Man of Sorrows, Acquainted With Grief

For years now I’ve had the book, The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen in my library. A couple weeks ago I finally pulled it off my shelf and started reading it. It’s a short book, just one hundred pages and a bit dated. But it’s still good and applicable and helped me to understand my generation and myself a little bit better. Having just lost my Dad in January it even helped me understand a bit more my relationship with him and the differences there were between how we both viewed the world.

Dad didn't want his picture taken. So Lluvia told him, "But this could be our last photo together." And it was.

But perhaps what I liked even more about the book than the content itself was the painting on the cover. The painting is called Ecce Homo and is a piece of art by Georges Rouault who passed away in 1958, the year after my Dad was born. The painting is mostly done in dull reds, yellows, and browns. Jesus has the crown of thorns on His head and looks downcast, but not in despair. His skin has that olive-skinned middle-eastern quality or the quality of someone who has been much in the sun. But what I love about the painting is that underneath the brown and fleshy colors of Jesus’ face and neck and emanating behind His head you can see brilliant golds and yellows shining through. It’s like Jesus’ glory was opaqued by the mud we’re made from, but that glory is still there for those with eyes to see. It’s a beautiful reminder of who Jesus was. He was fully human, and fully God: neither part diminished by the other. Truly this is still a mystery.

And that’s where the title of the book and its cover come together. Many question where God is when bad things happen. While we don’t have easy answers we do know He came and allowed Himself to be on the receiving end of all that evil. He has entered into it fully. Also, He was tempted in all ways like we were, yet was without sin. Like it says in Hebrews 4:15, He is our high priest able to sympathize with our weaknesses. The evil that exists in this world is on us, not Him, yet He took it upon Himself. He truly is the wounded healer. Where is He when evil happens? He’s right next to us, consoling us, comforting us (2 Corinthians 1:3), helping us move beyond the evil done. It was His blood that was shed for our sins. (Hebrews 9:22) And He faced that most horrible of hurdles, death itself, and overcame it so that one day we too can be raised to eternal life with Him. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Today the parents of one of the kids who attend our school for kids on the spectrum came to me to explain why they’ve been unable to pay for their child’s enrollment at the school. They have it worked out already, but wanted to explain what had been happening in their lives that put them in this position. The last days of the school year in June, our students’ grandfather had died. They had to travel to Mexico City and ended up spending a lot on the funeral. To top it off, no sooner had they returned than the parent, the son of the deceased, had had an accident at work and his arm was in a cast and was on disability for a couple weeks. I related to him the pain of losing my own father recently and the similarities in the stories were striking. And we commiserated about the fact that since both men did not want to suffer or be in the hospital it seemed that Jesus came and said to them it was time to go. I told them about how my Dad was found, without any apparent pain or struggle etched on his face, just a serene expression. I pray I get more opportunities to share with them. I was able to tell them that if they needed to talk further I was also chaplain at the school and was there if they needed me.

I hope we can all take comfort in the reality behind the paining, Ecce Homo, realizing that there isn’t anything that happens in this world that Jesus doesn’t see. We don’t have easy answers for those things that do happen to us, but we know He is with us, consoling us. “…upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) He entered into our reality and has fully taken part in our humanity. He is our Man of sorrows, aquatinted with grief. (Isaiah 53:3)

Topographical Survey

I remember a time when my world was minute. My life revolved around a few small towns. Whatever traveling I did was through books or whatever foreign coins I could get my hands on. Please-names like Australia, Mexico, and Argentina seemed like vague realities. I didn’t really know where they were until middle school.

Life has changed quite a bit since then. There are times when my heart longs for those few small towns. My heart longs for my family, my nieces and nephews, and old friends. It longs to be able to walk bare-foot at my parents’ place and sleep somewhere where the only light is that of the stars or the moon or the lightening bugs at dusk. Geography is a funny thing.

No sooner am I among my own and my mind drifts back to other people I know. When I was a kid, those place-names were just dots on a map. I would run my fingers across the globe imagining the curiosities the world held. Now when I look at a globe I see faces. I see the faces of people I know. I see their tears and smiles. I can hear them crying out to God in prayer. I can see them disappear around the corner. I can feel their rough hands in mine in salutation. I can feel their embrace. I can hear their voices in song. So many faces: each of them living their lives; each of them walking their streets. Faces I never knew existed now mean the world to me.

