I'm really numb. I can't make decisions. Sometimes it's even difficult to talk. All I seem to be able to do well at this point is just sit and listen....or....something.
A friend emailed and asked how I was feeling. This was my response:
I have realized that the word "dead" or "died" no longer mean anything to me. What I mean by that is I can't compute them. I think to myself, "Chris is dead", and I find that my mind doesn't know what that means. It's like when you try to spit something out the window of a moving car, and it just comes right back at your face if you don't do it just right. I think death is the same way for those of us left behind. If the person who's dying or died doesn't do it the "right" way, that is in a way that we can begin to grasp the reality of it, then it's like the concept that they are dead never arrives to a place of comprehension...or it does eventually, but it takes a lot of spitting out that window to get the right angle so that it doesn't come back in the window or splat all over the car. I think I'm still spitting out the car and giving myself a bath right now.
Everytime I try to think, I just get smacked in the face somehow. So my brain has stopped thinking beyond what is necessary to get through the day.
I'm home for a week. I flew in tonight, and I go back a week from tomorrow. The memorial service is Monday night.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
I held an ostrich egg!!!
So, this week we had a couple of folks here from the Cy-Fair Christian Church youth group in Houston, TX. They came down in March and spent a week with our youth as they do every year. This time the two youth pastors brought a few of their seniors because they chose to have their annual senior retreat here in Cofradia! They only came for a couple of days to spend time with the youth here, and we had a good time doing just that! On Wednesday afternoon, we took everyone to Arrayanes to hang out, and then that night we did a movie night showing The Prestige. Then on Thursday, they hung out and relaxed in the afternoon, and then we took their team and a few of our own youth to have Tacos for dinner in Pilas. It was a great time of hanging out. In addition, the team worked on the new church and up in Mojocuautla in the mornings. At the end of their trip, they had some debriefing time and shared about what had impacted them during their time here and how they were going to carry that with them as they start the new phase in their lives, heading off to college. It was wonderful to see them again and to spend time with these few once more before they graduate from the youth group.
One very interesting thing that happened on Wednesday on our way back to Cofradia for the movie night: we stopped at an Ostrich farm that is about half way between the two towns. I have never seen an ostrich up close like that, and this place had a ton of them! They sell the meat and the hides. They also had a ton of goats, bunnies, and some other strange looking birds.
It was a ton of fun and extremely fascinating. One alpha-male was very actively protecting his "woman" and his territory. It was hillarious because one of our youth was provoking him, and he even did some weird dance thing that they do not only to intimidate others but also to attract females! We had a good time laughing at Chupa and teasing him that the male ostrich was hitting on hime! Check out the video of this intimidation dance!
Here's a still shot of the alpha-male.
The coolest part though was that the owner, who is an uncle to one of our youth boys, actually went in and brought out an ostrich egg that had just been laid that day for us to hold!! It was still warm even!! And it was gigantic! Sandy said that they gave one of these eggs to her aunt Pola once, and Pola cooked it. She told Sandy that the one ostrich egg made as much as 10 chicken eggs and it filled the whole pot she used!
Me holding the ostrich egg with Papa looking on!
Here's a closer-up of the egg...I told you it was big!!
(That's a storm coming in the background!)
One very interesting thing that happened on Wednesday on our way back to Cofradia for the movie night: we stopped at an Ostrich farm that is about half way between the two towns. I have never seen an ostrich up close like that, and this place had a ton of them! They sell the meat and the hides. They also had a ton of goats, bunnies, and some other strange looking birds.
It was a ton of fun and extremely fascinating. One alpha-male was very actively protecting his "woman" and his territory. It was hillarious because one of our youth was provoking him, and he even did some weird dance thing that they do not only to intimidate others but also to attract females! We had a good time laughing at Chupa and teasing him that the male ostrich was hitting on hime! Check out the video of this intimidation dance!
Here's a still shot of the alpha-male.The coolest part though was that the owner, who is an uncle to one of our youth boys, actually went in and brought out an ostrich egg that had just been laid that day for us to hold!! It was still warm even!! And it was gigantic! Sandy said that they gave one of these eggs to her aunt Pola once, and Pola cooked it. She told Sandy that the one ostrich egg made as much as 10 chicken eggs and it filled the whole pot she used!
Me holding the ostrich egg with Papa looking on!
Here's a closer-up of the egg...I told you it was big!!(That's a storm coming in the background!)
I have to say that one thing I never realized was how odd-looking and ugly ostriches are! I mean, I don't mean to malign the ostrich as an animal, but it certainly was not the most attractive specimen of the animal kingdom that I've ever seen! The female that the male was "protecting" had lost most of her feathers underneath her wings. It was a very strange sight to see. Check out this photo!
Anyway, it was a really fun and extremely interesting experience! They never stuck their heads in the sand, but at least now I can say that I held an ostrich egg!! The best part though was watching the youth hanging out and enjoying their friendships. A couple of the Texas youth have been down here the last two years at least, so they know our youth and have friendships with them. Mili and Sandy had such a good time with Sarah, and the boys seemed to be enjoying Will and Ryan. It's neat to see that they don't let language get in the way of knowing each other and enjoying a friendship that means something eal to each of them! We can all learn a little something from that! I know I do every time!
Anyway, it was a really fun and extremely interesting experience! They never stuck their heads in the sand, but at least now I can say that I held an ostrich egg!! The best part though was watching the youth hanging out and enjoying their friendships. A couple of the Texas youth have been down here the last two years at least, so they know our youth and have friendships with them. Mili and Sandy had such a good time with Sarah, and the boys seemed to be enjoying Will and Ryan. It's neat to see that they don't let language get in the way of knowing each other and enjoying a friendship that means something eal to each of them! We can all learn a little something from that! I know I do every time!
Friday, June 15, 2007
The First Rain
It finally rained!!! Monday we saw our first rain of the 2007 rainy season, and let me tell you, that storm was a doosy! I was in Arrayanes with Sandy and Mili and their family. We had just eaten lunch, when the wind started to pick up and the lightning and thunder started. So, we all scrambled to bring in the rest of their firewood and put out the wood fire (for cooking) and other things as it started spitting. Just as we got into the house it started pouring. It was so wonderful because the water falling from the sky was COLD, and the wind was so cool and refreshing! The temperature dropped like 15 degrees as soon as the wind started blowing before the rain started, and with the cold rain and the cool breeze, it was a marvelous experience!
I was kicking myself, however, because I didn't have my camera with me. Their little brother was out playing in the rain and mud of their front yard, and Mili and their little sister (Aide) were sitting on the doorstep talking as the rain poured down. And it was just a marvelous storm to boot....quite picture worthy! The best part is that several hours later, the sunset was incredible! In addition, the plant life that lines the road all the way home was cleaned off from all the dust, so even the dry brush looked alive for the first time in a while. The rain forrest aspect of this tropical location started to come out that day, and it was amazing!
YEA FOR THE FIRST RAIN!!!
I was kicking myself, however, because I didn't have my camera with me. Their little brother was out playing in the rain and mud of their front yard, and Mili and their little sister (Aide) were sitting on the doorstep talking as the rain poured down. And it was just a marvelous storm to boot....quite picture worthy! The best part is that several hours later, the sunset was incredible! In addition, the plant life that lines the road all the way home was cleaned off from all the dust, so even the dry brush looked alive for the first time in a while. The rain forrest aspect of this tropical location started to come out that day, and it was amazing!
YEA FOR THE FIRST RAIN!!!
Youth Fun!
Last Friday, we played the Human Machine game with the entire youth group. It was so much fun, and I wanted to share it with you here! We had four groups of 4-5 kids, with our new student leaders acting as group leaders (since they were already familiar with how the game worked). I gave them a list of possible machines and 1 minute to choose. Then they practiced and performed their machines for the rest of the group. I recorded each on on my camera, and I'm posting them here for your viewing enjoyment!
This first video was Sandy's group, which performed a TV/DVD player with a music video playing on the TV. When I asked for volunteers to go first, she jumped at the chance. Her group consisted of her and Beto as the TV screen with her sister Mili acting as the DVD player; Pedro played the owner of the DVD player; Riki was tagged with the job of being in the music video that shows on the screen. In the video Pedro asks Riki if he is the guy from the song "Riki Take My Hand" by Fishers of Youth (our local youth rap band). He says he is at which point Pedro raves about the song and decides to play the DVD with the music video.
This first video was Sandy's group, which performed a TV/DVD player with a music video playing on the TV. When I asked for volunteers to go first, she jumped at the chance. Her group consisted of her and Beto as the TV screen with her sister Mili acting as the DVD player; Pedro played the owner of the DVD player; Riki was tagged with the job of being in the music video that shows on the screen. In the video Pedro asks Riki if he is the guy from the song "Riki Take My Hand" by Fishers of Youth (our local youth rap band). He says he is at which point Pedro raves about the song and decides to play the DVD with the music video.
Martin's group was next, and they made a mixer (with dual beaters, like the hand-held kind). They even went so far as to have the chord plugged into an outlet! The members of the group are: Martin as the base/motor, Karla & Adolpho as the two beaters, Gollito is lying down as the chort, and Lorenzo is the outlet. Very creative!
The final group was Jose Luis's group, and they acted out an iron. There's no motion, but they did a good job making the shape of the iron and even have the chord running from the back. This group consists of Julio and Chuyeke as the bottom of the iron (lying on the ground), Mirna as the iron handle, and Jose Luis as the chord. Again, very creative!!!
All the kids had a good time (as you can tell from the laughter and chatter), and they were much more responsive and involved in the rest of the evening, even during the lesson, which was taken from Nehemiah (since we had just spent so much time studying it on the retreat). Steve talked about how the wall in Nehemiah can be symbolic of the wall that we put up around our hearts to protect ourselves from the enemy, and he challenged them to seek out those vulnerable places in their walls and seek the Lord in fortifying them so as to strengthen their faith, their relationship with the Lord, and their Christian walk through this world. It was a very fun evening. Stay tuned for more fun youth group game videos!
The third group was Chuy's group. And they also did the TV/DVD player with a movie playing: The Matrix. This group consists of Ana as the viewer (sitting on the other side of the screen from me), Ruben as the DVD Player, and Chuy and Roger play the TV screen/movie. They act out a slow-mo fight scene from Matrix. Hillarious!
The final group was Jose Luis's group, and they acted out an iron. There's no motion, but they did a good job making the shape of the iron and even have the chord running from the back. This group consists of Julio and Chuyeke as the bottom of the iron (lying on the ground), Mirna as the iron handle, and Jose Luis as the chord. Again, very creative!!!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Student Leadership Retreat
June 6-7 we took four of our oldest youth to Mazatlan for a 2-day student leadership conference. Chuy (age 21), Jose Luis (age 20), Sandy (age 20), and Martin (age 20) are our four oldest and most mature youth in the group, and all have shown signs of leadership among our youth. We had a great time with the four of them, and they really began to knit together as a leadership team over those two days. Our desire is that beginning this summer they be leaders in the youth group and not simply members/attendees. We're looking forward to seeing how the Lord develops this beginning and affects younger youth in profound ways.
Anyway...about the retreat. We studied the whole book of Nehemiah looking at his Devotion, his Action, the Opposition he faced and how he dealt with it, and how he Built the People, since the call on his heart was for his people and not just for his city of Jerusalem.
(Breif summary: Nehemiah who lives in Susa and is cupbearer for the king, hears that the wall of Jerusalem is still in ruins even though the people began returning there from exile 70 years previously. They had rebuiltt he temple but not the city wall and were therefore left exposed and vulnerable to the enemies aroudn them. He receives permission from the Persian king to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall and the king even agrees to pay for it all! Nehemiah returns and with the aid of the rest of the Israelites rebuilds the wall in 52 days (!!!) in the face of strong and scary opposition. The last half of the book is about how Nehemiah and Ezra (who had returned to the city with a group of Israelites 13 years earlier) lead the people back to a public and formal rededication to the Lord their God).
Steve taught the first three lessons (Devotion, Action, Opposition), and I gave the final lesson. It was a lot of information, but it was important information. However, the really cool about this lesson is that it may be the foundation for the mentor-training study/program I'd like to do in the fall with Sandy, and hopefully Mili as well. My desire is to equip them to be able to mentor the younger youth in the group and in the surrounding communities.
Anyway, one cool experience was that we climbed up to the Mazatlan lighthouse for our discussion on opposition. Our desire was that they hear this lesson with the entire city below them to emphasize the concept of standing on the rock and seeing the opposition (represented by the city below) for what it really is...small and easily squashed when you're rooted in the Rock of Jesus Christ and His Truth! It was really amazing, and the sunset was unbelieveable! Sadly, I did not get a picture of the sunset because I didn't want to distract from the lesson, but it was incredible to sit and watch it as we completed the study.
Anyway...about the retreat. We studied the whole book of Nehemiah looking at his Devotion, his Action, the Opposition he faced and how he dealt with it, and how he Built the People, since the call on his heart was for his people and not just for his city of Jerusalem.
(Breif summary: Nehemiah who lives in Susa and is cupbearer for the king, hears that the wall of Jerusalem is still in ruins even though the people began returning there from exile 70 years previously. They had rebuiltt he temple but not the city wall and were therefore left exposed and vulnerable to the enemies aroudn them. He receives permission from the Persian king to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall and the king even agrees to pay for it all! Nehemiah returns and with the aid of the rest of the Israelites rebuilds the wall in 52 days (!!!) in the face of strong and scary opposition. The last half of the book is about how Nehemiah and Ezra (who had returned to the city with a group of Israelites 13 years earlier) lead the people back to a public and formal rededication to the Lord their God).
Steve taught the first three lessons (Devotion, Action, Opposition), and I gave the final lesson. It was a lot of information, but it was important information. However, the really cool about this lesson is that it may be the foundation for the mentor-training study/program I'd like to do in the fall with Sandy, and hopefully Mili as well. My desire is to equip them to be able to mentor the younger youth in the group and in the surrounding communities.
Anyway, one cool experience was that we climbed up to the Mazatlan lighthouse for our discussion on opposition. Our desire was that they hear this lesson with the entire city below them to emphasize the concept of standing on the rock and seeing the opposition (represented by the city below) for what it really is...small and easily squashed when you're rooted in the Rock of Jesus Christ and His Truth! It was really amazing, and the sunset was unbelieveable! Sadly, I did not get a picture of the sunset because I didn't want to distract from the lesson, but it was incredible to sit and watch it as we completed the study.
The trailhead
Gena on the neverending stairs!
Arriving at the world's highest working lighthouse!!
Studying the opposition we face and how to deal with it -- all with a God's-eye view!
The city/port of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico
The Pacific Ocean view just before we started our study
And the view just after the sun finished setting...breathtaking!!After that we headed to the YWAM DTS house there in town so that Jose Luis could meet the directors, see the facility, pick up and application, and hear about the program. He and Riki (Chuy's younger brother) want to attend DTS in the fall. It will be a feat, but all things are possible with our God.
Another aspect of the retreat was the team-building games, which I was in charge of. We did
several in the van on the way to Mazatlan, and we had fun discussions as we talked about answers to various challenges and get-to-know-you questions. We arrived in the city and had breakfast at Pura Vida (the greatest restaurant ever), then proceeded to the hotel for the first 2 studies (Devotion & Action). In between them we played a game called Human Machine. They had to come up with a machine that they could act out using all members of their team. They spent some time brainstorming and finally decided on a washing machine. Check out this video of their Human Machine!
Another aspect of the retreat was the team-building games, which I was in charge of. We did
several in the van on the way to Mazatlan, and we had fun discussions as we talked about answers to various challenges and get-to-know-you questions. We arrived in the city and had breakfast at Pura Vida (the greatest restaurant ever), then proceeded to the hotel for the first 2 studies (Devotion & Action). In between them we played a game called Human Machine. They had to come up with a machine that they could act out using all members of their team. They spent some time brainstorming and finally decided on a washing machine. Check out this video of their Human Machine!
Another game we played was called Blind Square. We took them to the beach, blindfolded them, then threw a really long rope on the ground and told them they had to make a squre with it. That was it!!! It was very interesting watching which ones took more leadership and which ones didn't, or rather which ones led and which ones followed and how well they did each of those. They started off well and almost had the square in under a minute. But they didn't realize that, so someone else started taking over and the ended up twisted into a figure 8. In the end they had to untie the ends of the rope and start from scratch to finally get the square. As we debreifed them after they finished, they admited that they had not been working as a team but rather each one trying to get the others to do it their way. It was neat to be able to draw parallels with past team-building experiences from the mini-reto that we did with them when Cy-Fair was here in March. In the end they decided they wanted to do it again and try to do it better, which they did.
The beginning --figuring out who was where and how much rope they had
They almost had it and SO quickly!
But then they got twisted -- here's the figure 8
Starting from scratch
Finally SUCCESS!!The final team-building game took place in the van on our way home on Thursday. It was called Desert Survivor. They were to pretend they were survivors of a plane crash in the desert. They had salvaged 11 items and had to order them according to their imporance to survival. This required them to colaborate as a team and come to a unified decision based on their plan of action for survival. This activity was really useful given the challenge we presented these four at the end of the retreat: they are to plan a 1-day camp for the rising 7th graders who will be joining the youth group this summer. The puropose is to welcome them into the youth group give the new students a sense of who we are and where're going. They have already had a couple of planning meetings and seem to be doing well so far. Please keep this planning and team-building in your prayers. We've encouraged them to plan something that will take us to a location outside of Cofradia (the beach perhaps??), and they will be the ones completely in charge of planning and executing the camp. We are here for guidance and resources as they require -- and of course for chaperoning and driving when the day comes.
Our new student leaders are off to a great start! I'm excited to see how God works amazing things in each of them and through each of them in the year to come! Please continue to remember Sandy, Chuy, Jose Luis, and Martin in your prayers!
Our new student leaders are off to a great start! I'm excited to see how God works amazing things in each of them and through each of them in the year to come! Please continue to remember Sandy, Chuy, Jose Luis, and Martin in your prayers!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
The prayer of faith...continued
The marvels of prayer are continuing, and I just HAD to share them!
On Wedensday I went to family group, but we arrived early. So, Sandy and I headed over to Carla's to wait for her and her mom to be ready for group. As we were talking and returning to Erika's for family group, Sandy was sharing with us how the Lord had been answering prayer over the previous couple of days.
1) Last week at youth group, Steve asked if any of our students would be interested in a 5-week intensive DTS-like program in July and August. Five students raised their hands, but 2 were extra-excited about the opportunity: Julio and Mili. It would require them to get permission from their parents (since they are under 18), a recommendation from the pastor, fill out an application, and pay 2000 pesos (~$2oo USD). The bright side of that price is that the students will be participating in the youth camp we're attending in August, so the cost of the program includes the cost of camp. Anyway, Mili went home and over the weekend mentioned it to her parents, and her mother very quickly opposed the idea and closed the subject saying that Sandy was doing so much over the summer that this program was too much and therefore Mili could not go. We all started praying over this because Flavia seemed to dismiss it pretty quickly. Well, Sandy shared with Carla and I that the day before the school had been mentioned again, but her mom wasn't very hip to the idea still. Sandy and her mom later ended up in the kitchen alone, and her mom started talking to Sandy about the school. She apparantly had in mind that Sandy wanted to go as well (which wasn't the case), and proposed to Sandy that she refrain from this opportunity so that Mili could have a chance at it. Sandy said that she had not had plans to attend, but took advantage of the opportunity and told her mom that was fine and that she'd love for Mili to have this opportunity. At that point Flavia seemed to give her approval!!!
The only issue left was the money issue. Sandy said that later that day she and Mili were in their room discussing all this, and Mili brought up the cost. Sandy told her that they still didn't know if the ministry would help with the cost or not, but regardless that Sandy would give Mili ALL of her money (saved, earned this summer to pay for camp, photography earnings, etc.) so that Mili could go to school. This meant that Sandy was sacrificing the youth camp so that Mili could go to school for 5 weeks. Mili didn't like this idea, but when Sandy said "which would you prefer: the two of us go to just the youth camp, or i stay home from camp and you go to the school?" Mili responded that she would choose the school. I was shocked at how quickly and joyfully willing Sandy was to give her sister this opportunity and hope. She said that she hasn't seen her sister so excited about anything related to her faith in a really long time and she just had to do whatever she could to encourage this excitement in Mili. She took the chance to encourage Mili to keep praying, to work hard, and to simply trust the Lord to open the doors. It seems that he's doing that so far.
2) Sandy continued saying that she was in the hamock Wednesday morning/early afternoon just talking to the Lord about all that had gone on and praying and petitioning and thanking him. As she continued, she moved into a line of prayer that I had challenged her to on Monday. Last Monday, as I already blogged, we talked about the fruit of Goodness, and how it DOES -- it acts. She was challenged to pray and ask the Lord what he would want her to DO. She received an answer from Psalm 32:8 and Psalm 33. The jist of the answer was to continue waiting on Him, and He would make it clear in due time what He wants her to DO. The answer was "Wait and Trust me." Well this Monday we studied faith and how Faith FIGHTS because it remembers that on the other side of the battle is a promise waiting to be fulfilles that merits the fight. So, her challenge this week was to spend the week praying and asking the Lord what the promise was He had awaiting for her because she's been in a "fight" for quite a while now...so what is she fighting to attain. On Wednesday she told us that her prayer time in the hammock movced to this challenge, and ask she asked the Lord what the promise was that He had awaiting her. She said the Lord answered her out of Acts 1:4,8
She said that basically the promise was that she was going to be a witness for the Lord and she would do so in the POWER of the Spirit. She seemed so excited because God has been answering her so quickly these days, and in ways that really encourage her to keep praying! On Friday night at youth group Martin gave the lesson, and he talked about how God has a plan for each one of us; we just need to wait on him and trust that He will reveal his purpose for us when He's ready. On our way home, Sandy was sharing with me how the study encouraged her even more in light of the prayer challenges and answers. She basically she feels like the last couple weeks God has been saying to her, "For now just wait and trust that I do have something for you to do. But when the time comes, hold on, cuz you're gonna really take off in that plan!" She's really excited about this, and she's looking forward to being even more involved in the youth group and being able to share with others and encourage them to the depth of relationship that she is finding in her Lord!
On Wedensday I went to family group, but we arrived early. So, Sandy and I headed over to Carla's to wait for her and her mom to be ready for group. As we were talking and returning to Erika's for family group, Sandy was sharing with us how the Lord had been answering prayer over the previous couple of days.
1) Last week at youth group, Steve asked if any of our students would be interested in a 5-week intensive DTS-like program in July and August. Five students raised their hands, but 2 were extra-excited about the opportunity: Julio and Mili. It would require them to get permission from their parents (since they are under 18), a recommendation from the pastor, fill out an application, and pay 2000 pesos (~$2oo USD). The bright side of that price is that the students will be participating in the youth camp we're attending in August, so the cost of the program includes the cost of camp. Anyway, Mili went home and over the weekend mentioned it to her parents, and her mother very quickly opposed the idea and closed the subject saying that Sandy was doing so much over the summer that this program was too much and therefore Mili could not go. We all started praying over this because Flavia seemed to dismiss it pretty quickly. Well, Sandy shared with Carla and I that the day before the school had been mentioned again, but her mom wasn't very hip to the idea still. Sandy and her mom later ended up in the kitchen alone, and her mom started talking to Sandy about the school. She apparantly had in mind that Sandy wanted to go as well (which wasn't the case), and proposed to Sandy that she refrain from this opportunity so that Mili could have a chance at it. Sandy said that she had not had plans to attend, but took advantage of the opportunity and told her mom that was fine and that she'd love for Mili to have this opportunity. At that point Flavia seemed to give her approval!!!
The only issue left was the money issue. Sandy said that later that day she and Mili were in their room discussing all this, and Mili brought up the cost. Sandy told her that they still didn't know if the ministry would help with the cost or not, but regardless that Sandy would give Mili ALL of her money (saved, earned this summer to pay for camp, photography earnings, etc.) so that Mili could go to school. This meant that Sandy was sacrificing the youth camp so that Mili could go to school for 5 weeks. Mili didn't like this idea, but when Sandy said "which would you prefer: the two of us go to just the youth camp, or i stay home from camp and you go to the school?" Mili responded that she would choose the school. I was shocked at how quickly and joyfully willing Sandy was to give her sister this opportunity and hope. She said that she hasn't seen her sister so excited about anything related to her faith in a really long time and she just had to do whatever she could to encourage this excitement in Mili. She took the chance to encourage Mili to keep praying, to work hard, and to simply trust the Lord to open the doors. It seems that he's doing that so far.
2) Sandy continued saying that she was in the hamock Wednesday morning/early afternoon just talking to the Lord about all that had gone on and praying and petitioning and thanking him. As she continued, she moved into a line of prayer that I had challenged her to on Monday. Last Monday, as I already blogged, we talked about the fruit of Goodness, and how it DOES -- it acts. She was challenged to pray and ask the Lord what he would want her to DO. She received an answer from Psalm 32:8 and Psalm 33. The jist of the answer was to continue waiting on Him, and He would make it clear in due time what He wants her to DO. The answer was "Wait and Trust me." Well this Monday we studied faith and how Faith FIGHTS because it remembers that on the other side of the battle is a promise waiting to be fulfilles that merits the fight. So, her challenge this week was to spend the week praying and asking the Lord what the promise was He had awaiting for her because she's been in a "fight" for quite a while now...so what is she fighting to attain. On Wednesday she told us that her prayer time in the hammock movced to this challenge, and ask she asked the Lord what the promise was that He had awaiting her. She said the Lord answered her out of Acts 1:4,8
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about....But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' "
She said that basically the promise was that she was going to be a witness for the Lord and she would do so in the POWER of the Spirit. She seemed so excited because God has been answering her so quickly these days, and in ways that really encourage her to keep praying! On Friday night at youth group Martin gave the lesson, and he talked about how God has a plan for each one of us; we just need to wait on him and trust that He will reveal his purpose for us when He's ready. On our way home, Sandy was sharing with me how the study encouraged her even more in light of the prayer challenges and answers. She basically she feels like the last couple weeks God has been saying to her, "For now just wait and trust that I do have something for you to do. But when the time comes, hold on, cuz you're gonna really take off in that plan!" She's really excited about this, and she's looking forward to being even more involved in the youth group and being able to share with others and encourage them to the depth of relationship that she is finding in her Lord!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Sandy's Challenge
Tonight at youth group Sandy gave the study/lesson. She chose to talk about the three types of man: the natural man (the unsaved), the carnal man (the saved man who lives as though he were unsaved), and the spiritual man (the saved man who grows in Christ and continues to mature spritually). Not only that but her point was that the only way to really grow and mature as Christians, to move from eating milk to eating solid spiritual food, is to dig into the Word of God and to know it, study it, love and treasure it well, constantly, and consistantly. She did a GREAT job on this lesson. At the end of the evening, as we do every week, everyone was paired up with one partner for the prayer portion of the evening. Sandy was paired up with Carla. I do not know what they prayed about or talked about, but I do know that they were together for about 15-20 minutes really dialoguing before they finally prayed. On the way to drop off the kids in Arrayanes, Sandy did tell me that they had a really great talk and prayer time!
The cool thing about this is
As she was telling me all this, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Every time she tells me about an encounter she has with the Lord, it's just such a powerful one! God has great plans for this young lady's life, and He is working them out right now. He is preparing her to move forward into her own promised land right here on earth! And it is EXCITING to be here to see that work taking place. What a priveledge it is, and it's so humbling. But more than anything it just makes me want to dance...and those who know me know how little I like to dance, so that's a pretty significant thing! And all this is affecting others. She is touching lives, whether she sees that effect or not: her parents, her sisters, her brother, Carla and her family, and others in the youth group. Tonight as she talked about the three types of man, she asked the youth to think about which kind they were. As she waited for response, some of the more mature youth in the group admited that they identified themselves more with the carnal man because they lacked a consistant meaty diet of the Word. I was surprised at their open honesty in front of so many! They were hearing her, and even better, they were hearing the Lord challenging and calling them to more! And it's all for the glory of God! What an AWESOME God we serve!
Please continue to keep Sandy in your prayers as well. There is much in her immediate future as she begins to gain more photography business as well as taking on more direct leadership in the youth group. God's doing big things, and we are only scratching the surface of the fruit of that! Keep praying because the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective!
The cool thing about this is
- Sandy is actively reaching out to Carla. She introduced her to the youth group tonight (even though most of them are her cousins) and made sure to tell Carla that she is already a part of this group and that anytime she can or wants to attend/participate we will always welcome her and be glad to have her! This impressed me quite a bit!
- Sandy shared with me this afternoon before youth group that she went to the church facility in Arraynes this afternoon to spend some time in prayer preparing for tonight's lesson. She thought she had been there only about a half hour, when in reality she was there praying for more than an hour. She said it was an amazing time of prayer, that she could not lift her head and was crying most of that time. She said she felt like she was holding her bared heart in her hands as it beat before the Lord. She said she went there to pray for herself, but once she started she found that the Spirit would not let her pray for herself until she first prayed for everyone else. She said she prayed for her parents, for me, for her family as a whole, and FOR CARLA, among others. I know the Lord was praparing her not only for the lesson she was about to give, but for that time with Carla! What an amazing work the Lord is doing in and among these girls...and such an obvious one up to this point!
As she was telling me all this, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Every time she tells me about an encounter she has with the Lord, it's just such a powerful one! God has great plans for this young lady's life, and He is working them out right now. He is preparing her to move forward into her own promised land right here on earth! And it is EXCITING to be here to see that work taking place. What a priveledge it is, and it's so humbling. But more than anything it just makes me want to dance...and those who know me know how little I like to dance, so that's a pretty significant thing! And all this is affecting others. She is touching lives, whether she sees that effect or not: her parents, her sisters, her brother, Carla and her family, and others in the youth group. Tonight as she talked about the three types of man, she asked the youth to think about which kind they were. As she waited for response, some of the more mature youth in the group admited that they identified themselves more with the carnal man because they lacked a consistant meaty diet of the Word. I was surprised at their open honesty in front of so many! They were hearing her, and even better, they were hearing the Lord challenging and calling them to more! And it's all for the glory of God! What an AWESOME God we serve!
Please continue to keep Sandy in your prayers as well. There is much in her immediate future as she begins to gain more photography business as well as taking on more direct leadership in the youth group. God's doing big things, and we are only scratching the surface of the fruit of that! Keep praying because the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective!
The prayer of faith...
