Psalm 1 (summary): Blessed

This first psalm contrasts the person who walks with God and is happy obeying his word, with the wicked person who will perish. Happy is the man, says the psalm, who does not walk/stand/sit in godless ways. To the contrary he loves God's word and prospers like a fruitful tree planted by a stream. However, says the psalm, the wicked are like straw blown in the wind whose end is perdition. 

Personal work

Our personal work counselling those in spiritual and psychological need continued yesterday with another important session. Please pray for this aspect of our ministry.

Today I have upgraded my engine to a 7.7 version and thank the Lord for my health and strength! I won't have much time to celebrate as we have a senior leadership meeting this afternoon in my office and I will be chairing a church meeting in Itaporanga tonight to solve a problem there.

I went to Green Pastures which is faintly greener after the odd shower we have had, but the rain situation here is increasingly critical. What would happen if a town like Patos, with a population of 108,000, ran out of water I hate to think. At Green Pastures Wild Cats, Wild Tortoises, Armadillos, Deer and Foxes are plentiful and I heard Rufous-browed Peppershrikes and Campo Troupials singing in the trees.

Last night I chaired a meeting of the Pastor Frank Dyer's School teachers planning for this new semester. It was a good meeting.

I have finished my summary of the book of Job which was hard work! Now on to a long but enjoyable journey through the book of Psalms! I have now completed 40% of the chapters of the Bible.

Job 42 (summary): Job's final reply

 Job ends up repenting in dust and ashes as he says to God: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted". "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know". "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you".

Then comes the book's epilogue when God rebukes the 3 comforters for having spoken incorrectly, and he makes them offer burnt offerings in payment for their wrong. Then Job interceded for the 3 friends and God accepted this. After Job had prayed for his friends (prayer was key!) he became prosperous again and God gave him twice as much as he had before! All his family and friends comforted him and gave him gold and silver. God gave him 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys. And God yet gave Job 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters. From this time on Job yet lived another 140 years until he died at a ripe old age.

Job 41 (summary): Leviathan

God continues talking and introduces the sea-monster Leviathan to the debate which was a dragon-like creature with fire coming from his mouth. The creature had air-tight armour-like scales which were impenetrable by javelin, spear or dart, and iron to him was like straw! God says "nothing on earth is his equal - a creature without fear". Thus God again cuts Job down to size by asking: "Can you pull in the Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope"? "Can you make a pet of him like a bird or put him on a leash for your girls"? Thus again God is saying to Job that if he can't cope with a creature how much less can he dispute and wrestle with the creator!

So it seems to me that God in no way seeks to justify what Job had been going through. God stands aloof and above criticism because he is God! And if Job can't wrestle with the sea-monster he should certainly not try it on him!

Job 40 (summary): God further questions Job

God now confronts Job for wanting to correct and accuse him. So Job admits he is unworthy and acknowledges that he has no answer. Then God asks Job if he wants to discredit his justice? God points out that Job cannot clothe himself with honour and majesty nor can he crush the wicked. God then tells Job to look at the enormous herbivorous animal called the behemoth which is extremely powerful with limbs like rods of iron. God says his maker is able to approach him but asks Job if he can capture him and piece his nose? Seeing that he can't Job must not accuse God!

Job 39 (summary): God questions Job

God continues questioning Job, this time concerning wildlife, which all is beyond Job's ability to answer. God asks about goats, deer, donkeys, oxen, ostriches, horses, hawks and eagles. The questions are about them giving birth, gestation periods, nesting, flying, living conditions, feeding etc. Thus God continues to humble Job to make him realize that things of creation and nature are so often beyond his understanding. So the logic is that Job should not be dismayed if he cannot understand his suffering. 

Job 38 (summary): God speaks

Now comes the time for God to join the debate about Job's suffering, but God instead speaks from a storm presenting a long discourse about creation. God, to put Job in his place, asks him if he was there when he created the earth? He then asks who made and put limits on the sea and made the clouds? He asks Job too if he had walked in the depths of the sea or comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? He asks as well if Job knows where the snow and hail are stored and whether he understands the lightning and the wind? God further asks if the rain has a father and if ice or frost have a mother? God also questions if Job knows the laws of the heavens and who provides food for the raven? Thus God humbles Job by emphasizing his sovereign complexity and majesty. 

Counselling

Liz and I spent considerable time counselling a pastor and his wife yesterday. This constitutes an important part of our ministry. We value your prayers for this couple. No names can be given. We will have a further counselling session with another person today.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and young lawyer Murilo brought the study from 1 John 3. Murilo is doing a series of studies in first John. It was a very good study and service. Vasti and Espedita sang solos.

Easter Play

Yesterday I did the first reading of the new Easter play with Liz and drama leader Dilma. I always do things this way with plays that I write, reading them the play and then officially handing it over to the drama group. The play is called 'Two Days from Easter' and essentially follows the text of Matthew 26 to 28 with an addition from John. The play has 4 acts and will be performed on Easter Sunday which is April 5th. 

Job 37 (summary): Elihu's conclusion

With the imagery of a gathering storm Elihu concludes his contribution to the book of Job showing God's majestic power over thunder, lightening, snow, rain and ice. On the one hand, Elihu says, the clouds can punish men, but on the other hand they water the earth and thus show God's love. So Elihu points out to Job that he has no way of knowing how the different forces and aspects of nature function so it is that God is beyond our understanding. He says "the Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?"

Job 36 (summary): Elihu speaks on God's behalf

Elihu starts saying he will speak on God's behalf as "one perfect in knowledge is with you"! He then goes on to say that God is mighty, but doesn't despise men. He does not take his eyes off the righteous, but men bound in chains he commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey they will prosper, but if they don't they will perish by the sword. The godless die in their youth among male sacred prostitutes and he speaks to those who suffer - he speaks to them in their affliction. God is wooing you from the jaws of distress to the comfort of your table laden with food. Now justice and judgement have taken hold of you. Elihu exalts God in his power. How great is God - beyond our understanding. God governs the nations and blesses with clouds, rain, thunder and lightening. Thus Elihu exalts the Lord whilst constantly insinuating Job's need to repent.

Job 35 (summary): Elihu continues

Elihu starts here arguing that wickedness or not makes no difference to God. He says that right or wrong only affects man. God is far above human morality he says. He goes on to argue that God doesn't answer when men cry out arrogantly, and God doesn't listen to empty pleas. Clearly Elihu is calling Job arrogant and insincere. The fact is, says Elihu, is that "Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words".

Job 34 (summary): Elihu speaks to the wise men

Elihu starts this chapter addressing the "wise men" who presumably refers to Job and the friends, maybe sarcastically, or maybe a wider group of listeners. He then says that Job says that "it profits a man nothing when he tries to please God". Elihu stresses that it is impossible for God to do wrong but he repays a man for what he has done. Here Elihu is reinforcing the retribution arguments of the 3 friends. God, says Elihu, is perfectly above all rulers and kings deciding on matters totally without partiality.  He says there is no place to hide for the evil doers. God overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. Job, says Elihu, speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight. "Oh that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man"! Elihu is therefore essentially following the same line of argument as the 3 friends that secret sin in Job needs to be confessed as this is the cause of Job's suffering.

Job 33 (summary): Elihu opens his mouth

Elihu argues that God is not ignoring Job or unwilling to speak to Job. To the contrary, he says, God speaks through dreams, visions and sickness. Elihu says that God speaks in the night to "terrify with warnings" and "to turn man from wrongdoing". God also chastens with a bed of pain and uses ill health to instruct and to "spare him from going down to the pit". Elihu speaks of an angel who intervenes "to tell a man what is right for him". Following such interventions the man's flesh is renewed like a child's and he sees God's face and shouts for joy, and he is restored by God to his righteous state. 

Job 32 (summary): Elihu

Job has concluded his defence and Job's 3 friends or comforters have concluded their accusations, but prior to God's response to everything and Job's final words, a 4th younger friend named Elihu enters the fray criticizing Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar for their inability to refute Job and criticizing Job for "justifying himself rather than God". Elihu's 6-chapter intervention starts by arguing that is not just the elders who have wisdom, but it is the breath of the Almighty that transmits it. He then asserts that the 3 friends were unable to prove Job wrong. Therefore Elihu said he was bursting to speak "like bottled-up wine" in "new wineskins ready to burst". He promised to be completely unbiased and would flatter no one. 

Job 31 (summary): Job's final defence

This chapter is Job's final defence in this book's debate about human suffering. First of all Job lists the sins he has not committed like lust ("to look lustfully at a girl"), deceit, adultery ("enticed by a woman"), injustice to servants, negligence concerning the poor, and greed "pure gold" and "great wealth"). Job requests again for God to hear his case saying: "Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defence - let the Almighty answer me". "Let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless".