Some of these people have been pillars for me. I’ve learned so much from so many of them. And many times, it’s me asking them for prayer. I won’t forget them. I hope I’ve been a blessing to them. Please, you don’t forget them, either. The next time you look at a map or a globe think about your brothers and sisters around the world and pray for them. They just might be praying for you.

Dealing With Destitution

These are times of turmoil and unrest. As a nation, we find ourselves at a crossroads on many issues. One of the great things about democracy is that we are allowed to have our own opinions and take on what is going on around us. But, if we’re honest, the situations we face are far from simple and require thoughtful, wise solutions. Unfortunately, due to how strongly we hold our opinions, getting to a consensus is complicated as well. I would like to see how the word of God weighs in on some of the complicated things we are facing. May we grant each other grace and an ear as we face the future together. Because face it we will.

Proverbs 31:2

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows? (ESV)

“What are you doing, my son?” King Lemuel’s mother asks him three times. Each time more emphasis is given to the question. In the first instance she states her relationship with him. In the second statement Lemuel’s mother seems to be emphasizing that he came from her. He should give special heed to her words. She has his best interest at heart. She cares for him. In the third statement she states that he is the result of her vows. It is implied that Lemuel came about, in part, because his mother was a woman of her word. Lemuel was on the earth because his mother was committed to his father and we hope that Lemuel will follow in her footsteps, being a faithful man. Lemuel’s mother asks him this question as a means to get him to reflect on what kind of king he will be. He will, after all, greatly influence other people.

We, too, as children of God, have the opportunity to greatly influence those around us. Maybe even more so with social media and all of the opportunities for good and evil that come with it. Perhaps the question, “What are you doing, my son?”, could be a way to guard against knee-jerk reactions. And this raises the question: How will we use our influence?

So, what are we doing? This world is troubled, to say the least. And it is full of people who are hurting and suffering from injustice. What will our response be to those who are disadvantaged, the foreigner, the widow, the orphan? Now, I’m not talking politics. In fact, I want to stay away from politics altogether. I want to avoid knee-jerk reactions. I think that our relationship with Jesus, and what the Bible says, should transcend all of our ideologies and take precedence over them. Politics addresses these questions on a national level. But, I want to look at how we should react personally. I know that these are touchy and controversial issues, but I think bringing God’s word to bear on them will be a helpful exercise.

Let’s start by taking a look at the immigrant*, the fatherless, and the widow. Deuteronomy 10:17-19 says, “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” Wow! Love the sojourner! God loves the sojourner! Even Jesus was a sojourner (one might even say a refugee fleeing Herod) in Egypt. Now, I can imagine some of the responses I might get, and I’m not saying that illegal immigration and the refugee crisis is not a complicated issue and I know it needs to be dealt with. But remember, we are dealing here with our personal response to a person made in God’s image—a person who needs the Good News! And if we let the gospel come to bear on our relationship with others we just might win them to Christ.

Jeremiah 7:5-7 says, “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.” (ESV) Obviously we can continue to conclude that the immigrant, the fatherless, and the widow are people that Jesus loves and should be of concern to us as well. Now looking at Leviticus 19:33-34 God says: When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (ESV) I love these verses because they mirror beautifully Jesus’ charge to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31 ESV) The foreigner is our neighbor as well. Psalm 146:9 gives us a bit more of the same: The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. (ESV) Matthew 25:35-36 crowns these ideas beautifully when Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” (ESV) What a privilege is ours! We can be Jesus hands and feet to those suffering around us today! I mentioned this as a note below, but the word stranger can be used for foreigner. Our attitude is to be one of welcome.

Now, lets take a few seconds to talk about the refugee. I know, a powder keg, right? Again, I know we have to come to some viable solutions, but lets leave politics out of it. Just let me ask, how does Jesus feel about the refugee? How does Jesus feel about the photo of that little Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, lying face down and drowned on the beach? We have to ask ourselves these questions because they are obviously near God’s heart. Thinking about refugees and foreigners within our borders in general, I’ve often heard this quote, “The world has come to our doorstep.” That rings true, doesn’t it? Many of these people come from closed countries where sharing the gospel is illegal. What a great opportunity to share the Good News! Maybe we should get to now someone from another culture today. Maybe God wants to use us to change someone’s life by having compassion on them or defending them.

Now, I’m sure there is overlap when we talk about these different people groups, but let’s take a look at the disadvantaged and needy. We need look no further than Lemuel’s mother’s words to him in verses 8-9: Proverbs 31:8-9

Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy. (ESV)

The focus on this verse is a bit more on the side of those who are economically disadvantaged. However, the word destitute could justify a much broader application of this verse.

