This is Harder Than I thought it Would Be

Cirilo, Katia, Michael and Ivan Mendoza.
New pastoral family of the GNC.

Benjamin & Stephany (engaged) share their vision for
the new mission that they and the GNC are beginning in
Los Sauces-Chitre

In missions courses during college back in the 70´s we were taught the biblical method of beginning new churches, developing leaders and then moving on to new ministries, to begin the process again.  I well remember when we installed a Panamanian pastor in the work in Parita.  It was difficult to let go.  In January of 2006 when we dedicated the church building in Chitré, there was excitement, growth, frequent baptisms and long work days.  The same is true today of the work.  Not much has changed.  However, one very big and noticeable change is the leadership.  We now have a mission committee that works hard every week in the opening of two new missions that our church is sponsoring.  Yesterday, Sunday, November 6th, marked a life changing point for several of us at the church.  During the business meeting after the morning service the members voted for two very important steps.  First, they voted to receive Cirilo and Katia Mendoza and their two small boys as pastoral family.  Cirilo and Katia will both graduate from our FWB Seminary in Chame in December.  In the same meeting the church voted to begin the process of purchasing a house in Los Sauces where two more seminary graduates from our church are beginning one of the missions I mentioned previously.  As I spoke to the members of these two steps, my emotions were uncontrollable.  I wept, for joy and sadness.  Joy because of the tremendously huge sense of gratitude and praise that I offer to God for allowing Brenda and me to be a part of this part of His great plan.  I wept for sadness because with a Panamanian pastor, this marks the end of this particular relationship that we will enjoy with this group of people.  Our relationship will be different as someone else steps in to take the leadership.  I am incredibly pleased with both these decisions and steps of faith.  However, I sense that we are not leaving a job as we step aside from the leadership of the church, rather we are releasing what has become a part of our very lives. Brenda and I have great peace in knowing that the Good News Church is a great congregation with great leadership.  We are overwhelmed with a Spirit given satisfaction in knowing that this church whose vision is "To be a church that has a vision of planting new churches in Panama and the rest of the world where the gospel of Jesus Christ is not being proclaimed", will continue to be a part of who they are.  God Bless the Good News Church is our prayer.

Do You Remember Me?

Do You Remember Me?  When I hear that question my brain hits the speed re-wind button and I try to relive that past 25 years in about 3 seconds.  Since my re-wind is needing to be re-minded, I rarely answer to the affirmative and must, in an embarrassed fashion admit, "sorry, I know I should, but I don't".  It happened today, in front of two new church planters that I am mentoring.  So much for the demonstration of great name and face recall.
As we talked, and my memory was refreshed, I came to learn that the lady we were talking to, had attended gospel film nights in front of our house, when she was a little girl about 20 years ago.  She also showed us a stuffed toy that she received from a Samaritan's Purse event we had.  Another God moment was when she told me who her father is.  He is a man who has begun attending our church on Sundays, attends a cell group on Friday nights and cut our grass just this morning. 
For the last five years, The Good News Church has held an evangelistic outreach in this ladies neighborhood during Holy Week.  We will do so again this year.  However, our missions committee has targeted this area of our city as a possible site for a new church with the two church planters that I accompanied today. 
As we conversed, I had several thoughts.  First, a stuffed toy and some gospel films left a positive impression in the mind of this lady.  Secondly, is it possible that God has been working in this ladies life for the last few years for such a time as this?  Could she and her family become part of a new church to be born. 
Do You Remember Me?   "I'm sorry, I know I should, but I don't, but evidently God does, and that's what matters."

BTW... Thanks to any of you who have supported Samaritan's Purse or similar ministries. 

Evangelical Ashes

Marti Gras/Carnaval is officially over for 2011, although the effects will be felt for several days as the revelers recuperate from several days of non-stop drinking and vile living.  Some effects will be seen in future weeks and months as there is no money to buy back what was pawned for the party, (one individual pawned his gold dental bridgework) marriages break down due to infidelity, venereal disease is discovered, and in November, the month with the most births nationwide.

