In the Footsteps of Tychicus

UnMarried Christians- - 2nd class Citizens?

2012-02-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

While i think I have written posts closely related to the topic for today, I do not recall looking at this specific theme. Marriage was instituted by God Himself, and He provides at least four Biblical reasons for people to marry.
A. Companionship- Genesis 2:18 "The Lord God said, It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (NKJV)
B. Godly Offspring- Malachi 2:15 "Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring."
C. Sexual Fulfillment- "The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife." ( 1 Corinthians 7:4)
D. To provide a divinely ordained illustration of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:22-33 especially verse. 32. "This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the Church.
In addition virtually all who teach in the Body are married, usually for a long period of time, so it is inevitable that they would extol the married state. Where does this leave those who are unmarried? Some are waiting to be married for the first time. Some are older and have never been married. Some are divorced and some have lost their spouse through death. But all are swimming in the culture of the world promoting the powerful romantic fantasy that if we only find the right person then all will be roses and wonderful.
But does the idea that one has to be married to have fulfillment and happiness accord with the Kingdom of God? As with everything else one should start with the example of Jesus who was single during His entire life on this earth. Someone will say that He is God and came to fulfill a specific purpose. True, yet he was able to do that in an unmarried state. But what of Paul? He also lived as an unmarried man and had a amazing walk with God.
An examination of 1 Corinthians 7 ( a portion of the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God) yields the following. "It is good for a man not to marry." ( verse 1) "I wish that all men were as I am. ( unmarried) But each man his his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." (Verse 7 NIV) "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. ( V.8) "But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this." (V.28b NIV) "I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs- how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world- how he can please his wife- and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs. Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world- how she can please her husband." Verse 32-34.
Please understand that I am not in any way opposed to or think of as second class life-long God honoring marriage. I simply wish, as someone who has lived for almost thirty years as a unmarried man in Christ, to show the balance on the other side, and testify that it is possible to live a fulfilling godly life as a single person.

Quick Thoughts on Applying the Old Testament

2012-02-14T08:12:00.002-08:00

Thought I would offer a couple of musings on the subject above. Whether measured by chapters or verses, the Old Testament comprises over three-quarters of the entire Bible, and as 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God ( or God breathed as some English versions have it)and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." On the other hand those who have put their trust in Christ for salvation are in a New Covenant as attested by 2 Corinthians 3: 4-18 especially verse 6, Galatians 4:21-31 especially v. 24, and Hebrews 8:8-13 esp. v. 13. The old covenant has become "obsolete." (NKJV) On the one hand "every word of God is pure..." ( Prov. 30:5a); on the other we are no longer under the law. The concept of progressive revelation helps in some cases as in changing instruction about food that can be eaten. In other instances the only revelation that we have about a topic is in the O. T.
One example is that of tattoos. While there may be general themes that might potentially apply, the only specific instruction that I am aware of is found in Leviticus 19:28, which states "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord." (NKJV) This is part of the Law of Moses written as a command. So does it apply to us today or not? In previous generations typically tattooing was confined to groups like sailors or outlaw bikers. Now it has become mainstream. One recourse is to apply to the scholars. For example the ESV Study Bible notes that "These are all practices of the Canaanites. Holiness requires Israel not to act like pagans in any area of life." This does not resolve the question for moderns who would not regard themselves as Canaanites.
One solution is to regard this as a Romans 14 question in which "each one should be fully persuaded in his own mind," (v. 5) under the Lordship of Christ." (V.9)Obviously having a lurid or blasphemous tattoo would disregard His Lordship; having a cross might not. Each one needs to seek the Lord and submit to Him. For the record I would not tattoo myself based on Lev. 19:28 and the sense that if it were a pagan practice at the time, it remains a pagan practice today.
Leaving the specific question of tattoos and returning to how to apply the OT, we must be careful not to think we are sanctified by keeping the Law but rather by the Holy Spirit and by belief in the truth. ( 2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Testimonies

2012-02-13T06:44:00.000-08:00

The life blood of a participatory gathering or one on one interaction is giving testimony to what God is doing in our lives. Other things like prayer, praise, the teaching of the Word and celebration of the Lord's Supper are all important and vital but testimony encourages us, builds our faith and excites our souls. In the last several days several brethren have encouraged me. Something I refer to as connecting the dots- the Holy Spirit enabled connecting of verses or passages of Scripture where we are reading or studying something, and other related verses or passages come spontaneously to mind- is a real testimony to the working of the Spirit and our minds together. Our brother Gary has grown in this over time. This week it was seeing the link between Ephesians 1:4 "that we should be holy and without blame before Him," with Ephesians 5:27 "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." This ability presupposes regular reading and study of the Word and, sadly, is something many Christians cannot do.
Another glorious testimony is the continuing growth of our brother Josh, who by his own confession is passive and prefers not to take on responsibility. Yet God is working powerfully in Him, transforming him into a worship facilitator, someone with a growing capacity to share the Word (his presentation on the Name of Jesus last Sunday was excellent- clear, well received, without rabbit trails) and someone with growing wisdom. God inspired him with something yesterday that lifted us out of five months of thrashing around, and probably a future five. Thank you, Jesus.

Passing On

2012-02-10T06:52:00.000-08:00

This week i learned of the death of a brother named Tony whom I knew from the Jesus People days of the 1970's, and whom I had last seen and spoken to in October of 2009. He was almost exactly fourteen years older than I. Now he is in a far better place than this where he can see Jesus face to face. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." ( 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV)
One of the greatest opportunities and blessings that we have in this life is to begin knowing Jesus. As Paul writes in Philippians 3, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." ( Phil 3:8 NIV) Knowing in this way expresses relationship as brothers, friends, and servants of Christ. But it goes beyond that to the relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom. Yet how easy it is to have our hearts grow cold towards Him. Our outward appearance and behavior can reflect Christ yet we are drifting away. "We must pay more careful attention , therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." (Hebrews 2:1 NIV) O God, may we return to you and yearn to know You as You know us.

Canada

2012-02-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

Although I have lived close to the Canadian border most of my life, I never knew anyone that lived there until recently. Friday I had the opportunity to trek north with Marcelo and his family. He drove, which i greatly appreciate. Due to winter early darkness I did not get to see much either on the way or on the return. Getting into Canada was relatively easy. We showed the young border official our passports, he asked a few questions, and we were in. We stayed at the home of Wellington and Suzel, whom I had met previously on several occasions. As always with Brazilian Christians, their hospitality, and that of everyone else I met, was extraordinary.
I didn't get to see much of Canada itself, as we were in meetings, eating or, in my case, sleeping most of the time. Montreal is more of a French speaking area with most signs, both highway and stores, in French. Fortunately I can still read most French although I could never speak it. ( It is the same with Portuguese.)Wellington lives in a French speaking suburb and his children go to French speaking schools.
Saturday we went to an Ice Palace. I had never seen this before. Comprised of several acres of what appeared to be machine sculptured ice/snow buildings the size of a motel, they had restaurants, and places that sold beverages inside, complete with lights, electricity and about a hundred smaller rooms that had beds, and sometimes chairs, made of ice. The children really enjoyed running in and out of these little rooms. We also saw horse driven sleighs in a different section of the park.

Saturday evening, after a buffet meal, we gathered together. Although the core group consists of about five families, they know a number of other people who will come to special meetings although not usually on Sundays. Marcelo taught on both the Kingdom of God and the church, drawing from the Old Testament and the New to show the contrast, and making the foundational point that the church is not a building or an organization. My friend Reuel was a hardworking and faithful translator. I am picking out more words but the gist eludes me much of the time.
As I experienced in Brazil, the Christians are joyful, love to talk and eat, and are amazingly hospitable and generous, treating me like visiting royalty. They do their best to understand my halting, ungrammatical Portuguese.
Two families now live in Ottawa and I hope to visit them later this year.
The return was more difficult as the American border official could not understand why an old non-Brazilian American would be traveling with a young Brazilian family. I suppose it is their job to be suspicious.
I was deeply blessed by my fellowship with Marcelo on a number of themes and interaction with his family. It was good practice for being a grandpa some day.

Council of Elders

2012-02-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

1 Timothy 4:14 refers to a council or body of elders laying hands on Timothy. By the grace of God, He is establishing such a group in our region. God initiated this through our brother John, who in turn invited me to partner with him when I returned from my year long travels through the U.S. in the summer of 2010. Since then we have had a series of quarterly meetings, a weekend retreat and a social evening to which we invited the wives plus growing interaction between individuals and groups at other times. Each of these brothers functions as a shepherd in the group with whom they are associated. We are also establishing a similar group in the Boston area, over an hour to the east.
Last night's time together was the best yet. The brothers listened to, and respected one another. One sign of maturity is when a person has something of value to say but is not compelled to override another person to say it. Each one had an opportunity to give testimony of what God is doing in their life and in the different fellowships. We are preparing for another weekend retreat.
Another good sign is when people voluntarily stay afterwards to encourage one another. This says a need is being met. One of the best testimonies was from a brother named Paul, who after our last retreat, experienced a lot of adversity in his job, his house, and his health. He was greatly encouraged by the different brothers reaching out to him in this time.

Testimonies

2012-01-30T08:09:00.000-08:00

God is always working in our lives; sometimes we are more aware of it. Some of the things I have witnessed or participated in during the last several days include a young brother agreeing to receive mentoring and discipleship on a ongoing basis, a joint brothers' meeting between two very different churches, a stimulating evening with a couple that I know from the Jesus People days who are still actively serving the Lord, getting involved with young college students, Brazilian-American pastors and hoping to embark on itinerant ministry, a men's Bible study with brothers from a number of different unrelated churches that is going strong after fifteen years, our little group getting together for two solid hours of prayer Saturday morning, and a nine year old girl with no way to earn money nor any allowance giving a significant amount of her resources to bless others entirely of her own response to God.
In addition I heard testimony this morning and yesterday of families and groups going to visit people in other house churches for mutual encouragement and edification. This is something that i have hoped and prayed to have happen for years. Our little group also had the opportunity to host another celebration outreach on Sunday inviting people from other churches and from the projects. We ended up with about seventy adults and teenagers and a number of younger children. It was a real testimony to the leading of the Holy Spirit to see brothers and sisters responding in various ways, spontaneously seeing needs and meeting them, and also to see the unity and mutual encouragement of many people, some of whom either had not previously met or did not share a common first language. Thanks to Mariana for translating, and it was a joy to see Eddie and Jessica again after a number of years. People also came from neighboring states. We intend to do this again on the last Sunday of each month.

