Pictures April 29th, 2008

Pictures, April 24th, 2008

Pictures April 22nd, 2008

Greetings From Peru

This will be a brief update since I don’t know when the next opportunity to post a blog entry or Facebook note will come. As I write this my pastor Stephen and his brother-in-law Ray are out doing some shopping as we’ve scheduled for today (Monday) to be a bit of a day off. And we needed it too, as we’ve been busy non-stop since arriving here late Wednesday night.

Good news: I’ve managed not to get sick or anything at all so far, given that we can’t drink the water or eat fruit that we can’t peel, so there’s some natural lifestyle habits I had to be careful to watch down here. Not using tap water to brush my teeth and not flushing the toilet paper down when I’m done in the bathroom is also something that’s taking some getting used to. But I’m NOT minding this awesome hot weather at all. Especially after such a miserably long winter in Canada!

I’ve posted some pictures previously that you should see if you scroll down, and they are from up in the mountains (the exact name slips my mind) outside of Lima—one hour away from where the three of us are currently staying. Previous teams from my home church have gone and ministered to the children in the area.

The first thing that hits me like a ton of bricks is how you can see lovely areas of Lima, and then not far away see absolutely poverty-stricken areas not 20 minutes away. Our apartment is in Mira Flores, which is more of the wealthier and tourist area of town, so it makes for easier integration into the culture instead of sudden change of pace into more poorer areas. There’s places I’ve seen that don’t have running water or toilets, but DO have internet. Amazing.

I met with a FIRE International missionary Ron Smith on Friday to get to know one another and fellowship, and he brought me with him to an area of town where we were mobbed by people begging for things from us. I’ve never traveled anywhere where people are so aggressive in their panhandling, and from what I understand, they assume white people like me have money so they don’t let up until you really push them away. It’s heartbreaking at the same time. The area Ron took me to, we only got there after hailing five taxis before one was willing to drive there, since it was a dangerous part of town.

Other than that, I’ve not done a whole lot else other than accompany Stephen to meetings he’s preached at, prayed for people–so far in really rough and poorer areas of Lima–and just meet more people and fellowship with some believers who really appreciate receiving what we are here to bring.

I’ve already been asked to speak to three different youth groups, the first being on Saturday. And praise God, I’ve got an interpreter lined up for that one! Please keep it in prayer, as the youth pastor explained to my interpreter that this group needs to be stirred up and excited for the things of God. I will be seeking the face of the Lord about what exactly I should share in that setting. Then last night pastor Cesar Costas asked me to share with his youth group very soon, and from being there for three meetings now where Stephen preached on the love of God, I can see this is a hungry people who want more of what we have to give. So God’s putting a few different things on my heart, but please lift me up in prayer and pray that the fire of God will fall in a good way how He wants, and knows that I’m open to just being obedient and delivering what He gives me.

Late this afternoon my pastor and I are going over to Ron’s either for dinner or to decide where to go for dinner. Dion Light, the assistant director for FIRE International is here with another missionary staying with the Smiths and visiting this place to see if the Lord is directing him here also. It will be very great to have the relationship between my home church in Canada and the base in North Carolina that trained me, sent me out and serves as my covering to be connected with each other, so I’m looking forward to it.

Well, that is about all for now. If I updated on everything I could think of I wouldn’t have the time to write this post, so short and sweet is how it will be, but please keep me in prayer for the speaking opportunities I’m being presented with. I want to be sensitive to what God is saying to the people in each of those contexts.

Blessings, and fire on your head!

Fire On Your Head Episode 26: Is It Possible To Enjoy God?

This week we are privileged to have author and itinerant speaker S.J. Hill joining us, whose all-consuming passion is to see the Church come to an understanding of the beauty of God’s incredible personality. We sit down over Skype with him and talk about the heart of Father God, and ask him questions regarding these issues that he’s so passionate about sharing.

Visit S.J.’s website at http://www.sjhill.com.

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Pictures April 20th, 2008

Less Than a Week Left….

In the midst of posting heavy theological stuff, it’s time to finally post a personal update for those lurkers wanting to know but will never ask.

First and foremost: I leave for Peru on the 16th. I’m excited and a little nervous at the same time. Excited to step out in obedience to Christ and His will for my life, as He orders my steps. Nervous in that I’ve never been to a developing country to spend significant time there–I will be there until May 29th, so roughly 6 weeks. I spent nearly $500 this week running around–or I should say driving around–getting shots (needles) for various things like vaccinations against yellow fever, and updating other shots I’m supposed to have in life. Then, not to mention all the anti-diarrhea medications and solutions. And never mind all the warnings people give me about foods and proper washings.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to this trip and seeing what God has in store for me, and what He desires to have me do.

You may have noticed the previous post is an episode of our podcast and a write up about it. This is how it looks on the other blog sites that I have linking back to our podcast site. Doing this is to help direct attention and traffic to our podcast site, and giving it one more link is just part of my effort towards search engine optimization. And speaking of podcasting, it will also be on a bit of a hiatus until June, or at least the posting will be more infrequent. Dan and I have recorded a couple in advance, and I’ll edit them and post them online for the point of continuing to update somewhat regularly, but given that podcasting isn’t live and people listen when they want, I’m sure it won’t be too much of an inconvenience for anybody if we take a while before posting new shows online.

I will try updating this blog and letting you all know how I’m doing while I’m down there, and most importantly I’ll post pictures here and on Facebook.

Summer School News
I talked to Frank Pot over Skype last week, and as some of you may have already known, there IS going to be a summer school this year.

I know many of you have been wanting to know if we’re doing one or not, and the answer is yes! It is confirmed—the dates are August 1st – 10th, and we will announce more guest speakers as we have them confirmed, but one man of God we do have confirmed to be there is Robert Gladstone, director of FIRE School of Ministry, in Concord, North Carolina (USA).
His deep burden is to train disciples and help churches recover the apostolic witness revealed in the New Testament. He will be with us from the 1st of August, until the 6th.
For more information, or to hear recent messages of his at the FIRE Church, visit http://www.fire-church.org/sermons.aspx.

FireOnTheAltar.com usually has many messages by him, but I’ve been unable to access the site for over a week, so I hyperlink here in case it is working by the time you try to access.

For more information, subscribe to the FIRE Nederland Podcast and hear Dan and I bring up developments, keep checking the Fireforlife blog, or e-mail fireforlife@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list and be informed.

Fire On Your Head Episode 25: There’s Life In the Blood

Is divine healing some special extra thing only certain believers with a lot of faith are able to get, or is it available to all believers? Do you have to get the sin out of your life first before God can heal you or use you to heal others? What is the atonement? Join us as we barbecue some sacred cows about healing, and do our best to convince you that God doesn’t play favorites with his children on this matter.
Summer school update: we have one confirmed speaker. Listen to find out who it is. Click here to register for it. Also expect a bit of a hiatus until June in terms of how often new Fire On Your Head episodes get posted, as Steve will be in Peru for 6 weeks.

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Related Articles by Steve:

Healing in The Atonement of Christ, If Healing Is In The Atonement, Then…

Please visit our site at http://firenederland.podbean.com/, or consider subscribing to us in the iTunes store, the Zune Marketplace or at ZenCast listed as “FIRE Nederland”, where you will also have access to many other teachings from our conferences.