Today is May 21, 2012.  On August 12, 2012, we will fly from San José to Guayaquil, Ecuador.  Less than three months from now, we will be uprooting our family again!  However, our next destination is a place we would like to stay a while and call home. 

We had a long Skype conversation with Jared and Elisabeth Fly last night.  We will be working with them when we arrive to Ecuador.  They gave us great wisdom as to how to prepare for the next step, how to handle travel day, and what to expect upon arrival.  

The conversation caused us to spend a lot to time thinking about the necessity of Spiritual preparation.  This next step is going to be so difficult that we cannot afford to waste any time with regard to our spiritual state.  Em and I spent some time pouring our hearts our to one another last night.  We know that we need to be spending time in God's Word.  We need to be spending time talking to one another.  We need to make ourselves focus on the Lord.  

Life is busy now.  It will be much busier when we arrive in Ecuador in August.  God has given us this time to adjust to life outside of the U.S. and grow as a family.  But it is weird to think in three months I will go from "wannabe missionary" to real missionary.  However, our effectiveness completely depends on God using us.  We must spent the next three months preparing ourselves to be a part of His work in Ecuador, learning Spanish, reading His Word, and listening to him.  

In the late 90s, a program known as "boll-weevil eradication" swept through the Mississippi Delta.  Little by little, plane by plane, insecticides eradicated those little pests out of existence.  I believe the process was something like 3 to 5 years long.  At the end, the boll weevil was gone.

The Christian walk has the same sort of process with sin.  Little by little, verse by verse, conviction by conviction, sin is stripped out of our lives.  In many instances, it's the painful process of learning to die to ourselves.  It's such a hard process.

By looking at the gospels, we see Jesus calling many people around him to die to themselves to follow him.  One example is the rich young ruler.  He is asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18).  Jesus then assaults us with truth.  

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

Jesus instantly gets to the heart of the issue.  No one is good.  Only God is good.  The ten commandments prove it.  Jesus gives him 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.  Astonishingly, the man replies:

“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

WOW!  Seriously?  You have never broken one of the ten commandments?  Or, at least, have you not committed at least one sin against your neighbor?  Are you kidding me?

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Just for context, commandments 5-10 have to do with how you treat others.  Commandments 1-4 have to do with how you treat God.  Are you putting Him first?  Are you worshipping Him alone?  Are you treating His name with respect?

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Fascinating.  A man comes to Jesus perfectly content with his own righteousness and idol of money. He was trusting in his own works and his wealth to save him.

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

It is impossible for man to earn his salvation.  We cannot keep all of the ten commandments.  Only God is good.  But, we have to get off of our high horse.  We have to stop playing righteous and confess we are sinners.  Like the tax collector from Luke 18, we must say, "God have mercy on me, I am a sinner."  

That's hard though, right?  It's hard to confess that we aren't good enough.  It's hard to remove that idol out of our lives.  Too many times in my life, I have realized that I am my own idol.  It's all about me.  I get caught up in my desires and wants.  My sin is evidence of that.  

Remember the boll weevil eradication?  These green traps were used to catch and estimate the number of boll-weevils in that particular field.  There's an attractant that draws them to the trap, and then they get stuck!  If there were still boll weevils, they kept on spraying to kill them.  In the end, the traps were empty.

In the same way, those idols in our lives are like boll weevil traps.  Every time we get caught up in one, it reminds us that we are still worshipping ourself.  It reminds us that we need some sin eradication done in our lives.  Your trap could be very different from mine, but we all have idols in our lives that need eradication. 

Don't worry about the allure of that idol.  Jesus has promised you much more.

Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

I hope and pray that you allow God to strip you of self and get that idol out of your life.  If so, it'll be like the Mississippi Delta.  Take a drive through the Delta.  If you get off of the beaten path enough, you might just see a boll weevil trap.  It's a relic from the past. It reminds us of a devastating infestation.  However, now it shows us that the struggle against the weevil is over.  

"God is good.  Yes, he is.  He's good all the time.  You could search the whole world over, no greater friend you'll find.  He's no good just once in a while; He's good all the time."

Those are some verses from one of my favorite Southern Gospel songs by The Gaither Vocal Band.  Chills run down my spine when I hear it!  Even in times of difficulty or trouble, we still must remember that God is good all the time.  As important, we must remember that God is good during good times.  We cannot forget that all good things come from Him.

