Here’s something really really fun to check out. It’s called “Google Earth.” Go to earth.google.com and download the program. Once you’re in the program, put “Budapest” in the top left box and hit enter. You might want to buckle your seat belt though. If you’d like to see our apartment building, put “47 34 51.96, 19 02 20.04” in the box instead and press enter.

This is a fun way to see the world through satellite imagery. Be sure to try the zoom in, zoom out, and tilt functions!

You may recall from our New Year post that a goal for Laura and me in 2006 is to read through the Bible together. I’ll occassionally write something about this…something that we’re learning and are thinking about. We’re in the middle of Genesis now, and I’ve been learning some things from Abraham’s life.

When Abraham and Sarai were very old, too old to have children, God told them that they were going to have a baby. And they laughed. And I probably would too. (Genesis 17:17; 18:12) I’ve been thinking about how faith begins and grows. And I’ve enjoyed the following thoughts from F. Buechner about this laughter:

“Why did the two old crocks laugh? They laughed because they knew only a fool would believe that a woman with one foot in the grave was soon going to have her other foot in the maternity ward. They laughed because God expected them to believe it anyway. They laughed because God seemed to believe it. They laughed because they half-believed it themselves. They laughed because laughing felt better than crying. They laughed because if by some crazy chance it just happened to come true, they would really have something to laugh about, and in the meanwhile it helped keep them going.” (Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking)

This morning Péter and I had a nice run around Margit sziget (Margaret Island) which is located in the middle of the Danube near the center of Budapest. I’ve been to Margit sziget several times, but this was my first time seeing the entire island.
What a respite. Margit Island is an oasis of calm in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this city. It’s about a 5 kilometer run beside the trees and the river. Living in Budapest, you don’t experience a lot of nature, and I think Budapestians take advantage of what the island has to offer.

As we approached kilometer #2, I looked West and saw the location of Péter’s office. At kilometer #2.5, we took a break by Margit Bridge and enjoyed the view of the Parliament and Pest. And at kilometer #3.5 we saw a small zoo full of goats which I’m looking forward to showing our boys.

Thanks Péter for showing me the island! Here’s a couple links related to Margit sziget: map, visitor guide, Margit sziget athletic center

Well, I had to say something. At this very moment our sport channel (SportKlub) is showing a Duke vs. St. Johns college basketball game!!! This game is showing courtesy of ESPN2 apparently. The Hungarian commentator isn’t quite as enthusiatic as Dick Vitale. I can’t understand anything he’s saying, but I assume his comments are fairly neutral.

Oh! J.J. Redick just scored another three pointer.

A few weeks ago we happened upon an episode of Andy Griffith one evening. Wow. It was kind of sureal. It took us a couple minutes before realizing how weird it was to see Andy Griffith on TV in Hungary. I wonder just how many Hungarians were watching.

In 1987, Kouzes and Posner did some extensive research in preparation for their book entitled The Leadership Challenge. In this research they asked what characteristics people find most admirable in leaders. There were only four traits which received over 50% of votes: honest, 87%; inspiring, 68%; competent, 58%; forward-looking, 71%. Other research has also shown honesty to be the runaway winner and the most valued characteristic in a leader.

People can intuitively sense honesty and authenticity. It’s a matter of being “real.” This “realness” breeds a culture full of grace, truth, common purpose.

The Johari Window gives a nice picture for how honesty and feedback can grow in a person or culture. Each of us posesses qualities which are either public (top-left), private (bottom-left), blind (top-right), or unknown (bottom-right). The public window pane contains things about me which are know to myself and others. The blind window pane contains things others know about me, but which I don’t know about myself. It’s sort of the “spinach in the tooth” or “bad breath” window. The private window pane represents things I know about myself but which others don’t. These are the skeletons in the closet. The unknown window pane represents things about me that neither I nor others are aware of.

The very simple thought is that honesty and openness to the input of others are pathways to authenticity…which is a powerful thing. It’s the growth of character. It’s common sense really, but it can be easy to forget and hard to practice.

Today is epiphany, and my friend Tom wrote some nice thoughts about this day on his blog.

