Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Lost in Space








Location: A heavenly seat in a breezy, pace-filled sun porch in the fourth floor apartment of my great friends J. and V., Oradea, Romania, mid-afternoon on the 23 of June, 2009.

Wow. I could just sit and rest in this spot for a very long time. I am tempted not to type, but just to relax.

The last several days have been very busy, and the next several promise the same. That is why I am thoroughly enjoying this "space" I momentarily occupy. It is in an apartment of two girls that have been wonderful friends to us during our stay here, often twisting our arm to take a meal with them. (They are pictured above in nearby missionary's home.) It is a place where we have completed many fix-it projects (which I love), such as wardrobes and cabinet drawers, a night-stand hinge, and more. We have washed lots of dishes here, some windows and floors, our own laundry, and we have enjoyed great fellowship and dinners in this place. Though my current home-away-from-home is a mile or two from here, this has truly been a peaceful place, a second home-away-from-home in Oradea. As my world spins among cultures and travels, comings and goings, work and play, and helter-skelter rushing around, I am utterly thrilled to be, even just for a moment, happily lost in this space.

Yes, time rushes by, and our days in Oradea are numbered. In only a few days we will head to Cluj, N. will leave for the States, and I will leave for France a few days later, after helping with the first half of a wheelchair distribution. The next few weeks include a wedding, prayer, and a lot of unknown, so please bear with me if I have trouble accessing the internet for blog posts or emails. If you do not hear from me, assume I am safely in the Lord's hands!

What have we been doing besides handyman work and dishes? We have continued to work with the young people with disabilities, from whom I learn so much. We had the opportunity to take them to the thermal pools on Friday, and it is humbling to learn such grace from them as I try my best to gently carry them or help them change their clothes. I hate to say goodbye to them later this week, and they are already asking when we will be back!

Yesterday, N. and I left work a little early and joined friends K. and M. and M. who work with a center that provides Christian programing after and outside of school for local children of the gypsy communities. We joined in teaching an English lesson to about fifty youngsters ranging from probably 7 or 8 to 16 years old. I was drafted to play the piano (which was truly a miracle since I do not really know how!), and we sang, practiced the words for body parts and family members, and enjoyed watching the interaction with these children.

It has been rainy again with storms the last few days, and the weather cannot decide if it wants to be hot or cold, humid or dry. Nonetheless, we plug along with the Lord's plans. You will notice the photo of N. the "Grill-Meister" above. We enjoyed a cookout (under the edge of the garage because of the storms) at a local missionary's house, and she promoted N. to his new position, which he held all night long, to his great pleasure, I could tell! That was a fun evening: we had to take taxi's beyond the reach of public transit, and we got to meet an American gal who we found out was at the same Moody Bible Institute Founder's Week Conference in Chicago that I attended!

(I am back now in the same spot. I was interrupted by a good discussion with one of my hostesses, followed by a grocery run, Chinese dinner, preparation of two batches of apple dumplings, and chili for tomorrow night. During the baking, we invited J.'s grandmother and my mother to join us via Internet webcam. My mom was sitting on the toaster! It is now almost 11pm, and I may be interrupted again with dirty dishes, but I will eventually post this!)

So back to Saturday night... We had just finished dinner when the missionary (whom I had never met until that evening) handed me her cell phone saying someone was calling for me. On the other end of the line was a girl I had never met; through two dropped calls and a third successful one, she asked me to preach the next morning at a Gypsy church a half-hour outside of town. I said yes, and the next morning found N. and me waiting for that girl to pick us up at a gas station. We met up with some other folks and I learned that I may be leading worship with a guitar, too. It ended up that my only role was preaching, and I had a great translator. It went well, because the Lord spoke through His Spirit. He had been teaching me from Psalm 131, so that is what I taught on. He continues to teach me humility, so that is what I preached about. It was a memorable morning! Thanks for your prayers!

(OK, it is just now midnight, and I am back at my apartment, hopefully to finish this post and get some sleep...)

Sunday afternoon we had lunch with our new friends, and then we made it back to Oradea for pizza with other friends, before going to the home of even more friends for some laundry. The LORD has blessed us with wonderful friends here!
For instance, I was with some of those wonderful friends when I made a silly decision on Saturday. We were fellowshipping in the park before leaving for the cookout, and we were about done. It was hot, and we were tired, ready to go clean up. Just before we left, the football or the Frisbee went over the hedge that N. and I have jumped a few times. We had been teasing N. about falling in it, so I felt the need to show-off that I could successfully clear it. Unfortunately, a few mis-steps later, the concrete of the sidewalk on the otherside confronted me with the truth, my camera breaking the fall. The camera still takes photos--it took the ones above--but the screen is busted and therefore pretty useless. If you think it hurts to land on the concrete face-first, you should see my pride! That hurts even worse! Of course, God was watching over me. Not only did I do it in front of a medical student and a physical therapist, but I survived with just a few cuts and bruises.
I have said before that I am constantly being humbled, and this fall was another example of it. So was God working in the park several times this weekend, not to mention working with our friends at the day center each day. That is probably why the Spirit led me to preach about humility. I believe that humility is one of the most important keys to a loving relationship with our loving, almighty God.
Thank you for your prayers as I head into the next phases of my journey. I do not know where I will be going for much of it, nor what adventures await me. But I know that you will be following via blog and praying for me, and I know the Lord will go before me. May He get the glory!
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A Rose From Home

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?