Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • football

    —

    Dana

    We should all look for Jesus in our God-given passions. Andre Dobson, the son of missionaries, grew up in Calcutta, India and Cairo, Egypt. After his family moved back to the States, football became his favorite sport. He played running back at a small college before becoming a teacher and coach.

    image002I met Andre and his son Trey at L’Arcada as he led his sixth summer of American football camp. Trey, an eighth grader quarterback, was making his second trip to Spain, re-uniting with friends who greatly impacted his life two summers earlier. Using his sport as a vehicle for sharing Jesus with young people, Andre has also started a football camp in neighboring Portugal.

    In Spain, as in many other countries in the world, if you throw a ball to an athlete, the kid will likely let the ball bounce off his chest and kick it. But American football has a following in Europe. The NFL has recently promoted the sport there with the hope that it might approach the popularity of soccer. Even under the blazing summer sun of Spain, Andre loves to teach a novel sport to kids with a heart to learn.

    What I noticed quickly about Andre was his love for people. Not only do other American coaches often join him, but guys from Spain who attended the camp when they were teenagers also volunteer to assist. Some of these young men play in an American football league in Barcelona. Andre’s sense of humor and genuine kindness draw people. When kids find out that Jesus is the One who leads their coach’s life, they take notice.

    A goal of all the L’Arcada Sports Camps is to reveal that there is a God who created us, who loves us, and who has a purpose for us in Christ. For teenagers, it is often fun activities, relationships, and selfless love that help create the spark. Andre has established deep friendships in Spain that began with a sport, but progressed to a different level.

    image001God loves such connections. The day before Karlyn and I left camp, Andre invited everyone to L’Arcada’s newly built swimming pool to participate in an important event. Trey told his parents he wanted to be baptized, and that he wanted his Spanish friends to be present. So we all celebrated a young man being buried with Christ in a nation not his own. Though many miles separate, Trey knows he has brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who love him and are part of his spiritual family.

    May the light of Jesus so shine in us that others will take note and glorify our Father in heaven.

    “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” II Corinthians 4:6

    “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

  • Tania

    —

    Dana

    On our first day at L’Arcada in Northern Spain, all those preparing for a week of Sports Camp gathered in a small house to focus on the One who brought us together… the One we wanted all the campers to know. Going around the room, believers from several nations introduced themselves. One girl about Karlyn’s age said she was from Ecuador.

    Tania had a good job in Quito where she grew up in a loving family. She told her parents she felt it would be good to take a few months to travel to another part of the world to figure out her purpose in life. The parents agreed to her request and arrangements were made to visit Spain, a country where Tania had no family or friends.

    She ended up in Barcelona where all her money and important documents (except passport) were stolen. God’s mysterious ways began to unfold as a follower of Jesus met this distraught young lady and asked if she needed help. Tania was invited into the home of a Christian family where she discovered an uncommon love. The family’s small church took up a collection and all Tania’s lost funds were replaced. At the church she was also told of a camp she might like to visit a little further north.

    img_1999The leaders of L’Arcada met Tania and asked if she’d like to volunteer to work a few weeks. Karlyn and I met Tania during her first week of camp. A couple of days later we all visited Besalu, a town built by the Romans in the 10th century. Drinking coffee outside a café, Tania showed us a picture of her family on vacation and something looked familiar. “Where was this picture taken?” I asked. “We were in a town called Riobamba,” she answered. Karlyn and I just laughed as we have spent many weeks in Riobamba working with Pastor Manuel and his family. Should I think: ‘What a small world?’ or should I say: ‘Our God is an awesome God!’?

    Tania asked: “Mr. Dana, what is the will of God? I am experiencing things totally foreign to me and I want to better understand.” So how would you answer such a question? God’s will is that we all come to Him by putting our full trust in Jesus Christ, His Son who died for our sins and rose from the dead. God’s will is that His Holy Spirit live in our hearts and that we let Him mold us into the image of the Son. God’s will is that we find abundant life in Jesus. Tania soaked in every word with the sweetest smile on her face. We all prayed together and Karlyn paid for our coffees.

