May 2011 Conchshell Chronicles

In The Slipstream                              by Michael Bagby

 

Sherry Hickman is one of the most effective teachers in the State of Florida.  At least that is what Mikaela, Lukas, and every other student at Indian River State College that I have heard from says.  She teaches Life Science and has authored a book on Sexually Transmitted Diseases. This book has very graphic photos of the results of diseases that are a result of sexual promiscuity and believe me, reading her book will put the fear of God, Satan, and every morally loose young adult in you!

Sherry was over yesterday for Arielle’s Tea Time.  It is the formal gathering for our family and friends around the table for Arielle’s scones and her special teas- all served with panache and Arielle’s personal touch. Sherry had invited a friend to attend the Sunrise Service at the Beach. I was asked to give the message that morning, and we began to talk about our friend’s response to my very-to-the-point message.  In the course of the conversation, Sherry told us how she became a believer and made an interesting comment. “Once I realized who Jesus was and what this thing called Christianity was all about, I just moved into His slipstream and the ride has been pretty amazing.”  

The “slipstream” is what bike riders feel when they get within 18 inches of the rider in front of them.  He is cutting a path through the air, and if you get close enough to him, you start to feel the pull, and you actually have to back off on your peddling to maintain position.  We call it “drafting”. When a group of riders are drafting each other, and changing the lead often (sharing the burden of cutting the air), they can actually go faster as a group than any one of them could go as an individual.

 Sherry said that Jesus has been pulling her along her path, and it is relatively easy to accomplish what she is called to if she stays in position.

What a word for the Seek The Lamb Team! It is obvious that God is pulling us along this season to accomplish some pretty significant things.  Shall I mention a few?

Last week, Tom and Nutie , as well as Truman, Augusto, Onofre and Danilo, spent some days with all of the Seek The Lamb teachers.  It was our second teachers’ conference this year, and again, our team moved our teachers toward a greater awareness of our spiritual goals for the eight communities where the Seek The Lamb school are located. They also equipped them to be able to accomplish these goals. 

In the past decade, our focus has been on education, and we have answered almost every request for teachers in the downriver communities with a “Yes”.  However in the process, we began to overlook our spiritual goals.  The result was a year of problems- including dealing with outright witchcraft against the Seek The Lamb team.  Truman and I were so stressed by this experience that we both vowed to each other that we would never get ourselves into that situation again. This season is a time of getting our teachers back into Jesus’ slipstream. We have been too far behind Him these past years, and it is tough to ride into the wind without a leader to cut the air for you.  That is what the 2011 Project Ezra school year is all  about- Getting into His Slipstream.

This week Laura and I are in Utila, Honduras, making arrangements to open the Rio Coco Café Coffee Ministry.  Last year we spent many days in preparation for a Fall opening of this outreach to European, Israeli, Australian, and North American backpacker/Scuba divers/travelers.  We spent the month of August working very intensely to construct the service area, and position our team for the September launch of this ministry.  However, we soon discovered that we were not following the exact leading of our King.

 As the project leader, I made a few assumptions that were incorrect and missed some critical details of His Plan. That in conjunction of two tropical storms and one hurricane that pasted by Utila in  October/November prevented the opening of the coffee ministry.  Obviously I was not riding in the slipstream of the King.  I was riding out on my own, and no wonder I felt extremely fatigued last fall dealing with all the issues. I am wiser now and I am riding close.  I see His direction, and I feel the pull of His Slipstream.  It is an easier ride this season.

So How do I stay in His Slipstream?  Well, I know according to Exodus 29:42 and many other verses in the Bible that God wants to meet with me daily.  He wants to hear what I have to say, and He wants to give me His perspective on the events of my life.  He also wants to give me my daily marching orders. He is Lord after all.  I know from Jesus’ conversation in the Upper Room with His disciples at the Last Passover meal that if I “abide in His Word”, if I “obey His commands” ,  then many good things will happen:

 John 14:15-16- He will give me a greater measure of the Holy Spirit who will guide me; 

 John 14:21 – He will reveal Himself to me more;

John 14:23 – He and the Father will come and make their home inside me;

John 15:7-8 – He will produce much fruit in my life and work;

John 15:10-11  - He will bring me great joy as I go through my days;

John 15:14  - Jesus and I will be friends.

This is what I call being in His Slipstream.  I have to “abide” in Him.  That word in the Greek is “Meno” which literally means to remain, to dwell.

Sherry is right.  If we dwell and remain in His Slipstream, life gets easier, and many good things happen. We have learned what happens when we get out on our own.

 I hope you will join me in getting in His Slipstream.                   

 We can accomplish more together than we can individually.                MB

 

 

 

 Lamb Bleatings               By Laura Bagby

During a family Bible study of John 13-16, the question was asked to our kids, “What was the main point that Jesus was telling His Disciples?”

Arielle answered,

“Doing things ‘O-MEDIATELY’”. 

We all looked at Arielle, laughed and said, 

 “That’s a very good word you made up.  We like it.”

O-mediately:  the art of obeying Jesus in a rapid manner without hesitating.  Listening and obeying while quickly omitting any bad attitudes.

It was a funny and insightful moment.

I need continual insight from a perspective higher than my own.  I have the capability to get lost in the weeds.   I was literally out pulling some weeds in the yard yesterday.  My mom and dad are coming to visit and I didn’t want my dad to think the “property was abandoned” (as he so aptly put it at one time).  He likes to work in the yard and I didn’t want him having to work SO hard having to pull weeds so I have been trying to conquer little sections at a time.

 Weeding paints a vivid picture on life.  It is the removal of the unwanted pieces on the landscape of our hearts.  The more often we take the time to remove those “pieces”, the easier it is to uproot.   The longer we wait the more effort it takes to get it out from the ground.  If the weed is big and thorny, I   often wait until I get my shovel because even with my gloves on the thorns get me.  Consistent maintenance and the willingness to simply take the necessary action is the key.  Once most of the weeds are cleared, I am able to see & enjoy the beauty of the landscape and valuable plants more readily.  With a clearer perspective, there seems to be more effectiveness in my life and the ability to focus outward and upward.  Of late, I have been inspired by a few individuals around me who seem very successful at what they do.  I study people and have noted that the ones that I enjoy most are ones that enjoy themselves and frequently do not take themselves all too seriously.  They seem to be aware of both shortcomings and their strengths within themselves and are not afraid to admit either.  Genuinely real people are always more attractive to me.   We laugh together, cry together and can share common experiences together.  Sharing moments becomes an experience.

Some of the traits I have noticed in successful life giving people around me are that they are unique individuals who generally….

1.  Take note;

2.  Take action “o-mediately”;

3.  Are doing for themselves and others;

4.  “Likes” to work with others;

5.  Enjoys working with people (both young and old)  with love in their hearts and eyes;

6.  Have the discipline to live by inward rules made for themselves;

7.  Are open, flexible and unafraid of change;

8.  Are thankful and are using their individual gifting to serve others;  

9.  See possibilities and beauty all around;

10. “Weed” consistently.

It has been a season of meeting new people like this.  There are a few of them that maintain the added dimension of the God factor while others have a strong successful pattern of life that has worked well without the eternal dimension.  We thrive on meeting people like this.  As we go about life, business, fund raising, speaking, discipling, and the general market place ministry, we are finding our place in this community, We desire to shine His success in us and through us

We are headed to Utila Honduras and will meet many from around the world.  The mission field is wide open with lots of friends to be made and coffee to be poured.  It is our drink offering that will bring about endless possibilities in relationships.  For now and eternity….

God has been at work … 

Tom and Nutie completed their home in Waspam Nicaragua…a worthy piece of art and welcome to all.  They are involved in countless relationships with our Miskito friends and family.  They are amazingly gifted disciples who are making disciples and truly baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  They are successful people who are making a difference in their world.  We are so thankful to have them in our lives working amongst us.

  Mikaela, our Rio Coco Shipping director takes charge over many facets of life and has become a true team player and example to her world.

Lukas just landed a sweet job at the gym teaching children to swim.  This was a kind reward of the Lord to him due to his “o-mediate” action to begin his discipline routine at the pool by swimming a few days a week on his own.  Our responses to direction always bears it’s just fruit….

  Arielle & Moselle can pull off from start to finish any event that serves others.  We had an amazing tea time with one of Mik and Luk’s professors from their college.  They are becoming quite the hostesses and total help around the household.  They do make us glad.  They are into serving their Grandma and Grandpa while they visit.  This will be a special time for all of us to share.  Thank you for praying for my mom.  When I went to help them, she did get better and now is here with us.  We are thankful for such a beautiful answer to prayer.

Michael and I are thriving on the faithfulness and care of the Lord in many areas that He has assigned to us to do and care for.  The opportunities abound and we are making the most of our time in honor of the One we serve and love.  Thank you for coming alongside of us in our journey.  It has been remarkable and we do believe that this “second” half of life will be even more effective than the first half.

  Our friend and ministry partner, Ted Lebrecht went home to be with the Lord on Good Friday.  Many of you prayed with us for him.  Thank you.  He celebrates with Jesus now.  We will miss him, but his legacy lives on.                                                                      Laura

 

You Can Make A Difference!

 

This month,  over 1200 children will attend classes in eight communities along the Rio Coco in Nicaragua. They will be taught all the academic subjects as well as a class on the Bible.

  Our 39 teachers will show up each day, and work hard to reach their students. Each month, our team of supervisors will arrive in their village, talk over any issues, teach and encourage them, and give them their monthly salary. 

How does this all happen? Through our Rio Coco Kids sponsorship program, and through your donations to Seek The Lamb.  Take opportunity this month to make a difference!  Use the enclosed envelope and touch a life!

Together we can accomplish more

than we can individually!

 Make a Gift This Month.

The Bagby Bunch Corner

We celebrated Easter Week by joining the production at Central Assembly with our “cardboard testimonies”. This is the end of the Easter Drama, where many in our church display the difference the Risen Christ has made in their lives. The entire Bagby Family was onstage flipping their testimony cards, and it was a powerful witness for all of us.

 My card said on one side “Arrogant, Self Centered Hell-Raiser before he met Jesus in 1981”.  When I flipped the card over, every one could read “Left Maui on a mission trip in 1984 to help Miskito Indians. Started a Christian school project.”  We flipped those cards for five nights, and with the background of very real drama of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, God touched me in a very deep manner.  He did change me!  I realized all over again where I had begun this journey– in my own self-centered world.  Now He has given me opportunity to work with all of you to change lives for all eternity. And we are finding ourselves doing it more and more as we take opportunity each day to follow His lead, and be obedient to his marching orders.

We have some opportunity this month of May to expand our ministry in Honduras, as well as in Vero Beach Florida.  It all has to do with our coffee ministry, and the Lord seems to be opening up some opportunities to move our roasting operation to a more visible place in the middle of Vero Beach, in a warehouse that will provide Bible study opportunities and greater “marketplace ministry” potential.   In Utila, we are hoping to be open full time in this next month. Both of these locations are prime areas for evangelism and discipleship.  But we need His specific guidance– please pray for that in these next weeks.  We so value your partnership with us!       Laura & Michael

 

 

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We love you all so much and miss you. So inspired by each of you! Praying that His slipstream would carry you places you never imagined!! The Mackins

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