Kubacki's in Brasil

We are planning our return trip to the states.  We will arrive the first of June and stay in Toledo with Tim's family until mid-June, at which time we will return to the Sunbury area.  We will stay in the area, with a few excursions here and there, until mid-August, at which time we will travel to Kansas and Nebraska to visit family, and we will return to Brazil in early September.

We would like to see as many of you as we can.  There has likely never been a more supported, more encouraged missionary family and to connect with you would be a joy.  Please contact us by email and we will schedule a time to get together or wait for further blog entries where we will list phone numbers where we can be reached.

We are looking forward to our return and to seeing you!

tim

While in Salvador we were confronted repeatedly by adults and kids asking us for money. Though seen in Altamira, this direct form of street begging happens here to a lesser degree. It always creates in me a conflict between wanting to help and knowing that there is corruption in the “system” and often the money will go toward alcohol, a “pimp”, or another “un-needy” end. In our ministry here we are, however, often asked for things by the people we know. People ask us to borrow money, they ask us directly to give them money, they ask to use our things (car, motorcycle, computers, MP3 players, etc.), they ask us for food, and they ask for work. None of these are bad, especially when we often have the desire and the means to help, but the frequency of the requests leaves us drained. We knew this would be part of missionary life in a depressed part of the world, but we are still adjusting to it.

The neediness of those in this region is significant, though not as severe as in many places in the world. The sidewalks in Salvador were full of sleeping people each and every night and human waste was a common sight. Some were "there" by choice, many were there because they had faced circumstances beyond their ability to manage. Everywhere in the world, people are beaten and wounded by life and the circumstances they face. Some wounds are physical, but most are in the realm of the unseen (emotional, mental, spiritual). In every country, in every city, in every neighborhood, the wounded struggle to make it through another day and find a reason to continue. They can be found living on the streets, they can be members in the grandest country clubs, and they are likely living next door to each of us, as well. Many of us have been in such a hurting place. We may be there again.

There is so much suffering in today’s world and we know that this is nothing new. We also know that Jesus made many references as to His priority in ministering to especially these (the lost, the broken, the captives, the sick…) Why is serving those in need an integral part of God’s kingdom? I believe it is because serving the hurting takes into account the sovereign hand of God in breaking and molding people through difficult circumstances. Jesus made it clear that his Father knows the most minute details of each person’s circumstance (and also those of the sparrow!). If true, and if His stated affection for each is true, then each and every hurt, illness, and tragedy is allowed with His complete knowledge and forethought, and for His good purposes. Why? To bring us to Him. To bring us to Him! To open our eyes to exactly who He is and to find Life in doing so. Because of our blindness, our stubbornness, and our hardness to Him, pain is one of His most effective tools for leading us to Him, in whom can be found ALL the desires of our heart.

Purposeless pain is unbearable, but to recognize that there is a Father’s purpose behind every hurt is the first and most important step toward a healed heart and a contented soul. His church is called Jesus’ body, instruments at His disposal to carry out His ministry to those hurting, to those who don’t know Him, and to those He desires to draw closer to Him. As the hand is directed by the head, we can be directed by Jesus to do His bidding. He directs us to those hurting because it is there that He is presently working, to bring them to Him.

He desires to direct us to people hurting, to love them in their pain and encourage them toward Jesus. We are His instruments of mercy, tangible demonstrations of His heart for the one hurting. His people are His hands in ministering love to receptive hearts, hearts that have become receptive through humbling, difficult circumstances. This is why God’s people are instructed to look for those hurting and minister to them (NOT preach at them). This is why we are working in a depressed part of the world. This is why God’s people can be used in every country, in every neighborhood, in every workplace, in every family. Because hurting people are everywhere.

So how do we help? Where do we start? When we consider where in the world Jesus wants to use us, the options are endless (the majority of the world’s population in 2008 live at or below the standard of living that we see in the Amazon Basin - $7/day average income). As you look around you and as I look around me, it is simply not within us to seek and to meet all the needs. Are we called to do so? I believe that we are NOT called to meet needs, but rather we are called to Him. Helping those hurting will usually be where He leads us but going to Him is the necessary first step. So many people try to meet needs apart from asking Jesus, burning out and ending up cynical and bitter. So many well-intentioned people do more harm than good, by preaching instead of loving or by being "charitable" to feel good about themselves. We cannot really help anyone without Him and His direction. We must make ourselves available to Him, observe those that He puts in our lives, and listen for His direction in how to love them. Jesus went to a single, small region of the world. His followers did the same. We are to do the same. He calls us to Himself, to listen for His instructions, and to obey His call. Our call may be to love a single person or it may be to love several. As we sensitize ourselves to His voice and to the needs of others, He will lead us to someone in need and we can inquire as to what He would have us do. At times He will tell us to help, at times He will tell us not to. He may tell us to speak, He may simply have us come along-side.  He will tell us how, giving us the appropriate words and actions and giving us the courage to overcome the natural discomfort in initiating interaction on a “needs” level.

God desires us to come to Him, receive our instructions, and carry them out. He usually calls us to one person at a time, just as He seemed to enjoy addressing the needs of one person at a time.

God is glorified when suffering people come to Him. He loves using His people in this process. Sometimes He will heal the hurt. As demonstrated with the thief that died next to Him, sometimes God has something better than healing in store for them. But always, it is His heart to use us to lead hurting people to Him, in love.

Please join me today in asking our Father to be His tool of restoration in the life of one wounded. Ask Him for an opportunity and ask Him what He would have you do. To be used in this manner is truly a precious privilege, reserved for those who will seek Him.

Learning a new language, and the accompanying inability to communicate well, has been, for me, quite an endeavor in humility. I desire to listen, to understand, to speak, to encourage… but lack the ability to do so. So I study and study, and continue to try to interact, and progress, but ever so slowly. Particularly the rate of my learning (especially understanding when someone is speaking) has been the source of my lesson in humility. Throw on top of this voiced and unvoiced expectations and comparisons to others who have learned more quickly… humbling. So we leave to get professional help and find that what we’ve learned over the last two years is like that feeling when you work and work to get the house clean (or another large job) and stop to look up and realize you are only ½ there. The frustration one feels in that situation is like ours in that it is related to all the other things you could be doing if you could just get this job finished. Progress yes, but so far to go and so much to do. Speaking like a four year old, struggling to find words, asking people to repeat themselves again and again, feeling useless in not being able to do all the things that I would like to do … humbling.

Humility is a curious quality. Perhaps it can be simply defined as an attitudinal focus away from self, in contrast to pride - a focus on oneself. My thoughts regarding my language learning usually revolve around me. It seems to me that whenever we try to measure ourselves or compare ourselves to a standard or to another, we are stepping into the arena of pride. Have you noticed that humble people are not concerned with measuring their progress or comparing themselves to others?

Humility is difficult to learn apart from (painful) experience. One of the Holy Spirit’s primary ministries is to mold us into the image of Jesus, who had no sense of pride but was wholly focused on others (His Father and people) - humility. He molds us and grows us through circumstances, people, and speaking directly to us about where we are, revealing to us that we are still pretty messy inside, still so screwed up and self focused compared to Jesus. Why does He want our focus away from ourselves? Because we were made in God’s image, and humility is part of His character. We were simply designed to other-focus and not self-focus. The deception of our time is that we must focus on self to live our lives in the best way possible. God’s way is just the opposite: focus on Jesus and on others, more than on ourselves, trusting Him to care for ushen, and only then, will we know life as it was meant to be.

As I look back over my life, I can see definite seasons where I’ve been humbled and broken, to be made aware that my self-focus had again left me empty and that I desperately needed God. Perhaps you have a similar perspective on your past. As I went through these seasons, however, what I felt was confusion, pain, and abandonment from God. The profound discomfort that I experienced created in me a desire to look outside of myself for help. I believe now that these times were actually ordained by God to lovingly change my world-view, my view of myself, and my view of my Father, and to draw me TO Him. How often I wanted to blame these circumstances on the enemy, on bad luck, on another person, when it was the hand of God leading me to humility and to Life.

