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Quote to Ponder

Get on fire for God and people will come out to watch you burn.

Quote to Ponder

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -C.T. Studd

Tell the World, Part II

Here is a scenario that comes up from time to time;
"Hey man, how is it going?"
"Not bad, what's up?"
"Well I have some good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"

Have you noticed that more often than not, people will ask for the bad news before the good? Especially if the two are related, the bad news can actually bring context to the good news. For the sake of making my point, let's have the person ask for the good news first.

"I'll take the good news first"
"Ok, the good news is that you won't have to go to jail because someone paid the fine for you".

Can you see how this would be strange and even insulting to the person? Why in the world would you even have to tell me something like this, they may wonder.

Watch what happens when the bad news is told first.
"I am sorry to have to tell you this, but you have been charged with wreckless driving for speeding through a zone clearly marked for deaf kids. You are going to have to go to prison."

Do you see how the good news now actually makes sense? It is no longer foolish or even insulting. The bad news makes the good news "good".

In my last post we took a hard look at the Law of God, the Ten Commandments. The bad news is that none of us are good. And when we stand before God on the Day of Judgement, we will give account for our actions. And the standard will be God's perfect and Holy Law. We have all been caught by the Law and deserve to be punished for breaking it. Because He is a good Judge, He must punish us and send us to Hell.

But here is where the good news comes in. Around 2,000 years ago, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay the fine for us. The Bible says that He "gave himself as a ransom for all men" (I Timothy 2:6). If we repent (turn from) our sins (lying, stealing, adultery, etc...) and put our faith in Jesus Christ then God will accept the sacrifice of his Son as payment for our transgression.

Do you see how great this news is? That is why it is called the gospel, or the good news.

Tell the World

Would you consider yourself to be a good person? I think most people would probably say they are. They would justify this by saying that they try to do things right and have done more good than bad. And in an age of moral relativism who knows what good even means?

Jesus was once approached by a young man who asked him what he should do to inherit eternal life. Notice that he call Jesus "good teacher". And Jesus, rather than just answering the question, comes back with one of his own. "Why do you call me good? No one is good- except God alone".

How are we to say that we are good when Jesus himself says that "no one is good". What kind of standard must he be referring to? For surely I am a good person.

Jesus' standard for Good is the Law given in the Ten Commandments! When we measure ourselves against the unshakeable, eternal, and very politically incorrect Law of God, we realize very quickly that none of us are good.

Here is a good test for you to see whether or not you are a good person (in God's eyes).

Have you ever told a lie? Even a small little lie? If so, what does that make you (what do we call people who tell lies?)?

Have you ever stolen anything? Money, a piece of gum, a little something from school or work? What does that make you?

Here is a big one. Have you ever committed adultery? Did you know that Jesus said that if you look at a woman with lust in your heart you have already committed adultery?

If you are honest with your self, you will realize that you (as I am) are a liar, thief and an adulterer. And that is only three of the ten Commandments!

Paul says that he would not have know what sin was apart from the Law. Without us measuring our lives against God's standard, we will always think we are good- or at least better than others.

One day we will all be judged by God- and the standard will be perfection. Will you be guilty or innocent? In light of what you just admitted to yourself and God, will He let you into Heaven or will He send you to Hell?

If your honest assessment is that you would be sent to Hell (because there is no place for liars, fornicators, homosexuals, perverts, thieves in Heaven- see here and here) then I hope this concerns you.

So what are you going to do about it?

Before you read this post, please click here and read Katie's awesome post titled "Here I am to Worship".

What a great reminder that is to all of us who claim Christ as our Lord. Having grown up in a soccer crazed nation (Brazil) where your commitment to your team and the game is often the biggest thing in your life, I often saw outrageous demonstrations of devotion for one's team. No one ever thought it was weird- it was cool and funny and even motivating. We would pack the Maracana Stadium and jump and chant our allegiance to our team!

How much more should we be outrageous in our love for our Savior. He gave us the most outrageous demonstration of love- the giver of life became obedient to death!
I pray that I would desire to worship and honor my God more than anything else in my life.

Reading Someone Else's Mail

Have you ever read a note that was not intended to go to you and found it really hard to understand what it was talking about? I know that around my office there will often be post-it notes that are not decipherable to anyone expect for me. I know what the content is and for what purpose it should be used.

In talking with some friends this morning, we discussed the fact that many people don't understand the Bible at all. Sure, none of us know every thing about it or can fully understand God, yet many are able to read and understand what it teaches.

The Word of God is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12) and I am to "do [my] best to present [myself] to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:16).
But how exactly are we to handle God's Word if we do not understand it? How can we apply to our lives that which we do not comprehend?

II Corinthians 4:4 states that "The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." The apostle Paul prays in Ephesians 1:18 that "the eyes of your heart may be enlightened" that we may understand who God is.

God inspired men to write His Word as a "huge post-it" to his children (John 1:12 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"). It is impossible for someone to understand the Scriptures if they are not a child of God! Sure you may be able to have some head knowledge about it and pick up some key points, but if the eyes of you heart are not opened to the truths of the gospel, it will all seem like foolishness.

So I want to encourage you with the following. Quit reading someone else's mail. Become part of the family of God and pray that He would reveal Himself to you and teach you His Word.

As always, I'd love to hear you from you.

PS. You may want to check out a great site called Way of the Master

You Need to Know God!!!

