The researchers in to wild cats from the northernmost state in northeast Brazil (1,350 km from us), called Maranhão, have been back to the Green Pastures Project to change the batteries and memory cards from their dozen or so automatic camera traps which they have spread around our reserve.
Last night it rained a further 2.8 mm at Green Pastures.
Continue ReadingThis gentle caring psalm of David portrays the Lord as David’s shepherd which was a role with which he was well acquainted. God provides everything he needs including restoration. God, says David, guides his life and is with him even in the most difficult and darkest times. God blesses him, even faced with enemies, anoints his head with blessing and assures him for all the days of his life.
Continue ReadingThis is another Davidic psalm written for the director of music to go with the music ‘The Doe of the Morning’! It is a messianic psalm opening with the words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” uttered by Christ on the cross. Verse 8 sticks in my mind from Handel’s Messiah. Christian theology sees this psalm as a prophecy of Jesus’ suffering and eventual victory. In the central verses of the psalm David describes himself as a worm scorned and despised. He says he feels encircled by bulls, as being torn apart by lions and surrounded by dogs. He says that “they have pierced my hand and my feet”, and “cast lots for my clothing”. The latter part of the psalm trusts God for victory and rejoices because God has listened to his cry for help. All the earth will turn to the Lord, he says, and all the nations will bow down before the “afflicted one”. Thus this messianic psalm ends on a positive victorious note.
Continue ReadingLast night’s mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study was cancelled so as to give everyone a breather after 7 services and 3 serenades in 5 days at the carnival camp.
Last night I played Philip at chess and won, but he played better and is steadily improving.
Yesterday we had a little further rain at Green Pastures with 4 mm of rainfall.
Please pray for 4 little children who are being cared for by one of our church members up in the mountains after their mother, who has severe mental health problems, tried to kill them! The mother has now been taken to a mental health institution.
Continue ReadingI have seen/heard the following species of birds at Green Pastures in the past few days: Southern House Wren, Caatinga Cacholote, Red-cowled Cardinal, Campo Troupial, Black-headed Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Pigmy Owl, White-naped Jay, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Striped Cuckoo and Great Kiskadee.
One of the things that stands out in the Carnival Camp at Green Pastures is the fellowship. It was beautiful to see the warm unity of the body of Christ. Another lovely moment at the camp was the consecration of sister Leca as a deaconess of the local Green Pastures church. May God richly bless Leca and the church.
I see that a Brazilian called Lucas won an unlikely gold medal in the winter Olympics despite Brazil being a tropical country! However there is a hitch to this story as his father is Norwegian and his mother Brazilian. Well done anyway Lucas!
I had a good meeting last night with lawyer and preacher Murilo.
I have now read 15 chapters of ‘the Bloomsbury Murder’ which is the 10th book in ‘the Blitz Detective’ series by Mike Hollow. It’s a very enjoyable good read.
Continue ReadingThank you for your prayers for the Carnival Camp which has just ended and which was excellent! It was a real blessing with true harmony and fellowship. The ministry of the word was superb as was the praise and worship and the sport and children’s work. It was fantastic to have Philip here with us for the camp.
Our daughter Sacha led the opening service on the Saturday night and I preached on Abraham from Hebrews 11:8-19 focusing on Abraham’s obedience, his generating of a son at a 100, and his willingness to sacrifice that son.
The second service was on Sunday morning and Sacha again led with Pastor Rafael preaching on Samuel. The third service on Sunday night was led by Pastor Rafael with lawyer Rayla preaching on Joseph. Then the 4th service on Monday morning was led by Pastor Philip and lawyer Murilo preached on David. The 5th service on Monday night was a praise and prayer prom led by Sacha. The 6th service yesterday morning was led by Pastor Rafael and lawyer Murilo preached on Moses. Then the 7th service last night I led and Sacha preached on Paul.
Other things that were a real blessing at the camp were the late night serenades led by Philip recalling old worship songs. Also the volleyball competitions went off extremely well and we are going to make a second volleyball court for next year’s camp. The swimming pool was well used too.
The ministry to the children also went off very well at the camp with the swimming pool in the morning and Bible stories at night. So it was a wonderful camp at a green again Green Pastures after another 29 mm of rain during the camp.
Continue Reading97-year-old EAB supporter Peter Guy has gone to be with the Lord. We spoke with him in the EAB AGM in October and we praise God for his life of service to the Lord. He was alert and lucid to the end. Our prayers are with his family at this time.
