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Our city park, part of it
Since I have at least one friend who hangs out here, I thought I’d mention it on TFR. See this short slideshow of some important moments for us in 2012. There were obviously other moments as well, but I didn’t have the pics or couldn’t find them or my old-age memory failed me. It was a momentous and memorable year.
On occasion we bump into people we know at big airports like DFW, as we did today. Barbara Leite and her two girls were traveling to visit in-laws in Brazil, were on the same plane as we were. Barbara is the daughter of veteran missionaries Bryan and Jacqueline Bost. There’s just something warm and pleasant about seeing familiar faces in places like airports, bumping into friends along your journey.
• The first time that happened to me, as I recall, was in 1978 or ’79. I was returning to the US from a campaign in Brazil, my first or second there (here), I’m not sure, but I think it was the second. Howard Norton and I wound up on the same plane and were able to sit together. That visit was important for me as he encouraged me to pursue a master’s degree and get some experience before moving to the mission field.
• I took Howard’s advice. It was sound counsel for me.
• Our plane last night hit an air pocket and dropped suddenly. A young man was making his way down the aisle, from the bathroom perhaps, when it happened. After the drop, he ran, literally, to his seat. The turbulence set the whole plane a-chatter. But before and after that one drop, the flight was smooth.
• That happened, too, on my very first international flight, from JFK in New York to London, in 1976, when the A Cappella Singers of FHU headed to Europe for a campaign and tour. It was a prolonged drop, frightening. I seem to remember one or more persons bumping their heads on the ceiling. Right off, I was convinced of the need to remain belted in when seated.
• On the domestic leg from Nashville to DFW, I can’t but overhear a conversation directly behind me between an older gentleman and a woman. He asks what her husband does for a living. Cost accounting, I think, was the answer. He asked her what that was. She didn’t know. I thought that was sad, that a wife didn’t know what her husband did to provide her and her children a living.
• I’m grateful to God and thankful to my wife that she participates in what I do.
• I often complain of Brazilian red tape, so I feel obligated to mention one less document needed. In the São Paulo airport this morning, I asked about the paper to fill out for customs. I was told that, if one had nothing to declare, no paper was necessary. You just walk right through. (Of course, an official sits watching passengers leave and can pull anyone over to examine bags.) Now that’s progress!
I’m thankful for the work you and your wife and family are doing and how you’ve continued it in the same way Paul did in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10.
Thanks, John. We certainly don’t come close to saint Paul’s knees, but we’re glad to do our little bit in the kingdom, thankful the Lord makes room for little folk like us.
April Fool’s Day has been picked up in Brazil as Liar’s Day, apparently because to fool someone you have to lie to them. One brother wrote that he didn’t know the origin of Liar’s Day, but he did know who the Father of Lies was, so he wasn’t celebrating the day. Is he taking the idea of pranks too seriously? Or are we not serious enough?
• In “Two Days in One,” Carl Hanson does a take-off about it being April Fool’s Day and Palm Sunday on the same date.
• An atheist—many have made April 1st into the atheist’s day—may be a fool, but he’s not stupid. Richard Dawkins knows there can be no peace between atheism and Christianity. So a few days ago, just before that special day some assign to him, he told 20,000 people in Washington to “ridicule and show contempt” for religious people and their practices. Maybe Christians might want to give a blessing rather than a curse in return. Didn’t Peter say as much?
• Carl, at link above, says Fool’s Day spawned from the change to the Gregorian Calendar. Time and foolishness seem to be related, if the recent hoopla about the Mayan calendar and the end of time are any indication.
• As has been mentioned across the web, the real fool’s day is the day of judgment, for those who failed to prepare. Those who live as if they have all the time in the world are the greatest fools of all. And we do not laugh at them, but cry over their souls and plead with them to put oil in their lamps.
From today’s QBT: God has room for all. He wants all to enter. “Go out … and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled.” Lk 14.23 NET
Luke 14 is today’s Bible reading from the New Testament plan, one chapter per weekday.
See also United Prayer today. And how about the story and some photos of yesterday’s baptisms here in SJCampos? God is good.
May your day be blessed.
Praise God for his powerful gospel!
In the past months quite a few missionaries, former missionaries and Brazilian Christians have passed away among the first generation of saints in the country. Another entered eternity yesterday. It’s sobering to realize that the torch has passed. The responsibility is great. The pressures grow by the day to abandon the good news they brought. Who will stay the course?
• Rick Kelley, Michael Carter, and I have been posting some poetry lately on the Christian Poets website. Check it out and join up. If you’re interested in writing, let me know below, and I’ll add you to the writing side of the group. It’s as easy as sending an email.
• If you’re not a Twitter fan, you still have several options to get Quick Bible Truths by email, RSS, or on Facebook. The new site is functioning marvelously. Today, a new blurb about the service got aired: “Quick Bible Truths shares the powerful reality of God in short bursts.” A good description, that.
The Missus and I visited a young couple tonight, well versed in Scripture, who visited the church last Sunday. They found us through our congregational website. Providence, they said. They’ve been dissatisfied with the churches where they’ve been. We’re to start studying with them Saturday. Pray they may be receptive to the Word. Very likeable family, two children.
May the Lord help us to connect with others like them as well, who search for truth in the midst of so much religious nonsense.
I looked at your website and saw that was an OOPS! Fortunately, google translated it in English for me. So the OOPS turned into something good.
I hope you can make heads or tails of Google’s translation. :)
The photos are from last Sunday and today. Click to see them in larger size.
Partial view of Pimentas congregation where we went Sunday, Jan. 29, where I preached and taught on “How to Be Happy.” The Maiden and The Missus are singing in the foreground.
Yours Truly speaking to the Pimentas congregation.
Y.T. preaching in the Pimentas congregation.
Some of the Christians of the Taubaté congregation that we work with on Sunday afternoons.
Randal, the pictures are great, but what’s with the beard? Trying to look more stately, are we? :)
Thanks, Mike. Shaver’s laziness. Of course, I can always use help to look more serious.
LOL!
Must be a summer thing, Mike.
Summer’s the more reason to keep it off. Too hot! Was cool here until this past week, now the temps are making up for it.
More than likely, John!
A Christian couple is coming tomorrow to talk with the SJCampos and Taubate churches about support, so they can establish a new congregation in a capital city in the north of Brazil that has no faithful message there. I find it exciting. But if you think it’s hard for missionaries in the US to find funds, try raising support among churches that are relatively small and new themselves, and often limited in means.
• Anybody got a clear, positive article on Proverbs 31, especially verse 10, on the worth of the noble wife? No more than 600 to 700 words max. And applicable to other cultures, easy to translate. (Meaning no heavy American references or illustrations.) I need it for a magazine theme on the worth of man. Yesterday. UPDATE: The Maiden just accepted the task of writing the article. Thanks anyway!
• If I don’t choose your suggestion, it won’t mean it’s not good, only that it won’t fit our specific needs, either in terms of space, approach, or context.
• The Missus and I are on the board of a children’s home here, where we provide mainly moral support and serve as contact for stateside supporters, of which there are a few. As we try to establish our “brand,” as the marketers call it, in the US, I was slow to figure out that nobody will remember “Lar Cristão Children’s Home.” So we’re rebranding it as Brazil Kids. As soon as the domain is done propagating, or whatever it does (and it’s taking a while to do it), we’ll have the new website up at BrazilKids.net. UPDATE: Now working.
• Weylan was kind enough to publish a little piece of mine, “For Man God Made.” I’m still owing him a longish article that I’ve entitled “The Enduring Principles of the Limited Commission.” Be sure to also check out his recent article on “What the Bible Says About Animals.” Very good, so good in fact that, since it fits somewhat the theme of our Brazilian mag on man’s worth, I’m translating it into Portuguese. (Lessee, did I ask his permission yet? Weylan?) Check out the other good writers there also, such as our own John H. and Ron T.
• Reckon we’re as prepared for the invasion of false teachings in our congregations as this man was for the burglars who broke a back window and entered his home? Seems like some brethren are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. By the time they wake up and decide to see what’s in front of them, it will be too late. All the valuable souls will have been stolen.
My first article in Portuguese! Please, Randal, do not ask me to proof it.
Aw, phooey, I was about to email it to you to check it over.
All quiet in the biggest mall in town today. The Maiden and I were in and out in a jiffy. But I still got a rash from going in the mall. Here, no Thanksgiving Day (there is, but nobody knows it), and no Black Friday. Living life normally is the way. Now, waiting on The Missus to get back from her doctor’s appointment in Sao Paulo.
You mean people don’t camp outside the malls days in advance waiting to grab all of those “bargains?” LOL!
Not here, they don’t. But before many days the malls and downtown will be filled to the brim with shoppers. Christmas chaos!
Don’t forget pepper spray Mike!
Yes, we’ve certainly got have that! LOL!
Certainly hope everything went well with the wife, Randal.
Thank you, John, it was another battery of questions. Next, some weeks away yet, another battery of tests at that specialty hospital. Then maybe a diagnosis and treatment.
The Baker Heights church in Abilene TX has been a mainstay in our work over the past 27 years.
http://2.ly/p9an
Please visit the GoSpeak page and raise up a prayer of thanksgiving for this fine congregation.
I’ve mentioned before that the World Convention, an ecumenical movement involving Disciples of Christ, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, and progressives in the Lord’s body, is coming to Brazil next year. Some congregations here are already promoting it. Its goal is to lay aside doctrine as a barrier to fellowship and to interface with the wider religious scene in Christendom.
