RIOTING IN ATHENS

Athens weather has turned cool. It is much cooler than when I arrived and the forecast is for it to remain cool for the next 10 days to two weeks. Until now the weather has been mild and very pleasant.

The Greeks have found a way to warm things up – they are rioting, looting and torching buildings and automobiles. Violence has reached such portions that Ron Kretz, director of AIBI, decided to cancel school on Tuesday. A lot of the rioting was occurring in an area not far from where AIBI conducts classes. The greater danger was for those traveling to and from classes. The metro train we ride to school makes a transfer in a station located in one of the most affected areas. Monday, as I walking to school in front of American Embassy, I witnessed police manhandling and arresting a protestor. They were not treating him very kindly. With the exception of his hands cuffed behind him, he was giving as well as he was receiving. I picked up my pace and hurried on my way to school. I was not sure if this action was going to prompt more disturbances.

Today (Tuesday) was expected to see a lot of rioting. All of this activity started when police shot and killed a 15 year old boy. They are conducting the young man’s funeral today and the city is bracing for more unrest. CNN International is devoting a lot of coverage to the carnage. It is the only English station we receive here.

I am in the teacher’s apartment in Glyfada, Greece, a community that is a safe distance from all the violence in downtown Athens. At least I hope it is. The apartment is about an hour’s travel from the affected areas.

In spite of all the distractions school has gone well. On Sunday I will begin my final three days of classes and on Wednesday at 7:05AM I will be flying home. The Lord willing I will arrive back in Alabama about 7:00PM on Wednesday evening. Even though I leave and arrive on the same day there is approximately 24 hours of traveling involved. It has been another good experience Athens and I would be willing to do it again.

JULIANA NEGEDU GRADUATES FROM AIBI

Sunday was a great day at the Evrou Church of Christ. Of course, every Sunday is great when we are gathering with the family of God to worship and praise the Father. This Sunday was a little more special because it included the celebration of the graduation of Juliana Negedu from Athens International Bible Institute. Juliana is a special young lady. She was one of my students when I previously taught in Athens. She caught my attention then because she had played basketball on the 2004 Nigerian National Olympic team. I enjoyed talking with her about the experience of being an Olympian. After the 2004 Olympics she stayed on in Athens and eventually one of the members of the church introduced her to our Lord and eventually to AIBI. Today she is a very dedicated Christian with a tremendous love for the Lord and lost souls. She was asked to again be a part of the 2008 China Olympics but declined because it would have taken her away from the church and her studies at AIBI.

On Saturday Juliana and her husband will be returning to Nigeria. She does so with mixed emotions. She does not know what the future holds for her and her family. Her desire is to serve the Lord wherever He leads her; if that is in Nigeria, it is okay with her; if it is some where else in the world that will be okay too. Nigeria is experiencing unrest and some of it is religiously motivated. It is the same unrest that pelages the rest of the world; the Muslim aggressiveness. But because of people like Juliana the Lord’s church is alive and well.

The pictures I have included are of Juliana and some of the members of the Evrou congregation. The church in Athens truly has an international flavor.

THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING

I had a great time Thanksgiving night sharing a feast with some very special people. Ron and Diana Kretz are missionaries serving in Athens, Greece, directing the Athens International Bible Institute and they hosted me and another couple for dinner. The other couple are local Christians in Athens. They are associated with the International Church of Christ and conduct services on Sunday in their home. Their names are Theofanis (Theo) and Mari Roropoulos. They are a unique and dedicated couple. Theo designs ladies clothes and they both are opera singers. Theo is Greek and Mari is from Bulgaria.

They celebrated their first ever Thanksgiving dinner with us. They sure made it a very special Thanksgiving for me, even though I had to celebrate separated from my family. Being in Greece with Ron and Diana, and celebrating with Theo and Mari, made this Thanksgiving one of the fondest ever.

Before we blessed and ate the feast Ron and Diana prepared, Ron told Theo and Mari about the first Thanksgiving and why we continue the holiday today. Then each of us told of some of the things we had to be thankful for. It was special listening to each one express their personal gratitude. Then, it was time to eat, and we did! It was great! I am still enjoying some of it today. Diana sent me home with a lot of the leftovers.

The only negative was that it had to start so late in the evening that we had to cut our fellowshipping short because Theo and Mari had to work on Friday. Thursday was not a holiday in Greece. They don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here. We started eating about 10:00PM and broke up about 11:30PM.

I will see Theo and Mari again on December 14. They invited me to speak at their “House church.” I am looking forward to the fellowship with the church in their home.

I am winding down the day after Thanksgiving listening to a Montgomery, Alabama radio station playing Christmas music, and I am trying to stay awake long enough to call the family back in Alabama to wish them a happy day after.

