BACK IN PERU

After a 7 week stateside furlough we are back home in Baños del Inca Peru.  It had been 16 months since we were in the US.  It was a very busy time, but we also had some good moments of refreshment.  One of the highlights of our trip was 2 days in Disneyland.  Nicole's parents blessed us with a fun time and her whole family was there.  It was not relaxing, but the kids loved it.  We got to see some family and share at our supporting churches and meet a bunch of new people so it was a much needed time.  We are glad to be back and getting back in the swing of things.  This month is a busy month with much planned at Refugio.  We will be having our annual Chocolatada on the 22nd.  This is a great time for those who do not come to church to hear the gospel.

I have to tell you about a little praise report on how the Lord blessed us.  When we arrived in Lima on thursday morning at 7 am, we went through customs and immigration and then went to check in for our connecting flight to Cajamarca which was supposed to be at 4:30 pm.  Coming out of customs, our dear friends Manolo and Holy (senior pastor of CC Lima and his wife) were there waiting for Holly's dad and they helped us push all our luggage over to the local terminal.  What a blessing that was.  It was good to see them and then they ran back to meet her dad.  When we got to the counter the attendant told us that our flight from Lima to Cajamarca was for the previous day.  When I booked the flights I booked the flight from Lima to SFO and then in a separate purchase, I bought our tickets from Lima to Cajamarca (we do this because we get a discount on in country flights because of our residency).  Well I messed up on the dates.  Keep in mind we have 11 checked bags and 5 carry-ons and 2 guitars.  The attendant left for a moment and then came back and said she is going to put us on the next flight and not charge us.  She felt bad because we had all the kids and bags and can see how we could of got confused on the dates.  The Lord is SO GOOD to us. We not only got a free flight, but we only had an hour and a half layover now.  When we were getting off the plane, a gentleman gave us a huge bag of Ghiradelli chocolate.  He said it was because our kids behaved so well on the flight.  We in turn blessed the attendant with the chocolate and she was ecstatic.  The Lord is SO GOOD.

Looking forward to see what the Lord continues to do here in Peru.    

7 week furlough

In October we are going back to the States for furlough.  We will be in the States a little over 7 weeks.  We are excited and nervous and every emotion that you can imagine.  We are so blessed that the Lord provided for the whole family to go back.  This will be the first time Arianna has ever been to the States.  We are looking forward to encourage and be encouraged.  We have a busy schedule but we also have some leisure times mixed in as well.  It will hard to leave the church and all our peoples here.  Praise the Lord that we have some good leaders and teachers who are going to be leading and shepherding the flock here.  Be praying for this time that it fruitful and restful and a time of great fellowship.

Looking to our victory

This sunday I will be teaching a very heavy text from Mark 8.  It is the section where Jesus calls anyone who wishes to follow him to deny themselves and pick up their cross.  This is a call to anyone who wishes to be a follower of Christ.  This is not just for the missionaries or the pastors.  This call, this demand is required of all who wish to be a disciple.  As Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, 

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”

 
That is true and that is something to seriously ponder, but what we must also realize is what Jesus had declared right before issuing this sobering call.  In the previous few verses Jesus told his disciples that the Son of Man will suffer and die and be buried, but listen to this, will rise again.  Jesus did not stay dead and neither will those who deny themselves and take up their crosses.  Yes, the Christian walk is one of suffering for those who pursue godliness (2 Tim. 3:12), but we also know that this life is not the end.  This suffering here and now is temporary.  Of course that does not make it easier as we are going through tribulations and persecutions, but it helps to have the proper perspective.  So the call to deny yourself and take up your cross is a call to follow Christ to death, but as Calvin said, "Death is the way to life and the cross is the way to victory." 

Seeing Christ

Lately I have been working my way through The Death of Christ by James Denney.  I have had this book for quit some time and I will read a few chapters and set it down and then pick it up again and read some more.  It is a book that, at least for me, that I can not just power through.  It has a level of richness that I need to savor.  Going through it always brings me to reflect on Christ and the glories of the cross.

This is one of the books that transformed Martyn Lloyd Jones's preaching ministry.  After a message a man told him his message had very little Christ in it and Lloyd Jones went home and locked himself in a room and read this book and the Atonement by R. W. Dale.  These books transformed his ministry.  As I preach week after week, I do not want to have a conversation that I preach very little Christ.  I know that I have room to grow and I will always need to improve, but even now I must be sure to preach Christ.  Jesus said that the Scriptures testify of me (John 5:39).  Whatever portion of Scripture we come to, the focus must always be Christ. Spurgeon said "Whatever subject I preach, I do not stop until I reach the Savior. That is my goal.  As I pray and prepare each message I want to bring people to see Christ (John 12:21).

To see Christ, that is the gospel.  "Behold your God."  This is only possible through the cross.  Praise Him for His grace.

Soli deo Gloria

Moving into a new building!

This Sunday will be our first service in the new location that the Lord has provided for us.  His timing is always perfect.  Last Sunday, we had more people than we had chairs and space.  Many of the new comers were Bible college students.  Their semester just started and we were blessed to have some of them join us for service.  Be praying for them and their semester.  We expect the Lord to work in their lives and see them grow.  Also be praying for the Bible college and the staff that they are blessed and have wisdom to navigate many of the issues that arise.  They are currently still under construction of the new facilities.  You can check out how to get involved on their web site.

We also this last week, got an addition to our team here in Peru.  The Brower family arrived and are already making an impact in the ministry.  Yesterday Don, Hannah and Caleb joined us up in Matara.  Matara is a town about an hour outside of Baños that we have been blessed to go and come along side some other missionaries who have a wonderful work there.  We had 180+ kids yesterday.  Hannah passed out bananas and oatmeal to the kids after the Bible study and Don did some translating and prayer.

Tonight will be Dons first time translating.  Thursday nights we hold our midweek service.  This Saturday we will be heading up to another little town that we are blessed to teach in.  We go every other Saturday and minister to on average 20 adults and 15 kids.  This is a quechuan village that has asked us to minister to them.  They are hoping to build a church and have regular Sunday services.  Be in prayer for them.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Soli deo Gloria

Arrival of our 4th child!!!!

The Lord in His grace has given us our 4th child.  Arianna Betty was born June 25th at 3:14 pm.  She is a itty bitty girl weighing in at a whopping 4.2 lbs.  Nicole and her are both doing very well.  Yesterday we were able to get her DNI, which is her Peruvian citizenship.  On the 17th we go to the US embassy to get her US passport and social security.  Thanks for the prayers and support.

Celebrating Good Friday

One of the most significant events that ever took place in history is celebrated and remembered today.  We celebrate the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  When Christ died, He was taking upon Himself the sins of the world.  Sometimes it is easy to think "wow, Jesus died for sin".  Jesus died for the sins of the world.  Let me be a little more specific though.  Yes, Jesus died for the sins of the world, but He specifically died for your sins and mine.  When He was shedding His blood on that cross, He specifically died for you and me.  We have a personal God.  Not a God way out beyond reach.  We have a God who took on flesh and then took upon Himself sin.  We have a personal God that through His death, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom and through the shedding of Jesus's blood we can enter into the holy of holies, the very presence of God.  We have a personal God who is Holy and Righteous but has provided access to Himself.  The crucifixion was the greatest injustice the world has ever committed.  Jesus was an innocent man.  He was perfect, the ruler of the land during that time even declares that.  Everyone who truly sought Jesus and had an encounter with His grace, left that encounter an improved person.  Sickness was eradicated wherever He was.  Jesus did nothing but good.  Yet He was crucified like a common criminal.  It was the greatest injustice the world has committed.  The greatest injustice has led to perfect justice.  Sin has been punished and dealt with.  The price has been paid, the veil has been torn, grace has been offered, mercy has been provided.  All we need to do is throw ourselves to the foot of the cross.  We also need to die so that we can be raised to new life in Christ.  Today we celebrate good friday, yes it is good Christ died, but this day would not be good if sunday did not come.  Three days later, the tomb is empty and Christ is alive!!!!!!  That is what completes this story, it wasn't enough for Christ to die, the resurrection verifies to us that the sacrifice was sufficient, God's wrath was satisfied and Christ was raised for our justification.  Thanks be to Him.

Soli deo Gloria