Douglas Derby Days

I'd like to share with you a "Douglas Moment" from this past month - their own version of the Kentucky Derby. I was at Casa Hogar Douglas with an american team from the Family Christian Stores - James Fund when I saw the 5 and 6 year old boys organizing races down their hill on recently donated toddler bikes with the 3 year olds as drivers. The kids came up with the idea, organized it, orchestrated it, judged it, took turns - and loved every second of it. The americans, who were there for a cookout, just sat back and laughed... it was a beautiful afternoon

Jahir, Alex, Cesar (in yellow), Josue, Angel, Marta, Aldair and Alexis getting all set up on the starting line

they competed in teams of 2 -- road blocked by Cesar

went very fast

and often crashed but laughed afterwards

The Hole in our Gospel

I've been reading "The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns because it was highly recommended by one of my favorite visionaries on this planet-  Kristen Marks.  I'm having an increasingly difficult time actually reading it because of how incredibly convicting and challenging it is- Kmarks does not disappoint and nor does this author.   So what "hole" is he saying exists in our modern interpretation of "the gospel??"  Great question - sadly I get the impression that there may be more than one hole.  For starters... Stearns says that for many, our view of the gospel has been narrowed to a simple transaction where the only thing we do is make a decision to accept Christ as Savior.  We as Christians, then attempt to get as many people as possible to make a decision for the next life - to spend eternity in heaven with God.   That's great!  but what about THIS life, on THIS side of eternity? (sounds a bit like the Savior vs. Lord dilemma eh?) 

Stearns says that the kingdom of God was intended to change and challenge everything in our fallen world in the here and now - so if i'm part of this kingdom (His kingdom, the kingdom of God), i should be all about changing and challenging things in the here and now.  Being a part of the kingdom of God was not meant to be a way to leave the world but rather the means to actually redeem it.   After making a decision for Christ we are commanded to go into the world -- to bear fruit by lifting up the poor and marginalized, challenging injustice wherever we find it, rejecting the worldly values found within every culture, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.  He goes on to say that God's love was intended to be demonstrated and not dictated.  I find that my thoughts on evangelism are spinning.  What is evangelism?  Is it just a verbal proclamation?  What is it that we are supposed to be proclaiming?  How do you do that?  When Jesus came into town, I recall him saying that he came to proclaim freedom for the captives and to release prisoners from darkness.   What does that look like for you and me today?  

When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray he told them the Lord's prayer which includes that part about "your kingdom come, you will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."  As followers of Christ, we are to be passionate about bringing the good news into the here and now - into making God's economy a reality for those around us.  I don't think simply checking "yes" on some response card and then going about life how I want it as usual is going to make this happen anytime soon.  

I'm still trying to muster up the courage to face the next chapter... more thoughts to come

Thank you Supporters!

I had the privilege of attending the adult sunday school class at Riverside when I was home in Cocoa Beach two sundays in a row.  They've been going through John Ortberg's video series called, "When the Game is Over, It All goes back in the Box."  Throughout this series, John Ortberg elaborates on this idea: Winning the game of life on Earth is a temporary victory; loving God and other people with all our hearts is an eternal one.  Session 4 led us into discussions about our calling in life and times when we choose comfort over our callings and in essence tell God, "No thanks."  

Sometimes, and probably more often than not, I think that God calls us to do things that require the assistance and teamwork of other people.  When was the last time that God called you to do something that didn't involve anyone else?  Divine appointments from the Lord involve others- to help others, comfort others, teach others, love others, forgive others, etc.   The Church is a group of people who are unified in their faith, cause, purpose and passion.  Our personal giftings have been given to us individually and differently and uniquely but they are not in a vacuum.  When one person feels a call to go love on the homeless in their area - they could probably use a lot of other people to help them in that calling- to carry it out.  We end up helping others to fulfill their callings and others help us to carry out our own.  This is all so evident in my own life.  I LOVE my job here in Monterrey.  I absolutely LOVE that I have been called and placed in a position where I can spend my everyday defending and loving on the orphan child in this city.  But in no way at all could I do that all by myself.  There is a huge and amazing team of people who have joined me in this - to send me here - to support my life and work here and I'm so incredibly thankful for each and every one of you.  Thank you all for being so encouraging and supportive through your words, emails, notes, hugs, thoughts, donations, financial contributions and prayers.  WE are in this together.  THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Romans 12:4-5, "For as in one physical body we have many parts and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, so we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ and individually we are parts of one another [mutually dependent on one another]."