Job 30 (summary): Job laments

Now Job laments being mocked by worthless men who spit in his face and remove all his dignity. Job also bemoans his physical suffering as his "skin grows black" and his body burns with fever. He says he has become a brother of jackals and a companion of owls as he just mourns and wails. Job also says that he cries out to God without receiving an answer and he feels that God is attacking him and tossing him about in a storm! This chapter focusing on Job's current suffering stands in stark contrast to the previous chapter which relished his life prior to everything going wrong.

Job 29 (summary): Job reminisces

 Chapter 29 is a long reminiscence of the good old days when Job recalls the time "when God watched over" him, and when "God's intimate friendship blessed" his house. He says that then his "path was drenched with cream" and olive oil poured out of the rock. Job then goes on to recall how respected he used to be in the city and how he was spoken well of. He also remembers his positive social action rescuing the poor, assisting orphans, helping the dying, bereaved, blind and lame. He recalls how he was all set for a long blessed life. Sadly for Job all this had drastically changed.

Shock absorbers

We are putting new rear shock absorbers on our off-road Jimny Jeep as one came adrift on our recent journey to Caroá with Amy. 

I did both Pilates and Hydro gymnastics yesterday. It's good to keep fit! 🏃

The northeast of Brazil is where most fatal road accidents happen with 11,984 of the 37,150 deaths. Second in line is the southeast region with 10,995 fatalities. These are the latest statistics for 2024.

We have one church in the northeastern state of Bahia, in the town of São Sebastião do Passé, which has a population of 43,000. The church is led by Missionary Ivonete in her house but they are in the process of building a church. Please pray for Ivonete and this church which she used to lead with her husband until he died of a heart attack. The overseeing pastor is Pastor Jânio Rilangio from our Campina Grande Catolé church.

It rained 8 mm at Green Pastures last night.

Job 28 (summary): Job's interlude

In chapter 28 Job presents a poetic interlude to the heated debate about suffering when he praises man's abilities to mine gold, silver, copper, iron and precious stones whilst on the other hand being totally unable to find true priceless wisdom. God, says Job, is the only source of true wisdom. "God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells". For Job concludes that "the fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding".

School

Yesterday we had an excellent meeting with the head teacher of our Pastor Frank Dyer School in the borough of Jatobá on the south side of Patos. The head teacher is Gerlânia who continues to do a great work educating, feeding and evangelizing needy children in that area of town. We had an in-depth discussion of the work of the school and took some important decisions for the glory of God.

Please pray for all 16 of the EAB Action Schools ministering to 850 children in the interior of northeast Brazil.

Liz went to the ladies' prayer meeting last night attended by 10, and the youth prayer meeting, which Alice and Bia went to, had 18 present. The youth are really on fire after the Outreach.

Job 27 (summary): Job's reply continues

 Job vehemently defends himself before God and against his friend's accusations saying that whilst he has breath he will not speak wickedness or deceit. Job says that he will never concede to his friend's judgmental arguments insisting that he has a clear conscience. Job says that his wicked friends are his enemies full of meaningless talk who will eventually face the fate of the godless. Such a fate will involve their children being killed, their widows not weeping for them and they will be be swept away under God's judgement.

Job 26 (summary): Job's long reply

Now comes the longest speech of Job in the book lasting 6 chapters. Initially Job sarcastically criticizes Bildad's unhelpful words as worthless. Then Job goes on to exalt God's supreme power over creation who "suspends the earth over nothing and wraps up the waters in the clouds", yet they don't burst. However, says Job, these are but the fringe of his works. For our great God is incomprehensible. 

Job 25 (summary): Bildad's final speech

This short chapter contains Job's friend Bildad's third and final speech in which he exalts God's supreme power and perfection as opposed to the weakness and impurity of man who is but a maggot and a worm! Implied here is Job's impossibility to being justified before God as he is so weak, inferior and insignificant. Bildad's argument against Job seems to me to be painfully weak.

Job 24 (summary): Job asks for set judgement times from God

Job now questions why God does not set times for judgements as he observes that the wicked go unpunished for long periods though eventually God's justice catches up with them. Job says that the wicked feed their flocks on stolen pasture, drive away the orphan's donkey, take the widow's ox, and ill-treat the poor. The poor are also left lacking clothes, lack adequate housing, and children are ill-treated and go hungry. Despite all this God does nothing Job says. Job also cites murder and theft as practiced crimes as well as adultery and burglary. Eventually though Job says that the grave snatches away sinners and the worm feasts on them, and they are forgotten. "For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone"!

