Categoria: News

 Initially in Proverbs 7 the father exhorts the son to internalize his moral teachings writing them “on the tablet of your heart”. He says that then they will keep the immoral woman away from him. There then ensues the description of an encounter between a naive young man and a seductive immoral woman who seduced the man. “She took hold of him and kissed him… perfumed her bed… informs him that her husband is away on a long journey… and he went with her like an ox going to the slaughter and like a deer stepping into a noose!” So he warns his son to steer clear of such traps because “her house is a highway to the grave!”

Proverbs 6 brings more fatherly advice warning against folly such as guaranteeing others’ debts, being lazy, and further counselling against adultery. Solomon recommends the ant as a hard working example to combat the sluggard. Laziness produces poverty, he says, which will come on you like a bandit! He then lists 7 things to guard against which God detests: pride, lies, violence, sowing discord,  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that haste to evil, and bearing false witness. After this the writer returns as in the previous chapter to combat adultery and involvement with immoral women because a prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread! “Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched”? Therefore don’t play with fire! “A man who commits adultery lacks judgement, and whoever does so destroys himself… his shame will never be wiped away!”

Proverbs 5 is a severe warning against getting involved with sexual immorality and adultery. Says the writer that from the lips of an adulteress drip honey and she is a very smooth talker, but things end up very bitter cutting like a sword and ending in death and the grave. The writer exhorts his son to steer well clear of such women because if you follow such women you will groan at the end of your life. Drink water from your own cistern, he says! “May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth… may her breasts satisfy you always and may you ever be captivated by her love. Don’t get involved with another man’s wife because you will die for lack of discipline!”

 Proverbs 4 involves further fatherly advice to his sons extolling the supremacy of wisdom. The father recalls his own father’s advice: “Get wisdom and understanding… do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you… wisdom is supreme”! He goes on to say that his sons’ lives will be long if they live wisely. He then exhorts his sons to never walk in the ways of evil men… but the path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn… whereas the way of the wicked is like deep darkness. Wisdom is health to a man’s whole body. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life… look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you”!

The well-known chapter 3 of Proverbs is a father to son guide on how to live a life pleasing to God full of his wisdom. Wise living, says Solomon, comes when you “trust in the Lord with all your heart”. If you fear the Lord and shun evil “this will bring health to your body”. Another key to living in God’s blessing is to “honour the Lord with your wealth” and understand that divine discipline is in fact a demonstration of God’s love. Solomon then goes on to say that wisdom is invaluable and worth more than silver, gold or rubies, and it helps you live longer with riches and honour, and helps you sleep sweetly. He says that a wise man is generous, living in integrity and peace. He concludes his fatherly advice showing that God blesses the home of the righteous but curses the house of the wicked.

The well-known chapter 3 of Proverbs is a father to son guide on how to live a life pleasing to God full of his wisdom. Wise living, says Solomon, comes when you “trust in the Lord with all your heart”. If you fear the Lord and shun evil “this will bring health to your body”. Another key to living in God’s blessing is to “honour the Lord with your wealth” and understand that divine discipline is in fact a demonstration of God’s love. Solomon then goes on to say that wisdom is invaluable and worth more than silver, gold or rubies, and it helps you live longer with riches and honour, and helps you sleep sweetly. He says that a wise man is generous, living in integrity and peace. He concludes his fatherly advice showing that God blesses the home of the righteous but curses the house of the wicked.

 After our fellowship breakfast and morning service singing ‘Up from the grave he arose’ we had a wonderful communion service last night which I led and at which Pastor Rafael preached on the resurrection which shows: God is not dead, God’s Word is not dead, Our Hope is not dead! (Luke 24:1-12). It was an excellent message. Our drama group did a 10-minute presentation about the resurrected Lord which was good too. The praise and worship led by Sacha and Louisa was great as well. Jesus is alive! 🙌🙏😀

It rained 6 mm at Green Pastures yesterday bringing this year’s total rainfall to 548.6 mm.

Proverbs 2 starts with a father challenging his son to seek wisdom above all else so that you “find the knowledge of God.” Solomon then states that wisdom, knowledge and understanding are God-given, and that God guarantees victory for the upright in heart, and God “is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.” Solomon then says that when wisdom enters your heart it provides protection against “the ways of wicked men… and from men whose words are perverse.” It will also protect you from the adulteress and the wayward wife. So Solomon concludes that “the upright will live in the land” whereas “the wicked will be cut off from the land”. 

Yesterday I finished reading another book, given to me by granddaughter Louisa a long time ago. It was ‘The Murder Game’ by Tom Hindle. It was alright and had some good twists, but two-thirds through it was a bit boring.

Yesterday I gave a lift back into Patos from Green Pastures to our grandson and architect Felipe and his partner of the same profession Vivi. What a lovely couple they are and what excellent architects they are. We had a lovely chat along the way.

We have just got home from our Easter Sunday fellowship breakfast followed by a short service which I led and spoke at. It was a lovely morning.