Pride is so inherent to human nature and it blinds us from seeing things from God’s perspective, as they really are. It is like trying to see life through a mirror, and all we see is ourselves. As we are humbled, the mirror is transformed to transparent glass and we can actually see through it to the other side. Our human perspective will always be somewhat clouded, like looking through tainted glass, but humility brings clarity and an accurate perception of me, of others, and of God.

True humility is not possible without a sense that God is aware of, and in control of (able to intervene in) every circumstance. In order to personally choose to not care for self in any situation, we must know this about God regarding the events in which we humble ourselves. Self-focus is the natural way of our flesh or our natural self. Its voice is ever present within us. How many times have I thought or felt, “If I don’t take care of myself (or my family), who will?” “If I don’t point out my accomplishments, no one will see them.” “I must defend myself! God doesn’t call us to be doormats, does He?” These statements are only true in a God-less world or if God is either impotent or doesn’t care. If God, however, is all-powerful, loves us enough to die for us, and is willing to intervene anytime, then we can trust Him with ourselves and put our focus and energy elsewhere. We are free to go to Him and inquire as to what He would have us do in a given situation or encounter, without concern for “me”. In my language study, for example, it feels like I’m “wasting” so much time and energy when I could be doing so much more if I didn’t have to spend all this time studying. I can place such an emphasis on me and what I think or feel, forgetting to trust the One who has led me here, knowing that I would have to learn the language.

The fruit of humility is varied and beautiful. It produces a lack of concern for self. One humble can serve without care for return and can speak truthfully without having to look good and without care for what the other person thinks of them. Because of the brokenness that one experiences on his way to humility, he can be truly empathetic toward those hurting, knowing firsthand what their pain feels like. He/she can respond to another’s pain without criticism and with learned understanding, which is usually recognized and appreciated by the one hurting.

In Paul’s letter to the Phillipians, chapter 2, we read about the humility demonstrated by Jesus. We so easily say that we want to be like Him, but are we willing to pay the price to be humble, like He is? My time in Brasil, with its many challenges, has made me realize that my desire to be more humble is often just words. As God walks me again through a process designed to produce humility, I grumble and whine instead of acknowledge the sovereignty and love of the One who knows intimately the path down which HE is leading me. As a child I would sometimes wish I could fly, but gravity was a reality that I had to learn to accept. As I live with Jesus and desire to be more like Him, reality is knowing that the path to humility is a difficult and painful one, which will break my self-will many times, and yet is the only path I can walk secure in knowing that He walks with me, leading me ever closer to Him.

The old saying that, “He is more interested in what He’s doing IN you than in what He’s doing through you”, applies to all of us. His love for us compels Him to orchestrate events (usually difficult and/or painful) to mold us and to change us to be more like Him. Lord, please open our eyes to see your hand in the difficult circumstances in which we find ourselves. Please help us to trust you as you lead us through “the valley of humiliation” once again.

Luke was baptized this past weekend with twelve others in the Xingu River.  It was a special morning for all those involved.  It gave Luke and I a nice opportunity to talk about Luke's relationship with Jesus and it was nice to confirm through those conversations that he has a heart to know and to serve Jesus.  He is a special young man and it will be cool to see how God might use him going forward.

Baptism, like many things in our lives, is an outward act prompted by what is on the inside.  To be baptized without having experienced Jesus' cleansing presence is to simply get wet.  To be baptized after knowing Jesus' touch can be a special moment. 

This is similar to when a couple wants to get married, without committing themselves to live together, to fight together, to hurt together, to sweat together.  The wedding ceremony is simply a party.  When, however, a couple completes the ceremony as a demonstration of this commitment to the other, it becomes a sacred, special moment. 

Jesus was so right.  It is truly the inner stuff that matters.  The unseen is where reality exists and the seen is simply a manifestation of what is real in the unseen places of our lives.

We returned from our trip to Salvador on Monday. The bus ride home took 54 hr of rough riding, stopping only for meals (except for a three hour delay behind an overturned truck on a slick, muddy downhill, in the middle of the night). The last 18 hr was on dirt roads and very wet, slick and rough and before that we drove on very poorly paved “highways”. Home looked pretty good when we arrived, even though it was 2:00am.

