Earthquake etc. (podcast)
The earthquake you heard about and some others that you didn’t – a glimpse into this week and the coming week.
Prayer and Praise
Out-of-Jail Party
Last night we were at an out-of-jail party at Tiffany’s house. For someone who – well, who just got out of jail, of course.
We’ve been praying for him a long time, so it was quite the celebration!
Here’s a picture, although you can’t see everyone – and there were people crowded outside as well…
Praying at the out-of-jail party
Have you had an out-of-jail party at your church lately? You should. But I’m not recommending you go to jail just to have one. Maybe you could just find someone who’s already in jail, and pray for them. 🙂
Double Bible Study Begins
So tonight was the first night of an experiment. Well, all right – just about everything about being a missionary feels like an experiment! But – this was one of them.
We’re trying to put together a sequence of studies that people can take, and tonight we restarted one we’d done before (the Chronological Bible Study) and started a new one (Discovering Life). There are a number of experimenty things about it all, but one is that we’re having two studies at one time.
That means that, as people come in, they have to be sent to one study or another. We started about 20 minutes late, but most people arrived after that – so you can imagine how it went.
Also, this basically cuts our numbers in half. Which in some ways is good, but it’s just very different.
Ismael taught the first Chronological Bible Study. He said it went well, but that there was a lot to cover. That will vary from week to week.
 |
I taught the first study of Discovering Life, all about (some of) the attributes of God.
It went well – some of it was quite basic, other parts a little more challenging.
The last question of the night was – Which attribute of God is it most difficult for people you know to accept, and why?
The first answer caught me by surprise. The answer was His Aseity (that God is self-existent and doesn’t need anything or anybody else). Why was it hard for people to accept? Because they believe that there are many other gods, not just one!
I admit, that wasn’t the first thing I would have thought of, thinking of the average person on the street in Mexico, but that’s why I asked – I need to keep learning what people actually think.
The most popular answer was Love – people have a hard time accepting that God really is love, or that God could love them.
We briefly got into some other interesting discussions as well. For example, here’s one for you – when Jesus was a baby in a manger in Bethlehem – was He omnipresent?
Anyway, it went well. I have in mind a few changes to make, but it’s a new study, so that’s to be expected. Next week will be quite different, so we’ll see how that goes!
Who Wants a Nameless Bible Study?
This evening I was at the café with Ismael. We were talking a bit about the upcoming Tuesday night studies, among other things.
Yesterday marked the end of a study especially about parenting. So next week we’ll be restarting the Chronological Bible Study for those who haven’t taken it. For those who have, we’ll be starting a new study.
I was working on this study today, but it was driving me crazy because it had no name. I was going to ask Ismael and José for some ideas tonight, but I just couldn’t stand working on a nameless study any more.
So, in keeping with my new theory that everything’s better with a name and a graphic, this is what I came up with. It may change before we start the study (in 6 days), but so far so good…
Descubriendo la Vida – Discovering Life or Discovering the Life – will be a bit of an experiment, and so I’m sure it will develop as the weeks go by. But it’s designed to be the same length as the Chronological Bible Study, so that both will finish together. Then DV (can I call it that?) can repeat for those who finished the CBS, and another study will begin at the same time (DV2 if all goes as planned).
Please pray as we continue to plan and execute these studies – that God’s Word would be taught accurately and clearly. Whether we have a large group, or we’re teaching one-on-one, we want these studies to be practical, and used of God to bring more people to Himself.
I’ll tell you more about the second study once it gets going!
We Need One Another (Upcoming Events)
Last night I went to the small house we are renting as an HQ for the church. Every Saturday night we’ve been getting together there as a group of men to study God’s Word.
I arrived about a minute early to find no one there – and I realized I’d forgotten my key. No problem – there should be one or two others with keys.
I waited, and eventually one man came… then left. Then some others came, and we talked for a while. Finally we got in touch with the man who was supposed to be teaching. And about 45 minutes later, the study began! 🙂
Yes, someone eventually came with a key.
Last night and this morning (at our Sunday worship) I was reminded again and again – we need one another.
 People have been writing their names on one of the walls at the café. Here are the first few! |
There’s a reason why God tells us in Hebrews: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
Rod preached this morning, and reminded us what Jesus said in John 15 – This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)
We’re looking forward to a couple of very special days in March. On the 25th, we’ll be celebrating the 2nd anniversary of the church plant in Jesús María (see the countdown in the sidebar to the right). Can you believe it? It’s wonderful to see what God is doing in the church community. This morning Shari counted at least 80 people worshipping with us – and not everyone was there. Two years ago, there was no church worshipping in that housing development.
Also, coming to demonstrate the love between churches, is a team from Canada! On the 29th of March we’ll be welcoming a joint team from Mirror Alliance Church and Innisfail Baptist Church. I like to call them the MI Team. But that doesn’t mean their mission is impossible.
Well, humanly speaking, I suppose it is!
They’ll be working with the believers here to serve the community. They’ll be serving at the community centre, in Bible studies, and they’ll be helping with some construction in the café. They’ll be here during Holy Week, using the time as an opportunity to reach out to children in the community.
We need one another. May Jesus words in John 13 be a reality in the weeks ahead: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
Temporary Meeting Place
As many of you know, the church plant in Jesús María (Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida Jesús María) grew out of the small house we were renting long ago. Move to another house? Well, they’re all small – no help there.
So we temporarily moved to a studio above some stores just for Sunday mornings. We rent it just for Sunday mornings, and every Sunday we move instruments, stools, sound equipment, etc, into the building, up the narrow winding stairs, around the corner, through the hall and into the room.
Good exercise, but not great for the equipment, or for the church budget. Also rather time-consuming.
Please pray with us that we can find a building – or a lot to build on – that can be used for ministry.
Here in Mexico, people love to get together and invite their friends and family. Events like getting together to worship on Sunday are a blessing.
But in these housing developments, everything is small. We’re praying for space.
The church family has been raising funds little by little. You can help too, if you like – in Canada go to http://bit.ly/cgcadonate and give to Project #63604, or for US funds go to http://bit.ly/donateusa and again give to Project #63604.
So here’s the building we’re in in the mean time. It’s the second floor, behind the arched windows. Normally it’s used for Zumba classes.
During the morning service on Sunday, all three store fronts are open below doing a booming business (this was taken before the service, when we were starting to unload instruments). I wonder what they think of our worship above their heads?
I’m attempting to take and post 30 pictures in 30 days. I believe the 30 days will be ending this week sometime…