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Chile's Easter

So it feels like everyone in this city, all six million people, have fled for the four day weekend. Thats right folks, kids got out of school wednesday at noon, and all the families packed up and left to go out to the beach or Argentina. Ashlee and I decided to stay and enjoy the quiet weekend. Yesterday I went to church and LOVED IT. As many of you might have guessed, I am sometimes skeptical of church traditions. But this "meditacion antes de la cruz" was wonderful. After that Ashlee and I made dinner together and watched some movies. Today, after a quick run, I got in my bathing suit, and enjoyed the last few hours of sunshine we will have for a long time. I laid out on our porch and read through the passion week section of The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Edersheim). What an amazing writer!!! Basically a day in heaven: Latin music playing in the background, a quiet city, sunshine (and sunblock mom, don't worry!), and my book. Tomorrow morning I am going to the sunrise service with the English church, and then the noon service with my new Spanish church. I am trying to take advantage of the fact that I am in a country that has differnt focuses when it comes to religous holidays. We gringos tend to focus on Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way saying that we don't care about Easter, or that Chileans don't care about Christmas. But before I came here I heard that Catholics focus more on Easter and Protestants on Christmas. And now I am seeing it in action. I don't remember having a whole Metropolitan city shut down for good friday. But yes, everything except for the largest grocery store and Burger King were closed on friday.
So maybe I could blame McLaren's Generous Orthodoxy for this one (thanks Rach!), but I am trying to see more of the bridge and less of the gap between Catholics and Protestants. I am trying to see how maybe in some ways, Catholics got it right, and Protestants have missed the point. And vice versa. I think when it all comes down to it, I would classify myself as a protestant (McLaren would disapprove). But i think as a wise man(you know who you are!) told me last night concerning what churches are okay to participate in: as long as they believe in the Bible, preach the Gospel, and serve Jesus with all their heart,

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