The Mission goes on!

EAB marches forward evangelizing children, youth, adults and seniors, forming disciples, resourcing churches and impacting society with wells, toilets, market gardens, goats & hair sheep, chicken runs & schools. Thank you for helping us make a difference in the name of Jesus!

I am progressing well with my synopses of the Bible and am in Proverbs, the 20th book of the Bible, where I have completed the first 10 of its 31 chapters. 

Last night I preached the Gospel in the town of São Mamede. I preached on Mark 4:35-41 and Jesus calming the storm. 'With Jesus in the boat all will be well', was the theme of my sermon and one lady made her commitment to Christ afterwards. School teacher Claudivan led the service which was really good.

Proverbs 10 (résumé): The proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 10 starts a collection of Solomon's wise sayings such as "a wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother... righteousness delivers from death and does not let them go hungry... he who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful... he who takes crooked paths will be found out... the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life... wise men store up knowledge... the wages of the righteous bring them life... he who holds his tongue is wise... a man of understanding delights in wisdom... the fear of the Lord makes you live longer!"

Proverbs 9 (résumé): Invitations from Wisdom & Folly

Proverbs 9 focuses on the contrasting invitations in life from 2 women: Mrs. Wisdom as opposed to Mrs. Folly. Mrs. Wisdom builds a solid house with 7 pillars within which she prepares a banquet to which she invites people to "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding". She says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still. However then comes Mrs. Folly who is loud, undisciplined and without knowledge offering stolen water which is sweet and food to be eaten in secret which is delicious but leads to death. Thus the chapter clearly presents the contrasting ways of life between wisdom and folly.

Baptism

 5 new converts were baptized on Easter Sunday at our second church in João Pessoa at Cidade Verde led by Pastor José Vieira. PTL!

Yesterday QPR drew 1 x 1 away to Preston North End. 

Yesterday we again brought people into our Care Centre's dentist, Dr. Lariza, from outlying places without public transport. All went off smoothly. I saw 2 Burrowing Owls on the way. 

My 'Folha de São Paulo' newspaper tells me about Jane Asher, a 95-year-old British woman, who is still winning swimming awards. Well done Jane!

Proverbs 8 (résumé): Wisdom's appeal

Proverbs 8 personifies wisdom as a woman who calls out "on the heights", "beside the gates" and "at the entrances" offering the foolish prudence and defending truth instead of wickedness. Lady Wisdom proposes instruction and knowledge instead of silver or gold, and she declares that she hates pride and arrogance. She says she has understanding and power, and by me princes and kings reign, and her fruit is better than fine gold walking in the ways of righteousness. She says that the Lord possessed her at the beginning of his work... before the world began... before the mountains and hills I was given birth... I was there when he set the heavens in place... I was the craftsman at his side... so blessed are those who keep my ways... whoever finds me finds life!

Proverbs 7 (résumé): Warning against the adulteress

 Initially in Proverbs 7 the father exhorts the son to internalize his moral teachings writing them "on the tablet of your heart". He says that then they will keep the immoral woman away from him. There then ensues the description of an encounter between a naive young man and a seductive immoral woman who seduced the man. "She took hold of him and kissed him... perfumed her bed... informs him that her husband is away on a long journey... and he went with her like an ox going to the slaughter and like a deer stepping into a noose!" So he warns his son to steer clear of such traps because "her house is a highway to the grave!"

Proverbs 6 (résumé): Warnings against Folly

Proverbs 6 brings more fatherly advice warning against folly such as guaranteeing others' debts, being lazy, and further counselling against adultery. Solomon recommends the ant as a hard working example to combat the sluggard. Laziness produces poverty, he says, which will come on you like a bandit! He then lists 7 things to guard against which God detests: pride, lies, violence, sowing discord,  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that haste to evil, and bearing false witness. After this the writer returns as in the previous chapter to combat adultery and involvement with immoral women because a prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread! "Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched"? Therefore don't play with fire! "A man who commits adultery lacks judgement, and whoever does so destroys himself... his shame will never be wiped away!"