Today’s picture of the day is from the city of Puebla, but it could have been taken in many cities and towns in Mexico.

Shari, Nathanael and I went to Puebla to take Shari to the doctor and take care of some other errands.  The trip went well for the most part, although we were pretty exhausted by the time we got home!

Anyway, the picture is of a roadside juice stand.  Freshly squeezed juice is a joy of Mexico that I don’t take advantage of nearly as much as I should.  But there are some wonderful stands like this, and when you get into a restaurant you can find some fancier mixes – pineapple, orange, papaya, mango, nopal (cactus), banana – and on and on.  What can I say?  Sweeeeeet!

We’re a part of many different teams.  One of these is called a "T2" or Transformation Team.  It’s made up of missionaries with our same organization in the area (in our case Mexico City and Puebla).

We don’t all work directly together (although some of us do), but we come together to encourage, pray for, and support one another.  We’re from 4 different countries, but we all love the Lord and Mexico – and we’re all citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20-21).

And today I finally got a picture!  All right, I remembered at the last minute when everyone was rushing out the door – but we did get a picture!  Here it is…

As many of you know, the church plant in Jesús María (Iglesia Bíblica Sendero de Vida Jesús María) grew out of the small house we were renting long ago.  Move to another house?  Well, they’re all small – no help there.

So we temporarily moved to a studio above some stores just for Sunday mornings.  We rent it just for Sunday mornings, and every Sunday we move instruments, stools, sound equipment, etc, into the building, up the narrow winding stairs, around the corner, through the hall and into the room.

Good exercise, but not great for the equipment, or for the church budget.  Also rather time-consuming.

Please pray with us that we can find a building – or a lot to build on – that can be used for ministry.

Here in Mexico, people love to get together and invite their friends and family.  Events like getting together to worship on Sunday are a blessing.

But in these housing developments, everything is small.  We’re praying for space.

The church family has been raising funds little by little.  You can help too, if you like – in Canada go to http://bit.ly/donatecanada and give to Project #63604, or for US funds go to http://bit.ly/donateusa and again give to Project #63604.

So here’s the building we’re in in the mean time.  It’s the second floor, behind the arched windows.  Normally it’s used for Zumba classes.

During the morning service on Sunday, all three store fronts are open below doing a booming business (this was taken before the service, when we were starting to unload instruments).  I wonder what they think of our worship above their heads?

I’m attempting to take and post 30 pictures in 30 days.  I believe the 30 days will be ending this week sometime…

Today we went to the grand opening of the new coffee shop, an outreach of the community centre.  There wasn’t a spectacular turnout, but enough people to make it fun.

You can see in the picture below how it was today, more or less.  There were a two or three more tables outside that you can’t see.

So far it’s been a good place to come and sip tea (sorry, no coffee for me…) and talk to people.

It’s actually been interesting to hear people’s reactions anew as activities have started up again at the community centre – and of course the café is new.  I think some people kind of expect us to be here to make a bunch of money and take it out of the country.  When they find out that most of the classes are free – and that the coffee shop… well, it may or may not break even – they have a little trouble figuring it out.

One man I talked to the other night said it was great to have this buena onda in the community – meaning like a good atmosphere – good feelings – in a place where there is so much bad feeling spread around.

So here’s hoping we can continue to spread buena onda in Jesus’ Name – helping the community and sharing His love.  Even with coffee.  Or maybe tea.

Usually I don’t post about things like this, but this is something that has caught my attention for a number of reasons – which I will explain in a moment.  But first a little background.

The Elephant Room?

The Elephant Room is a conference brought about in the USA by Pastor James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel.  Two of these conferences have taken place so far.  This is how the Elephant Room (hereafter ER) is described on the official website:

The Elephant Room features blunt conversations between seven influential pastors who take differing approaches to ministry.  No keynotes.  No canned messages.  These are "the conversations you never thought you’d hear."  All conversations are moderated by James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church

The page goes on to explain that both "fidelity and fruitfulness" are important – fidelity to "the biblical Gospel, right doctrine and practice" but also relationships.  Fruitfulness I believe refers to fruitful ministry – results.

