MaritimeMercy.com

Back in 1980, Carla and I, spent two years in Rio de Janeiro working with a youth organization called Clubes Biblicos. Our house in the barrio of Tijuca offered refuge to teenagers and young adults searching for a deep connection with God and fellowship with other Christians. It was during that time that we were exposed to Francis Schaffer’s idea of “L’Abri” and the concept of community. If we were not sharing the love of God through dramas, music and speaking one on one, we were engaged in deep theological discussion on the relevant topics of our time. Otherwise use the fellowship to talk about our favorite subject, football (soccer). After Carla and I left Rio to work with Mercy Ships, the Clube Biblicos ministry continued to grow and became a church called Comunidade Jesus Vive. Last April Comunidade Jesus Vive commemorated the church’s 23rd anniversary. My best friend Benoni, the church’s pastor, invited me to preach to a congregation of 400 or more. Overwhelmed by emotion, I could

I’m impressed by the words of King David in Psalm 37, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your hearth.” David’s statement is conditional, one needs to delight. Delight being a condition of contentment pleasure and enjoyment, a tough assignment. The point here is not one being capable to fulfill the condition, but of God being able and willing to give what we desire. I was faced by God’s willingness to give the desire of my heart in our recent trip to Brazil. One of the many wishes on my heart for this trip was to have a “churrasco”, Brazilian barbecue. South Brazil, our first stop, is known as the birth place of the “churrasco”. We stayed there over two week, but we had no chance to eat a churrasco. On our trip from South to Rio I confided to Carla that I was disappointed. In Rio I called my friend Dalmo who invited us for lunch Saturday afternoon. As we got together he asked me: What do I liked to do, I said that I didn’t had anything in mind. He then sai