Haiti Bible Institute, Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The students arrived today—some of them a couple hours early. They were early because I just learned that Haiti changed its mind again and decided to go on Daylight Saving Time this year. It only took me two days to figure it out. I thought I got up at five but it was actually six. I feel so rested.

They will eat, sleep and study right here, as seems to work best in this culture. We have 18 pastors who are scheduled to finish their Associate of Arts degree later this year. One student (who is also one of our translators) had to miss this session because he was recently appointed as Haiti’s Ambassador to the Bahamas. Knowing the heart he has for service, he will be Ambassador to the Bahamas for another Kingdom as well.

The way things work academically, the men get four courses in eight days (about 64 instructional hours). During the first four days I will teach Biblical Counseling, tag-teaming with Dr. Bearss, who will use his sixteen sessions to teach Angelology, Hamartiology and Eschatology. During the second four days I will teach the book of Hebrews. Jim will teach them how to prepare their personal doctrinal statements in anticipation of oral examinations and graduation in November. The four final exams will be on Saturday and Wednesday.

I am devouring a book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love. I determined to eat my vegetables and work through a substantial Christian book before starting into the sugary copy of Hunger Games I brought along. I’m glad I did. I am finding that I like vegetables. The big point is that my response to the extravagant, over-the-top love from God is often self-centered and less than loving. I like my comforts here too much. I am being challenged by statements like this (Piper’s God Is the Gospel, quoted by Chan):

The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, and all the physical pleasure you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?