Carving Pumpkins

A few years ago, I heard an amazing sermon on the Jack-o-lantern. It explored the significance of it and what it truly represents. Since then I have never looked at a carved pumpkin the same. In all our ugly, Christ still wants us!

Our pastor talked about how we need to look for ways to be ambassadors for Christ no matter what we are doing or where we are. He started out carving a pumpkin and began talking about how, when you think about it, we as humans are a lot alike. We are gross, smelly and pretty empty inside. When Christ gets a hold of us and cleans us out, He begins forming us into His likeness. Then, he started carving the face of the pumpkin... he described how we all have an appearance or emotion, sometimes silly, sometimes sad, sometimes happy and this makes us who we are. When he finished the face and closed the top of the pumpkin, he reminded us that we are dark inside. We are empty, giving nothing to those we come into contact with.

He then put a candle in the center of the pumpkin. The flame was burning bright and strong. It gave off the most beautiful glow. As he turned the lights out, he explained that with Christ we can be a light to the world. No matter if the world around us is cold and dark and ugly.

So, as your walking around your neighborhood or simply handing out candy at home, remember the carved pumpkin, remember the simple truth of Christ. He is our light, even when we are gross, empty and all kinds of ugly. He is there to redeem us!

Nicaragua Vision Trip 2013

A few weeks ago, Andy had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua with 4 other guys from our church. It was an amazing experience for him and I can't wait for you to hear more about it! Here are a few highlights from his time there. Thank you to those of you who supported his trip as well as bathed him in prayer while he was there. He felt it! 

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My trip to Nicaragua had many impacts on me, some evident now and some I'm sure I will see down the road.  We had the opportunity to witness three church services during our time.  The first service we saw, three people came to know Christ.  Immediately following the service, one of the brand new believers offered up his land to be used as the site of a new church.  This land was literally everything the man owned, he gave it all for the sake of Christ.  Nicaragua is the 2nd second poorest country, only to Haiti, in the western Hemisphere.  It was evident to us everywhere we went.  People lived on one meal a day, a tortilla.  Homes were made out of bamboo and thatch roofs.  Some people we met, had not had a meal in days.  These were the poor of the poor, struggling to live and yet so alive in Christ.  Willing to give up everything to follow him.  I was reminded how poor my faith can be in comparison to the way these people live out theirs.  The verses in Luke came to mind, 6:20-21, "Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,“God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.  God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.  God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh." I like how the Message puts it, "You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.  God’s kingdom is there for the finding.  You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.  Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal".  

On the second day we had the opportunity to visit the Bethlehem Farm.  Here we saw how Juan Carlos, our missionary, brings boys and girls from the ages of 12 to 18 off the streets and teaches them some invaluable lessons.  Some of these kids had been on their own since the age of 6.  They were literally scrapping by to survive on the street.  Juan Carlos finds them and brings them to the farm were he teaches them the Gospel and trains them in a skill, woodworking, metalworking, and pottery to name a few.  These kids not only get their physical needs met but their spiritual needs as well.  They now have a place to sleep, meals three times a day, and a skill.  This camp was impressive, but even more so the change in these kids lives.  Many were thieves, involved in gangs, doing drugs, getting drunk, even killing to survive, then Juan Carlos, through the camp, helps them set their lives on a path that is narrow, rough, but following Christ.  The message Jesus gives about the shepherd leaving the 99 sheep in search of the lost one surfaced as a popular theme.  It is their mission to go and look for the one lost sheep, and it is ours too. 

The reminders of not putting our value in monetary things, searching for those that are lost became the cornerstones of our trip.  We came back with compassion for the people of Nicaragua and a challenge for our own.  Our goal is to return to Nicaragua in the near future and partner along side our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters in laboring for the Gospel.  It was a great trip, one that was filled with emotions of joy for what Christ is doing, sadness for the poverty on many levels, excitement for what is going on and anticipation for what is to come.  

-Andy

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If you would like more information about Juan Carlos and his work in Nicaragua, click here.