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Cornerstone Communications
Brazil
February 04, 2008

Newsletter Contents

1. Greetings
2. Double Your Impact!
3. Miracle! OH NO!
4. VIDEO
5. Teaching for January SHIPPING AND RECEIVING
6. Text from the Video (for those who’d rather read)
7. Closing

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Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Recife, Brazil! I’ve been here one week now, and the weather is hot, and so is Carnival! Carnival makes Mardi Gras look like a picnic! Literally everyone in the nation gets involved and it’s non-stop parties from Saturday to this Wednesday. I must be getting old, because at 3 a.m., I want to yell out the window, “Be Quiet!” Still, it’s wonderful to be where everyone is so happy.

VIDEO MESSAGE

OH NO! Part 100

This report is on the video, but due to time constraints on the video, I’ll fill in the details here.

For those of you who’ve read my newsletters for sometime, you’ll recall that Train Schedules and ME somehow can’t co-exist. Even though I’m punctual, I’ve had so many close calls, and have run after many a train, as it left the station. Well, on January 4, en route from Ukraine to Romania, I was taking a train to Bucharest. My biggest fear is to somehow miss a train, so I seldom get off at a stop.

I hadn’t drunk any water for 1 day, and I was parched. The schedule read we had a 15 minute stop, and I asked the conductor, and she said, “15 minutes”. “Okay” I thought, “I’ll make a dash for it”, and ran inside the station to buy me a bottle of water and a croissant. I was gone 5 minutes, and ran back. Imagine my shock to see the train already clocking 50 mph and gain speed as it headed off to Bucharest without me!!!!!

My luggage, laptop, Ipod, coat and hat, and $1700 were all on that train! I was frantic, but kept my cool. For some strange reason, I had grabbed my passport and wallet as I went to buy the water. Praise the Lord. I ran to the station, asked which was the train’s next stop, then caught the first taxi and told him, “Follow that train!” That how it works in the movies, right? Well, this 75 year old man looked at me, and said, “Huh?” I told him in English, Russian, Spanish and French, but he only spoke a rural dialect of Romanian. He puttered along, and pulled over to check a map. Aaaagh! I kept my cool. Worst of all, he was a hothead! Still, we managed to go to the next stop, which was an hour and a half away. Surprisingly, this elderly man really made good time, on icy roads! We arrived at the train station, and he charged me $200. Youch.

Still, I think I beat the train, because I didn’t see it. I ran in, asking everyone if the Moscow-Sophia line had come through. No one spoke anything but Romanian. Finally, one girl spoke Russian. I asked her when it would come, and she said, “It doesn’t come to this station, but the other one.” Yuk. My heart sank. I’d never see my stuff again. It had probably all been stolen by now.

Earlier, on the train, I had 3 Korean college students on the train with me. Of course, I love Korea, so we got along instantly, and became friends. They got off at the same stop I did (when I got the water) . So, I knew our Kupe (compartment) was empty, and the door was closed.

Now, I bought a new train ticket, and called my friend in Bucharest to meet the train, but that I wouldn’t be on it. I told him to fetch my things, but then, I felt led to tell him to bring the police with him. I boarded my new train, and it turned out to be an express train, which made great time. We would arrive only 30 minutes into Bucharest after my original train would.

Good thing I told Ovidiu to bring the police, because the conductor and her friends had already started going through my things, but denied knowing anything about me! The police came forward and they had to let him on. There, all my things had been gone through, but they gave it all to the police and my friend. When I arrived, I met him at the police station, with my belongings!!!! Amazingly, everything was there. They never found the money! So, the only thing missing was a pair of gloves and a few small items. God protected me and my things!

FEBRUARY TEACHING

Shipping & Receiving

Have you ever wondered about what it takes to receive supernatural favor of God, such as supernatural healing, provision, or wisdom? If so, then this message is for you! I can’t speak for the men and women in the Bible, but I’m just an ordinary guy. I’m not “more special” or more spiritual than someone else. I was also filled with fear and doubt.

So, what changed me? Shipping and receiving is what changed me! I had to learn how to receive God’s Word, and also to send it out, through my own mouth. That’s what happens when you dedicate yourself to God’s Word. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Notice it doesn’t say that faith comes by reading the Word of God. No, you have to hear it. You have to speak it over your life and your circumstances.

So often, I would read the Bible in the morning, but then the rest of the day I would speak negativity. “That car is going to cut me off in traffic”, “I’m never going to get this project done”, etc. I would negate God’s Word by NOT dwelling on it. I would dwell on my own thoughts and ideas. That’s not the way to victorious living!

It’s not God’s responsibility to make you receive faith. He gladly gives each man a measure of faith. It’s your responsibility to receive it, and to grow that faith. You can nurture and grow your faith through reading God’s Word, and dwelling on it. So, how do you “dwell” on God’s Word?

Make it your focus to study God’s Word, to meditate on it and to study it. Turn off the television and the programs filled with sexual innuendos, violence and war. Open God’s Word instead! There’s very little that “dwelling” on television will offer you. But, if you will “abide in Me and My words abide in you, you can ask what you desire and it will be done for you.”

You know you have reached that level of “dwelling” when you come across a certain situation, and the Word concerning that circumstance readily comes up. I remember as a young man having incredible battles in my mind over impure thoughts and an overactive imagination to assume the worst things over my life. The enemy was trying to get me to believe I was not good for anything. Sadly, many Christians helped the enemy try to convince me that I was nothing more than a sinner.

I started dwelling on simply one scripture, 2 Corinthians 10:3 “For though we walk in the flesh, we war not after the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (or regular or physical weapons) , but they are mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down every imagination that (tries to) exalts itself above the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.” I began to picture it, to “dwell” on that verse.

Each time I had a negative or an impure thought (which were thousands daily!) , I would “ship” off that Word to that circumstance, and amazingly, those negative thoughts became less and less! I had “received” God’s Word, and I was shipping it back out. Over a period of time, my mind started to clear, and I started to think more on the things of God than the things of this world.

That’s the way God’s Word works! By reading the Bible, it goes in your eyes, you speak it with your mouth then hear it with your ears, and finally it goes down deep in your heart and your mind. Don’t just read the Word silently, read it out loud. Try it, and you’ll enter a whole new level of understanding! There’s power in hearing yourself proclaim God’s Word!

That’s the very nature of salvation. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” My friend, use your mouth to build up your faith by quoting God’s Word, instead of using it to tear yourself down.

With the Word of God in your heart, (Receiving) , and the Word of faith in your mouth (Shipping) , you will have an amazing journey in God’s Kingdom as you live victoriously and joyously for the Lord!

VIDEO TEXT

If you’d rather read the text rather than watch it, here is the text for the video!

Kiev is one of my favorite cities to visit because of all of the history, the beautiful buildings and landscape, and the revival currently taking place.

Best of all, I have many friends here in Kiev, so it was here that I would usher in the New Year. I would spend some time with dear friends: Denis Varianuk, Oles Gustinitsa, Rusan Harachuk, and Olga, Victor, Oleg and Valera

I left Kiev and took a train to Romania. I’m very conservative, and won’t risk getting off the train. However, I was assured by the conductor we had a 15 minute stop, so I went to buy water, and when I came back, the train was rolling into the distance! AAAAGH! Everything I own is on the train, including my coat, my money and my laptop! I prayed, and I had to take another train to Bucharest, but I did have my friend, Ovidiu Tanase meet the train and get all my things! God came through again!

I returned to Kiev for 2 days, careful not to get off the train! I then flew to Zagreb, Croatia and was met by dear friend Vlado Hoblaj. He would keep me busy for the next 4 days.

I was able to speak to my actors about the 2008 season.Vlado arranged for pastors from around Croatia to come to Cakovec, just so that I could meet with them about our summer musical.

We had formed a leadership team for the production, and began to plan and organize the event. There was such an excitement in the air! I was asked to preach at a small church. Attendance was low, but the Holy Spirit was present, and we had church.

I hugged, and said goodbye to all my Croatian friends, and flew on to Rome, Italy.

It has been more than 20 years since I was here, so it was wonderful to be back.

I landed in Rome, and planned to sightsee. However, I was so tired, the only thing I wanted to do was sleep!

You know you’ve traveled too much when the inside of a hotel room is more exciting that the Colosseum 2 blocks away!

After friend, Amy Harriss brow-beat me by e-mail for not sightseeing, I did decide to take at least a bus tour.

And indeed, Rome delivered some of the most amazing sights, like the Colosseum. I was able to take in Vatican City, with it’s majestic square and breathtaking facades.

I was swept away by the hundreds of columns flanking St. Peter’s Basilica, they were just beautiful.But undoubtedly, it was the endless rows of statues, both inside and outside the basilica that fascinated me. How much time was spent decorating Vatican Square? I was in awe of the beauty that surrounded me at every angle.

I was able to take a tour of the Vatican museum, with tens of thousands of statues and paintings, including famous paintings by Michaelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. Truly, the Vatican is one of the most beautiful places in the world for culture and art.

I enjoyed the costumes, er, the uniforms for the Vatican guards.

Truly, my trip to Rome had been worth it, not only to relax, but to be refreshed with the splendor of Rome. I said goodbye to Rome, and hope to return again someday soon. What a nice time!

I flew on to Frankfurt, where I transferred and would fly on to the USA. I arrived in Dallas and stayed with dear friends Paul and Brenda Platt.

I was here for our church’s missions conference called WorldFest. Here I’m video taping a greeting to our congregation. Everyone was in preparation for the big performance during each of the four services. Costumes were ready and the actors were anxious.

The Lord blessed the production, and the dancers and actors were incredible! The audience loved all the pageantry of flags and the colorful costumes. It was so good to be back in my church, and the audience was gracious to welcome me back.

WorldFest was a success! Congratulations to Pastors Ralph and Donna Holland for leading the event, Pastor Tim Holland for directing the music and Sonja Samuel for choreography! What a talented team we have at our church!

Again, it was time to leave my fifth country. I hugged friends goodbye and boarded Delta to Atlanta.From here I would go on to my sixth country for January, Brazil.

I would fly 13 hours from Atlanta to Sao Paulo, then on to Recife, the capital of Brazil. Upon arrival, Carnival was already in full swing in the airport! Colorful costumes, wonderful dancers and even a live Carnival band welcomed all of us weary passengers. Before long, even the passengers got in on the fun, and started dancing. Truly, Carnival is contagious!

OBRIGADO!

That is Portuguese for “Thank You!” I’m so grateful to all of you who pray and lift me up before the Father. Your prayers and your financial support make my ministry a blessing to the nations. I want to ask you to pray for protection for me while I’m here in Brazil. There is a lot of stealing, and muggings are frequent. However, I know that I’m in the Lord’s will. God bless you, my friends, and if you have any prayers requests, drop me a note!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez