2011 Concluding Thoughts

Have been ill the last few days. Was it inevitable, given that I was around a number of sick people prior to coming down with my own cold? I do thank God, that with the exception of my teeth, I have enjoyed superior health over the course of my life.
One of the best pieces of advice that I ever received regards e-mail. If I receive an e-mail that gives me a strong emotional reaction, wait at least 24 hours before responding. The one time this year that, due to circumstances, I didn't follow this rule, led to major problems. I do observe an ongoing phenomenon that people have no hesitation in saying in an e-mail what they would never dare to say in person. Followers of Christ need to refrain from blistering attacks in any form.
Women do desire, no matter how much they may argue or fight against it, to be led. They need good, godly leadership. This requires that men seek God. ( I know I will get in trouble for this one.)
Listening, sympathizing, encouraging people repeatedly over time without pointing them to Jesus is like putting air in a car tire with a hole in it without fixing the hole. No matter how many times we put the air in, it will always leak out again. Only God can fix the hole.
Helping someone to become a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is one of greatest privileges and most fulfilling things that a person can ever do. Sadly, about ninety percent of the Christians whom I ask have never had anyone do this with them.

Only in Cambridge

As regular readers of this blog are aware, I enjoy taking long walks in whatever places that I am in. Todays' jaunt was in Cambridge, MA, a mecca of highly educated people. As I trekked down urban streets with large ornate houses, bigger brick apartment buildings and an eclectic melange of architectural styles- a lemon yellow house, another faint pink, a weary little flat topped garage just big enough for a car, and another aged building shrouded with vines, I noticed a large handwritten sign. Parking is scarce in Cambridge and thus highly prized. The sign forbade unauthorized parking, ending in large letters with the warning "Police Prosecute." Underneath, in another hand, was written, "Correct your grammar." Perhaps I need that person to help me.
On another subject, as I contemplate the reality of conflict between Christians, it strikes me as inevitable. What is not inevitable is our response. We have three major choices- to run from the situation, to fight by justifying ourselves or to work things out through love, humility, forgiveness, repentance etc. Sadly my track record, although improving, is not very good. Nor is it for most situations of which I am aware. However, I am encouraged by the victory won by the grace of God by two couples that recently started a house church. They experienced a situation that could easily have blown up the whole thing. Yet through a willingness to work it out, aided by prayer, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, they are going forward. "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield for those who put their trust in Him." (Proverbs 30:5)

Hard Work, Patience & Tears

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." While I believe that God calls every believer into some form of ministry and gifts them to do so, some are given the responsibility of shepherding more than others. ( I understand that for some, who suffered through the "Shepherding Movement" of the 70's and 80's, even the word "shepherding" is problematic.)Attempting to help others become more like Christ (sanctification)can often be hard work, patience, tears, and, at the end of the day, far fewer results than we hope for. The truth is, as humans, no matter how much we listen or encourage or express the love of Christ, we cannot heal the deep wounds that so many people carry. Only Jesus can do that. This is why we must point people to Jesus rather than ourselves. Sooner or later we will disappoint people, and especially if we build unhealthy or unrealistic expectations in them. We must also face the reality that many people will transfer their feelings from people with whom they have unresolved conflict or unforgiveness onto those who are actually trying to help them. While it is difficult to suffer for someone else's sins, it is a phenomenon that one will face often. Finally we need to understand that most people (like me) have to learn the hard way, through painful, prolonged personal experience. What may be very obvious to us is not to them. We should recall the patience and perseverance that God has had with us. "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ( 1 Cor. 1:9 NKJV)

Cross- Pollinating

Sunday, Dec. 4th the brethren in our group had the opportunity to meet with the Brazilian church along with saints from Virginia, Brazil and Canada. God provided a wonderful participatory gathering complete with prayer, worship, testimony, celebration of two children's birthdays and a sharing that included 2 Kings 3:16 "And he said, 'Thus says the Lord: Make this valley full of ditches." (NKJV) This verse was the center of the very first Bible teaching I ever gave in 1974.
The following Sunday our Lord drew more of His body together. Again the Brazilians and ourselves were present. We were joined by saints from Maine, New Hampshire and central Mass and Connecticut along with people who lived in the projects. This was an Acts 20 gathering modeled after the address of Paul to the Ephesian elders on the beach in Miletus. Our brother Vinci shared his heart for God, the believers and the unsaved world, exhorting us to have Christ live through us. Our sister Mariana walked in faith and courage to translate into English from Portuguese before so many people. And when we finally ate I never saw twenty pizzas plus a lot of home cooking disappear so fast. I thank God for those who traveled longer distances, and those that worked hard to prepare the facility (we normally meet in homes), those who prayed in preparation and all who participated. Glory to God! He is worthy!

Adventures with Brazilians (3)

When I left Brazil last August one of the things that most impressed me was the warmth, and sacrificial nature of the hospitality of the saints that I met. ( Found in greater detail in my Brazil report blog entry of August 6th.) Frankly I despaired of Americans ever matching it. As with so many things, I, the man of little faith, had God show me otherwise. On Thursday Vinci and Samia, Reuel and Erica and Mateus, and Getulio and Ana came to visit. Our household is a fairly quiet one, with only one extrovert among the five of us. This was transformed at once. We had lunch together as the Spirit of God knit together those who had not previously met. Sanford and Deb gave up their basement "Hawaiian" suite to Vinci and Samia, I ushered Reuel & Erica into the "Mexico" suite, and our sister Pat provided a guest room for Getulio and Ana.
Bruce, a brother who has ministered extensively in central Asia, swung by about 4, and was immediately swept into the flow of the Spirit. He emerged about two hours later like a man who had come out of a desert into a waterfall. Wayne and Michael took his place, Nate joined us, and we dove into a whole lot of Chinese food, fellowship, laughter. Later Nic, Mike and Katie, and Danielle hopped on board.
Finally we sat down and Vinci shared his heart with us about the kingdom of God, and building in that kingdom through home based ministry. Samia translated. Just watching them is a joy as they tease each other (after many years of marriage.) In the morning we had breakfast and then Vinci and Samia spoke with me privately. They are a multi-faceted couple, humble yet walking in the power of the Spirit, full of joy, Vinci is an avid jokester but also serious about the preaching of the gospel. We ate lunch later, and I noticed that Vinci spent time with each daughter of my host family separately, drawing them out.
Friday night we celebrated Vinci and Marcio's birthdays. Together they are 100 years old. Imagine a long narrow table filled with Brazilians, and the occasional stray north American, chattering away in Portuguese and a little English lingo, punctuated by explosions of laughter, eating and joy. I cannot help thinking of the marriage supper of the Lamb. ( Revelation 19)

Adventures with Brazilians ( 2)

Last night I had the blessing and joy of spending the evening with my friends Vinci, Samia, Getulio & Ana from Brazil along with my American friend Matt. We met in a
confeitaria (pastry & coffee shop) The waitresses spoke Portuguese, and my friends felt comfortable. Samia ordered a Brazilian specialty for us, the name of which I forget, consisting of shredded chicken and cheese in a pear shaped, and sized, fried dough coating. We discussed the advance of the kingdom of God through ascension gift teams ( Ephesians 4:11)and a swirl of other topics. Matt was meeting them for the first time so they got acquainted. After two hours we departed with Matt returning to his family. Then the real adventure started.
We were walking back to the car when we heard sirens. First one fire engine, then a second and a third filled the narrow street on which we had parked, completely blocking us in. It turned out the "fire" was very minor but it took a awhile to figure this out. Then they wanted to go to stores to exchange things or find items not previously obtained. Now i am familiar with the northern suburbs so I was ok there. Then they wanted to go into the big city, which I do not know. Vinci held the GPS while I tried to keep my eyes on the road. Everyone is speaking Portuguese, which I am trying, thus far in vain, to learn. My reflexes are not what they were, and I don't like driving at night in strange places. I made several wrong turns, and on one occasion we were nearly killed.
I once heard a teaching that said that God used angels to protect His children from physical harm, and the Holy Spirit from spiritual danger. After last night I am inclined to believe it because I don't see any other reason why we are not all dead. So while I want to serve them I think it should take another form than driving around at night in strange cities.

Adventures with Brazilians ( 1)

Normally i live an orderly, staid, little life- like standing in a line that moves forward slowly. Yesterday that line was for a roller coaster ride with Brazilians. Some of you may know Brazilians that have lived in the U. S. for awhile. Sadly, many seem to lose a lot of what I call their "Brazilianness", the exuberant zest for life lived on impulse, and always in a highly relational group context. So I went to Natick to drive a 15 passenger van to help my friend Vinci. He and his wife Samia had brought a group of about thirty Brazilians to the U. S. to shop and have fun. My friends Getulio & Ana-Maria accompanied them, and it was wonderful to see them again. First I helped to load a 14' truck with suitcases. I'm a very casual dresser- jeans and a flannel shirt are my usual "style." Brazilians tend to dress more sharply so I had on the shirt Samia had given me, in her honor, with dress slacks and shoes. Not the best attire for heaving heavy suitcases into a truck. This took about an hour and a half. Then I'm part of a caravan of one truck and two vans to the airport. Normally I drive a very small car so this was an adventure in itself. By the grace of God it was not rush hour, and Getulio was a great co-pilot. I get to practice my very broken Portuguese. I'm on the "ride." We actually get to the correct place in the airport and unload the passengers. As anyone knows that goes to U. S. airports, you don't get to wait with a vehicle. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11 the police don't let anybody hang around. We had a truck, two large vans, and a smaller van. I stay with the vehicles while the other drivers go inside. Some of the suitcases are way over the weight limit, so everyone is unloading and rearranging their luggage. ( $200 for each over weight item.) So we're there 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and I'm anticipating a cruiser any second. I can only drive one vehicle. After half an hour the B's are still sorting out their situation and I think this is incredible. At 45 minutes my friend Marcio brings me a sandwich, saying it's still going to be awhile. Finally at well over an hour the police car comes and we all jet off. I attribute this to the grace of God. We go to Revere, drop off some people, have the typical conference in a language that I really don't understand. Marcio & I finally go to the truck to return it. No, they still need me to drive a van. No problem. We go back through the tunnels, on the Pike to Watertown and drop off the vans. M & I are almost back to the Pike. Oops, we have body damage on one van. Back to the rental place, another conference- they do say that immersion is the best way to learn a language- then back to the Pike- a fascinating discussion of prophetic ministry with Marcio- and finally drop off the truck in Framingham. Then Janaina joins the discussion as we go back to Natick. I pick up my car to go back home. I'm off the ride but still dizzy.

Christmas?

In my last post i thanked those who read this blog. In this post, I may drive some away. The subject is Christmas, surely one of the most emotional topics that a person could tackle. Should a Christian celebrate it? The origin is undeniably pagan. It comes from the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, celebrated on the 25th of December. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century A.D., the church took over this holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ even though there is no evidence that He was born on this date. Some people find in the Christmas tree an outgrowth of the Asherah poles decried in the Old Testament. ( Deut. 16:21, Judges 6:25, Micah 5:14 et. al) And I find nowhere in the Bible where we are ever told to celebrate the birth of Christ. Should we not concentrate on the things that we are told to do rather than spend so much time, energy and money on something that we are not commanded?
However, we are never told that we cannot celebrate His birth. This calls for wisdom. Romans 14:5-6 states, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord... while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God." Three times in this chapter we are told not to judge other believers about this type of thing. ( Verses 3&4, 10, 13,)
For those who choose to celebrate I trust that your focus is on the Lord, rather than celebrating the materialism of an affluent culture. Far too many people go into debt to purchase presents, spend the entire following year to pay it off, and repeat the process over and over. We should consider using this as an opportunity to give to the poor.
The final concern in this post is with the idea of Santa Claus, an invisible, benevolent, gift giver whom children eventually learn is not real. Have we not effectively both lied to our children, and raised a barrier to believing in the true invisible, benevolent, gift giver- God Himself? Is it not preferable to say that God has chosen the parents or other relatives to bless children with gifts?

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, as it reflects the will of God. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." ( 1 Thess 5:18 ESV) Not the god of football or of gluttony, but the God of the Bible. Today I give thanks for both the followers and the other readers of this blog. I assume that you find it encouraging or helpful in some way or you would not continue to read it. Awhile ago my friend M. T. added Sitemeter. Each week I receive a report on the numbers of visits. These have gradually increased over time.
Monday morning Mike S. joined Sanford and I for a time of prayer and discussion. Thank you, Lord, for this jump-start for the week.
Tuesday evening helped, along with about thirty-five others, to complete Bruce G's move into his new home. These brethren came from a number of churches, and relationships in Bruce's life but worked together harmoniously, utilizing the various gifts that God has given them to bless others.
Yesterday traveled to southern Connecticut to visit my friends Chris & Carolyn, and spoke to their son, now 21, whom I first met when he was ten. Chris is a "deep thinker." We spoke about the themes of consensus, revival, the blood of Christ in relation to sin, and some practical questions that he is mulling over.

Tuesday afternoon took the opportunity to help our brother Bruce G unload a moving truck. Haven't had that much fun in a long time. Am thankful to God that I can still do physical work. That evening drove to Marcio's casa, had dinner, fellowship and discussion until 11, then ninety minutes home. Way past my bedtime but enjoyed it.
Wednesday evening had dinner with my youngest brother. Delved into some difficult but rewarding areas. Looking forward to spending more time together soon. Thursday afternoon drove to Boston, endured the endless traffic jams, and met with the support/accountability group. Commitment is key to our fruitfulness. Friday met with Josh at noon, and Jason around 2. Hadn't gotten together with Jason for awhile. Discovered that God has blessed him. Her initials are G. K. Saturday morning found me in the car again, trekking to a meeting with the Cambridge brothers, where we continued to work on the theme of consensus. Around noon, headed off to see Gary. Am thankful to God for all three of these brothers. By 4 I was headed north to NH to stay with Tom H & family. Please pray for God's provision for them. They have started a business that is growing and showing potential but they are running out of capital. Sunday two other families arrived and we worshipped together. I had an opportunity to speak about my trip to Brazil, the apostolic ministry, and Vinci's imminent arrival.
Am appreciative of those people who break through the natural human response of assuming things, by asking questions to insure that they have understood correctly what was communicated.

Rejoicing in Heaven

Friday evening I had the privilege of getting together with Matt W, Juliano & Marcio. God continues to develop our trust and relationship with one another. We look forward to the visit of Vinci, Samia, Getulio & Ana Maria from Brazil later this month. Thank you, God for the open door you have provided.
Saturday morning got together with the brothers to flesh out our understanding of consensus, and how it might work on the practical level. We are going forward with the principle of elder-guided consensus as exemplified in Acts 1, 6 & 15, and implied in Matthew 18.
Saturday evening I had the privilege of participating in the gathering where I actually live in central MA. Heard a great testimony from our sister Pat about how God had convicted her to give to His work on a regular basis, and how He had provided for her. Another highlight was digging into the Word with a few people prior to worshipping.
Sunday morning our "home" community started exploring meeting in a local community center on a monthly basis to aid development of a more "outward" focus for our group. Sunday afternoon drove down to RI to visit a new gathering with my friends John & Danielle. Only three months old, they are growing, enthusiastic and blessed. The highlight of the evening was a young man named AJ, who repented of his sins and gave his life to the Lord. "Just so, I tell you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10 ESV)

Echoing

Walked with the presence of the Lord through different wooded roads near my friend, and brother, Steve's house this morning. Fog meandered along while a previous snowstorm and freeze eliminated the insects. Several things came to mind. The first is an appeal, echoing many other people in the body of Christ, to get our financial houses in order. We have no guarantee of the continuation of the present world economic system. God could pull the plug at any time.
He also spoke to me about the mutual respect that we must have in order to partner together in the advance of God's kingdom. My friend John & I complement one another well because of this. We have different strengths, life experiences, personalities and we have disagreed vigorously at times. Yet mutual respect, based on the work that God has done in one another's lives allows us to bear much more good fruit together than we would alone.
God confirmed to me again the importance of communication, of not allowing ourselves to get isolated, and of the need for mutual encouragement.
I also thank Him for good reports from Steve S, Matt W & John DeC. God is faithful and He is at work in our midst. "Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." (Ps. 143:8 ESV)

"Advance" Report

God moved powerfully in our midst this past weekend at our elders' retreat. About a dozen brothers from eight or nine different small churches came. I have had the pleasure and privilege of organizing and participating in many small scale men's retreats over the past twenty years; this one had an unusually high level of commitment and resultant good fruit. We had a blend of older and younger men, introverts and extroverts. Friday evening we had no particular agenda but ended up having mutually edifying interaction until midnight. Saturday morning God used John to reignite our passion for Him. That afternoon we explored the potential impact of apostolic ministry. In the evening Ken did the same with the prophetic ministry.
Some themes that kept being brought to the forefront included discipleship, interaction and formation of relationship with groups geographically close to us, a desire for the elders to have closer contact with each other, and an outward rather than inward focus. We were wonderfully blessed by the hospitality of Ron, Marianne, and the community that fellowships with them. They showed their love for the saints in a practical, unobtrusive manner.
As we enter the two month holiday period, the challenge for us will be to maintain the spiritual momentum that God gave us last weekend. May we prove faithful.

God Made Himself Vulnerable

As our church will start a series on the letter to the Galatians this Sunday, I was musing this morning on the reality of dual authorship, the concept that the Holy Spirit works through human authors, their personality, culture etc. to reveal God to us. Even though Galatians was written by a specific individual to a specific group of people at a set point in time for specific reasons, through the instrumentality of the Divine Author, it becomes relevant, indispensable and revelatory to believers of any era, culture or language. Jesus prays in John 17:3 that we "will know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent." God yearns for us to know Him, and He has revealed Himself, who He is, His interactions with humanity, how we might please Him, through the Holy Spirit inspired Word. In so doing He has made Himself vulnerable to attack. It begins in Genesis 3 with Satan's accusation that God is a liar. "You will not surely die." ( Genesis 3:4)And it continues until the present day in virtually everything. It is almost impossible to view a movie or TV, read a book or newspaper, or get on the Internet without exposure to outright hostility to God, or lies about who He is, or active urging to lust, greed, or other things contrary to God's will. Yet God made Himself vulnerable so that we might know who He truly is and glorify Him.

A Taste of God's Power

An unusual late autumn snowstorm has created havoc in a multi-state area, knocking down countless tree limbs, whole trees, and powerlines. Hundreds of thousands of people still do not have power, and may not for a week or more. This follows a tornado (very rare in our part of the country), a hurricane, and even an earthquake. The town i live in looks like a war zone. Yet all of this is a small taste of God's infinite power.
A friend asked me if I knew of any good books on the subject of work from a Christian perspective. As we spoke further I said that Jesus and all the apostles had given dignity to work by providing for their needs through hard manual labor. Also that working gave us the opportunity to give. ( Eph. 4:28) Most importantly, work often serves as a vise grip to hold us in place while the Holy Spirit works to make us more like Christ. ( Conformed to His image- Romans 8:29)
This leads to the amazing revelation that God would allow Himself, in the person of the Holy Spirit, to indwell us. ( Romans 8:29) A infinitely perfect and holy God residing in humanity.
Am very thankful to God for our church's increasing relationship with a Brazilian church. We had the privilege of joining with them for a baptism, not to mention some excellent Brazilian food.

