11 Getting Baptized this Week

One of our leaders told me today that he recently decided to teach some believers how simple people could use story telling to start new house churches.  He said most of the Chrisitans in his area are illiterate or barely literate and he wanted to equip them to share the gospel and start house churches using storytelling. 

He told them 6 stories, creation, the creation of spirits, the fall of man and a couple more and ended with the ten commandments.  He then told them how they could use those stories to explain to others the man's need for Christ.

He was excited when three of the believers he shared with came back soon after and had implemented what he said.  The result is that there will be a baptism this week for 11 new believers! One of the three, a young man named Roman shared with his father and the rest of his family who were not believers.  They not only put their faith in Christ, but donated land to the church. Praise God for what he's doing!

Thanksgiving

I know, I know, Thanksgiving was almost 2 weeks ago.  Better late than never I guess.  We really do have a lot to be thankful for and had an awesome thanksgiving celebration.  Trish got home on Thursday from the appendectomy she had on Tuesday, so we postponed it a day and celebrated on Friday. 

We had about 30 people over for a feast.  Here's the leftovers:

We baked 4 chickens, had sweet potato casserole, corn, biriyani, rice, dahl, chutney, a spicy shrimp curry, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, fruit salad, green beans and of course lots of desserts. 

Victoria's teacher Megan went to a lot of effort to decorate for thanksgiving.  It was really nice.  What I like most about what she did was her thanksgiving turkey.  She put up a picture of a turkey and had cut feathers out of construction paper and had markers for people to write what they were thankful for and then they taped them to the turkey.  Here's a picture when the turkey was about half filled with feathers (I didn't get a picture of it complete):

Some of the things people were thankful for include:

I'm thankful Trish is home without her appendix.
I'm thankful for the good food.
I'm thankful for God sending his son to die for me.
I'm thankful to be born as a human being (written by a buddhist friend)
God's perfect timing, confirming my calling in Calcutta
I'm thankful that God is helping me always

We had a great time which was followed by a flour bomb war.  I've made a facebook photo album which you can view here.

Caution, Danger

Trish and I were waiting at the Metro Station in Delhi today on the way back from a doctor's appointment and saw a man sitting on the ledge next to this pole which has a sign in Hindi with a skull and cross-bones. Someone told him something and he got up looking rather frightened. I then read the sign. It's written in Hindi and it's translation is "Caution, Danger 25,000 volts. Don't touch."

Trish's comment was that she's surprised it's not written in English as well.

Victoria's Leading a Small Group

I'm really proud of my daughter. She was asked by one of the ladies in our house fellowship if she'd consider leading a small group for the teenagers and pre-teens. Victoria very seriously prayed about it and enlisted prayer from several friends and family members before answering. She was really considering carefully whether she was qualified or able and whether this was what God was calling her to do.

After a week or so, she agreed to lead the group. This week, they had their first small group meeting. They talked about encouragement, wisdom and looked at Scripture regarding how God has used young people. They are all starting to keep journals and will be meeting weekly. Their parents report that they all really enjoyed it and are looking forward to meeting again next week. Victoria seems to have her own little discipleship group now.

It's exciting to see Victoria use her gifts to serve the Lord in this way.

Lessons from Joseph - Saving

Last week Pastor Rajesh Hans was sharing with me something that God has been teaching him from the life of Joseph. He said that Joseph stored up during the years of plenty so that there was enough during the years of famine. He said that he realized he too needed to save for when there's not enough.

Rajesh, like many pastors really struggles to get by on the meager offerings of his church members. Many of the church members earn less than $3 per day. We've hired him to record some Bible stories and now to oversee some of our small groups. This helps out financially, but he says now that he's earning some, he's really got to be disciplined like Joseph in order to have enough when lean times come.

Pray for Rajesh and other pastors to be good stewards of the resources God entrusts to them and to save for the years of famine.

Building the Church vs. Building the Church

The church building in Malhati fell down as a result of a cyclone that passed through in April. (Above is a picture of the building at its inauguration, which I attended.) Today the pastor, Emmanuel, came to visit me to tell me of their plight. They need 20,000 Indian Rupees (about $425) to rebuild their church building.

It was a great opportunity to talk about building the church. We talked about the fact that it is God's church, and that He promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18). Of course His church isn't the building (although, He owns that too according to Psalm 24:1), but the people.

We talked about the fact that so many of the churches in this region have financial difficulties and how that is a result of people not giving, which is a sign of lack of faith. We read Exodus 35:20-29 and 36:4-7, where the people gave willingly and in such abundance that they had to be commanded to stop giving. We read Luke 21:1-4, where the widow gave her last pennies. We read 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, where from poverty and affliction they overflowed with joy in their generous giving. We talked about how it takes a miracle for people to give out of their lack. It's like water coming from a rock. Yet, it's possible with God.

