Categoria: News

Having written the summaries of the complete Old Testament texts (929 chapters) I have moved on to the Gospels, completing the 28 chapters of Matthew on August 12th, and the 16 chapters of Mark by August 18th, and I am now a quarter of the way through Luke’s 24 chapters with 6 completed yesterday. Highlights for me thus far in Luke have been Mary’s and Zechariah’s songs in chapter 1, the shepherds and the angels in chapter 2, the calling of the first disciples in chapter 5 and the blessings and woes of chapter 6. We press on now towards the half-way mark in Luke. 

Having written the summaries of the complete Old Testament texts (929 chapters) I have moved on to the Gospels, completing the 28 chapters of Matthew on August 12th, and the 16 chapters of Mark by August 18th, and I am now a quarter of the way through Luke’s 24 chapters with 6 completed yesterday. Highlights for me thus far in Luke have been Mary’s and Zechariah’s songs in chapter 1, the shepherds and the angels in chapter 2, the calling of the first disciples in chapter 5 and the blessings and woes of chapter 6. We press on now towards the half-way mark in Luke. 

Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to comply with census requirements, and there Mary gave birth to her first son whom she “placed in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”. Then angels appeared to nearby shepherds watching over their flocks at night and announced the birth of the Saviour. They sang “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men”. The shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw Jesus lying in a manger and they praised and glorified God. Then at 8-days-old Jesus was circumcised and officially named Jesus, and they offered a pair of doves as a sacrifice. A devout man named Simeon took Jesus in his arms and declared “my eyes have seen your salvation… a light for the gentiles and for glory to Israel”. Also an old prophetess named Ana “gave thanks to God… and spoke about the redemption of Jerusalem” and then Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Nazareth where Jesus grew in wisdom and in grace. Then when he was 12-years-old Jesus went to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and Jesus’ parents lost track of him until they found him in the temple courts listening to the teachers and asking them questions. When his parents complained about his disappearance Jesus replied: “Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” Back in Nazareth “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature”.

Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to comply with census requirements, and there Mary gave birth to her first son whom she “placed in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”. Then angels appeared to nearby shepherds watching over their flocks at night and announced the birth of the Saviour. They sang “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men”. The shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw Jesus lying in a manger and they praised and glorified God. Then at 8-days-old Jesus was circumcised and officially named Jesus, and they offered a pair of doves as a sacrifice. A devout man named Simeon took Jesus in his arms and declared “my eyes have seen your salvation… a light for the gentiles and for glory to Israel”. Also an old prophetess named Ana “gave thanks to God… and spoke about the redemption of Jerusalem” and then Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Nazareth where Jesus grew in wisdom and in grace. Then when he was 12-years-old Jesus went to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and Jesus’ parents lost track of him until they found him in the temple courts listening to the teachers and asking them questions. When his parents complained about his disappearance Jesus replied: “Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” Back in Nazareth “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature”.

Last night both Philip and I took part in the weekly men’s fellowship meeting which was held at our school on the south side of Patos where we are seeking to establish a second Patos church. We had a very interesting speaker talking about the dangers of excessive mobile phone usage. It was encouraging to see 2 men taking part from the local community of Jatobá. The meeting was led by the chief of the chief’s of Police and Deacon Esaú. There were a good number present and it was a blessing. 

Last night both Philip and I took part in the weekly men’s fellowship meeting which was held at our school on the south side of Patos where we are seeking to establish a second Patos church. We had a very interesting speaker talking about the dangers of excessive mobile phone usage. It was encouraging to see 2 men taking part from the local community of Jatobá. The meeting was led by the chief of the chief’s of Police and Deacon Esaú. There were a good number present and it was a blessing. 

I have now completed my writing of the synthesis of Mark’s Gospel meaning that I have finished 973 chapters of the Bible, 41 books, and 82% of scripture. Now it’s on to Luke which is the largest book in the New Testament in number of words and verses, though not in the total number of Chapters. Luke also wrote the Book of Acts which I have yet to cover. 

“The Sanhedrin turned Jesus over to Pilate… he asked are you the king of the Jews and Jesus answered yes… so Pilate gave the people a choice of a popular release of a prisoner between Jesus and criminal Barabbas and the people chose to have Barabbas released and Jesus crucified… then the soldiers led him away and put a crown of thorns on his head… saying hail, king of the Jews… and mocking him… and they took Jesus to Golgotha where they crucified him together with 2 robbers… and everyone mocked Jesus saying he saved others but can’t save himself… and between the 6th and 9th hour there was a total eclipse of the sun at the end of which Jesus asked God why he had forsaken him?… then with a loud cry Jesus breathed his last… and the temple veil was torn from top to bottom… and the nearby centurion said surely this man was the son of God… and many women watched at a distance… and Pilate gave Jesus’ body for burial to Joseph of Arimathea… and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb where he buried Jesus… and Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid”.

Mark 9 commences with Jesus stating that some there present wouldn’t die before seeing the Kingdom of God coming with power (which is probably a reference to the transfiguration or resurrection). Then Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain and his clothes became dazzling white and Elijah and Moses appeared there. Then a cloud enveloped them and God the Father said, “This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Jesus told them to say nothing about their experience till after the resurrection. They asked Jesus about Elijah coming first, and Jesus said that had already happened. Then a boy was brought to Jesus with a deaf and dumb spirit whom the disciples had been unsuccessful in healing because Jesus said it needed more prayer. The boy’s father asked Jesus if he could do anything? Jesus answered that “everything is possible for him who believes”… and the boy’s father said “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief”. Then Jesus healed the boy convulsing the boy in the process. At Capernaum Jesus perceived that the disciples were discussing who was the greatest, and Jesus said that to be the first you need to be the servant of all… and care for the little children. Then John told Jesus that the disciples had told a non-disciple to stop casting out demons, but Jesus told them not to do that because “whoever is not against us is for us”. Jesus then reprimanded anyone who caused another to sin saying they should always take strong measures to avoid sin or to avoid causing others to sin, seeking always to “be at peace with each other”.

I am now half-way through the Gospel of Mark with a synthesis of 8 of its 16 chapters done. Chapter 8 is a watershed one with Peter’s confession in John 8:29. Now we go on to the transfiguration, triumphal entry into Jerusalem, The Lord’s supper, Gethsemane, the crucifixion and resurrection. 

Last night I led the main service in Patos and Pastor Murilo preached very well on “An Anchor for the Soul” (Hebrews 6:19). The sermon brought back to me the old hymn we used to sing at Peniel Chapel when I was a child: “We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure when the billows roll”. A beautiful song! 🙌

Pastor Rafael was preaching in Imaculada.

Jesus had been teaching a crowd of 4,000 men for 3 days and had compassion on their hunger multiplying 7 loaves and some small fish to feed them (with fish sandwiches like at McDonald’s!) There were 7 basketfuls left over at the end. Jesus went on to warn saying: “Be careful… watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod”. Jesus then questioned if they were understanding his message and asked how many basket’s were left over after the feeding of the 5,000. They answered “twelve”, and after the 4,000?, and they said “seven”. (i.e. don’t worry about bread because Jesus will provide is the message!) Then comes an interesting healing of a blind man. Jesus spat on his eyes and laid hands on him. However the man was initially only partially healed, so Jesus laid hands on him again and his sight was fully restored. Jesus then asked the disciples whom people were saying he was, and they said Elijah, John the Baptist or one of the prophets. “But what about you… what do you say?… and Peter answered You are the Christ”. Jesus then warned them not to tell everyone. Jesus, in the light of Peter’s confession, told them that he would be killed and after 3 days rise again. Peter rebuked this so Jesus told him that he was lacking having the things of God in mind. Then he said that anyone who wanted to follow him should deny himself and take up his cross. 

Jesus went to the Gerasenes region and was encountered by a spirit-possessed man who lived in the tombs and was unchainable. He told Jesus his name “Legion” but Jesus delivered him and sent the evil spirits from him into a herd of 2,000 pigs which committed suicide, but the man ended up “sitting, dressed and in his right mind”. Then a synagogue ruler called Jairus asked Jesus to go with him to heal his 12-year-old daughter, but on the way he was delayed healing a woman “who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years”. The woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and received her healing. When Jesus finally arrived at Jairus’s house his daughter had already died, but Jesus said to him: “Don’t be afraid. Just believe!” Then Jesus took the girl by the hand and told her to “get up”. Immediately she got up and walked around so that people “were completely astonished”.

