I have prepared this Sunday's sermon on Fellowship in Christ's light from 1 John 1:1-10 and I've sent the order of service to our visuals man so all ready for our main Sunday service.
On Thursday I led the Bible study in Genesis 12 as having covered the creation and the fall we are now into Abraham and Isaac as we follow though a series right through the Bible focusing on its main stories.
Yesterday Liz and I had a further meeting with our deaf pastor Luis Carlos, with the help of interpreter Geralda, preparing for the Deaf Conference at Green Pastures from July 19th-21st.
I have also be handling a variety of issues this week trying to sort out a problem between two of our church leaders at one of our churches, discussing possible ministry from one of our Bible School students at another church, managing some difficult issues with a complicated person in another church and dealing with some tense family problems that another of our church leaders has. I can't go into details with these matters as the world is too small today! However please pray on these matters as God knows the details. Things like the above crop up all the time but God helps us in these times.
Tonight we will be supporting the Youth in their church planting endevours in the Jatobá borough of Patos where we have our school. It was interesting how this week the school got out church Firefighter Romildo to go and give a talk to the kids' parents on how to avoid accidents with the children in the home and on what to do if they happen.
Please pray for us as we prepare for ministry in a couple of week's time in João Pessoa on the coast and with the church plant in Recife also on the coast.
Saturday, 29 June 2019
Friday, 28 June 2019
Stay cool in Europe!
We hear on the news of the extremely hot weather being experienced at present in Europe, so here are a few basic suggestions to help:
1. Stay OUT of the sun.
2. Take AT LEAST 3 cold showers a day.
3. Drink lots of cold water from the fridge all day long.
4. Wear light tops, shorts and sandals.
1. Stay OUT of the sun.
2. Take AT LEAST 3 cold showers a day.
3. Drink lots of cold water from the fridge all day long.
4. Wear light tops, shorts and sandals.
Monday, 24 June 2019
Youth Conference approaches final meal together
The EAB/ACEV 16th annual Youth Conference is at this moment in its final service and then everyone will have their final meal together before returning to all their different towns and churches. From all we saw and have heard it is being a great blessing and we await everyone's return to Patos to get the full picture and report. Liz has just left for Green Pastures to transport a visiting speaker from João Pessoa to catch a coach home. I am working here in my office and will have to heat my own lunch up in the microwave! I value your prayers!
Last night's service in Patos went very well despite very low numbers. This was due to 3 factors. First of all the Youth Conference has all our youth there of course plus others from the Patos church working in the kitchen at Green Pastures. Secondly because last night was the main annual bonfire night creating lots of smoke in the streets plus street parties which made it difficult or impossible for some to get to church. Thirdly because today is St. John's day and as everything in Brazil is celebrated on the eve of whatever day it is - plus the fact that St. John's day is the biggest day (like Christmas Day in the UK) for Brazil's north-east, this meant that some people felt the cultural pull more than the Christian one! That is, they sort of preferred John to Jesus, which I am perhaps a bit harsh in saying, but that's what happened with some.
Nevertheless we had a good blessed service with Sacha alone on vocals and just brother Temistocles on guitar as all the rest of the worship band was away at the Conference. However the worship went really well despite this. My sermon on Genesis 3 went very well too. In fact I am already getting requests for me to preach the sermon again in a month or so's time when we have everyone there! So I probably will do this.
We value your prayers for all the activities during this week in the work here. We value your financial support too. May God bless you this week!
Last night's service in Patos went very well despite very low numbers. This was due to 3 factors. First of all the Youth Conference has all our youth there of course plus others from the Patos church working in the kitchen at Green Pastures. Secondly because last night was the main annual bonfire night creating lots of smoke in the streets plus street parties which made it difficult or impossible for some to get to church. Thirdly because today is St. John's day and as everything in Brazil is celebrated on the eve of whatever day it is - plus the fact that St. John's day is the biggest day (like Christmas Day in the UK) for Brazil's north-east, this meant that some people felt the cultural pull more than the Christian one! That is, they sort of preferred John to Jesus, which I am perhaps a bit harsh in saying, but that's what happened with some.
Nevertheless we had a good blessed service with Sacha alone on vocals and just brother Temistocles on guitar as all the rest of the worship band was away at the Conference. However the worship went really well despite this. My sermon on Genesis 3 went very well too. In fact I am already getting requests for me to preach the sermon again in a month or so's time when we have everyone there! So I probably will do this.
We value your prayers for all the activities during this week in the work here. We value your financial support too. May God bless you this week!
Sunday, 23 June 2019
Youth Conference in progress
The 16th annual EAB/ACEV Youth Conference started on Saturday morning at Green Pastures and Liz and I joined them for the afternoon and evening. There must be about 200 present although I don't have the exact figures yet from the leaders. It is lovely too see such a fine number and body of enthusiastic Christian youth, which speaks well for the present and the future.
The leaders are formed by a team including our granddaughter Louisa and her fellow law student Rayla + journalist Ray. The overall leader is Philip. Also in a support role are Dilma, Bia, Brenda and João Filho + the kitchen/cleaner team + the 2-man basic Green Pastures regulars of Tarcísio & Francisco + Liz of course! The whole team has worked extremely hard for the success of the Conference.
On the Saturday afternoon I was asked to lead a guided tour of the nature reserve and teach on the way that caring for God's creation is a very basic and essential part of the mission of the church. If you don't emphasize this fact in your church perhaps you might try reading the Bible! Please start with Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 and read God's first ever "job description" for mankind which must make it somewhat important! I also taught how walking alone in the woods is a great place for prayer and excellent to combat anxiety and depression.
We then had a meal together and stayed for a lovely service when they ran out of chairs with so many there. It was a blessing. This was followed by an after-service fun time round the pool area, with live regional Christian music, and all sorts of games like fishing from the pool, hoops etc. plus lots of food made from maize which is tradition here in June + toffee apples and candy floss and coffee of course! It was all beautifully well organised and lovely fellowship. Liz and I got home to bed though at 1 am! Ugh!
I will be preaching and leading the service in Patos tonight. I will be preaching on "What a mess the serpent made"! (Genesis 3) I value your prayers. The Patos church will run as normal whilst the Youth Conference continues at Green Pastures.
The leaders are formed by a team including our granddaughter Louisa and her fellow law student Rayla + journalist Ray. The overall leader is Philip. Also in a support role are Dilma, Bia, Brenda and João Filho + the kitchen/cleaner team + the 2-man basic Green Pastures regulars of Tarcísio & Francisco + Liz of course! The whole team has worked extremely hard for the success of the Conference.
On the Saturday afternoon I was asked to lead a guided tour of the nature reserve and teach on the way that caring for God's creation is a very basic and essential part of the mission of the church. If you don't emphasize this fact in your church perhaps you might try reading the Bible! Please start with Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 and read God's first ever "job description" for mankind which must make it somewhat important! I also taught how walking alone in the woods is a great place for prayer and excellent to combat anxiety and depression.
We then had a meal together and stayed for a lovely service when they ran out of chairs with so many there. It was a blessing. This was followed by an after-service fun time round the pool area, with live regional Christian music, and all sorts of games like fishing from the pool, hoops etc. plus lots of food made from maize which is tradition here in June + toffee apples and candy floss and coffee of course! It was all beautifully well organised and lovely fellowship. Liz and I got home to bed though at 1 am! Ugh!
I will be preaching and leading the service in Patos tonight. I will be preaching on "What a mess the serpent made"! (Genesis 3) I value your prayers. The Patos church will run as normal whilst the Youth Conference continues at Green Pastures.
Wednesday, 19 June 2019
11 baptized in Campina Grande
Our 1st Campina Grande Church baptized 11 on Sunday. PTL! Both our churches in that city are thriving both spiritually and numerically. Please keep praying and supporting.
Last night one decision for Christ was made on a farmstead near Green Pastures when 11 men from our Men's fellowship went there to preach the Gospel.
I photographed and filmed a beautiful Coral snake yesterday at Green Pastures. This 'Michrurus ibiboboca' is lethally venomous. The biologists are thrilled with my daylight registers of this species more commonly only seen at night.
Last night one decision for Christ was made on a farmstead near Green Pastures when 11 men from our Men's fellowship went there to preach the Gospel.
I photographed and filmed a beautiful Coral snake yesterday at Green Pastures. This 'Michrurus ibiboboca' is lethally venomous. The biologists are thrilled with my daylight registers of this species more commonly only seen at night.
Monday, 17 June 2019
Visiting the Flock
Liz and I visited one of our senior ladies today. She has had 3 husbands who all died. She has 2 sons, one of which is very problematic and has been in jail twice. We listened to her, talked things over and prayed with her.
We then went to visit a man from the Patos church who went down with sudden deafness in one ear some months ago giving him noises in the ear all the time. He has just been operated on for the third time. We prayed with him too and for his elderly Mum and sister who cares for her.
I have spent some time reading today. I read 3 more chapters of God's Strategy in Human History and one chapter from Christianity: The Evidence. Both books are by Forster & Marsten and are excellent.
Liz has been helping the youth sort out what they are going to feed the participants at the Youth Conference this weekend at Green Pastures. Liz has also been counselling someone from church who has severe family problems. We always value your prayers for all aspects of the work of God we are involved in because our battle is definitely not just with "flesh and blood" but is much more sinister than that which meets the eye!
We then went to visit a man from the Patos church who went down with sudden deafness in one ear some months ago giving him noises in the ear all the time. He has just been operated on for the third time. We prayed with him too and for his elderly Mum and sister who cares for her.
I have spent some time reading today. I read 3 more chapters of God's Strategy in Human History and one chapter from Christianity: The Evidence. Both books are by Forster & Marsten and are excellent.
Liz has been helping the youth sort out what they are going to feed the participants at the Youth Conference this weekend at Green Pastures. Liz has also been counselling someone from church who has severe family problems. We always value your prayers for all aspects of the work of God we are involved in because our battle is definitely not just with "flesh and blood" but is much more sinister than that which meets the eye!
"All things"
I have been blessed reading Roger Forster and Paul Marston - God's Stategy in Human History and found their thoughts on Romans 8:28 very interesting. The question is whether it is 'things' or 'God' who works?
The famous saying that "the translator can be the traitor" is clearly applicable in this verse which has so many Christians understanding that somehow 'things' abstractly or fatalistically control our lives. In fact what is true is that, as the alternative translation in the NIV margin gives it:
"We know that in all things God works together with those who love him". We as Christians are challenged by this verse to be co-workers with God in the spiritual warfare against evil. It is God who works with us in all things! (Mark 16:20, 1 Corinthians 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 6:1) Thus this verse is saying:
"Nevertheless, what any Christian can be sure of is that, whatever disaster may strike and however bad the situation may be, God will be there, wanting to work together with that Christian and with other believers, to bring good into the situation".
The famous saying that "the translator can be the traitor" is clearly applicable in this verse which has so many Christians understanding that somehow 'things' abstractly or fatalistically control our lives. In fact what is true is that, as the alternative translation in the NIV margin gives it:
"We know that in all things God works together with those who love him". We as Christians are challenged by this verse to be co-workers with God in the spiritual warfare against evil. It is God who works with us in all things! (Mark 16:20, 1 Corinthians 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 6:1) Thus this verse is saying:
"Nevertheless, what any Christian can be sure of is that, whatever disaster may strike and however bad the situation may be, God will be there, wanting to work together with that Christian and with other believers, to bring good into the situation".
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