I know I’ve touched on some tough issues in this post. In truth, I could write a book on this topic and go way more in depth than I already have. There are books out there that address these issues, but I have not read them yet. I can only pray I’ve done a good job representing Jesus’ heart and desires in the midst of this post and not pushed some agenda. Each of us has a responsibility to use our mouth for good. We have a responsibility to be the hands and feet of our Savior to the poor, the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner. How can we hope to win someone to Christ if our actions and words don’t show the same love that is ours in Jesus? I pray Jesus uses each one of us to bring someone to His feet.

*The words stranger, sojourner, and alien are all used in the Bible in reference to immigrants or foreigners and can be interchanged.

Portrait of a Savior

God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.
Job 23:16–17 (ESV)

I like dark rooms. Sometimes I'll go into a room to do something and wait a few seconds before I turn on the light. But it's not that I'm particularly fond of the darkness. Rather, when a neighbor has their light on, I enjoy the way it softly shines silver into the room. I like the way the darkness emphasizes the light.

Without darkness we wouldn't know what light is. And without suffering and trials we wouldn't grow. In our discussions on Saturday nights we've been going over the the life of Job (which can be found in the Bible). If there was ever anyone who had to stare darkness in the face it was Job. He lost his family, his health, and all his goods. He had enjoyed a position of influence in the community and was sought after for his wisdom, righteousness, and generosity. But now people laughed at him. And if that wasn't enough, his so-called "friends" came to comfort him by telling him he was surely suffering for some great evil he had done. Job felt consumed and abandoned by God.

In Job's arguments with his friends he justified himself and called God to task. Job, like all of us, had a slightly warped view of himself, and by the end of the book, confessed that he had not really known God. But we all want answers when we're suffering. We all shake our fists at heaven.

But Job also knew that the only one who could justify him was the Sovereign One who had allowed all of this to happen. And that wreck-of-a-man said with such faith, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God." (Job 19:25–26 ESV)

Maybe you're going through a time of trial right now. Or maybe you're concerned about the growing darkness in our culture. (Thought the darkness is world-wide, let me assure you.) But, are we despairing and caustic, like Job, or do we let the darkness emphasize the light we carry in us? Will we be vitriolic, just like the rest of our culture, or will we respond in love and faith in our Savior who is sovereign over all that is happening?

I love photography. Breaking down the word, it means: to draw with light. In the midst of these trials and this darkness we have a great opportunity to draw a beautiful portrait of our Savior with the light that is in us. But we will have to be brave. We will have to boldly trust God and boldly love those around us even when misunderstood or mistreated.

Nonnative--a poem

Sometimes when I look at my daughters I marvel at how different their childhood is and will be from my own. I marvel at the privilege they have in being multicultural and multilingual. At the same time I sometimes wonder if they aren't missing out on some things. I'm sure whatever they're missing will be more than made up for in all that they've gained. Here is a poem I wrote about these thoughts.

Nonnative

I see her pupil dilate
And I think of how
     foreign it will be

                 distressed


I had the sun and sparse and hill
And dreams of the atom bomb rain
      on the attic roof that
              slept with me

But she has buildings and ruins and Spanish and a multitude
     of small voices voicing the personal history
     of Fulano


But there is a certain piercing crater on her earth

Here there is no blood no
     network no auto entender

Absent are the cousins and the grand
     tears tear
Also and especially dolorous is the great grand

For Adah was always there
And Adah always will be

Psalm 23: Bible Text Animation | BibleScreen.com

Upheaval

We are coming to love our newly adopted culture and country. As we spend more time here we get a feel for what the people are like, what their struggles are, and how the whole moral environment has been changing the last few years. In a way, they are not too different from us. Except, perhaps that the changes are more recent. Many seem concerned about the downward turn in both their economy (which has happened numerous times before) and in their values. But in the area of values nobody seems to know what to do.

"I don't believe in anything, but I'm happy."

In Buenos Aires there seems to be quite a growing culture of agnosticism and even atheism in some cases. God can use our ministry to reach out to people at such a key time. In the midst of such cultural, political, and economic upheaval, people seem ready to seek for answers in a world that offers precious few, and the ones they do offer leave us empty.