Job 23 (summary): Job in despair

Now Job complains bitterly that God's heavy hand is on him despite his groaning, and he says that he would love to find God so as to be able to state his case before him. He felt that as an upright man he cold present his case and prove his innocence. However Job says that despite searching in all directions he cannot find God. However Job expresses his certainty that "when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold". For Job reconfirms his faithfulness to God closely following him in obedience, but he confesses that he is terrified by all he is going through which is not surprising.  

Sparrows

It is lovely to share our house with House Sparrows. I was just sitting talking to Liz when one came hopping through the kitchen and front room looking for crumbs on the floor! 🐦 In our garden we are hearing a number of Sayaca Tanagers. 

Last night my co-pastor Rafael led the service and I preached on 'Hezekiah trusted in the Lord' from 2 Kings 18:5-8. It was a lovely service.

Job 22 (summary): Eliphaz returns for 3rd time

Eliphaz now returns for his third and final time and he accuses Job of unrighteousness with endless sins, stripping men of their clothes, denying water to the weary, withholding food from the hungry, and sending widows away empty handed as a callous rich landowner. Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking God is way up in the sky where "thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us". He urges Job to "submit to God and be at peace with him" so as to regain his prosperity. He further urges Job to return to God so as to experience restoration. Constantly Eliphaz accuses and urges Job presuming his hidden sin and guilt. Eliphaz is judgmentally misguided and misdirected.  

Great Kiskadee

One of the very beautiful and colourful birds in the northeast of Brazil is the bright yellow Great Kiskadee, and I am hearing them a lot of late from my office in Patos.

The average rainfall at Green Pastures in January over the past 25 years is 112 mm, but this year we have only had 6 mm! The situation is critical. Please pray.

Sadly QPR lost 3 x 2 at home to Wrexham yesterday. Oh dear! 😖

I went and took the service, as I always do on Saturdays, of the Green Pastures church and I preached on Jesus walking on the water from John 6 (I am going through John's Gospel with the church) with the help of Matthew's added information that Peter had a go too! It was a lovely service with the children singing beautifully and Fred singing sat down, debilitated by a stroke, but he still sang. I heard a Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl whilst there. 

New Sermon

I spent the whole day yesterday working on a new sermon for this Sunday in Patos. I had been scheduled to preach a week later but Sacha and I had to swap as she had no time to prepare owing to her daughter Bia's illness in hospital. So I will be preaching this Sunday on 'Hezekiah trusted in the Lord' based on 2 Kings 8:5-8. The 3 points are: 1) Hezekiah trusted in the Lord (verse 5). 2)  He held fast to the Lord (verse 6). 3) The Lord was with him (verse 7).

Amy Gough safely returned to Southampton last night from her visit to EAB/ACEV here in Brazil.

Beatriz (Bia) was sent home from hospital last night and will continue her recovery at home. Thank you for your prayers.

Bia & Amanda

Please pray for our 16-year-old granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) who is in hospital on a drip for dehydration as she has gone down with a vomiting virus which has hit our region of Brazil. Our granddaughter Amanda also has the same virus in João Pessoa. Please pray for Amanda also.

Our third church in Campina Grande, in the borough of Novo Cruzeiro, has grown already from a church plant to 56 people! Please pray as they seek to purchase land in order to build their own church and move out of their current rented building. 

Our visitor Amy Gough flew out of Recife airport last night on her way back to the UK where she will write a report on her stay with EAB/ACEV in Brazil for her Bible College before she graduates with a degree in theology and gets married in June. God bless you Amy! It was lovely to have you here with us.

Women killings

With 4 states, including our state of Paraiba, yet to report their statistics for December, the murders of women in Brazil in 2025 totals over 4 a day, with many "honour killings" where men kill their wives/partners if they decide to leave them.

Yesterday we had 1 mm of rain in a momentary shower at Green Pastures. We are desperate for rain in this the rainy season.

In my summaries of the Bible I have now covered half the book of Job having completed chapter 21. Job is a complex discussion of human suffering and its causes.

Amy went to the Bessa beach yesterday in João Pessoa and visited the Tambaú handicraft market and had a walk on the Cabo Branco sea front.

This year Brazil will elect its president, senators and federal and state deputies for the next 4 years, and we commend this to all for prayer. We ask all our ACEV church leaders and members to refrain from posting about politics on our WhatsApp church groups or any other of our social media. Let us above all maintain the unity of the faith!

