The Little Things

I arrived in Spain in mid-March, right before the shoot for the Esther social media piece began.  I was interested in it because Esther has always been one of the Bible stories that I enjoy.  The story of a young woman who was chosen to be queen despite being a foreigner living in the Persian Empire.  She was a woman who had doubts and fears, yet chose to stand up for her people.  She is an inspiring example of a strong, powerful woman.  

The people already in Spain had been working on this Esther piece for a few months already when I arrived.  I landed and was able to start helping right away with different aspects of pre-production.  

The day before we started the shoot, we brought props and set pieces over to the building where we were to start filming the next day.  I was curious about the building they chose to film in because I knew God had provided it in some way.  I still don’t know the whole story.  I enjoyed the old, Roman building and liked the history that was there.  When we got unpacked and mostly set up, we went home knowing the next day would be early.

Filming occurred Friday and Saturday.  Both days were long, which I expected, but they were good.  I knew a lot went into making a film, even a short one.  However,  I learned a lot too, during the two days.  Actors arrived and obviously needed costumes and make-up before filming would begin.  Setting up backdrops and props kept several people on this new team I was joining busy.  Each scene required several takes to catch different angles, or because they wanted it to look better.  Sometimes, another take was needed for the audio because a plane flew over, and made it hard to hear the actors.  Plus, planes are not part of the time period!  

I tried to be helpful over the course of the two days of filming, despite being so new.  I didn’t always know what I was doing.  However, it was a fun couple of days, and I really did enjoy it.  The fact that I was able to be there for the shoot, allowed me to watch and observe people.  I believe that IMM has talented people.  But what stands out to me is the kindness that the team had.  From how I was treated to how they treated the actors and the volunteers that came. 

It is true that the little things matter.  Luke 16:10 says that if you are faithful in little things you will be trusted with more.  I believe one of the most important “little” things is how we treat others.  It may not seem like much when there are deadlines to meet and projects to finish.  Yet it is what stands out to people.  It’s what stood out to me.   Matthew 10:42 talks about how even a cup of cold water is something Jesus notices when His disciples do so it’s obviously important to Him, too.  

I remember someone talking about how no one sees the hard work and the day-to-day decisions that went into their work before most people become famous. I don’t remember who it was, but the lesson stays with me.  People don't become famous overnight like everyone believes.  They think that because that’s what it can look like.  However, the reality is it happens because they made daily decisions for years before what is seen.  They practiced and were disciplined and grew.  It’s a good reminder that what we do today can have consequences for our future.   

Coming when I did and being reminded of the story of Esther and how little things matter has been an encouragement for me.  Some days, it doesn’t feel like I do much. I’m sure we all have those days. In order for Esther to be able to stand up to the king and for her people, she had to have developed a faith in God before this.  We don’t know what daily decisions she made, but we see the result of what she did. God sees the little things that we all do every day, and each one matters, especially how we treat each other.

Common Sense

Today, we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

• Why the early bird gets the worm;

• Life isn't always fair;

• And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.  Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or aspirin to a student but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, and the burglar could sue you for assault.  Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot.  She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,

• by his parents, Truth and Trust,

• by his wife, Discretion,

• by his daughter, Responsibility,

• and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepchildren;

• I Know My Rights

• I Want It Now

• Someone Else Is To Blame

• I'm A Victim

• Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.  If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

The Questions: Hannah's Answer

John 15:12-13 ESV 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” 

What do you stand for? What would you risk your life for?

In college, I had a lot of business classes and in those classes, we were asked on multiple occasions, “What motivates you?”. Does money motivate you? Work? Success? In those classes I would always answer, “People. People motivate me”. This was an ideal answer to someone who was studying nonprofit business, but the truth is I have always been motivated by people. So, when I think about these questions, my answer is people. The people I love and the people who cannot stand for themselves. 

My family is incredibly important to me. I would defend them, support them, I would do anything for them. I love them dearly, and I would risk my life for them. I am very thankful to have a very strong bond with my family, to have had constant support and love from them. I would repay them by standing up for them in a heartbeat. My friends that I love dearly, I would stand up for them. I would support and defend them, to help them be the best they can be. 

