Brazilian Jewells

Thursday Bible Study

2012-05-24T09:42:00.000-04:00

For the past two years I've facilitated a Thursday afternoon women's Bible study in my house. Here we are: Maria and her youngest, me and my youngest, Callie and her kids, Joanne, and Hayley.

Because we announced that we would be moving to Texas soon, Callie took the lead and started having the ladies meet at her house for the study. This picture was taken there the last time we all met.

Well, today is Thursday and I know the girls will get together without me for the first time. I pray God will bless them with wisdom and understanding as they read the scriptures together. I also pray for their individual spiritual growth as well as growth in their group as they share the love of Jesus with those around them. I already miss them all terribly.

Our Last Meeting

2012-05-08T15:48:00.000-04:00

Sunday was the first time our entire south Florida church family got together. Even Chris and Jenna made the drive down to be with us. And this little guy (Terry and Maria's six-week old Kevin) made his debut showing:

So, here we all are:

Because we will be moving to Texas in a matter of days, this group will probably not meet as a whole again on this earth. I started to name this post "Our Final Meeting" but quickly changed that, because our final meeting will actually go more like this:

At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds,

from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (Mark 13)

We broke bread together, talked, cried, and laughed. We reminisced and dreamed about the future. It was a bittersweet day--the culmination of two and a half years of ministry--that we will always cherish.

John and I already see God working miracles in these precious lives: strengthened marriages, overcome addictions, hearts for outreach and benevolence, spiritual awareness and hunger for an understanding of the scriptures, a newfound joy and zeal for life, and resolve to live blamelessly. As difficult as it is for us to leave this fledging church family, we are confident that God's spirit abides with them and will use them for great things.

Texas Bound

2012-05-08T07:40:00.000-04:00

A neighbor asked me several months ago if things were all right at home. When I wondered out loud why she asked, she said John had mentioned something about problems we were having. I knew that wasn't true and politely let her know, to which she hemmed and hawed and finally admitted that she had made it up. She was trying to find out why his car hadn't been in the driveway as much as usual. (Remember Mrs. Kravits from Bewitched?) I told her about the parenting program he was visiting in Jacksonville and assured her we were fine. She then asked how I was so sure about what John didn't say. "I know him," I said.

That conversation started me thinking about how well I actually know God. Can I be confident about what He would or would not say or do? I could tell my neighbor was bluffing about John because I spend so much time with him. We've taken time out of almost every day for fifteen years to sit down and talk to each other. Obviously, having a basic understanding of the Bible is the beginning of a relationship with God, but without spending time with Him in prayer and quiet I wouldn't be able to say I know Him at all. This is especially important in the midst of a big decision. After much time spent with each other and with God, John and I have finally made one such big decision--to move to Texas. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a couple of years ago, and we are mainly going there to be near her.

Since making that decision, we've been preparing the church here for our departure. Over the past two years, due to our limited resources, we have intentionally maintained a small group of dedicated individuals to meet in our home, rather than establishing a larger church with a building and programs to sustain. We are now very happy God led us to do it this way. Our focus has been on teaching the Bible and discipling on a small, personal scale in order to lay a strong foundation that will not easily be corrupted. We have every reason to believe that God will personally guide each of these new but committed Christians onto the very ministry He has prepared for them.

We've put our house on the market, and we plan to travel to Colorado at the end of this month where John will marry his niece and her boyfriend. From there we continue on to Texas to see what God has in store for our next mission.

Callie's Birthday...Again!

2012-03-30T20:37:00.000-04:00

This is Callie. She and I have been friends since our family moved to Florida.

I love everything about Callie and was happy to celebrate her birthday earlier this month during our Thursday women's Bible study at my house. This Thursday, instead of meeting for the study, we met because Callie decided she not only believes in Jesus but also wants to follow him.

She was baptized at Terry and Maria's house, where we only met briefly because Maria is still recovering from her C-section. It was enough time to witness Callie's birth into God's kingdom and get the party in heaven kicked off.

Luke 15:3-7: Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Our Newest Blessing

2012-03-26T14:12:00.000-04:00

Many of you know we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Terry and Maria's second son. Kevin came by C-section on Friday, because that really is the best way to deliver an 11 lb. 3 oz. baby! The nurses at the hospital call him "our three month old." Here's a picture of the proud family, including big brother Jake:

Over the past two years we have come to know this family well and couldn't love them more if we shared the same DNA. One of the greatest blessings in the world happens when God allows us to go from believing a biblical promise to experiencing it. The fact that I truly feel as if I've just welcomed a nephew into the world is proof of these scriptures:

Matthew 19:29: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 3:31-35: Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." Who are my mother and brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Family Reunion

2012-02-21T17:13:00.000-05:00

We had some visitors last Sunday. You may remember these guys from previous posts. They were baptized in November 2010, married in December, then moved a few hours north last March. Although we have been to visit a couple times, it's just not enough; we miss them so much. Chris, Jenna, and their great kids have become family to us, so we were thrilled to have them with us last week. It was like a family reunion.

