Saturday, May 29, 2004
June is a busy month for us, with three journeys, including a return to Britain on the 30th. From 9-12 June is the Congress of the newly forming Reformed Baptist Fellowship, in Petrolândia, Pernambuco State. Please pray for (i) a focus on biblical issues of primary importance and an affirmation of Christian liberty on other issues; (ii) spiritual refreshment and encouragement through the ministry of God's Word; (iii) smooth working out of many complex travel arrangements! On the way back from there we will spend the weekend renewing contacts and fellowship with the First Presbyterian Church at Aracajú, Sergipe State. From 25-27 Andrew will be speaking at a weekend conference at the Presbyterian Church, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Two things of cultural interest.
First, a look into an "evangelical" Forum for discussion - in Portuguese, of course, so I won't give you the reference. However, this was the gist of a discussion. The opening title was "Why I burned my Bible". Well, being intrigued, I began to read. Turns out that the Bible which was burned was one without the Apocrypha, because the person who had owned it was disillusioned with the explanations s/he was receiving from evangelical pastors about why these books were not included in the Canon. There followed various responses to this, some of which were unpleasant and unhelpful, using inappropriate language for a Christian website. Two other people had also burned their Bibles for the same reason. Some people affirmed their use of a Bible with Apocryphal books. Only one or two were actually attempting to give a sensible explanation, in the right attitude, as to why the books were omitted and what they contained that led to their exclusion. This may give you some inkling of how deep-seated loyalty to Roman Catholicism and its teaching is in Brazil, even among young people, although, as in evangelical churches, the main draw to participating in church life is the sense of belonging to a community and enjoying social life together in a relatively safe environment. Please pray that there will be true reformation here through the preaching of the truth in the Bible, and people will want to read it, not burn it.
Second, last night we went to the passing out parade of our friend, R, (aged 18) as a soldier in the Brazilian Army. The only security at the gate as we drove in was a question about whether people had a son in the parade, no paperwork or ID checks. As yet, Brazil is blessed with no fear of terrorism. Parents and friends were assembling at one end of the parade ground, with the young recruits mingling freely with their families, the whole atmosphere extremely informal. The brigade band appeared and entertained us with an eclectic range of military style music- Colonel Bogey, The Grand March from Aida, Toreador from Carmen -while the recruits went to get into formation. Eventually, two platoons marched in, singing a song commemorating the Brazilians regiments who fought with the allied forces in Italy in the Second World War. (Monte Cassino, the one proper Brazilian engagement.) There was a little bit of speechifying, then the business of marking the transition from recruit to soldier began.
Each recruit was to exchange his recruit's hat for a soldier's beret, which he would receive from a member of his family: a father, mother or grandparent, or whoever he had chosen. How was this going to work, we wondered? Would the recruits be called out individually? We envisaged a long drawn-out period of solemn exchanges. Instead, at a given moment, the corded barriers were let down and recruits and families mingled while the exchanges were made, hugs and kisses given, photos taken, tears shed, until families drifted back to watch the new soldiers re-form into platoons. Following this, there was a display of the uniforms of different sections of the military, including airforce parachutists, marine, and UN Peacekeeping, and a march-past of Veterans (mostly from the Italian engagement in the Second World War). Then, after a short interval, an enactment of the daily life of a soldier in the barracks, followed by a mock battle (to the music of Carmina Burana), concluding with an extremely sentimental and yet alarmingly realistic war poem, in which a soldier cries out to his mother describing how he is dying from shrapnel wounds. I am trying to get hold of a copy to translate and perhaps post later. Finally, there was a firework display, and then, of course, to the "festa" - food and drink in the soldiers' refectory.