And no matter how hard our hearts, there is always someone God is working in. I’ve been getting to know a guy who sells produce at one of the local stores close to our apartment. We started talking about what it is we do here and why. He started telling me about his own spiritual journey and belief system. He said that he has tried out several religious systems and doesn’t like certain elements of all of them. So, he has taken some of the elements from them that he likes and told me that he believes that what is important is your faith and how it motivates you.

I started talking to him a little bit about those systems and told him that there is something Christianity has that all of those other systems do not: a God of love who made us in His image. While we wrapped up the conversation he stated that he would like to get a coffee with me some day. Please pray for him. From what he said it sounds like somebody had done him damage in the midst of his spiritual seeking. His name is Ariel, a poetic name for Jerusalem.

A Good Start

As I sit on our balcony overlooking our neighborhood I think back on our trip and marvel that in such a short time a new life can be started. Just a few days ago we were saying our goodbyes and packing. Now we are at our temporary apartment and will have to unpack at some point! We have had a great start in this new life and ministry. Our days have been filled with trying (and failing) to pull money out of the ATM (don't worry, we've got it figured out now), buying groceries, exploring the neighborhood, and having several meetings with the team. We are so excited to be part of this ministry!

But I need to talk a bit about the trip itself. In all of the craziness we got to the airport a little late for my taste - two-and-a-half hours before the flight instead of the recommended three. Making matters worse, I mistakenly thought we were to leave from the international terminal. When we did get to domestic departures with our ten bags of luggage, three carry-ons, stroller, etc., etc., etc. we had to shift our luggage around because many of the bags weighed two pounds more than the allowed fifty! Then we were informed that our first piece of luggage per person would not be free like our travel agent had told us. However, here is where we started seeing God at work. The guy checking us in told us that the luggage charges were actually going to be cheaper on the whole. As we continued weighing and re-weighing our bags to get the poundage right, he was working on getting some glitch worked out with our tickets. We were told that we accidentally had not paid for taxes with Air Canada! By the time he finished (two other people had to help him out with the glitch) all of our boarding passes were printed out and the tax glitch had disappeared. Sophie was running all over the place.

We finally got to our gate and had to get Sophie a bite to eat. In the process we were late boarding and were told that all of our carry-ons had to be stowed beneath the plane and retrieved from the luggage claim in Toronto! Our plane was already taking off late so our connection was becoming complicated. Within a couple minutes we were told that all checked carry-ons would be checked through to our final destinations instead of having to be picked up in Canada! This was a huge blessing because we already had too much to juggle with the girls and a million little items for the cold and the stroller and personal items that we did keep with us.

We arrived in Canada and the flight attendants were very sweet and asked us to wait on the plane for our stroller to be brought up, it being very cold on the walkway between the plane and the gate. We were nearly the last ones of the plane - a scenario that would repeat itself several times! We were able to talk about why we were traveling and where we were going and they were very attentive. One of them had vacationed in Argentina and said that she loved the place and the people. She thought that what we were going to do was wonderful. They had to call the immigration officers and ask them to wait for us since we were coming though customs late. Because of a misunderstanding I had to fill out a customs form that I should have filled out earlier on the plane. I was so nervous that we were going to miss our connection that I couldn't remember my daughter's names and botched the form in several places!

We rushed to our gate and had no problem getting to our plane on time. We finally sat down and were situated when a voice over the intercom welcomed us to our flight to Chile! Lluvia and I looked at each other in panic! I quickly showed by boarding pass to our flight attendant and she told me not to worry, we still had a connecting flight in Santiago de Chile and would fly on from there to Buenos Aires! Don't ask me how I missed that lay-over, but suffice it to say we were greatly relieved and a little perturbed at the same time. We would have to get off the plane and go through more metal detectors all over again with the girls and the stroller and our sundry items just to re-board the same plane! The flight to Chile wasn't a bad flight. And looking back we thank God that it was at night. The girls were asleep for the majority of it! We didn't sleep much, but the airport movement in Chile was uneventful, thankfully.

We got to Buenos Aires and breezed through immigration and customs without any problems. The immigration officer was even cracking jokes with us. Along the duration of our trip there were always people helping us in various ways.

We came through the doors to see the lovely faces of our team leaders and team members, as well as two people from our church here.

As we reflect on our trip a few thoughts linger.

• So many things could have gone wrong-really wrong! God was working out everything for our good. (All of our luggage and carry-ons made it in spite of the connecting flights.)
• Many times, in the midst of much uncertainty, stress, and fatigue, I had a feeling of incredible peace. Your prayers accompanied us all the way.
• In spite of the craziness there is nothing else in the world we would rather do!

Our team meeting in our apartment.

Thank you for praying for us and supporting us. Here are a few more prayer requests:

1. That God would use us for His glory in this place, bringing people closer to Himself.
2. That we ourselves would grow in our relationship with Christ this year both individually and as a family.
3. That we find affordable permanent housing.
4. That we find an affordable car.
5. Praise God for a good start!

One Single Cell

How is it possible that what I hold in my arms was once a single cell?

Then it multiplied and each cell shares the same code that makes her who she is yet each has different function.

I look at her-her closed eyes, her stubby nose, her mouth sometimes smiling behind the veil of dream-and I think again, can anything else be so perfect?

Yet again God has turned our world upside down. Yet again He uses circumstances to cut to the core of our being.

Make me what You want me to be!

In our lives we wear many hats. Few are as transcendent. Though, perhaps, every moment should be.

Thank You, Lord.

Fulfill Your Calling

Several times I have heard people say, “I could never do what you do. I could never serve God elsewhere.” Some say, “I could never give up my life here.” I have even had friends from Mexico say this to me. While I am somewhat naïve, and don’t easily perceive meaning behind all statements, I take this to mean that they are unwilling to give up their comfort—their life. Truly, being an international worker is a calling, and I am judging no one when I say that because, “there are many parts, yet one body.” (1 Cor 12:20 ESV) If we were all missionaries who would send the missionaries? Yet I detect in their statement a kind of respect or awe regarding what it is that international Christian workers do.
.
But I feel this awe is a bit misplaced. You see, for me there is no better life. There is nothing better than entering and assimilating into a new world – a parallel universe. And there is nothing so sweet as sitting across the table from someone in this other world and delving deep into their lives, drawing out their doubts and disillusion and helping them seek God. What could be better than walking on the journey of life together? And that in a world that you have adopted as your own and that God, in His infinite wisdom, has gifted you? Would you be happy anywhere else? Would you be happy doing anything else?

All of this reminds me of a song by one of my favorite bands, Sixpence None the Richer. In their song, Melody of You, they beautifully sing these words:

This is my call, I belong to You

This is my call to sing the melodies of You

This is my call, I can do nothing else

I can do nothing else

And indeed what could be better than singing of a Savior to a world bereft of hope? What could be better than elevating His Name and work in a world that glorifies darkness? And what could be better than fulfilling your call – than externalizing what He placed in your DNA?

“See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:17 ESV)

Please help us fulfill our calling to reach out to the lost in Latin America. Below is a form you can click on, print, fill out and mail to International Teams, our organization. Or you can give online at: Donation. We can’t do this without you! Thank you!

From Nazareth to Bethlehem

Last year, around this date I was a new father. Sophie was just six months old. Christmas was coming, and being a new father I felt I had new insight into what Joseph and Mary might have felt and thought as they made the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

"Tonight I’m listening to the song, “Breath of Heaven” (by Amy Grant) with Lluvia and thinking about Mary and Joseph and a very hard journey they had to take. How torturous the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem must have been! I think about Mary, and how uncomfortable the trip must have been for her, pregnant as she was. I can imagine her being worried sick about losing the baby, and only being a teenager. Poor Mary! I can imagine them having to make frequent stops because Mary couldn’t ride or walk anymore. I can imagine her and Joseph thinking about how “inconvenient” a trip of this kind would be. I can imagine Joseph looking at her during the trip and worrying about the state she was in. I can imagine him thinking to himself, “I can’t believe I have to leave my trade for this census, when I most need the money. I can’t believe that we have to make this trip with my wife ready to give birth at any moment – a trip from one end of the country to the other!” I very much doubt Ceasar was too concerned about how this law was “inconveniencing” his subjects. But they had no choice, this was the law and Ceasar’s word was absolute.

And I can imagine Joseph getting to Bethlehem, and Mary beginning to have birth pains and Joseph in a panic trying to find a suitable place for Mary to deliver. Poor Joseph! He may have thought, “Lord, You are in control of all of this; how could you let this happen now? In a stable, Lord? In a stable? Some husband I am, letting my wife give birth in these conditions!” I can imagine them having all of these thoughts despite the angel’s coming to them earlier, announcing the birth.

