Soursop

I have just had a delicious Soursop smoothie. Soursop (Annona muricata) is a large tropical fruit with white flesh and green skin covered with sharp points.

Please pray for Jakeline who is a 46-year-old sister from our Patos church who is very ill in hospital with pancreatitis. She is in a lot of pain and very swollen.

Please pray too for Pastor João George who is the assistant pastor at our Imaculada church. He has been operated on for intestinal cancer and is recovering in hospital in João Pessoa.

A good number of beds are to be repaired at Green Pastures in time for our Pastors' Family Conference (EDL) which will start on August 8th. Our odd-jobs man Catingueira will come in and do the work.

Please pray for us in the run in for our trip to Europe as our take-off approaches for Portugal, England, Scotland and Switzerland on August 20th. 

Today is our granddaughter Alice's 18th birthday! Happy birthday Alice!

2 Samuel 22 (résumé): David's Song of Praise

This song of praise is also found in Psalm 18. In this song David praises God for his power and protection. God is his rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield and the strength of his salvation. David praises God for delivering him from the jaws of death and poetically describes God's power like the thunder and lightning of nature. He says that God delivered him and brought him into a spacious place. He says God is his lamp which turns his darkness into light, and with God he can run through a barricade or even scale a wall! He says God makes his feet like the feet of a deer and he praises God for all his victories. He says the Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, my Rock, my Saviour!

2 Samuel 21 (résumé): The Gibeonites avenged

David asked God what the cause was of a 3-year famine in Israel and God said it was because of Saul's killing of the Gibeonites which had betrayed Israel's oath to spare them. So David asked the Gibeonites what could be done to make amends for the wrong done to them. They requested 7 male descendants of Saul to be killed by them and to be exposed by them on a hill at Gibeah, and this David gave to them, whilst saving Jonathan's son Mephibosheth because of David's oath to Jonathan. Rizpah, mother of the dead men, held a vigil over the dead men's abandoned bodies defending them from scavengers. Upon hearing of this David was provoked to give them a decent burial together with the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish. Thus the atonement having been made God ended the famine.

The end of this chapter relates further battles between Israel and the Philistines. In the first David became exhausted and had to be rescued by Abishai. The next battles were at Gob where apparently the brother of Goliath was killed. Then came a further battle at Gath where a huge man was killed who had 6 fingers and 6 toes!

Exhaustion

I am utterly exhausted this morning as I have made 2 cups of tea and I made the bed! 😩

I led the main service of the week on Sunday night with a full church, and assistant pastor Rafael preached on the danger of unbelief from Hebrews 3:7-13. It was a good service.

I am busy preparing for all our speaking engagements in the UK as we will be leaving on August 20th. I am also busy preparing for our pastors and leaders family conference at Green Pastures from the 8th to 10th August. We value your prayers.

Our grandson John David, who is a doctor, is now a GP at the Ana Maria Isodoro Surgery (UBS) in São Mamede, which is the municipality where Green Pastures is situated. I am particularly pleased about this as we have been in this municipality for 47 years and I was made an honorary citizen of São Mamede in 2012.

Yesterday afternoon we had an excellent online meeting with co-leaders of the work here Pastor Wostenes in Campina Grande and his wife Gleydice. We discussed various aspects of the work in the states of Bahia, Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte.

Maroon Shorts

I work in my office in the daytime wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Naturally one gets attached to one's shorts over the years! So you can imagine how devastated I am as Liz has just binned my favourite maroon shorts saying she didn't have the nerve to put them in the church jumble sale! 😒Women can be very ruthless at times! 😓

At Green Pastures I saw a Southern Lapwing and a number of Red-cowled Cardinals. I also took photos of our pet Cockatiels and our newly acquired 6-months-old donkey called Merrylegs II.

Last night our weekly service at the Green Pastures church, which I was to lead and preach at, was cancelled as Paulo's, who is the brother who sets up the sound equipment, old banger conked out on him leaving him stranded.

Police Station

I was asked to go to the police station to answer questions regarding our car crash 9 months ago in Teixeira. Grandson and lawyer Arthur went with me and I hope that is the end of the matter.

I have had an important meeting with Pastor Wostenes and Pastor Renilson about our action school project. We praise God for fine men of God as these who stand firm in the work of the Lord and care for the poor. What a wonderful work our action schools carry out to over 850 needy children!

We have started a 'Donkey Haven' at Green Pastures in the light of 94% of Brazil's donkeys having been slaughtered and their extinction in Brazil expected over the next 5 years. We have acquired a young female donkey and are now looking for a husband for her! 😊

Egrets

On the trip to João Pessoa I saw dozens of Cattle Egrets and one Great Egret. On the trip to Caroá I saw a hawk, but I was unable to see which species of hawk it was.

Yesterday we left Patos a little after 8 am and travelled to Cedro in the municipality of Princesa Isabel in a journey which took 2-and-three-quarter-hours. The mountain climb was very congested by heavy lorries. I have just heard that today a lorry went over the mountain precipice and killed the driver. When we got to Cedro we visited 21-year-old Jezrel who is recovering from a serious motorbike accident in January and is a member of our church there. It was nice to talk to him and all his family members there. After this we had lunch at the Paladar restaurant in Princesa Isabel.

After lunch were were pleased to see that at long last the authorities have asphalted the road on the Manaira side of the town as we proceeded to Caroá. There we made thanksgiving visits to the new wells at Chico de Nenem and Caroá. I then led a special thanksgiving service for these wells at which brother Robert from São Paulo preached the Word. It was a lovely service with a full church. The service was animated by blessed singing and dancing. At the end the Deputy Mayor spoke beautifully.

This morning we drove back to Patos from Caroá stopping at Manaira to visit an 85-year-old couple from our church there called José Paulino and Luiza. They still run their little convenience shop which they started about 35 years ago as a result of an EAB loan. Then we were back to Patos for egg and chips!

Busy Weekend

Liz and I had a very full and busy weekend. On the Friday we had a 4-hour meeting at Green Pastures with a group of Christians from São Paulo who wanted to visit the place and see what we do there in terms of Christian events and nature preservation. We took them on a nice nature trail and we had a lovely time of prayer at the prayer nook in the woods where we have a circle of rustic wooden seats where groups meet for prayer.

Then on Saturday morning we left on a 6-and-a-half-hour drive to João Pessoa on the coast where I went to preach at our main church's there's 31st anniversary service. We had lunch in Campina Grande on the way and unfortunately Liz's fish allergy was inadvertently upset making her really sick. The service went well with a full church to whom I preached.

Then yesterday we drove back to Patos in time for me to preach in the evening service in which we especially gave thanks for our deaconess Beatriz's 90th birthday. What an extraordinary woman of God she is full of the joy of the Lord!

Babies

11 babies in the south of Brazil were accidentally injected with an anti-snakebite serum instead of being vaccinated against hepatitis B. Fortunately the babies have suffered no ill affects.🐍

A lorry load of water had just filled our water cistern at Green Pastures. The water is for drinking and cooking. Our wells provide water for showers, flush toilets, cleaning etc. but we have to ship in non-brackish water for drinking and cooking.

Yesterday we went to visit 83-year-old Aina who is a sister in our church who has a serious problem with her right eye. She was there with her sister Lourdes, her brother João and her daughter Solange. We chatted with them, read the Bible and prayed with them.

Every Tuesday I do Pilates in the morning and aquarobics in the afternoon. It's very important to keep fit. 🏃

I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and fireman Romildo brought an excellent Bible study on Jude 1 - 4. The praise was led by Dedé and Vasti and Espedita sang solos. One beautiful moment was when 7-year-old little boy Danilo said he had a prayer request for Milena. When we asked who Milena was he pointed to his mum's tummy as she is 7 months pregnant with a girl!

A 12-year-old girl has died giving birth to a baby in Belo Horizonte, but the baby survived. The girl was a Venezuelan immigrant.

I heard some Solitary Black Caciques at Green Pastures. They are jet black, have red eyes, have bright white bone-like beaks and are about the size of the UK blackbird. Their nests are enormous contraptions up to 70 cm long which hang from the branches of trees.

I am now off to João Pessoa on the coast to preach at our church's 31st anniversary service. It's a 6-hour drive. I'll be back tomorrow to preach in Patos.

Gary O'Donoghue

I would like to congratulate British BBC blind journalist Gary O'Donoghue for his excellent exclusive interview with Donald Trump. The White House press secretary woke him up on the phone to give him the interview. Brilliant work Gary!

On Tuesday night we had a wonderful men's fellowship meeting led by chief of the police Esau. I led the inductive Bible study on Jesus being the light that everyone needs... the light of the Gospel, the Word, the Church, the Peoples, the New Jerusalem and of the believer. There was excellent participation from everyone present, and at the end we had a nice time of prayer together. 🙏

Our granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) is back from her youth excursion to the USA. She enjoyed it very much but she is glad to be home to take part in the national table tennis championships. Our grandson John David who is a doctor did a 24-hour shift at a clinic at Desterro the day before yesterday and today he is doing another 24-hour shift at a clinic in Teixeira.

Yesterday we went to Green Pastures where Liz prepared things for a special group of visitors we will be receiving from the south of Brazil tomorrow, and I checked out our pet Cockatiels which have a nest with 5 eggs, and our pet rabbits and guinea pigs. Children at our camps love these pets.

Chelsea

Chelsea are FIFA Football World Champions having beaten PSG 3 x 0 in the final at the weekend. Cole Palmer sounds like an exceptional player!

Please pray for me preaching in João Pessoa this Saturday (19th) and in Patos the following day. On Tuesday (22nd) we will be inaugurating 2 wells at Caroá and Chico de Nenem, and I will be leading the thanksgiving service. On August 2nd I will be conducting the wedding of Murilo and Karol in Patos, and from August 8th to 10th we will hold the Pastors and Leaders Family Conference at Green Pastures. Then on August 20th we will be flying to Blighty. We value your prayers.

I have just eaten fried cassava with fried egg. Delicious! 😋

Flashing light syndrome

Here in Brazil there is a strange fixation with flashing lights. Nearly all police vehicles, ambulances and even lorries for towing breakdowns always have their lights flashing whether they're in an emergency situation or not, so the obvious result is that everyone ignores them.

I have just seen a beautiful flock of at least 30 Cactus Parakeets at Green Pastures, plus a smaller flock of Pileated Finches. I also saw 3 wild tortoises and a Roadside Hawk. 

We ask your prayers for our Pastors and Leaders Family Conference (EDL) to be held at Green Pastures from August 8th to 10th. The special visiting speaker will be Congregational pastor Samuel from Campina Grande who will speak on 'How to Lead & How not to Lead' one night, and on the other night will speak on 'How to Preach & How not to Preach'. 

Last night we got back to Patos at 11 pm after a 2 and a half hour drive home from Princesa Isabel where we had a wonderful weekend. On Saturday I preached at the 56th anniversary service of our Cedro church led by Sister Maria José. The service was held in front of the church as it wasn't possible to get the 100 present inside the church. It was very cold there with the temperature at 19 degrees plus wind, but it was a lovely meeting at which I also dedicated a lovely little girl. Then yesterday we visited  the Action School there with head-teacher Ruth which is a school which teaches 80 children. At night I preached at the induction service of Pastor Robério who is now the pastor of the central Princesa Isabel church, Deacon Paulino who is now the leader of the Tavares church, and Deacon Rafael Barbosa who is now the leader of the Belém church. It was a lovely service with the church packed to capacity with not one seat spare. We got home tired but rejoicing in the Lord!

