We have peace with God...

This term, we have started a new change, that would perhaps be relevant only to those whom have been with us in the past. We are beginning Bible classes during the first month of Portantorchas, along with the language classes (Spanish and English), and the Leadership classes for the returning students. It can now be said that Portantorchas begins the first day of the term, and not that we have two beginnings, as we used to in the past.

As far as Bible classes, I am teaching Romans and Tom is teaching Mark. I must say that I have abused my position as Director for many years, and elected to teach those courses that I really enjoy teaching. Romans is a book that although very difficult to condense into two classes is crucial for our understanding and our Christian walk.

After sharing the "bad news" of our hopeless state of lostness, due to our sinfulness and God's justice, we get to a beautiful summary in Romans 5 of what the good news in Jesus Christ is. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

I illustrate this from an experience I had while opening a business for a group of investors in Costa Rica. This particular company had an owner, and had a general manager. Perhaps because I am not as lovely as I assume I am, the manager began to lose his patience with me often on the phone, and I was becoming used to getting an earful, every time I talked to him. On one ocassion, he called to request dropping something that we had spent a couple of months working on, and starting from scratch under the premise that this would speed things up. Upon disagreeing with him, once again he yelled at me, and told me simply to obey. He assured me this was the owners wish, and that I would be wise to obey without questioning the decision.

Upon hanging up, and within one or two minutes, I received a call from the owner. I was sure I was going to be treated in the same manner and with the same tone. Upon asking me for my opinion, I couldn't lie, and shared what I had shared before with the general manager. I simply got "I agree with you. It was just an idea." When I asked him to please respond in writing to this, I received the response that I feel helps explain why I got into this long story in the first place.

"Why do you want it in writing?"
"Just to avoid having problems later."
"Why would you have problems? Don't you know that I'm the owner, and that you and I have no problems? The only person you should worry about is me."
"I'm glad to hear that you and I are o.k."
"I never said we were o.k."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I misunderstood."
"I said, we have no problems. That is better than o.k."
"That's great to hear. Do you mind still sending that in writing?"

I still laugh at this interaction, as the owner of the company did at that moment. But my point is deeper. When Paul tells me that because of my faith in Christ, I have peace with God, it means that He and I have no problems at all. That's better than o.k. I don't have to be watching my back to see if God is waiting to catch me doing something wrong so that He can punish me. I don't have to worry that the pain or suffering I may endure is in any way related to some sin that made God angry at me. I don't have to worry that one day He may dismiss me from His purpose. No. He and I are cool. We have no problems whatsoever. Sure, I've got problems. I've got sins. Paul will talk about those in Chapters 6-8, but first he needs me to know that I am at peace with God, and God is at peace with me.

This to me summarizes very quickly that wonderful news.

We have peace with God...

This term, we have started a new change, that would perhaps be relevant only to those whom have been with us in the past. We are beginning Bible classes during the first month of Portantorchas, along with the language classes (Spanish and English), and the Leadership classes for the returning students. It can now be said that Portantorchas begins the first day of the term, and not that we have two beginnings, as we used to in the past.

As far as Bible classes, I am teaching Romans and Tom is teaching Mark. I must say that I have abused my position as Director for many years, and elected to teach those courses that I really enjoy teaching. Romans is a book that although very difficult to condense into two classes is crucial for our understanding and our Christian walk.

After sharing the "bad news" of our hopeless state of lostness, due to our sinfulness and God's justice, we get to a beautiful summary in Romans 5 of what the good news in Jesus Christ is. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

I illustrate this from an experience I had while opening a business for a group of investors in Costa Rica. This particular company had an owner, and had a general manager. Perhaps because I am not as lovely as I assume I am, the manager began to lose his patience with me often on the phone, and I was becoming used to getting an earful, every time I talked to him. On one ocassion, he called to request dropping something that we had spent a couple of months working on, and starting from scratch under the premise that this would speed things up. Upon disagreeing with him, once again he yelled at me, and told me simply to obey. He assured me this was the owners wish, and that I would be wise to obey without questioning the decision.

