Location: Paris, France, near the Louvre Museum in a hotel built in 1824 (mid-afternoon on Thursday)
Bon! We just returned from another adventure--a fine perfume boutique. C. says it is the nicest place he has visited in Europe! (We were on a mission to pick up some requested perfume for a family member.) In fact, we laughed as he pointed out that the only pickpockets we have encountered thus far were in the boutique, they cleaned him out in exchange for a tine bottle of aromatic water! The process was complicated and full of paperwork, and we probably could have entered and exited the White House more easily! Besides, I think it smell horrible, and I told him it needs to be stowed in the bathroom tonight so our room does not smell like it!
But more seriously, I am glad we went. It shows us a side of society we rarely see, a side that hungers to know a personal God in the way that the rest of us do. Who will minister to the needs of the rich, of the arrogant, of the snobby, of the rude, the aristocracy? Because Jesus loves them as much as He loves you and me, you and I must love them as He does!
Some people have a specific impression of a French person. Some have a specific idea of what an
American is like. Instead of these stereotypes, we must look at each person as a unique person loved by the Lord, even when his or her ways are different than ours, and we must love them--even if it is inconvenient or unpleasant to do so!
You know, because of these unique perceptions and understandings, many in France have trouble understanding my year of study in prayer; it is very outside of their idea of normal. In fact, many Americans do not understand it, so very briefly, let me try to explain.
When I quit my salaried job over a year ago to study prayer, very few people, and perhaps even I, had very little understanding of what that meant. Why did I do it? As I have studied religions and delved into a life of faith in intimate friendship and discipleship with Jesus Christ, I realized that if a god is not worth everything in life, than he is not worthy of being worshipped.
Fortunately, Yahweh, the great I AM, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, is worth more than everything in life. That understanding drastically changes our perceptions of what it means to have a family, a career, possessions, etc. Furthermore, as the Lord helped me to see that the only way to know Him more intimately, more accurately, more truly is through prayer. I realized that the reason the Church has such a bad reputation in so many minds in so many parts of the world is because it is impotent--it does not display the power or the life it preaches! So I asked myself why the Church is impotent, and I understood that the Church is impotent because it has tried to do so-called "Christian" things without knowing Jesus Christ Himself. In other words, the Church has turned prayer into a rote tradition, a habitual recitation, a droning chant, a shopping list of needs or demands... Pray is dead in most so-called "Christians." But how can the Church--the Body--be alive without being connected to the Head, Jesus Christ? It can't! And that is the role prayer plays.
When I realized that, I understood that there was no more important priority than truly comprehending what it means to pray, and to do so regularly (without ceasing, in fact), in order to always be in communion, fellowship (a.k.a. connected) with Jesus, the living Son of God!
Thus, my time in prayer took me deeply into relationship with the Lord. Yet this all took place in the midst of mostly "normal" life. The Lord provided for me, in part by providing me the perfect part-time job that allowed me to spend whole days focusing on prayer and ministry. In short, for the past year, my eyes have been fixed on the Lord, no matter what that looked like to the watching world. This posture led me in and out of many adventures, as well as times of quiet and waiting. I read books and learned from wise men, and I had many discussions about prayer and God, with Christians and non-Christians. There were no classes, formal teachers, a syllabus, or monastic life--just real life, to the fullest!
After all that time, my understanding of prayer changed, and my relationship with the Lord deepened. Church, we must know God! That is the very definition of eternal life--being forever before a continuously self-revealing infinitly wonderful God! It does not have to do with cherubs and clouds or escaping third-degree burns! It is not a dunk in a bath tub that then gives you license to live however you want. A true Christian is one whose life is no longer his own, but instead Christ, the very Son of God, lives in and through Him! Oh that you and I can be that Christian! Oh that we would be willing not only to reap the blessings of a life of fellowship with the Living God, but also the challenges, suffering, and responsibilities that come with it during our time on this earth!
So my year of prayer is somethine I will never regret. It taught me that pray, at its most simple, most fundamental, most critical level, is a posture. It is a posture of humiliy before a sovereign, holy God. And to live boldly in that humility every moment of every day is what we must do. It is a privilege, and it results in true life--His life living in us, the Body (Church) of Christ. So I began a year of prayer and now find myself in a lifetime of prayer. I initially stripped away the things that identified me--my career, my possessions, my reputation--and learned that unless I have an identity given to me by God, there is nothing that can truly identify me.
I am in Paris. I don't know where you are.
I am headed to Romania. I don't know where you are headed.
I know what has happened. I don't know what is to come.
I know who I am. I don't know what you think about me.
But I know Jesus. I hope you do, too!
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?