Living Above Our Problems

During a recent Thrusday night prayer service the Lord challenged the El Oasis congregation to no longer live at the same level as their problems. The exhortation emphasized two important points.

First, it is an illusion to think that here on earth believers will one day no longer have problems. It won't happen since so many problems that Christians face come because they are "heavenly citizens" living in a world that fundamently opposed to God's priorities. So many are frustrated because they live with false expectations.

Secondly, when believers finally realize that utopia cannot be reached in this life, they tend to gravitate towards one of two extremes. They either give up on God or they just resign themselves to live a life as a victim. In both cases they miss out on a life of victory that God has promised his chidren.

The Lord encouraged those present that night to find victory in the midst of struggles. The Holy Spirit said this was possible for believers who would seek God with a pure and open heart. Mature Christians somehow learn to live on this special level.

Christmas Hope

This Sunday is Christmas day. I have prepared a sermon on Hope. At one point in the presentation I will be sharing the story of the World War I Christmas Eve truce. There are many versions of what happened. I will try to stick with the most basic.

The year was 1914 and the German invasion of France had stalled because of the harsh winter conditions. Both sides had dug deep trenches to prevent advancement. Rains had flooded the trenches. Soldiers were covered in mud and blood. Many were wounded and could not get adequate medical care. At times the cold was unbearable. Many died of hyperthermia.

The distance between the 2 armies was only a few hundred feet at most. While snipers keep the sides from seeing each other, they could here each other's conversations. On Christmas Eve the Germans lit candles and placed them in Christmas trees. They sang Christmas carols like "Silent Night." At some point in the celebration of Jesus' birth both the German and the French/English armies decided to meet in "No Man's Land." They talked, shared food and cigarettes and looked at family photos. For one moment they experienced the hope and peace that everyone desires, but especially at Christmas. In the midst of life's struggles each December holds a brief pause when the majority can take a deep breath and enjoy the best parts of life. The year long journey to this moment is called Hope.

The soldiers experienced this hope for a few days. Then they went back to killing. It is the same for many who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They feel the good will and hope of the holidays, only to fall back to a life full of problems and hopelessness, often within a few days of singing, "Joy to the World." The true message of Christmas is a hope and a peace that only dominates one's life here on planet earth, but also lasts for eternity.

Not So Cheap Grace

On Friday I received a phone call. The person on the other end of the line asked me to come to her house to visit her. She and her "husband" (2 kids, no marriage) had come to the church on the previous Sunday. It had been obvious she didn't want to attend, but her recently converted "husband" had insisted. So she came. The following Thursday her "husband" had come to my office. From what he had told me, I never expected a phone call from her the next day.

I rearranged my schedule and went to visit her on Saturday morning. She was at her mother's house. She has not lived with her "husband" or kids for some time. The conversation was typical for people meeting for the first time under difficult circumstances. She shared a bit of her history and her problems. I listened. After 30 minutes I asked her why she had asked me to come. She told me that she was ready to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. She wanted to pray the prayer of salvation.

At this point I usually pray with the person. If they can articulate their need for the Lord and their desire to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, they normally they are ready to pray.

Sometimes we are quick to pray with the person, because we want to make it as easy as possible. Sometimes...many times this is a mistake. I felt a "check" in my spirit and I began to define true repentance for her. I told her that she would need to give Jesus 100% of her life, not just a small part. She could not hold back anything. I told her that Jesus would forgive her and would transform her, but she would have to give him everything, both the good and the bad. She would have to make changes in her lifestyle and live according to God's will.

Then I asked her if she was ready to pray the prayer of salvation. She answered, "No." At first I was in shock, but then I realized there was something or someone that she was not willing to give up. We talked some more and I prayed for her. I left and went home. I felt like a failure.

She came to church on Sunday. She came with her "husband" and 2 kids. She had a huge smile on her face. After church she told me that she had given her life to Jesus after I had left the house. She was ready to move forward with the Lord. She was ready for him to restore her marriage. They scheduled counseling for this week.

The angels in heaven were singing the "Hallelujah Chorus!" Another name had been added to Book of Life.

