Location: Dining Room at the base in Sighisoara, Romania, about 5:30pm on September 29.
In an half-hour, I will be teaching English to 7 or 8 students of varying levels. Not only am I supposed to do that each Tuesday, but I have also been asked to teach French to one girl. Meanwhile, I am trying to learn Romanian, so you see that linguistically speaking, there is a lot happening.
While I wait for my students, I am letting my clothes dry. I got a proper soaking in one of the gypsy villages today when a cloudburst postponed our program plans. I continued to play football (soccer) with the boys until the rain really picked up, then we continued with a shortened version of the lesson out the back of the truck, around which our die-hard fans were huddled. Rain or shine, the message of Jesus is good news! We did close up shop a little early, though, which gives me a brief moment to catch you up on things.
I painted all morning; the apartment we have been remodeling is now very pink (in my opinion). Supposedly it is peach. Go figure. Yesterday I stayed back from the visitation to work on that apartment; it is certainly coming along! The rest of yesterday was filled with cleaning (after the departure of our Bristish guests and before today's board meeting), as well as preparation for this week's program.
Sunday was good, too. We went back to the Nazarene church were some of our team attends, and when everybody looked at me funny for clapping during the last song, I said that I could do so because I am not Nazarene! (In fact, I do not consider myself anything but Christian--a follower of Jesus Christ!) Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! But my clapping did not stop one of the elders from asking me to pray before the whole church. I was unsure that I was understanding his Romanian correctly, so I clarified by asking if I could pray in English. When he agreed, I knew I was "on deck," even though that was only my second time in the church. I was surprisd he knew my name!
But everyone will know me soon. Not only am I a tall American who says "Buna Ziua" to everyone in town, but now I have my Romanian "older gentleman's" hat. So as usual, I do not blend in. Even better, I ended up preaching on Sunday night! How does that happen to me, you ask? Here is the story...
Sunday afternoon we were dining at the home of one of our team members. She was saying something in Romanian about visiting the Baptist church, and our leader was saying we should prepare a presentation if we went as a team. She asked me if I could prepare a song, and I said, "Sure, I could even preach!" Of course, I had no idea that they were talking about going that evening! As soon as I got home, I prepared a message and a song, in case I was asked to do either. When we arrived at the church, we sang a song as a team and then I preached. Not only did I preach, but I preached Matthew 23! Take a look at that, and imagine the Spirit leading me to preach on that text!
Actually, it went very well, and it was followed by a very good sermon. A third man was also due to preach, but he said that he had learned at a conference that when people hear more than one message, they forget all but the last. He said that the first two were good, so instead of preaching, he summarized ours and humbly pointed everything back to Jesus. It was very powerful, and I felt privileged to be a part of it!
Thank you for your prayers! I pray that as I minister, I represent well those of you who are praying for me. I never know what the day will look like, but I try to always be ready to give the reason for the hope I have. By the way, in case you are wondering, my reason is named Jesus Christ, and if you need hope, I would heartily encourage you to look to Him!
I bless you in the Name of Jesus!
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?