I just came across the following quote from a book called The Psalms--Hymnbook of Humanity by James Daniel, cited in the book Mysteries of the Bible:
"In 1787 the Constitutional Convention meeting at Philadelphia was near failure because the 13 former colonies could not agree on a form of effective national government. When the deadlock appeared too great for human power to break, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin rose to his feet. All his life, he said, he had been convinced that the Psalms were right in saying, 'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' He moved that the delegates begin the next day's meeting with a prayer offered by a Philadelphia clergymen. The motion carried. So dramatic was the improvement in legislative temperaments and efficiency that Congress still observes Franklin's precedent."
Anyone with an IQ of 34 or higher can reason that:
1. The Constitutional convention opened with prayer.
2. The convention produced a Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion.
3. If the convention that produced a constitution that prohibits an establishment of religion opened with corporate prayer, then corporate prayer in public institutions must not be an establishment of religion. Why then have our courts so often ruled otherwise?
As I mentioned in the previous blog, Costa Rica has no such controversy, since Catholicism is the state religion. The federal women's prison in which Martha teaches Celebrate Recovery is called Buen Pastor, which means Good Shepherd. It is a clear reference to Jesus Christ. Interestingly, it was founded and run by an order of nuns as a private institution in days gone by until the government took it over. That ministry is going so well and keeps her so busy that Martha has not had time to write about it on this blog. I hope that when we get to the US on furlough that she'll have the opportunity to share here...
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
On the Separation of Church and State
An opinion piece in yesterday's USA Today described Rick Warren's message:
"Christianity's future is not inside the Beltway, or even in this country [the US], but in China, Africa, Latin America, and developing countries around the globe."
Warren is quoted as saying, "If I thought laws could change people's hearts, I would go into government, but I don't, so I'm not."
I agree. Much of the reason we're here in Costa Rica is to be able to make a larger contribution to the future of Christianity than we could in the US.
Warren's statement about laws not being able to change people's hearts is wise, and, I believe, reflects the sentiments of the US' founding fathers. That's why we have what is commonly referred to as separation of church and state.
Costa Rica does not have separation of church and state. Catholicism is the state religion. The longer I live here, the more I see the wisdom in the US system. Here, one cannot be wed legally in the Protestant church. The couple can have a church wedding, but it has no legal standing. They must also go to a justice of the peace for it to become legal. We were once in a church service in Tejarcillos in which the local police barged into the worship service, interrupted the sermon and impounded the pastor's car because of an unpaid traffic fine. Needless to say, the pastor should not have let the fine go unpaid, but he was in the neighborhood nearly every day of the week, and very easy to find. Of all the hours in the week that they could have impounded his car, they chose to do it in the middle of our worship service. This would not have happened had he been the local priest.
In the US, it seems that every year, instead of "peace on earth and good will toward men," there is endless bickering over whether the period from Thanksgiving through New Years should be called the Holiday Season, Christmas Season, or something else. Nativity scenes will be challenged in court in a win-lose scenario. Someone will be left unhappy in each instance.
I'm told that I am one of six million bloggers out there. Well, for whatever it's worth, here is a proposed solution for all the endless conflicts over church and state:
The Declaration of Independence says that there are self-evident truths: That there is a God. How do you think we all got here? When you see a gentleman in a fine suit, you know right away it was made by a tailor. Your car was manufactured in a factory. Your house constructed by carpenters. All these things are self-evident. Yet they are infinitely less complex than our universe. It is absurd to say that the universe got here by chance, and we should not silence or censor ourselves in civil government just because some people do not recognize what is self-evident.
Now let us discuss what is not self-evident. It is not self-evident that Jesus died for our sins, and that we must trust in Him as Lord and Savior in order to have eternal life. This is truth that has been specially revealed. So is the existence of the Trinity. Not everyone recognizes these truths because they have not been revealed to all. In theological terms, there is general revelation (what is revealed of God in nature and the natural order of things) and there is special revelation (specific information about God's nature and our relationship to Him, which we get from Scripture and the Holy Spirit).
What we know from general revelation should not be considered an establishment of religion. This includes references to God on our coins, the Pledge of Allegiance, or other public declarations. It is self-evident that God exists. That which Christians understand from special revelation would be an establishment of religion. This inculdes swearing on the Bible and religious symbolism on public land, or state/municipal flags, coats of armor, etc.
The argument is often made, however, that religious symbols also have secular meaning that supercede their religious significance. This is a sticky argument, because it is completely in the eye of the beholder, and everyone interprets symbols differently and subjectively. So I propose the following: Any religious symbol that has stood for a certain amount of time should be exempt from the church/state controversy. I suggest that anything that has stood for a span of 60 years or less should be moved to private property. What has stood for more than 60 years ought to be accepted as part of the landscape and part of tradition. Why sixty years? One generation is generally considered to number thirty years. If something has stood for two generations or more, it should be considered to a part of the town, municipality, county, or state's historical tradition. Like it or not, such traditions often include religion. If the government chooses to cede the land containing the symbol in question to a private citizen or organization, it ceases to be an establishment of religion. A note of caution: It is important that the government treat all symbols equally. It must not cede the property with Christian symbols to private organizations while insisiting that a Muslim symbol be removed. That would be an establishment of religion.
What about the Ten Commandments? This is trickier because it comes from special revelation, the Bible. But I believe they should be accepted for several reasons. First, they are not the property of any one religion. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all accept them. So which religion do the Commandments establish? The idea of separation of church and state was to avoid having a state church, such as Anglicanism in England, Lutheranism in Germany, and Presbyterianism in Scotland. Or Islam in today's Middle East, and Catholicism here in Costa Rica. Posting the Ten Commandents in schools and courthouses stops far short of establishing a religion.
Furthermore, the commandments themselves are self-evident. One does not have to be a Christian to see that murder, stealing, and lying are inherently wrong. Less obvious commandments such as coveting lead to exploitation of the poor and minorities. Adultery leads to unstable families, unwanted pregnancies, and divorce, which lead, in turn, to abortions, poverty, and children left behind.
School prayer? It seems to me that to make a school prayer acceptable to everyone, you would have to water it down so much as to render it useless. Nevertheless, since God is self-evident, each school board should be able to decide for itself whether to acknowledge Him in corporate prayer. Prayers should not be done in Jesus' or any other name but God's. That would be an establishment of religion. Besides, what constitutes a prayer in Jesus' name is the attitude of our hearts, and not saying His name at the end of it as if it were a magic word. Christians would continue praying in Jesus' name inwardly.
Graduation speeches. The valedictorian of the class has traditionally earned the privilege of addressing the class and their loved ones on topics that the person deems worthy to speak on. It is a privilege that the person has earned. Are we going to say, "you can speak on anything you want except one thing: you can't acknowledge God or the role of your faith?" Yet such absurdities have played out over and over in our nation's high schools. Having said that, however, valedictorians should be careful to make "I" statements. "I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus for helping me get here." Not "You will go to heaven if you accept Christ." That is inappropriate for public school graduations. It can be done in private conversations and evangelistic outreaches at the person's church. We must also be tolerant of student valedictorians who are not Christians, but want to acknowledge the role their faith as played in their success. A person should not be censored, censured, or booed for saying, "I thank Krishna."
And, finally, Nativity scenes and what to call the period from Thanksgiving to New Years. Since time immemorial, Americans have taken December 25, and, at times, the days immediately before and after as a holiday. Why? Because it is the traditional date of Jesus' birth. (Actually, the date was appropriated from a feast day celebrating Apollo; Jesus was probably born in springtime). Therefore, it is perfectly appropriate to call it Christmas and the Christmas season. That's just being intellectually honest. I don't see what's so offensive, however, in the term "holiday season." No one's saying we can't celebrate Christmas. It's just a way of acknowledging that there are Jews and Muslims in our midst who prefer to use the season to celebrate their own respective holidays.
Finally, if we're going to make and keep Christmas as a public holiday, doesn't it seem kind of silly to prohibit Nativity scenes in public places? And if the Muslims and Jews want to place their own symbols alongside our Nativity scenes, let them. It's not hurting anyone.
So...would this clear things up? Let me know your thoughts!
"Christianity's future is not inside the Beltway, or even in this country [the US], but in China, Africa, Latin America, and developing countries around the globe."
Warren is quoted as saying, "If I thought laws could change people's hearts, I would go into government, but I don't, so I'm not."
I agree. Much of the reason we're here in Costa Rica is to be able to make a larger contribution to the future of Christianity than we could in the US.
Warren's statement about laws not being able to change people's hearts is wise, and, I believe, reflects the sentiments of the US' founding fathers. That's why we have what is commonly referred to as separation of church and state.
Costa Rica does not have separation of church and state. Catholicism is the state religion. The longer I live here, the more I see the wisdom in the US system. Here, one cannot be wed legally in the Protestant church. The couple can have a church wedding, but it has no legal standing. They must also go to a justice of the peace for it to become legal. We were once in a church service in Tejarcillos in which the local police barged into the worship service, interrupted the sermon and impounded the pastor's car because of an unpaid traffic fine. Needless to say, the pastor should not have let the fine go unpaid, but he was in the neighborhood nearly every day of the week, and very easy to find. Of all the hours in the week that they could have impounded his car, they chose to do it in the middle of our worship service. This would not have happened had he been the local priest.
In the US, it seems that every year, instead of "peace on earth and good will toward men," there is endless bickering over whether the period from Thanksgiving through New Years should be called the Holiday Season, Christmas Season, or something else. Nativity scenes will be challenged in court in a win-lose scenario. Someone will be left unhappy in each instance.
I'm told that I am one of six million bloggers out there. Well, for whatever it's worth, here is a proposed solution for all the endless conflicts over church and state:
The Declaration of Independence says that there are self-evident truths: That there is a God. How do you think we all got here? When you see a gentleman in a fine suit, you know right away it was made by a tailor. Your car was manufactured in a factory. Your house constructed by carpenters. All these things are self-evident. Yet they are infinitely less complex than our universe. It is absurd to say that the universe got here by chance, and we should not silence or censor ourselves in civil government just because some people do not recognize what is self-evident.
