BLOGS FROM DEAN’S TRIP TO FRANCE LAST MONTH
I am now in Lyon, having traveled by train from Lille here this morning. It was a three-hour trip, but I was able to work the entire time on my computer and even answer emails.
Much is going on right now at our camp, in my family, and with life in general. But I wonder: Is God unhappy with me (ergo the troubles that seem to be avalanching) or is the Enemy unhappy—because someone seems to be throwing all the discouragement at me they can. I am not the ideal father, pastor, camp director, businessman or friend. But, of this I am perhaps ahead of many: I know whom I serve and I am certain that He is in complete control. That does not mean that I am always happy with my circumstances or the difficult “odds” I face. But He has never made a mistake with my life—and this work, this trip, this adventure in Europe was dedicated and surrendered to Him weeks ago. “Have your way Lord!”
I cannot immediately appreciate why He does not "pour out His blessings" on all the tasks He assigns to me, but sometimes the “blessing” are not witnessed by wild success or incredible achievements. It is often years later that I recognize His hand upon my feeble efforts, and I am sure that it will not be until I am long removed from this earth that many (most?) of His intentions are completed and realized. My task is simple: Be faithful and humbly obedient. My greatest enemy: The demand immediate gratification, praise and recognition for my work.
To be clear, this has been a good trip and wonderful things have happened. But while I had hoped for a “home-run” the first few days I was here, it’s been slower—more like “a couple of walks to first base”. And yes, I always shoot big, and I am often disappointed; but later I find out that what He orchestrated was even more significant for His Kingdom that I was planning. For example, I was hoping to interview a couple of staff from France for counselor positions. But instead, this afternoon I interviewed two young adults from India! I had hoped to enroll at least 50 French campers this week, but it looks like it will be far less, and that I will have to come again in January! But then I received a request to enroll 50 to 100 campers (again) from India. I did not come to France to talk to parents from India! But that seems to either reveal God’s sense of humor, or some sort of divine methodology of getting campers from farther away. Now it appears that I will be going to India for a week to meet parents, etc. (I fully expect to be on the phone interviewing staff from New Zealand or Australia, while I am there, if this trend continues.)
But I recall the apostle Paul, on more than one occasion, made plans to go one place, was delayed, and headed in another direction with greater results. In any event, we will probably have double the French campers this summer we had last year—and a matching number of Indians!
Isn’t God good?
SECOND BLOG
Light and darkness….hot and cold…. sweet and sour. These are extremes I have experienced this week in France! Hot on the plane--cold on the streets of Lyon. Dark when I was wide-awake the first few nights in my hotel—very bright when I was too tired to get out of bed. The French are masters at creating sensational food that tempts the palate with incredible contrasts in texture and taste. Sweet and sour, hot and cold, etc. Only one time, in 38 years, have I had a meal I did not like in France. (It was “andouilette sausage”, it looks, smells, and tastes horrible and has an easily identifiable aroma of decay. It’s made from pigs stomaches and other organs. I do not recommend without a lot of hot mustard).
But in terms of contrast, I am appreciating, or at least noticing, in some emails I receive, among people I meet and on the phone and texts, the difference between the “odor” of the disciple of Jesus Christ, and the smell of those that are not. Over here, I am not suggesting that French folks look, walk, eat or drink different. French people are French. But the lightness, joy, smile, assurance and peace that permeates those French walking with Jesus is obvious—at least to me. Lille, for example, is a very religious part of France. It’s all about large families, very devoted to Christ, clear about right and wrong, and ever praying. Lyon is a contract. I don’t see the Lyonnaise as being less French, but a bit less kind, warm, embracing helpful and thoughtful. There are kind people here, to be sure, but they seem far more prevalent in Lille—which is a cloudy, flat, cold city, whereas Lyon is warmer with more beautiful vistas and beautiful architecture. And yet the human warmth of Lille makes it the place I would choose to live if I relocated to France. There is a spiritual presence in Lille that I don’t sense in Lyon, Marseilles or Paris.
Likewise with some of the emails, texts and calls I have received this week I’ve experience sweet and sour, hot and cold. I told my eldest, Greg, to be careful not of those that miss church every now and then, nor of those that admit they were less than honest about something. No, those are folks that have hope—at least they’re genuine and not “actors”.
The ones that scare me, the ones I want him to be careful around, are those in the worst darkness: they are the ones that tell you they “never lie”, or that they are “very devout Christians”. I’ve come across these sort of people many times before, and I’ve never met a bigger liar than the one that swears he never lies. And no true follower of Jesus goes around reminding you that he is a very dedicated and committed Christian. A person that is committed to Christ is first of all humble—and second, aware of his/her shortcomings were it not for Christ.
And yet….we’re called to bring light to a dark world. Sometimes those in darkness aren’t even aware of it—we’re called to pray for them and lead them to light. Pray for me, please, to witness to the light, the heat, the sweetness of Jesus Christ. And may He have mercy when I fail to be an astounding contract to the dark, cold disgusting nature of one that does not know Jesus…..
FINAL BLOG IN FRANCE
I am heading back to Lille today to collect applications from parents, answer more questions and assist them with completion of the forms. Sending a child to another country, with no parent to accompany them, is scary, and to send them to a place you’ve never visited yourself, adds to anxiety. This is the primary reason these foreign visits, i.e. my trips, are so importation for our camp. The parents want to be reassured, face-to-face, that their children will be cared for and protected. There’s nothing more precious to any mom or dad than their child(ten).
Sometimes I am not sure that our summer counselors realize the trust and confidence parents are placing upon them; not only teach a sport to their child, but to love and care for them as surrogate parents. It’s an awesome and weight responsibility! And ultimately the parents will hold me, the one they met in Lille, Paris, Lyon, etc, accountable.
As a pastor I consider all those that look to me in faith, similarly. I do not know how many people have placed their faith in Christ because of me, but when I think about it, sometimes it does cause me to “shudder”. Yes, on the one hand, what a blessing to have been of use to my Savior. He uses me to share the good news, and some of His children come to trust Him and receive Him as their Sovereign Lord. But oh, the awesome responsibility—the weight-- of knowing that souls have trusted their eternal destiny to the authenticity of my testimony and assurances.
Those of us entrusted to share the gospel, according to James, should be quite careful. "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1, NIV). The point is to be circumspect of what we teach! Are you? Are you certain and sure of what you share? Have we studied the Word of God effectively and thoroughly? Have we experienced confirmation and peace about what we teach from the Holy Spirit? I am not saying this to cause alarm that my blogs, devotions are heretical, but rather to remind myself and those of us who teach, and counsel others, to take very seriously that which we profess to know—and to wisely label our own ideas and opinions as just that—our opinion and ideas.
In ministry I’ve learned to be wary and keep a distant from those that claim to routinely "hear God”, or explain things and elaborate on things that appears unorthodox or contrary to a generally accept understanding of the gospel. We’re called to, “Preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (Saint Paul).
Speaking the gospel will not come back void, but diluting it, altering or changing it, is something we’re clearly told not to do. I must trust in the Holy Spirit to properly set God’s Word on fire in my heart, and then faithfully allow that flame to warm their hearts of those that do not know Him. But I must not present the gospel as anything else than it is: God’s loving provision and plan for a world at war with Him.
My goal must be to lead them to Him, and then, if helpful to the cause of Christ, to be forgotten. But woe to me, or any other pastor, that causes one seeking Him to stumble or turn away. Sobering, isn’t it?
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