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Archive for February, 2011

Daylight At The Doi Ponei

Posted in Community, Formation, Missions on February 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Sinaia is a resort area in northern Romania.  It is nestled in a deep-cut, narrow valley that runs north and south with rugged mountains jutting up on both sides for a breathtaking setting.  The Doi Ponei (Two Ponies) sits up on the mountain on the east side of the valley.  On top of the mountain just across the valley from the lodge there is a cross.  In the early morning, the first visible light from the lodge is on that cross (a fitting setting for a winter retreat).

On the last day of Winter Retreat, little was stirring before the sun came up.  I had gone down to the dining area to read in the quiet before the students began to wake up and get ready.  But as the sun hit the top of that cross on the other side of the valley, I began to hear movement.  In the next few minutes, an entire small group began to trickle into the dining hall.  They had decided to get one more session in before the end of the retreat so they all agreed to meet at 7:00 am.

I was amazed at their dedication (especially when I learned that many of them had stayed up until 5:30 am the night before playing games and hanging out).  There they were, Bibles opened and carrying on a discussion with Kimberely, their group leader, about worship.

In that moment, I had a serious reality check on my own dedication.  There are days when I can’t even seem to get motivated to set aside time to read scripture – and that is after a good night’s rest.  They hungered for time together and time with God.

How about you?  How’s your dedication today?

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What To Do, What To Do?

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on February 8, 2011| 2 Comments »

I realize that part of it may be jet lag, but this began last Thursday, long before the trip home from Romania.  For the past several days, I have woken up between 4 and 4:30, and been unable to go back to sleep.  For those of you who follow my ramblings, you have heard me say that it seems God wakes me from time to time just to talk.  And of course, I am really perceptive – normally it only takes 3 or 4 days in a row before I begin to pick up on the fact that maybe I should spend the time in prayer.  Well, maybe not 3 or 4 days, but I am not always the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to this area.

I am not sure I have pinpointed exactly what I need to be learning from my early morning encounters but I do know this: God allowed me to be a part of an amazing Red Page Ministries team serving in Romania this past week and I am forever different because of the experience.  I was humbled to work with students who are truly hungry for the Gospel.  Here in the states, our students hunger as well, but it is rare to find a group of so many students, gathered together at one time and place, who are all seeking God with a passion for a real and meaningful relationship.

 

My mind has been racing since we left Sinaia wondering what comes next?  What would God have me do?  Where is God leading in relation to what our team has just experienced in Romania?

I have to be honest, I have been home less than 24 hours and my head is still spinning from it all.  So it is going to take me some time to process the experience and begin to work through who I have become because of it.  I will continue to work through my thoughts and emotions and continue to seek God in this.  As clarity comes, I will be sharing here.

But until that time, here is something I do know that affects today – this moment: God does not call the equipped, he equips the called.  You and I are called to make a difference in our world – not some day, this day.  How are you going to make a difference in the life of another today?

I would love to hear what God does through you today!

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Raul Is The Man

Posted in Missions on February 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I have several new friends from my time in Romania last week.  One in particular is on my mind this morning.  Raul is 14.  He is a happy guy – always smiling and laughing, and wow, can that kid eat!  The first afternoon, the group went sledding during their free time.  I am not sure exactly what happened but Raul and his sled parted ways at some point on the run and he stopped himself with his left cheek.  For the rest of the week, he looked like he had carpet burn just under his eye.  But that did not slow him down!  He continued to laugh and have a great time.

Someone had brought an old guitar that would not stay in tune.  Raul was always on that thing, picking out tunes.  The last night, he and Joe (one of our amazing team members) sat around for a couple of hours, passing that guitar back and forth.  Joe would show Raul a new chord or rift and Raul would pick it up right away.  Before long, several of us were gathered around singing praise songs while Raul played.  He may not have hit every chord just right, but for what he lacked in musical accomplishment, he more than made up for in passion and enthusiasm.  It was a picture of what heaven will look like I think.  People gathered around from different ages and different races, worshipping together.

Raul, during the course of the week, committed his life to follow Jesus in full-time professional ministry.  He decided that God is calling him to preach.  Even after knowing Raul for only a short few days, I believe he is right.  And he didn’t waste any time getting started.  The day after returning home, Ovidiu asked Raul to lead the Bible study at his church.  I haven’t heard how that turned out, but I am confident that Raul was himself – and if that is the case, then the love of God flowed from him like a flood.

Continue to pray for the students of the Winter Camp Romania 2011.  Today marks the first day back into school or work or whatever their daily routine entails.  It is easy to worship God with all you have when among family on a retreat.  Its much more difficult back in the daily grind.