Here we are on the precipice of a new semester.  Emily has hours of class in the morning and tutoring in the afternoons.  I am finishing an online seminary class and doing afternoon tutoring.  I am also helping tutor other students art the school.  To invest in fellow students, I have accepted the position of chaplain to help other students to continue to grow closer to Christ.  

No matter how stressful the semester gets, we must remember that God is good and has a purpose.  When all is well, we must praise the Creator of all things good.   

 

I know that they say Costa Rica has different seasons, but they are not quite as drastic as the seasons in the states. Costa Rica has beautiful flowers and plants, I believe almost year round, but I’ve found myself missing the arrival of spring back home.  I miss the crabapple trees blooming a whole spectrum of pinks down the streets where I grew up.  I miss the smell of the honey suckles creeping in our bedroom window of our apartment in Hernando.  I miss seeing the dreary, flat grass of winter stand up into the proud, strong, vibrant grass of spring.  I miss walking in the woods and watching the new blooms, animals emerging, and the feeling of excitement and hope that this time of year brings. 

 

I love to go back in look at my journal and see what life was like the same day a year ago and this is what I found today:

 

“God I want to thank you for spring and the newness and hope it brings.  I want to thank you for your sacrifice of your Son for our sins and thank you for the resurrection of His life-spring is kind of like that.  Winter’s death of things so beautiful, but resurrected when the time is right.”

 

I want to spend this week focusing on God’s sacrifice of his son for us, on what the resurrection really means to us, on the continual Hope that Jesus gave to us.  

 

 

Just a few of the beautiful plants we've seen in Costa Rica. 

Mondays are always a little rough, strange, out of sorts.  No matter the job things don’t seem to flow as smoothly on a Monday.  Your mind forgets basic tasks and words.  (ESPECIALLY Spanish words:) You long for the weekend that now seems so far away.  You want a little more time to sleep, catch up on things, do nothing, or do everything.  Mondays are just, well, challenging.  

 

This morning John and I woke up, feeling a little hazy, wanting just 5, 10, 60 more minutes of sleep.  John began his ever daunting task of trying to get our widow maker to produce HOT water and I went to get our sweet baby out of bed.  While in the bathroom John discovered paw prints. Little cat paw prints to be more specific.  Paw prints in the shower and outside of the shower.  You may be asking how did they get in there?  Well, we too are asking that question.  

 

To be continued... If our feline friend decides to come for another visit!

 

Happy Monday!

A street in downtown San José

A couple of friends from the language school we are attending in Costa Rica and I went to downtown San José to share the gospel. Their Spanish is limited, so they were mostly handing out tracts. My Spanish is not as limited, so I was able to have a couple of full-blown discussions.

My first talk was with a guy named Jose. I asked him what he knew about the gospel (el evangelio), and he fully explained the gospel to me!!! I said, what do you believe? He answered, "I'm baptist." I said, "me too!" We continued to talk for at least 15 minutes about the spiritual state of Costa Ricans and the church in Costa Rica. It was a great talk.

The National Theatre in San José

I got up from him and went and sat by a security guard. His Spanish was a little harder to understand, but I fought through it. It seemed as if he knew the right answers, but in my opinion, he did not seem to have internalized the realities of the gospel. I walked him through some of the ten commandments, discussed our deserved judgement, and explained that Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice. I really believe that he had lost interest at this point, but he heard a full gospel presentation and received a Billy Graham tract that also fully explained it in Spanish. 

My friends were done at this point, so we got on a bus to head back to our neighborhood, San Francisco de Dos Ríos. On the bus, my buddy struck up a conversation with the guy next to him. Since his Spanish is limited, I jumped in and finished the conversation. He, as well as the second guy I talked to, mentioned that the way to heaven is "doing good things." I attempted to explain that we cannot get to heaven through we do but through what Jesus did!!! We completely shared the gospel with this man, and now the ball is in his court. God is good!

Let me say this as well about the spiritual state of Costa Rica: Costa Rica is an interesting place. It has somewhat of a Catholic culture, but it is not as strong here as in many other countries like México or Ecuador. Anyway, what sometimes happens in countries such as these is people who grow up in a works based salvation mindset in the Catholic church end up joining a "fun" evangelical church and bring that mindset with them.

