Categoria: News

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.

Joseph was a slave in Egypt working for one of Pharoah’s officials called Potiphar. Potiphar soon realized that God was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did. So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and entrusted to him everything he owned. However Joseph was well-built and handsome and Potiphar’s wife fancied him and tried to start an affair! Joseph firmly resisted her constant attempts to have sex with him because it was sin and because it would be a betrayal of his master’s trust in him. One day Potiphar was away, and no servants were about, so again Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph and get him into bed with her, but Joseph ran away leaving his cloak behind in the rush. The woman in her anger grabbed the cloak, twisted the story and told her husband that it was Joseph that had tried to rape her. Potiphar was furious and sent Joseph to jail. However God remained with Joseph and soon he was given a position of authority within the prison.   

Joseph was a slave in Egypt working for one of Pharoah’s officials called Potiphar. Potiphar soon realized that God was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did. So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and entrusted to him everything he owned. However Joseph was well-built and handsome and Potiphar’s wife fancied him and tried to start an affair! Joseph firmly resisted her constant attempts to have sex with him because it was sin and because it would be a betrayal of his master’s trust in him. One day Potiphar was away, and no servants were about, so again Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph and get him into bed with her, but Joseph ran away leaving his cloak behind in the rush. The woman in her anger grabbed the cloak, twisted the story and told her husband that it was Joseph that had tried to rape her. Potiphar was furious and sent Joseph to jail. However God remained with Joseph and soon he was given a position of authority within the prison.   

The funeral which I conducted on Sunday afternoon went off very well with the church full. We then drove to the cemetery where I did the committal. However an unpleasant incident ensued as a sister of the deceased immediately after the committal launched into a load of catholic hail Marys as a weight of spiritual darkness covered the place. It was a great reminder of what our late sister Socorro Help had been delivered from!

I have been having important discussions with our senior pastors and leaders regarding the vacant pastorate of our Princesa Isabel church. This was the first church of EAB/ACEV inaugurated by Albert and Daisy Mundy back in 1943. Please pray for God’s guidance as to a new pastor for this church.

Liz went to the Monday night prayer meeting but she never got to pray because she was intercepted by someone who needed urgent counselling, so she concentrated on that in a side room.

The funeral which I conducted on Sunday afternoon went off very well with the church full. We then drove to the cemetery where I did the committal. However an unpleasant incident ensued as a sister of the deceased immediately after the committal launched into a load of catholic hail Marys as a weight of spiritual darkness covered the place. It was a great reminder of what our late sister Socorro Help had been delivered from!

I have been having important discussions with our senior pastors and leaders regarding the vacant pastorate of our Princesa Isabel church. This was the first church of EAB/ACEV inaugurated by Albert and Daisy Mundy back in 1943. Please pray for God’s guidance as to a new pastor for this church.

Liz went to the Monday night prayer meeting but she never got to pray because she was intercepted by someone who needed urgent counselling, so she concentrated on that in a side room.

Judah married the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua and she gave him 3 sons: Er, Onan and Shelah (daughters hardly get a look in in the book of Genesis!). Years later Judah got a wife called Tamar for his first born Er, but he was wicked so God killed him. Thus in this chapter there ensued a battle for Tamar’s right to be the mother of Judah’s heir. Judah called on Er’s brother Onan to perform the cultural duty of a brother-in-law producing offspring for his deceased brother, but he used to have sex with Tamar but ejaculated onto the ground. This displeased God so he killed Onan too. This left one brother-in-law Shelah but he was too young. Many years later Tamar dressed as a prostitute and put on a veil and tricked her father-in-law into having sex with her and she became pregnant without him realizing who she was. Tamar was given Judah’s seal, cord and staff as part of her payment. 3 months later Judah found out that Tamar was pregnant and Judah wanted to burn her to death! However he soon changed his mind when Tamar produce his seal, cord and staff proving that he was the father of the child. Judah admitted that Tamar was within her rights as he had failed to send his son Shelah to be her husband. So Tamar gave birth to twins: Zerah and Perez. 

Judah married the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua and she gave him 3 sons: Er, Onan and Shelah (daughters hardly get a look in in the book of Genesis!). Years later Judah got a wife called Tamar for his first born Er, but he was wicked so God killed him. Thus in this chapter there ensued a battle for Tamar’s right to be the mother of Judah’s heir. Judah called on Er’s brother Onan to perform the cultural duty of a brother-in-law producing offspring for his deceased brother, but he used to have sex with Tamar but ejaculated onto the ground. This displeased God so he killed Onan too. This left one brother-in-law Shelah but he was too young. Many years later Tamar dressed as a prostitute and put on a veil and tricked her father-in-law into having sex with her and she became pregnant without him realizing who she was. Tamar was given Judah’s seal, cord and staff as part of her payment. 3 months later Judah found out that Tamar was pregnant and Judah wanted to burn her to death! However he soon changed his mind when Tamar produce his seal, cord and staff proving that he was the father of the child. Judah admitted that Tamar was within her rights as he had failed to send his son Shelah to be her husband. So Tamar gave birth to twins: Zerah and Perez. 

Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons because he was born to him in his old age, and he made him a special richly ornamented robe which made his brothers extremely jealous. Joseph dreamt that when binding sheaves of corn with his brothers, his sheaf rose and stood upright whilst all his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to it. The brothers’ jealousy and anger only grew with this as they accused Joseph of having intentions to rule over them. Then Joseph had a further dream in which the sun, moon and stars bowed down to him. His brothers’ jealousy grew even stronger but Israel kept the matter in his mind. Then one day Joseph went to see if his brothers were alright grazing the flocks near Dothan and when his brothers saw him coming in the distance their jealousy and anger led them to plot to kill him. Reuben convinced them not to kill him but they stripped him of his ornamented robe and threw him into an empty cistern. When some Midianite merchants came by the brothers sold Joseph to them as a slave for 0.2 kilos of silver and they took him to Egypt where they sold him to Potiphar who was Pharoah’s captain of the guard. They then dipped his coloured coat in blood and presented it to their father as evidence that he had been devoured by some wild beast so Israel wept and mourned Joseph’s presumed death.

This chapter is exclusively about Esau, his wives, sons, leaders and rulers, before returning to the central line of Jacob in the following chapter onwards. Esau is alternatively called Edom. Edom is like a nick name, hence the nation of the Edomites are the descendants of Esau. Esau had 3 wives from the women of Canaan: Adah, Oholibamah and Basemath. Esau went with them, their sons, daughters, all the members of their household and livestock to live in the hill country of Seir which is some distance from Jacob so as to give room for the livestock of them both. Esau’s sons were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah. There ensues a list of Edomite chiefs who were descendants of Esau and then a list of kings of Edom who also were Esau’s descendants. Esau was therefore the father of the Edomites. 

Under God’s instructions Jacob went to Bethel and built an altar. He instructed all his household to get rid of all foreign gods, purify themselves and change their clothes. Then once again God confirmed Jacob’s change of name to Israel and reconfirmed that his Abrahamic covenant was now applicable to him. Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him and called the place Bethel (means house of God). Having left Bethel they were on the way to Bethlehem when Rachel died in childbirth, though her son Benjamin survived. Israel (Jacob) travelled on to Migdal Eder where Reuben had sex with his father’s concubine Bilhah. Jacob found out but did nothing about it. Jacob had 12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun (by Leah); Joseph and Benjamin (by Rachel); Dan and Naphtali (by Bilhah); Gad and Asher (by Zilpah). Then Jacob came home to his father Isaac near Hebron and Isaac died there aged 180 so Esau and Jacob buried him.

Under God’s instructions Jacob went to Bethel and built an altar. He instructed all his household to get rid of all foreign gods, purify themselves and change their clothes. Then once again God confirmed Jacob’s change of name to Israel and reconfirmed that his Abrahamic covenant was now applicable to him. Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him and called the place Bethel (means house of God). Having left Bethel they were on the way to Bethlehem when Rachel died in childbirth, though her son Benjamin survived. Israel (Jacob) travelled on to Migdal Eder where Reuben had sex with his father’s concubine Bilhah. Jacob found out but did nothing about it. Jacob had 12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun (by Leah); Joseph and Benjamin (by Rachel); Dan and Naphtali (by Bilhah); Gad and Asher (by Zilpah). Then Jacob came home to his father Isaac near Hebron and Isaac died there aged 180 so Esau and Jacob buried him.

Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, was raped by Shechem who was the son of the regional ruler called Hamor the Hivite. Shechem asked his father to get Dinah for his wife because he loved her, but Dinah’s brothers were furious about Shechem’s act. Hamor tried to negotiate a solution for his son but Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully. They said the only deal they would agree to for Shechem to marry Dinah was that all the Shechmite males would have to be circumcised in order to permit intermarriage between the Israelites and the Shechemites. This was agreed, but it was a trick, and once all the males were in pain from circumcision 2 of Dinah’s brothers attacked them with swords killing Hamor, Shechem and all the male Shechemites! They looted the city and seized all their livestock, belongings, wives and children. Jacob was concerned that they had gone too far, but his sons insisted that it was the honourable thing to do because their sister had been treated like a prostitute.

Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, was raped by Shechem who was the son of the regional ruler called Hamor the Hivite. Shechem asked his father to get Dinah for his wife because he loved her, but Dinah’s brothers were furious about Shechem’s act. Hamor tried to negotiate a solution for his son but Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully. They said the only deal they would agree to for Shechem to marry Dinah was that all the Shechmite males would have to be circumcised in order to permit intermarriage between the Israelites and the Shechemites. This was agreed, but it was a trick, and once all the males were in pain from circumcision 2 of Dinah’s brothers attacked them with swords killing Hamor, Shechem and all the male Shechemites! They looted the city and seized all their livestock, belongings, wives and children. Jacob was concerned that they had gone too far, but his sons insisted that it was the honourable thing to do because their sister had been treated like a prostitute.

On Friday I was the guide for a nature trail at Green Pastures for a group of teenagers from the Auzenir Lacerda School. I always feel this work teaching young people to care for creation is so worthwhile. We saw 2 snakes (Boa Constrictors) on the trail together with White-naped Jays, White-tipped Doves and Campo Troupials.

Yesterday was the day of the patron saint of Brazil who is ‘Our Lady of Aparecida’. Of course we don’t believe in any of this. However yesterday was also ‘Children’s Day’ which we commemorated with a joyful special service for the children in the afternoon.

Sadly our 80-year-old sister Socorro Help died yesterday in hospital after surgery for her fractured thighbone. The funeral will be this afternoon at 3 pm and I will be conducting it. She is with the Lord. 

Last night I travelled 180 km west of Patos to preach at the 75th anniversary service of our church at Conceicao. I had a meal with pastor Betinho and his family before the service. The service was very good with a full church. I got back to Patos just before midnight and then went to Socorro Help’s wake.

On Friday I was the guide for a nature trail at Green Pastures for a group of teenagers from the Auzenir Lacerda School. I always feel this work teaching young people to care for creation is so worthwhile. We saw 2 snakes (Boa Constrictors) on the trail together with White-naped Jays, White-tipped Doves and Campo Troupials.

Yesterday was the day of the patron saint of Brazil who is ‘Our Lady of Aparecida’. Of course we don’t believe in any of this. However yesterday was also ‘Children’s Day’ which we commemorated with a joyful special service for the children in the afternoon.

Sadly our 80-year-old sister Socorro Help died yesterday in hospital after surgery for her fractured thighbone. The funeral will be this afternoon at 3 pm and I will be conducting it. She is with the Lord. 

Last night I travelled 180 km west of Patos to preach at the 75th anniversary service of our church at Conceicao. I had a meal with pastor Betinho and his family before the service. The service was very good with a full church. I got back to Patos just before midnight and then went to Socorro Help’s wake.

As Jacob and Esau finally met, Jacob greeted Esau in a fearful formal way but Esau threw caution to the wind, embraced Jacob, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him! Then they both wept with emotion. There then ensued the introduction of Jacob’s wives and children before Esau asked what was the meaning of Jacob’s sending the livestock to him and Jacob said it was in order to find favour in his eyes. Esau said it wasn’t necessary, but upon Jacob’s insistence Esau ended up accepting the gifts. Esau then travelled to Seir and Jacob went to Succoth. Jacob went on to Shechem in Canaan where he bought a plot of land for 100 pieces of silver. There he pitched his tent and set up an altar which he called El Elohe Israel which means mighty is the God of Israel. 

As Jacob and Esau finally met, Jacob greeted Esau in a fearful formal way but Esau threw caution to the wind, embraced Jacob, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him! Then they both wept with emotion. There then ensued the introduction of Jacob’s wives and children before Esau asked what was the meaning of Jacob’s sending the livestock to him and Jacob said it was in order to find favour in his eyes. Esau said it wasn’t necessary, but upon Jacob’s insistence Esau ended up accepting the gifts. Esau then travelled to Seir and Jacob went to Succoth. Jacob went on to Shechem in Canaan where he bought a plot of land for 100 pieces of silver. There he pitched his tent and set up an altar which he called El Elohe Israel which means mighty is the God of Israel. 

Jacob went on his way and tensely prepared to meet his twin brother Esau after 20 years. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to sound him out, and the messengers returned to say that Esau was on his way to meet Jacob and family with 400 men. This made Jacob feel acutely afraid and he divided his people and flocks in two halves so as to prepare for a possible attack by Esau’s men. So Jacob prayed asking God for his protection and then he sent a gift to Esau of 200 female goats and 20 males, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, and 20 female donkeys and 10 males. All this was to pacify Esau as he knew he had wanted to kill him. That night Jacob stayed alone by the River Jabbok and had an extraordinary experience with God. A theophany occurred in which God appeared in human form and wrestled with Jacob during the whole night. “The conflict brought to a head the battling and groping of a lifetime, and Jacob’s desperate embrace vividly expressed his ambivalent attitude to God, of love and enmity, defiance and dependence. It was against God, and not Esau or Laban, that he had been pitting his strength”. (Kidner) God touched Jacob’s hip and left him limping, but Jacob would not stop until he received a blessing. So God changed his name to Israel, which means he struggles with God, and blessed him. And Jacob called the place Peniel (face of God). (Peniel Chapel was the name of my childhood/teenage church)

Jacob went on his way and tensely prepared to meet his twin brother Esau after 20 years. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to sound him out, and the messengers returned to say that Esau was on his way to meet Jacob and family with 400 men. This made Jacob feel acutely afraid and he divided his people and flocks in two halves so as to prepare for a possible attack by Esau’s men. So Jacob prayed asking God for his protection and then he sent a gift to Esau of 200 female goats and 20 males, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, and 20 female donkeys and 10 males. All this was to pacify Esau as he knew he had wanted to kill him. That night Jacob stayed alone by the River Jabbok and had an extraordinary experience with God. A theophany occurred in which God appeared in human form and wrestled with Jacob during the whole night. “The conflict brought to a head the battling and groping of a lifetime, and Jacob’s desperate embrace vividly expressed his ambivalent attitude to God, of love and enmity, defiance and dependence. It was against God, and not Esau or Laban, that he had been pitting his strength”. (Kidner) God touched Jacob’s hip and left him limping, but Jacob would not stop until he received a blessing. So God changed his name to Israel, which means he struggles with God, and blessed him. And Jacob called the place Peniel (face of God). (Peniel Chapel was the name of my childhood/teenage church)

 X (Twitter) is finally back on the air in Brazil after a drawn out battle between its owner Elon Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court. Thankfully Elon Musk lost the battle paying a fine of over 4 million pounds, so X is now back in action. 

On Wednesday night Liz went with the women’s fellowship to hold a service at the old people’s housing estate called Cidade Madura where we have 2 church members living. It was a wonderful meeting with 11 of the residents taking part including one man who remembers Pastor Frank Dyer who was used of God 46 years ago to get him off drugs. 

Yesterday Liz and I visited sister Socorro Help in the Patos General Hospital where she is awaiting surgery for a fractured thighbone. She looks very frail. 

Yesterday 90 people from the Patos Special Needs School spent the day at Green Pastures where they really enjoyed themselves.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study with a good number turning up. Linda, Espedita and Vasti sang solos. Dede, Espedita and Mada brought Scripture shots. Marina and Davi led the praise. Mada, Dede and I led the prayers and Pastor Rafael brought the study from Obadiah 5-10. It was a lovely service. 

Today we have a high of 37 degrees and a low in the night of 22 degrees.

 X (Twitter) is finally back on the air in Brazil after a drawn out battle between its owner Elon Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court. Thankfully Elon Musk lost the battle paying a fine of over 4 million pounds, so X is now back in action. 

