We are blessed t recieve the word, and ministry from a Mexican pastor, who is pastor in Mexico City.
He brings such a fresh look at the scriptures, and such an untainted faith in the greatness of God. By "untainted faith" I mean, a faith that has not bought into the western modern convictions about truth. He is not an uneducated man, rather he is well studied. He is not a dreamer either, but rather he is a man planting a church and developing the structure for a NGO (non for profit organization). HIs NGO is ambitious but very down to earth. This NGO is helping to feed and tutor children on Saturday. Eventually, this pastor wants to expand the free meals and tutoring to every day, after school let's out.
While his feet are well planted on the ground he brings a heavenly vision of the greatness of God, that I sense is releasing God's power in our midst. Like a wave that refreshes the hot coast, so this wave is refeshing us this morning.

What an amazing man Dag Hammarskjold was. His search for the true man in himself, in the midst of being such a public figure, is amazing. As U.N. General Secretary he writes of the dangers of self seeking through a public image. He sought inner integrity over an outward false image.
Dag Hammarskjöld spoke of the influence of his parents: "From generations of soldiers and government officials on my father's side I inherited a belief that no life was more satisfactory than one of selfless service to your country - or humanity. This service required a sacrifice of all personal interests, but likewise the courage to stand up unflinchingly for your convictions. From scholars and clergymen on my mother's side, I inherited a belief that, in the very radical sense of the Gospels, all men were equals as children of God, and should be met and treated by us as our masters in God."1

An early morning party

Fire works began at 5:00 am. The brass band played an ancore after each explozion in the air. I walked out my front door just a few steps from where the band was preparing their next number. A fire was blazing and the fire work commision was preparing the next skyrocket. Looking through the chapel doors I was stunned by houndreds of bright roses lining both sides of the altar.
"Buenos dias", I said to all gathered for the dawning event. "Buenos dias" they responded.
I know my neighbors are sincere in their desire to please God through the band and the explosions. Usually these events are acompannied by drinking in the evenings. I think back on the early sacrifices the Aztecs offered to their gods. The overwhelming demands of the gods who seemed to never be pleased. The painful guilt that drove them to offere human life. It seems that guilt and demand of the gods is in the streets today. Since the requirements are never really met, the guilt never really errased, this night tequila will take care of the souls pain. Then I think - Just one look at the Christ on the cross in the chapel so beautifully adorned - just once receiving the truth of His words "It is finished" - then the band would play, the rockets could explode, and all could shout "we are forgiven, we are free - He paid it all."
This evening then could be spent together, or at home. In stead of running from the welling pain hundreds of years guilt, one could sleep in peace and rest.