Who would have believed it?

I noticed something interesting this last week as I was studying for the resurrection sermon. I had never paid any attention to the time delay between Mary's encounter with the risen Christ and His appearance before the cowering group of disciples.

The first verse of John chapter 20 reads, “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance”. That certainly fits with our ideas of a sunrise resurrection. However, here is where I made my small discovery. In verse 19 we skip to a much later hour, “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Very early in the morning, Mary has a wonderful encounter with Jesus and goes back to tell the disciples. Ten to twelve hours later they are sitting together in a locked room fearing for their lives. Did anyone believe her story? Did anyone actually believe that she had seen the risen Lord or did they discount her story as the result of severe and prolonged grief-ridden trauma on an already over-emotional lady? After all, she was the same lady who poured out a whole year’s salary on Jesus’ feet.

I wonder what the disciples talked about all day. Did they debate the scriptures? Did someone create a biblical defense for a crucified and resurrected messiah? Or did they simply contemplate the different methods of possibly leaving town without suffering the same fate as Jesus?

I wonder why Jesus chose to make them wait. More importantly, I wonder why He makes me wait. How do the uncomfortable moments of waiting and wondering, worried and distressed, contribute to my growth and my ability to continue to trust the Savior?

I am sure that we have all felt this type of intensely agonizing doubt. We all must learn to embrace the reality that the rewards of His revelation (in His time) bring great joy.

“After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord”. John 20:20

New lessons learned...

CELebracion is the name of our new church plant. We knew that beginning something new would be a lot of fun...and from the pic you can see that we were right. However, there have been a few lessons that maybe we didn't see coming.

1) Preaching can be a lot more fun and fulfilling when there is more participation. It can get uncomfortable, but have you ever wondered what would happen if the congregation actually responded to the questions that we place throughout our sermons? What if they actually ask a few questions of their own? Wouldn't it encourage our people to be more engaged with God and His word? Wouldn't it make us have to respond in authentic and relevant ways? We would have to scratch where it itches. We might also get the privilege of simply saying, "Wow! Great question! I don't know. We'll have to study that one together".

2) Also, New christians challenge our religion. Just like week, we were praying for a couple from a new rural congregation. The husband was involved in a hit-and-run accident. He was hit by a motorcycle as he travelled home on his bicycle. His face caught the worst of the damage as he landed on the pavement. The family spent 4 days in Tegucigalpa trying to get the one plastic surgeon at the public hospital to work him in. Eventually, they gave up and came back to Siguatepeque. As the principal bread winner in his home, the family has suffered from his lost wages.

After praying for this family, one of our newest believers stands up and admonishes the congregation, "Is that it? I thought that we were going to be a church of action?" Needless to say, we had to respond. I grabbed a young man's hat and placed it where everyone could give. Our giving was more generous than the usual weekly offering and probably got the family through a week or so of groceries.

Another lesson learned, true Christianity is actually putting the compassion of Christ into action. Praise His name!

Notes on a page...

Last night, I was looking through an old Theology Proper textbook that we used long ago in our Mobile Bible Institute. I noticed that most of the pages had been filled with underlined passages and scribbled notes. About half of them I easily recognized as my handwriting, but the other notes were even more obvious. My dear friend, Jorge Espinal, had written the other notes in his distinctive cursive style.

At different times, both Jorge Espinal and I used the same book to teach different groups of rural pastors. The Mobile Bible Institute was really a fulfillment of his dream (along with Paul Talley) to make theological education available to the poor, bi-vocational pastors of Honduras and Nicaragua. It began in 1994 and continues today in many different countries.

You see, I was on a bus travelling to teach an MBI group last week when I received a text message about Jorge's death. His long battle with cancer was finally over. A large group of us had spent a few hours with the family and friends the night before and we knew that it was only a matter of a very short time. I had been given the privilege a week earlier to actually share a few words with Jorge. It felt like we were saying goodbye and I will always cherish the gift of that moment.

Last night, as I flipped through the pages, I sat in silence, praising God for my friend, his life and his legacy. His notes were not simply written on these pages but also on the reality of my heart....knowing that his kindness and generosity have helped to shape so many of us. Thank you, Jesus....Praise be to your name!

Have you ever seen a miracle?

As a new church here in Honduras, we have been studying through the Gospel of John. For me, it has been refreshing to see the wonder of Jesus, His words and His miracles. We see Jesus' miracles, we are amazed at His glory and we receive the grace that we need to worship Him. It is a wonderful pattern.

This week, I have been studying the resurrection of Lazareth in chapter 11. The story has all the makings of a classic novel or an award-winning movie: great friendships, tragic sickness, misunderstandings, compassion and grief. All of this culminates in an over-the-top display of power and glory as Jesus calls Lazareth away from his 4-day taste of eternity. I can only begin to imagine the emotions that were displayed as Mary and Martha welcome back their dear brother and Jesus enjoys the fellowship of His dear friends.