Being Comfortable

I'm enjoying Mark Batterson's book, Wild Goose Chase. If you haven't read it, I would recommend you read it with an open heart and mind. I appreciate his personal illustrations because they mirror many the experiences and decisions that opened up our lives to receive a missionary calling and eventually brought us to Peru. It has been 16 years since this happened. We had become comfortable in our previous ministry setting. There was nothing pushing us to leave the District Office. No one asked us to leave Nebraska. But it was what God wanted. The Lord had an adventure for us. Obedience, not comfort, was what He wanted from us. The journey would be full of risk. There would be good days and bad days. There would exciting times and scary times. We would have to make sacrifices. However, it would be worth it. It has been worth it.

Are we comfortable again? Even though we "chased" after the leading of the Holy Spirit 16 years ago, it doesn't mean we are still "tuned in" to His will and ready to take on the next adventure. I think it is a question we all must answer many times in our lives, but especially those of us who have received a vocational call to ministry. Am I comfortable?

This year I have tried to intentionally reopen my life to God-directed change. It hasn't been easy. At times it has been painful. I like comfort. I like order. I like predictability. The Lord doesn't seem to understand the importance of these priorities.

We are experiencing staff changes at the church. Our youth pastor is leaving after 7 years at El Oasis. We are now working with lay leaders. The youth ministry will look different. Another couple is coming in October to help with other areas that need attention. It will be interesting to see how they mesh with the El Oasis family and the vision God has given us. We are starting a small group ministry to try and reach more of the unsaved. The arrival of new people will cause us to rethink how we "do church."

All of this is happening as we begin to prepare ourselves for itineration in June 2012. While I don't understand it all, I'm learning to accept God's perfect timing. I'm running to stay one step ahead of the changes and one step behind the Holy Spirit. It is exciting. It is challenging. It is what He wants. My prayer is that we never become too comfortable to "chase the wild goose."

Decision Points

I just read George W. Bush's book, Decision Points. The book is impressive because it gives insight into what it means to be a good leader. While this is especially true when it comes to leader of the world's most powerful nation, it is also true for every leader, no matter how large or small their charge. The principle of decision making is the same. Good leaders must be prepared and unafraid to make timely decisions, both the easy and the difficult. Followers want direction. They are unwilling to move forward, until they receive guidance. Without a decision, they lack focus and motivation. Good leaders understand this need and respond.

This year has been full of moments where I have had to make decisions, many of them difficult because they dealt with people that I love. I am a decisive person, but I found myself hesitating because of the emotional attachments. I didn't want to "pull the trigger." I didn't want to face the changes that were needed in myself and in others. I was not being a good leader and these areas of my life and ministry were suffering as a result. God spoke to me through this book. I realized as a leader, I had to make the hard choices and leave the results in God's hands. Once I set aside my fear and made the difficult decisions, a sense of relief and a sense of peace returned to me and to those around me. The future became clearer and hope returned. Life is full of "decision points." Your success as leader will be determined in these moments.

Un Año de Cambios-A Year of Changes

It is difficult for three-dimensional creatures to hear from the what Pastor Yonggi Cho has called the "fourth dimension". Pastors who enter the pulpit struggle with this because, in a certain sense, they are sharing a special message from God's heart. The congregation comes expecting God to speak to them. They want to hear from the "fourth dimension." They difficulty comes because the pastor must somehow know the difference between his/her voice and God's voice as they seek to prepare and share the Sunday sermon.

The same is true with the operation of the Spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12). We want to know if God is speaking (prophecy) or if it is the individual. The uncertainity of this dilemma has caused some to dismiss the Spiritual gifts. The possibility of human error is too risky. And yet, we normally have no problem accepting the Sunday sermon as "God speaking."

Despite the risk and the possibility of confusion, I believe God still speaks and He still speaks, not only from the pulpit on Sunday, but also via the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Time often helps us know if it comes from God or from man. We just need patience. In January of this year God spoke to our congregation through a word of prophecy telling us that 2011 would be a year of changes for us as individuals, for our families and for our church. It did not seem monumental at the moment. Nevertheless we have been amazed that the changes that have come during the first 5 months of this year. When we begin to doubt the source of the changes, we return to prophecy given in January. It is easier to accept the changes when we remember that God did something to prepare us for this.