The chapter starts with Jesus healing a man with a shrivelled hand in a synagogue on a Sabbath causing the usual consternation with the Pharisees. Jesus retorted asking whether he should do good or evil on a Sabbath, but the Jews didn’t answer. This angered Jesus to see such stubborn hearts. Crowds kept following Jesus from wide-ranging places seeking at least to touch Jesus to be healed, and evil spirits always fell down before Jesus declaring he was the Son of God, but Jesus told them to shut up. Then Jesus went up into the hills where he designated 12 apostles: 1. Simon (whom Jesus gave the name Peter). 2. James son of Zebedee. 3. His brother John. (Jesus called these 2 Boanerges – sons of thunder). 4. Andrew. 5. Philip. 6. Bartholomew. 7. Matthew (Levi). 8. Thomas. 9. James son of Alphaeus. 10. Thaddaeus. 11. Simon the Zealot. 12. Judas Iscariot. Then Jesus was so besieged by a crowd that Jesus and the disciples couldn’t even eat, and Jesus’ family said he “was out of his mind”. Teachers of the law said he was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub! Jesus rebuffed this saying “how can Satan drive out Satan”? He rebuked them for such aggressive criticism saying “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven”. Then came further contact between Jesus and his family, but Jesus showed his supreme commitment to his mission saying: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother”.

A new Market Garden Project has been started in the Escorregada Community in the Municipality of Princesa Isabel led by Reginaldo and Elane. As part of the project work has been done to improve their well and a large water tank was donated to enable drip irrigation. Also donated were 2,000 metres of hosepipe for irrigation and 360 metres of piping to improve water supply. Added to this were donated many valves and fittings plus Guava and Mango tree seedlings to add to the Paw-paw trees already existent. The project is progressing well and improving the people’s income considerably. 

We are starting a church plant at a new town called Santa Teresinha 20 km west of Patos on a tarmac road. We tried to establish a work there years ago when Frank Dyer was still alive, but it didn’t develop. Now we are starting again with a work led by Edilson and Rosangela. There were about 14 in the service there this week. Please pray for this new work. 

A new Market Garden Project has been started in the Escorregada Community in the Municipality of Princesa Isabel led by Reginaldo and Elane. As part of the project work has been done to improve their well and a large water tank was donated to enable drip irrigation. Also donated were 2,000 metres of hosepipe for irrigation and 360 metres of piping to improve water supply. Added to this were donated many valves and fittings plus Guava and Mango tree seedlings to add to the Paw-paw trees already existent. The project is progressing well and improving the people’s income considerably. 

We are starting a church plant at a new town called Santa Teresinha 20 km west of Patos on a tarmac road. We tried to establish a work there years ago when Frank Dyer was still alive, but it didn’t develop. Now we are starting again with a work led by Edilson and Rosangela. There were about 14 in the service there this week. Please pray for this new work. 

Jesus now returned to Capernaum and preached the word to a large crowd which filled the house to overflowing. There 4 men brought a paralytic to be healed by Jesus, but as they couldn’t access him they made an opening in the roof and lowered the man in front of the Lord. Seeing their faith Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sin which provoked calls of “blasphemy” from the “teachers of the law”. To answer them Jesus proceeded to prove his authority to forgive sins by healing the man, and the man walked out of the house carrying his mat to the amazement of all! Then Jesus called a tax collector called Levi (or Matthew) to follow him and he did so. Jesus had a meal at Levi’s house which drew criticism from the Pharisees, but Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. They some people questioned why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast when John’s and the Pharisees’ did. Jesus said that there is no way that the guests of the bridegroom would fast whilst he was with them, but there would be a time when he would be taken away and then they would fast. He said things were changing and “no-one pours new wine into old wineskins”. Finally the Pharisees criticized the disciples for having picked corn and eaten it on the sabbath because they were hungry. Jesus said David had done a similar thing under similar circumstances. Jesus said: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”.

I conducted a funeral service this morning of 61-year-old Rita Macena who was blind and fighting cancer for a number of years. Rita sang in our praise and worship team for a long time and had been with us at the carnival camp at Green Pastures in February. She left 5 children and 5 grandchildren. She died yesterday and the pre-funeral wake was also held in our church as well as the funeral itself. Please pray for the family. 🙏

At the wake yesterday I met 2 men I baptized in 1982! One brother whom I hadn’t seen for decades came up to me and thanked me for baptizing him! Then another brother with him said, “he baptized me too!” It was great to chat and see how both of them are still going on for God! 

Last night our excellent Soup Run Team went out in the Kombi distributing a gigantic cauldron of nutritive chicken and vegetable soup to a very poor borough on the outskirts of Patos called ‘Cangote do Urubu’ (The Vulture’s Neck). The team had made and cooked the soup in Ivy Dyer’s Mum’s Kitchen in the Care Centre in the afternoon and it was gratefully and joyfully received by all who queued up for the feast. They all received Gospel tracts too. We are proud to do all we do for Jesus!

I have finished writing my synopsis of the Book of Matthew with its 28 chapters. This means I have completed 40 Bible books, 957 chapters, and 80.5% of the Bible. Now on to the 16 chapters of Mark! 

Matthew 25 starts with the parable of the 10 virgins who awaited a bridegroom at an evening wedding. The 5 foolish virgins took no spare oil for their lamps but the wise ones did. At midnight the bridegroom arrived but the foolish virgins’ lamps were running out of oil so they went to buy some more and missed the bridegroom’s arrival, the wise went in and the door was shut. “Therefore keep watch”, concluded Jesus, “because you do not know the day or the hour”. Next came the parable of the talents where a man went on a journey and left 8 talents invested through 3 servants, with one receiving 5 talents, the second receiving 2 talents and the third receiving 1. When he returned the first 2 had doubled their talents, but the one with only 1 talent just buried his talent and earned nothing. He was punished and thrown “into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”, but the other two were rewarded and shared their master’s happiness. Moral of the story: don’t bury your talent but use it and invest it in the kingdom of God! Finally Jesus envisages himself judging people by how they lived classifying some as sheep and the others as goats. He blessed the sheep because they had fed the hungry, watered the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the needy, and visited the sick and those in prison. Jesus then said that such action was in keeping with his kingdom and so it was as if they had done it for him! The goats failed however in all the points of service and compassion and so they received eternal punishment, whereas the sheep received eternal life.

Matthew 24 brings end time teaching from Jesus about the destruction of Jerusalem, his future second coming and the end of the age. This chapter is often called the ‘Olivet Discourse’ because it contains Jesus’ teaching given on the Mount of Olives. Initially Jesus predicts the total destruction of the temple where “not one stone will be left on another”. The disciples then asked about “the sign of Jesus’ coming and the end of the age?” Jesus says there will appear false prophets who “will deceive many”. He also prophesies “wars and rumours of wars” and “famines and earthquakes”. Jesus also predicts persecution of believers who will “be persecuted and put to death”, and of “many who will turn away from the faith”. He says that “because of the increase of wickedness the love of most will grow cold… but who stands firm will be saved… and the Gospel will be preached to all nations”. Next the text prophesies a period of great suffering in the Great Tribulation linked to “the abomination that causes desolation (see Daniel 9:27, 11:31 & 12:11) in the holy place… and there will be great distress unequalled from the beginning of the world… but for the elect’s sake the period will be cut short”. Jesus also warns about very convincing false Christs that will appear at this time. But “the son of man will come on the clouds with power and great glory” after the great tribulation. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”. So Jesus says that when the signs of his second coming appear so everyone should be prepared because two men will be together with one taken and the other left behind and the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour. And “it will be good for the master to find the servant doing the work when he comes”, but the complacent will be judged accordingly.

Last night Liz and I made the one and a half hour journey up the mountain to Imaculada to hold a church business meeting which decided that Pastor João George will no longer lead the church. The meeting went off peacefully and we got home a little after 10 pm.

Philip went to São Mamede with the men’s fellowship and took part in the street service there in both word and song. A good little crowd gathered to hear the Gospel. 

Last night Liz and I made the one and a half hour journey up the mountain to Imaculada to hold a church business meeting which decided that Pastor João George will no longer lead the church. The meeting went off peacefully and we got home a little after 10 pm.

Philip went to São Mamede with the men’s fellowship and took part in the street service there in both word and song. A good little crowd gathered to hear the Gospel. 

Yesterday a further earthquake occurred in another of Brazil’s South American neighbours. After the recent occurrences in Venezuela yesterday saw a 7.4 earthquake in western Columbia. The death toll thus far is 224 with 2,700 missing.   

Last night Philip and Gylmara went to a rural service at Nega and Netinho’s farmstead and it was blessed of God. Philip preached the Gospel there.

Last night Liz and I had a meeting with Caetano and Dedé about the progress of the building of the new church at Ipueira which is going well, and we planned the next stages of the work.

I have now completed 3/4 of Matthew’s 28 chapters so 7 more to go.