There are some times in life where everything seems to be happening at once. Well, this coming weekend is looking kind of like that. We’re going to be getting into a whole lot of serious study, let me put it that way.
On Saturday, we have guests from the USA who will be coming to teach people from four local Bible churches. We’re starting our 40 hour hermeneutics course – that is, a study of how to interpret the Bible. It looks like over 50 people will be coming. So we’re very excited about this critical teaching which will strengthen people’s lives and the lives of our churches. You can read more about this course here.
It just so happened that Sunday is a rather interesting day for teaching as well. It’s the final week of the 10 Commandments study in Sunday school, for one thing. We’ll be summing up what we’ve learned over the past – let’s see – 13 studies, I guess it would be (14 in all). And we’ll be discussing how to use God’s Law today.
And since we’re finishing that study, we’ll be starting a new one next time. Except that part 1 is a sermon – which means we’re also introducing the next topic in Sunday’s sermon. This is Spiritual Discernment, something very important for today’s believers, as always. It will be a four part Sunday school study – 5 parts if you include the sermon.
So yes, three very different (though very related) and very challenging topics this weekend! I hope we can handle it! We have some pretty gung-ho people in our church, but this may stretch even some of them. 🙂
So hopefully my head won’t explode with all this concentrated study.
Wednesday night I also apparently started to get sick – some seasonal bug, no doubt. So pain and congestion may also make my head explode. Please do pray that I will be able to get the rest I need, and that my voice will survive through the whole service on Sunday.
Other than the limitations of the body, I’m looking forward to the weekend! Thanks for your prayers!
This past Sunday was week #2 at the “new place” – the “party garden”. Except that, this time, we were in a different building.
So, just so you understand. This place has two main places for events. There’s the big tent out front – the one we were in last time (see – I Came to the Garden (but not alone)). Then there’s the smaller cement structure further in. Which one we’re in all depends on what other events are happening.
So it was the cement structure, this time. In many ways, better. A little quieter, further back from the main highway and from the fountain. But that’s not to say our service was without distractions.
Of course, last time there were distractions too. The dog who stayed for the service (the owner of the place got it some water so that it would feel at home). People walking through, getting ready for the event in the other building. The cars whizzing by on the highway out front.
But the theme certainly continued this week. Within the building, there was some work being done in the kitchen in the back – actually, that didn’t bother me much.
I admit that the flashing Christmas lights that decorated the room did put my brain in overdrive, but thankfully they didn’t flash constantly. They were on a cycle – you know how it goes.
It was a little distracting because of the direction we were facing. We could all see out into the yard in the back. There was a gazebo style tent that we were told we could use for the kids’ Sunday school. So some of us could see the kids while we tried to listen to Rod. But no problem. The kids were behaving.
The kids went into another part of the yard for a special activity, and some men came into the yard (as Rod continued teaching us). What are they doing there? They came up to the kids’ Sunday school tent, where their chairs and table and Bibles were. And they started to take down the tent!
Now the kids were in another part of the yard doing their activity. What is going on? The men talk, hesitate, look around. Someone walks away. They continue. Finally they do indeed take down the tent. Yes, I do remember what Rod was talking about (but it’s a good thing there were notes).
A bird just flew into the room. 🦠Awww, cute.
Where was I? Ok. We had a break time shortly after this. We had actually brought another tent to use for the kids – which we would have used, if we hadn’t been told we could use the one that was already there. So, many hands making light work, we hoisted it up during the coffee break.
So, on goes the service.
Now, I’m not sure why we set up the room the way we did – maybe we could make some changes. But on the right of the room was a stage, which we weren’t using. This is important.
I was preaching on Sunday, so the time came and I got started. Now, you’ve seen a picture – this room isn’t that small. So why – WHY was this one fly so obsessed with me? It wasn’t just buzzing around. It was on a kamikaze mission to repeatedly crash into my head. It would not be ignored. So I just had to swat at it a few times. But I’m sure we weren’t distracted. Not much.
Then, everyone’s heads went right (my left). It’s the regular quandary of the speaker – do you break the tension, acknowledge what’s going on – or do you ignore it and keep going, hoping not to break the flow of the message?
I went the ignore route this time. What had happened was a truck had come through the back gate (in the yard where the kids were doing Sunday School), and had pulled up to the front right of our building. They were coming in to remove to stage. Kindly, they waited for us – mostly. Although they did come in to start getting it ready for removal.
So when I asked a question and asked for agreement from the congregation, there was a moment of silence as people clued in that I was still talking to them. Someone finally expressed agreement. I think I could have said, “Elephants are purple with pink polka dots, right?”, and someone eventually would have said “Amen!”
Someone got up to move some cups off the stage for the workers. A family had to leave early.
And then – slowly, methodically – a spider began to lengthen its thread and drop down from the microphone in front of me. And completely out of context for everyone else – I laughed. Yes, out loud.