Thus, as evangelical protestant Christians, and conservative to boot, it is easy to decry the absolute silliness of the millions who on this Ash Wednesday will step inside the Roman Catholic church and receive an ashen cross marked on their forehead by the local priest.  This is a sign of absolution and cleansing of the sins committed during this party season.  I confess, the actions of the priests disgust me.  I have a deep disdain for the deception that they heap upon their blinded followers.  On the other hand, a question comes to mind.  Do we in the evangelical protestant church also have an ash pot?  Perhaps ours is less obvious, but I think it is there.

 Sadly, I know that some of our local flock, were just as taken in by, and participated in the recent debauchery, as much as the other thousands that came from far and near.  The funny thing is, they won't be seen with an ashen cross on their forehead.  Instead, their ashen cross is invisible to the naked eye, but the attitude is there.  Prior to participating in sinful behavior a large majority of the people thought to themselves, "I can do this sin for a few days and ask forgiveness after the fact."  Very convenient eh?  On the same token, how many of us, as upstanding protestants, embrace the same attitude and action.  We offend, lie, deceive, commit immorality and any number of favorite sins, all the while thinking, I'll ask forgiveness later, after all God is a forgiving God and His mercy endures forever, right?

What I am saying is that in reality there is probably little difference in attitude between those that I see today with an ashen cross in their forehead who have exited a Roman Catholic church, and many evangelicals who have been involved in the same behavior or worse.  Both have a twisted and erroneous view of repentance and grace.  My prayer is that God will help me and you to boldly face this reality and challenge and present the truth, graciously, lovingly and convincingly.

Now, I need to go look in the mirror and make sure there are no ashes on my own forehead.
 
Blessings to you.

Pretty, Dirty Feet

Katia (a seminary student, wife and mother from the Good News church) Brenda and I went out to make a few visits this morning.  Our purpose was to follow up on some previous visits and confirm days and times for the beginning of 5 new small groups.  As we were walking through the three neighborhoods we were visiting we met several adults, youth and children who frequent the church. Two siblings began walking with us.  Actually, Villo was riding his bicycle and Arelys was walking.  We went to a couple of homes, talked, shared and prayed.  Villo and Arelys in tow.  These two children are Gnobe Indians.  Their parents who emigrated to Chitre from the neighboring province of Chiriqui, prayed  to receive Christ two weeks ago. 

Our last visit would take us a little further from the neighborhood where Villo and Arelys live.  As we walked along the pavement nearly a quarter mile, it dawned on me that Arelys didn't have shoes on.  She was accustomed to going barefoot and evidently the hot pavement didn't bother her.  Like most older brothers, Villo didn't offer to carry her on his bicycle.

At the last visit, we agreed on a day and time for the small group to meet.  After I shared a story from Mark 2, Katia was praying.  All morning long, Arelys had not said anything.  As we prayed, "I peaked at Arelys".  She was praying with her eyes closed, hands clasped and then I noticed her feet.  Pretty, dirty feet.  Although Arelys is just a little girl, with calloused, dirty feet, she was "helping" us to carry the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am totally confident that God sees those feet that helped carry the Gospel as some of the most beautiful in the world.  They weren't pedicured, painted or well groomed, but yet precious and lovely in the sight of God.  They were genuinely, Pretty, dirty, feet.

Disciples Discipling

"Hey, I was the one that taught you that!"  That is a strange and egotistical statement I admit.  Especially when it goes through my own mind.  It happened twice this week.  First was Sunday morning when Cirilo, a third year seminary student from the Good News Church in Chitré was preaching at our church.  He said something that I had taught him in one of our many discussions & classes.  Then it happened again on Tuesday night. Stephany, a recent seminary graduate, was teaching a class on Life Stewardship that I recently taught her at the FWB Seminary in Chame, Panamá. 

As Cirilo and Stephany were speaking I was intrigued by their growing level of confidence in what they were saying and the conviction with which they talked.  It was also obvious that they had dug deeper into their respective topics and had done some preparation prior to engaging their audience. 