I'm glad God is not silent.

This past December our Christmas holiday was interrupted by an urgent phone call from the States. My father, Arvel Fransisco, had been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Dad had suffered from COPD for many years and was breathing with great difficulty. This wasn't the first scare he had given us. However, the nurse helped convince us that this time was different. We quickly purchased tickets and packed our bags. We arrived in time to spend 2 days with him before he passed away on December 31st.

In Loving Memory

Arvel Fransisco

October 18, 1921 ~ December 31, 2010

Mr. Arvel Anderson Fransisco, age 89, retired machinist

passed away on Friday, December 31 at his home in Tulsa.

Mr. Fransisco was born on October 18, 1921 in Watkins,

Oklahoma to James Arvel and Nora Edith (Lamb) Fransisco.

After his high school graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army

and was honorable discharged on October 4, 1945 at Fort

Bragg, North Carolina. For over 50 years he was a machinist

in the tool & die industry working for various companies

mainly in the Tulsa area. He was known as “Cisco” to family

and friends. In the past few years he was called “Pops.”

He is survived by two sons, Rev. John Fransisco and his

wife Kerri of Lima, Peru and Ray Fransisco of Tulsa, a

daughter, Sharolyn Fransisco of Tulsa, his brother Clyde

Austin Fransisco of Jenks, granddaughters, Kristen and

Katherine Fransisco, grandsons, Austin Fransisco and Derick

Koehn, 2 great granddaughters, Amari and Aruzhan Koehn,

also many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by

his wife Alta Rosezella Fransisco, a sister, Edith Pauline

Fransisco and 3 brothers, Floyd Lee, Cletus Earl and James

Lee Fransisco.

Funeral Service

10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Ninde Brookside Chapel

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Officiating

Rev. John Fransisco

and Rev. David Sears

Musical Selections

Because He Lives

How Great Thou Art

Norma McQuary, Pianist

Jeff & Gloria Smith, Soloists

Pallbearers

Nieces & Nephews

Interment

Bixby Cemetery

Bixby, Oklahoma

Problemas No Se Solucionan-Problems Don't Solve Themselves

In my article on "moldy churches" I wrote about unresolved conflict and how it can create divisions in the church. The same principles apply to families as well. Recently I saw this firsthand.

We have a family in our church that has been struggling to deal with a very serious problem which could potentially be quite harmful to almost every member of the family. The parents and the older children are on one side and the youngest child and her boyfriend are on the other side. I have tried to help on several occasions, but a "third-party" can only do so much to bring about resolution. The power to solve the conflict is in their hands. I have highlighted priorities and pointed out several viable options. I have encouraged them to make compromises. I insisted that it was time for action. Nothing was done. Of course, things got worse, much worse.

Our human nature encourages us to wait, rather than take action. This is especially true here in Peru. It is part of the culture as well. The Spanish language uses the reflexive tense to emphasize a common understanding that many times things "just happen" on their own. If a plate falls to the ground (se cayó el plato), it's as if the plate does it by its own effort. As a result no one is responsible for the broken plate. If someone loses his/her computer (se me perdió la computadora), it's as if the computer lost itself. No one is responsible for its loss. Their world view allows things to just happen on their own accord. The same concept can be extended to problems. Problems should solve themselves, especially if one waits long enough. It is not necessary to do anything, because eventually it will work itself out.

A couple of weeks ago I spoke on unity in the Body of Christ. I pointed out that conflicts in families, at work and in the church don't just happen. People are responsible for the conflicts. I also told them that conflicts don't solve themselves. In fact they get worse when they are ignored. People must decide to do something or the conflict will never go away.

After church the parents asked to speak with me. They finally decided to do something to end the "war." Over the past few days they have taken positive steps to reach out to their daughter. I trust it will be bring about restoration.

