6.21.09

Church this morning was the exact opposite of what we were expecting. We attended Gospel Mission Church. They had a really fun Father’s Day program (all the women in the church were on stage in matching outfits singing “We want to wish you a Happy Father’s Day” to the tune of “We want to wish you a Merry Christmas”) Each dad got wine when they came in the door (Jason was offered some. He swears it’s his very mature beard.)

There was a translator for every pair of us, which was a huge blessing. The pastor talked about using your cell phone to glorify God, a very interesting sermon topic. Earlier this week, there were two students from Jason’s school who video taped themselves having homosexual sex and they text it to all the students in the school. It was in the newspaper and caused a big stir in the community. I really appreciated that the pastor addressed it directly, and didn’t ignore what was going on in the community.

After that sermon, he preached your typical prosperity, Joel-Olteen gospel. He said that believers who have been going to church for 10 years should not still be walking to church. They should have enough faith by now to have been blessed with a car. He prophesied that everyone in the church would get a “transportation upgrade”. “If you walk,” he said, “you will have a bike. If you have a bike, you will have a car. If you have a car, you will have a new car.”

I talked to Josie and Romi about this after the service, and they said they disagreed with it as well, but Josie made a really good point. She said that she doesn’t mind going to that church anyway. She said, “look at his life. That man is blessed of God. I will listen to his teaching and take what I know is true to the Word and leave what isn’t. I can’t judge him. God reserved that as His job.” It was very humbling.

The family (Josie’s extended family) invited us over for the best meal we have every had and to watch the rugby game. We learned how to make apple tart and custard and that you have to be stupid to play rugby. It was such a privilege to be considered part of their family. It made Father’s Day a little more bearable.