The Carnival Camp is part of the Green Pastures Project and has started today running till next Wednesday which is Ash Wednesday, which follows Shrove Pancake Tuesday. We value your prayers for the camp. Because of the camp news on this blog may be limited over the coming days.
Philip arrived last night about 7:15 pm safe and sound and in good time for the Carnival Camp. He travelled straight to Green Pastures much to Liz’s delight and the kitchen team that were already there.
Continue ReadingThis another Davidic psalm for the director of music is a kingly royal psalm which celebrates God granting victories to the king, as well as rich blessing and long life. Thanks to God’s goodness David’s glory is great with splendour and majesty. The king, says the psalm, trusts in the “unfailing love of the Most High”. The victory over his enemies is sure, says the psalm, as the wrath of the Lord will swallow up the enemies and even destroy their descendants. Thus the psalm ends on a jubilant note of praise and exaltation of the Lord.
Continue ReadingThis another psalm of David for the director of music is a prayer for the King maybe as he prepares to go into battle. The prayer seeks God’s answer in days of distress and seeks his protection. The prayer then seeks “support from Zion” and asks that David’s heart’s desire be granted and all his plans succeed. Then they will shout for joy for the victory and lift up the name of the Lord. Some trust in horses and chariots, says the psalm, but we trust in the name of the Lord! The enemy falls “but we rise up and stand”! The prayer ends saying, “O Lord, save the king”!
Continue ReadingThis Davidic psalm addressed to the director of music is a declaration of God’s revelation through creation and his word. First of all David focuses on creation saying that the heavens declare God’s glory. God speaks to us, argues David, through the skies and the sun. The second revelatory means of God is through his word which is perfect in reviving the soul. God’s word is trustworthy, David says, and gives wisdom, joy, and light which lasts forever. The word of God is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Then David concludes praying that his words and meditation might be pleasing to God
Continue ReadingThis psalm is a jubilant song of praise and thanks to God for having delivered David from his enemies including Saul. David commences expressing his love for God who is his rock and fortress and worthy of praise. He says he was near to death so he called to the Lord for help. God answered with earthquakes and smoke came from his nostrils like a dragon. The ensuing storm brought hailstones, thunder and lightening and through it God rescued David from his powerful enemy. David goes on to say that God was his support who brought him to a spacious place rewarding his righteousness. The Lord, says David, keeps his lamp burning and lightens his darkness. He says that with God’s help he can overcome barricades and walls. God is perfect and his word is flawless. God gives me his shield of victory, David says, and his right hand sustains him. With God’s help David says he destroyed his enemies and crushed them. “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Saviour!” – is exclaimed by David… I will sing praise to your name!
Continue ReadingThis further Davidic psalm asks for God’s protection and vindication from enemies. David invites God to probe his heart and test him because he has nothing to hide. He says he has walked carefully in God’s ways. David asks God to hear his prayer and keep him as the apple of his eye hiding him under his wings so as to protect from his mortal enemies. David’s enemies are callous and arrogant like a hungry lion for prey. He cries for God to rescue him from the wicked and rests assured that one day he will see God’s face.
Continue ReadingThis is another of the 73 psalms attributed to David in the title. David starts calling on God to keep him safe as his only source of refuge. Apart from in God he has no good thing, but those that chase other gods will suffer an increase of sorrows. David praises the Lord for his wise counsel in the night and that in God he will not be shaken. He says his heart is glad and rejoices because God will not abandon him in the grave or let his holy faithful one see decay. For God has made known to him the path of life and he will bless him with eternal pleasures at his right hand.
Continue ReadingPsalm 15 is a wisdom psalm of David which defines how a person may live on God’s holy hill which is God’s presence. To do this one must live blamelessly, act righteously, speak truthfully and do one’s neighbour no wrong. One must also despise a vile man, keep one’s oath “even when it hurts”, never accept bribes, and lend money without interest. “He who does these things will never be shaken”.
Continue ReadingLast night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Murilo brought the study on ‘Love one another’ from 1 John 3:11-15 as he is doing a series in this epistle. After the study an inspiring discussion ensued about ‘love’ where one sister shared about her having been adopted, another told us of her rejection by her family when she accepted Christ when young, and a third sister told us how her late husband came to the Lord. It was wonderful!