"Moldy" Churches

The humidity here in Lima is nearly 100% during the entire year, even though it never rains. The changing seasons do little to affect the moisture content of the air. Residents of Lima often joke that those who live on the Peruvian coast are actually breathing water, sort of like fish. One of the greatest problems created by the humidity is mold. It grows everywhere there has been moisture. Clothes or shoes that are unused for a few months begin to produce small green fuzz. At it is difficult to find because it grows undetected. A musty odor is often the first clue that mold is present. By then, it is too late.

Unresolved personal conflict is similar to mold, especially in the church. The original problem that could have been easily dealt with using the Matthew 18:15-17 principle begins a process of fermentation. Within a short time the small misunderstanding turns into bitterness and hatred. And then "fuzz" begins to spread, many times undetected by the pastor or church leadership. The "offended party" starts to talk. It takes the form of a prayer request or a small group session of "unburdening." The "offended party" needs support. He or she needs people to be on his or her side. Certainly such benign intentions could never be harmful. However, at this point individual problems become small group problems. Soon small group problems become larger group problems as the "chain of concern" continues to grow. The mold is everywhere! Each person interprets the information received through the filter of their own experiences and prejudices. It doesn't' take long for the unresolved personal conflict to be transformed into a "full-blown" church division.

Once mold begins to grow it is so hard to kill. One missionary family who lived by the ocean had throw out their "damp" couch because there was no way to destroy the mold. I believe that Satan enjoys destroying the church from within. His work often takes this "innocent" route.

The afore mentioned Matthew 18 principle gives the following steps:

1. If you have conflict with someone, go to them personally

and work it out.

2. If you can't fix the problem, then find a friend or your pastor to

go with you. Try again to resolve the conflict.

3. If this doesn't work, then take the issue to a still larger, neutral

group, like the church board.

4. If everything fails, forgive them, separate yourself from them

and move on.

This process takes time and it takes work. But the results are miraculous. I've seen it work on every level. As a pastor I'm motivated to follow this plan because it is God's way of dealing with conflict and because I know that no one wants to be a part of a "moldy" church.

Creativity vs Repetition

Every culture has both strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Peruvian culture is very strong at duplication. If a Peruvian can see something and see how it works, he or she can reproduce it and many times improve it. This is especially true when it comes to technology. We have many wonderful ministry items in our church that demonstrate this cultural strength.

However, most Peruvians have difficulty inventing and creating. They find it hard to break old paradigms and to accept new ideas. So when a Peruvian is presented a problem, he or she will immediately search their memory bank for something they have seen or done. If there is no point of reference, the typical response is confusion and bewilderment. In "brainstorming" sessions with our church staff, we often receive blank expressions and silence.

My cultural observations became a topic of debate at a recent pastoral meeting. Over the past several years the Peruvian Assemblies of God has been teaching a very specific model of church growth using small groups. This model is being promoted for every pastor in every church setting. It is a step by step process that can easily be repeated. Unfortunately few have experienced the same success as the "original" model. A few "original" thinkers are now starting to question this way of learning. They are calling for a philosophical shift that goes against cultural norms. They are asking for church growth principals that can be applied differently in different contexts. They are wanting creativity, not repetition. Current leadership is struggling to accommodate their demands because it outside their cultural "box."

In the meeting I had a chance to speak. I shared the following. "The action that naturally accompanies learned models is "repeat". The action that naturally accompanies learned principals is "apply". Scripture gives us principles rather than models. Paul creatively applied ministry principals in different contexts; culturally: Jerusalem vs Athens, religiously: Jew vs Gentile, environmentally: peace vs persecution, etc. He interpreted his setting, he listened to the Holy Spirit and he courageously ministered to meet needs. Most successful ministries tend to work this way." My comments were well received by some, but not by others.

The Peruvian Assemblies of God would be revolutionized by this new way of thinking. Only time will tell which voices will speak the loudest and which paradigms, if any, will be changed.

Surprise!!!

For more than 4 years we have been praying for and working hard to raise funds to purchase property or larger facilities for our church plant here in Lima. We continue to pray and believe for a miracle even though only about 20% of the amount needed has been raised.