However, here's the rub, not everyone appreciated the miracle. Some of the witnesses were not able to see the goodness of Jesus and were frightened by His power and the inevitable change that He would have on their lives. Some of the little tattletales ran back to the religious authorities and stirred up their commitment to doing away with the radical teacher. They knew that their power was being threatened. Their way of life could not continue with a miracle worker in their midst.

How about you? Do you realize what a radical change He is planning in your life? Just a chapter earlier Jesus promises the wonderful proposition of "life in abundance" as the new norm for those who are living in His kingdom. See His glory. Be convinced. Receive grace to follow Him through your life of worship!

Put it in the ground....

Yesterday, while I was running, (Yes, actual excercise) I noticed something strange about our avocado trees. You see, we planted those trees about four or five years ago and although they had grown to about 6 feet tall, we had never seen any kind of flower and we wondered if they would ever produce anything. Well, yesterday, I noticed that one side of the tree was full of the cutest little avocados you have ever seen. Some are about the size of a nickle. Wow, this certainly is a lesson in planting and harvesting.

Way back, when we were about to plant these trees, some friends warned us to have some realistic expectations. "Avocado trees take a long time to produce" was their warning. To be honest, that was a little disheartening to me. I questioned whether or not I was willing to wait that long. Should I even bother?

Do you ever feel that way about your ministry or your church? It's going to take forever for this new group to get off the ground. It will be years before we ever see any fruit or growth. Is it worth the wait? It will be years before these people change and are willing to make real changes in the lives?

Well, here's my thought. Start it! Plant it! Make the long-term investment. If it's going to take a few years to actually see some fruit, then you had better hurry up and get it in the ground!

Your Dad?

Dear Billy,

Thanks so much for your note. I understand now why it has been so long since we last spoke. Please know that I understand what you are going through. Everybody has doubts. Please do not feel pressure from us....or from anybody else for that matter. From your email I can tell that you have been getting a lot of advice. That's okay. But, be careful to evaluate the nature of their advice. Heartfelt, concerned counsel from mature believers who really love you and the Lord is what you desperately need. But remember, you, as a family, must make these hard decisions about the course your life is taking!

I sensed a great deal of anger when you wrote about the conversation with your Dad. You need to cut him a little slack. I don't agree with everything that he said, but please understand that this is very difficult for him. He feels like he is losing his son. He feels like you have rejected the path that he has offered you and he takes it personally. He also may be thinking that your decision to become a missionary is somehow a criticism of what he has done with his life. I really hope that this is not the case. You will have to do some self-examination on that one. We all must be very careful not to judge others because of the career decisions they have made. I don't need that....you don't either....and I really don't think that your Dad deserves it either.

By the way, there is nothing wrong with being a successful businessman. Serving God is not exclusive to foreign missionaries....or even "full-time" ministry positions. God is glorified by business men who put Him first in the way that they run their business, their treatment of employees, their integrity towards laws and taxes and their generous use of the profits as investments in the kingdom of God. God's plan is huge and intricate and involves a wide variety of gifts and personalities. Try to understand that your father is trying to follow Christ in his own way. Has he made mistakes? Of course. Does he have regrets? Certainly. But he loves Jesus and he loves you. For right now, that should be enough and you should strive to resolve your conflict as soon as possible. You need to be as spiritually healthy as possible in order to clearly evaluate the decisions that lay before you.

Go see you Dad....have lunch....calm down....listen and try to hear his heart. It doesn't mean that you have to agree with him, but you can love him right where he is.

Maybe then your heavenly Father can speak more clearly to your concerns!

I'll write later this week....your Dad said some things about money that got me thinking...

Praying for you...th

Dear Billy: Furlough

Dear Billy,

Sorry for the delay. The front end of our trip back to the states for furlough was more eventful than we had foreseen. Who knew that we would experience what the world is calling a coup d’état? There had been some roads blocked by protesters during the first few days of the week, so we began to wonder if we were going to be able to make our flights. The airport in San Pedro Sula is about two hours from our home and some of our friends missed their flights because of the protesting tactics. It’s never a good idea to drive through an angry tire-burning mob. Literally, those are words to live by!

To make a really long story somewhat shorter, we jumped the gun a little and hitched a ride with some friends who had a large bus only half-full of short-termers. We arrived in San Pedro without incident and waited at our friend’s house. They were great hosts and good sports, especially when our one-night stay became two nights because of the flight delays caused by the military curfew. On a side note, it was really strange to watch all of the violence that CNN was reporting and then go downtown and see everyone working and playing like normal. The mall was full of people, laughing and spending like crazy. It made us wonder about all the news that we had seen in the past. We were already cynical about the media, but now, we are convinced that there’s not an ounce of truth in it.

Well, here we are in North Carolina, beginning a 3 ½ month furlough. It is great to be here. Our church experience here is enriching. We have some great friends here and the kids have begun to catch up with their buddies from before. It’s hard to be away from family for years at a time, but it seems like we can get up to date in a hurry. In the long run, I probably get to spend more time with my parents than my other siblings. I just have to wait a few years to cram it all in.
Even though you have a while to think this through, it would be a good idea to begin contemplating the “big five” of furlough. There are other furlough concerns, but nothing happens without these.

First, you must consider location. Where are we going to spend furlough? Should you be near your family? Where are the majority of your supporting churches located? How about a church family who can be encouraging during your stay? Is there some kind of house that you can borrow? For us, with four children, living with family was not an option. Somehow, in God’s wisdom and providence, He has always provided a place for us to stay, a house for us to borrow. Some have required some work and others have been nearly maintenance-free. For a long time we stored furniture and mattresses, but the mold began to take over, as well as the challenge of setting up house each time. God has amazed us by His provision through His people.

Second, there is the question of transportation. Should you purchase a furlough vehicle and then try and sell it a few months later? It’s not a bad option if you have the funds and can find a great deal on a vehicle that would be easy to sell. We tried that several times and the last time was about 5 years ago. Things got pretty scary leading up to our flight out. We sold it on the evening of the last possible day. I believe that the buyer felt sorry for us. It was too tense for me. We have also had the experience of having a car loaned to us during furlough. That’s really great, but it is not without its share of tension. There is a constant fear of what could possibly happen, even if the insurance coverage is good. Let me share with you what happened to me two nights ago with our borrowed car.

This coming Friday is Lizzy’s birthday so Kathee and I, along with Abi went on Monday night to the brand-new Walmart to look for presents for Lizzy, as well as to purchase all the food-stuff for the party that we are planning at the lake.
It was raining a bunch when we came out of the store and we noticed the new parking lot and how the water seemed to really flow out of the way. We came to a part in the long drive-way that was not well-lit and we could not see that the water was backing up. We drove into about a foot of water and the car stalled. About an hour later, at about midnight, I finally called my Dad to come and pull us out of the dark Walmart driveway. The mechanic told me today that the motor was completely ruined and that we would have to spend about $1000 if we can find a used motor and about $2500 if we try and repair the old one. We aren’t really sure about what we are going to do, but this is a great time for all of us to remember the sovereignty of God and the reality of His constant provision.

Third, you must find a reliable person on the mission field to take care of your home while you are away. You have to think about leaving enough cash to handle all of your expenses. Since, setting up house can initially be such an involved endeavor, you will most likely maintain your rental home and try to find someone in whom you can really trust who can make sure that everything is functioning well when you return. We received a message a few days ago from our friends that are staying in our house in Honduras. They said that the door locks look like someone had tried to break into our home last week. It doesn’t take long for neighbors to realize that there is less movement and that there are moments when no one is home. You have to find someone who is really responsible and honest.
It is also helpful if you can find a friend who needs the place to stay while you are gone. Later this month, a couple of new missionaries are going to move into our house for about 3 months. This gives them time to find a place of their own and they can drive our car while they are planning out their own purchases. It’s definitely a win-win situation.

Fourth, try to create a travel schedule that works for the whole family. As much as you will need to visit churches (The ones that support you, as well as new, possible supporting churches), please make time for a relatively normal family life. Try and contact churches as soon as possible and try to fit them in, but realize that it may not be possible to spend a weekend with everybody. In some cases, you might simply have to have lunch with the pastor and try to meet with the mission’s committee (If they have one). Also, you will need to schedule vacation time or it will never happen.

Also, be careful to talk with pastors about their expectations. I was able to preach last week at the morning and evening services at my home church. In two weeks, I will be travelling to a large Baptist church where I will preach twice in the morning services. This week, Kathee and I were with a great supporting church that wants me to keep it to 5 minutes in the two morning services, share 15 minutes with the children’s group and share another 20 minutes in an adult Sunday School class. It can be a challenge, but we must be prepared and flexible. We all need a clear biblical understanding of the importance of the local body of believers and realize that our job is to try and stimulate interest in the spread of the gospel throughout the world. In short, ask questions and find out what they need. Even ask about attire. Some expect ties and jackets while others are super-casual. Also, don’t be boring or long-winded. You need to create and cultivate long-term relationships with churches and individuals who are excited about what God is doing through you in His world. Don’t ever forget the big picture.

Fifth, you need to be careful about furlough money. Everything will be more expensive back in the states than you remember. Many of the tricks that you have learned on the field that allow you to stretch the missionary income will not be available for several months. Fruits and vegetables will no longer be cheap and health care will scare you to death. If you are like me, you won’t buy any clothes for the two or three years in between furloughs and it will be nearly impossible for you to avoid all of the great “deals”. Go slow. Be careful.

Some organizations allow furloughing missionaries to raise their salary during furlough. We have never had the donations to allow us to do that, but if your case is different, do not hesitate to take good and prudent advantage of God’s provision. Remember, if you are not careful about your purchases, you will accrue significant debt during the furlough months that will complicate your finances during your next term. If that sounds more like a confession than a warning, then you have heard me well.

Thanks for praying for us.

In Him, Tim