Categoria: News

I have been listening to Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony which was my set work for music GCE O level in 1965. My focus was on the sonata form of the first movement with its exposition, development and recapitulation. Those were the days at Quintin School in St. John’s Wood.

QPR sadly lost their last home game of the season to Derby 3 x 2. 😖

Last night I led the service of the Green Pastures Church and preached on John 7:37-38. It was a good service.

I have been listening to Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony which was my set work for music GCE O level in 1965. My focus was on the sonata form of the first movement with its exposition, development and recapitulation. Those were the days at Quintin School in St. John’s Wood.

QPR sadly lost their last home game of the season to Derby 3 x 2. 😖

Last night I led the service of the Green Pastures Church and preached on John 7:37-38. It was a good service.

I have been listening to Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony which was my set work for music GCE O level in 1965. My focus was on the sonata form of the first movement with its exposition, development and recapitulation. Those were the days at Quintin School in St. John’s Wood.

QPR sadly lost their last home game of the season to Derby 3 x 2. 😖

Last night I led the service of the Green Pastures Church and preached on John 7:37-38. It was a good service.

I have been listening to Tchaikovsky’s 1st piano concerto whilst I did devotional and administrative work. The concerto reminds me of my tropical fish aquarium when I was a boy at Grammar School because I used to listen to it a lot whilst watching the fish. I also listened to Elgar’s Cello Concerto. 

I went to Green Pastures and saw a beautiful large Rufescent Tiger-Heron near the dam. Around the house and dormitories we have scores of birds nesting like the White-throated Seedeater, Red-cowled Cardinal, Campo Troupial, Scaled Dove, Picui Ground Dove, Caatinga Cacholote, Rufous-bellied Thrush etc.

It rained a further 3 mm yesterday at Green Pastures taking this year’s rainfall total up to 626.6 mm. The average annual rainfall is 702 mm. I will be preaching at the Green Pastures church tonight.

I have been listening to Tchaikovsky’s 1st piano concerto whilst I did devotional and administrative work. The concerto reminds me of my tropical fish aquarium when I was a boy at Grammar School because I used to listen to it a lot whilst watching the fish. I also listened to Elgar’s Cello Concerto. 

I went to Green Pastures and saw a beautiful large Rufescent Tiger-Heron near the dam. Around the house and dormitories we have scores of birds nesting like the White-throated Seedeater, Red-cowled Cardinal, Campo Troupial, Scaled Dove, Picui Ground Dove, Caatinga Cacholote, Rufous-bellied Thrush etc.

It rained a further 3 mm yesterday at Green Pastures taking this year’s rainfall total up to 626.6 mm. The average annual rainfall is 702 mm. I will be preaching at the Green Pastures church tonight.

I have been listening to Tchaikovsky’s 1st piano concerto whilst I did devotional and administrative work. The concerto reminds me of my tropical fish aquarium when I was a boy at Grammar School because I used to listen to it a lot whilst watching the fish. I also listened to Elgar’s Cello Concerto. 

I went to Green Pastures and saw a beautiful large Rufescent Tiger-Heron near the dam. Around the house and dormitories we have scores of birds nesting like the White-throated Seedeater, Red-cowled Cardinal, Campo Troupial, Scaled Dove, Picui Ground Dove, Caatinga Cacholote, Rufous-bellied Thrush etc.

It rained a further 3 mm yesterday at Green Pastures taking this year’s rainfall total up to 626.6 mm. The average annual rainfall is 702 mm. I will be preaching at the Green Pastures church tonight.

Isaiah 13 is an “oracle concerning Babylon” telling of God’s impending judgement on them in “the day of the Lord” because of their arrogant wickedness. He says: “Listen, a noise on the mountains… God is mustering an army for war… to destroy the whole country… wail, for the day of the Lord is near… terror will seize them… see the day of the Lord is coming – a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger… I will punish the world for its evil… whoever is captured will be thrust through… their infants will be dashed to pieces… their wives will be ravished… Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah… and she will never be inhabited but will be taken over by jackals, hyenas, owls and wild goats”.                                      

Isaiah 12 points to a future time when God’s people will joyfully trust in God after his “anger has turned away… surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid… with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation… give thanks to the Lord… proclaim that his name is exalted… sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things… shout aloud and sing for joy for great is the Holy One of Israel among you”.

Isaiah 12 points to a future time when God’s people will joyfully trust in God after his “anger has turned away… surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid… with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation… give thanks to the Lord… proclaim that his name is exalted… sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things… shout aloud and sing for joy for great is the Holy One of Israel among you”.

 Isaiah 11 is a messianic prophecy about “a shoot that will come from the stump of Jesse… the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him… and he will delight in the fear of the Lord…. with righteousness he will judge the needy… and faithfulness will be the sash around his waist”. In the messianic kingdom predators and pray will live in harmony… “the wolf will live with the lamb… the leopard will lie with the goat… and a little child will lead them… for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord”. And “in that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner to reclaim the remnant and gather the exiles”. “There will be a highway of the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt”.

 Isaiah 11 is a messianic prophecy about “a shoot that will come from the stump of Jesse… the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him… and he will delight in the fear of the Lord…. with righteousness he will judge the needy… and faithfulness will be the sash around his waist”. In the messianic kingdom predators and pray will live in harmony… “the wolf will live with the lamb… the leopard will lie with the goat… and a little child will lead them… for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord”. And “in that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner to reclaim the remnant and gather the exiles”. “There will be a highway of the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt”.

I have been listening to Rachmaninov’s 3rd Piano Concerto. Absolutely magnificent!

I have just prepared a sermon for this Saturday at Green Pastures on John 7:37 when Jesus said – ‘If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink’!

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Rafael gave the study on Zephaniah chapter 2. The worship was led by Rogério and Rogaciano. It was a nice service.

This morning it rained 9 mm at Green Pastures taking this year’s total up to 623.6 mm. It is unusual for it to rain in the morning here.

I have been listening to Rachmaninov’s 3rd Piano Concerto. Absolutely magnificent!

I have just prepared a sermon for this Saturday at Green Pastures on John 7:37 when Jesus said – ‘If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink’!

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Rafael gave the study on Zephaniah chapter 2. The worship was led by Rogério and Rogaciano. It was a nice service.

This morning it rained 9 mm at Green Pastures taking this year’s total up to 623.6 mm. It is unusual for it to rain in the morning here.

 I have done the first 10 chapters of Isaiah in my résumé of the Bible and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I went past familiar texts such as 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”. Then 6:8 “Who shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me!” Then 7:14 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel”. Then 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor… Prince of Peace”.

Liz went to the women’s fellowship meeting last night and enjoyed it. 

 I have done the first 10 chapters of Isaiah in my résumé of the Bible and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I went past familiar texts such as 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”. Then 6:8 “Who shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me!” Then 7:14 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel”. Then 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor… Prince of Peace”.

Liz went to the women’s fellowship meeting last night and enjoyed it. 

Isaias 10 proclaims God’s judgement on wayward leaders. “Woe to those who make unjust laws… who deprive the poor of their rights and rob orphans… making widows their prey”. God therefore uses Assyria as “the rod of his anger” to castigate Israel. “I send him against a godless nation. I dispatch him against a people who anger me… when the Lord has finished all his work against Zion he will punish the king of Assyria because of his pride thinking that he can do what he likes! Then the light of Israel will become a flame and God will keep a faithful remnant of his people… the survivors of the house of Jacob… a remnant will return… O my people do not be afraid of the Assyrians who beat you with a rod… the Lord will lash them with a whip… the yoke will be broken… see the Lord Almighty will lop off the boughs with great power… Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.”

Isaiah 9 points to a messianic hope: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light… for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders… and of it there will be no end… he will reign on David’s throne”. This is followed by a message of judgement against the northern kingdom of Israel. “The Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail… the elders and prominent men are the head and the prophets who teach lies are the tail… everyone is ungodly and wicked… wickedness burns like a fire… by the wrath of God the earth will be scorched… no-one will spare his brother… each will feed on the flesh of his own offspring!”

Isaiah 9 points to a messianic hope: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light… for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders… and of it there will be no end… he will reign on David’s throne”. This is followed by a message of judgement against the northern kingdom of Israel. “The Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail… the elders and prominent men are the head and the prophets who teach lies are the tail… everyone is ungodly and wicked… wickedness burns like a fire… by the wrath of God the earth will be scorched… no-one will spare his brother… each will feed on the flesh of his own offspring!”

Isaiah 8 is a continuation of the Immanuel prophecy in chapter 7:14 and God is with his people during the Assyrian crisis. Isaiah directs Judah to fear him rather than the Syrian-Israel alliance because God told Isaiah that before his new-born son could say Dad and Mum Assyria will defeat Damascus and Samaria. Then God again told Isaiah that because the people of Judah had “rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah” (peaceful trust in God) they would face “the mighty flood waters of the River  – the king of Assyria… and this water would flood them up to their necks!” Then God told Isaiah not to adhere to the conspiracy theories of the people but to fear him. Isaiah then seals up the prophecy among his disciples, and then concludes warning against “mediums and spiritists… why consult the dead on behalf of the living… and warning against those who do not speak according to this word”. 

In the year that King Uzziah died (about 740 BC?) the prophet Isaiah had a vision of the holiness of God in which he heard God’s call on his life: “I saw the Lord seated on his throne high and exalted… and the accompanying angels cried Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty… and the temple was filled with smoke… and Isaiah cried out Woe to me… I am a man of unclean lips… but then one of the seraphs touched his lips with an altar coal and purified him… then God asked whom shall I send?… and Isaiah replied Here I am, send me!” God then warns that the people will not heed but that Isaiah should continue prophesying until the houses are deserted and nearly everyone has gone away”. 

In the year that King Uzziah died (about 740 BC?) the prophet Isaiah had a vision of the holiness of God in which he heard God’s call on his life: “I saw the Lord seated on his throne high and exalted… and the accompanying angels cried Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty… and the temple was filled with smoke… and Isaiah cried out Woe to me… I am a man of unclean lips… but then one of the seraphs touched his lips with an altar coal and purified him… then God asked whom shall I send?… and Isaiah replied Here I am, send me!” God then warns that the people will not heed but that Isaiah should continue prophesying until the houses are deserted and nearly everyone has gone away”. 

Now there comes a parable where God prepares a vineyard representing Israel/Judah with clear links to the branch of the Lord in chapter 4 where righteousness should be its product. However it only produced bad fruit which angered God. Chapter 5 starts talking about the planting of the vineyard which only yielded bad fruit bringing it in line for God’s destruction: “I will break down its wall and it will be trampled… and stop the rain… the vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house of Israel… woe to you that add house to house… the great houses will become desolate… and they will go into exile… and their men of rank will die of hunger… both low and high will be humbled… the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice… woe to those who call evil good and good evil… woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine… the Lord’s anger burns against his people… he lifts up a banner for the distant nations… their arrows are sharp… they roar like lions… in that day they will roar over it”.

Initially verse 1 of chapter 4 concludes what was said in chapter 3, continuing to show the breakdown in societal norms with 7 women per man. The shortage of men is probably due to war. Then Isaiah goes on to talk about “the Branch of the Lord” where branch or shoot is the newly created and sprouting Judah… and those left in Zion will be called holy… the Lord will cleanse the filth of Zion’s women… and God will place a cloud of smoke and a flaming fire over Zion.

Initially verse 1 of chapter 4 concludes what was said in chapter 3, continuing to show the breakdown in societal norms with 7 women per man. The shortage of men is probably due to war. Then Isaiah goes on to talk about “the Branch of the Lord” where branch or shoot is the newly created and sprouting Judah… and those left in Zion will be called holy… the Lord will cleanse the filth of Zion’s women… and God will place a cloud of smoke and a flaming fire over Zion.

 God decides to judge Judah for its rebellion by impeding supplies and causing organizational chaos: “I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them”. This will bring about societal breakdown with young fighting old and neighbours falling out. Then comes the condemnation of the women of Zion for their pride and vanity “flirting with their eyes… ornaments jingling on their ankles”. God says he will snatch away their finery of bangles, ear-rings, sashes, signet rings etc. “Instead of fragrance there will be stench, instead of well-dressed hair they will be bald… the gates of Zion will lament and mourn.”

 God decides to judge Judah for its rebellion by impeding supplies and causing organizational chaos: “I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them”. This will bring about societal breakdown with young fighting old and neighbours falling out. Then comes the condemnation of the women of Zion for their pride and vanity “flirting with their eyes… ornaments jingling on their ankles”. God says he will snatch away their finery of bangles, ear-rings, sashes, signet rings etc. “Instead of fragrance there will be stench, instead of well-dressed hair they will be bald… the gates of Zion will lament and mourn.”

I have completed my résumé of the 22nd book of the Bible which is the Song of Songs. This means I have done 57% of the chapters of the Bible with this very romantic and affectionate book. Now I move on to Isaiah. 

Liz and I had an important meeting with Pastor Umbirajara and his wife Conceição from João Pessoa discussing the work of the Lord. We have also had some long counselling sessions with different people. 

QPR lost at home to Swansea yesterday 2 x 1. 😓I will comment on England, Scotland and Brazil in the World Cup in June/July. What about a Brazil x England final!?

Last night I led a street meeting in the town of São Mamede, Deacon Dedé led the worship and Pastor Rafael preached the Gospel from John 21. The couple whose house we were in front of, José and Maricô, sang a duet. It was a nice service. 

It rained a further 5 mm at Green Pastures last night taking the annual total rainfall to 614.6 mm.

I have completed my résumé of the 22nd book of the Bible which is the Song of Songs. This means I have done 57% of the chapters of the Bible with this very romantic and affectionate book. Now I move on to Isaiah. 

Liz and I had an important meeting with Pastor Umbirajara and his wife Conceição from João Pessoa discussing the work of the Lord. We have also had some long counselling sessions with different people. 

QPR lost at home to Swansea yesterday 2 x 1. 😓I will comment on England, Scotland and Brazil in the World Cup in June/July. What about a Brazil x England final!?

Last night I led a street meeting in the town of São Mamede, Deacon Dedé led the worship and Pastor Rafael preached the Gospel from John 21. The couple whose house we were in front of, José and Maricô, sang a duet. It was a nice service. 

It rained a further 5 mm at Green Pastures last night taking the annual total rainfall to 614.6 mm.

Initially chapter 2 focuses on the mountain of the Lord to which all nations will stream. “The law will go out from Zion and the Lord will judge between the nations… and they will beat their swords into ploughshares… Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

Then God says, through Isaiah the prophet, that the day of the Lord will come to humble the lofty. He will condemn the superstitions, divinations and idols… the arrogance of man will be brought low on the day of the Lord… the idols will disappear and only the Lord will be exalted… men will flee to the rocks and hide in holes… and men will throw their idols to rodents and bats… stop trusting in man!

Isaiah is a major prophetic book written approximately between 737 BC and 681 BC. In chapters 1 to 39 the focus is on God’s impending judgement upon Israel, Judah and Jerusalem via Assyria and Babylon for their sins of idolatry, social injustice and illicit international alliances. Then in chapters 40 to 66 the focus changes to comfort and hope of return from exile plus extensive messianic texts involving the suffering servant and visions of a new heaven and new earth.

