Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Day ?????
I don't even know what day it is anymore, but I can tell you where I'm at. I'm on my way to Santiago, Chile but only half way there. This morning one of the missionaries from Uruguay drove me about five hours to Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is where I'm at now. I will be leaving in only a few hours!
This week has been an intense week. I mentioned earlier that I have been speaking almost everywhere I go. Well, I have continued to do so. Tuesday I went to the small city of Young, about an hour away, and had the opportunity to preach. This city has no evangelical church but hast a handful of believers. In the slide show above you will see the picture of myself and three elderly people. They came to the midweek service, which Sergio Duarte runs. They were so thankful to have me there and to have me preach. I can not tell you what an encouragement they were to me! Their faithfulness to the Lord was such an example. One lady (in the picture to my right), Julia, was learning to read for the first time but by using the Bible. How awesome is that! No better way to learn to read than by using God's own Words!
Wednesday morning, I had the opportunity to challenge the camp counselors in a short devotional. I admit that I was so tired from the night before, that my Spanish began to fail me at times. I'm so rusty! Wish I could use it more consistently. At any rate, the rest of the day was spent either helping set up games, reffing games, or taking part in the games! We had an evening activity where the different cabins had to accomplish certain objectives at eight different zones. However there were bandits roaming about! Yep, I took part in that responsibility. Scaring people seems to be on one of my fortes. Maybe it's the Peruvian in me coming out! Anyway, the kids loved it. I'm thankful to God for having allowed me to work at Camp Calvary a few years ago. Many of the ideas for the game came from my time working at Camp Calvary.
This week has been an intense week. I mentioned earlier that I have been speaking almost everywhere I go. Well, I have continued to do so. Tuesday I went to the small city of Young, about an hour away, and had the opportunity to preach. This city has no evangelical church but hast a handful of believers. In the slide show above you will see the picture of myself and three elderly people. They came to the midweek service, which Sergio Duarte runs. They were so thankful to have me there and to have me preach. I can not tell you what an encouragement they were to me! Their faithfulness to the Lord was such an example. One lady (in the picture to my right), Julia, was learning to read for the first time but by using the Bible. How awesome is that! No better way to learn to read than by using God's own Words!
Wednesday morning, I had the opportunity to challenge the camp counselors in a short devotional. I admit that I was so tired from the night before, that my Spanish began to fail me at times. I'm so rusty! Wish I could use it more consistently. At any rate, the rest of the day was spent either helping set up games, reffing games, or taking part in the games! We had an evening activity where the different cabins had to accomplish certain objectives at eight different zones. However there were bandits roaming about! Yep, I took part in that responsibility. Scaring people seems to be on one of my fortes. Maybe it's the Peruvian in me coming out! Anyway, the kids loved it. I'm thankful to God for having allowed me to work at Camp Calvary a few years ago. Many of the ideas for the game came from my time working at Camp Calvary.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Day One and Two
So this is where I’m at now. I arrived in the small town of Paysandu, Uruguay yesterday morning at seven thirty in the morning. Two days of traveling, two flights, two taxis, and one bus later we arrived. The only really exciting experience during the trip was the fact that we jumped out of our taxi and ran across the Uruguay River in order to get in front of the huge line of cars waiting to cross the boarder from Colon, Argentina into Paysandu, Uruguay. We rolled our luggage up to the window where the cars were supposed to go through and began the paper work to cross the boarder. We felt kind of funny doing it because there were cars ahead of us and behind us yet we were just standing in the middle of the road with all our luggage! I guess we were the typical stupid gringos.
Anyway, last night I had the opportunity to speak at a youth group. However, I did not know I was speaking until I got there. That was a little fun to say the least! That night the pastor also asked me to speak at his church the following morning. That is actually where I just got back from. We had a great morning service…not because I spoke though. This afternoon I am traveling to another small town, Salto, and will be preaching there as well. Please pray that I will be used in each church, and that I will get a good feel of what God is doing in each of these ministries!
The plan for the rest of the week in Uruguay is to simply play it by ear. Plans are being made on the spur of the moment and no one knows what is nex. This makes life exciting.
