28.7.05

The post I've been working on for nearly an hour was just erased right from under me. "Timed out" or something ridiculous like that. I had composed a whimsical account of how I am currently penniless and not able to afford to pick up the pictures I took on my trip to Europe. I should rewrite it, I guess--but I am honestly too annoyed to function right now.

23.7.05

Who is Godfrey Birtill?

...a song writer and worship leader from the Lincoln, England...his music is broadcast on radio stations all over the UK. We met when he came to VA to do a Christian worship conference at our church network. In 2002 I flew to Lincoln and played cello on one of his albums...if you click on "Albums" on his website (you can listen to soundbytes in this section), I play on "Stand Up! Shake Yourself from the Dust!"

All of Godfrey's albums were recorded live. His music is raw and energetic, his lyrics unpolished... I like his approach--it's refreshing to hear Christian/worship music that isn't hyped or overproduced...it really gets at the heart of the moment. My favorite songs are: Awake, Awake!; Bless the Lord; Outrageous Grace; Beautiful River.

Jet lag, etc.

I am home from a month-long service/mission trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina...arrived Wednesday evening around 6:30PM...friends picked us (the mission team) up from Dulles Airport and drove us home. I sit or rather recline in bed waiting to get sleepy after another usual jolting wide awake sessions at 4AM in a state of confusion as to where I am and how I got here.

Jet lag is a funny thing! Every morning at 4 I've woken up craving fried eggs and toast...this morning is the same. Usual breakfast in Sarajevo: white bread, chicken paste (mechanically separated chicken), marmalade...no wonder about the cravings.

Password for Bosnia Trip Photos

To view the photos in the link I just added titled "Bosnia Trip Photos," type in

username: Bosnia
password: Sarajevo

Why the title

I was recently in Bosnia for 3 weeks and the word for coffee there is "Kaffa." Most Bosnians take coffee very seriously as do I, so immediately there was established between us a common "ground" (if you pardon the pun, which is pretty unpardonable actually).

Check out how they drink it:

"...Black, strong and thick Bosnian coffee is served steaming in demitasse cups. Bosnians place sugar between their teeth as they sip the hot liquid. Taking breaths in-between sips becomes all-important in the process of drinking coffee."