As I write, there is less than one week until the best day of the year, Christmas Day. I do not declare it so for all the commercialism and fanfare, but because of what it represents. This is the day we commemorate the incarnation of Jesus Christ! Were it not for the incarnation, no salvation would be possible. Our Savior had to robe Himself with human flesh in order to fulfill the Law of God for us, instruct us in the way of righteousness, give His life as a ransom for sinners, and then rise from the tomb.
Tonight, Bill preached on Galatians 4:4-5 on the "fullness of the times." It is absolutely amazing to meditate on how perfect was God's timing. The way He brought all the elements and individuals together to enact what His mind had conceived in eternity is just astounding. Think of how wonderful and inevitable are the plans and purposes of God as illustrated by the Christmas story. No one and nothing could have prevented even one detail from occurring exactly as God had mapped it out.
Why did God not choose a virgin from Bethlehem to be the mother of Jesus? He could have, but the magnificent display of His sovereignty in selecting one from Nazareth and then having Rome issue the decree which would take her to the City of David just in time for the birth of the King of kings was certainly part of the reason He did things His own way.
Think of the shepherds who gathered to see the Christ-child. They were not a convenient afterthought with God. These men raised lambs which would later be sacrificed for the sins of Israel. How fitting that they be witnesses to the birth of the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sin of the world! In a sense they represented the role of Joseph and Mary, the shepherds of the Lamb of God who would shield Him from danger and guide His early steps on this sod.
The wisemen, whether they arrived at the manger or not (Scripture says they came to the house where Jesus was), were called to give witness of the royalty of the Child and to present Him the gifts befitting His pedigree. None of the kings of this world came to pay homage, but these stargazers journeyed from afar to swear fealty to the Lord of the universe.
If only the leaders of our time had eyes to see Jesus Christ, not as the babe in the manger, but as the Sovereign ruler of all nations. If only the common people of this world could see Him as the God-man in whose name alone is salvation. If only the Jewish race could see Him as their one true Messiah. If only we could get beyond the bright lights and festive colors to see the beauty of the Altogether Lovely One. Then there would be peace on earth. This then is the sadness of Christmas. As long as men and women fight against the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there will be no spiritual peace and no national peace either.
But those of us who know and love the Savior, who have bowed the knee to the one true Lord of all, possess a holy joy at this time of year as we celebrate the great grace which caused the Creator of heaven and earth to enter this world as a helpless infant so that He might taste death for every man. May your joy be unspeakable and full of glory. May this Christmas season fill you with an unquenchable desire to know Christ and to make Him known.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Support News
The primary reason for our being in the States instead of Puerto Rico is our financial situation. To raise the needed funds we have visited about 50 churches in the past 6 months (and driven more than 20,000 miles). Recently, we received news from PR that our own church has voted to support us for $200 per month!
When Paul wanted to stimulate the Corinthians to give, he told them about the Macedonian Christians' sacrificial attitude. In 2 Corinthians 8:2, the apostle declares, that "in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." In verse three he adds that they gave beyond their economic power. Incredibly these poor, suffering saints were so eager to give that when Paul expressed concern that they were giving too much, they begged him to be allowed to give (v. 4)!
Maybe it's hard for you to imagine that some believers actually want to give so generously, but we know that this is not an exaggeration. First, because 2 Corinthians is inspired by God and is therefore an accurate statement of the situation in Macedonia. Second, the example of the church in PR is of the same sort.
The Corinthians responded with a generous gift when they knew of the sacrifice of their brethren. May God use the testimony of the believers in Ponce to motivate the churches we visit to support our ministry so that we may return to PR by the summer of 2008. Will you join with us to make this goal a reality?
When Paul wanted to stimulate the Corinthians to give, he told them about the Macedonian Christians' sacrificial attitude. In 2 Corinthians 8:2, the apostle declares, that "in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." In verse three he adds that they gave beyond their economic power. Incredibly these poor, suffering saints were so eager to give that when Paul expressed concern that they were giving too much, they begged him to be allowed to give (v. 4)!
Maybe it's hard for you to imagine that some believers actually want to give so generously, but we know that this is not an exaggeration. First, because 2 Corinthians is inspired by God and is therefore an accurate statement of the situation in Macedonia. Second, the example of the church in PR is of the same sort.
The Corinthians responded with a generous gift when they knew of the sacrifice of their brethren. May God use the testimony of the believers in Ponce to motivate the churches we visit to support our ministry so that we may return to PR by the summer of 2008. Will you join with us to make this goal a reality?
God's Gracious Provision
Our oldest son, Steven, has just one semester of college left. He has decided to finish his studies by correspondence, but he will need to find a full-time job, housing, and a car in the next few weeks.
Within 10 minutes of sending the email, I received a phone call from someone who wanted to do just that! What started as a joke became an answer to prayer that will not be forgotten. Steven now has a 1987 Volvo station wagon which runs well and gets 27 mpg. He only had to pay $640 for some needed repairs! Why should we be surprised? Our awesome God has said, “Before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24). Now we need to pray for the job and the housing needs.
Within 10 minutes of sending the email, I received a phone call from someone who wanted to do just that! What started as a joke became an answer to prayer that will not be forgotten. Steven now has a 1987 Volvo station wagon which runs well and gets 27 mpg. He only had to pay $640 for some needed repairs! Why should we be surprised? Our awesome God has said, “Before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24). Now we need to pray for the job and the housing needs.
Winter Wonderland
For the past week we have had three separate snow storms which have dumped about 8 inches of snow. We are located in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern PA. Our kids have been thrilled with the view and the opportunity to have some fun. They even built a snowman today, but it was too dark to get a picture when they finished.
In spite of having to travel in the slippery conditions, the Lord has protected us from accident and from getting stuck. Wednesday was the most dangerous day, but Bill put the car in firwst gear and eased down the mountain without incident. Praise the Lord for His goodness and a warm place to stay.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Back in Pennsylvania
Our journeys through Ohio and Michigan were a special blessing to us. Many thanks to all who made our visits so enjoyable. We were able to renew contact with four of our supporting churches and participate in a wonderful missions conference. The messages were all very good and the fellowship was tremendously uplifting. Each of these churches has been with us for many years and we count them as dear friends. Our one sadness is that furlough travel did not allow us to spend more time with them.
On Friday, November 16, we departed Ohio accompanied by light snow flurries. About an hour into the trip the snow was really flying. Our kids loved the novel sight. Not much snow falls in Puerto Rico! For a while we saw whitened fields and trees outlined in snow. Jonathan wanted to stop and make a snowball, but we never saw that much snow where we could legally stop. In Ebensburg, PA we even had a near white-out. The best part of the whole adventure was that no snow was on the roads. I have driven on snow, but not with a trailer in tow.
On Sunday we visited 2 more supporting churches. Both are encouraging to us in their enthusiasm for what God is doing through them. One of these churches is constructing a new building. Currently the 100 people who regularly attend must split into 2 services. The new building will seat 177! What a joy to see the blessing of God on a faithful group of people who have weathered many storms and stayed true.
Thanksgiving will find us in Elizabethtown with extended family. It's hard to believe, but the weather is forecast to be snow-free with temps in the 70s! Over the weekend, Teresa and I will get together with some of our high school classmates from 1982. This is an unexpected blessing.
The Lord is teaching us many things during this furlough. We are grateful that He is so patient and long-suffering. Truly, it is due to His mercies that we are not consumed every day. Our support is starting to improve. Even the church in Ponce has begun to help us. Our heart's desire is to be back in PR. Pray with us.
On Friday, November 16, we departed Ohio accompanied by light snow flurries. About an hour into the trip the snow was really flying. Our kids loved the novel sight. Not much snow falls in Puerto Rico! For a while we saw whitened fields and trees outlined in snow. Jonathan wanted to stop and make a snowball, but we never saw that much snow where we could legally stop. In Ebensburg, PA we even had a near white-out. The best part of the whole adventure was that no snow was on the roads. I have driven on snow, but not with a trailer in tow.
On Sunday we visited 2 more supporting churches. Both are encouraging to us in their enthusiasm for what God is doing through them. One of these churches is constructing a new building. Currently the 100 people who regularly attend must split into 2 services. The new building will seat 177! What a joy to see the blessing of God on a faithful group of people who have weathered many storms and stayed true.
Thanksgiving will find us in Elizabethtown with extended family. It's hard to believe, but the weather is forecast to be snow-free with temps in the 70s! Over the weekend, Teresa and I will get together with some of our high school classmates from 1982. This is an unexpected blessing.
The Lord is teaching us many things during this furlough. We are grateful that He is so patient and long-suffering. Truly, it is due to His mercies that we are not consumed every day. Our support is starting to improve. Even the church in Ponce has begun to help us. Our heart's desire is to be back in PR. Pray with us.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Snow Flurries in Michigan
Since our last blog entry we have traveled many miles. We left the fair State of Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 3 en route to Toledo, Ohio. We spent Sunday morning with a supporting church in the area and then moved on to the outskirts of Detroit on Sunday afternoon. The evening service was shared with another of our supporters as we brought them up to date on the Lord's working in our lives.
Well, this morning (Tuesday, November 6) we awoke to find snow in the air. This is the first snow our kids have experienced since 2002! Nothing is sticking, but it is exciting to see the snow. Our eight-year-old wants to build a snowman. As long as I don't have to pull a trailer through the snow, I don't mind if he gets his wish.
Well, this morning (Tuesday, November 6) we awoke to find snow in the air. This is the first snow our kids have experienced since 2002! Nothing is sticking, but it is exciting to see the snow. Our eight-year-old wants to build a snowman. As long as I don't have to pull a trailer through the snow, I don't mind if he gets his wish.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Beginning at Home
Tonight (October 26) I will bring a message with this title in a missions conference meeting. Following is a brief summation of the message.
The Gospel must be taken home. In Luke 16:27b the rich man in hell cried out for someone to go and warn his brothers of their impending doom. In spite of his personal anguish in hell-fire, this lost soul's concern that others not join him is notable. Though he had every reason to be self-absorbed, he was more evangelistically-minded than many believers today. Think of his indescribable torment as the literal flames of hell engulfed his entire body! Further, his torment was inescapable. From that day to this that rich man has never had one moment's relief from hell's misery! His suffering is also inexcusable. He didn't have to go to hell! Any soul that arrives in hell does so in spite of the warnings contained in Scripture. Isaiah 66:24 describes hell as a place where the souls of men will languish in eternal, conscious suffering. The fire will never go out! We must take the message home so that those we love will never face such a bleak eternity.
A second motivation to take the Gospel home may be found in our Savior's words to the former demoniac of Gadara recorded in Mark 5 verse 19: "Go home and tell thy friends." Our Lord commands us to take the message of salvation home. This delivered man heard his Savior say, "Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee." Psalm 66:16 declares, "Come and hear, ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." The new believer need not worry that he does not know enough verses in order to testify of his faith, nor should the more seasoned believer fear a lack of theological preparation. Each redeemed soul can and should declare the great things God has done in saving his soul. The Savior also encouraged him to tell how God had mercy on him. This destitute and abandoned man was now a child of God, accepted by the God of the universe as His own son. No longer was he naked, but clothed in Christ's own righteousness. No longer was he out of his mind, but in his right mind by the mercy of God.
The Gospel must also go beyond home to the great beyond. Acts 1:8 declares, "Ye shall be witnesses." That is not a suggestion, nor even a command; it is rather a statement of inevitable reality. Acts 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, and 10:39 reveal that the early believers became witnesses as a natural result of God's supernatural grace changing their lives forever.
The sphere of that witness is found in the words "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." God's plan was that believers saturate their home area and then move progressively outward, declaring the Gospel in every place. In Acts 8:1 persecution effected the moving of the Gospel outward, and the early believers faithfully declared the Gospel everywhere (Acts 8:4). The final step of that outward expansion comes in Acts 13:1 when the Holy Spirit calls the first missionaries.
This is not to be an isolated series of events, but an oft-repeated pattern. As Paul went out, other churches were established to saturate their own area (1 Thess 1:6) which then expanded their influence over broader territories (1 Thess 1:7-8). Then other missionaries, such as Timothy and Titus, carried the Word even further afield.
I believe we have lost sight of this Biblical model. Modern evangelism suffers when our home area is not saturated with the Word. Have you become discouraged in God's service? Galatians 6:9 demands, "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." We must each do our part or the home base will become so depleted that foreign missions will falter. Remember, "the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." If foreign missions depended on your faithfulness here at home, how would missions fare?
The Gospel must be taken home. In Luke 16:27b the rich man in hell cried out for someone to go and warn his brothers of their impending doom. In spite of his personal anguish in hell-fire, this lost soul's concern that others not join him is notable. Though he had every reason to be self-absorbed, he was more evangelistically-minded than many believers today. Think of his indescribable torment as the literal flames of hell engulfed his entire body! Further, his torment was inescapable. From that day to this that rich man has never had one moment's relief from hell's misery! His suffering is also inexcusable. He didn't have to go to hell! Any soul that arrives in hell does so in spite of the warnings contained in Scripture. Isaiah 66:24 describes hell as a place where the souls of men will languish in eternal, conscious suffering. The fire will never go out! We must take the message home so that those we love will never face such a bleak eternity.
A second motivation to take the Gospel home may be found in our Savior's words to the former demoniac of Gadara recorded in Mark 5 verse 19: "Go home and tell thy friends." Our Lord commands us to take the message of salvation home. This delivered man heard his Savior say, "Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee." Psalm 66:16 declares, "Come and hear, ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." The new believer need not worry that he does not know enough verses in order to testify of his faith, nor should the more seasoned believer fear a lack of theological preparation. Each redeemed soul can and should declare the great things God has done in saving his soul. The Savior also encouraged him to tell how God had mercy on him. This destitute and abandoned man was now a child of God, accepted by the God of the universe as His own son. No longer was he naked, but clothed in Christ's own righteousness. No longer was he out of his mind, but in his right mind by the mercy of God.
The Gospel must also go beyond home to the great beyond. Acts 1:8 declares, "Ye shall be witnesses." That is not a suggestion, nor even a command; it is rather a statement of inevitable reality. Acts 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, and 10:39 reveal that the early believers became witnesses as a natural result of God's supernatural grace changing their lives forever.
The sphere of that witness is found in the words "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." God's plan was that believers saturate their home area and then move progressively outward, declaring the Gospel in every place. In Acts 8:1 persecution effected the moving of the Gospel outward, and the early believers faithfully declared the Gospel everywhere (Acts 8:4). The final step of that outward expansion comes in Acts 13:1 when the Holy Spirit calls the first missionaries.
This is not to be an isolated series of events, but an oft-repeated pattern. As Paul went out, other churches were established to saturate their own area (1 Thess 1:6) which then expanded their influence over broader territories (1 Thess 1:7-8). Then other missionaries, such as Timothy and Titus, carried the Word even further afield.
I believe we have lost sight of this Biblical model. Modern evangelism suffers when our home area is not saturated with the Word. Have you become discouraged in God's service? Galatians 6:9 demands, "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." We must each do our part or the home base will become so depleted that foreign missions will falter. Remember, "the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." If foreign missions depended on your faithfulness here at home, how would missions fare?
Website Update
If you have not visited our website (pfamilypr.com) for a while, you will find a few significant changes. We have added 2 pages: Mission Teams and This I Believe. The first is intended to help those who would like to plan trips to PR or to some other location. The second is a personal doctrinal statement. In addition, the Home Page has been completely rewritten. As you look over our site, please feel free to send along your comments via email. Typos, items to add, revisions, general suggestions, etc. are all welcome.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Missions Conferences
So far in October, we have had the privilege of participating in several missions conferences. One was held in north-central PA and the other in south-central PA. The folks in both locations were amazing. Their support of world-wide missions was evident. Our family was able to help with special music, children's church, and the preaching and teaching of the Word. These churches ministered to us in ways they can barely imagine, and we thank God for each one.
Furlough can be an arduous trek across tens of thousands of miles, but stops like these make the journey worthwhile. We have also had some single meetings that have refreshed us as well, but there is just something special about a conference. We will be involved in 3 more missions conferences this Fall and numerous single meetings.
Our goal of full support seems so far away as to be nearly unreachable, but the arm of our God is not shortened, nor is His ear deaf to our call. We are convinced that His provision will come in His time. To add to our note of urgency, our mission board has informed us that we must be at full support before we return to PR.
A motto of sorts that has come to us over the past several years of ministry states the following: "All I can do is all I can do." This is used when a task seems daunting or time too short to accomplish a worthy goal. Furlough is such a task whose time rapidly escapes us. However, by May of 2008, we will have been in nearly 100 churches. Many of these are first time contacts. Only God can cause these meetings to result in support.
In spite of the importance of our support goal, we do not let that interfere with ministry. It has always been our desire to serve the Lord in these contacts and leave the results to Him. We have seen that He honors His Word and that He will pay for everything that He has ordered. With this confidence we go forward with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Furlough can be an arduous trek across tens of thousands of miles, but stops like these make the journey worthwhile. We have also had some single meetings that have refreshed us as well, but there is just something special about a conference. We will be involved in 3 more missions conferences this Fall and numerous single meetings.
Our goal of full support seems so far away as to be nearly unreachable, but the arm of our God is not shortened, nor is His ear deaf to our call. We are convinced that His provision will come in His time. To add to our note of urgency, our mission board has informed us that we must be at full support before we return to PR.
A motto of sorts that has come to us over the past several years of ministry states the following: "All I can do is all I can do." This is used when a task seems daunting or time too short to accomplish a worthy goal. Furlough is such a task whose time rapidly escapes us. However, by May of 2008, we will have been in nearly 100 churches. Many of these are first time contacts. Only God can cause these meetings to result in support.
In spite of the importance of our support goal, we do not let that interfere with ministry. It has always been our desire to serve the Lord in these contacts and leave the results to Him. We have seen that He honors His Word and that He will pay for everything that He has ordered. With this confidence we go forward with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Bill's Dad on the Mend
On Tuesday, October 9, Bill's dad began to complain of dizziness, excessive sweating, and low energy. We encouraged him to call his doctor who gave him an appointment. At the doctor's office, an EKG showed a slightly irregular rhythm. The doctor sent dad to the hospital, expecting to schedule a stress test for the following morning.
At about 8:00 PM, dad started to experience severe chest pains. After taking 3 nitro pills and some other medications, the symptoms subsided a bit. Early on Wednesday morning the pain continued and was treated with the maximum dose of morphine. These developments canceled the stress test in favor of a catherization. The doctor installed a stint to open one artery which was 60% obstructed. We rejoice that he did not suffer a heart attack nor any damage to the heart.
On Thursday afternoon, dad came home and is resting for a few days before getting back to work. Please, pray for his complete recovery and that he will be able to lighten his work load.
