"I Thought That You Were a Bum!"

Today I needed to go over to Castro and buy some parts for the mechanic who was fixing our truck. Things here are a little different than in the good ol U.S.A. No Napa nor Parts Plus to deliver the parts to the garage. It's the client's responsibility to pick up whatever the mechanic tells you to get. And you had better get the order right considering that it is a 3 hour round trip to pick them up. Wahoo!
So anyway as I am walking around getting the necessary materials I happen upon a couple from our church. (see picture in post below) I spot them from about 20 feet as I they are walking towards me. But did they see me? When they are just about to walk by me (without having said anything), I say "hola". And still nothing. So then I follow them a couple of steps and say, "como estan?" Still nothing but I note that they appear a little uncomfortable. I take a couple of more steps closer and say "Osvaldo y Miriam...." Miriam turns around and looks at me and says, "I thought you were a bum!" People say the sweetest things sometimes. They had been walking arm and arm, all cuddly with their little baby between them and they didn't even notice that the guy who was greeting them wasn't a bum but it was their pastor. We had a good laugh, greeted one another more appropriately, and warmly went our seperate ways. Of course it made me think of the way(s) that we perceive and react to people, things, and situations.
Well I finally corraled all of the car parts on my list and after sharing lunch and fellowship with a local pastor friend I was off to drop off the parts to the mechanic. Upon arrival I show him the parts and fortunately they were all met with approval. Supposedly the truck will be ready tomorrow by noon. (we will see) So back to the bus stop. On the way to the bus stop I stopped by the home of a very poor family and had some good fellowship with one who is a believer and had a good opportunity to share the gospel with one who isn't yet. (to my knowledge) It was a special time to share with them. Now I need to walk about 10 minutes to get to the bus stop. As I am approaching the bus stop I notice that their is a bus zooming by but I am never going to catch it because the last two blocks to the bus stop are uphill. Why not sit down for a minute, I think to myself. Seated there waiting for the next bus (about 15 minutes between them) I am going over the day and rehearsing the different situations in which the Lord placed me. Then I got a visitor. A heavy man, with the stereotypical "bum-look" pushing a handcart stops right in front of me and asks "What are you doing here?" And I'm like "waiting for the bus." So he sits down next to me and starts asking me a bunch of questions. Alright, two can play at this game. I ask him some questions with the idea of sharing about the gospel of Christ. We had a good conversation and although at first I was taken aback by his look and demeanor I am glad for the opportunity to have shared with him about the Way, the Truth and the Life. Yes sir, Don Patricio "I thought that you were a bum" but now I realize that you are one of the people that we have been praying for when we say "Lord please give me the opportunity to tell others about you." Because of our sin we are all bums. Bouncing around without any kind of bearing, just responding to the stimuli around us. However now through faith in Christ we are dressed in new clothes (Luke 15:22; Galatians 3:27; Romans 13:14) and are no longer seen as bums, but seen as dearly beloved sons and daughters of the Most High God! (Luke 6:35; 2nd Corinthians 6:18) Yes I was a bum, but now I am a Son of God!

Brethren, please pray for us!

Sing Praises to the Lord!

We as believers have the express privilege of singing praises to the Lord. We are the only ones that can truly do it. The Scripture is very clear that there is one God (Exodus 20:2-3) and one Mediator between Him and man. (1st Timothy 2:5) Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to know the Father (John 17:3) and correspondingly give Him praise for who He is and for what He has done.
It has been a joy to see the recent formation of the children's choir at Grace Baptist Church. Listening to the children share special music last Sunday and hearing them practice again yesterday truly was "music to my ears". And I trust to the Lord as well.
As children of God we have so much to sing about. How I love the truth found in 1st Peter 2:9
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."
May we bless the Lord at all times, may His praise be forever on our lips!

Teaching the kids the Word of God

A Good Father

The title of the message today at Grace Baptist was "A Good Father". With it being Father's Day I figured it was a good fit. From the beginning I stressed to the congregation that this day was first of all to be about our God and not about men. This and every other day "is the day that the Lord has made" (Psalm 118:24) and it is He who deserves all glory and praise.
Our message consisted of 4 aspects of how God is a good Father and how men should follow this model in their fathering. Here's the four things that we spoke about.
1. God as a good Father teaches His children
2. God as a good Father listens to His children
3. God as a good Father provides for His children
4. God as a good Father disciplines His children

What a joy it is to reflect on the goodness of God and His care for His children. What a model we have to follow. May we commit ourselves to the task at hand, trusting in God's grace and God's Spirit to help us.
It was a beautiful service today. Special music by the newly formed children's choir. Several times needing to put out more chairs as people continued to pour into the building. Sweet fellowship over a tasty after service meal. Nice Sunday School time with the children. God is so good to us! What a Good Father we have!

Lights going on

Well it's about 6am and I decided that now was the best of any to get up and have some time alone with the Lord and the computer. As I contemplate that last phrase I realize how it might sound. I obviously I do not want to imply that in order to commune with the Lord that we need to have a computer in tow. What craziness that would be! No, what I wanted to communicate is that right now is the most quiet that I will find it to do one thing very important (spend time alone with the Lord) and another thing semi-important; put out a new post. So hopefully that clears up any confusion if there were any....
The title of this entry is "lights going on". It doesn't refer to physical lights but to spiritual light shining into people's hearts. Last night we had a Bible study with one of our most faithful church attenders. She is a lady who had grown up in church but as she got older she started to grow lukewarm. Her husband doesn't share her beliefs but is very open to her attending our church and us having Bible studies in their home. As we shared in the beginning of our study last week she made the comment that she doesn't know much about the Bible even though she has been a Christian for many years. Our reaction was an enthusiastic "well, let's do something about that!Let's dig into the Word!" So last night as we were sharing with her from the Word, the questions just kept pouring out of her. Not just any kind of questions but good questions, insightful questions. It was obvious that she was thinking about these things for some time and wanted to have a clear understanding what God's Word had to say on these things. Lights were going on. She just needed someone to come alongside of her and point her to the Lord and to His Word. We are clear about who we are as ambassadors of Christ. (2nd Corinthians 5:20) Just as John the Baptist said, "it's necessary that He (Christ) becomes more and that I become less." (John 3:30) Again along with "The Baptizer" we rejoice in "preparing the Way of the Lord"; pointing people to the Father through Him and trusting in the Holy Spirit for not only turning the first light on (regeneration) but to keep it shining and shining (sanctification) until the day of Christ.
So to sum this all up, we praise the Lord for the opportunity to know Him and to make Him known. Sometimes as God's servants we don't have the opportunity to see fruit from our labors but other times we do. Regardless of the results may we be faithful to use God's light (Psalm 119:105) to point people to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. (John 8:12)

Worse than we think

Interesting that we often don't see ourselves as bad as we really are. I went to the doctor yesterday to find out why I have been coughing up so much green stuff and having some obstruction in my breathing. When the doctor looked at me she informed me that I indeed had some bronchial obstruction along with sinus congestion and an inflamed throat. Ok. And then she told me that I also had pink eye in both of my eyes. What? Pink eye? I can't remember ever having that before! I was worse off than I thought! So I left the office with an armful of medication that hopefully will give me some relief.
Now let us consider our sinful condition. God's Word is clear on the topic as it states that apart from Christ we are dead in our transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Not just kinda sick, but totally dead. Unable to fix ourselves we need someone to fix us. The only One who can do that is Jesus Christ. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1st Timothy 2:5-6) But many times people think that they really aren't that bad. They think that maybe they have some flaws, but surely they are alive. Physically yes, but spiritually no. So how will they find this out? Well this is our opportunity to share the good news. The good news in that although we must share the truth of man's spiritually dead condition, we also share with them the truth that God offers healing and restoration through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we never fall into the error of leading people to believe that they are "better than they are", let us lovingly tell them the truth that they are "worse than they think". Only by telling them the truth will there be any hope for them of recovering from their wretched condition.
"Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ, the Lord." Luke 2:11

So much to be thankful for

Just a thought on fifteen things for which I am thankful today
1. God
2. God's Word, The Bible
3. My wife
4. My kids
5. Brothers and Sisters in Christ
6. Water
7. Citrus fruit
8. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes
9. A roof over our heads
10. A decent internet connection
11. Our co-worker Kristina
12. Trials
13. Health
14. Family
15. Each one of you who most likely fall under #3,#4,#5 and/or #14. Thank you so much for the part that you have had in our lives and in the ministry down here in southern Chile.

*May we remember to give thanks in all things, because this is God's will for us in Jesus Christ. (1st Thessalonians 5:18)