Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • impressive

    —

    Dana

    This school year, in addition to my administrative duties, I am teaching two classes of seventh grade boys, mostly twelve-year-olds. Our topic for the year is ‘the life of Christ’ and I feel privileged to lead these guys in the study of our Savior and the search for His will in our lives.

    “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival according to their custom.” (Luke 2:41-42)

    Almost every student has recounted a time of being separated from his parents and each remembered the panic that ensued. No one had a story of being lost for three days though. And no seventh grader can fully comprehend what any parent feels as they search for a missing child. How relieved Mary and Joseph were to find their Son!

    With Bibles closed, I asked my students to tell the reason the teachers in the temple courts were impressed with young Jesus. In each class a boy replied the way most adults who have gone to church all their lives would answer: “He was teaching them many things and they were impressed with His knowledge.” It is true that “everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:47), but the Scripture does not say Jesus impressed His elders by teaching them. What we do read are three ways any twelve-year-old can amaze his teachers.

    “After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:46)

    “Guys,” I said, “Look what Jesus is showing us! When He was your age He knew how important it was to sit, listen, and ask good questions. You can do the same!”

    As I gave this inspiring pep talk to my fifth period class, one of the students fell out of his chair. We’ve got a long way to go…

    “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52

  • missionaries

    —

    Dana

    I recently read a book entitled Evidence Not Seen written by Darlene Deibler Rose, a missionary called to Indonesia in the late 1930’s to serve with her husband Russell Deibler and several other American and Dutch missionaries. The dedication to learn languages and to embrace harsh living conditions in order to bring the Gospel to unreached peoples is inspiring.

    The subtitle of the book reveals that the dreams of the young missionary couple did not go as anticipated: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the islands of the South Pacific became danger zones. The Deiblers and over 1,500 others were rounded up by the Japanese and imprisoned on the island of Celebes. Eventually the men were taken to one location and the women and children were held at a place called Kampili.

    The cruelty of their captors and the terrible living conditions drove believers to ask many difficult questions: “Where are You, God?” “Why would You call us to preach the Gospel and then allow us to become prisoners of war?” “Will we survive this horror?”

    Some survived; some did not. The Gospel was preached; there was just a different audience than expected. And whether one felt it or not… God was there. The greatest testimony of men and women of faith who enter any fiery furnace remains: He is with me.

    Russell encouraged scores of prisoners of many nationalities, but the sicknesses of the jungle wore down his body. He died in captivity in 1943. Darlene was not told of her husband’s death until three months later and her sorrow was overwhelming. “Why God? What is the purpose? Will You take me too?”

    The Japanese leader of her camp, who was guilty of personally beating and killing prisoners during fits of rage, was touched by the grief of the twenty-six-year-old American. When he tried to explain that such are the happenings in war, Darlene was given the grace to share what Christians know is true.

    “Mr. Yamaji, I don’t sorrow like people who have no hope. I want to tell you about Someone of Whom you may never have heard. I learned about Him when I was a little girl in Sunday School back in Boone, Iowa, in America. His name is Jesus. He’s the Son of Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth.” God opened the most wonderful opportunity to lay the plan of salvation before the Japanese camp commander. Tears started to course down his cheeks. “He died for you, Mr. Yamaji, and He puts love in our hearts – even for those who are our enemies. That’s why I don’t hate you, Mr. Yamaji. Maybe God brought me to this place and this time to tell you He loves you.” With tears running down his cheeks, he rose hastily and went into his bedroom…

    After being a POW for nearly four years, the war ended and Darlene was freed. Of their close circle of missionaries, eight died during imprisonment and seven survived. Darlene returned to America, eventually re-married, and served for over thirty years with her husband Jerry Rose as a missionary in New Guinea and Australia.

    Some joyous news came to Darlene years after the war. “A friend vacationing in Java happened upon a priest who had just returned from bicycling in Japan. While in a small coastal village, the priest had stopped at a bicycle shop for repairs. Striking up a conversation with the owner, who spoke Indonesian, the priest discovered that the man had been the commander of the women’s POW camp outside Macassar during World War II. The owner asked the priest if he ever met any of the women who had been in Kampili, to tell them he was sorry he’d been so cruel. He said he was a different man now. Later Darlene heard that Mr. Yamiji had spoken on radio, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Japanese people.”

    Hebrews 11:1
    “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (KJV)
    “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV)

    Quotes from Evidence Not Seen, by Darlene Deibler Rose, published by Harper and Row, ©1988, pp 111, 224

  • neighbors

    —

    Dana

    Two boys were playing in the Atlantic Ocean on a holiday weekend not far from their Florida home when they were caught in a rip tide. Bobby saw them and without hesitating swam to his fourteen-year-old and eleven-year-old sons. He got them on their boogie boards but could not overcome the pull of the current. Bobby Klein died while saving his boys.

    This tragedy took place a little over ten years ago. Bobby and I were two of a group of friends who constantly played football, basketball, and baseball in the neighborhood. We also spent a lot of time at each others’ houses. Bobby’s dad William owned a grocery store in Chattanooga. He did not talk about it, but we all knew William Klein was a survivor of the Holocaust.

    I was thinking of Bobby last week and found his dad’s recorded testimony in the archives of the Holocaust Museum in Washington D. C. Later in life, Mr. Klein decided he needed to share his story of growing up as a Jew in a small town in Czechoslovakia and the terrible persecution from Hitler’s evil regime. He visited schools and spoke on radio and television programs.

    I had not heard Mr. Klein’s voice in over forty years until I listened to the ninety-one minute recording. Jews were forced to wear the yellow star of David in his town early in 1943. Then in 1944, William, his brother, a sister, both parents, and a brother-in-law were forced into a crowded cattle train for a three day foodless journey to Auschwitz. Separated upon arrival, Mr. Klein never saw his parents or sister again. After two months in Auschwitz, William, his brother, and brother-in-law volunteered to work in Warsaw, Poland. A few months after arriving in Warsaw, 11,800 prisoners were forcibly marched to Germany; only 800 survived. The three relatives were imprisoned in Dachau until the war ended in 1945.

    Mr. Klein told his story in a matter-of-fact manner. He said Jews should remember, but not hate; hatred only destroys the one who hates. He recalled his childhood when Jews and non-Jews in his town looked out for one another. Minimalizing his own suffering, Mr. Klein often gave credit to God for allowing him to survive. Fifteen-hour work days, beatings, injuries, and inhumane living conditions were viewed as obstacles to overcome. He, his brother, and brother-in-law tried to help others as much as they could while witnessing cruelties beyond description.

    Mr. Klein died at the age of eight-three, six months before his son died rescuing his grandsons. I think he would have praised Bobby for reacting as he was taught to live. Mr. Klein’s only boasting was about his family in Czechoslovakia and his family in America. His simple analysis: “We loved one another.”

    I learn these lessons from my neighbors, the Kleins:

    • Do not hesitate to rescue someone in danger, even at risk of losing your life
    • Do not hate those who are consumed with hatred
    • Do not seek pity, even though you have suffered greatly
    • Encourage others through your own experiences
    • Treasure your family; honor your parents; love your children

    “My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within, my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed… Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on Him.’” Lamentations 2:11, 3:22-24

  • opponents

    —

    Dana

    Some opponents of a life in close fellowship with God are not necessarily wrong in and of themselves. For example, it is good to be aware of what is taking place in the world so we can share kingdom-centered thinking with others, but when troubling news and endless quarreling detract from our joy in the Lord, we can easily grow depressed with problems we will never solve. In communion with Him, God wants to give His children the ability to walk in the light and be peaceful voices of hope in a dark world.

    Opponents of fellowship with God often tempt us to only seek pleasure in the temporal. As a coach, I’ve seen many benefits of athletics. Young people learn to work hard, to work together, to persevere though hardship, and to show good sportsmanship in all types of situations. But when a sport or other activity consumes all our thinking and time, a person can easily forget the eternal purposes of God.

    Even work can be an opponent to fellowship with the One who loves us most. “Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered. ‘You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:40-42)

    Incredibly, Jesus says ‘only one thing is needed’… surely the one thing is Him! The late Henri Nouwen had a chance to visit with Mother Teresa one time. Here’s the account of his experience:

    Once, quite a few years ago, I had the opportunity of meeting Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I was struggling with many things at the time and decided to use the occasion to ask Mother Teresa’s advice. As soon as we sat down I started explaining all my problems and difficulties – trying to convince her of how complicated it all was! When, after ten minutes of elaborate explanation, I finally became silent, Mother Teresa looked at me quietly and said: “Well, when you spend one hour a day adoring your Lord and never do anything which you know is wrong… you will be fine!”

    When she said this, I realized suddenly that she had punctured my big balloon of complex self-complaints and pointed me far beyond myself to the place of real healing. In fact, I was so stunned by her answer that I didn’t feel any desire or need to continue the conversation. The many people waiting outside the room to see her could probably use her time better than I. So I thanked her and left. Her few words became engraved on my heart and mind to this day.

    As we live on this earth, let’s not forget the ‘one thing’ that is needed.

    “Come to Me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

    Quote from Here and Now by Henri Nouwen, The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1994, pp 118-119

  • fellowship

    —

    Dana

    img_0787Susan and I spent the holiday weekend with Kinsey and Karlyn at the beach. Two-year-old Owen was there, as was his baby sister who is waiting to be born. Perhaps there is nothing we enjoy more these days than having fellowship with our children.

    One evening in July, Taylor came to see me in the hospital. We talked a long time… about family, kids, school, coaching, and memories. I felt great while we visited, but after he left the chills and fevers returned. That sleepless night, God impressed upon me the joy of fellowship He has with His children.

    We know there is great benefit in prayer. We make our requests, we intercede for others, and we ask for blessing. But fellowship involves a different dimension of prayer life. If Taylor had simply entered my hospital room, asked for things he wanted me to do for him then exited, I would have felt a little sad. Of course I would have loved my son, but I might have wondered why he didn’t want to hang out a little longer.

    That night I also realized how many decisions I make without ever consulting the One who knows all. I was thinking of a particular situation when it seemed the Lord said: “If you had asked Me, I would have said…” This was not a rebuke and there was not an ounce of condemnation, but it made me realize that, though the Creator of the universe constantly invites me to His throne, I rarely take advantage.

    It is not uncommon for Taylor, Kinsey, or Karlyn to call for a little advice. “Dad, here’s the dilemma… what would you do?” They want know what I think. When Jesus went by Himself to pray, He must have spent much of His time listening and watching. “I tell you the truth, the Son can only do what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19) “Whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say.” (John 12:50)

    Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ teachings, His good works, and His love flowed from constant fellowship with His Father. “Lord, help us not forget to sit at Your feet and listen and learn. Thank you for offering us fellowship with You.”

    “It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to Me.” (John 6:45)

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