At about 8:00 PM, dad started to experience severe chest pains. After taking 3 nitro pills and some other medications, the symptoms subsided a bit. Early on Wednesday morning the pain continued and was treated with the maximum dose of morphine. These developments canceled the stress test in favor of a catherization. The doctor installed a stint to open one artery which was 60% obstructed. We rejoice that he did not suffer a heart attack nor any damage to the heart.
On Thursday afternoon, dad came home and is resting for a few days before getting back to work. Please, pray for his complete recovery and that he will be able to lighten his work load.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
A Special Thank You
The Pastor and his wife certainly went the extra mile to make sure that the conference was well done, and each of the church members ministered to us in their own unique way. You know it has been a good conference when you are genuinely sad to see it end. This was certainly our sentiment as we headed down the highway. We thank each person who attended, gave, encouraged, and prayed for this missions conference. Your labor is not in vain in the Lord!
The month of October will be filled with one conference after the other. In fact we will take part in 20 services in 8 churches in October alone. We look forward to all the new friends we will make and the many opportunities to serve the Lord as we lay out the challenge of serving the Lord with a glad heart.
Our prayer is that the Lord will raise the 28% of our support that is missing so that we will be able to return to
Spanish-English Bibles and Spanish Tracts
We are constantly amazed at how many Spanish speakers there are in the vicinity of the churches we are visiting. Some of these churches even have a Spanish outreach ministry or at least one or two people attending whose first language is Spanish. Though the illegal immigrant issue aggravates some people so that they cannot see a lost soul, we rejoice to see how many of God’s people are trying to reach out to these latinos. Remember, not all Spanish speakers are illegals, and even if they are illegals, they still have a soul which God loves and desires to save.
If you would like to locate some good Spanish tracts, we would highly recommend the translation of “God’s Bridge to Eternal Life”. It is available through Majestic Media at (586) 725-5800. This is a full color, high-quality, glossy paper production which plainly declares the Gospel with helpful illustrations provided to aid the lost in finding Christ. The tract is equally usable for adults and children. Majestic Media also offers to print your church name, service times, and contact information on the back cover.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Washington DC
On Monday, September 10, we took a field trip to our nation's capitol. We parked the van and hit the streets at 10:30 AM. From then until dark, we were on the Capitol Mall, walking all the way from Union Station to the Lincoln Memorial and back again. In all we hoofed it for at least 10 miles! The kids could hardly have done better. They were real troopers in spite of how their feet must have ached (I know mine did).
AmethystWe took plenty of pictures to fill out their photo albums and to give meaning to some of the pages in the history books. It was fun going through the mineral and gemstone section of the Smithsonian while trying to find samples of the foundation stones of the Heavenly City. That will be an incredible sight. I believe the
gems will be of the translucent variety, causing a prism-like effect, producing rainbows of color! Here are a couple of these gems to give a hint of the beauty that awaits us.Beryl (various colors)
TopazEspecially moving were the memorials to the Korean and Vietnam War Veterans. We have several vets in our church in Ponce. One received the Bronze Star for Heroism and another the Purple Heart. These are men who deserve to be honored.
The Lincoln Memorial with the inscription of the Gettysburg Address was another favorite. We took the time to read the address out loud and to talk a bit about its significance. There are so many good photos, but the blog won't hold them all. If anyone knows how to post an entire album, let me know.
It was a great day, but we wish we had had more time. All of the museums and monuments are accessible free of charge. The buses are another story, and so we walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, . . . . . . . .
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Joy in Heaven
One of the greatest pleasures is leading a soul to Christ. It is even more thrilling when you know you have been used to reach someone who was nearly "unreachable" to those around him or her. Such was the case of Thelma.
She is a lady from central America who speaks very little English. In spite of this problem, she had begun to attend one of our supporting churches in central PA. Bill was able to visit her in the company of a church member and share the Gospel with her in Spanish. She was unsure how she could know for certain that God would accept her into His family due to a confusing background in churches that do not preach the Word.
As Bill shared the message of salvation, Thelma followed the teaching closely. When asked if she would like to receive God's offer of forgiveness and salvation, she responded with tears in her eyes that she did not know how to ask God for such a precious gift. Bill led her in the sinner's prayer, and she eagerly received new life. Her happy countenance and tear-filled eyes said thank you in a way that surpassed all language barriers.
Praise the Lord for each sinner who repents. Discipleship will be a challenge, but several church members are committed to do all within their power to assist the growth of this new convert. We are praying for other opportunities to witness to Thelma's family. Pray with us, please.
She is a lady from central America who speaks very little English. In spite of this problem, she had begun to attend one of our supporting churches in central PA. Bill was able to visit her in the company of a church member and share the Gospel with her in Spanish. She was unsure how she could know for certain that God would accept her into His family due to a confusing background in churches that do not preach the Word.
As Bill shared the message of salvation, Thelma followed the teaching closely. When asked if she would like to receive God's offer of forgiveness and salvation, she responded with tears in her eyes that she did not know how to ask God for such a precious gift. Bill led her in the sinner's prayer, and she eagerly received new life. Her happy countenance and tear-filled eyes said thank you in a way that surpassed all language barriers.
Praise the Lord for each sinner who repents. Discipleship will be a challenge, but several church members are committed to do all within their power to assist the growth of this new convert. We are praying for other opportunities to witness to Thelma's family. Pray with us, please.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Am I a Pharisee?
Those of us who hold to high personal standards are often accused of being Pharisees. Though this accusation is frequently leveled by those who claim to be more loving, it is more akin to a slap in the face than a bear hug or a "holy kiss". Aside from not liking the slur, I find that it is necessary to examine the matter, since nearly every form of criticism has an element of truth in it. The difficulty is getting beyond the insult to see the truth.
Fundamentalism does have a problem with expressing itself in love. As a result, we often come across as being unloving, spiteful, and vindictive. However, the fault is not exclusive to our rank and file. Just enter into a discussion with a New Evangelical, Liberal, or Contemporary Christian Music devotee to see who can be vitriolic. I maintain that anyone who cannot take a stand in love needs to seriously re-evaluate his character to see if it it Christ-like and his position on the issues to determine why love is absent. It is inevitable, however, that our love will be tested.
May the test always reveal that we love God above anything or anyone else. We all must love God first and best, and our neighbor as we love ourselves.
The label "Pharisee" is almost never hurled about in love. In fact, I believe the label to be misapplied at least in my case and in that of quite a few others who share my beliefs and principles. To spot the problem, please, direct your attention to Matthew 23 where Christ pronounces judgment on these and other misguided individuals of His day. There are at least 12 points of description found here and others which could be added from other passages.
The Pharisees were religionists who did not practice what they preached. Their outward piety was a deliberate mask for their own spiritual corruption. Christ declared that they were working at cross-purposes to God's plan of redemption and doing so deliberately. They were perfectly willing to nullify the Law of God in order to maintain their own system of belief. The argument reaches its apex in Matthew 23:33 when Christ declares the Pharisees to be destined to an eternity in Hell! Truly, Pharisees then and now are not children of light with a higher view of holiness than their peers! They are, in fact, lost in their sins, blinded by the darkness of their minds, and entrenched in a religious system which condemns souls to Hell!
Taking these principles into today's context, we arrive at a completely different picture of the Pharisee. I can think of groups which fit the bill, but they are not Fundamentalists. Instead, they would be liberals, Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and many others who deliberately pervert the Gospel of Christ for personal and political advantage. These are more vitally concerned with their own agenda than the Gospel of Christ.
Much hay is made accusing Fundamentalists for adding to the Law by way of principles or application. Yet even Christ Himself added to the Law in Matthew 5:27-28. He did so as a means of showing that the Law was intended to have broader application than a merely superficial reading would give it. The first commandment declares that we should not have any other gods in God's presence. He alone must be worshiped, as He has revealed Himself. He who is intrinsically holy must be worshiped in holiness and truth. Modern usage of the rock beat adds an element of worldliness to both the private life and public worship of the believer. For this reason I hold that the use of such tainted music undermines the purity of our God and calls into question whether the individual loves God or the world. He cannot love both at the same time (1 John 2:15-17). On this issue I would highly recommend Why I Left Contemporary Christian Music by Dan Lucarini (available on Amazon.com for around $10).
There may be Pharisees within the camp of Fundamentalism, but the movement is based upon the holiness of God and His demands that we all be pure and separate from the corruption of this present evil world. Each of us must personally guard against a spirit of contention, but contend for the faith we MUST.
Fundamentalism does have a problem with expressing itself in love. As a result, we often come across as being unloving, spiteful, and vindictive. However, the fault is not exclusive to our rank and file. Just enter into a discussion with a New Evangelical, Liberal, or Contemporary Christian Music devotee to see who can be vitriolic. I maintain that anyone who cannot take a stand in love needs to seriously re-evaluate his character to see if it it Christ-like and his position on the issues to determine why love is absent. It is inevitable, however, that our love will be tested.
May the test always reveal that we love God above anything or anyone else. We all must love God first and best, and our neighbor as we love ourselves.
The label "Pharisee" is almost never hurled about in love. In fact, I believe the label to be misapplied at least in my case and in that of quite a few others who share my beliefs and principles. To spot the problem, please, direct your attention to Matthew 23 where Christ pronounces judgment on these and other misguided individuals of His day. There are at least 12 points of description found here and others which could be added from other passages.
The Pharisees were religionists who did not practice what they preached. Their outward piety was a deliberate mask for their own spiritual corruption. Christ declared that they were working at cross-purposes to God's plan of redemption and doing so deliberately. They were perfectly willing to nullify the Law of God in order to maintain their own system of belief. The argument reaches its apex in Matthew 23:33 when Christ declares the Pharisees to be destined to an eternity in Hell! Truly, Pharisees then and now are not children of light with a higher view of holiness than their peers! They are, in fact, lost in their sins, blinded by the darkness of their minds, and entrenched in a religious system which condemns souls to Hell!
Taking these principles into today's context, we arrive at a completely different picture of the Pharisee. I can think of groups which fit the bill, but they are not Fundamentalists. Instead, they would be liberals, Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and many others who deliberately pervert the Gospel of Christ for personal and political advantage. These are more vitally concerned with their own agenda than the Gospel of Christ.
Much hay is made accusing Fundamentalists for adding to the Law by way of principles or application. Yet even Christ Himself added to the Law in Matthew 5:27-28. He did so as a means of showing that the Law was intended to have broader application than a merely superficial reading would give it. The first commandment declares that we should not have any other gods in God's presence. He alone must be worshiped, as He has revealed Himself. He who is intrinsically holy must be worshiped in holiness and truth. Modern usage of the rock beat adds an element of worldliness to both the private life and public worship of the believer. For this reason I hold that the use of such tainted music undermines the purity of our God and calls into question whether the individual loves God or the world. He cannot love both at the same time (1 John 2:15-17). On this issue I would highly recommend Why I Left Contemporary Christian Music by Dan Lucarini (available on Amazon.com for around $10).
There may be Pharisees within the camp of Fundamentalism, but the movement is based upon the holiness of God and His demands that we all be pure and separate from the corruption of this present evil world. Each of us must personally guard against a spirit of contention, but contend for the faith we MUST.
Steven's Senior Year
On Wednesday (Aug. 29), our oldest son, Steven, began his senior year at Bob Jones University. How did this happen? I'm sure I am too young to have a kid this old, but the evidence says otherwise. The Lord has been faithful over the years so that his schooling could go on without interruption. This year will be another adventure of faith.
In July Steven's summer employment came to an unexpected end. In spite of many hours of searching, he could not find a replacement job. One of the hindering factors is that his only transportation is a bicycle. His seizure last Spring made him ineligible for driving until late October. As a result, his summer savings never materialized. My advice to him has been to draw nearer to God and rest in Him. He knows how the needs of the year will be met.
Steven is leaning toward a career in business where he could use his interests in language and perhaps building design. The latter is a newer field of interest that he has begun to explore at our encouragement. Teresa especially noticed his ability in this area as we drove through Charleston, SC this summer. Our continuing prayer for him is that the Lord would direct him and that he would love Him with all his heart, regardless of the career or ministry in which he may be involved.
In July Steven's summer employment came to an unexpected end. In spite of many hours of searching, he could not find a replacement job. One of the hindering factors is that his only transportation is a bicycle. His seizure last Spring made him ineligible for driving until late October. As a result, his summer savings never materialized. My advice to him has been to draw nearer to God and rest in Him. He knows how the needs of the year will be met.
Steven is leaning toward a career in business where he could use his interests in language and perhaps building design. The latter is a newer field of interest that he has begun to explore at our encouragement. Teresa especially noticed his ability in this area as we drove through Charleston, SC this summer. Our continuing prayer for him is that the Lord would direct him and that he would love Him with all his heart, regardless of the career or ministry in which he may be involved.
In the Promised Land
Well, we have finally arrived. All of our travels have taken us back to home??? Pennsylvania has a certain nostalgia for Teresa and I since we spent so much of our lives here, began our deputation in this fair state, and still have relatives under nearly every rock and rill. So far we have reconnected with a fair number of these family members and are looking forward to seeing still more in a Labor Day weekend Weaver family reunion (Teresa's kin). We have also been able to visit my grandma P who suffered a stroke about a month ago. She recognized us all and enjoyed our family visit in the care center that is her new home. If not for this furlough, it might have been difficult for us to visit her.
Our rear window has been decorated with some special stickers to remind us of the places we have visited. Puerto Rico has a prominent display; the Wilds Christian Camp also has its niche. But our proudest sticker of all is a blue oval with red lettering that says, "Seltzer's". If you don't know the name, you're not from around here. Seltzer's is the first and last name of Lebanon Bologna (pronounced "baloney").
Lebanon Baloney is not that pale and sickly lunch meat that kids have complained about since packing a lunch became optional. I always placed my chips inside the sandwich to make it edible. L.B. is a smoked meat which can be, and often is, eaten right out of the pack. It has the aroma of hickory smoke and a flavor that prevents most people from counting calories (or sodium).
We now return to the part about a sticker already in progress. This sticker is not sold in stores, unless you are very creative. Teresa peeled the label from a 3 pound bag of baloney ends and placed it proudly beside our travel log on the rear window of our mini-van. It is the original and only addictive decal which features a scratch and sniff quality no other bumper sticker can rival.
Hershey Chocolate may yet have its rightful place of honor on that window. We are currently staying within scent range of the Hershey and Reese's plants! This is the only place in the world where you can gain 5 pounds by merely walking outside and taking a deep breath. We toured Chocolate World the other day. This is one of the few remaining freebees in Hershey. Hershey Park is now nearly $50 per person per day. That is one stop we will NOT be making. Just think of all the money we are saving! It almost makes me want to go on a spending binge to celebrate the savings! I guess I'll just send the money to Steven's college fund instead.
September begins the really busy portion of our furlough. From here until December 16 there are few breaks, and all but two weeks of that time will be spent in PA. Keep us in your prayers. Health, safety, provision of support, and the blessing of God on the work in Ponce are at the top of our prayer list.
Our rear window has been decorated with some special stickers to remind us of the places we have visited. Puerto Rico has a prominent display; the Wilds Christian Camp also has its niche. But our proudest sticker of all is a blue oval with red lettering that says, "Seltzer's". If you don't know the name, you're not from around here. Seltzer's is the first and last name of Lebanon Bologna (pronounced "baloney").
Lebanon Baloney is not that pale and sickly lunch meat that kids have complained about since packing a lunch became optional. I always placed my chips inside the sandwich to make it edible. L.B. is a smoked meat which can be, and often is, eaten right out of the pack. It has the aroma of hickory smoke and a flavor that prevents most people from counting calories (or sodium).
We now return to the part about a sticker already in progress. This sticker is not sold in stores, unless you are very creative. Teresa peeled the label from a 3 pound bag of baloney ends and placed it proudly beside our travel log on the rear window of our mini-van. It is the original and only addictive decal which features a scratch and sniff quality no other bumper sticker can rival.
Hershey Chocolate may yet have its rightful place of honor on that window. We are currently staying within scent range of the Hershey and Reese's plants! This is the only place in the world where you can gain 5 pounds by merely walking outside and taking a deep breath. We toured Chocolate World the other day. This is one of the few remaining freebees in Hershey. Hershey Park is now nearly $50 per person per day. That is one stop we will NOT be making. Just think of all the money we are saving! It almost makes me want to go on a spending binge to celebrate the savings! I guess I'll just send the money to Steven's college fund instead.
September begins the really busy portion of our furlough. From here until December 16 there are few breaks, and all but two weeks of that time will be spent in PA. Keep us in your prayers. Health, safety, provision of support, and the blessing of God on the work in Ponce are at the top of our prayer list.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
I Feel Drained . . . or is that the Battery
On Saturday, August 18, we headed for Raleigh, NC to visit a supporting church. One Sunday morning we left the house for church, but when we tried to start the car, all we heard were the annoying clicks of the starter trying to do its job without the benefit of an electrical impulse. Our host gave us a jump start and we headed off to church.
Along the way we got confused and had to figure a way out of the labyrinth parking lot of a catholic church! We had a good laugh and finally made it to our destination.
After the morning service, we were to follow someone to dinner, but once again the car would not start. Another jump start and we were on our way. Following dinner, we needed yet another boost. Fortunately, there was a garage nearby which had the battery we needed. Normally, we would not have transacted this business on Sunday, but our donkey was definitely in the ditch. Our supporting church then paid for the battery! What an extra blessing! The Lord was certainly good in allowing us not to have a problem where help would have been more difficult to obtain.
On Monday morning we headed out to PA and arrived just in time for Mom's home cooking. Now that is timing! After a very hot July in NC, we are now enjoying a cool, rainy time here. The creeks are running full, so we hope to dry out soon. We have seen several deer and a dozen turkeys in the fields behind the Pfaunmiller home. That's a good sign as hunting season draws near.
Along the way we got confused and had to figure a way out of the labyrinth parking lot of a catholic church! We had a good laugh and finally made it to our destination.
After the morning service, we were to follow someone to dinner, but once again the car would not start. Another jump start and we were on our way. Following dinner, we needed yet another boost. Fortunately, there was a garage nearby which had the battery we needed. Normally, we would not have transacted this business on Sunday, but our donkey was definitely in the ditch. Our supporting church then paid for the battery! What an extra blessing! The Lord was certainly good in allowing us not to have a problem where help would have been more difficult to obtain.
On Monday morning we headed out to PA and arrived just in time for Mom's home cooking. Now that is timing! After a very hot July in NC, we are now enjoying a cool, rainy time here. The creeks are running full, so we hope to dry out soon. We have seen several deer and a dozen turkeys in the fields behind the Pfaunmiller home. That's a good sign as hunting season draws near.
The Creation Museum
Have you heard that the Answers in Genesis team has opened a creation-based museum in Petersburg, KY. It's true! When a family member offered to pay our admission cost, we loaded up and headed out to see what the buzz was about.
Our first impression was that the first-class exterior must indicate an awesome collection within. We were right! This is truly an amazing accomplishment! We now have a high-class and high-tech museum which declares the glory of our Creator God and debunks the evolution myth. Not once did we have to tell our children that the information before them was biased by an anti-God philosophy. Ken Ham and staff have done an excellent job of explaining the necessity of this museum and presenting the Biblical view point so often missing in our society.
