Thursday, October 21, 2010

The End of the Road



(Location: Gate M5 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, USA, at 2pm local time on the 20th of October.)

Once again, I am sitting in an airport. I suppose I spend as much time in airports as in any other "home." This one happens to be in Chicago, as I wait to board my plane to Amsterdam, where I will catch a flight to Bucharest. It will be a long two days of travel by the time I arrive in Sighisoara or the C., where my house is. If you are reading this, I am probably no longer in Chicago (where you have to pay for internet access), which means I may be in the Netherlands or Romania or somewhere else in the world.

You may recall that I was very excited about putting on an evangelism seminar at my church. It was fantastic and fun! There were probably 50 or 60 persons in attendance from six or eight churches, including a group from my Mexican church. My Mexican pastor translated the workshop into Spanish, and the Spirit moved powerfully among us. I was delighted to be present to see the Lord at work in the Church in Indianapolis! Thank you so much for your prayers! I apologize that it did not get recorded, but I can send you my notes if you ask.

Perhaps, though, you are more curious about the wedding--my sister's wedding. How did it go? Some people said it was the best wedding they had ever attended! I thought it was a lot of work! But I have to admit, it was very nice. My sister is beautiful, and her pretty dress and the outdoor setting accented her beauty as she married a good, godly man. The wedding included a brief ceremony, out-of-town guests, a reception under a large white tent, a surprise visit from a marching "clown" band, hay rides, dancing, and more. Not only was it a privilege to be there and to pray for them, but I was also delighted when Dad responded like this to the question, "Who gives this woman away?": "Her mother and brothers and I!"

Since the wedding there has been a lot of clean-up and several visits with friends and family before I head back overseas. Now I am trying to get back in the Romanian mindset as I let the Lord lead me where He wants me, in His perfect timing.

A great example of that supernatural leading happened today. I ate yesterday at a "torta" restaurant owned by friends of mine from the Mexican church. When they found out I was headed to Chicago today, they offered to take me along with them, so I ditched the Megabus and had a great ride up with them! They dropped me off at the airport after we had a Mexican seafood lunch--can't beat that!

There were so many special blessings during these past two weeks. They included getting to meet up with former Romanian missionary, J., and meeting her best friend, S. and family. I also got to see my cousins from Arkansas and meet the wife of one of them for the first time. My parents' church gave me the privilege of sharing a bit last Sunday morning, my Mexican church prayed for me Sunday evening, and one ministry group I belong to prayed for me on Monday night. I spent quality time with my sister and her (now) husband; I also spent quality time with some of my best Christian friends and mentors, as well as with my parents and my brother and his girlfriend. I also enjoyed listening to Moody Radio, which is one of the things I miss most about living away from the USA.

This short visit sped by quickly, but I feel rested and eager to dive back into God's blessings in Romania. Thanks for your prayers, and please do not stop praying! I made time for many of you while I was in town, and I was blessed to do so. Please forgive me if we were unable to sit down and talk during my American blitz. The one thing I did fail to do while I was in Indiana was to catch up on my nearly two hundred emails--I chose personal interactions and sleep over emailing, so please be patient as I try to catch up now. And thank you to all of you who made time for me, who sent or tried to send gifts with me for people in Romania, and even for me. You are each a blessing in my life.

I am praying for you, and I bless you in the Name of Jesus the Christ!
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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?