Night off

Last night's mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study was cancelled so as to give everyone a breather after 7 services and 3 serenades in 5 days at the carnival camp.

Last night I played Philip at chess and won, but he played better and is steadily improving.

Yesterday we had a little further rain at Green Pastures with 4 mm of rainfall. 

Please pray for 4 little children who are being cared for by one of our church members up in the mountains after their mother, who has severe mental health problems, tried to kill them! The mother has now been taken to a mental health institution. 

Green Pastures

I have seen/heard the following species of birds at Green Pastures in the past few days: Southern House Wren, Caatinga Cacholote, Red-cowled Cardinal, Campo Troupial, Black-headed Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Pigmy Owl, White-naped Jay, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Striped Cuckoo and Great Kiskadee. 

One of the things that stands out in the Carnival Camp at Green Pastures is the fellowship. It was beautiful to see the warm unity of the body of Christ. Another lovely moment at the camp was the consecration of sister Leca as a deaconess of the local Green Pastures church. May God richly bless Leca and the church.

I see that a Brazilian called Lucas won an unlikely gold medal in the winter Olympics despite Brazil being a tropical country! However there is a hitch to this story as his father is Norwegian and his mother Brazilian. Well done anyway Lucas!

I had a good meeting last night with lawyer and preacher Murilo.

I have now read 15 chapters of 'the Bloomsbury Murder' which is the 10th book in 'the Blitz Detective' series by Mike Hollow. It's a very enjoyable good read. 

Carnival Camp

Thank you for your prayers for the Carnival Camp which has just ended and which was excellent! It was a real blessing with true harmony and fellowship. The ministry of the word was superb as was the praise and worship and the sport and children's work. It was fantastic to have Philip here with us for the camp.

Our daughter Sacha led the opening service on the Saturday night and I preached on Abraham from Hebrews 11:8-19 focusing on Abraham's obedience, his generating of a son at a 100, and his willingness to sacrifice that son.

The second service was on Sunday morning and Sacha again led with Pastor Rafael preaching on Samuel. The third service on Sunday night was led by Pastor Rafael with lawyer Rayla preaching on Joseph. Then the 4th service on Monday morning was led by Pastor Philip and lawyer Murilo preached on David. The 5th service on Monday night was a praise and prayer prom led by Sacha. The 6th service yesterday morning was led by Pastor Rafael and lawyer Murilo preached on Moses. Then the 7th service last night I led and Sacha preached on Paul.

Other things that were a real blessing at the camp were the late night serenades led by Philip recalling old worship songs. Also the volleyball competitions went off extremely well and we are going to make a second volleyball court for next year's camp. The swimming pool was well used too.

The ministry to the children also went off very well at the camp with the swimming pool in the morning and Bible stories at night. So it was a wonderful camp at a green again Green Pastures after another 29 mm of rain during the camp.

Peter Guy

97-year-old EAB supporter Peter Guy has gone to be with the Lord. We spoke with him in the EAB AGM in October and we praise God for his life of service to the Lord. He was alert and lucid to the end. Our prayers are with his family at this time. 

The Carnival Camp is part of the Green Pastures Project and has started today running till next Wednesday which is Ash Wednesday, which follows Shrove Pancake Tuesday. We value your prayers for the camp. Because of the camp news on this blog may be limited over the coming days.

Philip arrived last night about 7:15 pm safe and sound and in good time for the Carnival Camp. He travelled straight to Green Pastures much to Liz's delight and the kitchen team that were already there.

Psalm 21 (summary): O Lord, the king rejoices!

This another Davidic psalm for the director of music is a kingly royal psalm which celebrates God granting victories to the king, as well as rich blessing and long life. Thanks to God's goodness David's glory is great with splendour and majesty. The king, says the psalm, trusts in the "unfailing love of the Most High". The victory over his enemies is sure, says the psalm, as the wrath of the Lord will swallow up the enemies and even destroy their descendants. Thus the psalm ends on a jubilant note of praise and exaltation of the Lord.   

Psalm 20 (summary): May the Lord answer you!

This another psalm of David for the director of music is a prayer for the King maybe as he prepares to go into battle. The prayer seeks God's answer in days of distress and seeks his protection. The prayer then seeks "support from Zion" and asks that David's heart's desire be granted and all his plans succeed. Then they will shout for joy for the victory and lift up the name of the Lord. Some trust in horses and chariots, says the psalm, but we trust in the name of the Lord! The enemy falls "but we rise up and stand"! The prayer ends saying, "O Lord, save the king"!

Psalm 19 (summary): The heavens declare the glory of God!

This Davidic psalm addressed to the director of music is a declaration of God's revelation through creation and his word. First of all David focuses on creation saying that the heavens declare God's glory. God speaks to us, argues David, through the skies and the sun. The second revelatory means of God is through his word which is perfect in reviving the soul. God's word is trustworthy, David says, and gives wisdom, joy, and light which lasts forever. The word of God is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Then David concludes praying that his words and meditation might be pleasing to God