Let no one say they did it from ignorance. But many churches, even supposedly faithful ones, are participating in efforts with progressives here. They think they can do it and still remain pure. “Take what is good, and spit out the bones,” one Brazilian elder told me, who sought me out to persuade me to participate in and approve of the Brazilian version of ACU’s ElderLink. They brought down an evangelical to speak for that.
The Brazilian ethos is to avoid conflict. One of our challenges is to teach that one cannot be a Christian and approve of everyone’s behavior, not even in the church. Many want to continue fellowship with those who bring another teaching, and think that they won’t be affected, nor will such teaching spread. Such people are ignoring clear instructions from God.
It pains me to see, and I agonize over how much and how far to speak. I certainly teach these things in the congregations where I work and in the venues where I am invited to speak. This issue affects so many even there in the U.S., some of the most conservative supporting churches and most respected brethren are turning a blind eye to it. Let us pray that the Lord may preserve his people, for the road will be long and hard.
My wife grew up a missionary’s child, so we especially appreciate what you’re talking about & how rampant it sometimes is in the mission field. God bless you for taking a biblical stand & refusing to compromise. It’s not always easy, for sure, but doing what’s right rarely is.
Thanks, Chad, it is a challenge. You might like this little poem I just wrote, posted to my personal site:
Saturday, we’ll receive two brothers from the Madison AL church as they come to see what we’re up to and how we live, as well as explore future ministry possibilities. Pray for their safe trip and for a good visit, which we’re looking forward to. One of them we knew somewhat in college, but not well, so we’re looking forward to getting to know him better, and meet the other brother.
• They’ll go on from here to Peru, where the congregation is involved. They fly back to the US on Sept. 11, the ten-year anniversary of 9/11.
• Some conservative Lutherans are disavowing denominationalism. They tout their creeds as the only right ones. Their Missouri synod, along with a few other, er, religious groups, “holds the pure confession.” No discussion of such an obviously sectarian name. Those who hold to the restoration of the New Testament church will find it a strange discussion.
• Some congregations have a “What to expect” page on their websites, and I like that. Some time ago, I put something similar up on ours, for English-speaking visitors, called “Tips.” One tip reads thus, “The sermon does not include a hymn of invitation. We prefer to teach individually so that people may come to a personal decision not swayed by the emotion of the moment.”
• In our city, two thousands trees are to be cut down after being evaluated as a threat in some way (Portuguese-language news link). A report says the yearly average is one thousand. But it states that another 48 thousand are condemned because of disease or inadequate placement. Here’s a sad truth: The city takes better care of its trees than its population. Sign of the eco-nut times.
• In our region of the state, the two major bus companies, owned by the same folk, have 427 buses on 120 routes, that serve 50 cities (another Portuguese-language link). They provide a good service for the price, on time, fairly recent buses, usually clean. The US needs such service, and one columnist says some independent lines are beginning to pop up there (remember: (I’m outside the US, so it’s there for me). Take a look at those, they seem to be a decent option.
• For our guests Saturday, no buses, only personal chauffering. We will have for them a churrasco, Brazilian-style BBQ along with a number of saints from both congregations here. I’m not having to lift a finger, except to pop some meat in my mouth. Next week, I’ll double up on the veggies. Y’all come!
When I tweeted the following, David K. thought it would preach: “I just ate the last chocolate-covered almond without knowing it was the last one. So sad, because I could have enjoyed it even more.” Can you find a sermon in there?
• The latest foreign import inaugurates today in SJCampos: Outback restaurant, in the Center Vale Mall. Probably going to be pricey. So we’ll wait to let them work out all the opening-night kinks. Where did we find out about it? Facebook.
• The new Forthright Magazine will be rolled out shortly, Lord permitting. It’s taking shape nicely, after some intense work. Just don’t look too far back in time. If you want to take a pre-launch peek and give us feedback as a beta tester (I said that to make it sound swuft), zip me off an email, if you have my address, or through my contact page, if you don’t.
• Our home had guests over the weekend, good friends from our former city. They invited themselves over — good friends can do that — but I exacted my price: his teaching Saturday at our monthly advanced Bible study, for three hours, and preaching on Sunday. I drive hard bargains, yes?
• The Missus slaved in the kitchen over the weekend. Splendid meals. So I offered to take her out last night. She wanted to wait until today. Now she wants to just order in some pizza, from the delivery place just around the corner, rather than get out. I call everyone as my witness that I was playing the good hubby. Should I tell her three strikes and she’s out?
Okay, so I’m late reading this one, but I love your random update posts, and this one is a fav. And, only husbands get strikes, not wives, silly.
Thanks, brother! Very true, you’re wise. Friday night I took her to a new upscale burger restaurant. We liked it pretty well. Then to the best cake and pie place in town. So she didn’t strike out.
• Was a chilly 41ºF this morning when I got up. Makes it hard to get out of bed, when you have no indoor heating. Once I got moving, though, the devotionals and other morning tasks got checked off in quick order.
• The news is out: our family will be in the U.S. July 26-Aug. 9 for family time. My dad will turn 80, the grandkid, 1. My mom’s birthday is in that time slot as well. I’d thought of doing an afternoon seminar from my “The Jesus We All Need” material on that last Saturday somewhere around the old hometown in honor of my dad, but that may be hard to fit in.
• Here’s an idea for you: At Taubate, we’re putting a copy of our Bible correspondence course in the hands of every saint, every Sunday, to be shared during the following week.
• I started this post this morning. It’s been one of those days. Please say a prayer for me. After the morning tasks, it went downhill from there.
• In the morning (Wed.), catch the story on BrotherhoodNews.com about a campaign in the largest “neighborbood” (bairro) in Latin America. Wanna take a guess as to how many people live in that government housing project? I gave a seminar there a couple three years ago.
Just listened to the MinistryGeek podcast about preachers and blogging, as another way of speaking the gospel, among other things. Always something of interest on this Wednesday audio broadcast. I enjoy catching it live, when I can, which allows participation in the chat room. Michael Hite, of Bear Valley Institute, Dale Jenkins, preacher at Spring Hill, Tenn., and Caleb O’Hara, preacher in Calif., are the hosts. The podcast is a part of The Equip Network.
• Catch the great story on BrotherhoodNews.com by Roy Davison about the new congregation established in Ireland … from Belgium. Always inspiring to see how efforts in print and on the Internet contribute to the progress of the gospel.
• Did I mention the note about the Brazil Supreme Court applying marriage rules to homosexuals? It represents a potential threat to religious liberty. From this foreigner’s perch, looks like judicial activism. Pray this ruling somehow gets overturned, though that’s not likely to happen.
Isn’t it remarkable how technology brings folk together, so that you, in Brazil, can participate with a live program consisting of preachers in three U.S. states, as though they were in the same room, and a Christian in Belgium can help convert an Irishman, who then begins a new congregation, and we read of it in an online “paper” produced by saints on different continents.
Absolutely amazing. Whoever could have predicted something like this 50 years ago?
A good man died today. Glenn Looper worked 50 years in Brazil. A sterling example of dedication, he gave his life to the Lord. I had little contact with him, but his many years of service stand as a challenge to us all.
His works do follow him (Revelation 14:13)
Amen, most certainly.
In July we hope to crank back up our Portuguese-language magazine, which, being translated, is named “Edification.” There are a lot of details to be worked out, since two groups in different states will be helping out with subscriptions and possibly even the printing of the magazine.
I ask your prayers that we can iron out these details and get off to a great start to publishing what is at the moment the only general-interest magazine for Biblical and spiritual subjects among our brethren in Brazil.
You have the prayers of those in Costa Rica!
From Joseph McKinney Jr. in João Pessoa, Brazil:
We are taking our dear sister Suely to Recife today to bury her son. He was murdered. She is torn up, even though her family only told her that he had a motorcycle accident and was in serious condition in the hospital. Dad and Mom are going to tell her the truth before our trip. This will be the worst day of her life. She really needs your prayers!
UPDATE: Joseph sent this additional information to me:
His name was Anderson Batista, and we knew him since he was a little kid. His mother was one of the first converts in Recife. He strayed, spent some time in jail, but looked like he was trying to get his life right: visiting the church again, working and taking care of his family. It looks like he got in a fight at a soccer game, and the person came later to his work and shot him in front of his wife.
The news report he sent me a link to said he was 33.
After days of concern for his well-being and not hearing many facts about the helicopter accident Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, it was a moving moment to hear our brother Ricardo preach this afternoon about his experience as the copter pilot and how life has become so much more precious to him. His story is up on BNc.
People have asked us about our situation here, what with all the rain and mudslides. Here’s my fuller reply. Short answer: we’re inconvenienced, is all, but OK.
Our American visitor Wednesday night, after our Bible reading, tried a popular snack made from manioc flour, biscoito de povilho. “Very, very crunchy,” he said, not very, very impressed. I’m going to give one to our visiting elder who arrives Saturday.
Summer has arrived, with high temps in recent days. I didn’t see any reports, but felt it in my skin (Is that good English? It’s good Portuguese: senti na pele), as the heat seared the roof. A cool (can’t call it cold) front moved in at nightfall and brought us a refreshing rain. The Maiden set up our Christmas tree last week while we were away, and the ceiling fans are going full strength. Some find that weird, but it’s old hat to us now.
When I was a kid in the 70s, my dad had an album of Charley Pride. Somebody posted one of his songs on Facebook today, so I took time out and listened. Suddenly, I was transported back a few decades. And it inspired the start of some lyrics, which I could hear Mr. Pride singing in my mind.
Yesterday, a friend and I exchanged a series of emails. She’s now living in Europe. At one point, I mentioned that every person has his issues and limitations. She said she hadn’t seen any in me. That’s only because she hasn’t been near me enough, long enough. But we all do, you know. Growth in Christ means we keep cutting off these hydra-heads, but they will pop back up for a long time, maybe for a lifetime. (More …)
Randal, the individual who did your caricature is really good. He could make a living doing just that here in the USA. And yes, it is indeed a small world – and getting smaller every day.
I thought so too, Mike. I’ve had several coincidences like that recently, really amazing.
So where’ve I been the last week? Here’s my GoSpeak report on quite a profitable week.
http://gospeak.org/2010/11/30/26-10-a-week-at-sercris-training-school/
Randal, it looks like you did all the good on your trip. We pray that the students who attended, will grow spiritually, planting the seed of God’s word (Luke 8:11) into the hearts of others (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
Sounds like you had a good trip…glad to hear all went well, and I’m glad we have brethren like you and sis. Matheny doing this kind of work. God bless!
Thanks, brothers. Chad, for some reason, I have to keep approving your posts. Maybe WP will learn who you are shortly.
I hope so!
Ah, finally, this one appeared without requiring moderation. You’re good! Looking forward to your first post.
This came through friends:
The Gotcher Family, Wes and Carrie, are missionaries in Niteroi, Brazil, just across the bay from Rio de Janeiro. Carrie delivered the twin boys, Graham and Gibson, at 28 weeks. Gibson had surgery on Oct. 11th to close the gap between the arota and the pulmonary artery. Both boys are still fighting hard. Both sets of grandparents are planning on traveling to Brazil to be with them soon. Please keep this family in your prayers.
Next year, 2011, the Sao Paulo mission team of 1961 will celebrate the 50th year of its arrival in Brazil, the as the first team, and first missionaries behind Arley and Alma Smith who arrived in 1956. The National Christian Workers’ Encounter, held annually during Easter weekend, will honor that work. Plans are in the works now.
Vicki and I were blessed to be with the Allenhurst congregation today, and with our good friends Richard and Deirdre Mansel this weekend. We were impressed with everyone’s friendliness and with the church’s kindness and patience toward my presentation about the work in the evening, and with the generous comments about the lesson, based on Jeremiah 9:23-24, during the morning assembly. The time we had with Richard and Deirdre was precious.
This was only our second time to be with the Mansels. We’d met briefly for the Forthright Festival a few years ago.
Tomorrow we begin making our way back through Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.
Most of this week will be spent saying goodbye to family members, our sons and daughters-in-law and grand-daughter, as we prepare to return to Brazil Sept. 21.
So, emotionally, we wind down, though there are still contacts to be made and tasks to complete. We’ve made progress in our objective, though it hasn’t been reached at this point in time.
A final note: My mom has an appointment tomorrow with a specialist to investigate further her heart problems. Please say a prayer for her.
Thank you so much for your work and kindness this weekend! You brought great blessings to all of us. Your presentations were wonderful today!
Social media sites, which allow for intense interaction between people, are all the rage. Young people check their Facebook accounts before reading email.
Of all countries, Brazilians are most likely to be involved in social media sites, 86% of the Internet users in the country do it, as I recall. (Their favorite is Orkut.)
So what part of the social media world do you dabble in? Facebook. Twitter. SaintsMeet.com. There’s a lot of them out there. And I know where some of you are, but not all. So ‘fess up. And tell us why you’re there as well.
As per yesterday’s BNc tweet (social media! squirrel!), Nick and Amy Fowler arrived yesterday in Belem, Brazil, joining their recently arrived teammates for a new work in this untouched (by churches of Christ) city. They’re sponsored, as I recall, by the Mount Juliet, Tenn., church, where my daughter-in-law Tansy was reared. My wife Vicki has exchanged emails with Amy’s mother off and on since last year when we were at Mount Juliet for Joel and Tansy’s wedding.
What other news of the churches is out there waiting to be shared?
GOD BLESS ALL OF U
John mentioned an article where everything stops in Brazil for World Cup games. Today here in town the police discovered two tunnels, one 400 meters long, being dug by criminals who planned to rob a bank during Brazil’s World Cup game with Portugal on Friday. Though they had acoustic material in the tunnel to baffle the sound of digging, bank employees heard noises coming from the ground and called the police.
The criminals’ thinking, no doubt, was that everyone would be watching the games and they’d make a getaway without being noticed. Maybe they were right, but they got noticed beforehand.
Here’s a link with a photo of the tunnel: http://is.gd/d1lOs
After driving in seven states, I’ve returned home (as most of you know well, having returned to pestering Laura) and offer this brief overview of my latest trip to the U.S.