But this was exactly what God had in mind. He did everything in the way that He knew would somehow be best. He did it exactly in the timing that He knew would be best. And He was probably working in their hearts through all of this, like He has worked in mine when I've had similar doubts. I've seen God do incredible things (though I've never seen angels). And I have doubted more than is healthy for my relationship with my loving, all-knowing God. I have questioned the timing of many, many things, like bringing my wife and newborn to the States. But God can handle my doubts. And I can learn from Joseph and Mary."

Far As the Curse is Found

Lluvia loves the Christmas traditions we have in the States. Lluvia loves any reason to celebrate. That’s probably why there is always Christmas music seeping out of our apartment and into the hallway. I enjoy life much more since I married her.

But if we left it up to the radio, Christmas would be lacking something. While we enjoy all Christmas music, much of it lacks the beauty and depth of the carols and Christmas hymns. There is something so beautiful about a Savior. Something so necessary – especially now. There is so much pain and panic; there are so many trials and tears.
Contrast that to what it says in the hymn, Joy to the World:

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found

God has sufficient power to undue this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. If we let Him, He will do it in our own lives. He will do it someday in all creation. We don’t have to look far to find the curse. If we look to Him in humility, we’ll find complete renewal and respite.

May you find the renewal and respite that you need in Him, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)
It is the desire of Lluvia and I to share this message of the hope of Christmas with as many people as we can. We are currently preparing to do so in Buenos Aires, Argentina. If you would like to support what God is doing around the world, could you prayerfully consider printing and filling out the card at the link below? Or, if you would like to just give a specific Christmas gift you can do that as well, by specifying in writing that it is a special gift for Christmas. You will have to click on the image, save it, then print it out. It will then have to be mailed in to the address provided on the card. Thank you!

Reason to Rejoice

One of the things I love about my daughter is that every morning she wakes up smiling at us. It doesn’t matter if she’s tired or teething, she finds reason to rejoice in a new day. And looking at her, it makes it hard for me not to rejoice as well.

I hope this rejoicing is something that is always characteristic of Sophie. As a father, I certainly want to do everything to make sure that she has ample reason to rejoice always. But there are things that are outside the realm of my control. Indeed there are a great many things outside the realm of control of each of us!

Much of what we feel when we see the circumstances surrounding us is panic. The future that we are walking into is uncertain at best; many would say grim. What are we to do? What should our response be?

David was a man plagued by enemies and trials. Many times his life was in danger. All of these situations taught him where to go. In Psalm 39:7 he said, “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (ESV) He knew that he would find no other sure refuge in times of uncertainty than in His God. And likewise we have no other place to go than to wait upon our loving God. He is loving, He is all-powerful, and He can handle whatever it is that keeps us up at night.

Likewise Paul was a man who had his share of hardship. He was wrongfully jailed several times and ended up a martyr. Yet from his cell he said, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:11-13, ESV) If God was strengthening Paul in prison, He is more than able to strengthen us in our present circumstances. We, like Paul, can be content. And more than that, we can rejoice. Paul, in this same letter states:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” (Phil 4:4, ESV) This man in prison isn’t just suggesting that we rejoice, he is commanding it. It is scripture.

If we can just keep our eyes on Jesus, wait and hope in Him, and rejoice in all of our blessings (they are many, if we stop to think about them), we, like Paul, can be content and rest easy in the fact that God has everything under control.

In a World Between Worlds

Oftentimes I’ve thought about how privileged I am to be in a world between worlds – to be someone who can move with some ease between two countries, two cultures, and to a certain extent, two realities. I am often surprised, and sometimes taken off guard, by the values that clash between these two places that I now call home. If I’m not mindful of the transition that takes place when I get on and off the plane it can even lead to painful experiences as people don’t know how to interpret what I do, or I forget to interpret what they do in the context of their own culture. An example of this would be the “personal space” issue. In Mexico it just doesn’t exist. And while it is sometimes something that can be a point of tension for me (me being somewhat introverted), when I get to the U.S. it sometimes takes me awhile to figure out why the person I care deeply about keeps moving away from me. All the while I keep moving closer!

Related to this issue is an article I just read that speaks about third culture kids (TCK’s). (Article: MIN WEIN INTA?)These are children who are born to expatriate parents, but live in another culture. Not fully fitting into neither their parents’ culture nor their host culture, they have their own culture. This leads to identity issues. As I think about my daughter I realize that the issue will be different and maybe even more complicated by the fact that she will have two cultures at home as well. Does this make her a fourth culture kid? I have often times thought of Sophie and how “well-rounded” or “well-adjusted” she is going to be. But, according to this article these may be merely whimsical thoughts!

