Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Guatemala Debrief

Sorry for the delay in this...
The 2008 Guatemala Mission Trip was probably one of the most meaningful mission experiences of my life. There is simply no way to capture the full measure of the blessings received as a result of the trip. However, the best way to summarize the insights and lessons learned is to describe the trip in terms of three principles which I believe were so strongly re-enforced as a result of the trip.

The first principle that I saw re-enforced during this mission trip was the principle that we are absolutely dependent upon God. I saw this realized in my life even before the trip began. Due to a death in the immediate family, I was completely distracted and unable to properly prepare for the trip during the week prior to leaving for Guatemala. As such, I had to throw myself on God’s mercy with respect to being ready for the difficulties anticipated during the week. God was gracious in that as Saturday progressed, I could literally feel the stress and pressures of the prior week melt away.

I also saw this principle at work as I entered Guatemala City on Saturday. Immediately, it was obvious that my minimal study of the Spanish language would not help me at all. I immediately understood what it meant to be illiterate, but it was even worse, because I could not even ask for assistance because I was also unable to communicate in the native language. I was totally helpless. I was completely dependent upon the local missionaries, the Guatemalan translators, and the drivers. There was nothing that I could do in which I was not completely dependent upon someone else. This was a stark reminder to the fact that we ought to have the same sense of total dependence upon God. We cannot do anything in our own strength. God is the source of our strength, our power, our very survival. The total dependence upon others reminded me of the need for total dependence upon God.

The second principle that I saw at work during this trip was the absolute importance of prayer. In preparation for the mission trip, I made a concerted effort to find prayer partners here in the states. I had quite a number of people who firmly committed to pray while I was in Guatemala (many of you reading this were in that list). The number of those who committed by written commitment was 15, but there many more who indicated by voice that they would be praying. Most certainly, other team members had similar prayer partners, so only God knows how many people were praying for the team as a whole during this trip. Those prayers were deeply coveted and, in my opinion, extremely beneficial. There is no doubt that those prayers played a role in both the success and the safety of this mission trip.

I also saw this principle at work on the field while in Guatemala. Each day, the team began its efforts with prayer. Additionally, the team did not do any door to door evangelism before covering the streets in prayer via prayer walking. The team prayed specifically for every house they visited. The team prayed that the devil would be bound. The team prayed that doors would be opened. The team prayed that hearts would be receptive. The team prayed that communication would be effective. The team prayed that the Holy Spirit would move over the land. As a result, this mission trip was one of the most successful that I have ever been on. Prior to leaving, the team had prayed for 50 souls to be saved. That prayer was answered, with a total of 51 people making professions of faith in Jesus Christ. Who knows what would have happened if the team had prayed for 100 souls?

The third principle that I saw at work on the Guatemala Mission Trip was the principle that absolutely, God alone deserves all the glory. How ironic it was that in my ministry to the shut-ins at Hearthstone Assisted Living Center that I had prepared a sermon for the upcoming Sunday (the Sunday after the mission trip) on giving God the glory for all that we do, because the Guatemalan Mission Trip supplied me with numerous opportunities for sermon illustrations. How easy it would have been to be the proud Americans going down to Guatemala to minister in the backwards country. How easy it would have been to look down on them for the condition in which they found themselves. How easy it would have been to say “Look at the 51 people that WE led to the Lord”. For me, how easy it would be to be selfishly proud of the fact that every single person that I personally shared his faith with (if memory is correct, 8 in all) received Christ. How easy it would have been to have given credit to the translator that worked with my team, Raul, who was so obviously gifted with the gift of evangelism as well as pastoral skills. He managed to get us into almost every home, set the residents at ease regarding why these “gringos” were invading their home, and prepare them to hear the gospel.

Pride is a terrible enemy of the faithful follower of Christ. The team did none of the things mentioned above. It was God. It was only God, and only God deserves the glory for the wonderful successes the team experienced during this trip. These successes were as much a gift to the team as they were anything else. Souls were eternally changed, and the team had the privilege, honor, and blessing of being a part of it. They did nothing except surrender to the service of God, to whom be the glory, honor, and majesty forever.

Each of these three principles – absolute dependence upon God, the absolute importance of prayer, and absolutely, God alone deserves all the glory – played an important role in the success of this mission trip and shaped my view of how such trips should be approached in the future.

