Brazil Visit 5, Post 12

As in the US there are two Brazils. One is characterized by little hole in the wall businesses, street beggars, broken buildings, a horse trying to find grass in a yard with no grass, and substantial drug use. The other has nice cars, good education, tightly secured homes, modern technology and shopping centers that would not be out of place in the US. Last night was asked if i wanted to see a movie. Normally I don't as the vast majority openly advocating things contrary and hostile to God but my friend assured me that there were three Christian movies playing. We saw one, "Risen," in the US, and titled "Resurrection" in Brazil. This is the first movie i have seen in this country. The cost was a little less than the US equivalent to about $7 and the seats quite comfortable. There was English language music playing as we entered the theatre. About half of all music one hears in Brazil, in any context, is in English. I find it fascinating that the word for advertisement in Portuguese is "propaganda." There were 2 Coca-Cola commercials, very popular in Brazil. Eventually the film began. The story involves a Roman tribune ( high ranking, socially elite officer) who is given the duty by Pontius Pilate of finding out what happened to the body of Jesus after the tomb is found empty. Although this is fictitious the plot line is woven into the Biblical account reasonably well. Unfortunately the film depicted Jesus as a mystic and His followers as befuddled, happy dudes. Today is a rest day. Went to the typical buffet restaurant for the mid day meal. Had a good time of prayer in the afternoon.

Brazil Visit 5, Post 11

During this last weekend I attended a conference. The speaker was a man who with another brother planted what is now a very large church in the city of Salvador, Bahia. They now have many other churches in their association. Despite having thousands ofcommitted people they meet almost exclusively in homes. This was the thrust of his messages, three each on Friday and Saturday, and one on Sunday. The church that i am visiting of about two thousand people has always had home groups but also regular Sunday meetings for the whole church. Recently they decided to give up their building and rent another one Sunday a month for whole church gatherings. This is possible because of the strong, healthy bonds of discipleship that most people have. Although Mario shared on many things several points stuck out to me. One was a repeated statement about depending on the Holy Spirit rather than personal abilities, and the second, somewhat surprisingly given the reputation of the church in Bahia, was an acknowledgement that disciplers must not exercise undue control over the lives of those whom they disciple. He also tackled such difficult subjects as head coverings ( individual conviction), women silent ( cannot teach the Word in mixed groups) and the role of men as heads of families. The principal passages covered were Acts 2\42-47 and 1 Corinthians chapters 11 thru 14. I was told that approximately 1300 attended. Children from 3 to 9 were ministered to separately with those younger or older remaining with their parents. On Sunday we shared communion together. Everything was well organized.

Brazil Visit 5, Post 10

Although the google blogger feature is easy enough for a technological caveman like myself to use, there is one aggravating feature. I carefully paragraph my posts but Google condenses them into one long paragraph, which must be disconcerting for readers. Last Wednesday I flew to Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil. My friend Samir picked me up, we had a quick bite to eat, and then went to the weekly prison outreach at a center for juvenile boys. There were about thirty brothers assembled, some with guitars or hand drums, and after the usual bureaucratic snafu we were allowed in. We were divided into four teams which went to different rooms. I don't know the difference but our room had about a dozen guys who looked about 15. It was ridiculously easy to enter the prison. We wrote our names and document numbers on a piece of paper but were not searched. Perhaps the reality that the brothers have been going for four years makes a difference. We gave short testimonies and then a offer of salvation was made. Many responded and were given a little book and some candy. Afterwards i asked a friend who told me that 98% of the guys had no effective father in their lives. The prison itself was bare concrete everything exceptfor a picture of Jesus on one wall, something that i am certain would not be permitted in a US government building. They did have a TV and a simulation soccer game that they could play. Sad. Then I was taken to my host's home. This is a family that I have come to know through previous visits, a blind husband, his wife, and three adult children. The oldest is a surgeon, the second an accountant, and the third is an English teacher at an exclusive English school. The second son married in the interim between my visits but the others, 25 and 30 years old live at home, which seems common for unmarried adult children.

