Categoria: News

Sunday night’s service was a ‘Friends Service’ when the church members were encouraged to bring a friend to church. 32 friends came in a wonderful night of evangelism at which our daughter Sacha preached a lovely message entitled: ‘Jesus – the friend for all circumstances.’ One decision was made for Christ at the end of the service.

In the election run-offs Brazil’s largest city São Paulo re-elected their right-wing Mayor Nunes and in the capital of our state, Joao Pessoa, the incumbent Mayor Cícero Lucena was also re-elected. 

In edition #102 of EAB’s InTouch magazine the cover photo I took of an elder sister Ana Sophia caring for her baby sister Ana Cecília is a lovely shot. You will soon receive it in the post, but it’s already available on the EAB website at www.eabrazil.org

I had various online meetings with pastors today discussing a variety of subjects. Your prayers are valued for this constant important aspect of my work.

Sunday night’s service was a ‘Friends Service’ when the church members were encouraged to bring a friend to church. 32 friends came in a wonderful night of evangelism at which our daughter Sacha preached a lovely message entitled: ‘Jesus – the friend for all circumstances.’ One decision was made for Christ at the end of the service.

In the election run-offs Brazil’s largest city São Paulo re-elected their right-wing Mayor Nunes and in the capital of our state, Joao Pessoa, the incumbent Mayor Cícero Lucena was also re-elected. 

In edition #102 of EAB’s InTouch magazine the cover photo I took of an elder sister Ana Sophia caring for her baby sister Ana Cecília is a lovely shot. You will soon receive it in the post, but it’s already available on the EAB website at www.eabrazil.org

I had various online meetings with pastors today discussing a variety of subjects. Your prayers are valued for this constant important aspect of my work.

God told 80-year-old Moses and his 83-year-old brother Aaron to go and tell Pharoah everything he told them to say, with Aaron as the spokesman because Moses always said he couldn’t do the speaking because he had faltering lips. (It makes me wonder if Moses was not just scared, but perhaps had some sort of speech impediment?) God said however that stubborn and perverse Pharoah would not budge and that God would even harden his heart further. “In no way does God force Pharoah to act against his own will. To the contrary, he gives Pharoah the courage to obstinately resist and stick to his original plan.” (R.C.Sproul) When Moses and Aaron asked for the release of the Israelites from Pharoah he asked for a miracle in order to back up their request, so they threw a staff on the floor and it became a snake. However Pharoah’s sorcerers and magicians did the same thing before Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Despite this Pharoah continued to reject their request. So God commenced sending a sequence of plagues upon Egypt and firstly turned the Nile into blood killing all the fish in it making it undrinkable, but the Egyptian magicians managed to imitate the plague as Pharoah totally rejected the appeal for freedom. 

God told 80-year-old Moses and his 83-year-old brother Aaron to go and tell Pharoah everything he told them to say, with Aaron as the spokesman because Moses always said he couldn’t do the speaking because he had faltering lips. (It makes me wonder if Moses was not just scared, but perhaps had some sort of speech impediment?) God said however that stubborn and perverse Pharoah would not budge and that God would even harden his heart further. “In no way does God force Pharoah to act against his own will. To the contrary, he gives Pharoah the courage to obstinately resist and stick to his original plan.” (R.C.Sproul) When Moses and Aaron asked for the release of the Israelites from Pharoah he asked for a miracle in order to back up their request, so they threw a staff on the floor and it became a snake. However Pharoah’s sorcerers and magicians did the same thing before Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Despite this Pharoah continued to reject their request. So God commenced sending a sequence of plagues upon Egypt and firstly turned the Nile into blood killing all the fish in it making it undrinkable, but the Egyptian magicians managed to imitate the plague as Pharoah totally rejected the appeal for freedom. 

The Lord said to Moses that now he would see what he would do to make Pharoah set the Israelites free. God emphasized that he had not forgotten his covenant with them and told Moses to tell them that he was going to deliver them from the yoke of the Egyptians and take them to Canaan as he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However the Israelites would not listen as they were in a very low state. So God told Moses to go and tell to Pharoah to free the Israelites, but Moses retorted that if the Israelites wouldn’t listen to him the chances of Pharoah listening were a lot less! There then comes a genealogical insertion into the narrative which has the purpose of focusing on the lineage of Moses and Aaron and the steadily unfolding plan of God. “All through the Egyptian bondage, God was quietly and unobtrusively at work so that when the moment of deliverance came His instruments of deliverance were there to meet it.” (H.R.Jones) 

The Lord said to Moses that now he would see what he would do to make Pharoah set the Israelites free. God emphasized that he had not forgotten his covenant with them and told Moses to tell them that he was going to deliver them from the yoke of the Egyptians and take them to Canaan as he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However the Israelites would not listen as they were in a very low state. So God told Moses to go and tell to Pharoah to free the Israelites, but Moses retorted that if the Israelites wouldn’t listen to him the chances of Pharoah listening were a lot less! There then comes a genealogical insertion into the narrative which has the purpose of focusing on the lineage of Moses and Aaron and the steadily unfolding plan of God. “All through the Egyptian bondage, God was quietly and unobtrusively at work so that when the moment of deliverance came His instruments of deliverance were there to meet it.” (H.R.Jones) 

I went to Green Pastures and saw the following birds: Caatinga Cacholote, Eared Dove, Picui Ground Dove, Burrowing Owl and Southern Wren. Everything is scorched dry as we haven’t had rain for months now and the heat is increasing by the month as Christmas approaches. The coldest winter time in the UK is the hottest time in north-east Brazil.