I stand for the people who cannot stand for themselves. There are so many hurting and overlooked people in the world today. The opportunities in my life have granted me the ability to have a voice when others cannot, to stand up for them. We must care for each other; we must support each other. 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13). As Christians, we cannot forget that we are called to love one another as God has loved us, unconditionally. We must stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves, we must stand for those we love and care about. Thousands of people stand as Jesus stood and many of them do so at their own risk. We must not allow ourselves to forget this commandment, we must show great love to all of those around us. 

The Questions: Myriam's Answer

As our team has been working on the Esther Mini-Series project, we have been discussing a thought-provoking question: "What would you risk your life for?"

As a mother, my immediate response is, "My children and grandchildren," without a doubt. The unconditional love I have for my family is invaluable, and it would inspire me to put my life on the line for theirs.

However, when I challenge myself to think beyond my family, the answers don't come as readily. Perhaps it's because I have been blessed to live in a country that affords me such freedoms, including the freedom of religion. My parents, immigrants from Cuba, made the incredibly difficult decision to risk their lives for the sake of their children when they fled Cuba. Personally, I have never had to face the same level of risk for my loved ones or for openly professing my Christian faith.

Giving up one's life for Christian beliefs often involves confronting persecution and opposition. It takes immense courage to remain steadfast in the face of threats, discrimination, and violence. Throughout history, martyrs, both ancient and modern, exemplify the unwavering faith and courage required to stand firm in the face of adversity. Their extraordinary courage serves as a powerful inspiration for us to live out our faith boldly and resolutely.

Although the question of risking one's life might not often be a reality in our daily lives, it encourages us to reflect on the courage we exhibit in other areas.  Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones, take risks for the sake of others? Are we willing to speak out against falsehoods, challenge societal norms, defend those who are marginalized, and uphold the teachings of Christ even if it means facing opposition or ridicule? I must admit that I haven't always displayed such courage due to complacency. Yet, my current prayer is that, through the strength of the Holy Spirit, I will step out and stand firm in the everyday "risks" I choose to make an impact and influence others to share the Gospel.

What I do know is that life is a precious gift from God. Jesus sacrificed Himself for me, granting me a fullness of life that can be found in a deep relationship with God. Discovering my purpose, growing in character, cultivating love and relationships, finding hope in times of crisis, and having the assurance of eternal life—all of these blessings are a result of God's work in my life, and I wouldn't give them up for anything. 

So, ask me again, "What would I give my life for?" I hope you have a few minutes because it’s a bit longer of an answer.

The Questions: Rachel's Answer

I am supposed to be answering the question “what do you stand for” or  “what would you risk your life for.”  These are hard questions because as a Christian, I feel like people expect you to answer them a certain way.  The answers of standing for my faith or dying for Christ are what I think everyone would expect.  

Yet, those are “easy” answers to give simply in a way because of that expectation.  They are answers I don’t have to put much thought into because shouldn’t all Christians say that?  They're the “right” answers. When people have been imprisoned, tortured, beaten, and killed for their faith, it makes me not want to give a “right” answer when I’m not facing what they are. The expectations of what to say are there though.  

In addition there are other expectations in my life.  I find it interesting that people have expectations of what a missionary is.  They seem to think that missionaries are spiritual or somehow more special than they are.  The expectations are not reality.  It’s just not true.  I am just here trying to do what God has called me to do.  I guarantee that I am not doing it perfectly.  I am no different from any other Christian, and may very well be less spiritual than you or other Christians.   There are days when I question whether I’m hearing God right or if I am making the right decision.  I am only human, like everyone else.  My failures and flaws are evident for anyone to see.  

That being said, I do think that committing to do missions was a step of faith for me.  In a way, I did have to stand up for what I believed God was calling me to do.  I had to ask for support and tell people God was leading me to do something completely different. Something that may not have made sense.  It made me uncomfortable.  Is it ever easy to ask for help? Asking people to support me wasn’t easy.  There were days I had to stand against the doubt or the uncertainty that I faced.  There were days I was discouraged because I wasn’t raising and didn’t  end up raising enough.  I had to shorten my time here because of that.  I definitely had questions, doubts, and uncertainties.  

Just because I’m not in Spain, doesn’t mean everything is easy.  There have been hard days in the midst of the good.  I have learned that just because God calls me to something doesn’t mean I won’t have doubts sometimes. Yet I am grateful for every day that I have here.  I don’t know what my future holds.  But I believe that God will continue to lead and guide me.  He has promised to never leave or forsake us so He will always be with me.  

How does this relate to the question: what do I stand for?  My answer may not make sense to you.  Instead of just giving you a “right” answer, what if we rethink the question and our answers?  What if we reframe our thoughts surrounding the question?  When I think of standing for something, I think of small steps of obedience and fighting through doubt and fear for what God is calling me to do. Each step of obedience is standing.  Standing now may lead to me standing for something bigger in the future.  Before Esther went to the king and was willing to sacrifice her life for her people, she had to keep her faith while living in a castle with more luxuries than she’d had before in her life.   Before Daniel stood for his faith and was thrown into the lions’ den, he had to stand and publicly practice his faith.  He prayed 3 times a day and had done it long enough and consistently enough that the men trying to destroy him knew about it.  

What do I stand for?  I stand for the small acts of obedience today that may lead to standing for something bigger in the future.  Each small act of obedience is one more chance to stand for my faith, even if that act seems insignificant.  God sees it and knows. He knows that obeying can take courage even if it’s just a small step forward.  Even if it feels like a life of continual small, seemingly insignificant times of standing in obedience, it matters to God.  One day, we’ll see how all those small steps of obedience do count. The times we stood when we thought it wasn’t anything important will give us the strength to stand if we ever face something we consider more significant.   Even if I never have to stand for my faith the way my brothers and sisters in persecuted countries do, I am still standing and growing and doing what God is calling me to.  My hope is that I continue to stand each time God asks me for another step of obedience.  In the end, it will lead me closer to Him, and that is what I want.  Isn’t that the prize, the goal? To know God more and be with Him for all eternity.  That’s why I believe it’s important to rethink the question and give an answer that applies to my everyday life, not something that may or may not happen in the future.  I need to stand  and obey today so I can know and love God more now. 

The Questions: Kerry's Answer

It’s Monday morning in Spain. We’ve had a lot of rain. And yes, we live on the plain. The heat of imminent summer ignites a little bit of dread in my bones. Last summer, during my second bout of COVID, I kept myself home for a week. We didn’t have air-conditioning, so I camped in a dark corner of the duplex we rent, laying restlessly on the cool tile floors for relief.

What would you risk your life for? What do you stand for?

Those questions are easy… God, Family, Ideals. Some days a triumphant ending would be a welcome relief, perhaps catching a fiery dart in the chest from some godless horde, fist clutching a banner of some sort, dropping defiantly to the knees, eyes cast toward heaven with a shout.

But life only grants the Hollywood ending to a few, and usually the brave souls are wet and deep in mud, which brings me back to my point. Mud can be cold, crossing a field can be exhausting.

Dying can be easy. Living can be hard. The missionary prize often goes to the sloggers, those that have left family behind years ago to fend for themselves, those unnoticed souls who  stand alone under clouds, soaked by rains of insecurity, fantasizing about a large Diet Coke and a warm chicken sandwich, yet they see the other field-hands striving way in the distance so they pick up that hoe - that pick once again, and swing it back down. WHACK! Observers who care to look say “You’re standing in the rain!” Yes. “Why don’t you get a better umbrella?” Yeah. WHACK!

Before I hold forth too sanctimoniously, know this. There is no other option for me, or for you. You will not find peace, joy, kindness, rest, and all the other sweet fruits I can’t remember anywhere else in the world right now. Your options are being squeezed out you see. The physical illusions we have built for ourselves are fading. Reality is tipping. Maybe you, like me, have felt harried and harassed into this realization. Emotions are queasy. “Where is the fulfillment I’ve been promised?”, we ask God. “Is this really holy? I’ve missed something. Maybe I’ve missed the shuttle bus to the funfair. It’s barren out here!”

Perhaps you have now learned to live with a series of bruises. Old ones. New ones. Your ankles hurt from the uneven ground, shoulder still complain. That is the cross we carry you see. You are in the middle of a holy act. We long for the other country, the other garden. Don’t drop whatever tool you have in whatever field you are and go wait on the bus for the foreman to call it a day. That bus is packed, loud and crowded and not leaving the parking lot before the work is over. Come back out into the wind-lashed fields where risk is everywhere, and standing is an act of worship.

Out here, the Gospel is all we have, and it is worth everything to understand that that truth. Once we have this gem embedded deep in our frail frames, we will have to live it out because there will be no other option, no other respite.

Endure. Sweat. Breath hard. Cry. Our weather is about to change, and storms are forecast for this afternoon. Laugh with the thunder.

What Does God Require?

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 ESV

In the book of Micah, he answers the question of what does the Lord require of us? Does He require burnt offerings, incense, our children, possessions, or our bodies as sacrifices? He has granted us the gift of salvation through Jesus, so what must we do for Him? The answer: do justice, love kindness and walk humbly. 

Justice can be defined as just behavior or treatment. While the Lord is the ultimate judge to those on earth, we have been called to live according to His Word, to live as He has called us to live as Christians. Christ died so that all may have salvation, and it is our call to disciple and bring the gospel to so that all may hear. 

Kindness. Kindness is integral to living as Christians, to extend to those who need the ultimate kindness and love that Christ exhibits. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit, that when the Holy Spirit is in us and we are in communion with Him, we have that divine kindness that can only come from God. 

Humility is recognizing that the Lord is your provision. He guides us through our lives and gives us the strength to face any challenge that may come our way. He is the creator, the all-powerful God who is in relationship with us. We must always remember that in everything that we do, we could not do it without His strength and provision. 

There is not a large price that we must pay for our salvation, we do not need to give anything material to God. This gift has been given and all that the Lord asks is that we live in His spirit, treat those around us with kindness, and remember that He is the one who has given us this great gift. I pray that you seek the Lord and that your relationship with Him is strengthened through this reminder.

A Place to Belong

Belonging.  It’s just a word, yet it creates a sense of longing.  To be accepted and to fit in.  We have friends and family.  We stay busy going from work to working out or hanging out with friends.  We volunteer at church and get involved with different ministries.  Sometimes, we think that we belong because we are busy with all these different things and people.  

Then we find ourselves alone.  When we stop being busy.  Often in those moments our insecurities, fears, and doubts rise to the surface.  We wonder where we fit in.  Where we belong.  

Other times the loneliest place is in a crowd.  We’re surrounded by people, yet for whatever reason, don’t quite feel like we fit in.  Personally, I find it hard in a crowd when everyone else seems to know about a certain subject or they all have been somewhere I haven’t.  When those conversations happen around me, it can be hard to feel like I belong.  I am the one left out and alone.

I have felt like I don’t belong throughout my life, even as a child. One job I had emphasized that feeling.  With that job, I literally lived on the road for a few months at a time.  I worked and traveled with only one other person. The days we didn’t get along were hard.  We were all strangers when we met for a week long training.  Then suddenly you’re paired up, traveling, and working together with someone you’ve only known for a week. This had its challenges.  While I enjoyed the job and seeing different states and places, it was hard to feel like I belonged anywhere.  We were constantly traveling and in a different location.  We stayed in hotels and were in a new one every day or two.  Occasionally, we stayed with a family which was nice.  However, we were usually only there for a few nights.  I remember one time we got to stay with a family in the same house for a whole week.  It felt like a luxury!  I visited a new church just about every Sunday.  When we were lucky, our schedule would bring us back to an area we had been in before.  The best was when we were able to stay with a family we had stayed with before.  Those were treasured, rare occurrences.  Those families welcomed us and made us feel like we were a part of their household.  

It is very hard to feel like you belong when you aren’t in a place long enough to have roots of any sort.  It was an incredible job, and I’m very grateful for the experience.  I got to see so much of the country and the kindness of strangers.  A couple times, people at church treated us to lunch despite never having met us before.  Once a couple invited us to stay at their house.  As complete strangers we were welcomed into their house.  Those were the moments on the road where I did feel like I belonged and was cared for.  It was a welcome relief from the feeling of being disconnected from friends and family.  Phone calls weren’t the same as having people in your life.  