On Wednesday night Liz went with the women’s fellowship to hold a service at the old people’s housing estate called Cidade Madura where we have 2 church members living. It was a wonderful meeting with 11 of the residents taking part including one man who remembers Pastor Frank Dyer who was used of God 46 years ago to get him off drugs. 

Yesterday Liz and I visited sister Socorro Help in the Patos General Hospital where she is awaiting surgery for a fractured thighbone. She looks very frail. 

Yesterday 90 people from the Patos Special Needs School spent the day at Green Pastures where they really enjoyed themselves.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study with a good number turning up. Linda, Espedita and Vasti sang solos. Dede, Espedita and Mada brought Scripture shots. Marina and Davi led the praise. Mada, Dede and I led the prayers and Pastor Rafael brought the study from Obadiah 5-10. It was a lovely service. 

Today we have a high of 37 degrees and a low in the night of 22 degrees.

 X (Twitter) is finally back on the air in Brazil after a drawn out battle between its owner Elon Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court. Thankfully Elon Musk lost the battle paying a fine of over 4 million pounds, so X is now back in action. 

On Wednesday night Liz went with the women’s fellowship to hold a service at the old people’s housing estate called Cidade Madura where we have 2 church members living. It was a wonderful meeting with 11 of the residents taking part including one man who remembers Pastor Frank Dyer who was used of God 46 years ago to get him off drugs. 

Yesterday Liz and I visited sister Socorro Help in the Patos General Hospital where she is awaiting surgery for a fractured thighbone. She looks very frail. 

Yesterday 90 people from the Patos Special Needs School spent the day at Green Pastures where they really enjoyed themselves.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study with a good number turning up. Linda, Espedita and Vasti sang solos. Dede, Espedita and Mada brought Scripture shots. Marina and Davi led the praise. Mada, Dede and I led the prayers and Pastor Rafael brought the study from Obadiah 5-10. It was a lovely service. 

Today we have a high of 37 degrees and a low in the night of 22 degrees.

God blessed Jacob abundantly with his flocks and Laban and his sons became very jealous. So God told Jacob to leave. Jacob organized his wives, children and livestock and left Paddan Aram to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan, without telling Laban he was leaving. Rachel even took her father’s gods with her! Laban only discovered they had left 3 days later so he set off in pursuit and caught up with them a week later at Gilead. But God spoke to Laban in a dream not to speak harshly to Jacob. So Laban just complained about the way they had left without even letting him kiss his daughters and grandchildren goodbye, and especially complained about the theft of his gods. Laban searched for them but didn’t find them because Rachel was sat on top of them hidden in her saddle and she told her father she couldn’t stand up because she had a period! Nevertheless Jacob and Laban still argued about their past relationship, but eventually they agreed on making a mutual peace treaty or covenant, and then Laban left.

God blessed Jacob abundantly with his flocks and Laban and his sons became very jealous. So God told Jacob to leave. Jacob organized his wives, children and livestock and left Paddan Aram to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan, without telling Laban he was leaving. Rachel even took her father’s gods with her! Laban only discovered they had left 3 days later so he set off in pursuit and caught up with them a week later at Gilead. But God spoke to Laban in a dream not to speak harshly to Jacob. So Laban just complained about the way they had left without even letting him kiss his daughters and grandchildren goodbye, and especially complained about the theft of his gods. Laban searched for them but didn’t find them because Rachel was sat on top of them hidden in her saddle and she told her father she couldn’t stand up because she had a period! Nevertheless Jacob and Laban still argued about their past relationship, but eventually they agreed on making a mutual peace treaty or covenant, and then Laban left.

God blessed Jacob abundantly with his flocks and Laban and his sons became very jealous. So God told Jacob to leave. Jacob organized his wives, children and livestock and left Paddan Aram to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan, without telling Laban he was leaving. Rachel even took her father’s gods with her! Laban only discovered they had left 3 days later so he set off in pursuit and caught up with them a week later at Gilead. But God spoke to Laban in a dream not to speak harshly to Jacob. So Laban just complained about the way they had left without even letting him kiss his daughters and grandchildren goodbye, and especially complained about the theft of his gods. Laban searched for them but didn’t find them because Rachel was sat on top of them hidden in her saddle and she told her father she couldn’t stand up because she had a period! Nevertheless Jacob and Laban still argued about their past relationship, but eventually they agreed on making a mutual peace treaty or covenant, and then Laban left.

Yesterday I spent the day preparing a new sermon on the wells of Gerar from Genesis 26. I felt really blessed preparing it.

Tomorrow the Patos Special Needs School will be spending the day at Green Pastures and on Friday I will be giving another school a guided nature walk and talk.

This Saturday I will be preaching at our Conceicao church’s 75th anniversary service.

Last night I travelled with the Patos men’s fellowship to Sao Mamede where we held another street service. The service was led by school teacher Claudivan and Pastor Rafael preached from Matthew 15. I led the prayer which included 5 requests for prayer from the local folk. It was a good service.

Yesterday I spent the day preparing a new sermon on the wells of Gerar from Genesis 26. I felt really blessed preparing it.

Tomorrow the Patos Special Needs School will be spending the day at Green Pastures and on Friday I will be giving another school a guided nature walk and talk.

This Saturday I will be preaching at our Conceicao church’s 75th anniversary service.

Last night I travelled with the Patos men’s fellowship to Sao Mamede where we held another street service. The service was led by school teacher Claudivan and Pastor Rafael preached from Matthew 15. I led the prayer which included 5 requests for prayer from the local folk. It was a good service.

Yesterday I spent the day preparing a new sermon on the wells of Gerar from Genesis 26. I felt really blessed preparing it.

Tomorrow the Patos Special Needs School will be spending the day at Green Pastures and on Friday I will be giving another school a guided nature walk and talk.

This Saturday I will be preaching at our Conceicao church’s 75th anniversary service.

Last night I travelled with the Patos men’s fellowship to Sao Mamede where we held another street service. The service was led by school teacher Claudivan and Pastor Rafael preached from Matthew 15. I led the prayer which included 5 requests for prayer from the local folk. It was a good service.

In the light of the fact that Rachel could not become pregnant she gave her maid Bilhah as a further wife to Jacob, so as to give him children on her behalf. Bilhah gave Jacob 2 sons called Dan and Naphtali. When Leah was no longer getting pregnant she too gave her maid Zilpah as yet another wife for Jacob and she gave him 2 sons too on behalf of Leah called Gad and Asher. However then Leah returned to having children and she gave 2 further sons to Jacob called Issachar and Zebulun. plus a daughter called Dinah. (This reminds me of a lovely young woman called Dinah Prata Conserva who used to be a member of the ACEV Patos church and who died very young) Then finally Rachel had a child and called him Joseph. Following this Jacob tried to leave Laban taking his family and possessions with him, but Laban insisted on doing a further deal with Jacob because he realized the blessing of God was on Jacob’s work which was advantageous to him. So Jacob proposed that he would care for Laban’s flocks as long as all the dark spotted lambs would be his (as opposed to the normally white sheep) and all the kids with white marking would be his (among the normally dark goats). This Laban readily agreed to as Jacob was opting for the far rarer possibility. Jacob sought to implement the old wives’ tale of prenatal conditioning by visual impressions, but the truth is that it was God who gave Jacob amazing blessing as he grew exceedingly prosperous coming to own large flocks, servants, camels and donkeys.

In the light of the fact that Rachel could not become pregnant she gave her maid Bilhah as a further wife to Jacob, so as to give him children on her behalf. Bilhah gave Jacob 2 sons called Dan and Naphtali. When Leah was no longer getting pregnant she too gave her maid Zilpah as yet another wife for Jacob and she gave him 2 sons too on behalf of Leah called Gad and Asher. However then Leah returned to having children and she gave 2 further sons to Jacob called Issachar and Zebulun. plus a daughter called Dinah. (This reminds me of a lovely young woman called Dinah Prata Conserva who used to be a member of the ACEV Patos church and who died very young) Then finally Rachel had a child and called him Joseph. Following this Jacob tried to leave Laban taking his family and possessions with him, but Laban insisted on doing a further deal with Jacob because he realized the blessing of God was on Jacob’s work which was advantageous to him. So Jacob proposed that he would care for Laban’s flocks as long as all the dark spotted lambs would be his (as opposed to the normally white sheep) and all the kids with white marking would be his (among the normally dark goats). This Laban readily agreed to as Jacob was opting for the far rarer possibility. Jacob sought to implement the old wives’ tale of prenatal conditioning by visual impressions, but the truth is that it was God who gave Jacob amazing blessing as he grew exceedingly prosperous coming to own large flocks, servants, camels and donkeys.

In the light of the fact that Rachel could not become pregnant she gave her maid Bilhah as a further wife to Jacob, so as to give him children on her behalf. Bilhah gave Jacob 2 sons called Dan and Naphtali. When Leah was no longer getting pregnant she too gave her maid Zilpah as yet another wife for Jacob and she gave him 2 sons too on behalf of Leah called Gad and Asher. However then Leah returned to having children and she gave 2 further sons to Jacob called Issachar and Zebulun. plus a daughter called Dinah. (This reminds me of a lovely young woman called Dinah Prata Conserva who used to be a member of the ACEV Patos church and who died very young) Then finally Rachel had a child and called him Joseph. Following this Jacob tried to leave Laban taking his family and possessions with him, but Laban insisted on doing a further deal with Jacob because he realized the blessing of God was on Jacob’s work which was advantageous to him. So Jacob proposed that he would care for Laban’s flocks as long as all the dark spotted lambs would be his (as opposed to the normally white sheep) and all the kids with white marking would be his (among the normally dark goats). This Laban readily agreed to as Jacob was opting for the far rarer possibility. Jacob sought to implement the old wives’ tale of prenatal conditioning by visual impressions, but the truth is that it was God who gave Jacob amazing blessing as he grew exceedingly prosperous coming to own large flocks, servants, camels and donkeys.

When Jacob arrived at Paddan Aram he met with Laban’s beautiful daughter Rachel and it was love at first sight! When Jacob told her who he was she ran to tell her father and he came and warmly welcomed Jacob. Having been there a month Laban asked Jacob what his wage should be for the work he was doing there, and he said he would work for 7 years in exchange for Rachel, which was agreed. When the time was up Laban organised a big party at the end of which Laban gave his other less shapely daughter Leah to Jacob. They slept together in the dark and it was only in the morning that he realised that he the deceiver had been deceived by his father-in-law! Laban only agreed to letting Jacob marry Rachel too in exchange for yet another 7 years’ work, and Jacob always loved her more than Leah! Rachel however did not get pregnant immediately, but Leah gave him 4 sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. It was later forbidden to marry 2 sisters in each other’s lifetime according to Leviticus 18:18.

When Jacob arrived at Paddan Aram he met with Laban’s beautiful daughter Rachel and it was love at first sight! When Jacob told her who he was she ran to tell her father and he came and warmly welcomed Jacob. Having been there a month Laban asked Jacob what his wage should be for the work he was doing there, and he said he would work for 7 years in exchange for Rachel, which was agreed. When the time was up Laban organised a big party at the end of which Laban gave his other less shapely daughter Leah to Jacob. They slept together in the dark and it was only in the morning that he realised that he the deceiver had been deceived by his father-in-law! Laban only agreed to letting Jacob marry Rachel too in exchange for yet another 7 years’ work, and Jacob always loved her more than Leah! Rachel however did not get pregnant immediately, but Leah gave him 4 sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. It was later forbidden to marry 2 sisters in each other’s lifetime according to Leviticus 18:18.

When Jacob arrived at Paddan Aram he met with Laban’s beautiful daughter Rachel and it was love at first sight! When Jacob told her who he was she ran to tell her father and he came and warmly welcomed Jacob. Having been there a month Laban asked Jacob what his wage should be for the work he was doing there, and he said he would work for 7 years in exchange for Rachel, which was agreed. When the time was up Laban organised a big party at the end of which Laban gave his other less shapely daughter Leah to Jacob. They slept together in the dark and it was only in the morning that he realised that he the deceiver had been deceived by his father-in-law! Laban only agreed to letting Jacob marry Rachel too in exchange for yet another 7 years’ work, and Jacob always loved her more than Leah! Rachel however did not get pregnant immediately, but Leah gave him 4 sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. It was later forbidden to marry 2 sisters in each other’s lifetime according to Leviticus 18:18.

At the instigation of Rebeca, Isaac sent Jacob to find a non-Canaanite wife at the house of Rebeca’s father Bethuel at Paddan Aram. He told him to marry one of Laban’s (Rebeca’s brother) daughters. On the way there Jacob stopped somewhere for a night’s sleep and used a stone as a pillow. Then Jacob dreamt of a ladder going up from earth to heaven with angels going up and down on it, and at the top of the ladder was God who promised to give the land on which Jacob was lying to him. God also promised Jacob abundant offspring who would be a blessing to all peoples. Jacob awoke feeling he was in a very special place and in the morning he used his stone pillow to be a pillar, calling the place Bethel which means house of God. Jacob proceeded to ratify his covenant with God pledging a vow of allegiance and a tributary tithe. This proved to be Jacob’s Damascus Road experience turning the circumcised son of the covenant from seeking salvation by works to securing it through a faith-struggle that would lead to a new name.

At the instigation of Rebeca, Isaac sent Jacob to find a non-Canaanite wife at the house of Rebeca’s father Bethuel at Paddan Aram. He told him to marry one of Laban’s (Rebeca’s brother) daughters. On the way there Jacob stopped somewhere for a night’s sleep and used a stone as a pillow. Then Jacob dreamt of a ladder going up from earth to heaven with angels going up and down on it, and at the top of the ladder was God who promised to give the land on which Jacob was lying to him. God also promised Jacob abundant offspring who would be a blessing to all peoples. Jacob awoke feeling he was in a very special place and in the morning he used his stone pillow to be a pillar, calling the place Bethel which means house of God. Jacob proceeded to ratify his covenant with God pledging a vow of allegiance and a tributary tithe. This proved to be Jacob’s Damascus Road experience turning the circumcised son of the covenant from seeking salvation by works to securing it through a faith-struggle that would lead to a new name.

When Isaac was old and blind he asked his eldest son Esau to hunt some game for him to eat so that when he brought it to him he could give him his blessing. Rebeca overheard the conversation and came up with a plan to deceive Isaac and get his blessing for her favourite son Jacob. She told Jacob to bring her some young goats so that she could prepare them as if they were game for Isaac, so that Jacob could present them to his father as if he was Esau. Jacob did this, put on some goat skin to make him seem as if he was hairy Esau, and carefully deceived Isaac into giving him his first-born blessing. When Esau finally arrived with his cooked game Jacob had already received Isaac’s blessing and left, and both Isaac and Esau were horrified when they realized what a deception had take place! However it was too late. The blessing had been given and Esau burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said that Jacob had both taken his birthright and blessing! Rebeca then sent Jacob to live with her brother Laban so as to be out of the reach of Esau who was furious with him and wanted to kill him. 

When Isaac was old and blind he asked his eldest son Esau to hunt some game for him to eat so that when he brought it to him he could give him his blessing. Rebeca overheard the conversation and came up with a plan to deceive Isaac and get his blessing for her favourite son Jacob. She told Jacob to bring her some young goats so that she could prepare them as if they were game for Isaac, so that Jacob could present them to his father as if he was Esau. Jacob did this, put on some goat skin to make him seem as if he was hairy Esau, and carefully deceived Isaac into giving him his first-born blessing. When Esau finally arrived with his cooked game Jacob had already received Isaac’s blessing and left, and both Isaac and Esau were horrified when they realized what a deception had take place! However it was too late. The blessing had been given and Esau burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said that Jacob had both taken his birthright and blessing! Rebeca then sent Jacob to live with her brother Laban so as to be out of the reach of Esau who was furious with him and wanted to kill him. 

When Isaac was old and blind he asked his eldest son Esau to hunt some game for him to eat so that when he brought it to him he could give him his blessing. Rebeca overheard the conversation and came up with a plan to deceive Isaac and get his blessing for her favourite son Jacob. She told Jacob to bring her some young goats so that she could prepare them as if they were game for Isaac, so that Jacob could present them to his father as if he was Esau. Jacob did this, put on some goat skin to make him seem as if he was hairy Esau, and carefully deceived Isaac into giving him his first-born blessing. When Esau finally arrived with his cooked game Jacob had already received Isaac’s blessing and left, and both Isaac and Esau were horrified when they realized what a deception had take place! However it was too late. The blessing had been given and Esau burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said that Jacob had both taken his birthright and blessing! Rebeca then sent Jacob to live with her brother Laban so as to be out of the reach of Esau who was furious with him and wanted to kill him. 

