DO NOT DRINK THE WATER!

I have been doing mission work in Mexico since 2003.  Our family now hosts cross-cultural short-term missions trips in Mexico using a Team Ministry approach through our own missions agency, Evident Ministries.  We are there every year in July and December.  As a result, I have been in Mexico many, many times over the years including all over Baha,  Mexicali, Nogales, Reynosa, and Acuña.  In all these years, I have never been to the U.S. embassy in Mexico City.  But, I am certain if I were to pay them a visit, they would have some safety tips for me.  

For example, they would likely caution me against drinking water from the tap in Mexico.  

Our water in the U.S. is filtered, clean, and pure.  In Mexico, what comes from the faucet is most definitely not.  If you do drink water from the tap in Mexico, you may very well find yourself scooting around on the carpet in a day or so!  At the very least, you will be sorry you did it.  It is not good for you.  It will hurt you.

Can I just tell ya something?  The Bible tells us, in a sense, what kind of water we ought not drink.  For example, the Bible warns us about telling lies...that old chestnut of wisdom and good advice.  Lying will hurt us and others.  It hurts our testimony as Christians.  It is a reflection on Jesus and His church.  We are warned about allowing anger to cause us to sin.  Uncontrolled anger allows Satan into the picture.  Unbridled anger will hurt us and others.  It hurts our testimony as Christians.  It is a reflection on Jesus and His church.  In God's Biblical standard for living, we are commanded to not steal but instead to work for and earn our own income.  We are called to obey God.  Honoring God's commands is what it means to be obedient.

The bottom line is simple.  As Christians, whatever we do, we are to do for God.  As Christians, our perspective in all things ought to be entirely different than that of the world and of those who do not have a saving knowledge of Jesus.  Why?  If or when our perspective is no different than the world's, it will hurt us and others.  It will hurt our testimony as Christians.  It is a reflection on Jesus and His church.

Don't drink the water of this world.  It will make you sick.  It is not good for you.  

In other words, you cannot live on both sides of the fence.  It will hurt you and others.  It is a poor example of what it means to live for Jesus.  It will also begin to over time, harden your heart towards God which will tank your relationship with Him.

Prayer - 
Father, please forgive me for when I look away from your Biblical standard for living and drink the water of this world.  Your ways are the best ways.  You always have Your very best in mind for me.  Amen.

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -- Colossians 3:17 (CSB)


#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi 

NOT OF THIS WORLD

Our family runs a non-profit missions ministry called Evident Ministries.  We host ministry teams for a week of Team Ministry twice per year - in December/January and July.  Our ministry teams participate in a week of Team Ministry as they reach out to groups in Women's, Children's, Sport's, and evening worship service ministry.

When we are in Mexico, we stand out in a crowd.  When we run errands and make grocery or supply runs, we are a small group of light-skinned Americans in a sea of darker-skinned hispanics.  We stand out.  There is no hiding it.  

We do not have to say anything to them to let them know there are differences.  We do not have to say, "We're not from around here."  They know because we look and act very differently.

The Apostle Paul issued a challenge, in his letter to the church at Ephesus, basically saying we should no longer look and act like unbelievers.  He challenged us, in his letter to the church at Corinth, to remember that if we are "in Christ", we are a new creation.  He said the old is gone and the new is here.

As Christ followers, we are to look different.  We ought to behave, talk, and think differently than the rest of the world.  Non-believers should know by how we do all of those things that we are different.  Non-Christians should know without us telling them.  They should not be surprised to find out we are Christian.  This should have already been obvious.

Can I just tell ya something?  As children of God, we not of this world.  This world is not our home.  We are just passing through in this temporary existence.  

We are, in fact, very different than this lost world around us.  We are, in fact, very different on account of God's Holy Spirit living inside us.  We do not have the same hardening of our hearts or blindness to the things of God.  We are different.

Prayer - 
Father, in my heart of hearts, I know that I am different thanks to Jesus and the cross.  Forgive me for allowing my circumstances and my human weakness to cause me to forget that.  Lord, help me to live in a such a way that I do not have to tell those around me that I am chasing hard after You.  Amen.


Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. -- Ephesians 4:17-18 (CSB)

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

MY PRO BOWLING TECHNIQUE

Bowling changed my life.  To be more accurate, bowling caused a radical change in perspective.  Around 15 years ago, we visited my wife's sister and her family in Lawrence, KS.  Our two families decided bowling would be a fun way to spend some time together.  

At that time, I had been bowling a combined total of no more than five or six times in my life.  It was not that I disliked bowling.  It was simply not something I was ever inspired to spend a lot of time doing.  Do you know that my very first ball that day was a STRIKE?!?  

In that moment, I suddenly realized that I was really good....in fact, I was amazing at bowling!  

What technique!  I should think about going pro!  I will need to have my own personal bowling ball and shoes.  I could help my friends learn to bowl. Wow!  This new discovery had really changed my outlook and perspective on life!

My next six turns in the lane resulted in gutter balls.  I suddenly realized that I was really bad...in fact, I was terrible at bowling!  I quickly came climbing down out of my ivory tower of pro bowler technique and future success touring in the PBA.  Suddenly, I had another radical change in perspective.  Whew!  This 2-hour family outing which promised friendly, family togetherness had turned out to be a rollercoaster of emotion!  Well, that is how I remember it anyway.

The Apostle Paul experienced a radical change in perspective when he came to know the real Jesus and surrendered his life to Him.  He had previously considered Jesus and all those who followed Him to be enemies.  His new perspective knew Jesus as his savior.

Can I just tell ya something?  As Christ followers, we have a radical new perspective on life.  We no longer have need to look at others and categorize them by race, skin color, stereotypes, etc.  As a true disciple of Jesus, I should have two categories in my perspective toward others.  

They are either saved or not saved.  They are either a missionary or a mission field.  

That change in our perspective is due to our surrender to Jesus.  God has given us His Spirit and a new point of view has entered into our thinking.

Prayer - 
Father, You have given me a radical new perspective!  I am a new creation because of Jesus and the Cross.  The old me has passed away.  Thank You!  Amen.

From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (CSB)

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

PATO, PATO, GONSO

Our family runs a non-profit missions ministry called Evident Ministries.  We host ministry teams for a week of Team Ministry twice per year - in December/January and July.  Our ministry teams participate in a week of Team Ministry as they reach out to groups in Women's, Children's, Sport's, and evening worship service ministry.

Our Children's Ministry teams quickly learn that children in Mexico do not spend all their time playing video games and staring at smart phones.  

Children in Mexico, like most third world countries, spend a great deal of their time, playing games with each other outside.  One of the games our Children's Ministry teams play with children in Mexico is Duck, Duck, Goose...or as it is called in Mexico, Pato, Pato, Gonso.  

As you likely already know, the game of Duck, Duck, Goose involves children sitting in a circle where the child who is "it" walks around the outside of the circle, touching each child on the head as they say, "Duck" for each child.  Randomly, they will choose a child who, when they touch their head, they will instead say, "Goose".  At that point, the child who was chosen as the "goose" will jump up and chase the person who was "it" around the circle and back to their empty spot in the circle.  If the one who is "it" makes it back without being tagged, the "goose" becomes "it".  If they are tagged by the "goose" before sitting down, they remain "it" and go again.

Here's the thing.  The truth is that every child in the circle hopes to become the "goose" so they can jump up and maybe get to be "it".  As a result, each child will sit up straight and attempt to stand out in the crowd by maybe sitting taller or somehow triggering a "goose" when they are tapped.  

Too often, we are playing "Duck, Duck, Goose" with God.  We are trying to sit up straight to get His attention.  

We are trying to act right and to behave in public in order to impress God.  We think, even if only subconsciously, that we must surely need to impress God with our good behavior, or He will not notice us.  This kind of stinking-thinking belongs to the world.  It does not belong in the life of a Christian.  You won't find this anywhere within God's Biblical standard for living.

Can I just tell ya something?  You cannot impress God.  There is nothing you can do which will ever cause God to love you any more OR less than He loved you in the moment of your salvation.  This is not a feeling.  This is a Biblical fact and truth.  God already chose to love you and not because of how well you behave in public.  It was the result of His great mercy and love for His own creation.

Prayer -
Father, please forgive me for ever thinking my good or bad behavior will influence Your love, grace, or mercy for me.  Your Word says nothing I do will ever influence those things in either direction.  I don't deserve those things, cannot earn them, and could never repay You for them.  Amen.

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift ​— ​ not from works, so that no one can boast. 1 -- Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB)

HORSING AROUND

Many years ago and for several years, I worked for our local elementary school as a para-professional.  I also drove a school bus for several years.  Over time, I began to amass a list of standard responses and strategies for addressing issues with kids.  

As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun.  

There were about 15-20 top, seemingly random, interactions with kids I would have nearly every single day. 

On the bus, a regular issue was the age old practice of tattling.  "Richard is looking at me."  "Amy said she doesn't like me."  "Michael is chewing gum."  My response was most often something to the effect of:  "Please submit your complaint in writing and it must be in triplicate."  The response was usually a deflated look but no words.  Sarcasm is one of my spiritual gifts.  

One of the duty's on my list of responsibilities was Recess Duty.  Only about 10K times did a child run up to me and blurt out:  "HE'S CHASING ME!"  My standard response was to stand very still and say, "Ok, now chase me."  Since I was already caught from the start, they didn't know what to do.  Can I just tell ya something?  You cannot chase someone who is standing still.

Sometimes, we act like we are chasing God all around.  But, He has been right there beside us, standing still the whole time.  He was never running from us.  

Sometimes we spend so much time trying to get His attention, we don't realize He is trying to get our attention.  

We are making checkmarks on our list of good behaviors and trying sit up straight in church so that God might notice us.  But God is saying, "I see you.  I can wait.  Let me know when you are done horsing around.  I'll be right here."

Prayer -

Father, the Bible says You came looking for me and not the other way around.  Thank You for Your mercy, Your unconditional love, and definitely for Your great patience with me.  Please forgive me for my horsing around trying to impress You when it is a total waste of time.  Amen.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

UNCONDITIONALLY CHOSEN & LOVED

Remember as a kid being part of choosing teams in P.E. class?  The P.E. coach would select a couple of team captains who were most likely the two most athletic students in the class.  Then, one by one, they would go back and forth choosing the members of their team for whatever sport the class was getting ready to play.

Subject to the sport to be played, the team captains would choose first those they believed would be likely to benefit their team the most.  It also meant that those of us who were the least athletic would be chosen last.  Regardless of where you may have fallen in the selection process, it would have left you with a feeling about where you landed AND about where those who were chosen first and last landed.  

In this model, some are more "chosen" than others.

I have used this illustration many times when speaking to groups.  I usually suggest we try it ourselves or at least ask the group to consider what it would be like if we did.  What if we had all the men in the room stand up, select two captains, and have them choose teams for a football game...?  Who would be chosen first?  Who would be chosen last?  Why?  How do you think those would have been chosen last would feel?

The less "chosen" you feel in that process, the more likely you are to start thinking and maybe even saying out loud:

• Who wants to play anyway?
• This game is dumb. 
• I don't want to play.
• My ankle hurts...I don't feel well... I'll just watch...

That is a natural human response when we feel others are chosen to participate and we are something less than chosen.

Can I just tell ya something?  We are not likely going to genuinely and humbly surrender to or faithfully serve in obedience a God we do not really believe loves unconditionally.  In the very same way God came looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden, you better believe that, oh hallelujah, God came looking for you.  When you are feeling something less than chosen or less than unconditionally loved by God, read all of Ephesians 1 aloud to yourself. Each time the Apostle Paul uses a pronoun such as our, us, or we, replace it with my, me, and I.

Prayer - 
Father, Your Word tells me I am unconditionally chosen and loved by the Creator of the Universe not because of anything I have done or can do for You.  This truth sits at the center of my hope in Jesus.  Help me to lean hard into these Biblical truths in my day to day and to live in such as a way that others are asking me about my hope.

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.  -- Ephesians 1:4 (CSB)

For he chose ME in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

IN CHRIST

Nearly every nation in the world has a McDonald's restaurant located somewhere within that nation.  It is either owned by a franchisee or it is a corporate owned store.  They are privately owned.  At the same time, nearly every nation in the world has a United States Embassy located somewhere within that nation.  Each one is owned by the United States.  They are government owned.  

When you go into a McDonalds in Mexico City, you are still in Mexico.  You are at McDonalds...IN Mexico.  

No matter what nation a United States Embassy is in, the ground where it rests is United States soil.  That land under a United States Embassy does not belong to the foreign country where it sits.  If you, as a United States citizen, are IN that foreign nation, the moment you step into the United States Embassy, you would technically be IN the United States - because you are IN the Embassy. 

That helps me understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he referred to followers of Jesus as being IN CHRIST.  It has been said Paul used the phrase IN CHRIST 170 times.  It has been said, as a result, that it was Paul's favorite saying.  Can I just tell ya something?  I am not going to count to confirm but know that he said it many times.  IN CHRIST simply means belonging to Jesus or being in unity with him.  

There is a wonderful mystery to being IN CHRIST. It is a partnership with Jesus which we cannot fully understand this side of Heaven.  

Words cannot adequately and fully describe this partnership. But oh hallelujah, it is possible to have less than a full understanding about something and still be perfectly delighted about it.

Prayer -
Father, You now I do not understand everything about You and Your ways.  Help me to know that it is not only ok to not understand it all but also that You are not asking me to have it all figured out anyway.  Amen.

He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens IN CHRIST Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us IN CHRIST Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift ​— ​ 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created IN CHRIST Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:6-10 (CSB)

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

McDonalds Restaurant located in Mexico City

BAD FEAR, GOOD FEAR

To say that May 1, 2018 was a "pretty exciting day" at Casa Canote would be a gross understatement.  At approximately 5:20 PM, while sitting in her recliner, my wife looked down to see a 6 foot black snack curled up in our living room.  For clarification, we do not own a 6 foot black snake, nor do we have ANY other pets.

I was on my way home, arriving only moments after "the incident."  As I pulled into the driveway, three of my daughters and my beautiful bride came running out of the house screaming.  They were followed by my 5 year old son, Nicky Blue Eyes, who found the entire scene to be very entertaining.  As I got out of the car, they were getting into the car.  Somehow, in the chaos, I was able to determine there was a snake AND I would need to capture it or otherwise get it out of the house.  One daughter was still inside standing on the couch...also screaming.

After chasing the snake around the living room with a broom, flipping over a several pieces of furniture in the process, I was finally able to coax the snake outside.  It was during this time that my wife, engine running, used several long blasts of the car horn to communicate with me from the driveway.  I very clearly understood 3 distinct statements from her:

1. This is not ok!!
2. We cannot live here anymore!!
3. Burn it down!!

Now, we do live out in the country which I consider to be a privilege and blessing.  It does come with some issues which must be dealt with including the occasional snake, mouse, raccoon, or opossum. However, in the 21 years since we built our house, this was the first snake to violate the clearly established protocol for humans and snakes to co-exist.

Can I just tell ya something?  Fear serves one good purpose:  It keeps you alive.  Good fear is an instinctive natural human response to survive.  When you see a 6 foot snake curled up 1 foot away from you, there is a natural "fear response" which fires off a couple of quick commands:

1.  Do not pet the snake.
2.  Get away from the snake.

However, there is also a bad fear.  Bad fear manifests itself in the form of unnecessary anxiety or worry.  Bad fear is a liar.  God did not create us to live our lives in fear.  In fact, according the Bible, we were created to live with power, love, and a sound judgment or courage.

So what are you worrying about?  Where is fear, anxiety, and worry being allowed to manifest and grow in your life?  Christian, oh hallelujah, God gave you a spirit to overcome that!

Prayer -

Father, I know the difference between instinctive life-preservation fear and the unnecessary fear which leads to sinful anxiety and worry.  Help me Lord, to lean hard into You in all things, trusting in Your promises, and relying on the strength of Your Holy Spirit within me.  Amen.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 

-- 2 Timothy 1:7 (CSB)

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

TOMATO SAUCE MUSTACHE

Yesterday, I discovered that one of our kiddos, who shall remain nameless - I'll just call her #7 - left an open tin can, half full of tomato sauce overnight in the refrigerator.  I happened upon this senseless crime against humanity when I opened the refrigerator and said can tumbled out slopping tomato sauce all over me, the freezer drawer below, the kitchen floor, and across to the china cabinet.  This happened at around 8 AM putting me at only two cups of coffee... just enough to prevent a killing spree at Casa Canote.

Of course, my mind goes to how we have failed as a parents.  It was a punch in the gut to my parenting confidence.  How could #7 have reached the age of 14 in our house and not yet know this is NOT ok?!?  When have we ever left an open half can of anything overnight in the refrigerator?!?  

I could just picture the fuzzy tomato sauce mustache of mold and food poisoning which was surely already beginning to grow across the top!  

It was the same sort of feeling we parents get when our child acts out in a publicly humiliating way...like the grocery store, the library, or worse AT CHURCH!  

Can I just tell ya something?  From the 10K foot view:  We are not perfect parents and I bet you are not either!  To be fair, the older I get, the more clearly this reality becomes settled in my mind.  None of us have it all figured out and that's ok.

We know the One who is perfect, and He has all of the advice we could ever need right in His Word.  As Christ-followers, we also have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us as we do our best to parent our children.

Of course, we want to raise Godly kids who will follow hard after Jesus, and not grow mustaches and botulism in their refrigerators!  

The only way to do that is God’s way.  We cannot expect ourselves to be perfect parents.  We also cannot expect our children to be perfect kids.  We are all a work in progress.  That means one thing we can do is have confidence in God's promise to keep working in and through us until we are complete.  And just a reminder:  If our children know Jesus, then oh hallelujah, that promise is for them as well!

Prayer - 
Father, thank You for your promises!  You have promised to meet all of my needs, that all things work together for good for those who love You, and that nothing I do can make You love me any more or less than You already do.  Help me to lean hard into You as a parent and to trust in Your perfect plans and timing for me and for my children.  Amen.

I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  -- Philippians 1:6 (CSB)

#Missions #Evident #MásDeTi

THE PROMISES OF GOD

THE ROMAN ROAD TO THE GOSPEL

SERMON SERIES

Listen as Pastor Chris Canote leads us through an in depth study of the most influential book of the Bible and the greatest letter ever written. You will learn about the true essence of Christianity and salvation by God's grace through faith in Jesus.

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.  -- Romans 10:17 (CSB)

SERMON AUDIO PODCAST

PASTOR CHRIS CANOTE - SERMON LIBRARY