June 27, 2008

Off to Exu

Today we are leaving for the city of Exu with the team from Bible Baptist in Cortland. We will participate in three days of evangelism and edification of the church plant there.

Exu is a town with a lot of history, a lot of culture, and a lot of darkness. Pray for God's protection, direction, and blessing during our time there.

Posted by Andrew at 9:14 AM
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June 26, 2008

Welcome Video for Grace Baptist, Batavia

As part of a special service in preparation for their team's departure for Brazil, Grace Baptist Church in Batavia asked us to put together a little video challenge. Here it is!

Posted by Andrew at 4:38 PM
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June 25, 2008

Short Mission Trip Update

Just a note to let you know that the team from Bible Baptist Church in Cortland is alive and well. Thus far they have been involved in our church youth group, a service in one of our congregations, the evening service in our church, and an evening of filming for our puppet team.

The morning we were going to go on a hike along the ridge, but IBAMA (like the EPA on steroids) had other plans, so we settled for a visit to the fossil museum.

Posted by Andrew at 6:30 PM
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June 23, 2008

Just in Case You Were Wondering

The team from Bible Baptist Church in Cortland is here and doing an awesome job. They are fitting right in with our youth group and helping Itacyara and I in a number of ways. I will have pictures and details later.

Posted by Andrew at 3:12 PM // Comments: 1 //
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June 20, 2008

The Eagles have Landed

After a six-hour wait in the airport, and an eleven-hour bus trip interior, the team from Bible Baptist Church is here with us in Crato. We are looking forward to a great time with them as they participate with us in our ministry here.

To those of you who were looking here for news of their arrival, I am so sorry that I was unable to post sooner.

Posted by Andrew at 10:43 PM
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June 19, 2008

Arrival of First Ministry Team

In a few minutes I will be going to the airport to pick up the first missionary team that is coming to work with us this summer. Recently there have been many flight delays from Sao Paolo, so please pray for the safe and timely arrival of the group.

Posted by Andrew at 10:24 AM // Comments: 3 //
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June 18, 2008

More Sanctuary Quartet

I have been meaning to post this for a while. Now seems like a good time. It is the Sanctuary Quartet singing a medley of Southern Gospel songs. In case you are wondering, I am the skinny(!) guy next to the bass.

Posted by Andrew at 7:47 PM
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A Cultural Experience

I just ate at McDonalds for the first time since September, 2007. Nice to taste some good ol' traditional American cuisine.

Posted by Andrew at 7:08 PM
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Some Random Graphics Projects

I have been working on a couple Photoshop projects related to a couple of our ministries. The first is a logo for the 2008 season of the Iguatu camp.

The next two have to do with a series we are doing in our teen class at church on the "Five Solas" I gave them an assignment to learn the five Latin phrases that express the foundational principles of the Protestant Reformation. I decided to sweeten the pot a little, and so next week one lucky (or is that "providentially favored"?) student who can give me the list and their definitions from memory will receive a t-shirt with the following image on the front.

In case you are wondering, that is Martin Luther in shades. On the back of the shirt, the list.

I have another Photoshop project in the works--a promotional folder for the seminary--that is proving to be the death of me. I think when I get done with it I will swear off Photoshop for some time to come.[p

Posted by Andrew at 4:09 PM // Comments: 2 //
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Back from the Federal Police

...with a list of things that I need to be able to do what I needed to do.

Posted by Andrew at 1:06 PM
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Fortaleza

I arrived in Fortaleza early this morning. I am going to go to the Federal Police now to see what I have to do to get a replacement ID card. Tomorrow I meet the first of two missions teams here.

Posted by Andrew at 11:22 AM
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June 14, 2008

Nathan Explores Dad's Office

...in a rodent suit.

Couldn't resist posting this.

Posted by Andrew at 8:45 AM // Comments: 2 //
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June 13, 2008

Profile Updates

I had all but forgotten about our profile page. When I checked it out today, I saw that it had not been changed since the early days of our deputation. I have updated some of it, and added a recent family picture. More updates to come.

Posted by Andrew at 7:42 PM
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June 11, 2008

Sanctuary Quartet: The Spurgeon Song

In my senior year at Spurgeon Baptist Bible College my brother and a couple friends and I formed an a capella group called The Sanctuary Quartet. Up until recently I thought that there was no recorded evidence that we ever existed. Last week, however, as I was rummaging through some of our stored things I found a video that was marked (in my wifes handwriting) "Andrew, Daniel, and friends". Curious, I took it to a friends house to watch it. Lo and behold, the only known video of the Sanctuary Quartet.

I had it transferred to DVD, and am slowly putting all the songs on YouTube. Here is the first one, a musical tribute to our late alma mater.

Posted by Andrew at 9:32 AM
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June 10, 2008

Missionarymobile Redux

So I went to the mechanic's office this morning where the car is "interned". When I walked in the door, the mechanics started giving me looks like people give when you have recently lost a loved one.The whole atmosphere was that of a funeral parlor...minus the organ music. One of the chief mechanics actually came over and put his arm on my shoulder in a consoling sort of way.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Oh, you didn't hear. I guess nobody had time to call you yet. It seems that you are going to need a complete engine overhaul. I'm so sorry."

Complete overhaul? It was supposed to be just the starter and some work in the transmission and suspension. They explained to me that there was much more wrong than had been originally expected. A repair job that was supposed to run me $850 and take two days is now at $1800 and climbing--and I shouldn't expect to see the truck for at least a week.

As I was thinking about this later in the day, some thoughts came to mind as to God's role in all of this.

1. God was tremendously gracious in providing us with the truck, which has been invaluable in our ministry.

2. God has mercifully allowed the truck to be relatively problem-free and inexpensive (nothing beyond normal maintenance) for the last two-and-a-half years.

