My Lifesong

I received this month’s Amor enewsletter. This is the letter from Gayla Cooper Congdon, Founder and Chief Spiritual Officer of Amor ministries. Please read.

The Power of Our Words

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is those things that make a person unclean.” Matthew 15:18

“The Church ought to live out love. Woe to her if she does not do that! Woe to her if by her silence and by all sorts of dubious excuses, she becomes jointly guilty of the world’s outbursts of hatred! Woe to her if she adopts words and slogans that originate in the sphere of hate.”

This is an excerpt from a letter by Pastor Walter Hochstadter, a German pastor and hospital chaplain in France during the Second World War. He secretly sent a letter with this in it to 1,000 German soldiers at the Russian Front.

We all have heard “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” And we all know that isn’t true. Words are powerful and when spoken with anger and a mean spirit they can leave an indelible print on someone long after a bone has healed.

Long before the shootings in Tucson and the discussion it created about our national rhetoric, I had been thinking about some of the most surprising things that have been said to me these past two years, especially in reference to Mexico. Rhetoric from fellow Christians that I have come in contact with while traveling and representing the Ministry.

Imagine how I felt when a couple of years ago I was sitting with a pastoral staff and church leaders discussing their church’s upcoming trip to Mexico when one gentlemen informed me that there were people in the church that just hated Mexico and Mexicans! In my most diplomatic voice – and those of you that know me know that I don’t really have a diplomatic voice – I spoke very softly and told him that given the words of Jesus to “love our neighbors” hating Mexico and Mexicans is just not an option for Christians.

I have honestly been appalled at how many folks have taken it upon themselves after I have spoken at their church to tell me what they think about Mexico, immigration issues, gun control and even our president. And the anger in their voices belies an attitude that borders on the hate that Pastor Hochstadter speaks of in his letter.

You can imagine my shock when once a complete stranger walked right up to me after the service and told me that they would never go to that “Godforsaken country of Mexico!” Why would someone feel a need to say that to me?

Last fall Chuck Colson and Jim Wallis came together to create a “covenant of civility” for those in the Church to express differences in a kind and thoughtful way that would reflect respect for one another. Many well known pastors signed it.

As bothered as I am about our national rhetoric, I am more concerned about what is being said in the Church. This passage in Matthew really speaks to the fact that what comes out of our mouths is a true reflection of what is in our hearts and I’m saying that some of it is just not good or acceptable.

In Proverbs this is an important topic. There are references to words, lips, mouths, tongues that appear about 150 times in the 31 chapters. Why? Because our tongue is moving all day long and it tells the story of what is going on in our hearts at the moment. And what we say is not always in harmony with the holiness of God. I also believe that this is a spiritual problem we all face, some more than others, in that we all have problems with our mouths!

Years ago when my friend Mike McClenahan was the youth pastor at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, he started making the yearly trip to Mexico each spring with his group. Our staff loved eating with them because they had become well known throughout our Ministry for their delicious meals. But what affected me most was how he and the other leaders created an intentional atmosphere of kind words and encouragement with over 100 students.

As the students lined up for their food you never heard, “ugh I don’t like that” or anything derogative about what was being served. Their thankfulness to the servers as well as for the food was so evident and it had such a positive impact on their group as well as those of us that came in contact with them. After eating you always walked away fed and with more than just food!

My challenge to all of us during this season of Lent and Easter is to use words that genuinely reflect Christ’s nature and his character of love. Let us remember the power of our words. And may those of us in the Church be unified in civility towards one another in spite of differences. It is my prayer that those who are marginalized in our world hear and see the love of God in the power of our words and deeds! That is why Amor Ministries exists.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Every year, we gear up for the mission trip to Mexico. And every year, the Enemy attacks. Lately, it’s been the same thing – we will be in danger because of the violence. “Have you seen the State Department’s warning?” The murders, the cartels, etc.

It’s frustrating. It’s disheartening. It’s an attack.

I know that we take a risk by leaving the country. I know that it’s a risk to go into a land that is having domestic issues. I get it. It’s dangerous.

It’s also dangerous here. We can get hit by a car as we cross the street. We can do to a rally to see a congresswomen speak and get shot. We can go on a road trip and be involved in a rollover accident.

This world isn’t safe. It won’t be until Jesus comes back and God sets things right.

Until then, we are called to be His hands and feet. We are called to love our neighbors – not just the ones next door, but the ones across the borders and oceans.

We are called to go out into the world.

Jesus promised us eternal salvation, not enduring safety.

I know some people are going to dislike this post. They will argue. They will say things to discourage those who want to go on a mission trip.

I’m ok with that.

What I’m not okay with that we can call out to God to save us, and we thank Him for blessings, but we don’t trust Him to provide for us as we share the Gospel.

I apologize in advance for offending you, but I will not apologize for wanting to do God’s will.

Not A Fan. James 2:17

SM Lockridge’s sermon. Very powerful. When you let everything sink in…you realize just how wonderful Jesus is, and how much God loves us to have sent Him.

I love this song. Even though it is a Christmas song, it also captures the essence of Christ’s mission. It’s a great reminder of what He went through to reach down to us and offer salvation and grace. Compared to God, we are nothing. Nothing. Yet He still loves us and desires a relationship with us.

No other God has done this…because there is only One True God. And He poured out His heart to romance a world that is torn all apart.

This year I led the Mission Trip to Mexico. It was an amazing/awesome/
tiring/draining/uplifting/
encouraging/recharging trip. Nicole was able to go with me this year, and she had a great time. She was a hard working machine!

Being in charge of the whole trip was an honor, and while I did have some bumps in the road to deal with, God brought everything together.

In this first post, I want to highlight the pride I have in my wife. She was worried about how she would handle the work and the campsite, but I believed in her. Still, she had to experience it for herself. And she was amazing! She sawed, hammered, chicken wired and stuccoed like a pro! The campsite wasn’t a big deal in the end. She was a trooper.

When I asked if she was willing to go again next year, she said yes – as long as we aren’t pregnant at the time.

So…is it wrong to pray that she can’t go next year?

I love you Nicole!!

One of my students – Michael M. – shot and edited video on the trip. Enjoy!!!

What an amazing week!  The HS ministry took it’s yearly Spring Break trip to Panama City Beach, FL, to the Laguna Beach Christian Resort, and I was able to go this year after missing out last year.  We took 50+ students down for a week of fun and worship, and it was a great week, despite all the rain we received while there (and a leaky bus). 

The theme for the week was Identity – who we are in Christ.  The identities we dealt with were I am: An Alien, A Bride, A Child of God & Royalty, Salt and Light, and Conquerors.  I was privileged to kick off the series on Monday by talking about how we are aliens in this world, and I taught with a heaviness on my heart that I had never felt before.  I needed to say what God wanted said, and after I was done with the lesson, the students trekked to the beach on a prayer walk and then had a 30 minute focus time.  As I stood on the beach and looked at the waves coming in, I cried. 

I don’t know why I did.  It wasn’t sadness, but it wasn’t really elation either.  I guess it was the weight of being used by God and the feeling of unworthiness coming out, but at the same time, it was a spirit of thankfulness that welled up. 

Afterwards, I had a few students come up to me and thanked me for the lesson, for speaking to what they were dealing with.  A leader even said that I spoke at a good pace – that I didn’t rush it (I have a tendency to be a fast speaker).  I received more positive feedback at the end of the week when I read the encouragement notes on the way home. 

All in all, God spoke clearly to me.  I’m on the right path, and I am doing the best I can.  I am not perfect, but then again, no one is.  I can only do the best I can for Him.  And on this trip, He made it clear that I am doing what He wants me to do.

We had five baptisms on the trip this year, and I was asked to perform two of them.  These are the first two I have ever done, and I was humbled at the opportunity.  Both students remarked that I was a factor in their decision, and I was moved.  To be asked is an honor, and it was another way that God affirmed that I am doing what He wants.  The other students who got baptized are students who I didn’t know very well before the trip, but I feel that we bonded during the week.  I look forward to seeing them grow in their faith. 

A long, tiring, refreshing, amazing week.  God showed up, God was worshipped and praised, and He was glorified. 

Thank You God for everything You do.

One of my new friends is Benny Salas, and our friendship has formed through Twitter, specifically The Pursuit's Matt and Janie.  I started Twittering because of them, because I wanted to stay up with them as they live life down in Miami.  Benny and I started interacting, and a friendship is blossoming.  That being said, I have started reading Benny's blog and his recent post is one I have to share.  

This morning I woke up, checked my email, and Twitter had emailed me to let me know that I had 5 new followers. I'm a little surprised that people have chosen to read my ramblings. I don't know why people have chosen to follow, but I am thankful that they are. I hope that you find me amusing and I hope that every once in a while I say something you find valuable.
If you want to follow, start twittering and follow me – I'm @joselopezjr.

On Saturday we returned from our mission trip to Tijuana, and I am still very tired from the trip.  It was an awesome, amazing, tiring, draining, uplifiting…you get the idea.  Words are not enough to express what God did in Mexico.  He  gave us a glimpse into what Heaven might be like, and we fully experienced what it means to be the body of Christ.  With my first trip from two years ago being my only reference point, the people on this trip bonded extremely quickly.  While waiting at the Amor HQ to get our guide to Mejico, we started to get to know each other, and the conversation flowed like we had known each other for a while.  We got past the initial questions (the most common ones I got were: "Are you fluent in Spanish?"; "where were you born?"; "can you slow down when you talk?"; and finally – "are you THE snorer?" Yes, my snoring has become legendary.  I drove off my two tent mates and I had the hotel all to myself our first night in San Diego) and started to bond. 

I do admit that there wasn’t much intermingling at the camp at first.  There were clear groupings of Traders Point, Colonial Point, and the First Congregational Church of Hebron nestled throughout the camp.  But as the night wore on and we had our Saturday night campfire, Jake did a good job of forci….ahem, getting…people to talk to strangers.  It was awesome.

Sunday brought the first day of work and we worked our tails off.  I made it a point to not go down like I did two years ago…and it didn’t work out quite that way.  My back acted up and I was sidelined for a while.  Mike even scolded me for trying to do things I shouldn’t have been trying to do.  In my stubborness I would have tried to do things that would have made it worse, and thankfully the voice of reason (or was it intimidation) rang loud and clear.  Still, we got a lot done. 

That night I was the speaker for our Campfire Talks, and I was nervous.  I had the general idea of what I wanted to say, and had ran through my main points  a couple of times, but right before I spoke, my talk was still a work in progress.  Still when I stood to talk, I felt a calmness wash over me and the words came.  I won’t lie and tell you I remember what I said, how I spoke, or that it was good.  I don’t know (and far too critical of myself to say that last part).   I was just the mouthpiece.  I was told by several people that it was good, some that said that it felt that I spoke directly to them, and no one said I went too fast.  I’ll admit to this – I felt good afterwards.

The next few days were more of the same.  We finished our three homes on Wednesday and then helped out a fourth family by putting on the second coat of stucco of their unfinished home.  We then went to a church in Tijuana led by Pastor Adolfo in order to help dedicate a soccer field.  We took the scenic route there and the quick route back). 

On Thursday we packed up camp and headed back to San Diego.  It took us like 45 minutes to get all the vans across the border (a record of some sort) and I wasn’t even picked up this year.  I think the passport helped.  We hung out at a park for while before checking in to our hotel, and then we took some of the vans to get cleaned.  I took the scenic route for that trip as well.  Friday I went and hung out at the mall with Kevin, and then had dinner with the Barkers, Jordan, the Gilchrists and several of the students.  That night was our last worship as a group before heading our separate ways. 

There is more to come on the trip.  If you have any questions about the trip, please leave a comment and I’ll try to answer them.