A family has been selected for the market garden project at Sitio Bom Conselho in Matureia up in the
mountains near the highest point in our state. Gilsandro (aged 49) and Maria
Gilvaneide (aged 40) have 2 children.  They are firm Christians in our
Matureia church. Gilsandro plays the piano accordion in the church praise and
worship group although he doesn’t have an accordion but uses one that he
borrows. Maria Gilvaneide helps at our school there which now has 260 children.
Gilsandro starts work at 5 am every morning on his market garden before it gets
hot. They have been kitted out with all the materials needed for the project
such as a full range of tools, wheelbarrow, irrigation pipes and hose pipes, an
irrigation timer, shading netting, a cross section of seeds, plastic boxes for
the transportation of the produce to the market etc. Our agricultural expert is
already visiting them and giving them guidance and advice which is being warmly
received. Please pray for this family and project which is already going very well.

QPR lost again on Saturday away to Derby 2 x 0 and are now back in the relegation zone in 22nd place out of 24 teams. We just can’t seem to get our act together this season. 

Yesterday was election Sunday, which occurs every 2 years, so our services are altered with an 8 am prayer meeting substituting our normal main service. The meeting was very nice. After the service I went and voted for mayor and councillor. Voting here is via computer so the results are known very quickly, but it’s so sad to see how prevalent vote buying is in Patos. It still shocks me how it is so widespread and goes unpunished. As expected in Patos the incumbent Mayor Nabor was re-elected for the 4th time with 73.76% of the votes.

A family has been selected for the market garden project at Sitio Bom Conselho in Matureia up in the
mountains near the highest point in our state. Gilsandro (aged 49) and Maria
Gilvaneide (aged 40) have 2 children.  They are firm Christians in our
Matureia church. Gilsandro plays the piano accordion in the church praise and
worship group although he doesn’t have an accordion but uses one that he
borrows. Maria Gilvaneide helps at our school there which now has 260 children.
Gilsandro starts work at 5 am every morning on his market garden before it gets
hot. They have been kitted out with all the materials needed for the project
such as a full range of tools, wheelbarrow, irrigation pipes and hose pipes, an
irrigation timer, shading netting, a cross section of seeds, plastic boxes for
the transportation of the produce to the market etc. Our agricultural expert is
already visiting them and giving them guidance and advice which is being warmly
received. Please pray for this family and project which is already going very well.

QPR lost again on Saturday away to Derby 2 x 0 and are now back in the relegation zone in 22nd place out of 24 teams. We just can’t seem to get our act together this season. 

Yesterday was election Sunday, which occurs every 2 years, so our services are altered with an 8 am prayer meeting substituting our normal main service. The meeting was very nice. After the service I went and voted for mayor and councillor. Voting here is via computer so the results are known very quickly, but it’s so sad to see how prevalent vote buying is in Patos. It still shocks me how it is so widespread and goes unpunished. As expected in Patos the incumbent Mayor Nabor was re-elected for the 4th time with 73.76% of the votes.

There was a famine in Canaan and Isaac went for help from Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. God told Isaac not to go to Egypt which had plenty but stay put and trust in him as God reiterated his covenant promises made to Abraham. So Isaac stayed in Gerar. Whilst there Isaac played the same game with his wife being his sister as had his father. Like father like son! However the truth about Rebeca came to light before any sexual involvements occurred though Abimelech was most annoyed by the incident. Isaac planted crops in the land and received a bountiful harvest which added greatly to his wealth. The Philistines envied Isaac and filled their wells with earth, so Abimelech asked Isaac to move away and he moved to the Valley of Gerar. There Isaac re-opened the wells the Philistines had blocked up and gave them back their original names. Then Isaac’s servants dug a fresh water well but this was disputed by the Gerar herdsmen so Isaac called it Esek (means dispute). They successfully dug another well but this again was disputed so he called it Sitnah (means opposition). Finally they managed to dig an undisputed well so Isaac called it Rehoboth (means room). Then Isaac went up to Beersheba where God appeared to him and promised his blessing. Isaac built an altar there, dug another well and called upon the name of the Lord. Then Abimelech and his men came and proposed a peace treaty with Isaac and they agreed to swear an oath to this end. When Esau was 40 years of age he married both Judith and Basemath and they were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebeca.

There was a famine in Canaan and Isaac went for help from Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. God told Isaac not to go to Egypt which had plenty but stay put and trust in him as God reiterated his covenant promises made to Abraham. So Isaac stayed in Gerar. Whilst there Isaac played the same game with his wife being his sister as had his father. Like father like son! However the truth about Rebeca came to light before any sexual involvements occurred though Abimelech was most annoyed by the incident. Isaac planted crops in the land and received a bountiful harvest which added greatly to his wealth. The Philistines envied Isaac and filled their wells with earth, so Abimelech asked Isaac to move away and he moved to the Valley of Gerar. There Isaac re-opened the wells the Philistines had blocked up and gave them back their original names. Then Isaac’s servants dug a fresh water well but this was disputed by the Gerar herdsmen so Isaac called it Esek (means dispute). They successfully dug another well but this again was disputed so he called it Sitnah (means opposition). Finally they managed to dig an undisputed well so Isaac called it Rehoboth (means room). Then Isaac went up to Beersheba where God appeared to him and promised his blessing. Isaac built an altar there, dug another well and called upon the name of the Lord. Then Abimelech and his men came and proposed a peace treaty with Isaac and they agreed to swear an oath to this end. When Esau was 40 years of age he married both Judith and Basemath and they were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebeca.

After Sarah died Abraham married Keturah and she gave Abraham 6 sons. Abraham died aged 175 and he left everything he owned to Isaac, but while he was still living he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Isaac and Ishmael buried their father in the cave alongside Sarah. Ishmael eventually died aged 137 having been the father of 12 sons. Isaac married Rebekah aged 40 but they only had children 20 years later when Rebekah had twins to make up for lost time! Hairy Esau was born first and then came his brother named Jacob. Esau became a skilful hunter whilst Jacob was a quieter sort staying more at home. Isaac loved Esau but Rebekah loved Jacob. One day Jacob was cooking lentil stew and Esau came in famished so he asked for some. Jacob agreed as long as Esau gave him his birthright to which he agreed.

After Sarah died Abraham married Keturah and she gave Abraham 6 sons. Abraham died aged 175 and he left everything he owned to Isaac, but while he was still living he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Isaac and Ishmael buried their father in the cave alongside Sarah. Ishmael eventually died aged 137 having been the father of 12 sons. Isaac married Rebekah aged 40 but they only had children 20 years later when Rebekah had twins to make up for lost time! Hairy Esau was born first and then came his brother named Jacob. Esau became a skilful hunter whilst Jacob was a quieter sort staying more at home. Isaac loved Esau but Rebekah loved Jacob. One day Jacob was cooking lentil stew and Esau came in famished so he asked for some. Jacob agreed as long as Esau gave him his birthright to which he agreed.

This is a romantic chapter. Abraham got his chief servant to solemnly swear to him that he would travel to find his son Isaac a wife. For Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a local Canaanite but wanted him to marry someone of his original family stock. The servant asked what he should do if the girl would not go with him, and Abraham answered that God would send an angel before him so that things would work out. Then the servant went with 10 camels and many gifts and travelled to Nahor where he stopped by a well and prayed for success in his mission. He asked that God would signal that he had found the right girl who came to the well by her offering him water and water for his camels. A beautiful virgin called Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, approached the well so the servant asked her for water which she gave him as well as offering to water his camels. It was the sign he had asked of God! So he gave Rebekah a 5.5 gram gold nose ring and two 110 gram gold bracelets and went to spend the night at her father’s house. Rebekah’s brother Laban saw the nose ring and bracelets and warmly received the servant who proceeded to explain how and why he had come seeking a wife for Isaac. Laban and Bethuel accepted the proposal as of the Lord and agreed to the marriage, so the servant gave gold and silver jewellery and clothing to Rebekah. He also gave costly gifts to Rebekah’s brother and mother. The next day when the servant wanted to return to Abraham and Isaac with Rebekah there was some reticence by the family but Rebekah was resolute in her going. So Rebekah, her nurse and maids went with the family’s blessing riding camels to the land of Canaan. When Rebekah saw Isaac she covered her face with a veil, the servant told Isaac the whole story and Rebekah became his wife whom he loved very much.

This is a romantic chapter. Abraham got his chief servant to solemnly swear to him that he would travel to find his son Isaac a wife. For Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a local Canaanite but wanted him to marry someone of his original family stock. The servant asked what he should do if the girl would not go with him, and Abraham answered that God would send an angel before him so that things would work out. Then the servant went with 10 camels and many gifts and travelled to Nahor where he stopped by a well and prayed for success in his mission. He asked that God would signal that he had found the right girl who came to the well by her offering him water and water for his camels. A beautiful virgin called Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, approached the well so the servant asked her for water which she gave him as well as offering to water his camels. It was the sign he had asked of God! So he gave Rebekah a 5.5 gram gold nose ring and two 110 gram gold bracelets and went to spend the night at her father’s house. Rebekah’s brother Laban saw the nose ring and bracelets and warmly received the servant who proceeded to explain how and why he had come seeking a wife for Isaac. Laban and Bethuel accepted the proposal as of the Lord and agreed to the marriage, so the servant gave gold and silver jewellery and clothing to Rebekah. He also gave costly gifts to Rebekah’s brother and mother. The next day when the servant wanted to return to Abraham and Isaac with Rebekah there was some reticence by the family but Rebekah was resolute in her going. So Rebekah, her nurse and maids went with the family’s blessing riding camels to the land of Canaan. When Rebekah saw Isaac she covered her face with a veil, the servant told Isaac the whole story and Rebekah became his wife whom he loved very much.

At 127 years of age Sarah died at Hebron in the land of Canaan so Abraham mourned her death. Then Abraham proceeded to purchase a field with a cave from the Hittites (the sons of Heth) as a burial site which cost 4.5 kilos of silver, and he buried Sarah in the cave. 

At 127 years of age Sarah died at Hebron in the land of Canaan so Abraham mourned her death. Then Abraham proceeded to purchase a field with a cave from the Hittites (the sons of Heth) as a burial site which cost 4.5 kilos of silver, and he buried Sarah in the cave. 

This chapter has one of the most amazing stories of the Bible. God told Abraham to go and sacrifice in a burnt offering his so long awaited son Isaac on Mount Moriah! Abraham set out with Isaac, 2 servants and a donkey and headed up the mountains. When they arrived at God’s chosen location Isaac queried where the lamb was for the sacrifice and his father replied that God would provide it. Abraham built the altar, laid out the wood on it, placed Isaac on top and raised his knife to kill him. In the nip of time the angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from doing it and expressed his pleasure with such proof that he feared God. Then Abraham sacrificed a ram caught in a nearby thicket and called the place ‘The Lord will provide’. The angel of the Lord then said that  because Abraham had obeyed in this way he would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.