Worship in Santa Fe

Pastor Art was part of a drum circle at a interdenominational, multi-cultural prayer and praise service in the Square in Sante Fe.

Raining a Rainbow

The color splotch in the sky over this home in Shiprock, was formed as early morning rain fell in the mountians to the north.

Home on the Rez

Some of my eighth graders live in homes that do not have electricity or indoor plumbing.

September 21

The seasons are changing in the New Mexican high desert. Along the Bisti Highway and up and down the roads of Shiprock. There are signs of a good harvest... It's "kneel down bread" time and things are gearing up for Shiprock Fair. Ministry continues at the Farmington Free Methodist Mission at a pace too slow for me. I keep revisiting Psalm 37...wait and trust! It was a good summer! We traveled cross country in June to share the vision and the song of the land. We visited several church groups and made contacts with some other Native American Ministries as well as some very dear friends. In July, a very hard working team from Jackson Free Methodist Church in Michigan came out to work on the buildings, the grounds, and to lead a vacation Bible School outreach. The little church was filled with joyful praise and many seeds were planted. In this season of harvest, we look forward to seeing the fruit of their labor grow. A series of tent meetings encouraged worship of the Creator with the songs and rhythms that the Living and True God has placed in the hearts of the people. Pastor Casey Church of the Potawannamee People used his regalia to teach about the full armor of God and blessed the land with a traditional dance offered to Yahweh - Father Son and Holy Spirit. By the way Mike, thanks for donating the tent to the mission. We will make good use of it in coming years! In fact we used it for our Back to School event. Instead of just lining the kids up and handing out bags of supplies, we set up games under the "big top" where they could earn tickets to be traded in for the supplies they needed. While the kids were playing games like "Sight Word Bingo" and "Spelling Bee" the parents were able to take advantage of our clothes ministry. Special thanks go to our sister churches in the Arizona conference for their donations of clothes and school supplies. So what is in store for the mission in the months to come? There is still some work needed to be done in the buildings and around the grounds. We are hoping to buy a couple of pallet stoves. The winters here can get pretty chilly. Pallets stoves are efficient and more affordable than central heating. Once the windows are finished and the cook stove installed, our fellowship hall will be ready for our community Thanksgiving Feast and the Christmas party we are hoping to have for some of the Reservation pastors and their wives - A way to cement relationships and create partnerships. We're also planning on having a Christmas Vacation Bible School, Dec. 22, 23, 24. Meanwhile we continue to have our Tuesday afternoon food pantry and clothes distribution, Worship services Sunday - 10:30am and 6:45pm with nutritious refreshments served after each service. I'm not sure how involved we'll be in the Shiprock Fair. We're hoping to at least put together some treat bags - last year we handed out 900 as part of our float in the parade, and we'd like to do some sort of out reach, Lord willing. But we haven't been able to get the stuff we need to make that happen, and time's running out. We continue to covet you prayers... Prayers for wisdom, provision, and shalom...prayers that God will bring us People to rise up as leaders in ministry. We can always use Donations of clothes, especially hats, gloves, mittens and new socks- we also need children's books, small prize type toys for our many games of Bible Bingo, toiletries (travel size), blankets and quilts (the traditional Christmas gift for the elderlies), and financial gifts (tax deductible of course). Packages can be sent to 1275 Bisti Highway, Farmington NM 87401. Cash donations and inquiries should be sent to Farmington Free Methodist Mission PO Box 6132, Farmington, NM 87499. At the Arizona Conference Family Camp someone asked about the AIBM. Please note the AIBM is no longer affiliated with the Free Methodist Denomination and cash donations made to that ministry do not come to us. For more information about our ministry, contact Pastor Art at (505)325-4496 or email us at artandme@juno.com.

That last bit is straight from the News Letter I am getting ready to send out.

It's Sunday afternoon and I just got up from a nap. We have about an hour before the evening service starts. Just a few more comments before I close this and add some pictures. I am having a great time at work. It's such a blessing to have a job you truly love! 95+ great junior high students. The drive into school is beautiful - although gas prices are hurting, just a little. I've been on morning duty this week. I get to greet most of the students as they walk by, and I really enjoy the crisp autumn mornings... Praying and Praising the LORD. Art has begun Drug and Alcohol counseling on the Rez, in partnership with the Brethren in Christ mission. That is going pretty well. He gets to worship with the "guys" with drum songs, which he really enjoys. God is good, He keeps His promises, and we continue to trust, and take those simple steps of obedience.

