Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Back in the Saddle




Location: My house in C., at 11:00am on the 15th of January.

This has been an amazing week metaphysically and relationally! I moved back to my house in the village, and you know I am back when you see me doing laundry by hand again, and when I am back to hitch-hiking as a normal means of transportation! Perhaps you think, "Poor J. has to do laundry by hand and has to travel by hand (his thumb)!" Yes, but I am thankful for two skillful hands that work well, for clothes to wash, for people to meet and places to go. In fact, yesterday I was blessed when I bought another plastic bucket. Now I can get two pails of water every time I go to fetch water, and that makes life a lot easier! Yes, now we are a two-bucket household!

What do I do with all that water? Well, laundering clothes takes quite a bit, and I also use it to make tea. You see, I am thrilled to tell you that I hosted four friends for our first official men's group meeting on Thursday night! I was in my heyday, and though I did not have a lot to offer my British, German, and Romanian buddies, I was able to offer them tea, coffee, and gummy bears. I bought instant coffee knowing that someone would like some even though I do not drink coffee, I had tea out for the British blokes, and the gummy bears were from Germany. I laughed when they marveled at the selection I offered, saying how American that was! I said, normally I would only have one thing to offer, but the rest came from America, sent by my mom!

No, men's group was spectacular, and I cannot wait for the next one! Unfortunately, I think I will miss the next one, because I will be teaching English for a day in a public school in Hunedoara (as I have done in the past). Yet I already did our "homework" for next time, researching in the Bible what a "man of God" is--in other words, what does it mean to be a "godly man"? This is a topic very dear to me, for it is my greatest goal in life, and the Lord has been teaching me much about it. For example, I made my list from 1 Timothy 3, Titus 2, 1 Corinthians 13, and Exodus 34:6. This is a weighty topic, and I am sure we will continue to discuss it beyond the meeting I will miss. This week we talked about and prayed for fathers, our fathers, the impact and influence fathers have, etc. Worldwide, we need strong Christian fathers, and it is certainly no less true in this area of Romania! I am very, very thankful for the earthly father God has given me.

Speaking of fathers, I am teaching the lesson for a children's program today, here in C. Even before men's group, I had started preparing it, and the topic is "God always fulfils his promises," looking at the call of Abraham in Genesis 12 to 17. However, the Lord had impressed upon my heart that I need to teach about fathers to these kids, most of whom do not have a good paternal role model. This will be particularly difficult because I am speaking (in Romanian) to the children, not to their fathers. By the time you see this, I will have already taught, but I pray now that the Lord will call some of you to pray for me about this. It is very important, and very delicate. But God wants to be our Father, and He will see to it that His Word is spoken clearly.

Not only am I teaching today, but my friend and fellow men's-group member, R., asked me to translate his sermon into English again in church tomorrow. It is very fun and a great honor to stand side-by-side with such a passionate man of God, having prayed that the Lord would speak His Word clearly through each of us, and watching the Spirit reach into the lives of the listeners. However, it is also quite a challenge for me, as my Romanian is merely one year old, and leaves a lot to be desired. Please pray for this, too.

Thank you, by the way, for all of your prayers for me. I believe so strongly in God's habit of answering prayers, that I lean on your prayers constantly. For example, I battled what became quite a miserable cough earlier this week, but the Lord has now healed me. Thank you for your prayers. And did I mention about the powerful message that God gave me for my village of V.? I had told my mentor I would not go with him on Wednesday as normal, because I was sick. However, Tuesday night, the Lord gave me a very clear teaching for that village through a friend's advice to read Joshua 2. In the morning I was feeling much better, and I caught a couple of buses that landed me in the village just in time to have some guy-time with my friend and then to teach our weekly Bible Hour. The Lord showed me that Rahab the prositute was condemned to death along with the rest of her city by decree of the LORD Himself. Nonetheless, she clung to hope in His mercy, even defying her king's direct orders, and through this was saved, along with her family. Not only was she supernaturally spared, but she lived with God's people and became the great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor of Jesus the Christ! Like when the Angel of Death spared the Hebrew children at Passover upon seeing crimson lamb's blood on the doorposts, Rahab's family was spared when the destroyers saw a crimson rope hung in the window. We, too, were condemned to death along with the rest of the world because of our sins, but God spared us supernaturally when he saw the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, upon us. If we surrender to Him, we, too, have the privilege to live as part of God's people, even being adopted into the family of Jesus. Wow!

So as you can see, a lot has been happening in the spiritual realms. I have been praying a lot, too, so please do not take offense when I spend time with the Lord instead of spending it with you. Add to that eight hours of French and English instruction, wood for my fire, a visit from my buddy P., and some catching-up on rest, and you will understand why I have not yet been able to write like I hope to, or to respond to emails. I hope to start doing that now, but I decided to fill you in from the blog to encourage your patience to endure a bit longer until you hear from me personally.

And since I am "back in the saddle" in village life, I am including a few pictures of that horseback riding adventure I described a couple of weeks ago. I am praying for you, and I certainly appreciate your prayers for me as I dive into the lives of the people around me relationally, spiritually, educationally, and in any other way the Spirit leads. I bless you in the Name of our 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?