2 Samuel 20 (résumé): Sheba rebels against David

Following on from Absalom's rebellion now was the turn of Sheba, a Benjamite, to revolt against David. The men of Israel supported Sheba but not the men of Judah. With David now back in Jerusalem he put his 10 concubines in a house under guard, but didn't have sex with them ever again after Absalom's abuse of them. David them sent men loyal to him to pursue Sheba, and when they got to Gibeon Amasa met with Joab who had never got over his substitution as commander of David's army. Joab took his chance to get his own back against Amasa, stabbed him with his dagger in his belly, his intestines spilled out onto the ground, and he died. Then all the troops proceeded with Joab and besieged Sheba at Abel Beth Maacah. There a wise woman negotiated a solution for the stand-off offering Sheba's head for peace, and this was agreed. So Joab was reestablished as David's army commander.

Vaccinations

We are in the process of bringing our vaccinations up to date prior to our trip to the UK next month. Today we were vaccinated against pneumonia and shingles. 

I saw and heard Caatinga Cacholotes, Scaled Doves, Pileated Finches, Cactus Parakeets and Blue-winged Parrotlets at Green Pastures where the drought is biting very hard.

I have been talking to our leaders at our Curral Velho church (Old Cow Pen) who want to resign as they are facing internal opposition. Please pray for this situation.

The final of the FIFA World Cup of Clubs this Sunday will be between Chelsea and PSG after PSG slaughtered Real Madrid in their semi-final 4 x 0.

Trump is threatening Brazil with 50% tariffs because he doesn't agree with a legal case against the previous right-wing president! Trump confuses being president of the USA with being president of the whole world! Don't interfere with Brazil Donald! Brazil's President Lula has already said that if Trump goes ahead with his 50% tariff then Brazil will answer with a reciprocal tariff.

Last night we went to take part in a thanksgiving service for the birthday of Deaconess Dodora at the ex-landless settlement in the municipality of São Mamede. It was a good service with a good number present, but it was very cold! The temperature dropped to 24 degrees and with a breeze in an elevated location I was shivering! 

2 Samuel 19 (résumé): David returns to Jerusalem

David kept on weeping and mourning the death of his rebellious son Absalom so that he was failing to thank his soldiers for having fought for him. Thus Joab denounced this imbalance of emotions and told David that is he didn't show gratitude to the men he would soon lose their backing. David heeded Joab and got up and took his seat in the gateway demonstrating his willingness to be reinstated as king with the support of the army.

Initially there was disagreement as to who should now be king after the Absalom fiasco, but David made a clever diplomatic and political move appointing Amasa, who had been the commander of Absalom's army, as commander of his army replacing Joab, and this unified support for David so that the men sent word to David to return to Jerusalem as king.

When David crossed the River Jordan Shimei met him together with a thousand Benjamites and pleaded for forgiveness for having cursed David and thrown stones at him. Abishai said that Shimei should be put to death, but David wouldn't hear of it. David forgave Shimei and promised him freedom to live. Then Mephibosheth came to David and said that his servant Ziba deceived and betrayed him on the occasion of Ziba's earlier encounter with David, and that he had only not gone with David when he fled because he was lame. As a consequence David divided Mephibosheth's land half and half between him and Ziba though the text is not clear how this ended up. Finally David spoke to Barzillai and invited him to go with him to Jerusalem but he declined alleging old age, and he sent his servant in his place.

Tensions were always near the surface between the men of Israel and the men of Judah, with the former group accusing the latter group of leaving them out of the reinstatement of David as king. A fierce argument ensued.

Nice Walk

I went for a nice walk at Green Pastures and saw and heard Red-legged Seriemas, White-tipped Doves, Pearly-vented Tody-tyrant, Sooty-fronted Spinetail and exotic Campo Troupials which are black and mainly shockingly bright orange. They are very beautiful. I also saw a largish wild tortoise. One of our pet guinea pigs gave birth to twins today and they are gorgeous. 

At the weekend on the Saturday I will be preaching at the 56th anniversary service of our Cedro church in the rural area of the municipality of Princesa Isabel. The last time I preached there was the 50th so I can't have preached very well! 😜I will also be dedicating a baby there. Then on the Sunday I will be preaching at the induction service of Pastor Robério (Central Princesa Isabel church), Deacon Paulino (Tavares church) and Deacon Rafael Barbosa (Belém church). We will also be visiting the Princesa Isabel Action School. Please pray for us on this full weekend.

Last night I preached the Gospel in the town of São Mamede on Mark 3:13-30. Deacon chief of the police Esau led the service. It was lovely to speak to a little old lady there whom I had prayed for 2 or 3 months ago and who has now committed her life to the Lord. 🙌

Chelsea are through to the final of the football clubs world cup in the USA having beaten Brazilian club Fluminense yesterday in the semi-final 2 x 0.

2 Samuel 18 (résumé): Absalom's Death

Astute military man David carefully planned and organized his army into 3 sections led by Joab, Abishai and Ittai. David wanted to go to battle too but his generals would not hear of it as he was too valuable an asset, so David stayed behind asking for his men to go carefully with Absalom! So the battle took place in the Ephraim Forest where David's men defeated Absalom's men killing 20,000 men. Then Absalom came to his end in an unusual way. For whilst riding his mule through the forest his hair got caught up in the branches of an oak tree, the mule kept doing leaving Absalom dangling from the tree. Joab had no mercy and plunged 3 spears into Absalom's heart, and once he was dead the battle came to an end. 

When word reached David of his son's death he was devastated and went into a period of profound mourning. David withdrew, despite everything, and wept saying, "O my son Absalom. If only I had died instead of you"!

2 Samuel 17 (résumé): Ahithophel & Hushai's conflicting advice

Absalom sought counsel on how to consolidate his coup by eliminating or capturing his father David. Counsellor Ahithophel proposed a surprise attack against David with an elite force of 12,000 men, but Hushai countered this plan saying David was too wiley to fall for this. Hushai proposed a mass attack mobilizing the entire Israelite army which appealed to Absalom's vanity and this ploy was adopted. However secretly Hushai sent word to David telling him of the plan and advising David and his men to immediately cross the Jordan to a safer location which he did. When Ahithophel realized that his proposal had not been followed he hung himself! Then Shobi, Makir and Barzillai took abundant supplies to David and his men because they were hungry, tired and thirsty in the desert. 

Liz and the Cockroach

Here is a little poem I wrote about Liz 34 years ago! For those reading this translated into Portuguese it won't be the same as it doesn't rhyme when translated. Anyway here we go:

Liz Medcraft is no soft touch, this cannot be denied. If she should meet a big fat snake, she'd look him in the eye. When drunks appear inside the church to cause a great commotion, our Liz just takes them by the ear and orders their submission.

Survivor of so many years of northeast Brazilian ardours. She's still alive to tell the tale 'spite smallpox and amoebas. However there is one weak spot in this dear Christian warrior. For if a cockroach should appear then she is bound to holla!

Dark brown and just a few inches long, with its antennas twitching. This is a foe Liz hates to face, and when she does she's screaming. Now it is true that the cockroach is not a pleasant fellow. It lives throughout the daylight hours in cess pits and sewers.

But when night falls and all is dark roaches come out in force, to pick up any scraps of food to eat them up of course. Our sinister friend unfortunately will not stay on the floor, its aim is higher ground it says where EAB missionaries snore!

With feelers quivering nervously it shuffles round their mouths to see if marmite there remains despite the late night showers. This marmite makes him thirsty but liquid is very close. For now it has a nice long drink from a good English nose!

So when you pray for EAB, especially for Liz, do not forget its not the snakes that get her in a tiz. In fact the Lord might say to you this very day, Brazil's the place where you should go, don't just remain and pray.

And then EAB's army joined you too will face the foe. Boldly announce the Gospel to those in sin and woe. But when you hear brave Liz scream cockroach you will be very sure - you'll boldly charge straight to her aid and squash it on the floor!

