Two Seasons . . . .

We were told when we first moved to Africa there are basically two seasons in the year here, wet season and dry season. And true enough, there are months when it rains a lot and months where it rains less. They were right that flowers bloom through them all and a vegetable garden will produce all year. But even so, there are two distinct seasons.

My personal experience is also summed up in two seasons. Our lives seem to cycle between the two seasons of Lent and Advent. Sorrow and anticipation cycle through with great regularity, each one following the other. Sometimes I let them get all mixed up and then neither season can produce the fruit intended in my life.

Sorrow shows up like an unexpected thunderstorm in dry season, showering me with heaviness and pain. I know that entering into the sorrow is what brings joy on the other side, but when the billows of grief seem to never end and continue to build day after day it is hard to desire to lean into the storm and forge on ahead. I don’t expect Lent to show up when I am eagerly anticipating someone’s arrival, or some happy event or some long felt desire to be fulfilled. But Lent storms in nonetheless, unbidden but with the purpose of refining and cleansing and fulfilling God’s purpose.

Loss brings sorrow and catapults me into Lent. Co-workers departing for their Home Ministry Assignments, experiencing the effects of sin in our world, witnessing an unforgiving spirit, death of loved ones, broken relationships and so many other losses keep the season of Lent lashing its effects much longer than I want. Can’t I just hurry up and get to the next season?

I like Advent. I enter that season with deep gratitude and a sigh of relief. It is refreshing when it comes. I love anticipating good things coming! Currently I am looking forward to our son’s arrival here. He is coming in just two months! I get so excited when I let my mind carry me forward to seeing him walk out of customs at the airport, getting to give him a big hug, having time to talk without fearing the internet connection will drop off, etc. Ahh, so eager to get there.

But that isn’t the only thing I have to anticipate. I celebrate the Advent of Jesus into lives of people I know. I have such fun hearing testimonies from my Ugandan women friends who freely share how God is working in their hearts, how others are telling them they can see a difference in them. I look forward to the singing and dancing in worship on Sunday mornings in church (though I get tempted to let the LOUD volume send me tumbling into Lent). I prepare for the arrival of Jesus into hearts of those for whom I am praying. I pray with celebration, claiming Jesus’ victory over sin and death to bring victory over evil spirits in local communities here.

Advent gets me through Lent. Looking forward to Jesus’ return and being in heaven is my lifeboat in the deepest sorrow. Christ is coming again and He is redeeming all of creation to Himself and He will fully accomplish His purpose. These truths shine hope and joy into the darkest of griefs and help me enter the sorrow of Lent, knowing that true enough, life will bloom and I will grow and be all that Christ intends me to be. His best is both seasons, working together to bring the best fruit.

Two seasons aren’t so bad…the cycle brings life and hope and joy in the morning.

Changing perspective . . .

We have been hot when exercising hard. But nothing like we were hot just walking across the housing compound in South Sudan. Being in Tonj, South Sudan in the dry season changed our perspective on hot.

We have been excited when we’ve learned God’s revelations to us through His word. But maybe never as excited as some of the South Sudanese during their recent training on Biblical orality. Their excitement at learning how to simply tell the stories of the Bible brought tears of joy to our eyes.

One man told us, “I am old. It is too late for me to learn to read and write. But hearing and learning Bible stories will allow me to share the Word of God with others and I am so happy!”  By the end of the three days of training he then said, “Now I realize that I must learn to read so I can read the Bible myself. Then I can learn more stories faster and be able to share more of God’s word with people.”

Sarah told how she planned to apply the storytelling she learned. “This is good for even an old woman like me to learn. Where I live the water is far and we have to walk long to reach there. I will have enough time to tell the story and help the other women discover for themselves the treasures in God’s word.  Thank you for teaching me this.”

Hearing these testimonials changed our perspective on excitement about learning God’s word.

We enjoy gardening and get pleasure out of planting and harvesting. Being part of the Community Health Empowerment training in South Sudan, including teaching on “Farming God’s Way”  (click here to read more) changed our perspective about good stewardship of our agricultural resources. Experiencing the excitement of pastors and other subsistence farmers as they learned truths from God’s word that apply to their farming practices thrilled our souls.

The shared experiences in South Sudan changed our perspective. Somehow it was no longer too hot to be out working the fields for harvest. The harvest is plentiful and praise the Lord for the laborers He is raising up in South Sudan! (See links to photos of South Sudan to the left)

 
Now in Uganda again we pray to understand in ever increasing measure God’s perspective in every situation, every day. Yesterday we received word from one of our Africa Gospel Church leaders that many sorcerers have gathered in his community from all over Uganda. They are drumming and sacrificing to the demons, proclaiming they are setting people free from spirits that burn people’s houses. They are spreading the word that Christians are weak and have been defeated by the demons.  He requested prayer for his community.

Please join us in praying for that community. Please pray that God’s perspective on what is weak and who has been defeated might be known. Pray that Truth will be proclaimed and many will turn to Him. Pray that God alone will be glorified and the Christians strengthened as they praise God and call upon Him for protection and deliverance.

The spiritual battle is strong this Easter weekend. Join us in boldly celebrating our Victor and claiming His victory. Our perspective as His children is different than that of the world, and we want to be useful as His change agents, changing perspective wherever He leads us.

The cup . . .

March seems to be “coming early” this year.  It was just the other day we were anticipating Christmas, anticipating celebrating the birth of Jesus and now we are in the midst of Lent, the season of Easter.  

Often during both the Christmas and Easter seasons a word or a phrase related to the season becomes a focus of my thoughts.   Recently, I’ve been focusing on the phrase “the cup”. 

The cup, what is it?   The cup was a common Jewish metaphor either for joy or for divine judgment against human sin. Jesus applied this figure to Himself for He was to bear the wrath of God’s judgment against sin in place of sinners (cf. Mark 10:45; 14:36; 15:34). He would drink the “cup” voluntarily.  The cup, for Jesus was his emanate journey to the cross.   It was a journey to the place of willing sacrifice, willing obedience to do the will of His father, to do what he had been sent by the Father to do.  

During this Lenten season, Christine and I have been pondering thoughts written by Henri Nouwen in his book  “Can You Drink the Cup?”  (click here to read more) In this book, Nouwen reflects on the question Jesus asked John and James after their mother asked Jesus if they may sit on His right and left hand sides in His kingdom: “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” Nouwen uses the cup as a metaphor for our lives and breaks it down into three parts: holding, lifting and drinking. “Can we hold our life, lift our life, and drink it, as Jesus did?” 

To hold it:

Before anything else we must hold “the cup.”   To hold the cup is more than just living our life.   Nouwen states, “Holding the cup of life means looking critically at what [how] we are living.”   Christ demonstrated he was living for His father’s purpose.   The question which comes to my mind is, “Am I living courageously for Christ in every joyful or sorrowful circumstance?   Am I living in a way which helps connect people to Jesus?”

To lift it:

In lifting “the cup” Nouwen shares it is “Lifting our cup means sharing our life so we can celebrate it. When we truly believe we are called to lay down our lives for our friends, we must dare to take the risk to let others know what we are living.”  The question I’ve been pondering is,  “Am I lifting my life with all of its joys and its sorrows for others to see and encouraged so they too can lift their lives and connect others to Jesus?”

To drink it:

Nouwen writes that drinking “the cup” means “this is my life . . . I want this to be my life.”    Drinking the cup is recognizing we have been created uniquely by God and for His purpose. Regardless of circumstances in our lives, whether joyful or painful, God’s love and contentment in Him is enough.      The question I’ve been pondering for myself is, “Am I content with what God has given me and am I content where God has placed me?”    

Just as Jesus demonstrated unconditional selflessness and love for me, I too desire to demonstrate that same kind of love by holding, lifting and drinking “the cup” God has given me.  

Serving Him with a grateful heart,

Jeff