Location: The quiet camp dining-room at 6:30am on August 24, in the French Alps.
Already, I have been up for two-and-a-half hours. I love this time of day, especially when I get to bed early (like I did last night). I wanted to get up and get caught up on emails and this post before my week begins (in a couple of hours). Today commences work camp, where our staff and a few outsiders come in and we spend the week doing construction-type projects that get neglected during the busy camp season. However, I always start of my day with a "date" with the LORD, which means to have an early start of work, I get up even earlier to spend a couple hours with my God. What a privilege it is to have an all-powerful God who nonetheless wants to be in intimate relationship with the humans He created!
Certainly, I have a lot to write about, so get ready. Remember when I wrote about the "Mountain I Did Not Climb"? If not, you can go back; it was not too many posts ago. Well, on Saturday, I climbed it! It was wonderful!
I felt like a real mountain climber... With a teenage boy and his father, I hiked up the steep trail to where M. and I had turned around last time. (The morning was unusually foggy, and I was concerned we would be unable to go. The fog only partially lifted, but enought to begin.) Then we continued, coming to some rock face that we had to scale. The path continued from there, higher and higher. We passed the cross I photographed from below last time, and continued toward the summit. Sheer drop-offs lined the path, and at one point the trail follows a ridge that has cool cliffs falling off each side! Finally, we made it to the summit, and it is marked by a pole, just like in the movies! And the fog? At one point, none of the mountains before us was visible. But, as we approached what had been a hidden summit, the fog moved out before us, later swirling below us, trying to come back as we descended. However, soon we had a clear view of everything, except Mont Blanc, which was still hidden by clouds on the horizon.
From our vantage up there, we could see my companions' house, the camp, the valley and its villages, the town I walked to a couple of weeks ago, and the lake I hiked to just before family camp. A golden eagle came and circled above us as we took photos and video and nibbled on some snacks. It feels great to be on top of the world!
Sorry, I do not have my picture disk with me at the moment; I will try to post photos later. I took dozens, and some video, but all with my broken camera, so I have not yet seen if they turned out!
Though that hike took longer than I anticipated, it was well worth it! The rest of Saturday was pretty relaxing: the girls had planned a "Girls' Night," so five of us guys watched Indiana Jones on the projector screen downstairs. Sunday found those of us who were around engaged in a simple worship service that was really wonderful. Then, as camp settled into a quiet afternoon, I cut my hair and made travel arrangements. I will be staying in Europe through most of the winter now, heading to Romania for an internship in children's ministry for four months, departing in couple of weeks. Last night, we visited a crepe restaurant in one of the nearby ski-villages.
Is not God's timing interesting? Through not climbing the mountain the first time, He taught me a lot. (By the way, one of my friends responded to some of my theological thoughts about God coming down the mountain, and pointed out that often in the Bible He called people to come up the mountain.) Now He blessed me with the opportunity to try again, and to enjoy the success of attaining the summit. What a privilege, and what a lesson. Sometimes it is just not the right time to tackle the challenge before us!
So now I am spending a couple more weeks at camp, then heading back to Romania. As macho as I am, I have to admit that as the finality of my plans settled in yesterday, it is a little scary. Four months is a long commitment, and there are a lot of people I miss and who miss me. There are many unknowns ahead, and many details to cover. But God has been faithful this far... What do I have to fear? The Bible reminds me that even when I am faithless, God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13)!
Thanks for your prayers and support. I have been in contact with many of you--do not forget that I love praying for you and most certainly do! Some of you are moving, your families are growing, your jobs are changing, your children are going to college for the first time, you are persevering in missions and ministry, you are going to school (or back to school), or just continuing to take life as it comes each day. It has been so exciting to keep up with your lives. I hope you realize that your story, your life, is just as wonderful as mine. Our mountaintop experiences may look a little different, but different is good! And we all hit rock-bottom or run into discouragement here and there. But always, our God is faithful!
Do you know that Jesus represents the faithfulness of God? That is why He is so important. In Him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:19 and 2:9) Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.
That is why I pray in the Name of Jesus. That is why I bless you in the Name of Jesus. His "Name" is not five letters in the English languange. His "Name" is not a mysterious word in Hebrew. His "Name" is His identity. God called Himself "I AM WHO I AM" when speaking to Moses in Exodus 3. I love how the French Bible's often translate the name of God--L'Eternel (the Eternal)--it is hardly even a noun, just a description of God's greatness. So when I pray in the Name of Jesus, I pray in the fullness of God. When I bless in His Name, I bless you with the fullness of God and the fulfillment of His promises. When I live in the Name of Jesus, I live in the fullness of God--I invite you to do the same! There is no other Name like His! Philippians 2:5-11...
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
I bless you, dear Reader, in the Name of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God who loves you so much that He will be faithful even when you are not!
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?