If you would like to follow our blog automatically, on the top left-hand corner is a link entitled, “Follow this blog.” Click on it and follow the directions. Thanks for all you do. All of you are special!

THANKSGIVING DAY IS TOMORROW

STRUGGLE WITH JET-LEG
I have really struggled with “Jet-Leg.” I believe this is the hardest time I have ever had adjusting to the lack of sleep and the time differences. Today was an off day from school and realizing that, I slept for 14 hours last night. I cannot recall ever doing that in my lifetime. It probably has something with two things: 1) my age, and 2) with all you go through in traveling these distances. But with the Lord’s help it will all pass soon enough.

ATHENS INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE
I am teaching three classes in Athens. I am teaching Homiletics to about 25 students, the Epistles of John and Timothy & Titus to three students in each of those classes. You may ask “Why just three students?” The students here in Athens support themselves by working full time jobs and coming to class in their off time. The homiletics class is taught on Sunday when all the students are off from work. The other two classes are taught on Monday and Tuesday when most of the students are working at their full time jobs.

The students are from a very diverse background and nationality. None are native Greeks but several have lived here for many years. Most are from some where in Africa. A good number are from Nigeria and one man is from Ethiopia. He is an interesting fellow to visit with. In talking with him you come to understand that the Eunuch from Acts 8 did a pretty good job in evangelizing when he returned to Ethiopia. Like the Eunuch, Yohannas is also an Ethiopian who is rejoicing because of his relationship to the Lord and wanting to share it with his countrymen.

SHOPPING
I have shopped only out of necessity. A super market is just up the street from the apartment where I am stay. The people there have been very good to me when they understand I do NOT speak Greek. When they ask me a question about something I have purchased, they just take care of it for me and smile! I really do appreciate them but I don’t know how to tell them. I do put on the BIGGEST smile I can.

This past Saturday I verntured into "Street Market" (it covers several blocks on both sides of the street) and bought some tomatos. I needed more than tomatos but I did not want to press my luck too far since I don't speak their language. This coming Saturday I will try for a few more things.

APARTMENT
The apartment has most everything I need. I have a washing machine and dryer; (solar – there is a cloths line on the porch); a stove and refrigerator; a television (even though most everything is in Greek); and a comfortable bed to sleep in. What more could a person ask for.

CELEBRATION
Today was my birthday and tomorrow is “Thanksgiving Day.” I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with Ron & Diana Kretz. Ron is the director of AIBI. They are a great couple and I look forward to spending the Holiday with them.

ATHENS WEATHER AND APARTMENT

The weather outside is a very pleasant 68 degrees but it is cold inside the apartment. The apartment has high ceilings and marble floors, and, the heat is off. That may be why it feels colder inside than it does outside. I walked this morning before 8:00AM and I built up quite a sweat. Since I am hot natured it is strange to feel this cold. It is a lot warmer here than in the Montgomery, Alabama area. I am listening to a Montgomery local radio station on the Internet and they annouced the windchill factor is 29 degrees. The picture is of the apartment where I am living.

We shopped today for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. I will be cerebrating with Ron and Diana Kretz. Ron is the director of the Athens International Bible Institute. They have also invited a Greek couple to join us. Ron warned me that it would be a late dinner. Since Europeans do not celebrate Thanksgiving, they will have a regular work day and we will not start dinner until about 8:00PM. Our shopping was successful or unsuccessful depending on how you look at it. We were able to find a turkey but most of the other fixings we did not find. I am looking forward to the fellowship.

Next week I will be psoting some pictures of the students. Hope you enjoy them.

ATHENS, GREECE

In November I leave for Athens, Greece to teach a month-long session at the Athens International Bible Institute. I will be teaching three subjects - Homiletics, The Epistles of John and 1 & Timothy and Titus. This will be my second teaching tour with the school and I am again looking forward to it.

The last time we taught at the school we had students from Nigeria, Cameron, Ukraine, Greece and Bulgaria. There was truly an International flavor to the student body. I have no idea the nationality makeup of this year's class.

There is a lot of Bible history around Athens and throughout Greece. The last time we were there we visited Mars Hill (photo to the right) and Corinth (photo below). I hope to see some additional sights on this trip.

Normally my wife Mary Alice (Mac) accompanies me on my teaching trips, but she will be staying at home this time. Traveling as much as we do on these long trips takes a toll on your body. Add to that an ever advancing age and it is really tiring. Mac has been a faithful companion and has gone well beyond what could be expected. She deserves to be able to sit this trip out.

I have been teaching the Book of Daniel to the Adults on Sunday mornings at the Pratville church for the Fall Quarter. It has been an enjoyable study for me and I hope it has also been enjoyable and educational for the church. I will not be able to finish the book before I leave.

When I return from Greece I will begin teaching the Book of Revelation to the young marrieds. I am very grateful for all these opportunities to teach.