International Readers

2012-01-26T07:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made a discovery that amazed me. One of the features of Blogspot is something called "Stats" ( statistics). I had only viewed it once since starting the blog in the summer of 2009. When I looked at it again I found a chart that told me the number of page views from the last week, and how many from each separate country. To my surprise forty percent were from countries other than the U. S., nine other countries in all. Thank you, international readers! With some of the countries I have an idea of who the people might be; others are a complete mystery to me. This does point out the power of the Internet as a tool. It also suggests that I should explain cultural references, and not use slang (informal writing) or obscure words.
At the same time I have received counsel that I should not limit myself to short entries but also include longer articles that explain what I believe and teach, from a Scriptural perspective. While I have done this occasionally in the past, I had refrained because I know that most people don't like to read longer essays. So I will explore that and see what the response is.
For today I will leave with the following thought. We will fare much better in our walk with Christ on this earth if we lower our expectations of people in the church, and raise our expectations of God. Often, our real issue is that we want too little of God, not too much.
Correction: For those who may have already read yesterday's post, an alert reader noted that I seem to be saying that I had left the church of which I am an elder. I have edited the post to say that in the past I had left other churches, only to find out the hard way that God does not intend us to be a church of one. ( I understand that certain circumstances, like imprisonment, might prevent fellowship.) I have not departed from my current church.

Lungs and Livers

2012-01-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

What? Has Thompson finally fallen off his rocking chair? Probably. Each of us has a physical body, a truly miraculous creation of God that works together rather well. But we need every part. I live in New England. My lungs don't reside in California, and my liver doesn't dwell in the South. In 1 Corinthians 12, beginning in verse 12, the Holy Spirit instructs us about our place in the Body of Christ. "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free- and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (v.13) Paul goes on to use the analogy of the physical body to express that we are all necessary, and no one is supposed to live like an island apart from the body.
Yet I find any number of people who profess Christ but have no practical relationship with His body. They are not part of a local fellowship. In the past I did this too. Why? Usually this results from mistreatment from leaders on the one hand, and unhealed, unforgiven wounds on the other. While I grant that there are a few people who are so abusive that co-existence is not possible, the reality is that whenever you have people there will be problems. The remedy is to receive the love of God so that you can give it to others, to forgive, to seek for healing of the wounds, often going deep into one's childhood, that plague us, and to recognize that the only true remedy for the insecurity that causes so many of our problems is to find our identity in who God says that we are in Jesus Christ.

Bondage?

2012-01-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of a recent post ( January 11th) I commented that the natural condition of humanity is bondage. Regular readers know that if I had more wisdom I probably would not broach the subject. I refer to bondage to sin, and its inevitable outcome, bondage to others. Galatians 5 presents two extremes, the first of trying to keep the law, and thus to attempt to be righteous without Christ, and the second of believing that we can do whatever we want, that we are not answerable to God. Sometimes we try both. The first approach denies a need for Jesus and His atoning work for us. The second does not want Him to "interfere" with our desires and plans. For the follower of Christ the only middle way between these two extremes is absolute dependence on God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Verses 17 and 18 sums this up for us. "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (NKJV) Note how both extremes, of living under law and living to the flesh, are lumped together.
Human history shows bondage as well. Most people throughout history have lived under the control of kings or emperors or powerful elites. Even in democracies where people have the opportunity of voting on occasion they have little real power. Sadly, many churches show the same pattern of insecure leaders fighting for control. True freedom is found only in following the leading of the Spirit within the boundaries established in the Word of God.

Intercessors

2012-01-17T07:59:00.000-08:00

Sensing an accelerating move of the Holy Spirit in New England and in the circles in which I am privileged to travel. Whether it is people hungry for God in the Boston projects, or small house based groups starting to connect relationally with one another, or young men desiring guidance in how to disciple others, or even a stirring in my own heart to gather intercessors together, God is moving. Our group recently hosted our brother Bruce to share on the Luke 10 approach to evangelism. We are growing in our trust and relationship with one another. Matt testifies that God is drawing Spanish speaking people to Himself. John, Sanford and I rejoiced to get together with Nic and Mike to offer what God has taught us about mentoring others. Ken and the Sutton group expressed their usual warm hospitality to me last Sunday as I had the opportunity to meet new people in their group, witness them pray for one another, and delve into the beginning of 1 Cor 14 in an interactive study.
Today our brother Dale called from CA and we had a heart warming hour conversation. When the time is right, I hope to go see him and the saints with whom he gathers. I believe the catalyst for much of this is the recent visit by Vinci and a team from Brazil. Doors have opened that have been closed for some time. May God receive the glory. "To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." ( Romans 16:27 NKJV)

A Quiet Guy

2012-01-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Not to be confused with the old John Wayne film, "The Quiet Man." A photograph taken when I was about five shows me in a pose ( and facial expression) similar to Rodan's Philosopher. It is hard to imagine a child that young looking so serious, but there I am. As a young Christian I heard a message based upon Ecc. 5:2 "Let your words be few." I took this to the extreme of "let your words be none," for which, after some days, I was threatened with expulsion from the ministry by my house head. Most other people still feel a need to speak more than I do. However, I am a good listener. The real struggle is when I encounter some one who wants to say even less than I do. The gaps and silences can become lengthy.
On the other hand I have expressed myself through writing since I first learned to put pencil to paper. My first story, in first grade, dealt with a Farmer Brown, and a fox getting into his chickens, which my first grade teacher, a veteran of decades of working with my age group, refused to believe that I had written until my mother affirmed that I had no older sibling that had done the work for me.
Thus the blog has been a Godsend for me, an avenue of expression and testimony that I seldom seem to have in real life. While I remain disconcerted by certain comments that seize upon one tiny fragment of what I have written and blow it up out of proportion, or so it seems to me, yet I remain thankful for the vehicle God has provided.
On another topic a brother whom I respect told me that he believed God has spoken to him about a gift he sees God having given to me. If he were the first mature brother to have done this perhaps I could take it less seriously. As it is the weight and responsibility that accompanies this gift makes me want to do a Jonah and head to Tarshish. But three days and nights in the belly of a great fish doesn't appeal to me either. Lord, have mercy.

A little History

2012-01-11T06:43:00.000-08:00

Preaching to the Athenians Paul says, "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings." ( Acts 17:26 NKJV) In other words, God is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations. At the end of World War II (1945) the U.S. stood dominant in the world. Six percent of the population of the planet produced fifty percent of total economic output. One result was the "Baby Boomer" generation, approximately twice the size of the generations preceding or following it. The 1950's, often derided, were a time of relative tranquility. In the second grade I received a nickel a week allowance. Every Tuesday I purchased a pack of baseball cards, which contained six cards and a piece of gum. During my childhood and teenage years I remember other prices such as 29 cents for a gallon of gas, 69 cents for a gallon of milk, ( 59 cents on sale) and $2,500 for a brand new American car.
Many people, such as the Christian historian David Barton, consider the Supreme Court decision outlawing school prayer ( circa 1963)as the turning point into national decline. This was followed by the Kennedy assassination (1963) when i was in sixth grade. I remember my fourth grade teacher, whom we considered an old battle axe, weeping. President Johnson ushered in the escalation of the Vietnam War, a tortuous debacle, and the Great Society, the superseding of state, local, charitable, family and church efforts to help people by the ever expanding Federal bureaucracy. 1968 brought the murders of Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and the riots in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. A whole generation was in upheaval. The early 70's saw the Supreme Court decision, overturning the laws of 49 of the 50 states, to allow abortion on demand, leading to the slaughter of tens of millions of unborn children, going off the gold standard, which led to rampant, ongoing inflation, and the loss of the Vietnam War.
Scrolling ahead about forty years we see our chickens coming home to roost. God is judging us for our sins. We yearn for but do not elect leaders of virtue and integrity. We labor under massive debt. We penalize the most economically productive members of society. And we prove that the natural condition of humanity is bondage- to sin, and in allowing powerful elites to control us. If we will not submit to a loving God, we will be coerced by an all powerful government.

Adam?

2012-01-10T12:55:00.001-08:00

Supposedly several prominent Christian leaders are espousing the idea that Adam was not, as the Bible depicts ( Genesis 2-5, Luke 3, Romans 5:12-21, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Timothy 2:13-14 etc.)a genuine flesh and blood human being but an arch type, a symbol. Now one could ask what difference does this make? Is it not along the lines of the belief of the medieval church that the solar system revolved around the earth rather than the sun? Is it a rational position to hold that Adam was the first human created, by Biblical chronology, approximately six thousand years ago when "scientific" evidence shows much older forms. Isn't this, in the words of Reader's Digest, who many years ago offered a "condensed" version of the Bible, "cranky fundamentalism?"
One wonders what leads alleged Christians who seem relatively orthodox on other doctrines to assert things in line with cultural viewpoints rather than the Bible? "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come." ( 2 Tim. 3:1 NKJV) "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." ( 2 Tim. 4:3-4) "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie." ( 2 Thess 2:11)
What Galileo and Copernicus discovered that lead to the understanding that the solar system revolves around the sun did not affect any major doctrine. The belief that Adam was not a real person is a direct assault on the gospel because it eliminates "original" or inherited sin, thus allowing for the secularist viewpoint that any problems we have are caused by the environment we live in. Without innate sin, what need of a Savior? So why would a Christian want to hold the position? Because it allows him to accept the evolutionary thesis in one of its myriad forms and not appear stupid to those around him who "know" that evolution is "scientific." And this is the tragedy, that we will jettison the eternal Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and take the conjectures of those under "strong delusion" instead.

Sanctification...