But we don’t get distracted, really. Animals, workers out back, in the kitchen, in the same room. Flashing lights. No worries. Our powers of concentration are amazing.
And yours are even better than ours, if you’ve actually made it to the end of this post. Nice work!
Oh sorry – you didn’t realize that? I didn’t mean to be the one to tell you. Actually, I didn’t realize it either – wow!
I just thought I’d stop by and let you know what we’re up as we hurtle towards the holidays.
Our Sunday services are continuing, of course. We’re doing a series on the book of Hebrews, and are in chapter 5 right now. I’m also doing the Where did the Bible come from? seminar during our Sunday School time. For those who have taken the seminar, you’ll know what I mean when I tell you that Javier the Louse will be making an appearance this Sunday, so I’m very excited about that. 🙂
We’re been greatly encouraged by the church lately – people’s involvement and interest in the Word. Thanks for your prayers!
Shari continues to keep the kids’ ministry running smoothly. Or, as smoothly as is possible with kids! They’re doing a Christmas themed series in Sunday school right now, and on Friday nights they’ve been going through the Creation story – very slowly, but they’re addressing a lot of important questions!
The adult Bible study continues too – we’re in Genesis, but going a little faster than the kids. 🙂
On Christmas Eve Eve we’ll be having a Christmas themed service – and a special year-end service the week after that.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to get together with some of our team of missionaries (the Frys and Chalo are in the States right now, and various children of said missionaries are in various places, including Hannah in Canada!). We would appreciate your prayers as we prepare for this upcoming change and as every missionary decides whether or not they will continue with Avant after the two missions join (if you missed that, check out Camino Global, Avant – What has changed, what has not…)
Of course both Hannah and Nathanael are busy with school, trying to get everything done so that they can enjoy some time off during the holidays. Hannah arrives in Mexico in 1 week, 6 days and under 4 hours!
So yes, we’re hoping to get some rest over the holidays, even though ministry will continue. There seems to be a seasonal bug going around our house right now, so we’re hoping that will go away soon (and that I’ll have a voice on Sunday!). 🤧
So that’s a little of what we’re up to! I hope you’re doing well, and able to catch some time to breath and to meditate on the miracle of the Incarnation.
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.
We’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.
Greetings from Mexico! If you have a moment to pray, here are a few quick prayer requests for you…
1) Please pray for tomorrow’s service. I will be teaching Sunday School, and preaching. So your prayers are always appreciated for those things. We’re still going through Mark in our sermons (expecting to finish in January). And for Sunday school we’re working through our doctrinal statement (this week it’s about what we believe about the Bible).
Shari and Hannah will be teaching the kids. Shari was pretty sick this week. She’s starting to feel better, but tomorrow will still be a challenge for her.
2) Please pray for our coworker who had surgery this past week. She also is feeling better, but has been in a lot of pain. So do pray for her continued recovery. She’ll be in the hospital for a few more days.
3) Please pray for those attending our new Bible studies. We’re super-excited to be starting a new series of Bible studies this week. We’re encouraging everyone in the church to try to come. So we shall see how things go! Please pray for all the people who will be coming.
4) Permanent Residence Visas. This is a praise and a prayer! The visas have gone through the process, and it’s time for us to go do the last bit of paperwork. Lord willing we’ll be doing that next week. Almost there!
5) General craziness. The school year has started with lots of to do – as usual! Please pray that God would give us wisdom and strength.
This weekend we had the privilege of having Shelli (Corina) Neufeld in Ixtapaluca for a few days. Shelli and her family have served for many years as missionaries in Hermosillo, Mexico. But in fact, during our first visit to Mexico, Shelli was with us – a part of our team that served in Mexico City and Apatzingan many years ago.
On Saturday the church in Jesús MarÃa hosted a children’s ministry seminar, with Shelli as the conference speaker. Four churches were represented. Shari (don’t get mixed up, now – I realize we’ve got a Shari and a Shelli in the same post!) went to a lot of work organizing the conference.
Well, Shelli’s teaching was pure gold – so many tips for teaching children (and, in fact, teens and adults too)! We heard some excellent feedback from those who attended. So after all the hard work, we’re very encouraged that there will be a positive impact on the method of teaching God’s Word in several churches.
On Sunday, at our church in Las Palmas, Shelli worked with several of those who normally teach. They put into practice much of what they learned on Saturday on Sunday.
Speaking of which, here’s Hannah teaching the craft of the day.
Shelli also shared her testimony on Sunday morning.
So, it was a good weekend. We struggled a little because – well, we thought we were getting over whatever bug it was that we had, but apparently we either got a new one or the other one wasn’t quite finished. So Shari and I were working at significantly lower-than-normal energy. But God worked in spite of that all.
So, thanks, Shelli, for joining us! And thanks to everyone who was praying for the weekend. To God be the glory!