CNN and the Gospel

This morning I went on cnn.com to check out what's going on in the world, and I came across this: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/29/my-take-why-christians-are-jerks-online/?hpt=C2. At first I was angry - how dare this guy start a blog to tare Christians down. Until I realized that wasn't his goal at all. Jonathan Acuff writes a blog called "Stuff Christians Like", and although I have only read 1 and a half of his blogs, his bold stand and the fact that CNN is letting him preach the Gospel on their site makes me sit up and take notice.
I might not have a lot of time these days, but I plan to follow this guy's blog from time to time.
Also on CNN today I read that in Italy a lady is making a fuss about a crucifix that is up in her son's classroom. The European courts awarded her 5,000 + euros. And although, from what I can gather, they aren't making Italy take down all the crucifix in their schools, this does open a door for other people to sue on the same grounds.
An appeal goes forward today. Read what Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re had to say about it:
"When I think that we are talking about a symbol, the crucifix, an image that cannot but be the emblem of a universally shared humanity, I not only feel disappointed but also sadness and grief," he said.
"The crucifix is the sign of a God that loves man to the point of giving up his life for him. It is a God that teaches us to learn to love, to pay attention to each man ... and to respect the others, even those who belong to a different culture or religion.
"How could someone not share such a symbol?" (read the article at http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/29/italy-fights-for-crucifixes-in-classrooms/?hpt=C1)
This lady that caused a ruckus about a crucifix in her kid's classroom actually opened the door for the Gospel to, again, be preached online and around the world. But I just keep thinking about the sadness of her Christ-less life, and the sad reality of her children growing up in a secular environment.
And I pray that she would be led to the Cross she once persecuted.
After all, think of the Apostle Paul.

Salvation in a Faulty Elevator

While in Guatemala Gerri and I got in an elevator, thinking to ourselves what an uneventful day it was. We got to the level we were looking for, and there were people waiting to get on the elevator who said that the place we were going was closed. At least I think that's what they said (my Spanish is still coming along). So all those people (maybe 7 or so) decided to join us in the elevator, and on we went... in total there were about 16 or 17 of us. The elevator's capacity was 12, maybe 13.
We began our ascent... and stopped. The elevator jolted a couple of times and then stopped. It jolted a few more times. And then stopped. Gerri and I looked at each other wide eyed, and then looked around at the other "sardines" in the elevator with us, and began wondering how long we would be spending with them. To say there was "standing room only" is an understatement - but quite common throughout Guatemala. After all, in Guatemala, there is always room for one more!
Gerri and I agreed in prayer together, quietly, but I just had this sense in my spirit that I needed to pray so everybody could hear me. So I asked, "are you all Christians in here" (although my first guess is that they were going out partying, by their attire). Two guys replied that they were, although quite hesitantly. I was thankful to find that they spoke English. So I told them that I was going to pray. There was a girl in the other corner having a panic attack, and a couple guys in another corner trying to find the alarm or phone. To no avail.
So I prayed loudly, thanked God for protecting us, for helping us get out, and so on. Everyone had obviously been listening, despite the language barrier. I mean, come on, when someone's praying, you know it. Language doesnt' matter. A girl in the corner seemed to quiet down a bit, but she was still very distraught. I told my newly appointed translator (lol) to tell her that, "the girl in the corner said to say that every thing's going to be alright. God is here."
Some guys found the alarm, so off it went, then a couple of them decided to jump. I was thinking, "Are you serious?" The jolts were intense, it made the chains sound loose. The last thing we needed was people jumping.
Two guys pried the doors open. We were completely between floors, all we could see was the elevator shaft.
We were trapped.
My "translator" looked at Gerri and I and said, "My family are Christians, but I am not anymore. But something is happening in my heart." I couldn't believe my ears. Were we actually getting an opportunity to minister to this guy while being stuck in an elevator? He didn't care one bit that we were stuck, that we could get hurt, that we were sardined together in a very small space, this guy was having an encounter with God. So right there, inches from each other - well inches from each other's faces - we talked about it.
More jolts.
Gerri started praying for God's Angles. I joined her. Together we prayed that Angels would come beneath the elevator and take us to the floor. Thirty seconds later we were stepping into the parking lot.
But God wasn't done yet.
I turned to ask my "translator" for directions, since I didn't expect to be arriving to this particular floor. He gave us directions and then started asking more questions, so we kept talking.
Another guy from the elevator walked up and said, "hey, thanks for the prayer... when we were in there I realized I was living in sin, and if something happened..."
I said to them, "Where would you have gone if the elevator had plummeted and we'd all died?"
One replied, "I don't know."
I told them, "I know I would have been with Jesus. But at anytime any of us could be hit by a car, we just have to walk into that parking lot." I looked at them for a minute and then asked, "do you want to make it right with God right now?"
They both said yes with NO hesitation.
So Gerri and I grabbed there hands, we all closed our eyes and I led them in a prayer, Gerri said it with them. Once we were done I told them to get a Bible, and to get into the Word. We started making our way out of the parking lot, me talking to one guy, Gerri to the other.
Before we walked away I told them, "God has things for you to do. You need to do them. Don't go back to your old ways."
"I'm going home," one relied to me. Meaning, he was changing his plans, and not going partying.
I couldn't help but wonder how long their families must have prayed for them.
I will never forget those two guys. God knew right were they were at, He knew their number, their address, their exact location, and He knew that they would be reunited with Him through a faulty elevator and two crazy Canadians.

PS - I'm not sure how long we were in that elevator. Maybe only 10 minutes.

Forgot Bilingual Dictionary

Today I somehow misplaced my Spanish - English Dictionary. Which made for some fun moments. First the contractor trying to communicate with me that we couldn't use the water... and the only word I could understand was "agua". So after about 2 minutes I finally got it.

Then, our driver showed up and I pointed to the gas light on the car and said, "Necissito!" And he said something that sounded like "jugo" which means "juice". But now I'm not so sure that's what he said, if how hard he laughed is any indication. So we stopped at a gas station. And they did not have any "juice". We went to 2 more place, and still no "juice". So I asked "no tiene jugo para carro todas en Villa Nueva?" (They don't have any car juice in Villa Nueva?" (lol) he laughed so hard and said no. So I said, "y en la ciudad?" (and in the city?) and he said no, still laughing. He was laughing so hard he had to pull over. I wish I'd known the word for gas was gasolina. That should have been a no brainer.

By this point, Gerri was laughing so hard, I had to ask Byron to find us a bathroom. So this was cause for even more laughter. Oh! I forgot with the gas, we had prayed and a second later (the 4th gas station) finally had gas. So Byron said, "Orar de Dios" (Pray to God) and we found a bathroom. God cares even about the little things... although to Gerri it was a huge answer to prayer. :)

In Better Hands

I'm just about to head to bed, but I wanted to share a song that I found on youtube tonight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yKlQ6zoqDE&feature=related
I was reminded tonight how Jesus is in intercession for us. Isn't that an awesome and powerful thing?! When we don't even know that we need it, He is standing in intercession for us. There's no safer place, no better place, to be than in the center of His will, in the palm of His hands. It reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms, chapter 31. "My times are in His hands" - and there's no more capable hands than His.

I'll attempt to do some more updates in the next couple days - thanks for everybody's prayers and encouraging emails! The next week is going to fly by... this time next week we'll be gearing up for the conference in Kingston, and I can't wait to see all God has in store for it! You won't want to miss the "Addicted to the Flame" conference - for more information go to www.tdwc.ca.

Back at Casa, Drinking Pineapple Juice

It's been a few days since my last post, I actually ran out of time on my portable modem... and being that it was in Spanish and somehow wasn't using any of the words I know (lol) I had to wait to get come help getting my money put on it.
I'm back at Casa de Alabbanza now, after an intense two weeks in Antigua learning Spanish. It was a lot of fun, a lot memory work, a lot of walking (I miss that already!) and I'm actually able to communicate pretty decently with the guards here now. Surprise surprise! That's exciting, knowing I didn't just waste 2 weeks of my life.
Anyway, Gerri Shortt arrives tonight, so I'm going to spend the afternoon getting the place looking spiffy. I'm going to also spray more raid all over the places so maybe there won't be any cockroaches when she gets here. I had one crawling on my foot last night as I was trying to sleep. Shh, don't tell her... eek. Don't worry, to future people coming to Casa we are going to deal with the situation. I have yet to meet a child - even a Guatemalan child - that actually enjoys cockroaches around while they sleep. I'm thinking it's time to irrigate the place, so no worries. :)
Right now it's pouring rain in Villa Nueva, and I'm surprised that every time it rains there still is ash coming off the roof from the volcano eruption a few weeks ago.
So that's the update on this end! More exciting adventures to come in the next 2 weeks!

