mexico day 5

we are finishing things up and are anxious for the church service tonight where we will dedicate the building to the Lord and enjoy fellowship amongst believers. We have certainly accomplished more than i thought we would at the outset of the week. we have gone so far as to finish all the drywall, hang doors, and install some windows, knowing that the rest of the windows will be installed within the next few days. it is a special feeling to know that over the course of the next many years that countless numbers of people will learn about God and how to walk with Him in a closer relationship. To know that your labor is a part of all that is again humbling. Keith and I are anxious to get back and share with you all some of what God has done during this trip. Keith keeps threatening to sleep in on Sunday but I told him I'd send Ethan over to dump some cold water on his head to get him up. I think he is going to sleep for the rest of the afternoon on Sunday when he gets home. I hope to sleep some too on Sunday afternoon because I want to be at the church in the evening for the prayer service for VBS.
We had 100 kids for VBS here, this is more than we have ever had before. An interesting thing happened over the past couple of days. There was a young boy about 8 years old. He had been a handful to say the least. (He is Will and Ethan at their best!) Anyway, he had snuck into our rooms and had stolen a couple of things. Today he got caught doing it. The Pastor of the church and I talked with him. He does not have very much and both of his parents work well below minimum wage jobs just to support themselves. He hung his head low when the pastor talked with him. I told him that we were not mad and that we loved him very much. At the end of VBS, since this was our last day, he went and hugged every single person in the group, as if to say he was sorry for taking our things. It was a meaningful experience of repentance that we'll not soon forget.
See you all Sunday morning!
Peace,
Pastor Brian :)

mexico day 4

I'm feeling worn out today as I've been running all over God's green earth getting construction and food supplies for the group. Today was a day of major progress as we are going to be able to take a room that was just framed with a plywood roof and make it operational for the church to use as a Christian Education building. Today they are running the electric and putting insulation in. Also, since we are ahead of schedule we are putting drywall in, doors, and we were able to purchase windows with the money that the church group gave towards this project that was over and above their costs to get here. That was a great testimony to me, the church people, and I hope the community of the generosity that is supposed to be present amongst believers in Christ Jesus.
Its a great feeling to know that when we leave, this building, which was nothing more than a pipe dream 2 years ago, is becoming reality before their very eyes. Humbling to be used by God to make a dream come true for these people.
Erika said Eliana has still been good for her. I've been talking (emailing) with her each day. I thank you for your prayers for me, for her, and Eliana. I'm anxious to share what God is doing here with you on Sunday. Keith is seeing a lot and is going to have a great testimony on Sunday as well as to the power of God at work in this place. Going into this trip Keith was unsure about working with a bunch of teenagers but he has fit in nicely, and I see some giftings he might have to work with teens. He just laughed when I mentioned this to him (like most people do when you mention youth ministry! :) )
I hope to share more with you tommorow as we go into our last full day together. We will be having a special service between the group and the church. They asked me to preach some (I hate having to work with an interpreter... it slows me down! :) ) Pray that I will be able to communicate God's truth to them within the confines of using an interpreter. More tommorow!
Peace,
Pastor Brian :)

mexico day 3

well, praise God we had a good day off. Usually to get to Rosarito we have to go through Tijuana. Well, they built a new rode and we were able to avoid it all together which helps keep my blood pressure at a normal rate! I was able to do a little shopping, and despite earlier comments, I will not be coming home with a poncho and sombrero for Eliana and Erika! :) I got an email from Erika today and she said Eliana was doing well, that is a huge answer to prayer for me as I don't want Eliana to become a strain for her mommy. It was good to read and email from my honey! I miss her and look forward to coming home to see her (and yes I did pick up something for her! :))
While we were gone today I had someone hot mop the roof of the building we are working on. I wasn't comfortable with one of us doing it as it is extremely dangerous. Our hope for tommorow is that we could begin running the electric in the building and also put the doors in. I continue to be amazed at how much work we are getting done. Everyone has such a positive attitude and a willingness to serve. Which begs the question, why is it easier to serve someone you don't know, and may never see again then it is to serve someone you are in proximity to? Why can we be like Jesus to people we don't know, but those closest to us we struggle with that? My guess, that dreaded thing called pride. It has a way of rearing its ugly head and destroying opportunities for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people He has placed in front of us. Well, more next time, but interract with me about the question I posed... why is it so easy to serve those we don't have relationship with then it is those closest to us?
See you later!
Peace,
Pastor Brian :)

