This is a much needed blog post! I have seriously been slacking off, and the truth is that I'd actually really like to have the record that writing here provides. Also, I don't want to let down all of my adoring fans.
Church attendance has gotten a little lower. Some say because of the cold that always happens, but we still go to the grocery store when its cold, and so we can still go to church. There are other circumstances at hand as well.
I have noticed folks will walk by our building, look inside, take a few steps back, look at our banner, consider coming in, and then walk away. So, I built a sign that will go on the sidewalk when we are in services that says something like, "Welcome! We're in service, come on in." with the church logo. I almost finished the sign, I'll have to snap a picture of it for the blog. Speaking of projects, I really need to do this wood fixture that will go on the wall for our tithing envelope system we're going to use. I have to have it ready before the missions conference, I've decided that. I'll get a picture of that too when it's ready.
It is getting dark pretty early these days, at about 5.
We're in June and that means that the coldest months of the year have started. We woke up and it was about 20 the other morning, burr. People have said that so far it has been a very mild winter, and for that I am thankful. I feel so blessed that Micah hasn't gotten sick or anything. Chopping wood, bringing it in the house, and starting/maintaining fires is like a part time job. I do really enjoy the heat that a wood stove puts off though, I think I would missed it if I lived in a cold place that heated their homes with central gas heating.
Chaplaincy at the local school is going well. Today I had the amazing privilege to witnessing to and then helping a girl in her profession of faith in Christ.
On Wednesday we are heading out to go a few states north of us, but still considered southern Chile. I will be teaching in a Bible seminary on the subject of a biblical philosophy of music and some of the dangerous trends that exist with some contemporary music. I can't wait! My favorite part is that I will be meeting two independent Baptist pastors that I've never met before: Jaime Cid and Fernando Astorga, both Chilean pastors. If I can be transparent for a second, I have really been growing in the area of how I treat pastors who are the product of missions. For some reason, I'm sure detestable pride, in my heart I unconsciously justified treating "national" pastors in an inferior way to how I treated pastors in the United States. God has shown me that that was wrong and I have been working hard at showing any pastor from any culture or ethnicity the respect that he deserves. Sometimes the tendency is for one to think himself better because of his culture. Every country is guilty of it, and often times in the name of being patriotic. I remember talking to a man here in Chile and he said that Chile was the best country in the world; when I asked him how many other countries he had visited during his research he said that he'd never left Chile. The world is a much bigger place than we sometimes realize.
I am reading a book, almost done with it actually, that has been a very good read. It is called The Road Ahead, by Paul Chappell. I strongly recommend the book for anybody who considers themselves to be an independent Baptist or unaffiliated Baptist or fundamental Baptist.
I believe that is enough random thoughts for the night. We moved our mid-week service to tomorrow night since we are out of town on Wednesday. I love our mid-week prayer and Bible study service. Prayer is so important. Busy day ahead tomorrow. Need to study for the Bible study, need to finish up my material for the music class, need to do some financial things, need to run an important errand in town, about 50 emails to get back to, and service in the evening. I think I'll pack Wednesday morning.
