Week 44

- Last week the church in São Lourenço celebrated our Children's Day (Oct. 17). It was a fun afternoon with approximately 50 kids---most from the church and some from the neighborhood. While trying to take some pictures and give support to our teachers and entertainers, several times it crossed my head that those kids are our future, the church's future, if the Lord doesn't return before. Invest in them is to invest in a stronger church twenty years from now. 

Thinking of that we decided to build first the Sunday School complex with seven classrooms. Our kids deserve our best! Building is not all though. Giving them good, healthy memories and solid biblical foundation is far more important.

Check the link below to see pictures of our Children's Day:

http://picasaweb.google.com.br/Bio.Zugzwang/DiaDasCriancasSL_Out2009?feat=directlink

- You know, our girls are growing so fast! Check out latest pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com.br/Bio.Zugzwang/FamilyOctober2009?feat=directlink

- We are working to offer another Men's Seminar for the churches of Christ in Recife's metropolitan area. The theme for this year is "Serving God in the Working Place."   Please, pray we will offer an edifying moment to our brotherhood, a moment to form men in the imagine of our living Lord Jesus.

Week 42

Today is Children’s Day in Brazil and also Dara’s birthday! She is three years old and so full of life. Sometimes Dayse and I wonder whether we’re getting old for raising kids or Dara came with the energy of a boy.

Last Saturday (10) I performed a wedding for a dear couple of our congregation. I tried to make it romantic and with special wordings. After the ceremony, Yasmin came and said something that really touched my heart. She said, “Dad, when I get married, would you do my wedding?”  Hope this is a sign we’re in the right track.

Last week I participated in a men’s conference in São Paulo by Continent of Great Cities. Without a shadow of doubt, this was one of the best, if not the best, conference I ever attended. The main focus was on our emotions. Ministers and missionaries can, jus like everyone else, carry hurts for years. These hurts directly affect their ministry. There was also a strong focus on sexual sins at any degree and on practicing spiritual disciplines, which we hardly hear of in our midst. I congratulate the CGC organizers for their initiative and sponsoring. I congratulate even more for setting the path to an area we among churches of Christ have generally neglected. As a so rationalistic group and right-sided seekers, when is it we pay attention to health emotions that come from a walk with the Lord? Sure enough we need to find the equilibrium between the two God given aspects of our humanity—reason and feelings.