On Wednesdays we have family groups both in Cofradia and in Arrayanes. I attend one on Wednesday in Arrayanes that is composed of primarily family members of Sandy, including the girl herself and Jay and Faith and I. Recently we've had some new attendees: Sairah and her daughter Carla (age 15), and they bring along the baby Edgar who's about 1 (their other son Juan has been attending church for some time now, though without his family). This past Sunday, they were all in church including Sairah's husband, Emiliano, and tonight Carla came for the first time to youth group!
And this is the story of how they all ended up attending various church meetings.
It seems that about a year ago, Gabriel, one of Sandy's uncle-cousins, decided to pray for three people--that God would bring them to salvation and have them start coming to church. Emiliano, Gabriel's brother, was one of them. He finally came this past Sunday, as I already mentioned, but it wasn't just out of the blue. Their baby, Edgar (about 1 year old, please note), has been a sickly child. He would daily feel bad in some capacity, whether it was sniffles, not eating, not sleeping well, running a fever, etc. Erika, Gabriel's wife and Sandy's aunt, had been trying to reach out to Sairah (while Gabriel was praying for Emiliano, her husband), and finally convinced Sairah a few weeks ago to bring Edgar to family group so that we could pray for him. She did just that, and we prayed for Edgar and then visited for a bit before heading home. The following week Carla was at a monthly youth event in Cofradia, and the week after that they were both in family group with Edgar. They have continued to come ever since. Then the whole family came to church this past Sunday--the first time.
This past Wednesday, at the end of family group, we were talking about how the way we live our lives makes a difference and ended up on the topic of prayer and its effectiveness. Sairah jumped into that conversation and talked about how for so long Erika had been trying to get her to come to church or family group but she never would. She shared about how Edgar was always so sick and she was at the end of her rope as far as how to get him better, and she finally agreed to let us pray for him that Wednesday night about a month ago. She said since that night he's been fine. He eats well, and he sleeps better. He hasn't run a fever or had cold symptoms or anything else. He's not irritable but rather is now a happy little 1-year-old, and she knows that it was because of that prayer that night. After that she decided she wanted to know this God that healed her son through prayer, and she's been coming to family group ever since. Her husband is a harder case to work on, but they did finally convince him to go to that Sunday service last week. Carla has been coming with her mom to family group, and finally was granted permission to come to youth group with us! Now Erika and Sairah together are working on Gabriel and Emiliano's mother, and both say they believe that one day, she too will know the Lord.
But God started working in this family even further back than all this because Juan who is about 12 has been in Faith's Sunday school class for quite some time now, attending every Sunday even without his family! Who knows what kind of a role that played in helping to bring his mom and his sister to a knowledge of the Lord. Please keep this family in your prayers: Emiliano and Sairah, Carla (15), Juan (12), and Edgar (1).
And it gets even cooler! Carla has been very open and friendly to Sandy and Mili and I for some time...well, in regards to church stuff. Granted, Carla is Sandy and Mili's cousin, and for that reason has always been on good terms with them, but I have never noticed that they were ever really engaging in making it more of a friendship or that the girls were actively trying to reach out to her. But they have certainly played a part in Carla's drawing closer to the church over the last month, and I'm encouraged to see how Sandy reaches out to her very actively now.
And this is the story of how they all ended up attending various church meetings.
It seems that about a year ago, Gabriel, one of Sandy's uncle-cousins, decided to pray for three people--that God would bring them to salvation and have them start coming to church. Emiliano, Gabriel's brother, was one of them. He finally came this past Sunday, as I already mentioned, but it wasn't just out of the blue. Their baby, Edgar (about 1 year old, please note), has been a sickly child. He would daily feel bad in some capacity, whether it was sniffles, not eating, not sleeping well, running a fever, etc. Erika, Gabriel's wife and Sandy's aunt, had been trying to reach out to Sairah (while Gabriel was praying for Emiliano, her husband), and finally convinced Sairah a few weeks ago to bring Edgar to family group so that we could pray for him. She did just that, and we prayed for Edgar and then visited for a bit before heading home. The following week Carla was at a monthly youth event in Cofradia, and the week after that they were both in family group with Edgar. They have continued to come ever since. Then the whole family came to church this past Sunday--the first time.
This past Wednesday, at the end of family group, we were talking about how the way we live our lives makes a difference and ended up on the topic of prayer and its effectiveness. Sairah jumped into that conversation and talked about how for so long Erika had been trying to get her to come to church or family group but she never would. She shared about how Edgar was always so sick and she was at the end of her rope as far as how to get him better, and she finally agreed to let us pray for him that Wednesday night about a month ago. She said since that night he's been fine. He eats well, and he sleeps better. He hasn't run a fever or had cold symptoms or anything else. He's not irritable but rather is now a happy little 1-year-old, and she knows that it was because of that prayer that night. After that she decided she wanted to know this God that healed her son through prayer, and she's been coming to family group ever since. Her husband is a harder case to work on, but they did finally convince him to go to that Sunday service last week. Carla has been coming with her mom to family group, and finally was granted permission to come to youth group with us! Now Erika and Sairah together are working on Gabriel and Emiliano's mother, and both say they believe that one day, she too will know the Lord.
But God started working in this family even further back than all this because Juan who is about 12 has been in Faith's Sunday school class for quite some time now, attending every Sunday even without his family! Who knows what kind of a role that played in helping to bring his mom and his sister to a knowledge of the Lord. Please keep this family in your prayers: Emiliano and Sairah, Carla (15), Juan (12), and Edgar (1).
And it gets even cooler! Carla has been very open and friendly to Sandy and Mili and I for some time...well, in regards to church stuff. Granted, Carla is Sandy and Mili's cousin, and for that reason has always been on good terms with them, but I have never noticed that they were ever really engaging in making it more of a friendship or that the girls were actively trying to reach out to her. But they have certainly played a part in Carla's drawing closer to the church over the last month, and I'm encouraged to see how Sandy reaches out to her very actively now.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
April Update
Happy May!!
from Southside Christian Church in
The Days of Youth
a priceless time of celebrating that fun-ness as we discovered live sea creatures, dug mud Jacuzzis, walked on the beach, ate great food in the shade, and of course enjoyed the
In our youth meetings we’ve been talking about having vision in life drawing from material presented in Chazown: A Different Way to See Your Life by Craig Groeschel. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” The main point of this study has been that the Lord has a vision for each of our lives, and knowing that, we are faced with a decision: we can either live stumbling through each day and arrive at the end of our lives with regret that we did not do more in life, or we can live on purpose keeping the end in mind and taking full advantage of each day that God has given us to fulfill the purpose that He has designed for us. We have talked about the need for vision in our lives, having an ear to hear the voice of the Lord as He directs us towards knowledge and completion of that vision, and finally three areas that can help us in discerning the Lord’s vision for us: core values, spiritual gifts, and past experiences that God wants to use. The youth have responded very well to this study and we have had some really great discussions. It’s great to see them thinking about these things and seeking to understand what it is that God has for them. We have encouraged them to dream and to dream BIG, an activity that is very dangerous for one trying to avoid disappointment. But they are responding and even sharing their dreams, many of which include serving the Lord somewhat vocationally: starting leadership schools, being youth leaders, missionary work, charity work, etc. The Lord is working great things in the hearts of these young people…
In addition to our studies, 
good at it, even without having a clue as to what she’s doing! You all have seen her work quite frequently, since almost all of the pictures I end up using on my blog or in newsletters have been ones she has taken. I recently bought a printer that she will be able to use (with some contribution toward paper and ink), and this week she had her first two photography “gigs”: the Mother’s Day celebration at the school in Arrayanes (May 10 in
Forward Thinking…
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Reading Rainbow...
