One More Thing

Last night Jed and I went with the Russian couple to have dinner with Art and Inger. Art was asking the couple about how they came to the Lord and the husband was translating for his wife and also telling his own story in his slow, broken English. By the end, we were wiping our tears -because his life story was so compelling and awe-inspiring. He himself was so choked up he could no longer speak. How sweet to never lose that sense of wonder at the mercy of God toward us unto salvation. To see that sort of tenderness toward Christ and to barely be able to speak of ourselves as a "son" without it breaking us even in the speaking is a gift in itself. Forget all that macho, super Christian attitude - - show me a broken and contrite heart who knows the blessedness of gratefulness - THAT is what I long to attain to! O Lord may we plumb the depths of the Cross and know the richness that belongs to us in You. We dare not think we may know You from our own initiative - we are desperate and longing for You to give us the will and capacity to know you. Save us from our evil presumption - that lurking thought that the cause lies in us. The cause is in You alone. Bless the Lord O my soul!

Random Delight

This evening we were very privileged to have some missionaries from Brazil share with us about the Wycliff Bible translation missions around the world. I have heard many people from Wycliff speak, but this is the first time I have really been moved and have understood what they are doing. The man who spoke was so humble and so genuine -he obviously had a real understanding of the gospel and the sole power of the Holy Spirit to transform ANY human being. I was so refreshed and I think he was refreshed likewise to find (so randomly) a group of believers of a like mind.

It is strange to realize that a little over a year ago, this was the greatest fancy of my imagination - my whole life I dreamt of living with a remote tribe and learning some unknown language etc. I did not consciously change my thoughts on the issue - I am not aware when that lust for "Christian adventure" died - but it most certainly has. So there I was marveling at how a single change of perspective...a revelation or inner enlightenment transfigures one's whole mind! I am not at all saying that I became opposed to such missionary work - but that my fleshly desire to do some amazing thing to "wow them all" just fell away. Of course it still sounds good to me - but to be quite contented with the Lord in the daily grit is altogether new for me. I guess THAT is what wows me these days.

The Russians are Coming!

Well - I have officially heard the word "nebbish" used in conversation about 50 times this week...amazing.

Yesterday Jed and I took a trip to Minneapolis to pick up some Russians that will be attending the summer school. Their names are Oleg and Anya. My life is complete, I have officially met an Oleg.

Some very interesting things have been taking place in my life these days. Extreme irony - I am still wondering if they really happened. Unfortunately I can not disclose such information here - but my point is that if these things had happened a year ago, I would have flipped and become an immediate basketcase. Quite timely were the selections from Oswald Chambers and the Psalms of the past 2 days. That's all for right now.