The War continues inside me

"Wretched man that I am!" words spoken by the author of most of the new testament in the Bible. In his letter to the Romans, chapter 7, the apostle Paul talks about the personal internal war between good and evil. He writes about the struggles of the spirit and the flesh, how his flesh does not do what he wants to do...he wants to be doing good. In the end of the chapter he asks a great question, "Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!".

Reading this helps me understand that I am not alone and this struggle is not new for us in 2009. The struggle to do what we know is right. Paul describes it as a war between the flesh of our body and the Spirit of God that wants to lead us. The constant conversation for me between my heart and my head. My mind is the battlefield. I know I am weak but Christ, He is beyond my understanding of strong. Being "born again", this new creation that he made me almost 3 years ago by His grace, has changed so much in my life but the Bible tells us that this battle is a daily war.

So what do I do? As Jesus prayed " Father give us our daily bread", I must get fed everyday. His Word is food to me, it rebukes me...causes me to confess and repent...guides me...fills my heart with joy...gives me GREAT hope...God speaks to me through the Bible and Prayer!

I am weak but He is strong, thank God for our savor Jesus Christ.

Big Love from this fallen man.

Cuba Mission Update 2009

Dear brother and sisters:

Amazing, what our Lord is doing in Cuba is truly amazing. The faith and boldness we experienced by the Christians in Cuba makes me question our strength of our faith in the “Land of the Free”. On this Veteran Days I write to update you on my journey and thank you so much for your prayers and generous donations supporting the mission activities that God has called me to serve. Thank you for our Vets, Lord.

Our first destination was Pastor Carlos young growing church in San Luis Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. Several of the church members were there to welcome us with open arms. San Luis is located in the agriculture part of the country and grows much of the local produce and tobacco. Sunday we had about 90 people in a little church and later worked with 32 children on a bible lesson and craft, they loved it. The next day we had over 100 children. The big smiles and gratitude on everyone’s faces, they accepted us as if we were long lost family that had returned. It still amazes me how God’s people, no matter where you go, all show love for others…it’s Christ love inside that must shine through. Way Cool!!!

Pastor Santiago would tell us stories every morning about the Church in Cuba and how the Holy Spirit was working to grow the Kingdom of God. At the end of the week he told us “Vale La Pena”, It is worth It.

One shining light was Jose Manuel (13yr old), my young brother in Christ. He was practicing his English and I am still working on my basic Spanish, so we attempted to tell each other about our lives, joys and families. We would chat ever night. The last night after service Jose came to me with $3 peso (local currency) and said something I did not understand. After getting our translator Guillermo’s help, he was attempting to give me a gift of great value and said “Remember me”. I want to return this gift but instead gave him my Bible. Jose and I sat down and filled in his name in the first page and I told him that this will help him learn more English and “not forget me”.

We met with Pastor Able in Havana city and the Holy Spirit was with us all night long. We gathered in Malecón along the tourist waterfront with about 150 of his leadership team in his church. Understand they meet in a park, in a country that you are prohibited to preach on the street… and they don’t have a building. That’s right, 500 Christians getting together, read the Word and pray to our Lord. They gather in homes, parks, on the streets, anywhere and to tell others about the Good News. I keep hearing that song “God of this City” in my head. Thank you Lord!!!

The men read from Luke 12:13 The Parable of the Rich Fool. They told stories of lives spent chasing after money, drugs, yet always a feeling unfulfilled. One man said “why ask God for 10 pesos when you can live on one”, the other said “if you can’t live with a few things how are you going live with a lot”. No one knows when our last day will come…we all fall into what I call the “pit”, a dark place that takes our life and breaks our heart. Then somehow our savor holds us up through God’s gift of grace and Life Change begins with a new heart. As new creations, we are focused on God and the Spirit to guide us through His Word and Prayer. The Word of God is now food to me, I can go to long without it.

Thank you for all you support, prayers and obedience to His call.

“Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Dios Te Bendiga,
Alberto

Lord, thank you

What an honor and a privilege, to bring the Good News to whomever God's will has in our future path. We must make ourselves ready for this honor. How?? In your quite time, Pray and in your daily life, fasting, also meditation on the Truth, His word the Bible, always. In 30 days our ten person mission team will be traveling to Cuba to bring this Good News to all that our paths cross.

In John, Jesus told them "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

Lord I pray, your will be done, help me understand your Truth. I make myself available and attempt to patiently listen for your command.

Please, I ask, pray for us that the hearts of the Cuban people be open, allow them to be touched by His spirit and ready them to receive this Good News.

Dios Te Bendiga

What is the cost?

What is the cost to follow Jesus? Been thinking about this one... I'm not sure I truly understand all the costs and if can stop my natural self from making yet another compromise. The war rages within all of us but I feel it more these days than ever in the past few year...since that wonderful day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior - Life Change!!! I have His promise to finish the good works that He started, this the Bible tells me but what is the cost and when tested will I pass?

In Luke Jesus tells us that "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" and "Leave the dead to bury their own dead" and "No one who puts his hand on the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God". Really hard truths about what it take to follow Him.

So what can I do? I want to follow Him for all he has done for me...He gave his life so I can be part of the kingdom of God....WOW.