Yesterday I finished reading another book, given to me by granddaughter Louisa a long time ago. It was ‘The Murder Game’ by Tom Hindle. It was alright and had some good twists, but two-thirds through it was a bit boring.

Yesterday I gave a lift back into Patos from Green Pastures to our grandson and architect Felipe and his partner of the same profession Vivi. What a lovely couple they are and what excellent architects they are. We had a lovely chat along the way.

We have just got home from our Easter Sunday fellowship breakfast followed by a short service which I led and spoke at. It was a lovely morning.

Yesterday I finished reading another book, given to me by granddaughter Louisa a long time ago. It was ‘The Murder Game’ by Tom Hindle. It was alright and had some good twists, but two-thirds through it was a bit boring.

Yesterday I gave a lift back into Patos from Green Pastures to our grandson and architect Felipe and his partner of the same profession Vivi. What a lovely couple they are and what excellent architects they are. We had a lovely chat along the way.

We have just got home from our Easter Sunday fellowship breakfast followed by a short service which I led and spoke at. It was a lovely morning.

To listen to a duet of the rust-red Caatinga Cacholotes was a beautiful thing this morning. The couples sing rounds together. They are crested and long-tailed about the size of a Blackbird or just a bit bigger. Another sound wonderful to hear is that of the White-naped Jay cornering a snake. A group of Jays gather round the snake with all of them, squawking their alarm call, which can be heard far away. I have photographed many a snake thanks to the Jays! I also heard today the Rufous-bellied Thrush, Cactus Parakeet, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Greater Ani, Dark-billed Cuckoo and the Campo Troupial. I also saw a wild Guinea Pig.

QPR moved up to 10th place in the Championship with a 2 x 1 win at home to Watford which is their third win on the run! 😃

Yesterday I finished reading my book ‘The Bloomsbury Murder’ by Mike Hollow which my sister sent me in January for my birthday. It was an excellent read! I have known Mike since he was with us in Brazil with Tearfund back in the nineties and he is the top writer of the ‘Blitz Detective’ series of which I have read all 10 books and which I highly recommend. Mike speaks Russian and French (Cambridge University), but writes in English, and used to work for the BBC before Tearfund.

We are on our short Easter break at Green Pastures and it was wonderful yesterday afternoon having a siesta in the middle of torrential rain with tremendous thunder and lightening.

Yesterday it rained 28 mm at Green Pastures so things are gradually improving.

I had a relaxing day yesterday beating my granddaughter Louisa’s husband Tiago at chess twice and reading ‘The Bloomsbury Murder’ by Mike Hollow which I should finish today.

This Good Friday is our 59th anniversary of Liz and I going out together! 😘😍

We are on our short Easter break at Green Pastures and it was wonderful yesterday afternoon having a siesta in the middle of torrential rain with tremendous thunder and lightening.

Yesterday it rained 28 mm at Green Pastures so things are gradually improving.

I had a relaxing day yesterday beating my granddaughter Louisa’s husband Tiago at chess twice and reading ‘The Bloomsbury Murder’ by Mike Hollow which I should finish today.

This Good Friday is our 59th anniversary of Liz and I going out together! 😘😍

Yesterday I again did without my siesta, as I did on Monday, so as to make further progress with my résumé of the Bible, and I managed to complete the big book of Psalms. This means I have finished 53% of the Bible which are the first 19 books of the Old Testament covering 628 chapters out of a total of 1,189 in the protestant Bible. I am very pleased with the speed I am maintaining with this work which started on the 23rd of September 2024. Hence I did the first half of the Bible in a year and a half on top of everything else I have on. If I can keep up this pace I should be able to complete the whole Bible by the end of next year. All this work is being published on the EAB website to be readily available for all our pastors and anyone else interested.

We will be having a short Easter break over the next few days as we do every year. We value your prayers. 😎

Yesterday it rained 26 mm at Green Pastures taking this year’s total rainfall up to 511.6 mm.

Yesterday I again did without my siesta, as I did on Monday, so as to make further progress with my résumé of the Bible, and I managed to complete the big book of Psalms. This means I have finished 53% of the Bible which are the first 19 books of the Old Testament covering 628 chapters out of a total of 1,189 in the protestant Bible. I am very pleased with the speed I am maintaining with this work which started on the 23rd of September 2024. Hence I did the first half of the Bible in a year and a half on top of everything else I have on. If I can keep up this pace I should be able to complete the whole Bible by the end of next year. All this work is being published on the EAB website to be readily available for all our pastors and anyone else interested.

We will be having a short Easter break over the next few days as we do every year. We value your prayers. 😎

Yesterday it rained 26 mm at Green Pastures taking this year’s total rainfall up to 511.6 mm.

The book of Proverbs is attributed to King Solomon and is a wisdom book which offers short pithy instructions for Godly pious living. This book emphasizes that true wisdom begin with the fear of the Lord which is a reverent trust in God with total commitment to him.

