Sunday, February 28, 2010

Trains Are Nice


Location: On the train between Strasbourg and Nancy, France, nearly 11:30am on the 27th of February.

During the last few days, I have traveled by various means halfway around the world. By far, some of my most peaceful moments have been on trains. As you can see, they also provide a good environment for writing. Unlike the 10.5 hour plane ride from Beijing, on which a passenger pulled out and began to play a harmonica!

Yes, these past few days have been incredible. They have included an unusual number of difficult circumstances, many of them small but painfully annoying nonetheless. Yet tucked amid the challenges have been fabulous blessings, and more importantly, I have been reminded in the midst of these hardships of the Lord's grace and mercy. We have an awesome God!

A deal-gone-bad situation left us wasted some of our time on Monday, but I was counting my blessings as on Wednesday morning I left Beijing, arriving only a little late in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, my seat-neighbor coughed most of the way there, and ironically sat near me again on my flight to Geneva. A long line at the security check in the Netherlands left me with little time to wait for my connection, just enough to nurse my uncooperative ear with some chewy gummy bears that would hopefully help it finally adjust to the pressure changes back on the ground. Sadly, the tooth I had chipped had not yet finished seeking my attention, and more of it chipped off.

Needless to say I was happy (so I thought) to reach my hostel without too much difficulty, save spending a bit too much money on a train ticket because of my unfamiliarity with the distributer machine. (You might be surprised to learn that the Swiss machine does not accept Chinese money, though I tried!) However, I had to situate myself in the dark because of my midnight arrival into a room with already sleeping occupants, only to be raucously disturbed at 2:00am by inconsiderate roommates. These fellows wanted to be sure to leave their reputation behind, and made sure to awaken everyone again before 5:00am. A little while later I groggily headed toward the train station, finding a few hours of peace between Geneva and Strasbourg. I was amused when the customs agents on the train asked me (completely out of the blue as they walked up to me) if I spoke Chinese. They were surprised to learn that I, in fact, been in China only the day before!

Confident that my arrival in Strasbourg marked the end of my frustrations, as string of poor choices and a missed tram cost me a little extra money and time. Then a miscommunication resulted in a failed meeting with my friend and host, as well as more quality time spent walking and waiting with Alfred (my friendly 25 kilo pack). The next (rainy and windy) day was spent preparing for a Skype conference call, only to be thwarted by technical difficulties on the other end of the line. To make matters worse, this all happened on top of news that my best friend's father suddenly had to have emergency surgery to remove a serious brain tumor. I have also been praying about several marriages that seem to be under attack, as well as some other people with grave health concerns.

So certainly the past few days were trying...but listen to the blessings!!! Before leaving China, I met a gal who knew friends of mine in Colorado; the Sunday I met her was full of blessings and refreshing time with Christians. That evening I was reunited with my family, and we spent a fun time at the Great Wall on Monday before preparing for our Wednesday departure. (I will have to finish a bit later; my train will soon arrive.)

Ok, it is later. In fact, it is tomorrow, the 28th of February at about 3:00pm. I am in Nancy, with my host family from my time here seven years ago. The twenty-four hours since I arrived have been good, but exhausting, jam-packed with visits. I had lunch with the family after I arrived, visited other friend in the late afternoon, returned in time for dinner with some guests who came to see me, attended church this morning where I saw other friends, and had lunch today with more of the family members. Some interesting points were that I had Chinese-style dinner with chopsticks and Chinese language last night (like in China last week!), because the friends I visited are Taiwanese. Today I walked to church against gale-force winds that literally moved me from my intended steps. At church, I met some of the family of my friend in Sighisoara, which was fun.

So as you can see, my slight deprivition of sleep is worth it, because I am being blessed. And that is where I left you as my train arrived yesterday, telling you about some of the blessings in the midst of the hardships of the past week.

For example, I was blessed by a beautiful view of the sunlit mountains in Switzerland as I lounged in the train on the way to Strasbourg. I was blessed with great conversational exchanges with my friends in Strasbourg, who were wonderful hosts and gave me free reign of their house. Not to mention that it is a blessing to be in a country where I speak the local language! I was blessed to briefly talk with some of my dear Christian brothers and sisters in the United States, and to be prayed for by them. I was blessed to attend a house-church group in Strasbourg and to fellowship with the young people there. I am blessed to have so many people who care about me that I am struggling to catch up on all the emails they have sent me!

I wanted to name this blog post, "Terrible Blessings," because in the midst of all the hardship, the blessings have been blooming! And, if you can look with me from a certain perspective, those hardships are blessings themselves. They remind me that satan can try to attack, but I live in victory because my Lord already defeated the devil. They remind me that my God goes before me and is a wall about me, protecting me and providing for me. They remind me that I do not have to try to live this life on my own strength, but that He will live through me.

So I am looking at a few more days in France before I fly to the United States. I am looking out the window at today's threatening weather, thinking about visiting more people in my current state of emotional and physical fatigue. And I rejoice! We serve a good 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?