Bargaining: The Arab Superpower

Those of you who have spent some time in the Arab world will know that bargaining is essential if you ever go to the markets.  This essential cultural feature became poignantly real for me yesterday. 

On Saturday, Al Raja School hosted a small Model United Nations conference (though I'm not working there, I am helping out to direct the MUN program).  If you have never heard of MUN before, you can go to this wikipedia article and read about it.  Essentially, students from multiple schools research a country and represent it at a Mock United Nations conference to solve a pre-determined issue.  This time, our school hosted the conference, which was organized by two of our students, two girls from Al Raja. 


About two hours into the conference, we realized we had a problem when fewer students showed up than expected, and we were not going to have enough money to cover the food we had ordered from the caterer.  The dinner was going to be 225 dinars and we only had 140 left.  Uh-oh.  I explained this to our student-directors, and so one of them took on the challenge of working with the caterer.

Now, you need to understand that already with in the last 5 days, we had changed the time twice and the number of people at least once.  And here we were trying to change the number of people - AGAIN! 

So I looked at one of the girls and said, "The stereotype of Arabs is that they are bargainers.  What do you think you can do?" She smiled at my joke and said she would call him and see if they could get the price down. This girl is ambitious, so I figured that she would be able to knock a little bit off, and then I would have to cover the rest out of my own pocket.

She came back about 20 minutes later with a huge smile on her face.  100 dinars.  From 225 down to 100 dinars.

Oh. my. goodness.  My jaw dropped.  I couldn't even believe how she had gotten the caterer to drop the price.  I was just stunned.  "Its... its like your secret weapon!  If you were a part of the Incredibles, your superpower would be bargaining!"

She responded, "My mother and grandmother are going to be so proud of me!  I can't wait to tell them and see their faces when I tell them!"

In an attempt to harness her superpower, I will be hiring her as the designated shopper for Alison and I.  I'm going to see if I can get my rent cut in half.

Debt Free!!

When I graduated from Northwestern over 3 1/2 years ago, I had about $36,000 of debt from school loans.  That's a lot of money.  However, I have just made the final call to Wells Fargo to have paid off my entire school debt!! It feels really good to be able to say that I do not owe any money anywhere.  We are fortunate in that act.

And as of February 25, 2010 - we are debt free!!

I had initially tried to pay off my loans online, but for some reason Wells Fargo won't allow you to pay off the loan completely.  So I paid off everything except for $1.20.  Then I had to call Wells Fargo (on Skype, of course), and the nice lady said that Wells Fargo would write off the last $1.20 - I wouldn't even have to pay that off myself.  Very magnanimous of them. 

Some people feel a heavy weight lifted off of them when loans are paid off.  I'm not sure I feel a heavy weight lifted off.  But I do feel a lot richer.  I'm not - but I feel as if I now have all this money that can be spent on things like e-readers and exotic vacations.  I'm sure it'll wear off eventually.

But instead of spending lots of money on frivolous things, we will probably start putting some of that money into a college savings fund for Eva.  I mean, might as well start saving now.  Its either pay now or pay later!

UFO's and Emergent Theology: Giving People Answers

UFO's and ET

UFO's fascinate me.  I'm not really sure why.  I grew up watching Star Trek and have an appreciation for good science fiction.  I don't think that's the reason, though.  I'm not sure I can pinpoint it.  For some odd reason, I find the real stories of UFO's fascinating.  Maybe its UFO stories, and maybe its broader - stories about the paranormal.  That's why stories like this one from cnn.com, on UFO sightings around the world, intrigue me.

Rewind about 7 years.  As I was leaving a Christian book store with a friend, one of the workers ran out behind us to give us copies of a book that the store just couldn't sell.  It was called "Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men: A Rational Christian Look at UFO's and Extraterrestrials".  Of course, it fascinated me.  Christians writing about UFO's!? I mean, I've always joked about Ezekiel 1:4, but this seemed just too good to be true!  As soon as I got home, I started reading the book and was surprised at what I found.  I was expecting half-baked theology using passages like the one from Ezekiel, Daniel or Revelation.  However, what I found made was very reasonable and made a lot of sense.