Anyway, I took a taxi home from a mall last week. I was riding in the back seat with my 6 month old daughter in my lap, and I noticed that Christian music was playing on the radio in the car. So, I asked the guy what he believed and what church he went to. Then, I asked him how he believed someone can go to heaven. He explained that if we try to do better everyday, if we try not to sin, if we repent everyday, then we will go to heaven. It's exactly the works-based mindset that I am talking about!

I explained to him that what Jesus did on the cross is the only thing that can qualify us for heaven. Once we have been justified, we will obviously desire sanctification and putting off our old selves and part of that is being better and whatnot. However, we cannot earn our way to heaven. 

Pray for his eyes to be opened to the truth of the gospel!

We’ve been here about a week and as you can imagine learning a new language lends itself to some humorous moments! I’ve been trying to build my spanish vocabulary by asking what things are and then trying to use them in my conversations with John. The other day I was talking with him about how many Costa Ricans or “Ticos” have maids in their homes.  The maids come once or twice a week to cook and clean.  I tried my hand at my new-found vocabulary and began talking about the empanadas.  I was going on  and on about how cool it would be to have an empanada help me learn how to cook and how the empanada could help me learn how to speak better Spanish.  When I was done with my monologue, I looked up at John to see him just snickering away.  Apparently empanadas are a type of food, a very delicious one I found out on Wednesday, and empleada is a maid.  Well I’m glad my first of many blunders happened here at home.  

 

Another cultural funny was my take on expiration dates.  I was absolutely appalled that the expiration date on our milk said 6-1-2012. They even keep the milk on a shelf and not in the fridge.  I mean how many preservatives can they have in their milk?!?  Later on, John informed me that in Latin American countries the dates are written day, month, and year.  Well, I still plan on refrigerating our milk (more for my own peace mind).  

 

The sights here are breathtaking!  I feel like the mountains are constantly beckoning me to come visit!  Eventually we will, but for now I’m going to bask in God’s awesome creation.  Yesterday instead of attending a local church body, we had home church. (We are still searching for a church to attend in our area.)  We invited our friend Megan over and together we ate breakfast and went through John 1:1-14.  It was a grea

t time of fellowship and reflection on God’s glory and power.  It was a powerful reminder that we have been sent here to be a witness of God’s light.  

 

While reading verse 14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth,” I felt convicted to stop and think of the times when I’ve experienced God’s glory.  God chose to send His son to dwell among us.  His son chose to endure pain and temptation for us.  We at least owe God reflection and thanksgiving for the glory and the mercy He pours out on us every day. This time away from family, friends, and most things comfortable has allowed me to reflect on the simple glories God gives us every day.  It’s also allowed me to really praise God for the awesome glory and mercies He’s shown me this past year.  

 

The simple glories I’ve experienced this week: learning how to turn on my washing machine, finding Jif peanut but

ter at the store, the love the Ticos pour out on my daughter, making an instant friend and sister in Christ at the airport, Skype and awesome emails with family and friends.  

 

Some of the awesome glories from this year: The birth of our precious muñeca (doll), Samantha; a deepening of love, faith, and obedience to God; being able to be a part of God’s work and to see such generosity and obedience while in the fund-raising process; and the strengthening of family relationships are just a few of the awesome glories God has generously blessed our family with.  

 

So, week 1 is under our belt.  Classes start tomorrow!  Samantha is already ahead of the game.  She’s been in class since last week.  I’m looking forward to sharing more funny translation moments and more magnificent works of glory from our awesome God.  

 

The view from the chapel at our school. 

Samantha's teacher, Elisabeth. 

Another view from school.

The view out our living room window. 

Sam and Dad having fun in our apartment.  

 

 

 

 

 

Before we left Hernando, John had the honor of preaching at the close of our Global Impact Conference.  He did an amazing job!  It has been so neat to see God mold him and make him into the preacher/teacher He wants him to be.  This was extra special because it was also our commissioning service. Wade, our pastor, said an awesome prayer that was followed by a swarm of sweet hugs, tears, and well wishes from our Longview point family. 

 

John's fellow teacher's came to show support when he preached at the GIC

 

Thank you Longview for loving, motivating, encouraging, and challenging us.  Thank you for feeding and welcoming us into your home.  Thank you for accepting a Yankee, who talks differently.  Thank you for teaching and humbling us.  Thank you for being our family that we needed while we were far from home.  Thank you for so many beautiful memories. 