Even without one of our families present, we were a good-sized group. Maria's mom has been here from Brazil, anxiously awaiting the new baby, and Joanne (who was baptized a month ago) and her daughter are now also a regular part of our gatherings. If you know our group well, you might be able to spot the extra kid in the photo. She came from down the street to join us. We usually have an extra neighborhood kid at any given gathering. While some adults are skittish of what we do, the children are much more adventurous and often turn up to take advantage of the great times we have together.

Our boys were happy to have every seat at the table taken for the lesson and craft.

And, of course, the best part was the playtime on the lawn. I'm always interested to discover which particular detail of home-church life a person finds most attractive. For some, it's discovering the fascinating nuggets of wisdom in the Bible or sharing a meal with good company. For others it's conversation over a cup of coffee or time spent talking to God in prayer about a difficult situation. For Joanne's daughter, it was the bike riding up and down the sidewalk while the adults stood around talking on the lawn.

Pillars

2012-02-11T19:59:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to make a solo visit to my mother in Texas. John held down the fort at home with our three boys. On Sunday I took Mom to the church that supports our ministry and gave a brief report to the congregation in lieu of their regular Bible class. Afterwards we participated in the worship service.

When it was time for the serving of the Lord's Supper, a group of men stepped forward, but three of them stood out to me. John and I had met them the first time we stepped foot inside a church as adults. That was sixteen years ago at a little congregation just miles down the road from the church that now sponsors us. It's where we were converted to Christianity and married. Those three men were, at the time, just one man and his two young sons. Since shortly after our conversion, we've been missionaries, always traveling and never really settling in. It's been a while since we have been to a traditional worship service. We spend most of our time now among unchurched people, and the time we spend with the new Christians we disciple doesn't look anything like a traditional service.

As the group proceeded to pray over the bread and juice, I thought about how confusing the whole service would be to a non-Christian. I know, because it wasn't that long ago that I was that non-Christian. I realized that those three men had been living in the same town, attending the same type of church most (if not all) of their lives. They don't consider themselves missionaries, although it was the father's parents who told us about Jesus. As concerned as they are for the lost, they would probably struggle to empathize with someone who finds traditions like the Lord's Supper confusing. While it stands to reason not every sermon they hear speaks to their hearts, I bet they haven't heard one in a while that just doesn't make sense at all. I realized as I looked at those men that I wish I had had a father like that one and that I had been raised like those boys--in church among good people. I have often wondered how different I would be if I had been raised according to God's word, the way family was intended--the way many families at our sponsoring church have lived for generations. But that's not my reality and that means God has equipped me to serve in a different capacity.

That family is a pillar in the community and the church. John and I aren't made to do what they do--stay in one place year after year, holding down a steady job to love and support a family that faithfully goes to church every Sunday. Yet, without families like theirs, we couldn't do what we are made to do--travel and engage ourselves in the world's affairs among the fatherless and confused, introducing Jesus to anyone who will listen. To follow through with the analogy I started when I called them pillars, we know that Jesus is the foundation of the house that God is building. What we add each time we bring in a lost soul is a brick to the structure. I suppose we could be considered the mortar that patches cracks and prepares the surface for new bricks. It's not a glamourous job and sometimes downright dirty, but when you step back and look at the house in its entirety--foundation, bricks, pillars, and mortar--together I believe we're a beautiful sight for the builder.

First Parenting Class

2012-02-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

We've been working hard to get everything ready for the first official parenting conference. John went to California to become certified in teaching the curriculum, I've been building a website, and we've been searching high and low for a venue. We've been looking at the stack of books sitting in our kitchen now for months, the website hasn't been released yet, and we can't seem to find a conference room that's both available and affordable anywhere in the city. So, we decided to get started in our living room. Why not? We already educate our children and have church here.

We had two families who were ready to get started. They're already good parents who want to be better. God has graciously given us enough seating for them right here under our own roof so we pulled the trigger. John has facilitated two meetings and the parents are already reporting positive changes at home. We're hearing from other interested families, and at least two more are ready to sign up. I took this picture because I believe this endeavor will be a success and this will be our "remember when" shot.