So, I've been reading a lot recently...ok, so not a lot in comparison to what "a lot" has looked like in my life in regards to reading, but it's a lot for being in Mexico. Usually I can't stand reading anything other than fiction and at any time other than just before bed because I spend so much time alone here in Mexico, that I can handle the quiet I need to concentrate on what I'm reading. But recently I put myself to reading some C. S. Lewis. In the past I've steered fairly clear of him. Other than The Screwtape Letters (which I read freshmen year of college and found fairly easy to understand) and The Chronicles of Narnia (which I read for the first time last year), I have never read much of his stuff because every time I tried, I couldn't wrap my mind around a word he said, and I finally just put it down out of frustration. But I'm realizing that there are some things that one should just fight to read in life, and Lewis is high on my personal list of those people.
I read The Great Divorce before my trip home in February, and I had difficulty with that one. I think I need to do some other reading first, or so I'm told by a friend of mine who is an amateur Lewis scholar (yup, that's you Beth!). Then a couple of months ago I started Mere Christianity, and I'm finding that I really like it! He has such a simple way of explaining some pretty complex concepts, and his perspective provides such a fresh perspective that it's like a breath of fresh air in some ways. And it's SUCH an easy read! So, far, I'm really enjoying the read, and I highly recommend it. I'll probably read it again more closely and underline and highlight things, but for now I'm enjoying just getting to know Mr. Lewis a little bit and his wonderful freshnocity!
I also have The Screwtape Letters to read again, and more closely, since when I read it the first time in Intro to Christian Theology I could have cared less. The Four Loves is also in my stack of Lewis books, which is one that deterred me many years ago. However, I'm willing to give it another go!
At the same time as Mr. Lewis, I've been re-reading a small book called Jewish Insights into the New Testament by Barbara Richmond. She is a Bible teacher from Florida who is also a Messianic Jew. According to the forward, this book was published from information that an Hassidic Jewish man gave her in the old city of Jerusalem when she was there as a guide once. Apparantly this man approached her and told her that Yeshua told him to find her that day and tell her his story: that he and about 40 other Hassidic Jewish men had come to know that Yeshua was the Messiah and that they had been studying the New Testament together in secret since He had not yet revealed to them that it was time to reveal their faith in Christ. All of this was a very rare experience for her since apparantly Hassicid Jews will not speak to women in public. In the end, he found out what she does and offered her his notes from their studies, and those notes contained insights into fairly well-known passages of the New Testament that only someone coming from the Jewish culture would know. It is a very thing book and very interesting. Some of the notes that she chose to publish in this book provide very interesting perspectives on stories such as the meeting between Christ and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, the story of Blind Bartamaeus, and the story of what Peter and John found they went to the empty tomb after hearing that Christ had risen. There are several other passages that she explores, but it's an easy and very interesting read. I recommend it.
Next on my list is a book called Spiritual Mothering. It's a look at discipleship/mentoring relationships as modeled after Titus 2, and as far as I can tell it is directed specifically to women. This book was given to me by my InterVarsity staff worker several years ago, but I never ended up reading it. I've been in discipleship relationships since she gave me that book, and I'm sure it could have helped me, but for some reason it just never called to me. However, I find myself in a quandry here in Mexico with the young ladies of our youth group. That quandry has to do with trying to disciple people who don't open up to me. However, I've noticed that the younger girls open right up to Mili and Sandy, who are very open with me. So, I'm starting to think that one strategy that I need to start implementing is training Mili and Sandy to disciple other girls, and well, while I seem to have a handle on discipling others (though let's face it I'm sure I could use some help as well!), I have no handle on training someone else to do it. So, this is the first step in trying to put together some sort of strategy in this aspect of ministering to the girls in this area: reading Spiritual Mothering. I'll let you know what I think about it once I've read it.
In the meantime, I've started reading the minor prophets in my morning quiet time. Every morning over breakfast and coffee I spend time reading in the Word and soaking it in, and then I have some pretty significant prayer time. I have truly come to treasure that time, and I miss it dreadfully if I don't have it or if I only do it out of habbit rather than truly engaging my heart in it. I started with Hosea, a book I've read many times before and continue to love. Yesterday I finished Joel, and found myself stuck on a passage in Joel 2:
I read The Great Divorce before my trip home in February, and I had difficulty with that one. I think I need to do some other reading first, or so I'm told by a friend of mine who is an amateur Lewis scholar (yup, that's you Beth!). Then a couple of months ago I started Mere Christianity, and I'm finding that I really like it! He has such a simple way of explaining some pretty complex concepts, and his perspective provides such a fresh perspective that it's like a breath of fresh air in some ways. And it's SUCH an easy read! So, far, I'm really enjoying the read, and I highly recommend it. I'll probably read it again more closely and underline and highlight things, but for now I'm enjoying just getting to know Mr. Lewis a little bit and his wonderful freshnocity!
I also have The Screwtape Letters to read again, and more closely, since when I read it the first time in Intro to Christian Theology I could have cared less. The Four Loves is also in my stack of Lewis books, which is one that deterred me many years ago. However, I'm willing to give it another go!
At the same time as Mr. Lewis, I've been re-reading a small book called Jewish Insights into the New Testament by Barbara Richmond. She is a Bible teacher from Florida who is also a Messianic Jew. According to the forward, this book was published from information that an Hassidic Jewish man gave her in the old city of Jerusalem when she was there as a guide once. Apparantly this man approached her and told her that Yeshua told him to find her that day and tell her his story: that he and about 40 other Hassidic Jewish men had come to know that Yeshua was the Messiah and that they had been studying the New Testament together in secret since He had not yet revealed to them that it was time to reveal their faith in Christ. All of this was a very rare experience for her since apparantly Hassicid Jews will not speak to women in public. In the end, he found out what she does and offered her his notes from their studies, and those notes contained insights into fairly well-known passages of the New Testament that only someone coming from the Jewish culture would know. It is a very thing book and very interesting. Some of the notes that she chose to publish in this book provide very interesting perspectives on stories such as the meeting between Christ and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, the story of Blind Bartamaeus, and the story of what Peter and John found they went to the empty tomb after hearing that Christ had risen. There are several other passages that she explores, but it's an easy and very interesting read. I recommend it.
Next on my list is a book called Spiritual Mothering. It's a look at discipleship/mentoring relationships as modeled after Titus 2, and as far as I can tell it is directed specifically to women. This book was given to me by my InterVarsity staff worker several years ago, but I never ended up reading it. I've been in discipleship relationships since she gave me that book, and I'm sure it could have helped me, but for some reason it just never called to me. However, I find myself in a quandry here in Mexico with the young ladies of our youth group. That quandry has to do with trying to disciple people who don't open up to me. However, I've noticed that the younger girls open right up to Mili and Sandy, who are very open with me. So, I'm starting to think that one strategy that I need to start implementing is training Mili and Sandy to disciple other girls, and well, while I seem to have a handle on discipling others (though let's face it I'm sure I could use some help as well!), I have no handle on training someone else to do it. So, this is the first step in trying to put together some sort of strategy in this aspect of ministering to the girls in this area: reading Spiritual Mothering. I'll let you know what I think about it once I've read it.
In the meantime, I've started reading the minor prophets in my morning quiet time. Every morning over breakfast and coffee I spend time reading in the Word and soaking it in, and then I have some pretty significant prayer time. I have truly come to treasure that time, and I miss it dreadfully if I don't have it or if I only do it out of habbit rather than truly engaging my heart in it. I started with Hosea, a book I've read many times before and continue to love. Yesterday I finished Joel, and found myself stuck on a passage in Joel 2:
"I will repay you the years the locusts have eaten -- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed." (2:25-27)
I was captured by the part where God describes the different kind of locusts and then calls them the army that HE sent. Later on he says they will praise Him for the wonders He has worked through that restoration of all that was lost as a result of the judgement that He himself sent upon them! Some might read something like that and claim that it's evidence for how fickle and manipulative God is. I read this passage and I am comforted by the truth that our God Almighty cares about us enough to discipline us. But he doesn't just discipline us like our parents did: I know mine would spank me when I deserved it, let the punishment sink in, and then discuss what happened and comfort and hug me and reassure me of their love. The Lord "spanks" us for sure, but he doesn't end the restoration with a little comfort and a hug. No way. Our God disciplines us, and then He doesn't just restore to us what was lost during that discipline but He works wonders that cause us to turn around and praise Him! And the end goal? That we would know that He is God and there is no other and that His people would never again be shamed. What an awesome God we serve! It's all for His glory, but He includes us in that glory! He shares it with us and all shame falls away.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Peace...