3. God's planning was very evident in the place and time that the truck broke down (see previous post on the subject).

4. We have no right to a vehicle. What makes me any better than Adoniram Judson, who presumably had to "hoof it" wherever he went? Any time we have a working truck it is a demonstration of God's unmerited favor.

5. When all is said and done, the truck is not mine, it is God's.

As I was reminded of these things, I actually began to get excited about the prospect of having a broken down vehicle. For example:

1. I am going to have two weeks of contact with a group of unsaved men (the mechanics) with whom I would otherwise have had no association. This will be an excellent opportunity to share Christ and to demonstrate grace.

2. Being dependent on public transportation will bring me into contact with many other unsaved people.

3. Most of the students in our practical ministries program are dependent on public transportation. This will give me a great opportunity to "walk in their shoes".

4. Not having the truck will reduce trips to town, which will in turn give me more time to spend with my family, and to complete pending projects here at the office As God would have it, we live at the seminary...so no problem getting to work.

5. If God provides the finances to fix the truck (which He has always done in the past) I will have an exciting and tangible story of divine power to share with the guys at the garage and with the young people of our church.

I'm sure there are more benefits that I am missing. This is going to be a very exciting two weeks.

PS. Just so you know, it is quite alright to pray for the return of the truck!

Posted by Andrew at 5:52 PM // Comments: 1 //
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June 9, 2008

Book Review: Our Sufficiency in Christ

In this book John MacArthur targets three manifestations of what he terms "new gnosticism"--psychology, pragmatism and mysticism. In his matter-of-fact way of writing he offers practical, biblical answers to these trends. Published in 1981, the book is still quite relevant.

If you are in any kind of spiritual leadership in the Christian Church today, you should be familiar with "Our Sufficiency in Christ". You may not agree with everything, but you will find much good food for thought.

Posted by Andrew at 9:06 PM
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The Missionarymobile on the Sick List

If you are one of my Facebook friends and are wondering what yesterday's status update was all about, let me explain.

Our truck (affectionately referred to here as "the missionarymobile") has been in need of repairs for some time. About two weeks ago I had it in the shop, where they gave me a diagnosis and a rough estimate as to the cost. Our schedule and budget were such that I was unable to have the repairs done then. God provided some funds, so we gritted our teeth and hoped that the truck would hold out until today. And it almost did.

On our way to church yesterday the missionarymobile finally decided that enough was enough. Without so much as a cough or a sputter it stopped running.

God's timing was evident in this in a couple ways.

1. If it had happened two days earlier, I would have been without a cell phone. However God saw to it that I got my cell phone repaired just in time for the truck to break down. Hence, we were not stranded. I was able to call a man from the church, and he came and picked up my family and our other passengers and took them on to Sunday School.

2. This one is actually pretty funny. After getting my family sent on their way, I needed to find someone to tow the truck to the shop. I called a few people, but all of my contacts that would know about these things were in church and had their cell phones turned off. Right next to where the car was stranded was a little rustic furniture shop that for some reason was open on a Sunday. I went in and asked the lady there if she had a phone book, or at least if she knew of any nearby towing services. She looked at me oddly for a moment, and then pointed across the street, where a huge sign over a garage proclaimed "24 Hour Towing Service". As if to make the point even more obvious, an assortment of tow trucks were parked outside.

Somewhat red-faced, I thanked my smirking helper and called the number emblazoned on the front of the garage and within minutes we were underway.

I even made it to church in time for the monthly business meeting. Yay!

Posted by Andrew at 3:46 PM
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June 3, 2008

Pictures from the Pau da Bandeira Festival

clipped from diariodonordeste.globo.com clipped from diariodonordeste.globo.com

Posted by Andrew at 11:07 AM
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June 2, 2008

My Idea of Paradise

Watch the video--all book lovers who pass by--and drool!

HT: Challies

Posted by Andrew at 12:28 PM // Comments: 1 //
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Brazil's "Evangélicos"

clipped from www.inafarplace.com In Latin America as well as many African countries, evangelical stats now include a hybrid of charismatic Pentecostalism termed by some as renewalists. These teachings exported from the U.S. during the 1970’s and 80’s are now producing celebrity preachers and religious superstars that draw millions toward hope in material wealth and miracles of all sorts. Through media, mega gatherings, and temples open seven days a week, health- wealth ministries manipulate millions of extremely desperate people. This misplaced hope eventually leads to more disappointment because our basic problem is not the lack of health or wealth, as hard as that may be to see when you have neither. Today, when one says he is an evangélico it is far more confusing than defining. There is no doubt that evangelicals are having a major identity crisis. Most of the gargantuan religious growth in Brazil is not evangelical at all under the classical definition of the term.

Posted by Andrew at 11:21 AM // Comments: 1 //
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Thoughts on Adulthood

clipped from www.bbc-cortland.org Being an adult has come on difficult times in recent years. being an adult seems to be becoming something to avoid, like a terminal disease. In recent years just about the only good that people see in being an "adult" seems to be the ability to "legally" access pornography and alcohol. Could it be that somewhere along the line we have forgotten that adulthood is an adventure that carries with it responsibility which will have a bearing on our destiny? Perhaps a lesson could be learned from the ancient kings of Judah. In their youth they were men of faith. As they grew older they seemed more interested in safety. The change moved them from a daring trust in God to a groveling search for ungodly alliances which could give them the protection they craved. If we are to return adulthood to imaginative desirability, we must stop bemoaning the loss of "youth" and present an enthusiasm for being an adult which can be expressed with robust authenticity of spirit

Posted by Andrew at 10:59 AM
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