Being on the BBC’s Global Minds panel it was interesting to see that in their latest survey on arts and culture one of the videos they sent didn’t work, which made it impossible to complete the survey. Even the BBC get bugs in their systems! They have now apologized and fixed it, so I have now answered it.

The mining giants BHP and Vale have signed a deal with the Brazilian government to pay nearly $30bn (£23bn) in compensation for the Mariana dam collapse in 2015 that caused the country’s worst environmental disaster. Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva attended the signing of the deal on Friday. The dam collapse released toxic waste and mud, which flooded nearby towns, rivers and forests. It killed 19 people, left hundreds of others homeless, and poisoned the river.

Britishers are famous for their tea drinking and I was wondering how much tea you drink a day? I drink 4 mugs of tea in the morning, 1 in the afternoon and 1 in the evening which is at least 1.5 litres of tea per day!

Yesterday QPR managed an heroic 0 x 0 draw at Burnley which is next to top in the Championship.

Last night we were involved in a head-on collision on our way to preach at our Teixeira church’s 59th anniversary service up in the mountains. I still managed to preach despite us being pretty shaken up. A drunken driver suddenly veered off his side of the road and smashed straight into us leaving our car a mess. A police car was soon on the scene. The drunken driver had no driving license and the vehicle was not taxed! He was taken to the police station and his vehicle was impounded. A recovery lorry came and got our car bringing it back to Patos for repairs, and our son-in-law Hutan came and got us after the service. We are grateful to God that we were not injured in the accident.

The latest edition #102 of EAB’s magazine is now available online at www.eabrazil.org. The hard copies on paper will be with everyone by post in the near future.

I went to Green Pastures and saw the following birds: Caatinga Cacholote, Eared Dove, Picui Ground Dove, Burrowing Owl and Southern Wren. Everything is scorched dry as we haven’t had rain for months now and the heat is increasing by the month as Christmas approaches. The coldest winter time in the UK is the hottest time in north-east Brazil.

Being on the BBC’s Global Minds panel it was interesting to see that in their latest survey on arts and culture one of the videos they sent didn’t work, which made it impossible to complete the survey. Even the BBC get bugs in their systems! They have now apologized and fixed it, so I have now answered it.

The mining giants BHP and Vale have signed a deal with the Brazilian government to pay nearly $30bn (£23bn) in compensation for the Mariana dam collapse in 2015 that caused the country’s worst environmental disaster. Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva attended the signing of the deal on Friday. The dam collapse released toxic waste and mud, which flooded nearby towns, rivers and forests. It killed 19 people, left hundreds of others homeless, and poisoned the river.

Britishers are famous for their tea drinking and I was wondering how much tea you drink a day? I drink 4 mugs of tea in the morning, 1 in the afternoon and 1 in the evening which is at least 1.5 litres of tea per day!

Yesterday QPR managed an heroic 0 x 0 draw at Burnley which is next to top in the Championship.

Last night we were involved in a head-on collision on our way to preach at our Teixeira church’s 59th anniversary service up in the mountains. I still managed to preach despite us being pretty shaken up. A drunken driver suddenly veered off his side of the road and smashed straight into us leaving our car a mess. A police car was soon on the scene. The drunken driver had no driving license and the vehicle was not taxed! He was taken to the police station and his vehicle was impounded. A recovery lorry came and got our car bringing it back to Patos for repairs, and our son-in-law Hutan came and got us after the service. We are grateful to God that we were not injured in the accident.

The latest edition #102 of EAB’s magazine is now available online at www.eabrazil.org. The hard copies on paper will be with everyone by post in the near future.

Moses and Aaron went and asked Pharoah to allow the Israelites to go and hold a festival for God in the desert, but Pharoah refused and told them to get on with their work. Pharoah was annoyed by their insistence and so increased their workload by no longer supplying the chopped straw used in mud brick making. The Israelites were forced to find their own straw whilst maintaining their daily production levels. Israelite work foremen were beaten by the Egyptian slave drivers for not maintaining their daily quotas. When the foremen complained to Pharoah he just hit back by calling them lazy. So the foremen said to Moses and Aaron that they had only made things worse, and Moses passed the complaint on to God.

Moses and Aaron went and asked Pharoah to allow the Israelites to go and hold a festival for God in the desert, but Pharoah refused and told them to get on with their work. Pharoah was annoyed by their insistence and so increased their workload by no longer supplying the chopped straw used in mud brick making. The Israelites were forced to find their own straw whilst maintaining their daily production levels. Israelite work foremen were beaten by the Egyptian slave drivers for not maintaining their daily quotas. When the foremen complained to Pharoah he just hit back by calling them lazy. So the foremen said to Moses and Aaron that they had only made things worse, and Moses passed the complaint on to God.

Moses further questioned God as to what if the people didn’t believe him or listen to him, so God gave him some signs to encourage faith. God told Moses to throw his staff on the ground and it became a snake, but when he picked it up it became a staff again. So too God made Moses’s hand leprous and then restored it just by putting it inside his cloak. Hence Moses was to show these signs to the Hebrews to reinforce his credibility. However, Moses still placed obstacles before God saying he wasn’t eloquent enough for the task, but God said he would help Moses speak. Yet still Moses resisted, asking God to send someone else, which infuriated God who said he would make Moses’s brother Aaron his spokesman. Moses therefore went with his wife and children in the direction of Egypt and warned Moses that Pharoah would stubbornly resisted letting the Israelites go. On the way there was an incident because one of Moses’s son’s had not been circumcised. His mother placated the wrath of God by quickly circumcising him so that Moses’s life was spared. Aaron joined Moses, they did the signs before the people and told them of God’s concern about their situation  

