Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Missed it by that much!

I've not yet seen the recently released movie, "Get Smart". My children have all seen it and said that they loved the movie. However, I remember as a child the television version of that the show and Maxwell Smart always saying, "missed it by that much!" This phase came to me the other day and my mind started pondering the power of that comical phrase.

As a missionary here in Brazil I found that if you ask a Brazilian if they believe in God, most of them would say, "of course I believe in God!". One of the things that I quickly do is to open my Bible to the book of James and I read to them James 2:19 where James ask the readers a very important question, he writes: "You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." (NASB) In the Portuguese, the word "[to] believe" is the word "crer". I always ask the Brazilian, does that mean that demons will also one day be with God in heaven (after all, the same word that the Brazilian used is the same word that I show them from the book of James)? Of which, I always get the same response, "of couse not!".

However, if you ask them do they "know" God, the answer may be different. In the Portuguese language, there are two words used of our one English word, "know", those words are "saber" and "conhecer". A basic understanding of these two words goes like this; the word, "saber" means to know about someone or something (for example, I know about President Bush, however, he never calls me to ask me of my opinion), the other word "conhecer" means to know intimately about someone or something (for example, I know my wife and children, they too know me as a husband and father). So, if you ask a Brazilian do they "saber" or "conhecer" God, especially to know Him in His fullness through a personal relationship through God's One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, the answer that you may get could be various.

My question to you is this, do you know Jesus? That is, do you recognize His historical reality (that He really was a person in history), or maybe His place of birth in Bethlehem, or His being a being a good teacher, or a leader of a movement within the Jewish culture of His time, etc.? Or, do you know Him as your Savior and Lord of your life? Jesus is quoted as saying in the book of Mark (8:36) "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (NKJV) What if you're like ole Maxwell Smart and you know many things about Jesus, but don't really know Him? What if you "missed it by that much!"? What if you've been doing the things of Christ (being kind to your neighbor, not gossiping, volunteering at your favorite charity, not robbing any banks, going to church, etc.), but don't know who He really is? Jesus said, (Matthew 7:21-23 NASB):

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'"

I would hate for ANY of us reading or writing this blog to be doing great things for Jesus, but not knowing Jesus personally. I would hate for any of us to miss it "by that much!"

Monday, September 15, 2008

Get out there!

As you know, my wife and I are missionaries serving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I am, without shame, an American citizen. That is where God chose to have me be reared and I accept that fact. Our family lived across the bay in Niterói when the attacks on our country happened on September 11, 2001. My family and I watched in horror as we saw our country under attack. I remember clearly my feelings of powerlessness as I grieved over our nation and the strong desire that I had to return immediately to the States.

Well, we're 55 days away until our country will be voting for the next president. I am not going to tell you how you should vote, only that YOU SHOULD VOTE!!! I have been told more than once, "Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him". My comeback is, but, did you vote?!? Here in Brazil they have what I call a "forced democracy", that is, voting is mandatory. If someone here does not vote, they can NEVER run for public office, they run the risk of being fined, they could even face jail time. In the States too many people complain about their situation, but never do anything about it. My thoughts, VOTE! Use your right as an American citizen to mark your opinion. If you didn't vote, please don't complain about how bad the government is because you did nothing to change it.


There are two strong candidates out there running for the office of the President. It is your civil responsibility to see that the right one gets into office. Find out what each of them stand for. Find out about their histories. Where are they really on the issues facing America's future, where do stand regarding our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, where are they regarding our economy, etc.?

Both Sharon and I are registered voters. We will soon be receiving our absentee ballots, we will complete them and mail them in right away. If you're not registered, get registered. It's a painless process and in most states an easy thing to do. So, get out there and make your country happen.

May God bless America!

Jeff Renard - Rio

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Blessings

Last week, we had the opportunity to have a couple of different people stay in our house. The first was a young married couple, he's an American and she's a Brazilian. They stayed with us during the week because she was trying to obtain a visa so that they could move to the States. The second person stayed with us a couple of days because he missed his return flight to the States, was stranded at the airport and couldn't book a new flight until a couple of days later.

The married couple were needing a place to stay while they went to and from the American consulate. As I'm sure that you know, staying in Rio hotels are very expensive and we were happy to be able to help this young couple save some money. The young husband's parents are new friends of ours' and are from Cushing, Oklahoma. Obviously we wouldn't open our house to just anyone. So, please don't go calling us up saying that you're wanting several days of vacation and are needing a place to hang out while you do tourism. However, we would love to fellowship with you if you are passing through Rio. The second guy had been working this summer in Rio on his practicum for his Masters and was a participant in out Small Group. He was at the airport returning to the States when he discovered that he had read his ticket wrong. It was never a question with Sharon and I if we should invite him to stay at our house while he purchased his new ticket and then had a couple day lay-over until his next flight out.

All three of these people expressed gratitude for us allowing them to stay with us. Honestly, we didn't think too much about it. We've always felt that the house that we stay in is itself a ministry since it's not really "ours" but IMB property. God has been good to us and we feel that it is only natural to pass this blessing onto others by sharing what great things He has given to us.

One of the interesting things to me is that doing things like opening our house for someone to stay as they obtain their visa, giving a ride to the airport for someone so that they don't have to take a taxi, or offering a meal to someone who has really just come over for fellowship, time has gotten away from them and they find that they are at our house when a meal is placed before them, these are normal events which become a blessings. Being a blessing to others is itself a blessing. When we open our homes and hearts to other we find that God always gives us more than we could give away. I must admit however that it is still sometimes easier to give than to receive. I still struggle at times with allowing others to bless me or my family. Giving is natural for Sharon and I, receiving some times take some effort. I was once told by a colleague, "don't rob someone of their joy when they're trying to bless you".

I guess what I'm trying to share is not a pat on my own back for opening up our home, but uplifted hands in praise to a God who loved us so much that He gave His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be IMB missionaries. We are blessed to have a house that Southern Baptist provided for us. We are blessed because we have a mission vehicle that can carry someone to the airport, hospital or to a new church start. We are blessed because you are giving to us every day that we are here in Brazil. So, I want to write and say to you, "thank you" for being such a blessing to us!

Your fellow servant,

Jeff Renard - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil