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Jars Of Clay For Now

Not long ago I was at the market with Kayla, our kindergarten teacher, when we ran into a Swedish girl we had met just a few days before. As we were talking, she asked us how we liked it here Puerto Escondido. After replying we liked it very much, she proceeded to inquire how my first year in a new country had been. Being honest, I told her it was one of the hardest years of my life, but because of that, it had been one of the very best years of my life. She seemed confused to hear a really hard year could be the best year… and it was the perfect opportunity to tell her why. 🙂

For some reason, I’ve never liked to tell people about the hard parts of my life. I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I tend to be an eternal optimist, and want to give an overwhelmingly positive translation of my life. This is especially true of me when speaking to unbelievers – almost as if I’ve had this attitude that the Christian life should appear perfect — full of ease and comfort. I know that’s not how it is, nor how it’s supposed to be at all, and in reality, that’s watering down the powerful truth of God in painting the believer’s life in that way. God’s faithfulness through difficulty is just what the world needs to know.

When it became increasingly clear that God was leading me to move away from the home I loved, to a completely foreign place, to serve at a school that I had never been to, working with kids that probably wouldn’t understand a word I said, living off support raised from friends and family, I had so much peace. I knew whatever my circumstance would be, God wanted to use these changes to grow a greater trust in Him through whatever challenges I would face. At that time God spoke a promise to me in Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

The thing that struck me was that it says WHEN not IF. It’s a guarantee that we will go through rivers and fires. But I am His, and I KNEW he was going to be with me. It was such an exciting time anticipating God to show himself faithful to His promises.

I almost felt invincible.

But the true test was set in, almost as soon as my feet hit the Puerto soil. Before long, I knew how inadequate I was in my own flesh to accomplish what God was calling me to. I was in for quite a ride and had to learn to put my fears and doubts in submission to what God wanted to accomplish through me. I had to learn how to put my faith into action, trusting His promises like never before.

There weren’t a lot of backup plans available to me when I needed them most. When I wanted to go somewhere and realized I didn’t even know how to tell the taxi driver the name of the place, I realized life wasn’t going to be so seamless. When I needed to buy something from the paper store, I found everything was behind a counter, so I’d have to know how to ask for it. Google translate wasn’t made for art teachers. Then the printer would have problems in the only slot of time I had to get my things printed, making it impossible to have the things ready I needed for the day…those are the things you just don’t plan on. I found I’d leave school completely worn out after a long day, arriving at my hot house where the only things to sit on were my bed and a wooden chair.

Although they may all sound like small things individually, they became big in the middle of so much change. The temptation to become frustrated was real. But my frustration was the opportunity to find Jesus as the only true provider and satisfier, if I chose it. God promised to be with me and wanted to show himself strong on my behalf in my weakness.

While I felt like I was growing in leaning on God for strength, halfway through the year, a greater test emerged. I was diagnosed with mononucleosis. In the midst of an already fatiguing job, I felt completely drained to the core of my being. I felt like life was being sucked right out of me. I would come home and collapse from exhaustion, most days in tears. Days turned into weeks and weeks into 6 long months of feeling absolutely awful. Sometimes it brings me to tears just thinking back on it, but through it God’s promises became so evidently reliable & true in my life. I choose to believe Gods promises on a daily basis, and in the middle of my tears, I found hope.

2 Corinthians 4:6-10 became the most comforting thing to me in that time:

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Isn’t that beautiful! God is so perfect in all his ways! “Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the LIFE of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies”. Our suffering is not in vain, and we have the most beautiful treasure in “jars of clay”. Yes, its jars of clay for now, but one day we will no longer suffer from this sin-stricken world!!!!!

God is creating a masterpiece in me, and some of the chisels are deep and painful, but I am finding that those are some of the most profoundly beautiful parts in the sculpture of my life, putting the creator Jesus on display.

And guess what! Jesus has fully taken mono away from me!!! My heart sings Psalm 116:

“I love the Lord for heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy….our God is full of compassion…You have delivered my eyes from tears…Truly I am your servant, Lord…You have freed me from my chains…I will sacrifice a thank offering to you…Praise the Lord.”

Throughout my life, I’ve noticed a pattern of wanting to choose whatever path would prove least difficult. Although I want Gods promises to be true in my life, I have often found I try to find the easiest way out of a situation, stealing away the opportunity for God to show himself mighty in the face of it all.

But God has not called us to comfort, and now I can say with all sincerity, I am so thankful he calls us to step out in faith and rely on Him in every aspect of our lives.

In the midst of it all, God has been giving me a new heart for people that I couldn’t muster up by myself. I used to be without hope, and now that I have found the perfect love of Jesus, and the strength found in Him, I can’t imagine living life without him. It makes my heart heavy to know that many live without understanding Jesus’ love for them, and are without hope of anything better than this empty life.

