New Years commitments

"Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets, all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord, to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant." -2 Kings 23:1-3

In light of the new year, many people create new goals for themselves, renew old commitments, and make promises in regards to the future of their relationships. Nothing new. The same goals and commitments were made 2636 years ago as well. Although if you look carefully into it, there may be a great difference between the ones we are making for the year 2014 and the commitment Josiah and the Israelites made a few millenniums ago. Firstly, the covenant Josiah and the nation of Judah renewed to the Lord was in light of their mistakes, their hypocrisy and their unfaithfulness. But, just as Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, they would not have been convicted of their unfaithfulness had it not been for the Law of the Lord. Josiah insisted upon the renewal of a whole hearted commitment to God because he had read the Holy word of God. And because of Josiah's humility shown in performing the inconvenient task of submitting to the Lord, as the king of a great nation, the prophesied Israelite exile to Babylon was not to occur until after his death.

Now while Josiah's "new year's resolution" was completed and proved to be wise, I would venture to say that the majority of the new year's resolutions this year will either fail or be completed only to be proved meaningless. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:12, "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." If when creating goals for this upcoming year, we compare ourselves with what occurred in our lives in previous years, we are setting ourselves up for failure. To compare imperfection to imperfection will always prove futile. In order to set goals that prove to be beneficial, and complete them, we must create them based on a higher standard than our own, in light of our own imperfection. Just as an owner's manual is written by the creator of the car and not by the driver of the car, we must learn to listen to the instructions of our own Creator, in the word of God. This year I encourage you to make God's plans your plans instead of adding to the same sloppy standards we've failed to perfect since childhood.

"Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did, with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the Law of Moses." -2 Kings 23:25

12/17 Nicaragua update

This will be my last blog post for a while, as I will be flying back to Montana Wednesday to spend Christmas with the family. What a blessed three months it has been here, for me, and hopefully for all those effected by this ministry! These three months have been well worth my time, and I can't thank everyone enough that has supported our work.

Although we were unable to find a Santa outfit for me to wear to El Delirio Friday, it was a great experience. We settled for a Santa Claus pinata, much to the satisfaction of the 90 or so kids that showed up. It was a great joy to see the smiles on the faces of all those children and their parents as they enjoyed collecting candy, cookies, pop, and a little gift for each one of them. It's been very edifying to get to spend time with these children, who most certainly don't get the attention that the average child does. Although a childhood shouldn't be determined by the amount of gifts or things received, it is a great importance in the heart of a child to feel wanted. Many of these kids are without fathers or come from broken families, added to the fact that they live with the minimal physical necessities. As you look through the pictures I posted below, I would encourage you to pray for the lives of these families in El Delirio.

We also got the opportunity to travel to the drug rehab center in Mataguas again last week to visit those who are living and working there. I've experienced the satisfaction of kids eagerly awaiting our arrival to spend time with them, but it's an entirely different feeling when adults, who I don't yet know by name, are filled with great excitement at our appearance. It was another blessed time to be able to share God's word with these people... and some snacks, rice and beans. I'm looking forward to continue to get to spend some time with those living there, encouraging them as they rehab from different addictions.

 kids lining up to get snacks and presents

 everyone going crazy when the candy hit the floor

...and we fed a little monkey on the ride home

12/12 Nicaragua update

I just saw a truck drive over top another truck, head on, twenty feet in front of me. Praise God, somehow no one was hurt or killed! If those types of situations don't make you think about eternity I don't know what will. Scripture says our life is but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow, and it couldn't be more true. While the average lifespan is right around 70 years who's to say I'm gonna live past tomorrow? And if I don't, then what follows? In our ministry here in Nicaragua, Pablo and I try to keep this eternal mindset as we are blessed to aid many in need.

"God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what he has done from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

In light of this pressing eternal need each of us has, God's word continually stresses blessing others in physical need. Tuesday we were able to bring a special meal to those at the trash dump. As we have typically been serving rice, beans, cheese, and tortilla, we prepared 101 plates of chicken with some cooked vegetables and a salad. It made me smile to see how excited everyone got as we pulled up to the dump and Pablo announced that we had a brought them a special meal of chicken for the holiday season. It's just crazy to me that something so simple could excite so many people. I've been able to eat chicken (or any other meat I've wanted) all of my life, so I quite honestly don't get too excited when someone offers me a plate of chicken. Then again I've never dug through a trash dump or gone weeks without showering. You can imagine the smell that the dump creates, so when there's an aroma of actual food it gets exciting for a lot of these people. Granted there are always some people who are less appreciative than others, but that doesn't take away from the smiles simple acts of service produce on so many faces.

What is Christmas anyhow? It's the celebration of the birth of Jesus right? In celebration of the holiday which remembers the most generous man to walk the earth, I would encourage all those reading not to make this holiday season about you. I've spent many holidays in my life with great expectation of what people would get me and how people would treat me, as if the holiday was a celebration of my life. This year let's not forget the opportunities available to us to serve those around us, especially those less fortunate,  in a special way, in honor of Jesus, who did it first.