We all felt as though the month-long excursion was well worth the time and the effort. We actually could have used about two more months of instruction to really make a positive step forward. The language is complicated, much more so than English. But we learned much and learned also what to focus on as we continue to study. Learning a new language to the point of being able to speak is one thing; learning so that one speaks well and without significant language barriers is quite another. It’s been said that the first four years of missionary service is preparation to work and the real work then begins. Though this is certainly variable and one can still be used in that first season, we are learning the truth of this statement, proven true over many centuries of missionary work.

The month was good for us for language learning. It was a lot of fun for the kids to experience the ocean and life in a big city (Salvador has a population of 2.5 mil). We had some really nice times together as a family. The three families (and Emily, visiting for six mos from the States) living together went very well and was actually a pleasure. Even though the living conditions were less than ideal (cramped quarters, no hot water, many evenings without water, no personal means of transportation – we walked a lot, took buses some, and took taxi’s a little), we enjoyed getting to know Emily, the Pflederers, the Dolans and (all!) their kids.

I was so blessed by how our kids handled themselves. They were helpful, they did their school work faithfully, and they found ways (besides the beach) to have fun. They were just a pleasure to be around. It was one of those special times as a dad to observe your kids and sense that they are growing up well, preparing well for what lies ahead.

Salvador is a large, clean, busy city with an excellent bus system and many beaches. We enjoyed visiting some of the very old church buildings and shopping and eating at the mall. We went to a charismatic Catholic service which was very nice and worshipful. We visited a Baptist church where the preacher ranted and raved and yelled and wheezed, and I walked out. He was as Jesus-like as the Carnival celebrations that took place prior to our arrival. It was so sad to see this, in Jesus’ name. We saw the remnants of a Macumba (an African religion of superstition resembling witchcraft) sacrifice on a hill near our house (candles, a dead chicken, some beautiful sea shells, some dead ocean animals and some bowls of food). We saw many Capoeira dancers on the streets and at the beach. This is a dance form that combines elements of the martial arts and incredible athleticism (resembling gymnastics). This form of dance is often associated with Condomble, an African religion with many gods, still very much practiced in Brasil, usually mixed in some way with Catholicism.

Bahia, the state where Salvador is located, appeared to have a culture very different than where we live. We were told that there are predominant cultural influences dividing Brasil into three very distinct regions – the northeast, African; the south, European; and the north (where we live), the indigenous peoples. Brasil is truly a fascinating country. Now, if I can master the Portuguese language (which they all speak), perhaps I’ll be able to more fully understand some of these various idiosyncrasies!

We left Salvador, which is located in the arid northeast of Brasil where it rained three times in the month and seemed to have almost no bugs. We returned to Amazonia and the rainy season where it rains profusely virtually every day and insects rule. We’re home!

Thanks for speaking with our Father on our behalf during our month away. He was so faithful to meet us at every turn, as I think we all grew closer to Him during the month. He is so good, so merciful, and such a delight to love.

Our time in Salvador is going quickly and I think will prove to be valuable in many ways, especially with the language. We study about eight hours/day and try to swim at the beach for about an hour/day. We’ve enjoyed exploring some rock formations near the water and walking around our part of the downtown. Salvador is a large modern city with a recorded history back to the times of Columbus. There was a huge slave trade here (reportedly 10X what we had in the States) and the culture reflects this in its great diversity. It is a beautiful city with a wealth of very old buildings and structures.

Our family is doing well here. The kids have been remarkable in adjusting and finding things to enjoy. They are working on their schooling, enjoying the beach and the fast food, and helping with the small children that we are living with. They have been quite tolerant of our long hours studying the language. The beach and the fast food excursions a couple times/week have served as nice diversions from the studying.