You can download and read the PDF file of volume 26, number 5 of the GoSpeak mission ministry report by clicking here:
http://gospeak.org/2010/06/23/26-5-u-s-trip-reasons-and-results/
Please share this with others in your congregation or in other locations who might be interested in partnering with us in the gospel
See also my personal website for a number of posts dealing with my time in the U.S.:
The PDF report notes that we continue to slug away as we find it slow going, as we knew it would be. But we believe the Lord is preparing great things in this new phase of our work. Please pray for us.
Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t get the PDF to open.
Is it downloading? Anybody else having this problem? Before giving the word, I actually downloaded and opened it, so it worked for me, but we’d expect that.
Well, I tried again and failed (using FF). It just shows a blank screen (and indicates the loading is done). However, after pasting the PDF URL into IE, voila!
Have you done the latest update of FF? I use it and downloaded fine.
Are you the type to do sodoku or crossword puzzles? You a numbers person or wordster? Accountant or writer? Do you prefer balancing the checkbook (does anybody do that anymore?) or correcting a text?
A new missions team is arriving in Belem (which, being translated, means “Bethlehem”), on the northern coast of Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon River. We’re glad to see this faithful group of workers added to our number. One couple has recently arrived, another, with whom we have some contact through family, leaves tonight. Pray for them.
Hey I posted yesterday to the nudge, and my post disappeared. What’s up with that?
Wow, it did disappear. Have no idea. I remember seeing it. Then, poof! You tell us, you’re the computer expert. Must have been some update in the system and your comment didn’t make it to the backup yet. Possible?
Okay… well just so you didn’t delete me!!!!
Can’t say I’ve not been tempted. ;-)
Although I like them both I have come to really love Soduko. I have it as an ap on my iPhone and it is relaxing to work the puzzle.
Did I spell it wrong both times in the Nudge, title and text? Ouch!
I’m hot natured, but not fond of temperatures below freezing. Winters in Brazil sound wonderful to me. Now who do I know in Brazil? Hmm…
Winters here are easier on the bones, except that there’s no heating in the homes, so the tile floors and brick-and-mortar construction can give you a chill. But nothing like freezing temps. So … come on down!
When we moved to Brazil in 1984, I told my wife that this was home. Home is where our family is. I’d heard missionaries talk about going “home” to the States. They’d never made the switch in their emotional loyalties.
To this day people will ask me, “So are you going to make Brazil your home?” I want to tell them, “I made Brazil my home on Nov. 28, 1984.”
Last year, I traveled in the U.S., alone, for two months. Every day, I missed home. Every day, I wanted to go home. I love my parents, siblings, uncles and aunts. I love the land of my birth, visited my old high school and congregation where I was baptized. I’m grateful for those roots.
But I wasn’t home.
Now, let me shift gears.
Home is the haven where we rest, relax, enjoy each other, cherish our family. And it’s a place where we open the door for hospitality. For people to share in the gospel, the peace of where we live, the love that reigns here. Home is the place where we learn trust, forgiveness, tolerance, truth. Home is the promise of heaven.
Home is to me the sweetest word.
Well put!
In a couple hours Haroldo and I, with The Maiden in tow, will go to the Christian workers encounter, dropping her off in Sao Paulo to go tomorrow to a young ladies’ event. Lord permitting, we’ll be back Saturday night.
In my absence Stephen has graciously accepted the challenge of sending out two Daily Nudges. He has suggested some of the better ones in the past, so look forward to some positive items tomorrow and Saturday.
A freebie: as soon as it gets done uploading, I’ll share a short video of gazillions of chocolate Easter eggs, the typical seasonal item here, hanging in Walmart. We bought ours from the new coffee shop around the corner, most certainly better quality, homemade stuff. I’m uploading the vid to my Flickr account, which you can see there. They are a sight to behold. I took it at my son’s request, so he could show his wife. Excuse the Portuguese, however; I have this thing about speaking English in public.
UPDATE: Video link is here.
What will I do without seeing your face on my FB page? How will I cope? I’m beginning to panic already — cold sweats popping out on my head — oh, well, it’s only for a couple of days. Don’t be any longer than that, though. Okay?
Which prophet?
Which of the prophets is your favorite? nudges the Nudge of the day, if one may call a prophet a favorite. And why that one, of your choice?
The photo at right comes from a sculpture by Brazil’s “Little Cripple.” Amazing work, his. You’ll have to guess which of the prophets it is.
Today’s question was prompted by a short exchange between Ron and me on Facebook. Thanks, Ron.
A hard blowing rain yesterday afternoon left branches and leaves in the streets. The electricity was cut off, and many traffic lights were out. Not a pretty picture in a city of 700k.
I’m waiting on more input on the question about “What God Has Done for Man.” Mike R. answered right off, and Stephen gave a full discourse, very nice. Nobody else to add a line? These two haven’t said the last word, they’ll admit that.
Barbara Ann arrived safely in Costa Rica, will have her apartment Thursday, begins teaching Let’s Start Talking material today. She and Michal Swain will be there for a while, Barbara for four months. They’re both a bit under the weather. Please pray for them.
That’s my news, what’s yours?
Oh, a last little item, from Quick Bible Truths, one of two tweets from prophets sent out yesterday, by coincidence of our Nudge today:
Sometimes it comes down to this. “Stop prophesying in the name of the Lord or we will kill you!” Je 11.21 NET
The prophet is Jeremiah. I get the emails from the sight postings but not the images unless I want to see them. The blanl frame told me it was Jeremiah, so not cheating, just acknowledging my source..
Where is the place you go to be alone with God? is the Daily Nudge on this overcast Wednesday morning. Is there a spot you retreat to, a corner of the world where you meet him? If so, what makes that place a good one for your regular encounters with the Lord?
Another late one for me last night, but for good reasons. The body is slow to surface from the morning grogginess. I usually hit the floor with eyes wide open, but the eyelids are still heavy from a sound sleep. I give thanks for falling asleep quickly and snoozing soundly. That’s a great blessing.
Sorry for the personal bit. Seems we all like to talk about our sleep and eating habits. I’m no exception in that.
So, can we can some real news here? What have you today?
In São Paulo, an elderly brother, Abramo Lucarelli, is in the hospital in serious condition with pneumonia. He has been a mainstay in the work in the capital for many years, having served as a bishop in two congregations there. A good man through and through.
Randal, sorry to hear about Bro. Lucarelli being in the hospital. We will be praying for the Lord to guide the hands that are ministering to him, that his health will be fully restored.
SJCampos stands out as a church that has paid its own way since the first few months of life. Since it is not burdened with property or a building, it has become known for its generosity in helping brethren and churches around the country. It provides regular help to an evangelist in the northeast. It sends a hefty monthly amount to the children’s home. The saints here have the heart of God for showing their love.
I used not to know how to spell bureaucracy. Now we have to deal with it so much, I can spell it in my sleep. As I mentioned on the Facebook group (in English yet) of the church here in São José dos Campos, the men started meeting again today on Saturdays, once monthly, rather than short bursts of after-church decisions. Good move.
We’re looking out again for a place to meet. (The decision was not to rent the building next to my office.) That’s a recurring item for us that takes out time, but probably not as much as keeping a building up to standards. I keep telling the folk here we’re the moving church, in more ways than one. Finding a place for the church to meet is something most of you in the U.S. don’t have to worry about.
And the other hot topic was making sure our accountant is keeping the books up to date and not cooking them. Just making sure that all is neat and tidy before the law, not only with finances, but papers as well, is a major hassle. I like our situation at Taubate where we’re not yet a formally constituted group. For me let’s do it all in the homes and stay that way. Lots easier to work with, and all the money goes to the real mission of the church and the care for the saints. But I digress.
These two, location and bureaucracy, were the urgent items, and I hope next month we can talk about the real Urgency, that of saving souls.
I mustn’t complain about our good start. I pray we’ll work through the outstanding items.
I understand. We, like you, do not have a “permanent location.” I find it interesting how brothers can substitute “want” with “need.” While I am not opposed to having a building of our own, and in some ways welcome it, I also understand that there are pros and cons to having a “permanent location.” For me, it is quite disturbing to hear it described as a necessity. When we change “want” to “need” it can easily become a recipe for disaster.
Do you not now? How interesting. Seems people think we are so different from the first century Christians that we have to have all these things that they did without, yet they evangelized the whole world. And we’re barely scratchin’ the surface. But don’t get me started …
Perhaps it is different on other cultures, but in our area, you are not taken seriously as a “church” unless you have a place of your own. You are viewed as “fly by night”, and its difficult to even get people to visit. Since we completed and moved into our building, we have had quite a few visitors from the local community who just walked in off the street, so to speak. They were not “guests” of any of our members. I see that as opportunity.
Randal, I don’t see any problem at all in meeting in the homes of people. When I was stationed in England during the Viet Nam conflict, we regularly met in the home of one of the members who was an oil field worker out in the North Sea.
One thing about being small in number, every member has to participate and contribute to the whole function of the body.
I can attest to the fact that I was more spiritually edified in that home church setting, than I’ve ever been in a permanent building setting.
You may have seen my tweet/FB status update I made shortly after I wrote this:
The things we think necessary to world evangelism, which the first century saints didn’t have, may well be the very things that keep us from it.
Having been in both situations, I can attest to the ups and downs of each. We started in homes, which was great initially – very personal and intimate, but growth became a problem. Who has a home that can seat 40 people for worship in the same room? How about 60 or 80?