 

 

 

 

Sammie's being entertained by her friend, Dara

Sammie's Baby Dedication with Uncle Frank

Sammie's picture taken by our friend, Angela Cason

God is so good!  All the time! I had no plans of going to Uganda.  Logically, I am going to be a missionary to South America.  Why would I go to Uganda?  Let me tell you why:  God is at work there.  The same God that has called Emily and me to Ecuador is the same God that is at work in a mighty way in Kisoro, Uganda.  

My assignment:  teaching the doctrine of the church to pastors in Kisoro.

My qualifications: none.  I'm an intern at a medium-sized church.  whoopty-doo

My excitment: through the roof!!!

After flights from Memphis to Amsterdam to Nairobi to Entebbe and a 12-hour bus adventure to Kisoro, we were exhausted.  We settled into our rooms after 11 p.m. local time.  I was excited, but believe me, I was not too excited to sleep!  I fixed my mosquito net around my bed and passed out!

The next morning, the sun arose over the African mountains.  I was blown away by the volcano on the horizon.  It brought back memories of Cotopaxi in Ecuador.  I had no idea Uganda was this beautiful.

We passed many motorcycles and cows and goats on the road on the way to the church.  I was overwhelmed when I saw the children.  How beautiful is God's creation!?!  The children flocked to us.  They loved us.  They desired and longed to hold our hands.  I felt love for them in a way that I had never felt for another person's child.  

We then made our way up the hill to the church.  Locals greeted us warmly.  They had awaited our coming!  I turned around to be amazed by this view---

God is big.  I see this in His creation.  I feel it through His redemptive plan.  I understood it more when I heard the Fumbira people singing to Him in their native tongue.  God is big.  He is omnipresent and omnipotent.  He understands every language even as they have evolved over time.  He is not limited by racial or ethnic lines.  He is big.  He is the God of all.  

I climbed to the stage to teach after Haley McIngvale and Alvan Kelly had done an excellent job.  The room was Spirit-filled.  The meetings were Spirit-led.  The pastors sat and frantically took notes.  During our breaks, they poured over the scriptures and discussed the lessons.  I watched this all morning.  

Why me, God?  Why am I qualified to teach your Word?  The truth is this:  I had to depend on God.  I was affecting the theology of 25 pastors.  Only a God-driven lesson would work.  I spent an hour on the marks of a true church.  I passionately pled with them to model their church after the new testament example given to us.  It did not have to be American.  The church needs to be Biblical.  

When I had finished, they thanked all of us one-by-one for teaching them.  I was humbled for this opportunity and experience.  Thank you God for using me!

 

 

 

 

(Editor's note: this sermon was preached to the youth at Longview Point last Wednesday and the junior high and high school at Greenville Christian School on Friday.  It is in no way an endorsement of Houston Nutt)

In November of 2007, Houston Nutt was hired as the coach of the Ole Miss Rebels.  He said there were three things that he asked every recruit: Can I trust you?  Are you committed?  Do you care?

As I read through the book of Jonah, I realize that is essentially the outline.  God wanted to know if He could trust Jonah.  He wanted to know if Jonah was committed.  He wanted to know if Jonah cared about people the way He does.

Trust: having no doubt in God's plan or His ability to accomplish it.

Commitment: participating in God's plan whether you like it or not.

Care: compassion for others like God has.

The reality?  Jonah was not trustworthy. Neither are we.  He was not committed.  Neither are we. He ran!  He pouted because He did not like that God's plan of redemption included Ninevah.  He did not care.  Neither do we. He wept over a plant but not over the 120,000 Ninevites who were bound for hell.  

How do we fix ourselves?  Well, we can't.  God can fix us.  The first step to being trustworthy is trusting in God who is trustworthy.  God is so committed that He uses us in spite of our flaws.  His committment is greater than our flaws and mistakes.  His commitment is to all races and nationalities.  He cares.  He sent Jesus to die on a cross for our sins.  The only we can care about others is to pray and beg God to instill a passion for others like God has.  Only then will we become compassionate.  

You know what else helps?  Realizing the purpose of the large fish.  The fish was not punishment.  It was God's mercy!  Have you ever considered this reality?  God SAVED Jonah through the large fish.  Through Jonah, God saved 120,000 more people!  

Could it be that God saves us so that He might reach others?  When we recognize this truth, we realize we don't have a choice but to be part of God's redemptive mission.

Just like Coach Nutt said about his team, God says about His:  Can I trust you?  Are you committed?  Do you care?