It has been quite a while since I last wrote on here.  I am excited today to feel motivated enough to put something down.  That is the problem with a task like this one.  You are all excited and ready to go when you start, then you lose a bit of steam, and finally you have to discipline yourself to continue or… nothing happens.  I find that this process is true in all most every area of my life.  So when I am lacking in discipline, many things lose their energy and therefore their end quality. 

I have been thinking about what the new year is going to bring.  For us here at Vida Nueva, I think that 2009 will bring great possibilities.  As with all possibilities it will bring with it significant challenges.  The greater the possibilities the greater the challenge; right?  This year we may have the opportunities to start several ministry initiatives here in Parras.  Possibly even expanding the Children’s home with an additional multi-purpose room, and maybe even a separate property for future growth.  What will be the challenge?  The challenge will be to continue to expand our support base, to work towards providing the funding for the various projects and for the expanded facilities and staff.  In today’s economic world, only God’s leading will make that possible.

Today we inaugurate a new US President.  This time it is historic as we have our first black President in Barak Obama.  President Obama has promised many things, many things that will ensure the continued decline of the American family, and the wasting away of the foundation of the USA.  Simply put a constitution based on high moral ideals will only stand while the people who support that constitution also support those ideals.  Today we find ourselves in a position where our founding ideals no longer represent the people that benefit from them.  Our new President, was the perfect candidate to represent our country, because he is a true representative of the majority of our people. 

I believe that election and inauguration of President Barak Obama that the US has now truly entered what has been called, Post-Christian.  Does this change the mission of the church?  Should this impact the way church’s operate?  I would have to say a huge yes and a huge no. 

On the yes side of things, the Christian Church* of America, needs to understand that building Christian empires is not the task at hand.  Having huge buildings, comfortable seats, gymnasiums are not the primary mission if anything they are supposed to be tools to aid that mission.  The American Church is as material minded as the common American.  Being as such the American Christian though they go to church, though they serve occasionally in Children’s ministry, though they give a little in the offering, they are more American than they are Christian. 

Pastor’s yeah we are exactly the same, in fact, we are worse.   We are told that because we are leaders we will be held accountable for all that we lead and teach.  Pastor’s who are immersed in this culture and cannot see Jesus through it, lead their people away from Him. 

Matt 25 talks about whether or not you care for the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, the prisoner… it says that those who did those things were welcomed into the Kingdom of God.  Unfortunately He continued and said that those who did not do those things were turned away from the Kingdom.  Luke 6:27-36 talks of loving your enemies, doing good to those who hate you; turning the other cheek; giving your shirt and your coat to; giving to anyone who asks, without demanding repayment; then finishes in vs 35 with “then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  How many Pastor’s are preaching this word, yet are not doing this in their lives or in the ministries that they lead. 

The no is very simple that we the Body of Christ; the international grouping of Christ followers; were given a commission to share the gospel with all nations, tribes, and peoples.  We know that God will have a representation of every people group before His throne in Heaven (Rev 7).  So the mission remains unchanged.  The global church needs to rise up and push hard to train and send out ministers of the gospel to neediest places on earth.   You do not have to look far…

The hungry, the thirsty, the brokenhearted, the sick, the prisoner, the orphan & widow, those with no access to God’s Word, the poor, the neglected, the prostitute, the slave, the nations.   This is our mission!

Make 2009 a year where you allow Jesus to make you first a Christian, and being such, make you a better American. 

-Chad

*By Christian I mean all churches and denominations that believe the primary basics of Christianity

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