Thursday, January 7, 2010

Fog Light

Location: Near Targu Mures, almost midnight on the 7th of January, 2010.

Yes, those of you who know me well will be surprised that I am awake so late. You will not be surprised that I baked an apple pie without a recipe tonight, but you might be astonished that it turned out good!



I am writing right now because today was special, and late hours are the best for a pensive heart. I am still visiting friends, and today was their day off. I spent a lot of time with my friend I. today; not only did we have meaningful discussion, but I got to go down to the river bank and see where she was baptized a few years ago. After lunch, we played cards with her sister and a friend; I had already learned that my Roma friends are quite vicious when it comes to cards, and this game penalized the loser by whacking him in the nose with the cards left in his hand--according to the number of cards left! Then a few of our other friends joined us and we hiked through the fog to the forest on the hilltop; we saw no bears, but an afternoon with five Gypsy girls is always an adventure! Not only do I love the fog, but it was absolutely gorgeous when we got above it and saw the sun piercing through. This evening, I. helped me cook dinner, quasi-American style (pork) hamburgers and homemade French fries and apple pie, all made in Romania in a Swiss kitchen with a Roma friend. How's that for multi-cultural! We then watched a movie on the big screen in the house here, laughing together until the night was late.


But I am not convinced that you care about my day's events, and that is not really what I wanted to tell you. I want to tell you I.'s story, because it is powerful. Yet I do not feel comfortable telling someone else's story, and besides, she would point not to herself, but to the Jesus who lives in her. Suffice it to say that she is a light shining brightly in the fog. She is someone rescued by Jesus who has a heart for her people and her family. Her heart bubbles with joy, her hands persevere, and shoulders help carry many hard burdens. This afternoon, we had some time to talk in her family's house (where I have known first-class hospitality even though I am staying elsewhere, also with wonderful hospitality). As we talked, I fell quiet, listening to God's work in her. Finally, though I wanted to ask more questions, I found myself unable to, overcome by the power of God's Spirit. I was near tears, and finally I just had to start praying out loud. Please join me in praying for I. and her family and her community; our Father has special plans for them!










May God get all the glory for what is happening. Imagine the unlikely team He uses here: a former sound-guy and restaurant owner, a kindergarten teacher, a former dancer, two teenage Roma sisters, two Hungarian disciples, and sometimes a visiting American wildcard who was trained in French and philosophy.

Sometimes I get discouraged, or sometimes I am tempted to doubt, despite the Lord's constant proof of His benevolence. (By the way, He did provide me with a place to stay in Sighisoara now.) But though I am weak at times, days like today make me feel like I can fly. I could have hiked for hours! I could have cooked and baked all through the night! I could have washed the dishes until we ran out of water! I could have walked along that river bank until I found its source!




Why?



Because when I see the splendor of God at work in a small, seemingly unimportant community, in seemingly unlikely people, I want to fall on my face and praise Him! I am reminded that our great God is great in the small things, in the tiny, mundane details of life. Not only did my God send His Son to die on a cross and free me and the rest of the world from our sins, not only did Jesus rise from the dead to offer us new life, but He orchestrates miracles in small Gypsy villages in Romania. He concocts teams of humans whose very fellowship belies God's holiness. He speaks His Name into church congregations in places like Sighisoara, Nancy, Indianapolis, and beyond.


Not only does my God provide, but He protects.

Not only does my God protect, but He prepares.

Not only does my God prepare, but He performs.

Not only does my God perform, but He perseveres in everyday life, through pessimism and pain, to bring peace to His people and praise to His Name.

God does not perform for us, and He does not want us to perform for Him. But He fulfills His plans, performing what He said, what was prophesied, what He promised, so that He will be glorified. On days like today, when I am waiting in the wings for my cue, and I get to see the Master unveil yet another glimpse of His splendor, I am overcome in awe.

When was the last time you sat in awe of your God?
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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?