February 28, 2011

Hey, Where's Perry?

Why, at the AWANA Grand Prix, of course!

While I have been enjoying the winter wonderland that is Upstate NY, Michael and Nathanael participated in our home church's AWANA car races. Thanks to the carving genius of a couple guys in the church, Michael's car was a replica of that used by his hero Perry the Platypus--aka Agent P.

Here is a closeup:

I should mention that the miniature version of Perry was made by none other than my wife, the lovely and talented Brazilian Bombshell.

Of course Nathanael had to get into the act as well. He represented Brazil's proud racing tradition with this car and matching outfit.

Talk back to the missionary: Ever been involved in an AWANA Grand Prix? What's the most creative vehicle you have seen? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Related Posts:

Mikey's First AWANA Awards
AWANA Grand Prix

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Jonah Silverberg Update--Encouraging News

My Dad has the latest update from Marty and Val Silverberg about their newborn son Jonah. It is much more encouraging than the previous one.

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February 27, 2011

Happy Birthday to Dad and his Long Lost Twin...

Recently my parents posed for this picture, which Dad subsequently posted on his blog:

Of course it is an obvious parody of the great classic American Gothic...

...and yet as I looked at it something seemed familiar in this face...

...something I used to see every week on Brazilian TV!

So here we have the evidence, my Dad and Chaves (or "El Chavo del Ocho" for all my Mexican friends), separated at birth and at long last reunited.

Happy birthday, Dad!

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February 25, 2011

Creative Musical Interlude: "Hitting the Bottle" in a Rimsky-Korsakov Sort of Way

Is there any doubt these guys have way too much time on their hands?

Related Posts:

Lisa Ono sings Corcovado

Perpetuum Jazzile sings Aquarela do Brasil

El Beethoven!

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February 24, 2011

Jonah Silverberg Update--Much Prayer Needed

Many of you have let me know you are praying for little Jonah Silverberg and his family. This is the latest from Marty and Val about their son Jonah, and it is not encouraging:

Tests revealed Jonah's Pulmonary veins, those that were rerouted 7 weeks ago and attached to his heart, are collapsing. Thus, when off the ventilator, he cannot breathe. Doctors told Val that it is only a matter of time before they completely collapse, and he will die. How much time is not known. We still hold out hope. We hope the surgeon who did the operation will still have one more option to try. We hope the Lord will have one more miracle for us.

I cannot imagine the anguish parents must go through when they hear these words from a doctor. Please redouble your prayer efforts for Jonah and his family.

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February 23, 2011

Please Pray for Jonah Silverberg

This has been weighing on my heart and in my prayers for some time. Marty and Val Silverberg are fellow BMM missionaries, serving in the Bronx, NY. For reasons that should be obvious, their ministry has not been an easy one.

Right now, their youngest son, Jonah (pictured above), is fighting for his life. My Dad has been following his story over at his blog, so I just post a portion of the most recent update here:

Jonah was taken off the ventilator last night. He couldn't breathe on his own. He was put back on the ventilator. Please pray for him to be able to breathe on his own, soon. We disagree w/ the decision to pull out his breathing tube so soon after a major surgery. We wish the doctors didn't do this. Taking out the tube and the putting back in was very stressful for Jonah. We think this will set back the recovery.

Jonah also has an infection in the stomach wound. Any infection for this little baby is extremely dangerous. Please keep praying for Jonah.

As you read through the updates at Dad's site (and I hope you will do just that) you come away at the tremendous burden this family bears, and the overwhelming grace with which they are bearing it. Every time I look at this picture I see my own youngest, Nathanael. My father-heart aches for Marty and Val right now.

Please pray for them. Pray for Baby Jonah, and pray for God's name to be lifted up in the Bronx.

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Book Review: Defiant Joy, The Remarkable Life and Impact of G.K. Chesterton

Roughly a decade ago, as I began my effort to make up for a perceived lack in my own theological reading, I began to encounter the name of G.K. Chesterton. He was quoted by people all points on the theological spectrum, from C.S. Lewis to John Piper to Rick Warren. Curious as to how this Roman Catholic Englishman could have such a profound impact on Protestant thought, I was delighted with the opportunity to review Defiant Joy, the Remarkable Life and Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte.

While it is indeed a biography, Defiant Joy focuses much more on Chesterton's prodigious body of works, while giving a basic outline of his life. In fact, after a couple of chapters discussing his formative years, Belmonte essentially organizes Chesterton's life around his major literary efforts. This approach was a help to me, giving me the information I needed to select which of Chesterton's works I would tackle first. (I have settled on The Man Who Was Thursday.)

If I have one complaint about the book, it is that the author does not go into any detail about his subject's conversion to Catholicism. I was looking for an explanation of how one with such a clear grasp of Grace could possibly bind himself to Rome.

Despite this detail, I came away with a much greater appreciation for Chesterton. Defiant Joy was the final motivation I needed to read some of his works.

Tragically necessary legal nonsense: I received this book for free as part of Thomas Nelson's Book Sneeze program in return for publishing this review. I am in no way obliged to give a positive opinion in my review.