2012-02-02T07:56:00.000-05:00

Sunday our church met at the Hendersons' at 10:00 a.m. We had a few new people in the mix--Maria's mother is visiting from Brazil, our new sister Joanne was there, and a couple who left the church years ago joined us. We read some of the Bible and discussed what was going on in our lives. Afterwards, we had lunch together and talked while the kids played. We didn't go back for an evening service because we never left.

Late in the afternoon we enjoyed a cup of coffee and shared our stories with each other. Joanne looked around the table at her new family and said, "Who wouldn't want this?" Apparently the visiting couple agreed, because they invited us to meet in their home to start a Portuguese study with their friends.

The Parable of Companion Planting

2012-01-30T08:37:00.000-05:00

Jesus often uses agricultural terms to aid in his teaching about spiritual matters. As long as there is life on earth we will be dependent on farming, and the parables involving planting, growing and harvest will offer insight into the nature of the kingdom of God. The analogies may be easily lost on those not paying attention--those, for example, who think the grocery store is where food originates. As my seven year old asked last year, "Just how do the cows make cheeseburgers?" But to those who understand that everything we have can be traced back to the raw materials God gave us to use in the first place, there is much to be learned from this type of teaching.

The Bible doesn't exhaust the use of agricultural language to explain the spirit world. In fact, it seems likely that God expects Jesus' parables to whet our appetites for more. I started square foot gardening last year and have discovered that, even in a small, urban back yard a person can learn a lot about God. I've been educating myself about companion planting. If you've never heard of it, it's the idea that certain crops planted in proximity either assist or discourage each other in productivity. For example, beets and pole beans planted side by side will stunt each other's growth, and cabbage and lettuce, as alike as they seem, are not good for each other as the flavor of lettuce will be greatly compromised. On the other hand, many plants are great company for each other. A native American technique known as The Three Sisters combines corn, squash and beans. As they grow, the bean plant climbs the corn stalk, using it as a sort of stake, and the squash leaves spread out at the base, serving as mulch. The three essentially work together to produce a more bountiful harvest.

With as many plants as there are, this can all become quite confusing, so I have drawn up a grid of every square foot in my garden. On it I have assigned a place to each plant. With most of them, it's as simple as determining which ones get along well and which ones don't. Then there are plants like the marigold which has the potential to serve many purposes. It's beautiful, edible, and a formidable opponent for many garden pests. For that reason, I have marigolds planted everywhere.

Now, whether you're intrigued by all of this or you're not really into gardening, you must admit there's much to be learned from God's chosen method for feeding mankind. Companion planting has helped me understand that God has a big picture for his garden and a purpose for each one of us. It also helps make sense of why some of us work well together and some of us don't. Have you ever worked alongside a person who brought out the worst in you? It's not necessarily an indictment on any individual but a clue to the mystery that is the body of Christ and the fact that we each possess unique abilities and gifts. God knows best how to combine those.

Some plants he seems to stick in the ground to remain and produce fruit until the day they die. You know, the folks who have lived in the same house their entire lives? Others, like the marigold, he continues to transplant to serve different purposes at different times. I have often felt like a marigold, wanting a single defined purpose in a single defined square foot of the garden, but I find myself instead being used sometimes as pest control and sometimes as food. If you've ever been chewed up and spit out by ministry, you know what I mean. God in his infinite wisdom has chosen to pull my family up by the roots time and time again to transplant us about, knowing that in the end, we will have served our purpose as laid out in his perfect plan.

Our New Sister Joanne

2012-01-23T08:44:00.000-05:00

Though our small church is exploding with personal and spiritual growth, we haven't seen much in the way of numeric growth for a while. We've invited neighbors and acquaintances to our house for meals and Bible studies, but that's as far as the relationship goes. We recently ramped up our prayers on behalf of the many people who have been invited to or participated in a Bible study. Friday we got a little pushy with God almost demanding that He follow through on the promise that He'll give us anything we ask in His name. What qualifies more than having someone to teach about His Son? "Where are they?" we asked. "Send us even one person who is ready to meet Jesus."

If you are a praying person, you know how much work it can be and how utterly disappointing to feel like your prayers aren't being answered. We've been exhausted and discouraged lately and needed a time of refreshing, so Terry and Maria kept the boys Saturday night so John and I could go out on a date. On the way home, I got a phone call from Joanne, a lady who works at the YMCA child care center. She was one of the first people I met when we moved here, and she has been to our house on a few occasions. She even started coming to a Mark study but quit after just two meetings. She asked if she could join us Sunday morning. I told her we have breakfast at 10:00 am, and she was the first one here.