Brazil Visit 5, Post 9

One of the most common questions that I receive in Brazil is, "Do you know (of) Paul Washer. Actually I don't but the other night my current host family played a video of his based on Revelation 20:11-15 on the judgement. This type of message is rarely preached in the US so I understand the controversy. However after listening to the video, and not going in with any particular opinion, I will say that he presented the Scripture with clarity, accuracy, and compassion. This teaching should not be neglected. The next topic is directed primarily at foreign readers who receive their understanding of the US and its people primarily through the media including music and movies. These present a very biased and distorted view of things American. Most of the Internet, newspapers, television and magazines present a leftist political viewpoint and are controlled by the elite. The few conservative outlets are rarely Christian. Many Americians do not agree with or support the values presented. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 say "And even if our gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." This agrees with 2Thessalonians 2:9ff which reads, " The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." In the USA tapioca is usually thought of as pudding. In Brazil it takes a different form. It is white, very chewy, and is folded like a taco shell around various ingredients, either salty or sweet. I do not know what the auto insurance policies are like in Brazil but I observe an extraordinary willingness for the brethren here to share and offer their vehicles to others in the church, especially for longer journeys. '

Brazil Visit 5, Post 8

Am amazed at the personal sacrifices that my hosts are willing to make. After feeding me, washing my clothes, indulging my penchant for walking for exercise and many other things they are also willing to drive me long distances rather than have me take a bus. One brother did this twice traveling many hours out of his way. Another took a whole day off work to drive me to my next destination. As I have mentioned in the past driving in Brazil is no picnic. We are not cruising down the Interstate. Once again flexability and preparation are the key. Arrived in Vitoria not knowing if I would be asked to preach. About 3 hours before the meeting began I received the invitation. Thankfully God had been speaking to me about several things,and I had prayed and made notes in the morning. I spoke about the return of the Lord and about depending on the Holy Spirit in our weakness as Paul writes of in 2 Corinthians 12. Was blessed with a skilled translator although I am thankful for everyone who translates for me. Afterwards was blessed with a number of greetings and conversations with friends from my previous four visits to this city. Yesterday my host family took me to the beach. We walked along a trail through the woods in extreme heat, and then parallel to the ocean until we reached a sandy area about 100 yards wide with the ocean on one side and a lagoon on the other. The freshwater lagoon was literally like bathwater. Not very many people were there so it was very tranquil. Despite a sun umbrella, liberal applications ( i.e. plural) of sunscreen, and very little time in the sun I burned. Now my normally pinkish skin has turned red. I feel like an albino in Brazil. Today I meet other friends for the midday meal and fellowship in the afternoon. I plan to stay indoors as much as possible.

Brazil visit 5, Post 7

Last night while walking along the river in the dark my host showed me two animals that i think are called capybaras. They are nocturnal, a size of a hog and able to swim on or underwater. They were difficult to see in the trees and underbrush and I only got a glimpse before they went into the river. They must be strong swimmers because the current is fierce with recent rain. Last night I was also given an opportunity to speak to the four pastors of the church here and their wives about prayer. After giving a brief summary of my personal testimony we looked at 2 verses in 1 Samuel, ( 3:19 and 12:23) before going to the New Testament. The theme was the importance of praying for those whom they are shepherding. Today I visited the business in which my host and other relatives are involved. They take a type of vinyl that is similar to what i have seen on shower curtains and produce various items for distribution. About eighty people work there, nine hours daily and eight on Friday with a 90 minute break for the midday meal. They are paid a monthly salary. My Portuguese must be improving a little as I told 2 jokes during the midday meal today. Also resolved to have a daily time of prayer exclusively in Portuguese in addition to the others in English. Finished memorizing Psalm 23 in Portuguese. Will meet with a house group tonight with 35 or 40 people and share on the Word of God itself.

Brazil Visit #5, Post 6

Yesterday had a nice walk along the river in the center of the city. The recent rain has caused the river to flow higher but i don't know if the muddy yellow-brown color is normal. Last night I was given the opportunity to share with five home group leaders and my host pastor on the theme of depending on God. Read another chapter of Andrew Murray's book "Absolute Surrender," which focussed on the difference between independence from as opposed to dependence on God. Without total surrender we will not fully depend on God. I believe that our independence from God, rooted in sin, is the heart of pride. Prayer reflects dependence on God. We are saying that we cannot live the life that He requires on our own strength or abilities. Murray used the example of Peter prior to the Day of Pentecost as his example. Peter left all, followed Jesus, walked on water (for a little while) and was prominent among the apostles. Yet in the time of testing he denied Jesus three times. He was not yet fully surrendered to God. Denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily and following Jesus ( Luke 9:23) requires a constant reception of God's grace, power, anointing etc. Perhaps this is why we are to pray without ceasing. The men were receptive and we had a blessed time of prayer afterwards, both intense and fervent. It was a privilege for me to speak to them, and their patience was considerable as there was no translator. Afterwards my hostess had a made a very rich chocolate cake. She is a Proverbs 31 woman, always serving joyfully. One of the brothers showed me a picture on his phone of a white horse that he owns. The name of the horse. James Bond.