Now let us discuss what is not self-evident. It is not self-evident that Jesus died for our sins, and that we must trust in Him as Lord and Savior in order to have eternal life. This is truth that has been specially revealed. So is the existence of the Trinity. Not everyone recognizes these truths because they have not been revealed to all. In theological terms, there is general revelation (what is revealed of God in nature and the natural order of things) and there is special revelation (specific information about God's nature and our relationship to Him, which we get from Scripture and the Holy Spirit).
What we know from general revelation should not be considered an establishment of religion. This includes references to God on our coins, the Pledge of Allegiance, or other public declarations. It is self-evident that God exists. That which Christians understand from special revelation would be an establishment of religion. This inculdes swearing on the Bible and religious symbolism on public land, or state/municipal flags, coats of armor, etc.
The argument is often made, however, that religious symbols also have secular meaning that supercede their religious significance. This is a sticky argument, because it is completely in the eye of the beholder, and everyone interprets symbols differently and subjectively. So I propose the following: Any religious symbol that has stood for a certain amount of time should be exempt from the church/state controversy. I suggest that anything that has stood for a span of 60 years or less should be moved to private property. What has stood for more than 60 years ought to be accepted as part of the landscape and part of tradition. Why sixty years? One generation is generally considered to number thirty years. If something has stood for two generations or more, it should be considered to a part of the town, municipality, county, or state's historical tradition. Like it or not, such traditions often include religion. If the government chooses to cede the land containing the symbol in question to a private citizen or organization, it ceases to be an establishment of religion. A note of caution: It is important that the government treat all symbols equally. It must not cede the property with Christian symbols to private organizations while insisiting that a Muslim symbol be removed. That would be an establishment of religion.
What about the Ten Commandments? This is trickier because it comes from special revelation, the Bible. But I believe they should be accepted for several reasons. First, they are not the property of any one religion. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all accept them. So which religion do the Commandments establish? The idea of separation of church and state was to avoid having a state church, such as Anglicanism in England, Lutheranism in Germany, and Presbyterianism in Scotland. Or Islam in today's Middle East, and Catholicism here in Costa Rica. Posting the Ten Commandents in schools and courthouses stops far short of establishing a religion.
Furthermore, the commandments themselves are self-evident. One does not have to be a Christian to see that murder, stealing, and lying are inherently wrong. Less obvious commandments such as coveting lead to exploitation of the poor and minorities. Adultery leads to unstable families, unwanted pregnancies, and divorce, which lead, in turn, to abortions, poverty, and children left behind.
School prayer? It seems to me that to make a school prayer acceptable to everyone, you would have to water it down so much as to render it useless. Nevertheless, since God is self-evident, each school board should be able to decide for itself whether to acknowledge Him in corporate prayer. Prayers should not be done in Jesus' or any other name but God's. That would be an establishment of religion. Besides, what constitutes a prayer in Jesus' name is the attitude of our hearts, and not saying His name at the end of it as if it were a magic word. Christians would continue praying in Jesus' name inwardly.
Graduation speeches. The valedictorian of the class has traditionally earned the privilege of addressing the class and their loved ones on topics that the person deems worthy to speak on. It is a privilege that the person has earned. Are we going to say, "you can speak on anything you want except one thing: you can't acknowledge God or the role of your faith?" Yet such absurdities have played out over and over in our nation's high schools. Having said that, however, valedictorians should be careful to make "I" statements. "I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus for helping me get here." Not "You will go to heaven if you accept Christ." That is inappropriate for public school graduations. It can be done in private conversations and evangelistic outreaches at the person's church. We must also be tolerant of student valedictorians who are not Christians, but want to acknowledge the role their faith as played in their success. A person should not be censored, censured, or booed for saying, "I thank Krishna."
And, finally, Nativity scenes and what to call the period from Thanksgiving to New Years. Since time immemorial, Americans have taken December 25, and, at times, the days immediately before and after as a holiday. Why? Because it is the traditional date of Jesus' birth. (Actually, the date was appropriated from a feast day celebrating Apollo; Jesus was probably born in springtime). Therefore, it is perfectly appropriate to call it Christmas and the Christmas season. That's just being intellectually honest. I don't see what's so offensive, however, in the term "holiday season." No one's saying we can't celebrate Christmas. It's just a way of acknowledging that there are Jews and Muslims in our midst who prefer to use the season to celebrate their own respective holidays.
Finally, if we're going to make and keep Christmas as a public holiday, doesn't it seem kind of silly to prohibit Nativity scenes in public places? And if the Muslims and Jews want to place their own symbols alongside our Nativity scenes, let them. It's not hurting anyone.
So...would this clear things up? Let me know your thoughts!
Monday, November 9, 2009
My Top 10 Bible Mysteries
I'm reading an interesting book called Mysteries of the Bible. The title is something of a misnomer, however. It's more of a one-volume Commentary on the Bible, not really a book on the Bible's mysteries. But it's gotten me to thinking it would be a fascinating undertaking to actually write a book treating the Bible's mysteries, giving equal time and space to all perspectives, conservative, liberal, and "way out there." The reader and the Holy Spirit could then be left to determine the truth of the matter.
