Season Greetings

Christmas is alwas a ver hectic period, and it isn´t before a couple of days that one gets enough time to think and regain contact with the world. So, for those who are reading this, I hope you had a great Christmas celebration, and I send my best wishes for 2007.

Christmas is nicer when children are there to give the joy and excitement of opening presents, and giving families a stronger reason to come together. Alejandro and Sara, my nephew and niece provided the joyful part to our family's celebration.

Last Sunday, the service at the Vineyard Church went well, praise the Lord. It was the first time I preached on Christmas issues. One of the verses I used is the following:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end Is 9:6-7a

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May this peace that only Jesus brings, reign in your heart and life!

Finally in La Paz. The trip could always be worse. Just some tasters of what the journey was: In Madrid the flight was postponed 14 hours due to a sick pilot. It wasn´t that bad since I got extra time with my friend Hugo, and could enjoy his hospitality. The day after, flight "on time" left with an extra hour delay. Arrival in Santa Cruz, picking up the borading pass ... and then 2.5 hours delay ... for a 1 h flight. After watching the news on CNN (yes my parents have cable TV) I found myself thanking God that I wasn´t amongst those who were left behind due to weather conditions.

As recommended, I took the first 24hrs with much ease, since at this altitude (3.800 meters above the level of the sea) you need to be careful when coming from lower altitudes. Some coca-mate helps a lot.

It is always so good to see the nephew and niece, they are full of life. Today some extra Christmas shopping will be done in the afternoon. Tomorrow I have to preach at the Vineyard Church in La Paz, so if you read this, please pray for that.

Blessings from La Paz.

Airport

Well, I'm now at the airport in Brussels waiting for my flight to Madrid where i'm planning to spend some hours with my very good friend Hugo Bianchi, and later in the evening take the flight to Bolivia. Yes, this year Christmas at my parent's place, what a blessing. I will be back in Belgium on January 5th, but will keep blogging from Bolivia.

ONLY

The Post-Methodist blog launched some discussion on what I would call the "politically incorrect" portions of the Scripture. Yeah, Bible believers are having hard times to communicate a message that should be refreshing and liberating for the people. Unfortunately, most of the outsiders will consider Christians as the guy in the cartoon above: burdened by the heaviest rules imposed by men, and still kept by sin.

Of course there is hope: it is only to be found in Jesus, but then it is politically incorrect to say that there is ONLY one truth, one life and one way: Jesus. I now struggle with the choice between answering to the needs of people with the truth of the Gospel, or compromising for the sake of correctness. Well, aparently i'm not alone with this kind of struggle and confrontation with the post enlightened thinking.

Work It Out Between You

12-14"Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn't he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn't he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn't want to lose even one of these simple believers.

15-17"If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love.

18-20"Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." (The Message)

Matthew 5

The Beatitudes

1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

PSALM 41

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.

2 The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;
he will bless him in the land
and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.

3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed
and restore him from his bed of illness.

4 I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies say of me in malice,
"When will he die and his name perish?"

6 Whenever one comes to see me,
he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
then he goes out and spreads it abroad.

7 All my enemies whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,

8 "A vile disease has beset him;
he will never get up from the place where he lies."

9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted,
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.

10 But you, O LORD, have mercy on me;
raise me up, that I may repay them.

11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12 In my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.

13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.

Living after PhD defence

Well, dear friends, it is not easy and evident to continue life without this Damocles Sword on your head. It is a principle that one often gets so used to a "prison" living that eventually when the new freedom arrives one does not know how to live in freedom. (Any philosophical similarities with what is happening in some countries is purely coincidence).

Last sunday, I had the privilege to preach in Church, refocusing once again on the meaning of Jesus' Kingdom Gospel, and used the amongst others, the text of Is 61.1-2 “The Spirit of God is upon me and has anointed me to announce fresh and glad news to the meek, to the depressed, God sent me to wrap firmly the hearts that have been broken into pieces; to proclaim freedom, liberty to those who were brought into captivity and to open the jails of those who are in bondage; to announce the delightful year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our Lord, to comfort all that mourn” (Is 61.1-2 free version A). Of course it meant to me a conforting message of freedom and starting a new step in my life.

One week before, we had the baptism service of the church. Photos are available at the Church's site. It was such a nice service and an opportunity to see many friends from old times.