I would love to hear what God is telling you about the following video clip.

How do these trends affect world missions?

Here are a few of my first thoughts:

1. God wants to prosper people.
2. Poverty is often a result of this broken world, or a corrective measure from God.
3. There is more wealth than ever in the world.
4. World Missions is a more expensive and more accessible project than ever before.
5. The gospel flows the easiest among the poor.
6. Wealth often chokes out the gospel.
7. God is in control of world events.

As you watch this “big picture” video ask God, “What part do I play in all this?” We get this big picture because all the people who play their part. In Revelation 13:8 we are reminded that Jesus was slain before the foundation of this world. He had a part to play. So do I. So do you. A fatalistic approach to life says, “God will do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, so I do not need to do anything. I will just wait it out, see what happens and pray that my needs will be met.” The Bible teaches us that God puts tremendous weight on human choice, and on human obedience. He wants friendship with us. He wants to work with us. He wants to work in this world through us.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. ^{Revelation 13:8 NKJV} 

We are still hoping to celebrate Christmas in this new building.

We have temporary electricity in place.

The rainy season is starting now, with four nights of heavy rains.

END.

Ivanildo and Monica had the honor of helping in the first of our friend’s weddings. They signed as witnesses at the Notary Public, and again at the court.

The couple celebrated later with a roasted lamb at their house.

The wife, Vera, has been part of our church for over a year. The husband, Aldamir, is still on his way to becoming part of our church.

What can you do with a ton of empty two liter pop bottles?

Here is the city park in the old part of Marabá.

This week a big warehouse burned to the ground just a couple of miles from us, very near where I run in the mornings. This is was the main warehouse for 66 department stores in the Marabá region. Damage estimates vary from $10,000,000 by one blogsite to $40,000,000 by a store manager I was talking to yesterday to $690,000,000 (one billion reias) by the state daily newspaper (quoted from the link below). The Leolar warehouse was loaded in preparation for Christmas shopping.

This is money wasted. Gone.

What could we have done with ten percent of that loss? We could have built a training center, upgraded our old vehicles and developed a church-planting fund to assist the newly trained workers in start-ups. Well…we can do that anyway. God’s economy is so different from ours. All week I have been thinking of the Little / Big principle. God watches all of us to see if we are faithful with what we have. He hopes He can entrust us with more. Have you ever been in a place where you wish you had more trustworthy workers? God is in that place.

END.

http://www.diarioonline.com.br/noticia-124832-fogo-destroi-deposito-de-loja-em-maraba.html

I want in. I want the kingdom of heaven. I’m going for it. But where am I going? How do I get there?


“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5.3)


What do you think of when you hear the phrase “poor in spirit”?


How do others think you are doing with this?


What actions have you done yesterday or today to help you position yourself in the “poor in spirit” camp? What attitudes do your family and close friends see in you?


I heard John Wimber say, “I am just one beggar showing other beggars where to find bread”. He said this as he told the story about the four lepers who found the abundance in the vacant Aramean camp. (2 Kings 7:1-9) They went to tell the rest of the starving Israelites. I think this captures the “poor in spirit” idea. So does Jesus, choosing to be born in a stable.


END.