For quite some time I have wanted to write on this subject. As today is the culmination of July I thought it would be appropriate to review this amazing month in sports for Spain. As those who know me can testify, I am a huge sports fan. I was born in Spain and I didn't grow up around football (American football as I call it) or baseball, but my passion was soccer (better known in the rest of the world as fútbol). Unless you were in a cave this month I'm sure you realized that the World Cup of soccer was going on in South Africa. You may not have seen a single game but you knew it was taking place. If you've ever had the opportunity to live in another country you would know just how big an event the World Cup is in reality.  I am sure you also heard that Spain won the World Cup for the first time in all of their history. It was amazing to see the millions of people lining the streets to celebrate this historic event. For just an instant the divisions between the different provinces, especially the Basque region and Cataluña, seemed to dissipate as the whole country united under one flag and sang in unison, ♫ - Yo soy Español, Español, Español - ♫ ♫ - I am a Spaniard, a Spaniard, a Spaniard - ♫. 

Add to that the amazing victory once again of Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon, which makes a historic 8 grand slam titles for the 24 year old (to put it into perspective he already has the same amount of grand slam titles as Andre Agassi and he is far from being at the end of his career). We would have to talk about the recent Tour de France victory for Alberto Contador (his third title) and Pau Gasol winning his second championship ring with the L.A. Lakers (of coarse I understand this is a team trophy and he is the only Spaniard on the team, but this man is huge in Spain). Spaniards are seeping with national pride (as you can expect) because they can say that they are on the top of the sports world looking down at the rest of the mere mortals that dare challenge them. I want to mention, however, that although I am thrilled for my countries achievements I realize that none of these accomplishments can fill the void and guilt in their hearts caused by sin. Fame only lasts for a season and eventually all that you are is a side note on some sports history book. Our desire is to make the gospel of hope and peace available to every Spaniard so that they can experience true forgiveness of sins and a sense of purpose and fulfillment that will never go away. As the Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:8 "...bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come." Pray that Spain will go from soaring atop the sports world to understanding and knowing the maker of heaven and earth and living for the one who promises to bless them on this earth and elevate them to the heavenlies to live with Christ for all eternity.

I saw this a week or so ago and have been meaning to post in on our blog. This is great. If you haven't seen it, you don't want to miss it.

 

I saw this on one of the blogs that I follow and thought it was interesting.

USAToday published an interesting article today about the impact of the internet and social networking. Here are a few of the statistics they shared: How social-networking services affect the everyday behavior of millions of Americans:

• An Ohio State University study links Facebook to lower grades. According to a survey of 219 students, published in April, those who said they use Facebook had grade-point averages of 3.0 to 3.5, and studied one to five hours a week.
• Non-Facebook users had GPAs of 3.5 to 4.0 and studied 11 hours or more a week.
• Nearly 80% of Facebook users said they believe it had no impact on their grades.
• Corporate employees may fritter away nearly 1.5% of office productivity by using Facebook at work, according to a Nucleus Research study announced in July.
• The University of Melbourne, however, says people who use the Internet for personal reasons at work are 9% more productive than those who don’t.
• Fourteen states have passed measures to ban texting while driving.
  

Read the full article here: Real-time Web keeps social networkers connected – USATODAY.com.

Total population, as of January 1 2009, was 46,661,950

Spain, on January 1 this year, had a total population of 46,661,950 according to a report just published by the INE, the National Statistics Institute. The number, based on those registered at their local town halls, shows a population growth over 2008 of 504,128, and reveals that 12% of the population is foreign. National growth was 0.4% over the year, while the number of foreigners was up 6.3%.

Romanian citizens saw the greatest growth in 2008 with a population of 64,770.

The data also shows that 43.3% of the population is aged between 16 and 44, 41.2% is aged 45 or more, and 49.5% of the population is male.

Biggest population growth was seen in Cataluña, followed by Madrid, Andalucía, and Valencia, with no region of the country seeing a fall in population over the year.

I watched as this car parked and it was impressive.  I didn't stick around, but what was going to be more impressive was how she was going to get out. 

 

The third campaign video for the European elections shows a selection of European Conservative voters

The new campaign video from the Socialist party has raised some objections in Spain. The video shows a cross section of right-wing voters from several European countries, speaking in their native language but subtitled, in which they give their opinions on several political subjects.

A German skinhead says that homosexuality is an illness, A British woman pictured shopping says she thinks health care should be private, and a priest says that there is only room for one religion in Europe. Another person comments that ‘immigrants steal our jobs’, another that climate change is a big lie, another that she believes in the death penalty, and a businessman says he believes in free sackings.