2012-01-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

A good friend and brother in Christ asked me about a month ago to to write my thoughts on the theme of sanctification. The topic is complex and worthy of the input of people much more gifted than I. However, I will offer a few reflections. Sanctification is the process by which genuine believers become more like Christ. (Conformed to His image, Rom. 8:29 cf. Genesis 1:26-27) This is done by the Holy Spirit through the truth of the Word of God. "God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thess 2:13b ESV) Jesus prays for this in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth." I believe it is a process which God initiates and perseveres in to which we must respond. Sanctification produces an increasing victory over sin and personal holiness without producing human pride. It means being dead to sin ( Romans 6), a life long struggle (Romans 7, Hebrews 12:4)and the ongoing intercession of both Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to the Father for us. (Rom. 8)It is more accurately seen in the flow of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) through our lives, especially in loving our brothers. ( Thirteen times in 1 John alone)
For a far more complete treatment I refer the reader to Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" p.746ff.

New Year

2012-01-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

As a new year dawns, I hope to have a deeper relationship with Christ. I am increasingly conscious of the aging process, that despite my ninety minute walks five or six times a week, that I am not getting any younger. I hope at long last to learn a foreign language. God be thanked for the relationships He has placed in my life- with a daughter and son-in-law, two brothers and a sister, the family with whom I live, and those who circulate around them, the brethren in the discipleship community with whom I fellowship and attempt to shepherd, along with the many other brethren that I know in New England, the U.S. and other countries. I am thankful for the opportunities to minister the Word of God, encouragement, and to pray for friends and others. I thank God for His provision for me, that after thirty-eight years of arduous toil, that I need no longer work in this season.
The larger world around me looks darker than ever yet the light of Christ still shines. Sanford and I prayed for the leaders of our country and our town this morning. I thank God for the good testimonies that I hear, including one from my long time friend Doug, who is persevering to the end. "Be faithful unto death" ( Revelation 2:10) Let us continue faithful to that which God has called us too.

2011 Concluding Thoughts

2011-12-27T05:31:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-18T16:31:00.000-08:00

"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

2011-12-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

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)

2011-12-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

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)

2011-12-03T16:31:00.000-08:00

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)

2011-11-30T15:45:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-11-28T06:25:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

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.

2011-11-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

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

2011-11-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-10-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-04T13:14:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-08-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

"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

2011-08-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

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.

40th Anniversary

2011-08-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

On August 4, 1971, a young man with long hair and a straggly beard (a hippie) stood outside a hardware store on Highway 101 South, in Eureka, CA. When a van loaded with young people stopped, asked where he was going, and offered a ride, he replied that he had no idea but might like to see the ocean. "We live by the ocean," they replied. He hopped in and went with them to the Lighthouse Ranch, a former Coast Guard lighthouse station during World War Two, which had reverted to private ownership, most recently by a Christian millionaire who had since left for Hawaii. That night, at a small group meeting that discussed how to rear children in a Christian context, he was confronted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had heard it before, in Boulder, CO, at a Navigator House, and in Portland, OR at the Prince of Peace Ministries. So he gave them the same half baked philosophical nonsense that he had told the others. At length a man named Gus, whom he had never seen before, came up and said the same basic message that everyone else had said. This time the young hippie remained silent as the conviction of the Holy Spirit grew. When the believers finally asked whether he wished to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior he agreed and prayed with them.
Forty years later, after many vicissitudes, pain, suffering and blessings, he continues to endure to the end. ( Matt 24:13) Life remains hard but God has proven Himself faithful. His mercy, patience and perseverance has proven His enduring love.
For those that may be unaware, the lack of blog posts over the past three weeks reflects a sojourn in Brazil. God willing, I hope to write a long report in the next several days of my time there, and what God has shown me to post on this blog.

Seven Times

2011-07-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

"For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity." ( Prov. 24:16 NKJV) This is one of the best illustrations of the Christian life. One thinks of how many times that Peter the apostle sinned, fell, or failed. Jesus rebukes him, he denies the Lord three times, and even after being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, he occasions rebuke by Paul because of hypocrisy. (Cf. Gal 2:11ff) Yet he keeps getting up and following Jesus. In the final verse of his second letter, Peter encourages the believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." ( 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV) The important thing is to continue in the right direction, balancing His love with His truth, both exhorting and extending mercy, not sloughing off but not emulating the Pharisees. Over time I have met a few "rigorists," people who believe that they are the arbiters of genuine Christian faith, that their interpretation and application of the Scripture is the only correct one, and that they have a God ordained mission to coerce others to their understanding. Probably I recognize these people because I used to be one... before I received God's love for me personally. Now I'm not so positive of my view of things; I am just trying to follow Jesus. I read His statement that apart from Him we can do nothing. ( John 15:5) I contemplate the verse that finally broke the back of my own hubris. "If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" ( 1 John 4:20 NKJV) May we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. ( 1 Peter 5:6 NKJV)

Paying for Other People's Sins

2011-07-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

One of the most tragic but common phenomenons is the reality that we often pay for someone else's sins. What do I mean by this? If we have been mistreated or abused by someone in our past, and we have not forgiven that person, and the emotional/spiritual wound has not been healed, then we are likely to over react. To use a physical illustration, if we suffer a severe burn on our arm and it is not treated nor bandaged, then the slightest contact will cause it to hurt, and we may scream as a result. If we do have the burn treated and bandaged then the same slight contact will not have the same effect. When people respond in a disproportionate way to something that has happened, I believe that oftentimes unhealed/forgiven wounds are the cause.
How do we avoid this? Proverbs indicates that we can choose to take, or not to take offense. "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult." (12:16) "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook an offense." (Prov. 19:11 ESV) Jesus exemplifies this on the cross when He says, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24 ESV)
Sometimes the offense is so great that we are overwhelmed. Then we must call out to God for His power to forgive. Cry out for His compassion and receive His love for us personally. If we don't then we end up punishing person B for person A's sins.

"Inside the Revolution"

2011-07-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd try another book review. Have just completed "Inside the Revolution," by Joel C. Rosenberg. Mr. Rosenberg is of mixed Jewish/Gentile ancestry, came to Christ in 1975, became a journalist and a successful fiction author before turning to non-fiction centering on the Muslim world. "Inside the Revolution," is a 2009 publication focusing on three major trends happening with Islam. First, he details the rise of the modern jihad movement from the accession of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 to the leadership of Iran, after toppling the Shah. It is a chilling account of the fanatical figures determined to destroy Israel and the U.S., a goal downplayed by our nation's elites. The second section chronicles the efforts of prominent moderate reformers within Islam such as King Mohammad VI of Morocco, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd from Irag, and Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. Needless to say, Rosenberg presents a much different perspective than one receives from American media. The final section details the courageous faith of Muslim converts to Christianity in some of the most dangerous countries in the world. Especially encouraging is the spread of faith in Christ in Irag, Iran, Egypt, and Pakistan. Loving one's neighbors and one's enemies is a powerful recipe for conversion. As I've heard elsewhere, many Muslims are turning to Christ from dreams and visions of Him. May I encourage my readers to take a look at this powerful witness to God's sovereign work among Muslims.

Authority

2011-06-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

The theme of authority is a controversial and emotional topic because so many people have been mistreated or even abused by someone with authority. This has led to a growing cultural consensus that any authority is either illegitimate or used in an illegitimate way. This seems to be particularly true of the generation currently in their twenties and thirties. How should Christians respond to this? Most Christians will agree in theory that God has authority as seen in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and all who live in it,” a clear statement of ownership by the Creator. Romans 9:19-23 illustrates the same truth by comparing God with His creation to a potter who can make whatever he wishes with the clay.
Jesus states that He has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth.” (Matt 28:18) His authority is expressed in the concept of Lordship, problematic for Americans because it is not a cultural concept. Jesus says it very clearly in Luke 6:46. “Why do you call me Lord, Lord but do not do what I say?” This is the difference between theory and practice. How do His Lordship and authority leave theory and become practice in our lives? By obedience to the Word of God. ( John 14:15)
Some people claim that Jesus is their Lord and that they do what He or the Holy Spirit tells them to do but reject any other authority. Is this a Biblical position? Does it reflect spiritual pride or humility? It is God who establishes governing authority. “ Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Most of these people are not believers. In the Church, the Holy Spirit writes through Paul that the apostle has “authority which the Lord has given me...” (2 Cor. 13:10 cf. 2 Cor. 10:8) Hebrews 13:17 extends this beyond the apostolic to church leaders in general. “Obey those who rule (or lead) over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” Now people whom I respect teach that the Greek word which translates to obey should be translated “be persuaded by”. There are hundreds of English language versions, and I have certainly not read them all, but I have read quite a few, and I have never seen it translated that way. One would think it would have appeared in at least one major version if that interpretation were correct.
The Thessalonians are urged “to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish (instruct or warn) you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.” ( 1 Thess 5:12) What is the nature and purpose of this authority that God delegates to men?
I believe the authority is to be persuasive in nature.
a) a godly life ( 1 Cor. 4:16)
b) proper use of the Word of God (2 Tim 2:24)
c)the internal witness of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16)
The primary purpose of authority delegated to church leaders (elders) , as indicated by the word “shepherd” is to protect the flock. Titus 1:9ff says that elders are to combat false teachers. Acts 20:28-29 brings this out clearly as well. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” Combating false teachers is an ongoing theme in the epistles. Some examples include Galatians, 2 Peter 2, and Jude. Timothy is expressly left in Ephesus “to charge some that they teach no other doctrine.” ( 1 Tim. 1:3) Some of this false teaching is detailed in chapter 4, verses 1-5. In 4:11 Timothy is told to “command and teach these things.” In 6:2 he is to teach and exhort. In verse 17 he is to command the rich.
What safeguards or boundaries are there to help insure the Scriptural use, rather than the misuse of authority delegated by God? Let me suggest several below.
Humility- the first qualification for a leader. (Acts 20:19, 1 Peter 5:1-6)
Plurality of leadership- Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5, James 5:14, 1 Peter 5:1, Acts 20:17 etc.
Mutual Accountability- Prov. 11:14, 15:22, 20:18, 24:6, and the fifty odd “one another” verses
Brotherhood- eternal not temporary Matt 23:8, Rom. 8:29, John 20:17, Heb. 2:11-12
Priesthood of all Believers- 1 Peter 2:5,9 Rev. 1:6
Consensus Government- illustrated in Matt 18: 15-18, Acts 6:1-7, Acts 15 note the agreement of the whole church in verses 22,23,25
All verses above are from the New King James Version. I anticipate disagreement.