2 Samuel 16 (résumé): David & Ziba

David continued his flight from Absalom and after going beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives he met Ziba, steward of Mephibosheth, who gushingly gave him donkeys laden with provisions. David asked after Mephibosheth and Ziba dubiously said that he had stayed behind in the hopes of regaining the throne previously belonging to his grandfather. (This story will be contested by Mephibosheth in chapter 19) But David believed Ziba and gave him the land belonging to Mephibosheth. 

Then a member of Saul's clan named Shimei came and started cursing David and throwing stones at him and his officials. Abishai wanted to go and kill Shimei but David wouldn't allow it seeing the cursing as a possible message from God. 

Meanwhile Absalom set himself up as king in Jerusalem seeking to put into effect the coup, and Ahithophel was with him as was David's friend and spy Hushai. Ahithophel advised Absalom to make his claim to the throne clear cut ending all possibility of a rapprochement with his father by having sex with his father's concubines and this he did. 

Children's Special Service

On Saturday afternoon we held a special children's service in Patos called the Children's Holiday Special (EBF). It was lovely to see the children dancing and singing praises to the Lord and hearing the Gospel declared loud and clear. The theme of the 2-hour special was 'Salt & Light' from Matthew 5.

From the children's service I went out to Green Pastures to take the weekly service for the local church there and I preached on 'Testimony' and 'Things Above' from John 3:22-36. It was a communion service and it was very good. Fabio led the praise and Flávio led in prayer. There was a very good number present.

There are now 4 teams left in the World Cup of football clubs. One semi-final will be between Chelsea (England) and Fluminense (Brazil). The other will be between PSG (France) and Real Madrid (Spain).

Linda is the chief cook at our Green Pasture camps and responsible for the Patos church cleaning. Please pray for her as she seems to have had a mild stroke and was in hospital, but is now home and Liz has visited her. 

I led the main service of the week last night and our daughter Sacha preached an excellent sermon from Job 42. Last night was our monthly communion service.

Love for the Bible

The more I read the Bible the more I love it. The more I read the Bible the more I realize what brilliant ancient literature it is with stories that make your hair stand on end. The more I read the Bible the more I hear God speaking to me through schools of prophets and apostles. Thank you Lord for your precious word!📖🙌

On Thursday night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study which had a good number present. Michelle and Davi led the praise, Espedita and Vasti sang solos, various people shared Bible verses of blessing and Pastor Rafael brought the study from the first chapter of Nahum. 

Beatriz (Bia) is back in Miami from the Bahamas and is well and smiling. 😀

Liz and I have had vaccinations for influenza and DTPA (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough). 💉

I went to Green Pastures and saw flocks of Picui Ground Doves and Vultures. I also saw Red-cowled Cardinals and Chalk-browed Mockingbirds. The mother rabbit with 3 babies which we were given this week look beautiful. 🐇

Last night we held a meeting of our Patos youth leadership team to evaluate the youth conference held last month at Green Pastures. 

2 Samuel 15 (résumé): Absalom's conspiracy

For 4 years Absalom conducted a subtle campaign of self-promotion in Israel undermining his father King David's authority. He then went to Hebron where he staged a coup by declaring himself king following him receiving growing support from many people. Word then came to David in Jerusalem that "the hearts of the men of Israel were with Absalom" and David fled Jerusalem to avoid bloodshed and civil war because of the rebellion. David left his 10 concubines to take care of the palace and he marched around Israel accompanied by a large following. David sent the ark back to Jerusalem with Zadok the priest and his son Abiathar, but David went weeping with his head covered and barefoot up the Mount of Olives. It was a demonstration of humility, mourning and grief. He then sent his friend Hushai to Jerusalem to try and frustrate Ahithophel's advice to Absalom who was then arriving back in the city. 