Joanne told us she's been very confused and has been searching for something for a long time but wasn't sure what. Like the Plumb song says, there's a God-shaped hole in all of us. Joanne was becoming aware of hers and looking for a way to fill it. In fact, she went to a spiritual advisor just two days ago. She said the place was adorned with images of many gods, including Jesus, and the woman assured her they were all the same in the end. This was just weeks after she went forward for an altar call at the biggest and best-known community church in the city. They assured her she was saved, although she didn't understand how or why. Thankfully, the counsel she received didn't sit well with her, and she continued searching. She said she was drawn back to us and ready to hear what we had to say.

We spent all afternoon yesterday untangling the web of misinformation she's been carrying around for years. Her face went from one of intent listening to almost blushing joy as the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ unfolded. Somewhere around 6:00 pm, she said, "This makes sense and I believe it. What should I do?" Terry and Maria opened up their home and pool, and Hayley met us there to witness Joanne's baptism.

Now I present our most recent church family photo. (Joanne's standing next to me.)

The Greatest Show on Earth

2012-01-22T15:38:00.000-05:00

A friend gave us tickets to the circus last week, so we spent the evening being entertained by what's been called the Greatest Show on Earth. As we enjoyed the generosity of our friend, I noticed something. The performers were a bit sloppy. We've been to the circus before, and I didn't remember it being so relaxed. The dancers fell out of line and the jugglers dropped the occasional bowling pin. Trying to deny my naturally critical nature, I watched on. It was fun, and the kids were enthralled, so I soon became lost in the flashy production and stopped noticing flaws. Then I realized there were no mistakes because I was watching the tight rope walkers. They couldn't make a mistake. Even with a safety net, falling from sitting atop a bike rider on a high wire is still dangerous at best. Also, the tiger tamer was on his game. Again, one mistake and he could be catnip.

The acts involving life or death situations were much more precise than the others. It made me think of the church. We're told in Scripture that we're in a spiritual war, yet we tend to live with a peacetime mentality. If we recognized the dangers that surround us on a daily basis, would we act differently? Would we be more motivated to read and understand our Bibles and spend more time in prayer? Would we be willing to sacrifice a bit more of our creature comforts to aid those trapped in the enemy's camp? Would we be more precise and less relaxed with our faith?

I also observed the clowns attracting attention as the sets changed in the shadows. That brought another analogy to mind. It seems we sometimes take our attention off the real changes (like the transformation in Maria I talked about in my last post) to focus on winning the approval of others in order to get them into our assemblies. Thinking about that made me glad I have invested in my Christian sister over and above the skeptical and the disinterested who have darkened our door. Those people would still be sitting with us each Sunday, consuming time and resources if we had put our energy into entertaining them instead of investing in the real changes taking place among the faithful. Granted, we still pray for them, but we don't humor their lack of faith on a weekly basis. Jesus purposely ran off the crowds who sought entertainment and fringe benefits.

I share this, not to call into question anyone's sincerity, but to encourage all of us to take a look at ourselves and the community we call church. Are we aware of the life and death nature of our calling? Are we focusing on entertaining the masses through programs and exciting worship more than investing in the real changes taking place in the shadows like the healing of a marriage or the spiritual growth of an individual? Are we the church that Jesus established, or are we ourselves The Greatest Show on Earth?

Reinforcing the Foundation

2012-01-18T14:22:00.001-05:00

You may remember Maria, but you probably don't remember her like this.

She's due to have her second child--another boy--in March. I helped her host a baby shower to celebrate.

You may be able to tell from the pictures that many of the ladies who attended are Brazilian. There are lots of Brazilians who live in south Florida--several hundreds of thousands, in fact. We came here on the premise of starting a Portuguese-speaking church among them. Maria was especially hopeful for it to be a success, because that's been her dream for years.

If you've been keeping up with us at all, you know that dream has not come true. Of everyone who meets with us on a regular basis, Maria is the only Brazilian, and of the four people who John has baptized here, none is Brazilian. It seems God has something else in mind, and it would be dishonest of me to say we haven't been impatient for Him to reveal what that something else might be.

We sometimes get caught up in the idea that missional success means a large group of people that meet on Sunday. I mean, it does look good on a report, but it's not the ultimate goal. To be clear, the goal is to introduce people to Jesus. We've considered giving in to the idea of creating a large gathering by renting a building in an effort to look more like the traditional model of church that most people expect from an evangelistic mission. We even revisited the Brazilian church plant idea with Maria and her husband Terry. Knowing Maria's desire to be surrounded by like-minded Brazilians during worship, I expected her to jump at the idea. Instead, I was encouraged to realize that her focus has shifted over the past two years. She's now much more concerned with putting God's will above her own. Do you know what He can do with a woman like that? Ruth and Esther come to mind.