Here’s a great resource for those of you interested in global issues. Maplecroft has developed a series of 35+ interactive maps related to social, economic, political, and environmental issues. Just a few of the specific issues covered in these global maps include poverty, hunger, coruption, child labor, inequality, water, R&D, education, displacement, and natural disasters.

One of Maplecroft’s stated goals is: “Our goal is to build a map that both ourselves and our partners consider is accurate, always up to date and meaningful, thus ensuring those who use the Global maps have a greater understanding of each relevant issue - how it impacts business and society, the nature of risk and how that risk might be managed proficiently - with recent case studies to demonstrate how risk is transformed into opportunity.”

“Without proclaiming “yet” to yourself, you impale possibility with the sword of doubt.” A year ago, a friend said this to us in relation to learning a second language. Someone might say, “I don’t know how to say such and such in Hungarian.” Or “I can’t say such and such.” By adding the word “yet” on the end of these statements, we add perseverance and therefore hope.
Every time I go to pay for gas as the gas station, the cashier spouts off some sentence like “blah blah blah blah szamlat blah blah blah blah.” I’m excited because I understood one word (szamlat, which means receipt/bill). So I always reply confidently…”Igen!” (meaning “Yes!, I’d love to have my receipt.”). And everytime I say “Igen” the cashier stands there looking and waiting for something. We both smile. And at this point, he realizes I don’t speak a lick of Hungarian (“yet”), and he gives me a receipt. Hmmm.

Well I just found out that in the “blah blah blahs” he was asking if I needed a company bill….and then was waiting for me to give him the company information. So I learned how to say “I’d just like a normal receipt please.” And today I went in to pay for some gas, armed with my new linguistic wisdom. Of course he didn’t ask me the “blah blah szamlat blah blah” question for the first time ever. So I pulled out my phrase anyway and got my receipt. Hooray!

Tree-Man is a superhero, originally drawn by Seth Newell (our 4 yr. old). His superpowers include his incredible eyesight and his amazing brain power. In the words of Seth…”Treeman has a big big engine on his back, with fire, and he shoots into the sky. If somebody falls out of an airplane he can save them.”

The beginning of a new year always brings a feeling of great expectation. It’s strange really, but when January 1st comes, we feel that we’ve been given a tabla rosa, a clean slate. It’s a chance to evaluate and to dream. We decide on resolutions for the new year thinking about goals we want to accomplish.

But underneath there’s something more profound going on. Beneath the new year’s resolutions there is an aching to become something more than we are, something more than we have been. It seems to be less about the goals of “doing” and more about the dream of “being” and “becoming.”

It’s exciting really…to have a fresh start. This past week, Laura and I have been thinking about our new year’s resolutions with some anticipation. We asked ourselves two questions. How can we continue to thrive in our marriage? And how can we seek God together this year?

So we have two resolutions for 2006. 1) We want to diligently keep our weekly “couple-conversation” time where we do four important things (affirm, talk about issues, share what we’re learning from God, discuss schedules). 2) We’re going to read through the Bible in a year together using a really cool Chronological Bible.

Statisticsshow that 64% of people are still keeping their resolutions after 30 days, and 46% after 6 months. It’s easy to get sidetracked by the busyness of life. The hope for succeeding in my goals might easily come from a confidence in my own effort and diligence. But the hope of becoming something more and of being transformed in my character and nature flows from a deep experience of grace. By “grace” I mean a clean slate or a gift given freely, without cost, and without any strings attached. Grace gives a fresh start. Grace empowers.

The grace of God is on our minds as we’re entering 2006. There is a paragraph from the Bible that we’re excited about these days, Lamentations 3:21-23. Though it was written almost 600 years before Jesus walked the earth, I can’t help thinking that it was written with Jesus in mind. “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Happy New Year!!

campushungary.hu has some great information for Hungarians and non-Hungarians interested in higher eduction in Hungary. There’s a list of all 68 institutions along with degrees, visa information, and suggestions on living in Hungary.

panoramas.hu has a great set of panoramic photos of Hungary and Budapest.

If you’re interested in seeing Budapest by the numbers, check out budapest.hu.