2 Samuel 14 (résumé): Absalom returns to Jerusalem

 Joab, King David's army commander, knew how much David was missing his son Absalom so he devised a plan to promote their reconciliation. He got a wise woman from Tekoa to come and spin a yarn to the king telling him that one of her son's had killed the other, people wanted vengeance, but she asked David to grant her son  pardon, which he readily did. The woman then revealed the true intention of her visit by asking David why he didn't grant a pardon to his son Absalom for having killed his brother. David questioned if Joab was behind this, and upon learning that he was he granted permission for Joab to go and get Absalom, though he would have to stay at his own house out of contact and view of the king.

Absalom was extremely handsome and when he cut his hair on rare occasions it would weigh over 2 kg. He had 3 sons and a daughter whom he named Tamar in honour of his sister of the same name, and she became very beautiful. When Absalom had spent 2 years back in Jerusalem he sent for Joab to try and change the situation, but Joab ignored him until he set alight his barley field which soon had him running! Absalom said he would be better living back in Geshur if he wasn't going to see his father, so upon hearing this David finally summoned his son Absalom and the king kissed him. 

2 Samuel 13 (résumé): Amnon & Tamar

Amnon fell in love with his half-sister Tamar and he was so obsessed with her as to become ill because he could see no way that he could have her. Then with the help of his friend Jonadab he engineered a way to get Tamar to his room where he grabbed her and tried to seduce her to have sex with him. Tamar resisted and said no way so Amnon used his superior strength and raped her. Amnon's frustration then came to a head and his love for Tamar turned to hate. Tamar became a desolate woman after having been raped and Absalom felt deep hate for Amnon because he had disgraced his sister.

2 years later Absalom's sheep-shearers were gathered at Baal Hazor and he invited King David's sons insisting that Amnon had to come. Absalom then gave his men orders to kill Amnon at the height of the party. When they did this all the other sons of David fled, and a false rumour reached David that they had all been killed. When David however met his sons they all wept together and he mourned the death of his son every day, and Absalom fled to Geshur where he stayed for 3 years. David missed Absalom and came to terms with Amnon's death.

2 Samuel 12 (résumé): Nathan rebukes David

God sent Nathan to confront David about his sinful affair with Bathsheba through a parable. He said there was a wealthy man with a large number of livestock and a poor man who only had one pet lamb. When a visitor came the rich man didn't prepare a meal using his flocks and herds, but killed the poor man's lamb! David was livid about the evil practiced, but Nathan told him that he was the rich man who had had Uriah killed and taken his wife. Nathan prophesied that God would therefore bring calamity upon David as a result of his sin,  and that someone close to him would have sex with his wives in broad daylight. David confessed his sin which was forgiven by God, but his punishment was the death of his son with Bathsheba. David comforted her and then they had another son called Solomon. 

Then David mustered the army and attacked and captured Rabbah, and he took the 34 kg crown of gold and precious stones of their king and it was placed on his head. David took a great amount of plunder and put all the Ammonites into hard labour. 

Bahamas

Our granddaughter Beatriz (Bia), who is on a teenagers' excursion to the USA, is at the moment on a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas islands which are about a 4 hours' trip away from the USA mainland.

The beginnings of a new church plant at the Vila Rajada is going well. Pastor Robério reports that the first service there was good and they have been invited to return. 

Rafael Barbosa, Gerlândia and family have moved to Belém to take on the leadership of the church there. Please pray for them.

Sadly one of the twins born prematurely to Jozilene and Toinho, of our São Mamede church, has died at just 2 months old. Please pray for the parents. I conducted the funeral service yesterday morning at 7 am at a little farmstead, before going to the São Mamede cemetery. The tiny little baby in a tiny coffin was heart breaking. 

On Tuesday night I led the inductive Bible study with the Men's Fellowship and good discussions ensued. It was a good meeting led by chief of the police Esau. 

In the FIFA World Cup of Football Clubs there are 2 Brazilian teams through to the quarter finals, 2 German teams, 1 English team (Chelsea), 1 Saudi Arabian team, 1 Spanish team and 1 French team. The tournament is being very good and I criticize the BBC for deliberately downplaying the event.

Yesterday afternoon I handed over the Christmas play, 'Promised Son' to our drama director Dilma Prata. I wrote the play in 3 days (morning, afternoon and night) which wasn't bad. God really helped me. 🙌The play is teaching, gospel and encouragement in Christ.

2 decisions for Christ were made during evangelism at the men's prison yesterday afternoon. Praise God!

Today is our son Philip's birthday there in England. Have a great day Philip! Happy birthday!

2 Samuel 11 (résumé): David & Bathsheba

Joab was away besieging Rabbah with the Israelite army, but David remained in Jerusalem. He already had 7 wives, but one day he saw Bathsheba bathing, desired her, sent for her and had sex with her whilst her husband Uriah the Hittite was away with the army. When Bathsheba was confirmed pregnant she sent word to David. 

David tried to cover his tracks by sending to bring Uriah back from war and tried to get him to sleep with his wife, but he refused in the name of solidarity with the troops he had left behind. When David sent Uriah back to the siege he told Joab to put Uriah on the front line of battle where he was most likely to die and this was what happened. So when Bathsheba's period of mourning was over David took her as his 8th wife and she bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

2 Samuel 10 (résumé): David defeats the Ammonites

David sent a delegation to express sympathies for the death of King Nahash of the Ammonites, but the lovely gesture backfired and was seen as an exploit of spying. So the late king's son Hanun seized David's men, shaved half of their beards off, cut off their clothes in the middle of their buttocks and sent them away in this humiliating state! There then evolved a battle between the Ammonites supported by the Arameans against Israel, but Joab used clever tactics and soon the Arameans fled leading to the Ammonites fleeing too. Later the Arameans re-grouped but Israel successfully counter-attacked killing 700 charioteers and 40,000 soldiers. The Arameans learnt their lesson and became afraid to help the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 9 (résumé): David & Mephibosheth

David made enquiries as to whether there were any descendants left of Saul's family so that he could show them kindness for his great late friend Jonathan's sake with whom he had made a covenant. He learnt that Jonathan's crippled son Mephibosheth was alive and well, so he had him brought to the palace, and restored to him all his grandfather Saul's land. Mephibosheth was overwhelmed and asked what a dead dog like him had done to deserve it? David instructed Saul's servants to farm the land for Mephibosheth and said that he would aways eat at the palace like one of his sons.

2 Samuel 8 (résumé): David's victories

This chapter relates the victories of David over the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites and Arameans. The method of killing the Moabites was strange as they were made to lie down and were measured by a cord and were killed, or not, according to their height! David fought King Hadadezer of Zobah to restore his control of the River Euphrates and he captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers and 20,000 soldiers. He also hamstrung all the horses except 100! When the Arameans came in support of Hadadezer David killed 22,000 of them and took lots of gold and bronze from them. David also killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 

The chapter concludes by showing what a well organized, just and efficient ruler David was. Joab was his army commander, Zadok and Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah was secretary, Benaiah was a regional ruler and David's sons were royal advisers. 

Christmas Play

I am in the process of writing a Christmas play once again for our drama group to perform on Christmas Eve. It is a mammoth challenging job. This year's title is "The Promised Son" (which is not simply what you think it is! But I can only tell you the story after Christmas!).

Our granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) has flown down from New York to Miami and there she went to watch the football match between Brazilian team Flamengo and Bayern Munich which Flamengo lost 4 x 2, with 2 goals from Harry Kane. Flamengo is Philip's team.

On Sunday night I led the main service of the week and co-pastor Rafael preached on Psalm 81. It was a good service.

Our eldest grandchild, 27-year-old Felipe John, is the architect of the Patos Shopping Centre taking care of all the beautiful shop fronts as the centre expands. His work is extraordinary.

Liz went to the prayer meeting last night which she says was very good. 

This blog received 13,725 visits in the month of June which is quite extraordinary! Our thanks and greetings to one and all. May God bless you abundantly.