Chapter 1 commences charging Judah with rebellion and corruption. “They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him…. your country is desolate… your fields are being stripped by foreigners”. God refers to Israel as Sodom and Gomorrah and tells them “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me”. Their festivals, he says, have become a burden to me… even if you offer many prayers I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. Wash and make yourselves clean… Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” “Come now let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow… if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword… how the faithful city has become a harlot! Your choice wine has been diluted with water… your rulers are rebels… they don’t defend the cause of the fatherless… so I will turn my hand against you and purge you… and afterwards you will be called the city of righteousness… but you will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks… the mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no-one to quench the fire.”

The concluding chapter starts with the bride wishing she was the king’s sister so that she could always kiss him, bring him in-doors, give him spiced wine to drink and embrace. She then says: “Place me like a seal over your heart… for love is as strong as death… it burns like blazing fire… many waters cannot quench love!” Some friends then discuss the protection of a younger sister prior to marriage. The Shulammite then remarks about how she brings contentment to her husband, and he replies that he likes to hear her voice, before she calls him to come away with her like a gazelle or young stag.

It should be noted that in the first place this book gives God’s blessing upon human love and romanticism. However Song of Songs can also have an allegoric interpretation of Christ’s love for his people/church.

The concluding chapter starts with the bride wishing she was the king’s sister so that she could always kiss him, bring him in-doors, give him spiced wine to drink and embrace. She then says: “Place me like a seal over your heart… for love is as strong as death… it burns like blazing fire… many waters cannot quench love!” Some friends then discuss the protection of a younger sister prior to marriage. The Shulammite then remarks about how she brings contentment to her husband, and he replies that he likes to hear her voice, before she calls him to come away with her like a gazelle or young stag.

It should be noted that in the first place this book gives God’s blessing upon human love and romanticism. However Song of Songs can also have an allegoric interpretation of Christ’s love for his people/church.

Chapter 7 starts where the previous chapter left off with the kingly lover extolling his bride’s feet, legs, navel, waist, breasts, neck, eyes, nose, head and hair! Her legs are graceful, her navel is a rounded goblet and her breasts are like two fawns. How beautiful you are, he exclaims. Your breasts are like clusters of fruit, your breath has the fragrance of apples and your mouth is like the best wine. To this the Shulammite replies “I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me”, and invites him to spend the night with her in the villages and “there I will give you my love… both old and new I have stored up for you, my lover.”

Chapter 7 starts where the previous chapter left off with the kingly lover extolling his bride’s feet, legs, navel, waist, breasts, neck, eyes, nose, head and hair! Her legs are graceful, her navel is a rounded goblet and her breasts are like two fawns. How beautiful you are, he exclaims. Your breasts are like clusters of fruit, your breath has the fragrance of apples and your mouth is like the best wine. To this the Shulammite replies “I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me”, and invites him to spend the night with her in the villages and “there I will give you my love… both old and new I have stored up for you, my lover.”

I have concluded the writing of the résumé of the Book of Ecclesiastes and it started and finished saying that everything is meaningless like chasing the wind. Or as Bob Dylan sings, “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind”! This means I have concluded the first 21 books of the Bible which is 56% of its chapters. Now it’s on to the Song of Songs.

I took people home from the dentist’s at the Care Centre yesterday and saw 3 Burrowing Owls on the way. 

At Green Pastures it rained 7 mm yesterday.

I have concluded the writing of the résumé of the Book of Ecclesiastes and it started and finished saying that everything is meaningless like chasing the wind. Or as Bob Dylan sings, “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind”! This means I have concluded the first 21 books of the Bible which is 56% of its chapters. Now it’s on to the Song of Songs.

I took people home from the dentist’s at the Care Centre yesterday and saw 3 Burrowing Owls on the way. 

At Green Pastures it rained 7 mm yesterday.

 Chapter 6 starts with friends asking the Shulammite where her lover had gone? She answered that he had gone to care for his garden to gather lilies, but she assured them of the sureness of their relationship saying “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine”. The king returned saying “you are beautiful my darling and your eyes overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats and your teeth are like a flock of sheep. You are unique and better than 60 queens, 80 concubines and countless virgins. You are as fair as the moon, as bright as the sun and as majestic as the stars.”