Moses further questioned God as to what if the people didn’t believe him or listen to him, so God gave him some signs to encourage faith. God told Moses to throw his staff on the ground and it became a snake, but when he picked it up it became a staff again. So too God made Moses’s hand leprous and then restored it just by putting it inside his cloak. Hence Moses was to show these signs to the Hebrews to reinforce his credibility. However, Moses still placed obstacles before God saying he wasn’t eloquent enough for the task, but God said he would help Moses speak. Yet still Moses resisted, asking God to send someone else, which infuriated God who said he would make Moses’s brother Aaron his spokesman. Moses therefore went with his wife and children in the direction of Egypt and warned Moses that Pharoah would stubbornly resisted letting the Israelites go. On the way there was an incident because one of Moses’s son’s had not been circumcised. His mother placated the wrath of God by quickly circumcising him so that Moses’s life was spared. Aaron joined Moses, they did the signs before the people and told them of God’s concern about their situation  

Moses further questioned God as to what if the people didn’t believe him or listen to him, so God gave him some signs to encourage faith. God told Moses to throw his staff on the ground and it became a snake, but when he picked it up it became a staff again. So too God made Moses’s hand leprous and then restored it just by putting it inside his cloak. Hence Moses was to show these signs to the Hebrews to reinforce his credibility. However, Moses still placed obstacles before God saying he wasn’t eloquent enough for the task, but God said he would help Moses speak. Yet still Moses resisted, asking God to send someone else, which infuriated God who said he would make Moses’s brother Aaron his spokesman. Moses therefore went with his wife and children in the direction of Egypt and warned Moses that Pharoah would stubbornly resisted letting the Israelites go. On the way there was an incident because one of Moses’s son’s had not been circumcised. His mother placated the wrath of God by quickly circumcising him so that Moses’s life was spared. Aaron joined Moses, they did the signs before the people and told them of God’s concern about their situation  

Moses went to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, and he saw the angel of the Lord in a burning bush which did not burn up. When Moses got nearer God spoke to him telling him to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. God identified himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so Moses hid his face. God said that he had seen the suffering of his people in slavery and had come down to rescue them and take them to Canaan which was flowing with milk and honey. And God told Moses that he was sending him to Pharoah so as to bring his people out of Egypt. Moses reacted saying “who am I” to do this? God guaranteed that he would be with Moses and that once delivered the people would come and worship on Mount Horeb. Moses also asked God’s name so as to be in a position to answer the Israelites’ possible question about this, and God told him to say that I AM had sent him. So, God told Moses to go and assemble the elders of Israel and tell them that God would set them free and take them to a land flowing with milk and honey. Then with the elders Moses should go and request from Pharoah permission for the Israelites to go on a 3-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord. However, God knew that Pharoah would not agree and that he would need to strike the Egyptians with many things in order that he be willing to set the Israelites free. Nevertheless, God said her would work on the Egyptians so that they would be disposed to give them silver and gold objects prior to their deliverance.   

Moses went to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, and he saw the angel of the Lord in a burning bush which did not burn up. When Moses got nearer God spoke to him telling him to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. God identified himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so Moses hid his face. God said that he had seen the suffering of his people in slavery and had come down to rescue them and take them to Canaan which was flowing with milk and honey. And God told Moses that he was sending him to Pharoah so as to bring his people out of Egypt. Moses reacted saying “who am I” to do this? God guaranteed that he would be with Moses and that once delivered the people would come and worship on Mount Horeb. Moses also asked God’s name so as to be in a position to answer the Israelites’ possible question about this, and God told him to say that I AM had sent him. So, God told Moses to go and assemble the elders of Israel and tell them that God would set them free and take them to a land flowing with milk and honey. Then with the elders Moses should go and request from Pharoah permission for the Israelites to go on a 3-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord. However, God knew that Pharoah would not agree and that he would need to strike the Egyptians with many things in order that he be willing to set the Israelites free. Nevertheless, God said her would work on the Egyptians so that they would be disposed to give them silver and gold objects prior to their deliverance.   

Moses went to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, and he saw the angel of the Lord in a burning bush which did not burn up. When Moses got nearer God spoke to him telling him to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. God identified himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so Moses hid his face. God said that he had seen the suffering of his people in slavery and had come down to rescue them and take them to Canaan which was flowing with milk and honey. And God told Moses that he was sending him to Pharoah so as to bring his people out of Egypt. Moses reacted saying “who am I” to do this? God guaranteed that he would be with Moses and that once delivered the people would come and worship on Mount Horeb. Moses also asked God’s name so as to be in a position to answer the Israelites’ possible question about this, and God told him to say that I AM had sent him. So, God told Moses to go and assemble the elders of Israel and tell them that God would set them free and take them to a land flowing with milk and honey. Then with the elders Moses should go and request from Pharoah permission for the Israelites to go on a 3-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord. However, God knew that Pharoah would not agree and that he would need to strike the Egyptians with many things in order that he be willing to set the Israelites free. Nevertheless, God said her would work on the Egyptians so that they would be disposed to give them silver and gold objects prior to their deliverance.   

Patos celebrated yesterday its 121st anniversary as an independent political entity or municipality. Brazil is divided into 5,570 municipalities which are themselves divided into 26 states (our state is called Paraiba) plus one federal district where the national capital Brasilia is. The states are divided into five regions: South, Southeast, North, Northeast (where we are!) and Central West. To celebrate our municipal anniversary it was a local holiday yesterday.

Brazilian President Lula did not go to the BRICS conference in Russia because he slipped in his bathroom, whilst cutting his toe nails, and cut his head open needing stitches!

