Basil *(the great)

I must say that he looks a bit like an alien. Maybe he was. Whatever. Here's a dude from the 4th century, he was quoted in the book: Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. Beware: its not a feel good quote.






"When someone strips a man of his clothes we call him a thief. And one who might clothe the naked and does not - should not he be given the same name? the bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat in your wardrobe belongs to the naked; the shoes you let rot belong to the barefoot; the money in your vaults belongs to the destitute."
-Basil the Great

I too am guilty. I must also give. I think its easy to say: "I will get another Compassion child." It makes us feel a bit better - but never bridges the chasm between the rich and poor. It doesn't reflect the body of Christ. We must touch the leper; Spoon feed the weak back to health; And hug those bleeding to death from physical and emotional wounds. Its dirty, Its messy, Its beautiful. You need not travel half-way around the world to do it (although this may very well be what God has called you to do). You need only look outside your window. Every city has its homeless, its drug addicts, its prom queens, its suicidal teens, its divorced, its 'fill-in-the-blank.' What are YOU doing about it?

Following Jesus is simple, but not easy. Love until it hurts, and then love more. - Mother Teresa

El Tabo

I love the beach.
Just wanted to share a picture of the beach we went to for a weekend retreat with the youth from our church. The theme was identity in Christ. It was a really good, refreshing time. I only got burnt a bit! :)

Do this, Remember me.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. - 1 Cor. 11:23-26

Yesterday I sat and listened to the sermon about the Lord's supper. And in that moment God chose to speak to my heart yet again about what this means. You see, about a year ago I was taking the Lord's supper, quite hesistantly to be honest, and God spoke to my heart. He invited me to his table. To sit with Him and eat -and to share what He has given me with others. Since that day, I've had this wonderful image, this promise, of sharing a dinner, a holy dinner, our Lord's supper, with the least of these. An image of a table, any table, where Jesus and I sit and invite in friends and stranger alike to enjoy the blessings that He has provided.

That was just the start. Yesterday as I listened, He showed me yet another meaning of that holy dinner. A metaphor. Yes, we drink of the cup, His blood, and we eat of the bread, His body. And we remember Him, his sacrifice. "Do this, and remember me." Do what? Eat and Drink? Ok. Remember His sacrifice?  OR are we to drink the cup and eat the bread as a sign, a choice to partake in his suffering - for love's sake. To love our enemies, to be willing to lay down our lives for others. To give of our time, money, love, our all in a selfless, sacrificial manner just as he did. To drink and eat. Take the symbols - that remind us of what He did - and what He tells us, tells me to do. To mirror Him in His sacrifice. In His love. 

Do THIS in Rememberance of ME.

Free Milk, Free Jesus.

Here's a picture of me Daniela and Cata. Just this last weekend there was a big outreach here in Santiago.  A well known Argentine preacher Luis Palau, Jaci Valesquez, and Marcos Witt (an awesome worship leader) all came and did a 2 day free concert. Along with it there was a FREE children's fair. Where we got free milk, wrote down our dreams and pinned them to a wall. There were bubbles, clowns, hundreds of volunteers, big bounce houses, the works! Many came to known Jesus through this short, fun campaign. We passed through on our way to Cerro San Cristobal. Fun with great people, enjoying God's many blessings and beautiful creation!!