I realized during our conversation that all the hours I might have spent organizing, planning, and executing programs necessary to keep a traditional church running smoothly have been freed up for me to spend simply reading the Bible with the ladies of our little house church. God has used that time and investment to transform Maria in a way that is undeniably His work, and we are blessed to have been an integral part of it.

So, what does God have in mind for our ministry in south Florida? I can never be sure what His plans for the future are, but it seems Maria's transformation has been a big part of the plan these past two years--maybe a reinforcement of a foundation for things to come. Her husband and sons are blessed to have her and will themselves be strengthened through her dedication to God.

South Florida Ministry in Pictures

2012-01-10T19:42:00.000-05:00

As we launch into a new year, we thought you might enjoy a snapshot of what's happened around here so far:

Our New Fishing Pole

2011-12-26T12:49:00.000-05:00

In my last post I told you I would share the details of our updated fishing rod--a shiny new tool for evangelism. John and I had the opportunity this year to make several visits to a parenting program in Jacksonville in north Florida. At one point we even thought God might be calling us to move there and work with them in some capacity. Much to our relief, it has recently become apparent that's not the case. Instead we plan to start the same type of program here in southern Florida where it's also very much needed.

John spent a week in California this fall learning to teach the very curriculum that spawned the Jacksonville program over ten years ago. Without modifying any of the pillars that make it the time-tested and effective course that it is, we have molded it to fit our personalities by drawing from experiences with our own children and the work we've done with other parents. We are almost ready to unveil the finished product--our detailed plans to serve the community by strengthening parenting skills. In the meantime, we're praying for success. To our knowledge, there is nothing like it in our area. For that matter in most states, help for parents of wayward kids is generally limited to those whose children have already committed crimes. We want to intervene before that happens.

So how is this a tool for evangelism? It usually takes months or even years for people to warm up to us enough to really trust that we're not selling anything. Then we can invite them into a Bible study, but that's a lot of time invested only to find out that most of them aren't at all interested in spiritual matters. John discovered that the parents at the meetings in Jacksonville were much more open to the discussion of God's existence and involvement in this world. They know they're in need and are open to help on any level. That's why medical missions are so successful. Those missionary/doctors meet a perceived need before they introduce Jesus who is what's really needed. We're not doctors, but we can offer healing to broken families.

John has been talking to the schools and law enforcement agencies while I have been putting together a Web site for information and registration purposes. I'll share that address with you after a few final touches, then I would love your feedback.

We're going to need your prayers and support, because, while we see our new approach like the fishing rod at the top of this post, we understand that in reality it's probably more like this:

When we give God our best effort, isn't it a bit like a six year old making a drawing for his dad? It's not valuable in and of itself but to that dad, it's priceless. Should he decide to, he could frame it with pure gold.

Gone Fishing

2011-12-06T14:46:00.001-05:00

I know, I know, it's been a while since I've posted, and some of you have been asking what's going on. We've been out fishing. It's not that I haven't had the time to report on the details. Oh sure, I'm busy like the rest of you, but I do limit my schedule to a manageable pace and can't really use that as an excuse. It's also not that we haven't had anything to report. The things we are experiencing here have me bursting at the seams to share over a cup of coffee with anyone who will listen. The problem is, the Internet is not a cup of coffee, and sharing the intimate details of a person's life on a blog doesn't seem like a good idea, especially if those people are your friends.

You see, if we were ministers at a mainstream church, like we have been in the past, we might report something like attendance numbers and event schedules. Instead, when we're reporting on a small house church, the details are too personal to share. You may not know who we're talking about but our members do and they also read this blog--an issue we didn't face to the same degree doing mission work in Brazil. Suffice it to say that we meet with these people, not only on a weekly basis, but often on a daily basis. Our goal is to teach and disciple them into a deeper relationship with each other and ultimately with Jesus. We are seeing stronger marriages, better relationships with kids, and even healthier lifestyles. We celebrate together, grieve with each other, and often just hang out with one another. This is the family that God intended his church to be.

Now that you're beginning to see my dilemma, I will assure you that the reporting doesn't end here. In fact, you may be in for some more regular communication if we can come up with a new approach. I say "we" because I need your help. Feedback from you is going to help me not only deliver information that you find interesting, but it will also keep us encouraged--a commodity that is scarce to people who do what we do for a living, endeavor to introduce Jesus to a largely narcissistic society. We do thank those of you who comment in person or through e-mail. We would appreciate all of you getting involved in the discussion on some level.

We're not much on reporting numbers, as relationships are hard to quantify, but there is one number I would like to report. It's fifty, and it's where I lost count when I tried to remember the individuals we have invested in over the past two years. We don't knock on doors and we don't pass out flyers, so it takes some time to actually get to know a person well enough to share the gospel with or at least to invite into a discussion/study of the gospel. This stint of our missionary journeys has me wondering if there's been a study done on this sort of thing. I mean, our experience has shown that four out of fifty people in south Florida who are invited to hear the gospel actually listen and respond by following Jesus.