As I think of the responsibility that I have as a parent to help Sophie through this issue, I truly hope that God gives me much wisdom. I would love to find answers to the problem this poses and plan to pick missionaries’ minds on the issue.

One possible solution comes to mind even now. Perhaps Sophie, as a TCK will have the benefit of knowing exactly where she is from. Oftentimes we make the mistake of putting too much stock in our world. We grasp and hold on to our material wealth or our little piece of land or our country. We should love our country. But we shouldn’t forget where we truly come from. The Bible explains the fact that this world is not our home. We are just passing through. Hebrews highlights the fact that we are strangers and exiles here. Hebrews 11:13 (ESV) speaking of wonderful examples who have gone before us states: These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. [1] There is another verse that I love that states the case directly. Philippians 3:20 (ESV): But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Isn’t that great? If we are followers of Christ, we are first and foremost citizens of heaven, then citizens of our country. That means that the Christian from another land is more my brother than the non-Christian in my home or next door.

Our prayer for Sophie is that she will know her Savior at a young age. As a result, she will know exactly who she is and where she’s from. Hebrews again says in 11:10 (ESV): For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. [3] Let us all remember who we are, where we’re from, and where we’re going.

[1], [2], [3] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Fearfully and Wonderfully

One look at her and my heart was smitten. When my eyes first beheld her, the weight of fatherhood fell on me and tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe she was mine. She was Lluvia and she was Justin, yet she was other. This miracle is a mystery; the workmanship of God manifested before our eyes.

I look at her now, as I did then, and I think, “She is beautiful!” Every feature in miniature – a work of art. I have heard that all parents think their children beautiful. I am no exception. But when I look at Sophie, I’m not thinking of just another pretty face. When I look at her I think of the beauty of God’s creation. A work completed and whole. Every part adds to the sum of the creative expression of my Lord. Everything he did has its purpose. My little girl is fearfully and wonderfully made. I know it well. (Psalm 139)

In secret You formed her and You knitted her together. She is Yours. Use her for Your glory my God.

Religious Devotion

It is 6:20 a.m. and someone is listening to music very loudly. Every once in a while a firecracker jolts me to attention (as it did much of last night)! Our neighborhood is usually pretty calm, but today is the day that all Mexico celebrates the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Even in a culture that is ever more skeptical and postmodern, the influence that this entity wields over Mexico is incredible, and many times a stumbling block to many devotees who find it hard to leave her behind to trust only in Jesus for salvation.

Yet this devotion (that keeps them (and myself) up all night shooting off firecrackers) is a lesson to me. Not that I want to exchange my freedom in Jesus for empty religion and legalism, but I know I can do more for my God. I know I can share Him with more people, sacrifice my own desires more for the good of others, and love Him more who first loved me. My good works can gain me no better standing before Him who did everything in dying for me. But I hope that at the end of the day I've given the same amount of energy to glorifying Him with my life as others do in a misplaced devotion.

May Jesus be glorified in all we do and say and think.

Fruit Delayed

In ministry, it isn’t always easy to see fruit from your labor. I’ve heard stories about missionaries working ten years before seeing a single person dedicate their life to Christ. But it is so encouraging when God gives you a glimpse of what He is doing and you see the fruit of many prayers—prayers prayed by our support and prayer partners.

When the coffeehouse was still open, we had some friends who worked a couple doors down in an internet café. Even then we could see that their marriage was in trouble. We tried several times to share the gospel with them and invite them to church. They really didn’t seem interested at the time. We continued to pray for them. Eventually they went out of business and we lost contact with them. This was over two years ago.

Recently, Vero got in touch with Lluvia and told her that she and Chuy had separated. She related to Lluvia her desire to seek God and she acknowledged that she needed His help. She also said that she has been struggling with depression and that Chuy isn’t helping out with their children’s costs.

Please pray that God continues to use us in her life, and that He will save them and restore their marriage. Pray that God would be glorified in us.

Dysfuncion

The concept of dysfuncional families has been around for a relatively short time. Dysfuncional families themselves have been around since sin entered the world. Just look at Cain and Abel. Mexico, typically, seems to be behind the U.S. in its loss of values. They are quickly cathching up, though. As a result, dysfuncional families, while always having existed in some form, are just now on the rise.

The reality of this for us means that we are dealing with young adults that are deeply scarred and hurt. These hurts almost always lead to vice of some sort through a damaged sense of self-worth. These are hurting people who need to see that they, being made in God's image, are of priceless value. So priceless are they, in fact, that Jesus came to die on the cross for them.