God our Father

2011-06-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

When Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Christ after His resurrection, He tells her, “Go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father...” (John 20:17 partial) Jesus refers to the first Person of the Trinity as His Father continually, by far His most common term of address for God. Thie verse cited reveals that God is not only Jesus' Father but also our Father. He does this through adoption into His eternal family. Ephesians 1:5 states that “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Glorious truth! Galatians 4:4-7 amplifies on this theme. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Many have had problematic relations with their earthly fathers. There is a strong, common tendency to project this onto our heavenly Father. But we must separate and distinguish between the two. To God those He has adopted into His family are “beloved children.” (Eph. 5:1 ESV)
Am thankful to God for recent opportunities to work together towards consensus with the brethren in Cambridge in issues large and small. May we continue to seek His will for us as a group. I also thank Him for introducing our brother Vinny to us.

#200

2011-06-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

This post marks number two hundred since the inception of the blog in the middle of 2009. Following in the footsteps of Tychicus has taken me to thirty odd states and the visiting of over thirty different groups, some a number of times. God has graciously provided for both material and spiritual needs. In recent times He has provided an idyllic semi-permanent residence, and an upcoming opportunity to travel to another continent. The Holy Spirit has inspired me to write on numerous topics from mutual accountability to our brotherhood in Christ to eldership to encouraging one another. I am thankful for the opportunity to do so. I also thank God for the many saints that I have met along the way, some that I hadn't seen for thirty or more years. I also thank Him for the ongoing relationships that I enjoy with fellow citizens of the kingdom of heaven. ( Phil 3:20) He has shown me the diversity of His Body to a greater extent than ever before. I even thank Him for the occasional person whose comments to this blog have resembled the launching of missiles. May it help in making me humble. As I look forward I trust that the Holy Spirit continues to sanctify me, that I walk in a God given balance between love and truth, so that I may glorify Him and be pleasing in His sight. God be praised. Amen.

Home School Debate Championships

2011-06-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise) that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Eph. 6:1-4 ESV) Yesterday I had the privilege of participating as a community judge at the national debating championships of the N. C. F. C. A., an association of home schoolers. Approximately five hundred students of high school age from around the country had made it through lower rounds of competition to come to Gordon College for the week. Although I did not have the opportunity to do homeschooling myself, I have interacted with many home school families over the years. (Many people involved in house church begin by home schooling.) The debaters whom I judged, three separate matches involving a total of ten participants, were all poised, prepared, effective speakers, even when cross-examined. It was very difficult to decide between them.
Also impressive was the long hours, courtesy, and dedication of the many volunteers who put the event on. From registration to ballot procurement and reception to a continual stream of food- the oxen treading out the corn were certainly not muzzled- hard work was evident everywhere. Thanks, Bud, for the invitation.

Ghana

2011-06-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Over four years ago I had the opportunity to visit some indigenous house church planters in Ghana, who work among the Ewe people group, numbering several million believers with a Bible in their own language. These brethren took me to villages in the interior that did not have electricity or potable water. Most of the people are unreached voodoo worshippers but God is faithful, and we saw conversions among them, and a level of joy I have rarely experienced among groups of believers in the U.S. Africa as a continent is one vast need, and it is easy to experience compassion fatigue when attempting to minister to physical needs. Recently the brethren there began a micro finance program to attempt to minister to the poverty of their people. Simply stated, the micro finance principle involves loaning small sums of money to budding entrepreneurs with strict, gradual pay back schedules reinforced by peer pressure. Once the initial loan is repaid it can be loaned out to another person. This idea is catching on in the more affluent parts of the world but there is a "food chain" concept. The big international groups work through progressively smaller groups before they get down to the individual level. God has led me to give to the brethren in Ghana to jump start the process so they can build up a track record and attract the attention of one of the larger organizations. If God should lead you in this direction leave a comment for me. Thanks.
I am grieved to say that I can no longer endorse the ministry of Ross & Trina, whom I have often commended in these posts.

Trust

2011-06-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

"Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord." (Prov. 16:20 ESV)"Put your trust in the Lord," (Ps. 4:5b ESV) "O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you." (Ps. 84:12) Trust lies at the heart of any good relationship, whether with God Himself, a spouse or other relative, a friend or a person with whom we have a business transaction. Without it, genuine relationship, especially the kind we should have with our brothers and sisters in Christ, seems impossible. Without trust, suspicion reigns, and everything said or done, or not said or done, can constitute an offense. Sadly, it seems very difficult to recover from a violation of trust. Forgiveness is crucial; receiving the love of God for ourselves personally will help us to love others. Sometimes we have to establish boundaries for people who are unable or unwilling to do this for themselves.
Enjoyed my time in Rhode Island recently, fellow shipping with John & Danielle, watching their sons prepare for their baseball game, good interaction with brother Daniel from India, and a feast at Ron & Marianne's. Also thankful for time with Josh, the Thursday evening bros, and the Saturday morning bros.

Veranda

2011-06-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

While the word "veranda (h)" is probably a little grandiose for the little, screened in porch off the back of the "Mexico" suite that i occupy in the little hobbit house in the woods where I reside, I am very thankful to God for it. It is seasonal but I am enjoying the serenity of sitting there- praying, reading the Word, or reflecting on the glory of God's creation in the midst of the storms of life, both literally and figuratively. A rare tornado smashed through the little town where I live last night, uprooting huge trees, knocking down buildings, and making the places where it touched down look like a war zone. By the grace of God we were unaffected, except for the loss of electricity, still out. Paul refers in 2 Corinthians 11:28 of his concern for all the churches. I thank God that He sustains and loves me as I feebly attempt to follow in Paul's footsteps in caring for brethren in New England small churches. How easy it seems for years of painstaking efforts towards developing trust and relationship to go down the drain. God forbid. I am thankful for those who contacted me to see if I was all right following the tornado, which put our little town on the TV news.
"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)

Hearing What We Want to Hear

2011-05-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

When Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God, his disciples asked, "Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:) And this after three years of daily interaction with Him! The people wanted to make Him king. (John 6:15)They heard Jesus speaking of a kingdom and projected their own expectations and desires onto Him. We also hear what we want to hear. We form an opinion about someone and any further incident or statement reinforces that rather than allowing for the possibility of God changing that person.
I thank God that He is changing me over time. While I will probably never be the life of the party, I find it fascinating that He has called a former loner and introvert to circulate throughout the region and interact with people of diametrically opposed viewpoints and approaches to living for Christ.
May I also ask for your prayers. Some months ago another brother and myself submitted our names for eldership to the ekklesia we are in, and that God used us to plant. As the process has unfolded I find myself developing reservations about whether to continue. Some considerations include the calling to itinerant ministry, which seems the antithesis of the local elder's work, the fact that I live almost two hours away, and the sheer weight of the responsibility before God. ( Those who must give an account. Heb. 13:17)

Regional Gathering

2011-05-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

The E. Cambridge group had the privilege of hosting our most recent New England regional gathering yesterday. We try to do this twice a year, in order to provide an opportunity for the saints to respond to the prayer of our Lord Jesus in John 17 for unity. Ultimately we had people from eleven different groups in four states come together. Although a little chilly, typical for NE this time of year, no rain fell on our picnic. We enjoyed a time of praise together, and then representatives of the different groups testified what God was doing with them, highlighted by John R's passionate appeal regarding Asia.
I thank God for those in our group who worked hard to bring this to pass- Russ, Josh & Rema and Matt & Mary. I also thank God for two groups, in Providence, RI, and Monson, MA that came for the first time, and for the three groups from southern ME that made the long trek south to join us. The more energetic played soccer later in the day while the rest of us enjoyed fellowship.
God is doing a good thing in our midst. These groups are not organizationally connected and represent numerous perspectives and approaches to life in Christ. Yet we are able to come together and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit to glorify God through Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus

Life is Hard; God is faithful

2011-05-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation (hardship) but to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world. (Paraphrase of John 16:33) As I continue to interact with people who seem mired in intractable issues (sometimes for decades)I am reminded of this verse. Our only true hope is in Jesus. He has overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil. If we go to anyone or anything else for refuge we will just sink deeper into the quicksand. I am further convinced that without a solid foundation in the Word of God, in which the Holy Spirit has revealed who God is, and what He has done for us in Jesus Christ, that we will just go around in circles.
Am extremely thankful for the doors that God has opened up for me this week. Traveled to Maine Tuesday, spending the day with Dan & Michelle in counsel and fellowship. Always a joy & privilege to give anything of what God has so painstakingly worked in me. Wednesday had several hours with Ron & Marianne in rich, warm fellowship. May God prosper our relationship in His Kingdom. Then I trekked to a different part of CT. to see brothers George and Denny. Good to see veteran warriors of the cross again.
Then last night was with Bud, Russ, and Bill. Solid time of prayer. Strengthen us, Lord, for as long as we are on this planet you have fruit for us to bear.

Sophistry & other things

2011-05-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

As I come to the conclusion of Josh McDowell's "New Evidence that Demands a Verdict," a work of apologetics for the Christian faith, I have read more than I ever wanted to about the documentary hypothesis (which denies that Moses wrote the Pentateuch etc.), Form Criticism, (which essentially denies that the gospels are true)and the thinking of such skeptics and agnostics as David Hume & Immanuel Kant. Sophistry is defined as subtle, deceptive reasoning. I believe it comes from the arch-deceiver, the father of lies ( John 8:44) The best way to combat the lies is to know the truth. (John 8:31-32)
Glorious Friday encouraging and receiving encouragement from Josh, Gary, and Alex. Saturday morning met up with Matt & Josh, and later with Jose. God is good. Saturday evening had the privilege of getting together with the Monson group, and hearing what God is doing with them. Also introduced the theme of eldership with them, portraying it as part of God's order. (Acts 14:23 & Titus 1:5) Sunday morning back to Cambridge to share on the theme of discipleship, something most Christians of my acquaintance have not experienced. One on one relationships with God first, and then with one another, are the building blocks (living stones 1 Peter 2:5) of the church and the kingdom.