Don't worry, as discouraging as these statistics are, we don't plan to give up. We're looking for the next fifty and we're not going to forget the forty-seven who have said no. Sure, there's something to shaking the dust off your feet and moving on as Jesus told his disciples to do, but we're not burning any bridges. We care about these people and hope they one day take an interest in a relationship with God and in living the life they were created to live. It wasn't that long ago--about sixteen years--that we were in the dark about the meaning of life, muddling through, trying to make our own way. We thought Christians were stupid, crazy people recruiting for a cult. Knowing what we know now, we're willing to look like stupid, crazy cult members in order to offer the treasure we know as Jesus to anyone who has ears to hear and a heart to accept.

Lately, we've been evaluating our effectiveness. Could we catch more fish if we moved to another pond or used a different fishing rod? We're not too keen on moving... again. And we don't necessarily feel like we need to... yet. So we're switching to a different rod. I'll tell you more about that in my next post.

Camp Consequence

2011-08-21T15:48:00.000-04:00

As missionaries, we know we must often meet a person's immediate earthly need before he will have any openness to the gospel. For example, a hungry person will only think about food until you give him some. Only then will he be able to focus on something other than his growling stomach and be in a position to digest the concept of God's love along with his sandwich. Likewise, a person whose house is in foreclosure--something we come across quite often now--will be much more likely to hear us if we offer him money to catch up on his bills. When he is able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we can more effectively share the light of Christ and give him real hope.

We've had a surprising revelation since returning to the United States just over a year and a half ago. In attempting to do here just what we've been doing as missionaries overseas, we've become aware that the immediate earthly need of almost every family we meet is simply learning how to be a family. Marriages are falling apart everywhere we turn, and children are largely disobedient with no respect for authority. We recently read an article in the paper depicting marriage as an archaic institution which is quickly going out of style--and the columnist was happy about that!

We have been praying for help in addressing this dire situation, asking God to show us how we can be most effective in meeting the needs of these broken families. Recently a fellow homeschool dad told John about a program a bit to our north in which a former marine and professional football player whips not only kids but also their parents into shape. This dad believes in the program so much that he left his ministry position to pursue a job with the program. Since then John went twice on his own--once to witness the information conference which is a prerequisite to all the other programs and once to participate in Camp Consequence, a weekend spent on prison property where both the kids and their parents rough it in a boot camp environment. Most families are sufficiently healed after that and need only to continue weekly support with the rest of the group. Those who aren't may go on to send their boys to the program's boarding school. (There are plans for a girl's school in the near future.)

We all went as a family to the support groups last week and witnessed a roomful of people who had been brought to their knees and are healing from devastating family struggles. We stayed on the property where the boy's school is located. Here's the school:

And this is part of the 25-acre farm that houses the school:
Here's the truck they use to advertise the program (along with my boys reenacting the scene so common in households across the country):
Here are the teens doing work detail after breakfast:
And here's where they use the bathroom when they misbehave and get stuck out in the woods in a tent:
We stayed in this pop-up trailer as we observed the program over the weekend:
And this is what we drove around the farm:
I was proud to allow my well-behaved boys to enjoy the benefits of farm life for a couple days:

And did they ever enjoy it!:
But something tells us it wasn't enough just to visit and give our fruitless approval. We are intrigued by what's going on in this remote part of Florida to help families. We believe that God is answering our prayers by putting us in touch with this program and the godly people who run it. Now we will continue to pray with a new emphasis on how we might be connected.

4th of July Block Party

2011-07-06T07:33:00.000-04:00

We decided to have a 4th of July party so we passed out flyers to all the houses on our block, rented an inflatable water slide, and bought 200 hamburgers and hot dogs. Then we left the rest up to our neighborhood and ultimately God. Seventy-two people showed up. Yay, neighbors! And it was the first day in over a week that it didn't rain. Yay, God!

As we were assembling to start the parade a neighbor we hadn't met pulled up in a beautiful, classic red mustang to lead us around the block. He popped a patriotic CD into his radio and off we went.Some folks decided to document the event rather than take part in it. We'll have to meet this patriotic fellow and get a copy of his video.

As soon as we reached our house again, the kiddos shed their parade wear and jumped on the main attraction.

We hired two homeschool kids to be slide monitors for the day. Ben was especially happy with this one.

Later we passed out prizes to the best paraders, as determined by some impartial judges. These three from the same family won second, third, and most spirited.

Jonah won first place - movie tickets - for the great job he did on his bike decoration.

It was nice to be able to reward our guests for the effort they put into making this party a success. Next year, though, we really should have a prize for the cutest.One little girl took it upon herself to set up a face-painting station on our patio. She drew quite a crowd.

And don't forget the food. Most people brought something to contribute to the cookout so there was plenty of that. The goody table was never empty, even with Ben's perpetual desire for just one more cupcake.

Most of the day was spent simply hanging out with friends and neighbors.Some folks cooled off inside.And others in the pool.

The party wrapped up around sundown but some of our neighbors came back later to shoot off fireworks.

At the end of the day, we had met twenty new people and John invited some of the men into a leadership class to begin soon.

Here's a quick video of the day's events:

Our House the Concert Hall

2011-06-22T07:20:00.000-04:00

How do you fit forty people into a living room that seats seven? Like this:

Patrick and Erin, our friends from Nashville came to town and performed at our house Monday night. It was an honor to have talent like theirs under our roof. In 1996 Patrick's band won a Youtube Underground contest for best song. Since then his music has only gotten better. It would be worth your while to check out Patrick's Facebook page and listen to a few of his original songs. After that knocks your socks off, you can see some of the most beautiful artwork ever on Erin's Web site. You can support them by purchasing a CD or, if you can afford it, one of Erin's paintings. I'm convinced that one day it will be like having a Van Gogh hanging over your fireplace.

We gave our grill a workout and enjoyed some of this Florida summer in the back yard.

Then our kids finished up the evening with some boy-girl arm wrestling.

Sometimes we forget that we've only been here a little over a year. The community that regularly meets in our living room feels like it's existed forever.

Waiting for My Friend

2011-06-18T06:19:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I wonder what God is waiting for. How much worse is it going to get before Jesus returns and makes it all right? Very often when people learn what we do for a living they mock us or ostracize us. Those who don't are usually not shy about warning us not to "preach" to them. When we do have occasion to sit down with people to share what the Bible says, they are almost always impressed but don't necessarily respond well. So I wonder why - if nobody cares anyway - hasn't He returned.

I recently read through five chapters of Mark with seven women - six after one dropped out. The mother of one lady came from England for a visit and sat in during the last two sessions, making it seven again. We got to the part where Jesus asks the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" so I asked the girls the same question. My friend Hayley wasn't the most outspoken in the group but she made it clear that she believed in Jesus' claim to be the Messiah. Later that week she came to me and told me that, not only did she want to be baptized, but her mother did also. Her mother Wendy has been a Christian for over thirty years but never knew the importance of baptism.

Here's Hayley being baptized:

And her mother Wendy:

And here I am with my two new sisters:

This morning I can confidently say that God was waiting for my friend and her mother. I have a new-found patience and a stronger trust in His perfect plan. I am also asking Him to continue to send to us those who are ready to hear what wonderful things He has done for us and care enough to respond in love, just like my friend Hayley and her mother Wendy did last night.

Fifteen Years

2011-06-08T11:17:00.000-04:00

Fifteen years ago a couple of foolish lovers decided to try life God's way. They were married and baptized the same day, committing themselves to each other and to their creator. Here they were then:

And here we are now:

I barely recognize that young couple in the wedding photo. Though our marriage hasn't been without challenges, I can honestly say that we have been blessed beyond what we ever hoped or imagined when we decided to step out in faith. When we say, "in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer," aren't we banking on the fact that the negative side of the equation isn't ever going to darken our door? Well, I am thankful for those things because I believe they have strengthened us and made us the people we are today. While I hope for the good times, health and prosperity, I am learning to embrace whatever situation God sends our way because in all things the presence of God is where we find true joy.

Now we spend our days teaching our kids what we wish we had known when we were their ages and sharing our abundance with others. I pray that you would have the faith to really trust God and allow Him to shower you with the blessings he has stored up for your life.

Why We Need Missionaries in Southern Florida

2011-06-04T17:52:00.000-04:00

A Christian homeschool mom recently asked me why we need missionaries in southern Florida. She seemed sincere so I sincerely answered her with, "Because most biblically literate people like you assume others know what you know and don't think we need missionaries in southern Florida." We went on to talk about what mission work in the United States entails. Allow me to share some of it with you.

In order to introduce Jesus to people who probably have only ever heard the name as an exclamation or in a cussing tirade, the book of Mark is a good place to start. Currently a group of women meets every Friday in our living room to read it together. I told them in the beginning that they were about to embark on a study of the basis for all Christianity - the biography of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I assured them that by chapter eight they would know everything they need to know to make an informed decision about whether they want to be Christians.

When we began the study, three out of the group of seven didn't own a Bible nor had they ever opened one, so we bought them each a copy. None of the seven had ever read more than small excerpts. One woman says she's Jewish and goes to Temple but didn't know where to find the Old Testament in the Bible. She has skipped Temple for the past month to be a part of this study that she says "is more interesting than Temple." Other comments and questions include:

"It keeps me up at night."

"I never knew Jesus was a real person. I always thought He was like Santa Claus."

"If Jesus came to earth once, do you suppose He'll come again?"

"I want to have the Holy Spirit but I don't know how to get it."

"I feel like I'm being sewn into this Book. Like I've always known it somehow but have never actually heard it."

"I'm being enlightened."

"What does it mean to follow Jesus?"

If someone were to invite me to a study of The Iliad I would certainly make comments that would seem foolish to scholars of classic literature. What we, as Christians, need to understand is that ignorance of classic literature may keep me out of the great conversation to some extent but it won't keep me out of heaven. Basic knowledge of the Bible is critical to understanding why we exist.

Our study group had a very sad but helpful object lesson on the parable of the sower when the woman who was most excited to begin the study told me just three weeks into it, "I won't be there. My heart's not in it any more." The night we initially read the parable in chapter four, I was met with seven blank stares. After this lady left the group, we revisited the parable and I'm sure I saw a few hovering light bulbs. It's always encouraging to see God's word come to life, even when it means disappointment on an earthly level.

Our family must have the best job in the world - not to convince people to become Christians but to share God's love and truth with them and let them decide what to do with it. If everyone in the United States already knew what the Bible said, as that good-intentioned mom clearly assumed, I would agree that we should move on to other unreached parts of the world, but it seems that is not the case. I'll let you judge the need for local missionaries by the feedback we've gotten in this study.

Skipping Stones

2011-05-31T07:12:00.000-04:00

At our last barbecue I invited seven women to read the book of Mark with me. Sunday afternoon was the third of those studies and, I must say, I am enjoying it. Questions and comments from people who have never read the Bible are very refreshing. The first two studies were at our house but we decided to have a barbecue after this week's class with all the families, so Terry and Maria graciously hosted the event. Their place is bigger and more conducive to large gatherings.

You've seen their patio before:

And you've seen the kids playing at their house:

But here's something you haven't seen:

This is a picture of the guys repairing a sprinkler pump that was damaged when the kids threw rocks into the pond behind Terry and Maria's house. Skipping stones is normally a great activity for kids but the water had receded and the pipes were unusually exposed. As a result, these guys spent a good portion of the evening appeasing an upset neighbor.

In a house church environment with this many children (seventeen at this event), there are relatively few gatherings that don't result in some material damage. At times it's been a challenge to stay focused on what's really at stake here - not just material goods but living, breathing people. In a world that largely values money and stuff above human beings, we strive to offer a refuge where God's priorities and values are paramount. In doing so, we hope to introduce our friends to what life is really about and to share it with them the way it has always been intended to be - in relationship with each other and with God.

Homeschool Convention

2011-05-31T06:11:00.000-04:00

John's mom has been visiting this week. We call her Colorado Grandma for obvious reasons but we wish we could call her Florida Grandma. She's a wonderful person to have around. My mom has been known, until recently, as Naked Grandma for not such obvious reasons. She likes to strip the babies down and let them romp without clothes. As Jonah has gotten older he has taken issue with her title and we agree it seems less appropriate for a nine year old, so now we call her Texas Grandma. She will be visiting soon too.

We haven't had a lot of time to entertain Colorado Grandma but we did take her to the beach:

We also treated her to a stay at the Gaylord Palms resort in Orlando:

This year's home school convention was there so we had a good excuse.

It was refreshing to be around hundreds, if not thousands, of people who have chosen to put their families first and really sacrifice to invest in our most precious resource - our children. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much." We recognize that teaching others about Jesus is critical but teaching our children is of utmost importance. We're very thankful to have the opportunities we have to spend time learning as a family and sharing what we have with others.

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T19:50:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day started out with getting up early to make breakfast for the church, prepare for the children's class, and clean the house. That may not sound like a good day to you but there was nothing I would rather have been doing. My entire family works together to invite people into our home on a weekly and sometimes daily basis to share what God has given us.

As a special treat, Maria taught the class that day. Jonah was a bit apprehensive because I'm the only teacher he has for every subject, but he later admitted she was "a really good teacher".

After having the pleasure of sitting in on the class that John teaches for the adults, I gave each child a rose to give to his/her mom. Ben misunderstood and gave his to this guy:

I took it back.Here are all the moms with their well-deserved roses and their beautiful kids:

And here's my favorite part of Mother's Day: