Where did the Deacons at Corinth Come From?

I was talking with a few of my pastor friends the other day and kiddingly told them that we are thinking of lowering the standards for the office of deacon at Faith Baptist Church. Did that get your attention or what? The thought has crossed my mind (again KIDDING). But you don’t know our neighborhood. Ozzie and Harriett don’t live there. If you don’t know who Ozzie and Harriett are go ask your parents (or grandparents)!

Anyway our place has people that might be their own grandparents! Could anything be more twisted in a relationship than that? Of course the scenario just mentioned is impossible but at times I wonder. As I also wonder what Paul did at Corinth the following passage usually comes to my mind. It is found in 1 Corinthians 6.9-11 where Paul writes:

9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

What on earth did he do for his first deacon board?? Any suggestions? Because I believe that we are planting the 2nd Baptist Church of Corinth!

 

 

Winning the Ugly Contest

Yesterday (Sunday) just as I was about to go to the pulpit to deliver the message and nearly simultaneously with my prayer for the Holy Spirit’s filling, I heard pastor Wendel (from Hope Baptist Church) giving my “introduction”. “Pastor Alexandre and I talked just before the service and we have decided…”

It was here that my mind began to race. Alexandre is in need of support for his ministry and so I expected to hear, “… I, as pastor of Hope Baptist Church have decided that we are going to begin monthly support of this ministry!”

It was less that a split second interval between the, “and…” and what followed but my mind is fertile and is always racing toward the nearest rabbit-trail. I was already rejoicing in God’s provision of a good  supporting church (one that he has let us be a part of for several years). I was thinking of how even more involved Hope would become because of the interest generated by the coming financial support.

I was getting very excited about all of the possibilities of joint ministry when I heard the rest of that sentence. “Pastor Alexandre and I talked just before the service and we have decided that pastor Mike is the ugliest among the three of us! Come ahead pastor and preach the Word to us!”

So, there I was, frozen in time, my mouth agape in my wizened puss, as I moved to take the pulpit. This was the worst introduction I had ever had, and I have had at least couple of doozies. Until this moment the worst had been the time where my friend said, “I discovered that if God can use Mike Jewell, He can use anyone…. Come on and preach to us brother!”

I’m so glad that God uses “ugly worthless” people! I need a shot of humility from time to time. I just wish that it came in smaller doses!

 

 

“They Just Killed a Guy in the Hood … should we change the location of this evenings activity?”

Well, that was the first time that I had ever been asked that one!

We were going to be having a special mid-week English class in the hood when Alexandre arrived at our gate with the above question. The temptation was to say, “OF COURSE WE SHOULD CHANGE THE LOCATION! We should CANCEL the ACTIVITY! We should run for cover! We should move to another part of TOWN! FORGET Faith Baptist Church!” But, strangely enough, that is not what I heard myself saying, “What do YOU think that we should do?” came from my lips as if I were thinking of going to the park for a jog or something. His suggestion was to have the kids come to our house. We would then return to the hood tomorrow to see how things were going (“because once someone is murdered all relatives and police go hunting for the killer with nothing but revenge on their mind” Or at least that is what Alexandre had told me).

So, off we went to, of all places, the HOOD to pick up the kids! As we arrived the hearse was just getting there to pick up the body, and the stories were flying. Some said they thought that the murder was a drug hit. Others said that it was a dispute over a woman. Whatever the case there was a man with four holes in his body in front of the grade school and one of the kids that came to our house for the party saw the whole thing! We didn’t find out until the activity was almost over that she had been there just as her class was being let out at the end of the day. She was within feet of “the hit”. She saw someone lose their life in a brutal and merciless way. AND SHE STILL CAME TO THE PARTY! I couldn’t believe it. And to top it off the party game we played was… “KILLER” (NOT my suggestion).

Dawn and I both shook our heads as we let the day’s happening sink in. We tried to imagine how our girls might have reacted if one sunny day a hit man had arrived at the Green’s house, blown Mr. Green into eternity and then calmly walked away! Would they have wanted to have gone to someone’s house to play “Clue”? I highly doubt it! We’re working in a brutal neighborhood. People are calloused. They need Salvation and we NEED your prayers! Please pray for opened doors and Salvation decisions… and safety!

Anyone AWANA be a Part?

 

Saturday was a bit much at Bible Club. We had 60 kids between the ages of 3 and 12 and all were really excited to be there. We run a “homemade” program somewhat similar to AWANA. We have three teams. We sing a couple of songs, we have verse time, story time and a game or two. It runs for about an hour and a half.

Saturday was more confusing than normal because we changed teams. You that have worked in AWANA can appreciate that commotion. To add a bit more “fun” to the afternoon, one of our teachers didn’t show up.

Now comes the fun part of the story. As I mentioned we had 60 kids. What I didn’t mention was the number of workers we had. Let me see… there was Dawn, Alexandre and … ME!!! OH MY! We were all smothered, grabbed, pushed, pinched, scratched and hugged by mobs of kids. To add a bit of flavor to the afternoon the temps were in the high 90 and the room at least 100 degrees. I kept pinching my self so I’d wake up!

Years ago when I was game director at FBC Lake Orion I would have nightmares about arriving with no games prepared. In that horrible vision I would speak but none of the kids would pay any attention and even the FIVE COUNT didn’t work! You know it’s a nightmare when the five count doesn’t work. I don’t know how many time I had that terrible dream! Saturday was that nightmare. The bad part is that I WAS awake and there IS no five count!

I told Alexandre to call me the next time we were going to be short a worker because I’d make it TWO! He laughed and said, “Welcome to my world!” He works in the school with these little urchins six days a week. So, let me extend the invitation if any of you “Experienced” AWANA workers would like to come and help us the door is wide open!

Would you pay $100 bucks for a car?

Our Missionaries

I remember back in 68 when I was about 15 and I was really hot after my first car! My friend Curt had a 1952 4-door Plymouth Cranbrook that had sat rotting beside his garage since about 1963. That thing was faded gray, had no brakes and no floor but MAN was it beautiful in my eyes. Dad towed it home for me and it sat in our garage for months while I worked on it. Now mind you, I had no job and was getting little for my “Allowance” each week, so my “working on it” consisted of mostly looking at it, sitting in it, smelling it and dreaming of one day driving it. To this day I can’t enter an old car and not think of that Plymouth!

A few weeks into my sojourn with the Cranbrook (sounds so romantic doesn’t it) Mr. Bill Ludwig offered his time, tools and a huge piece of sheet metal that he would forge into a “new” floor for the old girl. When I finally got to drive her down Glaspie Road I was as proud as punch until on my return home I drove her through the back of our garage (remember, it had no breaks)! That was virtually the end of my relationship with the old Cranbrook! I’d love to have her back today… nah.

However, my initial question was a serious one. Granted, $100 bucks wouldn’t buy much of a car anywhere in the States nor here in Brazil either (though back in 68 it would have bought nearly TEN Cranbrooks!). However, a lot of $100s together might be able to do just that.

Here’s the situation. If you would be willing to help there is a young couple who really needs a car. The couple is Mario and Juliana Botao. Let me tell you a little of their story.

Juliana was the first convert at Calvary Baptist Church here in Sorocaba. She came to one of our first meetings back in 1998 and came to know Christ awhile later. She has faced many struggles in her Christian life but praise the Lord she has persevered and won many victories. She went to and graduated from our Bible College in Curitiba back in 2006.

Juliana’s husband Mario also came to the Savior  as a result of the ministry of Calvary Baptist. He was saved in 2000. He is a strong leader and has also felt God’s call to full time service. He did part of his training in Curitiba and the rest in Sao Paulo.

Mario and Juliana began full time service in the small town of Diamantina, in Minas Gerais, Brazil just a little over a year ago. They went even though the had very little financial support. They have taken a small congregation and are preaching and teaching the Word of God and are seeing Him work. Do you realize that this couple is on the field as a result of your sending us years ago? They are 2 Timothy 2.2 people! And they need your help. They need a car for their ministry.

I know that times are really tough and that maybe this plea will go unheeded by many. But could it be that in just such times as these we will see God provide enough money to supply this seemingly impossible need to a couple who is doing His will here in Brazil? We’re praying for you to join the cause!

Hot Enough to Cook a Pizza!

It has been quite a hot week here in northern Sorocaba. The last few days have each been a 100 degrees or better and with air conditioning scarce one tries to lay low. We spent Monday in a mountain stream and so didn’t notice the heat too much. This morning at about 1:55, however, was a different story.

I was awakened from REM sleep by a dive bombing mosquito that sounded like an F16 on a suicide mission. As I staggered from the bedroom and came as close to my senses as I could at that hour I realized that I was dripping wet from head to toe! I’d been under the sheets. I guzzled a cup of water and tried to remember what planet I was on. I wondered if Al Gore might have a point with his goofy global warming idea (just kidding!).

But as the day wore on it has gotten hotter. Dawn’s oven thermometer is coming in handy to get a read on just how hot. I’m not kidding! Just yesterday that little gizmo climbed to 107!

Our house has a vaulted ceiling that is about 13 feet at the peak and are we glad for that! The sun broiling on the clay tile roof takes awhile to heat up which makes the mornings rather bearable. The afternoons and evenings the house begins to really get cozy as the warmth begins to accumulate and by bed time, OH BROTHER! The choice becomes, “Do I stay out from under the sheets and suffer being levitated by the F16s or do I go under and suffocate?

So, where does the pizza come into this article? Alexandre had a contest a few weeks ago and the winners got a pizza party. Since we are the new “kids” on the block our house was elected for the festivities. In just moments we will be invaded by six giggling, screaming and laughing little girls who will be dying to make (probably for the first time) pizza. It is really going to be fun!

So what that the oven is going to be at 350 for an hour. Who cares that the pizza will be really hot. We won’t even notice the heat… until about 1:55am that is.

Spirited Conversation with a Spiritist

Oh NO… I feel a trend coming on. Cutesy titles (if you remember my last one, congratulations).

Anyway, I went downtown yesterday afternoon to get a tiny screwdriver. I was in the middle of taking my Sony 150, 8 mp digital camera apart. I had preserved it’s life during my trip to the waterfalls. Well, almost preserved it anyway. During my last half hour there I had stuck it in my shorts pocket. That was just before I stepped into a BIG hole in the riverbed and soaked that very same pocket!

Anyway as I was doing open heart surgery on my Sony I came to a minuscule screw that I thought needed to be remove. It was that tiny tool that lead me to an hour long talk with a Spiritist. This particular Spiritist is my coworker’s (Alexandre) father who happens to own a tool store in town.

Yesterday was a blistering 107 and as I made the 20 minute trip downtown I wondered if I wouldn’t melt before I found my “Barbie” screwdriver. On a lark I thought that I would visit Alexandre’s dad’s store. As we small talked for a few minutes the first Narnia movie came into the conversation. My friend thought that it was interesting how that Asland had to die to pay the witch’s ransom. It was a perfect lead-in to the Gospel, so I let him have it both barrels! It was my first time sharing with him.

Turns out that he has heard it ALL before and cares nothing whatsoever for the Gospel, the Bible, Jehovah or church. As he rambled on I learned some very interesting facts about the United States: We have alien remains at Area 54 (like that is a new idea). We can’t return to the moon because we were warned NOT to come back by it’s inhabitants! We actually have communicated with extra terrestrials (through, of all mediators, the Roman Catholic Church).

His was, what seemed to me, a twisted rambling of oddities that left me wondering how on earth he makes sense of his “Religious” views. We both stepped on each other’s toes pretty hard for the next 50 minutes. One of my consolations was that the Holy Spirit, though He has no toes, can cause much more discomfort in other’s spiritual toes than I can. Both my friend (whose name escapes me) and Martins the JW need desperate help that only the Holy Spirit of the Living God can deliver.

It was later that evening that Alexandre shared his frustration about his father with me. He told me that there was a point in his seminary training that he told God, “If killing me will help my parents come to You, I am willing for that to happen!” Please pray for the miracle of salvation in both Ale’s dad and his mom’s lives. Thanks.

A Lively Day of the Dead!

November 2nd in Brazil is a big day. It is the Day of the Dead. Not to be confused with that old B movie where one sees those zombie people walking out of the cemetery. It is a day where the nation shuts down to “honor” and remember their loved one who have gone on into eternity before them. I got the following article from Wikipedia:

“The Day of the Dead … is a holiday celebrated in Mexico, [Brazil] and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st, and November 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls’ Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.”

Our day was NOT spent at the cemetary but in a lovely flowing stream about two hours south of Sorocaba in the small city of Tapiari. We had eight of our teens and one mom, Marcia, who spent the day in the lovely, crystal, cool water.

I thought that some of the stuff that we did was going to help us to be among the “honored” in NEXT years November 2 celebration. There were a few times that I thought that we were going to have to return home with the, “We have some good news and some bad news… what do you want first?” scenario. But praise our graceful Heavenly Father we were very protected all day long.

It was such a lovely day and we had such fun that it was difficult to imagine that there were actually many people who spent all or part of their day praying for their dearly departed loved ones. We were celebrating life and the just discovered eternal life of some of our newer teens. In fact just yesterday after church, Alexandre, Dawn and I spent an hour with a couple of the teens parents assuring them that we would be very careful with their young people as we spent the day with them. Neither of those parents are saved and we are praying that our little excursion today will help these precious parents to see their need for the Living Water of Jesus Christ.