This past year has been the perfect platform to allow God to work in my life and shape me into a vessel more useful for his kingdom. And that’s why this has been one of the best years yet!!

I will leave you with 2 Timothy 1:9-10 because it’s the best news possible!!!

He has saved and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal. And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel.

And Romans 12:1-2:

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

–Amelia Klacik, GEM Missionary

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Let’s Not Play The World’s Game

1 Peter 1:17 “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially live your lives here as strangers and aliens in reverent fear.”

Luke 12:33-34 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”

I was out in town today and I saw a Jaguar. Not the animal, but the car. I don’t really know anything about cars. But it was not one of the old Jaguars that look like they belong in an old James Bond movie. It was a modern, white model that looked like a race car. I’ve never seen very many Jaguars in person. I looked it up, and the average price of a Jaguar is $52,000 US. Just like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Rolls Royces etc, these are cars that I’ve mostly ever seen on TV or in movies or magazines.

So even though I don’t know anything about cars, I know enough to know that certain brands of cars are highly desirable and expensive. When I see them in person my reaction follows a very set and automatic pattern: 1) I realize “hey that’s a Jaguar” 2) I try to feast my eyes on it.

Why do I do that? Why do I sense a compulsion to examine a car thoroughly? Isn’t it just a car? It has four wheels, an engine, and the part inside where you sit and drive. I see thousands of these a day. So why do I have this automatic captivation? I believe it is because I want to be awed and marvel at something that I know to be marvelous. I have cognizance of the notoriety of the brand so when I see one I think, “Oh there’s one. Let’s see it. Let’s see what it looks like. They cost a lot of money. Let’s see what something looks like that is worth that much.”

I have almost an identical reaction when I become aware of a famous person in my presence. Someone says, “Hey, isn’t that ______?” And I quickly turn to see if it is, in fact, that celebrity. It’s because I am captivated by those that are reputed to be awesome. I think, “Oh, well let’s see what he looks like. He’s supposed to be great. Let’s see what someone looks like who is that great.”

I am not pleased with the fact that I’m like this. Today I consciously and purposefully looked away from the Jaguar because I realized I was doing something stupid. As a Christian, I’ve been freed from slavery to possessions. As a born again son of God through the finished work of Jesus, I have an inheritance after this life that far outshines and outlasts any of the shiniest, best, highest quality, most sought-after and expensive possessions in the universe. Nothing that I or anyone else could purchase or achieve can compare with the status and true wealth a believer in Jesus possesses. So a Christian has been removed from the world’s economy in a way. We have a different currency. I have a different scale on which I value things, people, and experiences. My score-card for rating what’s important in the world is different.

But in these moments when I am faced with a world-class automobile or have an opportunity to glimpse a great one, I act as if I still belonged to the world and was still enslaved to play its game. I behave as if I still play and want to rack up points on this earth’s scoreboard. I covet the possession of those who appear to be really making it here. I desire the status of those who appear to inspire respect and admiration from the masses.

I don’t want to do that. I am so glad that I am freed from the bondage of playing the world’s game of “look what I have, I bet you wish you had it.” We are citizens of the most high country, adopted into the most prestigious family. We play in a whole different league. We live in the most exalted realm. We perform for the greatest audience. We are cherished by the One whose love and affection matters more than all of the respect of the globe one billion times over.

So why do I still in momentary lapses choose to play the world’s game? It’s silly at best. You don’t see Lebron James going down to the local neighborhood court fussing about fouls. Why not? Because he competes at the highest level. He is in the world’s most premier league of basketball. Why would he worry himself with little pick up games with no one watching? So why would I figuratively do the same thing as a Christian? Why would I covet a car, when I have entitled to me eternal, spotless, blameless, perfect righteousness that will gain for me a paradise in a mansion that will last forever and ever and never fade away?

So let’s not play the world’s game. Let’s not cheat ourselves and value the tinker toys and little red wagons of this world when we have waiting for us in the presence of Jesus a joy that is greater than all of the Jaguars in the world combined.

– Jason Faircloth, Director of Mission Advancement

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Angela to Mexico

In many ways, God has been preparing me for this season in my life for many years.

In 2014, I chose to pursue a different career path. I have always loved working with children. I spent much of my life volunteering with kids and was a dedicated member of my church’s Children’s Ministry team. I chose to work in the local school district and pursue a degree in elementary education. This crossroad led to some major lifestyle changes. I went from working a well-paid job and spending extravagantly, to working a minimum wage job. Despite the hardships, I loved the job and loved my students. I knew this was right where God wanted me.

