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The Rod

2012-01-27T06:13:00.000-02:00

And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod .Exodus 4:2
I'm a "walking-stick" kind of guy. I've always like to grab a stick when going for a walk in the woods and weeds. I have several right now on my back porch. The one that I cut just two days ago is green bamboo! Cool.

In Moses’ writings we read about Aaron's rod, God's rod and Moses' rod. All were used in Power move situations. Have you noticed?

On Moses’ first encounter with Jehovah God the question is asked, "What is that in your hand" and the response is, "A rod." However, when tossed to the ground that "rod" became a wicked looking snake. How do I know that it was wicked looking? Because an aged shepherd who had been working the "back-side" of the desert for forty years ran like a scared school boy when he saw it!

The rod became leverage in the conversation with pharaoh. Don't you just know that Moses was chomping at the bit to chuck that stick at pharaoh's feet. And can't you see the initial reaction when pharaoh's magicians did the same trick? However, that day, Moses was the only one who went home with a rod!

We see the Rod again on the beach of the Nile. Moses touched the waters and shut down a country for a whole week because the water became blood! It was amazing. It was the Rod.

The Rod became frog bait. Aaron touched the Nile and this time zillions of frogs infested the land. Kermit would NOT have been popular in Egypt circa 1445 B.C..

Next the Rod was used to make a country itch. I'm itching now just thinking about what happened. Aaron touched the dust of the ground with the Rod and it became lice. Have you ever had lice? I haven't but I know people who have and it is not a pretty site. I can't even comprehend the run on the drug stores and vinegar isle that must have taken place.

Then Moses raised his Rod and God sent huge hailstones and fire that ran along the ground. Always a nice combination when wreaking havoc and proving a point. People are looking for the hail and run into the fire or they are running from the fire and get whacked by a hailstone. All put in motion by the Rod.

The next great event that involved that Rod was something that I tried just recently, the parting of the waters. It looked so easy when Charlton Heston did it in, "The 10 Commandments". I raised my walking stick and... nothing. Not even a ripple.

Moses' lifted his rod, however, and a sea split to let two million people cross on dry ground. [Aside] How long did that take? I've spend the better part of a half an hour just getting to my car through the tunnel that leads from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Two million crossing a sea bead? Man. The Rod strikes again.

The Rod was used to bring water from the rock. Its use prohibited Moses' entry into the Promised Land. It budded, had flowers and almonds to prove Moses and Aaron's authority and finally came to rest in the Ark of the Covenant according to Hebrews 9.4.

A simple tool wrought wonders and it all started with the mild question, "What is that in your hand?" When Moses cut that stick did he have any idea about what it would become? Of course not. He had no clue. It was a rod. Moses was a humble man in a harsh place. Yet with the power of God behind that rod it moved nations. I believe that we will see that stick in heaven. It is a symbol of a yielded life and an all powerful God.

What is that in YOUR hand, a pen, screwdriver, iPhone? Throw it down and let's see what you become! Want too?

Cyclical Rejoicing!

2012-01-25T06:16:00.000-02:00

Exodus 18.9

When is the last time that you shared a blessing with someone. I mean that you literally sat down with a friend and shared the blessings that God has been showering you with.

That is what happened in Exodus 18 when Moses met with Jethro his father-in-law. Can you imagine this scene with me? These two old men with their long beards are sitting on the ground at the table where they have been dinning. All the while Moses has been recounting what the LORD has been doing in his life lately. Man! A firsthand account of all of those miracles by none other than Moses.

Here sits the entire family around the table recounting God's blessings. The result was that "...Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel...".

Interesting that word, "rejoiced". It means to "rejoin". It has the sense of uniting, intertwining or connecting.

I know that you have been in a situation like this. A friend is weaving a story and you are spellbound as the events unfold. Your mouth is hanging open, your eyes are locked as your imagination runs wild. Your mind is totally wrapped around the tale being told.

Now envision Moses as the storyteller and God as the Author of the tale! Picture Moses as YOUR son-in-law and the details that he is sharing are events that have changed his life and the course of History. I see that gaping mouth and glassy stare.

If you can imagine this scenario then you have a glimpse of how Jethro felt as he heard this news for the first time. This discourse made him jump for joy in the LORD. The event caused action. Jethro couldn’t contain himself. He shouted with joy, “Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Then he made a declaration of Faith, Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

For the first time Jethro was seeing who God really was. He realized that God Jehovah was the only true god. His spiritual eyes were opened and he demonstrated his new faith by making a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Which in turn lead to an invitation to Aaron and all of the elders of Israel to take part in a meal. Which probably lead to more stories. Which lead to more rejoicing. Which lead to more.... Well you get the point.

Rejoice with someone today. You won't regret it. It might make you late for work but maybe you'll get a meal in the deal!

Update from Mike and Dawn

2012-01-23T16:21:00.001-02:00

Camp was FUN! Thirty two kids and seven leaders had a blast living together and learning from God's Word.

Our special guest speaker this year was none other than King Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon! He shared his prospective on the life of Daniel. What made this story even neater for our kids was that one of them is named Shadrack!

Ben Jacobs played the king and Ben Broyals played Daniel. They were perfect for each part. Except for the fact that both were blue eyed blonds!

The kids were spell-bound as they listened to each installment of the story. We knew that they were paying attention because many questions were asked afterward and their answers were great. Some of them even earned a little of the king’s gold (chocolate coins) for their good attention.

We broke into devotional groups in the mornings and it was great to be able to share principles of Reverence and Respect with my five boys. This year we had leaders in training: Amanda, Lucas and Dani helped Ben Broyals, Ben’s sister Lydia and Jenifer Swedberg in their groups.

Dawn again worked her wonders in the kitchen with help from Joelma for two of the days. Alcir, Maria and Val also helped put on some luscious meals. We also had all-you-can-eat Ice Cream again this year! Yay!!

The kids made many great decisions and we’ll be with them through out the year to help them follow through on those important steps in their spiritual growth.

Two days after Camp pastor Alexandre, Amanda, Graziele and Alison left for Curitiba to share our ministry with five churches there. We have received the majority of our financial help from three churches there and our team will present at Atuba, Salem, Portão and Calvário. The fifth church is pastored by one of Alexandre’s seminary buddies and is about an hour south west of Curitiba. The team will go there on Wednesday.

On Friday before he left Alexandre and I went to pick up a copy of our blue-prints. Our church will be small but it is starting on the right foot with all of the legal steps being looked after. One of the costliest will be getting the prints OK’d by City Hall. Pray us through this Huge step.

One last note. Our house rental agreement expires at the end of the month and we need to find a place to live. Ask God for His guidance to the right house and neighborhood. It could be the start of our next church... we’ll see. Thank you all for your important part in our ministry.

How did Little Joey Turn out So Good?

2012-01-17T06:10:00.000-02:00

Genesis 37 - 50
Moses in preparing his novel called Genesis relates some fascinating human interest stories. One that endears me each time is how Joseph saves the universe! What? You’ve never read that part? Well my friend it is there as plain as day in chapters 37 - 50.

Joseph was a casula. Whoa brother you lost me there. Casula (ka-SOO-la) is a Portuguese word which usually means, “Spoiled rotten little brat”. Well... that might be the Amplified version of the definition. It actually means the youngest child in a family. The “baby”.

Joseph being the casula got doted on by daddy. Jacob’s favoritism lead to such bitterness that Joseph´s brothers wanted to kill him literally. While planning to do just that Joseph was saved by big brother Rubin. That, “salvation” lead to a life of slavery in Egypt shortly after being sold to a caravan of Ishmaelites. Lovely little family tradition that. Let’s sell the casula! Yay! Sounds like something from Star Wars.

Soon after his unexpected journey in chains to Egypt Potiphar buys him. If you have read this charming account you probably have noticed a phrase like, “and God was with Joseph” repeated several time. It is a good thing that God was with Joseph. Just imagine if He wasn’t. Things might have turned out bad. Oh, wait, how could it get much worse than nearly being murdered by your siblings and then sold into slavery. Well it did get worse.

Everywhere that Joe went things got better for all concerned. For all but Joe that is. In his slavery Mrs. Potifer is enamored with the handsome lad and all but drags him into her bed. When he squirms out of her grasp, leaving his cloak, she squeals on him and he goes to prison for at least two years! My Word! This guy is doomed!

Through all of these seemingly endless difficulties Joseph shines. He is used by God to be a blessing each situation. My question is, “Why?”. Why did Joseph turn out so good after going through enough bad experiences to make the strongest person bitter? The answer to this question will encourage those of you who are in tough straights or seemingly impossible situations right now.

Maybe you are like Joseph and have been treated unjustly your whole life. Look through Joseph’s glasses to see what he saw. His prescription is revealed in Genesis 45.5-8 and Genesis 50.20. Read those passages right now. It will help your vision.

Paul, in Romans 8.28 Tells us that ALL things are working together for the good to them who love God and who are the called according to His purpose. The, “all” in Paul's phrase is a Greek word that means... All. Elsewhere Paul tells us that we are to give thanks in “Everything” that happens to us (1 Thess. 5.18). That Greek word means... everything.

Joseph had learned that lesson. He saw God in every situation, trouble and trial. God was acting in both the good and the apparent bad. His action was working toward a greater good. That good would eventually save the universe with the birth of Jesus the Christ. Joseph suffered so that you could be saved. Do you see it? Who will be helped by your suffering? Put on Joseph’s glasses and have a look around.

Sparks

2012-01-03T20:35:00.000-02:00

Zechariah 12
As a kid I often saw my dad sharpening a tool on his table grinder. The sparks that flew brought wonder. They were myriad and beautiful. When he was done there was a tiny pile of shavings that I could play with. I’d get a magnet and create fantastic miniature sculptures with the whisks.
What is a spark? You might be surprised.

Robert Hooke studied the sparks created by striking a piece of flint and steel together. He found that the sparks were usually particles of the steel which had become red hot and so melted into globules. These sparks can be used to ignite tinder and so start a fire.

In colonial America, flint and steel were used to light fires when easier methods failed. Scorched linen was commonly used as tinder to catch the spark and start the fire but producing a good spark could take much time. A spinning steel wheel provided a good stream of sparks when it engaged the flint and a tinderbox designed to do this was known as a mill.

In a modern lighter or firesteel, iron is mixed with cerium and other rare earths to form the alloy ferrocerium. This readily produces sparks when scraped and burns hotter than steel would. This higher temperature is needed to ignite the vapour of the lighter fluid (Wikipedia).

Why all of this talk about sparks? In Zechariah 12 God foresees the tiny clans of Israel as a type of spark which would ignite and consume the nations. If you look at a map of the world you might wonder how such a seemingly insignificant country like Israel might be used to kindle such scorching devastation. However, if you look throughout chapter 12 you notice several metaphors that foretell how God will use that minuscule nation in the end times.

It was said that an overturned lantern in Mrs. O’Leary’s barn started the great fire that devoured Chicago in October of 1871. Others believe that is was a mere spark from a passing train. Whatever the case it was a devastating blaze that cost millions and killed three hundred people.
One day soon God will spark the tiny nation Israel to consume this phase of world history. When that day comes there will be no doubt about the source of the blaze. The God of Israel will cause the destruction. Those without the fireproof Salvation that Christ offers will be burned.

New Year Update from Sorocaba

2012-01-03T16:41:00.001-02:00

Christmas on Sunday seemed strange didn't it? Several friends said that they couldn't remember the last time that it had. I Googled it and discovered that it was 2004. Not so long ago.

Dawn and I brunched with coworkers Shaw, Donna, Andrew and Ana Shea Alexander. We then traveled to São Paulo where we worshiped with fellow missionaries Marv and Diane and Nathan and Diane Fray at their new church plant. Both morning and evening were sweet fellowship on the Lord's birthday.

Sunday night after the service we traveled another half an hour to Camp Betel. Nathan Fray purchased a beautiful piece of property about five years ago. The property had several out buildings and a pool. It is also on a large reservoir which makes for a lovely camp setting. We spent Sunday night there and on Monday gathered with our fellow São Paulo station missionaries for our annual Christmas party.

We went back to camp and stayed Monday and Tuesday. It was great to get to know Marv and Diane better. We have chatted over the years but have never had time alone with just us and them. They have been in Brazil for almost 50 years and have planted 13 churches in that time. Their church plants have been responsible for planting another 30 churches! Amazing. We learned much in our conversations.

We are planning on helping in English Camp this next week. We will be working with a small group of 20 or so campers who come to learn and perfect their English. We know that language so it should be a lot of fun!

On New Years Eve we worshiped at Igreja Batista Calvário. Alexandre preached and one of our teens, Bia Franca, was baptized. Dawn and Donna prepared a huge meal with the help of Joelma and we played games until 2:30 AM. I think that we are still recovering.

In my Bible study today with Grazi, Michele and Lucas we looked at Enoch who walked 365 years with God. His life is an amazing lesson. One for each day of the year if you think about it. His name means Initiated, dedicated and disciplined. Walking like Enoch is my New Years Resolution. I hope that it is yours too.

God Closed the Door

2012-01-03T08:58:00.001-02:00

Genesis 7

I always think that Noah and family were safe and sound inside the ark with their personal zoo before the first drop of water hit that titanic ship. It may have been that way. However, the verse order in Genesis 7 makes me wonder. Have you ever noticed it? Look at verses 11 - 16.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; 14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

In Junior church the Flannel-Graph always showed Noah with a big white beard, a staff, a smile and beside him was a long line of animals two by two calmly ambling into the ark. And Flannel-Graph is always right. Isn't it?

It may have been that way. God had commanded Noah and family to enter the ark seven days before the flood started and Noah always did what God commanded. But look again at the seeming order of events of that last day of dry:

The "fountains of the great deep broke up,
the windows of heaven were opened and
the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
then Noah and family went in.
Then, And the LORD shut him in. Whew! Just in time.

I live in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Sorocaba is a funny word. It is a word of ancient origin and means, torn earth. If you are familiar with San Francisco, CA and it's hills or Houghton/ Hancock, MI you have an idea about how hilly Sorocaba is.

These hills are residual marks from the six hundredth year and second month and seventeenth day of Noah's life when the great deep broke up and the waters gushed out. It didn't only rain during the flood. All of the water that was below the earth's surface gushed out too. Air breathing beings didn't have a chance of survival. I doubt that there was one person clutching to the ark as it rose from Noah's front yard.

If the events of Flood Day happened as mentioned in the order above, why on earth did God wait so long to shut that door? Could it be that He was waiting until the last moment to see if anyone else might want to join Mr. and Mrs. Noah and family? Or maybe it was Noah who was hesitant to slam the door on all of his neighbors. Had Noah made that door so big that he couldn't shut it? I doubt it. Did Noah expect God to shut it? Again, I doubt it.

God is merciful and Noah was faithful, dedicated and righteous. In God's mercy he allowed Noah to preach righteousness (see 2 Peter 2.5) for one hundred and twenty years. God gave the people a final weeks warning by commanding Noah to go into the ark. And, maybe Noah and family were still trying to convince their relatives and neighbors to come in on that last day as God finally shut the door.

The final judgment will be by fire and not water. How many times do you need to hear before you enter the ark? Of course there will be no big boat on that day. Jesus Christ, the ultimate preacher of righteousness, shouts to you to day, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Why would anyone wait to be rescued? Why would you? Come on in right now before God closes The Door (John 10.9)!

2012-01-01T06:21:00.000-02:00

Happy New Year
Psalm 1

The New Year brings the possibility of being happy. We hope in the prospects that this unspoiled page offers. It seems a unique time for change. We stand at the beginning of something big, important and special. Tantalizing possibilities, adventures and solutions, that at other times during the year are invisible to us, seem do-able. It is January 1.

The psalmist has some advice for us as we enter the New Year’s door. He sees a fork in our way. Two paths lie before us. One leads to destruction and one leads to happiness.

He starts and ends his short verse with a negative perspective. If we were to paraphrase the beginning and ending of this song it would actually look very positive, “Happy are they who don’t...die.”

However, to have a happy ending we have some responsibilities. All of which are sandwiched in the middle of this chorus. So, here is a type of ancient mathematical formula for a really Happy New Year no matter what the following twelve months hold.

If I don´t hang with perpetual evil doers, commune with unbelievers and take up their hypercritical perspective I am on the right path. However, there is more. I must passionately ponder the Word of God. When I make His Word mine it/ He changes every aspect of my being and change can be impossible without God being involved.

With God change can still be hard. However, if we can wrap our New Year’s day groggy minds around this concept it has all of the potential of making this one of the Happiest New Years ever. Want to try it? Follow me!

The Twilight of Life

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-02:00

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deu 33:27)

What happens at the Twilight of Life? In the last two weeks I have visited two rest-homes and
have come away terrified. The old seem despised a nuisance a curiosity. In one home a 106
year old lady was wheeled out as if she were a museum piece to be ogled. In another a 96 year old shriveled in her bed was whispered about as if a specimen of pity.

These two cases were extreme to be sure but the old are different. Many avoid them. Many look
at them as if they were a strange breed an oddity or had contracted a terrible disease. Others
pity them beyond measure which in the end brings undue embarrassment and uneasiness.

All of this commotion about aged bodies. All of this attention because of years of wear and tear.
All forgetting that everyone of us is headed to the same destiny if we should live so long.

Is the "Rest Home" something to be looked forward to or dreaded? Should I prepare for it or is it
inevitable no matter what I do?

Rest and home are two lovely adjectives depending on their context. The deception comes
when they are placed together. A "rest-home" is a place where old people go. It is a type of
dump. It smells horrible and has a funeral-home-in-waiting atmosphere about it.

Just the other day I stood before a photo on a rest home wall. The picture had about fifty people
in it. Everyone looked happy and relatively healthy. All were ancient. The photo itself was six
years old. My aged guide pointed his bony finger at the picture and said, "Do you know which
ones are still with us?"

He edged closer and squinted through his trifocals. His index finger caressed several faces in
the photo as it made a complete circle until it rested on a lone individual. "This is the only one."
were the words that escaped slowly from his wrinkled lips.

Forty-nine of fifty had slipped into eternity in just five years. Rest-home? The “rest” were gone!
This place was where people had come to die.

One of our teen girls was terrified when while standing in the middle of a room she was
approached by an octogenarian zombie. The woman got so close that I though that she was
going to knock our teen over. She stared and walked ever closer as the teenager’s eyes got as
big as saucers!

I intervened by saying, “This is Susie what is your name?” Unhindered the woman kept coming.
She was finally grabbed by a worker and whisked to another room out of harms way.

Is that my future? Is it yours? Maybe. So what about it? The challenge is to make the most
of each of our days. We must realize that they are precious whether in a rest home or our
own home. When we commit our days and years to our Creator and Savior we can rejoice in
whatever season of life we find ourselves. The twilight of life brings hope for a coming new day
in Him for those who rest in His loving arms!

Are Prayers Like Seeds?

2011-12-22T06:52:00.001-02:00

Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John. (Luke 1.13.)

In this dramatic scene the angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias the priest who just happened
to be offering sacrifices in the Holy of Holies for first and only time in his life. He had been
randomly chosen. Gabriel relates a stunning bit of information. He tells him to rest easy because
his prayer (singular) is going to be answered! Hurray! Elizabeth is going to become pregnant
and have a son!

Wait a minute! Zacharias and Elizabeth were old. They had been married for decades. Yet the
angel spoke as if the deal was done. In fact he names the baby and begins to share details
about all of the things that John would accomplish. Did you notice the list?

● He will be great before the Lord.
● he will be filled with the Holy Spirit
● he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord
● he will go before (the Christ) in the spirit and power of Elijah

As the angel takes a breath Zacharias blurts out a question, “How do I know that what you are
telling me is really going to happen?” (my translation).

This “prayer” the angel spoke of probably had not been uttered in ages. Zacharias had probably
prayed it not long after his wedding date. He had most likely continued for several years all of
the time hoping that God would grant him the privilege of having a baby boy. But had he kept up
that prayer for sixty to seventy years? I seriously doubt it.

Why my doubts? I know how I pray. If I see a need I might pray it through. If I am in the middle
of a situation that is beyond my control I might keep up the prayer chain for several weeks or
months. However, after awhile I realize that God’s answer is NO. So I stop praying.

I think that my skepticism is proven by Zacharias’ question. He could not believe that what
Gabriel was saying was really going to happen because he had stopped praying about forty
years earlier. He had given up the idea as his body aged. There would be no baby,period. End
of story.

Gabriel, however, almost seems offended by Zacharias’ question. He assures him that the
transaction would happen and because he doubted he would be mute for the nine months of
Elizabeth’s pregnancy.

That prayer had laid in suspended animation for years. It was like certain seeds that need just
the right conditions to begin to sprout. Even though Zacharias had given up all hope the seed
had been planted. It was about to spring to life with a very unlikely answer. There would be a
baby in this aged couple’s house.

Do you have any seeds seemingly dormant in God’s prayer garden? Take heart! You just might
be as surprised as Zacharias and Elizabeth when that prayer is answered. Don’t give up hope.
For with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1.37)!

Christmas Hope

2011-12-20T19:58:00.001-02:00

Tomorrow is the first day of Summer! Yay! However, the heat has been with us for a couple of days now. Today at this exact moment 7:17 PM Mid-Atlantic time on December 20 the temp here in Sorocaba is 24.5 degrees! That’s Celsius! Which translates to 85 Fahrenheit. Good stuff.

Santa looks ridiculous in his fuzzy red suit. Dawn got a decorative tablecloth yesterday with Santa in a snow scene! The thing nearly melted in her hands.

Needless to say Christmas below the equator is very different than what most of you are experiencing. Though the snow, reindeer, and sleigh motif is often seen you are also apt to see a palm tree with Christmas lights hanging from its fronds.

Whether snow or hot sun the season is the same. It is Christmas. Churches put on plays, sing carols, have special services and dinners to remember Christ’s birth.

Our church presented a Cantata in five different locations this past week. It was a homemade cantata, I think that they are often the best kind, about a little girl who had her heart hurt by many different people throughout her life. Her parents paid no attention to her, her street friends abused her and boyfriend wasn’t much better. It wasn’t until she met Jesus that her world changed from hopeless to hope filled.

The Heart of Christmas was the theme of our messages from the end of November to this past Sunday. We looked at Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph and Mariana, the little girl in the play, to see how we each could better exemplify the heart of Christmas which is the heart of Hope.

We presented this hope in two orphanages and two rest-homes. We also presented at our own Hope Baptist Church. Over three-hundred people heard a clear presentation of the Gospel Hope in Jesus Christ.

Hope in this world seems a fleeting thing doesn’t it? A friend once said to me, “What is so special about hope? If I hope something happens there is no certainty that it will.” Then as well as now we Christians know that the Hope we find in the Christ child and crucified and risen Savior is as sure as this mornings sunrise. Christ is our Hope of eternal life.

With the many who heard the message comes many opportunities to follow up with more encouragement from the Word of God. Part of that will happen on Friday as we have our eve of Christmas Eve service at our house. Pray that God will open many heart’s doors to His Hope.

Update from Mike and Dawn in Sorocaba, Brazil

2011-11-21T09:32:00.001-02:00

Our weekend was VERY different here at Faith Baptist Church in Sorocaba. Saturday was the long awaited banquet for our Faithful Teens group. Dawn began her kitchen work early with Joelma and Cristina helping out. The teens came in their "Sunday" best and the evening was lovely and a lot of fun.

The most faithful of the Faithful Teens was Amanda who memorized 100 verses did a lot of tract handing out and shared the Gospel with many. She was nearly perfect in attendance at church activities. For all of her hard work she won an all expenses paid trip to Hopi-Hari, an amusement park near São Paulo. She will be taking her sister Tais who also memorized 100 verses and invited a lot of kids to Bible Club.

In second place, earning a half expenses paid trip was Amanda and Tais’ sister Graziele. She too worked very hard, memorizing the 100 verses and handing our many tracts and inviting multitudes to Bible Club. The trip to Hopi-Hari will be a lot of fun and the girls deserve their special day.

In third place was my “adopted” son Alison. He did a great job and worked very hard too. He gets to go on the trip to Hopi-Hari but has to pay his own way. Who knows, maybe his “dad” will pitch in a few bucks to help out.

On Sunday, Alexandre, Junior, Amanda and Graziele made the long trek into São Paulo to present our ministry to a sister church. They went by bus and had to leave at 5:30 AM to be there for Sunday School at 9:00. They didn’t return until after 11:00 PM.

Because Alexandre has the keys and alarm code to the school we use and because he is the only one authorized to open that building we, as a church, met on the playground. We had 39 present to sing hymns, give testimony and I taught from Acts 1. It was a lovely sunny day and a blessing to be with church family.

In the evening we met at Marcia’s house (Amanda, Grazi and Tais’ mom) for our service. We had a trio of instruments, Cello (me), Violin (Dani) and Flute (Leticia) and sang some favorite hymns from memory . Samuel preached from 1 Cor. 15.57.

Most of our kids come from broken homes. Just Saturday Lucas was sharing about how his family had had a terrible fight on Friday afternoon. Fighting, jealousy and greed are not uncommon attributes of “normal family” life in the hood. As I shared from Acts chapter one the family theme came to mind. How did the “dueling” disciples ever manage to work together after Jesus was taken from them? Of course the answer was the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our kids, teens and adults will need that same power in their future families in order to realize the peace, love and purpose that only God can bring to relationships. Pray with us as we work toward instilling this principle in the lives of our family of believers. Dawn is even now meeting with one of the moms. Thank you for helping us in our ministry!

Goings On

2011-11-06T16:10:00.002-02:00

Being the only missionary in a town of over 600.000 has its advantages and disadvantages. Well disadvantages might be a strong word but when a trip to São Paulo is involved it aint what I used to think that it was. I used to love to go into the BIG city but I've become acustomed to "smaller" town living. The call to duty this time was picking up Ben and Dani Jacobs and with coworkers Shawn and Donna Alexander in the States we were called to action.

This time we needed to take two vans because there were going to be a lot of boxes. It was a great test of my Christian walk. I drove one van and Dawn drove me crazy.... the other van.

Dawn is a very good and cautious driver. She goes the speed limit even when there isn't one. She is a sweetheart and I love her. I just don't like having to lead her into São Paulo. God is always good and we made in and back saftely at 2:45 AM Saturday morning with the Jacobs family.

On another note We were able to make contact with three children who had been virtually kidnapped. They are 10, 7 and 5 respectively and had been sold for drugs by their low-life dad. Mom died just two years ago leaving them virtually orphans and in a horrible 'home' life. One of our members who is related to these kids went after them and was able to find and bring them back to family members. This is an ongoing situation that needs prayer and God's wisdom. Please pray.

Several kids and teens and I began to work on our land this week. We spent several hours with hoes clearing the weeds. We hired a quick "tractor" job that made more of a mess than did any good. But the land is now cleared and the kids are asking when we can work there again. The little dears don't know that work ususally involves money. Which is a tad short just now.

Sunday morning we had a record crowd in our Sunday school class. We had 28 Juniors! We had a total of 67 in our Sunday school over all.

Monday night Dawn and I will be having several of our pastors and families over for a meal tomorrow night. It should be a good time of fellowship. Thanks for upholding us in prayer and with your gifts.

Latest post: Grazi said to me today, "Pastor when are we going to be able to work on the land again?" I loved to hear that!!

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Uthai

2011-10-20T06:47:00.000-02:00

Uthai. Now there is a name for you. What mother looked into the eyes of her newborn little bundle of love and with a cooing voice said, “Your name will be Uthai.”

Pronounced in Portuguese it would ooo-tie. Using a Mid-west U.S. accent it might come out You-thigh. Whatever the pronunciation it is not among the top-ten most popular boy names. If you have read the Bible through you have read about Uthai. Unless of course you "speed-read" the genealogies.

You won’t find Uthai’s story in Flannel-graph, Bible coloring books nor in bed-time devotionals for kids. His name won’t come up in marriage counseling applications, wedding counseling presentations nor in Father’s Day messages but his is an important name. Or rather Uthai accomplishment was landmark.

Now, you might be just dying to know who Uthai is and have already gone to you smartphone Bible to do a quick search. If so fine. If not listen to what my quick search discovered about the meaning of his name. In Strong’s Concordance Uthai’s listing is H5793. There we read, “From H5790; succoring; Uthai, the name of two Israelites: - Uthai.” Hummmm, succoring, when is the last time that you used that one?

“From H5790” is a clue. Looking at that listing we read, “From H5789…” wait a minute! Is this the “free” version of the Internet genealogy program with the carrot on a string? No its Bible. H5789 means; to hasten.

So putting our clues together we have a “fast helper” or “one quick to help” if his name fits his character as Bible character’s names often do. It is where we find his name that helps us to understand his it even better.

He is listed in 1 Chronicles 9. He is first in his list. Wow, that’s a surprise if part of his name means to hasten. But look at what he was first to do. He was the first guy to settle on his own property in his own town after the seventy-year captivity. THAT is something. That is important. Seventy year is more that a lifetime for some. It is enough to wipe out a generation or two.

However, here we see Uthai settling on his “own property” in his “own town”. This would make Uthai at least seventy at this point. But if the land was his then he was more than likely in his nineties.

Doesn’t this bring a graphic picture to mind. Here we see a running ninety year old. Did he use his walker, breathing machine and Medic Alert necklace? Did he come in a wheelchair or on a gurney? “No silly Mike, they lived longer back then!” Did they? Maybe.

Uthai was not only a quick senior citizen he was a helper person. Most people in their nineties need more help than they can offer. Not Uthai. He was an up-and-at-em kind of individual. He was sort of like Caleb. Uthai had been far from home for seven decades and now it was time to reclaim the Promised Land. Can you just imagine with me his semi-wheezened voice shouting through the ages, “Let’s grab our gear dear and get a move on! There is work to do!”

I want to be like Uthai! Don’t you? Then let me give you a hand and let’s get moving

Heman the Singer Man

2011-10-18T06:43:00.000-02:00

Heman a singer (1 Chronicles 6.32)

Reading through 1 Chronicles I came across this interesting name and sacred music came to mind. What genera did Heman imitate? What kind of “set-up” time did Heman’s ancient group need. How did they do what they did without electricity? How did they worship God without amplifiers, soundboards, mixers and mics?

Our worship music has evolved into an ugly alien these days. Its barely distinguishable from barroom music. There is a “Top Ten” countdown for gospel (little g) just as there is for Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop and Rap. And like the latter the gospel music performers receive little trophies for their labors and millions in their bank accounts. Of course I’m sure that each of them tithes to their local band of believers. Pun intended on the word “band”. Millions upon millions are invested and made in the gospel music industry.

Didn’t that last phrase sound cold? It is cold. The gospel music industry is a sham. It is the Devil’s lie. It gratifies the flesh and flushes worship down the toilet. It is oxymoronic and often very heavy on the moronic. Gospel and “music industry” do not mix. Trying to shoehorn the two into the same bed, excuse the mixed metaphors, brings a shameful disgrace that fools doating fans, leaves them spiritually empty and worshipping a man made god.

What would Heman do if he walked into a worship service in the 21st Century? Would he jump up on stage and grab the mic? Would he brandish his guns and begin to throw everyone out of the worship-center? Or would he call in the troops to annihilate the pagans?

God rejects and punishes wrong worship. I know you remember the name Uzza. He wasn’t a musician but he died in a worship event. His is an odd story and is found in 2 Samuel 6.3-7. It is a short ode but highlights God’s attention to detail in His worship.

There is music involved in Uzza’s story. Though it is not the music that brings God’s wrath. As David’s men bring the Arc of the Covenant back to Jerusalem after its 20 absence the mood is festive ecstasy. Even king David is dancing.

Then it happens. An ox stumbles the cart lurches and the Arc of God nearly topples to the ground. Uzza does what any of us might have done. His action was instinct to protect the Arc from damage! When his hand touched that sacred piece of furniture he died. The Bible doesn’t relate detail it simply says, God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God (7). This ecstatic event suddenly became a funeral procession.

Why did Uzza die? What did he do wrong? If he hadn’t steadied the Arc wouldn’t it have fallen?

He died because of king David’s sloppy worship. David knew the proper way to handle the Arc and it wasn’t on a ox-card. David worshipped and danced before the returning Arc. It was a surreal event in Israel’s history. After so many years the most treasured article was finally returning to its rightful place. But God wasn’t amused and Uzza paid dearly.

If God dealt with our Twenty-First Century sloppy worship like he dealt with David’s there would be a musical holocaust.

How about some More Gold and Silver??

2011-10-17T06:33:00.000-02:00

carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered (Ezra 7.15)

Through the years I have often envisioned myself in a giant MONOPOLY game. I am terrible at MONOPOLY. Most know that MONOPOLY (I think that it needs to be spelled with all caps) is usually a dreadfully long game. Many times I have avoided embarrassment simply because I didn’t want to spend hours playing. Or rather hours waiting for everyone else to finish.

I am usually the first one eliminated. It is a proven fact. I can’t seem to win.

MONOPOLY is a game of strategy and luck. This mix can be fun when you are a good strategist and when the luck is going your way. But when the die does you bad you’re out in a flash.

I’ve tried to start small with Mediterranean and Baltic Avenues and grow. I’ve tried to start big with Park Place and Broadway and crush every opponent. I’ve tried the old barter system, buy a little of everything. I’ve tried to own all of the Utilities and Railroads but usually to no avail. I’m out first.

What if just before my swift exit a MONOPLY king and his court decided to offer me a bunch of the funny money? I could take all that I needed. That would be sweet. I might actually win a game!

What if that scenario happened in real life? What if just when all looked lost a king and all of his courtiers took up a freewill offering and came to the rescue with a boat load of gold and silver? Wouldn’t that be nice? I can see the heads nodding.

“When did this ever happen” you might ask? I read it just yesterday in Ezra seven. It happened just as the seventy-year captivity was ending. Artaxerxes, the king of the world, commanded that any Jew who wanted to could return to Jerusalem. He then made an astounding proclamation. He said, “Oh by the way, my men and I have taken up a collection of gold and silver that you can take as you like.”

THAT my friend was not normal protocol. There was something going on here. The reason for the king’s benevolence is seen in verse six where the text says that the blessing of God was upon Ezra. Because the blessing of God was upon Ezra the king was making an offer difficult to turn down. “Take all of the gold that you will need. Take the silver too! In fact if there is anything else you might need take that too.”

Ezra did. He lead a group back to Jerusalem. History was made.

Wouldn’t you like a similar situation? I would. I don’t want an early out of the MONOPLOY game of life. I want to at least survive. In fact I want to win. But wait a minute here. Could a scenario like Ezra’s happen to me?

Actually it has already happened! Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary opened the Heavenly treasury. He offers more than gold and silver. He offers eternal life at His side in the presence of God. He offers an inheritance that will never fade in its glory. Think about it. Where is Artaxerxes’ gold these days? It may be a part of your wedding ring. Jesus offers security with His investment. Do you want it? Take it. No really, take it!

2011-10-17T00:06:00.000-02:00

This last week at Faith Baptist Church was historic. For two years our church has been praying and saving to buy land. If you've visited our church you know that a venture like this was really an impossible dream.

God likes impossible dreams. On Thursday we signed the purchase agreement. We own two lots on Rua Laura Maria de Barros, Jardim dos Eucaliptos in Sorocaba.

What this means is that for the next two years we will be paying R$1.000 per month to pay off our loan. Pray with us for this phase.

We plan to begin to build soon. That to will be a miracle. Stay tuned.

Saturday we had rain for the first time in four months. We got five inches in one day. This made our Bible club turnout slim. We had forty-five kids. Though the turnout was low we shared the Gospel with each child.

Sunday we got another five inches of rain. Our people showed their committment to Christ by their presence in Sunday school and the evening service.

Saturday was National Teacher's Day so Sunday Faith recognized the people who teach the Word in our church. Each teacher received a bom-bom and a dedicatory prayer was offered. Dawn and I were proud to be a part of this group.

We are praying for Salvation for the following people: Daniel, Val, Benidito, Marcia, Luiz, Maria. We would a appreciate your prayers too.

… and Another Thing About Heman

2011-10-15T23:46:00.001-03:00

Biblical genealogies are easy to speed-read. At least for me they are. For one thing the names are usually tongue-twisters. For another there is usually nothing to know about each individual. So when I come to a long list of names that begin, “And so-and-so begat so-and-so, who begat so-and-so, who begat so-and-so…. I whip through that list in nothing flat. Is that a sin?

About four years ago I did something that I had always wanted to do. I began to research my own genealogy. There was this site on the Net and it had a free trial so I began to dabble.

The site had a huge database and it would offer suggestions as to who I might be related to. They were tantalizing tidbits for someone who wanted to know about where he came from and just how much royal blood he had.

There was a catch, however. When I would come to an crook in my family tree. That is bend in a branch and not the bank robber type crook. There would be a slight charge. “For just $3.99 you can dig a little deeper into our databank. Or for a full subscription we’ll spill our guts!”

I paid the first fee and got an interesting clue. I discovered that my paternal grandparents…. Ah never mind. Wouldn’t you just love to know? Get a subscription!

It wasn’t too long before I realized two things. One, that genealogy is BIG business. And two, genealogical research is a seemingly endless prospect. You could die of old age before you discovered the tap root of your family tree. It makes one wonder how on earth Alex Haley did it for Pete’s sake?

In the short span of my research I went back about twelve generations. However, after the fourth generation all of the names were suspect. To me they seemed to be carrot-on-a-string suggestions to whoever would pay the price for a nibble. Was Jedediah Cravits really my great, great, great, great, great, grand father’s brother by a second marriage to his own sister? I doubt it.

So what does this discussion have to do with Heman the singer man? I found out that researching one’s genealogy was NOT easy even with computer help. I went back four generations and after that the genealogical waters became murky.

In 1 Chronicles 6 we have an authoritative Scriptural record of Heman’s family tree. Twenty-four generations that end at Israel. That is impressive. The author could have easily gone to twenty-six generations if he would have simply included, Isaac and Abraham.

However, the chronicler wanted us to highlight Heman’s priestly bloodline. Heman was God’s man for this historical hour. His roots were embedded in none other than Levi, Jacob’s priestly son. Who better to lead worship? Worship was important and Heman was THE man. Once again, remember the ends to which God goes to highlight how serious worshipping Him must be. Don’t let it become frivolous, endless and worthless.

Is Your Name in the Bible?

2011-10-15T23:32:00.001-03:00

And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah (1Ch 4:34)
My name is in the Bible! Michael means, “One who is like God.” It is a powerful name and an impressive moniker. I didn’t choose it and I didn’t like it as a kid. For some reason I couldn’t imagine a man named, “Mike”.

Michael is mentioned fifteen times in Scripture. I loved the fact that five of those times he is mentioned as an angel. I always use that designation to my advantage. He is one of only three named angels you know?

Is it important to have your name written in the Bible? Each written name gets eternal recognition whether for good or for bad. Take Rueben for instance. He is noted to have defiled his father Jacob’s bed and thus lost his birthright. If I were Rueben I wouldn’t want that news highlighted.

Or how about the above curious list found in 1 Chronicles 4.34-37. This group traveled to a “Lord of the Rings” name type city called Gedor. There they massacred a peaceful people and took their land. Did they later regret what they did? Whether yes or no their act is recorded for eternity.

Seeing one’s name in the Bible is fun, exciting and neat. I imagine that many people name their child, David, Hannah or Paul because these are biblical names. Though you don’t hear of many: Judas, Doeg’s or Cain’s.

I also find it curious how many times a Bible character’s name fits their lifestyle or physical characteristics. Have you noticed that? How did that play out? Did the parents wait until they saw how their kid would turn out before naming him Paul (little), Barnabas (son of consolation) or Jacob (deceiver)? Probably not. But why do they seem to fit so well?

Whatever the case the end of the story is this; whether you are a Ronald or Rehoboam, a Cindy or Christina the most important registry for your name is the Lamb’s Book of Life. One day that book will be opened to confirm your name. Whether there or not it will be a anxious day.

Many who find their name in the Bible will shriek in terror to discover that there name is excluded from the Lamb’s Book. It will be a wonderful sensation that day to hear your name read. Now the question my friend, “Is your name in that heavenly publication?” It can be written today if you like.

Land 2

2011-10-07T06:15:00.001-03:00

The seller is very anxious to sell and we are anxious to buy but our lawyer friend has the level-head and we are proceeding cautiously. Purchasing land here can be a tricky venture. I will be meeting with the seller this morning to put down a sizable deposit on the two lots and I should learn more about finalizing the purchase as well. We would appreciate continued prayer protection on this important event in the history of our young church!

Land

2011-10-03T19:15:00.001-03:00

We went to City Hall today and discovered that the lots can be used for a church building. We then talked to our lawyer and he made some crucial calls for us. He confirmed what the guy at City Hall had told us.

We’re excited and trembling at the same time. I always sweat the details of a big ticket purchase. I think of all of the extra costs that will be involved like: taxes, electric, water and building upkeep. Each will require money that we don’t have.

We had a business meeting just yesterday after church. If you would have seen it you might have compared it to one of the old Little Rascals movies. You know the ones where the club is meeting in their old broken-down hide-out and the kids are calling all of the shots. It was something like that. Alexandre was directing the meeting but it was the kids who were voting for and against each item on the agenda.

I went back to that scene on the hills of Judah when David met Goliath. I wonder what that looked like? Did it seem silly to those trembling soldiers? Was it surreal? Was it absurd? Why wouldn’t it have been? Here was a punk kid going to fight the Terminator! Stupid kid!

We are just now running toward a Giant! Do we have enough stones in our bag? Is there a vulnerable spot on the Big Guy’s armor covered body? What on earth are we getting ourselves into?

Did these thoughts cross David’s young mind? I doubt it. David had such a relationship with his God that all he could see was red! He wanted that blaspheming fool dead.

We are focused and trusting in David’s God too! Our gang has saved nickels, dimes, quarters, fifty-cent-pieces, Brazilian dollars. The only reason we haven’t saved pennies is that they don’t use pennies here. Kids have scraped, saved and sacrificed to put money toward the land purchase. With their change and the help of many other Brazilians we have gathered R$52,000. Please don’t ask how much that is in dollars because it doesn’t matter how much it is in dollars. It is more money than any of our kids have ever seen or might ever see in their entire lives!

Now is the time to put that mountain of money down on two lots that have the potential of becoming a heavenly investment. Jesus said that, “…where your treasure is there will your heart be also”. Our church will minister the Gospel for years to come because of the change these kids have invested.

Alexandre told them yesterday’s meeting, “It doesn’t matter the amount that you invest. What matters is that you are obeying God with your tithes and offerings. If you do your part God will do His!”

When he said that I could hear the sling cutting through the air. I think that I heard the little stone leave the sling on its brutal trajectory. I think that it is going to smite that giant in the only open spot he has.

Do you want to be a part of the following fray? Then when you see the giant’s head held high you can begin the charge! OK? OK!

Land

2011-10-02T14:37:00.001-03:00

To See the Two Lots click Here

For years I was considered a “wise” missionary because I had an investment that would be wonderful when it came time to retire. That was until the financial crisis hit. Now if I tell anyone that I have a house in Michigan I get that, “Oh my! You poor soul!” look.

Isn’t it funny what we consider a good thing? Our house in Michigan hasn’t changed much over the years. We’ve had and have great renters. The income pays the bills each month. But when the crisis hit our “investment” took a tremendous hit.

Here in Brazil, which promises to be an “up and coming” country it is interesting to watch people clamor for their piece of that “good investment” pie. I have been informed that I need to jump on that bandwagon. I would if I had any money!

Our tiny church is taking a “David” (ie. David vs Goliath) step of faith just now in this up and coming real estate climate. Lots here at the north end of town have skyrocketed in price in this last year. When they were more in our price range we didn’t have the cash. Through out this past year and the faithful giving of many Brazilians God gave us enough to by a lot. But now the lots are double the price.

To make this long story shorter just this last Friday Alexandre talked with the owner of two lots. The man wanted R$85,000 for the two. Samuel and Alexandre “talked him down” to R$79,000. So, we have a verbal agreement. If the zoning restrictions check out and we can indeed build a church there we’ll begin the process of building.

With the money we have in the bank we can make a good dent in the R$79,000 but we’ll need to borrow too. That will mean two years of R$1000 per month payments. Which to the average American church member seems like pocket change. But to a tiny church of 35 mostly kids it seems like a fortune!

