Location: Casa Cositorarului, a restaurant in Sighisoara, Romania; it is about 10:30 in the morning on the 10th of July.
After an unusual, difficult morning that included the 20km bike ride into town and morning devotions in the Sighisoara cemetary, I am now in the perfect spot. In the secluded corner of a vine-shaded porch with a cat lounging in the chair across from me, I can faintly hear music and bustle from the center of town where the tourists and vendors are destroying the peace. But here I am near the citadel wall, built hundreds of years ago to protect against invaders, and I am away from most tourist traffic, and behind a hedge from those who do venture this way. I have internet access, a few hours before I am supposed to meet up with someone, and I just ordered a banana split to pay for my internet use.
Sadly, I realize that I did not upload my most recent photos to the computer, and my camera is at home. Howeever, since I have been unable to post photos for quite some time, you probably have not seen most of the photos I do have. I will try to include a few for your pleasure. Meanwhile, I just posted a short story I wrote last night, "For Henry." I hope you enjoy it.
Because of my extremely limited internet access, I have been trying to figure out how to write so that you have something worth reading. Certainly, I prefer not to just give you a diary of my hours and minutes. So let me try to give you a glimpse of life here from God's perspective, best I can.
As I have told you, God is at work here, much more than I am. While I pass whole days at a time in the gardin or in the woodshop, He is orchestrating something much greater. For weeks now, I have been trying to heed His instructions to wait upon Him (for it is not yet my time), and quite simply, to enjoy Him. The weeks have passed quickly. Usually "stuck" in the village of C. and isolated from virtually all outside communication, I have been in real relationship only with the W. family (my hosts), and two other people. For various reasons, each of those friendships has been blessing, ministry, and ever-evolving. Meanwhile, only a few of my days have included any kind of lime-light. Most of the time I am merely the American neighbor with day-to-day interactions in the street, the general store, and the nearby houses.
(Wow. They did not have bananas, and the substitute dish just arrived and is amazing. Sorry I do not have a camera, but I am not sorry I do not have to share it!)
With this role comes new challenges and blessings for me, yet God knows what He is doing. He is working among a people who cannot let go of the past, a people among whom there is very much racism and distrust. Like in many other parts of the world, Jesus is not offensive here; His followers are. They cannot love one another. Some think certain ones are not Christians because they wear earrings. Others think some are not Christians because they are too legalistic. This people, like many others, is struggling economically and ethically.
In the midst of this, God is wanting to bring healing. Physical healing, yes. But also spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, and more. When Jesus does things, He does not only do them halfway. So now I am waiting for His perfect timing, to play my perfect role in His perfect plans. I met with my hosts last week to discuss staying longer in C.; today I have a meeting to talk about another offer I have had in Sighisoara. As always, there are many possibilities, but none matter as much to me as being as close to my Lord as possible. That is where I want to stay, yes, for my happiness, but even more for His glory. As amazing as it is, that is what He wants from me: my presence, my attention, my love. And, I understand that God's plans for Romania are tied somehow to His plans for Western Europe and America, and maybe more places.
Me? I am fine, thanks. A quick bout of flu weaving through the countryside might have touched me last week one evening, but it did not keep me down for long! The joy of the Lord is my strength! Yes, I miss my friends and family in the United States. I do look forward, though, to seeing a friend from Switzerland next week. Also, though I had to say no to five or six camps that wanted my help this summer, special circumstances have come up that seem to suggest I will get to help my friends in Hunedoara with their disabilities camp in a week or so. Then we will be in camp mode ourselves, in our village of C. Meanwhile, I have been asked to help teach a bit of French and English in the family where I have been staying. Ah yes, I successful opened a double bank account here, in dollars and in RON (lei). I was less successful when I tried to get internet in the village; so far every lead has reached a dead-end.
And a special note to my Cluj friends: I have not forgotten you! As you know, I have not been traveling since my arrival, nor have I had internet access. I will come to visit you all sometime, though. Thanks for your patience and your prayers until then; I am definitely praying for you, and I hope you are well!
All of my friends, that goes for you, too. I am praying for you, and I miss you. I find that my prayers are even more wistful now, because I rarely hear updates as I pray for you, and I have no idea what you are facing or why you are rejoicing. Blessings to you in the Spirit! And watch for an email; I hope to catch up on emails today, pending God's plans!
Finally, one highlight. Last Sunday night, I joined my coworker in his house with my violin. Several times we have met in the evenings to read the Bible together and pray, and a couple of those times I played the violin while he sang from an old Romanian hymnbook. Last Sunday, he wanted to invite the neighbor boy who is probably in his early twenties and who has a disability that I do not recognize, somewhat similar to autism; he had heard the violin and enjoyed it. I agreed, and this young man came with his older brother. Before the night was over, as people came and went, there had been twelve of us in the house, songs in Romanian and in English, reading and discussion of 1 Corinthians 13, and prayer. We had invited one boy to join us in our normal practice, and God made worship happen. This is why I wait. I do not have to DO anything, except let Him move freely in me and around me. As He does, I will join Him.
I pray the same for you, and I bless you in the Name of our 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?