We moved to the local community center, but it was only available on Sun AM. We later added meeting on Wed PM in an old skating rink when it came available. For years we were unable to meet on Sunday PM because there was no place we could all assemble together. In fact, there was no where to meet as a whole for anything other than worship on Sun AM and Bible study on Wed PM. No place for VBS, so we didn’t have that. No place to have fellowship meals, so we had none of those. We were able to have a gospel meeting once, but we had to get a school building at a time it was available, meaning there were no evening activities going on at the school, which is the norm around here. Pickin’s for times were slim. All in all, this period of time was probably the worst of all situations. We didn’t do much of anything together outside of the bare minimum worship.
On top of that, both meeting in homes and at alternating locations made it difficult for visitors to find us — those from the community and visiting Christians from other parts of the country alike. They had to be looking hard to find us.
Then a new office building was erected in the city – it was the first new building structure in years because the city was “limiting growth”. There were pretty much no vacancies anywhere to be had because of their non-growth attitude. We were fortunate to get space in this building. Not ideal, but closer to permanent. We now had one place where we could meet any time we wished, so we immediately started worshipping on Sunday evenings. We added two gospel meetings a year, VBS, and eventually a Bible camp. We also started having monthly fellowship meals together and other social events. The rental space became our social center, much like the temple was in the first century. We became much closer as a group when this happened.
The rental space was not without its downsides, however. People from the gym next door would come by yelling during our worship. Nothing like hearing balls bounce and people talking loudly during prayers to interrupt your train of thought… and they complained to the building management about our worship. Apparently it offended some of their clientele. And then came the space problem, yet again. We started hitting the 80 person mark fairly consistently and had a few times that people were all but sitting in the common hallway because there was no way to squeeze anyone else in. Being in a very public place, we grew concerned that someone would call the fire marshal on us.
So we built a building. For now, many of the associated problems are solved. And we had to learn patience in the mean time. Of course, our plan is to grow, grow, grow, so who knows. We may have to build another new building, or maybe we will plant a new church in another part of the county. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
The bottom line is, there is NO perfect solution. You just need to do what’s best for your congregation at the time.
I ask you to pray for Paulo, a brother in Christ here in SJCampos. On his way to work, a person stepped in front of his car and was killed. He’s at the police station now. Details, such as they are, are HERE.
UPDATE: See link above for update; Paulo’s been released.
Prayers for Bro. Paulo. May God, thru His Providence, help him to overcome any problems and give him more strength each day, in Jesus name.
Randal, hopefully, the police will find that it wasn’t Paulo’s fault and release him – we’ll be praying toward that end.
Randal, I notice in your update, that Paulo was released: http://randalmatheny.com/2010/01/28/please-pray-for-paulo/
We are thankful that God has answered our prayers in Paulo’s behalf!
Mike, yes he was. The process will now run its course in the police and legal system. So we pray it may find a speedy conclusion with good results. I’ve posted yet another update at the same link after talking with Paulo by phone this afternoon. He’s shaken, so prayers are still in order.
In terms of Kingdom work, I hate Januarys (or should that be Januaries?). It’s the big vacation month, and people disappear. The work nearly comes to a stop. I’m not condemning people for traveling, mind you, but it takes a bite out of efforts for the Lord. And then in February (sometimes it’s March) comes Carnaval. There’s a saying in Brazil that the year only starts after Carnaval. In some ways, that’s true.
Randal, yes, there are all kinds of worldly distractions for folks to focus on instead of the spiritual. That old devil knows exactly what he’s doing, that’s for certain! Just keep folks “busy” and distracted, and he’ll win every time.
As God’s children, we must be aware of Satan’s “devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Distractions they are, indeed, Mike. I understand the need for rest and getting out of the routine of life and work. I probably need to do more of that myself. (We’ve never taken a vacation as such.) But I know that many saints travel in such ways and to places that they miss the assemblies. No good can come from that, for sure.
So asks the Daily Nudge. Around here, we’re getting two new families of experienced Christians in the Taubate church. This will greatly reinforce our work in that city.
One comes from the other side of the state, the husband a bank manager being transferred here. The other comes from the northeast, a military man (we have many military installations here) come to do helicopter pilot training.
We have long prayed that the Lord would send more workers into this field. It seems that at long last that prayer is being answered. Perhaps that’s why I’m thinking of the next city down the road.
Good deal, Randal.
This comes from a conservative Catholic author, so take that into account, but his take on Benedict 16′s criticism of Liberation Theology and his points on Brazilian society and economy are spot on. The Catholic head’s speech can be read on the Vatican website here.
Rick Kelley are discussing. 
Tim Hester, and 
jimnewy is discussing. 
Mike Riley 11:59 am on January 19, 2013 Permalink |
A great slide presentation illustrating your life and work in Brazil – great stuff, Randal!
J. Randal Matheny 12:01 pm on January 19, 2013 Permalink |
Thanks, Mike, we grateful for a good year, with all its twists and turns.