QPR actually managed to play a match this week and not lose! They drew 1 x 1 at home to Coventry and moved off the league’s bottom spot to 23rd out of 24! Amazing! 😂

Patos celebrated yesterday its 121st anniversary as an independent political entity or municipality. Brazil is divided into 5,570 municipalities which are themselves divided into 26 states (our state is called Paraiba) plus one federal district where the national capital Brasilia is. The states are divided into five regions: South, Southeast, North, Northeast (where we are!) and Central West. To celebrate our municipal anniversary it was a local holiday yesterday.

Brazilian President Lula did not go to the BRICS conference in Russia because he slipped in his bathroom, whilst cutting his toe nails, and cut his head open needing stitches!

QPR actually managed to play a match this week and not lose! They drew 1 x 1 at home to Coventry and moved off the league’s bottom spot to 23rd out of 24! Amazing! 😂

Two Levites married and when they had a son the mother hid him for 3 months to avoid the Pharaonic death decree. When she could hide him no longer she put him in a floating basket amongst the reeds of the Nile. (She had almost obeyed Pharoah’s decree to throw baby boys into the river!) One of Pharoah’s daughters saw the basket and felt sorry for the baby crying. The baby’s sister stepped in and offered Pharoah’s daughter to get a Hebrew nanny (the baby’s mother!) to care for the baby. When the child grew older he was taken to Pharoah’s daughter to be her son and she named him Moses. One day after Moses had grown up he went and observed how his Hebrew people endured hard labour and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew so he intervened and killed the Egyptian. When this came to the ears of Pharoah he wanted to kill Moses so Moses fled to Midian. There a priest called Jethro had 7 daughters who came to a well, where Moses was, to water their flock and he helped them with their task. When their father learnt of Moses’s kindness he invited him to eat and stay with them and he ended up giving his daughter Zipporah in marriage to Moses, and they had a son whom they named Gershom. Considerable time later the king of Egypt died but the Israelites continued to groan in their slavery and their cry for help went up to God. God heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and was concerned about the Hebrews.     

There were 70 descendants of Jacob when the Israelites entered Egypt but as time went by they multiplied a great deal. One day a new Pharoah, who didn’t know about Joseph, came to power and he became very wary of the size of the Israelite population which he viewed as a potential danger. So the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites and forced them into slavery, but still they kept growing in numbers. Therefore the king of Egypt ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the boys being born and only let the girls live, but they feared God too much to do such a thing. When Pharoah realized his order wasn’t being obeyed he questioned the midwives who told him the babies were being born before their arrival. Hence the Hebrew population just kept growing fast so that Pharoah made a decree saying that all mothers must throw new born boys into the river! 

There were 70 descendants of Jacob when the Israelites entered Egypt but as time went by they multiplied a great deal. One day a new Pharoah, who didn’t know about Joseph, came to power and he became very wary of the size of the Israelite population which he viewed as a potential danger. So the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites and forced them into slavery, but still they kept growing in numbers. Therefore the king of Egypt ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the boys being born and only let the girls live, but they feared God too much to do such a thing. When Pharoah realized his order wasn’t being obeyed he questioned the midwives who told him the babies were being born before their arrival. Hence the Hebrew population just kept growing fast so that Pharoah made a decree saying that all mothers must throw new born boys into the river! 

Having written the résumés of the 50 chapters of Genesis the whole story reminds me of so many stories I heard from my Sunday School teachers at Peniel Chapel as a child. Creation, the Fall, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, the Ark and the Flood, the Tower of Babel, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sodom and Gomorrah, Jacob wrestles with God, Laban, Lot, Esau and Joseph. Women receive a lot less attention in Genesis than the men but there are Sarah, Hagar, Leah, Rachel, Lot’s wife, Rebekah, Dinah and Tamar which stick in my mind. It has been a joy re-travelling through the book of Genesis.

One particular story sticks in my mind linked to Lot’s wife when I was 6-years-old. My mother was in the maternity hospital giving birth to my younger sister Joy and my elder sister Jean and I were being looked after by a sister from the church called Mrs. Hurst. One day our budgerigar said: “Remember Lot’s wife!” and Mrs. Hurst thought at first that it was God speaking to her! 😂

Upon his father’s death Joseph threw himself upon him, wept and kissed him. Then he directed the doctors to commence the 40-day embalming process and the Egyptians mourned for 70 days. After this Joseph communicated his father’s wish to be buried in the land of Canaan to Pharoah which he supported. So Joseph departed accompanied by all the dignitaries of Egypt, all his household and his brothers. This very large crowd travelled together with chariots and horsemen and when they arrived near the River Jordan they observed a further 7 days of mourning. Then they proceeded to the family ancestral burial cave in Canaan where they buried Jacob before all returning to Egypt. However Joseph’s brothers feared retribution for their evil acts of the past from Joseph now that their father was dead and buried but Joseph reassured them that this would not happen. Joseph and all the family remained in Egypt where Joseph died and was buried at the age of 110.  

The Brazilian government has announced that it is to revive the railway system by recovering the 11.1 thousand kilometres out of action which is 36% of the total rail network. This is an excellent move which I have long advocated as the overloaded roads need an alternative.

Yesterday a person came up to Liz in the middle of her work and asked: “What must I do to be saved?” Liz led him to the Lord on the spot.

We had a good meeting of our senior leaders lasting just over an hour discussing the future church leadership of our central church at Princesa Isabel and the purchase of some land to build a church at Ipueira in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

Last night I travelled to the town of São Mamede where I preached on the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis 4 about our offering of worship to God. A good number was present to hear the Gospel and the service was rich in participations and praise.

The Brazilian government has announced that it is to revive the railway system by recovering the 11.1 thousand kilometres out of action which is 36% of the total rail network. This is an excellent move which I have long advocated as the overloaded roads need an alternative.

Yesterday a person came up to Liz in the middle of her work and asked: “What must I do to be saved?” Liz led him to the Lord on the spot.

We had a good meeting of our senior leaders lasting just over an hour discussing the future church leadership of our central church at Princesa Isabel and the purchase of some land to build a church at Ipueira in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

Last night I travelled to the town of São Mamede where I preached on the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis 4 about our offering of worship to God. A good number was present to hear the Gospel and the service was rich in participations and praise.

Jacob called all his sons around him to speak to them prophetic blessing as he was about to depart this life. First he spoke to his firstborn Reuben who excelled in honour and power but whose tribe will no longer excel because of his sin in Genesis 35:22. Next he spoke to Simeon and Levi who were two of a kind. They were cursed by Jacob for their violent vendetta of Genesis 34. Then came the lion of the tribes, Judah, “whose blessing in length and eloquence is only matched by that of Joseph, which it far outdistances in its range of prophecy. It is a miniature of the biblical scheme of history.” (Kidner) It predicts leadership of the nations for Judah, and involves the exuberant abundance of the golden age of the Coming One. Jacob then blessed Zebulun, Issachar and Dan with brief comments. Dan’s call was to judge, but his choice as a tribe was violence and treachery as in Judges 18. This was followed by brief words to Gad, Asher and Naphtali before launching in to eloquent words to Joseph, remembering his past tribulations but focusing on his victories through trust in God.  Thus copious blessings are called down upon Joseph for the future. Then came the final brief blessing for Benjamin. Jacob then reminded the family that he wanted to be buried in the ancestral burial cave near Mamre in Canaan and then he breathed his last.

Jacob called all his sons around him to speak to them prophetic blessing as he was about to depart this life. First he spoke to his firstborn Reuben who excelled in honour and power but whose tribe will no longer excel because of his sin in Genesis 35:22. Next he spoke to Simeon and Levi who were two of a kind. They were cursed by Jacob for their violent vendetta of Genesis 34. Then came the lion of the tribes, Judah, “whose blessing in length and eloquence is only matched by that of Joseph, which it far outdistances in its range of prophecy. It is a miniature of the biblical scheme of history.” (Kidner) It predicts leadership of the nations for Judah, and involves the exuberant abundance of the golden age of the Coming One. Jacob then blessed Zebulun, Issachar and Dan with brief comments. Dan’s call was to judge, but his choice as a tribe was violence and treachery as in Judges 18. This was followed by brief words to Gad, Asher and Naphtali before launching in to eloquent words to Joseph, remembering his past tribulations but focusing on his victories through trust in God.  Thus copious blessings are called down upon Joseph for the future. Then came the final brief blessing for Benjamin. Jacob then reminded the family that he wanted to be buried in the ancestral burial cave near Mamre in Canaan and then he breathed his last.

Jacob became ill as he approached death so Joseph took his 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim to see him. Jacob recalled God’s blessing given to him at Bethel when he promised him his great increase in numbers and the everlasting possession of Canaan. Jacob said that Joseph’s 2 sons born to him in Egypt would be part of his heritage, as he sat them on his knees kissing and embracing them. Then Jacob blessed Joseph and his boys but he inverted the sons’ blessings giving Ephraim the firstborn’s blessing instead of Manasseh. Joseph tried to correct him but Jacob insisted on it being that way in a gently ironic way remembering Jacob’s history. 

Jacob became ill as he approached death so Joseph took his 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim to see him. Jacob recalled God’s blessing given to him at Bethel when he promised him his great increase in numbers and the everlasting possession of Canaan. Jacob said that Joseph’s 2 sons born to him in Egypt would be part of his heritage, as he sat them on his knees kissing and embracing them. Then Jacob blessed Joseph and his boys but he inverted the sons’ blessings giving Ephraim the firstborn’s blessing instead of Manasseh. Joseph tried to correct him but Jacob insisted on it being that way in a gently ironic way remembering Jacob’s history. 

Joseph presented 5 of his brothers to Pharoah and then presented his 130-year-old father. Pharoah told them they could live in the best land in Goshen and Jacob blessed Pharoah twice. Jacob and his people all received food to help them survive the drought. The famine continued and people began to run out of money to purchase food from the government stores so Joseph started to receive the people’s livestock in exchange for food. When the livestock ran out Joseph accepted the people themselves and their land in exchange for food, and reduced all the people to slavery. But Joseph distributed seed for everyone to plant on the condition that 20% of the produce would go to the Pharoah. Meanwhile the Israelites prospered in Goshen and greatly increased in number. When Jacob approached his death at the age of 147 he made Joseph swear that he would bury him when he died in his ancestral burial place in Canaan. 

Joseph presented 5 of his brothers to Pharoah and then presented his 130-year-old father. Pharoah told them they could live in the best land in Goshen and Jacob blessed Pharoah twice. Jacob and his people all received food to help them survive the drought. The famine continued and people began to run out of money to purchase food from the government stores so Joseph started to receive the people’s livestock in exchange for food. When the livestock ran out Joseph accepted the people themselves and their land in exchange for food, and reduced all the people to slavery. But Joseph distributed seed for everyone to plant on the condition that 20% of the produce would go to the Pharoah. Meanwhile the Israelites prospered in Goshen and greatly increased in number. When Jacob approached his death at the age of 147 he made Joseph swear that he would bury him when he died in his ancestral burial place in Canaan. 

4 were baptized at the weekend at our Ibiara church. PTL!

QPR were beaten at home on Saturday 2 x 1 by Portsmouth and are now bottom of the Championship! 😕

On Saturday afternoon we took part in the EAB Board Meeting which went off very well. Then later we did a live participation in the EAB celebration which was nice. It was lovely to see a good crowd gathered there and we thank very much everyone who went and supported the event. We also thank Pastor David Fiddy for being the speaker.

The run-off of the election in João Pessoa will take place on the 27th because the incumbent mayor Cicero Lucena only got 49.2% of the vote on the 6th. He will probably win in the run-off as his opponent Marcelo Queiroga only obtained 21.8% in round one.

This blog nowadays has two distinct parts. First there is the diary part with our news and comments. This is posted on every odd day of the month. The second part is my résumé of the Bible which I have challenged myself to do in 4 years. So far I have done 46 chapters of Genesis in 28 days. I do not have any set days to post this but do it as much as I can when I can.

On Saturday night I led the service at Green Pastures and preached. Fabio led the praise and worship.

4 were baptized yesterday at our church in São Sebastião do Passé in the State of Bahia. 

Last night I led the main service of the week and young lawyer and Bible College graduate Murilo preached a superb sermon on Mathew 5:1-5.

Israel (Jacob) set out for Egypt and when he reached Beersheba he offered a sacrifice to God. Then God spoke to him in a dream and told him not to fear going to Egypt because there he would make him a great nation before bringing him back again to Canaan. However God said Joseph would be with him at his death in Egypt. So Jacob left Beersheba and went to Egypt with all his family, livestock and possessions. Jacob’s descendants who went with him to Egypt were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and their sons (these were the sons born to Leah and the total number of sons and daughters was 33). Then came Gad, Asher and their sons (who were born to Zilpah who was the handmaiden to Leah – which totalled 16 children). Then came Joseph, Benjamin and sons (totalling 14 children born to Rachel). Finally there were Dan, Naphtali and sons (totalling 7 born to Rachel’s maid Bilhah). So Jacob’s descendants were 66, not including his daughter-in-laws, but adding Joseph’s family born in Egypt the total number of Israelites in Egypt at this time was 70. Joseph got on his chariot and rode out to meet the party and he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. 

Israel (Jacob) set out for Egypt and when he reached Beersheba he offered a sacrifice to God. Then God spoke to him in a dream and told him not to fear going to Egypt because there he would make him a great nation before bringing him back again to Canaan. However God said Joseph would be with him at his death in Egypt. So Jacob left Beersheba and went to Egypt with all his family, livestock and possessions. Jacob’s descendants who went with him to Egypt were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and their sons (these were the sons born to Leah and the total number of sons and daughters was 33). Then came Gad, Asher and their sons (who were born to Zilpah who was the handmaiden to Leah – which totalled 16 children). Then came Joseph, Benjamin and sons (totalling 14 children born to Rachel). Finally there were Dan, Naphtali and sons (totalling 7 born to Rachel’s maid Bilhah). So Jacob’s descendants were 66, not including his daughter-in-laws, but adding Joseph’s family born in Egypt the total number of Israelites in Egypt at this time was 70. Joseph got on his chariot and rode out to meet the party and he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. 

Joseph could not bear it any longer, so finally told his brothers who he was, and they froze in silent fear! But Joseph told them not to be afraid because all that had happened had been part of God’s plan to save lives. Joseph then told them to go and get his father and all his people, flocks and herds so that he could care for them in the 5 years of famine which were still ahead. Joseph wept and hugged Benjamin and kissed all his brothers. When Pharoah got to hear about this family reunion he was thrilled and told them to bring Jacob and all to enjoy the fat of the land. So the brothers travelled to Canaan and gave their father the wonderful news that Joseph was alive as the governor of all Egypt! At first he couldn’t believe it, but when he saw all the carts that convinced him, and he agreed to go to Egypt to see Joseph before he died.

Joseph could not bear it any longer, so finally told his brothers who he was, and they froze in silent fear! But Joseph told them not to be afraid because all that had happened had been part of God’s plan to save lives. Joseph then told them to go and get his father and all his people, flocks and herds so that he could care for them in the 5 years of famine which were still ahead. Joseph wept and hugged Benjamin and kissed all his brothers. When Pharoah got to hear about this family reunion he was thrilled and told them to bring Jacob and all to enjoy the fat of the land. So the brothers travelled to Canaan and gave their father the wonderful news that Joseph was alive as the governor of all Egypt! At first he couldn’t believe it, but when he saw all the carts that convinced him, and he agreed to go to Egypt to see Joseph before he died.

The government has decided not to introduce Brazilian Summer Time as it would be a very unpopular move. They think we can get by without power cuts. 

I have been involved in long discussions today with senior pastors regarding our church without a pastor at Princesa Isabel. Please pray. 

The Brazilian Presbyterians are to found a Portuguese speaking church in London next month. This will add to the 100 Brazilian evangelical churches in the UK for a population of 220,000 Brazilian UK residents! 

I led the mid-week service and we had a nice time of prayer together followed by solos from Vasti and Espedita and Scripture spots from Adriana, Deborah Maria, Marcio, Dede, Marcos and Jacyara. The Bible study was brought by Pastor Rafael and the praise was led by Erika and Rogerio. It was a good service.

Today is the day of the annual EAB celebration with tea at 6 pm and the service at 7 pm. Speaker: Pastor David Fiddy. Live link with us here in Brazil. Venue: Lighthouse Community Church, Hardley, Southampton, SO45 3NZ. Please be there if you can!

Yesterday at Green Pastures I saw Eared Doves, Picui Ground Doves and Guira Cuckoos.

The government has decided not to introduce Brazilian Summer Time as it would be a very unpopular move. They think we can get by without power cuts. 

I have been involved in long discussions today with senior pastors regarding our church without a pastor at Princesa Isabel. Please pray. 

The Brazilian Presbyterians are to found a Portuguese speaking church in London next month. This will add to the 100 Brazilian evangelical churches in the UK for a population of 220,000 Brazilian UK residents! 

I led the mid-week service and we had a nice time of prayer together followed by solos from Vasti and Espedita and Scripture spots from Adriana, Deborah Maria, Marcio, Dede, Marcos and Jacyara. The Bible study was brought by Pastor Rafael and the praise was led by Erika and Rogerio. It was a good service.

Today is the day of the annual EAB celebration with tea at 6 pm and the service at 7 pm. Speaker: Pastor David Fiddy. Live link with us here in Brazil. Venue: Lighthouse Community Church, Hardley, Southampton, SO45 3NZ. Please be there if you can!

Yesterday at Green Pastures I saw Eared Doves, Picui Ground Doves and Guira Cuckoos.

The government has decided not to introduce Brazilian Summer Time as it would be a very unpopular move. They think we can get by without power cuts. 

I have been involved in long discussions today with senior pastors regarding our church without a pastor at Princesa Isabel. Please pray. 

The Brazilian Presbyterians are to found a Portuguese speaking church in London next month. This will add to the 100 Brazilian evangelical churches in the UK for a population of 220,000 Brazilian UK residents! 

I led the mid-week service and we had a nice time of prayer together followed by solos from Vasti and Espedita and Scripture spots from Adriana, Deborah Maria, Marcio, Dede, Marcos and Jacyara. The Bible study was brought by Pastor Rafael and the praise was led by Erika and Rogerio. It was a good service.

Today is the day of the annual EAB celebration with tea at 6 pm and the service at 7 pm. Speaker: Pastor David Fiddy. Live link with us here in Brazil. Venue: Lighthouse Community Church, Hardley, Southampton, SO45 3NZ. Please be there if you can!

Yesterday at Green Pastures I saw Eared Doves, Picui Ground Doves and Guira Cuckoos.

As it approached the time for the brothers to return to Canaan Joseph had their sacks of grain filled to the brim, with each man’s silver returned in each sack. Joseph also instructed his servants to put his own silver cup in the mouth of Benjamin’s sack. So at dawn the men got on their donkeys and left, but they hadn’t got far when they were caught up and halted by Pharoah’s steward who accused them of the theft of Pharoah’s own silver cup which he used for divination. The men strongly denied any such thing, but the steward searched sack by sack, starting with the eldest, and of course the cup was in the last sack belonging to Benjamin. They were all devastated and returned to the city. When they faced Joseph they all thought they would now be taken into slavery but Joseph said that just Benjamin would be his slave. With this Judah pleaded with Joseph that he take his youngest brother’s place as their return without Benjamin would kill their father.

As it approached the time for the brothers to return to Canaan Joseph had their sacks of grain filled to the brim, with each man’s silver returned in each sack. Joseph also instructed his servants to put his own silver cup in the mouth of Benjamin’s sack. So at dawn the men got on their donkeys and left, but they hadn’t got far when they were caught up and halted by Pharoah’s steward who accused them of the theft of Pharoah’s own silver cup which he used for divination. The men strongly denied any such thing, but the steward searched sack by sack, starting with the eldest, and of course the cup was in the last sack belonging to Benjamin. They were all devastated and returned to the city. When they faced Joseph they all thought they would now be taken into slavery but Joseph said that just Benjamin would be his slave. With this Judah pleaded with Joseph that he take his youngest brother’s place as their return without Benjamin would kill their father.

When Jacob’s food was running out he asked his sons to return to Egypt for more supplies but he was very reticent to allow Benjamin to go with them. However Judah convinced his father that there was no alternative as Joseph had demanded it. So the 10 sons went back to Egypt taking gifts with them and were received by Joseph, who organized lunch for them at his house, where Simeon (who had been detained by Joseph) was able to join them. Upon seeing Benjamin Joseph found it hard to control his emotions and had to leave the room to cry. Then lunch was served with Egyptians eating separately from Hebrews for cultural ritualistic reasons and Benjamin received 5 times as much as everyone else!

When Jacob’s food was running out he asked his sons to return to Egypt for more supplies but he was very reticent to allow Benjamin to go with them. However Judah convinced his father that there was no alternative as Joseph had demanded it. So the 10 sons went back to Egypt taking gifts with them and were received by Joseph, who organized lunch for them at his house, where Simeon (who had been detained by Joseph) was able to join them. Upon seeing Benjamin Joseph found it hard to control his emotions and had to leave the room to cry. Then lunch was served with Egyptians eating separately from Hebrews for cultural ritualistic reasons and Benjamin received 5 times as much as everyone else!

Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt so he sent 10 of his sons there to buy some, only keeping his youngest son Benjamin with him. Governor Joseph recognized them when they arrived but they didn’t recognize him in robes and speaking Arabic using an interpreter. He accused them of being spies and imprisoned Simeon as a guarantee of their return. For he demanded that they return with their younger brother Benjamin as proof of their honesty, thus proving that they were not spies. Joseph then dispatched then with grain, but returned their payments inside their sacks. However Jacob refused to allow than to return to Egypt with Benjamin.

Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt so he sent 10 of his sons there to buy some, only keeping his youngest son Benjamin with him. Governor Joseph recognized them when they arrived but they didn’t recognize him in robes and speaking Arabic using an interpreter. He accused them of being spies and imprisoned Simeon as a guarantee of their return. For he demanded that they return with their younger brother Benjamin as proof of their honesty, thus proving that they were not spies. Joseph then dispatched then with grain, but returned their payments inside their sacks. However Jacob refused to allow than to return to Egypt with Benjamin.

Two years later, when Joseph was 30-years old, Pharoah had 2 dreams which none of his wise men could interpret. In the first there were 7 beautiful fat cows that were swallowed by 7 ugly thin cows. In the second dream Pharoah dreamt of 7 healthy heads of corn which were swallowed by 7 unhealthy heads of corn. It was then that Pharoah’s chief cupbearer remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream in the prison and he told Pharoah. So Pharoah called Joseph who, clearly giving the glory to God, interpreted the dreams. He said that both dreams meant the same thing which is that Egypt would have 7 years of abundant harvests followed by 7 years of famine. Joseph added that Pharoah needed to appoint someone to oversee the storage of grain in the years of plenty so that they have enough for the years of famine. Pharoah was so pleased with the interpretation, with the help of God, that he appointed Joseph himself to be in charge of everything in Egypt and to implement the harvest storage plan. Joseph was given total authority and Pharoah even gave him Asenath as his wife, with whom he had 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim. So Joseph set about the storage of the abundant harvest of the 7 years of plenty so that when the famine came everyone was cared for, including neighbouring countries also affected by the drought.

Two years later, when Joseph was 30-years old, Pharoah had 2 dreams which none of his wise men could interpret. In the first there were 7 beautiful fat cows that were swallowed by 7 ugly thin cows. In the second dream Pharoah dreamt of 7 healthy heads of corn which were swallowed by 7 unhealthy heads of corn. It was then that Pharoah’s chief cupbearer remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream in the prison and he told Pharoah. So Pharoah called Joseph who, clearly giving the glory to God, interpreted the dreams. He said that both dreams meant the same thing which is that Egypt would have 7 years of abundant harvests followed by 7 years of famine. Joseph added that Pharoah needed to appoint someone to oversee the storage of grain in the years of plenty so that they have enough for the years of famine. Pharoah was so pleased with the interpretation, with the help of God, that he appointed Joseph himself to be in charge of everything in Egypt and to implement the harvest storage plan. Joseph was given total authority and Pharoah even gave him Asenath as his wife, with whom he had 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim. So Joseph set about the storage of the abundant harvest of the 7 years of plenty so that when the famine came everyone was cared for, including neighbouring countries also affected by the drought.

Pharoah’s chief cupbearer and chief baker offended their master so he put them both in prison (where Joseph was) where they had simultaneous dreams. The cupbearer dreamt of a vine with 3 branches which produced grapes which he squeezed into Pharoah’s cup and gave it to him. With God’s help Joseph interpreted the dream saying that the 3 branches meant that in 3 days time Pharoah would restore him to his post of chief cupbearer. Joseph asked him to put a word in for him with Pharoah once he was released because he was in jail unjustly. The baker dreamt that he had on his head 3 baskets of bread which birds came and ate. Joseph interpreted this dream too saying that it meant that in 3 days time Pharoah would hang him and that birds would come and eat his flesh. 3 days later it was Pharoah’s birthday and he held a big party where he restored the cupbearer to his role but he had the baker hanged just as Joseph’s interpretations of the dreams had foretold. Sadly though the cupbearer forgot about Joseph.

Pharoah’s chief cupbearer and chief baker offended their master so he put them both in prison (where Joseph was) where they had simultaneous dreams. The cupbearer dreamt of a vine with 3 branches which produced grapes which he squeezed into Pharoah’s cup and gave it to him. With God’s help Joseph interpreted the dream saying that the 3 branches meant that in 3 days time Pharoah would restore him to his post of chief cupbearer. Joseph asked him to put a word in for him with Pharoah once he was released because he was in jail unjustly. The baker dreamt that he had on his head 3 baskets of bread which birds came and ate. Joseph interpreted this dream too saying that it meant that in 3 days time Pharoah would hang him and that birds would come and eat his flesh. 3 days later it was Pharoah’s birthday and he held a big party where he restored the cupbearer to his role but he had the baker hanged just as Joseph’s interpretations of the dreams had foretold. Sadly though the cupbearer forgot about Joseph.

We had a very good men’s fellowship meeting on Tuesday night and there were 11 men present. Chief of the Police Esau led the meeting and I brought the inductive Bible study on seeking and remaining in Christ. A most profitable and participative discussion developed which was a blessing.

We are sorry to inform that our dear friend Ken Rashleigh passed away yesterday, but he is with the Lord which is far better. Ken was the brother of EAB trustee Marian Rashleigh. Marian did a tremendous job caring for Ken to the end. We will miss you Ken!

Liz and I went on another round of visiting the sick in the Patos Regional Hospital yesterday. Our main visit was to see 66-year-old Buita who is the father of Fabio who sings in our praise and worship group. His father has been in hospital for 9 days with pneumonia and looks far from well. Buita has been ill with severe depression for four and a half years. How his wife copes is difficult to imagine. After Buita we visited 89-year-old Francisca who used to go to our church. She has had a stroke.

I have been preparing sermons with one for this Saturday after the EAB annual celebration and the other for next Tuesday in the town of Sao Mamede.

5 new converts have been baptized at our Conceicao church.

2 of our young people have passed their BAR exams and are now fully fledged registered lawyers. One is Rayla who is the wife of my associate pastor Rafael. The other is Murilo who also has a degree in theology and who preaches in the Patos church.