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Jim

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Making the World More Dangerous

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Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Paul’s words in Romans 1:18.

Suppressing the truth....

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Romans 1:18

Suppressing the truth. We’re really getting good at it here on earth, and it’s making the world a more dangerous place.

“Suppress” is an interesting word. As I understand it, it has the idea of holding something – so it could be possess, or hold back or restrain. The context makes it obvious. The wicked are not holding the truth like a treasure, they are holding it back – trying to ignore it. They have exchanged the truth about God (that He is the Creator of all things) for the lie (that the creation itself – or a part of it – is god).

On the one hand, in this world the truth can be hard to hold on it. It costs us something to get it. “Buy truth, and do not sell it” says Proverbs 23:23.

But the reason why the truth may often seem so hidden to us is because the world has worked so hard to suppress it. To keep it out of our minds. To ignore it.

If you look around, you can see how this is done so expertly. For example, movies often try to imagine a world without God. They can’t do it entirely successfully, because there could be no world without God. But, with a little slight-of-hand, they sometimes make it look like there could be.

In non-Christian meditation practices, so very popular these days, the suppression goes to another level. In Christian meditation, of course, we are meditating literally on the truth – God’s Word. But in non-Christian meditation, we are constantly warned to “not pass judgement”. Of course there’s sometimes the aim to think about nothing. But other times we are told to observe the world, or our own thoughts, but to accept only, never judge.

Jesus wise words to the crowds in Jerusalem are completely ignored – “judge with right judgment” (John 7:24).

So we are to listen to the voices around us that are trying to create an imaginary world without God, and an imbalanced morality with no foundation. And while we’re listening, we are to judge nothing. How convenient for those who wish to suppress the truth and promote the lie!

Of course this makes the world a much more dangerous place. Filled with people who never judge (at least not about important moral or spiritual issues – they can choose a diet or productivity plan, of course), and at the same time with more and more easily consumed messages that aren’t true at all.

Every once in a while you look around and think – it’s almost like there’s a Mind at work behind all of this! And, of course, there is (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:1-3). But, how much have we really needed his help? We’re pretty good at suppressing the truth completely on our own.

May God make us those who are “truly” disciples of Christ. As Jesus himself said,

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:31-32

What Do You Know About Abortion In Canada?

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There’s probably a lot more to know than you think. If you live in Canada or are Canadian, you really need to know about abortion in the country, both the history and what’s happening in the present day.

The Missing Project

The other night we watched “The Missing Project”, so I wanted to make sure I shared the information with you here. (I did post it on social media a while back, but it’s interesting the posts that people don’t ever see because they don’t “happen” to pop up!)

The Missing Project is a documentary about abortion in Canada from a pro-life perspective. First, it goes through the recent history of abortion in Canada (50 years of it). That part goes by a little too fast, in my opinion – I should probably watch it again!

Then it goes into a little more depth about the movement to stop abortion, or even make any kind of a law regulating abortion, in Canada (to our shame there’s no law at all in the country specifically regarding abortion – making Canada alone the “wild west” of abortion – the only democracy in the world with no abortion law. And how that came to be is a bizarre story in itself). There are also interviews with various people who have been affected by abortion in many ways.

You will not agree with everyone in this film – that’s part of what makes it so interesting. It is most certainly a conversation starter! And these are conversations we need to have – conversations which often are not even “allowed” in Canada.

The movie can be purchased online (it’s not expensive – a whole lot cheaper than taking the family to the local Cineplex). Beyond that, there are 50 interviews that you can watch for free (but don’t miss the documentary – watch it!).

You can also host a screening if you’re in Canada – see Host a screening of this untold Canadian Story.

Once again, here’s the main website for The Missing Project. Take the time to watch it yourself, and share it with your family/church/small group/et cetera. I understand that it will not be available for purchase during the fall screenings, so I’m not sure how long you will be able to purchase it for. Even if you can’t watch it right away, you can purchase it today and watch it any time.

Here’s the official trailer –

Jim’s Recent Tweets…

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Empowering Teachers

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I keep thinking of something that the author of Hebrews said to a local congregation many centuries ago. “By this time you ought to be teachers”. It’s just a general comment – directed at – everyone!

Pastor Martín teaches

In one sense, of course, not everyone is or should be a teacher (1 Corinthians 12:29; James 3:1; 1 Timothy 1:6-7). But in another sense, we all should be teachers. It’s simply a matter of sharing the truth with a neighbour, daughter, coworker.

So what would it look like if we had the goal of making everyone in our congregation a capable teacher? What would we teach them?

The first on my list would be helping people to love the Lord. After all, that is the greatest commandment. It’s at the heart of everything we are, everything we do (Deuteronomy 6:5; 1 Timothy 1:5).

After that, maybe the goal would be to help people to know how to handle their Sword – the Word of God. If anyone is going to grow, and help others grow, that’s the starting point.

Of course as leaders in a new church plant, these are things we are trying to do. Hopefully these things permeate our everyday lives and discipleship.

We have been talking about some ideas for the fall. Many of these come from requests that we’ve received from local believers. For example, in our Sunday School class, we have a couple of plans – a study of the gospel, using biblical key words. Rod has an outline planned that we probably will both teach. And I’m planning to teach my five part study on biblical discernment. We’re also talking about the possibility of an evangelism class.

Biblical Hermeneutics Class promotion
Biblical Hermeneutics Class promo

We’ve just recently confirmed that the three churches will be partnering in a 40 hour class on biblical hermeneutics. It will officially be a partnership between the community centre and the Still Water Institute in Texas, a ministry of a church there which will be sending down teachers.

There are a number of exciting things about this. Of course it’s a key component of how to use Scripture properly. But we’re also hoping that it will be the beginning of something larger – an ongoing Bible institute that can train up leaders as a part of planting new churches in this less-reached area of Mexico, and beyond.

We’re in a unique place here. In some ways, this is still very much a “pioneering” area, with very few churches. But the growing young churches mean that there is an emerging leadership and enough resources to go beyond simple one-on-one discipleship.

There are some other exciting things in the works too. Maybe you or your church would like to be a part of this unique opportunity! There is a lot to do here – the work is just beginning!

Encouraging Sundays

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Disco ball church service

Well, there you are – a shot from our time of worship through music last Sunday. As you may know, we have constantly changing decorations, thanks to the fact that we worship in a place also used for various and diverse parties. Here you can see not only a disco ball, but LPs hanging from the ceiling.

But we were making our own music, singing a Mexican hymn called Give Thanks to Jesus Christ. I’m up there somewhere with my guitar, with Nathanael in the middle, sitting at the PowerPoint controls. 🙂

The last couple of Sundays have been tremendously encouraging. For example, it was great to hear people’s testimonies about the activities of the summer. It really was encouraging for us to work together in the VBS, for example, getting a lot of people involved together that aren’t always serving together directly.

We’ve also heard some testimonies. One guy in our youth group recently shared about how God worked in his life through his journey with cancer. A woman shared about severe health issues that she and her newborn son went through years ago, and how God has been drawing her to Himself since.

hummingbird nest
Hummingbird nest, balancing on a string of LED lights

It is such an encouragement to hear people share, both in the service and outside of it. We can’t always see what God is doing, but He is clearly working in lives here. We’ve had quite a few new people coming as well, and so we’re looking forward to getting to know them.

In fact, we even had a hummingbird build her nest in the room we (usually) meet in. 😀

Thanks for your continued prayers, for so many lives – may God continue to strengthen us together as we reach this less-reached part of Mexico.

And I hope you’re enjoying some encouraging Sundays too!

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