Ephesians Up Close and Personal

JameeAugust 10, 2017Uncategorized

Ephesians is a very practical letter written by Paul, talking about our new life in Christ and it is incredibly relevant for all Christians, young and old, and in between! Every Wednesday night at 6pm we met at Destino Cristiano to study one chapter at a time. The first week we learned the history and context of the book, which provides a backdrop and better understanding of how to interpret it for ourselves today. Ephesians is a ‘Prison Epistle’ meaning it’s one of the four letters Paul wrote and sent out while he was in prison. It is believed to be written ten years after Paul first went to Ephesus to spread the Good News and is addressed to the saints of Ephesus (or Asia minor), the faithful in Jesus Christ.

We noticed that Paul is not writing to special ‘Super-Christians’ who are labeled saints, but to the faithful in Jesus Christ, who ARE saints. The word ‘saint’ is hagios, or ‘holy ones, sacred; pure, consecrated.’ As the faithful to Jesus Christ, we are set apart as saints! That’s who we ARE and it is very important to know our identity. In the first three chapters, the letter describes how God has brought us near, into new life with Him (purely by his grace!), and then in chapters 4-6 Paul describes practically how that should look! As hagios, the holy, sacred, pure, consecrated, set apart faithful to Jesus Christ, how are we to live with our fellow saints, husbands and wives, kids, etc.? What do we do with the evil around us that’s constantly knocking on the door, and what is the Holy Spirit’s role in our new lives? The book of Ephesians is both practical and powerful!

We just came to the close of this six week Bible study and feel encouraged by the knowledge of what God has done for us, empowered to live our lives in the Holy Spirit, and inspired to go be a light and witness to those around us. God’s Word is life-changing, so don’t miss out on the next study!

How to Find Your Christmas Cheer

JameeDecember 23, 2015Uncategorized

Just yesterday, several of us from Destino Cristiano were wrapping presents for the kids at Nueva Creacion orphanage in La Paz, Mexico. I’m not talking about a few presents here. I’m talking about hundreds of them, all donated by people who have a heart to give at Christmas time. We had piles, all sorted by names and ages of kids that we have grown to love over the past few years. And though the task seemed almost insurmountable, we got to work conquering one present at a time. And it was fun. We found our Christmas cheer!  Well, actually, we added to it!

Christmas cheer can be hard to come by, especially for those who have bad memories or negative experiences associated with the holidays. Some miss their loved ones who have passed on, or miss their families who are far away, or just feel alone. Many wish they could express their love with presents, but don’t have the finances to make Christmas all they believe it should be.

Well, being thousands of miles away from loved ones, I have had my sad moments, and yes, shed a few tears this Christams season. But you know what? I found my Christmas cheer by doing what Baby Jesus was born to do: Serve, love and give.

Is it possible that we lose our Christmas cheer when it’s more about us than about Jesus and others? Is it then possible that we find our Christmas cheer when we make the season about Jesus and others? I say “Yes” to both these questions. I’m not trying to oversimplify complex matters of the heart associated with the holidays, but I do believe our perspective plays a major role in how we move past whatever puts the frowns on our faces.

So smile if you can. If this is one of those years when a smile is too hard, just remember the baby! Spend some time giving thanks for the One who gave His son so that you would have life, so that you could overcome, so that you would be forgiven, so that you would have the victory, so that you can laugh once again.

God bless.

 

Blog: A Bilingual Christian Church in La Paz

JameeMay 22, 2015Uncategorized
Blog: A Bilingual Christian Church in La Paz

Destino Cristiano is a bilingual Christian Church in La Paz. But what does this mean? How do English-speaking pastors share the word of God to a mostly Spanish-speaking congregation? And how do these members of the congregation share the deep things of their hearts?

This is a puzzle that only God can put together. Since arriving on the mission field in La Paz in April 2013, God has given us the pieces to this puzzle as we have needed them. We have our vision, and what we believe God wants to do with us and through in our Christian church in La Paz, but He is the Master Builder.

As the Master Builder, God holds the plans, and he is preparing the phases and the steps because we need a strong foundation to build from. First, God is putting us with Spanish speakers because we need to learn the language. But more than that, God wants us to connect with our hearts and minds, and to become comfortable with a culture that is foreign to us.

At the same time, we are being vulnerable and transparent. We are letting Spanish speakers into our world, sharing our culture and our hearts with them. We all agree that love is a universal language, and so everything stems from this. And it’s about respect. We are not trying to change a culture, but to change hearts. This may in turn, change some aspects of the culture. And along the way, we are changing from the inside out, even re-examining some of our cultural beliefs and norms.

Eventually, we will speak Spanish. But until then, we will continue to serve the people of La Paz in whatever way God wants. Destino Cristiano is His house.