It came in a dream

Showing his scar

Before a single bomb fell in his village in 2011, Peter (nor real name) had a dream that bombers were coming.  Incredulous, his neighbours did not believe him but he decided to move.  The bombings came soon after.  A cement building nearby was struck and started a bush fire that spread throughout the area.  

God, in His grace had warned one of His children of the impending disaster.  There have been many miraculous stories of His grace in terrible situations.

Peter now is studying theological education and hopes to graduate soon.  Though the future in many ways is still uncertain for him, our Father will likely continue to whisper into his ears directives for him to follow.

Will we also have the courage to hear His still small voice and obey when we hear it?  Though the subsequent running in the bush from continuous bombings has left him a visible scar on his shin, it also serves as a reminder to me of God's mercy in sending His word ahead of time to His children.

Life and death at work

(May 28, 2013)
I don’t understand how life can be at work in us if death is at work in you.  How can the two work together?  Grief and sadness took over and it was hard to see “life” for the “death” that seemed omnipresent.

Phillip was the principal of Gideon Theological College (GTC).  This college was named after Gideon Adwok, who was killed on the Nile river in the mid 1964 for being part of the church.  This Bible college started from very humble beginnings.  After the end of the civil war, the college moved from Khartoum to where it currently resides in  Melut, Upper Nile state.  There it struggled for a long time understaffed and underfunded.  Phillip, despite the many challenges, chose to stay on even when the government came calling and offering a better salary and greater status but his heart had always been in training young men and women in the Word.  He brought the best of ecumenical work, intertribal cooperation and had a wonderful heart of service.  One student said of him, with tears, “he took me in without any references.  He didn’t know what kind of person I was but he accepted me.”  His unexpected death came, therefore, as a huge shock to the faculty, students and his family and friends.

The day summed up: the pain of tears
and the victory of the cross

The service was held in his home village of Dangji, some 4 hour drive from the college.  A combination of speeches from those who knew him as well as songs of worship characterised the service.  As each song began, the air was filled with both praises and wailing.  How could both mourning and praising coexist together?  How could both “life” and “death” be at work in the same place?

As I took one step back from the service I noticed the two trees: one full of leaves and the other sparsely covered.  One looked like “life” while the other, in comparison, looked “dead.”

Then, our gaze slowly started to shift from the created to the Creator.  This God that we all serve is the God who created all things and who by His great   love for us sent us His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins while we were yet sinners (Rom 5:6-11).  This God that we serve tamed the rough waters when they seemed too much for us (Mark 4:35-41).  This God that we serve also bids us die to self so that we would live for Him (Gal 2:19-20).

In fact, we are already dead.  We have crucified the old self and our life is not our own.  We are the works of His hands, we are beloved of God, we are His servants.

Pastor Andrew lifting the mourners to praise

So it seems to be with the funeral.  On that Tuesday afternoon, both death and life were at work and the result was praise to God.  There was intense pain but also victory.  Through the ephemeral nature of man, somehow, the eternal nature of God seemed to be cemented.  This brought us faith, hope and “life.”

But there is greater news yet.  Even the tree that looks quite dead in comparison to the “live” one is indeed not dead.  Even so, those who have fallen asleep will rise again.  Ultimately, life prevails and death is defeated.  This is the hope of our life: that we live with Him eternally.  When we see Him face to face, oh, what a day that will be!