Wednesday, February 06, 2008

20 babies


About a month ago a member of the English speaking church at Caparra invited some friends, co/workers, in-laws, etc. for the next Sunday morning's service in Spanish. Well about 20 of them showed up and most have been there for the last 3 Sundays. This is a photo of the 2nd Sunday they were there. In one Sunday our attendance jumped from 6 to 30.
Of course we are very excited, but also a little concerned. Most of these visitors didn't even own a Bible, much less know anything about how to get around in it. Imagine 20 babies and 3-4 Christians (one of which is preaching) to help them find the Bible passages. We gave them all Bibles, so they all have the same Bible, which simplifies finding the Bible books--the preacher gives out the page number, then the chapter and verse.
Singing is another thing--since most of them's exposure to religion has been the Roman Catholic, they don't know many hymns, so you have a room full of people, but only 4-5 who are really singing.
For me the thing I'm most concerned about is handling the problems that babes in Christ so often bring. Yet I'm confidant the Lord will provide all that we need in this area as well. He gave us the contacts, He will also give us the means to teach and ground them.
We thank God for these contacts and ask for your prayers on their behalf as well.
Tol

Friday, February 01, 2008

Global warming, 2--or will man destroy the world?

Human beings seem to love disasters, are more properly the hanging specter of impending disaster. How else do we account for the recurring dates of the "end of the world", our fascination with the "effects of overpopulation", The Weather Channels what if disasters--I forget the name, but what if a major tornado struck downtown Dallas, another major earthquake struck San Francisco, etc.? I think our sudden fascination with global warming falls into the same category.

Is the world warming? The evidence is clear. Why is it warming? Is it a natural cycle of the globe, similar to the Little Ice Age, or is it the product of man's burning of fossil fuels, etc.? Since climatological records only go back 200-300 years, they aren't much help as to if there have been similar "warmings" before. Whatever you believe the cause is, your conclusion is based on faith to some extent. We cannot prove that greenhouse gases caused the hole in the ozone layer--we can theorize from certain experiments, but it cannot be proved.

What I really want us to think about though, is whether man can destroy this world? I believe that mankind, as stewards of God's Creation, should use wisely what God has entrusted to us. I recycle and even have a hybrid car, but that said, does mankind have the power to cause the end of the world?

The Scriptures state clearly that such knowledge and therefore the power needed to accomplish resides only in God. Man can no more destroy the world than he can create it. This is a humbling thought for many people, who think mankind can do anything. Such is not the case, and we would do well to remember that. God is not only the Creator, but also the Sustainer. He did NOT create the world, then walk off and leave it. He set in place the cycles of nature, whether the yearly seasons or the multi-year periods of "good" weather as well as those of "bad" weather.

Tol

Global warming???

There is no doubt the world is getting warmer--the evidence is in and is clear. What is not so clear is the why? Is it just a normal cycle that we're going through, or is it caused by man and his activities? Is it like the "Little Ice Age" that occurred from the 1500's to early 1800's?

While the jury is out as to its cause, at least in the scientific community, there is one thing I AM sure of. The Bible predicted long ago that the world would suddenly get warmer, in fact so warm it would actually be burned up.

One of the many places this prediction is made, and probably the most easily understood is 2 Pet. 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat: both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." At some future point the world will be burned up, along with everything in it and all mankind's efforts will not change that.

Since this is true, what should our response be? Should we stand around wringing our hands? Or perhaps set up something to "put out" the fire? Again Peter advises us, "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God . . . " (2 Pet. 3:11-12)

Tol