When I was in Rwanda last year one of my favorite parts of the experience was the amount of time I had in solitude. With no electricity everything settled down around 7 o’clock every evening. And so I read, and I read some more. For the first time ever I read strait through the gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke and then John. I tried to spend time on the nuances and details of each writer as they gave account to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Simultaneously I began reading through the first five books of the Old Testament. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and then Deuteronomy, looking for revelation on God’s character and connections from the Old Testament to the gospels.

During that time one of the things that began to stand out to me was the power of God and the fear that he commanded. When I became a Christian in high school I could not comprehend the idea of fearing God. It made absolutely no sense to me. Love, that made sense. I hadn’t yet learned the important correlation between the two- Fear and Love. But as I was reading I was forced to revisit this idea of fearing the Lord. I remember in all of the gospels, whenever an angel would come it would be met with a strong reaction of fear. Every time. I began to think, if the sight of an angel commanded this much fear, what must it mean for the presence of God to strike fear in us.

I am continuing to learn how intimately fear and love and interconnected. In doing so God is allowing me to see more and more of who he is. The negative aspects that I first associated with God being deserving of fear have begun to dissipate. As I learn about his other characteristics, His justice, mercy and grace, that too helps me understand what a righteous fear of God is meant to look like.

Recently I have begun to think about this again. It started a few weeks ago. A short film series called NOOMA, previously working with Rob Bell, is now working on a new series with pastor/speaker Francis Chan. The first film of this series is entitled, “Fear God.” For a buck and fifteen minutes of your time you can watch it here: http://store.flannel.org/fear-god.html

A passage that Chan quotes from Psalm 111:10 stood out to me.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

Hmmm.

Today I was reading through Acts. I was again struck by this idea of fear, but this time not just on an individual level but on a community level. In Acts 9, after Saul is confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus and then subsequently baptized and sent out, he goes to Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem he connects with the disciples and then goes out into the city “preaching boldly in the name of Jesus.” Then, in Acts 9:31 it says:

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”

So I wonder, have we lost an understanding of what it looks like to fear God? Are our churches built and growing upon a healthy fear of God? Not a hellfire and brimstone version, scaring people toward the cross. Rather a grounded in scripture, full view of God, humbling fear.

Probably a good question for us to ask.

You may recognize Kevin. He lived across the street from me last year in Gacundezi and his mother prepared many of my meals. It was great to see him and his family again! His father is a leader of the Muslim church in Gacundezi and one of the strongest leaders in the community. I was blessed to have an hour or so to have tea and speak with him while here.

Meet John, he his an instructor at both Phoenix Seminary and Southwestern Bible School as well as the lead pastor at West Greenway Bible Church. He did an incredible job providing some biblical training to 15 or so pastors who represented roughly 25 local churches. John has a lot of fantastic initiatives he is planning on engaging once back in the states. I consider it a blessing to have served with him and I gained a friendship with an amazing man of God in the process! Check out his thoughts from the trip on his blog!

We spent several afternoons going into the community and making home visits. We learned more about the families we strived to serve in an intensely intimate environment. It is humbling being welcomed by these families. They face unbelievable challenges on a day to day basis, and yet, they are perhaps the most hospitable people I’ve ever met. We as westerners have a lot to learn.

This is one of the mothers of a child sponsored by the community to community project. She also was given materials from the training Vicki provided for mothers in Rwanda, equipping and organizing them to pray together, consistently, and fervently for their children, the school, and the community. The results were amazing and encouraging and I’m eager to see how this grows.

An image taken during the Mom’s in Touch training. Vicki led the mothers through an example of the programs prayer stucture. This image was taken when the mothers praying together during a breakout session. It was a powerful time!

This was one of my favorite images from the trip. Again, taken during the prayer time of the mothers training.

Vicki leading her training. By this point nearly 30 mothers were there.

Nothing particularly important about this image, other than its representation of a primary tool of transport. Really, I just liked the image

Meet Vestine, one of the programs sponsored through the community to community program. This program provides healthcare as well as school supplies and other various needs.

During our home visits the neighborhood children quickly surrounded us ‘muzungus’ and it was virtually impossible to get a picture with less than 20 kids. I crept away to get this one. I love the joy in the kids, yet that is equally met with a sadness of the state that most are living.

No caption necessary.

Many people live in homes built with mud, coated with concrete, and topped with a tin roof. This hut is indicative of the other common construction. While most no longer live in these huts (some do), it is still around and often used for livestock.

This carving was at the house of one of the business partners of the multiple initiatives the team is working on, including a travel lodge in the game park.