Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • here and now

    —

    Dana

    The message at the funeral I attended last week did not bring back the dead or dry all tears, but it did speak a hopeful truth. These words from Paul’s sermon in Athens were read: “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:26-28

    The Newsboys sing this acknowledgment and prayer:

    You are the Author of knowledge… You can redeem what’s been done.
    You hold the present and all that is to come.
    Lord, I don’t know where all this is going… Or how it all works out.
    Lead me to peace that is past understanding… A peace beyond all doubt.
    You are the God of tomorrow… turning darkness to dawn.
    Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on.
    Oh, Lord, You are the Author… redeeming what’s been done.
    You hold us in the present… and all that is to come.

    Despite all we do not know, there is one thing for certain: God wants people to find him. God put us all in our place in history in the location we live with a great intent: “… so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out and find him.” The psalmist wrote, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Those that taste him hunger and thirst for more. He is not far away… and he wants to be tasted.

    The person that tastes the Lord is changed… priorities shift and a new passion arises. The person that finds the Father wants to know him more and no mountain or ocean or valley can stand in the way. If possessions are a hindrance, he’ll get rid of them. If knowledge has puffed him up, he will become a fool. If a cross must be carried, he will pick it up every day. The way to the Father is through the Son and Jesus calls a disciple to a life of total abandon. “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

    Paul was one who tasted God and he could not shrink back from an all-consuming quest. What else matters? Nothing… but to be found in Christ! In him there is righteousness… a righteousness not of our own. In him there is holiness… without holiness, we cannot see God. In him there is peace… the peace that passes all understanding. In our time and in our location, may we press on.

    “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

  • ligaments

    —

    Dana

    The privilege of worshipping God in different countries brings a little insight into the Body of Christ. While we don’t see this Body perfectly, God does, and he is preparing a bride for his beloved Son. As we worshipped in one of the poorest areas of Namibia, the Name of God was lifted up and a part of the Body of Christ (Namibian and American) listened to his Word.

    Here’s a summary of the sermon the Sunday before Easter: “We are the Body of Christ. Jesus is the Head of this Body and he ties us together with ligaments that allow us to function. Do you know what ties us together? It is love! Of course ‘God is love’… so he ties us together, but we must participate with him. If we do not obey what the Head commands, the Body does not function properly. ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.’ Brothers and sisters, we do not have a choice in this matter; we must love one another. Through this we will grow, as each one of us does our part. ‘Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful cunning. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’” (Ephesians 4:14-16)

    Such a message is as important in our land as it is in anywhere. The love of Christ has no national boundaries. The love of Christ has no status boundaries. The love of Christ has no positional boundaries. We are all members of one Body. Each of us is different with our own part to play. God has chosen where we are placed and how we are to function. But whatever our gifts, whatever our role, we must love.

    I went to a funeral yesterday of a twenty-one year old friend who died of a drug overdose this past weekend. The grieving mother is a native of Brazil but she is a dear sister. Her younger, nineteen year old son dresses differently than my kids, but just like my children, he desperately needs to know the love of a Heavenly Father. How does this happen? How do all the young people who came to pay respects to their friend recognize that there really is hope in this world? I know only one solution: the all powerful, penetrating, perfect love of God. Oh may we be his instruments. May his love flow through every part of the Body of Christ. May the world know there is a God because his children love one another. May we love others as Jesus loves us.

    “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those that rejoice; mourn with those that mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:9-16

  • intercede

    —

    Dana

    We had a great trip to Namibia. I thank God for his protection and provision for our team of eighteen. I got to accompany our missionary friend, John Hunter, as he went to the doctor to get final results of a bone marrow biopsy. John does not have multiple myeloma, but a similar though less aggressive cancer called Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia. According to the medical community, this disease, which causes a thickening of the blood, is incurable but treatable. John and Suzanne will probably travel to Cape Town, South Africa soon to meet with a specialist. Their son, Christian, is a doctor at the Harvard School of Medicine so there is much investigation taking place in the States too. I know the Hunter family treasures all prayers.

    One of the assignments our team was given this year was to intercede for the children and teachers of Community Hope School located in an area of the capitol called Katutura. This large section of Windhoek is a township where non-whites were forced to move in the late 1950’s. Apartheid still impacts many inhabitants of South Africa and Namibia. Katutura, meaning “a place where we will never settle,” is known for poverty, disease, and hopelessness. But the Light of Jesus shines brightly in all places where God’s servants pour out the Father’s love. Suzanne told us that a couple of weeks before our arrival the devil had been active in bringing fear and unrest to the young students in their school. Satanists had left evidence on the property of proclaimed curses and demonic manifestations had caused many of the children to be afraid. Suzanne’s words to our team were a bit strange to us Americans, but the spiritual world is very real in most sections of Africa. Witch doctors, sacrifices, and graven images are common in various pagan religions. Suzanne asked that we participate in spiritual warfare by walking through the neighborhood while praying for God’s will to be done. She wrote out Scriptures for us to pray as we walked. In the afternoons, our teenagers and adults trekked courageously through an unfamiliar part of the world praying for the lost, for children, for the hurting, and for all Christians in the area.

    At the end of the week, I joined John and five natives of Namibia to intercede specifically for the teachers, students, and friends of Community Hope School. During this time, prayers were offered for John and me and our families. This was a very humbling experience as I found myself in a circle of brothers and sisters praying in languages I did not understand with a love that can only be found in Christ. It is even more humbling to realize that as we intercede for others, Jesus himself intercedes for us. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

    I want to thank all who prayed for us the past couple of weeks. As usual, I felt great while out of the country. On these trips, I sense more than ever the wonders of the Kingdom. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. The Holy Spirit is our Intercessor and Counselor. God is our perfect Father. If He is for us, who can be against us?