Ok, so I don't remember if I mentioned before but I'm doing a Bible study by Beth Moore called Living Beyond Yourself. It's a study of the Fruit of the Spirit, and it's REALLY good. However, I'm doing it twice simultaneously, in English with the staff ladies and in Spanish with Sandy, so this stuff is really hitting and sinking in. The odd thing is that it's sinking in more after doing it in Spanish than when I do it first in Spanish.
Anyway, we just finished studying peace, and that study really affected me, especially given certain situations that we have been dealing with in regards to one of our youth. It has been a difficult process, and the Lord has been teaching me a lot about resting in His sovereignty instead of in my own ability to affect things and people, especially when they do not respond to my counsel or influence. And He's been teaching me a lot about continuing to love people even when I'm not in agreement with them. In the midst of all this, though, there was this study of peace. Here's what I wrote in my post this week on our staff intranet:
So, I've just finished a couple of weeks of studying peace in this study on the fruit of the Spirit (Living Beyond Yourself). I think what has stuck with me the most and really has me thinking is that the peace of Christ that we are gifted (John 14:27) accompanies the authority of Christ (Is. 9:6-7). That puts a whole new spin on peace somehow: that instead of seeking peace, we ought to be seeking out and yeilding ourselves to the authoriday of Christ. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit that has been important to me for quite some time, but this new perspective has completely uprooted my understanding of what it is, and yet at the same time it has finally given that understanding some sort of solid form. It sure does have me re-evaluating a lot of things, though.
This week we're starting in on Patience, and so far we've looked at one of two greek words for patience, one that translates most commonly as "perseverance" or "endurance". The most striking point that she made in relation to this particular type of patience is that it is inspired by hope, and in the greek the word for greek means a hope that is expecting to see the results it's hoping for. She pointed out that very often when we talk about hope today we talk about something we that might happen but there's still doubt in our mind and we remain somewhat skeptical until we can know that it has happened. But hope in the greek is when we expect to see that hope become reality--no doubt about it. I was really challenged by this, especially following on the heels of peace and how it accompanies the authority of Christ. In the face of difficult situations or relationships we often find ourselves having to be patient in the sense of persevering or enduring with the hope of the resolution. But the resolution comes when we yeild ourselves to the authority of Christ and allow Him to work in those circumstances or relationships. It's when I put my HOPE in the authority of Christ that I find the peace that passes all understanding and nurtures a patience in me that pushes me to endure whatever is going on for the resolution that God has in store. It's amazing how it all works together like that....
Anyway, we just finished studying peace, and that study really affected me, especially given certain situations that we have been dealing with in regards to one of our youth. It has been a difficult process, and the Lord has been teaching me a lot about resting in His sovereignty instead of in my own ability to affect things and people, especially when they do not respond to my counsel or influence. And He's been teaching me a lot about continuing to love people even when I'm not in agreement with them. In the midst of all this, though, there was this study of peace. Here's what I wrote in my post this week on our staff intranet:
So, I've just finished a couple of weeks of studying peace in this study on the fruit of the Spirit (Living Beyond Yourself). I think what has stuck with me the most and really has me thinking is that the peace of Christ that we are gifted (John 14:27) accompanies the authority of Christ (Is. 9:6-7). That puts a whole new spin on peace somehow: that instead of seeking peace, we ought to be seeking out and yeilding ourselves to the authoriday of Christ. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit that has been important to me for quite some time, but this new perspective has completely uprooted my understanding of what it is, and yet at the same time it has finally given that understanding some sort of solid form. It sure does have me re-evaluating a lot of things, though.
This week we're starting in on Patience, and so far we've looked at one of two greek words for patience, one that translates most commonly as "perseverance" or "endurance". The most striking point that she made in relation to this particular type of patience is that it is inspired by hope, and in the greek the word for greek means a hope that is expecting to see the results it's hoping for. She pointed out that very often when we talk about hope today we talk about something we that might happen but there's still doubt in our mind and we remain somewhat skeptical until we can know that it has happened. But hope in the greek is when we expect to see that hope become reality--no doubt about it. I was really challenged by this, especially following on the heels of peace and how it accompanies the authority of Christ. In the face of difficult situations or relationships we often find ourselves having to be patient in the sense of persevering or enduring with the hope of the resolution. But the resolution comes when we yeild ourselves to the authority of Christ and allow Him to work in those circumstances or relationships. It's when I put my HOPE in the authority of Christ that I find the peace that passes all understanding and nurtures a patience in me that pushes me to endure whatever is going on for the resolution that God has in store. It's amazing how it all works together like that....
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
~Romans 8:28
~Romans 8:28
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Dry Season
Well, here in Mexico we are definitely in the middle of the dry season! No rain...for MONTHS..not a drop! It's so weird for this Virginia girl to NOT have rain in April and yet still see trees blooming. In fact, things are so dry and brown here at this time of the year that when the trees do start turning a vivid green, it is even more vivid sitting next to dried out brush! It's hot and dry and dusty, but the rains are on their way--June. It's not that far away, and that will be a new experience for me. Hot and humid at all times, but rain! I'm excited to see it for myself!Anyway, the other day Sandy and I went out on the road between Cofradia and Arrayanes so that she could take pictures of the green that is coming out right now in the midst of this dryness. I thought I would post some. Enjoy!
As you can see, the green is coming out! It's something that happens pretty suddenly: one day it's all brown as you can see close to the ground, and the next day there's a canopy of the most lucious, verdant green!!
This pic (above) doesn't show much green, but it captures a bush that is covered in white (just over their right shoulders), and the pic below this comments is a close-up of that bush. She said she didn't try to get the pic to come out this way...just shot the shot, and look what came out! Ironically, almost all of the best pics she takes have the same history: "I wasn't trying, I just took a picture!"
This is the kind of dryness that typifies the dry season!
Again, more of the green canopy!
Being in black and white, this doesn't show the green, but it's a close-up of the same boys biking it in the pic above it. It has that 1950's childhood kind of feel to it!
These were the only two blooms on the bush, and none of the other bushes around it had any blooms. The leaves on this bush crumbled in Sandy's hands, and yet somehow it had these two beautiful bright yellow blooms!
This was the last pic she took that day. This is the baseball field at the entrance to Arrayanes. If you look closely, you can see a kneeling, praying angel in the clouds there over the field. I love this pic! The angles are praying with us for this town!
As you can see, the green is coming out! It's something that happens pretty suddenly: one day it's all brown as you can see close to the ground, and the next day there's a canopy of the most lucious, verdant green!!
This pic (above) doesn't show much green, but it captures a bush that is covered in white (just over their right shoulders), and the pic below this comments is a close-up of that bush. She said she didn't try to get the pic to come out this way...just shot the shot, and look what came out! Ironically, almost all of the best pics she takes have the same history: "I wasn't trying, I just took a picture!"
This is the kind of dryness that typifies the dry season!
Again, more of the green canopy!
Being in black and white, this doesn't show the green, but it's a close-up of the same boys biking it in the pic above it. It has that 1950's childhood kind of feel to it!
These were the only two blooms on the bush, and none of the other bushes around it had any blooms. The leaves on this bush crumbled in Sandy's hands, and yet somehow it had these two beautiful bright yellow blooms!