So if you would pray for us and for God’s direction in this huge, for us transaction we would greatly appreciate it. If you would be interested in helping us we’d be open for that possibility too. Thank you for upholding us in prayer and financial help.

Tongues

2011-09-27T05:00:00.000-03:00

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed. (1 Corinthians 14.1 God's Word Translation)

How often have good Christians come to this passage and been stumped about what Paul is saying? In the KJV he talks of "tongues" and "prophecy" and we shriek and run for cover. We think, “Is there something that I'm missing? I have never spoken in tongues.”

I speak Portuguese,though many Brazilians might debate that. However, Paul didn't necessarily have Portuguese in mind but he wasn't talking about gibberish or "Holy Spirit" language either. He was talking about what the verse above mentions, "speaking what God has revealed. Speaking what God has revealed is called “prophecy”. That didn't help me.

In the Old Testament a prophet was one who spoke what God had told him to speak. The true prophet of God had no choice but to speak what God had commanded. If he didn't he would be reprimanded, aka Jonah, or removed from his prophetic office, aka the “man of God” mentioned various times in 1 Kings 13.

Telling what God has revealed today is easier than it was in the Old Testament times. Back then the prophet spoke for God. No one else had that privilege. The people waited for a message from God's man or woman.

Today, God has spoken through the prophets and that message is recorded in His Word the Bible. I have the privilege of opening that living and powerful Word and learning directly from God's Holy Spirit daily. I can understand what He wants to reveal. When I am in His Word daily I learn daily. As I share what God is teaching me I become a prophet or one who “...shares what God has revealed.”

We get hung-up on words like revealed, tongues and prophesy. They sound special, private and

mystical. In reality they are! Not everyone can open God's book and understand what He is or has revealed. It has been hidden from what the KJV calls, “the natural man” (1 Corinthians 2.14).

If you know another language that puts you are in a different category than the average oe or Jane. Many Americans are monolingual and don't have a problem with that. You might be one of them. You don't have problem because you have never left the States or visited Miami, Florida. When you step off the plane or boat into a foreign language setting you begin to understand what Paul was communicating in 1 Corinthians 14. A person who speaks in another language edifies himself unless there is someone to interpret what he is saying or has said.

Since Paul's goal for the Corinthian believers was that they love each other he wanted them to communicate properly what God had revealed to them. Sharing principles of love, learning and understand of the Scriptures to help each other grow in the Faith.

The first thing that many people think when they hear someone speaking another language in their presence, no matter the culture, is, “He/ she is talking about me!” Have you experienced that?

A few years ago I came back for my first furlough and wanted to wow my American friends with my Portuguese prowess. Mind you my prowess was not that great but that didn't matter to me. In one of my first meetings I began to speak in Portuguese. A suspect look crept across the faces in the audience and I quickly realized that no one was impressed. I wasn't edifying. I was talking without an interpreter and no one was the least bit interested.

Don't be that way spiritually. Talk about what God has revealed. Do it in a way that can be understood and applied. That way you won't need to run from passages like 1 Corinthians 14.

Whipped!

2011-09-24T07:05:00.001-03:00

Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6.10)

My gym experience continues. I am seeing progress but am also feeling like a whipped pup after every workout. Right now for example my hip hurts, my foot aches and I can barley lift my fingers to the keyboard without grunting.

Why? Is it age? Is it weakness? Is it the intensity of the training? Yes, yes and maybe.

Age fights dirty and saps one’s youthful strength. Weakness is harder to lick than it used to be. The training is intense but could be worse. Building stamina will take longer than it did when I was fifteen. And there is a good chance that it might never arrive at the level that I had way back then.

All of this made me wonder about my spiritual stamina. Do I lose strength as I age? Does the battle’s intensity lessen?

Paul, in the above text indicates that the older we get the more we need to get strong. Life can be a tough trainer. It often has no pity nor mercy. If I don’t get the lesson the first time I am apt to repeat the dreaded reps innumerable times.

The encouragement comes as I examine this text a bit closer to find the source of my strength. Notice it, “…in the power of his might” His who? The Lord.

The Lord’s arm is STRONG. With His strength as my source I need never fear spiritual muscle cramping, fatigue nor exhaustion. God’s exercise plan is not necessarily easy but it is definitely worth the effort. God promises success and happiness as I stick to the Plan.

Spiritual fitness is enviable. Do you know any spiritually fit people. Don’t you just want to have there physic? You can but you won’t find it in a bottle, weight room or on a tread mill. It comes as you dedicate yourself to God, His Word and prayer.

The key word is, “dedicate”. Dedication is a daily, moment by moment exercise that with time will pay great dividends. Don’t give up! If you feel whipped… get back up and have at it again! You won’t be sorry.

Honest Kids?

2011-09-18T16:50:00.001-03:00

“Your neck looks like an Iguana’s neck. Why is that?” Biatriz

And speaking of the funny things that kids say. Just yesterday in Bible club little Bea, who was sitting next to me began to play with the hanging skin under my chin. She said, “Your neck looks like an Iguana’s neck.”

I have often wondered the same thing. Why? Why is it that all of a sudden my face seems to be falling off of my skull? WHY? I laughed but deep down was wondering about the cost of a face life!

“If God never Didn’t Exist, He doesn’t have a Birthday!”

2011-09-18T14:00:00.001-03:00

Rebeca

So often kids express out loud what we adults are thinking. Sundays in Sunday school lately we are playing the part of investigators. Our investigations have taken us to a better understanding of God. We have looked at his Omnipresence, omniscient and today’s lesson was about how Creative He is and how that God has given men minds to invent and think of new ideas.

During the lesson I spoke about God’s eternal existence. He never didn’t exist. As I mentioned this fact, that we adults often take for granted, a couple of the girls had huge questions. I could tell by the hazy look crept over their cute little faces.

Tais, who is always thinking and asking good questions, immediately raised her hand. “Pastor! God never began?! I can’t even comprehend that!” I told her that this aspect of God’s character is AMAZING and impossible for anyone to comprehend.

Rebeca sat beside and she leaned over and said to Dawn, “If God was never born then He doesn’t have a BIRTHDAY!” I laughed hard later as Dawn related Rebeca’s comment. She is such a stitch!

That IS amazing in a kids mind. NO birthday, WOW. It really is impossible to imagine but we adults have heard this fact so often that we don’t even let our minds go there. We think, “Oh yeah, God is eternal” without thinking about all of the implications and ramifications of such a thought.

If we would dwell on God in childlike wonder more often we’d be as amazed as Tais and Rebeca. WoW! God never had a beginning and he will never have an end. How can it be? It can be because our God is WONDERFUL and ETERNAL. Whatever that means.

Last visit to Hell… for now

2011-09-17T04:10:00.000-03:00

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. Job 20:24

Dreams can be frightening. Whether I am about to fall off a cliff, be run over by a car or stabbed, it is always wonderful to suddenly wake up! The feeling of, “Oh! Its only a dream!” brings an instant sigh of relief.

So often in my dreams, deep down, I know that my present terror is only a dream. Whatever it is that wakes me up only confirms my suspicion. There will be none of that relief in Hell. Fear will be real and unrelenting. Life will not be “dreamlike” but vivid with all of the sights, smells and feelings of reality.

In Job 20, Zophar’s description of the rich man’s woes give us fodder for our hellish meditations. In chapter 20.24, 25 a frightening scene grips our attention. There we see a fugitive’s futile flight from danger. From nowhere comes a bronze tipped arrow that pierces his abdomen and liver. As he struggles to extract it dark terror overwhelms his soul, “This is not a dream!”

Zophar was using he vivid word picture to try and convince Job of his guilt and God’s judgement. He was wrong. However, his description depicts coming damnation on God’s enemies.

God in his perfection created everything perfect. In its original state the universe was without fault or flaw. It was in that perfection that He created Hell. Hell is perfect hell. By that I mean that Hell was created with God’s enemies in mind. He created it to perfectly punish His detractors, His critics and His foes. They will suffer perfect hell for eternity. You don’t want to go there. So, USE THE BRIDGE!

Another Visit to Hell

2011-09-15T04:00:00.000-03:00

God throws his burning anger at the godless person (Job 20.23)
Another visit to Hell is due today. How many times have you heard someone say, “I'm living in Hell right now!” It may be a bad and seemingly eternal marriage, a hellish neighbor causing havoc or a terminal disease gnawing a worn body that induces this statement.

Life can be grueling, heartless and terrifying. It can betray, belittle and befuddle. There are no guarantees outside that of the Bible and Salvation in Jesus Christ. However, whatever the situation this life is not Hell.
You may have lost your parents, husband or girlfriend. Or you may not have lost them. You may have a demon of a boss or brother-in-law. You may be in a dead-end life but, it is not Hell.

Hell is beyond description. We've never seen or experienced anything like it. If a person jumped into the gaping mouth of an erupting volcano it wouldn't be as bad as falling headlong into Hell.

R.I.P doesn't exist in Hell. The dearly departed is shocked into vivid consciousness by the instant and overpowering smell of burning sulfur. Torment is overwhelming and immediate. Every nerve functions and is excruciatingly provoked.

Have you ever had a kidney stone? My wife says that the pain is worse than that of childbirth. I don’t know about that side of the story but I do know that it is the most torturesome pain I have ever experienced. I once awoke to a dull ache in my right back. As I came to my senses “KIDNEY STONE” flashed across my groggy brain. Drinking water suddenly became a priority.

As I walked toward the kitchen to get some water something horrible began to well up from the depths of my soul. It was a slowly encroaching agony. A quick thought seized me, “This pain isn’t going to go away. It is coming and I’m not sure how I am going to handle it.” I handled it by passing out and smacking my chin on the floor.

In Hell every nerve ending will feel the horrendous pain but it won’t be slow in coming and there will be no fainting. The rich man in Luke 16 found this out. The text says that he was, “in torments” (23).

If you’d like a minuscule taste of what Hell is going to be like try the following experiment. If you have a gas stove light one of the burners. Then stick just your baby finger over the flame for a minute. More than a minute and the nerves become unresponsive and you won’t get the full sensation. Remember, in Hell nerve endings never become unresponsive.

You are probably either laughing about now or you’re saying, “Mike! You are an IDIOT!” I admit that you’d have to be an IDIOT to try the above experiment. However, you may be playing Russian Roulette with something bigger than your baby finger, your soul. Without a saving faith in Jesus Christ the experiment may become a full fledged and hellish reality.

A Visit to Hell

2011-09-14T04:00:00.000-03:00

a fire not blown shall consume him (Job 20.26)

This thought may never have crossed your mind but it crossed mine this morning, “What is a day in Hell like?” I was reading in Job 20 and came across Zophar’s words in verses 12 to the end of the chapter. They are chilling. Though I imagine that chilling might be a poor choice of words when speaking of Hell. Think of the searing sting in the heart of one who awakes to find himself in this hopeless place?

9/11 brought back memories of hellish scenes from down town Manhattan. As people scrambled from the first and second towers they couldn’t believe their eyes. One man said, “I stood there looking at half a torso, an arm and other body parts and couldn't understand what had happened!” It was a horrific day that we won’t forget.
What if you woke up to such a day? What would it be like? It maybe Zophar who gives us some interesting and horrifying insight into what a day in Hell might be like.
Let’s look into this horrid visit to Hell. Zophar says of the wicked man,

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; 13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: 14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. 15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. 16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

This ancient man describes how the wicked savor their wickedness and how that wickedness will turn on them like an angry snake. What affect does snake venom have on a person and why did Zophar use this illustration? Note this from wikipedia: There are four distinct types of venom that act on the body differently.

Proteolytic venom dismantles the molecular structure of the area surrounding and including the bite.
Hemotoxic venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular system.
Neurotoxic venom acts on the nervous system and brain.
Cytotoxic venom has a localized action at the site of the bite.

A day in Hell might be affected a bit (pun intended) by an unattended snake bite. Imagine open fang wounds with no medical help. Or how about a thousand unattended wounds with all of their side effects.

Instead of enjoying the sweet taste of his evil deeds God causes the Hell dweller vomiting fits and a slimy snake Slurpee for dessert. It is a treat that causes instant death!

But... wait! He’s already dead! There is NO awaking from this nightmare. The lost one’s lot has become an eternal dying, eternal terror, eternal pain.

Our bodies have many needs and desires. These cravings are God given reactions to help us enjoy the life He gives. We desire: food, rest, sex, challenges, security and friendships. We savor good flavors, rewarding accomplishments and sunsets. We enjoy the challenge of sports, the smell of rain and the soothing affect of a forest. Rest refreshes and work invigorates.

In Hell these desires will still be active but there will be no satisfaction. Not one friend, never a beautiful sunrise nor a whiff of rain. No delicious meals or warm embraces. No one to comfort or encourage. There will be no quick-fixes, no happy endings nor desire assuaged.

Jesus told how the rich man in Hell asked Abraham to send Lazarus with a single drop of water to cool his tongue. Do you remember that story? Have you ever tried to carry a single drop of water on your finger? Why did that man ask for a finger drop of water? Because in Hell that drop would have represented Niagara Falls. There is not even a finger drop of water allowed in Hell.

My friend, consider Zophar’s words. He may have not been thinking of Hell when he uttered his dismal tome. But if you are wondering about your future you would do well to ponder Hell. Turn from being a prospective Hell-dweller to being a Heaven dweller. Cry to the Savior. He will cause springs of living water to flow into your withered existence (see John 7.38).

I think that a regular visit to Hell might be good for us. I know how spiritually sluggish that I get. A sulfurous stench now and then might refresh my soul winning appetite.

Thanksgiving in September

2011-09-01T10:22:00.001-03:00

Where has the year gone! It is September already. Life's march is steady but have you ever thought of celebrating Thanksgiving in September, March or June? We have reason to.

In the latter chapters of Jeremiah, when all Israel has been sacked and carried captive, there comes a short sentence. It is a predicted exclamation that the Jews of Jeremiah's experience may never have aspired to sing. The vocalization comes in chapter 33 verse 11. But we need to include a bit of the context for the cry to make sense. So, look too at verses 10 through 12. We read

10 Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, 11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. 12 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down .

Did you catch the praise there? Let me put the magnifying glass on it, "Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." This is God's prediction of future events and it included rich praise by His people. This, mind you, is prophecy unfulfilled to date. One day in the future, sacrificial processions will make their way into the Holy City with praise on their lips. God's praise will be the focus of eternity.

It should be our focus too. Every day should be Thanksgiving. It is a repeated theme in Scripture. Try these references on for size. I cut and pasted them from my e-Sword Bible program: 1Chr 16:8, 1Chr 16:34; 2Chr 5:13, 2Chr 7:3, 2Chr 20:21; Ezr 3:11; Psa 106:1, Psa 107:1; Psa 118:1-4, Psa 136:1-26.

Since most readers will skim over the above references let me highlight one. "Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." Sound familiar? It is from Jeremiah 33 and it is rich. "Praise" is giving glory to, giving reverent worship to, giving God His just due. Praise must be a part of my daily routine. It should be praise given to the "LORD of hosts". That designation is used 245 times in the Old Testament and 77 times in Jeremiah alone. Strange, because translated it means, "YHWH (Jehovah) of armies" (the armies of Israel).

At this point in Israel's history its armies could have been better depicted by the vision that Ezekiel had in what we know as the valley of dry bones. There were no hosts to command. They had been wiped out because of their persistent disobedience. A General of a wiped out host is a disgraced General and not one to be praised. However, a General who comes back to the rescue IS one to be praised. And as Ezekiel's vision reminds us, God can resurrect sun parched and lifeless bones.

When He does true Thanksgiving day begins! Celebrations will burst from all of creation because the LORD of hosts will assume command of Nature and mankind. I am SO looking forward to that day aren't you? Please pass the dressing!

Dire Choices

2011-09-01T04:34:00.000-03:00

Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21.8)

I don't know if you are a Lord of the Rings fan or not. I must admit that I have never read the books; I've only seen the three films directed by Peter Jackson. At first glance I was in no way interested in slimy creatures being birthed from the ground and the slippery Gollumn character. However, the more I watched the more intrigued I became. I still don't pretend to understand the complete story line but the special effects were otherworldly.

Do you remember the second movie, "Two Towers"? In the epic and seemingly eternal scene a battle is set to begin at Helm's Deep or Hornburg if you are a Tolkien purist. There is a mere 1000 good guys against 10,000 plus Orcs and Uruk-hai which are beastly creatures that resemble a cross between apes and demons on steroids.

It is a hopeless scenario. There is nothing to do but defend the ominous fortress which at the beginning of the scene seems impervious to attack. As the two armies face each other the bone chilling cold is emphasized by a sudden cloudburst. Bows on the parapets are drawn, Orcs spears are beaten in primordial rhythms that signal doom to all opposition.

As the rain continues an arrow slips from the chilled grip of one of the walls defenders piercing an Orcs' chest and inciting king Théoden to utter immortal words, "...and so it begins." The scene emits desperation. It seems a futile struggle is seconds from reality. Is this the end of men?

As I read in Jeremiah 21 this morning I wondered how it must have felt to receive God's immortal words spoken through the prophet in verses eight and nine:

8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. 9 He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and [you will escape with your lives].

Hummm, let's see? Which way shall I go? If I want to live I must surrender to the Orcs. If I want to die I stay and defend the fortress. Does that sound right to you? To me it seems an ironic and frightful option. What must the men on the wall have thought about it? Most fought and died.

Why was Jerusalem forced into this treacherous choice? What has brought them to this tragic moment? Why this divine ultimatum?

It wasn't a struggle between the good guys and the bad guys. There were no good guys. God had proved that when he had said through Jeremiah's contemporary Ezekiel, "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none (Ezekiel 22.30).

This was no staged epic film. This was real life in Jerusalem. There would be carnage unless a difficult choice was made. At first glance life seems like the option to take. However, when God added that this life will only be available as surrender to the ruthless Babylonians is realized the wayward arrow slipped from frozen fingers.

Years of rejecting God had lead to God's ultimatum. Prophet after prophet had screamed His warning. The people had grown cold and it wasn't because the fridge rain was falling. God's grace had reached its limit. Punishment was overdue.

Is God screaming at you? Are you facing an epic struggle of life and death? Does surrender to an evil enemy seem a cruel option? Listen to Jesus' words they are also our gracious God's words, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mat 11:28). Doesn't that sound nice? He gives you an option. Surrender to Him and live. Fall into His loving and eternal arms and find rest. "... and so it begins."

My Losers God’s Leaders

2011-08-31T04:10:00.000-03:00

and such were some of you (1 Corinthians 6.11)

I was just getting to the good part of the story yesterday when I ran out of space. So, let’s look again. Do you tend to judge people by their appearance and your expectations? If you do be warned, you are wrong! Look what happened to me.

One time I was at the church in the middle of a construction project. My Brazilian coworker and I were working on something that was of "the utmost importance" at the moment. As I stood there giving some instructions into the room walked a "beggar man" and his, pierced ear, slob of a son. Of all the gall! I mean, these guys didn't wait at the gate like "normal" beggars. They actually opened that gate and walked right into the church and began peddling their wares to my coworker. The dad had an arm-load of whatever he was selling. This guy was clearly a looser. His five-o-clock shadow was grungy. His eyes bloodshot and his breath... well I didn't get THAT close. His son had a disinterested look on his fat teenage face. And his earring screamed LOSER!!

My words were not missionary like. They were "Jewell" like. I can't remember exactly what I said but it went something like this.
"We don't want whatever it is you are selling so, GOOD BYE!" My friend looked at me with mouth agape and quickly took me aside. "This man is looking for a church home! He is new to the area and ..." this was the killer, "...he is a BELIEVER!"

An acrid taste crept up my throat and stung the back of my wagging tongue. I saw stars as I realized what had just happened. So very easily I had looked my brother in the eyes and had judged by his appearance that he was beyond all hope of God's saving Grace. He was the utmost of losers, beyond Salvation.

Today, eight or so years later, my hopeless friend, now a deacon in the church where I worked, laugh about that first encounter. That meeting was a stinging rebuke. It was one of those, "Wanna get away?" moments that marked my life. It was a practical lesson in ministry. My losers can be, and maybe already are, God's leaders.

As you think about this new day, about where you will go and who you will meet think about this. Who have you put beyond the grasp of God's grace? Is it that person behind the bullet-proof glass at the gas station? Or how about the convenience store employee who fetches your over-sized coffee or the person at the grocery story who helps you find the Coco Puffs? Is it the receptionist at the office or the person who works across the line? "They haven't got a snowballs chance in ...." Well you get my meaning. You've already condemned them to eternity's abyss. But has God?

Before you open your missionary mouth and say something you will regret do something that I have since learned to do. Look at that person as a transformed believer. You might have to mentally cut his hair, remove some of her makeup or give her a longer skirt and a tighter neck-line. You just might need to give them a mental bath or a shot of Scope. You may even need to mentally extract that little chrome ball in the middle of their tongue. However, if you can do this you might just see what Paul saw and what God sees. The Redeemed! You might even be looking at a future, dare I say it, Missionary! What do you think? See any losers.

My Losers are God’s Leaders

2011-08-30T04:04:00.000-03:00

And such were some of you... 1 Corinthians 6.11

I love the above passage. Paul writes to a church populated by ex drug dealers, prostitutes, homosexuals and thieves as if they were now all saints! That is because the WERE! They were all transformed by the saving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

In the middle of this chapter of reprimands Paul stops to look over the congregation in his minds eye and sees precious souls that had been rescued from the edge of the abyss. Each one has a preposterous story, an incredible story, a love story. Each had come to know God’s saving grace and had been transformed.

If you had been with Paul at the beginning of the Corinth church plant would you have been excited about the prospects? Would you have even wanted to be on Paul's team? Would you have been able to sell this ministry opt as valid to your supporting churches? Maybe.

Paul writes to this problematic group to express his love, concern and to give some much needed instruction. As he dictates his letter his mind's eye begins to envision the pews or whatever this group used. He noticed, like all preachers have over the years, that each member sits in the same general area, if not the exact same place, every meeting. Look there is Bill Jones to the right. Over there is Bob Smith and his wife Susan. The Greens are way in the back next to the exit sign. The Browns are in the second row, of course no one ever sits in the front row unless they are in the children's Christmas program.

Anyway, as Paul envisions his group at Corinth he begins to see each dear one and he begins to remember each of their stories. Each has a story you know. Each of his "family" has a wonderful story about how the Savior reached into their wretched existences and changed them forever. Paul savors each account as he grasps for cause to hope that his people will do the right thing for the right reason. He knows that his trust is not necessarily in his people but in their Savior. This group of what the world would have considered losers is now the focus of the great Apostle's adept pen. To them flow wonderful words that are being recorded for the ages. These losers are now leaders that God is using to spread the Gospel. Amazing.

It is often that way with me. I look over our group and in my mind's eye see some incredible stories. I look at what the world would consider a bunch of losers and see princes and princesses. My judgment is not always the best at first glance, however. I remember on various occasions saying or thinking, "That one will not last long" or, "Poor slob! If he only knew Christ!" only to later regret my words.

I want to continue this line of thought but I’m nearing my 500 word limit. Oops just went over it. Let me leave you with this thought and I’ll continue tomorrow. Don’t do what Samuel.did. He judged who would be the next king by looking at outward appearance. He was wrong. Keep that in mind and let’s get together again in the morning.

Lily Livered Lover

2011-08-29T04:35:00.000-03:00

"You no good lily livered low down snake!" I can see him now. I can't remember his name but I can see him. He's a filthy old cowboy with a five day shadow of graying stubble hugging his haggard jaw. Crow's feet frame his squinting eyes. Wretched and crooked teeth, those he has, line his gaping lips. And a Texas drawl spews from his mouth with every word. He looks as if he hasn't had a bath in months if ever. And there he is slamming his rival with degrading and brutal language.

Imagine being cut to the quick by this cowpoke. How low can one get? It is extreme humiliation.

Yet in Ezekiel 16 Sovereign LORD calls Israel to task with these words, "How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman." Whoa, talk about brutal language! However, Israel deserves every word. God goes on to say in the following verses that Israel is unlike all other prostitutes in that her "lovers" don't pay her she pays and runs after them! She bribes them into her bed. She is insatiable in her lewd vigor.

Israel, God's treasure and joy, Israel, His lovely bride, Israel His jewel has prostituted herself. She is a no good lily livered snake; a filthy scum of a harlot. How preposterous is that? How embarrassing? How absurd? It is unreserved humiliation.

It is a passage like this that makes me wonder, "Why did God choose me?" How's that? Yeah, why did God choose me?

I believe that the Bible was written for me. I believe that God has principles for my good in every chapter. I don't believe that anything was put there by chance. So, as I read I look for two things. I look for God and I look for me. I cannot say, "What a bunch of JERKS Israel was! What a complete bunch of IDIOTS! They have the Sovereign LORD wanting to love and care for them and what do they do but look for other lovers. Incredible!" I cannot say that because I so often do the very same thing. Don't you? I hope that you don't!

Human nature, the sin nature, has me as God's enemy. My sin separates me from my LORD. My sin reveals my hatred for the One who loves me dearly. My sin says, "I couldn't care less about your love, sacrifice and desire for me. I want out of this relationship. And NOW!"

I used to read passages like Ezekiel and think, "Israel is unbelievable! How could they do such things to God?" However, the more I've matured over the years the more I see myself in Israel's sandals. I see myself complaining about the lack of food or water in the wilderness of my walk. I see myself blaming God for my lack of direction when all along His pillar of cloud and fire is right there before me in His Word. I blame Him for my lack of desire to pray, read His word or serve Him. "I want OUT!"

The incredible part of this story is that God's love for me never changes! His love is constant, perfect and sweet. He cares for me. He wants to help me. He is always there for me. Amazing isn't it? He has never left me, He will never leave me and He wants a relationship with me. Unbelievable. At times He allows trouble to come my way so that I remember Him. But He is there to pick me up when I fall. How can I not love Him? How can I not give my all to Him? My Father help me to conquer myself and my wayward desires. Help me to love you with Christ-like love. Help me to renew our relationship today. Amen.

Evil Spirits

2011-08-27T04:32:00.000-03:00

we know that an idol is nothing in the world (1 Corinthians 8.4)

Yesterday I related my recent Macumba sacrifice clay pot stealing episode and my ensuing sickness. Are the two incidents related? I seriously doubt it. Here are my three reasons why.

1. Idols are Nothings!
2. God is Everything!
3. God cares for me!

1. Idols are nothing! - Notice what Paul tells the Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians 8:

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

The word nothing that Paul uses 18 times in 1 Corinthians alone means… nothing. By that I don’t mean that it means nothing it means something. Are you confused? Nothing means exactly that, nothing!

What is a nothing? It is like a Black Hole. Scientists sucked the theory of Black Holes right out of their collective thumbs. Black Holes are imaginary. They are like the idols of Corinth that Paul was talking about. They don’t exist.

Paul told the Corinthians not to worry about little “g” gods. They can’t hurt you. You don’t offend them when you don’t make offerings to them. Meat offered to nothing is not affected. “Nothing” will chase you if you steal their clay pots. The second reason not to be afraid of evil spirits is,

2. God is Everything– God is the antithesis of nothing. As empty as “nothing” is, God is that complete, full and glorious. I just now counted how many times in the Old Testament God says something like this, “… and they shall know that I am LORD.” He repeats it SEVENTY SEVEN times! Over and over and over again He seems to be on an never ending crusade to show Israel and the rest of the universe that He alone is sovereign God. He is THE only one to be trusted. He is the Owner, Creator and Sustainer of everything. All glory belongs to Him alone.

As the Children of Israel stood ready to enter the Promised Land that their parents had forsaken Moses reiterated the Law that God had given to him forty years earlier. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter four we find these words describing God’s place in their, and our, worship system:

know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. (39)

There are no other gods. Our Father is alone in this category. He has no equal, never has had and never will have. Not only is He the only God, God is Everything. Paul makes this known in 1 Corinthians 15.28

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

God is all in all. That means that He is Everything. Without Him nothing exists. And that brings me to the third reason for my confidence against evil spirits.

3. God cares for me! - He has all power and He cares for His own. The psalmist put it this way in Psalm 121:

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

I am bought and paid for and I have the Holy Spirit of the Only God living in me to prove it. So do your worst you bad boy evil spirits. You all can eat your slimy little wretched hearts out. You have no power over me. God is caring for me to the nth degree, as mom used to say. What’s an nth? It is a very very tiny or very large measurement that means all of me is covered by my God’s intricate and immense care.

I Just figured out what Happened to me!

2011-08-26T04:42:00.000-03:00

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost (1Corinthians 6:19)

About a month and a half ago I was making one of two trips homes from an activity and I used a back road to do it. It was getting dark but I noticed something on a rutted corner of the lonely dirt road I was traveling. I whipped on by but glanced as I did. There it was! A Macumba sacrifice.

There seem to be two type of sacrifices offered by Macumba adherents, a red one and a white one. In the red one you will often see a chicken with its throat slit and its blood mixed with water in a clay bowl. Along with the chicken may be food items, cigarettes, red wine and other trinkets to please the spirits. The red offering is bad. It means that someone has cursed someone or something. The one I saw a month ago was a white one. White ones are “good” magic. This one had white wine, cigarettes, and some cornmeal in a small clay bowl. I think that there were some white roses there too.

I like clay pots, bowels and vases. I use them for my plants. So, on my second trip past the foreboding corner I noticed that the object of my delight was still there. As I made my last trip past that corner I slowed, opened the door while still driving and grabbed that bowl. I gave it a quick wacked to empty it of its evil contents and off I went as happy as a chicken who escaped having his throat slit!

Now, if I was a believer in Macumba I would know exactly why I have been going through the health dilemma I have these past six weeks. It was around my sacrifice stealing time that my health began to deteriorate. The music team was here from FBC Lake Orion and we put on our Friday and Saturday music conference. Sunday was a busy day and Monday night I fell into bed feeling worse than I’ve ever felt in my life.

Did I anger the spirits? I may have. However, the Spirit who dwells in me is greater than anyone of them. He protects His temple. Does he allow that temple to go through troubles? Yes He does. Why? Because that temple lives in a sin sick world. Am I worried about further repercussions from the evil demons who’s offering I pillaged? Nah. And I’ll give you three reason why. Tomorrow!

Earth Quakes

2011-08-25T04:00:00.000-03:00

And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isaiah 2:19)

The EQ in VA and DC has left everyone shaken. Throughout my life I've paid attention to Richter scale reports. Usually I've regarded the 7.0 and higher to be huge tremors. The quake that hit Japan just last year for example was a horrific 9.0. You remember scenes from that unforgettable tragedy. The quake that devastated Haiti lasted mere seconds and was only a 7.0 quake.

There is always talk about the shifting of tectonic plates and edging faults. Californians are all too familiar with the San Andrea fault and the constant threat of the west coast slipping into the Pacific.

However, it hit me like an earthquake just after I saw video of the DC/ VA quake, God will not need tectonic plates, faults or any other such thing to bring the house down. DC shook slightly for seconds and now there's a show stopping crack, in of all places, the WASHINGTON MONUMENT! How could it be??

Imagine the scene when God's wrath really lets lose! You won't want to be there. Some of you will be but you won't want to be. Think about it.

My recent sickness has left me pensive. I had been at the gym for about six months. I was in the best shape I'd been in for years. I was feeling great and then my own personal EQ hit. It was a microscopic blip on the Richter scale. A microbe entered my bloodstream and brought my house crashing down.

The event left me thinking about what men value and how tender we really are. A germ makes my body quake and my temp rises a mere two degrees and I'm in bed for days. It might be a guy thing but it is not a pretty sight.

One day real soon the world as we know it is going to come apart. I remember visiting Mount Rushmore years ago and seeing the National Park's video presentation of how the memorial was constructed. One phrase of that show stuck with me, “Gutzon Borglum put an extra 12 inches on George Washington's nose so that he will last an extra 20,000 years!”

I think that the nose will be one of the first things to go when God gets mad. In fact all of the idols of man's “ingenuity” are going to come down in a flash. It'll be over in seconds. All of our genius sprawled on the ground and washed into the sea. Do you think that all of this is really going to happen? Well think again. It is. It is a done deal coming soon to a neighborhood near you. You’d better get ready.

Preacher, Preach against Preachers who Preach (Part 3)

2011-08-23T04:00:00.000-03:00

Ezekiel 13.1-3

We ended our last look at this passage with a question about how to interpret Bible messages in this day of seeming multiple interpretations. With all religions, denominations and churches having a corner on the truth how is one to tell the difference? We’ve looked at the first two and a half principles:

1. Pray asking God for understanding before each message.
2. Listen carefully and take notes.
3. Make sure that the Bible is used and that illustrations are biblically supported.

We ended the last devotional with these questions: So, what if that happens today? What if the preacher uses the Bible to support his false teaching? How will I know that he is using the Bible in a wrong way? See steps 1 and 2 above.

If you are in one of our services and you hear something that you don’t understand or think is not biblical what should you do? Actually, in our church, we want you to question us. That’s right! We want you to come to us with your questions. Come to me and say, “Pastor I don’t understand what you said.” Or, “I don’t think that what you said is biblical.” Don’t stand up in church and ask your question unless I have said something gravely wrong but you can feel free to come to me or the other pastors and ask us questions.

We will answer your questions if we can. If we have said something that is not biblically supported we will take it back to the whole church and make sure that everyone knows that what we said was incorrect. Why? Because we want what we say to be what God’s Word says. We don’t want to be like the foolish prophets in Ezekiel’s day. We want to properly speak the Word of God.

If your question brings a question to our minds we will study it out. Or we might bring it back to the congregation and explain it. Why? Again, it is what we are supposed to do. We are to make the Bible easier for you to understand. If you had a question more than likely someone else had the same or very similar question. Hopefully dear reader, this question and answer freedom is true in your church as well. Let’s go to the fourth principle.

4. Beware of, “I believe”, “I think” statements. Each of these “opinion” statements need to be supported properly from scripture. It is not wrong to think or believe but when it comes to preaching it is better to say, “The Bible says” or “the Bible tells us”. When we can support our ideas and thoughts with scripture we have confidence that what we are saying is what God wants said.

However, having said this, you also need to be alert to “Biblical support” misapplied. As a preacher I need to make sure that I properly handle the Word of God (2 Timothy 2.15) and don’t use it improperly to suit my personal views. A pastor once told me, “Mike you can support almost anything by using the Bible.” He was right. There are many cults and false religions that use the Bible to support their twisted practices.

Here are a few positive and negative examples of “I believe/ I think” statements:

1. I believe that we all need to pray more.
2. I think that God has blue eyes.
3. I think that we will all speak English in heaven.
4. I believe that God wants your parents to be saved.
5. I believe that Jesus will come back this year.
6. I believe that God wants to bless you.
7. I think that God wants you to go to seminary

So, which of the above are my ideas and which are God’s? (Hint, God’s 1,4,6. Mine 2,3,5,7).

The Christian life can be confusing at times. However, as we spend time in God’s word with prayerful hearts, He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3.5-6). We need to pray for God’s protection on our desires, our goals and our plans. We need to spend time in His Word daily and allow Him to mold and shape our path.

Finally,

5. Never accept statements like, “God told me”, “God revealed to me”, or “I had a dream/ vision”. People who say these things are exactly like the prophets that God sent Ezekiel to confront. They are fools. They are spiritually and morally insensitive. They want to be in charge of your life. They are not communicating God’s word to you. They blaspheme God because they make their supposed visions or dreams equal with God’s revelation in the Bible. They show their arrogance by believing that God communicates with them on a higher plain than with anyone else. No one can dispute what they say and no one can fully identify with how they feel or how they have received their visions or dreams. They thus become impervious to attacks or discussion. God spoke to them and thus ends the debate (Ps 74:18). This “special” revelation reveals their arrogance and pride.

As mentioned before in my commentary’s quote, “Ezekiel described the basic cause of their foolishness as their reliance on their own hearts and failure to seek God’s revelation (cf. Jer 23:16-22; ch. 29).

Let’s not fall for the foolish and self-centered preaching that has nothing to do with what God want’s to tell us. If you are in such a church just now, get out! Don’t try to reform it or the preacher. If Ezekiel couldn’t you can’t either. Seek the Truth! God wants to speak to you.

Preacher, Preach against Preachers who Preach! (part 2)

2011-08-22T04:15:00.000-03:00

Ezekiel 13.1-3

Ezekiel was in a difficult situation. He was the only “Right” guy in the whole captivity. There were plenty of prophets prophesying good things to come. The problem was that they were sucking their messages right out of their own thumbs! They just now hearing from the Sovereign LORD of Israel through Ezekiel.

The same thing happens today on the religious scene. There’s a church on every street corner and each has a corner on the “truth”. What is a poor soul to do. With each “church” hawking their own brand of the gospel how is one to know which is right? It is a “buyer beware” type of scenario. Here is my proposal as we continue the study from yesterday.

So, what do we Twenty-First-Century dwellers learn from Ezekiel's ancient message? If we are like his original audience we learn nothing and will suffer the repercussions. If we are spiritually astute we will avoid coming disaster. Sovereign God shares His sovereignty with no preacher, church or religion. His message is, "Beware of "spiritual" charlatans! They are everywhere and they are fools."

So, how can I know when someone is preaching God's message and when he is preaching his own message? Here are five basic principles to follow when listening to a message or messenger who claims to be from God. You can apply them to this message right now.

1. Pray asking God for understanding before each message.
2. Listen carefully and take notes.
3. Make sure that the Bible is used and that illustrations are biblically supported.
4. Beware of statements like, "I believe", "I think".
5. Never accept statements like, "God told me", "God revealed to me", or "I had a dream (or vision)".

Let me begin to explain each of the above and we’ll complete the study tomorrow.

1. Pray asking God for understanding before each message. Do you believe that God wants you to understand His Word? Do you believe that He wants to talk directly to you? What does He use to do this? His Word and preachers. If I approach each message that I hear in a church service setting with prayer God will use the preacher to share what God has for me. I will go away from each with principles that I can apply to my Christian life. Those principles will have a Biblical basis and will help me go grow in my understanding of who God is and how I can please Him.

2. Listen carefully and take notes. The teens at our church are learning to take notes because of a competition in the youth group. I am sure that their notes are often confusing and may not even make much sense. Many notations during sermons are like that. The point of note taking is to help you to concentrate on the message. When I don't take notes my mind wanders. I think about other things while the preacher is talking and I lose the point of his message. When I take notes it helps me to think with him. I benefit from his study. Preachers often spend hours preparing just one message and they learns much more than they can communicate in just half an hour. If I take notes I am able to glean truths that I can use in my life. If I leave a church service with just one principle that I can apply I have learned and grown.

3. Make sure that the Bible is used and that illustrations/ principles are supported by the Bible. The Bible is God's Word. How many times have you heard that one? I hope that you have heard it many times. It is a foundational truth necessary to understanding God's message. If the Bible is left out of God's message then the message is not from God. This is exactly what was happening in Ezekiel's day. The prophets were expressing their own wicked thoughts and telling the people that they were God's thoughts.

So, what if that happens today? What if the preacher uses the Bible to support his false teaching? How will I know that he is using the Bible in a wrong way? Good question. Let’s look at it tomorrow.

Preacher! Preach Against Preachers who Preach!

2011-08-20T04:00:00.000-03:00

Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy (Ezekiel 13:2)

Preaching against other religions, denominations or even “styles” of our own denomination is thought to be bad taste preaching. It is “sour grapes” preaching. It is picking on sincere people’s choice of worship. It is taboo.

Why all of the hub-bub? This type of preaching is really nothing new and is exactly what a good biblical preacher should be doing. Look at none other than the prophet Ezekiel for example. I know, I know! Ezekiel is an Old Testament prophet. He’s from a different dispensation. If you believe in the dispensations that is. If not, he still is.

Ezekiel’s message to his own people came from the LORD and its purpose was so that Israel would know that, Jehovah was the Sovereign God. The “Sovereign LORD” theme is repetitious in the Old Testament. Three thousand years later we still believe that Jehovah is the Sovereign LORD, right? Right.

Well, we who believe in God at all believe that Jehovah is sovereign. God’s message to His people through Ezekiel was, roughly translated, “Preacher! Preach against preachers who preach false messages that misrepresent the Sovereign LORD!”

There was no beating around the proverbial bush. There was no small talk. There was no, political correctness. God’s directive was clear, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing (13.3).

My study of this passage revealed interesting insights into the word foolish that God used to describe these false prophets. Here is a quote from The Expositor’s Bible Commentary,

The word “foolish” (nābāl) implied more than our concept of stupidity. It was a broad term that encompassed spiritual and moral insensitivity contrary to the nature of a wise man. The word was used to describe people who blasphemed (Ps 74:18), who were arrogant (1 Sam 25:25), who were atheistic (Ps 14:1), and who lacked self-discipline and humility. Ezekiel described the basic cause of their foolishness as their reliance on their own hearts and failure to seek God’s revelation (cf. Jer 23:16-22; ch. 29).

I doubt that Ezekiel’s message was well received in the “religious community” but it was received. Ezekiel preached to preachers. He preached to those preacher’s congregations as well. His message to both groups was ignored and disaster was the consequence. Most in those audiences died as a result of their selective hearing and ignoring. They came to see that God was sovereign but that understanding came as they entered Hell’s gates.

Think on these things and let’s talk more tomorrow.

Prisoner in Peace

2011-08-16T10:17:00.001-03:00

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk ... in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4.1-3)

Prison and peace don’t go together. I have been to prison various times through the years though, thank the Lord, I have never been incarcerated. However, on my visits I never sensed peace. There always seems to be tension, sinister undertones and accusing glances. Every conversation and action is observed by armed guards. The slightest movements or gestures can bring a reprimand. A prison’s goal is to separate the troublemaker from peace-loving citizens.

In all of my prison visits I never once desired to go back. I knew that I needed to for the solace of the one I visited. However, those visits were more of a downer than a comfort for me. I know, “It’s not about me!” But you get my point.

Paul’s words in Ephesians 4.1-3 are incredibly ironic. There are no accusing words, no grumbling complaints against the system and no pleas for clemency. Prisoner Paul places his detention completely within God’s will. He sees his lack of freedom as God’s problem and not his as he calls for good conduct among the brethren. The felon encourages the “free” to exhibit no less than six Christlike qualities. Notice them. He says “be:

humble,
gentle,
patient,
loving,
tolerant,
unified

How were the believers supposed to accomplish these qualities? By recognizing their bondage. Notice the last phrase of verse 3, keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Paul was bound by an iron shackle whether to a stone wall, wooden stake or Roman soldier. Bonds were very familiar to him. Bonds bind, hurt sometimes and limit personal freedoms.

Paul used his bonds as an example of how the believers were to be bound spiritually. That spiritual bond would limit their personalities too. Being, humble, gentle, patient, loving, tolerant and unified are restricting qualities. They crimp our style. But they are a part of God’s will. There must be no complaining nor clemency sought. Each believer, whether in Paul’s day or in ours, is to accept our Spirit given bonds. When we do peace reigns.

So, my friend look around you today and see the incarcerated. Practice being a model prisoner. Whether behind prison walls or on the other side of the assembly line those bound by sin are all around you. You hold the key to their new cell. The warden is the Holy Spirit and no one ever wants out of His detention center. So... give em the key!

Sick on Father's Day

2011-08-14T20:15:00.000-03:00

When you are sick you praise God for Team Work! I have been down with the worst thing that I've ever had. I don't even know exactly what it is but I believe that it is a combo of Pneumonia and the creeping crud. I won't go into the details because as my dad used to say, "No one wants to hear an organ recital." I thought that good advice.

My team came through today. Dawn put together a lovely lunch for 70 and Alexandre did a great job on Dad's Day games and play. Samuel preached a Father's day message and there were about 15 dads there to hear it. If any of this would have depended on me it wouldn't have happened. God is good and Dad's heard the Gospel. Now I would ask that you pray for the unsaved dads. Our church needs dads who love the heavenly Father.

Thanks in advance for your prayers.

Mike

Forgotten Memories

2011-08-13T09:01:00.001-03:00

In those days... the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for ... and they shall not be found (Jeremiah 50.20)
My daughter and son-in-law are visiting from the States. When they drop in it is always a time to travel down memory lane. Usually there is much laughter and great happiness as we think about how God has blessed our family through the years. Though we are presently scattered over the wide world we have memories that take us back to a time when our family was nestled in a cozy little town in Michigan, attending a wonderful church together and basically enjoying each other.

Memories are sometimes prejudiced. They leave things out or they embellish. I seem to be stronger, smarter and better looking in my memories. However, the other day my memory completely failed me.

My daughter was recounting a surprise visit that I had arranged. In this memory Ann was living in another city. Thanksgiving was approaching and supposedly I wanted to surprise mom by paying for Ann and our grandson Gabe’s bus fare. All went according to plan and Dawn was completely astounded to the point of tears!

The problem is that as Ann stood there telling me this elaborate story I couldn’t remember any of it. She recounted detail after detail of things that I had said and done and all the while Dawn was nodding in agreement to each of the story’s details. As she went on and on I stood there with a blank stare on my face .

Ann finally said, “You have GOT to be kidding me! You don’t remember ANYTHING??” I shook my head while secretly wondering if Alzheimer's was setting in. I was drawing a complete blank.

This reminded me of Jeremiah 50.20 where God tells the prophet,

In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

I had never thought about this wonderful fact before. God can’t remember sin that has been pardoned. We know the verse that tells us that our sin has been removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103.12). Sure we also remember the verses that remind us that God has tossed our sin into the deepest sea where He forgets them (Micah 7.19; Hebrews 10.17) but we have trouble believing it don’t we? We know how WE forgive. We forgive and find it impossible to forget. Our forgiveness is always tainted by our memory which most of the time embellishes the infraction.

My experience the other day helped me to understand a little about how God forgives. When God perfectly forgives He also perfectly forgets. Does this mean that celestial Alzheimer’s is setting in? Not in the least. This means that God’s perfect Judgment for our infraction has been wholly satisfied in Jesus Christ. There are no twinges of doubt or expectation of betrayal. The memory has been formatted in a way as to completely remove it from the divine mind! The Apostle John put it this way, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1.9). Aren’t you glad?

So my friend, confess and turn from your sin. God wants to forgive and forget! He will perfectly pardon (see Isaiah 55.7).

What were we talking about?

Visions from the Barber's Chair

2011-08-12T13:21:00.001-03:00

The prophet who has had a dream should say it is only a dream, but the prophet who has heard my message should proclaim that message faithfully. (Jeremiah 23:28)

There I sat wrapped in the barber’s jacket as I listened to a fantastic story. The barber was recounting a vision that the “Lord” had sent to him. He waved his straight razor as he explained his story and I wasn’t in a good position to tell him that I thought his whole account nothing but rubbish.

His allegory went like this, “While I was in prison. I was there for ten years you know. While I was in prison I had a vision. I was laying on my bed one night when all of a sudden the ceiling and roof parted. The heavens opened too and an eagle flew down and landed on my stomach. I know that it was an eagle because I’ve seen picture of eagles. Anyway, the eagle bent over and placed its beak in my mouth and the liquid that came out tasted like honey. It was such a distinctive taste that I still remember it to this day.”

“Awhile later I was at a bar and a bearded waiter came to my table asking for my drink order. I ordered a pop. He came back and set the drink on my table. As I lifted it to my lips the taste was exactly the same as the liquid that came from the eagles beak!”

“I turned to see the waiter but he had disappeared into the crowd. So, I went to find him. I asked one of the other waiters where my bearded friend had gone and he looked at me incredulously. ‘We don’t have anyone with a beard who works here!’”

He then looked at me and said, “God gave me this vision and I knew from that point on that I was chosen by God. I knew that He had a mission for me and that my mission was to preach to everyone. One of my prison buddies told me that I would be released from prison in the future. And I was but it took another five years. That too was from God because he gave me a mission inside the prison walls.”

So, what do you think about that one? This guy’s life was touched in such a dramatic way that it will take a miracle to convince him that his “vision” was probably induced by bad prison grub rather than a celestial source. How do you combat “personal experiences” like this one?

Short answer, with the Word of God. This guy was so spiritual that he hasn’t touched a Bible in over a year! He doesn’t want to mess up a good story. He needs no one to tell him anything because he talks directly to God.

Jeremiah had to deal with this type in his day too. There were all sorts of “prophets” with all sorts of messages from “God.” In that story it was God who communicated with these deceivers. Some paid with their lives for their deceptions.

My barber invited me to come back with my Bible and talk some more. Though it was actually he that did most of the talking the first time. So the door is opened for further conversation. I pray that his heart is too.

Living Up to Expectations

2011-08-10T04:09:00.000-03:00

walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called (Ephesians 4.1)

I’m sorry but I cannot imagine being primped to be a duke, prince or king! I have always thought of Prince Charles as a big wuss in waiting. His whole life has been spent preparing to be “the next king of England.”

This poor guy has gone above and beyond the call of duty in being groomed for a position that Elizabeth II, his mom, doesn’t seem to want to give up. Elizabeth’s mother, the Honourable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, lived for 101 years for Pete’s sake! Does Charley have a chance? Doubt it.

Why this talk about princely preening? Well my friend it is because we as God’s children are in a similar process. In Ephesians 4.1 Paul goes into some interesting details. He tells us the following.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

The word vocation trips us up. I went through my career at GM working my best so that I would please God in my vocation. That wasn’t a bad thing and I really do believe that we must do our best whatever our job or whoever our boss. But this verse isn’t talking about that type of vocation.

The word vocation here means invitation or calling. Paul uses the word nine times in his letters (see Rom. 11:29; 1Cor. 1:26, 7:20; Eph. 1:18, 4:1, 4:4; Phil. 3:14; 2Thess.1:11; 2Tim. 1:9). Ten if you count Hebrews (Heb. 3:1). Each time the word is translated as calling. Each except here in Ephesians 4.1 where vocation is used.

Substituting the word calling give us a slightly different understanding of the verse. Paul is telling us that we need to walk like ones being groomed to take over as princes or princesses. Our calling is that of royalty.

Whoa Mike? Where did you get that idea? Notice what Paul has to say in Romans 8.28-30.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Royalty is in my future! Jesus Christ at this very moment is seated at the Father’s right hand. He is in a position of royalty. One day He will rule the earth. That we know as the 1000 year Millennial Reign. When He surrenders that reign to His Father Jesus will assume the Eternal Reign. The Apostle John gives us this insight in Revelation chapter one:

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

My position of royalty is actually already in effect. I just can’t see that aspect from my earthly perch. Walking worthy of my calling then demands a different demeanor. It requires certain cultivated steps.

If you were Princes Charles or William would you be up to the task? Could you stand the pressure. Would you be able to hold your posture and tongue? Would you be happy to wait for your moment?

As princes and princesses of the King of kings we are obligated to walk and talk a certain way. So, where are the “Ten Easy Steps”? There are at least ten in Ephesians four. So, memorize it. You’ll be ready for royal living. All of that an NO paparazzi! Cool.

Oceans of Love

2011-08-09T04:42:00.000-03:00

Most of us have stood on the shore of an ocean. I have had the privilege of viewing the Atlantic and Pacific. I have also had the privilege of standing on shores in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The ocean always leaves me in awe. If I try to fight its waves I lose. I can’t swim across it, I can’t see the other side and I know that I don’t want to descend into its pitch-black depths, without a bathysphere anyway.

Thinking of the immensity and grandeur of the ocean makes me feel tiny by comparison. And it is exactly on this shore that Paul wants each of us to stand. He wants us to try and grasp God’s love. Notice his poetry in Ephesians three,

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

In this literary master work Paul lets us gaze upon the vast ocean of Christ’s love. And whether we stand on the brink of beginning the Christian life or have been on that shore most of our lives we discover that we are still in the initial stages of understanding that love. It is profound, matchless and marvelous and like the ocean, incomprehensible.

As we bath in its warm waves or delve the depths of its riches we are awed by Christ’s tender and awesome love for us. We deserve none of it but are overwhelmed at its infinite capacity and ceaseless waves of care. Though the ocean is salty and has a peculiar smell Christ’s love is sweet and perfectly perfumed by His sacrifice.

You may have already enjoyed a study of 1 Corinthians 13. However, if you haven’t you might want to get your feet wet in its riches and bath in its warmth. It is not normal love described there it is Christ’s love. It is an ocean worth exploring. Our goal is that type of love but our blessing is that Christ demonstrates exactly that love toward you and me. Eat your heart out Jac Cousteau!

Conducting Business from a Prison Cell

2011-08-08T04:27:00.001-03:00

I Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3.1)
A sad facts here in Brazil is that the prison system doesn’t work. There are too many scoundrels for too few slammers. This scenario proffers two options, either overcrowding or early release. I have never visited a male prison but I’ve seen pictures. It is never a good situation.
Not all of the bad boys get out early, however. In fact there are a few hardened criminals who do remain behind the rusty bars and in their dank and dark dens of iniquity. These men and women are locked away from society yet many of them conduct gang business as normal from their cages. With cellphone technology they are able to communicate with their various evil contacts and command their diabolic domains from within.
Authorities, try as they might, find it almost impossible to stop the cryptic communications. Hits are made, drugs are run and people’s lives destroyed by incarcerated thugs. It is incredible. How can someone be so wickedly efficient from a prison cell.
The same question might have also been asked around two-thousand years ago. There were no Smart Phones, Androids or Internet back then but there was one person in particular who communicated very efficiently from within the thick damp walls of a Roman prison. His name was Paul of Tarsus. Reading Paul’s words in Ephesians 3 always remind me that he was in chains. “I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles….”
In fact Paul wrote: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon in chains. Can you imagine the world without these letters? I think that God had Paul chained so that he would have time to write them before his early death.
Paul was amazing and I never cease to wonder what it must have been like working with him. You’ve seen the Energizer Bunny commercials? Paul would have exhausted that hare.
In the above mentioned letters from his cell Paul tells us how to live the freedom that we have in Christ. He tells us how to be truly liberated even if confined in a prison cell, by a bad relationship or with sickness. His Holy Spirit inspired letters give us hope where there seems to be none. He never complains about his lot but always encourages, uplifts and edifies. Encourage, uplift and edify mean basically the same thing. My repetition was meant to intensify what Paul has so beautify communicated though himself chained.
If you find yourself unwillingly confined just now don’t give up hope. You may not have control over your situation. You may never escape. However, turn your attention to Paul’s God. He is attentive to your need. He can help any plight. He can help you to make a difference in your world. Study Paul’s manual on “How to Be in Control (Even though chained)”.* It is a Best Seller!
*Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon

Aliens!

2011-08-06T15:08:00.001-03:00

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19)

Have you ever felt like an Alien? I’m not talking Marvin the Martian or even “My Favorite Martin” for those of you who go back that far. I’m talking about a complete stranger?

I think that one of the weirdest situations for me came in the good old U.S. of A. as I walked down Broadway Ave. in downtown Manhattan in a pair of worn jeans, a hoodie and a Winnie the Pooh backpack as I headed toward Ground Zero.

It was a miserable February in 2004 and I had come to aid my sister and brother-in-law with my ailing mother. That was “ailing” and NOT “alien” mother. I know what you are thinking.

Anyway, there I was trudging from Penn Station near Madison Square Garden toward Ground Zero which is about a thousand city blocks away. Or at least it seemed like it was. I had landed at LaGuardia Airport and wanted to see the Twin Towers sight before heading to see mom in New Jersey. It was sleeting, low 30s and blustery. I found myself strolling down the Avenue among business suited lawyers, politicians and … well businessmen.

I realize that New Yorkers couldn’t care less about a country hick with the blue Winnie the Pooh backpack slung over his shoulder (it was Abby’s and it was the only one we had at the time). But I felt very very alien. I was finally back in the States and I felt like complete stranger.

I am so very thankful that I won’t need to feel weird when I step on to Heaven’s Golden Avenue. First of all I won’t have that blooming backpack and second of all I won’t be an alien I’ll be a citizen! Imagine that.

Those highfalutin lawyer types won’t have anything on me. I’ll be dressed in my heavenly duds and I’ll have my head high. All because of what my Savior did on the cross. Jesus precious blood paid my way and His cross work earned my heavenly Green Card.

So as I walk around this dusty ball I must realize that here I really am a stranger. I’m passing through and soon to head home. My passport is in hand and my visa has already been stamped in Blood. The blood of my Lord. My citizenship is guaranteed.

May I see your documents please?

Playing in the Oval Office.

2011-08-05T13:40:00.001-03:00

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)

The closest that I have ever come to royalty is when I stood a foot away from Rosie Schook, the Oxford Wildcat Snow Queen back in 1971. I tingled.

I cannot imagine standing in a King’s or Queen’s presence. I cannot imagine being around royalty. However, I had better get over my standoffishness because in the not too distant future I will be entering into the presence of the King of kings! Christ death and resurrection assured me that I have access into God the Father presence.

I am so glad that Paul put the word, “Father” there and not king, ruler or potentate. “Father” has such a wonderful sound to it. I am not just entering into the Ruler of the Universe’s presence. That Ruler is my Father! Oh the freedom.

I remember pictures from my childhood, of Caroline and Jon Jon Kennedy in the Oval Office. There they were, just little tykes, in the office of the most powerful man in the world. They were running and jumping and being little kids. What made that behavior appropriate was the fact that it was their Father’s office. He was that powerful ruler.

I can’t wait to run into my Father’s outstretched arms. I don’t know how that will feel but I am looking forward to it. He knows my weaknesses, idiosyncrasies and troubles yet He loves me just the same. He has given me His Spirit as the guarantee that I will be able to play in His Oval office one day. I got dibs on the spot under his desk!

Don’t Waste God’s Grace

2011-08-04T14:39:00.001-03:00

We then ...beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6.1)

How can God's grace be wasted? Paul seems to imply that it can be in the above text. Before we look at that question we need to understand exactly what God's grace is.

It is a word seldom used these days unless in messages or Sunday school lessons. I know a few ladies named Grace and have heard statements like, "She walks with such grace." leading me to believe that it is an elegant word. But what is God's grace in the Bible and how is it that one can abuse it?

You may have heard this short definition for the bible word grace, “unmerited favor”. I’ve often repeated the following definition of “mercy” and “grace”, “Mercy is not getting what one deserves. Grace is getting what one does not deserve.” Did that make sense? You may have to stop and think about that one just a minute.

Let me illustrate the two ideas:

Mercy - When I was five or so it “stole” a grape from the fruit stand at Cadillac Market. Theoretically the punishment for stealing would have been at least a stiff warning and at most jail time. Charlie, the store manager had mercy on this five year old and didn’t give me what I deserved.
Grace - Someone walks up to you this afternoon and hands you one hundred bucks! Oh how you wish! You don’t deserve $100 but in grace they give it to you. It was their choice and not yours. They favored you with the monetary gift.

Grace is favor. We see it in various locations in the New Testament. Here In 2 Corinthians 6 Paul urges the believers not to “…receive the grace of God in vain”. So, what was going on?

Think of it this way. The Creator God made you. He sent His only Son to Redeem you from endless separation from Him in Hell. Your Salvation is a priceless gift. When you received Christ as your Savior you became an eternal being who will reign with Christ and inherit His riches. However, when you take that gift and do nothing with it you waste God’s favor. You shame His grace.

It would be like spitting in the eye of the guy that gave you the hundred bucks. No, it would be much much worse. To waste God’s grace is to look the crucified Savior in the face and spit in His loving eye.

Get this! God favors you even if you are not His. You unbeliever that spit in Jesus eye without a thought are favored by God’s common grace. That grace keeps your heart beating, lungs breathing and food on your table. One day that grace will cease and His favor will be meted out in eternal punishment. That punishment too will demonstrate God’s grace as it will reveal His perfect justice. God is favoring you right now accept it don’t waste it.

Are You Prejudiced?

2011-08-04T14:02:00.002-03:00

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Ephesians 2:14
In 1967 Detroit exploded in what would be know ever after as, “The 12th Street Riot”. As a 14 year old white boy living about an hour from Detroit I was petrified. I didn’t know much about what was going on but I was afraid that my family was going to be murdered. Black people scared me. Why? Ignorance pure and simple.
I had grown up in a white community and had never met any black people. There was a black kid in our school but I had never spoken to him. I lived in my own little white world and was happy to do so. My ignorance of the black culture had lead to prejudice and my prejudice had lead me to fear.
Prejudice is that decisive determination of guilt or bias that comes before knowledge. One judges before hand. The mind is bent in a certain direction that is impossible to correct. Or seemingly so.
God has interesting ways of helping us to face our ignorance and fears. He put this nineteen year old white boy in an auto factory in Pontiac Michigan where fifty percent of my department was either black or Puerto Rican. My boss was a 6’2” black man. I was petrified! However, as time went by he became one of my good friends. God did another incredible thing when he brought me to Brazil. But that is another story.
Maybe you have a problem with skin color. You might go to that Old Testament passage in Genesis 9:25 where Noah says to his son: … Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. You may use this passage to support your twisted beliefs. Study this passage well and you will find that it has nothing to do with a curse of skin color.
If, my friend, you have a problem with prejudice you might want to check the certainty of your salvation. Why do I say this? Look at Ephesians chapter 2. Paul gives us the classic example of desegregation rather than segregation. Notice what he says in verse 14,

For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies (The Good News Bible).

The wall that Paul speaks of here is the wall of prejudice. The Jews thought themselves different or better than all other peoples. They were God’s chosen. They had been entrusted with God’s oracles and they would receive one day God’s Messiah or Savior.
Their grave mistake was that they had become so proud of their relationship with God that they had actually crucified The Sent One Jesus Christ. However, ironically, Jesus’ death had made possible the breaking down of the Berlin wall of all time, Jewish prejudice.
Christ’s death had crushed the wall that divided the Jews from all others (the Gentiles). Christ’s death had made peace possible. Christ’s death had made friendship possible where hatred had reigned.
So where does this triumph leave you? If you are a person with prejudice you need to examine your own heart. Do you truly have a relationship with the barrier breaker, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ? If you think that you do then you had better think again. Peace reigns and prejudice is banned in His kingdom.

In the SPOT Light

2011-07-29T12:42:00.001-03:00

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5.10)
I have had more than my share of spotlight experiences. I ran track in high school and was the anchorman in our 880 yard relay team. In one meet in particular our team was tied and our 880 team would be the deciding race.

The gun sounded and the boys ran hard. As I received that baton all seemed a blur for the next 220 yards and twenty-three seconds. As I breasted the tape an amazing thing happened. I was swamped by exuberant team mates who were yelling and screaming our victory. It was one of those, “head held high” moments that you want to last forever.

Being a missionary has had moments like that too. Speaking before large congregations, leading mission type trips overseas and building churches in foreign lands has often put me in the undeserved spotlight. It seems rare air.

Here in Brazil, on the news daily, there is another type of spotlight show. It is a national news program called, “Cidade Alerta!” (City Alert). Its host screams and shouts for justice and quick punishment for drug dealers, thieves and murderers.

Video of such trash being hauled away nearly always has the thug trying to hide his face from the spotlight of the TV camera. The villain is on national news and doesn’t like the attention. There may be reprisals if he is recognized. It is one of those eternal, “head held low” moments.

In Second Corinthians 5 Paul give a quick look into every believer’s future when he tells of a coming “Spot Light” moment. Whether your head will be high or low at that point will be in the Lord’s perfect judgment. Think on that one. Do you really want what you deserve?

We have grown cold to true relationship with Christ. We know little if anything about communing with God in earnest prayer. Men like David Brainerd, Jonathan Edwards and E. M. Bounds are unknown or little known to us. Their lives when studied or read seem strange, mechanical and outright impossible to imitate because of their devotion to Christ.

I go to church on Sunday and Wednesday and feel good about myself. If I miss a Sunday or two a month its no big deal. I can catch the preacher’s message on the church’s website and download it to my MP3 (or whatever) player. I rarely do but I can if necessary. If I have a Bible type question I can Google it.

So, where is the trouble in this mentality? My heart justifies everything that I do and I come out looking like a, head held high, meet-winning track-star rather than a, head held low sleaze ball. The Lord’s judging eye is not beclouded by my wicked heart’s condoning perspective.

Here are some interesting verses for your study. They are definitely worth our consideration in future articles: Job 34:11; Psalm 62:12; Isaiah 3:10-11; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:5-10; 1Corinthians 4:5; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:24-25; Revelation 2:23, Revelation 22:12

Music Conference

2011-07-24T06:38:00.001-03:00

This is going to be a long post.

Just a few days ago I was trembling in my boots as the First Baptist Church of Lake Orion's missions team was just hours from their arrival. My fears were many because I felt that the weight of success or failure of their visit would fall on me and I could see a tremendous failure looming.
I knew that the team would come well prepared and ready to minister. I knew that there would not be a lack of talent and experience on their part. I knew that they would have great expectations I just didn't know how our people would react or if they would attend. My fear was that the attendance would be poor and that the team might go away frustrated.
God be praised! God be glorified! God be worshipped!

I highlight the previous paragraph because my Father deserves all of these and more. Let me explain. It is a wonderful story.

The team, Jim and Hannah Watson, Faith Gaskell and Brenda Johnson, arrived safe and sound on Tuesday, July 19 though Brenda lost her suitcase in the process and had packed the bare minims in her carry-on. As I write, five days later, she is still without her bag. She has not complained one time! Her gracious attitude is just one of many examples of the blessings that this visit would produce.

The First Baptist Church team came ready to sing in Portuguese. However, as I sat listening to their attempts in practice I winced as I wondered how they would be understood. Apparently my thoughts were reflected in my facial expression as I heard one member of the team in passing say, “I wonder if we should sing?”

For three days I saw Faith combing over her transliterations as she sang and asked question after question about pronunciation. She was incessant and she was rarely without her papers.
I had never been in charge of putting a music conference together and had left most of the actual conference planning to Jim. I knew that he was the expert and would do a great job. There were, however, logistics on our end and I wondered how they would all come together.

Alexandre had secured the use of the school building where we hold our church services. Dawn had arranged the arrival of our lunch meals and had purchased food stuffs for our afternoon Coffee Breaks. I had contacted my American coworkers and a couple of Brazilians about translating for the team and all had agreed to help. Everything seemed ready to go but again the looming question in my mind was, “Will they come?”

Conference, day one, came and as we left the house that morning I quivered in anticipation. For me it was one of those “Wanna get away” moments. However, as we arrived at the school there were already a couple of our kids waiting at the door. One of them was Camila. She is a sixteen year old and has only been saved for a week and for some reason I had not expected her to be there. Her presence was a real encouragement. Graziele and Amanda were also there and as always ready to help. These two young ladies have been such a blessing to our ministry and it is a joy to see them Growing in their walk with Christ.