I can't thank all of the supporters of this ministry enough for all the encouragement, love, prayers, and financial aid! I am greatly blessed to be on the serving end of such great generosity of so many. To anyone reading who would like to help financially, there is a donation button on the right side of the page available. You all are welcome to email or comment with any questions or thoughts in regards to this ministry, ike2307@hotmail.com. Thanks and God bless!

Below are some pictures of many we serve at the trash dump.

Christmas in El Delirio

It's coffee season in Nicaragua, so there weren't many folks around in El Delirio when we showed up to spend some time sharing the bible with them last Friday. But there are always plenty of kids! We spent Friday afternoon coloring pictures with crayons with the kids and singing a couple songs Pablo taught them in Spanish. After sharing cookies and drinks with all of them, we were able to talk to one of the community leaders about getting a census of kids in the community. We're hoping to be able to bring presents to the kids next week, before I leave back to the states for Christmas. There are around 50 kids in the community, so the total cost is gonna be at least $200 to get gifts there from Matagalpa. Given that I'm the only white person around, Pablo wants me to dress up as Santa when we go. I'm kinda hoping we can't find a costume, but if we can you'll be seeing some ridiculous pictures next week.

If anyone would like to help in providing gifts for these kids, whether contributing towards the goal of $200 or in addition for extra little things the families would appreciate, there is a donation link on the right sidebar or checks can be made to the Laurel Church of Christ, 714 E 5 St Laurel, MT. Thank you for all who continue to pray and support this ministry! God bless!

 This is the little guy we were able to buy a coat for last Friday

 Most the other Jesuses had purple hair haha

Drug rehab visit

"Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.'" -Matthew 21:31

The above passage had to have been a real slap in the face to the religious leaders that Jesus was talking to. In the context Jesus was telling them this because the prostitutes and tax collectors had come to repent for their mistakes, while those in religious authorities maintained an aire of self righteousness. The reason I bring up this passage is because it came to mind today as Pablo and I spent time at a drug rehab center here in Nicaragua today. We took about a 2 hour motorcycle ride out to this little town to visit those at the drug rehab center. Unable to carry much on the bike, we brought some New Testament bibles to give out. Upon our arrival we spent some time singing worship songs with those there, and then Pablo and I both spoke a word of encouragement from the bible. I don't know what it is about being at a drug and alcohol rehab center, but there is something legitimate about the people there and how they worship. I stood among 36 men and one woman who praised and worshipped God with lifted hands, in a manner that was real. It's a lot like when someone tells you "I forgive you" or "I love you". It's pretty easy to tell whether or not they mean it. Regardless of what they say, you can tell by how they say it. Well these people mean it. They've seen both ends of the spectrum, and thus have a great appreciation for the freedom there is in a life with Jesus Christ.

"Two people owed money to a certain money lender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love more?" -Luke7:41-42

Whether or not those at the drug rehab center owe a "greater debt" than I, in regards to the sin in their lives, I do not know. What I do know is that their desire for the the Lord is real and legitimate. I myself have never been addicted to drugs, never murdered, or stolen. In the same light I was born with two loving parents into a blessed family, in a blessed country, with wise parental instruction all of my years of childhood. I do not know what it's like to grow up without parents. I don't know what it's like to beg on the streets. And I certainly don't know what it's like to be so lost and lonely as to seek the "comfort" of drugs and alcohol daily. To see people who have struggled with those circumstances fall into the arms of a loving Savior by way of a Christ based drug rehabilitation center is what I picture when I think of the ministry Jesus led while on this earth. Jesus pursued, and pursues, the lost and the broken because many of us who are neither lost nor broken wouldn't give him the time of day if he did. May we pray for humble hearts to hear the gentle words of our Lord when he's come to save us from a broken world.

The Awe Factor

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." -Romans 1:20

It's 9:08 here in Matagalpa, Nicaragua and never have I felt more blessed to have to walk outside to enter my bedroom. It's probably 70 degrees outside and there isn't a cloud in the sky. All I see are thousands of stars that never fail to leave me in awe. But why? Why is it that I can look up into the sky at night, see a bunch of little specks of light, and always be filled with a great amount of amazement? Why do I feel like leaving this sight to go to bed would be like leaving before the final scene of a good movie? There is no better answer than that I was created to be in awe of my Creator.

As it is now "dry season" in Nicaragua, there are fewer clouds and more clear skies come nighttime. Nearly every night as I brush my teeth outside my bedroom, I get the privilege to look up at the stars. By no coincidence I came across this passage of the bible the other day in Psalm 19, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." How true is that? Regardless of what language you speak, what country you're from, or your cultural background the stars of the sky, the mountaintops, a sunset or a sunrise will always speak to everyone from all walks of life.

God cannot be contained, described or disproven. He goes beyond any compliment that I could give him and the reality of his presence in creation says more in his favor than all the witty atheists in the world could speak against him. I have no need to defend the existence of my God with words when I can step outside and be in awe in a heartbeat. I am left with no option but to humbly praise my Creator.

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?... Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" -Psalm 8