Job 21 (summary): Job's vehement reply

Now Job vehemently rebuts his friends' theory that all sin is punished in this life, because he points out that some "wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power". He points out that sometimes the wicked's children flourish as do their herds of cattle. "They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace". Such wicked people, Job says, reject God and have no desire to know him. Job struggles with the mystery of suffering when on the other hand sometimes the wicked are snuffed out like a lamp or blown away like straw in the wind. Job acknowledges God's sovereignty judging even the highest. He struggles to understand why some die well nourished whilst others die in bitterness of soul never having enjoyed anything good. The fact is, Job points out, that all end up buried side by side in the dust and eaten by the same worms. So Job says to his friends that their simplistic theories applied to him are nonsense and full of falsehood.

Job 20 (summary): Zophar returns

Chapter 20 contains the return of Zophar with a scathing attack on Job's integrity. Zophar says that Job is experiencing the inevitable results of hidden sin. He says that "the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment". Zophar goes on to say that Job's ill-gotten riches have become like poison in his stomach as he has exploited the poor. This Zophar says is combatted by God with arrows, darkness and fire as natural disasters punish Job's alleged guilt. For he thinks it is God who has reclaimed houses, children and wealth as "rushing waters on the day of God's wrath".

Travels

In less than a week I have driven for 16 hours, and not always on so good roads! I praise God for health, strength and travelling mercies. On Thursday and Saturday 4 hours driving each day took us twice to the outreach, and then on Monday and Tuesday it was 4 hours each day from Patos to Caroá and then back. Thanks for your prayers.

QPR drew 0 x 0 again yesterday away to Oxford and so slip to half-way house on 12th in the 24 team Championship.

We do not believe in prosperity theology which teaches that you must not go to the doctor and not take medicine but you must only seek divine supernatural healing. We pray for the sick and we go to the doctor and take medicine too. The way we get better doesn’t matter. If you have toothache what do you do? Pray for divine intervention or go to the dentist? So the health recipe in our churches is pray always whilst going to the doctor and the dentist.

Amy Gough has just left Patos with our daughter Lynn, her husband Hutan and their daughter Amanda. They will take Amy to the beach before taking her to the airport tomorrow for her return flight to England.

Caroá

Yesterday and today we have been travelling with our UK visitor Amy Gough and we have just got back at 4:30 pm. Yesterday we went up the mountains to Teixeira and showed Amy our church there. We then went on to visit our Matureia school and church and we were given a nice snack by Pastor Renilson and his wife Getiane. We then went by our churches at Juru and Tavares before showing Amy our original EAB/ACEV church which Bert Mundy built at Princesa Isabel in 1943. We then drove on to Caroá where we had a lovely evening meal of free-range chickens, rice, pumpkin and sweet potato.

In the evening we took part in a lovely service with a church packed out on a Monday night. Amy brought a word interpreted by Liz, the deputy mayoress brought a word of greeting and I preached the Gospel. The service was led by Pastor Valdemy.

This morning we visited the Caroa wells and the incipient market garden there. After this we headed to Manaira where we visited Pastor Francinaldo and his church and school followed by a visit to the little shop run by 85-year-old and father of 15 José Paulino, which started over 30 years ago, fruit of the EAB income generation project. 

On the way home we stopped at our Imaculada church, school and playground to show Amy. When on our way down the mountain we stopped for a drink of Guaraná and diet Coke at the viewing point of 'Pedra do Tendó' where Amy went climbing to the top of the big rock for a better view. 

Having descended the mountain we witnessed a dead man alongside the road with police taking photographs of him. Police say that the 44-year-old father of 2, who had been riding a bike, probably had suffered a heart attack as he had no signs of injury on his body.

Whilst we were away Patos received 60 mm of rain (2 and a half inches) but it didn't rain a drop at Green Pastures.  Now it is raining again in Patos so we hope and pray that it will reach Green Pastures too.

Sunday Service

I led the service last night in Patos and Murilo preached on the 'Consequences of the Cross' from Luke 23 which was an excellent sermon. All our young people that have just got back from the 10-day Outreach gave their testimonies and this was wonderful. Amy Gough, who will be going back to the cold of England on Thursday, also brought a short word interpreted by Bia. 

Today we are taking Amy to Caroá where we will take part in a service and show her some wells.

Job 19 (summary): Job replies to Bildad

Job reacts to the criticisms of his friends saying they are crushing him with their words and shameless attacks. Job then goes on to bemoan that he has been wronged by God who has stripped him of his honour. God, says Job, has uprooted his hope and counts him as an enemy. Job then goes on to lament that owing to his suffering leaving him "skin and bones" he has been abandoned by his brothers, acquaintances, friends, kinsmen, servants and even his wife! Job then cries out asking for his friends to have pity on him as the hand of God has struck him. However then Job cries out some beautiful words of faith and trust in God saying: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Outreach finale

I preached last night in the final evangelistic service of the 10-day outreach. A very large crowd gathered in the main town square of Soledade with our worship group from Campina Grande leading the praise and the dance groups joining in. It was a wonderful service.