God Bless You All!

August 2, 2008

Summer does not want to admit it's nearly over. It was in the hundreds yesterday, and today promises to be a scorcher as well. Thank God, that among many other things, the team from Michigan was able to fix the swamp coolers in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. But Summer vacation at least, is nearly over...school starts in just a couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to the "new year". It has been, as I predicted, a very quick, busy summer. I could use the break - getting back to the "old routine."
I've posted some pictures of the "Big Event" the week of July 20. I'd like to say that it was very well attended and we picked up several new families as a result. But in all honesty I can't. It was, however, a Big Success! July 20 was Pastor Art's birthday and the first day that the team from Michigan was with us. We shared a feast, and birthday cake after Sunday Morning worship and then drove out to the place on the Rez where VBS was supposed to be held. But due to some family related circumstances, that site fell through, and it was decided at the last minute that VBS would be held on our grounds. Mind you, there was no time to advertise. So I guess having an average attendance of 16 - with a total of 20 registered wasn't bad. On Monday work began, and boy did those folk work hard! They fixed a roof, and two swamp coolers, and did some great landscaping. They put up a tent, hauled rocks, handed out fliers, and put up insulation, drywall, and remodeled the kitchen in the fellowship hall and sorted out a ton of donated clothes. 5 days of heavy and joyful labor in the New Mexican heat! All to the glory of God. And in the evenings the God of Glory thundered. Under the purple tent - which by the way has now been donated to our ministry to keep - our Church family, the team from Michigan, and a handful of other guests were blessed by worship and teachings on worship. May God richly bless Nason, Casey, Duane, the drum team, Kenneth, Andrew, Julia, Michelle and the girls - who took the time to participate in our tent meetings - again, all to the glory of God.
So this week, Art painted the fellowship hall and I continued to pull weeds and water the plants the team planted. We're getting ready for our back to school event on August 9. The race continues, one simple step of obedience at a time. There is more to tell, but for now I will just let you enjoy some of the pictures. I would ask a favor of you though. You can leave a message after each post without having a blogger account. It's pretty easy. It would bless me if I know who was reading this thing. And if you scroll down, to the report on our cross country trip or even further, I'd like to know these types of reports aren't a waste of time. Just leave a short response. Also, continue please, to pray for our ministry and if you feel led, contribute to our work here. We'll send you a CD if you do...and if you want to receive our monthly newsletter, email us with your snail mail address. artandme@juno.com - The Farmington Free Methodist Mission - PO Box 6132 Farmington, NM 87499 - blessings and prayers - Maryellen

Evening Tent Meetings - Week of July 20

Vacation Bible School

The Team From Michigan

What an incredible blessing...

True Fasting

Or why we need housing units…
One of Pastor Art’s favorite sections of scripture to teach from is Isaiah 58 - the question of “true fasting” - the type of fast that YHWH finds acceptable (Isaiah 58:6-7), which parallels nicely Matthew 25: 35-36. We’ve been working on feeding the hungry, with our food pantry and nutritious refreshments after each service. And clothing the naked is taken care of with the abundance of donated clothes we have been receiving. So what about shelter for the homeless?
We need housing units.
We recently had a very nice visit from some folks from Phoenix who are the overseers of this ministry for the conference. By the end of this month we will have a newly remodeled fellowship hall, thanks to them and a team from Jackson Michigan that is coming down next week. And we’re getting new heating units for the Sanctuary building. Soon we will be able to convert the main building back into classrooms and offices. Praise the LORD! But the two existing housing units in the back, which are unusable at this time, are destined for the bull dozer. And they need to be replaced.
It was suggested that we ask for donations so that we can get some nice double-wides. But, I have never felt comfortable with asking for money. I kind of feel that that is the LORD’s business. Someone once coined the “cute” saying “The LORD’s will, the LORD’s bill”. I guess I think that if someone is supposed to give to our ministry, the Spirit will move them to do so, without my urging.
And we are trying to lease out some of our extra land, so that there is more money coming in. One of the problems with preaching good news to the poor - Isaiah 61:1 - is that there isn’t that much money in the offering basket.
I’ve been sending out monthly news letters (if you want to receive one, email me your snail mail address - artandme@juno.com) but I try not to exaggerate what we are doing, or specifically ask for funds. We invested in an online travel business, planning on using the commission we received to help support our ministry - but it turned out to be sort of a pyramid thing, probably not the wisest move - fortunately we invested in our name with our money, not the churches. If you want to check it out - http://www.ytbtravel.com/psalm1810 We also produced some C Ds. Which we though we might be able to offer for donations. But to be honest, they donations are not pouring in.
The real reason I am writing this post this morning is to express in words, for myself as well as for anyone who cares to read it, just why we need housing units. Is buying a few housing units really a wise use of the LORD’s resources?
Over the past year there have been at least three specific cases of us having to turn away people in need of temporary shelter. One was a woman whose son had been trying to find a job and housing in Phoenix. He was in the process of getting together enough to bring her there, but she had been evicted and was living in her car while she waited for him to send the funds. Another was a young man - an aids victim - who had a bus ticket to Albuquerque for treatment in a hospital there, but had no place to spend the night before the bus left. Praise God we had enough funds at that time to put him up in a small motel for the night. Most recently was a young man named Michael. When dealing with people in crisis, one needs to count on discernment. Pastor Art is pretty good at that, especially with his years of experience working at a homeless shelter in New York. It nice to be able to offer a safe and comfortable bed to those in need - after all, Hebrews 13:2 says not to neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
But there are other reasons we need housing units. In the past, housing was available for the pastor, the caretakers, visiting speakers, and visiting mission teams. When the team comes from Michigan next week, they will be staying in dorms at the United Methodist run Navajo Prep School, since we have no place to put up 30 guests. It would be great to have a Men’s and Women’s unit - two three bedroom double wides.
And one of our plans is to sponsor teaching seminars and retreats for the pastors and ministry teams of some of the small churches on the Rez. With the nice “new” fellowship hall, and the main building set up as classrooms again, all we would need is a place to house them.
And it would have saved our recent guests from Arizona, two groups who brought donations of clothes, toys, and school supplies, some money if we had a place for them to stay.
2Kings 4:8-11 and Matt 10:11-13 are the verses I found this morning about providing shelter for prophets and apostles. I always look for scriptures to support something that I think “would be nice.”
We are striving to be more than a church. This ministry was set up 56 years ago to be a mission to the Navajo - the Dine‘ . It may not be a mission in the traditional sense of the word, but we will be more than a place that 20 people come to worship and fellowship. We already are more. We will share what we have. We will grow up disciples. This place will be restored (Isaiah 61:4) all to the glory of God, and for His purpose!
If you do feel led, you can sent donations to The Free Methodist Church at Farmington, PO Box 6132, Farmington, NM 87499. We’ll send you one of our CD’s if you ask.
Well, I’ve got work to do, errands to run, prayers to pray. Thanks for taking the time to read these posts. May God bless You! May God bless us everyone!

Road Trip Summer 2008 - To God Be The Glory!

