits of my creative abilities. My soul is worn ragged, and yet… and yet God has made himself present in a new and reassuring way and given me a taste of that peace that passes understanding. This tumultuous time for my inner life has turned out to be a rich blessing. So, what have I been working on these many days?
Jesus Discovered in the MatrixPrior to my summer hibernation, I traveled to California along with Javier Garcia and Felix Ortiz, Agape Spain’s National and High School directors. It was a privilege to learn from them as we prepared and presented proposals to the Jesus Film in Southern California and to a church in Silicon Valley. It was more fun still to accompany them as they walked with a slight awe through Walmart’s endless aisles and as they observed with outright disbelief the calorie count of a traditional American breakfast at Denny’s. We were seeking support for “theSystem”, a very creative evangelistic tool that tells a futuristic story of young computer hackers trying to find the files that will explain their past. The key file they discover, “File 0”, is the story of Jesus. TheSystem has several incarnations: an audio CD, a comic book, and a webpage. I am spearheading the webpage component which will both enrich the fictional world of theSystem and provide follow-up materials for new Christians. To be notified of its debut, sign up at:http://www.thesystem.ws
The Way of Saint GatesYou may recall my recounting my incredible experience serving at the Fuente del Peregrino, a refuge for pilgrims along the Way of Saint James. Well the video I shot last summer found the light of day a while back as “A Day in the Life of the Refugio”. The webpage has tarried a little longer, but is now online including photos of the refuge, pilgrims, and neighbors. You can even walk the Camino virtually, from the refuge all the way to Santiago de Compostela. The webpage serves several purposes. Every piece of literature which we distribute to pilgrims bears our web address and I have designed the site so that, piqued by their experience at the refuge, they can take further steps in their walk toward or with God. We are also forever recruiting volunteers to serve at the refuge, and the website gives potential volunteers a glimpse of the unforgettable experience they have in store. Finally, a lot of people, including yourselves, have contributed to the existence of the refuge in some way and it is my hope that they can see the ample fruit of their investment in this very special place. Experience Ligonde at:http://fdp.agapecampus.org/english.html
Antonio SotoIn spite of my relative obscurity, the summer has afforded the time to deepen many of my friendships in our neighborhood. After seeing the power of neighborliness while working at the refuge, I have strongly desired to be a blessing to our neighbors here in El Barrio Gotico. To my great pleasure, I’m learning that our neighbors, especially the elder ladies who scrutinize all of our goings-on from their balconies, have become our greatest fans. I have also been able to cross paths twice with Antonio Soto. You may remember that Antonio is a very talented artist from the Basque country who is also a very thoughtful spokesperson for the beauty of God. We are united in spirit and purpose, and each time we meet our friendship grows. He is currently working on a special painting for the studio inspired by our theme of “giving wings”. I recently completed a website for him that we will use to promote his work and ministry:http://studio.agapecampus.org/alas/soto
More than SurvivingThe big whale of a project on the table right now is the Freshmen Survival Kit I am developing for distribution this Fall. The deadline is T minus 30 days and counting and there is much to do yet. Please pray that we are able to press through a number of suspiciously devilish barriers that threaten to forestall its completion. And pray that God would lead me as I write and design and enable me to sideline other demands until it is done. As a part of this project I have had the privilege of authoring a new presentation of the timeless Gospel intended to appeal specifically to fellow postmoderns. I have taken as its starting point the universal experience of what CS Lewis called sehnsucht, the bittersweet longing for another world that stabs us unexpectedly at certain moments in our lives. I have been exploring this subject for some time and you can read a collection of quotes on Sehnsucht at Afterall.net. One reason the imminent availability of this tool is so exciting is that it will enable us for the first time to cast a wide net in search of Spaniards who too feel such spiritual longing. You can see the current draft of “Encruzijada” at:http://www.agapecampus.org/+Commit Original CinemaJohn O’Neal and I have spoken dreamily the last couple years about the possibility of leading a summer project devoted to making a film, and thereby developing Christian artists and filmmakers. This dream recently become a very live option when we connected with the leaders of the New York Metro ministry. They have been working with a team of budding filmmakers and, it turns out, had been dreaming similar dreams. We are seriously considering the project for this next summer. Indeed, so far, everyone’s giving the green light… but me. Besides the daunting size of this endeavor, my ambivalence is based on the decidedly precarious footing of the studio. You see, the studio was launched to a great extent on a wish and a prayer. Our costs have exceeded my optimistic expectations and the last seven months I have had more than a few sleepless, anxious nights. If you can pitch in and help sustain us, please do.http://studio.agapecampus.org/apoyoIt continues to be a great privilege to seek to know and share the glory of our great God through art and ideas here in the bowels of Barcelona. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; the glory of kings to search it out” (Proverbs 25:2). Our team here in Barcelona just completed two weeks of planning our ministry for the Fall. I believe we are on the cusp of seeing God do great things through our efforts. Thank you for your ongoing interest and support.In God’s Presence,
Alas eStudioCalle de Rull 3, bajos 2: Barcelona, 08002H: 933-178-429 M: 66-17-17-422
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