Both conferences generated a lot of discussion, but ER2 was in a class of its own.

Most of the discussion has been about a conversation between Mark Driscoll and T.D. Jakes.

About T.D. Jakes

Jakes is a very well known pastor in the USA.  He was on the cover of TIME Magazine in 2001, with the caption Is this man the next Billy Graham?

But Jakes has been generating a lot of controversy long before 2001, as people have expressed concern about his "prosperity gospel" teaching and his modalist views.

This post isn’t actually about that specifically, but you need the background to understand the rest.  Modalism is a view of God that is not the orthodox historic view of the Trinity.  The idea usually is that God is not eternally co-existant as three persons, but that he manifests himself as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  This is a very important distinction – but that’s a discussion for another post!

Driscoll and Jakes had their conversation at ER2, and just what Jakes said and what he meant are the eye of the storm.

What did he really say?

Some evangelical leaders basically said,"Great!  Jakes is becoming orthodox!  He has finally accepted the biblical view of the Trinity!  Let’s encourage the man for every small step he takes!"

Others said,"Wait a minute – he did nothing of the sort.  He just said what he has said for years.  And by the way – why didn’t anyone mention the fact that he’s a prosperity gospel preacher?  Shouldn’t that be part of our ‘blunt’ conversation?"

Why I started listening…

So why has this caught my attention so far?  Well, I’ve known a little about T.D. Jakes for many years.  Of course, he’s a very public figure.  So I’m interested in his views.

I’m also interested in James MacDonald.  MacDonald is a Canadian in the USA – interesting to me, since I work with some Americans and have a lot of American friends.  I also have friends that have recommended MacDonald’s ministry to me (and this is not intended as a criticism of MacDonald’s ministry).

So when the two came together, it doubly got my attention.  But then came the conversation I actually want to talk about.

Right after ER2, when there was already quite a bit of controversy, MacDonald filmed a conversation with three pastors who had been at the conference.  These happened to be African American pastors – or [insert politically correct term here] pastors.  I wouldn’t even mention that, but as you’ll see it’s important.

So MacDonald got these pastors together to comment on the conference.  On the purpose of ER2, he said "We don’t know people until we talk to them".

What followed was basically a defence of ER2 – often a defence against the criticisms.

You can watch these post-ER2 interviews online – the first one here, and the second part here.  The first part is what I’ll be mainly talking about.

Post ER2 Defence

A couple of exchanges very much concern me.  Let me first say that this is not a criticism in general of the ministry of any of these men – who were James MacDonald, Bryan Loritts, Charles Jenkins, and Eric Mason.  However, in this particular interview, I wonder if they realize how they’re coming across…

Here’s what Bryan Loritts had to say about the concerns that had been expressed about the interview with Jakes:

Some of the strongest reactions of people were African Americans in the blogosphere.  Um – and I’ll just go ahead and say it – who strike me as wanting so bad to be in the white theological world … to take a little bit of a tangent here … and I’ll get back … the loudest voices in the conservative evangelical world in my estimation right now are your older white Reformed voices.  And so that implicitly sends the message that mature Christianity in the conservative evangelical world is older white.  And you’ve got some African Americans who so idolize that – what some people would call white idolization – that they then feel as if they’ve got to be the voice for black culture to speak against people like T.D.Jakes.  So what happens is – you kind of prop them up.  When the truth of the matter is the term black is very complex.

Now we have some interesting observations here.  But here’s the problem.  I didn’t hear these men addressing the actual issues that had been brought up (issues I’m not getting into in this post – it’s long enough as it is!  But they are important issues.).

Instead, Loritts is talking about the motivations of those who are expressing concerns.

