Not really waiting... because God is moving.

So, my last post was about how I was going to have to wait a little longer for the application process to move along. Instead, the past two and a half weeks have been some of the most stressful days of this entire process. It actually started the very next day. On wed the ninth, I was off from work so I got to sleep in a little. I woke up and got dressed and ready before sitting down to do any work. After sleeping in late, showering and taking my time to get started, it was about 11 am est. That is when I checked my email and first got the news.

I woke up and had an email, facebook message and skype message about "something important" from a friend in Venezuela.  The "something important" was about Chris Nelson, the AG Missionary I will be serving under in Venezuela. I haven't really posted much about him yet but let me tell you a little about him.

I met Chris a few years ago when he was a youth pastor in North Carolina. He was invited to preach at Elevate (then Impact), the youth ministry I served in. One of my favorite sermons I have heard about being "moved in your bowels" for people, was a message he preached. I knew his family and him for a few years before getting the news that they would be moving to Venezuela to become missionaries. At that point, I had helped lead a few youth missions trips but at this time really didn't have a grasp on everything they were about to do. My admiration and respect in this regard, has grown tremendously over the last few years as I have become more missions focused.

We talked about how long the process would be for him and his family (wife Angela and three young boys) to get established and ready to host a team. It was going to be a few years so we let them know that as soon as they were ready, we would look into bringing a youth team to assist in whatever he needed. Eventually a time was set, July 2010. Up until this point, Chris had been like a relative that I would see every once and a while (I usually don't get to see my natural relatives often). We would see each other maybe a few times a year, bond instantly and catch up, maybe have a meal and have a good time, but most of the year we would wouldn't really talk. We weren't best friends by any means but he was someone I respected, and cared for. The trip in 2010 changed all of that in many ways.

Scott, Chris and I

The preparation for the trip involved them being on my mind more often then before. I of course prayed more often for the family and their ministry. After going on the trip and being in the field with them and the conversations we had during and since the trip, I can say that I feel a lot closer to him. Chris is as close as a brother to me and I know that I can count on him. He is never the one to back down to a challenge and it will be both a pleasure and an honor to do the Lord's work along side of he and Angela. 

On March 9th  Chris Nelson, and two of his staff members were in a serious accident. This accident destroyed his Speed The Light provided Vehicle. (Thank you to all of the youth who donate to STL and provide the much needed vehicles and audio gear for our missionaries. With the quality resources you provide, people are able to hear about the love of our savior!) The accident occurred when a bus apparently lost its brakes and then lost control. The bus swerved off of the road to it's right and then apparently over corrected and crossed the median and struck his vehicle.

The initial report said that 1 person had died in this accident and that 10 others were hospitalized. In the video below you can see the aftermath of the accident. Fortunately the initial report was incorrect. The Lord was with Chris Nelson and all who were injured in the accident. I can say with certainty that God was protecting him on that day. At the end of this post you will see some photos of the Land Cruiser with the entire driver side ripped off. Over the summer Scott Smith (a mechanic), Chris and I (both manly men... stop laughing) attempted to fix the window, which had come off track. This was not possible for us because that thing is built like a tank. Without the tools to fully disassemble a car, we were not getting to the inside of that door. When you look at the photos, you will be able to guess at the amount of force it would have taken to do that much damage to that tank of a car.

The Video (the video does get dark midway through)

Lets just say that the accident led to a very exciting few weeks. Including flights back and forth to Venezuela, getting stuck in Miami (twice) and being stuck in an elevator. Those are stories for another time. I am happy to report that Chris is doing well and is getting the medical care that he needs. He has successfully undergone a few surgeries to repair multiple breaks and fractures. I ask that you continue to pray for his complete and swift healing. Also pray for peace for Angela and the boys. I will give you some good news in the midst of this. There are at least 6 confirmed salvation decisions that are a result of a conversation had by the ever vigilant missionary Chris, with another patient while in the ICU. This conversation got to the patient's family and they came to visit Chris as a result of this. The Holy Spirit did His work and now there are six more names in the Book of Life.

On a side note, one of my green lights has gone yellow again. I was assured that it is not a bad thing and more of a reminder but it has added to my stress level over the past few weeks. Today I am laughing about it but two days ago I was not. I have learned to trust in God's sovereignty and timing in everything but sometimes I need a little help. Somehow though all of this he has working on me and how much I trust Him and His timing. Trust how He will work all things out for His purpose. Oh, that and I have 8 less months to raise my funds. :) Thank you for partnering with me and continuing to pray for me and the Nelsons. Thank you for helping to send me and encourage me throughout this time of preparation.  


14 But how can they call on someone if they haven't trusted in him? And how can they trust in someone if they haven't heard about him? And how can they hear about someone if no one is proclaiming him? 15a And how can people proclaim him unless God sends them?
Romans 10:14-15a
(CJB, Complete Jewish Bible)

Application update. (more waiting)

So my application is finally in the screening phase. It seems like it has taken forever to get the Credit check and Medical clearances complete. Now it back to waiting. That is probably not my strongest gift, though many of my co workers say it is. One coworker likes to say that I "have the patience of Job!" If that is the case Job was extremely frustrated with waiting, but was just really good about not making a big deal out of it. I prefer to be a man of action and it is often a challenge for me to realize that you can actively Wait on the Lord. I know that He is working everything out the way it is supposed to be, and at the appointed times. Sometimes, I just want to know "when will the appointed time be?" In the mean time, I should have some new posts for you within the next few days.  Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!

Why did Jesus fold the Napkin? (I don't know, but he is coming back!)

Recently, I have received a link to a post titled "Why did Jesus fold the Napkin?" In this post there is a story refrencing an alleged Jewish/Hebrew tradition and giving a "hidden" spiritual meaning to Jesus' actions in John 20:7.  After some research, I came to the conclusion that many others have, that this information is inaccurate in it's conclusion. Below I have re-posted a blog that seems to sum up what I have been able to find and believe to be true.

The Blog:

Many of us have received an email concerning Jesus’ folding of his napkin upon his resurrection.  As a pastor, I’ve received it dozens of times, myself.  At first, I – like many people- found the story fascinating and was actually moved at the thought of it.  But, a bit of internet wisdom compelled me to investigate further.

The Email
The email heading asks this question, “Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?”  And, the answer (with some variations, of course) is contained in the text below, a condensed version of the original email, usually beginning with: “I’VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS!!!”

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never
noticed this… .

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over
the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.. The other disciple
outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen
wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely!

Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to
understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded
napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this
tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just
out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe
his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that
napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid
it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table,
because……….

The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’


The Deductions:
Well, Aunt Erma, it turns out that there are good reasons why you’ve never heard of this tradition.

I find historical/cultural traditions- particularly Jewish ones- of great interest and value.  Yet, they are apparently made up at alarming rates.  So, I wanted to verify this story.  It turns out that I did.

There are several problems with this story.  Separately, perhaps they could be overlooked.  Compiled together, the story lacks even a hint of authenticity.

The KJV rendering of John 20:7 reads,

John 20:7 (KJV)
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

The more modern NIV reads,

John 20:7 (NIV)
7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

One says “burial cloth” while the other says “napkin.”  One says “wrapped” while the other says “folded.”  These types of variances in English translations are clues that further study on an original language term is needed.
1-  Like many are, this idea is falsely based on a western application of an English term: in this case, the term, “napkin” in the text.  When English speakers use that term, we’re thinking Wendy’s drive-thru.  Using the English understanding of that term, a scenario was obviously invented.  The underlying Greek term is soudarion, which is defined as a piece of cloth used for one of two purposes in the East:  to wipe sweat off the face or to cover the face of the dead.  As such, no self-respecting Jew would EVER use such an article at a meal setting (it would be either unclean or in the least thought of as unclean), and thus no such mental association would ever be made between the soudarion (or lit. “sweat-cloth”) and a dinner napkin.  It would be tantamount to modern day people associating a diaper with a napkin.  Only a few (older) translation use the term “napkin” for this reason.  It is a technically proper translation, but gives a western reader the wrong impression.  More modern translations use other terms, such as “burial cloth” (NIV), “face-cloth” (NASB), “handkerchief” (NKJV), etc.

2-  The second problem is with the term “folded,” also necessary to the postulated cultural reference of folding a napkin at the dinner table.  That underlying Greek term is entylisso, which is a compilation of two terms, en (meaning “at a primary fixed position” – or “at,” “in,” “among,” etc.) and heilisso, meaning “twisted” or “coiled.”  While “folded” is again a technically accurate translation, it conjures up the idea of the creasing and flattening out of an article.  In fact, it is more akin to the wadding up and throwing aside (used in the supposed practice of the master leaving the table) than an intentional folding and creasing.  This issue may could be explained away if it were not for the problems with the term soudarion.  But, coupled together, it’s just another hole in the cheese.  Entylisso gives no clear indication that the face-cloth was folded in an intentional way, but rather that it was somehow handled and distorted as being discarded separately from the grave clothes.

3-  I have a sizeable arsenal of Jewish background resources.  I searched them all to find a reference to this practice and could not find it.  Afterward, I set off in research online.  Surely you can’t believe everything you read online (as this email demonstrates) but I thought it worth a try to find a legitimate biblical scholar who may have referenced the custom.  As it turned out, I found only one Jewish scholar (David Bivin of The Jewish Perspective) who had referenced this custom (of folding the napkin at the dinner table) and he did so in response to this very email.  His answer?  “There is no historical or cultural documentation which supports claims of this assertion.”

Sadly, you can find this reference in numerous online sermons by pastors who should know better than to randomly quote a tradition they learned of in an email from Aunt Erma.

Next week:  “Ask and you shall receive: How Bill Gates will return to you $.50 for every email you send out.”

Make no mistake:  Jesus is returning.  But, not because someone had the creative ability to fabricate this outlandish email.  He is returning because scripture says he will.

END

Just a warning to my good intentioned friends out there. Be careful what you believe to be true and what you pass on to other people. A great and inspirational story, but it appears that the facts say it is just not true. There appears to be no proof of a tradition of folding the napkin and words translated as napkin and folded seem to be misinterpreted. Please Test Claims Carefully !, We should be careful about uncritically accepting Internet-circulated Bible interpretations, even if they conveniently support our own beliefs, like the truth that Jesus is coming back! I'm ready, are you?