Book Review

2011-05-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

While i have indicated various books that I was reading, and recommended several in previous posts, this will be the first actual review that I have done. Yesterday I completed reading John Piper's 2006 book "What Jesus Demands from the World" (Crossway publishers, Wheaton, IL.) He begins with the truth expressed in Matthew 28:18 (reiterated in many other places) that Jesus has been given ALL authority in heaven and on earth. Piper then writes of fifty express demands made by Jesus, based on His authority. These range from coming to, believing in, loving, listening and abiding in Jesus to humbling ourselves, worshiping God in Spirit and in truth, loving your enemies, giving sacrificially and making disciples. It is a comprehensive, hard hitting check list that, if evaluated honestly, gives us a clear sense of how we are doing in the sanctification process. One of the major flaws of much evangelical understanding in America is the idea that praying a one-time prayer, coming into some level of agreement with basic Christian doctrine, and interacting with the Church (often on our own terms) constitutes saving faith. I remain a strong believer in the doctrine of justification by faith (Rom 5:1) but this is invisible. How do we know that this has occurred? James says that he will show his faith by his works. (Jam 2:18) Piper's book, expressing what Jesus says in the gospels, provides a demanding review of the sanctification process.

Press On

2011-05-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." ( Phil 3:12) After lending John Piper's hard hitting book, "What Jesus Demands from the World," to a friend for a month, I have resumed reading it and recommend it highly. He takes Jesus' words from the Gospels and delivers them to our hearts. I am also reading Josh McDowell's compilation, "New Evidence That Demands A Verdict," a work of apologetics. While not for everyone, it is an extremely detailed intellectual defense of the Christian faith.
Was extremely blessed in gathering with the E. Cambridge brethren on Sunday. A number of people in the broader small (house) church arena theorize about missional and incarnational questions. I believe there is something to be said for actually getting into the trenches and trying to build. May I give my thanks and appreciation to God for the work He has done in our midst over the past three years. Together with my partner in ministry, MJW, we have labored and seen the development of a healthy ekklesia.
Looking forward to our regional gathering on 5/22 in which brethren from a number of NE groups come together to relish our unity in Christ, and increase trust and relationship with one another and so enhance our fruitfulness in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you, Father. Also, thanks to our brother Russ for his hospitality and willingness to engage in mutual accountability.

What If?

2011-05-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

What if Jesus really means what He says? That we will receive a reward for giving even a cup of water to a disciple. (Matt 10:42) Wouldn't this inspire us to do whatever we could for one another? Or that He really does want us to minister to the hungry, the stranger, the thirsty, the unclothed, the sick and the prisoner? (Matt 25:44-46) Or that He really does want us to make disciples rather than just go to church? Even in a small house church (18 adults, 5 little children) I am finding that the affairs of the group take up a lot of time, and that my mentoring efforts are mostly restricted to two people with whom I meet separately for two hours every two weeks.
I wonder how many American Christians have ever been discipled? (I recognize that the so-called Shepherding Movement gave this concept a bad name but it is Biblical so let's get over it & not throw out the baby with the bathwater.) How many ever received one on one teaching, care, prayer, and the pouring out of another life into our own on a consistent basis for a period of at least several years? I know I didn't. In my 30's I looked for a mentor, by 40 I realized I had to be my own mentor, and it is only in the last six years that I have actively pursued discipling others. Yet Jesus commands us to make disciples. (Matt 28:19)

Doors Keep Opening

2011-05-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday evening got together with Taylor & Steve. Prayed and counseled together, supporting our brother Taylor in some questions and issues he was facing. The next morning up early to drive into Cambridge to see Gary. (Lord, help me to ask the right questions) Then off to the Financial District of Boston to meet up with Josh. One burrito, some good fellowship & counseling together & back to Gloucester. Saturday morning back to Cambridge, encouraging some blessed young men to relish their wives, and then off to Maine. Some excellent down home hospitality from Steve & Cis. Gathered with a group at their home that evening and stayed overnight. A delight to see Steve & Cis' children Stevie and Hannah growing up in the Lord. (Johnny got in way after my bedtime)
Sunday morning a quick breakfast & down to Malden to meet up with the saints. M. T. shared on friendship with God & I gave a quick overview of the three phases of salvation- regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. Used a handout which i don't usually do but think the brethren found it helpful. Will try this again. Great hospitality from Dan & Julie. Sunday afternoon finally back home.
Monday morning off to a big hospital in Boston to sit with the parents of a young woman undergoing a hysterectomy. Tag teamed with Matt & family, and Candice from our group. Met a woman from Providence, who, with her husband have been house churching for over twenty years. Turns out they know a number of the people that I also know. We were all in the chapel praying when a black couple came in. We didn't want to disturb one another so we were being quiet. I ended up praying for them and they joined us. The man was a pastor from Nigeria. Both husband and wife prayed with fervor for Amy. God is at work.

Thoughts on Working Together

2011-04-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

In 1 Corinthians 12 the Holy Spirit writes through Paul to give us the analogy of believers as a body. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Cor. 12:27ESV)He goes on to reveal that each member is important for the functioning of the body. It's harder to walk with one leg than two or to peel an orange with one hand. Over forty years I have experienced and witnessed a tremendous amount of failure in believers working together. The worldly method of one person dominating or controlling doesn't bear good fruit in the Kingdom of God. And it's usually the leaders that can't get along and thus provide a good example for others.
So what does it take to work together on a practical basis?
Humility: "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5b) This includes giving up our sense of 100% certitude in what we believe we have heard from the Lord.
Mutual Accountability: "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. 3:13) Note this it is one another, not one to all of the others. No one should be immune from this.
Communication: This is hard work. It takes patience, perseverance and affirmation. The above represents the briefest introduction to this subject.

How are They to Hear without Preaching?

2011-04-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Putting on the miles this past week. Wednesday I met up with Dale & Laurie for lunch and fellowship before they returned to CA. Then off to CT to see Peter & Christiane to receive their perspective on the state of the church in New England. Thursday was a rest day, and then away Friday night with Sanford & Deb to a gathering of regional elders and their wives. Ten couples came and I believe that it either initiated or enhanced their trust and relationship so that they can work more fruitfully together.
Saturday morning got together with MJW & Josh to pray and counsel together. Communication and accountability are crucial for the advance of the kingdom. Jetted off to Chelsea where i had received an invitation through my friend Doug to preach at an outreach to poor and homeless people started by our brother Ruben. Now i should say that preaching is not my specialty, I'm more inclined towards teaching, but I accepted the offer with the hope of lifting up the Name of Jesus. My fervent prayer was that God would give me something for these people because I'm not from a street background and I have nothing to give of my own. As I launched into my testimony and then into the theme of forgiveness through the same power that raised Christ from the dead, I had a powerful sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit moving me to the side and taking over. Apparently it impacted a number of people because Ruben, whom I really don't know, has invited me to return.
Sunday had the delight of worshiping with the saints in S. Boston. We receive a steady stream of visitors and yesterday was no exception with seven out of a total of twenty adults. God is at work, may He continue to open the doors.

Principles for Evaluating a Word

2011-04-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

For those believers who receive the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit until Christ returns, and who practice participatory gatherings, the Scripture provides a principle to safeguard against error. In this note I am using the word “word” as an umbrella term that includes prophecy, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and other speaking gifts. ( 1 Cor. 12:7-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11a) The Bible explicitly tells us to assess or judge these utterances. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” (1 Cor. 14:29) “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” ( 1 Thess 5:20-21) “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” ( 1 John 4:1 ESV)
How would we go about this? The primary and most important test is whether it lines up with the eternal Word of God (the Bible) “but the word of the Lord remains forever.” (1 Peter 1:25a) For we know that the Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself. (Titus 1:2 “God, who never lies”) If the “word” does not agree with the Word of God, then it is not a “word” from God. Other less reliable indicators are whether the indwelling Spirit within you (Rom. 8:11) bears witness, or your discernment of the reaction of the brethren listening to the utterance.
A potentially crucial component, which is much more feasible in a small environment, is trust and relationship built up within the group. Weighing or assessing is greatly enhanced by one's knowledge of the speaker's character and walk with God. Sometimes the “word” is not for the group but for the person speaking. After assessment, what are the potential choices? One can simply say “Amen,” if you receive the word as coming from God. You can choose to ignore it and move on. You can probe and inquire what the speaker meant or you can veto the utterance. Ideally you have a Biblical basis for doing so. All of this is facilitated by the presence of mature brethren. I recognize that this principle is rarely employed but the Scripture teaches it and we should adhere to its instructions.

Impact

2011-04-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday and last Tuesday night our group in Cambridge had the delight of receiving five and seven visitors, respectively. All of these saints were enthusiastic, gifted in varied ways, and used by God to bless us. This experiences renews my hope that God will raise up a semi-itinerant team of people to travel around New England to the various house churches. Even though these people didn't intentionally work together as a team the impact was considerable. What could happen if God handpicked people like Jesus did with the disciples, worked out the logistical problems, and sent them out to minister? So thank you God for Dale & Laurie, Saj, Jason, Amy, and Charlie & Vicky.
One of my other fervent hopes is that God will use the following of Jesus through the vehicle of apostolic traditions to blend the Body together- the charismatics and the evangelicals (cerebrals and expressives) and people with such varied gifts as the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding and teaching. Sadly this is not usually what happens. One of the keys is communication. Yesterday I met with a couple who enjoy very different gifts than I have. By the grace of God we had developed enough trust and relationship that i was able to get clarity on a difficult issue without the typical blowups. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:3)

Strong Encouragement

2011-04-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

"So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT to hold fast the hope set before us." ( Heb. 6:17-18 ESV) As I reflect on the several days since my last entry this emerges as the predominant theme, the need to give and receive strong encouragement to one another.
Thursday evening I had the delight of fellowship with Nathaniel, Eden, and their newborn daughter. Nathaniel has a humility and heart for the Word of God that is both rare and precious. Eden blessed me with healthy food and hospitality. Friday I trekked to the wilds of Harvard U to observe my friend Gary making his doctoral thesis defense, the culmination of six years of grad school, although I really didn't understand much of anything he said, and to meet his parents for the first time. Afterwards we celebrated his success aided by members of the "covert team of Gary's friends," (Serene, Tout et. al) After that, well after my bed time, Josh & I discussed a variety of topics, encouraging one another.
Saturday morning we joined M. T., praying, encouraging, and discussing together. I am very blessed by the sincerity and faithfulness of these two brothers. In the afternoon I ventured north to see our brother Nick. We hiked around, giving mutual encouragement & continuing in prayer. Then God blessed me with a call from our brother Doug, a true defender of the faith, and the one who taught me about strong encouragement from the Scriptures in the power of the Spirit. Thank you God for our brother Doug.

Reflections on the love of God

2011-04-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

Some of the most powerful illustrations of God's love are found in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit reveals to Isaiah that "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." (Isa. 40:11 ESV) Or "Sing for joy, O heavens and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted." (Isa 49:13) Particularly moving is the revelation given to Hosea. "And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord." In the depths of the "minor" prophets Nahum writes, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he cares for those who trust in him." (Nahum 1:7 NIV by memory)David writes, "I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul." (Ps 31:7)
Because of our experience of human love which is often capricious or contains an element of selfishness, and at the best of times is finite, it is difficult to receive the truth of God's infinite, selfless love and compassion for us. May we believe that "the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." (Ps. 103:8) "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust." (Ps. 103:13-14)

Walking with the King

2011-04-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

God is faithful. Saturday morning I had the opportunity to pray with some young men in our church. God granted me the privilege of true fellowship with Matt, Josh & Alex. In early afternoon i traveled to Chelsea at the invitation of my longtime friend and brother in the Lord, Doug, who participates in an outreach to street people there. Doug is a true warrior of the cross, one who has persevered through suffering. Also had the joy of seeing our brother Steve, whom i had not seen for two years. His enthusiasm for Christ is a wonderful thing, and he continues faithful in sharing the gospel of Christ. Our Lord blessed me yet again in allowing me to sit next to a first grade girl who had lost a number of her front, baby teeth, but whose adult teeth had not grown in. She had a sweet smile created by God. Blessed also to see the faithfulness of our brothers Reuben and Carlos, and the team that works with them in ministering Christ in word and deed. ( Handing out food)
Saturday evening I returned home to gather with the saints here. God gave me an opportunity to share about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in revealing the truth of the Word of God to us. A number of the group are memorizing Scripture verses. Mine was 2 Thess 2:13 "But we bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, for God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." (KJV) Several are also working on the books of the Bible in order. This facilitates following along in Bible studies.
This morning trekked to Cambridge to enjoy fellowship with my home house church. Steve & Donna came to cross-pollinate for which we are very grateful. Donna has a gift in the facilitation of worship while Steve shared from the Word. Ross & Trina gave us words from the Lord about examining ourselves. "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless indeed you fail to meet the test." (2 Cor. 13:5 ESV)

Reflections on Discipleship

2011-04-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

REFLECTIONS ON DISCIPLESHIP

In the past week the Lord Jesus has caused me to look again at the related issues of multiplying churches and developing leaders. But in actuality we are not told to do these things, as counter-intuitive as this may sound. What we are told to do is make disciples. “And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:18-19a ESV) Leaders are mature disciples capable of making other disciples (disciplemakers), and new churches are formed by the multiplication of disciples.
What is a disciple? The Greek word “mathetes” means a learner, which implies at least three things. The budding disciple needs a mentor or discipler, he needs to be teachable, and this requires humility. What is required of a disciple? He must put Jesus above every other human relationship. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26) He must bear his own cross. (Lk 14:27), and he must renounce all that he has. (Lk. 14:33)
Further, he must abide in God's Word. (John 8:31-32), love his fellow disciples (John 13:34-35), and bear much fruit, thus glorifying God. “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:8) Using the definitions that Jesus uses I estimate that at least 95% of American Christians are not disciples.
How are disciples made? Through a work of the Holy Spirit to which the individual person responds. Having a mature, humble disciplemaker is of great benefit, but not, strictly speaking, necessary. However, this is what we see in Jesus with the twelve, and the relationship between Paul and Timothy.

Weeping for the Church

2011-03-30T05:14:00.000-07:00

In recent days i have heard a number of believers whom I like and respect either evade or ignore or justify their unwillingness to allow the Word of God to be the ultimate determinant of how they live and what they do. It would be one thing if this were a temporary aberration. Sadly, it is not. Whether it is their subjective understanding (often emotionally driven)of their own or someone else's personal experience, or the product of sinful rebellion, or flowing with pagan American culture, or a hundred other things, the end result is the same. Some will justify their actions by saying the Holy Spirit told them to do this. Does the Holy Spirit, the divine author of God's Word (2Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16) contradict Himself?
I believe we are in danger of losing an entire generation who yearn for relationship but have little interest in truth. (John 17:17) The tragedy is that the God whom they yearn for relationship with has gone to great lengths to reveal Himself through the pages of the Bible. Why have so many of His people shed their blood so that we today could have His Word? Why have so many devoted so much labor to translating the Bible from the original languages into ones that the vast majority of the inhabitants of this planet can understand?
It is ironic and sad that so many American Christians avidly read, and staunchly defend a novel ( The Shack) who will not take the eternal Word of God seriously. If we are made in the image of God, ( Gen. 1:26) then He has feelings. I wonder how he feels about this.
Some may feel I am pointing fingers and wonder how well I do in obeying the Word. Obviously I am not perfect but I believe an important corner is turned when we acknowledge that those who wish to know God and have relationship with Him through Jesus Christ must read, study and obey the Word even if it is against our culture, or painful or costly to us personally. I should also say that in His mercy, God brought me to this point through utter devastation in my personal life. I hope that this isn't necessary for everyone although I'm beginning to wonder.
Father of truth and love, may You do whatever is necessary to bring your people into a place of loving obedience to You.

Jeff was a Friend

2011-03-28T05:10:00.001-07:00

As a young man I was a classic loner and introvert. I didn't have very many friends nor did I make any particular effort to do so. At the time God had brought me into a ministry that sprouted during the "Jesus People" era, former hippies who came to Christ during the late 60's and early 70's. Jeff and I were very different. He was twelve years older, a lot smarter, and had once done all the entries for the letter P for a major dictionary. So he ended up on a reforestation crew with me as a foreman. We had a trio of young bucks that charged out to the front of the line in the early morning and then cruised the rest of the day. Jeff was at the end of the twelve man crew. One day I went up to him, explained the situation and said I wanted him to make these guys break a sweat. He agreed, because of our friendship, and yelled out, "I'm going to catch you guys!" Everybody laughed until he began to pass each man, one by one. No one wanted to have Jeff, the slowest guy, pass them. But he did. Finally he got right behind the leaders. There was no way that he was going to pass them- it would be like me trying to play in the NBA, but he made them work.
Later we were praying and fasting with a lot of people up in Washington. Jeff came by to tell me he was going to leave the ministry. I tried to come up with some good reasons why he should stay but couldn't. Finally I asked him not to leave because of our friendship. He came by a day or two later and said he had decided to remain for that reason.
Jefferson Duke departed this life March 25, age 70, into the arms of Jesus. "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (2 Cor. 5:8) "The Lord will...bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (2 Timothy 4:18 ESV)

Fools Rush In

2011-03-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

An old saying has it that "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." Even though I've reflected on the theme of this post for quite awhile, I probably still fit into the fool category, but here goes. As I have sought God over the consequences and impact of the genuine believer's brotherhood with Christ, one thing that seems inescapable is the reality of race. Ironically the Bible has virtually nothing to say about this. It does not tell us how humanity came to have different races or why. This is the first clue to me that our racial heritage may not be as significant as we often make it. The major division that the Bible makes is between the people of God (Israel in the OT) and those not of God (everyone else.) In the NT the terms used are Jews and Gentiles, or Greeks. Jews are told not to fellowship with Gentiles, not even to eat with them. But the proclamation of the kingdom of God by Jesus begins to change this. A Roman centurion and a Syro-Phoenician woman, both non-Jews, receive the highest accolades about their faith from Jesus. (Cf. Matt. 8:10-11,15:28)
Then the Holy Spirit uses Paul to reveal that "he (Jesus) himself is our peace, who has made us both one (Jews & Gentiles) and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility... and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.. He goes on to say that the mystery not made known in prior generations..."is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." (See Ephesians 2:11 to 3:6 for the fuller context. Colossians 3:11 states "there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free (all divisions between mankind in the 1st Century Roman world)but Christ is all, and in all." So from a factual standpoint we are Asian, or African, or Caucasian or whatever but our true identity is that we are brothers in Christ.
When even Barnabas joined Peter and other Jewish Christians in not dining with their Gentile brothers Paul opposed Peter to his face (Galatians 2:11) when Paul saw
"that their conduct was not in line with truth of the gospel." (Gal. 2:14) That is how crucial it is to have unity and identify as brothers (or sisters) of Christ.

More Country Roads

2011-03-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Living out in a semi-rural area grants me the delight of walking along country roads in all seasons. It is a wonderful opportunity to commune with God, work out any stress, and get some exercise. About the only thing wrong with country roads is the occasional country dog. God created dogs to bark and made them territorial in nature, which I receive. Unlike the city or suburbs some dogs are unconfined, and their understanding of their "territory" extends beyond their owner's property to the road on which I am walking. Having a dog or dogs racing at you in an aggressive manner can provoke a confrontation as I do not accept the societal concept that animals are more important than people. God made us in His image, (Genesis 1:26) not anything else.
Last Sunday I had the privilege of fellowship with a group in Kittery, ME, whom God has abundantly blessed with children. When God gives a couple a large family, that really becomes their ministry. Our brother Rick showed by a number of examples that many of the miracles of Jesus were done in a very low key manner.
In Acts 17:11 the Word of God says, "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." Note that they are commended for doing this. If Paul the apostle receives scrutiny, then so should everyone that teaches, and especially those who are prominent or more influential in the Body. Those of us who do teach should welcome feedback from those who hear.