mexico day 2

we've been hard at work today. We are putting a form of "stucko" on the walls here. We are mixing concrete by hand in a wheel barrow, hauling it to the area and applying it to the walls. It has been a tedious job and grueling as well. Keith continues to do great work and lead the construction group. The pastor joined in today to help with the stucko. He is a hard worker and i think he is inspiring the rest of the group to give their best as well. Another group of people are working on making a brick patio in front of the adminstration office. When it rains, all the dirt in front of the office makes for a lot of mud on the shoes. This way the people will be able to walk freely from one building to another without tracking mud into the place.
Today we had 75 children for VBS. Many of these kids I do not recognize which means they are new to this place. The kids are having a lot of fun and I think the adults are as well. The pastor of the church has a little girl names Sofia. She was born the first year I was here and I have watched her grow up each year I have been here. This year she has really come out of her shell and is having a good time. In fact, she greets me each morning with a great big hug and wants to hold my hand as I walk around during the day. Her smile is as big as her face and those big brown eyes just melt your heart.
The church family here can't seem to thank us enough. They do not have the money to do these projects as many of them are working full time and only make about $50-70 a week. That's hardly enough to support a family on, so when it comes to projects in the church, there just simply isn't enough money to do anything. As we work on these projects the pastor and church people look on with thankful delight as they see God's hand at work through us doing this. It's kind of neat to think that we are the answer to prayer for these people. Humbling to be used by God in such a remarkable way. That's all for now. Tommorow is the day off trip to Rosarito where we'll be doing some shopping and sightseeing. I"m looking forward to taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean, but it is always so cold there.
Peace,
Pastor Brian :)

mexico day 1

we are part way through our first day and it is hectic as always. many details to take care of. It has been a blessing to be here and to visit with the church family. I always feel like I am coming home when I see them. Their welcome and love is so contagious that you can't way to be embraced by them. I just took a break in typing to speak with Ezekiel. He teaches at the seminary. He does it for free, doesn't get paid for anything. When I've asked him in the past why he does that when He has a family to feed he tells me that God has called him to do this and it doesn't matter if he gets paid or not, God has still called Him. Examples of faith like that encourage me but also convict me as well. I think Keith is having a good time and we are getting a lot of work done. We still have to get some supplies that we may have to travel to Tijuana to purchase. All in all it is going well. Please keep us in prayer and also pray that Eliana is being good for her mommy!
Peace,
Pastor Brian :)

The Tired Christian

Most of the Christians I meet are tired. They don’t have the passion for God they once had, and they feel guilty about it. The sequence is always the same: countless seasons of (1) renewed expectation, (2) energetic pursuit, (3) encroaching disappointment, and finally, (4) exhaustion.
They have tried serving the Lord, seeking a fuller Christian experience through ministry involvement. Exhausted, they pull back for a season and try Bible knowledge instead. They undertake studies of Scripture, quiet time schedules, and books about spiritual disciplines. Again, that lasts for a time—and some good certainly comes from it—yet they feel like the joy they were promised at conversion is still eluding them somehow.
Other seasons of worthy pursuits come and go: worship, helping the poor, evangelism, prayer, etc. In all of this, there is a sincere intent to live as God desires. But these brief periods of success are followed by failure, frustration, and exhaustion. Sound familiar?
The apostle Paul described something very similar in his own life: a desire to do good, but an inability to get it done. He wrote, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15). Then he indicated why: the “sin that dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (7:17-18).
What Paul was describing is the exhausting Christian life. The victorious Christian life was eluding him, and he admitted it. Paul acknowledged that his Christian life was not working for him. In his case, it was a temporary problem, but sadly, for many followers of Jesus, it’s all they ever experience. I know, because for many years this is the Christian life that I lived. Precept without power. Rules without resources. Laws without life. Initially exhausting and ultimately excruciating, it is the powerless Christian life. It causes many people to slip into what Paul called the “carnal minded life” or the “fleshly Christian life” (see Romans 8:1-10). Forgiven—without a doubt. But failing and falling into a lukewarm mediocrity, believers begin to view the dynamic, Spirit-filled, victorious Christian life that God promised like a carrot on the end of a long stick.
This powerless kind of living is a knife in the heart of Jesus Christ, who not only died for our forgiveness but also rose again that He might live His life through us. Payment for sin is complete; that is a past accomplishment. Someday Christ will rule the earth; that is a future promise. But what about today? Today Christ lives to bring His victorious power to bear upon your character. He wants to life His life through you.
I’m afraid that sometimes the Lord has looked at my Christian experience and thought, “This is it? This is why I rose from the dead? This is the degree to which you are going to draw upon My resurrection power? This is the degree to which you’re going to let Me live My life through you? This is as good as it gets?” It doesn’t have to be that way.
I challenge you right in this moment to come to the turning point that I had to come to: a once-and-for-all decision to be done with the exhausting Christian life! Allow Jesus to live His life through you. That’s what Christian living is all about.

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Conflict Resolution

We have been in the midst of this series on conflict. Throughout the series the theme we have seen from Scripture is that we need to resolve our conflict now. Last week we talked about the 8 steps to conflict resolution. This week I"m going to answer some questions that people might be thinking, but also I'm going to give you a chance to answer specific questions that pertain to the issue of conflict resolution.
What I'm hoping for, is that you would interract with me on this blog by posting some of your questions that pertain to conflict resolution. I'll check the site throughout the week and respond as I can. I'm looking forward to a great discussion on a topic that is very serious to God's heart, and I'm sure to your heart as well.
Peace,
Pastor Brian

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