Don't forget to check out our Amazon bookstore, where I have listed several titles I have found interesting over the years. Also, if you buy from there (or from any of the Amazon links on this page) a small percentage returns to us, helping to fund the existence of this website.

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February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day, Beautiful!

This is Itacyara, my Brazilian Bombshell, the lovely creature God gave me almost eleven years ago, beautiful beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

Happy Valentines Day, beibinha!

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February 9, 2011

Meanwhile, Back in Brazil...

In January our BMM missionaries in NE Brazil get together for their annual conference/business meeting (we are good Baptists, after all...). This year we did not attend as we are in the US on furlough. However colleague Vicki Reiner posted some beautiful pictures of Triunfo, the city where the conference was held. With her permission I share a few of them with you.

The city of Triunfo, from above.

One of the attractions of the city is a lift that goes from the hotel where the conference was held down to the city.

A closer look at the city. I think this was taken from the lift.

The quaint streets of Triunfo are similar to many streets I have seen in many cities throughout the Nordeste.

Say what you will about our Catholic friends, they build some magnificent buildings.

Inside, colleague Tim Reiner "preaches" in an unlikely setting. Martin Luther would be proud.

Besides its lovely setting, Triunfo has the distinction of being the birthplace of Brazil's most famous outlaw, Lampião.

Talk back to the missionary: Visited any picturesque places recently? Tell us about it in the comments section.

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Musical Interlude: El Beethoven Returns

We have featured a Latin version of Beethoven's incomparable Fifth Symphony before. I think I like this one better.

Via Babalu

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Book Review: Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest

Allegory can be a powerful literary tool. John Bunyan and C.S. Lewis (to name just two) have written allegories that are now indispensable classics of Christian literature. Yet allegory is not easy. It takes a special gift to make the story come alive, while at the same time remaining true to the larger truth one is seeking to allegorize.

In Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest (Multnomah, paperback, 182 pages) author Chuck Black sometimes succeeds in making the story of the wayward Sir Rowan soar above the allegory. For the most part, however, the storyline sticks like Velcro (tm) to the biblical narrative it is trying to illustrate.

Not that there is anything wrong per se with the message being transmitted. In the story a young Sir Rowan, having become a Knight of the King, is sidetracked by the glory of the professional arena. Unbeknown to him, his beloved land of Cameria is being destroyed around him. After being captured by bandits and left for dead Sir Rowan realizes that his mission is much more than jousting. At first he joins a desperate attempt to save Cameria. Failing at that, he joins with a mysterious knight in a bold attempt to confront the invaders of the nearby kingdom of Chessington.

Part of the "fun" of allegory is the using of the imagination to see the truth behind the story. In Sir Rowan no imagination is necessary. Chessington is very obviously Israel, and Cameria is...well...just put the beginning "c" after the "i". The land of Cameria even has cities like Kroywen and Eltteas (hint: read them backwards).

And when the names aren't thinly-veiled references to actual places, they are simply random. No attempt is made at a consistent linguistic pattern for this fantasy kingdom. One knight even has a horse named "Algonquin". How a horse in a fantasy kingdom came to share a name with a North American Indian tribe is left unexplained.

Not that Sir Rowan was devoid of any redeeming qualities. Mr. Black does a fine job of narrating fight scenes, battles, and other adventurous sequences. These alone would make the story rollicking fun for young readers. I feel, however, that because not enough attention was paid to the story, the theology behind it suffers.

Sadly obligatory legal gobbledygook: I received this book as part of the Multnomah Press Blogging for Books program. I am under no obligation, nor do I receive any recompense for, a positive review.

Talk back to the missionary: Read any good allegories lately? Tell us about them in the comments section.

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February 2, 2011

English Conference

A couple years ago we were approached by a couple young people from Peace Baptist Church in Juazeiro about the possibility of starting and English-language Sunday School class. The idea was to reach out to the many young people in the community who are studying English and welcome opportunities to practice it.

This ministry proved to be a great blessing. Towards the end of our time in Brazil one of the students, Maurícios, offered to continue the class after we left. He also shared his vision for a conference done in English and aimed specifically at unsaved English students in the area.

Last weekend that vision became a reality. The first annual English Conference was held. Here are some pictures I received from the event.

Maurício, in the middle, was the visionary and organizer of the conference.

Our colleague Jim Leanard was the speaker. Here he is shown with wife Julie and daughter JoyAnna, and members of the conference staff.

Some of the conference attendees.

The theme for the conference was "Who Am I". One of the theme songs was the Casting Crowns piece of the same name.

From what I have heard the conference was a blessing. Please pray for Maurício as he continues this ministry.

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February 1, 2011

Missionary-mobile Update

I am typing this from Maryland (just outside of DC). The missionary-mobile is in my possession, and I am waiting on the insurance adjuster to assess the damage. Once this has taken place I will take the van in for repairs, then drive it back to Florida.

A big thank you to all who have been praying for us as these events unfolded.

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