Who's In Control?

There's no need to comment on things that are happening these days and how everyone is being impacted in one way or another; unfortunately for us at CEC, it has meant that the students have been sent home early though we still had five weeks remaining to the completion of this year's course.  I suppose that this turn of events (for all of us) has in some sense awakened us to the reality that we truly don't know what tomorrow will hold.  This, of course, is nothing new - it has been the fact each and every day, however, in these days it becomes more of a reality.  And not only that, but also the reality that we are not in control.

However, as believers we find great comfort in being reminded that there is ONE who IS in control.  The Psalms especially are fully of cries for help and expressions of confidence in God, who is "our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).  This Psalm reaches a climax with the familiar words, "Be still and know that I am God" (verse 10).  I don't know how much different you are from me, but I know that for myself, I like control.  I get uncomfortable when things are out of my control; but God lovingly reminds me that things are better in His hands anyways.

Our Students: BACK: Abram R. (Jalisco), Abram M. (Chihuahua), Miguel (Sonora), Joel (Jalisco), Manuel (Sonora), Jesús (Sonora); FRONT: Carlos (Veracruz), Carmen (Sonora), Andrea (Oaxaca), Sofía (Veracruz), Raúl (Veracruz)

That is the confidence our students went out with this past weekend.  The decision was a hard one to make and to carry out as staff, but for the best of all involved, we decided to send each student back to their homes and communities.  The past nine weeks that we have spent with them have truly been a  blessing, and as students reflected on the time we've spent together, each one could share with gratitude how God had met them in specific ways, and how they are not heading out the same.  We can attest to that as we've seen significant changes in each one of their lives.

In the coming weeks I'll take some time to share specific stories of how God has been at work, but for now, let's pray for each of these students as they unexpectedly find themselves back home, perhaps feeling that they weren't ready to leave CEC behind.  Some in particular are at a transition point in their lives and weren't sure what was next for them.  Thinking they still had five weeks remaining at CEC has left some of them feeling very unsure and vulnerable.  Yet the reality is that nothing is out of God's hands, His control, nor His plan. He saw this coming and was preparing each one of them for this moment.  This now becomes the place where the rubber meets the road and we learn to walk by faith when we can't see what's around the next corner (and we have no understanding of what's going on!)

Thanks for your prayers for the students and for us as a staff as we figure out our next steps and what the rest of the year looks like.  I keep hearing in my head the voice of a GPS unit repeatedly saying, "Recalculating route...recalculating route...").  I'm glad that God's routes never get recalculated by unseen circumstances!  ¡Dios les bendiga!

Speak to me, Lord!

We are officially 25% of the way through our 14 weeks together with these 10 students who have joined us from all parts of Mexico. Though it's only been three and a half weeks, honestly it has felt like about seven weeks together in many ways. "Ahead of the curve" is one way to describe this group in the sense that from Day 1 this group "agarró confianza" (some things are just easier to say in Spanish!) Basically, they got very comfortable very early as a group. This is great, because its when we get past the initial "ice-breaking" that we can get down to the real work of learning and growing, and yes, this more than often comes through conflict as "iron sharpens iron." I think there's been a lot of iron-sharpening already! Within the first two weeks a number of students faced internal mini-crisis where they were close to the point of leaving. Thankfully each one made the decision to stick around, staying the course. It is often as we are confronted with different issues that we respond by running. Praise God that no one has successfully run so far!

The class of 2020: Jesús (Sonora), Jorge (Sonora), José Carlos (Sonora), Abraham (Jalisco), Abraham (Chihuahua), Andrea (Oaxaca), Carlos (Veracruz), Raul & Sofía (Veracruz), Juan (Sonora)

One of the big themes that has come up with this group is what it means to "hear God's voice." This can be misleading because to hear someone's voice is not difficult. We hear people's voices all the time - this is easy to understand. But it is different with God's voice. We don't (except perhaps in rare occasions) hear an audible voice like we do with people. So what does it mean to hear God's voice? Below is a graphic I shared in one of my classes that perhaps over-simplifies it, yet it holds the key to what we've been conveying to the students in helping them to develop a deeper understanding, stronger habits, and ultimately a sensitivity to hear (and discern) God's voice from the many other "voices" that we often hear. "The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) These are humbling, almost scary words when we consider the power of God's Word and what it reveals in us but even more so, to us. It's no wonder why someone might want to run!

"Speak to me, Lord!"

BUT, Jesus Himself, speaks clearly about what His intention is in speaking to us. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11) We are excited when we see the students respond to God's Word, sometimes having to face some hard and painful things in the process. But the purpose is ALWAYS for our own good. We have seen that in a number of students already, responding to God's work in their lives. We have some students who are still continuing to struggle through some difficult issues, but we are excited knowing that God is continuing to do His work in each one of them. Continue to pray with us for each one of them! Continue to pray for us as a staff, as we work together in unity. Thank you for your faithful prayers! ¡Dios les bendiga!

Watching and Waiting

This morning I read the story of Pentecost and couldn't help but see the parallel with (and reversal to) Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel. In one story, man is at work, united, but against God. God sees man's efforts and confuses mankind by introducing different languages. Thousands of years pass and God has been at work, even using fallen humanity, to bring about a solution. This solution finally comes about in Christ - the Gospel being "the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom 1:16). God is at work. Upon His resurrection, the disciples are told to do one thing: wait. They wait for 50 days and suddenly God shows up, empowers them, and the language barriers that were introduced are overcome as the apostles speak in languages they didn't even know, so that every person from every nation represented hears about the amazing things God has done in their own language. God brings about reconciliation and unity. When man was working for himself, God brought confusion. But where God was at work, men were simply called to respond by waiting and trusting. It makes me think that I'm far better off just trusting Him do the work instead of me trying to do it myself. I find great comfort in this, especially in those areas of "confusion" in my life, whatever that confusion might look like. I'm reminded that it is much more about God, His purpose and His power, than it is about me, my plans, my understanding, or my strength. As we are about to start a new semester at CEC, this is especially of great comfort. I can easily be overwhelmed by the tasks at hand, the classes that I still need to prepare for and all the details involved, but then I'm forgetting all over again that it has much more to do with God and His power than about my inadequacy. We are excited for the 9 students that are coming this weekend. The semester starts on Monday and a great group from all over Mexico has come together once again. I'll give you more of an update as to who they are and where they are from once we are into the course. Pray for these students as we form a new community and learn to walk together as fellow disciples. Pray for us as staff as we make the adjustments that come with each new year - unity is one of our most powerful tools as we seek to impact the lives of these students. Pray for myself as I venture into teaching classes on Spiritual Disciplines once again over the first five weeks. Will watch and wait to see what God will do in our lives over the next 14 weeks. Thanks for your continued prayers! ¡Dios les bendiga!