Great Expectations
This week we are celebrating our most exciting holiday as followers of Jesus Christ. Easter is the heart of our belief that God appeared in the flesh in the form of Jesus of Nazareth, who spent years living among us, teaching us, and performing miraculous signs. This is the week that we remember the ultimate demonstration of God’s Love for us, and the ultimate sign that Jesus really was “The Messiah”- “The Christ” - “The Anointed One”. By dying on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins on Friday, and walking away from his tomb on Sunday, Jesus became our Savior and our Lord.
We look back on the events of this week, and it seems obvious to us what God was doing. Centuries of contemplations and commentaries on the events of this week have made it clear what Jesus’ life was all about. Yet what if we were standing in the crowd in Jerusalem that Sunday when Jesus rode a donkey into the city? What would we have thought about the hundreds who were waving palm branches and shouting “Save us now we pray!” (Hosanna). As citizens of a country occupied by the Roman legions to maintain control, how would we view the mission of Jesus?
Obviously the crowd in Jerusalem that week had great expectations of Jesus. Here was a man who spoke with authority with demonstrations of great power. He had fed 5000 adults (and many more children!) with only five small loaves and two fish. He had healed a man born blind. He had cleansed numerous lepers. He had healed many paralytics. He had even raised a dead man from his tomb. Definitely Jesus was a probable candidate for the Messiah that the prophets had written of long ago. According to them, this powerful figure would restore God’s Kingdom among his people. And apparently to do that would involve kicking out the hated Roman conquerers. He would be a politically powerful man who would lead Israel into a new era of freedom and prosperity. “Yes Jesus”, we would probably shout, “Kick these pig-eating –pagans out of Jerusalem now!”
Great Expectations. We are with you Jesus! Let’s go up to that huge Roman fortress that is overlooking our sacred Temple and like Joshua shout the walls down, and watch the Romans kill themselves in confusion, like Gideon did in days of old. I’ve got my national flag (the Palm Branch appears on most coins minted during the Jewish revolt in 66-70 AD), and I am ready to see you unleash your divine power to destroy these uncircumcised idol worshippers.
Yet Jesus did not fulfill their expectations that week. He takes no action against the Romans. Instead he teaches in the Temple, confronts the religious authorities (who are seething with rage and looking for any excuse to get rid of him), and spends a lot of time talking with his disciples and close friends. Thursday night one of his inner circle betrays him to the Temple authorities and he is arrested in the Olive Press grove across the valley from the Temple. Friday the crowds are now shouting “Crucify Him”! Without any judicial “due process”, he is led to a old stone quarry outside the city walls where he is crucified along with two common criminals. By Friday at sundown, he is dead, and laid in tomb in that same stone quarry. His disciples are confused, disappointed, and downright bummed out. The crowds in Jerusalem experience some very weird weather, an earthquake, and many see friends and relatives who had died earlier now alive and running around town.
Sunday morning some disciples go to the old stone quarry and discover the tomb empty. Later that day Jesus appears to some of them, the first of many appearances over the next 40 days. It is during that time that Jesus explains what God’s plan really was: to save mankind from their sins, not save Israel from the Roman Legions.
The expectations that the people of Israel had for Jesus were good ones- actually great ones. But they were simply not God’s expectations. God did what He planned to do, while we Jerusalem residents turned our backs on Jesus because he didn’t do what we expected him to do.
Have you ever been in this position before? You know what God should do in a situation. It is very clear to you. Yet what happens when God doesn’t perform as we expect? We often reject what His is doing because it doesn’t fit into our expectations. Take a look at many moves of God over the centuries. Notice how the most critical voices of the “current” move of God are those involved in the “last” great move. Because of our own experience, we place God in a box, and anything He does outside our expectations we often label as “fanatical”, “cultic”, or even “of the devil”. The Azusa Street revival in the early 1900’s, which gave birth to over 51% of the churches that exist on the planet today, was label in that manner by the leaders of the “last” great move of God which occurred in the Holiness movement of the late 1800’s.
The same happens in many of our personal relationships. We have expectations of people, and yet often when we don’t experience our own expectations, and suddenly we place that person on the other side of an invisible wall, and dismiss them.
“God” expectations are the key to any relationship. A new husband has expectations of his new wife, as described in this riddle brimming with wisdom:
“How many men does it take to open a bottle of cold beverage?
— It should be already open when the wife brings it to her husband.”