El Oasis continues to grow numerically which we believe also reflects the spiritual growth of the congregation. 175 children, youth and adults attended last week's Sunday AM service. It is a very challenging moment for us because we don't want to lose this momentum as we battle the physical limitations of our rented facilities. In November a triangle planter in the center of the sanctuary was removed so that 20 more chairs could be added. In July we will probably return to multiple services.

The congregation has also responded via offerings to the church building fund. They do not appear to be discouraged by the huge financial mountain that must be overcome. $1200 was given in a special offering in March. Once a month, at the end of the Sunday AM service, the women of the church sell food and snacks. All profits go to the church building fund. This averages nearly $100 a month! Also a local businessman is considering a large donation to help us renovate our current facilities, since we have neglected routine maintenance (painting, carpet, etc) in our saving for the future. Their faith and energy have surprised and inspired us.

However, the greatest surprise was yet to come. A few weeks ago a large family in the church came into my office. They looked very sad as they each one handed me envelopes full of cash. It was all an act. They were really excited because they had come to tithe on their inheritance It was their desire to give it all to the building fund. The total was $17,420. I was in shock. This was by far the largest, single amount ever given to the project (the previous high was $5000 given by a church in the States). It was a sacred moment as we prayed, dedicating this money to God's plans for the future. When we least expect it...Surprise!!!!! God is still working!!!! We can't wait for the next surprise...

Things...

Last week we lost our internet service for 2 days. In some foreign countries this is normal, but here in Lima not so much. I was amazed at my reaction to not having internet access. I felt panic. We could not call our daughters or our parents. (We do have a "land line," but it is so expensive.) We could not transfer money into the girls' accounts. We could not check e-mail. We could not check on international news, the stock market or baseball scores. Austin could not play any "on-line" games. What were we going to do? How would we survive? How long would this last?

The last time help such anxiety was during our first few weeks in Costa Rica where we studied Spanish. We had no car. It seemed like I had always driven. Driving was a right! Owning a car was like having an arm, a hand or legs. It was a necesity for living. It was difficult at first, but we made adjustments and modified our lifestyle. We survived for 1 year without "wheels."

The part that bothers me the most about these 2 moments in my life, is how "things" had become so important to me and to my well-being. I am not very astute when it comes to technology and I do not own very many technological devices. My cell phone is basic. Our TVs are simple and old. I really thought that, unlike others, I would have no problem if certain "things" were taken away from me. I was wrong. Last week's "near disaster" has caused me to, once again, evaluate how much time and how much importance I give to "things." It is easy to think we value "people" more than "things." But, is it true? How much do you need "things?" How much time do you spend with "things?" Last week I had a lot more time to give to Austin, to Kerri and to the Lord.

It is hard to imagine that the first A/G missionaries took several weeks to cross the ocean before arriving on the mission field and that for many years their only contact with home were letters. I am humbled by their commitment and their sacrifice.

Disappointment

Over the past several weeks I have been on a spiritual journey to not only understand the true meaning of "disappointment," but to also learn how to manage disappointment when it happens to come my way. While it can take many forms, my own personal pilgramage has helped me to cope with self-disappointment, disappointment with others as well as disappointment with God. I have been reading and studying the book, Disappointment With God, by Philip Yancey. I would highly recommend it if you have ever felt like God is or has been unfair, silent or hidden.

This brief reflection is not an attempt to summarize the book nor Yancey's own process of self-discovery concerning disappointment. I only want to take a moment to formulate a few ideas which have helped me move forward in the face of disappointment. I would like to challenge you to join me in this journey that many have traveled. C.S. Lewis walked this path too in his book, The Problem of Pain. Here are few insights I continue to process:

1. Man's disppointments are better understood if we look at disappointment from God's perspective. The entire Biblical witness reveals how God has constantly dealt with mankind's failure. His love and faithfulness "in spite of" give us a worthy example to follow.

2. A common mistake is to believe life should be fair, because God is fair. However, God is not life. The two are distinct. Life is unfair; God is fair. Our definitions and our expectations are in error.

