Jeremiah 10 (résumé): God and idols

Jeremiah 10 brings a stark contrast between the power and greatness of God and the weakness and frailty of idols. It should be noted that the tree being cut and decorated in verses 3 and 4 has nothing to do with Christmas trees as some argue, but is a condemnation of pagan idol fabrications! Jeremiah ridicules idolatry saying: "Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk"! He goes on to exalt the greatness and power of God standing in contrast to idols. The Lord is the true God... the living God... the eternal king! However these gods will perish... but God made the earth! He makes thunder and lightning, wind and rain... but images are a breathless fraud... but God is the maker of all things. Then Jeremiah foretells the impending Babylonian exile: "Gather up your belongings to leave the land... a great commotion from the land of the north... pour out your wrath on the nations... for they have devoured Jacob".

Conference report

Our annual General Conference was blessed of the Lord. We had some delicate issues to handle, but the spirit of unity and love was maintained. We heard reports from our pastors in the states of Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco and Ceará as well as from Paraiba. We also received reports from our churches at Princesa Isabel, Tavares, Belém, Itaporanga and Imaculada where problems have arisen. 8 new ministers were given ministerial status (5 men pastors and 3 women missionaries). From Patos we have 1 new pastor, Pastor Murilo, and 1 new missionary our daughter Missionary Sacha. We had reports from new churches at Campina Grande Novo Cruzeiro and Campina Grande Cuités. We now have 37 pastors, 25 women missionaries, 2 men missionaries and 8 non-ordained leaders - making a total of 72 ministers for our 81 churches. Next year's general conference will be held at Conceição and the 10-Day evangelistic outreach will be held at Juru. Our churches grew by 1.1% over the past year. We continue running 15 little schools and will drill 2 wells, build 4 toilets, set up 2 chicken runs and 1 market garden, and distribute 15 to 20 goats or hair sheep this year. Our Bible College in Campina Grande continues as do 2 partner colleges. Radio programs continue at Imaculada and Flores. Our granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) is now responsible for our digital online communications via Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. 

The above is a summary of the decisions taken at the conference.

Last night's Sunday service was led by Missionary Sacha who also preached.

Off the air

This blog was off the air for a few days whilst we travelled to João Pessoa on the coast for our annual General Conference which gathers all our pastors and missionaries to discuss the work of the Lord, pray and plan together and hold a celebratory and dedicatory service at the end when I preached on Psalm 15 and when we gave probationary status to 8 new ministers which were 5 men pastors and 3 new women missionaries including our daughter Sacha. It was a very good conference but very tiring, so I will leave the details for tomorrow when I am more rested up. Thanks for your prayers.

Jeremiah 9 (résumé): Oh that my head were a spring of water!

Jeremiah 9 is a lament by Jeremiah concerning the moral decay of Judah and its impending judgement. He says that he feels like weeping day and night. Jeremiah says that he feels the desire to move to the desert to get away from the adulterers and unfaithful people. He says that the people "live in the midst of deception" and in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge God. The coming Babylonian judgement will be a way of refining and testing his people says the Lord. God says that he "will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins... because the people have forsaken the law... they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and followed the Baals... so I will scatter them amongst nations... the sound of wailing his heard from Zion with great shame... dead bodies of men will lie everywhere... I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh!"

Soup Run

Last night the Soup Run team prepared the food at the Care Centre and then set out to the poor peripheral boroughs of Sete Casas and Cangote de Urubu where the distribution took place much to the joy of about 100 people. It was a real blessing.

Jeremiah 8 (résumé): Sin & Punishment

 Jeremiah 8 has a prophecy about impending judgement at the hands of the Babylonians. So severe will be the action that the bones of priests, kings and prophets will be desecrated. Then God asks: "why does Jerusalem always turn away?... no-one repents of his wickedness... the birds know the seasons and have more sense than the people... how can you say we are wise because we have the law... but it has been handled falsely... so I will give their wives to other men... peace, peace they say when there is no peace... they will be brought down when they are punished says the Lord". God then says that he will take away their harvest, there will be no grapes or figs. Then they hear "the snorting of the enemy's horses... and venomous snakes (the Babylonian army?) bite them... why have my people provoked me to anger with their images?... the harvest is past and we are not saved... is there no balm in Gilead?" This expresses Jeremiah's sadness at the bad spiritual state of Judah.

Jeremias 7 (résumé): False religion is worthless

 Jeremiah 7 is often called the 'Temple Sermon' attacking a hypocritical façade of religiosity whilst living far from God. God commanded Jeremiah to proclaim his message at the gate of the temple: "Hear the word of the Lord all people of Judah". The people trusted in the temple yet sinned oppressing aliens, orphans and widows, committed adultery and perjury and followed Baal and other gods! They felt they were covered by the temple to do what they liked! So God says through Jeremiah that his anger and wrath is kindled... obey me and I will be your God! However Judah ignored God's message and were "stiff-necked". The people have done "evil in my eyes" God said. They have set up idols in the temple! They have set up pagan high places to sacrifice and burn their children! God says that thousands of people will die in judgement and vultures and beasts will feed on their skeletons! "The land will become desolate".