That morning, with members from six churches participating, we began with prayer a brief devotional challenge by Jim and, to my surprise, choir practice. I am not sure why choir practice at a music conference was such a surprise but it was. I guess that I was expecting more lectures and instruction on Good Musics vs. Bad Music type things. But all of a sudden there I was translating for choir practice Jim Watson style.

If you’ve not experienced that you should go just to watch. It is quite entertaining. Hilarious might be a better word. Jim leads with a gusto, bravado and enthusiasm that makes practice fun. I heard one lady say, “I am having so much fun that I don’t even realize that I am learning so much too!” Our people loved it! It was so neat to see them reacting to movements and sounds that most had never seen in any of their choirs.

A goose-bump moment came early in the practice. One of our young ladies, Monese, had done the lion’s share of translation work on four new hymns. She did an excellent job and our people loved singing them. However, before I get to that special moment I need to back up just a minute at this point in the story.

Jim, our daughter Abby and Jon Jenkins a friend at Lake Orion had worked hard at putting Monise’s translations into the Finale music program which helps align the musical text with the notes. If you have ever worked on translation you will understand my surprise at how well they had done. However, as my Brazilian coworker, Alexandre, looked at their effort he noticed some tweaks that needed to be made. The tweaks took several hours!

Then there were copies of the: conference schedule, the five pieces of music (about eight pages), biographical information about the team and workshop descriptions that needed to be printed. That too took several more hours of work. Alexandre worked into the night getting the hard copies in order.
First Baptist Church had supplied folders and mechanical pens for each of our Conference participants. Those needed stuffing and the FBC team jumped at the opportunity to serve. Within in minutes we had a nice packet of information and music for each conference attendee.
Now back to the “goose-bump moment”. Jim had the choir stretching, aligning themselves and making strange sounds to hit the center of the proper pitch target he had drawn on the green-board.

After several attempts the fifty or so participants pierced the center of that target! It was a sweet sound and a special moment in our musical history. I stood stunned and near tears. They sounded angelic! Jim was communicating and precious things were happening.

The work-shops were practical without being boring or long. Each teacher had prepared well and it showed by the classroom participation. However, after the first day I wondered if anyone would come back for more.

They did! We had over seventy on our second day!! Again we practiced long and had fun in each of the work-shops. At the end of the day we presented our concert. It was complete with two special numbers by the FBC team. They presented well and our people loved them! Junior played a cello/ piano duet with Hannah, Faith played a piano solo and the choir sang five numbers. It was a heavenly time. Thank you one and all who had a part in making it happen!

Swamped!

2011-07-18T22:51:00.001-03:00

I sit here at 9:59 PM Mid-Atlantic Time, knowing very well that I need to get up at 4:00AM to make the two hour trek into the international airport in São Paulo. I sit here and am petrified! Why?

Are there burglars outside my door? Not that I know of. Am I sick? Nope. I have been sick about two week now but am finally on the road to recovery thank the Lord. Am I afraid of the dark? A little bit.

So, then, why am I petrified? I am trembling about our pending Music Conference! An event that will probably be a delightful experience and will enlighten us all in this very important aspect of life and I’m in a fuss. Silly isn’t it?

It probably is but my mind is a flutter with the many things that remain to be done. How many people will come? How many lunches should we order? How much will all of this set us back financially? What if nobody come? What if too many come?? WHAT IF….

It is ONLY a TWO day conference for Pete’s sake! What could go wrong? Probably nothing. But, I have never had to organize a Music Conference before! I’ve only been to one in my life and that one seemed so cool and fun. I didn’t realize that they could be such a lot of work to put on.

Funny too. Just a week ago my coworker mentioned a great idea, “Mike, you should print up a list of musical terms that we translators will need to be familiar with.” “Sure, that sounds like a great idea” I responded with out a blink. Then it hit me, “Where does one find such a list?” Google of course! But with the list of 89,500,000 options I was immediately overwhelmed! “HELP ME! I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP!!”

Praise the Lord a good friend sent me a concise list that we can use. He found it on Google. What drowned me he found rather quickly. I could see God beginning to work.

As I was printing out all of the outlines and handouts I again began to go under! HELP! Again a coworker, Alexandre, came to my aid. “How about I take my laser printer to the school and we can print out however many copies we might need?” Whew! Thank you again Lord.

I actually believe that God is going to get all of the glory for this conference and we are going to have a great one. I will update you during and afterward. PRAY for us. Thanks.

2011-07-16T01:06:00.001-03:00

I am BIG TIME owing an update! Much has happened in recent days and much is on the horizon. Sounds ominous doesn't it? Its not.

Our club took a break at the beginning of July and we ended with a bang by visiting a local National Park about a half an hour from Sorocaba. We took almost the whole Bible club for this special hike. It was a fun and exausting day and a great way to end our club at winter break.

On July 6 Alexandre, Dawn and I took four of our teens and one of my Juniors to Maringá, Paraná. It was a nine hour trip and our first Missions trip. Those who participated were: Amanda, Dani, Graziele, Alison and Mirela.

The team worked together like a well oiled machine. There was no grumbling, complaining or whining. We had a great time getting to know the ministry of pastor Claudinei and his wife Eleaneu (I don't think that I spelled her name correctly). They are a very sweet couple and helped our stay to be a delight. We got to visit some of the special sites of Maringá. It has over 300,000 inhabitants and is a lovely place. However, what left the biggest impression on our team was the hospitality of pastor and his family and several of the believers who had us for a meal. If you are ever in Maringá you have to visit the Igreja Batista Regular and worship with the nice folks there.

We were able to put on the very first VBS at this small church of around 75. We saw 45 kids hear the Gospel through the life of, of all people, Samson. Who actually came to the final meeting on Sunday! Five children made professions of faith.

We got back late Monday from our Missions trip and on Thursday started our own VBS with 120 kids. Our second day we saw 140 hear the message from the life of Joshua. Today (Saturday) we are expecting around 100. Where has the month of July gone?

On Tuesday we'll receive pastor Jim Watson and his wife Hannah along with Faith Gaskell and Brenda Johnson who will help us with our first ever Music Conference. The team will be with us for nine days and we'll have some fun along with the musical work. So, please keep us in your prayers for the next few days anyway!

Gone Home on the 4th of July

2011-07-04T19:34:00.001-03:00

Dawn and I love dogs. We have had a dog almost non-stop since our wedding day way back in August of 1975. We counted just the other day and could name: Fido, Domino (though we had her for just a couple of weeks), Butch and Babs. These were all of our BB (before Brazil) dogs and came as boy, girl, boy, girl over twenty-two years.

When we arrived in Brazil in “97” we noticed something different about the country. They have no Humane Society so at times you might see five to ten dogs walking down the street with nary a one having an owner. Things here have changed over the years and animals are being babied more now but there is still the occasional horror story. Dawn saw one just a couple of days ago but I’ll not go into details.

Our Brazilian brood has included: Sammy, a mini-pincher, Old Dog, a street mutt that I took in for a few months and eventually had to put down because he bit two neighbor kids. That is another story in itself. Also included were Ursinha, one of Old Dog’s wild-oats, Sheba, Marly and Branquinho.

We put Ursinha down this morning. She was thirteen. This is her obituary. Weird? Probably but I wanted to share the story anyway. Her obit will be longer than the one that I wrote for my mother. Double weird I know.

Back in 1998 a few months after our move to Sorocaba, I came home one day to find Abby, then seven, with a puppy in her arms. “Look Daddy! Her name is Baby Susie!” I looked and sure enough Abby was holding a filthy little black mutt that had a ton of fleas and ticks.

“Abby, where did you get Baby Susie?” I asked. “From the vacant lot down the street.” “Well then, take her back. We don’t want her!” This was a gross looking little puppy. But it was then that I made my blunder. I took that little thing into my arms and began to examine her. As mentioned she had fleas and ticks, twenty-eight ticks to be exact. I know because for the next few minutes I began the process of extracting everyone of them from her matted fuzzy fur.

“She looks like a little bear” I said. “How do you say ‘Little Bear” in Portuguese? Ursinha!” It stuck. All of a sudden we had another daughter and her name was Ursinha. She would be with us for the next thirteen years.

Over those years she has been such a good dog though not exactly the most compassionate. She bit at least five or so people through the years and one time I faked death in our back yard and she didn’t pay a lick of attention. She even slept as the three thieves stole me blind back in February of this year. I attributed that lapse to her deafness and old age.

We took her to the States with us one furlough and she was the envy of most Brazilians. Even her Vet said, “WHAT?! I want to go to the States and you... a street dog gets to go? THAT is NOT fair!”

We landed in Florida that year (2000) and took Ursinha with us in a crate to a parking garage at Pensacola Christian College where Amy was graduating. During the ceremony, which must have lasted two or more hours, I mistakenly left her crate door ajar and she got out.

I came to get her about three hours later and she was nowhere to be seen! I whistled, called and shouted her name. It was then that a parking attendant appeared. “Have you seen a black dog anywhere?” I asked. “We sure have! We’ve been chasing it for about an hour. I just called Animal Control.”

He pointed me to a nearby bush and when I called her name once more a black head appeared above the foliage. She immediately bolted in my direction a very happy to see me.

A few days later we arrived at our house in Lake Orion where we would spend that year. Our church had prepared the house and it was a wonderful surprise. However, as I was bringing something into the dining room I noticed dirt flying just outside the window. It was Ursinha. I gave her a whack and scolded her. Within seconds she was at it again and the earth was exploding out of a small hole in the flower garden. Just as I reached smack her again up she popped with a mole in her beak!

She was a real hunter. She caught rats, squirrels and lizards too. One time she saw a cat in our banana trees. With a quick swing of her head she shook the plant. The cat fell to the ground for the last time. It's nine lives were spent within moments.

Another reason that we loved Ursinha was that she always talking. She spoke both Portuguese and English. People were often amazed when we gave her a command in either language and she obeyed. She was really funny too with snide comments coming at perfectly timed moments.

Since the beginning of this year Ursinha's health has degenerated. Recently she was barely able to walk and had virtually stopped eating. We awoke this morning, July 4, 2011 and made the long dreaded decision to put her down. Both of us shed tears as we made the short trek to the Vet's office. Ursinha, our little old bear, was prepared for her two injections as she stood trembling on metal table that she always hated. After years of Vet visits she never got used to that table.

The whole process took about ten minutes. When her strong heart finally stopped beating both Dawn and I stood weeping and stroking her lifeless body. She was gone. There was an emptiness, a small hole in our hearts, a strange void.

It is evening now and we are doing much better. Just moments ago Dawn said, “The house seems empty.” She said this with Marly and Branquinho at her feet on the couch and Sheba beside me on the other couch. Funny. Did I mention that we are dog people? Yep I did and we are.

The Callahan Crunch

2011-07-02T10:31:00.001-03:00

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6.12)

Our enemies are not corporeal. They are headless, brainless and body-less. They are not people.
Don’t give me that line Paul! I have a nasty neighbor and I’ll admit that he is brainless but body-less, don’t believe it! He is real alright and he has a huge sound system to prove his reality.

I remember another example from my football days which will also prove that enemies have bodies. It was the fall of 70 and football practice was in full swing. We were in one of the worst losing seasons of Oxford High school history which made each practice session a misery.

To top off the fun coach Armstrong had devised a new instrument of torture to delight all of his disciples. The contraption consisted of about ten posts in two parallel lines. Each set of opposing posts had a rope that spanned them. Thus the ten posts formed a sort of morbid tunnel.

The drill was to test I don’t know what. In today’s reticent world it would have been law suit material. Two lines of players were formed one at each end of the “tunnel” and the first two players were to go head to head in a break-neck battle of strength and stamina. The ropes were about three and a half feet from the ground so bodies were kept low.

It seems to me that I was first in line. My opponent was John Callahan. I weighed in at 155lbs and John at 190lbs. John had a chiseled physique. Mine wasn’t bad either but John’s was muscle-building magazine material.

Coach blew his whistle and we both launched simultaneously. I cringe to this day when I think of the implications of what happened next. John and I met in the middle of the cruel trough where our helmeted heads met in a sickening CRACK of plastic on plastic. Only by God’s mercy and grace did I avoid becoming a quadriplegic. I believe that it was that hit that ended the Torture Tunnel Training session.

I had no doubt that John was real. He had a body, flesh and blood. He hit me like a ton of bricks and nearly knocked me into Ortonville! So, Paul, what do you mean by your statement, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood”?

Paul wasn’t saying that we are exempt from having human opponents. He was writing these words from a Roman prison. He was more than likely chained to a Roman soldier.

Paul was alerting the Ephesian believers and you and me to the real enemy. He was saying that there is something sinister behind all of our problems. There is an unseen enemy working to kill us or at best leave us all quadriplegics spiritually. Satan and his forces would like nothing better that to see us writhing uncontrollably or lifeless in the dust.

So, look around you today. Who looks like an ominous enemy? Who do you know as a loathsome foe? Beware. Don’t enter the Torture Tunnel with them. Your adversaries are others.

Cutting to the Chase

2011-07-01T11:12:00.001-03:00

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6.12)

Don’t you just hate long and laborious explanations? I want to get to the goods in a hurry. Save your verbose tirades about how something works and let’s just get to the plan. If I want to know all that other stuff I’ll Google it or ask my Facebook friends!

We live in the information age don’t we? We can research the minutia without lengthy preparatory narratives right? Well... I guess it really depends on the subject doesn’t it? Some times we need extra information to get the job done right.

Paul gets into a seemingly lengthy introduction to the believer’s armor in Ephesians chapter six. He starts out well with these words, “Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.”

Cool so far. So, Paul, just what is that armor? It is at this instant that Paul goes into a lengthy aside. Notice what he says in verses 12 and 13:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Whoa! Why all of the seeming legalese here? Why not just cut to the chase? Let’s get to the list of goods that we need!

Here’s why. The “chase” is in the battle. The battle is against an invisible foe. Thus we need to know how serious it is and just what we’re up against. We dare not put on the gear in a haphazard manner. We need to recognize the difference between the innocent bystander and the injurious bad guy before we get on all of our equipment. So, let’s do a little breakdown of what Paul is telling us:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood - I often get hung up right here. If I had my battle gear on I’d be killing the wrong “enemy”. Why? Because often that “enemy” seems to be the people around me. In the past I’ve talked about my disposition in heavy traffic, in long lines or on the phone with a “helpful” service representative. As I listen to the latest “hit song” for the umpteenth time my temper rises and I want to strangle someone with the phone cord.

Paul says, “No Mike! Don’t go there. That Indian is not the enemy! He/She is just doing his job. Your enemy is sowing discord in your mind. Focus! Know the enemy. If you’re seeing “flesh and blood” they are not the ones you’re fighting!

This is crucial information. It is not a digression or irrelevant comment. Properly interpreting what Paul tells us helps us to eliminate a lot of needless anguish and effort. We avoid wasting our energy on innocent people. Our attention is drawn from the chase by those flesh and blood dwellers all around us. They seem like ripe targets! They all look so guilty! So, if they are not the problem, who is? Paul will tell us tomorrow or today if you choose to read on. So let’s give it some more ink (or pixels) tomorrow. OK? OK.

The Stench of Death on My 58th Birthday

2011-06-30T08:46:00.001-03:00

we are the savour of death unto death (2 Corinthians 2.16)

What a title! What a thought. On my fifty-eighth birthday (June 30, 2011) I’m reading in 2 Corinthians 2 and have lighted on the last paragraph which is verses 14 through 17. Here Paul presents a gripping picture rarely if ever seen in the last 200 years or so. In the “civilized world” that is.

We peer in wonder at a victory celebration Roman Empire style. The conquered are being lead through the city streets in chains; usually this is a humiliating scene. However, here it seems to resemble a mutual celebration by both the conqueror and the conquered. The victims are rejoicing and the spectators are reflecting a mixed reaction. Some look terrified and others are jumping in ecstatic joy. What is going on?

Jesus Christ has won. His death and resurrection were the coup de gras. The procession genders a mixed reaction from the multitude because many in it are already dead and they smell their not too distant future. Others are jumping for joy because they see their coming Hope in those precious chains.

What? Chains? Isn’t that oxymoronic, “precious chains”? Yes it is.

Christ’s chains have rescued us. They keep us bound to Him. They render us His slaves. They disallow following our own selfish way. They steal our “freedom” and there is really no better place in the universe. Those of us who form this seeming odd procession rejoice because, we’re in! The unchained stare in horror realizing that they are not.

So, here I am celebrating fifty-eight complete years of life this side of glory. My God has blessed me beyond wonder. My parents are awaiting my arrival in His presence. My brothers and sister are chained to Christ. I have a lovely and mutually chained wife, three daughters, two sons-in-law and one grand daughter (to date). How can it get any better? Easy.

As I walk down life’s fleeting corridor I allow my God given fragrance to waft into the crowded street. It too strikes fear or wonder into those lining the curbs. It is interesting to watch their reaction.

Sometime that reaction fools me. I think I’m looking into the eyes of the conquered and sometimes into the eyes of the living dead. However, it isn’t too long before the real living and dead reveal their true scent.

So, my dear one, go about your business this precious day and allow your fragrance to overwhelm you. Reflect the joy of the conquered if you can and allow the smell of the redeemed to drift into the next cubicle. I have been enslaved for fifty-one of my fifty-eight years. Oh the freedom!.

60 Years with Adam

2011-06-28T17:42:00.000-03:00

And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years(Genesis 5.31)

I touched on this passage awhile back but it came to mind again Sunday as my coworker Shawn preached on this text as related to Noah’s walk with God. Some debate whether the men listed in this chapter of Moses’ first book really lived hundreds of years. In our fast paced world with all of its perils who would want to live 777 years? Not me!

I believe the Biblical record. I cannot imagine how a life nearly a millennia in length might have been but I believe that these people lived long.They were all pre-flood dwellers who were of a different constitution than you and me who begin to feel decrepit at 50.

As I thought on these things two interesting facts came into view. Adam lived to affect many generations. Two of the men he affected possibly died in the flood, Methuselah and Lamech. They were Noah’s grandfather and father respectively.

Genesis six tells us that Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. He was chosen to be the savior of mankind. Noah was given divine instructions to build a monstrosity in his front yard, fill it with thousands of species and then to climb aboard for the ride of his life. He was about 500 when he began the construction project with nary a Home-Depot in sight. As he built he preached righteousness to his generation. That generation would have included Methuselah and Lamech. Why didn’t they get into the boat? What kept them out?

They had walked with a man who had walked with God, Adam. They had produced a man that God chose to preserve the race. That man had preached to them for over a hundred years, yet they both died. Why?

Maybe you know because you have tried to share your faith with family. Family is often the hardest to talk to about spiritual matters. They don’t want to hear about your religion. You are the weirdo, the religious nut or fanatic.

Sunday, one of our teen came to me. He has been saved for just over five months now. He said, “I almost threw it all (my faith) in the trash recently! I wanted to go back into the world. But the minute that I said that… I felt so very SAD! Why did I feel that way pastor?”

Of course you know that Lucas was experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit convicting him of his sin. I wonder if Noah ever had the urge to quit building that stupidly ridiculous ship in his yard? I mean, come on a ship, in the front yard, hundreds of miles from any body of water! Talk about futile insanity.

Noah’s weirdness lasted not for five months, a year or ten. It lasted for ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS! You have GOT to be kidding me here!

Why was he SO dedicated? Because he was on a mission that his great great great great great great great grand father Adam had failed to accomplish. It was a mission of salvation from the consequence’s of Adam’s sin. All who accepted Noah’s message of righteousness would be saved from coming disaster. Those who didn’t would perish.

Unlike Adam all of Noah’s sons followed him into the protection of the ark. Eight souls saved in one hundred and twenty years doesn’t seem like many but it was enough to preserve the line of the coming Savior. Noah’s grand parents walked with Adam and died. Noah and his sons walked with God and lived. Who are you walking with?

That Wild Devil!

2011-06-23T07:40:00.001-03:00

That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6.11)

What are wiles? “Oh I know. It is that Christian camp in North Carolina, ‘Camp of the Wiles’!” Nope. “It is a long time. As in, ‘its been a wile since I last saw you’?” Nope. “It is the plural of wild?” Nope. “O.K. I give up. What is ‘wiles’?”

The Free Dictionary gives the following definition:

wile (wl) n.
1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare.
2. A disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure: the wiles of a skilled negotiator.
3. Trickery; cunning.
tr.v. wiled, wil·ing, wiles
1. To influence or lead by means of wiles; entice.
2. To pass (time) agreeably: wile away a Sunday afternoon.

The wild old Devil knows how to use his wiles to wreak havoc and wreck us. Other Bible versions have these synonyms for the word wiles: pitfalls, schemes, tricks, deceits or strategies. Thus the word is packed with evil potency.

Continuing with my football memories and relating to the Devil’s ‘wiles’ I remember one play that we young Wildcats had that seemed to trick the other team every time. It was called the Biebuck keeper. Thinking about it now it was not that complicated. Our quarterback, whose name was Bill Biebuck, would call the play in the huddle. As he barked out the numbers and called “HIKE” he would whip around and feign a hand-off to the full back who dove through the defensive line. However, Bill would hug the ball to his own belly while feigning another handoff to the half back who was sweeping wide. As the halfback hit the line Bill would again yank the ball from him and sweep even wider while cutting up field.

Biebuck was using wiles. We’d gain much ground because he was such a great faker. I didn’t keep track of how many games we won with that simple play but it worked very well.

The Devil gains a lot of ground with his tricky plays too. That is why Paul warns us about his wiles. We need to be strong in the Lord so that the Devil’s tricks don’t fake us out. Like a good linebacker we need to focus on the enemy and never take our eyes off the spiritual ball. We need to be so familiar with the play-book that we aren’t fooled.

We need to know that tricks are a part of the game so that we are ready for whatever comes. With our feet firmly planted on the Rock, our minds filled with the Book and our knees toughened in prayer we will have little difficulty in seeing through the Biebuck keeper. It is not that complicated. FIFTY-THREE! SEVENTY-ONE! HUT! HUT!

Let’s Get it ON!

2011-06-22T09:18:00.001-03:00

Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6.11)

Football practice marked me for life for several reasons. It was hard, dreaded and long. It built strength, dedication and determination in a young man's life. You endured or you were a quitter.

