Location: On the grassy bank of the Neckar River in Heidelberg, Germany (it is around 7:30 in the evening, still 16 May)
After the conductor educated us about proper use of our rail pass, we completed our otherwise uneventful train trip to Heidelberg. We found a nice hotel and a nice dinner, walking around a good bit of town in the process. I really enjoy seeing God at work here.
When I described to you previously the Gothic young people of Freiburg, I failed to mention the most significant point. All of that is, in my opinion, directly tied to the spiritual atmosphere of Europe. There are many things like that here, all of which suggest to me an overwhelming feeling of emptiness and oppression, of meaninglessness and false realities. These blind people from the truth of God's love.
So I watch for God at work. His work is perhaps easiest to see in the midst of such quiet turmoil. For example, at the moment I am sitting on the grass among families and young people and couples who are enjoying the pleasant evening next to a river slipping away into the sunset. There are volleyballs, soccer balls, badminton, blankets, dogs, musical instruments, bikes, and more. I enjoy this away-from-Saturday-shopping-crowds environment where people are laughing and playing. God is at work here.
Today while searching for a hostel, an elderly lady on the otherside of the road flagged us down. A little bewildered, I went over and make sure I could understand none of her German, and then helped her to cross the street that included the tram lines she feared. I never did understand her words, but God is at work here.
Our baggage got locked in the wardrobe in our hotel room (meaning the lock would not unlock properly), giving us the opportunity to practice more communication with the lady at the front desk as we laughed and fought the furniture together. God is at work here.
C. was looking for a certain German Bible, and this quest led us to a celler below the basement of a used bookstore, where we found row upon row of old theology books in the very town were Martin Luther defended his 95 theses so many years ago. God is at work here.
Last night, in Frieburg, I saw a girl with no face (some sort of deformity or accident) in the restaurant where we dined. Her parents were having dinner with her. Right now, I am watching a father help his daughter use a racket to successfully hit a birdie. Earlier, I saw a concerned father run down and catch up with his young son who was careening faster and faster down a steep road. A man on the very crowded bus helped an elderly woman off, and another hailed me after my poncho was knocked out of my pack. God is at work here.
A few hours ago, I was praying about church tomorrow, and I asked God to lead us to the church to which He would have us join in worship in the morning. It will probably not surprise you that He led us to a parked van that said something like the "Holy Spirit Worship Group" on the side, along with a phone number. I called the number, and we are hoping to attend church there in the morning.
God is at work here!
God is working in Indiana, and I hated to leave because of that--but man people in Indiana do not even realize it! God is at work here in Germany, and in Switzerland and Italy, and Jesus is alive and well--yet many people do not know it! I have to ask the Lord to give me His eyes, to see things from His perspective. Sometimes it looks a little different, and sometimes I have to try a little harder to see it outside of what I am used to, but God is at work here!
I told you earlier that I was reading Matthew 8 and 9. The last couple of days I moved into chapter 10, and the Lord has really been using it to teach me. It was not intended specifically for me or the Church, but rather to the Jews and the first disciples. Yet as with any and all Scripture, we must ask the Lord to show us what He wants to teach us through it. See how this passage is so meaningful to me where I am right now...
For example, Jesus sends the Twelve on a mission, and tells them to take very little, if anything with them. He tells them to speak peace into the places they go and to interact with households. Again, not all of it applies directly to me, but imagine how that resounds in my soul as I carry most of my possessions on my back through unfamiliar places, hoping that the peace of Christ that is in me will "infect" the homes of the people among whom I walk.
Jesus tells His disciples that He is sending them out as sheep among wolves who need to be clever like serpants and gentle as doves. He tells them not to worry when they are brought into question, because the Spirit will give them His words. Here I am in a place where I need the Spirit to give me words (because otherwise I cannot communicate), and where every stranger could be a wolf.
He explains that servants are not greater than their master, but that God cares for even the smallest birds and the hairs of our heads. That is the God who lives in me! The One who has given me the privilege of serving Him!
Jesus describes a life of following Him that sometimes results in leaving family and friends to carry a cross, who sometimes must loose or leave the very life he knew in order to truly live...
Never let anyone tell you that the Scriptures do not apply to our lives, to real life! God's Word is living and active, and it is good for teaching and correcting. Time and again, I have experienced this truth first-hand, and I depend on it daily. May you, too, be blessed in like manner!
This blog is your opportunity to travel with me wherever I am in the world, during both the mundane and exciting moments of life that I humbly recognize as holy. As I bare my life to you, may your reading take you beyond my words to the Word, beyond my life to the Life, beyond the chaos to the Truth, and beyond teachings to the Teacher--the Rabboni. I promise it will be an adventure, and by the end, may you, too, truly know the Way!
A Rose From Home
My Story (As prepared for my church congregation this spring--2009)
I have a story to tell you. I am the main character, but the story is not about me. I have traveled several parts of the world, but my adventure has been closer to home. I am twenty-six years old. My story begins like many of yours…
I grew up going to church. I had been born into a family who labeled themselves “Christian,” in a country that labels itself “Christian.” Every Sunday found me attending a worship service and Sunday school in a mainline denomination church. I served as an acolyte, attended Vacation Bible School, helped my dad count and record the offering money, sang in the youth choir, was a leader in the youth group, and occasionally served as liturgist. Baptized as an infant, I was confirmed at the age of twelve, thus becoming an “official” member of the church. Then, hurt by the church, my family left to find another.
