Ezra 9 (résumé): Ezra's prayer about intermarriage

 Ezra was evaluating the spiritual state of Israel and the leaders informed him that widespread inter-marriage had been going on between pagan nationals and Israelites against the law of God. This practice was even rife amongst priests and Levites! This news devastated Ezra who tore his tunic and cloak and pulled his hair out, and at the time of the evening sacrifice with the people gathered round him he fell on his knees and prayed a prayer of confession. Ezra said before God that he was ashamed and disgraced. He admitted and confessed that his people had forsaken God's commands, practicing evil deeds of great guilt involving inter-racial marriage.

Return to Brazil

We are looking forward to our return to Patos in the state of Paraíba, in north-east Brazil next week. Our Euro trip has been excellent and perhaps the trip we have most enjoyed and felt blessed in over the years. Our thanks to Philip, Gylmara, Lucas and Luis for being so kind to us and thanks to everyone else who has helped and contributed to the success of our visit. May God bless you all and please pray for us as we return.

On our final Sunday in the UK on this trip we will be speaking this Sunday at Christ Church Chineham, Basingstoke, RG24 8LT at 10 am. Please join us if you can!

Donkey Haven news from Brazil is that a husband has been found for our female donkey Merrylegs! He is King Solomon! Our haven now exists in the light of the slaughter of donkeys in Brazil that has wiped our 94% of Brazil's donkeys. Animal lovers can help us save the Brazilian donkeys by sponsoring a donkey for just £10 a month to cover feed and care. Perhaps your Sunday School children might like to do this?

We believe in team work in the work of God. We have a team of 11 leaders leading our churches at a general national level. We have a team of 11 leaders leading our Patos church at a local level. We have a team of 8 leading our social action projects. We have a team of 5 leading our annual 10-day evangelistic outreaches. In other words EAB/ACEV always work in teams! We do not have one-man bands! Team work means a discerning of God's will together. Team work means a sharing of the load. Team work means opportunities for everyone. Team work guarantees continuity. Jesus didn't chose one disciple. He chose a team of 12!

Yesterday we went to the Vyne historic house and grounds owned by the National Trust, and it was a very interesting and healthy day. The Vyne was built between 1500 (when Brazil was discovered by the Portuguese) and 1520, and was visited by King Henry VIII. The 16th century construction transformed an earlier medieval manor house. The Chute family bought it in the 17th century and revamped it. All this is to show that old beautiful houses can be preserved and cared for. It was lovely to see many apple trees laden with fruit in the Vyne's grounds with Red Kites swooping overhead beside a lake.

Ezra 8 (résumé): 2nd returning exiles from Babylon

Now Ezra listed the heads of the families which returned with him from exile in Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes. They assembled at the Ahava canal and camped there for 3 days. Then Ezra noted a lack of Levites so he made a call-up to rectify this. Then Ezra proclaimed a fast to ask of God a safe journey as the Jews travelled without armed escort whilst trusting in God. Then Ezra entrusted to the leading priests all the silver and gold for the temple, and the entourage left the Ahava canal and arrived in Jerusalem where they rested for 3 days. After resting all the silver and gold was duly accounted for and the exiles that had returned sacrificed 12 bulls, 96 rams, 77 male lambs and 12 male goats. 

Ezra 7 (résumé): Ezra comes to Jerusalem

 About 60 years passed between chapter 6 and 7 of Ezra and now it is the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia. It is now that Ezra appears in the narrative. Ezra was a priest, descendant of Aaron, who came to Jerusalem from Babylon with a new wave of returning exiles. Ezra was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, and the hand of God was on him. He came to Jerusalem in the 7th year of Artaxerxes together with priests, Levites, musicians, gate keepers and temple servants. King Artaxerxes gave Ezra a commissioning letter authorizing him to teach the law and use the gold, silver and free will offerings he received for the furtherance of the work of God and his people.  He also authorized substantial supplies from the treasurers of the Trans-Euphrates and exempted them from taxes or tributes. He also authorized Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges to govern in accordance with the Law. Ezra praised God for the king's extraordinary support and backing which he rightly saw a sign that the hand of the Lord was upon him. 

Ezra 6 (résumé): The decree of Darius

King Darius had the archives searched and indeed King Cyrus's decree was discovered on a scroll legitimizing the rebuilding of the Israelite temple as the Jews had said. Therefore King Darius ordered Tattenai to keep out of it and that the expenses of the work be funded by the royal treasury. He said that whatever the priests requested should be given without fail including what they needed in terms of animals for sacrifices. Darius yet said that anyone who disobeys his decree should be impaled on a beam of his house and have his house destroyed. Hence Tattenai and helpers were obliged to diligently obey orders and the temple's rebuilding was concluded in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius and the dedication of the temple was carried out with joy. They offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 male lambs, and as a sin offering 12 male goats representing the 12 tribes of Israel.  And in the first month they celebrated the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.

EAB Celebration

On Saturday the 87th EAB AGM and celebration was held and it was a real blessing. Thank you very much indeed to everyone who went! There was a very good number present.

First of all an EAB Board of Trustees meeting was held in the afternoon and that went very well with only Mary missing as she was caring for her 90-year-old husband Keith who had had a minor stroke the previous day. Get well soon Keith!

Next came the fellowship tea beautifully done by Hazel and team. There was enough to feed the 5,000 and all was delicious. We had a good time chatting to folk while we ate, and sadly it was at this point that I learnt that QPR had been beaten away to Derby 1 x 0. 😞

People kept arriving and it was a joy to see my best man Peter Miles arriving with his wife Marion. Peter is a friend since childhood who used to live in the next street to mine in North Kensington and we went to the same church Peniel Chapel. It was good to learn that he is still preaching at his local parish church. Pastor David Fiddy and his wife Margaret arrived from Wiltshire, my in-laws arrived from London and so it went on! The number present was most encouraging.

The celebration service was great. Roy led; Dave, Philip, Mike, Amy and Russel led the praise and worship; Liz and I spoke; Philip sang Psalm 84 in Portuguese to a Brazilian Bossa Nova rhythm; we prayed for Amy who will be doing a mission trip to Brazil in January, and so things came to a joyful close.

Yesterday we had a nice meal with my nurse sister Joy who came to spend time with us from High Wycombe. It was a lovely day.

Ezra 5 (résumé): Tattenai's letter to Darius

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem and so Zerubbabel and Joshua son of Jozadak restarted their building of the temple. Then the Trans-Euphrates governor Tattenai went and asked who had authorized this work? The Israelites replied saying that the reconstruction of the temple had been authorized by King Darius of Babylon in a decree, and who even returned many gold and silver articles that had been removed from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar so as to be available for the rebuilt temple. So Tattenai requested a search of the royal archives to see if this decree was indeed made.