Spiritual Health

One of the privileges that God has given me is to interact with about a score of small churches in New England. I try to visit each one several times annually, and maintain contact via phone, email, one on one visits and large scale gatherings in the interim. Much of my focus is to encourage them in their faith and spiritual growth. Some churches seem healthier than others. What are some of the characteristics of a healthy group? One is an outward focus in which the people of the group are ministering Christ to others, and particularly to those that don't have a personal relationship with him. Another is the love of the people in the group for one another. A third is a willingness to take the Word of God seriously. Earlier this week I was talking with a brother whom God has raised up to lead one of the healthiest groups that I know. We were discussing the scene in Acts 8:24ff when Philip meets the Ethiopian eunuch. The man is reading the Scripture (in Isaiah), seeking to understand, and willing to be teachable by allowing Philip to explain it to him. This humility is key. Sanford's humble consistent focus on responding to life by asking "What does the Word of God say?" has resulted in ongoing conversions, baptisms, evangelism, and a genuine willingness on the part of the brethren to submit to the Lordship of Christ through obeying His Word. So often we are derailed in our growth in the faith by our unwillingness to do this basic thing.

Image- Bearing

Genesis 1:26a tells us that "God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." (ESV) After giving man dominion over the animals, the Holy Spirit goes on to say that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. So the very first thing that we learn about the creation of the human race is that we are made like God. This is not said of angels, animals or any other part of his creation. Adam's sin mars and distorts this. But Romans 8:29 says that "those whom he (God) foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (ESV) One way to understand the process of sanctification is as the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in regenerated people to make them more like Jesus. "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess 2:13-14 ESV)
On reflection of how we respond to this sanctifying work of the Spirit, it appears there are three primary ways. One is by divine revelation where God gives a person insight through reading the Word, prayer etc. In a famous passage, Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me..." (Matthew 11:28-29a ESV) Mathetes, the underlying Greek word translated "disciple" means a learner. A second method is through others, whether in direct teaching, or by observation. Psalm 145:4 says, "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." (ESV) Fathers are told to bring up their children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4 ESV) Finally we have what I refer to as the "hard way," i.e. painful, personal experience. God is faithful to do this when we choose not to employ the other methods. (Heb. 12:6) It seems that human nature requires most of us to learn in this way much of the time. While all learning, or sanctification has value, the hard way often takes years or even decades. As long as we are learning, however slowly, the Holy Spirit is bringing us closer to the glorious privilege of bearing the image of God through Christ as originally intended.

Unfermented wine?

While I am not a fan of controversy, and certainly do not want to use this blog to impose my personal theological convictions, occasionally I am exercised enough by what others are saying that I am willing to enter the lists. In this post I am tackling the misleading theme of unfermented wine. I am neither a NT Greek scholar nor an expert in ancient viticulture. However, by the grace of God I can read. The argument is that Jesus drank only unfermented ( non-alcoholic) wine, and that it is sinful for a genuine follower of Christ to have alcohol at any time. It is true that alcoholism is a scourge of any society, and has proven the ruin of many people. Numerous others have been battered by its destructiveness, and the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments strongly warns against drunkeness, e.g. Proverbs 23:29-35, Galatians 5:21, 1 Peter 4:3. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 states that drunkards, among others, will not inherit the kingdom of God, thus putting to rest the idea that it is a disease for which people bear no personal responsibility.
Today, I am responding to those at the other extreme. Mentioning Jesus' first miracle at Cana ( John 2:1-11) when he turned approximately 150 gallons ( about 600 liters) of water into wine, or Paul's admonition to “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments,” ( 1 Timothy 5:23) is circumvented by the phrase unfermented wine. The reality is that we have a phrase in English, grape juice, which describes this perfectly. There really is no such thing as unfermented wine. Wine has alcohol in it; grape juice does not. Until the advent of modern technology it wasn't possible to store grape juice for any length of time before it began to ferment. This is why the name of Thomas Welch, a Methodist, is associated with grape juice, because he invented a process of pasteurization to prevent fermentation ca 1869. NT Greek has three different words to describe wine, the most common of which is transliterated as “oinos.” It also has a word for grape juice, “trux” which is nowhere used in the NT. While these simple facts should be sufficient to close the debate, I am confident that attempts will be made to dismiss them.
For the record, I do not drink alcohol, and haven't since February 5th, 1973. However, I do not attempt to impose my practice on others or refuse to fellowship with those who do partake. I believe that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” ( Romans 14:17) Because I do not wish to tempt or stumble others, ( Romans 14:21), I relinquish the freedom to drink in moderation that Christ gives us.
Now some will grant that believers may partake but that anyone in a leadership role is forbidden. One wonders why the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:3 or Titus 1:7 that state that an elder must not be a drunkard are insufficient. Are we, like the Pharisees that Jesus rebukes in Matthew 15 and Mark 7, adding our own traditions to the commandments of God?

Discipleship

Thankful for a busy weekend in the Lord. Friday evening met with Matt, Juliano & Marcio. Enjoyed good food, fellowship, and prayer together. Obrigado, Pai (Thank you, Father) for what You are doing. Saturday morning met with Matt & Matt. We explored several questions pertaining to consensus.
What level of commitment is needed to be part of the decision making consensus?
What constitutes a consensus? I.E. simple majority, super majority, unanimity?
What needs to be decided by consensus? Everything?
The more trust, relationship, and commitment are present among the brethren, the less these questions matter yet guidelines are helpful.
Off at noon to visit my friend Gary, and then down to Waterford, CT. to visit Paul & Donna. They have true shepherd's hearts. The following morning had the opportunity to share in the gathering, beginning by asking the following question. How many of you have ever had someone that mentored you in the Christian faith? Someone who cared for you, poured their life into yours, in an intentional way over a period of several years. In a room of about ten people only three had this experience. It is very difficult to show someone else how to do something when no one has ever shown you. I suspect that most American Christians that actually are disciples had to disciple themselves. God is faithful but I doubt this is His ideal plan. But so much energy goes into keeping churches going that we don't have time for this type of relationship.

House Church Conference

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the 11th annual New England House Church Conference organized by our brother Matt Durning. I begin by thanking him, his wife Karen, Mike & Pam Derewianka, and their respective children for all of their hard work in putting this on. Also a thank you to Ed Caouette, the original conference organizer. Two excellent Ephesians 4:11 teachers, Steve Atkerson, and Beresford Job taught a primary and secondary track. Steve shared on NT church practice. Every year he tinkers with and adds a little more to his presentation. I was particularly struck this year with his wine/wineskins analogy in which he emphasized that without the wine ( Jesus) the wineskin was irrelevant. His best attended session dealt with heresy in house church settings, and the gradations of error, false teaching and heresy. Beresford taught a series on Biblical Truth. I only caught two sessions; I look forward to getting the audio tapes so that I can get the whole story.
About sixty adults attended. A number were from places outside New England like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even Nova Scotia.
I continue working on Portuguese, making slow progress. "But I have trusted in your steadfast love, my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me." ( Ps. 13:5-6 ESV)

California Report/ Bill Ireland

Maybe i should go to California in the winter when it's freezing in New England rather than in the fall. Last Wednesday evening brethren from the S. F. HC gathered. James and Dale facilitated worship, and I shared on the theme of discipleship. Thursday and Friday were quiet days, walking around Lake Merced again, reading and resting. Saturday morning Marcus and Stine picked me up, took me to the airport. They were also flying to the LA area. My daughter picked me up from the Long Beach airport, and we hastened to the Pasadena wedding of Kenton & Sally, one of a number of couples whom I know that have met through E- Harmony. My friend Matt co-officiated, and my daughter got to meet some of my friends. We went to the reception where i had a good conversation with Chris and Angela. Sunday morning returned to my daughter's church, where we looked at Romans 10:14-17. The emphasis was on speaking the truth of the gospel in the joy of Christ. That afternoon we took a walk in the hills. Almost 90F. That evening back to Long Beach on an overnight flight. As I can't sleep on planes I didn't finally get to sleep until noon on Monday. Slept from noon until 7, and again from midnight until 7:30 this morning.
Want to take this opportunity to introduce my friend Bill Ireland, a brother whom I first met about forty years ago at a Christian commune called the Lighthouse Ranch. We were together again in the LA area. I didn't see him again for almost thirty years but got reaCQUAinted in 2009. He is a humble, solid brother who has just started a blog called The Glowing Scroll. Hopefully you can access it from my dashboard page. "Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." ( Prov. 25:25 ESV)

Lake Merced

Am in California for the week. Flew in Friday evening and was greeted by my daughter and son-in-law, whom I hadn't seen for a year and a half. Very gratified to see their growth in Christ, maturity, poise and assurance. Saturday morning we relaxed and then went to the annual Arts Splash in Carlsbad in the afternoon, where we saw my friend Ron and many other artists. I'm not a big arts guy myself but I appreciate that God gave each one separate gifts to use for His glory. Saturday evening went to a place called the Gastro Pub. Sunday headed off to their regular church where the brother preached on Romans 10:5-13. He has been working his way through Romans for several years. They are getting a solid foundation.
In the afternoon had a good, fruitful conversation with my daughter before my friend Bill came. He is an old GO guy, a gifted musician,a and a thinker who is not full of himself. We hung out for about two hours. Sunday evening she prepared a meal and the three of us relaxed. Monday morning up early, my son-in-law took me to the airport and I flew up to the Bay Area. One hour actual flying time replaces nine hours of driving. My friend Andrew picked me up, took me out to breakfast, and then to his neighborhood. He showed me around and then he had to head off to a work assignment in the south. Yesterday I walked to the nearest subway station, and then off to Fremont to see my brother. He picked me up, took me out to eat at a non meat buffet restaurant, and then back to the BART station again. He is one of the most non intentionally humorous people I know. The whole process, including walking back to the apartment from the BART station took six hours.
This morning I walked around Lake Merced's muddy green water, enjoying the different vegetation than we have in New England. "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isa 55:12 ESV)

Hope of the Gospel

When one thinks of the hope of the gospel, one may think of the promise of eternal life for those who genuinely place their trust in Christ, and this is true. Today, I write of another aspect, that of hope in this life. Over the course of the last four decades I have encountered many believers. Far too many seem little changed over time. Some use Jesus as a coping mechanism. Others rely on the promise mentioned above of eternal bliss with Christ. Too few seem to have victory in this life. I don't refer to perfection, but to an ongoing growth, bearing good fruit, becoming, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, more like Christ. Now I understand that some receive a better start in life than others, that some have experienced horrific abuse or neglect yet we all have the same sin nature, and all require the same salvation found in Christ. What is the difference between the person who, thirty years ago, received Christ but is still bound by old wounds, unforgiveness, and intransigent sin, and the person that is faithfully denying himself, taking up his cross daily, and following Jesus? Does it really boil down to faith in what God says and acting on that faith? I believe it does. Even the smallest act of obedience is rewarded. Each one has received the measure of faith. ( Romans 12:3) We are no longer helpless losers but more than conquerors through Him who loves us. (Rom. 8:37)
Blessed by fellowship this week with the Monday morning men's group, Bruce G, Juliano & Mariana, Ken K, John R, the Thursday night men's group, Josh, and Juli.

Advance

God surpassed my expectations during our recent church advance (retreat.) We enjoyed good fellowship, prayer, worship, teaching, eating together, and even a little Frisbee. Again i am reminded of an orchestra, with all the different instruments. Occasionally one solos, sometimes a section (like strings or horns) plays, and then the entire orchestra plays together. But it is the conductor that sets the pace, the one on whom each musician looks and depends for the right timing. All analogies break down at some point but in the one described above the Holy Spirit is the conductor. He chooses the music, and we play at His direction. There is some structure but within it, each person gets to play to the peak of their gift and ability.
I had become concerned that we were simply a collection of individuals rather than a group established by God to work together in glorifying Him and bearing good fruit. What I saw encouraged me that we had some cohesion and worked well together. One attendee was a fourteen year old teenager who had never met any of us before. In the beginning he wanted to go home right away. By the end, after hanging out with us, being prayed for and praying for others, he thanked us for inviting him. Three young men, college students, came. Each added a lot to us. Our sisters excelled in hospitality, as they always do. We also thank John & Debra for their generosity in loaning their immaculate home to us for the weekend.
Am also thankful to God for time spent with Gary, looking into, among other things, the father heart of God. Also thankful with what He is doing with Sanford and Co. brothers gathering for prayer at the home where I live, on Monday mornings.

Early September reflections

The following thought has been posted before; as the Holy Spirit has brought it to my remembrance, I'll pass it on. Regarding the idea of "gleaning", if the fact of disagreeing with one thing that someone says or teaches causes us to no longer listen or receive that person, what does that actually say? It seems to say that unless we can have 100% agreement, then we have nothing. Is this a realistic expectation, to agree with everything a person says or teaches? It also seems to say that we have 100% accuracy in everything we believe, that there is nothing further that we can or need to learn. Isn't this a high level of hubris? Aren't we then unteachable?
On another note those who attended the most recent regional gathering received mutual encouragement and edification. May God continue to work in our hearts.
Was blessed to visit a group near Willimantic, CT. on Sunday. This is the largest of the twenty groups that I visit, a number of homeschooling families, some of whose children have now grown up and married. Shared a little on the themes that I believe that God wanted me to bring back from Brazil, i.e. loving one another and discipleship.
This morning was the inauguration of a men's group. Four of us joined together to share, pray, get in the Word and glorify God. May we not despise the day of small beginnings. (Zech. 4:10)

Spiritual Pride

In the battle of the Christian against sin, it seems that external, visible sins are easier to combat, for example, to quit smoking or cursing. The internal ones like lust or pride are far more intractable. Yesterday as I reflected on this, i believe that the Holy Spirit revealed to me that pride meant loving ourselves more than God. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment of all, He responded "and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." ( Mark 12:30)Pride places our love for one's self as more important than our love for God. The Scripture acknowledges that we love ourselves when it says "for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it..." (Ephesians 5:29) Yet this understanding of our love for ourself should lead us to a greater love for God.
Spiritual pride seems like the worst manifestation of our love for one's self over God. What do we have that we have not received? We deserve eternal punishment. Romans 14 says in three separate places not to judge our brothers. In context, this refers to things which are not foundational doctrine. In other words, it is permissible to see some things differently. Yet our pride says that we are 100% correct in all our convictions, doctrines, interpretations and applications, even when we change our position. Lord God, may i love you more than myself.

House Church Blues

Some of the readers of this blog are familiar with a teaching utilizing the parable of the wine poured into new wine skins ( Luke 5:36ff) In this teaching Jesus is the wine and New Testament patterns a.k.a. apostolic traditions is the wineskin. As usually expressed, the lack of a new wineskin (rather than the old wineskin of traditional church practice) is needed to contained the wine so it doesn't fall to the ground. While we should adhere to the Bible rather than human tradition, no wineskin has a purpose if there is no wine to put in it. For some time people have been telling me their concerns about people in house churches in New England. In the last several weeks this has accelerated. It comes from brethren whom I respect in the Lord. No longer can I ignore it. Have we become so enamoured of the structure that we have lost the life? Jesus is clear. Apart from Him we can do nothing. ( John 15:5) He told the disciples to wait until they were clothed with power from on high. ( The promise of the Holy Spirit) As I reflect back on eleven plus years of following the original apostolic traditions of the NT, which I do believe are for today, I see a trickle of seasoned believers from traditional churches into home gatherings. Several groups have become twenty with whom I have relationship. Yet except for one group, there are hardly any new converts. Are we just shuffling the deck? Does the wineskin have any point if we have no wine to put into it?

Armor of God Points to Jesus

While walking down the road with the Lord this morning, the Holy Spirit began to show me how the armor of God that I wrote of in my last post, pointed to Jesus. The passage starting in Ephesians 6:10 speaks of six different parts of spiritual protection. The first, in 6:14, is the belt of truth. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life. The next is the breastplate of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says that Jesus has become our righteousness. Third are the feet shod with the gospel of peace. Mark 1:1 refers to the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and He is our peace. (John 14:27) Fourth is the shield of faith. Our faith is in Jesus. (Romans 3:22, Galatians 2:16) Fifth we have the helmet of salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:10) Finally we have the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. John chapter 1:1 says that Jesus is the Word. (cf. Verses 14,18) All of this points to Jesus, as Hebrews 12:2 tells us to do, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. May we put our armor on daily.
Also would appreciate prayer for the regional gathering on September 10th as believers from the New England region gather to glorify God through Jesus Christ.

Defeated or armored up?

Woke up this morning with a strong sense of defeat. Sin, the flesh and the devil are tough, cunning enemies that don't give up, and my track record against them is not what I would want. Six days from today I am supposed to acknowledge a major role of responsibility in the Kingdom, something I am neither excited about nor especially gifted to do. The temptation is to accept defeat, not shoulder the responsibility, say that I can't do it. Thankfully the Holy Spirit is also speaking. "Armor up, rick." He is reminding me of the passage in Ephesians 6 in which He writes through Paul the apostle to "put on the whole armor of God." (v.11) This is not just stirring martial imagery but a powerful spiritual reality, if we obey the command. In particular He speaks to me of the "belt of truth." In John 17:17 Jesus says that the Word is truth. So what is the truth of the Word of God about me or any genuine believer in Christ? Romans 8:37 says that "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us." Conquerors don't live in or accept defeat. Instead God leads us in triumphal procession in Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 2:14) Conquerors are "strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." (Ephesians 6:10) They "share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3) "To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." Romans 16:27 ESV)

Baptism

Last night God gave me the joy and the privilege of witnessing the baptism of a believer named Michael. He is a quiet brother in his mid-thirties who had truly counted the cost of following Christ before being baptized. Sadly we don't have many baptisms in the U.S. I wish many more people could have heard his testimony and experienced his joy. Thank you, God for the opportunity to see what you are doing in Michael's life.
After much inner wrestling God has persuaded me to make an all out effort to learn Portuguese. A brother and friend offered to give me the first level of the Rosetta Stone language software, I've been reading a Portuguese-English Bible for two months, and I intend to purchase a book on grammar. God has given me incentive, believers to practice with, and the time to work on it. Any and all prayers are appreciated as I have never successfully learned another language.
Muito obrigados to my Brazilian friends like Wellington, Marcelo, Wanderley, Marcio, Carlos and others that are following this blog. May our Lord Jesus give me revelation to encourage and bless you.
God has used my brothers John, Josh, Matt, Vinny, Gary, Russ & Sanford to bless and challenge me this week in one on one conversations. God is showing me more things in my life that I must die too. ( John 12:24)
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24 ESV)

Brazilian Retreat

Just returned this evening from a retreat with Brazilian believers in the state of New Hampshire. People came from Canada, the Boston area, and even the state of Virginia. Wonderful time of one on one, small group, and large group edification. Good food as always. The only thing missing was Guarana. Played tennis for about the third time in my life with predictable results. Fortunately my partner Juliano made up for my lack. Juliano and his wife Mariana are strong believers.
Had the privilege of meeting and talking with a fervent brother named Marcelo, who shared a powerful message from the Word Saturday evening about the Kingdom of God. God had given me a word about six days earlier on the alien and strangers' theme that was the subject of my last post. It is a poignant truth for those who are experiencing this in the natural.
Also had an opportunity to encourage a brother who does blue collar work that there is no shame in it in the eyes of God. Many of the apostles were fishermen, Paul made tents ( Acts 18:2b-3) and Jesus, God's own son was a carpenter. If they did manual labor surely it is not something for us to look down upon. On the contrary, we are told to work with our hands in 1 Thessalonians 4:11.

