Skip, Boliva and Life

Doing life can really get interesting, can’t it?

It dawned on me today that my age and birth year were the same since the passing of my birthday recently. As I shared this insight with my wife, we noted that she has another 12 years to go before she crosses the same threshold. Then I realized that attaining this “honor” isn’t necessarily a comforting thought. I’ve got fewer years left on my warranty.

What’s really interesting is that the thought of my age and year of birth started a conversation between my wife and myself about what people do with their lives. We started ruminating on a friend of ours that we met as a result of the church at Lifepoint. This fellow is as low key as they come. Humble, serving, talented and a heart so full of good that if it were the ocean it would be bottomless.

This fellow at 30 years old is doing something that most of us wouldn’t attempt doing at any age. He leaves on the 28th for Bolivia. Not Boliva, NC or Boliva, TN, but THE Bolivia. The one nestled next to Brazil; you know, South America! Know what he’s going to be doing? He’s going to live in an orphanage so some little kids who have no parents can have a father for a while. Why? Because he’s compelled by the love of the Jesus Lord. Period. That’s it. Know what he’ll live on? $300 a month. Ready to sign up?

Skip Bachman is a hero. Not in the comic book or television sense of the word. That is meaningless. Skip is a hero of bibilical proportions. Self-sacrificing, selfless, loving. The kind of traits that make you sit up and take notice. And, did I mention humble? He’d try to make you think that this really wasn’t that big of a deal. If it wasn’t, how many of you would be willing to take his place?

Like I said, doing life can be quite interesting. Skip is living proof. And what better time to acknowledge this hero than on the day we celebrate the birth of the hero of our faith and real life.

Merry Christmas to all and to all an interesting life!

[Interested in writing Skip? He'd love to get a note from you. His email is: skipperbachman@hotmail.com]

White rocks

I’ve been thinking, and reading . . .

I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
–Revelation 2:17

This has been a rough month — shucks, it’s been a rough year, especially the last several months. When you’re getting beat up by life you tend to look at things in a “funny” way. That’s not a “hahaha” way, but an “oh crap” type of way.

Funny thing about getting beat up, it gives you a rather drab outlook on everything. Makes you want to kick dogs, let doors slam in people’s faces and be rude to everyone. You’ve got to fight those tendencies, but it sure does make your spirit not want to soar.

I’ve been camping out in 1 John the last week and it has helped tighten down some of the attitude adjustment screws. And that’s good.

But as I finished the John’s, I slipped into the Revelation and stumbled across the “white rock” passage. And that was the icing on the cake I needed. You see, no matter how messy things get, there’s someone who knows me in a way that no one else does. He’s given me a name that is uniquely mine and only he knows it. He won’t call me and have 3-4 other folks respond. I’m so special that he made me on purpose and he planned that millenium before I was even the proverbial twinkle in my parents’ eyes.

That rocks!

Itsy bitsy mistakes, part II

Just to show you that this mistake thing can cut both ways . . .

In the same way I was basking in the glow of new found “wealth” yesterday, today I am crying [sobbing] in the face of an oopsy that is kicking my butt.

Appears a vendor thought that charging me twice was far better than simply charging me once. Ok, simple mistake. It will be made right. Problem: he wiped out my bank accout and put me thousands in the red. Can’t conduct business and it won’t be corrected until after Christmas.

The mistake fairy has been working overtime these days . . .

29 days and counting

Another trip is about to happen!

A team of six will leave for Ubaúna, Ceará on the 17th of January. This will be a full, active trip. We will be emphasizing the kids we’ve registered in the Paxólas area of Ubaúna. We have classes, clothing and food distributions, community activities and nightly evangelistic meetings planned. Once back we will be posting photos and even video on the GFB web site and here.

We will also be interviewing a potential full-time, resident evangelist for the area.

We do covet your prayers in this preparation period and especially while in Brasil.

Seja bem vindo to the world of G(i)FB(o)!

Welcome to G(i)FB(o)!

Just what is a G(i)FB(o)?

It is pronounced as Gif-Bo and it stands for GFB or Gospel for Brazil. GFB exists to evangelize northeastern Brasil (and yes, “Brasil” is spelled with an “s,” not a “z”), particularly the state of Ceará. For indepth info on the organization, check out our web page.

This blog will be used as a sounding board for the founder (Joe Carr) and a point of information for those interested in the work that is being done.

Your comment and feedback is welcomed and desired. Thanks for reading!