Five Thousand Miles
For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace, The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you…Isaiah 55:12
Yet, isn’t it annoying how the enemy can make us doubt, second guess, and fret even when we fully believe it’s a God thing. This journey was a God thing from start to finish. We were doing Kingdom business. And even now, when I am tempted to think “was it worth it?” He reminds me of Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart”
that’s from what I call the “Fret Not” psalm.
And then of course there is Proverbs 3 :5-6, the gist of it being - Trust, do not lean on your own understanding, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
All this to say, this was a delightful trip. The mountains and hills, rivers and trees, declared His glory! And we were blessed with many joyful encounters and peace filled moments.
It was not exactly what we had planned. When we found out that Julia wouldn’t be able to go with us, we decided to use the money we had budgeted for her part of the trip to produce a CD of “our” music. We felt it was important to take a sample of the sound of the land, this land, Dine’Tah, - ToTah. To bring a blessing with us to the Native American Prayer Gathering in Lancaster, NY. I used the first two songs on the CD to go with a power point slide show of images of the people and places that mean so much to our Ministry.
We thought maybe we could sell a few to help finance our work, but that was not the main reason for investing in it. This music, these new songs and dances, with native flutes and drums, sung in the Spirit and Tongue of the land, are an important part of the vision and promise of our Church. Liberty and a garland of joy and praise to a people who were denied the right to worship the Creator with the songs He put into their hearts. (we do have CD's for sale - $12 donation - make checks out to Farmington Free Methodist Church)
We were happy to share those songs and that vision with the team in Michigan who will be here this month to help remodel the fellowship hall and do some other work in the area. They are a wonderful, enthusiastic group and we are trusting the LORD for big things to happen when they are here. I wish we had a place to house them on the property and we are very grateful to the United Methodist ministry here that is going to put them up. From Michigan we headed for Lancaster and the Prayer gathering.
The event took place at the Tree of Life church, a beautiful church with some awesome art and a heart for Native style worship, all to the glory of God, Yahweh and His Son, Jesus Christ. God bless our new friend and brother, Carmen, who had the heart to call this gathering, the first of what will surely become a regular event. It began at Midnight, Friday June 20. For several hours, our slide show was running while a series of Native Worship CDs played. Our CD was one of them, and they were happy when we gave it to them. Not only did we get a chance to pray , but we also got to learn a lot about the uniqueness of the Seneca, Mohawk and the Iroquois Confederation, their stories, their culture, and the lives they live. There were not a whole lot of people in attendance, but they very pleased that we made an effort to be there.
We were hoping that we would have a chance to speak at several churches on the trip. Sort of like doing deposition - like real missionaries. But this trip wasn’t about collecting money or earning support. We did speak at Aldersgate, United Methodist Church - again sharing the pictures and sounds of the land. We had numerous chances to visit with small groups and old friends, proclaiming what God was doing here on the Bisti. We were planning to leave on June 25, after a few quick visits with my family and some very dear friends. But then the vehicle began to clunk and whine, and our stay was extended. Dealing with a small car dealership in New Mexico and a repair shop in New York was a very frustrating challenge. Waiting for the part, running out of money, missing another Sunday at our little church - fretting seemed unavoidable. But Carol and Chris opened their home to us and we had more precious time to share with them and their family. I had time to find out that my great aunt, who I hadn’t seen in over 20 years was alive and well at the Sister’s of Saint Joseph Mother House - at the wonderful age of 101 - she’ll be 102 in October, and we had a nice visit. We worshiped with friends at Bethel Full Gospel Church, walked on the beach of the great lake Ontario, and cooked marshmallows around a back yard campfire. I got to spend some more time with my mother. When the vehicle was finally fixed it was hard to say good by. But we were very glad to be on the road again, heading south west, with the LORD leading the way. The long, peaceful drive gave us time to reflect and pray. Here are some random things that we realized on our trip:
Three year olds are very interesting people. We met quite a few along the way…from almost three to not quite four (6 in all) and they were delightful.
Even when you are 102 years old and a bit forgetful, you can still pray fervently.
There is an incredible amount of beautiful things in this country of ours. Many of the cities we drove through seemed old and tired but between the cities there are miles and miles of mountains and hills, fields and valleys, and a lot of cows to remind us that our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
Life on a Reservation back east is a lot different than live on the Navajo Nation. And the non-natives don’t know much about it. They don’t see many “Indians” and don’t often recognize them when they do see them. It’s all about cheap cigarettes and casinos. But as he is here in Dinetah - the Holy Spirit is moving and people of all tribes, tongues, and nations - even the “white” people, are beginning to realize at long last, that Jesus is not the WhiteMan’s God.
On Sunday, June 29 - the pastor of Bethel Church, a large and Spirit filled church, talked about walking the path and running the race. This sounded familiar as I wrote notes down in my prayer journal. As we talked about it on the way home, I remembered that our Bishop, Matt Thomas spoke on a similar theme at annual conference. I flipped back pages in my journal and found the notes I had taken during that talk. At the top of the page I had written the words “Remember Bethel” I don‘t even remember why, but it proves to me that God knows where we are, and where we will be when we trust in Him and don’t lean on our own understanding.
I am looking forward to worshiping in our little Church tomorrow. It too is a Spirit filled church. I am remembering what the Pastor in Rochester New York said about being church by living together. I am remembering what Bishop Thomas said, like running a marathon - growing a small church isn’t hard, its just painful, as you strain to put one foot in front of another.
And we are committed to continue the good race, one simple step of obedience after another. Thank you all for your prayers.

Blessings along the way...

Where We Prayed - Tree of Life Church - Lancaster,NY

The Genesee River - Rochester,NY

Nature Reflects the Awesome Beauty of the Creator

Psalm 149

Praise the LORD, Praise Yahweh! Hallelujiah!

Sing to the LORD a new song! (Psalm 96 - sing all the Earth!) (Psalm 98 - for He has done wonderful things!)

I am so happy to be singing praises in Dine' Bizaad (the Navajo Language) again. I am so honored to stand with my beautiful sister, Julia, singing new songs unto our LORD. And I will be dancing with her soon. (Psalm 149:3 - Let them praise His name with dancing.)

I was looking up new songs and dance yesterday while Art was recording a piece for our CD. Psalm 149:5 brought back fond memories of when I was the Christian Education Director for a Salvation Army Camp in NY. I taught the kids that verse: Let the godly ones exult in glory, Let them sing for joy on their beds - much to the dismay of the camp counselors who had to deal with 5 nights of "Our God is an Awesome God" coming from the campers bunks. Just thought I'd share a couple pictures of Julia and Kimorah doing their dance at Rohoboth Christian Reformed Church in Gallup NM last weekend. All to the Glory of God.

It's June!

School’s Out on the Rez!
And all over the Four Corner’s region as well.
It was a great school year for this teacher and it looks like it’s going to be a quick, hot summer! We are fast approaching our one year anniversary of ministry here on the Bisti, and I wish I had more successes to report. I am very grateful for the message Superintendent Joel gave at annual conference in April. Pastoring a small church is like running a race. Don’t stop running. Step by step, yes LORD, I remember - simple steps of obedience. Our annual average attendance holds at 14. Our food pantry only helps around 4 family units a month. We’ve had 2 salvations and will be having our second Baptism soon. We continue to minister with Julia Redhouse, representing the Free Methodist Church at Farmington where ever we go. We’ve joined her at the Memorial Day Celebration in Shiprock, and at Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church in Gallop, NM where Pastor Art gave a message on worship and culture. It was there Julia and her grand-daughter Kimora presented a “New Song and New Dance” which is the working title of the CD we are recording. We hope to have it ready to take with us on our cross country trip. We are also hoping to be able to speak at a few churches on the way. We will be presenting our ministry to the FM church in Jackson, Michigan (They are sending out a mission team in July). We will be in the Denver area on June 15 and the Upstate NY area on June 22, but we haven’t heard back from any of the churches we contacted. Although it is not the best year to take a road trip, we are going to represent the Free Methodist ministry at Farmington, and our Navajo brothers and sisters at a prayer gathering on the Seneca Reservation at Lancaster, NY. So we pray for traveling mercies and good gas mileage. We are planning a big event in July, when the team from Michigan is here. 4 days of worship and teaching on worship. We’ll be setting up a tent. The people out here just love a “Tent Revival”. There will be music and food (all free of course). The main message will be liberty to the captives, to lose who are still imprisoned by the concept that Jesus is the white man’s god. To bind up the hearts that were broken by the teaching that anything “Indian” is evil. To give them a garland of praise in place of the spirit of heaviness. We are lining up special speakers and worship teams and are planning a PowWow communion service. This will probably raise a few eyebrows and stir up a few “dust devils” but we know this is part of our Isaiah 61 mission statement and our Acts 17 teaching. May His will be done. Of course we need a lot of prayer covering for that week in July. We could also use some cash donations, for food, to rent a larger dumpster and a couple of “blue boxes” (No, dear Doctor Who fans - not a Tartis - an outhouse), and buy other miscellaneous items (plates, cups, napkins, fans). We also want to offer an honorarium to our guests but we do NOT want to take up an offering - you know how some people feel when Churches and Ministries are “always asking for money”. Well, I have yard work to do, errands to run, we need to be at the recording studio this evening. It is the first official day of summer vacation for me, but I don’t think I’ll have much time to relax for a while. That is good because it is all Kingdom business! To God be the glory!
If you want to receive our snail mail news letter, email me your address (artandme@juno.com), if you want to make a donation, make checks out to “Free Methodist Church” po box 6132, Farmington, NM 87499. God bless you! God bless us everyone!

The pictures show us in the recording studio, the color guard (ROTC) at TseBitAi Middle School promotion, and some of my students celebrating the last day of school!

Why the Cross?

I haven't been thinking "theologically" for a while. More devotionaly, and ministorially (is that a word? if it is it isn't spelled right...anyway). I am happy to be a Free Methodist again. Art has had to take a course on Free Methodist History to be on track for ordination, so we've been reading some books and articles together, and of course I've been listening to his papers. Both of us got our bachelors degrees at a Free Methodist college in NY, this refreshment course has truly been refreshing. My son Ardy brought up an old friend the other day - a blogger friend of ours, and an old question. Why the Cross? Having had the honor of playing Mary, the mother of Jesus in this year's Passion Play, and having to go to the cross for four nights during Holy Week, the cross became more real to me than it has ever been. Pushing past the guards to reach Him, touching His bloody feet, looking into his sorrowful eyes, watching them pierce His side...33 years before, Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her own soul as well (Luke 2:35). When they take Him off the cross and lay Him on the stretcher, Mary rushes to His side. His body is still warm and sticky with blood and sweat. If anyone ever agonized over the question "why the cross" surely it was this women. In the rock musical "Jesus Christ Super Star" Judas asks the question "what about the cross, was that a mistake, or did you know your messy death would be a record breaker" (the man who wrote that play was a Jew). Once, when I was praying for my own dear son, in the midst of his crisis, I thought, how can I ask God to have mercy on my son when He allowed such a horrible thing to happen to His own son? But His still gentle voice reminded me of the Blessed Trinity, and how it was actually God Himself hanging on that tree of shame. He allowed Himself to suffer and die on the cross - "I lay down my life only to take it up again, no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and to take it up again...John 10:18 But why? The cross is the one main thing that separates Christianity from other world religions. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ split time and changed the world. Hundreds of years before Jesus' sacrifice, the Prophet Isaiah "saw" and wrote about the event. "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon us, and by his wounds we are healed." (53:5) Doesn't that explain pretty clearly why? What does the cross show us? How ugly and disgusting our sins are to God. How deformed our selfish, sinful natures look to the Almighty, All Beautiful One. Not the way He intended when He lovingly formed our bodies from the red clay of the earth He designed to be our home. The cross shows us how much He loves us. He longs for us to understand that, and to choose to love Him back. The cross shows us that He, the Almighty, understands our pain, He chose to experience pain for our sake, that we would know how intimately He understands. Words are not enough. Words are never enough. Actions do indeed speak louder and more clearly then words. Jesus was a real, living breathing, human being - 100% Human (and 100% God). He wasn't someone's dream or fantasy. He didn't just speak this world into being, He walked on it. We can actually trace His steps. We know where He prayed, We know where He died. He came to the world He created at just the right moment in history. No other god or goddess, no other prophet or shaman, no science or logic can ... can what? can hold a light to Jesus and His Cross - what does that mean? How can I say it? Why the cross? Why do people ask that question? Why can't everyone see? Maybe, because if they accept the cross, and the peace it offers, they might have to give up their false gods and their favorite sins .Or maybe because there are so many people out there in this dark and depraved world who claim to be followers of the Lamb of God, who died to take away the sins of the world, but who are hateful and hurtful and foolish and prideful and petty. If the cross and its message are true, then people who follow Him who died and rose again should be out changing the world, not hiding in their churches holding on to their particular traditions and arguing among themselves. Tongues or no tongues, pretrib or post, guitars or organs, what kind of drums, what kind of dance, which translation is best???????LORD have mercy on us. Jesus died on the cross for me. His blood is on my hands. He died so that when I die I can be with Him eternally. He died because I was (and sadly continue to be) a sinner, in need of forgiveness. He died to save me from the punishment I deserve. He died because He loves me. He died and rose again to prove that all He has said through all the ages is True. He is the Truth! Why the cross? Because in His infinite wisdom He decided that that was the best way to act out what He wanted us to understand. I look at the cross, and I don't wonder why...I say Yes, and Thankyou, and Amen.

