Jeremiah 6 (résumé): Jerusalem under siege

Jeremiah 6 predicts impending "disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction... prepare for battle... Jerusalem must be punished... build siege ramps against Jerusalem... I will make your land desolate... to whom can I give warning? Who will listen to me?... I am full of the wrath of the Lord... pour it out on children... young men... husband and wife... the old... prophets and priests all practice deceit... peace, peace they say where there is nor peace... they will fall among the fallen... ask for ancient paths and walk in them... I am bringing disaster on these people... your burnt offerings are not acceptable... look an army is coming from the north... they are cruel and show no mercy... there is terror on every side... put on sackcloth and roll in ashes... for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us!"

Jeremiah 5 (résumé): Not one is upright

In Jeremiah 5 God commands the prophet to search for just one honest person in Jerusalem so as to trigger forgiveness, but he couldn't find one. Jeremiah thinks it was because he was just looking at the poor so he turned to the leaders who were in the same boat: "For their rebellion is great and their backslidings many... they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. They are well-fed lusty stallions neighing for another man's wife... the house of Israel and Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me... the prophets are but wind and the word is not in them... they have forsaken me and served foreign gods". So God declares that he will judge his people: "Announce this to the house of Jacob... you have eyes but do not see... these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts... should I not punish them?... as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods, so you will serve foreigners in a land (Babylon) not your own",

Rains finished

The rainy season is sadly over here. At Green Pastures we had rain on April 28th and then not until May 17th when we had just 4 mm taking us up to a total for the year of 653.6 mm.

Last night I travelled to São Mamede to preach the Gospel in a street service on 'the healing of a demon-possessed man' in Mark 5:1-20. School teacher Claudivan led the service and praise was by Biê, Maricô and José. It was a nice meeting.

Lapwings

It was interesting last night to see Southern Lapwings at night as I took some people back to their farmsteads after having been to our Care Centre Dentist. I saw 3 of the birds which we normally see in the daylight.

At home here in Patos we have a pair of Ruddy Ground-Doves who have moved into our front room where Liz has a collection of indoor plants. The birds don't worry about Liz and I at all. It is lovely! They fly in and out at will. 

The latest edition of EAB's magazine InTouch #105 has been posted to everyone on our mailing list and should be reaching you soon.

Electrocuted

We have just had a problem with electricity at Green Pastures and the electrician eventually discovered the problem. A Tree Frog was electrocuted and caused a short circuit! 

I led last night's main service of the week and the church was full to capacity. Young lawyer Murilo preached an excellent sermon on Philippians 2:12-18.

Please pray for us as we travel to João Pessoa this week for our annual General Conference bringing together all our pastors and leaders. I will be bringing the keynote sermon on Saturday night and we will giving probationary ministerial service to 8 new ministers with 5 men and 3 women. We look to God for great blessing. 🙏

I am exhausted! 😰I have just made the bed and made a cup of tea!

Senior Leadership

Yesterday morning we had an online meeting of the ACEV senior leadership team in preparation for our general conference which starts next Friday. The meeting lasted nearly 2 hours and was very positive.

Last night I took the 25 minute drive to Green Pastures with 18 km on tarmac and 3 km on an earth track. It was to lead and preach at the weekly service that I take there with wonderful simple farming folk whom I love. It was a lovely service. I saw there the usual tree frogs, toads and Burrowing Owls. 

Jeremiah 4 (résumé): Disaster from the North

Jeremiah 4 is a powerful prophecy concerning the imminent judgement of God from the north, calling on God's people to repent whilst there is opportunity. Initially we read: "If you will return, O Israel, return to me... break up your unplowed ground (prepare your hearts for change)... circumcise your hearts (prepare yourselves for a deep spiritual change and not just external ritual)... or my wrath will break out!" Then comes a severe warning of "disaster from the north (Babylon)... a destroyer of nations has set out... your towns will lie in ruin... look he advances like the clouds, his chariots come like whirlwind... wash the evil from your hearts and be saved... a besieging army is coming from a distant land... your own conduct has brought this upon you." Then Jeremiah expresses his anguish at the imminent devastation of Judah: "Oh my anguish. I writhe in pain... disaster follows disaster... I looked at the earth and it was formless and empty... there were no people... the birds have gone... the land was a desert... the whole land will be ruined... all the towns are deserted... I hear the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath!