Communion thought this week...

This was my Lord's Supper talk this week. First in Spanish, then in English...

A veces, la vida está llena de dolor y las dificultades. Esta fin de semana, vi la películaLuna de Avellaneda. En la pelí, el protagonista, Ricardo Darín, tuvo muchos problemas en su vida: estaba separado de su esposa, su relación con su hijo fue tensa, odiaba su trabajo, y su pasión, su club, iba a cerrar. Darín se sintió triste y enojado; he perdido sus sueños. En una parte de la película, Darín oró a Dios y dijo, “Sólo una vez, ¿puedo tener un polo sin jabón? ¿Por qué no podés hacer más fácil mi vida?” Su oración es similar a las palabras de Habacuc en Hab. 1:2 --¿Hasta cuando, Señor, he de perdirte ayuda sin que tú me escuches? ¿Hasta cuando he de quejarme de la violencia sin que tú nos salves?

Esto ha sido una semana difícil aquí en Buenos Aires. Muchas personas han muerto en el accidente. Las vidas de muchas familias han sido destrozadas. Todos nosotros sentimos el dolor y la tristeza. En este momento, compartimos su aflicción.

Es natural que nos preguntemos, “¿Dónde está Dios? ¿Por qué pasó esto?” Es natural las tener preguntas y dudas.

Los antiguos griegos creyeron que los dioses no podían sentir las emociones. Había cristianos herejes que argumentaron lo mismo, que Dios también no podía sentir las emociones: felicidades o tristezas. Pero esto es falso. No es la verdad. Dios lo entiende nuestro dolor. El Señor se siente nuestra pena.

Hay un versículo muy profundo en Juan 11:35. Jesús ha perdido su amigo, Lázaro. Jesús tenía el poder para salvarlo; pero no lo hizo. Sin embargo, cuando llegó Jesús, habló con la familia y las hermanas de Lázaro, María y Marta.

Juan 11:33-35

Al ver llorar a María y a los judíos que la habían acompañado, Jesús se turbó y se conmovió profundamente.

—¿Dónde lo han puesto? —preguntó. —Ven a verlo, Señor —le respondieron.

Jesús lloró.

Después, Jesús levantó a Lázaro, pero no quiero que extrañemos las emociones: Jesús lloró. El dios del universo, nuestro Creador, lloró. Se sintió el dolor y la aflicción de la familia y sus amigos. Y él todavía se siente nuestro dolor hoy. Entiende nuestras aflicciones. Cuando Dios se hizo hombre en Jesús, se hizo como nosotros en todos los aspectos, todas las maneras. “El Verbo se hizo hombre y habitó entre nosotros. ” (Juan 1:14). Dios nos entiende, y se siente nuestro dolor en este momento. Jesús conoció personas que murieron. Jesús lloró, y llora con nosotros hoy.

En la cena santa, celebramos a Jesús y sus acciones por los pecadores. Pero también quiero que recordemos al Verbo que se hizo hombre. El Dios que entiende nosotros, porque nos creó y habitó entre nosotros. Demos gracias a Dios por su entendimiento y amor.

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Sometimes, life is full of pain and difficulties. This last weekend, I watched the film Luna de Avellaneda. In the film, Ricardo Darin, the main actor, plays a character with lots of problems in his lief: he is separated from his wife, his rlationship with his son is strained, he hates his job, and his passion, his sports club, is going to be closed. Darin feels sad and angry; he has lost his dreams. At one point in the film, Darin looks up and prays, "Just one time, could I have a pole without soap? (An alusion to something else in the film.) Why can't my life be easier?" His prayer is similar to the words spoken by Habakkuk (1:2) -- "How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you don't listen? Or cry out to you 'Violence,' but you do not save?"

This has been a difficult week here in Buenos Aires. Many people have died in a train accident. The lives of many families have been destroyed. All of us feel pain and sadness. In this moment, we share in their grief.

It is natural to ask ourselves, "Where is God? Why did this happen?" It is natural to have questions and doubts.

The ancient greeks believed that the "gods" couldn't feel emotion. There were Christian heretics who argued the same, that God couldn't feel happiness or sadness, the same emotions that we do. But that is false; it isn't the truth. The LORD understands our grief; he feels our pain.

There is a profound verse in John 11:35. Jesus has lost his friend, Lazarus. Jesus could have saved him, but he did not. He arrives late, on purpose! However, when Jesus arrived, he spoke with the family and Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha.

John 11:32-35

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Afterwards, Jesus raised Lazarus. But I don't want us to miss the emotions: Jesus wept. The God of the universe, our Creator, cried. He felt the pain and grief of the friends and family. And he also feels our pain today. He understands our grief. When God became flesh and dwelled among us in Jesus, he became like us in every aspect, in every way. "The Word became flesh and dwelled among us..." (John 1:14). He understands us, and he feels our pain in this moment. Jesus lost friends who died. Jesus wept, and he still cries with us today.

In the Lord's Supper, we celebrate Jesus and his actions for sinners. But I also want us to remember the Word who became flesh, the God who understands us because he created us and lived among us. Let us give thanks to God for his understanding and his love.

