The coffee shop culture has hit Cambodia.  I find it a bit funny because most young adults who frequent Coffee Shops, don’t really like coffee.  They get blended fancy drinks, and sweets, but it is the place to hang out that attracts them.  You can pay inflated prices for drinks but then you can pull out your iPhone, iPad or Galaxy Tab and play on the internet for hours.  I on the other hand really enjoy a good cup of tea, which is rather difficult to find.  In Phnom Penh we now have Gloria Jeans, and a local owned place called Brown, plus Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has just made and appearance in town.  Actually as I am writing this I am trying Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf out for the first time.  It is in the lobby of one of the new high rise buildings, so it is not particularly quiet, but the tea choices are abundant and the internet is good.

I was contemplating how much technology has changed my life.  I have been slowly getting rid of paper books and replacing them with digital copies, and even read my Bible on the iPad most of the time.  So how much has technology changed me.  I now fit into what they are calling “flashpackers.”   I travel with technology and even though it is simple and compact, it is laden with many cords and adapters.  Therefore, I find myself wanting to disconnect from the need to be “online.”  In Cambodia people buy coffee to hang out, be seen, and use the internet.  I use technology because, in many ways, it is simpler.  Yet, at what cost?  Technology is loud – as far as advertising, and can be addictive.  It causes a different type of clutter in my life.

I am wrestling with how to find solitude and silence but use the resources at hand to create the life I desire. For now that includes trips to Coffee shops to use internet and engage in business, so when I am at home I can rely less on technology and truly enjoy the silence of being offline. It is only during those times that I really hear God’s voice.  It reminds me of the passage in 1Kings 19:11-13 – God told Elijah to stand on the mount and Jehovah passed by, there was a great strong wind, an earthquake and a fire, but Jehovah was not in any of those things.  But after the fire, there was a still small voice.  That is the voice I seek.

A big realization for me, when I moved to Cambodia, was that business is primarily conducted through relationships. Even situations like renewing a business license every year is done based on who you know. There is a law that you must do this renewal each year, but there is not a standard set of fees. If you know someone the process and cost can be less than if you don’t. Yes, coming from the states this seems crazy, it leaves you kind of in a no-mans-land, a bit confused and frustrated. It requires time and effort, which pays off in the long run, but in the short term seems rather like a pain.

I was thinking about the difference in my relationship with God. I used to treat my Bible reading and prayer like transactions. The Lord has slowly been moving me to a place of deeper relationship. The benefits of hearing His voice are so much greater when I incorporate spiritual disciplines into more of my day instead of just… “check – took care of that.” When I find myself in a place of confusion and frustration, God leads me through to a new understanding of myself or of Him. This relationship, along with my faith, deepens when I participate in the relational aspects of my time spent with God.

All of us at Divine Pizza and Ribs are right in the middle of a constructing and opening our newest venture called La Divina.

We will be leveraging our existing infrastructure by using the same kitchen and most of the same staff, because this restaurant is located on the street around the corner from DPR, yet we’re literally operating out of the back of our current kitchen.

One of the things I enjoy most about Cambodians is their desire to work as a group and the way they all jump in to help. You can see in the picture above, the kitchen staff and one of the waiters working together stapling fabric on our new couch for La Divina. Working together as a team to complete projects and goals has created a unity that is strained occasionally, but usually pushes each individual to participate and carry their part of the work.

This reminds me of the way Jesus asked the Disciples to participate in His ministry, to help when they did not fully comprehend the implications or the ultimate outcomes. I am aware of how often I want to see immediate results, and how my staff wants the same from me. I know the plan and ask them to trust me, which reminds me that I should be doing the same with God. He regularly asks me to trust him, but I’m like a puppy who wants constant attention and rewards along the way.

Teamwork and unity are one of those rewards.

When I was younger I really struggled with writing. I never wanted to take creative writing classes, because writing on demand scared me to death; maybe more than speaking in public. It’s not surprising that God knows what skills and strengths that we have and moves us to the places where those gifts are used.

On November 1, I began the 4th year of NaNoWriMo (National Write a Novel in a Month) I only started doing this because I have faithfully been writing my weekly prayer letters and ministry updates, and have gotten much encouragement to continue writing. Now I find writing enjoyable and creative.

50,000 words in one month takes concentration and dedication, but most of the important things in life have cost to them. My dedication to my Christian life and ministry sometimes overwhelms me but Christ paid a very high cost to make me free. I find that I moved from being afraid of writing to loving writing is like my Christian walk; God walks with me throughout the change, the process is slow but small changes are happening along the way.

As many of you probably know, one of the foods that I dislike is tomatoes. So I am not a very good salsa maker for obvious reasons. This past Sunday afternoon a friend of mine came over to teach the kitchen staff at Divine how to make a good salsa, because what we were serving was just ok. I must admit when they were done even I kind of liked it, but they all thought it was great and so did a few of my other friends who tried it later.

This got me thinking about how many foods are best when there are many flavors blended together. Foods like lasagna, all kinds of soups, and salsa, are usually better the next day, because it takes time for the subtle blending of the flavors and textures to make the dish the best it can be.

Working at Divine for nearly 6 months, I have watched as the various personalities have mixed together; some taking leadership and others just being hard workers in the background, have blended together to make a team. It is a strong team when they communicate and work together. They have learned their strengths and weaknesses and allow others to assist when necessary. I have been blessed to be added into the mix, like the lime juice at the end to make it just so, by helping to pull all the flavors together. It is delicious!