We have a new camera!

Our new camera seems to be working really well. Yeah...I really like documenting with pics. And I am loving all the online convenience of storing digital pictures in web albums and showing them in slideshows, etc... I grew out of my scrapbooking madness some time ago and finally feel like my pictures are alive again!

Wednesday the kids and I visited the Aarhus Domkirke (church). It was pretty inside. I feel like I should say it was beautiful because it was very old and "pretty", but it had a strangely empty feeling. I don't have a lot of experience in churches other than the few I have attended regularly, but it's not a place I would be able to worship I don't think. Anyway, the pictures really are nice and I am glad we went. I think I am still taken aback at the difference in the church I am familiar with versus the institution of "church" I have encountered here. That is one thing I am truly thankful for is the emphasis Americans have on values. I know it may seem strange because as Americans it's all over the news that our country is laden with crime, drugs, divorce, etc...and it is. But we do (maybe only in the bible belt) have every kind of church imaginable and worship is welcomed and available, most of us value marriage (is this only in my circles?) and teach our kids not to cuss!;o) Apparently here these things are minor. Just surface observations mainly. Anyway, these things got me thinking and I found an interesting article and link concerning spirituality (or lack thereof) in Europe. The article does not specifically refer to Denmark, but I get the feeling it's a similar situation. Here are the pictures and following is the article and link. Skim if you like...




The 'Withering' of Christianity in Europe
Fred Jackson and Jody Brown
Agape Press

The New York Times has taken a look at the fading away of Christianity across Europe.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law against sodomy. In writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy suggested that it might be time for the U.S. to start adopting a more European view of what constitutes right and wrong.

That comment from the high court justice alarmed many Christians in America, given the state of Christianity in Europe. The Times story seems to confirm those fears, referring to the "withering" of the Christian faith there.

Writer Frank Bruni says Europe "seems more and more like a series of tourist-trod monuments to Christianity's past." For example, in France only one in 20 people bothers to go to church anymore; in the U.S., that ratio is one in three. The story quotes a pastor in northern France who says, "What's interesting isn't that there are fewer people in church, but that there are any at all."

In England, there are 25 million people who identify the Church of England as their denomination, but only slightly more than one million go to church every week.

And in Italy, although 85% of the population call themselves Roman Catholics, as few as 15% bother to attend church.

The Times quote David Cornick of the United Reformed Church in Britain, who says "the fact is that Europe is no longer Christian."

Bruni notes other indications of the diminishing influence of Christianity in Europe, such as the removal of crosses from the walls of public schools throughout Western Europe -- and the fact that many congregations have been forced to either shut down or combine operations, or make do with part-time or imported pastors.

But perhaps the most noteworthy development surrounds the impending European Union. Despite strong objections from Pope John Paul and Christian leaders around the continent, the draft of the proposed constitution for that political coalition omits any mention of Christianity or God as having any cultural influence in shaping Europe.

...This article ended quite abruptly but it makes a point. Here is the link I referred to:

http://www.prayfordenmark.com/about.html

It's all very interesting. I like to observe the differences. This is a cool experience I've gotta tell you.

Here are some more miscellaneous pics. Hope all is well. We are doing better as far as our moodiness goes...thank the Lord! I'll write more later. love, Amanda