    Karlyn also gave Tania Pastor Manuel’s son Marco’s contact information in Ecuador. In a video chat a few days ago, Marco told us he got an interesting text from someone in Spain saying they had a mutual friend. Marco plans to meet Tania in Quito when she returns to Ecuador and help her connect with a church. Of course Tania is concerned her family will not understand her experiences in Spain but I told her God gives us wisdom and grace as we depend on Him.

    In a country where less than one percent know Christ, a young lady on a trip to a far country to ‘find herself’ instead found the One who created her and knows her better than Tania knows herself. Our Father in heaven longs for everyone to ask Tania’s simple question: ‘What is the will of God?’ May all find the answer in the Son of Man who was lifted up to draw all people to Himself.

    “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14

  • available

    —

    Dana

    At their church in Mexico, a friend put Abraham and Mario in touch with the leaders at L’Arcada Christian Camp and they arrived in Barcelona the same day Karlyn and I did. Both in their twenties, these guys came with a willingness to serve.

    No matter how small the task, it seemed either Abraham or Mario would be the first to volunteer. They were always available. On Sunday, the last full day Karlyn and I were at camp, Abraham led worship and Mario assisted. I then realized how talented they were and began wondering what is more important: ‘talent’ or ‘surrender’?

    Our world exalts talent; God exalts humility. (see James 4:10) God is the one who gives us our talents and He wants us to use them, but I think we have to determine to be humble. We’ll all be surprised in heaven as God honors His hidden saints who simply lived surrendered lives on earth with this understanding: “You have saved me, Lord, I am Yours. I am willing to go wherever You call me. Whatever you want me to do, however you want me to serve… I just want to honor You.”

    In the Catalonia region of Spain, the people love our nation. American sports, American history, and American culture are very popular. A couple of weeks each summer, L’Arcada holds Native American Camp. The lodging facilities for all campers and counselors are huge teepees that hold ten beds. Each teepee is named for a different Native American tribe. During the week of camp, many things are taught about nature, our Creator, and care for our world. The campers love it.

    mario_indianA Native American believer from the United States always comes to help lead these sessions, but this summer pandemic difficulties complicated plans. Shortly after Karlyn and I returned home, it was no surprise to learn that Mario volunteered to be the chief for a week.

    Perhaps, Jesus was the fastest kid in Nazareth. Some have proposed He was a gifted carpenter. Maybe He was a dynamic speaker… people sure listened to Him. But I would propose the Father was most proud of His Son for these two things: His meekness and His obedience. “I always do what pleases Him,” Jesus said. (John 8:29) What if we shifted our focus from ‘trying to be the best’ to ‘simply being available’?

    Of course we should strive to be excellent in all we do, but what if I spend all my money developing my craft and have nothing left to help the person need? Or what if I am so busy becoming the very best in my field that I am never available to serve the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters? What if I glorify God most when I simply present ‘myself’ to Him with no constraints?

    Jesus wants us to adopt His own surrendered mindset: “Father, I am Yours. I am willing to do anything You tell Me; My life is not My own. I place Myself in Your perfect, wise, and loving hands.”

    Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about Me in the scroll — I have come to do Your will, O God.’” Hebrews 10:5-7

  • real

    —

    Dana

    After changing planes in Paris, Karlyn and I landed in Barcelona and were picked up by Dave and Cindy Bintz. We joined a football coach and his wife from Indianapolis, two young men from Mexico, and Maggie, who was invited to lead the first ever cheerleading camp at L‘Arcada Sports Camp.

    img_6837Noticing her size, Karlyn asked Maggie if she was a ‘flyer’ and the answer was ‘yes.’ She coaches high school and college teams in Texas and she and her husband own a gym in Tyler. She is well-qualified, having cheered at Baylor University and for the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Rockets.

    I learned a lot from Maggie the week we were together. From our initial van ride through Catalonia, to daily work assignments, to welcoming kids the first day of camp, she did everything with excellence and enthusiasm. But Maggie’s ‘transparency’ impacted me most.

    An ‘honest and real’ person stands out. When calling Nathaniel, Jesus said: “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” (John 1:47) What a compliment! I think Jesus would give a similar description to Maggie: “Here is one without pretense… who has found her identity in Me. Here is someone you can trust.”