A dog in São Paulo stayed by his owner’s grave for 10 years and a new law has been introduced to allow the burial of pets with their late owners in the dog’s honour and in recognition of the emotional bond between people and their pets.
Philip is leaving Recife about now driven by Netinho. He should be in Patos early evening.
Continue ReadingI have just eaten red Dragon Fruit. It looks better than it tastes, but its alright. It’s called Pitaya in Portuguese.
I have just heard that President Lula is to inaugurate the expansion of the Patos airport next month.
And talking about airports Philip is today flying to Brazil via São Paulo and Recife arriving in Patos tomorrow. 🛫
Continue ReadingThis further psalm of David for the director of music (there are 55 such psalms) starts saying atheists are fools, corrupt and even vile. David goes on to say that nobody seeks God or does good. All have turned away from God in corruption. He asks if evildoers will never learn to call on the name of the Lord? And that the Lord is the refuge of the poor!
Continue ReadingThis psalm is another Davidic lament written for the director of music. 4 times David asks “how long”? How long will you forget me? How long will you hide from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts? And how long will my enemy triumph? David clearly feels desperate, abandoned and lost. David begs an answer from God with light for his eyes to prevent death. And he ends reaffirming his trust in God’s love as he rejoices in salvation.
Continue ReadingThis psalm is a further lament by David for the director of music in which he laments the disappearance of the faithful of God. He says that everyone is speaking with flattering lips and a boastful tongue. Then God says that he will arise in response to the oppression of the weak and combat it with flawless truth. God will keep his people safe despite the dominance of corruption in society.
Continue ReadingPsalm 11 was written by David for the director of music and David refuses to flee from the difficult situation he faces because the Lord is his refuge. The psalmist says that God is on his heavenly throne hating the wicked who aim arrows at the righteous, and examining the righteous. The Lord is righteous, says David, and he love justice, meaning that upright men will see his face. But God will judge the wicked with fiery coals and burning sulphur.
Continue ReadingI am thrilled to announce that our son Pastor Philip will be arriving here on Friday for the Carnival Camp which starts the day after. He will be staying in Brazil for about 2 weeks. Please pray for safe travels and a blessed camp.
Last night I gave the study from Matthew 5 on being salt and light for Jesus at the Men’s Fellowship. The meeting was led by schoolteacher Claudivan. It was a lovely meeting.
Continue ReadingPsalm 10 is a lament which asks why God remains at a distance in times of trouble whilst the wicked arrogantly prosper? The wicked, says the psalmist, are greedy, proud, haughty, foul mouthed, murderers, exploit the vulnerable and they think they evade God’s vigilance. The psalmist then cries for God’s intervention breaking the arm of the wicked and meeting the need of the helpless. The psalm ends exalting the Lord as King who hears the cry of the afflicted bringing justice to the oppressed.
Continue ReadingYesterday we had an excellent meeting with the pastor of our Imaculada church, Pastor João George, and his wife Jacilene, discussing issues pertinent to the Imaculada church. It was very good to see the pastor in good health.
It was great to have been able to kit out Missionary Guilherme Santos with a motorbike to take him round his parish in the Diamante region where he now lives and works for God alongside the regional pastor Nezinho Abílio.
Yesterday it rained another 15 mm at Green Pastures meaning we have now had rain 6 days on the run!
Continue ReadingLast night I led the main Sunday service and Pastor Rafael preached on unbelief from Numbers 14. Sacha, Marina, Érika and Rogério led the praise and worship. It was the first time Rogério had sung and it was excellent.
Yesterday it rained 14 mm at Green Pastures. PTL!
I am glad to tell you that Mayane’s grandmother, who was bitten by a rattlesnake, has been released from hospital. Her eyesight is still affected though it is a lot better than it was.
Continue ReadingPsalm 9 is another Davidic psalm for the director of music to be sung to the tune of ‘The Death of the Son’. It starts with full-blooded praise to God for victory over his enemies, for judging righteously the wicked and for rebuking the nations. David says that God’s reign is permanent and eternal. God is a refuge for the oppressed who never forsakes those who seek him. He says sing praises to the Lord enthroned in Zion who does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. He says his enemies persecute him almost to death so he cries to God for mercy. David cries to God also for him to judge the fallen nations and the wicked who are ensnared by the work of their own hands. “Strike them with terror, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but men”!