In conclusion, this trip can only be described as an absolute success brought about by the will of God, for the glory of God, as a blessing to those who willing gave of themselves in service to God, so that souls were saved by God. I was honored to be a part of it.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

UPDATED: GUATEMALA - Thursday Mid Day

This updates from Sunday through Wednesday

Note: if you are reading this and there are no pictures, please be sure to check back later. Unfortunately, the internet is not very reliable, so I am posting without pictures to make sure the text gets posted and will update a picture at a time…

Day 2 - Sunday
We got up very early this morning to drive 3 hours from Guatemala City to Rio Hondo. Leaving the city, I was truly amazed to see the extreme poverty. Thousands of ramshackle make-shift houses built up and down the mountainsides on the outskirts of Guatemala City (primarily in Zone 3 - these communities are called barrios). I wasn’t able to get any pictures of this, but it was an impressive site. This is in stark contrast with the extreme beauty of the tropical region of Zapata, where we are staying in Rio Hondo. There is still a lot of ugliness and poverty, but where the tropical plants are well cultivated (such as at our hotel – see the pictures), the beauty is overwhelming.

We went to church in Rio Hondo. It was a very small church, but they worshiped Christ very enthusiastically. I had the privilege of being able to give my testimony.












Tomorrow, we begin door to door evangelism.

Day 3 - Monday

We had a great day today. We began by prayer-walking the street on which we would later do door to door evangelism. The street is very much in the mountains as you can see from the various picture views below. You can also see pictures of the houses on the street below. Houses go up the mountain on one side and down the mountain on the other.

After prayer-walking, we began door-to-door evangelism. The Guatemalans are extremely receptive to the gospel. It is a very religious culture, so hearing the truth of the gospel adds meaning to what might otherwise be empty religious traditions. In all, thirteen people made professions of faith today. We also met several devout Christians whom we had the opportunity to pray with for their needs. Both the salvation experiences as well as meeting Christian brothers and sisters were blessings to the whole team.

We go back to the same street tomorrow to continue door to door evangelism.


Day 4 - Wednesday

Today was yet another great day. Our sub-team led 8 people to the Lord this morning and another three this afternoon. If I have the numbers correct, the whole group has seen about 32 professions of faith since Monday. Truly the fields are ripe unto harvest.

I am stilled amazed at the poverty I see… and yet I am told that what we see is generally considered to be middle-class compared to the extreme poverty of Zone 3 in Guatemala City. I am also amazed at the tragedy and suffering. Almost every home is faced with some kind of family crisis or tragedy. Many have family members that have left for the US never to return so they are making it the best they can. Many have lost loved ones to violence, crime, and gang activity. Which reminds me… the crime truly is rampant here. Today we heard gunshots in the distance. This evening, because we were traveling after dark, several of us “bigger” guys rode in an SUV behind the bus to make it look like we were their security detail… and there are security details everywhere. Stores, restaurants, delivery trucks… they all have armed security details. It is kind of strange going into a Pizza Hut restaurant that has a uniformed guard with a shot-gun standing at the front door.

The church service we went to tonight was probably one of the strangest I’ve ever been to. Of course it was very caliente (hot), but the distractions were enormous. About the time Colby (one of our team) began his sermon, a terrific storm hit. Since the local area has been in a drought, this of course was a big distraction. All the adults were distracted by the rain while the kids were running around jumping and playing. I honestly don’t know how Colby managed. It is bad enough to try to speak with an interpreter, but with all those distractions… despite it all, three came to the Lord at the end of the service.

Tomorrow we go to a nursing home…

Day 5

This morning we finished up our door to door evangelism. Our sub-team was able to lead 4 more people to Christ. In all, the whole team led 51 people to the Lord in 2 ½ days of door to door evangelism. It is humbling to see such a field ripe for harvest for the Lord and yet there is so little time and so few workers to bring in the harvest.

In the afternoon, we went to visit a nursing home, although it wasn’t exactly a nursing home. It was more like a permanent homeless shelter for the elderly and discarded infants. Essentially, it was a nursing home/nursery/orphanage. It was quite a huge operation. They cared for any elderly they find homeless on the street as well as infants and children they find discarded or unwanted. They partially support themselves through Talapia (yes fish) farms. There are always large missions groups that stay there and work. They even have a partnership with Liberty College in Lynchburg, VA. (where one of my favorite evangelists – Ergun Caner – serves and teaches). There was actually a group there from Liberty while we toured. Our limited time allowed little more than that tour.

That reminds me… there is actually another group from the US that checked into the hotel yesterday. It was a college group from the University of Texas. They were studying architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. Why they chose Rio Hondo I have no idea.

Tomorrow (or rather today by the time I get this posted), is a travel day back to Guatemala City.





Saturday, May 17, 2008

UPDATED: Guatemala - DAY 1 - We Are Here

THIS IS BEING UPDATED BECAUSE THE PICTURES DID NOT LOAD EARLIER... sorry...

At the Birmingham Airport - 5am

We made it to Guatemala City without incident… well, except that Dr. Bob Hall got his knife confiscated at the airport. We had to be at the Birmingham Airport at 4am this morning... yikes! Way too early for me... Now that we are here, we are staying at the Arkansas House tonight, but will be traveling to Rio Hondo tomorrow morning before Sunday Church services. I have not had much opportunity to take pictures, but here a just a couple.



Arriving at Guatemala City airport












The Arkansas House is used to temporarily house incoming or visiting missionaries. It is called the Arkansas House because the Arkansas state missions board rennovated and build portions of it.






Glenna and Keith Bentley are the local Baptist missionaries in Guatemala City. They have been here since December.







One of our interpreters, Freddie... One of our drivers, Louis, with his two kids Louis, Jr. and Leslie.
I don't know if I will have internet access in Rio Hondo, but we will be back here at the Arkansas House on Thursday. I should be able to update then.. if not sooner.
Keep praying for us...

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

A Tale of Two Rich Men



It always amazes me that whenever Jesus gives us a hard lesson, he always provides a way to make it easier to swallow. We, however, tend to take the lesson out of context and make it much more difficult to understand and adopt than is necessary. One such incident occurs in Luke chapters 18 and 19.

The story of the Rich Young Ruler is one that means a great deal to me because for a time I was he. Here was a man that was every bit religious, but his faith was in his wealth and his religion, not in his God. We can only imagine that the reason he sought out Jesus was because the rumor was going around that Jesus had answers to his religious questions. Indeed, his question is a deeply religious one… What must I do to inherit eternal life? However, when confronted with the truth of the answer, he was unwilling to accept it. It is indeed a difficult lesson because it appears to teach that Christians must sell everything they own and live a life of poverty. To make it easier to deal with in our materialistic society, we allegorize it and say that Jesus was really just saying that we need to rid ourselves of anything that hinders us from being saved. Actually, that is not what took place. The answer to the question “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” was not “sell all your possessions.” It was “follow me.” The selling of his positions was just a necessary pre-cursor for that man to be able to follow Jesus. The problem is that we delude ourselves into thinking that our wealth and our affluence are not keeping us from following Jesus. Thus we get Jesus’ words in Luke 18:25 where he says “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”. Again, this is a difficult teaching, but then we once again take our comfort in his words that follow where he says (in verse 27) "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

When we look at this teaching from Jesus, we really have to look hard at ourselves to make sure we are not completely deceiving ourselves about the impact of American wealth on our Christianity. We have become so very comfortable and these words apply to us every bit as much as they applied to the rich young ruler. It truly is a hard teaching.

What makes this message easier to accept, however, is not so much the words that everything is possible with God, but rather the very real example that immediately followed in Luke chapter 19. The story of the Rich Young Ruler occurred while Jesus was on his way to Jericho. As Jesus entered Jericho (perhaps the very same day that the Rich Young Ruler approached him outside the city), Jesus met another man - Zacchaeus.
As a children’s story, we focus on the fact that Zacchaeus was a short man who had to climb a tree just to see Jesus, but that is not the real story here. Like the Rich Young Ruler, Zacchaeus was a very wealthy man. He had also put his faith in his wealth, but he did not claim to be religious in any way. In fact, he was a cheat and a scoundrel. Why didn’t Jesus tell him to sell everything he owned? Surely a man who made his riches through corruption would have more of a need to rid himself of his “evil” wealth than the religious rich man. Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t tell us exactly what Jesus said to him. All we know is that Jesus ate with him that evening, and as a result Zacchaeus voluntarily took action to remedy all his past wrongs and to stop being corrupt. Zacchaeus did not sell everything he owned, nor is there anything to suggest that he lived out the remainder of his life in poverty. I suspect he remained fairly well off. Yet Jesus tells us in Luke 19:9 regarding Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” Thus we have the real story of Zacchaeus - a rich man enters the kingdom of God immediatly after Jesus tells his disciples that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle... God showed us that it wasn’t so impossible after all when God gets involved in changing the heart. Zaccaeus didn’t have to sell everything he owned. He only had to admit to and repent of his wrongdoing and follow Jesus.

Here were two rich men. Both sought out Jesus. Both had a choice to make. To repent of their wrongdoing and follow Jesus. The Rich Young Ruler’s wrongdoing was his faith in his wealth. Zacchaeus’ wrongdoing was the corrupt manner in which he obtained his wealth. The difference is that one made a choice to repent and the other did not. What will be your choice?

Monday, May 12, 2008

When You Can't Go On...Persevere





Several years ago a co-worker of mine and I had to take a business trip to Phoenix, AZ. While there, we decided to climb Camelback Mountain. Camelback is a large rock formation that rises 1200 feet above the city below and it looks like… well, like the back of a camel. It has a trail that you can climb up to the top of the mountain. It is not an easy trail. At times you have something that resembles stairs. At other times you have rails to help pull you along the incline. But at other times, you are literally rock climbing. Not being in the best of shape (although admittedly better then than now), it was a very difficult uphill climb for me. I thought I would never make it to the top. I kept thinking “surely, the top is around this next turn” or “over this next ridge” but the summit kept alluding me. About the time I reached a spot that was about 100 yards from the top, I realized that I could not go another inch. This last 100 yards was the hardest of all. It was a steep, sloping incline with no steps, no rails, no rock formations to hang on to. I would probably have to scramble up the slope on my hands and knees. I just couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t go on. My legs were burning. I had no strength left. I had reached the end of what I could bear. I was ready to give up, so I called my buddy (who was already at the top) on his mobile phone and told him that I couldn’t make it.

Sometimes, we reach a point in our Christian life where we feel like we simply cannot go any further. We feel like we’ve given everything we have to give. We’ve endured all we can endure. The pain is too great. The burden is too heavy. We just want to give up.

Cheer up. Those are precisely the times when God can give us the strength to persevere. It’s easy to live the Christian life when things are easy – how’s that for a statement of the obvious. It’s even easy to live the Christian life when things are less than easy. But when things are at their darkest, that’s when living the Christian life has its greatest rewards. We will face temptation in this world. We will face tribulation in this world. Both of these trials builds within us perseverance, and perseverance through the trials results in many blessings.

When I called my friend on the phone, he told me that it was fine if I wanted to give up, but I would have gone all that distance and faced all that pain without having experienced the reward of the view from the top. So… I dug deep and found the strength to clamor up that last 100 yards of extreme pain. The reward was the most amazing view I had ever seen. From that summit, you could see the entire city. In the late afternoon sun, the view was astonishing… Blessings do await those who persevere. James 1:12 says

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

If you want to hear more about the blessings that await those who persevere, click on the link below to hear this week’s sermon.

Perseverance: Blessings Still Await





Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Will You Cry "Lord, Lord"?

One of the greatest sermons Jesus ever spoke was the Sermon on the Mount. As he was closing his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said (in Matthew chapter 7):

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Most of us have read or heard these words and basically understand them to mean that there is only one way to heaven and that the majority of the world will fail to accept it. However, it is the words that follow that ought to make us think. Jesus next says:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

The wolves in sheep’s clothing are, of course, those who claim to be religious leaders who really are of the enemy. I was thinking about these words recently and thought about how true that has been throughout history. False prophets have always been among us, deceiving the flock.

In the first century church, there were significant influences from Judiazers who tried to enslave Christians to the law.

In the second and third century church, there were significant influences from those who denied the humanity of Christ, including the Gnostics and the Manicheans, as well as those who denied that our God is also the God of the Old Testament - the Marcionites.

In the early medieval period, there were significant influences that denied the Trinity.

In the later medieval period, the church itself became corrupt, introducing significant heresies into the orthodox doctrine and committing atrocities in the name of Jesus.

