Monday, January 3, 2011

If Jesus Comes Back Tonight...




Location: The apartment's kitchen at the ministry base in Sighisoara, Romania, on the 3rd of January, 2011, at 7pm.

Warning: this will be a long post! One of my Swiss friends was reminding me that sometimes I write very long posts. Of course, that is for a couple of reasons. First of all, I love to write. Second of all, I have a lot to tell you about! Third, you can always read less than I write, but it is very hard to read more than what is there if I do not tell you enough about what you are interested in! So I will write a lot, and you can pick and choose which parts you want to read. Oh, and enjoy the pictures. They may be the last ones for a while because my camera seems to have had a burn out. At least, it is not working, for no apparent reason. That, however, is a problem for another day!

Last you knew, I was geared up for hosting a LOT of people from Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, American, and other places in Romania, before heading to Budapest. Well, I survivied--even flourished--among the horde of visitors, and the trip to Budapest was cancelled because a snowbound flight prevented the lady needing to fly out of Budapest from ever arriving in the first place. So let me tell you about our week.

As you recall, we had a long Christmas drive home from Switzerland. I am not sure I mentioned that the police stopped us in Germany or Austria, probably simply because we had a Romanian license plate. However, they let us continue without hassle, and we arrived in Targu Mures in the afternoon on Sunday, where I helped P. unload and picked up our team's van to bring it back to Sighisoara for them. I arrived in the evening and managed to get some sleep before "Outreach Week" hit the next morning.

On Monday, a very tired me managed to get the van stuck in the beautiful fluffly snow that covered the mud left by some road construction, but after digging out the tires with the window scraper and backing down the one-lane street for about 400 meters, arrived at the base to join the newly-arrived Belgian team in kicking-off our week (they are pictured above, at the dinner table). At that point, I had no idea just how much of a blessing those folks would be to me! My collegue, S., asked me to co-lead the team, and we were both overwhelmed by how wonderful these folks were. They were ready to help at a moment's notice, and they were a united group, full of joy and peace. They enjoyed laughing and loving, and with them it was a pleasure to overcome every challenge we faced during the week!

Later that day the rest of the folks arrived, mostly from Switzerland. It was a great joy for me to be reunited with several folks I had met last year, some of whom I had visited when I traveled through Switzerland last February. By the second day, our dream team consisted of about 10 Belgians, a Swiss family of 6 (the mother of whom is actually Dutch), a German backstage expert from New York, and my Swiss buddy, P., and one of his team members from Targu Mures, and a handful of folks who were part of our team for a day or two, depending on translation and other needs. The other American who came turned out to have lived six years of his life only about 15 or 20 minutes from where I lived with my parents in Indiana, and he is my age! Our team did ten outreach programs, and the Swiss team did about the same. We had some decent challenges at the beginning of the week with trailer-light problems, a run-away van, a host who told us no kids would come, wrong turns, snowy roads and dangerous weather, etc., but by the end of the week, it was smooth sailing and LOTS of fun!

Only today did the last 10 people leave, and their prolonged stay was really a bonus because we got to visit extra with the ones that stayed for a few more days. For example, the majority of the folks left on January 1st after we counted down the New Year from the top of the hill overlooking the city, where our panorama was perfect to enjoy the fireworks shot off from the citadel. Later that afternoon, we all went to my home village of C., where I received an unexpected blessing: the team gathered in my one-room house (the most people ever in there!) and prayed for me and the house! How humbling, and how splendid! Then we rode horses and hiked in the snow, up to the hilltop meadow where we had summer camp. I had not planned to ride, but ended up riding the most spirited horse bareback! I do not think I have ever galloped so fast, and hanging on was the name of the game! One of the horses took a spill on a slick spot, sending one of my local friends skidding across the snow, but both horse and rider were fine. Mine tried to fall a couple of times, but managed to keep her footing, and I managed to stay on her back! Talk about exhilerating! What a fine afternoon we had!

Yes, I had a great time with new and old friends. Here are some of the highlights of the week. In on of our weekly neighborhoods, we were invited to do our program in the school, and five-hundred kids were invited. When we arrived amid a few transportation set-backs, the principle told me the NO children would come. I assured her they would, and agreed that that was my problem. Soon we were holding the kids back just long enough to get the too-small room set up. Because we were late getting the sound system ready, I jumped on a table-top in the midst of the group to try to get control of the situation. Never did I dream we would be up there for the whole program, but soon my collegue joined me, and we did the whole show on a runway-like table in the middle of a crowd of boys and girls! Excellent!

The last two days' programs were super, too, as by then we had really gelled as a team. Each day I was involving different people in my entertainment roles, and we used juggling, sound games, stories, songs, colored scarves, clown antics, and more to keep the kids laughing--often they did not want to leave when it was their turn to go receive presents! We had a beautiful live manger scene played by several of the team members, which really drove our message home: Jesus is the greatest gift of Christmas, and He wants to be YOUR Savior!

You know, I got to lead worship and devotions a few times, and I spent a lot of time in prayer and Bible study myself. But one of the most memorable lessons from the Lord was in the kitchen on New Year's Eve, when I was listening to a young Belgian fellow pour out his heart. He is studying video game engineering and the like, thirsting for God's call and waiting until he hears it clearly. I love his heart, and it was a real treat to listen to his fervor. At one point, I made a point about his studies, joking a bit that he could stay in Romania instead of going home, because his exams were not so important. After all, if Jesus comes back tonight, I pointed out, the exams will not matter anyway! As you can imagine, in a house with nearly 70 people in it, there is no privacy, and there were others nearby. When I made that comment, a Swiss lady I do not know started dancing and jumping around, saying, "Oh, if Jesus comes back tonight! Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus!"

That made me think. Am I so ready for Jesus to come back? I hope so! Are you? Are you unable to keep yourself from dancing at the mere thought of Jesus returning tonight? Let us anticipate His return with joy! What a day of rejoicing it will be! And if you are not ready, I encourage you to get on your knees right now and ask Jesus to make you ready. Give Him your whole life and ask His Spirit to dwell in You, that His holy life lives in and through you, for your good and His glory! What if Jesus comes back tonight? Yippee!

Yes, this was a great week. There were challenges, of course, tough decisions, mistakes, and more. I was very tired, slept little, and worked from dawn to dusk. I even had to help plan and lead the New Year's Eve party! You know I hate games and parties (*wink*)! But God watched out for us. Our toughest outreach was not pretty, but it was still closer to a success than a failure, and it certainly could have been a lot worse! The Lord protected us from a van whose parking break did not keep it from rolling toward a group of children, and a Belgian teacher led the way in pushing children to safety and stopping the van's momentum. He protected me when I unknowingly stepped on a rusty nail; it came up through my tennis shoe and grazed my sock before protruding out the side without injuring me. And who knows how many times He sent his angels in the midst of pushing crowds, icy streets, and more? I certainly drove quite a bit; one day I drove five different vehicles!

So now, please, continue to pray. Pray that the Lord's Word will bear fruit in the lives of the people in the communities we entered. Pray that the team members would not forget what they saw, and that they would see Jesus more clearly each day! Please pray for the rest and recovery of the folks who gave all they had and more, who are fighting colds and exhaustion and jet lag. And please pray for you, them, and us--all--to be ready when Jesus comes back! It could be tonight...
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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?