    Transparency produces transparency. Our group of thirty coaches and counselors were challenged by L’Arcada leaders to become a ‘team’ before the Spanish teenagers joined us. Physical work, team-building activities, time in God’s Word, eating all meals together, and occasions for fun and competition filled our days and nights. Each afternoon we met for coffee and snacks while five or six were invited to share testimonies and experiences with Jesus. I believe because people were willing to be ‘real’ with one another, God brought unity. Though there were vast differences among us, God’s Spirit bound us together in love.

    Honesty and transparency lead to vulnerability, but Jesus intends such an atmosphere to exist within His Body. If C. S. Lewis was correct, Jesus expects us to be vulnerable. In his book ‘The Four Loves,’ Lewis wrote: “To love is to be vulnerable.” And of course Jesus said: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

    “Full of grace and truth,” Jesus lived a vulnerable life of love. Knowing His message would not be understood, He revealed the kingdom of God. Knowing He would be persecuted, He healed on the Sabbath. Knowing He would be criticized, He ate with sinners. Knowing all would desert, one would deny, and one would betray Him, Jesus shared daily life with His twelve apostles. Knowing He would be killed, Jesus told who He really was… the Chosen King of kings.

    Today the Lord encourages us: “You are not perfect, but I am… trust Me as I live in you. Love others by being ‘real’ with them. Live in Me, and I will bring fruit.”

    “I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.” II John 5-6

  • camp

    —

    Dana

    Waiting in the Costa Rican airport for our return flight to Atlanta, I received an email containing an invitation to help friends in Spain prepare for an upcoming sports camp. Susan approved but since she was scheduled to work, she could not join me. So I turned to our daughter: “Karlyn, are you free in about three weeks to go on another trip with your dad?” I’m so glad she agreed… or I might still be lost in Europe.

    The Bintzes have lived in Spain seven years and lead the sports section of a Christian camp. L’Arcada, which means ‘The Archway.’ The camp is located two hours north of Barcelona and less than an hour’s drive from the French border in the Catalonia section of Spain. Susan and I visited Dave and Cindy in 2019 and were amazed at their incredible ministry in a nation where less than one per cent of the citizens claim to have a relationship with Jesus.

    campThe Spanish are a beautiful people, and each is precious to our Father in heaven. It is estimated that 80% of all who come to Christ in a given year in Spain credit a Christian camp with the reason. Karlyn and I joined eight other Americans, fifteen Spanish young adults, and a half-dozen believers from other nations to get ready for the upcoming session.

    I was reminded how God takes saved but imperfect people and prepares them to be His vessels of grace to bless those who don’t know Him. Like me, Dave Bintz is an old basketball coach who loved to compete and win. On more than one occasion, I’ve noticed tears in his eyes as he shares his present passion. “Dana, these kids who come to our camps don’t have hope unless they see Jesus for who He really is. We teach our sports well and we all love to compete, but our purpose is much higher. Most of these young adults who are now counselors began their relationship with Christ when they were campers at L’Arcada. Now they are pointing other kids to our Savior.’

    During upcoming writings, I hope to share lessons Karlyn and I learned, people we met, and things we experienced that remind us of God’s sovereign power and of our enemy’s resistance. The ages of the counselors ranged from 17 to 29 and most were using their vacation time to serve. It is amazing how the love of the Holy Spirit can bind children of God together so quickly. In our short week, Karlyn and I felt like we gained life-long friends.

    While we were preparing for the upcoming sports camp, another camp was winding down. One morning before breakfast, a Spanish leader named Peter and I talked about their week. He told me a story from the previous day.

    “At our evening gathering, one of our young counselors shared about our Heavenly Father. Remember, in our country there is such a sad history of people using religion as a weapon that few people even want to hear God’s name. In fact, we know parents sometimes tell their children: ‘Have fun, learn a lot, but don’t listen to the talk about God.’ After the assembly concluded, the counselor who had spoken saw two young teenage girls off to the side crying. She went to them and asked: ‘Did I say something that offended you? If I did, I am so sorry.’ The girls replied: ‘No, what you shared was beautiful. We just never knew anyone loved us the way you say God does.’”

    Is this not the desire of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit… to let God’s love be known? May this also be our goal and may our lives reflect our Savior in a substantial way.

    “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

Random Post

Categories

Archives