The ocean is simply remarkable to be near. The vast expanse, the 12-20’ crashing waves, the constant breeze… As I looked over it the other day, I was struck at just how little of this world I can wrap my understanding around. Whether it’s the wondrous beauty exhibited by the single flower growing in the rocks or the refreshing breeze on my perpetually sweaty skin, or the volume of water stretching beyond the horizon, there are many miracles before me daily. As my thoughts turn to God, I realize there is so much of Him that I don’t know, and such a small bit that I do know of Him. He has been kind enough to reveal Himself through Jesus and to maintain contact with me through his Spirit, but I can only know Him by faith because He is so far beyond me. Faith is key to appreciating what is beyond our understanding. Whether it’s the flower, the sea, the birth of a baby with all of it’s miraculously working parts, the wind, the sun, the night sky, or the Designer of it all, I can believe and appreciate but I’ll never understand. The designer is beyond wonder and the privilege of being able to experience this life and to know Him (even a little) leaves me quite humbled and grateful.

We have moved our family to Salvador for the next four weeks to hammer the language. This is a historic Brasilian city on the coast that was “discovered” before 1500. I will write more on its fascinating and somewhat disturbing history.

We have decided that we will not be as affective as we would like to be in our ministry without focusing on the language exclusively, using professional resources to do so. There are various schools that teach foreigners Portuguese but all are located on the Atlantic coast. It’s nice in that it puts us in a nice setting but it’s quite challenging from a cost perspective. Our frustration in communicating finally reached a point where we realized that the benefit would outweigh the cost. After our two years in Brasil, we understand why most missionary agencies require six months to a year of language training before beginning work. Communication is what we do and if we can’t communicate effectively, our work is less than effective. Medicine has been nice for me in that I have still been able to provide a service without communicating with excellence. But medicine apart from ministry is not where my heart is (and what God has asked of me), as it is a tool to love and in love communicating the truth of who Jesus is. Thus the need for effectively communicating in Portuguese.

We (three families – 7 adults, 9 kids) took a 50 hr bus ride (a memory, to say the least) here from Altamira and are living together in a house in downtown Salvador. Our family is in one upstairs room with a nice view of the downtown skyline. We are about a 20 min walk from a public beach on the Atlantic side of the city and in our first few days we’ve already enjoyed the ocean waves and the misty sea air. We also are about the same distance from the school and a mall with McDonald’s and Subway which gives us a nice break from our typical Brasilian fare (Altamira doesn’t have fast food).

We begin school today. We’ll keep you posted!

We have just wrapped up the Mission’s Cristoval celebration for this year. It is an annual youth retreat (attended by all ages) held during the days of Brasil’s country-wide Carnival festivals. It was officially attended by 160 youth and unofficially attended by over 200. Though our family all attended various parts, Luke and Ellie attended as participants. They enjoyed it all. The mornings consisted of a time of worship and a message, the afternoons were all participatory games and fun, and the evening was worship and a message with many creative performances (songs and dances) by the youth.

It was held at the “ranch”, a simple mission facility about 20 min outside of Altamira. It is rustic, with outhouses, creek water, hammock sleeping, very muddy grounds, mosquitoes, and simple Brasilian food. There were plenty of ways to help medically, including sprains, bruises, lacerations, infections, tonsillitis, anaphylaxis, headaches, and the ever-present Amazon intestinal issues. Everyone seemed to have a blast, however, and the worship times and prayer times especially indicated that God was doing some good, sober work in many.

The kids stayed up into the wee hours dancing, playing, and talking and woke up early full of energy, ready to do it again.

Interviewing Luke and Ellie afterward revealed the following:

What did you like the most about Cristoval?

Luke: “being with all my friends”, “hanging out”, “It was the first Cristoval that I could participate and pay attention”, “that I knew everyone”

Ellie: “watching the obstacle course and volleyball”, “prayer times”, “performing our dance”, “playing dutch blitz”

Lessons learned:

Luke: “It was different than a church service because everyone was there to worship and learn.” “Everyone was more open and receptive.”

Ellie: In referring to her group dance performance, with a smile, “Practice doesn’t always make perfect.” I saw the dance and, of course, thought it was absolutely beautiful!

What was especially cool about Cristoval?

Luke: “Seeing all the Vineyard churches come together, being one church, worshipping together”, “seeing all the time and effort that Mutirao (one of the churches) put in to prepare made it fun for everyone”

Ellie: “the prayer times and being touched by the Holy Spirit many times”, “our dance performance”, “the worship”, “dancing (late) into the night”, “It was cool to see my friends touched by the Holy Spirit.”