Aliens & Strangers

"Bendito o que vem em nome do Senhor" ( Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord) Luke 13:35b)Had a long conversation with two friends Sunday evening centering on the related themes of being aliens and strangers, and on our identity. I believe that our true identity is what God says that we are in Jesus Christ. For example, in Ephesians 5:1 believers in Christ are said to be "beloved children." The reality of being aliens and strangers on the earth is another part of that identity. The Holy Spirit, writing through Paul the apostle, says that our true citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20) While we may be citizens of the U.S. or Japan or Ghana in this life, that is a temporary reality. Those who have emigrated to another country, often with a different language and culture, often feel this sense of being alien and strange. After a period of years they may feel in between, no longer part of their former country but not at ease in the new. But all believers should have this sense in the spiritual realm. We no longer belong to the kingdom of this world; we are not yet living in the eternal realm. Hebrews 11:13-16 brings this out. "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised, they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on the earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (NIV)
Peter applies this truth in 1 Peter 2:11. "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul."

Housatonic River

Received a call from our brother Nick the other night and made arrangements to go see him today. He is at home for the summer before he returns to college. We found a little park near the Housatonic River to fellowship in. I hadn't known that he lived near this river, which also flows through the town I grew up in farther north. It brought back memories of my brothers and I playing near it, and crossing it on a huge fallen log against my mother's wishes. My youngest brother fell in. In those days it was the second most polluted waterway in the U. S. Since then it has enjoyed considerable cleanup.
Nick & I prayed together for God to open doors for him. We also looked at some passages in Revelation. Chapter one contains a description of Christ which includes the phrase, "His voice as many waters." (v.15) We also looked at the last chapter (22) describing the river of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and on either side of the river the tree of life whose leaves provide healing for the nations. Thanks, Nick, for the example of your hunger to know God. And thank you Father that while the Housatonic River is a poor imitation of the river of life, it gives us some clue of that eternal watercourse.

Additional Brazil Notes

The primary Brazil report is contained in the previous post. This post has a few more reflections. The state of Minas Gerais is famed for its cheese based cuisine. One favorite was small bread balls with cooked cheese in the middle. Something favored by one of my hostesses was dulce ge leche, similar to pudding but richer.
Sandro told me that he could tell what part of Brazil a person was from by their accent. Those from the south often end their sentences with an expression that phonetically is neh, like the German "nein," or the French ne c'est pas. I think most Americans have a more generic accent.
Brazilian males are not hesitant to ask directions when in a car. I saw this two dozen times and in every case, whether the person was on foot, riding a bicycle, or in a car, they stopped and offered detailed directions. It was a fascinating confirmation of the cooperative nature of Brazilians.
At the youth retreat, late one night, I witnessed folk dancing. Over a hundred dancers participated in an intricate dance that lasted well over an hour. Unfortunately I was born with two left feet and didn't indulge.
On my return I was searching for Guarana, a soda drink very popular in Brazil made from fruit grown only in the Amazon. It tastes like apple flavored soda. I finally found some in a little store run by a Brazilian. He was familiar with the places that I had gone. His (accurate) comment was that it was very low stress in Brazil compared to the US.

Brazil Report

August 5, 2011



Note: This is a 20 page, 8,000 plus word post reflecting my recent three week trip to Brazil.

Note to Brazilian readers. I apologize for misspelled or forgotten names, any factual errors, and
any slang you may not understand


