Kobe, the circus dog

you learn something new everyday...today it wasn't anything deep or profound, but definitely something fun for the day. Here in Peru you have to put your flag up on national holidays and today is Tacna's independence day. Though it isn't national, we have to put the flags up for 3 days. So I climbed up the ladder onto the roof to place the colored piece of cloth on high and as I was coming downour dog Kobe starts running around the ladder because he sees me. When I was almost all the way down, a few rungs from the bottom, he stood up on the second rung. I called him up just to try because chiqui had told me seconds earlier that she has seen dogs that can climb up ladders. He actually started climbing up the ladder. we didn't want him to get too high because he is kind of a clumbsy dog and who knows what could happen.

enjoy the video.

on another note, we had our first mascot's competition. The kids brought a range of animals from dogs to roosters and parrots. It was fun and the kids and community were excited. Here are a couple of photos of the contestants.

Thoughts from Critical Thinking

In 2008 I had to create a blog to put all of my homework assignments from a critical thinking class. It was probably the best class I have ever taken because it stretched me incredible to think critically, go figure. This helped me try to understand how skeptics and non-believers think to enable me to try to approach them from their point of view. I do now recommend the class to new christians at all, because it is very anti-religion and is very hard to digest mentally.

But for those of you who are interested, here are my homework assignments. I warn you that they are written from a Christian perspective, but they are not always evangelical. Sometimes I had to answer what the person was trying to teach and not exactly what I believe. But at other times I was able to try to critically analyze their thoughts and arguments and present a thought through perspective. Also, thoughts and ideas are always changing and I am sure that much of what I wrote a year ago I do not believe exactly as I did. For example, today I am more convinced that nonviolence is an absolute to work the conscience is the way of Jesus and not the use of power to enforce good.

Hope you enjoy and that your minds are used as the muscles they are!

www.noverimte.blogspot.com

thoughts provoked on violence

I was reading jake's blog this morning and my thoughts were re-awakened and provoked by the post and comments on violence. read more @ http://nosotros-thetwoofus.blogspot.com/

Here is what I thought:

"Am I leading a rebellion, that you come at me with clubs and swords?" - Luke 22:52
"Put your sword back in its place...for all who draw the sword will die by the sword"
-Matt 26:52
Our greatest example, Jesus our Lord and Savior, not only taught us a higher road, but lived it and has shown us that it is true and truth always wins in the end. He was able to call on legions of angels, but that would not fix the root of the problem, one's conscience. If we are to look for defeat, we look to defeat evil with love, not to fight evil with evil (Rom 12). Why do we feel we have to make things right? Is that not God's job? We are called to love our enemies and pray for those that persecute you, and "not to resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take you tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go a mile, go with him two miles..." You get the point.

Why is it that when it comes to countries (lines made to seperate one people) do we feel it is okay to justify what the Bible clearly teaches against? We are justified to use force and to kill to make things right, to defend people and a piece of colored cloth (our flags). And this superseeds fighting with love and mercy as we are taught to defend His kingdom. That which we defend we are a part of. Which will we choose when the two collide, country or kingdom?

I suggest to all reading Tolstoi's The Kingdom of God is within you, and Lee Camp's Mere Discipleship. They will make you think, as good books do.

It all comes down to how we hope to change the world, by force or by love, reaching to their conscience so they will make the decision to love in return and do what is right because it is right, and not because of fear of power. With power we will only touch the surface, make things right on the outside. Oh but with love we will change all of their being, God will change.

When did Jesus or the disciples ever use power to reach out to others? It was always in love, and that will mean we will suffer, as we were promised to (one of the promises we often forget). 1 Peter 2:20, Phil 2, Hebrews 2, etc.

Obviously you can see I am deeply convicted by our mistake of using power for good over using love. It makes things less efficient, what we really hate. It is harder. It is slower. And what's worse, it takes the power out of our hands and puts it in God's so he can work in others. He did not call us to make all things right, he called us to love him, pick up our cross and follow in his footsteps.

more Chiqui

All Precautions Necessary

there has been a big campaign here in peru about taking all precautions towards the swine flu...i think we took it too far with our dog Kobe.

Bonfire, smores, and no beach

i forgot to mention a few weeks ago that we had a nice little get together with the youth group. it is always good to hang out and build relationships with the kids, becuase that is the catalyst for having great disciples. in the small things the youth see the real you and learn from our actions what our teachings try to convey. so we hung out after youth group and made a bonfire next to the church in the dirt and made some peruvian style smores...i haven't had a one smore good in my life. good times.

chiqui's "pancita"

its not the best picture but you get the point...she has a little belly now.

Peruvian Hummingbirds

as i was preparing the sermon on the patio this morning i was visited by many little friends. the other day i mentioned the hummingbird that came into the house, well now that we have a camera i decided to take a couple pictures of my friends here. there is a two-tailed hummingbird that is really beautiful. i sometimes just sit on the patio in prayer and observing his beautiful creation.

Support?

no news just yet, but we hope that you are all praying for us. this is a pretty stressful time, but in the end we don't stress out too much because it is in God's hands and we know we are doing what He desires. So everything else will fall into place.

Thank you everyone for your concerns and questions and prayers...especially the prayers. They have strengthened us. We love you all and we will keep you all updated with whatever news we hear from CCV.