My home church has a strategic partnership with an organization in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. I had the opportunity to drive down with a team and provide support a couple of times. I loved being with the children there and experiencing a different culture. These experiences provided me with an appreciation of Mexican culture.

This past year, I finished my BS and began working on my MAT. I knew I had to find a position that would allow me to student teach in my own classroom and satisfy my university’s requirements. This meant pursuing a new position. My university had a job search available on the website. On the site, I stumbled upon the opportunity to teach in Puerto.

When I began talking with the staff, I had not yet officially applied. I gathered some information about the position and began the application process, unsure I would go any further. As I got further into the process, I spent time in prayer and sought the counsel of trusted people. There were concerns about finances, but I determined if I was called, God would provide. Confirmation came through my time spent with God. Lyrics from songs, confirmation from those closest to me, and a general assurance this was what I was supposed to do. God had been preparing me through interactions with the culture, change of career, downsizing of my lifestyle, and a desire to live more simply. I was at peace with my decision to move, knowing this was where God wanted me for this season.

Angela Fontanelli, GEM missionary

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Pursuing Manhood

So I am on a Paul Washer kick right now. If you don’t know who Paul Washer is, I recommend him. (Disclaimer: He is a bit intense. But I believe he is a true lover of Jesus, and if you stick with Pastor Washer, I think you will be edified and glad for it.) Just Google him. There are tons of videos and sermons from him on the world wide internet. A lot of times Washer talks about authentic, Biblical, manhood, something in which I am really interested. My recent attention that I have paid to Washer has gotten me thinking lots of things about masculinity and my own claims to be a man. Also, Paul Washer recently had a heart attack in March, from what I can gather it appears he is recovering and doing okay. So let’s pray for him and his family.

Washer has stated that American men, “live in a culture that wants to keep you a boy until you are about 35.” I think he is right. Our culture does seem to promote just staying boyish until you reach the maximum critical age where you need to get busy being mature and responsible to ensure the survival of yourself and those who depend on you. I don’t see anything in secular American culture that promotes getting boys to more quickly become mature, responsible, strong, tough, tender, caring, wise men. Instead, our culture is replete with things that keep men being boys for longer and longer. Instant availability of smart phone games, mind numbing social media posting, technology, and trinkets that are marketed as things for grown ups but are really just more sophisticated toys etc. etc.This, the “

This, the “boyification” of males who ought to be men given their age, is a relatively recent feature in our culture. It hasn’t always been this way in the USA or at least hasn’t been as universal as it is currently. For example, Johnathan Edwards started preaching when he was about 20. In the Lewis and Clark expedition, Merriweather Lewis was 30 and William Clark was 34 when they set out in 1804. Jacklyn “Jack” Lucas was 14 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was 17 when he performed actions in the Battle of Iwo Jima for which he would later be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. John Piper was 34 when he became pastor at Bethlehem Church. My own dad, John, was operating bulldozers and heavy equipment from an age which he can’t remember but was formally employed in such work at 18. I believe I am in very good company in making this observation. I am by no means the first or even close to the first person to make it. Paul Washer, John Piper, Tom Harcus and lots of others have spoken well and at length about this phenomenon.

I believe I am in very good company in making this observation. I am by no means the first or even close to the first person to make it. Paul Washer, John Piper, Tom Harcus and lots of others have spoken well and at length about this phenomenon.I am 31. I am

I am 31. I am now and have been for a considerable amount of time, acutely aware of my own need to grow up and be more of a true, humble, strong, conviction filled, loving man who does things for the benefit of other people. I think about the men in the above paragraph and I can not help but compare myself to them. When I was 21 I didn’t know how to do anything. I couldn’t open the hood of my car. If I ever did, I couldn’t find the hood prop to keep it up. At 21, Jack Lucas had already fought in Iwo Jima. At 21 Johnathan Edwards was leading believers and teaching them from God’s word. At 20 Merriwether Lewis was in the Army. William Clark did the same at 19. In his 20s John Piper was on his way to becoming a pastor.

The Bible is filled with exhortations and encouragements for men:

Joshua 1:9- (spoken to Joshua) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

1 Corinthians 16:13- Be on your guard stand firm in the faith be men of courage be strong

Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers do not exasperate your children instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord

Colossians 3:21 – Fathers, do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged.

1 Timothy 2:8 – I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing.

1 Timothy 6:11 – …pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

So from these verses alone, and they are certainly not exhaustive of verses directed towards men in the Bible, one can see that a man is to be: loving, courageous, strong, gentle, prayerful, righteous, godly, filled with faith, and enduring. One sees also that men are to lead and train their children but be patient with them and not discourage them. They are to not passively ABSORB noble traits but rather PURSUE righteousness and other virtues. Men are meant to pray and be concerned for others. They are meant to stand firm for the Gospel and not be flimsy in their convictions for Jesus. Men are not to give in to fear but rather be carried by an unshakable hope in God.

