Impacting Celaya

We have worked for almost three years to find the "resources in the harvest" but for one reason or another we have found very little. As our first term is coming to an end we have seen God work among the Pastors and Leaders in our region. While we would still like to see more new works in Celaya, we are attempting to focus on the good that does exist among the churches and the work that they have accomplished in the ranches and municipios surrounding Celaya. The mentality of Celaya's churches are similar to many in our own country as they would prefer multiplying by division than a Spirit led planting movement. I cannot hold that against them as it is what they have had in their DNA for years. We continue to celebrate all that God has done in our work and the lives that have been impacted.
Now we pray that God continues to impact the leaders of the city and take their vision beyond the walls of the church to where the people are. We need to invest in people with little concern for whether they are going to tithe to our church. Jesus had a compassion for the people that motivated him beyond an organizational perspective. Oh, that I would not allow a paycheck decide where I go and how I share the good news with people.

Chinese Rednecks?

For those with sensibilities, I read this in an email for preachers called Preaching Now:

Who would have guessed that they have rednecks in China?

A Sept. 20 Reuters story tells the story of Zhang Xinyan, a Chinese migrant worker who had a little too much to drink -- four jugs of beer, to be precise -- then went to the nearby Beijing Zoo. Feeling a sudden urge to touch a panda bear, he jumped into the panda enclosure and startled Gu Gu, a sleeping bear, who proceeded to bite the 35-year-old man's leg.

At that, Zhang got angry and kicked the panda, who then bit his other leg. So the man tried to bite Gu Gu in return. "I bite the fellow on the back," Zhang told a local newspaper. "Its skin was quite thick."

Zookeepers subdued the panda by spraying it with water, and Zhang was taken to the hospital. He told a reporter he had seen pandas on television and "they seemed to get along well with people. No one ever said they would bite people. I just wanted to touch it. I was so dizzy from the beer, I don't remember much."

By the way, I understand that next season NBC will have a situation comedy called, "My Name is Zhang."

Fun stuff

Actual label instructions on consumer goods:

On Sears hairdryer:
Do not use while sleeping.
(Gee, that's the only time I have to work on my hair!)

On a bag of Fritos:
You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.
(The shoplifter special!)

On a bar of Dove soap:
Directions: Use like regular soap.
(and that would be how?)

On some Swann frozen dinners:
Serving suggestion: Defrost.
(But it's just a suggestion!)

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on box bottom):
Do not turn upside down.
(Too late! You lose!)

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding:
Product will be hot after heating.
(Are you sure? Let's experiment.)

On packaging for a Rowenta iron:
Do not iron clothes on body.
(But wouldn't that save more time?)

On Boot's Children's cough medicine:
Do not drive car or operate machinery.
(We could do a lot to reduce the rate of construction if we just kept those 5 year olds off those fork lifts.)

On Nytol sleep aid:
Warning: may cause drowsiness.
(One would hope!)

On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights:
For indoor or outdoor use only.
(As opposed to use in outer space.)

On a Japanese food processor:
Not to be used for the other use.
(Hmm, now I'm curious.)

On Sainsbury's peanuts:
Warning: contains nuts.
(but no peas?)

On an American Airlines packet of nuts:
Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.
(have lobotomy)

On a child's Superman costume:
Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly.
(That's right, destroy a universal childhood fantasy!)


(from the Humorama newsletter)

Not in Kansas anymore!

Many think Mexico is just a southern version of the USA, then we read things like this. Michoacan is about 3 hours from us and 30 minutes from friends of ours.

Michoacan Beheadings Continue
September 07, 2006 10:02 AM EST

By Sher Zieve – Five human heads are reported to have been thrown into a bar in Michoacan, Mexico on Wednesday night. The heads were said to have been tossed onto the floor of the bar, by armed masked men, where people were dancing.


The masked men shot rounds into the air and shouted for everyone in the bar to lie down on the floor. A note left with the heads is said to read: "The family does not kill for money. It does not kill women or innocent people. Those who die are those who must die. Everyone should know that this is divine justice."

These beheadings are in addition to thirteen other decapitated bodies found this year in Michoacan, which are believed to have been affected by drug dealers. However, the note's term “divine justice” is said to have additional terroristic undertones that may relate to something more than just a drug cartel.