Somewhere in the middle of the night, I awoke and could not get back to sleep. The day’s heat had dissipated, and a cool breeze was coursing its way through the wide-open (and barred) windows of the apartment. Jim Herrington had moved from the 3rd bed in our sleeping room to the next room with a window which opened to the couch. Both Tim and I were clutching at the sheets provided for us to take some of the chill out of the air.
But sleep eluded me.
An hour later, more awake than ever, I rose and booted the computer in the next room. 3:00 AM. The relentless question, which presented itself even as I was falling asleep and now would not be denied, was “Why are some people afraid to change…to get serious with Christ and grow and give their lives without reservation to God?” Clarifying questions also sprung up: What does the Bible say teach about what spiritual growth is? And, what are the perils if one chooses not to grow?
There have been many nights when this same phenomenon happens to me, usually triggered by important questions which are unresolved when it’s time to sack out. Perhaps the mind, or the heart, does not shut down, and insists on waking me later. Perhaps the Spirit is in the wind wafting through this cramped apartment?
The following minutes were fun as the Lord and I worked on the next teaching set in the “Fear >> Courage” series for August 14. Here is the key idea, I think, to unpack from the Scripture on that Sunday morning: A spiritually growing person is someone who is deepening in Christ-like character, and (thus) widening in Christ-like influence. Some questions answered, sleep came quite easily.
Late Monday morning, the three of us awoke to a quiet apartment. We spent the balance of the morning, and later in the evening, sharpening our thoughts about offering graduate-level ministry training to the young church leaders we would interact with on Tuesday (in Tbilisi) and on Friday (in Batumi, on the Black Sea). These discussions proved invaluable, covering such areas as
· Review of the M.A. Degree course offerings
· Discussing the pedagogical approach to the classes
· Clarifying the rhythm of pre-class work, in-class work, and post class finishing work
· Thinking through how many trips to the region would be required to sustain the program
Mid-day, we took cabs back to the center of the city.
Our first objective was to get all of us to the largest Orthodox Cathedral in Georgia, and perhaps in this part of the world. Eventually, we landed at the elevated site, overlooking the rest of the city. Suffice it to say it was an incredibly impressive structure. And, surprisingly open to “tourists.” Snapping pictures, walking throughout the complex, asking questions – all were permitted. One particularly poignant moment was watching an older woman, scarved, approach the picture of a saint, who with a weeping, prayerful voice, kissed the picture and begged…for something. A second time, moving to the right, she kissed the picture of yet another saint, and repeated her tearful prayer. Watching this fills the minds with questions, personal, and Biblical. In a moment, she slipped outside and away into the neighborhood.
Taking in such a place requires unrushed time. The heavily robed priests, sitting near the entrance where worship aids were sold, were themselves in no hurry.
Outside the day had grown even warmer. Cabs again took the group down to the city’s center for unstructured sightseeing, souvenir shopping.
College kids one way, Jim, Tim, and David, the other way. Our way was to head down the main street of the sprawling downtown, first entering a small bookstore where English resources on Georgia could be purchased, and then second finding a McDonalds where a late lunch, air-conditioning, and free internet service could be gained. Mac’s was right next door to the National Academy of Sciences, and other government buildings and upscale hotels (Radisson, Marriot). More discussion occurred – with Big Macs in hand -- about the Bakke Graduate University Extension site in Georgia.
Returning to the apartment, it would be a late night as the college team decided to hang with us until taking off to the airport for their 4:00 AM flight. They all arrived with good news that “Masha,” a young HS student who had been at the camp, trusted Christ as personal savior that afternoon as they spent time together downtown. The “joy over one who repents” was evident in all the college student’s faces, thrilled to see one experience the forgiveness of Jesus and a new life in Him.
The extra waking hours provided Tim Simpson and I the opportunity for a 2-3 hour talk on various subjects. What a treasure Tim is!
So this section of the journal closes hearing the team, in the next room, close their time in Georgia in prayer, and prepare to exit for the airport. It’s all about Jesus – experiencing His grace; becoming whole in His life.
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