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Quick Trip, Upcoming Ministry

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I’m thankful to be back after a very quick trip to Canada to pick up some needed medication and to visit my parents. In spite of some strange adventures with credit and debit cards, I did what I needed to do and zipped back on a red-eye flight, getting home first thing yesterday morning.

So now it’s back to home issues and upcoming ministry elsewhere. I’m getting ready for an upcoming Bible study, which will focus on practical reflections on following the Lord. I’ll be teaching on the Church (that is to say, “the Church” is the topic!) on Sunday, and we’ll enjoy having Pastor Ismael visit and preach.Genesis in Space and Time

Now that we’re done our study of the Gospel of Mark on Sundays, I’m diving back into the book of Genesis for our new preaching series, and I’m amazed all over again at what God has to teach us in this foundational book. Ismael will start the series this Sunday with the first two (revolutionary) verses of the Bible.

While I was in Canada, I picked up an old copy of Genesis in Space and Time by Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer, which is great so far.

Shari continues to work on planning and materials for our children’s studies and Sunday school. It’s a huge job to get everything organized and to get people involved.

Lots to do! But I just wanted to check in and let you know what’s happening.

Preparing for Upcoming Studies!

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One of the exciting things about the new year has been studying God’s Word, in preparation for upcoming studies, sermons, etc. There is no doubt that God has a lot to teach us in 2018!

I imagine unbelievers really can’t comprehend why we find so many answers to life’s problems in the Bible. And sometimes Christians are guilty of simplistic answers –

problem + verse = happyhappy!

That’s not the way it is, of course. In fact, it’s the deep, balanced messages of all Scripture that address the complex realities of life in challenging and complex ways.

Sunday School handout January 2018We’re finishing up the Gospel of Mark this month, with the climax of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We started Mark a year ago. We’ll be looking at the wonders of our justification and sanctification as well in the next couple of weeks. And we continue with a discipleship study three times a week, taught by three different people. My first study of the year is tonight.

We’re also looking ahead to what we’ll be doing during our time in Canada (AB/SK) later this year (here are some of the things we’re offering churches and small groups). Can you believe it? Over 25% of our Sundays are already booked! (And we booked our flights back to Mexico today. Thank you, WestJet, for the great prices on direct flights!)

Here’s one of the passages I’ve been meditating on as I’ve been preparing for Sunday…

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:11-14

Wheelchair and Earthquake Outreach – Please Pray

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Yesterday Shari and Hannah joined Rod and Mayra and others related to our community centre for a special wheelchair presentation here in the neighbourhood of Santa Barbara. Several people in need of a wheelchair received one through our community centre and the Free Wheelchair Mission. There was a program with family and friends, in which the gospel was clearly presented.Tracts and Gospels

Please pray for everyone who heard God’s Word. Even with a “clear presentation”, there is so much confusion from false teaching here that it takes a miracle for people to understand and accept the gospel. Then again, it is always a miracle, in the truest sense of the word, when someone understands and accepts the gospel!

It’s amazing how many people are involved in a simple event like this. Obviously those who support the missionaries here are involved. But people were also given the earthquake tract provided through Camino Global, and also a Gospel of John. The Gospels were provided to us by the Pocket New Testament League.

Wheelchair outreach - December 2017

Please pray for the earthquake outreach that’s taking place today and tomorrow. We’re not going ourselves, but through our community centre and gifts donated through Camino Global (thank you!), we have a part in what’s happening.

We have a friend who is involved in building houses for earthquake victims. It’s an amazing process – I’ll have to tell you more about it sometime. Actually, for those of you who donated, we will try to send out more information in the new year.

A group from one of our related churches is going again to share the gospel and provide help in a community very much affected by the quakes. We’re able to provide four tents for four families. There are some who not only have no home, they don’t even have access to an outhouse.

The community centre is also very much involved in providing help in the state of Oaxaca, where we have contacts. We’re focusing especially on providing comizcales, which are special ovens that people use to provide food and income for their families. Many of these were destroyed in the quakes. As one woman in the region said,”I would rather have my comizcal than a pantry full of food”.

The words of one of our contacts in Oaxaca could be in the mouths of anyone trying to serve the people of Mexico in this difficult time. “Please beg God to keep in the hearts of the Christian Church their brothers and sisters in this region of the country… because this way, at least someone cares about us and remembers to pray for us.”

So please pray for all those travelling today and tomorrow to share God’s word and help those who are still so much in need after the quakes. And pray for those who are receiving, that they will understand the greatest Gift that God is offering them.

Renewed by God’s Goodness (Sunday and a new week)

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Frankly, we’re glad that last week is over. It’s what I would call in Spanish, una semana tremenda. A tremendous week.

Health issues. Financial issues. It was crazy.

But we started off this week on better footing, with a great service in Las Palmas. Rod started with a great lesson about salvation. It’s not easy to explain things clearly in a short time, but he did a great job and brought up some important culturally relevant points. We even heard from some people in the church about how they came to faith.

Rod and some guest musicians led us in some Christmas carols. And we had a time of sharing. We prayed for some of the incredibly difficult challenges that people are facing right now, and also gave thanks for great things that God has done. We’re thankful for news about the mother of one of our friends, who could very easily have died recently. But God heard our prayers!