This 10-day outreach was the 24th year in succession that we have held them and this year's team of 130 was a real blessing. They evangelized 480 houses and 1,075 people were personally evangelized as well as 423 children. 27 decisions to follow Christ were registered and 12 backsliders recommitted their lives to Christ. We will monitor these numbers to see how many are truly converted. 93 houses asked for a follow up visit. 22 Bibles were distributed and over 3,000 Gospel tracts were given out.

It was very good to have Bible College student from the UK with us this year Amy Gough. She will graduate with a degree in theology in June at the St. Mellitus College in London. I have asked her to write a short report on the 10-day Outreach pointing to what was good and what could be improved. Amy fitted in very well with the team and was especially helped by the English of Alice, Bia and Rayssa. 

QPR drew 0 x 0 yesterday away to Stoke and remain in a mid-table position (11th) in the Championship.

Phil Watkins

We are praying every day for Pastor Phil Watkins of Bristol Ivy Church and ask you to please join us in our prayers. Phil is undergoing chemotherapy for Leukaemia. 

I have just eaten a plate of watermelon. 😋

The Southern Wren is singing in our garden again. 🎶I also saw in the garden a Glittering-bellied Emerald Hummingbird. They are so beautiful and fast, rotating their wings in a figure eight 80 times per second!

On this penultimate day of the 10-day evangelistic outreach at Soledade our 130-strong team is holding a social action day with doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, hair dressers, manicurists etc. attending the poor. Then in the main closing open-air service in the town main square I will be going to preach the Gospel. Tomorrow the team will take part in an internal communion service in day 10 bringing the wonderfully blessed event to a close.  

Job 18 (summary): Bildad returns

In this chapter Bildad returns to his attacks on Job as he had started in chapter 8. Bildad accuses Job of considering his 3 friends stupid and of wanting to alter basic factual structures as pertaining to the earth and its rocks in order to come to terms with his predicament. Bildad's view clearly was that the reason for Job's suffering was that he was "an evil man... who knows not God." Job's sin, thinks Bildad, makes him like a lamp snuffed out and with a weakened step. Job, he thinks, has been caught in a net, snared by a trap with a hidden noose awaiting him. Job's "roots dry up below and his branches wither above." Job, he feels, has no legacy, and is in a dark place "banished from the world" without offspring.

Job 17 (summary): Job struggles with despair

Job starts chapter 17 saying that his spirit is broken and that the grave awaits him. Job says that he has become a byword for everyone as they spit in his face! Despite such despairing feelings Job says "the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger." However then he switches back to despair criticizing the lack of wisdom of his friends and says his "plans are shattered." Job returns to desire death saying his only hope is the grave and says his father is corruption and his mother or sister is the worm. He ends the chapter expressing his feeling of utter hopelessness asking, "Who can see any hope for me?"

Job 16 (summary): Job's reply to Eliphaz

Job says that he has heard all Eliphaz's arguments before. He complains about his miserable long-winded comforters. Job also complains about God's harsh treatment of him devastating his household and assailing him with gnashed teeth. "All was well with me, but he (God) shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me." Job accuses God of shooting arrows against him and piercing his kidneys. Job says his face is red with weeping and that deep shadows encircle his eyes despite him being free of violence and living a life of pure prayer. Job pleads with God for help.

Sitio Cordeiro

Last night we went to Soledade to take part in the 10-day Outreach, day 7, which evangelized the Sítio Cordeiro rural community and held the evening service there. Pastor Robério led the service, Pastor Hamilton preached the Gospel and Liz and I took part with short words. The dance group did a presentation too and so did the drama group. It was a lovely service. The journey to Soledade took us 1 hour 45 minutes to get there.

Murder

We have just learnt of the murder of a 19-year-old niece of our member of the Green Pastures church Vilene. Her and her husband were involved in a traffic dispute on their motorbike in São Paulo and a car driver chased them and shot them both killing the wife and wounding the husband. Please pray for the family.

I had a nice video call yesterday with my 2 sisters Jean and Joy which was very good.

The 10-day evangelistic outreach at Soledade continues to go well with decisions being made for Christ. Our visitor Amy Gough is enjoying it and yesterday helped cook for the 130 participants and also spoke again in the evening service!