The book was written by three authors:  one a political scientist, a clergyman-astronomer and lastly a philosopher-theologian.  Here's a summary of what they had to say:

• There are hundreds of thousands of UFO sightings every year.  Most of them can be explained away by natural phenomena.  But some can't.  Thousands in fact. 
• The government can't cover up things like this.  Its just too big and would involve too many people.  It would leak eventually. 
• The phenomena often defy principles of physics.  Therefore they are probably not physical phenomena
• UFO's are not real.  Rather, the 'unexplainable' events (sightings, abductions) very well might be spiritual/demonic activity. 

What's the purpose of having a book about Christian beliefs about UFO's?  Because when someone truly believes they have seen a UFO or have been abducted by aliens, there are two responses that they get from people:

1. You are crazy. Those ideas are foolishness.  Don't bring that drivel here.
2. Your experiences are valid - come join our group and find meaning and purpose!

And so people are left with these two choices.  Outright rejection of an experience that is very real for them, or going down a path that answers their questions, even if it leads to cult.  People, the authors said, needed another option.  One that didn't make light of their experiences, and put those experiences into context of a larger reality.  Specifically, that there are spiritual forces at work in this world (both good and bad), but there is a God who is bigger than that.  So their experiences then are not the result of extra-terrestrials; rather, they are the result of demonic activity.

The Connection with Emergent Theology (yes - I'm getting to the point)
I've not been much connected with Emergent theology - just the random book or article or blog post.  However, Brian McLaren, the un-offiicial 'spokesman' of the Emergent Church has recently written a new book called "A New Kind of Christianity."  I've not read the book itself, though I've read a little bit of what McLaren believes as well as a critique of the book by Kevin DeYoung (Part 1 & Part 2), the pastor at Alison's home church in Michigan.  Overall, I would agree with DeYoung on his analysis and theological position over McLaren's.  (what exactly those things are I'll let YOU find out.  This isn't about McLaren's theology directly).

So the question I want to answer is this:  if McLaren is so wrong (as I believe he is), why are so many people flocking to his ideas about Christianity?

Many people have questions or ideas about Christianity that seem to get pushed to the side, or perceive that they are being harshly dealt with.  I think that there are some valid questions about life, Jesus, God, sexuality and other things.  When these questions are asked, many may feel they are presented with two options:

1. You are crazy. Those ideas are foolishness.  Don't bring that drivel here.
   
2. Your experiences are valid - come join our group and find meaning and purpose! 

My point is not to say that McLaren is crazy like UFO and alien cults.  He isn't and those who ascribe to his ideas are not.  In fact, his ideas are based on specific, well thought out philosophical and theological premises.  My point is this:  how do those of us who adamently disagree with McLaren respond when people come with questions, concerns, hurts and the like? Is our response #1?  If so, we just might be part of the force that drives people to #2.

Here are four very valid questions that need a thoughtful, loving response from the Church.

• How does Christianity fit with justice for the nations? 
• I connect with God in a way that's different than the "head-centered" churches I've been to.  I'm artsy - how do I connect with God in a way that's meaningful to me? 
• I have questions about my sexuality, and am not sure what to do. 
• I'm having a hard time reconciling my experiences of pain, a seemingly 'angry' God in the Bible and my idea of who Jesus is. 

And there are more questions we could add to the list.  These questions MUST be answered.  In fact, they WILL be answered!  And they will either be answered correctly or incorrectly.  But answering them correctly isn't always the entire picture.  Answering isn't just a matter of theological statements of truth (though that's extremely important), its also realizing that behind the questions above, there is often hurt and sorrow that must be dealt with delicately.  And if that's not dealt with, we may inadvertently be pushing people to Answer #2.

Pictures of Eva!

Here are some pictures that have been taking over the last few days.  Some of our favorites!

 

Hanging out with mom

On the changing table.  One of her favorite places.

Again with the smiles. 

 

Playing on her playmat. 

 

More playing. 

 

Hanging out with mom. 

Family picture

And to end with - a cute picture of her in a dress!

The Grandparents Perkins Take Photos.

EVA JUST ROLLED OVER FROM HER TUMMY TO HER BACK!!  She just did it as I was writing this blog, so I thought I would share her achievement.  I'm not sure she knew what was going on and she kind of startled herself silent.

Anyways.

Last week, my parents came out to Bahrain!  It was really great to show them around, see the sites, meet the people we talk about and let them hold Eva.  Of course, they didn't really come to see Alison and I.  However, the fact that we gave them their first grandchild makes us necessary. Hopefully we can be at least tolerable to them.

One of the things that grandparents are good for is helping rock a crying baby to sleep at night.  The OTHER thing that grandparents are good for are pictures! I've put a few of my favorites below, but I know this would not be enough for some.  So I've linked my dad's facebook albums (which SHOULD be visible even if you don't have a facebook account, or don't have him as a friend).

Enjoy!

Album 1
Album 2
Album 3

 

 Alert and ready to play. 

  

 Sleeping on grandpa's chest.

 

 This one may be a repeat from the last post, but it took me so long to get the picture up that I'm not going to change it.

 

 Rahr!  Or... waah!! Could be either one.  So hard to tell. 

 

The mosque right by Bab al Bahrain.

Off Roading in the Desert

Having my dad here means that there are TONS of pictures, and quite a bit of video.  Below is a video that my dad just uploaded from the Saar Fellowship BBQ and some off-roading we did while out in the desert.  You will notice that I got stuck twice, and my dad once.  Fortunately, Ross was there to make sure that we didn't stay stuck. 

Eva Alert:  If you are only interested in seeing Eva, she appears briefly near the beginning of the video as a lump of blanket.  No face shots.  Sorry.

Hiccups. Because I'm one of "those" parents.

I thought that I would be 'normal' around my own child.  I think I always looked my nose down on those parents who oohed and ahhed over how cute their child was.  How sweet their child was.  How amazing their child was.  How fast their child was developing.  I mean, really. Your child is slightly below average on the cute scale.

However, I am finding that I myself am one of "those" parents.  Everything is cute.  Every new thing is amazing.  She is the most beautiful, smart child one could ever hope for.  Her development is WELL above average, and I have expectations of grandeur.  Last night as we went to bed, Eva was sleeping on her side, with one arm draped over her head.  SO CUTE!! Yeah, I know.  Somewhat pathetic.

So I present to you a video.  A video of Eva hiccuping.  Because, yes, I am one of THOSE parents.

Grandma & Grandpa Perkins and the Problem of Baby-Crack

My parents flew out from Houston last week to be with us.  Ok, who am I kidding.  They came out to be with Eva.  In fact, the only reason we are any good to them now is our precious commodity of grandchildren.  But really, who can resist Eva's cute little face!?

It has been great having my parents here.  They've gotten to see some of the sites of Bahrain and meet some of our friends.  And it has been wonderful to have them here to help out.  They came at the opportune time, in fact, to help with the upbringing of their granddaughter.

You see, Alison and I had made the mistake of giving Eva baby-crack, or more commonly known: a pacifier.  Last week she was having trouble getting to sleep, and so we discovered this new toy that would calm her and send her to sleep - until it fell out of her mouth.  I was surprised at how quickly she 'needed' it in order to get to sleep or calm herself!  I don't know if other baby's are/were like this, but it turned into an ordeal. By the time my parents got here, it was obvious to Alison and I that Eva's addiction needed to be dealt with.  Unfortunately for Eva, we decided she would go cold turkey.

Oh. My. Goodness.

She cried and cried and cried.  And it wasn't just normal crying.  It was WAILING.  And even wailing doesn't seem to do justice to the noises coming from her little body.  If it hadn't been for my parents being here encouraging us (and helping to rock her to sleep!) we probably would have given the baby-crack back to her.  Partially because we felt horrible to hear her cry and partially because our nerves had a hard time taking all of it!

But she's doing better and better every night.  The last two nights she did pretty well and went down without too much trouble.  Grandma & Grandpa to save the day! In honor of that, here are some more pictures of Grandma and Grandpa with their granddaughter.

Cuddling with Grandma!

 

Intrigued by Grandpa's bright shirt.

"Who are you..." "I'm your Grandma!"

"Um... I think she needs a diaper change!"