Who’s Really In The Dark?

State-side I had opportunity to share with various churches about our lives in Mexico. The hope was to convey that while cultural, language and family transitions can be both challenging and frustrating we have been called here to present the fullness of Christ.

From there it was natural to transition to the spiritual and moral needs of Mexico. 2 Corinthians 4:4 was the verse of reference, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." It’s easy to make a case for this verse applying to Mexico but the question I posed to churches and I pose to us is – Who’s really in the dark?

Five hundred years ago the gods demanded human sacrifice from the Aztecs. We can attest to these times as we have seen the altars used for bloody sacrifices. Barbaric, depraved, evil we might say. Yet, in the U.S. over 40 million abortions have been performed in the last few decades. Now tell me who’s in the dark, the country that took life 500 years ago or the country that continues to take life today?

One image that is becoming more prominent here is the Saint of Death (think grim reaper). Our corner grocery had a candle lit to one such image and I see them as a common occurrence in the market. It is said that to enter into a covenant with the Saint of Death brings greater assurance in receiving your requests albeit with a price to pay. Who would enter such a dark covenant you ask and yet in the U.S. our children are using high technology and digital imagery to enter into the dark world of the occult under the parental approval of “gaming”. So, who needs the light more - blatant evil or veiled evil?

On September the 26th Cuernavaca celebrates the day of the patron saint Michael the Archangel. They twist golden flowers into crosses and place them over their doors with the belief that Michael will protect their home from the Devil entering. Do you know of anyone who would buy into such a belief? Yet, in the U.S. we are being taught by highly trained intellectuals (professing themselves to be wise) to believe that we evolved from lower life forms. So then who has been blinded, the person who believes in unseen spiritual realities as you probably do or those who place their belief in a non-creator, lower life, evolutionary form of existence?

We live in a sensual setting. Our streets and street corners are littered with magazine stands displaying what is at best provocative and at worst down right pornographic. I really don’t like having it flood my mind nor do I like the message it sends to my son and daughters. Thankfully open pornography is not a problem in the U.S. – right? No, we have the private secretive world that any teenage boy can log into when his parents are asleep or a husband can indulge in on a lonely business trip. So, is secretive sensuality less blinding than open public blinding?

The point here isn’t that the god of this age isn’t at work in Mexico. Surely he is. It’s easy enough to see. What we need to come to grips with is that he is just as blinding to the minds of our sophisticated, cultured, technologically savvy U.S. society. The one you and I live in. We have no room to look down our spiritual noses and think we have escaped unscathed, but must honestly ask ourselves, who’s really in the dark?

Worth Writing Home About

So I guess what I’m doing is writing home about what’s worth writing home about regarding our recent trip home. ☺

High on my priority list was to just sit and enjoy the mountains. While that didn’t actually take place as I imagined, there were still plenty of opportunities to soak up all the beauty. Whether driving up Trail Hollow Road, down Liberty, by Rooster Town or into the Smoky Mtn. National Park I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed the wide open spaces, clean environment and breath-taking scenery. I guess the old saying is true, “You can take the boy out of the mountains, but you can’t take the mountain out of the boy.”

Daniel spent most of his time in West Virginia and had a great time whether it was chopping wood, partying and visiting, shooting a .270 rifle, swimming in the river, working on his new computer, or sharing with the church. Before we left I challenged him to live in such a way someone would write to express appreciation for his life - lo and behold someone did. I would love to slip in a few quotes but suffice it to say it was a compliment for being a gentleman. I can tell you it made two parents proud and was a big encouragement to him.

We did a lot of visiting of family, friends, and churches too. While it was a busy time, it was also a soul soothing time. While I realize missionaries are just common people and not pedestal people, it did mean a lot to have those who know us express words of encouragement and appreciation. Thank you all so much.

We will not soon forget making our airport connections in a race against the clock. The day started for Daniel and I about 3:00 a.m. with our flight out of Knoxville at 8:00. That was easy enough but the connection in Memphis was a little bit hair raising. We were supposed to have 35 minutes to make the connection and be only six gates apart. Instead we ended up having 10 minutes, and we were in a completely different terminal. We literally ran through the airport and down the entrance ramp to the plane. Houston wasn’t much better; with Ike barreling down, we were hoping against hope that we could get in and out before they shut down the airport. We checked in with only five minutes to spare and were the last Continental flight to leave Houston. We made it both times by the skin of our teeth.

I was reminded over and over again that we have a long history and lasting relationships with many people in those mountains. We will look forward to reconnecting again in the future. I also made a magnificent discovery while there. My old stomping grounds now has a used book store (our favorite kind of store) called Our Place that serves a good cup of coffee. That’s worth writing home about.

We Are Inviting You To A Concert

We would like to extend an invitation for you and your family to join churches, prayer groups, families and individuals who are participating in a "Concert of Prayer" Wednesday September 24th.

We have just received a shipment of 620 pieces of Scripture and want to include you and others in praying for their distribution and dedication.

Here are some facts about the distribution: Most of the Bibles go to those who are not Christians; As a rule they are given though a relationship; Scriptures that clarify the Gospel are on labels and put in the front cover; They will be distributed over the coming year; By God’s grace they will be used of Him to bring about meaning spiritual conversation, further personal study, group study and salvation.

Hope you can participate. More fruitful ministry will take place as believers unite together in the common cause of prayer and dependence.

Prayer Focus:
Pray that…
…the Bibles will find their way to specific individuals with open and receptive hearts.
…the words will be new and fresh transcending the traditions of the church.
…the Bibles will be supernatural, God ordained plants springing up unto salvation.
…each Bible will be a red hot coal that God fans into a flame.
… fathers will use them to gather their families around the Word.
… God’s power will penetrate a religious crust and the interior life.

… it will judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
… those who read it will be continually drawn back to it.

Dedication: Gather around Bibles and offer a final prayer(s) of dedication.

Doxology

Other Requests: (For those who want an extended time of prayer)
Pray that...
… there will be many opportunities to give away Bibles out of relationships.
…the Bible will be a lamp for the feet and a light for the path. (Psalm 119:105)
…others will attribute God’s presence in their homes and lives to supernatural happenings corresponding to the Bible.
…the Bible will be impressed on the hearts of the children in all of life’s situations. (Deut. 6:6-9)
…on going pray for this Bible distribution.

Other Ideas:
Fasting: You may want to put into practice this spiritual discipline before or on the day of the Concert of Prayer. Do not feel it must be for an entire day, a half day or one meal fast is appropriate as well.

31 Days of Prayer: Continue the concert with a 31 day prayer calendar. Click here to go to the calendar. Scroll down past the desktop backgrounds.