What happened between you and God?

Luke: “because of so little sleep, worship was powerful and we were so tired and just let God take over”, “seeing the Holy Spirit’s power”, “the importance of holiness and purity and being different. The responsibility doubles on us as Americans because we’re different. This is a good thing but it stinks to be so different.”

Ellie: “He loves me and I don’t treat Him good enough. I want to pray more and spend more time with Him.”

What did you like the least?

Luke: “That it was only three days”, “the food line”

Ellie: “washing dishes outside at night in the outdoor showers”, “food line”

It was so cool that neither Luke or Ellie mentioned the rustic conditioned noted above…

It is such a blessing to see youth simultaneously having a great time and taking God seriously. Especially in this culture of broken families and difficult lives, this celebration was beautiful to behold. The seeds planted will have a lasting Kingdom impact. God is truly using this Mission and the Vineyard churches in this region to transform many from darkness to light.

Each of us will meet only a few men or women in our lives that model Jesus in such a way that we are motivated to draw closer to God. They make walking uncompromisingly close with Jesus attractive in such a way that we want more of Him. They are completely human and yet the love that they have for God and for people is so clearly beyond human. Our Vineyard pastor in Altamira, Clenildo, is such a man. His passion to see others know the Jesus that he knows is contagious. His work ethic to accomplish this is tireless, and has been for a long time. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control) is all over him. The joy that emanates from Him makes a being with him light and without burden, even when discussing deep and personal issues such as past wounds and sin, as is always the case in sharing the Gospel. He is considered a special friend by virtually all who have met him, christian and nonchristian alike.

He is a native Brasilian and was the first Xingu missionary in Altamira 13 years ago, moving here from Santarem. He was soon joined by the North American missionaries. He has been the Vineyard pastor and the missionaries’ pastor ever since. He has discipled and trained the other Vineyard pastors of the Amazon region. He travels to the interior constantly, holding meetings in the most remote and difficult places and to join him is always a fun and fruitful experience. There is no sense of duty or obligation in his work, but rather an obvious passion for being the Holy Spirit’s hands and voice. An ever thankful heart is perhaps his most endearing quality. He is humble, self-depreciating, approachable, and encouraging and because of all this, he is quite a gatherer of people. An easy smile and laughter is a part of virtually every message and conversation, yet the sober and deeper motivations surface quickly in each and every interaction. He is quite the story teller and he is as animated sitting on a tree stump in the jungle with one person as he is in front of his church on Sunday. Virtually every conversation leads to Jesus, and in a way completely apart from religion and “shoulds”. It is His love for Jesus that motivates him and it is this love for Jesus that he wishes for each person he encounters.

I have felt so privileged to work with Clenildo and to observe him while he serves, loves, and speaks with, those living difficult lives in the interior. I have learned so much and I’ve been encouraged in my personal walk with Jesus, just by spending time with him. I’ve seen Jesus in this man like I’ve seen in only a few in the course of my life.

Knowing Clenildo has changed me. Knowing Clenildo has changed my perception of a godly man. Knowing Clenildo has changed my view of Jesus. Knowing Clenildo has made me want to draw ever closer to my loving, caring, powerful Father.

I had the opportunity to tell all of this to Clenildo today. It was a special joy to be able to do so. Of course, he deflected all of it to Jesus. Who has been a Clenildo in your life? Do take the time to tell them!

Clenildo

The following represent my personal observations regarding the prominent religions of Amazon Brasil, since arriving here two years ago.

Probably the most frustrating thing that I’ve observed while beginning to work in this culture is a general misrepresentation of Jesus and who He is. It seems to me that similar misrepresentations of Jesus are presently occurring in much of the world. The fact that there are so many contrasting ideas about Him supports the fact that many representations of Him are untrue. The historical Jesus is known, and even respected, by most cultures, but who He is seems to be greatly misunderstood. The majority of people in Brasil, for example, know a fair amount about Jesus, but does the Jesus known in Brasil resemble Jesus, as He really is? A majority religion of ritual and superstition, as well as an “evangelical” faith and prosperity religion, are the dominant forms of “Christianity” in Amazon Brasil. On a recent census, about 80% of the population claims to be Catholic and about 15% claims to be evangelical, mostly of the above type. Sadly, neither seem to encourage relationship with God as primary (as Jesus did), while both emphasize that if you do certain things, God will “bless” you and good things will happen. “God” is a type of Santa Claus, looking to see who’s “naughty and nice”, and who is at the beck and call of those who behave or pray a certain way.

You don’t have to live in Brasil long to appreciate its unique and very religious culture, but is it “Christian”? There is great emphasis on performance (outward show). For example, Christianity seems to equal “niceness”, and while this has its benefits culturally, it just isn’t true regarding Christianity (Jesus emphasized love, which is sometimes perceived as nice and sometimes perceived otherwise). This is apparent in that speaking the truth is not practically valued, but rather telling people what they would like to hear holds more value. People seem to lie habitually, always with a smile and a show of apparent concern, and seemingly unaware that they are doing so. People of this culture are generally conflict-avoiders and people-pleasers to a pathological degree. They are peacekeepers and not peacemakers, and virtually always nice. Facade is alive and well, as virtually every interaction includes a smile, an “Everything is great!”, and a handshake or hug but the genuineness of each is quite variable. Another interesting part of this “religious” culture is that vehicles, boats and buildings are covered with Jesus’ name, Bible verses, and religious statues and paintings, with the apparent belief that this will result in blessing or “good luck”. The same sentiment applies to attending church services, saying “prayers”, religious “speak” (“by the grace of God” or “Thank God”, etc.), giving money to church, etc. Virtually everyone seems to “believe in” God, but the prime motivation of this faith seems to be, “What can I do to get a blessing from God?” All of this in a country with more professing “Christians”, percentage-wise, than anywhere in the world. This compares well to the States (doesn’t it sound familiar?) where Jesus is also professed by the majority and facade is common in the church, but where greed (in the name of prosperity) and pleasure (in the name of blessing) are perhaps the main rationalized sins of the culture. So many people in both cultures (who would call themselves “Christians”) need to encounter the living Jesus, as He is.

The Brasilian and American church cultures provide evidence that the fruit of Christian religion often does not resemble Jesus at all. The focus in both countries is often on pleasing God in order to acquire further blessing, rather than on gratitude for the extravagant blessing(s) that are already ours (like His completely undeserved, unconditional love and care for us). This focus on acquiring blessing is seen in both dominant “Christian” religions in Brasil. In the Catholic religion here, performing ritual (mass, certain prayers, Eucharist…) and works (baptism, sacraments, various good works…) will result in blessing from God. In the evangelical church’s religion, their own rituals and behaviors (how one dresses, baptism, tithing, praying in “faith”, etc.) will please God and result in prosperity and healing. More earthly blessing (comfort, ease, good fortune, happiness, healing, etc.) seems to be the emphasis in both. Is this what Jesus is about?

There also appears to be a disturbing misrepresentation of Jesus in the evangelical church worldwide that is similar to the Brasilian church belief system. Popular church phrases today include: “God wants you (and everyone) healed.” “God is a God of blessing.” “God wants you to prosper.” “All illness and affliction is of the enemy and is not God’s will for you.” “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” (emphasis mine) “Signs and wonders (usually meaning dramatic healing and miracles) will follow all those who believe”. The focus is on the earthly, the seen, and on what WE would understand as “supernatural”. All have an element of truth (based on certain Bible verses) and all can easily remove the focus from what to Jesus was primary – our relationship with Him.

Jesus’ ministry focused on relationship with God which could produce various outward changes, rather than on the changes primarily. He emphasized values beyond our earthly senses. He emphasized that the fruit of our relationship with Him would not necessarily be “seen” in this life but that in no way made it less than absolutely true and hugely relevant. Joni Erickson Tada (an “unhealed” Christian quadriplegic) once said that she believed in Jesus, “not because it is easy, but because it is true.” In other words, knowing Jesus doesn’t necessarily produce earthly results that we would consider to be “good”, such as prosperity and healing (in Joni’s case). In fact, the fruit (results) of His spirit in one’s life is manifested in things “unseen” and not natural to man (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control).