Emmanuel left committed to pray for a miracle. He's praying that God would show him if there's any areas in his life where he can be more faithful and a better steward. He's praying that the 19 families that make up the church would be built up - growing in their faith and that they will give. He's going to share the stories we looked at together and ask them how they can apply them in their lives. He's praying for God to build His church and for God to provide to build His church building.

I'm praying that God would do as He promised and build His church, the people who are living stones (1 Peter 2:5). As they grow in their faith, I'm praying that their building would be repaired as well. Will you pray with me?

Delighting in His Law

"His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in the Law, he meditates day and night."

This is part of Psalm 1, which I'm teaching on in our home fellowship this Sunday. I memorized the Psalm and have been meditating on it quite a bit. I also have listened to 4 sermons on Psalm 1 in the last 3 days.

I thought I would share some of my musings with you.

Psalm 1 is full of contrasts: There's the wicked vs. the righteous. There's those that are firmly rooted vs. those blown away by the wind. There's the path of the righteous vs. the path of the sinner. There's the path that is known (approved and preserved) vs. the path that perishes. There's delight in the Law (instruction) vs. the counsel of the wicked.

There's the question of who is righteous. Many will so, none are righteous (Ro 3:9-10). Yet, in the Psalms and elsewhere in scripture, there's a clear distinction between righteous and unrighteous and between godly and ungodly. In Romans 3, Paul is obviously talking about the fact that there is no one righteous apart from Christ. However, in Christ we are made righteous.

There seems to be a progression of sin, where you go from moving in sin to standing in sin to sitting in sin. The progression is towards being more stuck or fixed in sin.

That raises the question of being fixed or firmly planted. Even though someone is fixed in sin, they are like chaff which is blown away by the wind and they will not be able to stand in judgment. Whereas, the righteous man - the man who delights in the law, will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water. That man will be firmly fixed and the implication is that he'll be able to withstand judgment.

Sometimes people think that living a sinful life is more free than the Christian life which is filled with rules and regulations. The fact is that there is life in the tree that is firmly planted. It yields fruit, it's leaf doesn't wither (read into that a person who is full of life even in a dry period) and it prospers. The one that is "free" is blown about. They are subject to their environment and therefore less free than the one who is firmly planted.

Finally, let's look at Delighting in the Law. This I think is the key to the passage and the thing I'm still meditating on and wrestling with. What does it mean to delight in the law other than that it includes meditating on it? How does one come to the place of delighting in the law?

So far, for the second question the two things that strike me are that prayer is one way to delight in the law and that actually spending time with the law is key to seeing its value and beauty which will result in delight. Psalm 119:18 is an example of someone praying this very thing.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these two questions, this chapter or on delighting in God's Word.

Drunk, Delirious or Demonized?

"Welcome to India," spoken with an Indian accent is something we often say to each other when we experience something really weird here. Well we've been back in India for a week and last night I had my "Welcome to India" moment.

I was driving home late at night (around 10:30). It was drizzling. It was very difficult to see. I hate driving at night here because my windows always fog up (part of the poor design of my Indian made Bolero), people don't know how or simply refuse to dim their lights and there's always huge pot holes or other obstacles in the road. These obstacles usually take the form of a bicycle, rickshaw, cow or a pedestrian.

Last night's obstacle was a bit unusual, even for India. I was driving along, squinting, trying to make sure I didn't kill anyone. All of the sudden I see a man walking in the road. This man wasn't walking on the side of the road as is common, but in the middle of my lane. What was really unusual was that he was buck naked.

I was so shocked, I didn't really know what to think about him. I did manage to swerve around him. As I drove on, I was left thinking, "What on earth would possess a man to do that?" I finally decided either he was drunk, delirious or demonized.

Someone asked, "Did you stop?" The answer is no. I guess I'm not the good Samaritan. I did take time to pray for him - knowing that whether he was drunk, delirious or demonized, there's not much I could do for him other than pray for his deliverance. If God moves you to do the same, I hope you'll pray not only for him, but for the countless like him.

Police Action Averted

Yesterday I had the privelege of meeting with Bisho Tigga (pictured above). She's one of our students and group leaders. She leads two small discipleship groups. Both are currently going through Foundational Bible Storytelling, using the Simply the Story method. She had a great testimony of how God has transformed her.

Bisho said that recently she's spent a lot of money for Purmila's wedding (Purmila is her daughter in the Lord) and for fixing her dilapidated house. As a result of the blessings God has provided her to be able to do these things, Bisho's sister became very jealous and began accusing her of stealing. Bisho's sister forced herself into Bisho's house and began searching for things that she said Bisho had stolen, including some clothing.