Have you ever been hurt by the Church?
After months of searching, we settled into a very large independent church. Things were different there, and I was quickly welcomed and at home among new friends that truly had a passion for Jesus. The Word of God was taught boldly from the pulpit, and I was introduced to a missions-aware lifestyle. So it was with regret that I said goodbye only a couple of years later to move with my family to another church. I purposely remained aloof, not wanting to make new friendships before I left for college a year later. Besides, I was loosing my faith—or so I thought—and I didn’t want anyone to know. I was asking scary questions like “Is there really a God?” and, if so, “Is He the Christian God?” and “Would I be Christian if I had been born in another part of the world?”
Have you ever asked yourself unsettling questions about what you believe?
So I headed into college under a cloud of confusion that only worsened for the next two years. Though I didn’t know what I believed anymore, I continued to go to church every Sunday, and to help lead worship in chapel. Most importantly, even during this questioning, I continued my morning habit of daily study of the Bible. I had begun at age twelve, reading at first a chapter per day, then ten minutes each morning, then an half-hour, and so on. So, only by the grace of the very God I doubted, I remained anchored in His Word and in His community, though I felt like a fake most of the time. Since then I have learned that “fake” is the worst insult the world can give us; that is why the label of “hypocrite” is so offensive.
Have you ever felt like a fake?
Six weeks with missionaries in South Africa followed by a year in France began to teach me what life with God is all about. I began rebuilding my faith, this time it belonged to me, in contrast to me borrowing the faith of my parents, church, or anyone else. In my parent’s basement in 2003, on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, I invited Jesus to live in me; perhaps I had done so before, but I didn’t recall—but since 2003, I have never forgotten that moment. Unfortunately, nothing changed. I continued to do my best to act like a Christian, as I had done for so long.
Have you ever found yourself “doing your best” to be a good person, or to act like a Christian?
Though I did not realize it at the time, I was quenching the Spirit, even though I had welcomed Him into my life. During the next few years, the LORD continued to nurture me, and slowly things began to change. Several tough months in Idaho birthed my prayer-life. I spent three years being humbled in a job that was my informal seminary training. In 2007, a short stint in Mexico helped me to see things as they were, and not long afterward, I was baptized by immersion. No baptism of any kind can save a lost soul—only Jesus can do that. However, this baptism was an important covenant between me and God, symbolizing not only my death and resurrection with Jesus and my public profession of faith, but it also my life change, the beginning of my bearing fruit. “For each tree is known by its own fruit…”according to Luke 6:44. During the past year and a half, the LORD has provided me with an informal pastoral internship in my church, teaching me every aspect of discipleship. Simultaneously, I have been studying unceasing prayer and worship. I am now very different than I was five years ago.
In the Book of Acts (which tells the story of the earliest years of the Church) every time a person decided to follow Christ, two things took place—though not always in the same order. Each person experienced a life change, which I call the “baptism of repentance,” as well as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which I call the “baptism of the Spirit.” Looking back, I realize that the Holy Spirit was living in me in 2003, but it wasn’t until I surrendered everything to God, as represented by my immersion, that I allowed the Spirit to have His way in me and transform my life. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)”
Have you invited Jesus to live in you? Have you allowed the Spirit to transform your life?
I tell you this story for two reasons. First, I tell this story in order to boast in the LORD! May God our Father get all praise and glory forever! Second, I tell this story because it is relevant to you. Likely you have heard that I am leaving the country: I have let my light shine before you; please let your light shine within the Church, too! This congregation is in revival, and as each of you allows the Spirit to revive you, the entire Church will be revived and utterly transformed, to the glory of the Most High God. And for His glory is the reason He created us; the reason He sent His only Son to reveal Himself to us; the reason He became Sin for us and died for us on the cross—while we were still sinners; and the reason that He conquered death and offered us eternal life with Him.
It will cost you a lot—in fact, it will cost you everything, your very life. But if you have never surrendered your life to Christ Jesus, if you have never invited Him to send His Spirit into you and to transform your life, then do it right now. Just let go of everything to which you are desperately clinging; stop trying to do it yourself! This is the very reason you are still breathing in this physical life—God has been delaying His judgment of this sinful world because He is waiting for you—2 Peter 3:9 says He wants none to perish!
If you have already invited the Spirit into your life, then live like it! Bear fruit! Anyone and everyone who meets you or knows you or sees you or hears you should know immediately and clearly that Jesus the Christ lives in you and loves them! That is how stark the contrast should be between your life and the world around you!
Have you immersed yourself in God’s Word and in prayer in the last twenty-four hours?
If you call yourself a follower of Christ, then there is no excuse for not communing with Him daily! Anchor yourself in the Word! God has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Bible is a complete and accurate record of that revelation. And prayer is humbly letting Him love us. Let Him love you! God doesn’t need us, but He wants us! God doesn’t need us to live for Him—He wants to live in and through us! Let us love and fellowship with one another, even when you disagree! Pray for each other—the names in the church directory are a great place to start! Church, we are not only the Body of Christ, but we are the Bride of Christ. We have allowed ourselves to get bedraggled and stained—now let us stand to the glory of God! Let’s let Him purify us, restore us, and love us!
My dear Brothers and Sisters, if you have ever once been blessed by God our Father at work in me, then I urge you, please, take seriously His desire to love and work in you, beyond anything you can ask or imagine! I have told you the beginning of my story—may it end in glory to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by way of His Spirit.
Now, what is your story?