Partly for fun, and partly because I'm hoping to get something from you (I'll tell you what it is afterward), here's my list of the top ten mysteries of the Bible:
9. Did Moses cause God to change His mind in Exodus 32:11-14 when He was going to destroy the Israelites and then relented, or was He testing Moses?
8. When Jesus was tempted in the desert, did he and Satan speak face to face, or did the temptation happen in the usual ways we humans are tempted?
7. When Bruce pulled the moon closer to the earth to romance a woman in the movie "Bruce Almighty," it caused catastrophic flooding. When God stopped up the Jordan so the Israelites could cross in the opening chapters of Joshua, did it cause flooding upstream?
6. Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons? How did they learn to walk and talk? What language did they speak?
4. What did the Magi see in the stars that told them the Savior had been born, and what was the Star of Bethlehem? A comet? Jupiter in retrograde motion? Or a special creation of God for the occasion?
1. When did Adam and Eve live? Were they Cro Magnon people (indicating they lived perhaps 40,000 years ago), Neanderthal (having lived maybe 100,000 years ago), or modern humans like us?
None of these questions is intended to make light of the Biblical record. I believe it is all true. While some of these questions might appear silly or incredulous, they are sincere. Any thoughts? What resolutions would you offer? What are your top Bible mysteries?
Now to the thing I'm hoping to get from you. My wife Martha is leading a Celebrate Recovery group in Buen Pastor women's prison here in San Jose. There is no better resource for recovery than the Bible. A couple of good Recovery Bibles have come out in the last few years. The best one we have found is the Life Recovery Bible. It costs about 15 dollars, and we need about ten to distribute to the women in the program. Would you be willing to donate part or all of the 150 dollars we need? If so, write to marthajeavons@gmail.com. Thanks, and may God bless you!
Partly for fun, and partly because I'm hoping to get something from you (I'll tell you what it is afterward), here's my list of the top ten mysteries of the Bible:
10. Why does the Bible appear opposed to census taking when we do it every ten years in the US (Exodus 30:12-13, 2 Samuel 24:2)?
9. Did Moses cause God to change His mind in Exodus 32:11-14 when He was going to destroy the Israelites and then relented, or was He testing Moses?
8. When Jesus was tempted in the desert, did he and Satan speak face to face, or did the temptation happen in the usual ways we humans are tempted?
7. When Bruce pulled the moon closer to the earth to romance a woman in the movie "Bruce Almighty," it caused catastrophic flooding. When God stopped up the Jordan so the Israelites could cross in the opening chapters of Joshua, did it cause flooding upstream?
6. Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons? How did they learn to walk and talk? What language did they speak?
5. How did the Holy Spirit prevent Paul and his mission team from going to Asia and Bithynia (acts 16:6-8)? I was once prevented from going on a mission trip to Nicaragua by a bank error. The next day a young man in the neighborhood where we work was murdered and I was called on to preach the Good News to what one person described as 80 "thugs and their girlfriends." I still attribute that bank error to the Holy Spirit not wanting me to go on the mission trip.
4. What did the Magi see in the stars that told them the Savior had been born, and what was the Star of Bethlehem? A comet? Jupiter in retrograde motion? Or a special creation of God for the occasion?
3. How did God make the sun turn back for King Hezekiah? Was that day extra long, or did God put the sun back after Hezekiah saw it? Did the sun really turn back or did God do something with light refraction?
2. Where did Cain's wife come from?
1. When did Adam and Eve live? Were they Cro Magnon people (indicating they lived perhaps 40,000 years ago), Neanderthal (having lived maybe 100,000 years ago), or modern humans like us?
None of these questions is intended to make light of the Biblical record. I believe it is all true. While some of these questions might appear silly or incredulous, they are sincere. Any thoughts? What resolutions would you offer? What are your top Bible mysteries?
Now to the thing I'm hoping to get from you. My wife Martha is leading a Celebrate Recovery group in Buen Pastor women's prison here in San Jose. There is no better resource for recovery than the Bible. A couple of good Recovery Bibles have come out in the last few years. The best one we have found is the Life Recovery Bible. It costs about 15 dollars, and we need about ten to distribute to the women in the program. Would you be willing to donate part or all of the 150 dollars we need? If so, write to marthajeavons@gmail.com. Thanks, and may God bless you!
Friday, October 30, 2009
John Calvin a US Founding Father?
When preaching or leading Bible studies I sometimes ask folks what special day is coming up October 31. Invariably, even among Christians, the answer is "Halloween." The response I'm looking for, however, is "Reformation Day." It's the day 492 years ago in which Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. The world would never be the same.
It's a little bit simplistic, however, to call October 31 Reformation Day. Like any revolution, the Reformation took a long time to accomplish. John Wycliffe and William Tyndale preceded Luther, while Zwingli and Calvin succeeded him, to mention just a few additional reformers.
It's actually Calvin to whom I want to devote some ink today. The following quote appeared in USA Today recently. It's from a Presbyterian pastor named Henry G. Brinton.