In June of 2009, after a long season of prayer, I felt led by God to relinquish the business that He had given me 27 years earlier, and to embark on a journey around the U. S. visiting relatives, friends, and brethren in house churches. When I returned a year later to my “home” house church, one of the new people that I met was a Brazilian-American named Marcio, his wife Janaina, and their children. We became friends, not least because I am too serious and Marcio has a good sense of humor. I found him well read, ( not too many people are familiar with the existence of Marcion, the 2nd century Gnostic) and a thinker. Although Marcio and his family returned to the Brazilian church that they had come from, we continued our friendship.
In December of last year, Marcio introduced me to his mentor, a brother from Brazil named Vinci. About three minutes later Vinci invited me to visit him in Brazil. It was my first exposure to a man whom God has used to profoundly influence my life. At the time, as a reserved New Englander, my first thought was, “I don't know you.” In March Vinci and his wife Samia visited the Boston area again, we had lunch together with Marcio and his family, and Vinci repeated the request. I began to take it seriously. After hemming and hawing, prayer, and discussion with the brothers in the E. Cambridge house church, I finally agreed. Marcio gave every possible help in the process- working on the tickets, telling me to go to the Hartford consulate rather than the one in Boston, arranging rides, giving all kinds of helpful advice, and purchasing a Portuguese-English Bible that proved very helpful on my trip.
Monday morning, July 11, after getting a few hours sleep at Marcio's house, we were up at 3:30. Marcio and his business parter Morillo would be traveling with me. Morillo, and his adult son Heraldo arrived shortly thereafter, and Heraldo drove us to the airport. We flew away at six a.m. to NYC, where we had a long layover before flying overnight to Rio. They would not let me pay for anything (food at the airport), the beginning of the extraordinary generosity and hospitality that I would experience from Brazilians throughout the journey. I am too big to fit comfortably in airplane seats, and have never been able to sleep in one although Marcio got us seats with extra leg room. Marcio was met by relatives in Rio, while Morillo and I waited, and then flew on to Vitoria, about an hour north.
My first experience of Brazil was favorable, as the taxi drivers were willing to take “No” for an answer, unlike Ghana, where I was practically mobbed until “rescued” by a policeman, who wanted a bribe for his services. Vinci, a warm, expressive, open hearted brother, arrived and drove me to his home and insisted on carrying my luggage. We drove through Vitoria, a sea port, actually an island, and came to the building where he lives. As we entered the elevator he described his home as a miracle, something which God had given him some twenty years prior at a very low cost. Twelve floors later we emerged into the penthouse suite, a beautiful place with a spectacular view. Everything I saw- the sea, the terrain, construction and colors of the houses, especially the red tile roofs, vegetation, and the weather reminded me forcefully of southern California. Their patio, complete with small pool and sauna, could have come straight from LA.
As I settled into the room of his younger son Asaph, I had no idea what was in store. Like me, Vinci enjoys walking and other exercise, so we took a long jaunt along the beach that night. I knew only two words of Portuguese at the time, thank you, and amen. Like most people working with a language not their own, Vinci understood more English than he could speak. His wife Samia is fluent. Despite this we enjoyed good fellowship on our stroll. It developed that he was about one and a half months older than I.
Later that evening Vinci's son Asaph, a young man who had resided in the U. K. for two years, took me to the Hill, a steep promontory in the city, that has been used for decades by Christians of all varieties to pray. I saw men in suits, women, young people, sitting, standing, kneeling in prayer all over this mountain. Asaph said that although not organized in any way or directed by any leader or church that there were always people praying there.
Previous to departure for Brazil I had little understanding of what I would do there other than a missionary conference to be held towards the end of my trip. During a time of prayer God had spoken that He would “stretch” me but had not given clarity on what that meant. It developed that Vinci, Samia, and a number of others (eventually about twenty people in five cars) would take a road trip into the interior to participate in a youth conference, and visit a number of churches in different cities. Until then Vinci was quite busy preparing for the trip.
However, Brazilian hospitality was ready to roll. Tuesday morning, July 12th, two young women who spoke English picked me up in a car and took me to a museum. I should say that most Brazilians do not speak English. The ones who do are typically young; the more fluent ones have spent time in English speaking countries, often the U. K. Women tend to be more verbal and linguistically oriented than men; I found very few males fluent in English. Valeska, a former journalist, who had lived in the U. K., and had volunteered to serve as a missionary in a dangerous Islamic country, often served as a translator for me, while her friend Caterine, who described herself as a scientist, was one of many people who drove me around Brazil. As we toured the museum, maintained by a company that had mined iron and shipped it through Vitoria in the old days, I found them to be personable, fervent believers who astonished with their interest and receptivity to what I had to say about Christ. The phenomenon of the younger generation interacting with the older was one that I would experience many times in Brazil, so unlike the relative lack of generational interaction that I find in the U. S. At the close of our afternoon together as they dropped me back at Vinci's house I said I felt they were almost like daughters.
Asaph took me to the home of friends, Getulio and Anna-Maria, accounting consultants, and love-filled believers. Anna-Maria had spent a year or so in Michigan, and both had enhanced their English watching American movies. They host one of the small groups that meet during the week, a crucial feature in the growth of the believers. God used Vinci and Samia to start the church in Vitoria thirty years earlier, and it had grown to more than a thousand people. After Getulio described the small group process I asked him what percentage of those that attended on a Sunday also participated in the small groups, anticipating an American type average of 15 or 20%. To my surprise he said that everyone participated in a small group, and that it was common for people to begin that way rather than with the larger service. Everyone also disciples someone else and is being discipled. I was aware of groups in the US that did this that produced very bad fruit so I said nothing and decided to observe.
Later that evening Asaph took me back to the Hill to pray. We walked to the top this time, where we had a panoramic, 360 degree view of Vitoria as we prayed. Seeing the lights twinkling below us, I had a sense of God looking down on all humanity from His vantage point in heaven. We prayed fervently for the city, thanking God for what He had done there, as Vitoria is a citadel of Christianity in Brazil.
Wednesday morning as I ate breakfast, Marcos, a young man, appeared to say that he would be taking me sight-seeing. We descended the elevator into a car driven by a young woman named Anna. I would become close to both during my trip. They took me to a Catholic convent on a high point which had been built by the first Portuguese priests. It was still active and commanded an excellent view of the city. Anna laughed a lot, full of alegria. ( Port. for joy or happiness) Afterwards we went to a little seaside cafe, where we had beverages. Perhaps I should say a little bit about Brazilian food at this point. Breakfast is usually light, with fruit juices like orange, peach, mango, a type of liquid yogurt like kefir and French bread about the size of a hot dog bun with melted cheese and a thin slice of lunch meat. This French bread was available at any meal. Usually sliced fruit like papaya or watermelon was also available. The mid day meal is the largest and usually offers white rice, beans, salad, some type of meat and a side dish. The evening meal, called “cafe” ( I think) is lighter. But there is always another meal coming.
Anna took me to her brother's high school, and then after some effort, dropped me off with a brother named Vito. GPS is available but unreliable and I didn't see any street maps. We finally prayed to ask God to help us find Vito, which He did. Vito was probably in his early 30's, spoke good English, and immediately took me to the equivalent of a Brazilian buffet restaurant. Like everyone else that I interacted with, he would not allow me to pay for anything. It transpired that he belonged to a different church, was hosting a group of young believers from Sao Paulo to the south, and that he was inviting me to go with him and some of the brothers to an outreach for recovering addicts that his father ministered at in the country. Vito, Gus, the only Asian I met in Brazil, and I drove out to the place, which housed about twenty-five men, a house mother and several children. The rest of the brothers followed in other vehicles. We gathered together and several of us had an opportunity to speak with the guys. Gus preached the gospel fervently (some of the residents were not believers) while a young brother who told me that he had learned English from watching the American TV show “Friends,” translated. This approach must have worked; he spoke very well with an American accent. Afterwards we began to pray for the residents, after Vito asked me how I wanted to do it, in deference to my age and presumed experience, something I would encounter on a regular basis in Brazil. Working with the translator I prayed for a number of people, including a young girl of about nine. One of the brothers asked if anyone wished to give their lives to the Lord and five men responded. I also prayed for Vito's father, Ebenezer, whom I sensed was spiritually weary.
On our way back to Vitoria I heard the story about a girl of 12 or 13 whom I had seen at the facility, and who struck me as the happiest person that I would see in Brazil. You have probably seen or know someone who has lost their leg, perhaps from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, and now has an artificial leg. This girl had two. Her mother, a crack addict, had set her on fire to kill her, and she had lost both legs to the knee. Outfitted with the new limbs, she had been adopted by the couple that runs the rehab.
That night I was finally joined by Bill, another American. Previous to coming to Brazil, I had no idea that another American had been invited. Then there was confusion about when he was actually arriving. It turned out that despite having never met before, we had a lot in common. We had both been hippies, were saved in the Jesus People Movement days in the West Coast in similar ministries, and that he had known the leader of the group that I was in. We had even been married in the same year. Since then our paths had diverged. He became a pastor, and eventually, a missionary, ministering in the Ukraine for many years before going on to India and other places. In fact, I have never met anyone who had been in more countries and done more things.
Asaph took us to the home of an elder for dinner. Paulo and his wife, whose name, sadly, I can't remember treated us like royalty. Their daughter Deborah had spent several years in the U. K., and she translated for us. I was struck by a phenomenon that I would see many times, the genuine affection of adult and younger children for their parents. Afterwards Asaph took Bill & I back to the Hill for prayer. We were joined by his cousin Phillipe, who had lived in the U.S. for awhile. He spoke good English and had been a professional musician.
Vinci's son Reuel, his wife Erica, and their infant son Mateus ( Eng. Mathew) live in Montreal but were visiting, using Canada's generous maternity leave policy. Many of the Brazilians that I met had Biblical names, Reuel being the alternate name for Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Because he had lived in the UK, US & Canada, and spoke good English I was able to discuss cultural and other questions with Reuel.
Vinci's wife Samia was born in Brazil of Lebanese ancestry. She has the amazing ability to switch back and forth from Portuguese to English and back again with rapidity. After decades of marriage she and Vinci still refer to each other as “Amor” ( My love) something I find endearing.
Asaph has a strong British accent from living for two years in a little village in Devon, which is quite incongruous coming from the mouth of a Latin looking guy. I was able to crack him up by calling him “mate.” Like all of the family he served us in any way possible, always looking out for our welfare.
The family also has two domestic servants. This was one of the cultural things that I had to adjust to, as every family with which we stayed had at least one. Marcia had been with the family for many years while her assistant, whose name may have been the Portuguese equivalent of Jemina, was new. They cooked, cleaned, did laundry and all the chores to keep the household going. In Brazil the servants do not live in but go home at night. I never noticed any friction. Later I learned that both of these women were Christians, and that some of the better paid servants were able to hire people to clean their own houses.
Finally on Friday the 15th we began our road trip. Brazil has twenty-six states of which I experienced only two. Vitoria is in Espirito Santo, which means Holy Spirit in English, a legacy of the early Catholic Portuguese explorers, and we were traveling deep into Minas Gerais (usually called Minas). We started early and rendezvoused at a cafe until we had five vehicles, twenty odd people, and a whole lot of discussion. I would experience this many times during my stay with decisions being made after long discussion by groups in (to me) incomprehensible Portuguese while I waited for the verdict. As it turned out most of the people traveling with us were young with little or no English.