Lord's Supper thought this week

Good friends

Hemos sido bendecidos con muchos amigos...

We have been blessed with many friends. When we talk about what we most love about Buenos Aires, it isn't the city, the museums, the food, or the atmosphere. It's the people: our readers, our friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

One of the things that gives us the most satisfaction is inviting people over too our home. Last night one of my (Daniel's) good friends came over for dinner and stayed until after midnight. We are constantly invited to spend time with our friends here in BsAs at their homes, out to dinner, or in the park. One of our favorite activities is tomando un café, taking coffee with a friend. There are confiterías on every corner, and every neighborhood has their own favorite places to stop in for a coffee. We practice our Spanish, talk about ideas, and share faith over a coffee (or tea, soda, licuado, etc.)

We are truly blessed by the friendships we have made here. We are surprised at how close you can grow to people in the course of 6 months. We already have students telling us that they are going to miss us when we leave (which is 6 more months away!)

It brings to mind the passage that Paul writes to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 -- "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God but our lives as well." It is great to be in a wonderful place with amazing people... In fact, it is the people that make this place so wonderful!

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

Los Desaparecidos

In 1976 the military junta took control of the country of Argentina. In order to stop further anarchy, the government began to crack down on domestic terrorists who had been plaguing the government and police. They also began searching for political dissidents and anyone who disagreed with their current policies. They began rounding up individuals from all walks of life: professors, priests, students, Communists, actors, Socialists, former political workers, bankers… All types of people were taken from their homes, offices, and off the streets, and were never heard from again. They are known as “los Desaparecidos,” or “the disappeared.” It is estimated that more than 30,000 Argentines were killed by the military regime in the eight years of their rule.

Every Thursday a group of women wearing white headscarves gather in Plaza de Mayo to plead for justice and information. They are “las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo (the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo),” and they are family members (mothers, wives, and sisters) or those who disappeared during the regime. They have been working to bring justice for these individuals since 1977. They have their own radio station, office building, and public relations arm. They are seeking to raise

support for their cause. They don’t ever want the world to forget what has happened to these people.

As you walk around Buenos Aires, you will often find small plaques set into the ground. Some are plain; others are decorated with small painted stones or colorful pieces of glass. All of them tell a story. It gives the name of the individual (or individuals), the date they disappeared, and the (supposed) of which they were accused. You find them in the strangest places: there are ten outside of a bank in Microcentro (downtown). There are two that I have found within two blocks of our home. They are constant reminders of those who are no longer with us, and a reminder that we should mourn those who aren’t here any longer.

Los Desaparecidos… We have them within our churches as well. There are countless people who simply leave through the back door of our churches. Sixty percent of our youth leave the Churches of Christ by the time they graduate college. People get offended by another church member and simply stop coming. People quietly struggle with their faith or the challenges in their lives, and it is easier to stop coming to church than to feel lost or hypocritical. All of us, if we stopped and thought about it, could think of someone that we haven’t seen in a while. “Where is Brother/Sister So-and-so? I haven’t seen them in forever…” Where are their plaques? Where are the people championing for their needs? Where are their church family members standing vigil, waiting with the hope that they will return? Too often our own Disappeared simply disappear without anyone thinking a second thought.

Jesus calls us to unity; he challenges us to be one, and he prays for us to be one (see John 13-17). That means that we must seek to encourage all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must seek out those who have wondered away. We must bless those who are struggling. We must show love and compassion to those who have been wounded by churches. Jesus left the 99 to search for the lost 1; how can we do any less? The Mothers would give anything to have their lost children back; can we do any less for our brothers and sisters in Christ?

May our churches not be littered with thousands of plaques or vague remembrances of those who have disappeared. Instead, may we strive to bless those who have left our churches for whatever reason.

Los Argentinos: Los queremos que creer en Dios

Recently there was a front page story on a local newspaper, El Argentino:

"Messi cree en Dios." (Messi believes in God)

Messi is the top Argentine soccer player (I would argue of ALL time, but fans of others would beg to differ!) Messi plays for Barcelona, and has been awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year for the past two years (with two other second place wins.)

ANYWAY, I thought the article sounded interesting, so I flipped to the page where the full story was listed. Here's what it said, "Messi still believes that Maradona was a much better footballer than he will ever be..."

I was saddened to read the article. On one hand, I was blessed by the fact that one of the greatest players in the world is so humble. On the other hand, however, I am heartbroken for the fact that people of Argentina consider a man, Maradona, to be God.

For those of you alive in 1986, Diego Maradona was responsible for the infamous "Hand of God" goal that allowed Argentina to beat England. The referees missed the handling, but everyone else in the world could see it. Maradona, for decades, argued that he never handled it: if someone handled the ball, he argued, it must have been God. Maradona has had countless problems since, from alcohol to drugs.

However, he is still considered a role-model by most Argentines. His jerseys are seen everywhere. In fact, here is a picture on a building not far from our home
:

Despite all of his problems, many Argentines would love for their children to be just like Diego. Here is something written by the Houston Chronicle:

"To understand the gargantuan shadow Maradona casts over his soccer-mad homeland, one has to conjure up the athleticism of Michael Jordan, the power of Babe Ruth – and the human fallibility of Mike Tyson. Lump them together in a single barrel-chested man with shaggy black hair and you have El Diego, idol to the millions who call him D10S, a mashup of his playing number and the Spanish word for God."

In fact, many people here call Diego "Dios." He IS God to many of the Argentine people. There is even a CHURCH OF MARADONA! In Rosario, Argentina, locals organized the parody religion of the "Church of Maradona". The organization reformulates many elements from Christian tradition, such as Christmas or prayers, reflecting instead details from Maradona. It had 200 founding members, tens of thousands more have become members via the church's official web site. (Wikipedia)

Welcome to Argentina. The people here jokingly say that they go to church each week; it just happens to be a soccer stadium! They sing songs of praise and worship, they boo "the devil" (the other team's players or the referee), they sing about victory and triumph, sadness and pain. There is laughter, joy, sadness, and lament.

While I love juego hermoso (or juega bonitazi for my Portuguese friends), I don't live and die by the game. I am a fan (hincha), not a worshiper. I love watching the beautiful game, but it isn't a religion.

My prayer is that all Argentines will believe in God, that they can come to know him more and more. The true God, not the gods that men make for themselves or make out of themselves. May they come to know him more fully, wonderfully, and beautifully.

God bless each of you!

Religion in Buenos Aires (Part 2)

Ayudános, Madre, en nuestra hora de necesidad...

These words adorn many shrines found throughout the country.

On October 1st, a large procession of people set out from Buenos Aires to the city of Lujan, almost 80 km away (50 miles.) Over 100,000 people make the pilgrimage from the capital to this religious site in honor of the Virgin of Lujan. According to the legend, the Virgin was in a cart being carried from Peru to Brazil, but the cart mysterious stopped in Lujan and wouldn't go any further until the Virgin was removed. There she stayed, and a belief was built up around her. Six million people visit the catedral in Lujan every year to pay homage to the Virgin.

In a recent posting we talked about the role of Jesus in South America. Jesus is the crucified Savior, but is rarely shown in the glory of the resurrection. Jesus is always shown dead, hanging on the cross with a wound in his side.

More important in Catholicism is the role of Mary. Mary, the Mother of God, the perpetual Virgin, the bearer of God and the bringer of help and care. It is believed that Mary has a special, direct connection to Jesus and God. Hence the "Hail Mary."

Hail Mary, full of grace, the LORD is with Thee.

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

The text comes from various passages within Luke's Gospel, as well as some final remarks about praying for us. If Mary has a special, direct line to God, then she would be the first person they would want to pray to in order to get their hopes, desires, and wishes fulfilled.

More important, however, is the concept of "The Virgin." It is rare to see Mary's name actually invoked; rather, there are dozens of shrines to "the Virgin." The idea of Mary's perpetual Virginity is an important concept in South American Catholicism. Although not a pronounced in Argentina (as opposed to places like Bolivia, Mexico, etc), the idea of the Virgin is an important aspect of the faith. Many trace the roots of Virgin worship to pre-Columbian religious beliefs in the strength and power of Virginity. Often, virgins were the sacrifice to the gods, because they were pure and without fault. The Virgin cultus provides a bridge that continues even into today.

You see shrines to the Virgin in every subway station. There are shrines on every corner. We pass five between our house and the church building (and there isn't even a Catholic church on the way!) Two are dedicated to the Virgin of Lujan; one is dedicated to the Giving Mother; another is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadeloupe; and the other is simply generic.

All this for a woman who is given very little mention in the Bible. Yes, she is highly regarded in the beginning of Luke, and seems to come to faith after the resurrection. (The tradition states that she remains with John until her death.) However, Jesus also says, "Those who do my Father's will are my mother and brothers..."

Faith rests on Jesus Christ and his Death, Burial, and Resurrection. Let's pray in HIS name, and focus our efforts on being more like Christ. Let's ask him to help us in our hour of need, and focus on moving our lives closer to Him and the Father.

God bless you guys! Thanks for your love and support...

Updates

We passed! We passed, we passed, we passed!

Our language school ended last week, and Megan and I both did well! We both received high scores, and we are really enjoying practicing with our friends. We are both feeling more confident, although we are better with small groups than larger groups. (A few people don't mind waiting while you think through what you are saying.)

We will be continuing our language study with our fellow missionary, Jonathan Hanegan. He already gave us 100 pages of homework while he is gone to the states!

As an update to ministry... we are INCREDIBLY busy! (Estamos muy ocupados!) Here are our scheduled activities right now:

- Teaching english classes

- Studying Spanish in our spare time

- Running an English Conversation Club

- Two small English groups during the week

- English class on Sunday mornings

- Covering a small group while a missionary couple is gone to the states

- Volunteering with the youth, etc, on Wednesdays and Saturdays

- Etc.

We stay pretty busy, but we are doing well. We love Argentina and the people; we are just trying to keep our feet under us!

Sorry it has been so long since our last posting. There will be another this week. Stay posted!