"...Democracy owes a debt to Calvin because he established a form of church government in which clergy and lay leaders had equal power. Ministers, deacons, and elders (presbyters), were selected by the people of the church, and thus democratic practice eventually formed the basis of the Presbyterian Church. In England, the American Revolution was criticized as being a "Presbyterian rebellion," and the Prebyterian form of church government went on to have a major influence on the formation of American civil government."
We may not be inclined to name Calvin in the same breath as Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Franklin, Madison, Monroe, and Hancock when speaking of the foundation of the United States of America, but one can see that the Reformation revolutionized, not only the church, but secular government as well.
It's a little bit simplistic, however, to call October 31 Reformation Day. Like any revolution, the Reformation took a long time to accomplish. John Wycliffe and William Tyndale preceded Luther, while Zwingli and Calvin succeeded him, to mention just a few additional reformers.
It's actually Calvin to whom I want to devote some ink today. The following quote appeared in USA Today recently. It's from a Presbyterian pastor named Henry G. Brinton.
"...Democracy owes a debt to Calvin because he established a form of church government in which clergy and lay leaders had equal power. Ministers, deacons, and elders (presbyters), were selected by the people of the church, and thus democratic practice eventually formed the basis of the Presbyterian Church. In England, the American Revolution was criticized as being a "Presbyterian rebellion," and the Prebyterian form of church government went on to have a major influence on the formation of American civil government."
We may not be inclined to name Calvin in the same breath as Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Franklin, Madison, Monroe, and Hancock when speaking of the foundation of the United States of America, but one can see that the Reformation revolutionized, not only the church, but secular government as well.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A Dead Serious Thing Happened on the Way Home
A few weeks ago I was on my home from the rehab center and saw that there was the cab of a tractor trailer stopped in the middle of an intersection. The next thing I noticed was that there was a man lying down underneath it. "Was he making repairs?" was my initial thought. But no, he was face down. No help had arrived, so I pulled over to see if I could possibly be of any service. A crowd was gathering, so it was apparent that the accident had happened just seconds before I pulled up.
I did not know it at the time, but as it turned out, the man had been to the corner bar (it was about 10:30 in the morning). He was unable to walk unaided, and was trying to cross the street. He was holding on to the bumper of the truck to keep himself aright, when the light turned green. The truck driver never saw the man and pulled forward, knocking him down and running him over with the left front tire.
I walked over to the scene and asked if the man was alive. A bystander said "si." A number of people were now standing around watching the man, but no one was trying to help. I walked over to the man and knelt beside him. His face was pressed into the asphalt, and a puddle of blood about a foot in diameter had formed beside it. His breathing was rapid and shallow like that of a child running a fever. He did not seem to be conscious in the usual sense of the word, but I believe he could hear me and was in pain. I told him softly over and over that God was with him at that very moment, and to trust in Christ. I put my hand gently on his shoulder (he appeared to have been run over at the pelvis or lower back) and prayed with him. As I was finishing the prayer, I said "Lord, take his soul to you." About at that moment, he stopped breathing and I felt the life go out of him. I have prayed with dying people before, but never had someone die during the prayer as I was touching them. It was a feeling like nothing else I have ever experienced to actually feel the life go out of a person and know that the body that had once contained a human being become in that moment nothing more than an inanimate object. I did not take his pulse. The man was gone, and it was clear that any attempts to revive him would only prolong his suffering. I stood up and told the folks who were looking on, "Esta muerto" (he's dead). About a minute later the paramedics arrived. They still had hopes of saving him, brought out the shock pads, turned him over, placed him on a back board and pulled him out from under the truck. At that point, they abandoned their efforts and placed a white sheet over him.
I was thankful to God that I could be there to comfort the man, but had been spared the horror of seeing the accident.
This was not the first time that Martha or I have had something like this happen. During our first year here, Martha showed up at our apartment one afternoon, speechless, both hands covered with dried blood. She began to sob, but could not tell me what had happened. My first reaction was that it might be her blood. When she was finally able to speak, she recounted how she had been walking down the street and heard a terrible sound behind her.
Martha turned around and saw that an elderly woman had been hit by a truck. Again many saw the accident and gathered around to stare, but only one other person tried to help. The woman had blood and gray matter coming from her nose. She was conscious and in severe pain. Martha took the woman's hand. The woman dug her nails into Martha's hand as she tried to comfort her with the love and Good News of Jesus. She was still alive when the ambulance came and took her away, but Martha never held any illusions about the woman possibly surviving.
Yet even these are not the only incidents of pedestrian fatalities that we have witnessed. A couple of years after the incident with Martha and the woman, Martha and I were driving along a pista (highway) here, and noticed an elderly nun slowly making her way across the road on foot. Seconds later we heard a truck's horn and looked into the rearview mirror as the truck struck the woman and sent her flying throught the air. We did not have cell phones at the time, so drove on to where we could get to a phone, called for help, and then returned to the scene. A policeman had arrived by then, but the woman lay motionless to the side on the grassy median strip.
As you can see, traffic safety, and particularly that of pedestrians, is a serious problem here. Since that incident, a pedestrian bridge has been built at that spot over the highway. Please pray for our safety and that we would exercise vigilance as we drive here.