This was the last pic she took that day. This is the baseball field at the entrance to Arrayanes. If you look closely, you can see a kneeling, praying angel in the clouds there over the field. I love this pic! The angles are praying with us for this town!Sunday, April 22, 2007
Conviction
Pastor Goyo has been doing a series the last couple Sundays on conviction, and he's been drawing from John 16:5-16, specifically where Jesus tells the disciples that when the Holy Spirit comes, "he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgement" (v. 8). Both times he started the sermons saying that he was not going to focus so much on the part about conviction of sin because as followers of Christ, as His Church, we have already received conviction of sin and are therefore now just and righteous through the blood of Christ.
Last week he pointed out that very often we as believers go around calling ourselves sinners when in fact Scripture says we are now righteous saints, a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9). Then today, we had communion and he referenced Paul's rebuke to the Corinthians for not taking the communion seriously, not respecting it and regarding it as holy. Basically, for approaching the elements with a sinful attitude. He said today that for us, the just and righteous (in Christ's blood), to come to the table calling ourselves sinners, what we're in fact doing is not taking God at His Word, and that is part of that sin of not respecting what Christ did for us, or treating that sacrifice irreverently.
Both weeks, I found myself convicted (go figure!) concerning just these tid bits of the sermon. Last week I found myself thinking about his statement that we call ourselves sinners when in fact we are now the Just, and I asked msyelf why I do that. Because it's true: I do do that! And the answer I came up with was that I'm giving myself an easy out for when I fail (lower expectations) and an excuse for my laziness. Because if I were to keep in my conscious mind that I am now just before the Lord Almighty, I'm convinced that there are many things I would live and do differently. Yet, I continue to walk around with this mistaken, yet automatic, mentality that I'm a sinner, and the end result is that I trick myself into living as such, I convince myself back into the sin of unbelief.
Now the issue is how do I take these things captive and make them submissive to Christ? What does that look like, and what changes does it require of me both in my way of thinking as well as in my actions? These are questions for which I do not yet have answers, but it is a joyous thing to know that in the midst of conviction of sin, I can take comfort in the fact that my God is so merciful and gracious that He never gives up on me even when it's the same thing over and over again! What a great God we serve!
Last week he pointed out that very often we as believers go around calling ourselves sinners when in fact Scripture says we are now righteous saints, a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9). Then today, we had communion and he referenced Paul's rebuke to the Corinthians for not taking the communion seriously, not respecting it and regarding it as holy. Basically, for approaching the elements with a sinful attitude. He said today that for us, the just and righteous (in Christ's blood), to come to the table calling ourselves sinners, what we're in fact doing is not taking God at His Word, and that is part of that sin of not respecting what Christ did for us, or treating that sacrifice irreverently.
Both weeks, I found myself convicted (go figure!) concerning just these tid bits of the sermon. Last week I found myself thinking about his statement that we call ourselves sinners when in fact we are now the Just, and I asked msyelf why I do that. Because it's true: I do do that! And the answer I came up with was that I'm giving myself an easy out for when I fail (lower expectations) and an excuse for my laziness. Because if I were to keep in my conscious mind that I am now just before the Lord Almighty, I'm convinced that there are many things I would live and do differently. Yet, I continue to walk around with this mistaken, yet automatic, mentality that I'm a sinner, and the end result is that I trick myself into living as such, I convince myself back into the sin of unbelief.
Now the issue is how do I take these things captive and make them submissive to Christ? What does that look like, and what changes does it require of me both in my way of thinking as well as in my actions? These are questions for which I do not yet have answers, but it is a joyous thing to know that in the midst of conviction of sin, I can take comfort in the fact that my God is so merciful and gracious that He never gives up on me even when it's the same thing over and over again! What a great God we serve!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Footprints...
So, last week there was a youth retreat in Tepic, hosted by our mother church La Fuente. However, none of our youth were able to go. We decided to take Friday off and cancel youth group, and on Saturday we took them all to the beach! We had 5 leaders, 10 youth, and 4 children. It was a ton of fun! We went to Playa Novillero; it's about 2 hours away, and we got to drive on the new toll road for part of the way! It was very exciting. Some played sports on the beach or dug holes. The kids played in the water and with their sand toys. Sandy, Mili, and I had a good time talking and walking on the beach for the while, and then most of the youth ended up in the water. Since I'm not a big swimming fan, I didn't go in, but it was so much fun to watch them having such fun!
Ruben even found a couple of live crabs in the water and it was cool to see him get them to fight a little bit, despite the pain of having them latch on to his finger! Mirna found a live starfish, and we watched it walk! I've never seen a live one in person. Some of the guys dug a huge whole in the sand, filled it with water, and called it their "jacuzzi"!! It was hillarious to see them just hanging out in their mud whole as though it were a relaxing jacuzzi!!!
And of course there was food and shade! Many of us cooperated and provided different aspects of the eating portion of the day. I was to provide sodas. Pola made cebiche (pronounced "say-bee-chay"), which is this sort of shrimp salad type of thing, and we ate it on tostadas. Of course, the Mexicans like to put lime, salt, and chile on it as well. Regardless, it's VERY tasty!
And of course the camera was present as always, and almost all of the pictures were taken by Sandy. So, enjoy the pics! Yea for fun in the sun!!!
Playa Novillero (Novillero Beach)
Shade, food, and good company--three important ingredients for a great day at the beach!
The lovely Cecilia. She just turned 13 in March.
Miss Mirna, cousin of Mili and Sandy, and part of our youth group as of her 13th birthday in February!
We came upon this boat in our walking, and Sandy wanted to take a pic of it with Mili and I in it. We refused to climb in, but we stood by it anyway. This is Sandy's favorite because of the reflection in the sand.
The cold cocanut guy! There were numerous carts like this.
One of he crabs that Ruben found while swimming.
It's alive! You can see the starfish's feet suctioning to the table!
(L-R) Julio, Riki, and Goyito enjoying their mud jacuzzi. These three are our pastor's three youngest.
Pola and Julizza (on the right) and Isabel and Josue (on the left) enjoying the beach. Pola is Mirna's mom and Julizza her younger sister.
Ruben even found a couple of live crabs in the water and it was cool to see him get them to fight a little bit, despite the pain of having them latch on to his finger! Mirna found a live starfish, and we watched it walk! I've never seen a live one in person. Some of the guys dug a huge whole in the sand, filled it with water, and called it their "jacuzzi"!! It was hillarious to see them just hanging out in their mud whole as though it were a relaxing jacuzzi!!!
And of course there was food and shade! Many of us cooperated and provided different aspects of the eating portion of the day. I was to provide sodas. Pola made cebiche (pronounced "say-bee-chay"), which is this sort of shrimp salad type of thing, and we ate it on tostadas. Of course, the Mexicans like to put lime, salt, and chile on it as well. Regardless, it's VERY tasty!
And of course the camera was present as always, and almost all of the pictures were taken by Sandy. So, enjoy the pics! Yea for fun in the sun!!!
Playa Novillero (Novillero Beach)
Shade, food, and good company--three important ingredients for a great day at the beach!
The lovely Cecilia. She just turned 13 in March.
Miss Mirna, cousin of Mili and Sandy, and part of our youth group as of her 13th birthday in February!
We came upon this boat in our walking, and Sandy wanted to take a pic of it with Mili and I in it. We refused to climb in, but we stood by it anyway. This is Sandy's favorite because of the reflection in the sand.
The cold cocanut guy! There were numerous carts like this.
One of he crabs that Ruben found while swimming.
It's alive! You can see the starfish's feet suctioning to the table!
(L-R) Julio, Riki, and Goyito enjoying their mud jacuzzi. These three are our pastor's three youngest.
Pola and Julizza (on the right) and Isabel and Josue (on the left) enjoying the beach. Pola is Mirna's mom and Julizza her younger sister.
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