As they both developed their messages, I realized that they were coming at the subject in a way that fit their personality and style.  Both, a bit different from mine.  Another thought came to me that is a bit more pleasing. As they spoke, I thought joyfully, "Hmm, I wish I had thought of that, I wish I had said that!"  Quite a change from the first thought, huh!

Seeing disciples discipling.  Thanks for praying.

Discipling Jesús

God still speaks to us.  That is a simple statement.  Yesterday I was seated at our table in a discipleship talk with Jesús (the Divine and a new convert with that name)  The topic of our discussion was "God speaks to us."  As we talked I was a little bit sidetracked in my thoughts as I thought of the profoundness of that statement.  Some serious questions came to my mind, and I confess that I found my mind wandering a bit.  "How long has it been since God spoke to you Stan?"  "How has God spoken to me lately?" 

Jesús and I discussed the power and relevancy of God´s Holy Word.  Jesús mentioned a passage that had really spoken to him in recent days.  It was one of those ".... shall not inherit the Kingdom of God passages."  Interestingly, we had just discussed the fact that the Bible was written over a period of a few thousand years by various inspired authors, yet it is like the Bible has a mystical way of knowing everything about us.  Those of us who have been on The Way for a while know that the Holy Spirit makes the Scriptures alive and active in our lives.  Jesús learned that yesterday.  "how did God know which passage to bring to my mind and have me read?"  he asked.  I explained that God knows us, down to every small detail, and he uses his "God breathed" book to reveal to us, hidden things, shameful things, embarrassing things, humorous things, etc. etc. for the purpose of conforming us to the image of Christ.

I am glad that God still speaks.  I look forward to hearing from Him again today.  I am also thankful for the opportunity to disciple Jesús.  Blessings to you.

Of Translators and Money Grubbers

George called late last night.  He is a retired medical Dr. from the US, 82 years old, who decided on a whim to come to Panama.  He moved out of an apartment recently, which left the landlady angry.  He speaks no Spanish, so when the contract was signed, he had no idea of what he was signing, plus, he was not given a copy.  Being the trusting sort, he went on with life.  George didn't know that he, being a North American, is a prime candidate for double charges since all North Americans own sky scrapers and practically grew up with one hand inside a bank vault.  He was being charged twice what his fellow leasers were paying.  Not a bad deal for the landlady.  The landlady arranged for a cleaning lady to come and clean.  The 250 sq. foot apartment with 1 bed, 1 table, 1 chair and a tile floor, and bare walls really didn't require a daily scrubbing.  The cleaning lady wanted to work full time making sure that George's apartment was clean.  After all, he probably keeps his skyscraper and bank vault back home in immaculate condition.  When George left, to take residence in an apartment for half the price with someone to cook his meals everything seemed fine.  Until last night.  He was cited to appear before the local justice of the peace.  The original landlord, being the money grubber that she is, (I speak from personal experience) had filed a case against George for several charges.  Evidently, she sold him a refrigerator for $150 that wasn't worth even $50, she claimed to have filled the refrigerator with food, paid taxi chargers, cleaning charges, etc.  Naturally, she did not have receipts.  When I asked to see the contract, the duration of the contract was written longhand, and again George had no copy. 
It was decided that George would pay several charges to the lady.  (He offered to return the refrigerator but for some strange reason, she didn't want it back.  Go figure)  So, what is my part in this?  Being a translator for a friend in need.  Sadly, the landlady is also a friend, (in spite of the fact that I knew she is money hungry from previous personal experiences) and I found myself between the two.

Moral of the story.... As I walked out the door to go to the meeting with the JP I asked the Lord, "What is the purpose of this?  I have dozens of things to do, much more important than deal with this case that really has zero to do with me.  I sensed in my spirit, what Jesus said.... "A cup of cold water in my name is a good thing.  Let me work out the details, you give your "cup" of translation, and I'll take care of the other points."
Fine, now I'm waiting to see how God uses all of this.  It will be exciting.