Traveling by road in Brazil is a challenge. The highways between cities are two lane roads with no minimum speed limits, no emission standards, traffic ranging from animals to little motorbikes to cars to large trucks. The roads we traveled on to Minas were usually curvy and mountainous with rare passing lanes on the steepest inclines making it almost impossible to pass. Because of horrendous taxes which can double or even triple the purchase price of a vehicle, the cars are small and ours were full with usually five occupants each. As the tallest member of the party, they always insisted that I take the passenger seat next to the driver. People in different cultures don't think the same about things so I'll pass over Brazilian driving habits. We finally arrived that evening in a place called Santos Dumont, named after an aviation pioneer whom the Brazilians ( and the French) claim preceded the Wright Brothers in flight.
About three hundred youth, and perhaps a hundred older people joined us for a youth conference organized by a energetic, fervent evangelist named Paulo, who also served as the pastor of a church in a neighboring city called Juiz de Fora. The meeting that evening was characterized by loud worship music, fervent preaching, and a lot of individual prayer for one another. At some very late hour in the evening Vinci, Samia, Bill & I went to a “hotel”. I am early to bed, early to rise, and like my routine of a long walk in the morning. Maintaining this would prove impossible in Brazil.
Saturday morning we returned to the Youth conference for more worship, preaching and prayer. If I can distinguish between preaching, which is usually more proclaiming and evangelistic in nature, and teaching, which I understand to be more explanatory and appealing to the mind, then the message I heard Saturday morning, on the Sermon on the Mount, was the only real teaching I heard in Brazil. But we all have different gifts.
During the day I had the opportunity to interact with a number of young believers including Gilberto, who had traveled with us from Vitoria, and a teenager named Pedro. Both were extremely patient and persistent in their use of English. I have never successfully learned another language although at one point I could read French. During the trip I did my best to immerse myself in the Portuguese language. In the end I had four or five phrases in a total vocabulary of fifty or so words. So I used what little I knew and combined that with whatever English the other person knew, augmenting that with hand movements, facial expressions etc.
That evening I had the opportunity to preach with Bill following after me. Public preaching is not my specialty although I'm not afraid of it and enjoy the opportunities. I ended up with three chances over the trip, and because I believe strongly in the principle of giving thanks to God for what people do in His Name, I always began there. Then I talked about Biblical friendship and trust in God. Bill, a veteran preacher, followed with a call for commitment to Christ. Then we and others, prayed for many. I should also mention that I asked for prayer for the church in the US, which they did by using me as proxy.
Trekked back to the hotel after almost running into a white horse roaming across the road in the darkness. Sunday we had a long meeting of four and a half hours. Vinci and others preached. I spoke with a young man Daniel at lunch before embarking on a long car journey to Ponte Novo ( Eng. New Bridge), our next destination. We caravaned along for awhile and then stopped at a roadside cafe. I assumed this was just to eat but it turned out that my Brazilian friends were indulging the national obsession for football ( Eng. Soccer). The Brazil national team was playing rivals from Paraguay. This game went into double overtime and was settled by penalty kicks. ( I think) We got into Ponte Novo about 8 or 9 PM. ( Brazil does not use AM or PM but runs on a 24 hour clock like the US military) I was exhausted having only gotten about four hours sleep in each of the preceding three nights. Thankfully they bundled me off to the host home, and for the only time during the trip I had a room by myself. ( Thanks, Rafael)
The next day we went to a fazienda ( Eng. Farm) where we had more good food, I got to take a walk down a dusty country road, went swimming in a pool, and then, in company with a number of believers, walked to a waterfall. I should mention that in addition to the Brazilians we also had a man named Jamal from an Islamic country with us, and a young woman named Marta, of Polish descent, who lives in the UK, and who was making her second visit to Brazil. They were discussing the acquisition of language, a subject of interest to me as I was trying to learn words in Portuguese. To my amazement Marta said that it had taken only two months of immersion to be able to understand Portuguese. It turned out that she had begun learning English at six (in Poland), had studied Latin, and planned to begin learning Hebrew on her return to the UK. Jamal ended up going to Rio during our trip, but I had several enjoyable conversations with Marta, one of the few with the fluency in English for me to do so.
That evening Bill, Vinci, Samia, I & a brother whom I knew as Junior ( sorry, not his real name, which I don't know) a brother who served as an elder at another church in Vitoria, prayed for a woman dying of cancer. This poor sister had arms like sticks yet responded in faith to the compassion (particularly by Junior) and fervency of our prayers.
Then we had dinner at the home of Sodrer and Media (guessing on the spellings) our hosts in Ponte Novo. Brazilians enjoy joking, especially at the expense of the Argentines and the Portuguese. So they began telling jokes. Bill also had a wealth of jokes that he had heard in different countries. This went on for hours with everyone in hysterics. Finally I got up and said I was going to tell a joke, a visual about a blind man and a seeing-eye dog. ( After awhile anything is funny. You could say your name and people would laugh) They were so enraptured in the visual that Samia never translated the punch line.
The next morning Vinci took me to a gym owned by one couple in the church, and managed by another. Valdez is as big as I am, and his wife is extremely fit. Vinci and I began to do laps in the pool. After awhile the wife strolled by and asked if we wanted to do swim exercise. This was something that my mother used to do so I thought how hard can this be. I guess it depends on how you do it. An hour later I was done. We took a shower and then went up to the weight room where Asaph and his friend Rafael were working out. Bear in mind that Vinci and I are pushing sixty and these guys had an average age of twenty. Vinci and I worked with the machines for a time and then Asaph had us do stomach exercises. I finally croaked at this point.
In the evening we had a meeting and I preached first with Bill following. I began by saying that I had learned a new word in Portuguese that day, went through the whole story of my experiences at the gym, ended up laying down on the stage imitating the “crunches” and saying miserecordia (Eng. mercy), which brought down the house. ( Maybe you had to be there) Then I got up and spoke about the relationship between the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, using the Navigators' “hand illustration” at one point. Bill spoke on visions of heaven that he had received, and we ended up praying for many people. This last was an area where I had to trust God because I had no idea what the people needed prayer for via natural means, and they did not know what I was saying. Thankfully God knows all languages and all things.
I would be remiss in not mentioning Media, our hostess, a sister that spoke no English. She is the living embodiment of the Proverbs 31 woman. I have never witnessed anyone who serves like she does. One example will suffice. The last morning as we were about to leave I was standing in the kitchen. My sneakers were dirty because I had taken a walk down a country road the day before. She said something, ran down the stairs (they lived on the 4th floor), came back with a wet rag and getting on her hands and knees insisted on cleaning my shoes. I wanted to weep.
Wednesday morning, July 20, Bill and I continued our journey with a missionary couple, Sandro & Gislene to Mahanuacu. They had worked for some years in an Islamic country where Bill had met and ministered with them. They took us to the home of Gislene's sister Mary. Mary and her husband Moises have three daughters, Mariana, Raquel, and Livia. Livia, about twelve, played the piano for us including one poignant piece whose name I don't recall, which became my favorite. All this time the other people in the original group of twenty appeared and disappeared at varied intervals like characters in a play. Moises owns an apartment building and our party- Sandro, Gislene, their two sons Isaac, Nathan, Jamal, a young man named Mateus, Bill & I stayed in a vacant unit. Isaac, eighteen, reminded me of someone but I couldn't figure out who it was for two whole days.
That evening, Bill, Sandro & I went to a supermercado (Eng. Supermarket). Everything in Brazil is expensive, sometimes much more than in the States, because of Value Added Tax (VAT) added to everything by the socialist government. It can range from ten to ninety percent, and no one knows how much except the government bureaucrats. For example, gasoline, after conversion from metric to gallons, and reals to dollars is about $8.50 a gallon despite the fact that Brazil is energy independent and imports no oil.
Thursday morning we went to the shirt factory that Gislene's brother runs but he was not there. I'm told he prays with his workers and provides Christian counsel for those who wish. He loaned Sandro his car for the duration of his leave in Brazil. Previous to this we went to a small shop where we saw how they tested different grades of coffee. Two young men take turns sipping and then spitting out coffee from hundreds of little cups. Bill is a coffee aficionado (I don't drink it) and he was enthralled with the whole process. The city is a center of the coffee growing region in Minas. Then Sandro walked into the office of a large coffee company ( he didn't know anyone) and got us a half hour tour of the facility. We saw huge sacks of beans carried by forklift, the various machines used for sorting out pebbles and grading the beans by size down to the millimeter. Finally our guide gave Bill several kilos of beans and a hat apiece embossed with the company logo. It's hard for me to imagine someone in a US company doing that for three guys off the street.
In the afternoon Sandro took us to a state park where we climbed a jungle trail, saw more waterfalls, stopped at a gift shop where I found something for my son-in-law, and finally to a place where they sold coffee and chocolate. Bill had gone off to the banheiro ( Eng. Bathroom- a very useful word for someone with middle aged plumbing). Sandro & I were sitting at a table when a young boy, perhaps seven, wandered over, stopped, looked directly at me, said something in slow, precise Portuguese, and then returned to his parents, who were sitting at a table across the way. I asked Sandro what the boy had said. Now Sandro is a jokester, like all Brazilians, although he maintains that he is not like other Brazilians because he doesn't care about football (soccer). Anyway he said the boy said I looked like Albert Einstein. Now I've been told I looked like the Unabomber, and even Harrison Ford (once) but old Albert was a new one for me.
I had been saving up some questions for Valeska because of her intelligence and linguistic skills. I asked whether Brazil experiences racial tension. I had seen every shade from whitest white to blackest black. First I had to explain the concept and then she said no. I never saw any friction, and indeed many mixed race couples. Valeska herself had European and indigenous ( Indian) blood. Others I asked said the same thing. I also asked about the churches' outreach to the poor. (About 70% of Brazilians) She said the outreach was relational- to people at work or school. Since most of the people that I met were middle, upper middle, or rich class I assume there was little outreach to the poor.
On the following day Sandro & Gislene took us to the fazienda of her parents out in the country. Her dad was a retired pastor. The place was idyllic. I took a walk. They grow vegetables and keep five cattle which he summoned with a call I had never heard before for feeding. The parents' place was a year old. Across the way Gislene's aunt lived in a seventy year old house. She had a bigger garden and made clothes. Gislene's parent's maid kept staring at Bill & I. It turned out that she had never seen Americans before.
During one of these days we had a barbecue at Moises' home. Sandro specialized in this. They cook many varieties of meat with charcoal, cut them into bite sized pieces and hand them out. During this meal I met several of the local elders (three of the four in this city are doctors) and a brother named Carlos, of whom more later. Vinci & Samia appeared. Vinci took me to Moises' sauna, and after we were heated up we jumped into the pool. At some point that day I finally figured out that Isaac looked like a young Mel Gibson.
Saturday evening was the wedding of Debora, the daughter of one of the pastors, whose younger brother was the Pedro who had sought me out during the youth retreat, and Juan, brother to Marcos, my tour guide, who had traveled with us. Prior to leaving the US I had asked Marcio whether I needed to bring a suit. He said no, but he didn't know about the wedding, so I was severely under dressed even though Asaph had loaned me a tie. The only time it rained during my entire visit was as we drove up to the site, a situation that caused the bride to sit in a car for two hours while everything was moved from outdoors to inside, quite a feat when you have five hundred guests.
Brazilians love parties. Their culture is very relational, family and group oriented, happy, peaceful and without the stress and tension that one encounters so often in the US. Everyone seems to cooperate with one another. They love to dance. I told Clovis, the husband of one missionary family, that he should start a dance school- he was so good. At the wedding a couple named Marcos (not to be confused with the younger Marcos mentioned above) and Alexandra sat at the same table with us. Marcos is one of the most friendly guys I've ever met. He works in human resources for a large corporation and was being tutored by a retired American professor of literature twice a week.
The food was laid out buffet style in the center of the room with the tables for people on either side. At some point I noticed a group of young men going from table chanting something, with the tallest carrying something the size of a shirt box on his shoulder. It turned out that this reflected a wedding custom of collecting money for the honeymoon. Everyone who did so received a miniature tie. Bill & I left about ten but many stayed partying until three.
Our last day in Manhuacu we hung around as people came and went. If you have ever wondered what happened to all the VW Bugs and vans that populated the 70's in the US, I suspect many went to Brazil. I saw them everywhere. Sandro & Gislene took us to a Brazilian pizza restaurant. When we arrived at about 6 we didn't see any other customers. I thought maybe the place was about to close but Gislene said we were too early. Sure enough, as we ate, people began to filter in. Afterwards we went to another place where I had a six flavor milkshake. The life of an itinerant minister sure is hard. ( Joking)
Monday we made a long trip of seven or eight hours to an area north of Vitoria called Aracruz on the coast. We stayed in a housing development that looked like it came straight out of S. California. For many miles the ocean was a weird brown color which I'm told has something to do with the underlying coral and sediment washed down by the rivers. Many of our original party went back to her homes in the Vitoria area but we gained three new missionary families. Clovis and Joella had worked with Sandro and Gislene but the other two families worked with indigenous tribal people. William and his wife lived on the edge of the Amazon jungle and had to make lengthy journeys by boat to reach the tribe they were working with. Laert & Solange and their four children (15 to 22) worked with a different tribe. In both cases they had to learn the Indian language, create a written language, teach the people to read, and then translate the Bible from Portuguese into the tribal language. Amazing. The second couple's children had attended an American missionary school and their English was fluent, particularly that of Rebecca, the oldest daughter.
Gilmar and Ana Louisa, our hosts, gave up their entire house for the missionaries, even sleeping elsewhere. This was also the home city of Marcos and Alexandra, who also hosted some people. Vinci came that night, and we heard testimonies from William and Laert about God working with the tribes.
The next day we walked along the beach. Carlos, an elder from the church in Brasilia, the capital, spent a lot of time with Bill and I, exercising his English. Carlos was the most humble brother that I met in Brazil, always serving, giving, and eager to help. It amazed me to discover that he was a lieut. Colonel in the Brazilian Air Force, in command of one thousand people.
The following day about twenty of us went to a pool for swim exercise. Nothing could illustrate the cultural differences between the Brazilians who like to do everything in groups- doing swim exercise together, whooping with laughter- and the American doing laps by himself. Vinci came again that evening. I had gotten sick in Manahuacu and was always tired during the last half of the trip.
One of the sisters in the Aracruz church was the director of an animal hospital and our whole group trekked there one afternoon. We saw a video of their work in rescuing animals from poachers and then had a tour of the facility. We saw numerous birds, monkeys, several snakes and even an ocelot whose throaty rumbling reminded me of a motor humming.
Language and cultural difficulties hit me during this period. I had picked up some words but ended up listening to hours of incomprehensible Portuguese. Sandro did another barbecue at the home of Marcos. Marcos was always friendly and helpful, eager to improve his English but did need to work during the day. Gilmar and Ana showed exemplary hospitality. Finally on Thursday we traveled back to Vitoria, a fifty mile journey that took two hours. This was the beginning of the missionary conference, the primary thing that I had been invited to participate in, and I was already worn out. Laert spoke that evening. Asaph devised a better method to facilitate translation where the translator spoke into a microphone wired to two headsets for Bill & me. I also saw Marcio for the first time since Rio.
On Friday there was extended worship with dancing- mosh pit style for the most part, and Clovis, Tiago, Wellington from Canada & Bill shared. Tiago ( James in English) and his wife Liliana had stayed with us in Aracruz before coming south to Vitoria. They were going to go to a dangerous Islamic country. Despite his limited English Tiago and I clicked, and Liliana translated. The meeting went into the afternoon, we had a brief respite and then back at six. I forget who shared that evening but it went quite late. Afterwards we went out to eat at a place that specialized in soup. While we were sitting there at 1:30 in the morning a man on a bicycle came by selling home made bread. He was a brother in the Lord and Samia purchased a loaf. I thought only in Brazil do people stay up late enough to make selling bread in the middle of the night a viable arrangement.
Saturday morning we were up early again and away to the conference. I recall Sergio, a brother who had planted a church in Germany as the first of many speakers. In theory each one had a forty minute slot but typically went well over that limit. In addition the church practices participatory meetings, which with a thousand potential participants can get real interesting. Again we went late. I believe that this was the morning that parents and children were urged to pray for one another. As family groups gathered together I noticed a young man standing off to my left alone. After a moment I approached and asked if I could pray for him. He agreed and we prayed for each other.
One of the more challenging dynamics that I faced was the reality of the clergy/laity distinction. I don't know what my friend had told Vinci but they decided that I was a pastor. As a result I received special privileges, like going to the front of the lunch line. This was difficult because on the one hand, I was Vinci's guest and did not want to offend him; on the other, I don't believe in the clergy/laity divide, and don't want special privileges. That day I said I was a brother and waited in the line like everyone else. Eventually I saw the young man I had prayed with. We sat down on the floor, another no-no for a “pastor” and talked. His name was Joao Paulo ( John-Paul) and he played the piano. That afternoon they also divided the men and the women ( far more of the latter). A brother named Amaury spoke to the men and Gislene to the women.
That afternoon I told Vinci that I couldn't stay out late again if he wanted me to preach Sunday morning, as I was scheduled to do. At six when they left for the evening I was alone for the first time. I doubt that Brazilians have a concept of alone time or personal space. By this point I was craving it. This is not to say that one is better than the other, just that it represents a major difference between the two cultures. Despite getting the time I was so wired, and also ill, that I couldn't sleep for the second night in a row. The others came in about 2:45 AM & I was glad that I had insisted on staying behind. They had gone to the home of one of the elders after the meeting for a meal.
Although I didn't sleep that night either I was ready to go Sunday morning. I don't often receive what I understand to be prophetic words but the Lord had given me something in the shower the night before. After group prayer and extended worship, Vinci invited me up to speak. I should give credit to my various translators i.e. Portuguese into English, including Carlos, Marcos, another brother named Tiago, and, on Sunday a young woman named Susanna who had spent a number of years in the US, and had the best English that I heard in Brazil. Maybe a little too good. When my friend Paulo, one of the elders, was urging me to join the mosh pit dancing and I hesitated, Susanna said, “When in Rome.”
Anyway I asked Vinci to pray for me, which he did. I began as I had with all of my previous messages, giving thanks to various parties for their service to God and to me. I suggested that the Christian life was not always dramatic but included hard work, suffering, potential persecution and other hardship. I touched on the importance of our brotherhood in Christ. Then I challenged the audience, many of them young, to take the spiritual “baton” that the Lord had shown me prophetically. For centuries Europe was the center of world Christianity. Then that shifted to the US. I felt the Lord saying that it was the turn of Brazil to take the baton even as a runner in a relay race. I hope they understood what I was saying. I should say that Vinci's wife Samia, an experienced translator, did all of my public preaching, translating English into Portuguese. Out of curiosity I asked on Sunday how many could understand most of what I said before the translation. About one in eight, almost all young, raised their hands.
Finally I spoke a little about the ministry of apostleship. If we can accept the crucial distinction between the original apostolic company through whom the Word of God came ( the New Testament), and subsequent generations who do not have this ability, then I hope we can accept the idea of modern day apostolic ministry. In any event I have prayed for years for God to either raise up apostolic ministry in New England, or show me someone walking in that gift, ( Ephesians 4:11) or bring someone to the area. I have not personally recognized anyone as an apostle since my mentor, Jim Durkin, passed into heaven in 1996. However, the Lord put this on my heart regarding Vinci. I believe he has the fruit, in his personal and family life, in his ministry throughout Brazil and in many places in the world, and the vision encompassing the whole world that is one of the marks of an apostle. Most compelling is the fact that I have not met anyone in forty years of walking with Christ that has shown a more complete or powerful love of God to me personally. So I concluded by publicly recognizing him in that gift, something brethren in Brazil had done previously. Then I invited him up to preach, which he did with grace and power for almost two hours.
At the conclusion of the conference said good-bye to many people who had become friends over the three weeks. I felt so strongly about young Marcos, and Anna, whom I had seen at the wedding and at the conference that I told both that I would be proud to be their dad, although I knew they had good parents. Eventually we went back to Vinci's home where Samia hosted a number of female visitors from Porto Alegre ( Happy Port) one of whom had sufficient English to want to hear my testimony of how I came to Christ. Asaph also had a number of his friends over as well. Some of us ended up in the pool & Vinci & I & Carlos tried the sauna.
Monday, my last full day, Vinci & I took a long walk along the beach, met one of the Porto Alegre sisters, went to the beach, met Sandro & Gislene. Brazilians do everything in groups. They bought a fresh coconut for me. The vendor hacks off the top with a machete, inserts a straw and gives it to you to drink. Vinci and Samia took Bill and I out to lunch where we had an area specialty called “multeca' a fish stew dish with additional sauces, one inside a coconut along with the white rice. Then Bill packed up to go with Sandro & Gislene as he would be staying an additional week in Brazil.
I had been trying to purchase a gift for my daughter that she couldn't find in the US, and after a number of misfires was finally able to work that out. Faithful sisters Caterine, Valeska, and Cida came by at 5 and took me to a mall. When I went inside I felt like I had been transported from Brazil into the US. It even had a food court where we met two brothers and discussed the theme of the Bride of Christ. After much consultation we even got the gift.
Then they took me to a small group meeting. I had been hoping for this because it seemed to be at the heart of what God was doing. I had mentioned the idea to Getulio and Anna-Maria during the conference and they had very graciously worked it out for my last night in Brazil. They hosted about a dozen people in their home. It was a very relational time characterized by worship, fellowship and prayer with the Word interspersed between. Thank you God.
Tuesday morning Vinci took me to a bi-weekly pastors meeting. He asked Valeska to translate so she and her friend Cida, both of whom had lived in the UK., came with us. Valeska was a very conscientious translator and humble servant during my entire visit. Some of the brothers I had met before. I was particularly glad to see Ebenezer, the father of Vito, who ministered to the addicts. Samia made sure that I was fed before leaving for the airport where we met Marcio & Morillo.
We took leave of Vinci, whom I hope to see in November, and made the short flight to Rio. Something that would take about a day's drive is only an hour's flight. Then we had a long layover. I had lost my voice, could barely talk and was not feeling well. Morillo kept me fed. I finally left on the overnight to Miami about 10. Marcio & Morillo went to NY a little later. I was seated next to a tiny young woman who curled up in her seat and slept while I, crammed into mine, couldn't sleep a wink. We pulled into Miami around 6AM. Had a layover and left for Boston at 11. As soon as I got on the plane I could feel the tension and stress and thought I'm not in Brazil anymore. Heraldo picked us up around 2:30, took us to Marcio's house, where my car had rested peacefully for three weeks, and I drove home, landing at 5PM.
Let me conclude by giving thanks to God. It turned out that the word I had received that He would stretch me meant that He would stretch my capacity to receive blessing. I thank God for Vinci's
invitation, and extraordinary love. I thank Samia for all her help and translation. I am also grateful to God for all the precious Brazilian believers who befriended and served me during my stay.