I remember beastly hot and dry days and fridge cold and wet days but whatever the weather we practiced. The coach was there barking his directives. We were in the trenches.

In the beginning days of practice all was new for me. I remember ordering my first set of cleats from Egalston's department store. I remember getting my gear thanks to Oxford Area Community School's hefty sports budget.

All of the pads were strange but when I put them on I felt like Superman! I could fly. I could take and give a hit. I could survive being jam-piled by twenty-five of my team mates. I was invincible! Well, not quite.

We got our pads after several days of hot and hard muscle building practice. When the weak had been separated from the rest of us the trainer dived out our stuff. It was quite an impressive pile.

Paul used a pile of armor to describe what was needed in the Christian's battle with the Devil. I want to take a look at that equipment in coming articles. However, there is an important aspect that relates both to football and spiritual warfare that we often run right past in our hurry to see the cool gear we're going to use in the fray. It is the aspect of "Putting on."

Paul uses the word ενδυσασθε. Are you awed by the stuff yet? No wonder we sprint past this one right? However, this word is rich in meaning. Strong's Concordance gives the following insight: From G1722 [position] and G1416 [down] (in the senese of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively): - array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.

What caught my eye was the aspect of sinking into a garment. There was no "sinking into" my football pads but when I was in them there was no sinking out of them either. They fit snug and weren't coming off until I extracted my self with much effort. I was "arrayed" for battle.

Those pads didn't jump off the locker room bench and onto my waiting body. I had to systematically put them on. There was a special order that if not followed left me unprotected or embarrassed. Imagine leaving my garter belt on the outside of my really slick tight pants? Not cool.

Putting on my armor took concentration, practice and time. It was a new concept that quickly became mundane. We were warriors going to battle and we needed to put on our armor for each practice session as well as each game. Everyday except Saturday and Sunday we donned our special duds.

It is the same in Spiritual warfare. There must be concentration with attention to a detailed attire in order to be protected in battle with the Devil and his cohorts. Our problem is that the invisible battle is sometimes our undoing. We see no blocking sled, no mud and no barking coach to get our dander up. So we let our guard down. And in that instant we suffer a gut punch or worse from the enemy.

Being "strong in the Lord and in the power of his might" has been injected into our lives with our salvation. We have no excuse about being weak. We should never pray, "Lord give me strength!" Because he already has given us strength! We need to appropriate that strength with purpose. We need to employ that strength as we daily work through the list of needed protection.

As we trudge to the battle field we must not go naked. No armor is a deadly mistake. Being fully armored is a necessity. Our armor has been laid out for us. It is ours to put on. We must invest (that means to get dresses). We must sink into it. Knowing that without this God forged equipment we'll not last; our battle will be lost. So my friend get your stuff and put it on and let's get going. I hear the coach shouting for us!

Abs of Steel with Glasses

2011-06-21T20:39:00.001-03:00

Have you ever wondered why Clark Kent always took his glasses off before he turned into Superman? I hadn’t ever thought about it either until this last Saturday when I almost got sucker-punched.

Wellington, one of my spunky Juniors, wanted to wrestle. He feigned a punch to my gut and I said, “Go ahead. I have abs of steel!” I think that my gym visits might be going to my head because my abs of steel are buried under a healthy layer of blubber. I have improved my six-pack but it is far from chiseled. It looks more like a quarter of a keg.

Anyway, quick as a wink and with near lightening speed Wellington said, “Yeah but up here is made of glass!” as his poke went within a hair’s breadth of my glasses!

I belly-laughed. His rapid reflexes and wit had caught me by surprise. And what he said was so true and funny.

It was an excellent though brief lesson. I often prepare for an oncoming fray. I get ready, set and then “BLAM”! The proverbial punch comes from a totally different direction. The street-smart punk is always ready for the unexpected. Not to make the punk look good but he has to be alert for whatever comes his way. Why? Because anything goes in street-fighting.

The Devil is a street-fighter. He pulls no punches though they are often very subtle. His jabs are always damaging and he gloats over his victories. So, how can a soft-belly like me be protected? Of course the answer is found in Ephesians 6 where Paul describes the perfect protection. There it is called, “the Armor of God” (6.11). And interestingly enough Paul says that I need to put it on.

Though chapters and verses are not inspired it is interesting how Ephesians 6 begins. There is a short list of commands to: Children, fathers, slaves and masters and essentially the commands are the same: obey (children, slaves), don’t frustrate (parents, masters).

The outfitting is pretty simple so far isn’t it? Paul then addresses everybody by saying, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

So, back to my original question, “How can a soft-belly like me be protected?” Or rather, “How can I be ‘strong in the Lord’?” It is easy for someone to say, “Be strong.” It is quite another thing to be strong.

Paul gives us the '”how-to” when he says, “Put on the whole armor of God”. Well there you have it. Sounds simple. But what IS the armor of God? Let’s take a further look tomorrow. Meanwhile, keep your guard up. Protect your abs… and your glasses!

Smack Me Once and I’ll ….

2011-06-20T08:39:00.001-03:00

whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5.39)
Our teen group is in the midst of a “Pro -Teen” type year. For those of you familiar with the Pro – Teen youth program you know that our teens are learning verses, reading their Bibles, helping in the church and adopting juniors. Adopting juniors?

Yeah, as weird as it might sound our teens are “adopting” my Junior’s Sunday school class. The reason is … well, the reason is that my coworker Alexandre has a very creative mind and he came up with this great idea. The teens are to be mentors, disciple-makers and examples to my Juniors.

The Juniors are in this competition for fun, prizes and a lot of learning. Why, just the other day Tais came to me relating her recent interest in reading the Bible. Her fascination is sparked by the contest. She gets points for doing it! The teens are reading through the New Testament this year. Most of them are in 1 Thessalonians. Of course the Juniors have just started the race and so Tais is in Matthew.

She said the funniest thing to me on Friday. It went something like this, “Pastor, I read this really weird part of Matthew. It said that if someone smacks me on the cheek that I am supposed to turn the other one! I had to ask my sister what it meant! I knew that it couldn’t possibly mean that I have to let someone smack me twice with out doing anything about it! But it’s TRUE! Can you believe that?!” I about died laughing.

Tais lives in a neighborhood where getting smacked twice can be a deadly proposition. Very often that first smack is the last one. If you don’t fight for your life you lose. So, to hear Jesus’ words were, well confusing, shocking and weird to her young ears.

His statement was probably shocking to His First Century audience too. They lived in brutal times. The PAX ROMANA (Roman Peace) was PAX only because the enemy was usually savagely conquered. Turning one’s cheek could be a last decision. It was definitely a sacrifice of the will and an alien concept.

Years ago on Bonanza Little Joe uttered some “Tais” type thinking when he was punched in the face. He said, “The Good Book says that I have to offer the other cheek.” To which his opponent took advantage with another jaw-busting clout. Joe then said, “But after THAT the Good Book doesn’t say anything!” as he proceeded to pound the living day-lights out of the black-hatted aggressor.

This wasn’t the sentiment Jesus had in mind. Self-sacrifice was the thought; a willingness to lay aside one’s pride and take it on the chin come what may. I have never had to take a belt in the kisser like Little Joe and I had never really thought the process through like Tais. But she was right, it is a weird concept in these savage days. It is an attention getting concept that will possibly smack our opponents with the PAX of our Savior Jesus Christ if we put it into practice.

Seven “Ifs” and a BIG “but”!

2011-06-18T08:04:00.001-03:00

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain (1 Corinthians 15.14)

“Is there life after death?” I tossed this question to twin teen girls just yesterday. Surprisingly they had different answers. These twins are the most identical I have ever seen. They do everything together and even “feel” when the other is sick or in pain! However, they had dissimilar responses to my question.

The banter between the two went something like this, “Some believe that there is and some don’t.” “How can we know?” “Well, somebody has to die and then communicate with us so that we’ll all know! You go first!” said Lara. “Not me! You go!!” said her sister Larissa with a giggle.

The Corinthian believers apparently had a similar question about life after death because Paul responded with an amazing paragraph (1 Corinthians 15.12-19). It contains seven “ifs”. Note them:

if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen
if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
if so be that the dead rise not (we are found false witnesses of God)
if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised
if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

My translation summary, “If Christ hasn’t risen from the dead then we are all TOAST!

However, at this very moment Paul burst from this desperate line of thinking with a huge “BUT”. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept (20).

Folks! Take a deep breath and rest easy. There IS hope because Christ really DID raise from the dead! There IS life after death.

Once again the Bible makes stuff easy. It eliminates our “LAD" (Life After Death) doubts. We can know without having to send a scout on ahead of us as Lara (or was it Larissa?) suggested.

However, this brings in another horrible thought. Since we know that there is LAD then there must be DAD (Death After Death)! Eternal death is as sure as eternal life.

I left the girls thinking about this one. If you have never confronted these two questions be sure that they both exist whether or not you believe in them. Come to terms with what the Bible says and make your choice. Choose life not death! It is a “No-Brainer” really. BUT the choice is yours!

Wordless Book, Handless Invitation

2011-06-17T12:31:00.001-03:00

Last week in Bible Club (Company C) I shared the story of the wordless book. How many times have you shared it? It is simple but profound. God is PERFECT and He only allows perfection into His Heaven. Man on the other hand is a SINNER. Man cannot go to heaven without a miracle. Once a sinner always a sinner. No works, goodness or works will help us reach those pearly gates.

So the question comes, “What must I do to be saved?” The question of the ages. The answer came when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and shed His precious BLOOD. That blood was the sacrifice the God demanded for sin. It was the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God who took all of the sin of the world on himself and paid the price.

What does all of this mean? It means that, “As many as receive (Jesus Christ as their Messiah) to them gave He the power to become the sons of God.” When we receive Jesus we earn a WHITE or pure heart.

At the end of my short talk with the kids I asked everyone to keep their eyes open and not bow their heads. My idea was to allow those who really wanted to make a decision to do so. No one raised their hand nor made a decision.

We went to Game Time and had some fun. Afterwards two girls approached me and said, “We want to to that thing.” I didn’t quite understand what they said but then it hit me. They wanted to know more about asking Jesus to be their Savior.

I talked with them for about fifteen minutes and both prayed to ask Christ to save them. That was a cool ending to the story. However, it gets better.

The following week the two, Larissa and Michele, came back to club with two friends. At the end of the story they came to me and said, “Our friends want to know more about accepting Jesus as Savior.” We chatted for a few minutes and I was able to explain Salvation to both Elianará and Maria Julia asked Jesus to come into their young hearts.

Does one have to see hands at an invitation for the Holy Spirit to work? Of course not. In fact I think that I’m going to write about that in an upcoming article. Pray for these young ones to make an impact in their homes and families.

Visions

2011-06-17T04:39:00.000-03:00

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision (Act 18:9)

Don’t you just love the book of Acts? Acts is like being in the Church’s birthing room. The Church’s formative years are fascinating to me as a missionary. The book is replete with interesting characters like Peter who goes from fisherman to fisher of men and Saul of Tarsus who transforms from raving maniac Christian killer to nearly being killed for being a Christian. The Gospel goes from seeming humble beginnings to nearly conquering the Roman Empire.

Paul’s salvation is a pivotal part of the account. He was possessed. If you don’t believe me try tracing his journeys on Google Earth most of which he made on foot. He was seemingly always on the move.

Just the other day, on a lark, I walked ten kilometers. I nearly died as a result. Paul walked and walked and walked some more. He was incessant because he was on a God given mission!

Do you ever think of the him being afraid of anything? He seems more like Superman than a scaredy cat. However, I came across a verse in chapter 18 that lead me to believe that even Paul got scared at times. In verse 9 Jesus says, in a vision, “Be not afraid”. Now, my question is, “Does one say these words to a fearless person?” I don’t think so.

It is often at night that I am most afraid? Things can seem so daunting when I’m all alone in the dark. Imagine the encouragement then as Paul hears Jesus say, “Don’t be afraid.” Don’t be afraid Paul because:

I am with you
No one will harm you
I have much people in this place

Man! That would be a missionary’s dream (pun intended). Paul received assurance of three important truths and all from the Author and finisher of the Faith Jesus Christ. As a result of this vision Paul remained in Corinth for another year and a half teaching the Word of God.

One might be tempted to say, “If I knew what Paul knew I would be more excited and active in sharing my faith!” Hold the phone Mable! You DO know what Paul knew and much more!

Think of it this way. You will not hear Jesus voice until you step onto the heavenly shore but you have His Word. In that Word He tells you what He told Paul. I know that you know this but look at a couple of references with me.

John 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled…. Granted these words were spoken to Jesus’ disciples but isn’t that what you are?
Matthew 28.20 lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Jesus’ last words to you and me His disciples.
However, it is that last phrase that I’d love to know, where Jesus said, I have much people in this city (Acts 18.10). Wait a minute! What did Jesus tell Paul here? I have much.… How much is “much”? Isn’t it interesting that Jesus didn’t say, “I have 1001, 10,001 or 41.”

If I have 41 grains of sand in my eye that is MUCH grains of sand! In my estimation 41 potential believers in a city of 30,000 doesn’t seem like much but Jesus left the numbers out of the equation. Thus Paul stayed for another sixteen months preaching the word. The much were won and he moved on.

Do you think that Jesus has much people in your city? Don’t wait for a vision just get busy. Know that you don’t need to be afraid because he is with, you. You will probably not be harmed and you don’t need the numbers! Share your vision with someone today and let Jesus work.

Soccer as a Ministry Tool?

2011-06-17T04:23:00.000-03:00

Posted: May 31, 2011 |

We have been running our heads off for the last week with the Bob Jones soccer ministry team. Gil Fremont and seventeen young men (including missionary kid Nathan Patefield from Rio) have been with us in Sorocaba and have been using their skills to minister. They’ve played over 90 games in the last three weeks!

One of our young men, Bruno Franco, organized a schedule that has had the team dropping into bed at night totally exhausted. They’ve been to several juvenile prisons and half-way houses to share the Gospel through soccer. They have seen nearly 50 decisions for Christ during there time with us.

Sunday was a special treat as they spent the day at Faith. In the morning Sunday school hour we saw two teens make professions of faith. Both Gustavo and Leidy have been a part of our church for awhile but were touched by the message on Sunday.

That afternoon the team played the Habiteto team with around 300 spectators present. For some reason everyone was cheering for the American team. They did a great job after falling behind one to nothing they came back with two second half goals. However, the Habiteto team came back with two of their own and won three to two.

The Gospel was preached at half-time. Though there were many who chose not to listen there was a good group that paid close attention. We’ll see how God will use this rich seed to His glory.
Yesterday (Monday) the team again visited the prisonsystem where they played two young teams and saw eight teens make professions of faith. In the afternoon the BJ team played a semi-pro team and ended the game in a tie.

The teams leaves tonight but they have left a great impression on Sorocaba. Special thanks is in order for Coach Gil and his love for Christ and Brazil.

Miracles DO Happen!

2011-04-26T21:17:00.001-03:00

Our weekend was wonderful and then the miracle happened! We had 75 in club on Saturday and 52 Sunday morning for our Easter breakfast and 71 for our Sunday evening service. Our Day was special because we had several visitors, the kids did a play that a junior, Mirela, wrote and our choir presented a mini-cantata with video.

On Monday I visited Wendel, pastor of Hope Baptist. As I got to his house he greeted me with these words, “Pastor our Sunday was a wonderful experience Carlinho’s mother made a decision to accept Christ.”

THAT didn’t make sense! The only Carlinhos that I could think of was my friend Carlinhos who had worked with me in the Junior’s Sunday school class. It couldn’t have been his mother that got saved because she was a witch who had threatened to shoot me. It couldn’t be THAT woman. But it was.

Way back in 2004 I had visited this woman and in my rather abrupt way I made her listen to John 3:16 as I put her name in key parts. She didn’t like it one bit and hated me from that point on. Recently she became desperately ill and nearly died. She was given no hope by the doctor who was caring for her.

She miraculously healed and became interested in coming to church. She came Easter Sunday morning and wept during Wendel’s message. At the invitation she raised her hand and as Wendel presented the Gospel she cried like a baby saying, “I need to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior!”

Easter represents Christ’s victory over death. For Elza it also represents her spiritual birthday. Man! I still can’t believe it but am SO thankful to the Lord.

Peaceful Living

2011-04-16T09:03:00.001-03:00

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace (Romans 14:19)

Are you a scrapper? Many Americans are. Here in Brazil Americans are often viewed as fighters or even bullies. When I first heard this I was a bit put off. I always vied us as peace-keepers. Either the peace is kept or we kill everyone! Oops. Is America a peaceful nation? I guess that it depends on which side of the gun barrel you find yourself.

Paul says that we are to "follow after" peaceful things. That means to "pursue or chase after" them. The other day I did that. I chased something. It was't peace, however. A weirdo cut me off in traffic and then had the gall to be mad at me for staying on his bumper for a block or two.

I praise the Lord that my van is not equipped with heat-seeking missals. If it were all of the Boom-Box bums, Maniac Motorcyclists and Cut-off Clowns would pay dearly. Of course I NEVER do any of those stupid thing.

Was I chasing peace? No. I wanted to let that guy know that he had cramped my style. He had invaded sacred territory, that 100 yards in front of my tank... er van. I was chasing my selfishness.

Pursuing peace means that I let my offenders live to see another day. It even means that I don't see them as "offenders" but as needy souls who need the Savior.

Pursuing peace goes against my grain. That's why Paul mentions it. This reference is the second in his letter to the church in Rome. The other is found in chapter 12 verse 18, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Thanks Paul but I really didn't want to hear that!

Do you know what verse that I was memorizing when that dear soul entered my holy space? Romans 12.19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Don't tell me that God doesn't have a sense of humor or I'll... love you to death!

Are You Putting Me ON?

2011-04-14T10:50:00.001-03:00

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14)

The above is a fairly common phrase. It is used to express disbelief and astonishment at being fooled or surprised. It says, "You're joking, right?" or "You have GOT to be kidding!"

It is usually spoken with a look of startled disbelief and gaping jaw. Paul used this expression in a different way. Well OK, he said it in Greek and in a foreign context too but notice what he said,

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts there of.

The words slapped me again this morning while in Romans 13. It woke me up. The question popped into my brain, "How does one 'put on' Jesus Christ?"

When you put ME on, you are fooling me. When you put Christ on you imitate Him. To put on Christ is to put on perfection. You mimic his actions, attitudes and goals.

Way back in Job 29 I read Job's words in verse 14, I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

Job in his anguish knew that righteousness was like clothing. It had to be put on. His word picture gives the idea of being completely clothed, from his long rob to his turbaned head.

Righteousness is similar you have to take a hold of it and step into it like you do your pants. Just try falling into your trousers. Sometimes while trying to put my pants on, usually in the dark, I will catch my toe in the belt loop or waistband. Disaster ensues as I tumble to the floor in a heap.

Just as getting dressed takes effort, I'm noticing that more and more these days, so putting on Christ takes even more effort. Salvation clothes me with His righteousness. But sanctification is hard work. It is a joint effort. God holds one side of my spiritual pants and guides me past the belt loop. I need to lift my legs and place them in the holes.

How does that look? Paul again gives us a snap-shot in Colossians 3.10-25. He begins with,

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering (Col 3:10-12).

You need to read and memorize that whole text along with Romans 12 so that you don't catch your spiritual toe on your spiritual belt-loop in the future.

You Didn’t Hear the News?

2011-04-13T20:22:00.001-03:00

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11.28)

“They burned my sister to death. Or at least that is what we think.” This shocking revelation came from the trembling lips of a devastated brother. Just one month prior his twenty-eight year old sister had been found smoldering in her bed. The heat of the flames that ravaged her young body was so intense that it had rippled the PVC dropped ceiling of her tiny bedroom. Ninety percent of her body was burned.

To make matters even worse she was seven months pregnant. To this day no one knows exactly what happened. Her drug dealing live-in denies any wrong doing but has since left town.

This girl was kept on life support for a week and as she slipped into eternity the doctors extracted a little girl from her lifeless womb. In conversation yesterday her sixty-four-year-old mother told me, "Only in God's strength will I and my sixty-seven year old husband be able to care for this little angel and her three-year-old big sister.

What do you say to a couple like this? Where is their hope? What will their and their two grand daughter's future look like? Are they reaping the consequences of past sin? Is it the results of tragic decisions that has brought them to this dismal point in their life? I believe that their situation is a combination of these and many other factors. Years of being lost; far from Christ is far from purpose, light and peace.

Know God know peace. No God no peace. Trite? Hardly. After praying with this grand mother newly turned mother of infants she looked into my eyes and said, "In times like these the Bible and prayer bring us comfort." So why does it take so many people so long to come to this conclusion?

Sorocaba Happenings

2011-04-12T08:24:00.001-03:00

I think that I’ve already related this but our attempt to get a free lease on a piece of land has failed to date. City Hall doesn’t give land to churches. Or at least that is what they think.

I was talking to pastor Samuel on Sunday and he believes that the land is ours for the asking. His idea is to go straight to the top with our presentation and plea. Of course we’ve already done that in asking our Father. Pray that we take the proper action and get the right response.

Yesterday while running some errands I encountered an enormous bank line. I needed to make a withdrawal so there I stood for almost an hour. As I entered the tail-end of the line I noticed that the lady in front of me was reading a “spiritual” booklet.

Being the snoopy sort I glanced at what she’d underlined. It read something about, “God’s will for your life…”. That got my curiosity up and I said, “Another great way to discover God’s will is found in Romans 12. Especially verses 1 and 2.”

For the next 45 minutes I was able to share Christ. She was transfixed. Her name is Cristina and she is Seventh Day Adventist. She says that she is a believer but has no assurance of Salvation. Pray that God will continue to help her come to the Savior.

Last night we had our fourth study with Creuza (don’t even try to say that one! You’ll get a cramp in your tongue). She is the janitor in the building we use for our church services and one of Alexandre’s coworkers. We have presented the Gospel several times to her and her two children Bruno and Pricila over these four studies. As of yet there have been no decisions for salvation. Pray for the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to His saving grace.

One of our teen boys has caught fire lately. Lucas came to Christ in December. He is an outgoing young man and a real go-getter! His goal recently is to share the Gospel with at least five people per day and that’s what he’s been doing!