3. Perhaps God is constantly speaking. We are just incapable of understanding all that he seeks to communicate. Or perhaps a full understanding of God knows would be harmful to us. It is the difference between flesh and spirit; the difference between living in a 3 dimensional world and existing in a reality without dimensions. This is best seen in God's reply to Job in the last chapters of this mysterious book. He doesn't answer his questions. God recounts his greatness and awesomeness as Creator and Lord of the universe.

4. Faith and fidelity are not the same. Faith is trust and confidence that God will intervene. Fidelity is that "hang-on-at-any-cost" faith that continues to believe even when the expected miracle does not come. Fidelity is necessary when we reach the final moments of our life on the earth. It is the type of "faith" that carries us into eternity.

Satisfaction

A few months ago "Roberto" arrived at my office for a pastoral conference.   He had been attending our church for a few weeks.  He told me that he that a few weeks prior to attending "El Oasis" he had had a dream where God had guided him to our church.  He had never been to our church and was surprised that the church he had seen in his dream was "just like" our church. (We know of no other "basement" church in Lima.  We know of no other church named "El Oasis de Esperanza" in Lima).  Over the next couple of hours he told me of a 15 year journey investigating numerous philosophies, religions and cults, as he sought to find TRUTH. 

He seemed like he had tried everything.  At end of each detour the result was the same, confusion and dissatisfaction.  At the end of our meeting he excitedly told me how he had finally given his life to Christ and accepted Jesus' work on the cross as the only path to salvation.  For the first time in his life he felt satisfied.  His search was over.  But a new journey had just began...

Each week I meet with "Roberto" as we work together to purge his life of the LIES that he had encountered in his pligrimage to TRUTH.  Once again his experiences have  taught me that Satan has been working "overtime" to seduce and enslave mankind.  Once again, I have learned that the power of his LIES is real.  Now we are working to flood his life with God's Word and with TRUTH in hopes that this will begin to dilute the falsehoods he has accepted over time.  This is a long process, but his smiles of joy motivate me to continue on.  The one thing he often tells me is how satisfying it is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and to finally know the TRUTH. Once again, I have learned that the power of God's love and God's truth is much greater and more powerful than anything the enemy has to offer us. 

Evangelism 101-Find a way to share Jesus

In August we held 3 Evangelism Training sessions for members of our church, El Oasis.  One of the new church board members had received this portfolio and decided start this important ministry.  At the end of the 3rd week the students looked for practical ways to put into practice what they had learned over the previous weeks.  They were not satisfied with just learning "how" to share their faith.  They wanted to actually "do" something!

Three ministry teams were formed:

1.  Visitation--Each week visitors and people who have not attended church services will receive a phone call or a home visit by members of this team.

2.  Distribution of Literature--Every couple of weeks this team will pass out flyers and tracts in front of the church.  Hundreds of people pass by our church facilities each day and know nothing about El Oasis.  If someone wants to talk, this group is prepared to share the "good news" of Jesus Christ.

3.  Small group studies and events-These team members are using bible studies or special materials such as the book,  The Purpose Driven Life and the movie, Fireproof to share the Lord's love with friends, neighbors and relatives.

Over the next several months we hope to see many lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our ultimate goal is to make "disciples."  Extending the Kingdom of God is not complete until new believers are instructed and incorporated into the local church.

 

Really Studying God's Word

Since returning to Peru last year we decided to redo our adult discipleship program.    In most churches the majority of the adult "bible" courses are either a study of systematic theology which utilizes "proof texting" to show where certain doctrines are found in the Bible or studies of biblically related topics normally included in the titles of the most popular books in the nearest Christian bookstore.  It is rare to see an entire biblical book being studied.  Few set out to read the entire Bible or the entire New Testament in one year.  While both doctrinal and topical studies have an important role in the Christian diet, they cannot replace familiarity and understanding of the actual biblical text.  

Now our adult "School of the Bible" includes the following quarterly studies:

--Your New Life Christ (for New Believers) --The Purpose Filled Life

--The 10 Commandments --New Testament Survey

--Old Testament Survey

--Genesis --Exodus --Luke

--Acts --Romans --Galatians/Efesians

--Revelation

Throughout the year we also offer practical studies on the following topics:

--Marriage --The family --Money

--The Holy Spirit --Personal Evangelism

--Missions --Inner Healing

--Praise & Worship --Prayer

We will eventually have a School of Leadership for those who complete the earlier studies.  Each year we want to emphasize that each believer should read a large portion of the Bible during their devotional time each day.  

