Matthew 15 (résumé): Clean/Unclean - Dogs eat Crumbs - Feed 4,000

Initially in Matthew 15 Jesus takes the opportunity to refute the Pharisees' legalism and external religiosity showing that uncleanliness comes from the heart and not just from what is physically consumed. Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 "The people honour me with their lips, but their heart are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men". Next comes a fascinating incident with a non-Jewish Canaanite woman asking for liberation from demon possession for her daughter. Jesus initially refuses to act as his priority was "the lost sheep of Israel". The woman insists but Jesus resists saying "it's not right to give the children's bread to the dogs (gentiles)". However the woman reacts saying that even the dogs eat the crumbs from the bread! This great demonstration of persistent faith breaks down Jesus' resistance and he heals the woman's daughter! Jesus then went along the Sea of Galilee healing the blind, lame and dumb. Eventually after 3-days ministry Jesus became concerned about the people's hunger (4,000 men plus women and children) and multiplied 7 loaves and a few small fish so as to feed the thousands and leave 7 basketfuls of food at the end!

Father's Day

The second Sunday in August is Father's Day in Brazil so yesterday our children joined us for a lovely family lunch when they kindly gave me a new pair of sandals! 

At night I led the service in Patos and preached on 'a father after the heart of God'. It was a lovely service at which the children and adolescents took part beautifully including our granddaughter Amanda.

Football Season

The 2026/2027 football season started yesterday in England and QPR drew with Millwall 1 x 1 in the first round of the League Cup but lost on penalties.

Last night I went and took the communion service at Green Pastures and preached on 'Jesus: the Good Shepherd' from John 10:11-21. It was a lovely service. I saw the usual Burrowing Owls along the earth track along the way. I never tire of seeing them. 

Half-way

I have now completed the first half of Matthew's Gospel having written the synopses of 14 of its 28 chapters. John the Baptist has just been executed and Jesus has just fed the 5,000 and walked on the water. Then Peter was a failed copycat! 

I have just sent the details and photos to Marian Rashleigh of two new children for sponsorship as part of the EAB Action Child and Action Schools project. For £25 monthly you can support our 15 schools which educate, feed and evangelize over 800 children. Contact Marian for details at missionmr@ntlworld.com

I can hear you better today! Yesterday I had my ears syringed again! 

Matthew 14 (résumé): John the Baptist beheaded

John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod owing to his stance for righteousness which angered the leader. Herod proceeded to execute John to grant a wish by Herodias's daughter and his disciples buried him and told Jesus what had happened. Jesus then had compassion on a large crowd and healed their sick. He then proceeded to feed the 5,000 men, plus women and children, by multiplying 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and at the end 12 baskets "of broken pieces were left over and collected". Then Jesus dispatched the disciples on a boat because he wanted a time of prayer alone. Jesus later joined them by "walking on the lake"! The disciples were scared thinking it was a ghost but Jesus calmed them down assuring them it was himself, so Peter tried walking on the water too. Initially he was successful, but then he got scared by the strong wind and cried out for help. So the disciples worshipped Jesus saying "truly you are the Son of God".

Matthew 13 (résumé): A series of Parables

Matthew 13 presents a series of 7 parables, and as I was taught as a child at Sunday School, parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings - everyday topics with spiritual meaning. The first parable here is the parable of the Sower where a farmer sows seed and some fell in the path and the birds ate it (the evil one snatches away what was sown), some seed fell on rocky terrain and in the shallow earth the plants withered with no roots (a person receives the word but he doesn't last because of lack of roots), other seed fell among thorns (a person who received the word but lets "the deceitfulness of wealth choke it), and other seed fell on good ground which produces fruit. There then follows a further agricultural parable with good seed being sown, but with an enemy planting weeds to mess things up. The farmer decided to let everything grow together and then burn the weeds at harvest time before gathering the wheat. Jesus says the good seed are the sons of the kingdom, and the bad seed are the sons of the evil one. At the end of the age the evil ones will be thrown in the fiery furnace, and the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom. Next came the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast. The moral of the Mustard Seed parable is that though the seeds are tiny yet they produce large plants that become trees. Then comes the parable of the Yeast which leavens a large amount of flour. These 2 parables show the kingdom with modest beginning having strong effects on people's lives. Next come the parables of hidden treasure  which is bought at all cost, and then the parable of the Pearl which too is purchased at all cost. The moral of these parables is that Jesus and the kingdom are worth more than anything else! Finally comes the parable of the net which catches good and bad fish. Jesus says that at the end of the age angels will put the bad fish in a fiery furnace, but collect the good ones in baskets. Finally Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth and there people were amazed at his teaching, especially considering that they knew his mother, brothers and sisters. Jesus remarked that a prophet is without honour in his home town.

New Toilet/Shower Unit

A new toilet/shower unit has been built for Damião, Márcia and family at the village of Tamanduá in the municipality of Vazante. Márcia burst into tears of joy when she received it saying "this changes everything in our lives"! Thank you for your support and for your prayers which change needy people's lives for the glory of God.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study, Philip led the praise, Vasti & Espedita sang solos and Firefighter Romildo brought the study on Titus chapter 3. It was a lovely service with a good number present.

Temperatures today range from a low of 19 degrees in the night and a high of 33 degrees in the afternoon.