We live in an age where privacy seems to be everyone's top concern. So, in order to be hip and pc, I will tell the story of one of our students but changed their name to "Agnes" (any relation to a girl in our Youth Group with first name Agnes is purely non-coincidental). Some of the details of this may be a little off but here I the gist of the story.

During PE class at her school, Agnes decided to stand on the bleachers and yell out, "If you guys don't know God you need to get to know him because he is awesome. You should also come to H2O (our youth program) to learn more about him".
Way to go Agnes! Thanks for your boldness and awesome example.

Now if we cold only get Alison to do the same...

Prayer Request!


There were several fatal accidents in Lexington County over the weekend. Among them were two 16 year old students at LHS and a 20 year old college student (attended White Knoll High School). Please pray for their families and for all those affected by this tragedy.

When things like this happen, most of us come face to face with the fact that we are mortal and that our time to die will one day come. I pray we would be encouraged to share our faith with others even more during the next few weeks.

If my People Would Pray

Last night my house was overrun with Estrogen. My son and I were grossly out-numbered as Katie had 3 girls from her Bible Study group come spend the night. They did all the usual girl stuff- burped, flatulated, and talked about boys. Ok, maybe they didn't do that but they did watch "Pride and Prejudice" (I have to confess that they all fell asleep and I stayed up until 1 am watching it. Don't tell anyone, ok?).

Right before they all went to sleep last night in our living room, they asked if I would wake them up at 6:15 am this morning. I enquired as to the reason for this irrational request and they explained to me that they were meting some other girls at Lexington High School to pray for their school! I was so impressed by their evident desire to see the lost come to know Jesus.

I am reminded of II Chronicles 7:14, 15 which states that "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." What an encouragement it was for me to know that these girls and my wife were seeking to do just that.

I am confident that God is preparing to do awesome things in Lexington. And I am convinced that it will not be because of any program that a church will offer or even a sermon series. It will all begin with prayer. It begins with us humbling ourselves and falling on our faces before Almighty God in repentance and in longing for Him. He promises (God always keeps His word) that He will forgive our sins and will heal our land.

I hope this encourages you today as you seek to do your part in bringing God's Kingdom to earth!

Be a blessing!

One-a-Day

I don't know if you have noticed yet that we live in a very health conscious society. Everyone wants to look like Johnny Bravo (well, maybe not the girls). We are constantly bombarded with ads of healthy foods, supplements and vitamins. Well this post is not about vitamins or anything like that. It is about the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament.

Have you ever noticed that there are 31 chapters in Proverbs? And that some months have 31 days (I hope you all answered "yes" to the last question)? So what if we read one chapter of proverbs each day for the next month?
So read on, be blessed and share your thoughts here. We'd love to hear what God is teaching you!

Gabe waking up on his B-day


Gabe's 2nd Birthday

Wow, my little man is 2! Next think you know he will be married. Well, maybe not quite yet but that is certainly how it feels. I cannot believe that Katie and I have had the honor of being parents for two years now. Time goes by so fast...

Gabe @ his B-Day Partay

Gabe's Party was a hit. All the Paparazzi were there as well as friends and family. We swam, played soccer, baseball, pigged-out and opened an insane number of presents.

Katie, Gabe and presents galore

Needless to say, the party wore us out. Katie, Gabe and I all slept from 9 pm to 8 am!!! What a bunch of party animals!!!

Gabe's Birthday Suit - Size 2

Back in the US

Katie, Gabe and I had the most amazing vacation over the past two weeks. And I think my wife deserves the title of Super Woman for what she had to endure on her way down to Brazil.

Picture this... You and your 2 year old son (who weighs a hefty 35 lbs.) take three flights (one of them being about 8 hours long) to a foreign country, where you are only somwhat familiar with the language. Not only that, but your son has to sit on your lap for the entire duration of each flight! You cannot stretch out, get up, or even make your bladder gladder.

As if that were not enough, you also have to take a stroller, car seat, 2 suitcases, a diaper bag, and a backpack.

Katie, I am so amazed that you did all of that so we could be together. What an amzing expression of your love for me and for our family. I love you.

A Real(ly) Memorial Weekend


“Selling Memory Insurance”, read a sign outside a photo-developing store. I have always been so amused at that sign; how clever it is and how it gets to your heart. It brought a smile to my face every time I drove by it.

I have several precious memories in my life ranging from my childhood in Brazil to my current stage in life as a husband and father. Memories like having to prod my wife to respond to my request of marriage (she hugged me and cried but failed to say yes at first) and that of holding my son after he was born.

Well, this weekend will go into my memory bank for a long time. I say this not only due to unexpected challenges that arose prior to our mission trip, but mainly because of something my almost two year old son said to me.

Last night, (Sunday May 28) as I put my son in bed, I held him and told him (in Portuguese) that I would be leaving for about 10 days and that the next time I got to put him in bed we would be in Brazil. Little did I know that he understood what I was telling him. Just a few hours before leaving for the airport, in the midst of the chaos that took over my office, Gabe said his first sentence. With his sweet eyes fixed on his father he expressed the desire of his heart.

“Don’t go” he said to me. I looked across the hall where one of our youth volunteers mouthed back to me what Gabe had said. We were both amazed.

I can't help but think of the amazement in the eyes of Jesus' disciples when they heard them say the He would never leave them. Jesus was telling them that they would never have to ask Jesus no to go, because he promised not to.

If first impressions (and first sentences) really last forever, I will never forget the words of my son. And Gabe, daddy will be with you soon in Brazil.