Ecclesiastes 11 (résumé): Bread upon the waters

In this chapter 11 Solomon starts talking about casting your bread upon the waters to eventually find it again. This is apparently a reference to investment without immediate returns and maybe ("give portions to seven, yes to eight") of a charitable nature. Then the author warns against hesitation and procrastination awaiting ideal conditions which paralyze action. "Sow your seed in the morning" as you never know what will succeed. He then encourages the enjoyment of life despite its meaningless and especially encourages happiness in youth. "Follow the ways of your heart," he says, although all will be judged of God and be meaningless.

The Potter's House

I led the service last night and young lawyer Murilo preached on Jeremiah 18: "You are the potter, I am the clay". We also had a special focus on autism in the middle of the service with our daughter Sacha interviewing Eva Jeminne who is the mother of 7-year-old Ester who is autistic and lovely. It was a wonderful interview raising awareness and empathy for families with autism. So all in all it was a very good service.

Amputation

Please pray for Sister Pergentina of our Teixeira church up in the mountains. She is the 90-year-old mother of the pastor's wife there and she has circulation problems in a leg which may mean she has to have her leg amputated. She is in the Patos General Hospital. 

The EAB musical concert last night at Cadnam Methodist Church went very well. Marian Rashleigh sent us live photos of the proceedings taken from the balcony which was very good. Philip tells us it was a very good concert.

A special evangelistic event was held yesterday for the teenagers who we still help and work with at our Patos school and 23 of them made commitments to Christ. Please pray that these teens might put down roots in the Lord and become part of the church as practicing Christians.

It rained 5 mm at Green Pastures last night, taking the total rainfall this year up to 602.6 mm, so past the 600 mark for the first time.

Ecclesiastes 10 (résumé): Dead flies give perfume a bad smell

Ecclesiastes 10 gives a list of sayings emphasizing the good of wisdom and the negativity of folly. He starts with: as dead flies give perfume a bad smell so folly outweighs wisdom and honour... fools lack sense... I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves... if a snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer... words from a wise man are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips... the fool multiplies words... blessed are you, O land whose king is of noble birth... if a man is lazy the rafters sag... a feast is made for laughter and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything! 

Ecclesiastes 9 (résumé): A common destiny for all

Now the author re-states that all men share the common destiny of death - whether they be righteous of wicked, good or bad, or clean or unclean. The same destiny overtakes all. But whilst you're alive you have hope because "even a live dog is better off than a dead lion"! The total absence of the concept of life after death brings Solomon to encourage eat, drink wine and be merry! He says: "Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life. I have come to the conclusion, says Solomon, that "the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or wealth to the brilliant... but time and chance happen to them all"! No-one knows when his time will come. So Solomon's confused words come to the close of the chapter saying wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is despised.... but wisdom is better than weapons of war.

Ecclesiastes 8 ( résumé): Who is like the wise man?

The author now advocates obedience and respect for the king (it doesn't sound like King Solomon speaking!)... obedience to the king... not speaking out of turn... no-one has power over the day of his death... or power over the wind... no-one knows the future...I saw the wicked buried who used to receive praise in the city... when the sentence for a crime is delayed hearts of men scheme... I know it will go better with God-fearing men. He then goes on to say that something else meaningless is when righteous men get what the wicked deserve. I commend that we eat, drink and be merry as there is nothing better for us to do. It is simply not possible to understand the ways of God.

Ecclesiastes 7 (résumé): A good name

Ecclesiastes 7 starts saying that a good name is better than a good perfume, but the day of your death is better than the day you were born! It is better to mourn than to feast.. sorrow is better than laughter... for all is meaningless... patience is better than pride... don't be quickly provoked in your spirit... don't keep talking about the good old days... who can straighten what God has made crooked?... I have seen the righteous man perishing in his righteousness and a wicked man living long in his wickedness so don't go to extremes of righteousness or wickedness because "the man who fears God will avoid all extremes". No-one never sins... don't pay attention to everything people say... the man who pleases God will not be ensnared by a dangerous woman... true wisdom is rare and often unattainable.