Before leaving east Africa in November, Hussein, a Somali Christian I relate to, had asked me to train up his newly hired assistant in the ways of the Lord (this was briefly mentioned in my last post). When asked to do this I immediately said “yes” – that’s what I’m here for – but also wondered “What am I going to do other than give him a book and tell him to answer the questions at the end of each chapter?” The answer came quickly. Early the next morning as I was just starting to come out of sleep I had the thought “fear of the Lord,” and realized it was for this young man. I immediately got up, opened a new document on my laptop and wrote it down, so the thought would not be lost. As I finished another thought came, and another, and I kept writing, until exactly two hours later the flow of thoughts suddenly turned off and the document was done. As I reviewed it I was amazed - it was a complete seven point curriculum for starting the Christian life.

It is now titled “Where Are Your Stones?” after the account in Joshua 3-4 where the children of Israel crossed into the Promised Land and set up twelve stones as an altar of remembrance. These pillars are not to be worshipped, but are memorial markers, stakes, and foundations on which to build the Christian life. What will the monuments be of what the Lord has taught this young man (or you)? What are the “mile markers” on that journey? Where are the “stakes” that have been driven to anchor his path? These are the issues that this document looks to address.

Including an introduction, the “pillars” are: 

Where Are Your Stones?

Intro: assessment of his knowledge of Scripture (or lack), the degree to which his Islamic heritage has affected his outlook, and his command of English.

1. The Fear of the Lord

2. Meditation (this is Hebrew meditation and meditating on the Biblical text; other forms are specifically set aside for purposes here)

3. Vows and commitments

4. The Bible and individual spiritual disciplines (“daily devotions”): reading, memorizing and meditating on Scripture, and prayer

5. Christian fellowship: individually with other Christian disciples, then in small clusters, and eventually in the more corporate settings

6. Personal disciplines and issues

   • Personal care (hygiene, attire, other)

   • Finances

   • Singleness/Marriage

   • Future direction: education, vocation

   • Witnessing

   • Where are you accountable?

   • Where are you bearing fruit? (Rom. 12:1-2 – fruit above reproach, John 15 –abundant, abiding fruit)

7. Conclusion: What will it take, by the end of your life, to finally hear the Lord tell you “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter into my rest”? (this is to be answered with as many specifics as possible)

As I’ve pondered this further, the wisdom of this has been further confirmed by scriptures, and otherwise. Too often pre-baptismal classes in western churches have a lot of doctrine or “church stuff.” Such doctrine may be very well and good, but there are other, functional things which need to happen first – as important as teaching and correct doctrine is, Jesus said we are to know them by one’s fruits (i.e. one’s actions), not one’s teaching (Matt. 7:16-23; 3:7-10, etc.). Correct doctrine will come with good fruit, and it’s the earlier preparing for the fruit that the things above are meant to address. Further, the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-9, 18-23) stands as a stark confirmation of the above: the rocks, thorns, and stony ground must first be removed, and then the planting is done. How often do we look for fruit from someone’s life, but without addressing these impediments? These pillars also provide a basis for how to work out the Christian life – a foundation that is functional, not just intellectual or doctrinal.

To date I’ve had 18 sessions with this young man, and we have just finished Pillar #2 (Meditation) that there’s much to look forward to (sessions are 75-120 min. ea.). Each session begins with prayer, then reading a large, straight-run block of Scripture (a recent session was Prov. 1-5, and Prov. 6-9 another time). This functional emphasis puts first things first, sets a clear example by doing it, circumvents philosophizing about ideas without really having extended interaction with God’s Word itself, and allows one to be responsive to their insights or needs. These times have been meaningful, and it’s clear he is understanding at more than a surface level. 

We then look at the assignments which have been given. For the introduction he had to write the life story of an imaginary Somali Christian (he is well educated, that the assignments are not beyond his ability). When he turned it in the life story stopped at the man’s conversion and baptism, so I had him complete it to the point of death. This was a chance for him to clarify what he thought real Christianity might be for a Somali, and for me to know what his outlook was. On full completion of the assignment he was given a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress, to read what someone else thought the real essence and progression of the Christian life is. Lastly, we’ve watched some 20 min. video clips of reenactments of Scriptural accounts. Though these are the “icing on the cake” (and I intend to keep them in that role), they have been very fruitful. Where this will all lead I don’t know, but am moving forward with a real sense of fruitfulness.

Two odds and ends I missed in the previous posts –

• Walking into town a young fellow came up, begging for money. He was awfully fast and knew exactly what he his moves were ... and was off with my phone. I was almost as quick, but not quite, and it’s gone. Fortunately, it was my “Ethiopian” phone – much cheaper than my iPhone and no data was lost, save a few replaceable contacts. When reporting to the police, the witness said he had a stone in the other hand, that he was ready to defend himself; also, that he’s been seen several times in the next neighborhood with drinking buddies. Pray for this fellow. (For you Ethiopia savvy folks, this was in Zenebeworke, near ALERT, the much more sedate community of Addis where I live – not downtown. Though Ethiopia is what it is and I am defensively proactive, I feel safe here, and there’s only been one other time I went on serious alert – a man who was likely mentally deranged started calling out, but there were plenty of people around to intervene.)

• On a happier note, the last Sunday in March I spoke with the leader’s wife at the one church I attend. They are Americans and are highly committed, but I had only recently spoken with him and never before with her. She asked where I’m from in the USA, and said “Oh, I know people there” and began mentioning some last names. I said “Wait a minute – we’re related!” Sure enough – 2nd cousins! (Lori Longenecker Kempen, Will & Rhoda Longenecker’s daughter.)

All for now - another post should be up in two weeks!

     When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’ ” ...

     And the men of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, as the Lord told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. ...

And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty; that you may fear the Lord your God for ever.” Josh. 4:1-3, 8, 20-24

A hymn: I Need Thee Every Hour