Lucas’ dad is an influential man in the neighborhood (hood if you get my drift). Lucas recently shared Christ with him. Pray that God will pierce the darkness. We’re really excited about what God is doing in and through Lucas.

We started choir last Sunday and our orchestra seems to be growing weekly. Pray that we’ll use both for God’s glory. We had nearly 70 kids on Saturday for Company C Bible club! Talk about a work out.

Speaking of work-outs, Dawn and I are in our fourth week of exercises at a nearby fitness center. We are seeing some results and praising the Lord for healthier bodies. Thank you for helping us serve Him!

Did Anyone Pray?

2011-03-16T16:26:00.000-03:00

Sunday evening just after the service ended and we were leaving the building, I asked Dawn for the van keys. She quickly went for her purse. I chatted with several as I waited for her return.

If you know Dawn’s purse you know that it has many compartments. I always think of Captain Kangaroo’s pockets when thinking of her purse. Captain Kangaroo had deep coat pockets which always revealed anything and everything strange. He seemed to have whatever was necessary for every situation in those bottomless pockets.

Dawn quickly came back with a somewhat befuddled look on her face. That is NEVER a good thing unless I'm playing a joke on her. She couldn't find the keys.

The whole church quickly became involved in the search. We looked everywhere. Suspects quickly began to come to mind. Could it be that "so and so" took them? She was a tad mad at me tonight? Did someone play a mean trick and chuck the keys in the weeds? What happened to those keys!

As we all were scrambling Maicon said, "Has anyone prayed about the keys?" Wow! Good question. I responded negatively and prayed as I continued to look, "Father, help us to find the keys!"

About a half an hour, and three "dump the purse out on the floor" episodes later, someone asked me, "Do you think that it would be a good idea to take EVERYTHING out of that purse?"

The thought scared me! EVERYTHING? WOW! I don't know... ok let's go for it.

Dawn was elsewhere as I began the grim task. One by one the items came out. One by one the pockets were disemboweled. One by one they confessed no keys.

I gave the thing one final shake and Graziele said, "I heard keys!" I too had heard the faint tinkle of metal against metal. There was hope! I grabbed for the last bulge in the blackness of that bottomless pit and felt a hard wad. I reached to dislodge it and discovered the mystery. The keys had fallen into a hole in said pocket! I thought that surgery was going to be necessary but finally extracted the prize with a triumphant shout. The house exploded with glee as I held the tiny ring in the air. I felt like Gollum, "My Precious!"

As we left the building Grazi said, "Pastor, I didn't know what was going on. I prayed for God to show us the keys and nothing happened. So, I prayed again and still nothing!"

I love childlike faith that is surprised when answers don't come quickly from Father. We all left church on Sunday with good lessons in faith and prayer. Pray before you panic. Trust as if God is going to answer you right away. But also realize that sometimes that answer might take awhile to come. It is fun to be a part of such lessons. Especially when we FIND the keys!

I've MOVED

2011-01-15T21:55:00.003-02:00

Some have been experiencing problems seeing my blog. It has affected Internet Explorer users. So, I've decided to move to http://jewellpage.wordpress.com/

I've had this blog for several years now and really had no desire to move. But I like to communicate and I love when people read my blog. So if those who want to can't then I'm moving. I've also included my Devo posts on that page for those interested.

See you there!

Mike
Jaunuary 15, 2011

2010 to 2011 in a Flash!

2011-01-03T09:53:00.000-02:00

2010 seems like it was a blur. I never really did get used to writing it out. The 2 came easy and the 0 also. But the 10 always seemed to stop me in my tracks. And now it's 2011. Wow.

New Year's Eve we took a group of 25 to Calvary Baptist for a special baptismal service, a meal and to pray in the New Year. We were excited to have two families participate with us. Amanda, Graziele's older sister, was baptized and her dad and mom came to watch the special event. Allison too was baptized and his mom and step dad came to church for the first time. We're praying for these parent's salvation.

Saturday, New Years day was a typical "It seems like I've been on an over-nighter" day. The whole city seemed to be in a grog. We visited Junior's Dad, Milton, who had been kidnapped the day before! Not your typical visit. Milton needs Christ and we're praying that this happening helps him to see the brevity of life and his need for the Savior.

Sunday our numbers were WAY down. We had just 19 in church. It was the second week in a row for Tata. A new lady who is coming because of the Cantata. She is just 42 and blind. She is seeming to love the interaction of being at church. Pray for her salvation too. Sunday night I preached at New Life Baptist. We're still praying for a pastor for that church.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we're off for a mini vacation with Alexandre and family. We'll be at the beach so if you're in the area stop by for a visit. We'd love to chat.

FELIZ 2011

2011-01-01T10:36:00.001-02:00

The In-betweens!

2010-12-29T22:29:00.000-02:00

The time between Christmas and New Year’s Day is weird! Just a week ago Sunday we had over a 100 in church to see our Cantata 2010. This past Sunday we had 19. What was that all about? Was your church service sparsely populated too? We attributed the lack to the Holidays.

Tomorrow we will be taking a group of 21 Juniors and Teens on a hike. Our Omega group from Bible Club earned this hike by doing their best in their Bible memory work. We’re going to a farm about an hour away where we’ll spend the day. We discovered this farm via our Cantata.

One of the ladies who was watching at the supermarket was really thrilled with our kids. We made a visit on her and she and her husband offered the use of their farm for a day. So, we’ll be spending Wednesday with this family and an American guest who is staying with them. This will give us a great opportunity to share Christ with them.

Friday night we will be going to Calvary Baptist Church to pray in the New Year. We will also be baptizing two new members! Amanda (above middle) and and Allison (the boy to the right) were interviewed last Sunday and both had good answers to our questions. Their parents will be present for this special event and none of the four are believers. So it will be another great opportunity to share the Gospel.

Our cantata produced one more contact. Genese, the lady with whom Dawn and I are doing a Bible study, brought a friend. Her nick name is Táta. She is blind but very interested in our church. We invited her to come on Sunday and she said, “I’d love to but someone would have to come and pick me up.” We solved that problem immediately. She came Sunday and just loved it. She too is going with us on Friday. Pray for her Salvation too!

After the Friday night service there will be a pot-luck dinner and game time until mid-night. We’ll be tired on Saturday and that will be great! So that is our prayer list for this week. Here is a quick-list of those needing salvation:

Táta	Esmano
Jadson	Anita
Luiz	Marcia
Allison’s step-dad	Allison’s sister

Merry Christmas from Faith

2010-12-25T00:18:00.001-02:00

We want to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas. May the Lord continue to bless you as He is blessing us. This is the group that we had at the house for our Christmas Eve Service. Afterwards we went to Alcir and Damares for a lovely meal, singing and fellowship. We had such a wonderful evening sharing the Christ of Christmas!

Lovely Weekend

2010-12-19T20:46:00.001-02:00

After the neat experience of presenting our cantata at Wal-Mart I wondered how preforming at our own church would be. Let me say that it was a lovely presentation. We had over 100 total with visitors, choir, orchestra and actors. It was our largest group ever!

As I write this update it looks like it is going to rain buckets. Just after Sunday school this morning we went out as a church and handed out invitations for the afternoon presentation. We’d done this several times during the week but each time had ended with drenching rain. For our cantata, however, the weather was lovely, sunny and not too hot.

There were various visitors that told me they had come because of an invitation that was handed to them either this morning or earlier in the week. Seeds planted do bring fruit. I talked to one of the visitors who was overwhelmed with how well the kids did. She really was touched with the message of Christmas.

Several of your have shared with me how you prayed for our Cantata. It is friends like Kate, Susan, John, Jake, Justin, Tom, Eddy and Sharon that share ministry with us. I know too that the Harvest class at FBC Lake Orion prayed this morning. If you prayed with us drop me a note. I love to hear from you.

After the presentation the kids all got presents from people who wanted to help them to have a merrier Christmas than they might ordinarily have. The Baker, Francisco from Anjos bakery, where we presented last week to no one, sent presents for all of the kids who were in the audience! So, when you are in the area don’t forget to buy your bread from Anjos bakery!

Merry Christmas to all and have a blessed 2011 as you serve our Risen Savior with us!

Wal*Mart

2010-12-18T20:34:00.001-02:00

So, we get to Wal*Mart and ask where we are suppose to set up to do our Cantata and we get blank stares. What? We don’t know anything about a presentation for today. “Well, I talked to Rita about a month ago and she said, ‘Saturday, December 18 will be great!’"

“Rita is not working today.” More blank stares. “We need to call the manager.”

After nearly an hour we were allowed to sing. Praise the Lord we had you praying. Thanks, Tom, John, Jake and Justin! We needed your intersession.

At Walmart here in Sorocaba there is a man that travels throughout the store describing different products that are on sale. Usually I pay little attention to him because his always talking so fast and describing stuff that I’m not interested in.

Today, however, he came over and introduced our church to the entire store. He then proceeded to ask Alexandre about the true meaning of Christmas. He said, “You as a pastor, have you noticed that we are forgetting the True meaning of Christmas?”

What an excellent opportunity to share with about a 1000 people or more. The store was packed! We praise our Heavenly Father for this tremendous blessing. Pray that the seed planted today will bring fruit to His Glory.

WalMart

2010-12-18T11:47:00.001-02:00

If you read this Saturday morning please remember to pray for us. We will be presenting our Christmas Cantata at Wal-Mart here in Sorocaba at 2:30pm (11:30 Eastern Time). It is a great opportunity. I called to confirm our visit just about two hours ago and was told that the lady who had OK’d our visit wasn’t working today and there was nothing on the calendar showing our arrival! About an hour later and another call and we were back on the docket.

And Suddenly There was with the Angel… the arrival of the SWAT team!

2010-12-11T23:13:00.001-02:00

We presented our Cantata four times today. It was a scorcher again and I know that you in the far north are envious. But we actually prayed for cloud cover. The day was virtually cloudless when we began to pray and it took only four hours for the Lord to totally cover the sky with lovely clouds and finally a good hard rain!

We presented at an orphanage and the little ones loved it. Both ours and the orphanage’s. The orphanage is next door to the Police Headquarters for our city. Just as the Angel’s arrived in our play the SWAT helicopter arrived and hovered about 100 feet from us. It wasn’t angel’s wings that we heard flutter but the sound was impressive.

Our kids had saved their nickels, dimes and quarters to buy presents for these orphans who are less privileged then they are. It was neat to see our kids giving the little ones their gifts. In fact several hearts were touched. I realized just how much when Dawn said, “How many do you think that we could adopt?” And she wasn’t kidding.

In between presentations we had around thirty-five for a lunch that Dawn arranged and prepared with the help of Amanda and Graziele. It was luscious even though it must have been 100 degrees when we ate it. Dawn made a pumpkin cake and a mayonnaise cake neither of which any of our group had ever had. They loved them both even though they had those scary things in them!

Our second presentation was for virtually nobody. We did it at the Bakery across the street from our house. The only two that heard it were the baker and a girl who works at the bakery. And Man was it HOT. The sun had cooked the concrete side walk all morning and the rays were coming up my pant leg as I hacked away at my cello. We’ll see what the Lord does with this presentation because for all intents and purposes it seemed like just another practice.

Our third and fourth presentations were at a couple of different supermarkets. By this time the Lord had provided a great cloud cover but both of these presentations were inside. We received applauses at both and made a good contact with an American who has just moved to our city to teach English. Again the results are in the Lord’s hands.

The day was exhausting for all who participated but it was a blessing to be a part of it just the same. A funny thing happened to start the day. I had borrowed a friends car to be able to help transport the large group of kids we had in the play and choir. My friend has this beater with an alarm.

I pulled the car out of my garage and left it running while I locked up the house. Just as I was walking toward the car the alarm went off. I had been instructed on how to disarm the alarm. But my instruction didn’t include how to disarm it when it was in full blaring mode. So, there I sat nearly in the middle of the street looking like a well dressed car thief trying to shut up this stupid car.

When all of a sudden up drives this guy who yells at me, “Hey buddy! You need to shut the car off, turn it on again and then hit that little button under your dash to shut that alarm off!”

Now, I want to know how he knew that I wasn’t stealing that car! Oh well, in the end I made it to Cantata land on time!

Christmas Cantata #1

2010-12-05T17:03:00.001-02:00

Saturday we took the choir, Orchestra and actors to the Sao Vincente rest home for our first presentation. We visited São Vincente last year and we saw some of the same friends this year. Taís had asked me earlier in the year, “Pastor, do you think that Maria is still there?”

Just after the presentation we were making some visits and low and behold, seated at the very same table was Maria. The funny thing about this meeting was that Taís had forgotten what Maria looked like. I had to point her out. And though you might not be able to tell it in this photo, Maria really liked our visit.

Graziele came over to be a part of our chat and said, “Maria, if you died today do you know if you’d go to heaven?” Don’t you just love the simplicity that children bring to a conversation? I do.

With that comment and just before we left I was able to share the Gospel with Maria Maria. No, I wasn’t stuttering. that is her real name. She, or her mother were SO Catholic that she named her baby, Maria Maria along with her last name!

Another visit that I was able to make was with Agostina. She must have been in her mid-90s and really loved sharing her life story with me. I must have been there with her for over a half an hour. During those long minutes I had to remind myself that she had no one and all of the time in the world. I butted into her conversation three times to shout the Gospel into her right ear. She acknowledged each time that she understood.

The picture at right is Joelma, Cris, and Leyde with a friend that they made yesterday. Over all we heard several great comments. The Gospel was presented to many and I believe that God was honored by the kid’s efforts.

One of the kids while looking at the picture I took of the Cantata deleted several of them! So, all I have is some of the visits we made. We have just seven more presentations so I’ll probably be able to get some more.

Becoming a Missionary

2010-12-02T14:47:00.000-02:00

A week ago Tuesday Alexandre and I traveled to Curitiba about six hour south of Sorocaba. We went by bus which is a leisurely way to travel. When I drive I have to keep my eyes glued to the road. When I go by bus the trip seems so much shorter and I can enjoy the scenery along the way.

The reason for our trip was to enlist another missionary for the field. This time the missionary was Alexandre. MBBF, the Brazilian version of Baptist Mid-Missions and a rather new mission with just ten years under its belt, was having its quarterly meeting in which the board of directors would be approving four new missionaries. Alexandre was one of the candidates.

The trip was good for us in more than one way. We were able to talk ministry both going and coming and Alexandre passed the board examination. He is now an official member of Missão Batista Brasileira Fundmenalista (Brazilian Fundamental Baptist Mission). He will be able to use Mission contacts to be able to seek help for our land purchase.

Speaking of the land purchase made me think of the update I’ve added to the blog. I have used Alexandre’s idea and translated it into English. It is an explanation of the fund raising campaign that we are using down here. Many Brazilian friends have embraced the idea and we are seeing God bless in some neat ways. Click Here to check it out for yourself.

While we were in Curitiba we visited Sandro and Gislene and Ronaldo and Adailza the two families that some of you are helping to support at seminary. They are doing great. Sandro is finishing his third year of five and Ronaldo has just one more year to go until he graduates.

I sent out a plea about two months ago regarding help for these two couples and God responded in a wonderful way. I received a response from just two people. But one person gave $1200 and the other gave $750! So, thank the Lord these two families can continue their seminary studies for awhile longer.

Our cantatas begin this week. We have practice in front of Michele’s house in just a couple of hours. Saturday we present at the Rest Home. Pray that God will be pleased to use our efforts.

Survived!

2010-11-27T22:20:00.001-02:00

The Orchestra in the Woods trip turned into a jaunt to a local park. Of all things the National Park was closed because the day we went was a Holiday. Does that make sense to you? Me neither. We must be Americans.

We had a blast anyway. I was glad that we didn't make the mountain trek because the day was sunny and hot. One of the highlights of the trip was the excellent Bar-B-Que that Samuel and Junior cooked up. Another highlight was the fellowship that we had with our small orchestra group.

I thought that I liked to take pictures. Junior took nearly 400 in just three hours! He likes his new camera.

Sunday we had a "Thanksgiving" focus in our afternoon service. We met early and played a few games and then I preached from Psalm 100. We had over fifty present which was our biggest group in quite awhile.

That evening I also preached at New Life Baptist who was celebrating it's 21st birthday. There was a great group, a good spirit and two huge cakes. It was a great day.

Saturday we went to the ranch for our final Company C meeting. We had over 30 kids and several helpers as we again made a trek into the unknown swamp. The last time many of the kids got stuck in the mud. This time we were in worse shape as we tramped through some very nasty waters.

Two highlights, again the great Bar-B-Que and hearing all of the kids reciting their memory work passage from John chapter 10. The weather was perfect and in the low 80. Not bad for two days after Thanksgiving!

Orchestra in the Woods

2010-11-15T06:03:00.001-02:00

To build camaraderie among the members of our budding orchestra we will be making a trek into the jungles of Brazil. Just outside of town and in fact visible from our church there is mountain called Ipanema. I’m not sure how high it is but we’ll be going up it today if it doesn’t rain.

Junior threatened to have us put on a mini concert while in those woods; but he’s relented thank the Lord. Anything with me playing the cello would be a mini concert. I’m still in the “twinkle twinkle little star” stage of my cello life. I’ll post some pictures of our trip this evening if I have the strength.

Lost in Time

2010-11-05T15:18:00.000-02:00

Have you ever awakened from a sound sleep blinked your crusty eyelid while blearily looking at the alarm clock and wondering what planet you were on? No? I don’t believe you.

That happens to me more and more these days. I can’t remember where I am. I’ve had the weirdest dream and can’t quite separate reality from my dream world. Actually I mix three worlds. There is the U.S. world, the Brazil world and the world that twirls in my brain. That is the scary one.

Today was NOT one of those twirled world days set apart by the above mentioned scenario. Thank the Lord. Today was Maria’s birthday. Dawn has been giving Maria a Bible study for the past eight weeks and today was her *******th birthday.

It was a simple affair put together by her daughter Mirela. Mirela is a stitch. She is 10 going on 25 and as creative as they come. She and her friends Jenifer and Ingrid had made little “treats” which included flour, sugar and corn! Yum. Dawn made one of her luscious cakes, brought along the candles and a small gift.

It was simple but fun. We gave Ingrid, Jenifer, Genisis and Val, Ingrid’s mom, a ride back to their homes afterwards. On the way something came up that made me giggle. One of the ladies said to me, “What month are we in?”

What time? Ok. What day? Maybe. BUT what MONTH? That was funny.

Dawn and I got to talking about that comment. We came to the conclusion that it might be a beautiful day in the Neighborhood but that doesn’t distinguish it from any other day. The hours, days and months all run together into one of those twirly brain dream like states.

We have church, Bible studies and other obligations that add spice and variety to our lives. People in the hood mark time with little change to set one day apart from the other. It seems to be beans, rice, school, wash, sleep, beans, rice, school, wash... you get the drift. In one word Boring!

This brings to mind Jesus words again, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” We bring salt. Salt adds flavor and flavor is the spice of life and the stuff that good dreams are made of.

The Twenty Buck Challenge

2010-11-03T20:57:00.002-02:00

Well I went and done it! That's bad grammar I know. But I done it anyway. We've been having a Bible study with Esmano and Genesie and their two kids Jennifer and Jadson, for about seven weeks now. This week Jennifer threw out a challenge. "Let's memorize a verse!"

I thought that was a great idea. I told them that if they did memorize the verse that I would give them each an American coin. Esmano, their dad usually sits in on the study but he hasn't really been a part of it. When I mentioned the coin idea his eyes lit up a little.

I then reached into my wallet and said, "If YOU memorize that verse I'll give you $20 bucks! His eyes really lit up then!

Was it a good idea? I doubt it. No one has ever offered me money for memorizing verses. However, this will be the first verse that this man has ever memorized. If he does it.

It is not a conventional way of doing memory work and it could cost me a bill for nothing. But if God uses this simple challenge to help him escape the darkness it will be the best twenty I've ever spent! I'm praying that it is!

Christmas and Tests of Freedom

2010-11-02T16:05:00.000-02:00

By now you might know that Brazil will have a new president on January 1, 2011. She is Dilma Rousseff. The 26% of the population who voted in the run-off selected her by a 55% 45% margin.

Though she's had socialist roots for some time her goals seem to be to carry on what president Lula has been doing for the past eight years. Though just yesterday I heard him say, "She will have to forge her own platform." Time will tell if and how that platform might affect what we are doing here. Until change comes we'll continue to do what we've been doing.

One of those things is making preparations for our coming Christmas Cantata. This year will be a bit different than last year. We will be presenting at the same rest home, orphanage and markets. But we've also added a play that Alexandre has written. Our Cantata and play will tell the story of Creation and Salvation.

We've also been granted permission to make a presentation at WalMart. WalMart down here is a BIG deal. It is a relatively new addition to the Brazilian market and is considered a very cool place to visit. 99% of our kids have never been there even though it is just twenty-five minutes away.

Thinking of our new president elect, the first woman Brazilian president, and the good old U.S. of A., try presenting a Christmas cantata in a WalMart in the Land of the "free" and home of the brave. It might be an interesting test as to whose freer than whom!

The combined kids and adult choirs will sing several Christmas carols and the orchestra will play several as well. Junior is working with the music and Alexandre is directing the play. Dawn and I are involved in both choir and orchestra.

Pray for us. Yesterday (Monday, November 1) we had an orchestra practice here at the house and it was really rough.

Road Trip

2010-10-25T11:40:00.001-02:00

Our orchestra is growing and we took it on the road this past Saturday. Our goal was not fame and fortune it was to present our ministry and the need of funds for purchase of land or building. In those regards the journey was a success.

We drove two hour and we arrived two hours early because of a miss-communication. Our untimely arrival meant that our final rehearsal would be in van. I say “our” rehearsal because I am now a budding member of the orchestra. Though the rehearsal was a tad cramped it was great to be able to work out some of the final kinks and squeaks.

I didn't get an exact count of those present for our presentation but with our team of ten there must have been close to a hundred. Our musical package was short but sweet. Graziele shared her testimony and Alexandre showed a video presentation and preached a message on, “What is a soul worth”. All of these worked together for a poignant evening.

There is no guarantee that Igreja Batista da Bíblia (Bible Baptist Church) will support our cause but we were excited none the less for the opportunity to share. Our group got some good experience and we were able to enjoy an International Dinner with the folks. It was weird having “American” food as one of the oddities. I love Bar-B-Cue chicken. Yum!