This was quite a strange experience for us, It is some time since we felt so totally out of things culturally. We found it all very human, and therefore, in the context, not very real. Yet, later over pizzas in a restaurant, we learned from R that his training was certainly real – learning to kill human forms, handle firearms and machine guns, as well as survival techniques. In fact, recently, his “Special Operations” section had been involved in thwarting an armed sabotage attempt, and he and his colleagues could have been killed. So please pray for him, as a Christian in the Brazilian army; and for the excellent ministry of some solid evangelicals who are providing helpful teaching on the Internet for military personnel. For those who read Portuguese, the site is at:
www.militar.cristao.nom.br/paginas/estudos/estudos.htm
First, a look into an "evangelical" Forum for discussion - in Portuguese, of course, so I won't give you the reference. However, this was the gist of a discussion. The opening title was "Why I burned my Bible". Well, being intrigued, I began to read. Turns out that the Bible which was burned was one without the Apocrypha, because the person who had owned it was disillusioned with the explanations s/he was receiving from evangelical pastors about why these books were not included in the Canon. There followed various responses to this, some of which were unpleasant and unhelpful, using inappropriate language for a Christian website. Two other people had also burned their Bibles for the same reason. Some people affirmed their use of a Bible with Apocryphal books. Only one or two were actually attempting to give a sensible explanation, in the right attitude, as to why the books were omitted and what they contained that led to their exclusion. This may give you some inkling of how deep-seated loyalty to Roman Catholicism and its teaching is in Brazil, even among young people, although, as in evangelical churches, the main draw to participating in church life is the sense of belonging to a community and enjoying social life together in a relatively safe environment. Please pray that there will be true reformation here through the preaching of the truth in the Bible, and people will want to read it, not burn it.
Second, last night we went to the passing out parade of our friend, R, (aged 18) as a soldier in the Brazilian Army. The only security at the gate as we drove in was a question about whether people had a son in the parade, no paperwork or ID checks. As yet, Brazil is blessed with no fear of terrorism. Parents and friends were assembling at one end of the parade ground, with the young recruits mingling freely with their families, the whole atmosphere extremely informal. The brigade band appeared and entertained us with an eclectic range of military style music- Colonel Bogey, The Grand March from Aida, Toreador from Carmen -while the recruits went to get into formation. Eventually, two platoons marched in, singing a song commemorating the Brazilians regiments who fought with the allied forces in Italy in the Second World War. (Monte Cassino, the one proper Brazilian engagement.) There was a little bit of speechifying, then the business of marking the transition from recruit to soldier began.
Each recruit was to exchange his recruit's hat for a soldier's beret, which he would receive from a member of his family: a father, mother or grandparent, or whoever he had chosen. How was this going to work, we wondered? Would the recruits be called out individually? We envisaged a long drawn-out period of solemn exchanges. Instead, at a given moment, the corded barriers were let down and recruits and families mingled while the exchanges were made, hugs and kisses given, photos taken, tears shed, until families drifted back to watch the new soldiers re-form into platoons. Following this, there was a display of the uniforms of different sections of the military, including airforce parachutists, marine, and UN Peacekeeping, and a march-past of Veterans (mostly from the Italian engagement in the Second World War). Then, after a short interval, an enactment of the daily life of a soldier in the barracks, followed by a mock battle (to the music of Carmina Burana), concluding with an extremely sentimental and yet alarmingly realistic war poem, in which a soldier cries out to his mother describing how he is dying from shrapnel wounds. I am trying to get hold of a copy to translate and perhaps post later. Finally, there was a firework display, and then, of course, to the "festa" - food and drink in the soldiers' refectory.
This was quite a strange experience for us, It is some time since we felt so totally out of things culturally. We found it all very human, and therefore, in the context, not very real. Yet, later over pizzas in a restaurant, we learned from R that his training was certainly real – learning to kill human forms, handle firearms and machine guns, as well as survival techniques. In fact, recently, his “Special Operations” section had been involved in thwarting an armed sabotage attempt, and he and his colleagues could have been killed. So please pray for him, as a Christian in the Brazilian army; and for the excellent ministry of some solid evangelicals who are providing helpful teaching on the Internet for military personnel. For those who read Portuguese, the site is at:
www.militar.cristao.nom.br/paginas/estudos/estudos.htm
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
3 blogs in one day might seem a bit excessive, but then there are so many things to say. First of all, thanks to our tall, handsome, and genius son who kindly added the Comment and Trackback features to our blog. I have now changed our password so that he cannot post anything else in my name.
Second, give thanks with me that the bible study on Genesis 2 and 3 "The Essence of Our Problem" went really well. Present were 5 women, 2 others couldn't come tonight. Mathematicians and historians among you will perhaps have worked out that the group has therefore already expanded from the '4 female students' I mentioned earlier.
Third, two of the women are in turn going to teach the material to two other groups in their churches. So on Friday evenings a group of 5 young women at First Baptist , and a largish group of adolescents at Campêche will be hearing the substance of these bible studies regurgitated. Gulp!! Did the people in my group get the message properly themselves? Will they pass it on accurately? Only the Lord knows. So please ask Him to help them to teach the Word with clarity and total dependence on His Spirit, and to prepare the minds and hearts of those who will be listening.