He starts with some statements.  Some of the strongest reactions were from African American bloggers.  Then he says that some of the loudest voices in one area of evangelical Christianity today are older white and reformed.  So that sends a bad message, apparently.

First, I suppose it depends on who you listen to.  Christianity is, and has been for a long time – a very global thing.  Today it’s more global than ever.

But to continue… apparently these African Americans who speak out against Jakes are doing it because they want to fit in with those older white reformed folk.

So what’s the message so far?  Please, don’t express concerns about Jakes if you are:

• older
• white
• reformed
• an African American who agrees with Mr. older-white-reformed

Is this sounding a bit strange to you?

Now another reason this conversation interested me is because I’m dealing with different cultures every day.  I work with Americans, and I live in Mexico.

Admittedly, I’m not an expert in the whole US culture (to put it mildly).  And in other parts of these videos, the men do bring up valid points.  There are cultural issues at stake here.  We can’t quickly judge someone of another culture (ie Jakes).  It takes time to really listen and understand.

But when we start silencing people because of their age – their race – their doctrinal views – and perhaps most dangerous of all, their motivations …. that’s starting down a whole new road.  And it takes us a long way from MacDonald’s stated purpose of ER2 – We don’t know people until we talk to them.

They also talked about the importance of relationship.  Naturally, I haven’t read everything – in fact I’ve read very little – that people have said and written on either side of this issue.  But what I’ve heard from the let’s not be so quick to call Jakes orthodox camp has been very respectful.  It’s been seeking to understand the man.  And in many cases it has been concern for Jakes as much as anything else.

Now on to our second exchange, between MacDonald and Eric Mason.

Mason:  This whole thing is real complex and I’ve been trying to wade through it.  Um …Especially after you and I talked and I kind of just read some of the things – I hate blogs but -
MacDonald:  Yeah
Mason:  But I read ‘em…
MacDonald:  Amen
Mason:  …only when they’re necessary
MacDonald:  Right.

So now we can add someone to the list of people not to listen to – and this was kind of insinuated by Loritts – bloggers.

Those evil tinkers bloggers

That’s right – the guy sitting in his mom’s basement, sipping Coke (or maybe something bad – like a Pepsi) and taking pot-shots at people from behind the safety of a keyboard.  You gotta hate those bloggers.

I understand that blogs have their place – since anyone can blog, blog posts go from the sublime to the ridiculous.  I have a certain respect – I think healthy respect – for pastors and others in the thick of ministry, or with a great deal of experience, or those who have taken the time to carefully study an issue.

I would have thought that MacDonald was kind of joking here – but he looked like he was seriously "Amening" Mason’s statement about hating blogs  Really?  Hating blogs is now a virtue?

I just finished reminding the believers here in Ixtapaluca that we are all a part of the royal priesthood.  We are all responsible to study and share God’s Word.  We are all responsible to share Christ’s love, and stand up for the truth.

It concerns me when, instead of addressing the issues, we start talking about who can and can’t be a part of the wider conversation.

You may remember that I recently read a biography of John Bunyan (author of The Pilgrim’s Progress).  You may know that he was a pastor and a preacher, and that he spent most of the prime years of his life in prison.

You may not know that he was a tinker, someone who mended old pots and similar objects.

One of the main reasons (perhaps excuses) that he was thrown into prison was because he was preaching without a license.  In other words, he was just a tinker – and a tinker had no right to speak on spiritual matters.

I’ll bet he would have blogged if he was alive today – he wrote a lot.  They might have said, he was just a blogger – and a blogger had no right to speak on spiritual matters.

I’m all for treating people with respect – listening to what they have to say – not making snap judgements.  But when we start excluding people from speaking because of race, age, denomination, and the way they communicate – are we really practising what we preach?

Incidentally, I follow James MacDonald’s blog – that’s where I found these interviews.

Sure, there are times when people who we don’t know are spouting things off online (or off line) that it’s just better to ignore.  But it might be because of their lack of respectful language (and they don’t seem open to talking), or because we have no relationship with them (and obviously can’t answer every error online) – but surely we shouldn’t ignore them because of race or the type of software they prefer.

