Friday, August 21, 2009

Following or Chasing After?






Location: On a rocky outcropping of camp property high above the camp; night is falling around me at nearly 9:00pm on August 21. Look at the picture with a touch of orange about the dark mountain, and imagine it becoming more and more pink as the surrounding peaks fade into gray dusk.

I can hear the road noise from my perch, a barking dog from down near the camp, and various bugs cricketting in French, but my spot is rather peaceful. Ironically, it is an odd spot to have a laptop; I had to take the ancient Roman road through the woods to reach this breezy point.

Today was the departure date for families who had been attending our family camp; after they left, we spent a long day cleaning the entire camp. Tonight, perhaps I will get a little more sleep than usual, and then I am hoping for a hike tomorrow morning. We have a couple of days off before the next camp begins.

The last few days have been delightful. I forgot to take a picture of it, but I successfully replaced the busted button on my pants' waistband with another, albeit a blue one. One of the photos will show you a glimpse of the gorgeous thunderstorm that passed through before dinner a couple of nights ago; another will show you G. peeking out from a window in the directors' house she is guarding. They left a couple of days ago for a year-long furlough, and they will certainly be missed around here during that time.

The most amusing delight is another without a photo. Remember "La Cheminee"? That is the hike pictured in the slideshow on this blog, that overlooks the camp. I did it a few weeks ago with J., finding it to be much more difficult than I anticipated. It is some 400-odd meters' climb up the side of a steep mountain. Yesterday before dinner, a man invited me to join a few of them hiking it. I decided to, especially when he assured me I would be with several old men; I figured I could handle that wise pace better. To my dismay, when I met up with them five minutes later, I saw them decked out in running attire! I was shocked to learn they were going to run! So grudgingly I jumped into shorts and joined them--remember how much I love running?

The long and the short of it is that it seemed easier this time, climbing with 65-, 55-, and 45-year-old men. I did not know that two were marathon runners, and one had done similar training and races. We sprinted the flattest parts, marched the inclines, and plunged down the rocky turns. As we flew down single-file, we joked. The elders ahead of me were talking about have healthy knees as they aged and hopefully not needing surgery. Proud of my God and His work, I piped up--I had already had knee surgery! But thanks to the Lord, that knee handled the pounding like a pro! We ascended (without stopping this time) in 37 minutes, and descended in a mere 18 minutes! Good thing I had eaten a large sandwich as a snack in the afternoon! It really was fun, but I would have never expected to enjoy it!

So now I am resting, hoping to descend to an early bedtime tonight, with only one roommate instead of five. If you have been wondering about my future; I have been, too. I am working to change my return flight (to the USA) to early next year, and I have accepted the opportunity to participate in an internship in Sighisoara, Romania from September to early January. God-willing, I will be working with marginalized children in this city I have never visited, with people I do not know (except for one slight acquaintance). If God works out all the logistics, I will be headed east in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, I thank you for your prayers. God has been taking care of me while He does great work at this camp. It is very encouraging to see what He is doing at this camp, and He keeps reminding me how much He loves me (and you!). I have been hearing from many of you via email and an occasional phone call, and I appreciate being connected in your lives as I can be. You are a great encouragement to me; thanks for being you!

Well, it is pretty dark now, and the woods will be even darker. So I will, as always, follow the Light of the World as I get up from this spot. May the LORD be with you (He is!).

P.S. Mom, I made it back to camp safely...
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?