I would say goodnight, but most of you have been sleeping for several hours already, I hope. Tchau until the next time, then.
Second, give thanks with me that the bible study on Genesis 2 and 3 "The Essence of Our Problem" went really well. Present were 5 women, 2 others couldn't come tonight. Mathematicians and historians among you will perhaps have worked out that the group has therefore already expanded from the '4 female students' I mentioned earlier.
Third, two of the women are in turn going to teach the material to two other groups in their churches. So on Friday evenings a group of 5 young women at First Baptist , and a largish group of adolescents at Campêche will be hearing the substance of these bible studies regurgitated. Gulp!! Did the people in my group get the message properly themselves? Will they pass it on accurately? Only the Lord knows. So please ask Him to help them to teach the Word with clarity and total dependence on His Spirit, and to prepare the minds and hearts of those who will be listening.
I would say goodnight, but most of you have been sleeping for several hours already, I hope. Tchau until the next time, then.
There you go mother ;)
Friends, the last posting on our previous blog site was dated 30 March. Here is an update of what has been happening.
ANDREW. Classes at IBE (Baptist Institute of Education) on Tuesdays (Homiletics) and Wednesdays (Christology and Soteriology) have continued. The students have been receptive to new concepts. Give thanks and keep praying.
English Bible Studies at First Baptist (PIB) on Sunday mornings are going well. We had the study in our apartment on Palm Sunday (4 April) because the church services were cancelled in order to have a big bazaar to raise funds for the proposed "Discipleship Centre". We had lunch together and had good conversation over a range of topics, getting to know the four younger people, all students at UFSC.
Peregrinos have continued to meet, usually fortnightly on Fridays, studying the prayers of Paul. This is generating useful discussion about the nature of prayer, the last one in Colossians 1 stimulating much thought about knowing the will of God.
Campêche Baptist Church. Several students at IBE are members here, and it has been encouraging to meet them in their church context on a couple of Sunday evenings. In addition, Andrew is doing some intensive Saturday sessions on Mark's gospel.
Independent Baptist, Floresta. Other students from IBE are members here, and it was a joy to meet them when Andrew preached here on 18 April. Sadly, one has had to leave IBE because of job/financial problems. Others are sensing a tension between the theology of their church and the theology they are learning at IBE: please pray for great sensitivity and wisdom for them in the way they (and we) relate to their Pastor.
Confession of Faith 1689. We have begun meeting with a small group of the Peregrinos to go through the London Confession as a starting point in establishing where people are with basic doctrines, and in order for us as a couple to position ourselves with a good conscience with respect to the new Reformed Baptist movement here which has the 1689 as a doctrinal standard. In our first meeting Andrew described the history of the confession, and we managed to study the first paragraph! Very stimulating discussion.
CORA Bible study on Romans with two women has continued on Friday afternoons.
A new Bible Study group with 4 female students (2 from Campêche, 2 from First Baptist) from the University has begun on Wednesday evenings. The agenda is 5 basic studies on "What does it mean to be a human being"; "The Essence of Our problem"; "Images of Salvation in the OT"; "Who is Jesus?" and "The Two Sides of Faith", with an apologetic slant. They have all expressed a desire for help in combating the atheistic philosophies they encounter in their courses and in conversations with other students.
BA Theological Studies This month I have 3 Assignments to do, as well as complete the Modular units in Pentateuchal Studies and Apologetics. As fast as I learn there are opportunities to use the knowledge gained in conversations with students, so please pray for stamina to press on.
Other news. In case you missed it our Permanent Visas have been granted, but we still have to do the paperwork to get out new Identity Cards. However, the Federal Police are on strike, so please pray that their issues will be resolved soon.
Bec and Tom are now into the exam preparation period. Please pray for good revision and good exams and perseverance in Christ in the things that really matter.
Finally, please continue to remember our housing needs when Bec and Tom leave the Nicholls' household at the beginning of July.
ANDREW. Classes at IBE (Baptist Institute of Education) on Tuesdays (Homiletics) and Wednesdays (Christology and Soteriology) have continued. The students have been receptive to new concepts. Give thanks and keep praying.
English Bible Studies at First Baptist (PIB) on Sunday mornings are going well. We had the study in our apartment on Palm Sunday (4 April) because the church services were cancelled in order to have a big bazaar to raise funds for the proposed "Discipleship Centre". We had lunch together and had good conversation over a range of topics, getting to know the four younger people, all students at UFSC.
