Last Night's Conversation

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The God that we serve is a multi-faceted God. We feel that it is quite possible to learn things about His nature and grow in relationship with Him in ways other than "Bible studies". For this reason, we did a little role playing last night. Hopefully, this role play was able to help us understand that God is not merely someone who existed in the ancient world, but is alive and active today as well. So here's how it went down...

The setting: modern day China, where it is highly illegal and dangerous to be a Christian. The scenario: we divided into two intergenerational groups, one played the part of a Chinese house church, and the other the part of Chinese police. The house church had learned that a dangerous man named Parker (along with his squad), who has a proven track record of finding and killing Christians, was in the area. The church's job was to hide and figure out what they would do if these Chinese officials found them. The Chinese police group (who was dropped off about a half mile away from the "church" group) was to spend a few minutes deciding what they would do with the Christians if they found them, and then to hunt them down and carry out their plans.

While "on the road" to the place where they knew the church was gathered, Parker received a phone call. Who was it from? "Jesus, whom you are persecuting" was the answer. "Jesus" then informed Parker that on a tree to his right there was a blindfold, and that before he could truly see, he must become blind (so his comrades blindfolded him). He then received instructions from "Jesus" to go to a place near the house where the church was gathered and wait for a woman named Brittany, who would restore his sight. Brittany was shortly then after "called to" (via a hidden walkie talkie near her, ha ha) and told that she was to go to the same place and restore the sight of this man named Parker. So the scenario played out--figure it out yet? Brittany then took Parker to the gathered church where he found them with a lack of trust in his new found faith. (I did forget to tell the "church" group that Brittany was one of them, a follower of Jesus--whoops--so that did add some confusion, but oh well).

We then all sat down to discuss some of the thoughts that the different groups were having along the way. As I had hoped (and despite the kinks on my part), the role play yielded new insights into the Biblical story that we had enacted (which was the story of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus in Acts 9).

Now, onto a more somber note of the evening. Brittany is leaving for college this week. She is heading to Ouachitia Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She is an integral part of our community, and she will be deeply missed. We took several minutes last night to allow her parents to anoint and bless her with an oil of the almost exact formula (mixed by her mom, Gina) as that of the oil used to anoint the Tent of Meeting, it's elements, Aaron (the high priest), and his sons (see Exodus 30:22-33). After a few minutes of Dane family time, we as a community of faith gathered around Brittany, her parents, and her brother, to lay our hands on them/her and to lift up praises, blessings, and intercession--and a song, that was freaking cool man (you know who you are).

So for Brittany, may the Spirit of God in you be as fragrant and saturating to those whom you encounter as it was to us as it was dripped on your head last night. May it cover you in the messy tasks of the priesthood, and may it remind you that your life and your words are to our Father as that of sweet smelling incense. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Blessings Brittany, blessings.