I am new to IMM and Spain. I am thoroughly glad to be here and am enjoying it.  The people on this team are kind and caring and have welcomed me.  Yet adjusting to something new has its moments of challenge. I wonder if I will ever learn even some of this new language.  It’s hard to feel like you belong when you feel like you can’t communicate with the people in the grocery store or at a restaurant or anywhere else that’s not at IMM.  Fortunately, my work is all in English so that does help. At least at IMM.  All the same, I am still learning and adjusting.  It’s an exciting time, yet moments of insecurities can suddenly arise.

Recently, I read a devotion by Max Lucado from his book Jesus: The God Who Knows Your Name that really encouraged me.  Obviously, belonging is important. In his story, he mentions Carinette, a young orphan girl in Haiti.  Carinette was different from the other children at the orphanage.  She had more of a spark to her than the others.  The reason for this?  She had been visited by people from a land she’d never been to who invited her to come live with them and join their family.  She had pictures of her soon-to-be family that she showed to anyone who would look at them.  Carinette lived in the orphanage with a sense that she would soon join a family and have a place to belong.

The other part of the story Max Lucado shared is that he first heard about Carinette from her adoptive father.  The father was so excited to bring his new daughter home that he hardly took time to breathe while telling Max Lucado about her.  Max Lucado then compares this earthly adoptive father to God.

It’s hard for me to imagine God being that excited about me.  It can be hard to believe that He wants to bring me home to be with Him.  In the Message version in Ephesians 1, it says, 

“Long, long ago he [God] decided to bring us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)  He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.”  

The word planned stands out to me.  It wasn’t something He had to do.  God chose to adopt us and planned to include us.  Imagine the God of the universe wants to include you and me.  It was His choice to add us to His family and give us an inheritance in heaven.  He is giving us a place to truly belong.  Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8).

Carinette waited expectantly for her new home.  I forget to wait expectantly for my new home. I get busy or tired.  And life can just be so hard.  It’s easy to forget.  I struggle and don’t feel like I fit in here.  I want to belong.  We all do.  Maybe in part I feel like I don’t  because this isn’t my true home.  It’s a reminder that I do have a new home God has planned for me.  One day the trials of this life will be behind me, and I will be in the presence of God.  I will be in a place where I finally feel like I completely belong.

Rest in the Lord

During the recent weeks of intensive pre-production work before our even more intensive two twelve plus hour days of shooting, a common theme amongst the team was “rest”. We were often reminding each other that it was important to get physical rest, but that it was even more important to rest in God’s strength. All of us had tasks to complete; sets, props and costumes to prepare; and deadlines to meet; and much of the work was stretching us beyond what seemed like we could accomplish in the time we had.

We stood on God’s promises that “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” (Exodus 33:14) and 

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31 

And in the end, He gave us the strength to do what needed to be done and blessed our work in a powerful way.

It’s always a challenge to “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him,” (Psalm 37:7) but even more so when we are busy. Looking back, I think we can all testify to times when by making the Lord our resting place, He helped us remain calm in stressful situations and gave us the peace and rest we desperately needed. Always remember to take time to rest, be still, and wait in His presence.

It’s About Time

Lately I have been thinking about the measurement of time.  Maybe it’s because I’m getting older.  Ok, we’re all getting older.  What I meant was that I am probably in the final quarter of my life.  I am not upset about this, but it warrants thinking about.

Also, we just went through daylight savings time, here in Spain, or the end of daylight savings time.  I can never remember.  But, this blog is about time.

There have been adages and proverbs written about time.  “Time flies,” “Time heals all wounds,” “Time will tell,” “A stitch in time saves nine,” and  “Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once,” to name a few.

Time has been written about, thought about, philosophized, talked about, cried over and studied.  Time has been scientifically diagnosed for ages and I’m still not able to travel into the past to change the course of history.  But I do enjoy good time-travel novels and films and discussing them with my friends about how it is impossible to change the past because of the space time continuum.  I fantasize about it, never the less.  Imagine if we could?