Our granddaughter Beatriz's (Bia) 16th birthday is today. Happy Birthday Bia! 😘

Drought

It is quite amazing how frogs and toads survive in the drought by borrowing deep down in the sand of the dry river beds and hibernating there for months or even years. When heavy rain comes they reemerge singing and mating!

We had a quick shower of 5.5 mm of rain at Green Pastures which is a sign of hope. Multiply this by 200 and we will be smiling!

Liz led the Patos church prayer meeting, and we have been involved in extensive counselling.

Please keep praying for the Outreach at Soledade which has now reached the half-way stage with 5 days completed. The team washes toilets, sweeps floors, cooks food, prays, does door-to-door evangelism, praises, preaches, does drama and dance etc. etc. May the 130-strong team continue to pull together for the glory of God!

Stars

The amount of universes that exist is unknown, but the amount of stars that exist in our universe alone is estimated to be between 10 sextillion and 2 septillion, which means there are more stars than grains of sand on all the earth’s beaches! However stars rarely collide. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands”. (Psalm 19:1)

Yesterday the 10-day evangelistic outreach team held a street service in the morning in the weekly Soledade street market and greatly impacted the town. The team did door-to-door evangelism in the afternoon and held a street service at night. There have already been a number of decisions of commitment to Christ made as a result of the team's ministry. 

We have reached nearly 450 comments on this blog and we thank one and all. Special thanks go to Roberto Tiburtino, Veronica Morais and Pastor Manoel Oliveira Filho. Please remember that if you don't write your name I have no way of knowing who wrote the comment.

King Hezekiah of Judah

Last night our daughter Sacha led the service in Patos and I preached on King Hezekiah of Judah from 2 Kings 18:1-4. It was a lovely service.

The 10-day outreach at Soledade pressed on in its third day of blessing. The 130-strong team went out doing door-to-door evangelism in the afternoon and did a street service at night in one of Soledade's boroughs. In the morning they did prayer and Bible study.

QPR were knocked out of the FA Cup yesterday away to West Ham 2 x 1 after extra time. Long gone are the days when we won the League Cup at Wembley. I was there and I was 18, and I started going out with Liz later that month of March 1967.

Our son Philip has gone to Holland today with his work.

Green Pastures Service

Last night I went and held the weekly Green Pastures Church service and I preached on the feeding of the five thousand from John 6. Sister Nega led the praise and worship. She sings really nicely. It was lovely to see sister Odilia at the service aged 92 and fully active.

On the earth road on the way to the service I saw a Pigmy Nightjar. 

The service on the second night of the 10-day outreach, with a team of 130, was held alongside the church in the open-air, and went very well. Amy Gough from Southampton gave a word in the service.

A 36-year-old woman was bitten by a shark at the island of Fernando de Noronha but thankfully survived. We have been to this island both with Bob and Jo Dalton and with Marian Rashleigh.

Iguana

Yesterday I went to Green Pastures where I saw an Iguana lizard and a Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl. The drought here is utterly catastrophic and the rain just doesn't come! 🙏

The 10-day evangelistic outreach at Soledade is underway and in its second day with a team of 130 mainly young people. The outreach is under the leadership of pastors Robério and Rafael and Missionary Betânia. Please pray.

Diamond

Yesterday we took Amy to the Diamante (Diamond), Barra de Oitis and Vazante churches and projects. The initial nearly 2-hour journey west was on asphalt, but from then on the roads were bumpy earth roads. We showed Amy many toilet/shower units built for the poor and some market garden projects which are doing very well despite the drought. We had lunch at Pastor Nezinho Abílio's house where I ate a lovely tilapia fish. At night I preached at the Diamante church and Amy brought a word of greeting interpreted by Liz. We got home a little before midnight after a lovely day.

The 10-day Outreach starts today at Soledade. Please pray. Amy has gone together with our granddaughters Alice and Bia who both speak English. 

Patos sight-seeing

Amy has been on a tour of Patos visiting our friend Dona Florzinha in the borough of Placas, followed by visits to the the boroughs of Sete Casas and Serrote Liso where we always distribute food hampers. She then visited the meat market where she found the cow intestines interesting, before going into the central market where she met Jesiel who used to be in Philip's band called 'Lift Off'. Liz then took Amy to visit the Roman Catholic shrine called 'Cruz da Menina'.

After lunch we went to the Pastor Frank Dyer School followed by a visit to Green Pastures. I showed Amy the meeting hall, kitchen, EAB/ACEV museum, bedrooms, dormitories, swimming pool etc. and took her on a short walk along a dry and barren nature trail where we saw lots of Armadillo burrows. On our visit we saw a pair of Pearl Kites, a pair of Caatinga Cacholotes and a Roadside Hawk. We also heard Campo Troupials and Rufous-bellied Thrushes.

The Life-Squad (Pastor Rafael, Roberto Tiburtino and Iara) evangelized the Men's prison again yesterday and 3 men made commitments to Christ.

Travelling from Recife to Patos

Liz and Amy had a late breakfast in Recife after Amy's tiring journey. Then they took Amy to see the lovely beach before embarking on the 6 to 7 hour journey in land to Patos. They stopped for lunch at Campina Grande on the way.

Amy Gough with Liz on the Recife beach where Albert & Daisy Mundy first came ashore to found the mission 88 years ago

Liz and Amy arrived in Patos about 7 pm yesterday having visited one of our churches at Campina Grande on the way. They also came through the town of Soledade, with a population of 14,000, where the 10-day outreach will be starting on Friday.  

Amy Gough

Liz travelled to Recife airport yesterday, with Netinho from the Patos church, in order to meet Amy Gough from Southampton who is a theology degree student at St Mellitus College and who is coming to experience our 10-day evangelistic outreach, with a team of 130 mainly young people, which will be held this year at Soledade. There are a number on the outreach who speak English, including our granddaughters Alice and Bia, so communication will be no problem. We will also be taking her before and after the outreach to visit some of our churches and projects further in the interior.

Amy's flight arrived about 30 minutes late and she came through customs at Recife airport about three quarters of an hour before midnight, so they slept the night at the Ibis Airport hotel from where they will be driving to Patos today. Welcome to EAB/ACEV and Brazil Amy! May God richly bless you with us!

Great Kiskadees, Smooth-billed Anis and Variable Orioles have been around our house in Patos. Birds not normally found in towns seem to be coming in in search of food and water. The drought here is catastrophic. 

I finished writing this year's Easter play yesterday which our drama group will perform on April 4th which will be Easter Sunday. The play is called "Two Days to Easter" (Matthew 26:2). Having finished I have already got ideas for the Easter play 2027!

Ipueira

Ipueira is a small town of just over 2,000 population in the state north of us called Rio Grande do Norte. We have been working there for God for 13 years led by deacon Dedé and the 'Christians in Action' team from Patos. We have now managed to purchase a piece of land for the building of a small church there. Please pray for this venture of faith.

QPR beat bottom of the Championship Sheffield Wednesday (with minus 7 points!) yesterday 3 x 0 at home. 😀

Last night I led the communion service in Patos and Pastor Rafael preached on being in the world but not of the world from John 17:14-19. It was a good service. It was good to see 7 deaf people in church with another 10 or so missing. This ministry to the deaf is doing a great work. 

Yesterday Pastor Jair, who leads our second church in Princesa Isabel in the da Baixa borough, baptized 5 new converts. PTL!

Saturday night service

Last night I drove out to the Green Pastures where I led the monthly communion service and preached. I preached on the 'Testimonies about Jesus' from John 5:31-47 and then about our testimonies for Jesus. It was a lovely service with over 30 local folk present. The service was really participative and blessed. Fabrícia and Fernanda did an excellent work with the children whilst the sermon was in progress.

Green Pastures

I went out to Green Pastures yesterday and will be going there again today to take the weekly service of the church there. Yesterday I saw White-naped Jays, Red-cowled Cardinals and White-throated Seedeaters. Francisco reported having seen another wild Margay Cat and a 6-banded Armadillo. But everything is so barren there with the awful drought.

The youth have gone to Green Pastures today for a day outing. 

New Year's Day

We had our traditional New Year's Day family lunch yesterday with chicken casserole for one and all. It was a nice time of food and fun together.

I see that the BBC News site has the Rio de Janeiro New Year's celebration as its main photographic feature. The photo taken by a drone above the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue with the fireworks in the background on Copacabana beach is beautiful.

Oh dear! 😖QPR lost their first game of 2026! They lost 2 x 1 at home to Norwich.

How good it is to know as we go into another year that God "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth". (1 Timothy 2:4) Praise God that the Gospel is for the whosoever!

We had a good online meeting yesterday with Pastor Wostenes and his wife Gleydice discussing issues of God's work.

Happy New Year!

We wish all our readers a Happy New Year full of the blessings of God!

Last night we held our final thanksgiving service of the year which I led. A variety of people took part with short words of greetings and songs of praise. I kept all the participations down to 5 minutes by threatening them with a hooter if they went over... and it worked! 😂It was a lovely service. We received video messages from Philip and family too which was nice.

After church we had another family get together around supper and then we saw the New Year in together.

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