PS - I've got a hankering for my mom's gingersnaps. I hear she sent some with Gerri. 4 more hours... mmm

Realism, the Cross, and the Power in Believing

I've been thinking about the label "realist". I think I'd like to consider myself a realist... until I realized I wasn't totally sure what the definition of one was. So I looked it up.
There are a few definitions - of course - but one is this: a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are. I like that. However, Jesus says in Mark 11:22-24 "Have faith in God. I assure you that whoever tells this hill to get up and throw itself in the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. For this reason I tell you: When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for.|
(Sorry this is an interruption to this post, but my host mom is downstairs singing "me gusta los frijoles" which means... I like beans. Then she laughed... :) I wonder what we're having for dinner?)
Alright back to realism. After looking up realism (previously looked up "realist") I realized it meant simply truth and reality. Even down to bringing the true color out in fine art. And what is more true than God Himself? What is more real than our faith in Him and what Jesus did on the cross?
1 Corinthians 1:18 says - For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power.
I believe that all spirit-filled Christians are realist, for we carry the truth and power of the Gospel. The reality of the cross, the power of a mustard seed sized faith, the truth of the freedom found on only in Christ is not a secret to be kept but a lifeline to be thrown to those drowning in the storms of this life, and those throwing their lives away for the pleasures of this world.
One day we will all stand before God. And it won't be foolishness then. It will be the only real thing left in the universe. Only one question will need answering... "What did you do with My Son?" I don't want to only hear, "well done my good and faithful servant". I want to watch as people I have sown seeds of salvation into walk through those golden gates having heard the same words spoken to them - whether I was the one to reap the harvest or not.
Have you heard the saying before, "That person is so heavenly minded he/she is of no earthly good" ? I don't believe that statement could have any possibility of being true whatsoever. Look at Jesus - He was more heavenly minded than anyone to ever walk this earth, and look at all He did for us? What it comes down to is the realization that eternity - those things which will pass from this life and into the next - are things worth investing into. The things that will pass away, the things that cannot go there with us are only temporary.
So being a realist, I think, is to be heavenly minded - minding things of eternal value. To ask for things as though they are. And it is wise to seek God in even the smallest matter - I heard Bill Johnson say recently that our greatest disaster can lie in our greatest assumption.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing, sure, but to us who believe it is the very power of God.
After all, we are not of this world. Our home is heaven.
Spread His truth, walk in His power, shout the reality of the cross from the rooftops.

Other Scriptures: Matthew 6:33, John 14:13-14, 15:7

It Wasn't a Hint

I find it fascinating how observant my "host mom" is.
This morning when I was having breakfast (only minutes before I had to rush out the door) I received a very important phone call. So, knowing it was going to make me late for school, I took the call anyway. Afterwards I still tried to get the last bit of my fruit in my mouth, but still had to leave 3 lonely pieces of cantaloupe.
Then at lunch we were served mashed potatoes hotdogs (just the dogs) with this strange ketchup like sauce... and a full tomato. Each. That's all fine and dandy but I nearly detest tomatoes on their own. I love them in things like guacamole, on burgers, mixed with pasta or on supreme fries (not going to think about that too long or I might get a craving!). So I did my best to finish the tomatoes, but left just a few tiny pieces.
Then tonight she gave me a smaller serving of pasta than everyone else and said, "esta bien para tu?" or "Is that good for you?" I said, "si". But was a bit confused for a second, then inside I was laughing seconds later.
Note to self - leave anything on your plate for more than 1 meal, and you will for future meals be served less food than your dinner mates.
Thankfully it was still more than enough, and I came out of it with a story.
And any day that supplies me with even a hint of a good story is a good day by me.

Deme agua, por favor!

Today I was so thirsty, it's a hot one this weekend! I think it's trying to make up for all the rain!
Anyway, so I was going to pick up water at a tienda (store) and it led me to this thought:
If I were desperate enough for water, how much would I be willing to pay? After all, cost and worth are two different things, right? I got a bottle of water for 5 Q but if I was dying of thirst would I not give everything I had to have a glass of water?
It makes me think of the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. If we are desperate enough, then the cost to have the living water that only God can give will be irrelevant. If I know that His water is eternal and I will never thirst again, if I know that His living water is the answer to my every need, and if I know that He has was I need in the midst of any situation, in particular desperate situations, then wouldn't I be willing to give everything up to get it?
Our salvation is a free gift, but it will cost us everything. Right? How many times have we heard that. But the realization with this thought pattern today was this: what desperate situations are the lost people around me facing? And what's going to quench their thirst? Living water. What's going to make them realize that they are thirsty for it? What if they've never been offered it?
If they're desperate enough, then when offered this gift that will cost them everything, making that decision will be an easy one.
How many of us saw our own need for this living water? They're out there, they're thirsty, and they don't even know it.
They're calling out: Deme agua, por favor! (Give me water, please!)