Using this program we hope to see believers mature quickly in their daily walk with Jesus Christ.  People are hungry for God's Word.  We need to make sure this is what they are being fed in the local church. 

New Wine

In Matthew 9 Jesus used the "wineskin" illustration to help his hearers understand a very important truth about the gospel.  Put simply, one doesn't put new wine in an old wineskin because the old wineskin can't contain it.  It will very quickly begin to crack and leak.  And the new wine is lost.  Jesus' coming and his message could not be contained by the old "wineskin" of Judaism.   The emphasis on forgiveness and transformation made possible by His death and resurrection were too much for the legalism of the Pharisees.  If the precious "new wine" of the gospel was to be saved, then a new "wineskin" would have to be created.  The church became this new "wineskin."

The principle to be learned from this is the message of the gospel must be packaged in a way that preserves its integrity and makes it relevant to those who hear it.  The packaging "wineskin" can be modified, changed or even replaced, but the "new wine" message of salvation cannot.  In recent years this principle has been freely used to restructure how we "do church." Missionaries who return from the field for itineration are normally surprised and at times shocked by these changes, as the church works hard to find new methods (new wineskins) to connect the message(new wine) with the needs of a rapidly changing society. 

While understanding and application of this truth has given the church strength to move forward in very difficult circumstances, there can still be problems when a good is pushed to an extreme.  In this case there is a danger that method (wineskin) can become message (the new wine).  One example is the lack of "pentecost" in the pentecostal church.   The baptism in the Holy Spirit and the operation of spiritual gifts just doesn't "fit" well with new versions of "doing church."  Many now believe it will offend and confuse people.  Others see it as awkward and embarrassing.  In most pentecostal churches it is still a part of the doctrine, but no longer a part of the practice.  It just doesn't work well in the church services.  Some are now questioning whether the pentecostal experience is important for a relevant "new wineskin" church.  When this happens, the "wineskin" becomes the message and the "new wine" is lost.

It is difficult to maintain a pentecostal emphasis in the midst of a society dominated by science and technology.  But it is not impossible.  Adults and young people in every cultural and in every society continue to crave an authentic experience with the supernatural.  Rather than sacrifice the "new wine," the church must be inspired to create "new wineskins" to keep the power of the Holy Spirit in its ministries and programs.  We strive to do this in El Oasis de Esperanza.  It is not easy.  We are constantly challenged to find new ways of doing this. It is still exciting to see people baptized in the Holy Spirit and flowing in the gifts of the Spirit.  At this point belief and experience join hands to equip the believer for the tremendous challenges of living life victoriously and sharing their faith courageously.

Plan "G"

I believe I have heard God speak to me many times. When He has spoken, He has often shown me where I am to go with my life and ministry.  I see the goal clearly.  I know my destiny at least for the next chapter of my life.  

The problem is I really don't know how to get there or how long it will take.  So immediately my mind begins to form plans to reach this goal.  I use reason and logic to help me.  I draw on past experiences.  I finally arrive at the best plan, Plan "A," and I begin to put it into action. God has equipped us the ability to do this and He wants us to use what He has given us.  

However, not long after forming Plan "A," it has to be modified.  It is not working as expected. It is difficult to predict all of the factors that will eventually influence the plan.  Plan "B" has to be formulated with the Holy Spirit's help.  In fact I've never arrived at any goal for my life or ministry using the "original" plan.  After a series of changes, Plan "G" (plan God) finally emerges.  Sometimes it is very different from Plan "A," but it is always better.

This has certainly been the case with our ministry here in Peru and with our vision for El Oasis. In fact I'm not even sure that we have arrived at Plan "G" yet.  We know were we are going. We are getting closer, but we are still adjusting the plan.

