Mar
26th
I have some great news to report – there is a good possibility that by this time next week there will be two more Solo Por Hoys meeting each week. When we started Solo Por Hoy my prayer was that it would multiply and that some Nicaraguans would step up and lead other meetings with the goal of having one that met every day of the week.
3 days down – 4 to go!
Mar
21st
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about discipleship and what it actually means to disciple someone. I recently read a blog post from the director of the organization that we are with that explains why discipleship is often tough. In the post it says:
It takes time. To do it right, you need to be influencing a disciple’s life 24/7 like Jesus did. 16 waking hours a day x 3 years = 15,000 hours.
It takes years. Disciples change slowly and make lots of mistakes before they start getting it right. And they may never leave your life.
It takes trust. When you ask your disciple to change her behavior and you don’t have an answer she likes for “Why?” She still has to trust you.
It takes modeling. A thousand sermons don’t show you how to change your behavior, but if the behavior can be demonstrated, it answers the “How?” question.
It takes confrontation. In our natural fleshly state, our behavior is selfish; to help change it, disciplers must confront it and ask for something different.
It takes availability. Discipling another person is an inconvenient task. It intrudes on your regular life and often robs you of your privacy.
It takes vulnerability. As your disciple sees you live your life out before her, she see your flaws. Those flaws give her permission to fail.
It takes care. You can’t do this clinically. Sometimes you have to hug and kiss disciples. You have to accept them in their messed up state.
It takes listening. The only way that you can help a disciple work through the need for change is by listening.
It takes wisdom. You’re dealing with a person’s life here. The counsel you give in tough situations may be hard to hear and implement.
It takes confidentiality. Your disciple’s issues are a matter between the two of you. Share it elsewhere without permission and you blow trust.
It takes vision. You have to see your disciple not as they are, but in your mind’s eye fully developed.
Since we’ve been here in Granada trying to live this out in daily life, I think the availability is the one that trips me up the most. Am I really making myself available to people or do I get annoyed when they drop by or inconvenience me in any way. I’ve never been an it’s-ok-to-drop-by-on-me-anytime-kind-of-guy but I know that this is an important part of building relationships through which true discipleship happens.
Today I am praying that I can become a person who says, “It’s ok to drop by on me because I care about you. It’s ok to come to me when you need someone to talk to even if that doesn’t fit into my schedule.”
Mar
5th
It’s Thursday of our first week back from our trip to the States. I am about 90% after coming here with a cold that put me out of commission for the beginning of the week and Bekah has had a week packed full of ministry. It’s so good to be back and to see the smiling faces of our community here in Granada. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing group of people and that has never been more clear to me than now.
This morning during Solo Por Hoy, three guys shared from their hearts and it brought tears to my eyes (and the eyes of three gringo missionaries from Oregon that randomly showed up with Ezequiel). They told of struggles they have had -some recent, some in their past – but the theme of all three of the stories was the same.
A God who chases after us and never lets go.
A God who I screamed out to and begged for help.
A God who lets us figure out on our own when we’ve had enough of the pig pen and are ready to come home to his arms once again.
A God that runs to us and gives us another chance.
Every one of the guys (including myself) said that this was the path that had to happen for us. We had to come to a point where we made a decision to believe that our lives could change. Belief that there was hope for something more.
The lesson I taught today says, “If we see God as one who is reaching out to help us, we will be more eager to look for him. If our faith has not matured to that point yet, we can ask for help.” God wants too help us. God is reaching out to people not only here but all over the place. I was filled with joy and encouragement today.
It is good to be back…
