Date: 2009-11-12 06:58:28 -0200
Topic: Taking Back Some Revelation
Each day a new revelation comes. Today, I have a renewed revelation for prayer.
We had an impromptu healing service for Ben tonight in the parking lot outside of the church office. It was his first time to be prayed for with anointing with oil, laying on hands and for healing. His eyes are puffy and incredibly itchy. They are driving him crazy for three days. His stomach has been upset since Sunday night. The allegra is not working. In the night, many of his symptoms were gone.
Everywhere we go we pray. We pray all at once. We pray individually. The Cell Groups pray. People cry out. Tongues are heard, but many encourage the person who is praying with echoes of “Amen!” or simply repeating what was said. During worship the leader prays, and the singers pray, and the leader steps away from the keyboard to pray with his musicians and encourage them while the congregation is still singing. Before meals we pray. “Amens!” and “Seen, Seen! (Yes, Yes!)” are heard at dinner prayers. “We are always thankful to our God who loves us, and we know that we must enter into what he is already doing so we pray”, Pastor Iran says. We submit to the one who loves us, and we recognize his desire to have us know what he has promised to do, what he is doing and what gifts he brings into our lives and for those we cover in prayer. We “covered in prayer” the upcoming conference, “The Encounter”. We have not had falling over or jumping or outbursts of a tongue or interpretation. This is simply a sincere desire to encounter God personally while we are together, to do what Paul and Jesus commanded, i.e. to pray without ceasing, to bring our requests to God, to pray in the spirit, to intercede for others, our rulers and leaders, to worship, etc. I do not see competition. Pastor Iran does not beat a drum to build up the emotions. We pray because we love God and he loves us.
Communion last night at Cell Group went well. I gave my talk about all of us being “10’s”. I started by counting off ten squares, moved the communion table to square 10 and went to square 1. I explained that we remember Jesus in communion so we will remember how he loved people unconditionally. I asked for examples of people, ten examples. One guy didn’t get it, but the rest did. As I finished this section, I asked people to rate themselves on their own walk with God. Most placed themselves in the middle, and Rachelina said sometimes she is a one. Yet, Jesus loved people unconditionally. He saw them as 10’s. All of the people we mentioned were up at the ten spot in Jesus’ eyes. I moved myself to the 10 spot. Because of the death of Christ, his burial which proves our sins were buried with him and his resurrection which proves he is victorious over sin and death. I invited all those who are 10’s to come forward to remember Jesus. I was so honored that these younger leaders of the church responded well. I believe that God wants us to hear over and over of his love for us and our complete acceptance by him. There is so much hatred and reviling people who are sinners and imperfect, as though we need more of that to know God’s love and kindness.
I was thankful the respons was positive. Evander and Sayanara, who arrived from a city in NE Brazil for the conference this weeked, took notes. They are going to repeat this for their congregation. Go God! What I take for granted as typical crazy “Tom Bier” stuff, someone actually tastes the Spirit and wants to bless someone else. I love that!
Today, we tried to do some sightseeing. the weather was cool and rainy, a beautiful temperature and much preferred to the sweltering heat of the day before. We were caught in several traffic jams. The market at the foot of the Eiffel tower in the center of town was practically closed due to the rain, but I found a great t-shirt shop for some gifts for home.
We went to the museum that honors Juscelino Kubitschek, the President of Brazil who instigated and directed the building of Brasilia in 1960. He took Brazil out of the third world and into the progressive industrial age by moving the capital from Rio de Janeiro to the center of Brazil, uninhabited and uncultivated. He wanted a planned, modern city so the city moves easily with very few traffic signals, except where the roads into and out of Brasilia intersect. Those four main exits are always backlogged at peak times. We got caught in one for about an hour. A man three cars ahead of us stepped out of his car and peed in plain view. We were stuck so long, then found a paving machine blocking three lanes of four in the middle of rush hour.
The museum is almost a cult religion as it looks at every aspect of JK’s life. Even his sarcophagus is there. He lies in permanent state in a darkened rotunda, with an evil red glow to the black walls and black coffin. Yet, the achievement over a period of about five years is astounding. Bruce was saying his first trip to Brazil as an intern was in 1968. At that time none of the outlying metropolis was built and only two of the four quadrants was built up. Brasilia looks like it came out of the 1950’s with cubist realism as its theme and concrete and glass as it’s building blocks. Many of the apartments, stores and schools are looking their age.
We met a fellow Christian, Zazo, who took us to the National congress building. Congress was in session, but unspectacular. The body wouldn’t gather until after 4:00 p.m. to debate the issues of the day. Speeches were made to near empty Senate and Congress chambers, but Zazo said they would gather at 4:00 until well after midnight. The main subject of the day is a labor law changing the work week from 44 hours to 40 and restricting employers from firing someone without cause at any time. Thousands of people were supposed to come out and protest in red shirts on the congressional lawn, but we didn’t see those large numbers because of the torrential rain all morning. The protests were peaceful, but the police were out in record numbers.
As always, a mission trip is a mixed bag, just like ministry at home. We have to eat and get around, so much of our day is preparing for a few moments in time to be in relationship with someone or a group so that God can use us. We are learning from the people who drive us and feed us, as well. Bruce has been a missionary since the 60’s, and at 65 years old has geared up for many more years of ministry to help the poor in Mozambique as well as in Brasilia. He’s had two lives in a way. His first wife died of a brain tumor when the youngest of his three girls was 14. He married within a year to a Brazilian woman who tutored his children. They now have two teenage children, and are in the thick of ministry, cell groups, leadership training, English classes and helping Pastor Iran with leadership. As we moved through town, we saw many people who knew Bruce and Naija and gave great hugs of warmth. Bruce’s phone was ringing like mine with contacts and planning. The gift he and his family gave of a day to transport us and share with us their lives was incredible knowing the things that he must do to keep up with the details of life and ministry. They have built their house over the last year in stages, and live in an unfinished house. It’s nice, but most Americans couldn’t live with the sacrifices they have made, even though having a house is a real privilege.
For missionaries and pastors in this context of “The Mustard Seed Church”, their homes are their base of ministry with Cell Groups and counseling, happening there all the time. Naija has had three groups of women in this week to learn how to do scrapbooking and card making. They start with a devotion. Their friend from Green Bay, WI, shares her testimony. They pray. Then, they have a great time learning a skill to save money and do something for love. The women have loved it. And it happens in their home. At this moment, Pastor Iran has six of us living in his home of about 2,500 square feet. There is no heat or A/C, no double paned windows or screens and no carpeting. It’s simple, yet comfortable, elegant yet practical. They built it for ministry. Polly, from Bulgaria, is staying with them without charge for three months as she helps in the ministry. Interesting. How many of our Americans would be able to share their homes in this way? And the pastors of all the churches do this. Pastor Wilson has the husband of an Immanuel Seminary student living with him for a year. People in the church are sponsoring attendees to “The Encounter” this weekend in their homes. Wow! This is how the early church loved each other and won many to Christ.
Ricardo is going to teach Ben a few songs he has written. He has them in English. We’ll sing them at The Journey, Lord willing, some time.
Tomorrow is a day to catch up on some activities before Friday’s Encounter. We are resting and meeting with some of the leaders throughout the day as they come in to visit. We are hosting a cookout for the staff and missionaries today, as well. Lots of Brazilian style grilled food!
