I am happy to be able to report that the weather has finally caught up with the welcome. The last couple of days have been spectacular here in Sao Paulo as temperatures got up into the 90 s.  Quente Sao Paulo Gloria Deus!

More importantly we are thrilled with the way the meetings are going people have really embraced our teaching here in SP.  We were lifted into the heavenly realms yesterday when on Republic Day [a public holiday] the various eccelsias gathered for a joint meeting.  What a time we had together and what mighty fellowship we had in the spirit. 

TaTa shared his new and most magical song The Look of Love inspired from the previous Sunday s meeting. It was pure Jesus.  Jorge Camargo led us in a time of reflective worship and I could hear the Lord mischievous chuckle as I was brought close to tears captivated by the precious minstrel as he gently strummed Shine Jesus Shine [anyone who has ever heard me teach over a consistent basis would have probably heard me make some pejorative remark about that song would appreciate the Lord's sense of humour.]  Yesterday it didn t sound hackneyed or clich d but sounded as pure as it was when I first heard Graham Kendrick play it many years ago. It took me back to the moment of innocence and purity of devotion to Jesus.  

I spoke to the group from 1 Jn 4:18 a talk called Perfect Love Casts Out Fear it was a wonderful ecclesia.  [Incidentally the main talks from this visit are being edited and will be uploaded onto the website in the coming days.]  This visit has been all about strengthening our relationships and we have enjoyed holy communion with one another.  What a time we had in the home of Jorge and his wife Ana last evening. Just sharing the love and the life of Christ with one another. 

Now that the message is taking root in the hearts of the brothers here the real question is ensuring that we pursue our message beyond the child phase and become the embraceable us.  I don t think that there we need have any anxiety over whether or not we have the right message. Ostensibly we do. Our message will continue to evolve but the DNA is Jesus and that is the gospel we know that Jesus Christ + nothing = everything. However, we must be watchful to ensure that our message does not degenerate into our becoming Grace Pharisees.   The message of love can only be communicated by messengers who are love. Consequently, this has been my emphasis on this trip. Accordingly, we are spending a lot of time working closely with the local leaders framing our vision and "see & feel " values.  

We must go on from teaching   Christ in me for MY benefit  and take the message on to maturity  Christ in me for the benefit of others   The Brazil ecclesias are more than ready to embrace whatever that might mean.  [I know the London eccelsia feel the same].  Indeed it was precisely what they wanted to talk about.  Always remember that the difference between pure and applied theology is that applied theology asks one question that pure theology does not and that one question is: So what?   

I am loved So what? 
I am forgiven So what?
Christ lives in me so what?   
Etc

Having spent the previous week in London reflecting upon the issue of leadership I suppose that I shouldn t have been surprised that having arrived in Sao Paulo this topic very much at the forefront of the thinking of the ecclesia here.   The church of Jesus Christ in common with the corporate world is in the grip of a leadership crisis.   I spoke this morning on the subject at a Pastor s breakfast, and brought a word from Mtt 20 entitled Not So With You it was an exhortation for those of us who presume to lead to cultivate the grace to lead.  The theme of the talk was simple enough: Are you seeking to serve or to be served?  [ It is a question that  I would encourage us all to reflect upon]

I am of the view that the entire malaise in the church is due to the fact that too many leaders in the body of Christ are not servant leaders but self-serving leaders. If we are to restore the church to her rightful place then we must begin by recognising that the only authority deserving one s allegiance is that which is freely and knowingly granted by the led to the leader in response to, and in proportion to, the clearly evident servant stature of the leader.  This is the way of the Master. May it become the way of his children also.

Agape

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