I think of my wife's friend, Aurea. She is a young woman with many hidden scars. She came on a camping trip with us and it obviously impacted her. She came back to Queretaro with a lot to think about. However, she is in a somewhat destructive relationship and is really struggling to give complete control of her life over to God.

Please pray for us. Pray for wisdom as we seek to share the love of Christ in a hurting world. And please pray for those we seek to minister to.

The Swine Flu

Some of you may be wondering how we are doing in Mexico with the outbreak of the swine flu. Thankfully there have been few cases here in Queretaro. Several public places, including schools, have been closed down. Many of our own activities have been put on hold, as well, set to resume tomorrow. We have still been going to our small group studies, including a couple we have today.

Queretaro is only about two and a half hours from Mexico City where the flu broke out. There are other near-by cities who have been harder hit. It looks like the worst of it, at least locally, is over. We ourselves have not been infected, and we are thankful for that and for prayers that many have no doubt said on our behalf. Please continue to pray for our city, and the country of Mexico on the whole as we continue to deal with this reality. Please pray for many opportunities to share Christ at this time.

The Strength of My Heart

Last August we took a camping trip with our young adults near a town called Tres Marias. I can remember as we left Mexico City on our way there, the mini-van climbing laboriously up the ridges. I looked back and could see Mexico City far below. Mexico City is high, but we were climbing much higher! We got to the camping ground and had a great weekend. We played hard, listened to some great sermons, and didn't sleep much. On the last day I started to feel a little weird. My eyes couldn't focus on anything and my head was twitching involuntarily. I squatted down a couple times because I could no longer stand. As my team took off to do another activity I tried to follow.

What happened next, I can now laugh at, but I think everyone else was quite alarmed. As I tried to follow my team, a strange noise, like machine-gun fire, came out of my mouth; tat-tat,tat,tat,tat,tat, and I fell backwards. From what I was told, I was out cold for a couple minutes. I opened my eyes to see several concerned faces around me, Lluvia's included. I was able to get up and was told that my heart was beating very fast due to the altitude. Several people had passed out on such trips.

We traveled back to Queretaro and decided to go for a check-up. This had not been a normal situation since I had convulsed as well. Every doctor we went to (you have to shop around for a good doctor in Mexico) said that my pressure was elevated. We went to visit our friend Elsa at the hospital on the tenth of August. Elsa had previously been in our small group and was a nurse. She checked my pressure and was very concerned. For those of you who might not know, blood pressure is made up of two numbers. If you are a male, the top number should roughly be 130 and the bottom should be around 80. If the bottom number is 110 you are at risk for a stroke or heart attack. Without remembering the exact number, my bottom number was around 120!

Elsa rushed me into the hospital for testing. I would love to say that I was trusting in God at this point, but "panic" would be the best word to describe what I felt. Sometimes the Lord lets you live through a situation to grow you in it. The doctors started trying to get a blood sample. I don't like to see blood, much less my own. They couldn't find my veins and when they did, my blood clotted right away. Soon, I was once again surrounded by a group of faces. But instead of looking concerned, they looked amused. "Wow, he's turning white! And he was already white to begin with!" Needless to say, I was not amused. I was sure I was going to pass out. Thankfully, I didn't. They eventually had to get the blood out of my hands and wrists which was somewhat painful. What hurt me more was my wounded pride. Why couldn't I just trust in God? The next day my hands and arms were bruised.

The diagnosis is that I have high blood pressure. It was detected in my Dad at the same age, meaning its hereditary. Thanks Dad! While I'm currently medicated for it, we have cut almost all cholesterol and fat out of my diet. I have lost a few pounds and my pressure averages at around 117/74. The doctor thinks I may some day be able to get off the medicine. I may go for another check-up this weekend to see what he thinks of my current numbers.

I feel that I can trust God a lot more in this area. I know that He can heal me should He decide to. But even if He doesn't, a verse comes to mind that speaks to my heart in this area. It is Psalm 73:25-26. It reads: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." My body may be imperfect and prone to infirmity, but it is God who keeps my heart beating. If I had to choose between health on this earth, and Jesus Christ, I would choose Jesus. Not because I am some great saint, but because He has loved me and proven over and over again how wonderful He is. And when my time here is over, He is what I shall inherit when I get to heaven. What better portion could I ask for than He Himself?