Here is my plan:

1. Pray about everything, then shut up and know "Be still and know I am not God"
2. Don't worry, God is still God and in control of everything
3. Focus on getting back to that feeling of jumping out of an airplane, fully believing that He holds me tight.

MISSION UPDATE - The Cuba team leaves on October 9th. We need your prayer for the people of Cuba.

PS. I will do a better job at keeping this blog updated.

and He prayed "Lord, send the harvest hands"

So what is going on in your life?

As you can remember 2008 was amazing year for us and God entrusted so much to me. This drives my desire to help others more and more, to hear the Good News and tell them that God Loves them, Jesus Lives!!!

We started a mission committee at FBJB with a few others at the church. Planning was going well and early indication was God paired us up perfectly (strengths - weaknesses). Each member of the team complemented each other, we fit like a glove. So now the challange. After planning and communication to the local church community we have very few that want to serve and go on a short-term missions. Not sure if its the economy excuse or lack of desire to jump out of our comfort zone and trust in God's plan....but we just don't have many willing to go. I prayed and went to the Bible....was led to Luke 10, not sure but reads like an early short-term mission kick-off. Jesus was sending seventy followers out to towns he will later visit, missions. So what does Jesus pray for...good weather, safety, funds....no he asks God to "Send the workers"...WOW.

This is now my pray....Lord send the Christian Labor or guide me to understand your will for this seed that was planned in 2007 to get into the field.

"What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands." Luke 10:2 The Message.

I know spiritual warfare is real and have experienced many things going wrong in a big way. For example on Wednesday when we had our first mission meeting and praying for the Lord to send us the workers.... my day start out like this...Car problems, kid issues, work challenges, cable out - no ability to work, could not get the last details reviewed with the mission team...then 3 different people came to my front door at same time, phone ringing off the hook. One of them was a man named Philip Hogan, who was suppose to talk to me about a water system for the home but instead told me about his mission camp in Costa Rica. We chatted for about an hour and I knew God had sent him on that day to remind me that lifes not about all the stuff (INTERNET, cable, etc.) but we need to be thinking about His people and how I can touch a life. Phil and I prayed ,not sure this is his usual sales approach but it worked with me.

Thank you God for all that you do....EVERY DAY!!!

Sherpa Al

Mission Central 2009 - To serve Him

Several have asked for information regarding how I got involved with short term mission trip. Awesome.... many are feeling His calling to serve - AWESOME. A cool result of short term trips was that it gave me the opportunity to see if I was ready for this type of service in His army. You know the question about "can I really step out for Jesus and totally trust in Him not knowing what the next day will bring". In Oswald Chambers book The Love of God it states, "we shall always know when God is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring." This has happened on each trip, your plans - Out the Window...then if you are attentive, God provides something amazing.


If you are ready let's go and tell ALL about the Good News - Jesus Lives



I have attempted to list some resources for you, some these resources are focused on Youth trips, and different types of helpful information (fund raising, travel, prep, etc.). I am not recommending any of these resource just posting them to help you with your planning.

BTW, please post (comment) with your useful sites....share...please :)

Short Term Mission Links:

• http://www.fbjb.com/ First Baptist Jensen Beach


• http://www.namb.net/ - North American Mission Board


• http://thebridge.namb.net/default.aspx - "The Bridge" North American Mission Board listing of Missions
  
• http://www.reignministries.org/ - Youth Missions organization


• http://www.adventures.org/ - Christian Short Term Missions
  

Fund raising and planning links:

• http://www.missiontriptools.com/page2.html - Team Prep


• http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/support.htm - funding strategy outline


• http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/ - Fund Raising Help


• http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/funds.htm - Fund Raising tips
  
  Remember that it should not approached as an"adventure vacation". Short term missions is focused on telling ALL about the Good News of Jesus Christ and it is for His glory that we serve, doers of the Word....the projects are just helpful fillers.
  

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Much Love,

Al

What a Year 2008 !!!

Our God is AWESOME ...All the time!!!!

What a year 08 has been, more than I could have ever dreamed. The beginning of the year started with "jumping out of airplanes" and into the mission field. With no more more that a web page and a few emails Jeff and I showed up in Trench Town Jamaica on a short term mission. Working construction, security for a Extreme Sport Christian team and helping the people of Kingston...showing & telling them that we have an awesome Farther who loves us and he wants us to seek him...everday! He is always wait with open arms. Then Dom and I found a new home and it is also awesome. The sunsets out the back of the house remind me everyday again how awesome He is...beautful! Next on a personal note I meet an angel, Karen....she has eyes like emeralds and a soul for serving other. Again, how awesome is our God to intersect paths of two people with common desire to serve Him. Next Dom and I go on a mission to Bahamas to rebuild a community center, awesome spending time serving together. My Little Bro (BBBS) Luis is doing great in school with his grade, guess what so is Dom... AWESOME. Next trip to Cuba...WOW can't stop thanking God everyday for what He has giving us....We are truly blessed. The kids at FBJB Sunday mornings are awesome and we challenge ourselves with His Word...too cool learning as much from them as they get from me.

Thank you LORD for all you have entrusted to me, I hope to manage it as your Word leads me.

A