What Would You Say?
A Curandero is a "healer" who uses natural medicines and/or access to the spirit world. In class today we were invited to attend a conference on traditional Mexican medicine. It reminded me of a note written from a friend before we came, “‘Curanderos’, female or male witch-doctors, are not just users of natural medicine. Most of them have their homes full of images of…so-called saints with candles burning before them. Such ‘curers’ can be paid to put a curse on someone you don't like.” If you were asked to attend the conference what would you say?
Recently we were at a papelatoria (paper shop) to purchase poster board. While there we discovered the owner has been a Christian for thirty years. Since she spoke a bit of English we were able to have a few minutes of mutual encouragement and fellowship in Christ. As we were about to leave she had a question, “I have a friend” she said, “who I have been discipling. My friend was at the market the other day and dropped her bags. A stranger stopped to help and in the process began ‘revealing’ personal things about my friend, like how many children she has. This was startling but it became frightening when the stranger said she had put a curse on her and someone was going to kill her.” The owner wanted to know what she should do. What would you say?
Cuernavaca is definitely a Latin America city but that doesn’t mean we don’t have modern conveniences. We have Office Depot, Home Depot, Wal-mart, Costco, Sears, Starbucks, KrispyKreme, Subway, Domino’s, and Tel-Mex (internet server). Yet, underlying is superstition, bondage, and pagan beliefs. It’s common to see shrines, relics and icons, to smell incense burning before idols, and to sense the darkness at some market booths. At the market I watched as a vendor etched what appeared to be a pentagram in a candle, dusted it with dried herbs and wrapped it for an eargerly awaiting couple. If you were talking with our Heavenly Father at that moment in that atmosphere what would you say?
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
Recently we were at a papelatoria (paper shop) to purchase poster board. While there we discovered the owner has been a Christian for thirty years. Since she spoke a bit of English we were able to have a few minutes of mutual encouragement and fellowship in Christ. As we were about to leave she had a question, “I have a friend” she said, “who I have been discipling. My friend was at the market the other day and dropped her bags. A stranger stopped to help and in the process began ‘revealing’ personal things about my friend, like how many children she has. This was startling but it became frightening when the stranger said she had put a curse on her and someone was going to kill her.” The owner wanted to know what she should do. What would you say?
Cuernavaca is definitely a Latin America city but that doesn’t mean we don’t have modern conveniences. We have Office Depot, Home Depot, Wal-mart, Costco, Sears, Starbucks, KrispyKreme, Subway, Domino’s, and Tel-Mex (internet server). Yet, underlying is superstition, bondage, and pagan beliefs. It’s common to see shrines, relics and icons, to smell incense burning before idols, and to sense the darkness at some market booths. At the market I watched as a vendor etched what appeared to be a pentagram in a candle, dusted it with dried herbs and wrapped it for an eargerly awaiting couple. If you were talking with our Heavenly Father at that moment in that atmosphere what would you say?
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
posted by Ken, Diana, Daniel, Maria, Christina @ 10:38 PM
5 Comments:
At Tuesday, June 27, 2006 10:34:00 AM,
Anonymous said…
If I was talking to my Heavenly Father, I'd say something that He hears from me all the time - "HELP!" :-) It sure is a good thing we have somewhere to turn - we sure can't do it on our own.
At Tuesday, June 27, 2006 9:18:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
PRAY
Eph 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
AND KNOW
Romans 10
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Cuernavaca might have all those places but they don't have Turkey Hill Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate icecream :)
At Wednesday, June 28, 2006 5:56:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
I would say anything to remind myself that Jesus is the victor in the end...He's already won. satan's trying to get some final footholds (why do we give him the honor of capitalizing his name??) but he's shakin in his boots!!
You may want to throw at satan, when you get discouraged, that you've got hundreds of ropeholders backing you up!
...................
weren't those sweet turkey hill days? :-)
At Wednesday, June 28, 2006 8:25:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
Yes, those were sweet Turkey Hill days!!!!
At Tuesday, July 25, 2006 1:59:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
Ah, it sounds very familiar. I still get that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I got when I was there experiencing it, too. At least you can see it more clearly there, you can see the warfare, where as here...who really sees it here? Not many Christians see the reality of spiritual warfare in the US, even though I think it is really just as prevalent (just much more hidden). Pray on the full armor of Christ, and then pray that you and I and those reading what you write will pray on the full armor of Christ even here where it seems so safe. Then, remember that Christ is still in control and has certainly defeated Satan, even though God is opening your eyes to see the battle more clearly.
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