Continue ReadingPsalm 8 is another Davidic psalm for the director of music according to gittith, which is probably a musical term. It is a jubilant song of praise to the Lord which starts and ends saying, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth”! David says that God’s glory is not limited to creation, yet he has given man an important position of leadership within the created order. He observes with awe how God cares for man and says that God has crowned man with glory and honour.
Continue ReadingPsalm 7 is a lament attributed to David which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjamite called Cush. The psalms style is a shiggaron which is probably a musical term.
A 29-year-old woman in the interior of São Paulo was knocked down in a road accident and was declared dead by an ambulance doctor. However later signs of life were observed and she was taken to hospital. She has now recovered and has been sent home. The doctor has been suspended and is being investigated.
I have just realized that QPR drew 0 x 0 once again, away to Charlton. This was on Friday.
Last night’s service at Green Pastures was cancelled owing to rain. What a glorious problem to have! ⛈☂ It was a case of ‘rain stopped pray’! I was all ready to preach on Jesus being the bread of life from John 6, but this will now be preached after the carnival camp. With the rain the temperature has dropped to a high of 30 degrees and a low of 23 degrees.
The total rainfall last night at Green Pastures was 13 mm which is just over half an inch.
Continue ReadingThis another Davidic psalm for the director of music was to be performed with stringed instruments according to shemenith which was probably a musical term. This is the first of 7 penitential psalms with prayer by David who deeply troubled and distressed. The psalmist cries out for mercy expressing profound anguish and asking how much longer he must wait for deliverance. David says he is worn out with groaning and of soaking his bed with tears. At the end David defiantly asserts victory because God has heard his cry and accepted his prayer so that his enemies will be shamed.
Continue ReadingPsalm 5 is another Davidic psalm for the director of music which this time is to be accompanied by flutes. It clearly is a morning prayer: “Morning by morning, O Lord you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my requests before you”. The psalm decries the wicked for being arrogant, bloodthirsty and deceitful, contrasting such people with David’s personal pleasure in being in God’s house paying reverent homage. God is depicted as holy detesting wickedness and falsehood. However those who take refuge in God are glad living under divine protection like with a shield.
Continue ReadingIt rained a further 15 mm (just over half an inch) at Green Pastures yesterday and more rain is forecast for today, so the rainy season seems to be finally getting going. PTL! But please don’t stop praying.
Liz went out to Green Pastures yesterday with a car load of supplies for the Carnival Camp which starts a week today.
I have just taken part online in another EAB Board of Trustees meeting which went off very well.
Continue ReadingYesterday we had a real storm at Green Pastures and Patos with thunder, lightning and hail stones, and at Green Pastures the total rainfall was 55 mm (just over 2 inches). In Patos quite a number of electricity poles snapped with the strong gusts of wind and lots of electricity cables were strewn on the main road. I have heard of one person being injured by flying debris.
Later last night a second round of heavy rain came in. We cancelled our mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study as it was too dangerous for people to go out.
Please pray for a sister in the Patos church called Mayanne whose grandmother has been bitten by a rattlesnake and is in hospital.
Continue ReadingYesterday our Life Squad team evangelized the men’s prison again as they do every week and two men made commitments of their lives to God. Pastor Rafael led the prison ministry assisted by our sister Iara. Please pray for the men who made decisions.
The youth are organizing a volleyball competition and a scavenger hunt for the carnival camp afternoons starting on the 14th.
It rained 12 mm (half an inch) at Green Pastures last night with thunder and lightning and more is forecast for the coming days.
Continue ReadingIn the northeastern state of Maranhão over 300 parakeets were killed when the Eucalyptus tree, in which they were perched, was felled by a storm. The mystery is what killed them as lightning has been ruled out.
I have received my latest book in the ‘Blitz Detective’ series by Mike Hollow. This the 10th book in the series called ‘The Bloomsbury Murder’ was sent to me by my sister Jean for my birthday. I must now get down to aiding Detective Inspector John Jago solve another crime!
The ‘Gospel BeeGees’ have confirmed their presence at our Carnival Camp next week! 😄
Last night I travelled with the Patos Men’s Fellowship to the town of São Mamede to hold another street service which 40 attended. School teacher Claudivan led the service and Pastor Rafael preached. It was a good service.