Whassup?

2011-03-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you, joyful Father, for your patience and perseverance. God continues to provide for me in many ways. Itinerant ministry is built on the foundation of the hospitality of the Body. God has provided the little hobbit house in the woods that i always desired, with a godly, blessed family. This looks like a long term situation. Thank you, Jesus.
He has also led me to respond to brethren in Ghana that I've known for four years to initiate a micro-finance project there. May God continue to expand their ministry to the poor and preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ in these West African countries.
God continues to put concerns on my heart for the preservation of the truth of the gospel, and for His Word to be ministered to His people. We cannot allow the subjective truth influence of the pagan American culture that we live in to dilute the pure truth of the Word of God. "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (Jesus' praying in John 17:17)
Blessed to have fellowship with our brother Gary yesterday morning, our brother Bill in late afternoon, and our brother Josh in the evening. Gary and i discussed the situation in Japan as it related to God's mercy. Bill & I looked at daily obedience in contrast to grandiose ideas of working for God. Josh & I were all over the Scriptures as we explored the 1 Timothy 3:16 verse that speaks of the "mystery of godliness."
This morning met with three brothers from our ekklesia and prayed for clarity of direction and power for us. On the way back had a very helpful discussion about generational differences, and how they affect our understanding one another. Thanks, Josh and Rema for your hospitality, and that's whassup.

An Observation or Two.

2011-03-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

It seems that some people depart from traditional churches to adhere more closely to Biblical teaching, and some people do so to get away from adhering to Biblical truth. The discovery of an intensely relational God who loves us with utter abandon cannot serve as a rationale to jettison other truth that God does have wrath, that we are commanded to fear Him, (see previous post), and that Jesus came as a propitiation for our sins. It is American culture that promotes the concept of anarchy (that we can do whatever we want), either moral or otherwise.
We should also not throw out the proverbial baby with the bathwater with regard to Bible teaching. Many of us have heard sermons that essentially said, this is the way it is and there is no other way it can be. With certain things that is true. Jesus is Lord, no matter what we may think. Simply because we have been burned in the past does not mean that we should ignore the Bible or refrain from teaching it. In a small group of people who have developed trust and relationship with one another over time, we can submit our Scriptural understanding in humility, offering it as a gift to the Body. But the foundational truths of the faith must be taught. It is incumbent upon each generation to preserve the truth of the gospel and transmit it to the next.
It also seems much easier to lose relationship with someone than to gain it.

The Fear of the Lord (?!)

2011-03-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

About fifteen years ago I was talking with a solid, mature brother and he remarked that he just couldn't relate to the idea of fearing God. More recently a very prominent speaker said flatly in public (in my hearing) that the fear of God had no place in a Christian's life. Now we all make mistakes but this was said in a rather adamant way, not as an aside. We need to follow the example of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and examine the Scriptures daily to see if things are true.
Psalm 19:9 says that the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. Deuteronomy 10:12 states, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (ESV) And the conclusion of twelve chapters of lament in Ecclesiastes is to fear God and obey his commandments. (Ecc. 12:13)
Now some may say that this reflects the Old Covenant and that we are in the New. I wholeheartedly agree that we are in a New Covenant (Thank you, Jesus!) but I find references to fearing God in the NT as well. Matthew 10:28 has Jesus telling us to fear him who can destroy both body & soul in hell. (The devil has no power to do this) Great fear comes upon the church upon the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:5,11) But perhaps this is an unhealthy fear. Acts 9:31 "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied." Being built up, peace and comfort are mentioned in the same verse as the fear of the Lord with a very positive result. 2 Corinthians 7:1 directs us, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." Philippians 2:12 tells us "to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Finally Peter commands us to fear God. "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2:17 ESV) Many more references are available but I believe these make the point for those willing to submit themselves to the authority of the Word of God.
I trust that I have written a number of times on the love of God in this blog and that I will again in the future. However the truth that God is love should not be allowed to eliminate the fear which God commands of us towards Himself.

Picking up the Cross

2011-03-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

Tuesday had the honor of gathering with a dozen other brothers who function as elders in their respective house churches. Very impressed by the strength of their desire to get together. Our brother John led a discussion based on the question of what vision God had given each man for the ekklesia in which he gathered. We concluded with a time of prayer. Everyone stayed after for at least a half hour and some for almost an hour. The dilemma rises in the seeming need for additional structure when more people come. Should we multiply into smaller groups? Or try to meet for a longer period of time?
Thursday evening met with the support and accountability group. Had the blessing of hospitality from our brother Russ and some solid counsel. "The pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel." (Prov. 27:9) Friday morning got together with our brother Gary, who is growing into a man of the Word, a major turning point in his life. Later that same morning met with our brother Matt and worked out some glitches in our relationship. God be praised.
This morning met with the E. Cambridge brothers, updated one another, prayed, and worked through a question in the process towards deciding whether or not to acknowledge elders in our group. Tonight had the joy of fellowship with the Monson ekklesia. Interaction centered around abiding in God's love by doing His commandments. (John 15:10) and the theme of forgiveness. Thank you, Father, for forgiving us our sins.

Welcoming One Another

2011-03-08T05:42:00.000-08:00

Romans 15:7 says, "Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (ESV) This verse is one of at least fifty "one another" verses in which all believers are encouraged to participate. Not one to all of the others, but one to another. How has Christ welcomed us? "God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8) We have been given the privilege and joy of welcoming people into God's family. "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (LK 15:10) We also have the blessing of welcoming our brethren into whatever part of the Body of Christ that we are in. Some people can integrate themselves into new situations easily, others cannot. Our responsibility is to help and welcome all. But the best part of all of this, for those who believe that glorifying God is His ultimate purpose for us, is that welcoming one another gives Him glory.
One practical application of this for the saints in the E. Cambridge ekklesia is the opportunity to invite people to experience what God is doing in our midst. We are blessed to have this experience on a regular basis. We usually have a contingent from a nearby Christian college, young saints who have never experienced NT church life. We also have those who are considering starting a house church, or people from more isolated groups. "To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." (Romans 16:27)

Brotherhood in Christ

2011-03-04T06:07:00.000-08:00

In previous posts I have written on our brotherhood in Christ, giving references from the Scripture ( Matthew 23:8, John 20:17, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:11-12 ESV.) Today I wish to explore the ramifications of that truth. If we are in fact brothers (or sisters- the underlying Greek word "adelphoi" means siblings)and this is eternal, then it comprises a major part of our identity, who God the Father says that we are in Christ. Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers and is not ashamed to call us such. We must allow this reality to change our thinking. We place much importance on things such as race, socio-economic status, ethnicity, clergy-laity, secondary or tertiary doctrinal viewpoints. All of these and many others must dissolve or take lesser importance if we are to fall in line with the prayer of Jesus in John 17 that we may be one even as He and the Father are one. (John 17:11,21) Colossians 3:11 supports this position. "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." It is being the brother or sister of Christ Himself that is significant, something we received by adoption, not of any work or merit of our own. May we learn to see our brotherhood as the highest honor we can ever receive.

Legalism?

2011-03-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

One of the most common charges that I hear hurled by Christians (?) is that of legalism. It is often said in response to someone else urging that the first person adhere to Scripture. Granted that there may be issues of interpretation involved, yet usually the epithet is used from a place of moral anarchy, as in "I can do whatever I want." Sadly it is often the only time that we use the term "brother" with one another. Legalism refers to law, and the primary law spoken of in the Bible is the Law of Moses. Those who believe that they are in a New Covenant are not under the Law of Moses. Yet we do believe that Jesus is Lord and we reflect that conviction by our obedience to Him.
As I've said in the past I see an increasing number of issues as falling within the purview of Romans 14, "Let everyone be fully persuaded in his own mind." We need not agree on every point. However there are a handful of core things that we must believe in order to be genuine followers of Christ. One of these is the gospel of Jesus, the same gospel that the apostles preached. We have no warrant to change this in any way. I urge my readers to study and insure that they are not preaching a different gospel. (Galatians 1:6-9)
Tuesday I spent at least five hours on the phone talking to five different people. May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to minister through the Holy Spirit in each of these situations. Wednesday I had the privilege of prayer and fellowship with our brothers John R, and Mark O. I thank God for their heart for Him, and their walking as Kingdom builders.

The Hard Way

2011-03-02T05:43:00.000-08:00

I realize that certain themes recur in this blog; I trust that the Holy Spirit wants me to emphasize some things. One of these is the way in which we learn. I believe there are three primary ways- receiving revelation from God directly, through the Word or in prayer etc., observing or receiving from other people, and the hard way in which we learn through personal, usually painful, time consuming experience. It must be human nature that causes us to utilize the third method so often. One could say, well, as long as we do learn. I suppose.
Along these lines I have observed a wide spread phenomenon in the generation from 20-40. There is an inordinate sensitivity to something called "tone", i.e. the way in which things are said, the precise words used to convey things. (Ironically, this "tone" concept is usually something I have to explain to older people.) I find myself walking on eggshells in hope of not causing offense. Again, I don't find this among middle aged people. I would welcome comments on this phenomenon.
Saturday morning the brothers of the house church continued our exploration of eldership and decision making. Met with our brother Josh in the afternoon. God continues to mature and grow him. In a rare event our ekklesia met Saturday evening. Shared on consensus and the interaction between it and those called to be leaders. Some passages include Matt. 18:15-17, Acts 6:1-6, and Acts 15. Sunday had the privilege of fellowship in Whitinsville. Our brother Alex joined us. Free flowing discussion, exhortation and praise of our King.