Upon hanging up, and within one or two minutes, I received a call from the owner. I was sure I was going to be treated in the same manner and with the same tone. Upon asking me for my opinion, I couldn't lie, and shared what I had shared before with the general manager. I simply got "I agree with you. It was just an idea." When I asked him to please respond in writing to this, I received the response that I feel helps explain why I got into this long story in the first place.

"Why do you want it in writing?"
"Just to avoid having problems later."
"Why would you have problems? Don't you know that I'm the owner, and that you and I have no problems? The only person you should worry about is me."
"I'm glad to hear that you and I are o.k."
"I never said we were o.k."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I misunderstood."
"I said, we have no problems. That is better than o.k."
"That's great to hear. Do you mind still sending that in writing?"

I still laugh at this interaction, as the owner of the company did at that moment. But my point is deeper. When Paul tells me that because of my faith in Christ, I have peace with God, it means that He and I have no problems at all. That's better than o.k. I don't have to be watching my back to see if God is waiting to catch me doing something wrong so that He can punish me. I don't have to worry that the pain or suffering I may endure is in any way related to some sin that made God angry at me. I don't have to worry that one day He may dismiss me from His purpose. No. He and I are cool. We have no problems whatsoever. Sure, I've got problems. I've got sins. Paul will talk about those in Chapters 6-8, but first he needs me to know that I am at peace with God, and God is at peace with me.

This to me summarizes very quickly that wonderful news.

A new semester.

Blessings friends and supporters of Portantorchas.

On Monday, August 3rd we began a new semester at Portantorchas. As mentioned in a previous message, we have some 32 students from various countries, including two married couples. We are very glad and thankful to our Lord for every individual that He has brought, and we eagerly anticipate what He is going to teach us this year. As I explained to many of them, one of my greatest joys is seeing the friendships and relationships that are formed here, many of which become a lifelong emotional and spiritual support.

This year, we have been blessed with the help of some of our alumni. Eugenia and Fresia continue to support Paola in Spanish classes. Hannah has come from the US to help Tom with the English classes. For the leadership group, due to Freddy's departure (which I ought to write about later, that you may be praying for his next endeavours) I have asked the group of Lideres Creativos to join us and speak on leadership, while I continue to teach the Spiritual Disciplines course.

Please continue to pray for us and for our students. Our greatest prayer request is that the Lord be glorified in this place, in the life of our students and our staff. As Paul says, "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." Eph. 4:12-13

We thank you very much for this support, and the financial support of many of you. Particulary, I ask you to pray for the financial support of many of our students. There are some who are trustign that the Lord will provide the needed finances to continue this term with us, and there are some who are trusting that the Lord will provide for their monthly expenses. Also we have some staff whose financial support has diminished and are also trusting that the Lord will supply their needs through other people. If you would like to be part of that support please contact me directly.

Sincerely in Him,

Marco

A new semester.

Blessings friends and supporters of Portantorchas.

On Monday, August 3rd we began a new semester at Portantorchas. As mentioned in a previous message, we have some 32 students from various countries, including two married couples. We are very glad and thankful to our Lord for every individual that He has brought, and we eagerly anticipate what He is going to teach us this year. As I explained to many of them, one of my greatest joys is seeing the friendships and relationships that are formed here, many of which become a lifelong emotional and spiritual support.

This year, we have been blessed with the help of some of our alumni. Eugenia and Fresia continue to support Paola in Spanish classes. Hannah has come from the US to help Tom with the English classes. For the leadership group, due to Freddy's departure (which I ought to write about later, that you may be praying for his next endeavours) I have asked the group of Lideres Creativos to join us and speak on leadership, while I continue to teach the Spiritual Disciplines course.

Please continue to pray for us and for our students. Our greatest prayer request is that the Lord be glorified in this place, in the life of our students and our staff. As Paul says, "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." Eph. 4:12-13

We thank you very much for this support, and the financial support of many of you. Particulary, I ask you to pray for the financial support of many of our students. There are some who are trustign that the Lord will provide the needed finances to continue this term with us, and there are some who are trusting that the Lord will provide for their monthly expenses. Also we have some staff whose financial support has diminished and are also trusting that the Lord will supply their needs through other people. If you would like to be part of that support please contact me directly.

Sincerely in Him,

Marco

Un nuevo cuatrimestre.

Bendiciones amigos y colaboradores de Portantorchas.

El Lunes, 3 de agosto, iniciamos un nuevo cuatrimestre en Portantorchas. Como mencioné en un correo previo, tenemos unos 32 estudiantes de varios países, incluyendo dos parejas de matrimonio. Estamos contentos y agradecidos con el Señor por cada individuo que ha traído, y esperamos ver todo lo que El va a enseñarnos este año. Como les he explicado a muchos de ellos, uno de mis mayores gozos es ver las amistades y relaciones que se forman aquí, que muchas veces llegan a ser de gran sustento emocional y espiritual el resto de la vida.

Este año, tenemos la bendición de la ayuda de varios egresados de Portantorchas, durante el mes de idiomas. Eugenia y Fresia están ayudandole a Paola con la enseñanza del Español. Hannah ha venido para ayudarle a Tom con la enseñanza de Inglés. Y para el grupo de liderazgo, yo sigo enseñando el tema de las Disciplinas Espirituales, y le he pedido a Líderes Creativos que nos suplementen con un curso de liderazgo.

Por favor, continúen orando por nosotros, y por nuestros estudiantes. Nuestra máxima petición es que el Señor sea glorificado en este lugar, en la vida de los estudiantes, y en la vida del equipo de trabajo. Como dice Pablo, "a fin de perfeccionar a los santos para la obra del ministerio, para la edificación del cuerpo de Cristo, hasta que todos lleguemos a la unidad de la fe y del conocimiento del Hijo de Dios, a un varón perfecto, a la medida de la estatura de la plenitud de Cristo." Efesios 4:12-13

Agradecemos mucho este apoyo, y el apoyo económico de algunos. En particular les pido que oren por la provisión económica de varios de nuestros estudiantes. Hay unos que están confiando que el Señor va a proveer para poder completar su tiempo con nosotros y pagar la matrícula, y otros que necesitarán provisión para cubrir sus gastos personales. Contáctenme directamente si les gustaría apoyar a algún estudiante, o el ministerio en general.

Bendiciones,

Marco

Un nuevo cuatrimestre.

Bendiciones amigos y colaboradores de Portantorchas.

El Lunes, 3 de agosto, iniciamos un nuevo cuatrimestre en Portantorchas. Como mencioné en un correo previo, tenemos unos 32 estudiantes de varios países, incluyendo dos parejas de matrimonio. Estamos contentos y agradecidos con el Señor por cada individuo que ha traído, y esperamos ver todo lo que El va a enseñarnos este año. Como les he explicado a muchos de ellos, uno de mis mayores gozos es ver las amistades y relaciones que se forman aquí, que muchas veces llegan a ser de gran sustento emocional y espiritual el resto de la vida.

Este año, tenemos la bendición de la ayuda de varios egresados de Portantorchas, durante el mes de idiomas. Eugenia y Fresia están ayudandole a Paola con la enseñanza del Español. Hannah ha venido para ayudarle a Tom con la enseñanza de Inglés. Y para el grupo de liderazgo, yo sigo enseñando el tema de las Disciplinas Espirituales, y le he pedido a Líderes Creativos que nos suplementen con un curso de liderazgo.

Por favor, continúen orando por nosotros, y por nuestros estudiantes. Nuestra máxima petición es que el Señor sea glorificado en este lugar, en la vida de los estudiantes, y en la vida del equipo de trabajo. Como dice Pablo, "a fin de perfeccionar a los santos para la obra del ministerio, para la edificación del cuerpo de Cristo, hasta que todos lleguemos a la unidad de la fe y del conocimiento del Hijo de Dios, a un varón perfecto, a la medida de la estatura de la plenitud de Cristo." Efesios 4:12-13

Agradecemos mucho este apoyo, y el apoyo económico de algunos. En particular les pido que oren por la provisión económica de varios de nuestros estudiantes. Hay unos que están confiando que el Señor va a proveer para poder completar su tiempo con nosotros y pagar la matrícula, y otros que necesitarán provisión para cubrir sus gastos personales. Contáctenme directamente si les gustaría apoyar a algún estudiante, o el ministerio en general.

Bendiciones,

Marco