This is what God can do

I have talked here often about how God continually surprises. I don’t know why I am amazed every time that He does something that I did not expect. Why did I not expect it? Is my faith so small? I have to remember the disciples in the boat as the storm raged and Jesus slept. “Don’t you care that we are going to die” they asked Jesus. He woke up (I imagine him rubbing sleep from his eyes, calmly yawning and looking at them with amazement) and said, “Why are you so afraid? Where is your faith?” Then he told the storm to be quiet and it listened. It is THEN that the disciples really got frightened. “Who is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

I have told so many people about this truth. I have seen it in our lives time and again. And still God surprises me because I forget how mighty He truly is. These last months have been some of those times. Let me tell you about one of them. 

For years we have cared for our sister in Christ, K. We have counseled her and her husband, who is not a believer. She came to Christ years ago and has done her best to be faithful in spite of the many efforts of her husband, F.,  to thwart her. He has struggled with all sorts of things in his life as well. When we counseled them, he tried to understand how to change, but couldn’t really see anything that he was doing as wrong. 
Most recently F. has also struggled with the relationship with his sons. This frustration often led to explosiveness. He would mention to all who would listen: “I can’t be held responsible for what might happen if you don’t …” The threats were often not even veiled. So at a point, K. let him know that he was not welcome in the house when he came home on the weekend from his ship (he is a shipper on the canals). 
He could have fought this - even physically. He could have come home, his home, and smashed things up. He had done this in the past when he had been out to a cafe drinking. But he said that he didn’t want to do those things. He had often said that he wanted to change. Now, as he was confronted with the reality that he really wasn’t desired and that his behavior would no longer be accepted, he started to think. 
He still had regular phone contact with K. She let him know that he could talk to me if he needed. So F. called. We talked. Or he talked and I listened. But he became more and more aware that he needed to change. In the end he stated very clearly, “I know I need to change. I want to change, but I don’t know how. I need help.” And when I made it clear to him that we all need help and cannot change without the strength of God, he asked, “Do you really think God can accept me?” 
Yes. Yes I do. At least, that is what I have told people for so many years, including F. And so I stated it again - even though I was not at all sure that F could be changed. Was he too far gone? Had he damaged his life and relationships far too much to be able to change? God had shown me in His word that this was not so. Look at the apostle Paul. Look at each of the apostles. John says that the blood of Jesus can cleanse every sin (1 John 1:8-9). 
After several meetings over several weeks, trying to make sure that F. understood what God was saying to him and what was needed, we came to a decision point. F had already said that he wanted to be a new man. He understood that it would not be easy. But if it was possible, and I was telling him from the Bible that it was, then he wanted this newness of life. So on September 27, F was baptized into Christ, washing away his old life and putting on the new which is being transformed by the Spirit in Christ. 
He knows that he needs to show that he is changing, allowing God to change him. And he is trying. We don’t expect miracles, but we do expect change. And as I have mentioned, God always surprises me with what HE is able to do. We are thankful for our new brother in Christ. K is especially thankful - although she also wants to see for sure that her husband truly does want to change. 
This is just one of the amazing things going on in the congregation in Maastricht. God is putting people together here to care for one another and to help people grow in faith. And as this happens, more are being touched - and this in a time that it looks like (seems like) fewer and fewer are finding the beauty of God. 
The storm may be raging and it may seem that Jesus is sleeping. But that doesn’t mean that he is not in control. I am so thankful that God amazes. Let Him amaze you in your life. Expect the unexpected - even though you really can’t. He always does more. 

Thank you for your encouragement of us and for your prayers for what is going on here. We pray that God is continuing to bless you too ij all you do as you walk with Him, the almighty, loving Father. 

Disrupted

It is probably nothing new to you. You probably already know. I did, but I had forgotten. When things just go along as they should, or as I think they should, when everything is normal, we tend to fall asleep. I remember traveling with a recruiting group from York College called “Friends”. We would often travel from a summer camp in Wisconsin or Minnesota to a camp in Kansas or Texas, driving through the night to get there on time. We all shared the driving duties, but the night shift was for our manager, Scott Lambert and Brett Osborne, who was reliable. We didn’t want anyone falling asleep at the wheel. 

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)

It is interesting to see that when God is saving His people, He never does it the way that they anticipated. As a matter of fact, it is almost always in a way that no one expected and most have difficulty accepting. The people fleeing Egypt ask Mozes why he brought them to this sea where they are caught between a watery death and death by Pharaoh. But Mozes hadn’t brought them there, God had. 

When the disciples finally come to Jesus and ask/plead to send the crowd away to get something to eat, Jesus has other plans. He is the one who talked so long and knew that it would come to this. He knows what He can do with a young boy’s lunch. And when the disciples tell Jesus about his friend Lazarus who is sick, Jesus decides to wait a bit longer because he knows what he is going to do. God likes to surprise us. Or is it that we simply have a hard time expecting what God can do and are thus always surprised?

It is not God’s purpose that we all have a nice quiet life together. That is not why we are here. We have come to Jesus to join his kingdom and fight to free ever more people from the slavery of sin and death. Paul tells Timothy, “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” (2 Tim. 2:4). So I shouldn’t be surprised when my life gets turned upside down. I should hunker down and move the direction God is taking me. After all, that is why Paul mentions the footwear of the Roman soldier in Ephesians 6 - the gospel of peace. 

God is the Master of using disruption for good. Satan likes to disturb and destroy. There are all sorts of ways that Satan keeps us busy. And sometimes he just wants us to fall asleep. But that is not why we are here - and God makes sure that we know that. So I am trying to see best how God can use me in this time. Wait a minute - let me rephrase that. I don’t need to see how He is going to do it. I don’t need to understand. I simply need to keep doing what I know He desires and trust in His strength and might. Then He can use me mightily - however He wishes. 

We still cannot get across the border, where most of our work was going on. We are trying to keep in touch with seekers in other ways - using computers, phones or good old snail mail. The church has jumped into the silence, stirring up the ‘everyday’ with all sorts of ‘unique’. We are talking to each other more now than before, concerned with each others spiritual health and growth. We are praying not only for the good health of those around us, but are more than ever aware of the need to pray for spiritual salvation. 

The sun is shining outside and has been for the last several weeks. We have started to get used to the way we do things in these corona days. Each day often looks like every other - so much so that we sometimes have a hard time remembering which day of the week it is. Time for this to be disrupted. The government here has communicated their plans to move out of isolation. I am excited and wondering what God will do next. No matter what, I am trying to remain faithful and ready to follow wherever He will lead in the coming days. 

Maybe we will go back to some of the activities we had before. We are still hoping that our summer Bible camps will be allowed to continue. Maybe we will be forced into some completely new ways of doing things. But no disruption will be able to take me away from Him who has conquered and makes me a conqueror. 

It is time to wake up, O sleeper. Walk in the Light, every day. Here is one of my favorite songs (written by my colleague) expressing this mighty passage: Romans 8:31-39.  

Step by step

I remember being thrilled that I could go to school, the excitement by every move we made to a new home, the feeling of slight dread when I realized I would be low man on the totem pole next year in high school, the wonder at being chosen to travel with a great bunch of guys to sing for people all over the US, and on and on. There are so many moments of change in our lives. And each one may seem huge at the moment – or just the opposite – but each one is important.

God is there at every turn. He sees what is happening with us, to us, and remember what we felt all those times in the past. Better yet, He knows what is coming – and doesn’t let us know. Imagine if we didn’t get to experience those changes, those challenges! But He does let us know, again and again, that He will always be there, even when we do not allow Him in.

Recently we enjoyed being part of some of these important, exciting moments. Sean graduated cum laude with his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Erasmus in Brussels. It was a privilege to be able to be there and share this with him. We enjoyed seeing how he interacted with all of his teachers, seeing how the man he has become (is still becoming) cares about others.

This past Sunday the congregation in Maastricht celebrated our sister Willemien’s 95th birthday. She has not been able to attend worship for quite some time, so it was wonderful to have her there to sing with and to enjoy a meal with afterwards. She may not remember everyone, may not be able to see or hear everyone, but she knows that God is there with her as she continues to walk in the Light. Exciting!

