"If I can't ......I'd rather die!"

Think about it. What in this world would possibly drive you to make such a statement?

Fill in the blank space of course and then try it on for size.
"If I can't ......I'd rather die!"

What might fill in the blank space? Thinking about it for a few moments and thinking about some of the things that drive our lives, I wrote a few possibilities. Yours might be listed here or be totally different. Some are slightly humorous, others more serious.

"If I can't lose weight, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't see my kids again, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't get out of this mess, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't get a decent meal, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't figure out these taxes, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't see the Buckeyes (or your team) win, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't find a job, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't get this right, I'd rather die!"

"If I can't be with (him/ her) I'd rather die!"


So, what do you think? Interesting to consider.

Today those same words were spoken to me and caught me off guard. They were spoken very sincerely, with just the right amount of emotion. It was not theatrical, not meant to be dramatic at all. Those words accurately expressed the individual's heart.

The man who spoke them is perhaps, unique. He is a Taiwanese national living here in Belize. He has completely given up his former life and become a true sold-out follower of Jesus Christ. His wife left him because of his strong devotion to God. He continues on. He has no means of support. I am not sure how he ever eats, yet to look at his tall thin, wiry frame, it does not appear that eating is that important to him.

When I listen to him speak, in his broken English, one thing is clear. He has a compelling conviction to share God's Word. Anywhere, with anyone. Truly.

He has not been to a Bible school but he know his Bible.

He has a Mandarin - English Bible as well as another Bible he dutifully carries with him. To peer inside it is to glance at the ruminations of someone who has sat at the feet of Jesus.

When he speaks, he shares from his great learning, from his personal study of God's love letter. He has insights that can only be explained as coming from intense personal times before the Lord. I have seen him diligently studying and have heard him carefully seeking to make clear the treasures he has gained.

This kind-hearted, compassionate gentleman told me today,
"If I eat or not, it is okay."
"Where I stay is no problem."

Those were enough to challenge me. His humble acceptance of where life has him right now is an 'in-your-face' indictment to those who believe we must have things to be just this way and that way.

So what did he say to fill in the blank? What could follow those statements in such a powerful way as to still capture my thoughts hours later?


"If I can't do ministry, I'd rather die!"


Simple. Focused. Powerful.


I arranged for him to share at a local Nazarene church. He took my hand and did something else that humbled me. It was one of those things that you wish a grown man would not do, but it clearly expressed the gratitude of his heart for serving God. As this thin Taiwanese man grasped my hand, he knelt down in front of me on both knees and bowed.

I wanted to pull him to his feet. I wanted to tell him that he has no reason to thank me so profoundly. Yet, I could not, because his heart was showing once again.

I remain challenged and humbled...how about you?

Ray

To the Regions Beyond you...

2 Corinthians 10:15-17

¹⁵Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory. ¹⁷But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

I want to share a story with you. It is not my story, which is why I first included the passage above. Perhaps a small portion of this is my story as well. I have developed a dear friend here in Belize whose heart is precious due to his heart for the Lord. He and his wife are of one heart in their love and service for the Lord and the people He loves.

Felize means happy - and this man is happy. His happy spirit is welcoming and a blessing to many. Felize is not assigned to a particular church right now. Yet he is not idle. He and his wife Remigia are very busy.

This last month Felize went to San Benito Poite to once again help in the construction of a concrete block building for the church there. It is no easy place to get to. After 5 days there, he and Remigia traveled to a new area. Just going to Graham Creek is a much more difficult journey. They took the bus as far as the road allowed, then walked the 1 1/2 hours to this village where a new Nazarene church is finding its beginnings.

Each day was filled with activity. Each day they taught the basics of what our church is - each day they taught about the Articles of Faith and about prayer. Each day the people of the village gathered for another full day of teaching, their spiritual hunger evident and eager.

Each night was not for relaxing. Even though Felize was hoping to go hunting some night in this remote region, that was not to happen. Each night the people asked for a church service. Each night they gathered to sing and to pray and to listen to more teaching and preaching. They enjoyed the services and the fellowship so much that they met together every day and every night --- for 7 days and 7 nights!