The museum boasts an impressive collection of dinos, four or five mutimedia presentations, a wonderful planetarium show (be careful not to fall asleep in the oh so comfortable reclining seats), animatronic beasties, and a tremendous bookstore chocked full of affordable resources for home and evangelistic uses. Outside, you will find a beautiful garden with dinosaur models, archways and a pagoda or two. We spent 7 hours exploring the facility and plan to return later this year.
We heartily recommend this site to one and all. You can get all the details at answersingenesis.com.
Where did July go?
After our trip to PA we returned to SC for a few final meetings and then moved on to Jacksonville, NC. Our host church was Fellowship Baptist Church. From this point we held meetings in the surrounding area for three weeks. The Lord blessed us with some fine contacts which we pray may lead to future support.
We also had the chance to do a couple day trips and found some interesting sites. The Fossil Museum in Aurora, NC is not well-advertised, nor very extensive. It is also loaded with evolutionary bias. However, just outside the modest building is a pile of sand and gravel from a local phosphate mine. In just a few hours digging, we found several hundred sharks' teeth! No kidding!
Most of the teeth were rather small but a few were better than an inch and one-half long. We found it truly amazing that these teeth have survived more than 20 million years! How much easier it is to believe in the Flood and the Biblical account of Creation!
We also traveled to the Outer Banks. The lighthouses and scenery were a treat. Our digital camera worked overtime to capture some of the sights. We also traveled on a few of the ferries. It's cool to load the car onboard and hit the open water. You don't go very fast, but the trip is interesting.
Our GPS system didn't quite know what to make of our trips over water. We are using Microsoft Streets & Trips with a Hollux GPS module. On several ocassions we have found that it does not register a road we are travelling on. It is amusing to watch our progress over uncharted territory at 65 mph. I didn't think I needed this technology as we began our journeys, but I am a believer now. It's great to hear a little voice say, "In 0.3 miles turn left." It takes a lot of uncertainty out of most trips, at least when you listen to the instructions. In addition, I don't have to hear "Why don't you just stop and ask for directions?" Now if I can only find a way to avoid, "Are we there yet?"
We also had the chance to do a couple day trips and found some interesting sites. The Fossil Museum in Aurora, NC is not well-advertised, nor very extensive. It is also loaded with evolutionary bias. However, just outside the modest building is a pile of sand and gravel from a local phosphate mine. In just a few hours digging, we found several hundred sharks' teeth! No kidding!
Most of the teeth were rather small but a few were better than an inch and one-half long. We found it truly amazing that these teeth have survived more than 20 million years! How much easier it is to believe in the Flood and the Biblical account of Creation!
We also traveled to the Outer Banks. The lighthouses and scenery were a treat. Our digital camera worked overtime to capture some of the sights. We also traveled on a few of the ferries. It's cool to load the car onboard and hit the open water. You don't go very fast, but the trip is interesting.
Our GPS system didn't quite know what to make of our trips over water. We are using Microsoft Streets & Trips with a Hollux GPS module. On several ocassions we have found that it does not register a road we are travelling on. It is amusing to watch our progress over uncharted territory at 65 mph. I didn't think I needed this technology as we began our journeys, but I am a believer now. It's great to hear a little voice say, "In 0.3 miles turn left." It takes a lot of uncertainty out of most trips, at least when you listen to the instructions. In addition, I don't have to hear "Why don't you just stop and ask for directions?" Now if I can only find a way to avoid, "Are we there yet?"
Monday, July 2, 2007
Pennsylvania Visit
On June 27 we left Anderson, SC for a meeting in NC. On Thursday morning we resumed travel with Pennsylvania as our goal. Our GPS module and Program did a fine job of navigating the streets and highways during both legs of the journey, keeping us on the best course. We arrived at Bill's folks home just after 4:00 PM. The entire trip passed without incident and we made better than 22 mpg! Praise the Lord!
One of our primary goals on this trip was to change our vehicle registration and plate since we will be here for one year and people keep looking at us funny [Hey, buddy, when did they finish the bridge to PR?]. We were happy to think that we helped some poor souls who had been stuck in their license plate game for several years as they looked desparately for the PR plate. Now they too can have a sense of fulfillment in life. It is such a blessing to know that we have done our small part to preserve the mental health of some of the little people along life's highway.?!
The marvelous state of PA only yanked $200 from our hands to effect this transaction. Somehow, the PA plate looks out of place on our vehicle. Jonathan asked us why we had to change the license plate. Even he feels the awkwardness of the change. I guess that means our hearts are still in PR.
Added benefits of the trip were seeing family we haven't seen much over the last 5 years. We also got to visit our home church and renew our friendships there. We hope to be able to return often so that the bonds grow stronger.
On July 4, we will visit extended family members a few hours away near Harrisburg. We have purchased the obligatory sparklers. Who knows what else will show up to make the evening hours bright? Certainly, the celebration will be exciting.
On July 7 we will head south once again for a meeting in NC and then on to SC for the balance of the month. Yes, we will keep busy, but furlough is supposed to be hectic, right? Actually, we look forward to all of the opportunities to share our ministry with new churches and supporters. The Lord is working to meet our support need. Keep us in your prayers, and drop us a line when convenient.
One of our primary goals on this trip was to change our vehicle registration and plate since we will be here for one year and people keep looking at us funny [Hey, buddy, when did they finish the bridge to PR?]. We were happy to think that we helped some poor souls who had been stuck in their license plate game for several years as they looked desparately for the PR plate. Now they too can have a sense of fulfillment in life. It is such a blessing to know that we have done our small part to preserve the mental health of some of the little people along life's highway.?!
The marvelous state of PA only yanked $200 from our hands to effect this transaction. Somehow, the PA plate looks out of place on our vehicle. Jonathan asked us why we had to change the license plate. Even he feels the awkwardness of the change. I guess that means our hearts are still in PR.
Added benefits of the trip were seeing family we haven't seen much over the last 5 years. We also got to visit our home church and renew our friendships there. We hope to be able to return often so that the bonds grow stronger.
On July 4, we will visit extended family members a few hours away near Harrisburg. We have purchased the obligatory sparklers. Who knows what else will show up to make the evening hours bright? Certainly, the celebration will be exciting.
On July 7 we will head south once again for a meeting in NC and then on to SC for the balance of the month. Yes, we will keep busy, but furlough is supposed to be hectic, right? Actually, we look forward to all of the opportunities to share our ministry with new churches and supporters. The Lord is working to meet our support need. Keep us in your prayers, and drop us a line when convenient.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
May 28-June 2, 2007
We spent the following week at the Wilds Camp in
Bethany and Nathan returned the following week for the first week of camp and enjoyed themselves greatly. Tom Ferrell was the camp evangelist for the week. His messages impacted their hearts. They couldn’t quit talking about the skits and games. Young people could not do better than to spend a week of their summer at the Wilds.
May 27, 2007 – St Matthews, SC
Our first furlough meeting was on May 27, just four days after arriving in the States. Prior to our furlough, we had decided to upgrade our presentation to DVD. Bill bought a program scanned a few pictures and used digital photos we had been collecting for the past few years. A friend in PR volunteered to help record our narration. Permission was granted for our use of two songs as background music during the presentation. Everything was ready to burn, when we found a problem. The program would not burn – correction, would not recognize -- the DVD. Finally, the project was put on hold until our arrival in SC.
Teresa’s brother-in-law, Rick Roth volunteered to help solve the problem. When it seemed the problem was solved, we popped the DVD into a player and viola! a great picture, but no sound. Rick took the problem home and tried a few other ideas until one worked. He dropped the DVD off and we headed out of town for our first meeting.
On Sunday evening, Bill set up the presentation and everything seemed fine (a suspicious circumstance). When he showed the video, everyone was short and fat! All we could do is explain that while some folks in PR are short and fat, not everyone is! We all had a good laugh and then we moved on. Bill introduced the family and gave a few details about each person. He mentioned that
The church also gave us some food supplies which have been a real blessing to us as we begin our travels. There are so many expenses as we begin furlough, that it has been good to have this special provision. Many thanks to Pastor Medlin and the folks at
May 23, 2007 – Plane Departing From Gate ???
Our departure from PR was an interesting affair. We all awoke in good time, loaded the church van, and headed to the church. There we said our good-byes to the school staff and picked up our driver and his companion. We left the church about 9:00 AM. As we neared the half-way point and began to ascend the mountains, the van began to sputter, coughed, and then died! EfraÃn pulled to the side of the road and tried repeatedly to start the engine with no success.
At that point we began to think about alternate plans. Since it was only 10:00 and our flight did not leave until 2:40 PM, we still had some flexibility. Bill called Jeremy Markle, another missionary, and told him of our predicament. He and his wife dropped their plans for the day and headed our way. It was nearly 11:00 AM when they arrived in their mini-van and Ford Bronco. We piled the suitcases into both vehicles and climbed aboard for the second leg of our trip.
As we neared the airport, we got split up. We traded cell calls and made sure the ladies knew how to proceed. Though this could have posed new difficulties, both vehicles arrived at the airport at virtually the same time! We unloaded the suitcases and our family and said our thank you’s and good-byes. Then we began carting the luggage to the agricultural check point which was at the other end of the terminal (where else?).
Bill pulled several suitcases while children tugged still more. A second trip was made to complete the entourage, and we regrouped to head toward the check-in area. However, when a count of the suitcases was made, bill noticed that 2 bags were missing. A quick phone call confirmed our fears, the luggage was sitting on the back seat of the Bronco! Jeremy turned around immediately, but this presented us with another 20 minute delay.
We wheeled our caravan of 9 suitcases and 6 carry-on bags to the check-in counter. Teresa stood in the line, while Nathan and Bill waited for the wayward luggage at curbside. The two orphans arrived at about 12:30 PM, and following the agriculture check, were joined with the others. Teresa and the rest of the clan had not moved from the spot where they joined the line of passengers! Soon we were informed that we had selected the wrong line! Well, it was the right line, just the wrong time to be in it. Two or three youth basketball teams were represented by the several adults who stood huddled around the kiosk. It looked like a good line to be in, but there were actually more than 50 people in front of us!
Well, we finally got to the kiosk. Bill entered the numbers from our print out, and . . . Yes, you guessed it, the computer did not recognize the reservation information! We entered every number on the sheet just in case, but nothing worked. An airline employee volunteered to intercede, but he was also helping several others and trying to direct other workers to solve other issues. He finally took the paperwork to another terminal and in no time at all, he was printing our luggage tags. Praise the Lord, he found our reservation with no difficulty, although the numbers had been changed (presumably to protect the innocent or guilty, or someone somewhere).
As we finished checking our luggage in (everything made it under the weight limit of 50 lbs. though several weighed 48, 49 and 50), the agent told us to take the longer route to our gate since the shorter route was backed up due to the security check. He also mentioned that we should go directly to the gate since it was now 1:30 PM. We had planned to eat something before boarding the plane, so we decided to grab a few burgers and eat at the gate.
At McDonald’s our order was yet another adventure. First our request for 6 McDuos (double cheeseburgers) was mistaken for 6 McNuggets!? We nearly left the restaurant before we discovered the error, then Bill went back to the counter to correct the problem. They agreed to correct the problem and suggested that they charge us for just 5 burgers. However, Bill pointed out that McNuggets cost more than double the price of a burger, so they agreed to charge just 4 burgers. We grabbed the bag a walked briskly to the security check point. The line was not moving, so we handed out the burgers only to find out that they had only included 5! Dad got half a burger from a kind little girl (Bethany).
Security was a breeze. No one of us was singled out as a suspicious character (as the children have been in the past). It was after 2:00 when we left security and headed to the gate. When we arrived, we double-checked the tickets and found that the gate had been changed! Fortunately, the new gate was just across the room. We sat down, and in about 10 minutes, we were called to board the flight. From that point everything went well. We left on time, had only a small bit of turbulence, and arrived 30 minutes ahead of schedule!
We found a skycap, located the rental company, checked out a van, and headed to our hotel. Praise the Lord that all the delays did not upset us, nor interfere with the schedule of the day. Indeed, we rejoiced to see the Lord’s wisdom in meeting every need even before it presented itself.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
When Second is Nearly as Good as First
Today the students at Ponce Christian Academy competed in a track and field competition. Our school has 65 students and about half that number in 7th - 12th grades. We were up against 5 other schools, of which at least 3 are much larger than ours (200-300+). Between 15 and 20 of our students participated, and most had multiple assignments.
Throughout the day we had trouble keeping events stocked since our teens were often needed in two areas at the same time. This resulted in several forfeited events, but the kids all did their best. At the end of the day we hoisted the second place trophy into the air with at least as much satisfaction as the school that took top honors. Our coach got doused with Gatorade and everyone raised two fingers into the air.
Nathan and Bethany each did their part. Nathan scored one bronze medal and several fourth place finishes which gave us much needed points. Bethany had one fourth place finishes and 5 medals. Several other students took 7 or 8 medals home! Needless to say they are all rather exhausted.
Throughout the day we had trouble keeping events stocked since our teens were often needed in two areas at the same time. This resulted in several forfeited events, but the kids all did their best. At the end of the day we hoisted the second place trophy into the air with at least as much satisfaction as the school that took top honors. Our coach got doused with Gatorade and everyone raised two fingers into the air.
Nathan and Bethany each did their part. Nathan scored one bronze medal and several fourth place finishes which gave us much needed points. Bethany had one fourth place finishes and 5 medals. Several other students took 7 or 8 medals home! Needless to say they are all rather exhausted.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Rejoicing in God's Blessing
Today, Sunday, April 22, we began evangelistic meetings with Lin Croxton. We had established a goal for this morning's attendance at 80 people. The most we have had over the past four years is about 65. We reached our goal of exactly 80 people! God is so good, and our people worked hard for the goal.
Another blessing was seeing four believers respond in the invitation and one woman who came for salvation. She had attended previously but had never responded as today.
Tonight we had 44 in attendance. We are looking forward to a great week filled with many blessings.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
What a tremendous joy it is to see folks trust in Christ! Equally wonderful is watching them grow and follow the Lord in baptism. Sunday, April 15, I had the privilege of baptizing 8 converts in the waters of the Caribbean. The waves were a bit rough, but each person entered the water willingly in testimony to their faith in the risen Christ.We held a service along the shore. 37 of us sang several choruses, all the candidates and a few others testified of their conversion and God's goodness in their lives, and then we began the baptismal service. Our youngest son, Jonathan, was first into the water, then his friend Josean, and adults Tony, Norma, Mandy, FelÃcita, Victor, and Jesús. Each one left the sea with a large smile.
Victor is a Korean War vet who came to the Lord several months ago. His wife prayed for his salvation for 30 years before receiving the desire of her heart. Jesús was formerly a 7th Day Adventist and then wandered the streets for several years. His life has been changed by the miraculous grace of God. He even sang a hymn to the glory of God on Sunday morning. Everyone in the congregation was moved by the song of testimony.
Our hearts are full of gratitude for all that God has done in these lives. Our furlough will be more difficult as we think of leaving these new converts and others who have not yet been baptized. Yet, we know that the work is the Lord's. He will not fail to nurture and cherish these newborn babes. Our hope is that they will continue to grow and that others may also be added in our absence.
Busy, Busy, Busy
Imagine my surprise when I realized that my last blog entry was posted over one month ago. In the meanwhile I have been frantically filling our itinerary for furlough. Currently we have more than 50 meetings between May 27 and December 16. May the Lord be praised!
I have also been pushing the end of my day into the next so that our presentation is ready on time. I hope to do the voice and music recordings soon and burn the DVD before April's end. That will be a real challenge since we have evangelistic meetings from April 22 to 25.
In early May I must take our car to the port in San Juan so that it will be stateside by the time we arrive. The process takes several days as we go from one governmental agency to another filling out forms and paying fees.
We praise the Lord for friends in a western Florida supporting church which sent us a special offering within $30 of the cost to repair our AC in the car. We have been suffering in the heat for about one year since we could not afford the repairs. Now, the AC is working great and the cruise control which was not working has been "healed". It wouldn't work for a long time, but the Ford dealer tested it and found nothing wrong. We always suspected that it was not working due to a wire being left unplugged in an earlier repair. If so, perhaps, the wire got plugged in during the AC repair. Anyway, the Lord is good.
We are now working on the 2008 schedule. About 6 meetings have been pencilled in. The Lord is providing meetings in churches we have never visited. We are trusting the Lord to provide for our budget shortfall so that our ministry may continue with better provision.
I have also been pushing the end of my day into the next so that our presentation is ready on time. I hope to do the voice and music recordings soon and burn the DVD before April's end. That will be a real challenge since we have evangelistic meetings from April 22 to 25.
In early May I must take our car to the port in San Juan so that it will be stateside by the time we arrive. The process takes several days as we go from one governmental agency to another filling out forms and paying fees.
We praise the Lord for friends in a western Florida supporting church which sent us a special offering within $30 of the cost to repair our AC in the car. We have been suffering in the heat for about one year since we could not afford the repairs. Now, the AC is working great and the cruise control which was not working has been "healed". It wouldn't work for a long time, but the Ford dealer tested it and found nothing wrong. We always suspected that it was not working due to a wire being left unplugged in an earlier repair. If so, perhaps, the wire got plugged in during the AC repair. Anyway, the Lord is good.
We are now working on the 2008 schedule. About 6 meetings have been pencilled in. The Lord is providing meetings in churches we have never visited. We are trusting the Lord to provide for our budget shortfall so that our ministry may continue with better provision.
Monday, March 19, 2007
A Very Special Request
We wish to share another request, but it will take more than a line or two. This past Summer we were blessed to host two missions teams. Their work and ministry were sources of great encouragement to us and the people here. On the Pennsylvania team was a young man who was preparing to attend a Christian college in the Fall to prepare for the Gospel ministry.
When he returned home, he submitted to the required blood work for college admission. At that time the doctor informed him and his family of an abnormality indicating progressive kidney failure. In spite of the threat, the young man went off to college, but his health has continued to diminish. At present, many are praying that he will be able to finish this semester before dialysis is necessary.
As soon as he returns home, he and his parents will visit a transplant surgeon to consult regarding the options that remain. The family feels keenly their need of Divine direction. Unless the Great Physician intervenes, the teen will need dialysis shortly; transplant surgery will likely be required as well.
While it would be easy to ask, "Why?", the family is leaning heavily on the Lord's arm and praying for a miracle. I would like to request that each person who reads this blog will join in praying for this urgent prayer request. Certainly there is no limit to what our Savior can do, and Scripture admonishes us that many times we "have not, because [we] ask not."
Pray also that the Lord may be glorified through this young man's testimony and that of his parents.