This is a hard lesson to learn, especially as parents.  As our children move into adulthood, plans must be adjusted.  Their destiny may be somewhat clear, but the pathway to this destiny may be very cloudy.  We have to understand that Plan "A" will need to be changed many times.  Our job is to help them make the adjustments.  Our job is to help them find Plan "G".  It is not easy. It may take lots of prayer and tears.  But with God's help we will get there and we will discover that His way was much better. 

Faith Requires Risk

It dawned on me the other day that in leading El Oasis forward in our building program, I have taken many risks.  People will not give sacrificially to something unless they have captured a vision of the future.  They accept challenges when they can catch a small glimpse of what they can potentially accomplish to change their world.  A good leader, spiritual or otherwise, must carefully paint this picture with just enough detail to gain the support and enthusiasm of those who follow him or her.  

This is probably the reason why President Obama defeated McCain.  His speeches were filled with promises and retoric that won over the hearts of the American people.  His words created a snapshot of the future that voters could not resist.  He took a huge risk that it will all work out according to his calculations.  Americans put their faith in him.  Only time will tell if their faith was placed in vain or not.

Did I do the same with El Oasis?  Is the vision I presented to the congregation really a match for what God has planned for this church?  God cannot fail, nor can He lie.  But maybe I embellished the future too much in my own enthusiasm to see people start giving to the building project.  Will the Lord truly do all of the things I said in His name?  Did I really hear from God or am I just concerned about my legacy?  Seldom do we ask such honest questions. I find it unsettling as well. However,  I must ask these questions as we wait for the Lord to respond to our need.  I need to know He has spoken.  I need to know He will do this even though our circumstances say it is impossible to buy such expensive land and build such a large building.  We have risked much. Our personal reputation is on the line.  Our ministry is on the line.  People in the USA and people in Peru have believed in us and in the vision that we shared with them.  

And yet, I am convinced that the essence of faith requires such risk.  There is always a moment when we must believe even when we cannot see.  There is always a point when must act even when we do not know how or when He will respond.  Faith without risk is not really faith at all. Only time will reveal that we have not placed our faith in vain.

Obstacles and Opportunities

Nearly all of the people that attend El Oasis de Esperanza have come with some type of religious formation in another church.  Some arrive confused and frustrated in their faith. Others are desperately looking for Truth because they have never had a personal relationship with the Lord. When we have a chance to talk, most want to know what we think about other "churches" or "groups."  For us as leaders this is a difficult proposition.  We don't want to speak against anything or anyone that God is using to extend His kingdom.  

Normally we take a moment to explain in general terms that one of the most important goals of the church is to help men and women make a connection with the Lord.  If any church or individual Christian creates obstacles that in some way may hinder this process, then they fail to fulfill the calling they have received from the Lord. In some settings it is easier to know God. In others in is more difficult, sometimes almost impossible to know Him.  The most important thing is to choose a place to worship that allows us to have free access to the Lord...and for Him to have free access to us. 

We have often told our associate pastor that God has called us to "remove obstacles" not "create obstacles."  He smiles and nods his agreement because he knows that this a priority for every ministry in our church.  

He understands that we have another ministry philosophy that influences the decisions that we make as a pastoral staff and as a church.  While we are called to "remove obstacles," we also called to "create opportunities."  This is one of our greatest challenges as pastors.  Every member in El Oasis has been given special talents.  The Lord wants them to use what they have received to strengthen the church and extend the Kingdom of God.  And yet so many are happy to only "watch" and not "participate."  Sometimes this happens because they really do not want to serve.  Sometimes it happens because the church is structured in way that allows only a small group to have meaningful ministry.  We continue to ask ourselves the question: "How can we include more people in the ministries of El Oasis?" 

This priority must also saturate our preaching as well.  We cannot be satisfied to only share the Truth.  Listners must have the opportunity to respond to the Truth.  If we preach on salvation, people must be given the opportunity to commit their lives to Christ.  If we share on Holy Spirit baptism, then there must be times to receive this special anointing.  If we teach on healing, then we must pray for the sick.  The opportunities created in preaching, must have the chance to become reality for all who hear the proclamation of the gospel message.