Friday, July 17, 2009

A Wild Boar? Or Just a Wild Blur?


Starting Location: Computer room in my hostess' house with seven-year-old L, 10:00am on my last day in the little French village, 16 July.
Ending Location: Living room of my former host-family in Nancy, France, at little after 12:00pm on the 17th of July. (I got interrupted and never made it back yesterday!)

It is sad to pack my things up this morning, but I have to say that I am not sad. Several of you have suggested that my recent posts "sound" worried or homesick or unhappy. I am guessing that is because I have spent much time thinking and praying these past days, but au contraire, I am quite happy. As I metaphorically turn my face into to salty ocean wind and set sail, I am eager to see what lies ahead. I carry with me fond memories of recent correspondence with many of you who have encouraged and blessed me while keeping me in prayer--thank you!

That said, yesterday was another day filled with thoughts and musings and prayer. I spent an hour on a bench by the small river yesterday morning, just enjoying the Lord's love. I spent quite a bit of time with my American neighbors, too, talking about life, looking at photos, and laughing over some old British comedy re-runs.

The bulk of my day, though, consisted of a three-hour hike in the woods. I was never really lost, but I was glad you were not with me--I often did not really know where I was! I though of my friend, V., from Romania, knowing that she was glad she was not on this adventure with me.

You see, I wanted to see some of the wild pigs that live around here, but from a distance, because especially the boars can be dangerous. So the adventure began when I finally found a place I could leap the creek, but then I found myself having to ford my way through stinging nettles with the help of a stick I picked up and name "Pork Skewer." I do not know if you are familiar with stinging nettles, but "fun" is nowhere in their definition!

Having passed the first test, I traveled and eventually began my ascent into the woods. The trail I was on merged abruptly with another. I crossed another small creek and some mud bogs, then wound my way across grassy paths and through old forest. When I found myself waist-deep in a clearing of ferns, I began to despise their beauty as I imagined them shaking wildly above a charging beast--but I made it through with out mishap, trusty Pork Skewer by my side.

My hike continued uphill, as I always prefer to ascend when I am fresh and to descend when I am tired. After climbing forever, I was startled to find myself on a road at the top of the ridge! But when I followed it to a sign, it seemed to point in the wrong direction, so I retraced my steps. I tried a couple of side trails to take me back down, but they were dead-ends, to my frustration. Several threw me into raspberry patches, which might seem like a good thing until you imagine wading through the tangle of thorns. As I was beseiged by the innocent-looking plants, I debated with myself whether it was better to find oneself amid wild raspberries or stinging nettles--in the end, I decided that neither were a very good option, especially with my ankle-high "single" socks!

Once, when I escaped a raspberry patch, it dropped my onto a steep descent that Pork Skewer helped me follow safely. However, it dumped me into a basin with lots of mud bogs where hogs had wallowed, and the forest somehow seemed darker, the underbrush making visibility lower. I had followed some pig trails earlier, and I am here to tell you that they are not as tall as I am. Nevertheless, when I heard an angry pig shouting not too far from me, I decided to quickly grow some more courage. So I put Pork Skewer in my other hand and picked up a fist-sized rock that would be my first line of defense, should the need arise. Moments later, I kicked up a deer that had waited until I was quite close to burst out of the undergrowth. I was glad Alfred the backpack was not with me; he would have been very scared!

Faster now, and singing, I pushed my way in the direction I was sure was right, through thorns and weeds and mud, over hills and around turns and down banks, twisting and turning and ducking and leaping, finally breathing more easily when I found myself in a cow pasture I recognized! Back on track, I snuck up on a muskrat that was sitting in the middle of the lane, and enjoyed watching a blue heron and a large hawk wing through the air. I hustled home, and I made it back before E. the American called the police. We had practiced orienteering a little bit before I left, and I assured him that I always knew where North was, but that it had not always helped me!

To take up where I left off typing, yesterday was a blur. I spent a couple of hours babysitting (see photo), and then another hour de-stemming red currents for a tarte for lunch. In the afternoon I packed up and said my goodbyes, and N.'s husband drove me to Nancy. (Alfred was very sad!) I arrived in Nancy in time to grill out for 8 people or so, including a lady that caught a train into town just because she heard I was here, and after helping to clean up around 11:30 last night, I enjoyed a Skype call with a good friend in Indiana.

I slept in this morning, and I plan to dodge wind and raindrops to head into town a little later. This evening a lasar-tag game awaits me with some of the young people. I have been catching up on emails, photos, blog posts, and other computer stuff this morning, and I enjoyed another good Skype conversation with a friend in the UK. If you enjoy old European church architecture or the pavement where the Tour de France passed several years ago, check out the newest Picasa albums (the link is to the right).

Thanks for traveling with me! I know it gets hectic, but I assure you, it is worth it! God is at work here, among the family with whom I am staying, friends and neighbors, and in the Church. Take a deep breath and praise Him while we rest in His presence a couple of days--soon we will be headed toward Grenoble!

I am praying for you; let me know if you have any specific needs. I bless you in the Name of Jesus, and I thank you for your prayers and company!
Posted by at

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?