Continue ReadingI have been a member of the BBC’s Global Minds listeners and watchers panel for many years and they have inquired about how we feel about 2026 to which I replied ‘positive’. However the global survey shows that 36% are worried or anxious, 27.3% are pessimistic, 18.7% are positive (including me!), 11.2% are neutral, 9.7% think 2026 will be better than 2025, and just 6.7% are excited about 2026! Which category are you in?
The Brazilian press is showing today how Brazil and almost the entirety of South America is far more linked economically to China than to the USA. This is not surprising considering the USA’s isolationist approach to everything.
I had a meeting with deacon Dedé who is the leader of our church at Ipueira and we discussed the building of our church there. Someone has already donated the bricks for the church which is good!
Continue ReadingPsalm 4 was a prayer written by David for the director of music and to be presented with stringed instruments. The prayer may well have been written within the Absalom context. David cries for relief and asks for mercy. David asks how long will people seek false gods? The Lord will hear him, says David, because he has set apart the godly for himself. Then David recommends quiet reflection on the bed and trusting in the Lord. For David asks for God’s light to shine upon him and rejoices in his heart. He closes thanking God for his peace and safety.
Continue ReadingThis psalm is again in a totally different category to the previous 2. It is a lament by King David as he fled from his son Absalom who wanted to kill him and usurp the throne, as we read in 2 Samuel chapters 15 to 18. David cries out to God bemoaning the popular uprising against him led by his son which some said was God having abandoned him. However David recognizes God as his shield, despite the adverse circumstances, and he knows God hears his cry. David says he knows that he sleeps and awakens because God sustains him, and for that reason he won’t fear the tens of thousands against him led by his son. David then cries to God for deliverance because he knows that in God alone is true deliverance and blessing.
Continue ReadingPsalm 2 is different from Psalm 1 like the difference between chalk and cheese! This Psalm immediately reminds me of Handel’s Messiah which I used to see at the Royal Albert Hall every Christmas with my father. Psalm 2 is a royal messianic psalm poetically and majestically telling us that it is futile for the nations to revolt against God or against his appointed king. In the opening verses it is asked why the nations plot and rage against almighty God and his Anointed One? For they seek to break free from divine authority in vain. God scoffs at them and rebukes them in anger as he has installed his King on Zion. The King or Messiah proclaims his authority as the son of God, who will inherit the nations, rule them and “dash them to pieces like pottery”. So the kings are warned to serve and fear the Lord. For “blessed are all who take refuge in him”.
Continue ReadingLiz took the Sunday School yesterday in Patos and it was a great blessing. She taught the youths and adult class together.
Last night I led the main service of the week in Patos and our daughter Sacha preached an excellent sermon on Micah 6:1-8. Sacha has degrees in English Language and Theology and is a very good preacher. I received some gifts from the church and from the church children in the service for my birthday which was very nice.
Continue ReadingMy birthday yesterday was like no other as it was a long stressful day of meetings which had to be yesterday as there was no other day to fit them in. The senior ACEV leadership team met for 2 hours in the afternoon and deliberated 5 topics of which one was especially serious. We then drove to our Itaporanga church where I presided a church meeting which was not easy. We got back to Patos just before midnight and the pastors stayed the night at our house.
At least QPR won on my birthday beating league leaders Coventry at home 2 x 1. 😀
This blog was read 19,336 times in January. Thanks to one and all.
Continue ReadingThis first psalm contrasts the person who walks with God and is happy obeying his word, with the wicked person who will perish. Happy is the man, says the psalm, who does not walk/stand/sit in godless ways. To the contrary he loves God’s word and prospers like a fruitful tree planted by a stream. However, says the psalm, the wicked are like straw blown in the wind whose end is perdition.
Continue ReadingOur personal work counselling those in spiritual and psychological need continued yesterday with another important session. Please pray for this aspect of our ministry.
Today I have upgraded my engine to a 7.7 version and thank the Lord for my health and strength! I won’t have much time to celebrate as we have a senior leadership meeting this afternoon in my office and I will be chairing a church meeting in Itaporanga tonight to solve a problem there.
I went to Green Pastures which is faintly greener after the odd shower we have had, but the rain situation here is increasingly critical. What would happen if a town like Patos, with a population of 108,000, ran out of water I hate to think. At Green Pastures Wild Cats, Wild Tortoises, Armadillos, Deer and Foxes are plentiful and I heard Rufous-browed Peppershrikes and Campo Troupials singing in the trees.
Last night I chaired a meeting of the Pastor Frank Dyer’s School teachers planning for this new semester. It was a good meeting.
I have finished my summary of the book of Job which was hard work! Now on to a long but enjoyable journey through the book of Psalms! I have now completed 40% of the chapters of the Bible.
Continue ReadingJob ends up repenting in dust and ashes as he says to God: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted”. “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know”. “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you”.
Then comes the book’s epilogue when God rebukes the 3 comforters for having spoken incorrectly, and he makes them offer burnt offerings in payment for their wrong. Then Job interceded for the 3 friends and God accepted this. After Job had prayed for his friends (prayer was key!) he became prosperous again and God gave him twice as much as he had before! All his family and friends comforted him and gave him gold and silver. God gave him 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys. And God yet gave Job 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters. From this time on Job yet lived another 140 years until he died at a ripe old age.
Continue ReadingGod continues talking and introduces the sea-monster Leviathan to the debate which was a dragon-like creature with fire coming from his mouth. The creature had air-tight armour-like scales which were impenetrable by javelin, spear or dart, and iron to him was like straw! God says “nothing on earth is his equal – a creature without fear”. Thus God again cuts Job down to size by asking: “Can you pull in the Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope”? “Can you make a pet of him like a bird or put him on a leash for your girls”? Thus again God is saying to Job that if he can’t cope with a creature how much less can he dispute and wrestle with the creator!
So it seems to me that God in no way seeks to justify what Job had been going through. God stands aloof and above criticism because he is God! And if Job can’t wrestle with the sea-monster he should certainly not try it on him!
Continue ReadingGod now confronts Job for wanting to correct and accuse him. So Job admits he is unworthy and acknowledges that he has no answer. Then God asks Job if he wants to discredit his justice? God points out that Job cannot clothe himself with honour and majesty nor can he crush the wicked. God then tells Job to look at the enormous herbivorous animal called the behemoth which is extremely powerful with limbs like rods of iron. God says his maker is able to approach him but asks Job if he can capture him and piece his nose? Seeing that he can’t Job must not accuse God!
Continue ReadingGod continues questioning Job, this time concerning wildlife, which all is beyond Job’s ability to answer. God asks about goats, deer, donkeys, oxen, ostriches, horses, hawks and eagles. The questions are about them giving birth, gestation periods, nesting, flying, living conditions, feeding etc. Thus God continues to humble Job to make him realize that things of creation and nature are so often beyond his understanding. So the logic is that Job should not be dismayed if he cannot understand his suffering.
Continue ReadingNow comes the time for God to join the debate about Job’s suffering, but God instead speaks from a storm presenting a long discourse about creation. God, to put Job in his place, asks him if he was there when he created the earth? He then asks who made and put limits on the sea and made the clouds? He asks Job too if he had walked in the depths of the sea or comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? He asks as well if Job knows where the snow and hail are stored and whether he understands the lightning and the wind? God further asks if the rain has a father and if ice or frost have a mother? God also questions if Job knows the laws of the heavens and who provides food for the raven? Thus God humbles Job by emphasizing his sovereign complexity and majesty.
Continue ReadingLiz and I spent considerable time counselling a pastor and his wife yesterday. This constitutes an important part of our ministry. We value your prayers for this couple. No names can be given. We will have a further counselling session with another person today.
Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and young lawyer Murilo brought the study from 1 John 3. Murilo is doing a series of studies in first John. It was a very good study and service. Vasti and Espedita sang solos.
Continue ReadingYesterday I did the first reading of the new Easter play with Liz and drama leader Dilma. I always do things this way with plays that I write, reading them the play and then officially handing it over to the drama group. The play is called ‘Two Days from Easter’ and essentially follows the text of Matthew 26 to 28 with an addition from John. The play has 4 acts and will be performed on Easter Sunday which is April 5th.
Continue ReadingWith the imagery of a gathering storm Elihu concludes his contribution to the book of Job showing God’s majestic power over thunder, lightening, snow, rain and ice. On the one hand, Elihu says, the clouds can punish men, but on the other hand they water the earth and thus show God’s love. So Elihu points out to Job that he has no way of knowing how the different forces and aspects of nature function so it is that God is beyond our understanding. He says “the Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”
Continue Reading