I preached, and I’m not sure how well it went for everyone else, but I keep learning new things from Luke 2:1-20.

This part of the message of the angel alone is so rich with meaning, we could do a series of sermons on it…

Unto you is born this day
in the city of David
a Saviour,
who is Christ
the Lord.

Imagine – the great Messiah being born (Isaiah 9:6)! And Luke repeats over and over the connection to David – reminding us that God promised an Eternal Ruler from the house of David (2 Samuel 7:16). A Saviour? It is God who is the Saviour (Isaiah 45:21)!

“Christ” – well, in that word is wrapped up all the promises of the Old Testament. That’s a HUGE word.

But most interesting to me this time was the last part – “The Lord”. Go into Luke and see how he uses this word. The “temple of the Lord” (Luke 1:9). The Lord is the God of Israel (Luke 1:16; Luke 1:68). The Lord God who keeps His promises (Luke 1:32). The glory of the Lord shone around the angels (Luke 2:9). The Lord revealed the Messiah to the shepherds (Luke 2:15).

And who was born? Christ the LORD!

The gospel is truly in this story. As Rod pointed out in his lesson, it is God who takes the initiative – His Word sets all this in motion – and He brings us the long awaiting Messiah – who is the Lord of all. Incredible!
Bicitaxi decorated for Christmas
Now we’re continuing the week with two more mad days of work and school – trying to finish exams and assignments and whatever else. And then – hopefully – at least a partial break over the holidays!

As you can see from this picture that Shari took yesterday, even the bicycle taxis are getting into the spirit, by decorating with garlands, bows, and even little trees. 🙂

Christmas is Coming…

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… and coming fast! And along with it come the special activities of Christmas.

Friends at a Christmas Party
Shari with her poncheThis week Shari went to a special Christmas party at the Path of Life Bible Church in Santa Barbara. The women from the Las Palmas church were invited as well. They enjoyed some special gifts and some ponche to warm them all up! (It’s been cold here, although it’s a little warmer now. Everyone, I mean everyone, is talking about the weather!)

Also, last week while we were in Pachuca, the church in the community of Jesús María had its first service in the still-in-progress sanctuary! Take a look at some photos and video at Rod’s blog – First Service in New Auditorium, JM.

We have been dealing with some health issues in the family. Without going into details, it has made it a tough week. If you’ve been praying – thanks!

Meanwhile, I’m getting ready for the upcoming services. I’m preaching tomorrow, so I’ve been thinking about that. And planning some music for the special Christmas service we’re having Friday night. This is a great time to meditate more on the incarnation of Jesus Christ. There is so much to learn – and so much wonder!

As a family we’ve been enjoying Come, Let Us Adore Him, an advent devotional by Paul Tripp. It might be a little late for this year, but I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something special for next year!

By the way, on Facebook I’ve been reposting some of my old Christmas posts. If you haven’t seen the series, take a look at Promises of a Messiah, a twelve part series about Bible prophecy and the coming of Jesus.

Sunday in Pachuca

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Yesterday we went to the city of Pachuca, north of Mexico City in the state of Hidalgo. Pachuca is a city of over a quarter million people. And the temperatures are a little cooler than here!

Iglesia Bíblica El Buen PastorAnyway, we went to La Iglesia Bíblica El Buen Pastor (Good Shepherd Bible Church). We enjoyed worshipping with our old and new friends there (with lots of Christmas songs – even one or two that were new to me!), and I preached.

Preaching was a little bit interesting this time. I was quite sick yesterday – I don’t think I realized how sick I was until today (now that I’m feeling better). So I was in a lot of pain and – better admit it – I was cold! And I didn’t realize how cold I was until I was done preaching. Added to that, we had some technical difficulties – probably all my fault (they were actually really organized and helpful).

So, let’s say with the pain and cold I was a little tense up in the pulpit. But hopefully it was still understandable! As I have been reminded again and again – and as I actually mentioned in my sermon – it is because we’re weak that God’s power is visible in us.

After the service we split up into groups to hand out tracts and talk to people. Mostly short conversations, because people were generally in a rush. Actually, it was funny. I was trying to talk to an older woman who was selling poinsettias. But she was kind of ignoring me and giving short answers. Because – she was busy trying to read the tract that someone else in the church gave her! 🙂

For some people in the church, it was the first time they had done anything like this. So it was fun to be a part of it.

After than, a couple in the church took us out for some very yummy Mexican food, that made me feel a little better (in case you’re interested, I had enchiladas con cecina, in this case tortillas with cheese and green sauce with thinly sliced and salted beef. Anyway, we very much enjoyed our time with them.

And Shari was kind enough to drive us home!

Pilgrims on the highway near PachucaOn the way there, and on the way home, we saw a lot of pilgrims, on foot, bicycle, or in vehicles. It’s getting close to Guadalupe Day (the 12th) when people honour what they believe is a manifestation of the Virgin Mary. ‘Tis the season to not get a lot of sleep, as the “bombas” explode at all hours (as I write, another bomba just set off a car alarm a few metres away).

This is why now, more than ever, people need to hear the message of Christmas. It’s not a message that we can now do more things to find favour with God – or Mary – or a saint. It’s a message that God has sent His Salvation, a gracious gift.

Thanks for your prayers for days yesterday – and today!

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