    “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” Romans 8:26-27 (read the whole chapter!)

  • strange

    —

    Dana

    My friend Mark, his wife, and their two elementary-age sons have been faithful servants of the Gospel in predominately Muslim Asian countries. Persecution is more the norm in these lands and Mark often partners with Voice of the Martyrs to encourage and assist those in danger for following Jesus. Mark was in town recently and asked a group of believers an unusual question: “Do any of you going through present difficulty believe something strange is happening to you?” He then read Peter’s words: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” (I Peter 4:12) Of course, the implication of this verse is that we should not be surprised when we confront hardship. Suffering should not be considered strange in the life of a disciple.

    We all understand this was an important message to pass on to new Christians in the first century who often lost everything for their faith, but what about today? Mark can tell story after story of Asian believers losing property, homes, family members, freedom, and their own lives for the sake of Christ. When someone becomes a Christian in these places, the differences are so distinct that Peter’s words make sense. “Of course it is not strange that I will suffer for this Truth I have found. But I have found eternal life, so is it not worth it?” Mark can also tell stories of some who decided it was not worth it and denied Christ at a critical point of decision. Interestingly, Mark extended the meaning of this verse far beyond what we consider the “far-away-places-of-persecution.” If you are undergoing a certain hardship, don’t consider it strange. All believers are in the same Body and we all have a common enemy. With eyes on Jesus, Peter encourages us to choose a different attitude. “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (I Peter 4:13)

    We know such things as “rejoicing in the midst of suffering” are easier said than done, but Peter was not unfamiliar with difficulty. To embrace this mindset requires the Spirit of Christ, so we must constantly pray, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit and give me the mind of Christ.” We can also participate with those enduring hardship by praying in faith and serving them with God’s love.

    In light of this, I want to share recent news I’m tempted to call “strange.” Next week, Lord willing, we leave to visit and serve John and Suzanne Hunter in Africa. For years they have led a Christian school in the poorest area of Windhoek, Namibia. John has had a nagging cough for months and Suzanne urged him to check things out. After many tests, John has been informed he has multiple myeloma, the same disease I have. This is a very difficult time for the Hunter family. Please pray for them. Susan can be a good encourager for Suzanne while we are there, and I hope I can encourage John. There is no doubt the enemy hates the work being done to share Jesus with the lost and to rescue children from poverty and disease. I pray the Hunters, all the teachers, and all of us will remember that, in the end, Satan will be defeated and Christ will reign. In the meantime, may we all fight the good fight with our eyes fixed on Jesus – the author and perfecter of our faith.

    “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

  • amazing grace

    —

    Dana

    A re-test of the protein count I reported last week revealed an error. Instead of the level dropping from 1.3 to .5, it had actually increased to 1.8. After receiving so many words of encouragement and hearing so many praises lifted to our Father in Heaven, it is a little disappointing to send out bad news, but I know we would all rather deal with factual reports than false ones. No matter what report we receive from a doctor, these things I mentioned last week remain true: God is faithful, the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective, and the Father is worthy of all praise. I’m in the middle of another round of chemo before our trip to Africa, so we treasure your prayers.

    Our Namibian mission team went to see the movie AMAZING GRACE this past weekend. This is the powerful story of William Wilberforce and his battle to end the British slave trade. As a young lawmaker, William sometimes went to talk to an aging minister he respected as a man of God. This pastor, John Newton, had inside knowledge about the slave trade because of his own involvement before he was saved. One of the most famous hymns of all time was written by a “chief of sinners.” If you get to see the movie, you’ll be moved by the attitude of John Newton and you’ll be motivated by the perseverance of William Wilberforce.

    The greatest explanation of the Gospel of Christ was written by another man who called himself “the chief of sinners.” Jesus rescued Saul of Tarsus and molded him into his own image. Paul, John Newton, William Wilberforce, you, and me are forever indebted to the One who gave his life that we might be reconciled to the Father. By grace we are saved, by grace we are called, by grace we learn to persevere, and by grace we finish the race.

    We are foolish when we treat God’s grace haphazardly. We can never use such a gift as a license to sin. The German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer boldly disclaimed the idea of “cheap grace.” The wise know we are in need of God’s grace every day and in every season of life. As Saul entered the Kingdom of God, the Lord told his servant, Ananias, “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” By grace he was saved, by grace he was chosen, and by grace he endured the suffering. By grace William Wilberforce was saved, by grace he was given an assignment to bring justice to the world, and by grace he endured criticism, setbacks, health struggles, and every temptation to quit. With joy, John Newton wrote, “I once was blind but now I see,” but what did he think when he lost his physical eyesight? What did he sing as he approached death’s door? Oh to hold to God’s solid word: “My grace is sufficient for you.”

    Is it easier to receive a good report from the doctor or a bad one? When is grace most amazing? I was not most impressed that William Wilberforce passionately hated slavery. The Golden Rule should lead us all to despise injustice. What shines in the two hundred year old story of an English politician is the fact that he never gave up! What shines in the story of the ex-Pharisee who lost all for the Gospel is the fact that he seemed to grow stronger in faith the more hardships he endured. We sing the chorus: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!” Amazing grace is how we stand.

    “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:1-5

Random Post

Categories

Archives