Living His Mission

Firetrucks responding to the subway fire

Let me go back a bit and start the story at the beginning. This past Thursday, Elora (The Girl) and I along with Abby Baker of New Hampshire headed East and North to Chicago for our 2nd Newfrontiers-USA Transformation Team hosted by Destination Church. It was great to have Abby with us and to enjoy a bit of a working weekend with my daughter. Upon arriving in Chicago Thursday evening we dropped Abby off at the Sweetman’s and we headed to our host home for the weekend…the wonderful abode of Adam, Kez and Isaac Gerdel.
I have the great privilege to be doing the teaching part of the training for these T-teams this summer. Once the teaching is complete, the teams hit the streets to serve the local church by engaging the neighborhood at a local festival. This is where the real learning happens. We learn by doing. We do the ‘work’ of an evangelist. Nothing to do with gifting, but everything to do with who we are in Christ. We are witnesses…and so the doing commences.
After lunch Friday, Elora and I headed to downtown Chicago…one of my fav cities. Deep dish pizza, a strong thunderstorm and then the heavens parted (really) so that we could enjoy the Chicago symphony at Millennium Park…for free (free is good).
Saturday morning we headed back downtown for a ride to the top of the Hancock Tower to look out over Lake Michigan and the city as far as the eye could see. Then it was our turn to work the tent at the festival surveying the people of the Ravenswood neighborhood. It is so good to hear people’s stories and become part of their life for a brief moment in time. God created a unique creation…varied…all shapes and sizes and languages…oh, how He loves us!
Sunday after gathering with the people of Destination Church, The Girl and I headed back downtown (we just couldn’t get enough). The Navy Pier, a footbag tournament (send me an email if you want me to explain…hackey-sack volleyball:), dipped our feet in Lake Michigan, a bit of shopping, chocolate ice cream and then we headed to the subway station for a ride to the park and another shift at the festival.
And then…great day, such fun with my daughter, life was good, all was right with the world, etc., etc…we boarded the underground portion of the subway. The train moved forward and then…almost to the next station the car and tunnel began to fill with smoke. It grew increasingly thick in a very short amount of time. A girl said there was a fire on the track behind. The train stopped short of the station and after a few minutes (maybe seconds but seemed longer) the train moved closer to the station. Some confusion, but no panic yet…then after some conversation with the driver, the doors to the train opened and with mouths covered by scarves and such we followed the driver’s voice forward, up and out to sunny blue skies leaving the smoke…which was now rolling out of the station…and the stench of burning rubber behind.
Crazy, huh. True. All was right with the world and then…it’s always then. I was proud of The Girl. She remained calm. Covered her mouth with her scarf. We prayed. Was so thankful for Jesus and the prayer language He has given me…after praying “help us Jesus” in English it’s so comforting to then pray with the Spirit. In my mind, moments of panic. This is like the movies I’ve seen and the stories I’ve read with smoke filling a tunnel and no light ahead. So thankful that Jesus helped me to remain calm, since I can still have an occasional panic attack dating back to my lungs collapsing after surgery some 9 years ago…the mind doesn’t forget. I wish it would.

So…that’s our story. A memorable weekend is so many ways. So many treasured (even the train) memories with my daughter and others I will store away and bring to mind often. Oh, yeah. We finally made it to our shift at the festival and had the chance to talk again with some of God’s great image-bearers. What a joy. What a privilege.

Hug your kids if you have ‘em. If not, hug someone you love. Hug someone you’ve been meaning to hug for awhile and let healing begin. Think about the end of your life. It’s good for your soul. It could be today. Only God knows. I’m glad He does. I will trust Him with that. Mine is to live, love and tell people about Him. Take a second and be reminded that there are people dying right now without a relationship with Him. Ok. Let’s go. Live, love and tell them. Tell yourself the Gospel while you’re at it. It’s glorious!

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