 

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Humbled By Prayer

Posted in Missions on February 4, 2011| Leave a Comment »

In my last post, I shared about the moving experience two nights ago, of having students pray for Jeff’s sister-in-law as she was being rushed in for an emergency C-section.  The baby – Jacob – and mom are doing fine.  It was an answer to prayer and I was privileged to be present as Romanian students lifted the family up in prayer.

As moving as that was, last night I experienced something like never before.  I have never been more humbled as I was last night just before getting up to preach.  We sang a song in preparation for the teaching time.  Then Ovidiu stood and asked us all to stand.  He led in prayer in Romanian and then began a season of prayer in which students all over the room took turns praying out loud – each in Romanian.  I could not tell what any of them were saying, but there was one word that I had no trouble picking out – my name!  They were praying for me and asking God to use me to bring His word to them.

Now I have been prayed for by people before, and it is always a touching experience but never have I felt so humbled as I did last night.  God moved last night.  I would like to be able to say it was because of my eloquent speaking or my ability to connect with the students – but that would be a far cry from the truth.  God was moving long before I stood to speak.  The hearts of the students were open and hungry.  Honestly, I could have stood and simply read from scripture and not preached a word and the response would have been the same.  Why?  Because we, as the American team, had the unique opportunity to join in where God is already at work.

God is at work here in Romania – the people are hungry.  As Jesus said, “the fields are white and ready for harvest” – all that is needed is laborers!  Are you interested in joining in with what God is already doing?  Red Page Ministries is ready to connect you to where God is working.  Will you take that step?  You won’t regret it!

 

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Some Things Cross Language Barriers

Posted in Missions on February 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Some things simply cross cultural and even language barriers.  Last night, I got my first taste of Romanian games.  It reminded me that laughter is its own language.  We played for a couple of hours and it did not matter if we understood the Romanian language or not.  We laughed together and enjoyed being together, sharing the joy of Christ.

The love of God knows no language barrier either.  One of the most moving experiences of this trip for me came last night during our worship time.  Just as we were headed to the service, Jeff got word that his sister-in-law was being taken into surgery in Houston for an emergency C-section.  Jeff shared the news with the group and Ovidiu stood and asked us to stop and pray for Jeff’s family.  He called on two students to pray for Jeff’s sister-in-law.  As I sat and listened to two Romanian students, one after the other, pray in their native language for someone they have never met but because of their love of God and for Jeff, I was moved.  I was reminded that love transcends any barrier.  God is alive and well in Romania and it is such a blessing to be here and be a part of it.

What barriers have been placed in your life?

 

 

 

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A Castle and Worship

Posted in Hope, Missions on February 1, 2011| 4 Comments »

Romania is a very unique country – full of history and beauty.  This morning, after breakfast, the students moved into their first small group Bible studies.  I had the chance to listen in on one of those for a few minutes.  I am not sure if it was the intimidation factor of having an American leading the group or if it was just that they loved listening to Kimberely’s southern accent or a combination of both, but they listened intently as the discussion was begun about worship.

After the small group time, we all loaded up and drove a few miles away to tour Peles Castle.  It was an amazing display of craftsmanship and history.  I learned that Romania was ruled by a monarchy for a brief time – from the late 1800’s to the mid-1900’s.  This castle was built by the first king of Romania.

 

As we toured through the rooms, looking at all the ornate woodworking and attention to detail of just about every aspect of the structure, I thought about all the people it must have taken to construct such a masterpiece.  What commitment!  It took somewhere between 300 and 400 people nearly 30 years to finish – to make it a home worthy of the king.

Now, the property is leased by the state and stands as an historical reminder of a day when Romania was different.

All of this made me think about why we are here in this place this week.  We are here to lead students to a new understanding of worship.  It took nearly 30 years of unfailing commitment to complete the Peles Castle.  All to honor a king with an impressive summer home.  How much more should we be committed to brining honor to Christ?

That is the heart of worship – giving of ourselves to please and honor God!  Have you worshipped today?

As I write this, the group is spending the afternoon on the slopes of one of the most popular ski areas in the country.  I am still not feeling well, so I decided staying in might be the wiser thing to do.  But after dinner tonight, the group will meet again to continue thinking about worship.  Jeff Scott will be speaking through an interpreter about what worship must have looked like in Jesus’ time.  Pray for God to speak through him this evening.  Pray that the hearts of the students will be open to what God has to say.

Pray for a movement of God to begin here in this country through these students!

 

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