Monday, January 18, 2010

Sunday Smiles!






Location: The apartment in Sighisoara, about 7:15am on Monday morning, January 18.


Sunday was not at all what I had expected.

I did go to church in the morning, as usual, and I must say I was very much looking forward to worship. I had been asked to help with the music again, but I had declined, wanted to fully invest my heart in worship instead of fighting distraction while trying carefully to lead everyone else in worship. (If you are not familiar with it, it is a very difficult thing to lead worship and to worship God simultaneously.) So I was eager to worship with no expectations or responsibilities, and I had carefully prepared myself through prayer.

I arrived at church to the smiles of the kids from one of the villages we worked in; they certainly bring life to the church! I also met A., a new friend from the Targu Mures area. (Remember him as you read below.) Soon I saw my American friends arrive; they are leaving tomorrow after their short study-visit, and I knew it was probably the last I would see them. All of us settled in, and it was a very good time of communion with our Father. We had a special time of prayer for Haiti. Then, the sermon, in particular, was very inspired and helped answer several of my questions from my prayers during the past few days.

After church, I said goodbye to the Americans from Indiana. Sadly, I did not have an opportunity to get to know them very well. Nevertheless, I must say that just their presence was a mighty blessing for me! Even this morning, when I was a little down, they made me laugh as I looked at their faces in the pictures I took! Look at them on my Picasa site:
http://picasaweb.google.com/TheRabboni/SundaySmiles# You know that my camera is broken, so not only did I make them wave goodbye, but I made them pose for several rapid-fire photos. Usually I delete the extras, but they are so amusing in succession that I left them for your enjoyment. You will also see their professor and her husband, who are alumni from my college, and my new friend, A. in the background. Please pray for them as God continues to use them for His glory!


Perhaps you are confused by the other photos; if you do not know about my famous "single socks," you are missing out. One of my friends just learned about them, so I documented them with photos. No sock is as comfortable as a white ankle-sock, so I throw out fashion in favor of comfort, even often when I dress for more formal occasions. My mentor says that no wife would let me out of the house like that, thus dubbing them "single socks"! My friend this week agreed, "Your wife would kill you!" Personally, I think we can bring this into style! Single friends, wear your socks boldly! Married men, join the cause! Thanks for your understanding, wives of the world!

Single socks or no, I went ahead and invited A. for lunch after service. We had a very meanful time of fellowship and discussion, spending much of the afternoon together. He is Hungarian, and he helped me work on some of my Hungarian vocabulary. We also talked a lot about God and work of Jesus in our lives, which is naturally my favorite topic of conversation. Then I saw him to the bus station and said goodbye. However, we may meet again before too long; he invited me to visit his family next time I am up that way. Please join me in praying for him and his family; God has some very special plans for this young man.

That was most of my Sunday. I was quite tired by the time dishes were done and the evening arrived. A lot had happened this weekend. I have a lot on my mind with decisions to make, unexpected possibilities that could changes some of my plans, some difficult conversations with people I care about, and so on. So I am looking forward to spending more time in prayer this week, as well as a couple of day trips to visit some contacts I have made. I am eager to live this week, because I foresee many things falling into place, and I hope to spend special, intimate time with my Lord.

May you, too. Whatever socks you wear, whatever difficult discussions you may have had, whatever smiles you discovered, whoever may bless you this week, enjoy your life with Jesus.
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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?