Expectations are natural in any relationship, and are often formed by our needs and personalities, rather than a study of God’s expectations of a relationship. The Bible tells us how a husband and wife should care for each other, work together, and accomplish the goals that God sets for their family; How children should respond to their parents and vice versa. Business owners have definite guidelines how God wants them to run their business, and what to do with their profits. The Bible teaches ministry co-workers how to work together with mutual honor and respect, so that they may accomplish more together than they could separately.
Expectations are natural, but when we leave God out of their formation, we set ourselves up to miss what God may actually be doing. This is what happened during Holy Week in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago.
Let’s not let our expectations blind us from what God is doing in our ministry, our relationships, our business, and our witness to the world around us. We might miss the next great move of God in our lives!
Maik
Lamb Bleatings
“Mommy, Moselle had a melt down when you were gone.”, said Arielle in her usual calm unaffected manner.
“You did Moselle? You mean you just started to cry?”, I inquired.
“Yep. That is just how it happened…I cried when I thought of you and poppy. Then I stopped.”, she said.
“That’s it??? What were you thinking? Feeling?”, I asked.
Arielle said, “Mommy, she really doesn’t like talking about it…it’s the past.”
“Yeah, mommy…” agreed Moselle.
Interesting how we each deal with our emotions…
I felt the pangs of missing my children while in Nicaragua even though we were in contact with them by phone and occasional skype. I had to focus on the people set before me and all that needed to take place in the present. My children were well taken care of and learned many lessons in our absence. It was an effective time on both ends and God used it profoundly and effectively.
We are surrounded by a powerful community of believers, our physical and spiritual family God has placed around me. In Nicaragua, we always have continual opportunity to be in close proximity to our “team” (those that join us for building projects, ministry, conferences, etc)…living, eating, enjoying ministry & experiences together. Lots of issues and depth rise to the surface in our often challenging environment…lots of spiritual fruit is formed and birthed. As self denial is practiced and lived out, one experiences greater freedom, life and continual truth is revealed. It is a beautiful process full of God’s wonder and surprises which draw us closer to Him and to one another.
There is a beautiful freedom in families where love is real and goes beyond behavior, attitudes, likes, and dislikes. Acceptance, grace, commitment and forgiveness prevail regardless of what any member does. Truth spoken, emotions exchanged and God’s perspective given and received. Needs met and given….comfort and rest experienced. These relationships are a true gift really.
Arielle came home from church last night letting us all know how upset she was: “Mommy, this girl bit me in children’s church.”
“Really? Bit you!?”
“Yes, I had a piece of gum in my hand and I think she wanted it so she grabbed my fist and then she bit my hand!”
“What did you do?! Did you shove your hand into her teeth?”, her violent mother asked.
“No, mommy, I just couldn’t believe she bit me. I just gave her the gum and told her to eat it.”
“Did she break skin?”, I asked with my claws ready to scratch some eyes out.
By then, the whole Bagby table was up in arms ready to start a war with horrible advice like…Arielle, you should have punched her (discreetly of course)…. What about if you just knocked her teeth out while your hand was in her mouth…no just grab her wrist and bend it like this (illustration)…We started laughing at ourselves and our very ungodly behavior. We are awful…
Arielle was disapproving of our suggestions and let us know that there were other people in charge handling the situation and if she “did anything” (like we suggested) she didn’t think the girl’s parents would like that very much. I told Arielle that she had a very mature attitude and had the most “christian” response of us all which we all admittedly confessed…she often puts us all to shame with her upright behavior.
It is funny how the emotion of “defense” arises when someone we love is hurt or misunderstood. There is something deep that rises up to want to protect and defend our loved one.
More and more I believe we will be called not only to empathize with our neighbor, family member or friend, but we will be called to defend one another and stand up for one another. It is human nature to simply dismiss those who are not like us, those who don’t think like us, act like us or those who might bite us. And yet we know that we are called to a higher standard. A standard that must be implemented in the body of Christ if we are to stand strong in these times of trials and challenges against us.
”They will know us by our love we have…one for another.”
Arielle told us she was mad at what happened, but ultimately she did right.
We learn to rise above the emotions and find God’s perspective in the midst of it all. When Moselle had her “meltdown”, I was told that everyone left her alone. “What was Arielle doing while you cried?”
“She just played a game on the couch.”
“Did you want her to do anything?”
“Nope. I just cried then I was finished.”
“Then what?”
“Nothing. I just missed you guys.”, she non chalantly exposed.
Emotions are not really that big of a deal…we deal with it…we acknowledge it…we move on with the proper perspective. It is finding that “God perspective” rather than hanging onto that emotion. We do this often on every level in many a situation…the most challenging being with those we love and cherish.
In a true “ohana” (family) we can withstand the struggles, challenges, differences, but if commitment is waning on either end it is hard to keep standing.
Standing together, creating a wall of protection around one another and allowing love and grace to prevail will be the force that will demand victory against the adversary.
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:12-13
Do you have your armor on? The battle wages whether you believe it or not…it is raging and has designs on your life, your destiny, your very soul, your relationships especially those you value most…this war comes against us in many forms. Recognize your battle and fight for the victory that Christ died to give.
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Psalms 34:14 Laura
Nicaragua Construction Project
It has a Roof!
20,000 palmetto leaves are woven into this 30’ x 50’ roof that towers above the Waspam skyline.
The Waspam Center is in the finishing phase! Floors are all poured; All lights and fans are connected and working. 18 conference tables and multiple benches have been built. Eight mahogany doors have been made. Next on our list is windows for the second floor, hanging doors, and wall plaster in preparation for painting. Then it will be upstairs office furniture, office equipment, and air conditioning for the computer room and recording studio. Keep praying!
The Bagby Bunch Corner
We love going to Nicaragua! My cell phone rarely rings. We spend time with long time family and friends. We see God move in very tangible ways.
This trip was no exception. We spent two days working on the Vida Joven Farm high in the mountains helping in the coffee harvest. We saw the care the workers give to our Rio Coco Bean coffee crop: Picking only red, mature cherries; Eliminating any inferior beans during the wash and sort process, Carefully drying the beans. Aside from the altitude and soil, there are many more reasons why our coffee is so good.
We hade some quality time with many of our teachers as we wandered through our villages downriver. I like being able to listen to them, with no agenda of my own. So many of our teachers actually have taken over “ownership” of the school and discipleship project. They are now leading this project. We have become their helpers. Truman and his staff are so sharp in understanding and dealing with the issues. They know all the “currents” in the Rio Coco and how to navigate through the “dangerous” areas. (Here we all are in our “river clothes”).
Our Montana team built many tables and benches for the Waspam center, as well as some very comfortable furniture for the rooftop deck, where the cool air is “delicious”. We are so pleased what God is doing through you all who are helping construct a significant teaching and ministry center on the Rio Coco. Know that your prayers are being answered!
In spite of a weak world economy, God continues to sustains us through your prayers and financial gifts! His Economy marches on! We thank you for you faithfulness and friendship. Laura & Michael
Rio Coco Bean Coffee
Free Shipping!
We have heard your suggestions, and are changing our online ordering system to now include free shipping on all orders over $30.00. This means that we have cut our cost per bag to you so that you may purchase our gourmet, award-winning, high altitude coffee at supermarket prices and have these delivered directly to your door.
We offer our Nicaraguan Altisimo coffee roasted three ways, along with high altitude coffees from Sumatra (Gayo Mountains) Honduras (Copan), Columbia (Popayan) and the 7,000’-9,000’ Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Look for our combination paks to save even more!
Please check out our newly formatted web store at www.riococostore.com for even better deals on 100% Humanic coffee. For even better prices and service, use the enclosed coffee order form. Remember, our profits educate children in Nicaragua. Our coffee is
100% Humanic Coffee: Bettering the Lives of humans around the world.
This Summer in Nicaragua
Deep Water: June 10-July 3
This will be our 7th DWD, and there are many whose lives have been touched by this experience. This year’s DWD will offer an additional two weeks of special projects on the Rio Coco. Please consider joining us for the extended version (June 10-July 15) with the possibility for a further ministry trip to Honduras.
Family Camp: July 5-15
This summer’s Family Camp is an opportunity to bring your American-comfort-orientated children to the “real world” where 94% of Earth’s population lives. A journey to the Third and Fourth World will change your perspective, and we have many testimonies from past Family Camps.
We will begin the trip in Managua with cultural orientation and team building, followed by a week on the Rio Coco, where we will travel downriver and work with our Project Ezra schools. Our time will be spent studying Biblical Family perspectives, as well as participating in a service project.
There are many details to be worked out, but if you are interested, begin praying about coming, and let us know that you are interested.
Donations
We welcome your partnership with us through your prayers and financial gifts.
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