During the reformation, those who claimed to be Christians took the lives of others who claimed to be Christians over issues of doctrine.

In the 17th-early 20th centuries, the “Enlightened” denied the supernatural influences in scripture, including the virgin birth of Jesus as well as his resurrection.

Even today, post-modern influences suggest that the truth of scripture is whatever God reveals it to be to you – which might be different than what he reveals it to be to me.

Of course, this is only a sampling. I would argue that there are numerous heresies in the “church” today (after all, just watch religious TV for a while and I think you would agree with me). One has to wonder how effective these false prophets have been at leading the flock astray. I’ve always believed that the truly regenerate church (those who are actually saved) is much smaller than our church roles indicate. The question is… how much smaller. After speaking of these false prophets, Jesus went on to say:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”

There are three important things I notice in these words. First, we are not saved by a simple prayer. Modern evangelicalism has done us a great disservice by telling us that if we would just say this prayer or that prayer we will be saved. Prayer will not save us – unless that prayer is one that is genuinely acknowledging and accepting God’s grace through faith. Second. It is absolutely possible to deceive yourself about your own spiritual condition. Those lost souls that Jesus mentions here truly believed that they were saved. Could I be so self-deceived? Could you? Finally, if you look very closely, these were not Sunday pew-sitters that were self-deceived. They were leaders. They were preachers (“did we not prophesy in your name”). They were dedicated, committed, hard workers… but they were lost. That means that we can expect preachers, deacons, elders, Sunday School teachers, and committed volunteers to be among those who find themselves unexpectedly in Hell. None of us are exempt from potential self-delusion. That is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5-6

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.”

Jesus alludes to the “grading key” for that test when he describes these false prophets…

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Mt 7:16-20)

We are not saved by our good works. We are saved by grace through faith. However, if that faith is real and genuine, God's saving grace will transform us into a new creation. We must be different. We cannot be like the world around us. If we are, then we have not experienced the new birth. When I look at the church rolls and the pews on Sunday morning, I cannot help but wonder how many there are living in a state of spiritual self-delusion. Is it 7 of 10, 8 of 10, higher? If the fruit of our lives are any indication, then it is at least that high.

Examine yourself. Will you be one who cries, “Lord, Lord”?

Monday, May 5, 2008

Self Control and Popcorn

I love popcorn. I can’t go to a good movie unless I have a big bag (or bucket) of popcorn to nibble on throughout the movie. Popcorn is a really interesting picture of self control. Inside the kernel, mixed with the proteins and nutrients, there is moisture (which can characterize our natural passions and weaknesses). Outside the kernel is the hull, holding in the seed contents (which can characterize our human desire to keep our passions and weaknesses under control). Whenever heat is applied (which can characterize external pressures and temptations that draw upon our desires and weaknesses), the moisture within the kernel heats up, wishing to expand. The hull does its best to hold in the expanding moisture vapors until it can do so no longer, resulting in a violent explosion – and a yummy piece of popcorn. Unfortunately, the popcorn picture of self-control is not so yummy. When the external pressures feed on our internal desires and weaknesses beyond our ability to control them, the result is just as violent as popcorn, but it very ugly and anything but yummy.

Self-control is an important defender of our Christian testimony. Consider how quickly your life and your testimony can be destroyed because of a lack of self-control. Unfortunately, we cannot maintain our self-control on our own merits. Unlike popcorn, which often leaves a few kernels un-popped, we all – in our own strength - eventually fail to contain our passions and weaknesses.

For this reason, self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. However, if you read 2 Peter 1:5-7, you can see that it is also a fruit of knowledge - knowledge of God and of yourself. Plus, when you read elsewhere in scripture, you also find that self-control is a fruit of self-discipline and spiritual exercise. How can this be? It appears to be a contradiction, but really it is not. Self control is possible through a knowledge of God (and of ourselves), is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and is perfected through disciplined application within our lives.

In our pilgrimage from goodness to godliness, we all need to perfect self-control in our lives so that we may overcome the temptations that the enemy sets before us and so defend our Christian testimony.

To hear more about self control, click on the link below to listen to the sermon, Self Control: The Ultimate Self Defense.

Self-Control: The Ultimate Self Defense
http://www.box.net/shared/ydjnoj5a88