The video then says that the problem is not what they think, but the fact that they are all going to vote.

The Socialists have been accused of using scare tactics in the video which will be shown in Spain in the free airtime space made available to the parties ahead of the poll on June 7.

Someone sent me this video and it is very eye opening.  Being here in Spain, we can see this happening all around us.

So our purpose is clear. We as Christians must not be silenced. We have the "Truth" in Jesus Christ and we must continue to spread His name. We must not forget to pray for the Muslim nations and for those who are working amongst them trying to teach them of the One True God. We must not forget to pray for Spain and Europe. Everyone is aware of the difficulties missionaries face in Europe. It is difficult, however, not impossible. We serve a great God who can overcome any obstacle. We must be willing to go across the world as well as going across the street to share the wonderful news of Jesus Christ. Will you pray with us? Will you give your money, your time, yourself, to the Lord?

In Spain, this week is Semana Santa or Holy Week.  Most of the people will be off from work and will use this week as vacation.  Here in Spain, there will be many processions and religious events depicting the death of Christ.  Lord willing, I will be getting some pictures or video of some of it and will be posting more about this in the next few days.  It is sad to see this because most of this signifies the work that they feel they have to do as penitence for their sins.  Some will even afflict themselves physically as punishment to themselves.  What we are here to tell them is that they can have forgiveness for their sins through the work that Christ has already done on the Cross.  By trusting in Him, they can have eternal life and eternal forgiveness of sin.  

Pray for the special meetings that we will be having this weekend.  They will start saturday night.  My father-in-law will be preaching Saturday night.  Then Bro. Jack Loveday will be preaching Sunday morning and I will be preaching Sunday Night.  Please pray for these services.   

When going to another country, driving is always a fun experience.  Every country is different when it comes to driving.  In Venezuela, driving was absolutely crazy.  You really had to be a defensive driver there.  You never knew what the other person was going to do.  From what the Venezuelans told me while I was there, pretty much after 6pm, all rules were off.  Red lights and stop signs meant nothing.

Here in Spain, the driving is not that crazy.  In fact, it is much like what we are use to in the States.  However, there are differences.  When we first came, one of the main differences were all the round abouts.  Instead of stop signs, they use round abouts.  Basically, you yield to the traffic in the round abouts and you make your move when there is an opening.  Most of the time, there is no problem, however, if there is a lot of traffic, it can get a little crazy.

Something else that we have had to get use to is double parking.  Double parking is allowed and a normal habit here in Spain.  It is so common, that even on major roads, you will see cars parked, with their hazard lights on, taking up the right lane of a major road.  It is something that you always have to watch for.  If you aren't paying attention, you could rear end someone.

Parallel parking is something that we have had to learn how to do (and still learng how to do).  I rememeber when I took my driving test, they had removed parallel parking from the exam.  But here, it is something you do just about everyday.

There are very few automatic transmission cars here.  You can find them, but they are far and few between.  So everyone that comes will have to learn how to drive a stick shift.  In the States, it is flip flopped.  Stick shift cars are hard to find in the States anymore.  Thankfully I learned on a stick shift, however, Deanna had to learn how to drive one when we first came here.  She is doing very well with it now.

Other then that, there may be a few more little differences, but most things are just as we know them from the States.  At least we aren't like the missionaries in England and Ireland who have to learn how to drive on the left side of the road with the stearing wheel on the right side of the car.  :)

A parliamentary commission has suggested de-penalizing abortion in Spain.

Left wing parties are supporting a reform which would de-penalize abortion in Spain. A report drawn up by the parliamentary sub commission, a panel of experts called by the Ministry for Equality, on the subject has been supported by the Governing PSOE Socialists, as well as the BNG, ERC, IU and ICV, Galician nationalists, Catalan Republicans, the Left Wing Coalition and the Greens.

The Partido Popular voted against and the PNV Basque nationalists abstained.

The report proposes reforms of the 1985 law which would take abortion out of the Penal Code. Socialist spokesperson Carmen Montón said it would end the current legal doubts and establish the health service as the provider of the right to abort, as well as end current regional inconsistencies in Spain.

It suggests that children aged over 16 would no longer need their parents’ permission to carry out an abortion. The periods for that would be configured to comply clearly with the jurisprudence established in the Constitutional Court.

The current law only allows abortion when there is a danger to the health of the mother, rape or problems with the development of the foetus.

 Please pray for Spain!