Webinar

Yesterday I took part in an LST - London School of Theology 'Faith seeking understanding webinar' on the topic of 'Christianity and Nationhood' (flags, immigration & patriotism). It was a very interesting event started by a dialogue between David Holborn and Nick Spencer and then with added contributions from Sunil Chandy.

Liz and I had an important counselling session with a sister from our church which ended with a time of prayer.

Good news from England is that Liz's cousin Joyce Sims had surgery for a heart valve replacement on Monday and she is already home and fine! PTL! Now PLEASE rest Joyce!

A racoon in the USA got into an off-license and drunk alcohol so much that it was found passed out on the floor! 

Our worker at Imaculada Antonio Gelsheuchter is home after open heart surgery for a triple bypass and thanks everyone for their prayers. 

Men's Fellowship

Last night the Men's Fellowship met in Patos and the meeting was led by Chief of Police Esau. It was a good meeting. I brought the word on Hebrews 10:19-25 on the topic of Fellowship. We also discussed the purchase of land at Ipueira to build a little church there. We discussed as well the setting up of a team to operate the church fire extinguishers if they were ever needed and we also discussed the end of year party for our fellowship group.

Another young man is going to drug rehab near João Pessoa this week as part of our drug recuperation work. Please pray for this young man who can't be named.

Job 2 (résumé): Job's second test

On another day the angels and Satan had an encounter with God and God remarked to Satan about Job's uprightness despite all he had just gone through. Satan retorted that Job was so resolute because his own flesh and blood was untouched and that if Job was subject to physical suffering he would curse God. So the Lord handed Job over to Satan to torment him physically as long as he didn't kill him. Then Satan afflicted Job with a mass of sores from head to toe. Job's wife suggested that he curse God and die, but Job rejected this and remained without sin. Then Job's 3 friends or comforters, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, went to visit Job and were devastated by what they found and wept out loud at the sight of Job's suffering. The friends stayed with him for 7 days and remained in total silence in respect for Job's catastrophic suffering.

Big Water

On Friday we will be travelling to Água Grande (Big Water) where I will be preaching at the inauguration service of the new well drilled and equipped for the community. Água Grande is about a 4 hour drive south-west of where we live in Patos and is in the municipality of Santana de Mangueira. It is in the region of our Caroá, Mandacaru, Pinheira and Manaira churches. The well produces 1,000 litres of water per hour and attends 134 very needy people.

Sadly a man was killed in João Pessoa after climbing into the lions' enclosure at the zoo! I have just learnt that the man had mental problems so that is very sad.

We are listening to beautiful Christmas Carols sung by the choir of King's College, Cambridge. I love these carols and this choir! How about you?

I have now finished my résumé of the 17th book of the Bible, Esther, so I've now covered 36.7% of the Bible's chapters. I now move on to Job, with 42 chapters, and Psalms with 150 chapters. When I finish these next 2 books I'll be over the half way point of the whole Bible.

Job 1 (résumé): Prologue

The book of Job is a book about suffering. The suffering of a righteous man who loses wealth, family and health at the hand of Satan, permitted by God. There ensues long discussions of the predicament involving Job's friends and comforters, and eventually his life is restored.

Chapter 1 initially tells us about Job in the land of Uz who was blameless before God. He was wealthy and blessed with 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 donkeys and many servants. He was the greatest man of the east.

One day God pointed out Job to Satan as someone who was upright shunning evil. Satan retorted that Job was so perfect because he had everything going for him, but if his good fortune changed he would soon curse God. So Satan left God's presence.

Then a series of catastrophes overtook Job and he lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels and sons and daughters! Yet Job reacted with worship saying that the Lord giveth and takes away so praise be given to the name of the Lord.

Esther 10 (résumé): The greatness of Mordecai

 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire with Mordecai firmly his second in command. Mordecai was preeminent amongst the Jews and highly esteemed by them "because he worked for the good of the people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews".

Esther 9 (résumé): Triumph of the Jews

On exactly the day planned for decimating the Jews under Haman's evil plan the pro-Jewish decree from King Xerxes came into force and completely turned the table in favour of the Jews. Thus the Jews assembled in their respective cities and attacked them that had been seeking their destruction. The governors and king's administrators helped the Jews for fear of the power of Mordecai. In the capital Susa the Jews killed 500 men as well as the 10 sons of Haman who were hanged, and the following day the Jews killed another 300 enemies. Around the provinces the Jews killed 75,000 people but they took no plunder. Then the Jews held a day of feasting and joy after 2 days of killings and this day became a day of giving gifts to one another. So Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews getting them to celebrate annually on the 14th and 15th day of the 12th month remembering how on these days their mourning had turned into celebration. This festival came to be known as Purim and was confirmed by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai in a second letter with absolute authority.