The picture above is a picture of my flight crossing over the Andes Mountains from Chile and headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina. What a view! The other picture is me driving the missionary’s sweet car!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Facts-N-Stats
Chile
According to the 2002 census, of the 15 million people in Chile “70 percent of the population over age 14 identify as Roman Catholic and 15.1 percent as evangelical. In the census, the term "evangelical" referred to all non-Catholic Christian churches with the exception of the Orthodox Church (Greek, Persian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and Armenian), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses.Groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Jews, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Baha'is, Buddhists, and members of the Unification Church. Of those surveyed, all other religions total 493,147 persons, or 4.4 percent, and atheists and those "indifferent" regarding religion constitute approximately 8.3 percent.”
Argentina
According to the 2001 census there is a population of 37 million in the country of Argentina. A religious estimate makes the Argentines “Roman Catholics, 76 percent of the population; agnostics or atheists, 12 percent; evangelical Protestants, 6 percent; Jews, 1 percent; Jehovah's Witnesses, 1 percent; other Protestants and Muslims, less than 1 percent; other religious groups (including Seventh-day Adventists, Buddhists, and some African and indigenous religions), 1.5 percent; and no declared religious affiliation, 1.2 percent.”
Uruguay
According to the 2004 census there is a population of 3.24 million in the country of Uruguay. Of the 3.24 million “45.1 percent identify themselves as Roman Catholics, 10.5 percent as Christian but not Catholic, 0.4 percent as Jewish, 0.7 percent as Afro-Umbandistas, and 27.8 percent believe in God but do not claim a religious affiliation. Mainstream Protestants primarily include Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, and Baptists.”
All this information came from the International Religious Freedom Report 2008 issued September 19, 2008, and can be found at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/index.htm.
According to the 2002 census, of the 15 million people in Chile “70 percent of the population over age 14 identify as Roman Catholic and 15.1 percent as evangelical. In the census, the term "evangelical" referred to all non-Catholic Christian churches with the exception of the Orthodox Church (Greek, Persian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and Armenian), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses.Groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Jews, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Baha'is, Buddhists, and members of the Unification Church. Of those surveyed, all other religions total 493,147 persons, or 4.4 percent, and atheists and those "indifferent" regarding religion constitute approximately 8.3 percent.”
Argentina
According to the 2001 census there is a population of 37 million in the country of Argentina. A religious estimate makes the Argentines “Roman Catholics, 76 percent of the population; agnostics or atheists, 12 percent; evangelical Protestants, 6 percent; Jews, 1 percent; Jehovah's Witnesses, 1 percent; other Protestants and Muslims, less than 1 percent; other religious groups (including Seventh-day Adventists, Buddhists, and some African and indigenous religions), 1.5 percent; and no declared religious affiliation, 1.2 percent.”
Uruguay
According to the 2004 census there is a population of 3.24 million in the country of Uruguay. Of the 3.24 million “45.1 percent identify themselves as Roman Catholics, 10.5 percent as Christian but not Catholic, 0.4 percent as Jewish, 0.7 percent as Afro-Umbandistas, and 27.8 percent believe in God but do not claim a religious affiliation. Mainstream Protestants primarily include Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, and Baptists.”
All this information came from the International Religious Freedom Report 2008 issued September 19, 2008, and can be found at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/index.htm.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Another Trip
January 1st I will be leaving for another mission trip but not to just one country but to three: Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile. The trip is to serve the same purpose as my previous trip to Spain. I will be there to look, learn, and listen. God has called me into full time mission, but I have no idea where I will serve Him.
In visiting these three countries I am broadening my view of mission fields and their needs. Please pray for me that I will be discerning and understanding in each of these culture. Pray that I will be discerning of His will. Pray that I will be sensitive to His leading in my life.
In visiting these three countries I am broadening my view of mission fields and their needs. Please pray for me that I will be discerning and understanding in each of these culture. Pray that I will be discerning of His will. Pray that I will be sensitive to His leading in my life.
Monday, October 20, 2008
"Napoleon's Musings"
This afternoon I was listening to an exerpt on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, and a short quote of his from "Napoleon's Musings" was read. It is a perspective of his empire in comparison to that of Jesus Christ. I found it to be fascinating coming from such a man!
“Well, then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions would die for Him. . . . I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man: none else is like Him; Jesus Christ was more than man. I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me, . . but to do this it was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, of my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lighted up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts. . . . Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man towards the Unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable supernatural love towards Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man’s creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it which strikes me most; I have often thought of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ."
“Well, then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions would die for Him. . . . I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man: none else is like Him; Jesus Christ was more than man. I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me, . . but to do this it was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, of my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lighted up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts. . . . Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man towards the Unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable supernatural love towards Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man’s creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it which strikes me most; I have often thought of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ."
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
To Live Intentional about the Gospel
I am one of those guys that plans way ahead. I try to set goals five years in advance, and if you know me, I'm oftentimes looking way too far ahead. I'm excited about being on a mission field sharing the Gospel with those who are lost. Recently in my personal walk with the Lord, He has impressed on my heart to live intentionally for the Gospel right now...to a life deliberate about the Gospel. As I thought about this specific phrase I began to ask myself certain questions. Questions such as, what motivates me to live deliberately about the Gospel? Or, how do I live deliberately about the Gospel? Or even what is the Gospel said in sixty seconds or less. Part of this deliberate thinking was planted in my mind by an audio book entitled The Deliberate Church by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander. These men particularly challenged me to do just this. If I can not say what the Gospel is in sixty seconds or less, how can I expect live on purpose for the Gospel?
Let me start with a quick reason why to live intentionally for the Gospel. Simply put, because Christ was deliberate about the Gospel in my life. Christ intentionally came to earth to die for me. Mark Driscoll put it this way. "Jesus came to earth to live a life we could not live and to die a death we could we could not die." He was on purpose in His intentions for me. As I thought about this more, I imagined Christ being pushed onto that cross lying on the ground. His bloodied back being slammed against that wooden object. As the eternal God in human flesh lay on that cross, the soldiers grabbed His arms and spread them apart. Christ didn't fight back. As a matter of fact I can imagine Him turning to the soldiers and saying to them as the attempted to force His arms, "There is no need." And He laid His arm down to bed driven through with a spike. There was no need for those men to hold His hand down. Christ intentionally held His hand in place because He deliberately wanted to show His love for me. "For God so loved Jonathan that He gave His unique son." Christ had me in mind as He stayed on that cross. He truly was on purpose about the Gospel. Christ was so deliberate that it should motivate me/us to be deliberate about the Gospel.
So how do we live deliberately about the Gospel now? We don't die on the cross as Christ did, but we do live the Gospel now! I will show you from one chapter in Philippians, but it is strewn throughout the entire Word of God. Philippians 1:5 says, “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." The Philippians were deliberate in their giving to Paul as He shared the Gospel of Christ. They were intentional in their actions to proclaim the name of Christ. Partnership takes time, sacrifice, and risk. They joined Paul and spent themselves for the Gospel's sake.
Philippians 1:7b, 12 says, "For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, “Paul’s imprisonment wasn't for simply his sake or for the sake of the Philippians, but for the intentional purpose of sharing Christ. Not that he wanted to be in prison, but ultimately his circumstances were simply another tool to confirm, defend, and advance the Gospel.
Philippians 1:27a says, "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ," Here Paul tells the Philippians to live a life that is worthy of the Gospel. The word here for manner of life is literally citizenship. So let your citizenship be exemplary of someone who knows the Gospel. Your citizenship is permanently in heaven but temporally on earth therefore we live with the intention of furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our manner of life, conduct, conversation should be nothing but Gospel centered. We must live our lives intentional about the Gospel.
The intentionality of the Gospel motivates us to live intentional lives for the Gospel! Nothing else will motivate you as much as the Gospel will! In all honesty would could go on and on looking at passage after passage that points out why to live intentionally or how to live intentionally. If you have a few brief minutes look at Paul's example in Romans 15:15-20 and simply note what motivates Paul and how he carries out a life that is intentional about the Gospel.
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