I hope these men did not intend to come across the way they did.  But sadly the attitude that certain people should not be allowed to speak at all is common – and won’t be going away any time soon.  I just hope that attitude isn’t becoming common in the Church.

This metal monument has become a somewhat of a symbol of Ixtapaluca.  But what is it?

After asking a few people – who weren’t sure – I finally went to see if there was some kind of plaque explaining what it’s all about.  But alas – the mystery remains.  No plaque.

But I’m hoping that someone will read this and finally explain it to me!

Today this taco stand that you see was set up by the monument.  Apparently their specialties are tacos de cabeza (head tacos (usually cow, sometimes sheep) – muscles of the head or other parts such as the brains (sesos) or lips (trompa) or cheeks (cachete) or tongue (lengua)) and tacos de burria (specially spiced tacos often of goat or mutton).  They also serve mixed tacos (surtida), which, I believe, include various parts of the pig.  Maybe you don’t want to know.

Click on the image to see higher resolution versions.

• From last year: 2nd of February in Mexico – what's it all about? http://t.co/azkFvOiH #
• De vuelta desde el centro cultural y el café. El café tiene un buen chai. ☕ Back from the cultural centre and cafe. The café has good chai. #
• Groundhog day in Canada – it's a TIE! http://t.co/lWWZKQxB #
• Missionary couple in Mexico murdered during home robbery just south of Monterrey. http://t.co/LE2FYff7 #
• Finally gave in and put on a warm jacket over my sweater. In the house. It's just ccccold. #
• Drought and cold bring food crisis to Mexico: http://t.co/eBDcB5TA #
• Win a copy of The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer! http://t.co/pM87iuUa via @PunchTab #
• When words just aren't needed — http://t.co/KBiK7zAC #
• What in the world is an "LP"??? http://t.co/PlDF5GRz #

In today’s picture you can see tigers going down the street, apparently heading to church (see the "IGLESIA" (CHURCH) sign behind them).  I was wondering if they were really stepping up persecution in Ixtapaluca – are these tigers on their way to eat the Christians?

No, they weren’t going to eat Christians or to hear a sermon – they were just going down the road promoting a local circus that has pitched tents no far from where we live.  They were followed by camels and other critters.

Shari just asked what was to prevent someone from sticking their hand in to pet the lovely tigers.  Well… apparently… nothing.  But who would do such a thing?

Today I had to do some grocery shopping.  For some inexplicable reason I ended up at WalMart.  Not usually my first choice, but today it worked all right for my picture of the day.

WalMarts here look a lot like WalMarts in Canada and the USA.  But there are occasional surprises.

One of the biggest differences – no, seriously – one of the biggest differences is the vast selection of … yogourt drinks.

Yes, cross the border into the USA, and the yogourt drink isle just disappears.  But here in Mexico, we have a fabulous selection.  That’s right, most of what you see in the picture on the right side are yogourt drinks (with a few normal yogourts thrown in).  A marvellous selection of flavours (my recent favourite is white tea & cranberry).

Remember, the prices are in pesos.  So at today’s exchange I’m seeing prices between CA$0.35 and CA$55 per drink.  Great prices, great for your gut, and great for your taste buds.  Come to Mexico and try real Mexican food – drinkable yogourt.

This is another photo for my 30-photos-in-30-days…

Well, for me it was mostly a day of helping kids with homework and projects and making sure they were fed.  However, they let me out to go to Bible study tonight (Hannah and I, actually – the kids have their own study at the same time), which was, appropriately, part of our "School for Parents" series.

Actually, it was exam night – and so José was being the mean taskmaster throwing out questions and expecting us to know the answers!

Which we did, of course.

So, for our picture of the day, here is José getting ready to give us the next challenging question.  (I also see in the background that we have a broken window in the rented house we study in – no wonder it was so cold in there!)