When he returned home, he submitted to the required blood work for college admission. At that time the doctor informed him and his family of an abnormality indicating progressive kidney failure. In spite of the threat, the young man went off to college, but his health has continued to diminish. At present, many are praying that he will be able to finish this semester before dialysis is necessary.
As soon as he returns home, he and his parents will visit a transplant surgeon to consult regarding the options that remain. The family feels keenly their need of Divine direction. Unless the Great Physician intervenes, the teen will need dialysis shortly; transplant surgery will likely be required as well.
While it would be easy to ask, "Why?", the family is leaning heavily on the Lord's arm and praying for a miracle. I would like to request that each person who reads this blog will join in praying for this urgent prayer request. Certainly there is no limit to what our Savior can do, and Scripture admonishes us that many times we "have not, because [we] ask not."
Pray also that the Lord may be glorified through this young man's testimony and that of his parents.
Prayer Requests
I hope to create a weekly prayer request entry at the beginning of each week. This will help you know exactly how to pray. I will also try to remember to inform you as to how the Lord works in each case.
1. The filling of the Spirit to make our remaining weeks full of the Lord's blessing.
2. Wisdom to train each member of our furlough replacement team for their new tasks.
3. The preparation of about 6 people for baptism before we leave.
4. Provision of more students to make our budget work at Ponce Christian Academy
5. Spiritual growth for Victor, Maritza, Chu, Nelson, Gilson, Jomar, Jeremy, et al.
6. The faithfulness of the Lord's people to His work here in Ponce.
1. The filling of the Spirit to make our remaining weeks full of the Lord's blessing.
2. Wisdom to train each member of our furlough replacement team for their new tasks.
3. The preparation of about 6 people for baptism before we leave.
4. Provision of more students to make our budget work at Ponce Christian Academy
5. Spiritual growth for Victor, Maritza, Chu, Nelson, Gilson, Jomar, Jeremy, et al.
6. The faithfulness of the Lord's people to His work here in Ponce.
Pre-Furlough Blessings
The Lord has certainly been good to us! Since beginning to call pastors from SC/NC to PA, we have seen our schedule develop nicely. In fact, from May 27 until December 16, only one Sunday has no meeting at all (Anyone interested in July 1?). Several Sundays need a morning service to be complete, and a number of Wednesdays still remain. If you know of a church in the above mentioned States that needs to hear from us, drop us a line.
In addition, the Lord has provided a display board free of charge! That is at least a $200 gift! Our hearts rejoiced when we received this news. We still have the work of preparing the display, but that will come together in its own time.
A particular concern is the organizing of a good presentation with voice and music accompaniment. Many hours will be invested in this endeavor. These are hours that are hard to come by, but they will have to be found.
In addition, the Lord has provided a display board free of charge! That is at least a $200 gift! Our hearts rejoiced when we received this news. We still have the work of preparing the display, but that will come together in its own time.
A particular concern is the organizing of a good presentation with voice and music accompaniment. Many hours will be invested in this endeavor. These are hours that are hard to come by, but they will have to be found.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Spiritual Progress
Praise the Lord for the growth of those involved in our discipleship program. Maritza has been coming with her mentor, but this week she showed up on her own! It's a small thing perhaps, but she does not drive. That means she had to find someone to bring her instead of making excuses for not being able to come.
Victor is my (Bill's) pupil. He eagerly awaits our time together every Monday morning. He would gladly meet a second day, but my schedule is a bit tight right now. His comments during our studies are as refreshing as a young child's short sentences. There is obvious growth, and his wife reports that they study the Word together at home, and she has found him studying on his own. He even goes to the trouble of looking up every verse in the upcoming lesson and writing down the page number where the verse is found in his Bible! Such extra effort is not often found in long-time believers.
We also have a group of people who wish to be baptized. We are trying to wait a bit so that some in discipleship students will be able to be baptized as well. Our baptismal services are held in the surf of the ocean, usually on a Sunday afternoon. We look forward to these special times of praise and worship surrounded by our Lord's marvelous handiwork. Pray with us for the continued progress of all the new converts (Maritza, Victor, Mandy, and Nelson).
Victor is my (Bill's) pupil. He eagerly awaits our time together every Monday morning. He would gladly meet a second day, but my schedule is a bit tight right now. His comments during our studies are as refreshing as a young child's short sentences. There is obvious growth, and his wife reports that they study the Word together at home, and she has found him studying on his own. He even goes to the trouble of looking up every verse in the upcoming lesson and writing down the page number where the verse is found in his Bible! Such extra effort is not often found in long-time believers.
We also have a group of people who wish to be baptized. We are trying to wait a bit so that some in discipleship students will be able to be baptized as well. Our baptismal services are held in the surf of the ocean, usually on a Sunday afternoon. We look forward to these special times of praise and worship surrounded by our Lord's marvelous handiwork. Pray with us for the continued progress of all the new converts (Maritza, Victor, Mandy, and Nelson).
Eleven Weeks & Counting
On Sunday afternoon, we got to thinking about all the preparations for furlough. That spawned the thought of counting how many more Sundays we have left to enjoy the fellowship of our church. We started counting and found that just 11 Sundays remain. The following Sunday will be our first meeting of furlough, over 1,400 miles from here!
Already the Lord has begun to answer our prayers concerning support. One of our dear friends and long-time supporters had to discontinue support due to unemployment. Yet just prior to this we learned that another close friend has committed to almost the identical amount which would have been lost. Earlier this week GFA informed us that a family in North Carolina wants to begin supporting us for $500 per month!
Yet another church had asked about any special needs. We gave a list of concerns for the work here as we approach furlough. The pastor said, "We will surely pray for these needs, but I was actually asking if you have any special financial needs." After picking myself up off the floor, I mentioned that our van's air conditioner has been dead for about one year. We plan to ship our van and use it on furlough, but the air must be fixed before then. The pastor then shocked me once again by saying that they will take on this project even though the estimates are at $1,800! Needless to say the price tag has made us wait this long for the repairs, but the Lord is so kind to reward our patience and faith in His loving provision.
Yesterday (March 7) we had a church meeting to vote on who would help to fill in for our absence. The vote was unanimous to accept the help of Marcos a local man to fill most of the pastoral tasks. Since he cannot help in the mid-week service, the church approved Alexis a
pastor in another town and former member of our church to come every Thursday. This takes care of most of my concerns.
We also instituted some policies to help in the handling and disbursement of funds and some related matters to keep everything above board before all. I was especially blessed to see some people volunteer for new tasks without having to be cajoled. Again, God is good. Now comes the task of training people for some of the record keeping tasks. It is fun to teach new tasks to those who have nearly no computer experience. Training will commence immediately, and the tasks will be handed over with adequate supervision so that in three months there should be few problems. Pray with us that no essential details will be omitted.
Already the Lord has begun to answer our prayers concerning support. One of our dear friends and long-time supporters had to discontinue support due to unemployment. Yet just prior to this we learned that another close friend has committed to almost the identical amount which would have been lost. Earlier this week GFA informed us that a family in North Carolina wants to begin supporting us for $500 per month!
Yet another church had asked about any special needs. We gave a list of concerns for the work here as we approach furlough. The pastor said, "We will surely pray for these needs, but I was actually asking if you have any special financial needs." After picking myself up off the floor, I mentioned that our van's air conditioner has been dead for about one year. We plan to ship our van and use it on furlough, but the air must be fixed before then. The pastor then shocked me once again by saying that they will take on this project even though the estimates are at $1,800! Needless to say the price tag has made us wait this long for the repairs, but the Lord is so kind to reward our patience and faith in His loving provision.
Yesterday (March 7) we had a church meeting to vote on who would help to fill in for our absence. The vote was unanimous to accept the help of Marcos a local man to fill most of the pastoral tasks. Since he cannot help in the mid-week service, the church approved Alexis a
pastor in another town and former member of our church to come every Thursday. This takes care of most of my concerns.
We also instituted some policies to help in the handling and disbursement of funds and some related matters to keep everything above board before all. I was especially blessed to see some people volunteer for new tasks without having to be cajoled. Again, God is good. Now comes the task of training people for some of the record keeping tasks. It is fun to teach new tasks to those who have nearly no computer experience. Training will commence immediately, and the tasks will be handed over with adequate supervision so that in three months there should be few problems. Pray with us that no essential details will be omitted.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
PR Civil Code
On Wednesday, February 14 (Valentine's Day), the PR Legislature began public hearings regarding the proposed Civil Code rewrite. We took a group of students from our Christian school to express our opinion concerning this document. The above sign reads, "Here lies the morality of Puerto Rico, Victim of the New Civil Code."The proposed code eliminates the word "marriage" so as to allow for every form of moral deviation that has yet been thought of, including: unmarried live-in relationships, homosexual unions, transexual partners, and the joining of former in-laws. Additionally, the code would lower the age for consensual relations to 16, allow for sex change on demand, the reassignment of gender on the individual's birth certificate, and a Pandora's Box of the moral reprobate's wish list. Needless to say this would be a serious blow to the many decent people of PR.
Alarming is the fact that each of these newly approved unions would be considered eligible for adoption of children! Who will defend these innocent ones from the moral depredations of their "parents"?
We took 48 students and adults to the steps of our Capitol building to register our protest. We also delivered nearly 200 signatures which we had collected from Ponce. The students made a variety of signs to communicate our displeasure and the Biblical perspective on these issues. Pray with us that the legislators will not be swayed by the sophistries of "Mr. Worldly Wiseman." His type are found in abundance at such proceedings and are the architects of this disastrous scheme.
The media is not helpful either. A news report that evening did not even mention the fact that many protesters had gathered. They merely lampooned those who testified against the bill and championed the idea as giving recognition to the fact that such "lifestyles" exist in PR. The question is not if they exist, but should they be legitimized.
Our children will surely pay the consequences if this Civil Code is passed. Even now the public school system is gearing up for a curriculum rewrite which would include non-judgmental references to each of these aberrant behaviors, sex education to enhance understanding of these state-approved lifestyles, and re-education of those who harbor negative feelings toward those who practice these abominations. In fact, our education system has publicized the curriculum change for the last four years! Certainly, "evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse."
God's opinion concerning homosexuality was clearly expressed in His own Civil Code in Leviticus 18:22 and in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. Leviticus 18 also gives detailed prohibitions concerning in-law and other close family relations. In fact, He declared in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that those who practice same-sex relations and immoral relations of any sort will not inherit the kingdom of God. Why then do such issues keep surfacing? Psalm 2:1-5 reveals that these are man's attempts to throw off the cords of God's authority and to overthrow the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ. However, God's reaction is a scoffing laughter followed by stern judgment.
Yet God's Word promises, "If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) Pray with us, fervently.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Rejoicing in Heaven
Tuesday night, during our weekly visitation time, Pepe (a church member) and I (Bill) were knocking doors; well, actually, we were calling our at the gates of homes in a nearby community. Our second visit was with Maritza. After some introductory conversation, I shared John 3:16 with her and asked if she were sure that she has eternal life. She quickly replied in the negative.
I then proceeded to show her how the book of Romans unfolds God's plan of salvation. She understood and shared some comments and questions with us. When I asked her if she would like to have God's forgiveness and eternal life, she said she would. As we bowed for prayer, what a joy it was to hear her ask simply and humbly for the gift of God in Jesus Christ!
Pepe's wife, Carmen, will be handling the follow up and discipleship. In this way, more people are involved in service, and the work can go on even when we are in the States. I have also given discipleship roles to several others as we try to help new converts along. Pray for Chu, Carlos, and Nelson as well as their mentors Felix, Efrain, and Pepe. It is a thrill to see these folks added to the church and to see more hands involved in the work.
I then proceeded to show her how the book of Romans unfolds God's plan of salvation. She understood and shared some comments and questions with us. When I asked her if she would like to have God's forgiveness and eternal life, she said she would. As we bowed for prayer, what a joy it was to hear her ask simply and humbly for the gift of God in Jesus Christ!
Pepe's wife, Carmen, will be handling the follow up and discipleship. In this way, more people are involved in service, and the work can go on even when we are in the States. I have also given discipleship roles to several others as we try to help new converts along. Pray for Chu, Carlos, and Nelson as well as their mentors Felix, Efrain, and Pepe. It is a thrill to see these folks added to the church and to see more hands involved in the work.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Furlough Plans
Have you ever tried to hold down four full-time jobs at a time? Somehow, something has to give. Furlough plans are causing just such a log jam. On top of the pastorate, administration and teaching in the Christian school, being father and husband, I also have to carve out time to call pastors in the States (even at 5 cents per minute it gets expensive), write letters of introduction, mail the packets, and call to try to schedule meetings.
As a result, the pressure is mounting. Pray that the itinerary comes together quickly. We currently have 8 or 10 meetings scheduled and a lot more work to do.
We will be leaving PR on May 23. Between now and then, we have to prepare every aspect of the ministry for our absence. This coming Saturday the men of the church will meet with a man who may well fill in for many of Bill's preaching responsibilities. Following this, there will be a meeting for all church members on February 7 to discuss the details of our absence. Many questions will have to be answered by that date.
We certainly know our need for wisdom is great. The stress frays our nerves and makes us more forgetful. It's hard to concentrate at times, and extreme tiredness hounds our waking hours. Through all of this, we still expect to see the Lord's hand parting the waters and making a way in the desert. What a privilege to serve Him!
As a result, the pressure is mounting. Pray that the itinerary comes together quickly. We currently have 8 or 10 meetings scheduled and a lot more work to do.
We will be leaving PR on May 23. Between now and then, we have to prepare every aspect of the ministry for our absence. This coming Saturday the men of the church will meet with a man who may well fill in for many of Bill's preaching responsibilities. Following this, there will be a meeting for all church members on February 7 to discuss the details of our absence. Many questions will have to be answered by that date.
We certainly know our need for wisdom is great. The stress frays our nerves and makes us more forgetful. It's hard to concentrate at times, and extreme tiredness hounds our waking hours. Through all of this, we still expect to see the Lord's hand parting the waters and making a way in the desert. What a privilege to serve Him!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Medical Update
After two months of diet and exercise, the numbers are in. Sugar is down from 150 to 89, cholesterol down from 215 to 163, triglycerides from 193 to 59, blood pressure down to 110/70, and weight down more than 20 pounds. The Lord has been good in allowing me to get a handle on these issues in just two months. A bit more work is needed in the proportion of HDL to LDL cholesterol, but continued work should bring this in line as well. Maintaining these numbers will also be a challenge.
I began the new year with a nasty cold, and now Teresa has it as well. Hopefully, the rest of the year will be clear of such sickness. We'll be extremely busy preparing for furlough in the next few months and then the furlough begins. I have begun scheduling meetings, but the progress is slow. Pray with us. The folks at church are concerned and praying that the Lord will prosper our journey so we won't have to be gone the whole year. It's nice to know we will be missed.
I began the new year with a nasty cold, and now Teresa has it as well. Hopefully, the rest of the year will be clear of such sickness. We'll be extremely busy preparing for furlough in the next few months and then the furlough begins. I have begun scheduling meetings, but the progress is slow. Pray with us. The folks at church are concerned and praying that the Lord will prosper our journey so we won't have to be gone the whole year. It's nice to know we will be missed.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Blessings of Christmas
Our most special blessing this Christmas was the presence of some special guests. Thanks to our special friends at Bethany Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, Steven was able to return from BJU. We would have gone into debt to have him back, but we praise the Lord for these special folks meeting this need for us. His flight was delayed by mechanical issues and weather, but he arrived safe and sound.
Also Bill's parents, Elwood and Aletha, came on December 19 and stayed until the 27th. This was the first Christmas with them or any family member outside our immediate family since 1994! We had a wonderul time with them working, playing, carolling, etc. Their return home was a sadder event, but we cherish the memories of their visit.
Steven is still with us until January 10. He will then return to BJU for the second semester of his junior year.
Also Bill's parents, Elwood and Aletha, came on December 19 and stayed until the 27th. This was the first Christmas with them or any family member outside our immediate family since 1994! We had a wonderul time with them working, playing, carolling, etc. Their return home was a sadder event, but we cherish the memories of their visit.
Steven is still with us until January 10. He will then return to BJU for the second semester of his junior year.
Christmas Carolling
Perhaps you still participate in the time-worn tradition of carolling from house to house, but more likely you have not had the privilege for many years. Here in PR the tradition lives on. We begin in early December and continue on until about January 6 (Three Kings Day). The climate is more favorable here than it probably is where you live.
We try to arrive after everyone has gone to bed, but we do show mercy to some of our elderly members. Instead of hot chocolate, more usual refreshments are Doritos, crackers and cheese, and Coca Cola. The kids love to play some of our noise makers and to eat a bunch of junk food. I believe that the adults have somewhat higher motivations.
In addition to the songs which praise the Lord, we also take the time to have a devotional challenge related to the Christmas story and pray for the host family. Neighbors also get to hear the carolling and don't mind being awakened at all hours, at least no one has called the police or set their dogs on us.
Praise the Lord for our Savior's incarnation!
We try to arrive after everyone has gone to bed, but we do show mercy to some of our elderly members. Instead of hot chocolate, more usual refreshments are Doritos, crackers and cheese, and Coca Cola. The kids love to play some of our noise makers and to eat a bunch of junk food. I believe that the adults have somewhat higher motivations.
In addition to the songs which praise the Lord, we also take the time to have a devotional challenge related to the Christmas story and pray for the host family. Neighbors also get to hear the carolling and don't mind being awakened at all hours, at least no one has called the police or set their dogs on us.
Praise the Lord for our Savior's incarnation!
Nelson & Laura
Some time ago I informed you about Nelson who had a stroke in late October and his wife Laura who has a number of physical problems. The problems continue for both, though they are now at home and doing well, considering.
Nelson had been running from the Lord, but his name has now been written in the Lamb's Book of Life! He says he regrets not having listened when Bill and a man from our church visited with him in the months prior to his stroke. However, he is content that the Lord has given him this opportunity to know Him. His one request is that the Lord would give him sufficient health to allow him to attend church and serve the Lord in some way. Where before he was cold to the Word, he now delights to hear it read and discussed. Praise the Lord for the transforming power of regeneration.
Laura is still burdened with many health problems, but she is beaming with hope since Nelson has come to trust Christ. She needs knee surgery, but her diabetes and blood pressure are complicating the situation.
Thank you for praying and for continuing to pray for these fellow believers.
Nelson had been running from the Lord, but his name has now been written in the Lamb's Book of Life! He says he regrets not having listened when Bill and a man from our church visited with him in the months prior to his stroke. However, he is content that the Lord has given him this opportunity to know Him. His one request is that the Lord would give him sufficient health to allow him to attend church and serve the Lord in some way. Where before he was cold to the Word, he now delights to hear it read and discussed. Praise the Lord for the transforming power of regeneration.
Laura is still burdened with many health problems, but she is beaming with hope since Nelson has come to trust Christ. She needs knee surgery, but her diabetes and blood pressure are complicating the situation.
Thank you for praying and for continuing to pray for these fellow believers.
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