I did not know it at the time, but as it turned out, the man had been to the corner bar (it was about 10:30 in the morning). He was unable to walk unaided, and was trying to cross the street. He was holding on to the bumper of the truck to keep himself aright, when the light turned green. The truck driver never saw the man and pulled forward, knocking him down and running him over with the left front tire.
I walked over to the scene and asked if the man was alive. A bystander said "si." A number of people were now standing around watching the man, but no one was trying to help. I walked over to the man and knelt beside him. His face was pressed into the asphalt, and a puddle of blood about a foot in diameter had formed beside it. His breathing was rapid and shallow like that of a child running a fever. He did not seem to be conscious in the usual sense of the word, but I believe he could hear me and was in pain. I told him softly over and over that God was with him at that very moment, and to trust in Christ. I put my hand gently on his shoulder (he appeared to have been run over at the pelvis or lower back) and prayed with him. As I was finishing the prayer, I said "Lord, take his soul to you." About at that moment, he stopped breathing and I felt the life go out of him. I have prayed with dying people before, but never had someone die during the prayer as I was touching them. It was a feeling like nothing else I have ever experienced to actually feel the life go out of a person and know that the body that had once contained a human being become in that moment nothing more than an inanimate object. I did not take his pulse. The man was gone, and it was clear that any attempts to revive him would only prolong his suffering. I stood up and told the folks who were looking on, "Esta muerto" (he's dead). About a minute later the paramedics arrived. They still had hopes of saving him, brought out the shock pads, turned him over, placed him on a back board and pulled him out from under the truck. At that point, they abandoned their efforts and placed a white sheet over him.
I was thankful to God that I could be there to comfort the man, but had been spared the horror of seeing the accident.
This was not the first time that Martha or I have had something like this happen. During our first year here, Martha showed up at our apartment one afternoon, speechless, both hands covered with dried blood. She began to sob, but could not tell me what had happened. My first reaction was that it might be her blood. When she was finally able to speak, she recounted how she had been walking down the street and heard a terrible sound behind her.
Martha turned around and saw that an elderly woman had been hit by a truck. Again many saw the accident and gathered around to stare, but only one other person tried to help. The woman had blood and gray matter coming from her nose. She was conscious and in severe pain. Martha took the woman's hand. The woman dug her nails into Martha's hand as she tried to comfort her with the love and Good News of Jesus. She was still alive when the ambulance came and took her away, but Martha never held any illusions about the woman possibly surviving.
Yet even these are not the only incidents of pedestrian fatalities that we have witnessed. A couple of years after the incident with Martha and the woman, Martha and I were driving along a pista (highway) here, and noticed an elderly nun slowly making her way across the road on foot. Seconds later we heard a truck's horn and looked into the rearview mirror as the truck struck the woman and sent her flying throught the air. We did not have cell phones at the time, so drove on to where we could get to a phone, called for help, and then returned to the scene. A policeman had arrived by then, but the woman lay motionless to the side on the grassy median strip.
As you can see, traffic safety, and particularly that of pedestrians, is a serious problem here. Since that incident, a pedestrian bridge has been built at that spot over the highway. Please pray for our safety and that we would exercise vigilance as we drive here.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Should we stay or should we go?
And the decision is... we’re staying in Costa Rica for another year! Family life and ministry are going well.
Steve continues to work with the ministry leaders in Tejarcillos, and teach and translate at the rehab center. A few weeks ago, Steve gave an invitation and three of the men received Christ as Lord and Savior. Steve attended the annual Celebrate Recovery Summit at Saddleback Church in August. He will be implementing the program at our church in San Jose this next year.
Martha will be starting Celebrate Recovery in the women’s prison here. She is also counseling at a nearby pastoral center. A total of seven new Celebrate Recovery groups have now grown out of a group that Martha and her friend Melanie started in our neighborhood. In this newsletter, we wanted to give you personal testimonies of our experiences with the two new ministries we’ve become part of...
Steve continues to work with the ministry leaders in Tejarcillos, and teach and translate at the rehab center. A few weeks ago, Steve gave an invitation and three of the men received Christ as Lord and Savior. Steve attended the annual Celebrate Recovery Summit at Saddleback Church in August. He will be implementing the program at our church in San Jose this next year.
Martha will be starting Celebrate Recovery in the women’s prison here. She is also counseling at a nearby pastoral center. A total of seven new Celebrate Recovery groups have now grown out of a group that Martha and her friend Melanie started in our neighborhood. In this newsletter, we wanted to give you personal testimonies of our experiences with the two new ministries we’ve become part of...
New missions here
This past Spring I was approached by a fellow missionary about the possibility of starting a Celebrate Recovery meeting inside the women's prison here in Costa Rica. I was told that the women who were foreigners in the prison did not have any programs or help in English and that they desperately needed counsel and a means of working on the issues that had gotten them in a foreign prison in the first place.
The problem was that no other group had been allowed to meet with these women more than twice a month. To do the Celebrate Recovery program well, they would need to be allowed a meeting once a week for a two-hour time period. Another missionary had been meeting with the Latin women twice a month for Bible study and for the past twenty years, but to date, no one had been permitted to give a course or recovery program weekly.