Peregrinos have continued to meet, usually fortnightly on Fridays, studying the prayers of Paul. This is generating useful discussion about the nature of prayer, the last one in Colossians 1 stimulating much thought about knowing the will of God.
Campêche Baptist Church. Several students at IBE are members here, and it has been encouraging to meet them in their church context on a couple of Sunday evenings. In addition, Andrew is doing some intensive Saturday sessions on Mark's gospel.
Independent Baptist, Floresta. Other students from IBE are members here, and it was a joy to meet them when Andrew preached here on 18 April. Sadly, one has had to leave IBE because of job/financial problems. Others are sensing a tension between the theology of their church and the theology they are learning at IBE: please pray for great sensitivity and wisdom for them in the way they (and we) relate to their Pastor.
Confession of Faith 1689. We have begun meeting with a small group of the Peregrinos to go through the London Confession as a starting point in establishing where people are with basic doctrines, and in order for us as a couple to position ourselves with a good conscience with respect to the new Reformed Baptist movement here which has the 1689 as a doctrinal standard. In our first meeting Andrew described the history of the confession, and we managed to study the first paragraph! Very stimulating discussion.
CORA Bible study on Romans with two women has continued on Friday afternoons.
A new Bible Study group with 4 female students (2 from Campêche, 2 from First Baptist) from the University has begun on Wednesday evenings. The agenda is 5 basic studies on "What does it mean to be a human being"; "The Essence of Our problem"; "Images of Salvation in the OT"; "Who is Jesus?" and "The Two Sides of Faith", with an apologetic slant. They have all expressed a desire for help in combating the atheistic philosophies they encounter in their courses and in conversations with other students.
BA Theological Studies This month I have 3 Assignments to do, as well as complete the Modular units in Pentateuchal Studies and Apologetics. As fast as I learn there are opportunities to use the knowledge gained in conversations with students, so please pray for stamina to press on.
Other news. In case you missed it our Permanent Visas have been granted, but we still have to do the paperwork to get out new Identity Cards. However, the Federal Police are on strike, so please pray that their issues will be resolved soon.
Bec and Tom are now into the exam preparation period. Please pray for good revision and good exams and perseverance in Christ in the things that really matter.
Finally, please continue to remember our housing needs when Bec and Tom leave the Nicholls' household at the beginning of July.
Yesterday it rained all day. Today it looks as if it might do the same. This is unusual in Florianópolis. They were talking about a possible second cyclone hitting the State, like the one we had a few weeks ago. A freak weather occurrence. You didn't hear about it? Well, there was a lot of debate about whether it was a cyclone or a hurricane, but there was definitely a tornado which caused a great deal of damage, made thousands homeless etc, though few people died. The tornado didn't reach Florianópolis, but we did have an incredible amount of wind and rain. The rest of the State was in shock, and the Government has granted emergency status and funding towards rebuilding, but the financial losses, in terms of businesses shut down and job losses, have been substantial.
More worrying than this was the statistic on the local news yesterday that a man shot dead in another district not far from ours was the 52nd person in our region to be murdered since the beginning of this year. Recent official statistics said that the rate of homicide in Brazil has increased 130% over the last 20 years. This in spite of what some people call "revival" happening in the churches. An article in the magazine "Superinteressante" questioned why the rapid growth among the so-called evangelical churches has not produced the sort of social reforms that came as a result of Luther's reformation in Germany, and the Reformation in England. A good question. And a reason to pray that the real gospel would make an impact on the hearts of the Brazilian people.
More worrying than this was the statistic on the local news yesterday that a man shot dead in another district not far from ours was the 52nd person in our region to be murdered since the beginning of this year. Recent official statistics said that the rate of homicide in Brazil has increased 130% over the last 20 years. This in spite of what some people call "revival" happening in the churches. An article in the magazine "Superinteressante" questioned why the rapid growth among the so-called evangelical churches has not produced the sort of social reforms that came as a result of Luther's reformation in Germany, and the Reformation in England. A good question. And a reason to pray that the real gospel would make an impact on the hearts of the Brazilian people.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Welcome to our new Blog site everyone. Encouraged by a certain young man's encouraging words today, and by the fact that I seem incapable of actually doing anything more useful than watching television right now, I thought I would try to set another banhocheiroso site up. Hope you like it. Let's see how long this one keeps going.
Cora.
Cora.