Providence

I should have been blogging more in the past week, so much has happened I'm not quite sure how to catch this up. From the volcano Pacaya erupting, to a rat in the kitchen, the power going out and having candles always on standby, to a light bursting above me (not sure how I wasn't hurt, but GOD), to a tropical storm causing enormous devastation to my bank card being blocked. I could have seen these as reasons to retreat, reasons to doubt God. Instead, I chose to trust. I guess that's the neat thing about being here in Guatemala on my own right now. If I don't trust God, then I have no one. I do have friends here in Guatemala, of course, however they can't be there all the time, and I'm in Antigua. In Antigua I only have a few acquaintances.
Don't get me wrong, there are times when I've had to fight discouragement and on a phone conversation someone said to me "don't allow discouragement... get alone with God". That's when I realized I had forgotten my Bible in a friend's van. I bought a new one the next day... but that's a whole other story. But those words on the phone were exactly what I needed to hear. A kick in the butt, really.
The thing about being here with so much chaos happening is this: learning to depend on God even in the midst of impossible situations. Meeting new people, living with new people, going to school to learn Spanish, finding myself lost in Antigua almost daily. However I seem to be getting to know the area more and more, so I'm more encouraged about that.
I've been praying for a friend here in Antigua, but still I only seem to have acquaintances. But today I think God showed me there's a reason for that. He wants to show me what full dependence on Him really looks like, and how amazing it is. And I think then when I go back to Casa and there's others teaming up with me, and when I go home, and wherever I am 20 years from now, I will have learned dependence on God. I hope and pray that I will never forget these valuable lessons I am learning.
This story I'm about to tell I would have gladly shared the burden with someone else, but even if I hadn't been alone and the same circumstance happened, ultimately, I hope the story would have been the same.
Today I was in desperate need of a laundry mat. Here of course you can pay women for very cheap to do it for you, and since I'm spending my time either at the school or at the house catching up on emails and studying Spanish (other than the odd walk around Antigua) I thought I'd like to go to the lavandaria (laundry mat) and hire someone to do it.
But I could not find a lavandaria. 5 different people sent me on wild goose chases, but I just kept walking and wasn't 100% certain of where I was or where I was headed when God said to me so clearly, "turn around right now". And when you're a single woman walking in a strange town in a foreign country you're really not going to ignore it when God speaks to you that clearly. So I turned around. He then said, "turn right at the next opportunity, and then turn left". Somewhere in here I prayed for Him to show me to lavandaria, and I think to get me home as well, but either way He was doing it. So I took the Lords directions, and knew immediately where I was. I started walking towards my house and He said to me, "keep walking strait" (instead of turning right). So I did, and I kept look for a lavandaria. I couldn't see one, but I did see a Pharmacy - which God knew I also needed to pick up band aids for the blister on my foot. He also knew I've been really wanting m&m's and they had some of those too. So I turned back and on my way home, right on the way, I saw a sign... "laundry service" it said. So tomorrow, she'll be there at 7 am and I will bring my clothes for her to wash. Now, you might be skeptical of all of this, but see in the past several days I have been thanking God and praising Him for His providence and His peace. Why wouldn't He deliver? He is my friend right now. He is my GPS. He is my provider, my protector, my shield, my strong and mighty fortress. And he even cares about my craving for peanut m&ms. He's my Father in heaven, my Lord, my Savior. And He's my friend. The friend I prayed for is the One that has been with me all along on this journey. I thank Him all the time that I am never alone. This revelation is clearly laid out in the Bible, and I've known it since I was a little girl, and yet right now being here and having to fully rely on Him takes that revelation to a whole new level.
My prayer is that when things are easier and times are different than they are now that I would still remember and rely on His providence and not forget to ask for His direction, for His guiding hand, for His input, for His...
About 4 and a half years ago or more I started praying "God show me your will, direct my path, show me which way to walk". When I prayed it I meant in my spiritual walk, in big decisions in my life - and He's done that. But lately it's been simply getting me home.
And to a place where I can have clean clothes.
At the risk of repeating myself, my prayer is that these revelations would stand the test of time in my life. And that I wouldn't miss any revelations that He has for me in this time.
God's providence is an amazing, amazing thing.