After several weeks of prayer and counsel, I realized that God had given me a heart for these women and that I needed to try-- needed to attempt the daunting task of seeking permission to meet with them. A meeting was scheduled with the prison warden. We asked friends and family to pray for this meeting and for God's favor on our presentation. The missionary who would partner with me in this venture and I attended the meeting. Initially, my stomach buckled as the warden began the conversation, as his Spanish was rapid and difficult to understand and he was pressed for time and wanted a quick rundown of our proposal. The other missionary had little Spanish, so I knew that it would most likely be up to me to understand and respond. Silently, I prayed. God answered. My nerves subsided and my comprehension was restored. As I shared with the warden about our hopes to bring Celebrate Recovery to the prison, he shared that he had read a book by Rick Warren, who helped found the program. We had a wonderful conversation, and, at the end, he granted us permission to work with these women each week for the time we needed to do the program! The only hitch was that we would need to help in getting the classroom ready by providing the paint for the walls and chairs, etc. We jumped at this opportunity and are busy with preparations for preparing our course and our classroom!
What an answer to prayer! What seemed out of reach and impossible to so many around us was as a door that had been swung open by the Lord. It was as if God wanted us to learn and remember that nothing, nothing is impossible if ordained by Him (Matt.17:20). This will be the first program of recovery taken to this group of women from foreign countries and it is a blessing that God has allowed me to be a part of this process. God is teaching me all the more about trusting Him regardless of my circumstances, apart from what others say or believe, and in spite of how I feel. He truly does have wonderful things in store for His children.
Steve’s Story
We attend a church here in San Jose called Comunidad El Camino. The church has several outreach programs, including one called Nexus, which seeks to reach male prostitutes. These are not just any prostitutes, however. The vast majority are transvestites. I participate in this outreach. The only word I can think of to describe these men adequately at first glance is “freakish.”
In my work with drug addicts here, I have known young men who have worked as prostitutes. They were not homosexuals, but simply could not pass up the money. When a young man tells me this it does not surprise me. In spite of this, my first reaction in my first encounter with a transvestite prostitute was shock. I had to force myself not to stare. “Surely this one is a woman.” “Where does he hide his Adam's apple?” “This one's feet are too large. He should not be wearing sandals if he wants to pass for a woman.” These and many other thoughts raced through my mind.
The people who volunteer their time in this program have spent many evenings reaching out, offering prayers, sharing snacks and Bible verses, gaining the trust of these men. What impresses me about them is how naturally they converse with the prostitutes. How sincere they are in their concern for them. And how openly the sex workers relate to members of the team. It is fascinating and wonderful to be a part of.
What I have learned from the experience is this: that no matter how freakish these men may appear to us, we really are not very different at all. When we ask them how they are, what their concerns are, and how we can pray for them, they often answer in their best female voices that business is down and they are concerned about money. Others live in fear that they will be harmed by their clients. Many acknowledge that what they are doing is wrong, bad for them, and dangerous to their health, but they can't seem to let it go. Every single one that I have spoken with has believed in God.
Who among us does not feel the pinch of a slow economy or worry just a little about money? Who does not fear, if just a little, that he or she will be the next crime victim in this city? Very few among us have not sinned sexually either a little or a lot. And when we're really honest about it, most of us struggle with some form of excess or hang ups that are hard to let go of. And because of all this, at the end of the day, each one of us needs a Savior, Someone who loves us and will deliver us from evil.
And so I am learning not to judge. I am learning to see that someone who, on the outside, is as different as one can possibly be from me, has the same needs, hurts, hang ups, and desires that I have on the inside. Jesus did not judge sinners; He laid down His life for them. And I am among them.
There are eight men in the Nexus program who have left the streets and the transvestite lifestyle. I will be taking the men and the dozen or so team members through the Celebrate Recovery program during the next year.
The problem was that no other group had been allowed to meet with these women more than twice a month. To do the Celebrate Recovery program well, they would need to be allowed a meeting once a week for a two-hour time period. Another missionary had been meeting with the Latin women twice a month for Bible study and for the past twenty years, but to date, no one had been permitted to give a course or recovery program weekly.
After several weeks of prayer and counsel, I realized that God had given me a heart for these women and that I needed to try-- needed to attempt the daunting task of seeking permission to meet with them. A meeting was scheduled with the prison warden. We asked friends and family to pray for this meeting and for God's favor on our presentation. The missionary who would partner with me in this venture and I attended the meeting. Initially, my stomach buckled as the warden began the conversation, as his Spanish was rapid and difficult to understand and he was pressed for time and wanted a quick rundown of our proposal. The other missionary had little Spanish, so I knew that it would most likely be up to me to understand and respond. Silently, I prayed. God answered. My nerves subsided and my comprehension was restored. As I shared with the warden about our hopes to bring Celebrate Recovery to the prison, he shared that he had read a book by Rick Warren, who helped found the program. We had a wonderful conversation, and, at the end, he granted us permission to work with these women each week for the time we needed to do the program! The only hitch was that we would need to help in getting the classroom ready by providing the paint for the walls and chairs, etc. We jumped at this opportunity and are busy with preparations for preparing our course and our classroom!
What an answer to prayer! What seemed out of reach and impossible to so many around us was as a door that had been swung open by the Lord. It was as if God wanted us to learn and remember that nothing, nothing is impossible if ordained by Him (Matt.17:20). This will be the first program of recovery taken to this group of women from foreign countries and it is a blessing that God has allowed me to be a part of this process. God is teaching me all the more about trusting Him regardless of my circumstances, apart from what others say or believe, and in spite of how I feel. He truly does have wonderful things in store for His children.
Steve’s Story
We attend a church here in San Jose called Comunidad El Camino. The church has several outreach programs, including one called Nexus, which seeks to reach male prostitutes. These are not just any prostitutes, however. The vast majority are transvestites. I participate in this outreach. The only word I can think of to describe these men adequately at first glance is “freakish.”
In my work with drug addicts here, I have known young men who have worked as prostitutes. They were not homosexuals, but simply could not pass up the money. When a young man tells me this it does not surprise me. In spite of this, my first reaction in my first encounter with a transvestite prostitute was shock. I had to force myself not to stare. “Surely this one is a woman.” “Where does he hide his Adam's apple?” “This one's feet are too large. He should not be wearing sandals if he wants to pass for a woman.” These and many other thoughts raced through my mind.
The people who volunteer their time in this program have spent many evenings reaching out, offering prayers, sharing snacks and Bible verses, gaining the trust of these men. What impresses me about them is how naturally they converse with the prostitutes. How sincere they are in their concern for them. And how openly the sex workers relate to members of the team. It is fascinating and wonderful to be a part of.
What I have learned from the experience is this: that no matter how freakish these men may appear to us, we really are not very different at all. When we ask them how they are, what their concerns are, and how we can pray for them, they often answer in their best female voices that business is down and they are concerned about money. Others live in fear that they will be harmed by their clients. Many acknowledge that what they are doing is wrong, bad for them, and dangerous to their health, but they can't seem to let it go. Every single one that I have spoken with has believed in God.
Who among us does not feel the pinch of a slow economy or worry just a little about money? Who does not fear, if just a little, that he or she will be the next crime victim in this city? Very few among us have not sinned sexually either a little or a lot. And when we're really honest about it, most of us struggle with some form of excess or hang ups that are hard to let go of. And because of all this, at the end of the day, each one of us needs a Savior, Someone who loves us and will deliver us from evil.
And so I am learning not to judge. I am learning to see that someone who, on the outside, is as different as one can possibly be from me, has the same needs, hurts, hang ups, and desires that I have on the inside. Jesus did not judge sinners; He laid down His life for them. And I am among them.
There are eight men in the Nexus program who have left the streets and the transvestite lifestyle. I will be taking the men and the dozen or so team members through the Celebrate Recovery program during the next year.
Funding Desperately Needed!
We need your help. We feel called to this work and are excited about the vision the Lord has given us. But, we do not have sufficient support to make ends meet. We will only be able to fulfill our one-year commitment here if we can raise our income by at least $300 monthly. Please know that we are forgoing things like daily preschool for Joseph, car insurance, internet, cable TV, saving for college and retirement, and music and swimming lessons for the boys. Steve’s ‘87 Suzuki Samarai breaks down about once a month. In addition to the repair expenses, he has to cancel ministry activities whenever the car is in the shop. We desperately need a reliable car, but lack the funds to buy one.
Also, please remember that we receive no salary or remuneration whatsoever from TMCI. They do not provide health insurance, pay our taxes, or have a retirement fund. This is all the responsibility of the missionaries, and is not TMCI’s purpose. What TMCI does is graciously and faithfully pray for its missionaries, deposit support checks in our bank account, send receipts to our donors and provide a tax deduction for donations.
Therefore, we depend entirely on the generous support of people like you. We base our monthly budget on the pledges we receive. If pledged funds are not sent, or if a donor drops off without telling us, it is like having our pay docked, and we have to scramble to make ends meet that month. Also, the Tejarcillos and Celebrate Recovery ministries are funded entirely by your gifts to us. That’s why your partnership is crucial! We plan to be in the States for a brief furlough from December 17 to February 5, and would love to speak to your church, family, or civic group about the work we do. Please e-mail us at smjeavons@yahoo.com call us at 011-506-2273-0925.
Also, please remember that we receive no salary or remuneration whatsoever from TMCI. They do not provide health insurance, pay our taxes, or have a retirement fund. This is all the responsibility of the missionaries, and is not TMCI’s purpose. What TMCI does is graciously and faithfully pray for its missionaries, deposit support checks in our bank account, send receipts to our donors and provide a tax deduction for donations.
Therefore, we depend entirely on the generous support of people like you. We base our monthly budget on the pledges we receive. If pledged funds are not sent, or if a donor drops off without telling us, it is like having our pay docked, and we have to scramble to make ends meet that month. Also, the Tejarcillos and Celebrate Recovery ministries are funded entirely by your gifts to us. That’s why your partnership is crucial! We plan to be in the States for a brief furlough from December 17 to February 5, and would love to speak to your church, family, or civic group about the work we do. Please e-mail us at smjeavons@yahoo.com call us at 011-506-2273-0925.
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