During this time, 5 young people gave their hearts to Christ for the first time.

5 others came back to the Lord, finding once again, the forgiveness that they once had held but had walked away from. God is the restorer.

As I said, this is not my story directly. I did not travel all the way to Graham Creek. I did not teach during the day for 7 days and preach at night for 7 nights. But my friend, whom I have invested in - personally and spiritually - he did. So, as he shared the praises with me, a little part of my heart rejoiced. Rejoiced in the wonderful reports and rejoiced that in some small way, I was a part of Felize and Remigia's faithfulness in going to the "Regions Beyond".

Because of Jesus,

Ray & Becki

Eve

A Bible name...that's nice.

Eve is a young lady I recently met. This was one of those times when you wish you could say that it had been under different circumstances. But it was not.

It was not at a funeral, as many times that is when this expression is used.

It was not at the hospital, although it could well have been, and maybe should have been.

In reality, both of those locations would play a role sooner than we imagined.

Eve lay on a small bed in the front room of her brother's house. She is thin...frail actually.

She does not get up when we enter. She does extend her hand from under the covers. We shake hands in a polite greeting.

I squat down next to the bed because I do not want to tower over here while we talk.

There exists in this room and in these moments, a solemn seriousness about meeting Eve.

She is dying.

Eve has AIDS.

There is no talk about how did she contract AIDS or lectures on morality, I never even asked. I did not ask her or the friend who was concerned enough to take me to see her. At this point, it does not matter. Facts are facts...and AIDS kills. Thus, Eve is dying.

She knows it. Her friends knew it. I was just now learning it.

We all talked. No chit chat this day - just straight to the point.

"Eve, do you know the health of your soul?" "Do you know where you will go after this?"

Her eyes pleaded with me, longing to be sure.

I explained the choices. Yes, she had sinned, we all have sinned. And she, like we, all have a choice to make. Would she give her heart and her remaining life to Jesus...or harden herself, embittered against the way her life has turned out?

There is no bitterness. Eve is listening. She is longing for something, some hope. The day before, there was prayer for healing by one of the friends who is with me this day.

This day... well, this day has a different focus. We all want to know for sure that Eve is prepared for eternity. Each of the three of us share from our hearts, urging her to commit to Christ. I share with Eve that the Lord is near. In fact, the Bible says that Jesus is very near, in our hearts, in our mouths, if...

...if she will just believe in her heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Jesus from the dead, then she will be saved. Her soul will spend eternity with Jesus.

"Eve, is that your heart's desire?" I ask. She agrees. We pray.

A holy moment in the midst of life's most serious trial.

When we leave, there is quiet rejoicing. Another soul has been secured. There is a bit more peace in the hearts of these friends this night...and in Eve's heart as well.

Fast forward one week. It was Sunday afternoon when we visited. Instead of relaxing or even seeking a Nazarene nap we had gone to see Eve. Now it is Sunday night, the week following. Eve's family is searching for her friends to come back and visit as she is longing to see them again, to have prayer again. But, it is not to be. Phones are not available and the people cannot be located. This is to be Eve's last night on earth.

We receive the news later in the week. She was officially pronounced on Monday and buried Tuesday. There are moments of reflection now. Quiet, internal reflection. Glad to have gone to see Eve. Glad to have listened to the Spirit's nudge. Glad to have prayed with her. In some ways, glad that her suffering here has ended.

Every story does not end this way. Every person does not end this way. Every one of us may not have such an imminent opportunity...

May I encourage you today to listen for those little nudges from the Spirit? Perhaps you may have an appointment with someone on the eve of eternity.

Blessed,

Ray & Becki

The End of the Rainbow!!!

We found it!! Ha ha!! How exciting!

But first let me tell you the circumstances. Belize gets a lot of rain at different times of the year. This is one of those times. This last week we have had LOTS of rain. Flooded some bridges and rearranged portions of the dirt, gravel, clay, rock, road that we drive to get to our house. In fact, just last night we heard from a worker repairing the area leading up to the bridge that crosses the Mullins river by our house, that crossing the bridge would do us little good because farther up the road, another river has diverted and has gone right through the road.

Such is life here in Belize.

Anyhow, we had gone to Belmopan, the capital city, where one of the pastors' classes is being taught. Rain descended on the galvanized tin roof off and on during the day, briefly interrupting the ability to hear, but such is life here in Belize.

After class we dropped one student at the bus station and then turned towards home. Starting our return journey under sunny skies was nice as we had not seen the sun during the prior week. As we made our way into the Maya Mountains, the weather conditions quickly changed and brought some more rain into our path. Then, as we passed through a small area of rain and were just entering into the village of Armenia, we spotted it - a beautiful rainbow directly in front of us!

We always seem to smile and enjoy these unexpected pleasures. For Christians, the rainbow is that ever continuing promise that God will not destroy the earth by flood again. It is a comforting promise.

Well, this rainbow was a special joy as we have a Nazarene church in this village. We looked to see where the end of the rainbow was headed as it seemed close to the road itself. My first comment was that it was on the opposite side of the road from where the church is located. Then, as if the rainbow heard our comments and was personally responding, the bottom end of the rainbow MOVED.

I am not kidding!

Now, I know it is simply an adjustment of the angle of the shimmering water droplets in relation to out position in viewing them, but....the rainbow moved!

And the end of the rainbow was clearly seen by both Becki and myself...to our great astonishment, the end of the rainbow was sparkling away right in front of our eyes - on the hood of our truck!!

Never, have I been so close to a rainbow produced by nature's effects (without my spraying a hose into the air...). It was a fun little pleasure after a long day of teaching. I'm not declaring that there is a promise connected to our truck, but there could be. It has carried us a whole lot of miles here in Belize. I'm also not saying that the proverbial 'pot of gold' is our truck, but it is major blessing to us as the training of pastors presses forward in 3 scattered locations. Nor am I saying that we are the recipients of that 'pot of gold' - but I should perhaps reconsider that...

God has blessed us incredibly.

We are the recipients of so many blessings. Many of you reading this have blessed our lives in numerous ways. Thank you for being used by God in such special 'end of the rainbow' ways! In addition, God has personally added so many, many blessings that we truly cannot count them all.

May you find God's rainbow of blessings in your life this week.

~ Ray & Becki

BOLD Young Lady!

I recently was asked to speak at a Youth Conference here in Belize. So I did.

I was the speaker for Friday night - the lead-off guy. The whole 2 day event started with me. Not to set any pressure on me or anything but they gathered 50 teens in a room and said, "Okay, they're all yours!"

Not only that, but I learned shortly before arriving that I was slated to do a Bible Story Session - not a regular talk or message. So.........................off we went.

(If you are not familiar with Bible Story telling - it is avery interactive and dynamic way to teach the Bible - and fun too!)

50 teens who had no idea who I was or why I was doing this strange sort of presentation.

50 teens who did not even fully know what they should expect for the weekend.

50 teens looking at this aging white guy wondering if they made a good choice for their freetime!

On top of that - I felt strongly that the Lord was leading me to do the story of the Rich man and Lazarus. Remember that one? The Rich man who wasted all his days decided how to spend his money...and Lazarus, the poor man, who was covered with sores and had been dumped on the rich man's doorstep. His life consisted of hoping for scraps from the rich man's table while his only friends --- were the dogs that came and licked his sores! (UGH! That gets me every time!)

The story is really about Hell - imagine that. You go to a Youth Conference and the first thing you hear about is Hell! Yeah - just had to trust that God had something special in mind.

I think He did.

We heard a lot of positive feedback afterwards. They liked the aging white guy and his story. That's nice, but it gets better.

Just today we learned that a young girl who was there was strongly impacted.

She is Catholic, 13 years old and was apparently captured by the story of how this poor man was carried to heaven while the rich man, who had everything while on earth, ended up in Hell and in torment.

Like the part about the rich man begging for help and how he was denied it, just as he had denied help to poor, sore covered Lazarus, who had been waiting right outside his door, day after day.

And that there was a great chasm between heaven and hell and that no one could cross over from heaven to hell - even if they wanted to. And that no one could cross over from hell to heaven either.

The story caught her attention - and compelled her into action. How do we know? Because she told one of the ladies that worked at the Conference that she went home and said to her whole family,

"Listen, everybody, come sit down. let me tell you what I learned about God today!"

Praise God for the simple boldness of a child.

Praise God for obedience.

Praise God that His Word continues to go forward...

.....through aging white guys telling the stories that Jesus told..

.....and through young girls who are passing those stories along to the next generation!

Blessed to be serving in Belize,

~Ray & Becki

Semi Annual Daddy Longlegs Spider Convention

Yes, it's that time of year again...the Semi Annual Daddy Longlegs Spider Convention is now convening at our house.

This event happens 2 or 3 times a year, when I get the notion to call a gathering of these quiet domestic creatures. They stay at our place, rent free for most of the year. We don't really mind since they are quiet and pretty much keep to themselves, unlike some of their relatives! In fact, since our house has 10 foot high ceilings, we really do not encounter the peaceful daddy longlegs very often. If we happen to move a piece of furniture, they always scurry in the opposite direction, seeking shelter of some sort. In exchange for free rent, they do their small part to try to control the population of flies, mosquitoes and other small insectal (is that a word?!) type inhabitants of our little house in the jungle.

So, we live in a sort of harmony with the daddy longlegs. Hmm, I wonder if the mommy longlegs get tired of being called daddy longlegs...?

Anyhow, today I called to order the semi annual meeting. As usual all are invited to stay in the plush Ricar Rc 1400, a state of the art hotel and convention center all in one. It is designed to suit their taste. It is dark, private and is by invitation only.

I did invite a few mosquitoes and flies to this year's gathering, so the buffet table would not be empty. I wonder if daddy longlegs turn cannibalistic when the food runs out?

You may wonder what created such concern for the well-being of our 8-legged friends and whey we would go to all this trouble.

It's simple really. Company.

Yes, that's right. We may have company stopping by soon, so I decided that it was time to call this meeting of all the daddy longlegs. I hope they enjoy their stay. I tried to make sure that no one was left out.

I tried to upload a pic of the convention center but after 3 hours, it still wasn't happening.

So to those who are still wondering about this lavish occasion for the 8-legged visitors...

....it is...

...our vacuum cleaner!!!

Have great day!

Ray & Becki file:///Users/rayneu/Desktop/PICT0041.JPG

Pastors in Class...

May I brag a moment? I won't take long and I won't talk about me either...

I'd like to share some thoughts from some of the pastors and future pastors who are in classes here in Belize. Perhaps through these comments you may get a sense of their hearts and be more motivated to pray for them (and their teacher!)

These comments are all taken off of tests that were turned in.

..............

From a church history class:

"The part where Bonhoeffer says that he developed his theology of "costly grace". And it is true because Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross for our sins."

(p.s. "Costly grace" is the idea that it costs someone something each time grace is given. Often, as in Bonhoeffer's case, it is very costly, it cost him his life...)

"The discussion that showed that pressure on the church brings reformation. That suffering is a vital part of Christianity because it causes the child of God to draw closer to Him for strength and when the corporate church is going to God for the same thing then revival breaks out."

"I have learnt alot from this course, especially about what people had to do and what they went through to get where we are. Also, how the church grew tremendously in some parts of the world. It is up to us to keep the church / Christianity alive."

..............

From a class on Declaring the Gospel:

"Struggling sometimes, feeling weak sometimes but I want to trust my good Lord to help me more in all my life. Amen"

"I have to go and make disciples in all the villages."

"I am part of the Great Commission now because I am beginning to sense changes in my life that I can't understand and I want to help others to know about God also."

..............

You don't know these students / pastors as I do but I hope you can hear something of their hearts. Let that guide your prayers for them!

Be blessed!

Ray & Becki