Bisho said had this happened before, her response to her sister would have been so severe that the police would likely have had to be called. However, she said that she just remembered the story that she had recently told of God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12. She said in that story we learn that God said, "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you." Bisho said because of this promise and the knowledge that God would act on her behalf, she was able to just sit quietly and peacefully. She said her sister found nothing and left. Bisho said that she's been changed by the truth of God's Word which she has learned in the discipleship class she attended with us.

Eavesdropping on Bible Stories

Today I went with James to observe him lead a small group in storytelling. He was telling the story of Noah.

His storytelling was so good that 3 children climbed on an auto rickshaw that was sitting outside the house to look into the room and see what was going on. I snapped a picture through the window.

When outsiders are eavesdropping on your storytelling, it's always a good sign. James was so animated, that 2 men who were visiting form out of town also came in and sat in the group after he got started.

Our family is smaller

Some of you see the title and think, "did someone die?" It's not that, but for the past 3 weeks, we had 2 more sons, Gougou and Mamang, 2 boys from Manipur. Our friends, Jodi and Nelson have a small children's home and had to run to the states for 3 weeks and so loaned us 2 of their 6 kids. 3 others went to 2 different places and their adopted daughter, Esther went with them to the states.

Anyway, for the last 3 weeks, we've enjoyed the boys, playing praise and worship on the guitar, Gougou feeding my fish in my aquaponics project, Mamang showing off his muscles, teaching them to play spades, playing soccer and watching them try to kill birds with the slingshot. They also joined in on disecting a frog

Alas, Jodi and Nelson returned yesterday and took them back. Our house is a bit quieter now.

A taste of heaven on earth

Yesterday was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! I attended New Life Fellowship Association Church in Andheri West, Mumbai. There were about 800 people singing, shouting, dancing, clapping and praising God with their whole hearts.

Tears of joy filled my heart as we worshipped the only worthy one, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I was so excited that He was receiving the offerings of praise that He so deserves. There was celebration and chanting of the name of Jesus. This singing and then giving went on for one hour and forty-five minutes, yet had it gone on all day, I don't think many would have left. Better is one day in presence of our Lord than thousands elsewhere!

Shyju Mathew (www.shyjumathew.com) was the guest speaker. he really captured my heart when He stood up and read Psalm 76:1 and shared that in Judah God is known. He shared that it was through praise like what we had just experienced that God is known. He said that there is no other place that he would have rather been. I wholeheartedly agree. He even said that he is getting married this Tuesday and now wants to come to New Life Fellowship Lokhandwala for his honeymoon. He said that he could see God in heaven relishing in the worship and saying to the angels, "Shhh, angels. Shut up. Don't you hear them down there worshipping me?"

Christ is risen and we have reason to celebrate. He is great and has done great things. One day, we'll stand before His throne and worship Him for all eternity. That worship doesn't have to start then. We can start now and have a little taste of heaven on earth.

Started New Small Group With Great Potential

Last week, we started a new small group in Ghandi Nagar. Ghandi Nagar is about 25 kms from Bhutan. It takes three to three and one half hours to drive there from my house. It's quite a drive, but it seems like a really promising group.

We shared the vision with a group of 17 there 2 weeks ago and they immediately said they wanted to start. They committed to go through 49 weeks, which is what it takes to cover our Foundational Bible Stories.

So last week, Pastor Rajesh and I went out there to watch Emmanuel lead the group. He was ill prepared, so Rajesh ended up leading the group. It was all in Sadri and I'm understanding more and more Sadri.

It was great that we ended up with a group of 19. The group includes 2 ladies. 8 of the men are pastors of different churches. 7 are involved in youth or children ministry.

Of all the groups we've started, this one seems like it has the most potential. Usually when we start a new group it takes 5-6 weeks before people really start participating in the discussion. However, the participation of this group was great from week one. Their observations were great. Not only that, but the eldest of the pastors said he's been reading God's word for 35 years and hasn't gotten this much out of it.

I don't have a picture of the guys in the group, but couldn't resist taking a picture of their Christmas decorations that were still up. The picture's not great because I took it with my cell phone.

Victoria entertaining our new neighbors' daughter. She (not Victoria) loves helping do dishes or at least playing with the bubbles.

Last week, we attended Jeff's student's wedding. Look at our smiles and then them. :)

The new couple.

This little man is the gardener at the church. Jeff wants to steal him to come do our garden in our house. The church grounds there always look beautiful.

Last Sunday we attended a church on the railway police post. Our friend and Jeff's co-worker, Awor, taught using the story of Zacheus.

A Loving Welcome Back to India

Look at these sweet waffles we got from our hotel that we stayed at on our return to India.