April 3, 2008

The globe willows are in bloom as are many of the fruit trees in the area, but there is no apparent growth on our rose bushes. They still just look like sorry sticks poking out of the dry, hard ground. I know I'm just being impatient, but wasn't Jesus being a little impatient with the fig tree he cursed? I confess to being impatient with how slowly things seem to be going here on the mission complex too. We've said that Isaiah 61 is our mission statement, but the problem with "preaching good news to the poor", is that they can't put much cash in the offering plate, and restoration - even planting to display the LORD's splendor - costs money. My Bible almost automatically opens to Isaiah 61 but over the past few days I've been starting at Chapter 55 and reading to 62. There is a lot in these chapters about summoning the nations and gathering the nations, and people from all nations coming to the place of promise. Have I mentioned lately how living in the Four Corners is like living in the midst of a gathering of nations? Within 100 miles of Farmington there are 5 Native American reservations. As in the rest of the southwest, the Hispanic population is high, and of course the "Anglos" are still here trying to claim, in an area where they are often the minority, that they are still the dominate culture. So what are the Brokops? We are of course seen as white - Anglo, though Pastor Art is actually Spanish/Navajo/Russian - no Anglo (English) blood there. . .But I digress. I hear music when I read Isaiah 55. And a call to seek God. A call to the nations and a promise that they will come. Isaiah 56 talks about how no one will be excluded. It also warns against getting drunk. Alcohol has such a grip on the people we are called to rescue from the darkness. So many people are being held captive by the chains of drink and drugs, especially meth. So many spiritual - emotional prisoners. And how do we proclaim freedom to people who don't want to hear, or who are so full of hostility and despair that they can not hear…I began this essay at work, during my lunch break. Now it is early in the morning. A crescent moon and the morning star are shining. I grabbed one of my Bibles in the dark, it’s one I haven’t read from in a long time, The Message, not the most reliable translation to be sure. But it opened right up to Isaiah 55 where I had written these words in July 2003, “looks like we will need to buy the mission without money.” And in the margin between Isaiah 60 and 61, the words “the mission”. It’s still amazing to me that we are actually, physically here in this place. There it is again, dated October 29, 2003 “the mission vision” next to these verses in Isaiah 58 “You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past…restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again..”
But, as I write this, I am avoiding 58 and 59. Perhaps these chapters contain the reason why things seem to be moving so slowly. I remember “preaching” from Isaiah 59 at the other Free Methodist Church in Farmington (which is now closed) one year when the “men” were at men’s retreat. As a church, we had been praying that the Rocky Mountain Conference wouldn’t close us down, but we were doomed. I wonder which one of my Bibles has the notes from that “sermon”. Well, I’m going to bring this to a close. I need to go to work. The sun has nearly risen above the trees, a few little birds are yelling at our kitty in the courtyard. The courtyard doesn’t look too bad, we did the best we could over spring break, with the tools we had. And the place one of my sons works donated a sign yesterday. Like the one we wanted. All we need now are letters, light bulbs, and an extension cord. Blessings on you all. Yes, God bless u s everyone…Next snail mail news letter will be going out soon with pictures from Easter and the Passion Play. If you want to receive it, email me your snail mail address. My email is “artandme@juno.com.

Mary - Mother of Jesus

Holy Week 2008

And I got to portray Mary in the Passion Play of the Four Corners. I have wanted to "play" Mary ever since second grade when Sr. Igneous was casting the St. Monica's School Christmas pageant. Only, there is no cute little baby lying in a manger in this production. Mary doesn't go to the stable in the light of the Christmas star, shining over Bethlehem, she goes to the cross as darkness shrouds Golgotha.

So, I've been thinking a lot about Mary these past few weeks. Mary, the virgin mother, Mary blessed among all women, Mary, with a mother's heart, broken as her son died on the cross of shame, the cross of sacrifice, the cross of salvation.

Mary, who bore the stigma of an unexplained pregnancy. Mary who carried the King of kings within her womb for nine months. Mary, who kissed his little hands and feet, fed him at her breast, cleaned up his messes...who kissed his sweet little baby feet.

I love baby feet.

As Mary, I begin the play by retelling the words of the Angel Gabriel: the holy child, born unto you, will be called the "Son of God". And then, 8 acts later, I go to the cross.

I push past the guards to get to my dying son. I can only reach his feet. His bloody feet. I need to let him know I am there, like I was when he was a baby, and needed to be fed or cleaned. Those feet...those precious feet...my son, my son!

The crucifixion is an event out of time. it was the moment of salvation for people in the past, present, and future. But at that moment in time, it meant something different than it does to most Christians today. For some people it was the solution to a problem - he wouldn't be causing trouble any more. For some people it was the hopeless end to a beautiful promise. They couldn't see Resurrecton Sunday like we can. and for Mary, although she knew He was the Messiah, at that moment it was only and tragically the death of her first born son.

As I prepared for that scene, I offered it up as a living sacrifice to the Prince of Peace who died a violent death for the sake of every mother and every mother's son. When I was at the cross, there was nothing in my mind except Jesus and His mother Mary. I didn't worry about audience, or costums, or lines. I'm so glad the story doesn't end at the cross. I got to go to the empty tomb. Another angel..."Why seek the living among the dead?" And as Mary, I get to run through the audience and onto the stage, into the upper room, declaring with Peter and the others, "He's Alive" as our play ends with Don Francsicos' song "He's Alive"

I was overjoyed to have had the chance to play this role. And humbled.

I pray that somehow, in some small way the LORD used me to make the passion of our Christ more real to some hurting mother or rejected child. This production is more than just entertainment, so much more. It is one of the most real things I have ever done. May God bless and prosper Passion Play Ministries International! Christ has died, Christ has risen (He is risen indeed) and Christ is coming again!

The pictures are Scene one, Palm Sunday - "Rabi" Art in the back ground. And Mary at the Cross.

Nearly 1/2 of our regular attenders were in the play. And our Easter was blessed as well. I'm on Spring Break - so perhaps I will have some real blogging time the next few days....love and prayers to you all.

Holy Week Update

Our friend Beverly reminded me that is has been a long time since I have written any sort of update here. There are three reasons why.
1. Work - I’ve been transitioning from being a special education teacher to being a (praise the LORD) regular ed. English teacher. But I’ve been having to do both jobs for a while which is just a little stressful. And then there was the standardized testing for 2 weeks. Urrrg…
2. Passion Play - ever since we moved to the Four Corners, nearly 10 years ago, Passion Play Ministries has played a big part in our lives. This year our rehearsal season was much shorter than usual because Easter comes so early. There are 10 people from our church in the play this year. And I get to portray Mary, the Mother of Jesus. For anyone not familiar with the ministry (PPMI - Passion Play Ministries International), the play runs from March 17 to March 22 - I play Mary Wednesday and Friday. It is at the Farmington Civic Center and there are over 16 churches involved this year.
3. Ministry - things are going rather slowly, attendance has leveled out to an average of 14 (we had 16 today) and we are fighting discouragement.
We continue to pray for wisdom - how best can we use what we have to the glory of His name! And provision - we need a sign (I mean one of those electric signs where you can change the message - Sam’s Club sells them for $400), and a tractor (hoping to rent one over spring break) to properly take care of the weeds and prepare the soil to plant the community garden, our fellowship hall needs to be remodeled, a stove was donated but we need to rent a trailer to get it, and it would be nice to have a men’s and ladies room that wasn’t attached to our living quarters. Not that we’re complaining. We also pray for people…Sheep and Shepherds. Not many families have been coming to our Tuesday food pantry lately, which is sort of ok because we lost our distributor in Albuquerque and what we have comes from our church family and our friends at Christ Church in Farmington. Today we challenged the church to take one of the food boxes we have packed for our Tuesday food pantry and just go to a gas station or one of the dollar stores, pray for the LORD to show them a family in need and give it to them in His name. One of them came back for two more boxes because it was so fun blessing people.
Easter is Coming - Resurrection Sunday!
We’re having a Sonrise service and bonfire at 6:30am followed by breakfast. After our regular worship service at 10:30, we’re going to a nearby park for an Easter Egg Hunt. The Brokop family Easter Dinner will be in the fellowship hall and we’re inviting any one who wants to stay. We’ve put up posters in the Laundry-matts, printed up little cards to use to invite friends. I’m praying for 30.
Well it’s time for evening vespers. The two pictures are of our kids planting roses in front of the fellowship hall and part of our worship team. Thanks for your continued interest and prayer. If you want to receive our snail mail newsletter, email me your address, if your want to donate to the cause, make the checks out to Free Methodist Church of Farmington. Our snail mail address is PO Box 6132 Farmington, NM.
May God bless us, everyone. He is Risen! He is Risen in deed!