A Divine Vocation

A group of people at Templo Cristiano Libertad are reading through the Bible in one year, using the "Every Day With Jesus" Bible, which includes short devotionals and prayers after each reading. Today the New Testament reading was from Acts 11, where Peter talks to the Christians in Jerusalem after having gone to preach at Cornelius's house and seeing them receive the Holy Spirit. At first they couldn't believe that Gentiles had received the same gift as they had, but Peter replies, "...if God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?" (Acts 11:17). In the devotional that follows, the author notes that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on all 120 who were in the upper room, not just on the 12 apostles. What does this mean for us? Well, you could argue that the 12 were more special than the others, as they had walked with Jesus and received special teaching and ministry, but the fact that the Holy Spirit fell on everyone in the room meant that there are no special requirements, no special positions, no role that is more important than another in the Kingdom of God. The author continues by stating that this realization "might enable us to regain a sense of mission in life." Often we think that pastors, missionaries, church leaders, etc. must be more holy or must have a higher calling than "ordinary Christians" but as the coming of the Holy Spirit shows us, this isn't true at all. As Christians and recipients of the Spirit of God when we accept him into our lives, we all are called to be holy, no matter where we are or what we do. The devotional ends with a prayer thanking God for his gift of the Holy Spirit and for the opportunity that each one of us has to "live out my life where [God] has placed me, with a sense of divine vocation."

Youth service

On Saturday evening we held a joint youth service in the church with 3 other churches in the Torreon area. This is a new monthly initiative put together by all the participating churches in the area and each month the location is rotated between the churches. Over 130 young people filled the church and for 2 1/2 hours sang, prayed, and learned about the flow of the Holy Spirit. The previous night we held an acoustic church service because the church roof leaks (it has actually rained here!) and some of the sound equipment got wet. There were concerns for Saturday's service, but everything went smoothly and sounded great!

What To Do When You Don't Have A Baptistry...

Use the irrigation canal!

Yesterday we had 12 baptisms in the church, 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. There were several children who made the decision to be baptized, and one young man who had come to the church for the first time yesterday.

³⁸ Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—
for all whom the Lord our God will call."
⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them,
"Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about
three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:38-41

El Calor

Good morning!

A prayer request for this week - El Calor won their game on Saturday and are now in the quarter finals for the second year in a row! They left late last night for a 20h trip to Caborca, Sonora, where they will be playing on Wednesday night*. The return game is here in San Pedro on Saturday afternoon. Please pray for their safety as they travel to and from the game and also that they will win, but over all that they will give glory to God.

*The game is supposed to be broadcast on the internet - if anyone would like the link, email me at sanpedroshm@gmail.com.

Swine Flu and Soccer

Just a quick update on some important stuff happening here in the last few days....first of all, thank you to all of you who have asked about us here in Mexico. Everyone is fine and we are confident that God is with us in and through all situations. We are praying for the affected people and families and that the cause and cure of this flu will be discovered quickly. Psalm 91 reminds us that

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

Also, El Calor made it through to the second round of playoffs and played their first leg on Wednesday. Unfortunately they lost 2-1 and need to win their game tomorrow by 2 goals (assuming the other team doesn't score any more). Please pray for the team as they prepare to play tomorrow afternoon, that they will be calm, confident, and that in all they will give glory to God.

Youth Camp 2009

Our 2009 youth camp took place from April 7-10 over Easter vacation. I wasn't able to attend, so today we have a special guest blogger...Paul Ellsworth! Here is a short account of the camp from his perspective.

*****

I have lived in Mexico for four years now, and something that has always confused me is the lack of organized events with other churches. Many churches are private and do not seem interested in socializing with each other. Every year our church really breaks the mold by inviting youth from all churches and denominations to our spring break camp, and this year, many churches responded.

Camp this year was incredible!! It was the most amazing, most fun, and most tiring camp that I have been to (although it was well worth it). Everyday, there were several activities, Bible lessons, sports, games, workshops, and a service every night. It was great to see churches respond to the invitation and send their youth to camp. There were also quite a few unbelievers at the camp. God moved strongly in the services. Everyone received a personal touch from our amazing Lord.

My personal favorite aspect of the camp actually happened afterward. Most camps that I have been a part of in the past were excellent, but the week afterward, everyone starts falling back into the routine of life. God answered our prayers, and many of the youth who were at the camp have kept coming to church and have filled the front seats. It just goes to show that Jesus can do more than we ask or imagine and when he does a miracle in someone's life, he doesn't do a temporary job. That is exactly what we were praying for at camp: lives that would be changed forever.

*****

You can link to pictures from the camp here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enochabdias

Change

It is said that change is the only constant in this world. Things that we take for granted as normal, as givens, can suddenly disappear and we are left wondering, "What will happen to me?" "How will I survive?" "What do I do now?"

It's kind of like a snowstorm in April:All we see is the unexpected, uncontrollable situation...
But we have to remember what Jesus says...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Even in the midst of the storm, there is provision.