Take the time today to think about how God is there with you, in your moments, guiding and helping whenever you allow Him to be the mighty God that He is.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:1-6

Automatic pilot

The Advanced Bible Study Series (ABSS) in Germany always sends me home with plenty of new thoughts and lessons on which to ruminate. Some of them even come from the teaching during the day, but often my most important challenges come from discussion in the afternoon during a walk in the snow, or from the activities during the day. This time a real chewy thought came from a basketball game.

Those who know me know that I love to play basketball in Gemünden at ABSS. Yes, this study week is always held in February in the Taunus area of Germany. This is also one of the other reasons I love to go – to get my “snow fix”. In Belgium we don’t usually get much snow. Gemünden does. So last year we played basketball on a court covered with about 5 inches of snow (imagine dribbling on that). This year the snow stayed away and we had a clear court.

It is always a challenge to find folks to play. Doyle Kee is always out there, and I am always ready to play, but finding others willing to test their bodies is usually a test in marketing skills. We play for fun, so those who don’t know how to play are always welcome. And that is where many of my lessons come from. Do I really play for fun? How fair do I play and when am I too competitive? Do I focus on what matters and on helping my teammates or on my own misgivings and failings? Sports are great for life lessons.

This year we had the pleasure of playing with someone who had only ever played rugby. I still remember the first time I learned about rugby (at our Bible camp in the Ardennes). I am from the United States, so I know a little bit about playing with a stange shaped ball. I tackled a guy running with the football and brought him down and was quite pleased with myself, until he simply got up and ran further, finally celebrating hysterically in the endzone. But I had tackled him! He was down! Ah, yes, but in rugby one does not stay down (oh – there’s a good lesson!). Which is why rugby players don’t just tackle you, they take you out! They don’t pull anything, but barrel on forward in order to stop any forward motion.

So, back to the basketball court in Germany, our new player (who has previously only played rugby), quite quickly understands that he must defend against the guy with the ball and keep him from reaching the basket. After a few rough exchanges and the explanation that basketball is a non-contact sport (in principle anyway) he tries to adapt his behaviour. But it is not easy to learn stopping on a dime, like basketball players do. It is especially hard when you have always been used to going full-steam ahead until the opponent stops!

By the third day things were working a bit better, but I was already churning through what might be an important lesson. Some attitudes and actions are highly and firmly ingrained into us from an early age. And the more we have “practiced” them, the more ingrained they become. Simply explaining to someone that things are to be done differently (changing the game rules) doesn’t change everything right away. The person might understand completely what they are to do, they simply can’t do it right away.

Am I then willing to be patient, even taking some rough hits, while my brother learns to adapt his behaviour? And then I thought about all the people who had been so patient with me (are so patient with me). Had I simply expected and taken for granted that they would be patient with me? Now there’s plenty to chew on. Thank you, those of you who have been patient, who are still putting up with me and who have taught me part of what is now starting to sink in. 

This old house

This house is full of sounds. Every door has its own special creak. And don’t get me started on some of the floors! When the boys were younger I thought that this was perfect – no sneaking around without us knowing. If their bedroom door opened, I knew it, even in my sleep.

After years of practice, I know how to get around most of these sounds (and so, probably do the boys), so when I woke up early in the morning I made an effort to be quiet on my visit down the hall for a call of nature. But for a moment … for a moment I was surprised at Sean’s open door. Even in the dark and without my glasses I could see that he wasn’t in his room, he wasn’t in his bed. Then I remembered that he was spending the night at his friend’s house.

None of this changed the sudden feeling in my heart – a feeling of exhilaration, of worry, of change. This will soon be a regular scene. Last night we got to talk again to Stephan as he is starting his fourth year at Harding. And Sean is not yet gone to his study in Brussels, but it won’t be long. He’ll be home on the weekends, but there will be less creaking around the house.

Exciting – we are so thrilled for the things the guys are learning, the people they are meeting and the opportunities in their lives. Change is different. We have to adapt. Things will not be the same. But they will be good – of that I am sure.  Exhilarating, a bit scary, but full of expectation.