You can’t be these things or do these things if you are addicted to Facebook. You can’t do this if you post selfies 5 times a day. You can’t become a real man if you spend 10 minutes trying to decide what filter to use on your photos. One can’t be a strong effective man if he wastes tons of time playing games on his phone.

So by the grace and love of God, I am not downcast and in a puddle of self-pity and self-condemnation. Instead, I sense a full head of steam welling up in me to propel me to pursue becoming this way. I desire to avail myself to the Holy Spirit so I can, through His power, pursue these things so that I become a man who is a blessing to others. I desire to fight my flesh and my propensity to waste time. I want to commit to not wasting time playing like a boy playing games on my phone, accumulating toys, watching TV, staring at the internet and staring at social media.

I do not think I am alone in this. I believe there are thousands of men just like me who sense their need to pursue manhood with vigor and conviction. I encourage anyone reading this to join me in this pursuit and to apply themselves to living a life that matters for things that are truly important. I exhort them to analyze the endeavors of their lives and ask, “What is this accomplishing for my children? What is this accomplishing for my wife? What is this accomplishing for lost people? What is this accomplishing for the church?”

So take these words from one overgrown boy who wants to be a man and join the struggle. God is with us, and He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. We can be made more into the image of the greatest Man who ever lived, Jesus. There is none superior to Him, and he promises to make us like Him and conform us to Him. He promises to work in us what He alone can accomplish.

God is awesome.

-Jason Faircloth, Director of Mission Advancement

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The Davidson’s Journey to Mexico

We are just 4 down-to-earth people, who love Jesus and traveling and different cultures. We were all born in South Africa, where Bev and I were school teachers. Before having children, we also traveled to Taiwan, where we lived for a year, teaching English.

Six years ago, after completing a degree in Theology, we were looking for a new adventure. An opportunity presented itself for us to move to Tasmania, Australia, where I was the youth pastor at a local Baptist Church for 2 years. We then felt a call to start an outreach called Bridge of Life Christian Fellowship that met in the town’s indoor basketball facility. During this time, Bev was a teacher at Devonport Christian School

We have always had a heart for outreach, travel, and children; so after 3 years at “The Bridge” we felt God calling us to do something more specific. Our desire is to minister and encourage children, so we wanted to be part of something where children, who might not have had the same opportunities we had, are given the opportunity of a great Christian education and having good mentors around them. We were browsing the net for teaching posts in Australia. Our plan was to teach, earn a salary, and at the same time start an organization that would help provide a good education for children around the world. While looking, we came across an ad for teachers at GEM. Not knowing that teachers weren’t paid, we filled in the application forms and sent them away. Only after a few days did we see that it was voluntary teaching positions.  

Not owning a house or much money in the bank, we considered the fact that it would be impossible for us to do something like this. Also because we were pastoring a small outreach in a small town in Tasmania meant that there wasn’t a strong support base for us financially. But with a bit of adventure and a huge amount of faith, we decided to pursue the possibility of teaching at GEM. Our boys, who are awesome by the way, also have that travel bug. They were quite keen to move to Mexico. In fact, our youngest son, James, thought that it was essential. He was born and lived in South Africa for 5 years. Then we moved to Australia, where he lived for 5 and-a-half years. He felt it was time to move again after 5 years. John (and James) is absolutely soccer crazy. He was in the North-Tasmania soccer squad and because Mexico is a force to be reckoned with on the soccer field, there was no need to convince him to come to Mexico.

When things seem impossible in life, that’s when God shows up in our circumstances. When adding up the finances on paper, a move to Mexico was impossible. We never even had the money for the plane tickets. But we chose to pursue this door that God opened, even if, to be honest, we had our doubts at times.

We arrived in Puerto Escondido on Saturday after a 1 hour bus trip from Devonport to Launceston, a 1 hour flight from Launceston to Melbourne, a 90 minute flight from Melbourne to Sydney, a 14 hour flight from Sydney to Santiago, a 3 hour flight to Buenos Aires, a 7 hour flight to Lima, a 6 hour flight from Lima to Mexico City and a 18 hour bus trip from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido. God came through, as He always does. It doesn’t always mean that the journey is going to be easy and comfortable, but He gets us where we need to be.

So here we are: Mark, Bev, John, and James… ready for what God has for us. We are excited to be part of the team at GEM. We have also learned that it’s not always about us changing people, but about God changing us in every situation.  

– Mark Davidson, GEM missionary         Â