Proverbs chapter 1 is the introduction to this 31-chapter book and right at the beginning lays out the key premise of the text which is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge and discipline. Then the text goes on to show father to son advice against keeping bad company with those who offer easy illicit gain or acts of violence. Then comes a warning against rejecting wisdom where wisdom is personified as a woman as happens continually in this book. Here wisdom personified as a woman “raises her voice in the public square”  promising safety, blessing and peace to those who heed her advice. But for those who do not heed “the complacency of fools will destroy them. However whoever listens to wisdom will live in safety, be at ease, without fear of harm.”

This is the final doxology of the book of Psalms calling everything that has breath to praise the Lord! Praise him for his greatness and acts of power! Praise him with multiple musical instruments such as trumpet, flute, strings, tambourine, harp, lyre and cymbals and with plenty of dancing! Praise the Lord!

This is the final doxology of the book of Psalms calling everything that has breath to praise the Lord! Praise him for his greatness and acts of power! Praise him with multiple musical instruments such as trumpet, flute, strings, tambourine, harp, lyre and cymbals and with plenty of dancing! Praise the Lord!

Psalm 149 is a vibrant song of praise exhorting Israel to rejoice in their maker and be glad in their king. The psalmist calls them to praise God with dance and music because he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice and sing for joy in bed! May they also hold a double-edged sword in their hands to inflict vengeance on the nations. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 148 is the third of the final 5 hallelujah / praise the Lord psalms that bring this book to a close. It is a song of jubilant universal praise from the highest heaven to the lowest place for God the creator. Thus the psalmist exhorts: “Praise the Lord from the heavens… angels… sun, moon and stars… for God commanded and they were created… he set them in place for ever… praise the Lord great sea creatures, lightening, hail, snow and clouds… mountains, hills, trees, wild animals, cattle, kings, princes, birds… everything praise the Lord!”

Psalm 148 is the third of the final 5 hallelujah / praise the Lord psalms that bring this book to a close. It is a song of jubilant universal praise from the highest heaven to the lowest place for God the creator. Thus the psalmist exhorts: “Praise the Lord from the heavens… angels… sun, moon and stars… for God commanded and they were created… he set them in place for ever… praise the Lord great sea creatures, lightening, hail, snow and clouds… mountains, hills, trees, wild animals, cattle, kings, princes, birds… everything praise the Lord!”

Psalm 147 is a song of praise to both God as mighty creator (“He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name!”) and as the gentle healer comforting brokenhearted exiles (“the Lord sustains the humble”). He says “Great is our Lord and mighty in power… sing to the Lord with thanksgiving… he supplies the earth with rain… he provides food for the cattle… the Lord delights in those that fear him… praise your God O Zion… he spreads the snow like wool… He has revealed his word to Jacob and his laws and decrees to Israel!”

Psalm 146 is a poetical hymn of praise to God starting “Praise the Lord, O my soul!… don’t trust in mortal men but trust in God!… Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob… who is the maker of heaven and earth… he upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry… the Lord watches over the alien and reigns forever!”

Psalm 145 is the last of David’s psalms and it is an exuberant celebration of God’s greatness (“his greatness no-one can fathom”), his sovereign kingdom (“they will tell of the glory of your kingdom”) and his kind spirit (“the Lord is loving towards all he has made”). David starts saying “I will exalt you, my God and King… Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise… celebrate your abundant goodness… the Lord is good to all… your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom… the Lord upholds all those who fall… you satisfy the desires of every living thing… the Lord is near to all who call on him… my mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever!”

David, in this psalm, is suffering intense persecution (“the enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground”) and strong depression (“my spirit faints with longing… I will be like those who go down to the pit”). David therefore cries for help from God (“listen to my cry for mercy”) and pleas for mercy. David recalls all that God has done in the past and his soul thirsts for God. So he asks God to teach him to do his will and he trusts God to destroy his foes.

 Psalm 142 was written by David in the context of being hidden in a cave from Saul expressing his loneliness (“no-one cares for my life”), desperation (“I am in desperate need”) and danger (“men have hidden a snare for me”). He cries to God “set me free from my prison that I may praise your name.”

This psalm of David is a sincere prayer asking God to help him control his tongue (“set a guard over my mouth, O Lord”) and to help him to resist temptation (“Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil”). David then expresses that being corrected by a righteous man is a kindness (let him rebuke me – it is oil on my head”) and he concludes saying that he takes refuge in the Lord asking God to keep him free from the traps of evildoers. 

In Psalm 140 David asks God for protection and to be rescued from evil men who plan to trip him and set traps for him. David goes on to pray for God to “not let their plans succeed”. David recalls that “the Lord secures justice for the poor” saying that “surely the righteous will praise you name and the upright will live before you”. 

Psalm 139 is a Davidic meditation on the omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence of God. First of all David considers how God knows what we are going to say before we say it. (“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely”) Then he focuses on God’s all invasive presence and that no matter where we go God is already there. Then David points to God’s amazing work in creating man who is “fearfully and wonderfully made”, and he says that “all the days ordained for me” were  pre-written in God’s book. David closes the psalm praying for sanctification and holiness saying “search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know me”.