I did not grow up in the digital era of telling time.  I learned, as a child, on an analog clock with hands.  Of course I was an adult when I realized the second hand on a clock or watch was not the 2nd hand but actually showed the seconds passing.  I always thought it was the 3rd hand not the 2nd.  But that’s another story.  I think I’m glad I did not grow up learning to tell time on a digital clock.  I recently met some young people who did and they actually had a difficult time knowing what time it was when looking at my beautiful analog clock in my living room.  That and reading script.

I used to live in a country where telling time was distinctly different from the way it’s told in the U.S.A.  Ten-thirty (10:30) was half eleven and 10:35 is five minutes over half eleven.  When someone casually asked me what time it was, I tensed up, knowing that it will take me about five minutes to figure out how to say it.  And by the time I do, it’s five minutes later, so what’s the point?  Get a watch.

In England, ten-thirty is half ten.  England is just a hop, skip and a jump from Holland (where I used to live) and not only is there an hour difference in time zones but there is an hour difference in the mistake you can make when telling time.  Half ten in Holland is 9:30 and half ten in Great Britain is 10:30.  I recently saw a sit-com where an American fellow (not too bright) asked a British fellow what time they were meeting that night.  The British fellow answered, “Half ten.”   After a short pause, the American fellow said, “So you mean we’re meeting at five?”  Makes sense to me.  After all, five is half of ten.  And I’m no math genius.

Now I live in Spain.  Spanish is not as difficult as Dutch but they still use military time here.  But only for appointments.  So, if you have an appointment with your Dentist, its 14:00.  But if you’re meeting your friend for lunch, it’s 2:00 in the afternoon.

I also always wondered about Daylight Savings Time.  I can’t figure out why we do that and why some countries (and some States in the U.S.A.) don’t.  And wouldn’t that mess up everything in the space time continuum?  OK, maybe not.  But Daylight Savings Time only began about 100 years ago, during WWI.  And it started in Germany.  Crazy little Germany.  It caught on in the rest of the world, and poof!  DST began.  But not everywhere.  I just read about an office building in Minnesota, in 1963, where different floors of the building had different time zones (as some participated in DST and some not) because there were offices belonging to various counties.  Yikes.  OK, that’s extreme, but I still don’t understand the advantage of Daylight Savings Time.  It just messes with our heads.

I also don’t understand why the 19th century means the 1800’s.  Wouldn’t it be less confusing if the 19th century were about the 1900’s?  Living in the 21st century makes me feel like I should commute to work via jetpack and my vacations spent on Jupiter.  This should be called the 20th century.  If not, it’s like saying I’m 70 when I’m really 69.  If a person just finishes their 69nd year of life, then they’re 69!  That’s how it works people.  Welcome to the 20th century.

The Bible also has some things to say about time.  There’s a beautiful passage in Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) that Pete Seeger wrote music for when I was young (sung by the Byrds).  I know that those of you who are close to my age are singing it right now.  Turn, Turn, Turn.  The song is almost an exact adaptation of the Scripture.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

In the New Testament, Paul also writes to the believers at Ephesus and told them to “Redeem the time because the days are evil.”  (Ephesians 5:16).  I actually always thought that was a little funny – redeem the time.  Redeem means to buy back and you just can’t redeem the time.  When it’s gone, it’s gone. But in a more modern translation it reads that we should “make the most of our time” or “make the most of every opportunity.”  Definitely a more reasonable request.  Don’t we all wish we could buy back time?  C’est la vie.  Or should I say, tel est la temps.  As if I speak French.

So, all this to say; time is a precious commodity while we are on this earth.  It’s more important than money, career, material or otherwise gain.  That’s because you cannot buy it back or recoup it.  So make the most of your time, doing things that matter, doing things that help people and make them and their circumstances better.  

Well, it’s about time, don’t you think?

God Uses Media to Release the Captives

In the Jewish Quarter of Toledo is a magnificent building, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, whose construction began in 1477. It is a mixture of flamboyant Gothic styles and Islamic elements, a delicate balance of art native to this particular epoch and region of Spain. However, what is recognizably universal hangs high on the thick exterior walls. Iron chains and shackles.

“No other country was contested between Muslims and Christians as bitterly as was Spain,” states Professor Nazeer Ahmed, Islamic Historian. The inhabitants of this land fought one another to cultural exhaustion. It was a 700-year struggle marked by bloodshed, mayhem, destruction, and captivity. In 1492, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand marked the end of this tumultuous time, known as the Reconquista, by celebrating the fall of the last Muslim stronghold in the South of Spain. Christian prisoners held captive in Granada began to make their way north to Toledo, to thank Queen Isabella, where she triumphantly hung their Moorish chains of their captivity from the walls of this ornate Christian monastery.

That same year of 1492, Queen Isabella had approved Christopher Columbus’ expedition across the blue Atlantic in search of wealth and trade. But back home, the rising Spanish Empire had entered another period of history. The Expulsion. The Christian monarchs and clergy had hundreds of thousands of Jews and Muslims expelled from newly unified Spain. If you were not Christian and wished to remain, your only option was to convert to the Catholic faith and live under political bondage and suspicion for generations. It seems that the kingdoms of man will always have a need for shackles and chains.

What does scripture say about the Kingdom of God?

Darius the Great, who ruled the Persian Empire at its territorial peak, from the borders of Greece to India, from the coasts of the Black Sea, across the Mediterranean Sea, to the coasts of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, had this to say:

“I hereby decree that in every part of my Kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His Kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end.” (Daniel 6:26)

We will enter this eternal Kingdom when we search for it with all our heart.

“‘I will be found by you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.’” (Jeremiah 29:14) “Soon all your captives will be released! Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate!” (Isaiah 51;14)

Jesus Christ, our Savior, explains to the rulers sitting in power. “But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.” (Luke 11:20).  “… I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.” (Matthew 21:31)

At IMM, every team member is very familiar with the following words,

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.” (Luke 4:18)

Jesus came to remove our shackles and chains for all eternity. There will be no demons, no bondage, no homelessness, no oppression. No chains, only freedom.

There are more people held in bondage at this time in history than in all the ages of man combined. Prisoners of conscience, political prisoners, religious prisoners… physical captivity is still a reality across the world. Outside of physical captivity, we are slaves to sin, slaves to addiction, slaves to pain.  Where is the hope?

“How are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” (Romans 10:14) “… Jesus told them ‘I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.’” (Luke 4:43)

By the Holy Spirit’s power alone is the Gospel proclaimed into the dark corners and closed nations of this age. At IMM we use the media tools God has given His church to share this Good News across borders. Our partners broadcast these IMM creations via internet and satellite to reach into lands where no missionary is welcome, and anyone preaching the Gospel is in mortal danger. But Jesus will build His church “… and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his wrists.” (Acts 12:7)

Prayer is Making a Difference

When people pray, things happen!  

We are grateful that we are doing missions to share the Good News of Jesus together with you. We are better together. One thing I love is the connectedness of the media family that we live and move in. We have heard from several partners in Turkey. They have not lost any team members and are actively working to get services to people in need. We are praying for the media opportunities of our partners right now. When people are hurting and displaced it is an important moment to tell them of hope in Jesus Christ.  Our Spanish church took an offering on Sunday that will go directly to Turkey and Syria through mission's channels. It’s a small world in the kingdom of God and the generosity and big hearts of people never cease to encourage me. 
 
I don’t know if you have heard of a recent initiative started by the Assemblies of God World Missions headquarters. It is an emphasis on prayer and focus on Hindu and Buddhist people groups. They need more missionaries and outreach. Not long after this prayer focus began, we had a connection with some people in India through a member of our IMM Forever family. (That’s what we call the people who have spent time at IMM through the years.) In a God-serendipitous moment, we now are moving ahead to produce The Heritage Project in Hindi with a local presenter.  At the same time, one of our church partners sponsored a virtual team member to record the Parables of Jesus in India with a Hindi-speaking pastor.  (A virtual team member is someone who gives their time to work for IMM from the US instead living in Spain as a full-time mission's worker.)
 
I see all of this as a result of people's prayers. The coordination, the connections, the funds! Prayer is making a difference!  Please continue to pray.  This really could be the generation where all have a chance to hear the Gospel.