Religion surfing

I went to sleep last night thinking about the many waves of religion in my city and wondering how people get along in this religious consumer society. Consumerism is a way of life in so many world locals today, but is probably at its height in the U.S. Americans have choices about everything from the type of cotton swabs they buy, their particular brand of toothpast (or whether to brush their teeth at all) and even what specific type of that brand from tarter control to whitening, to their particular brand of religion and type of that religion. The choices run the spectrum, and I won't delegate what that spectrum is. To aid in this is the marketing and advertising that is a given with so many choices, enticing us to choose this product over that one.

In Brazil we don't have as many choices for consumer goods, although it seems every day those choices increase, but the religious scene is way different, with as many and probably more all grouped into almost every bairro in Salvador. To go along with that is the mentality that you should try what works for you for now, and if it stops working for you, go on to something else. So, today if Spiritism works for you, maybe tomorrow Catholocism will. Or, maybe on the way home from mass you get the idea that a Condomble practitioner could help you cure that gripe that so many people get when the weather changes. Advertising takes a bit of a different form here, and much of it is aimed at not the specific brand, but at the overall concept. "Go to the nearest evangelical church to your home." "Don't forget your Catholic roots." These are just a couple of the flyers one may receive while walking to the beach or the shopping [center] to help guide you through this miriad of choices. I think most leaders are hoping people will just catch one of the waves and ride it for a while, so that they can receive as much of the surfers time and money as possible, realizing that is won't last long before they move on to the next option. We have had some pop into our Sunday morning worship saying that they just like to go to the new churches and learn what they are all about.

So, this is the environment I work in. How do we plant a church of 1000 in a religious scene like this? We don't, but I still have faith God can. Is there any parallel in the Bible to this religious scene? Is the lack of desire to commit to anything going to get in God's way in Salvador? Probably not, but it will get in the way of the people of Salvador, and makes it hard for anyone over 25 to change anything about their lives. I'm just thinking, and these answers are too simplistic to be definite.

Bummer

I'm just sitting here thinking about all the great waves I am missing right now. Actually, this time of day today is probably not the best time, but it is the epoca for waves right now, and I should be hitting the beach every day. That is my plan (once we buy a car, that is). I am hoping that I can get up every morning early and drive myself and my board to the beach and hopefully meet up there with some others who are out there regularly.

For now, I have a lot of time to think about doing that, and I am still getting out there once in a while. The good thing is, next time I go to Otavio's, I don't have to worry about taking my stick, because he bought a longboard and said I can just ride his. Seriously, I really want to get into a routine of at least being in the water, and I can't rely on him because I never know if he is working or off work. Plus he always just says drop by. He is such a surfer, and a Bahiano. Very laid back and ready to leave everything to chance, whether he happens to be home or not when I drop by.

I do need to take Thomas to the beach and let him take a turn on the longboard. That is becoming a ritual for our visitors. Take them out there and let them catch a few small waves on their bellies and try to stand of a couple of times before they get pooped or sunburned or surf wax rash. Then I go out for what probably seems like an eternity (I know for me it seems like an eternity when they are in the water with my board) before we pack up and head for home. It's good times, and they get the chance to try a little of the sport with lifeguards around. That's the deal, if there are no certified salva vidas in the vicinity, I don't even go out. Not yet anyway.