The apostle Paul, for example, had a very close relationship with Jesus and consistently manifested the above fruit in his life as he endured many circumstances that we would not consider “blessing” (beatings, hunger, relational conflict, shipwreck, etc.). He was ill (not healed) and in jail (not prosperous) for much of his ministry. Many early believers (and many since) lived short (martyred), tortured (unhealed), poverty-filled (not prosperous) lives, and it was in this environment that the number of believers grew exponentially! Jesus came to die for our sake, but He suffered throughout His life, including during His crucifixion (beaten, whipped, spit on, abandoned, insulted), before His appointed death. He who is our example of “walking in the Spirit”, had no home, no income, and no earthly comforts (prosperous?). All of this was allowed by a God who, with a word spoke the world into existence, gave Jesus life after almost three days dead, and certainly had the power to alter any of the above sufferings. Fox’s Book of Martyrs and many similar books provide countless other examples of godly, fruitful people living very difficult earthly lives, as does the book of Acts and the eleventh chapter of Hebrews in the Bible.

The weakness of our faith today is demonstrated not in the absence of miracles, but rather in a lack of wonder regarding our miraculous relationship with a God who chooses to love even us and who came to earth to demonstrate (in His life and in His death) this love.

We must remember, in our 2007 arrogance, that the mistake of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day was primarily that they expected the Messiah to look and act a certain way (and in all their sincerity and zeal, they were completely wrong!). Jesus’ message was one of miraculous love of God for broken people, miraculous acceptance, by God, of love from broken people, and miraculous love of broken people, one to another. He emphasized that this life would be full of affliction, tribulation, and heartache (verses not often quoted by today’s religious leaders). But He also made it clear that a relationship with Him held far more value than a prosperous, healed earthly life and that placing all of our proverbial eggs in His basket was wise, though often humanly counterintuitive.

Another personal frustration is that all of the above misrepresentation of Jesus still exists in me. Virtually everything I see outside of me is within me, as well. I question which Jesus is known in Brasil, but is the Jesus I worship really as He is? Or do I also create my own god that will be for me what I desire? My understanding remains incomplete and I am still as flawed as any person or any culture that I might be critical of. Who can save me and save us from our inconsistent, and confused human ways? Thank God that, through Jesus, He has! His love and acceptance of us depends on Him and not on us! Perhaps my favorite song, by Delirious, is called, “I could sing of your love forever.” His love for us is, and will always be, our primary source wonder and joy. No number of miracles and blessing, no amount of character perfection or health, no vocational achievement, will ever be more significant or miraculous than this greatest miracle ever!

The question for all of us today is, “Will we seek to know God, as He is? Will we recognize the millions of miracles that surround us and that give us life each and every moment, or will we live in frustration because God isn’t as we would have Him to be? Will we be grateful for who He is and for whatever circumstances He chooses for us, whether we “see” them as good or bad?” Our task, as His church, is to introduce others to Him, not to a promise of healing, prosperity or a wonderful life, or to a certain “religion” or church, or to misunderstood biblical promises. I so appreciate the passion and perspective of my home Vineyard church and my pastors, where the emphasis is on seeking simple devotion to Jesus, as He is, with others who are doing the same.

It is our miraculous privilege to listen to, and to follow, Him. He is leading us on a journey of understanding Him. None of us have arrived. We are to love those that He gives us (whether cross-culturally or next door), encouraging them to Him. We are called to suffer well the tribulations that He provides, trusting in His purposes for each. And we are to look forward to a day when we will joyfully enter the home He has prepared for us, where our relationship with Him will still be our source of joy and miraculous wonder.

Please pray for us that we strive to maintain Jesus’ focus of love and relationship in our lives and in what we teach, and that we would be bold in challenging the current belief systems. Please let us know, as well, how we can pray for you as you face similar challenges with your family, at your workplace, and in your neighborhood, as you seek to love and to guide others to the Truth.