Getting the Show on the Road

2011-02-25T12:06:00.000-08:00

I believe that the Holy Spirit gave me an illustration regarding the place of leadership in the church. Imagine yourself in a large boat in the ocean with the engines turned off. It is a pleasant day with a nice breeze and you are drifting with the wind and current wherever they take you. This is a picture of the leaderless church. As long as no storm arises there is no problem but you really aren't going anywhere. "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." (Heb. 2:1) Those with the gift of leadership turn on the engine, examine the navigational charts (study the Bible) radio in (pray)and get the show on the road. I am convicted that I personally have become so concerned about not stepping on people's toes (in a spiritual sense)that I am really shirking the responsibility that God has given me.
I am also convicted that I and all of us need to take a much more active role in our walk with God. It is true that apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5) yet all things are possible for us with Him. "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Heb. 12:4) "One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way." (Phil. 3:13b-15a)

All Authority

2011-02-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

In Matthew 28:18 Jesus makes the absolute statement that, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me." This serves as the foundation for a book, "What Jesus Demands from the World," by John Piper, that I am currently reading. I find it challenging,saturated with Scripture, and convicting. The chapters on pride alone are worth the purchase price. I highly recommend it.
In Matthew 8 Jesus encounters a centurion whose servant is paralyzed. This military man understands authority; astonishingly he recognizes that the nature of Jesus' authority means that Jesus does not even need to be physically present in order to heal his servant. He need only "say the word, and my servant will be healed." (v.8) Jesus marvels at this. He has not found such great faith in all Israel. Do we recognize the authority of Jesus? Does the one whom we refer to as Lord have our obedience or do we just do what we wish to do?
How would we know what He wants us to do? This is yet another reason for Biblical literacy, or being a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15)
Last night had the privilege of going through the second half of a financial seminar based on Scriptural attitudes towards handling money. I trust it benefited those who attended.

Waiting on the Lord

2011-02-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Ps. 27:14 ESV) Most of the thing that I had planned for this week fell through, primarily due to the illness of others. Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday morning opportunities torpedoed. And so God wants me to wait for His timing to do things.
Saturday evening did receive the opportunity to meet with some saints in Monson, and share a little on the Lordship of Christ, that He has the right to tell believers what to do. It seems so basic in theory yet turns out so difficult in practice. As Jesus asks in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?" This is part of the daily denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. (Lk: 9:23)
This morning drove out to Malden to have fellowship with my home church. Blessed to have three visitors join us, all of whom contributed to our edification Our brother Matt exhorted us to pay the cost of preaching the gospel.
Praying that God would orchestrate our next New England regional gathering that we might glorify Him through Jesus Christ. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Ps. 73:26ESV)

God's Provision

2011-02-16T11:54:00.000-08:00

Sunday had the pleasure of fellowship with the saints in Waterford. Despite severe trials the brethren exude a warmth in the Spirit. Our brother Chris facilitated a earnest, helpful discussion based on Psalm 51.
Received a thoughtful, mature e-mail based on James 1:2-8 from our brother Nic. He had many insights, which I urged him to share with others.
On Monday the Lord met my housing need with a Christian family in central MA. I'm in the Mexico suite. Some people's creative ability on a shoestring is amazing.God is faithful. What a stark contrast from my last situation, where I felt like a prisoner most of the time. It will take a little getting used too. Thanks for all of your prayers in this regard.
Looking forward to reading "What Jesus Demands from the World," by John Piper.
Also adjusting to the aging process. Despite every effort (diet & exercise) I feel the decline. "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Cor. 15:54-55 ESV)"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:57

Marginalizing ourselves

2011-02-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

Most of us wish to be taken seriously when we are being serious. We desire the respect and attention of others. One common problem that prevents this, and marginalizes us in the process, is continual disagreement. Now I understand that as humans we have opinions on many things, and that our opinions differ. However it is not necessary to verbalize every single difference. Part of the maturational process is to "pick your spots," so that you save your credibility for the really important issues. The person who is continually disagreeing or inserting their own nuance into a group will find himself becoming ignored over time. No one will take him seriously because they anticipate he will disagree ahead of time. As my mother used to say, "A word to the wise is sufficient."
Enjoyed a fruitful time of prayer and fellowship with our brother Alex this morning before heading down to CT. Alex is growing in his faith by leaps and bounds. Spoke with our brother Chris on a little jaunt in the crisp winter air about the resistance to Bible teaching and the desire of many to dilute the impact of the Word of God to something they are comfortable with. He experiences the same phenomenon.
Thankful for a good time of fellowship with our brother Josh last night. He is asking God for an accountability partner as he seeks healing and growth in his life. May you, joyful Father, grant Josh's plea.

Variety Pack

2011-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Thinking about how insulated we are as Americans from so many problems that others face. If we need food we go to the grocery store. If we're sick we can go to the doctor. So often we don't seem to need God. But I can testify that when I needed Him, he delivered me, from the insane rage of an unsaved man, to providing temporary and probably long term lodging with brethren. Thank you, Jesus
Contemplating Acts 20:35 where Paul quotes Jesus saying "that it is more blessed to give than to receive." Why is that? Is it solely because giving meets the needs of others, or is it the reality that giving relinquishes my control of resources that God has given me as a stewardship, thus acknowledging that they belong to Him, not to me?
Also pondering the very human tendency of placing our subjective understanding of our personal life experience above the truth of the eternal Word of God, something we tend to do often. Rather we should place the Word as the final determinant in our lives. The Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself. He does not say one thing in the Scripture and then something else to you or me.
"How precious is your steadfast love. O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights." (Ps. 36:7-8

False Accusations

2011-02-06T17:20:00.000-08:00

Snowstorms canceled everything this week except the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in people's hearts. In my case it was how to respond in a God honoring way to false accusations from an unsaved man listening to the father of lies. ( John 8:44) "He (Jesus) committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." ( I Peter 2:22-23) It is difficult to respond in a God pleasing way to a burly individual cursing you out, threatening physical violence over something that at first you find incomprehensible, and then totally false. "How about a rational conversation, rick?" Not with this person. But barricading a door and fervent prayer spelled deliverance. God is real. The situation could have turned out very differently.
On a completely different note, had wonderful fellowship with our brother Gary as we looked at the beginning of Romans 9. Paul the apostle had great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart for his unsaved Israelite kinsmen. How many American Christians can say that we would be willing to be cut off from Christ for the sake of fellow countrymen who don't know Him? I found these painful questions because I don't have even a tithe of the compassion that Paul had for the perishing.

Utter Depravity

2011-02-03T08:39:00.001-08:00

Before i launch into my main topic I'd like to thank all of those who read this blog. I have a service, called Sitemeter, courtesy of my techno wizard friend M. T., which gives me a weekly summary of the traffic on the site. Last week was the most ever. I am thankful to God that at least some of you find the entries encouraging. Again thanks Gary for suggesting the idea, and for persuading me that even a techno-dunce like myself could do this.
Every so often God gives me a glimpse of the state of my soul without Christ, and it is horrifying. My thoughts, feelings, attitudes are such garbage that only divine love would want to minister to it. Of myself I am totally hopeless to live a life pleasing to God. As Paul the apostle writes, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24ESV) Who indeed? "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." (Romans 7:25) I am reminded of the words of Jesus in John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess 5:23 ESV)

Reviving our hearts

2011-01-31T07:25:00.000-08:00

Very thankful to attend a gathering of the saints from southern NH & ME, with a handful from northern MA, and even a family from Conn. last Saturday in Kittery, Me. Thanks Rick, Steve and Tom for putting this together. It is a very spiritually fulfilling thing to witness everyone operating in the gifts they have received to bless others. I believe that we are responding to Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-23 for relational unity when we organize this type of gathering. The emphasis is not on public sharing but rather on people having fellowship with whoever they wish. It is instructive to me to realize how much behind the scenes work goes into making this happen. It requires patient, painstaking development of trust and relationship with people whom one does not know initially, usually over a period of years, in order to persuade them that you are not trying to start a house church denomination or tell them what to do or take over. Rather you desire to offer encouragement and hope for mutual edification.
Sunday I had the joy of traveling with two young brothers (usually I go alone) to visit a group in Enfield, CT. Reminded them of the truth that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding for us (Romans 8:26-34) and encouraged them to attend the next New England regional gathering. (Hopefully in April) On the way back Alex shared his heart about desiring to truly know God, not just know about Him, and the progress he is making toward that end. It was encouraging, stimulating and challenging. The generations need each other. May the Holy Spirit revive our hearts and truly make Him first. "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24ESV)

Leader less?

2011-01-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

In this post i am responding (indirectly) to a blog post by a brother whom I respect and appreciate. Drawing from Jesus' words in LK 22:24-27, where He responds to a dispute among the apostles over who is the greatest, our brother uses this passage to dismiss the concept of servant leadership, and to assert that there is no true leadership save that of the Lord Himself. (One head, one body) Certainly Jesus is the only Lord, and we have great practical difficulty with this however much we may agree in theory because Lordship is not an American cultural concept, and we tend to think and respond culturally. However to take this passage to say that there is no human leadership seems problematic at best. The position taken illustrates the danger of taking one passage, emphasizing it, and downplaying, in this case, many others. Yet the best of us probably do this on a regular basis. It takes a lot of work and study to search out every possible verse and passage that may bear upon a given subject, and come to a Spirit led harmonization of them all. With more difficult questions this may take months or even years.
As I read the comments to our brother's blog post & his responses I see that he is saying that we may influence one another as long as we don't force it, with which position I heartily agree. We are not to cajole or coerce one another. however i think there are other Scriptural themes that can provide boundaries to leadership abuse. One is the theme of brotherhood in Christ, which is eternal. In contrast, any leadership role in this life ends with that life, if not sooner. Another boundary is the theme of consensus. In our group we believe in elder guided, as opposed to elder dominated, consensus. We understand that the Lord can speak through anyone in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. A third boundary is the priesthood of all believers. So I cannot accept the idea that no believer has a leadership role but rather that we look carefully at the person's humility, godly character, and maturity over a period of time before allowing ourselves to receive influence from that person.