Crossings

As some of you know, we were without internet in our apartment for three weeks. We were reconnected to the world earlier this week when the modem in the building was replaced.  Although, we shouldn't have, we felt the disconnect.  Even though we had great conversations daily with our new frends and colleagues here, the language barrier left so much unsaid, so much incomplete. No doubt about it, with emails, blogs, and news feeds, all in English, we feel more complete.  We were in that stage of culture where we were feeling lonely and slightly homesick.  We had no intention of getting stuck there; we knew it would pass, but without early- morning and late-evening email checks, we experienced a sensation of isolation. We couldn't communicate with the familiar.

Each day after work, we hunted for Internet cafes.  Those that had been open yesterday, were closed today.  We'd move on to another block and always found one with at least one space open. Missing keys, letters filled in with fingernail polish, or a Spanish keyboard never discouraged us from pulling up emails and pounding out replies.  When we left, we were always grateful for the open Internet cafe and the opportunity it afforded us to stay connected.  In the process, we discovered that communication with family and friends was "muy importante!"  Communication existed here; of course, but there is just something about it being in your Mother Tongue that makes it so noticeable when it doesn't exist.

Our devotion recently made this more evident as we read about the Christian cross.  The horizontal line represents the relationship and community in proximity to us.  These relationships can be messy sometimes, but they aren't meant to be.  As the horizontal line is unbroken, so we should strive for unbroken relationships.  When our Internet was down and "out for the count," our communication was broken, and, boy, did we feel it!   We felt the distance and we hunted in order to mend, to re-connect, to re-establish those relationships.  And the reward?  News from home - family and friends.

While the horizontal line represents our earthly relationships, the vertical line represents our relationship with God.  That line is forever unbroken.  He is not on wi-fi that disconnects when the electricity shuts down.  He is not a "modem" that threatens to wear out.  He does not speak only one language.  He is not limited to "proximity."  He has nothing missing. He is always easy to find.  He is eager to start communication.  He is complete and offers completion.  He created the Christian cross and His son, Jesus, hung there to make vertical and horizontal relationships complete.  

There are so many beautiful crosses adorning the world.  Let's keep looking up, so we don't miss their message.





 KEEP LOOKING UP, and we will, too.     Jim and Linda 

"I will gladly spend and be spent..."

A funny thing happened to us on the way to Ecuador.  The book of Acts found us.  It found us when we studied 32 lessons of Acts and the Apostles beginning in September with Bible Study Fellowship (BSF).  Providentially, our pastor at our home church in Chandler, AZ was preaching through the book of Acts this fall.  Paul has left a footprint on our steppingtstone.  After his Damascus Road conversion, Paul spent his remaining years traveling and establishing churches.  But, he didn't do it alone.  He had a strong core of faithful workers who traveled with him to build the churches of believers.   He lived by his calling:  "...this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ..." (Ephesians 3:8).  And Paul did this whether on a river bank (Acts 16:11-15) or in the synagogues or in the marketplaces (Acts 17:16).  Where there wasn't a meeting place, he established one - called the church.  He started more than 14 churches in his 3 missionary journeys and the power within those churches tranformed lives...and still does today.  We can say he started something powerful during the approximate years between 35-67 AD, unifying a group of believers for he knew that "...(God's) intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known..." (Ephesians 3:10).

  We have studied the words and actions of Paul since September and within the past few weeks, we actually have witnessed the continuation of what he started. 

Last week, we traveled 2 hours south to Sangay National Park (www.parquesangay.org.ec) to Alausi, Ecudador straight to a Church of the Nazarene nesting within the alpine tundra of the Andes Mountain Range.  A small group of 8 workers spent 6 hard hours cleaning and preparing the church.  Some repaired doors, windows and damaged concrete blocks.

Some began wiring the church for electricity.  We didn't do it alone either.  The house near the church, although blessed with little, loaned us a wheel barrow, extra shovels, electricity, and water for the block cement.  Many hands were a part of the harvest process.  They have a young pastor and will begin services in two weeks!

In addition, slowly and methodically, a new church is being planted slightly northwest of Riobamba in beautiful Ambato.  Pray for these starts and those who attend.

If you have been or are now a part of a new church plant, consider yourself in good company.  Paul told the Corinthian church, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls."  (I Corinthians 12:15).

God is still planting Himself in the world and "...the gates of Hades will not overcome it."  (Matthew 16:18).

His church is built upon a Rock and many hands are part of the process.
Do you have a church?

     Keep Looking Up!    Jim and Linda