FAIR SUNSHINE

God has continued to prosper His work here, growing this week's attendance from a class of just a few kids when we first started. I will never grow weary of emphasizing that we only prayed to begin a work among the families here in the compound, and Father has abundantly answered above what we asked by drawing the children to Himself. It appears that the change in the families would affect the younger generation rather than the older, that it would originate within their families rather than from the outside. God is to be praised for His wisdom. One mother told us that she frequently finds her son watching Super Book and reading his bible. And there are numerous indications that some of the kids are actually reading the Bible on their own. When they respond to questions from their teachers that I didn't anticipate them to remember or know the answer to, I am always in awe as I listen from behind my study. We express our gratitude to God for their tiny voices. They can now re...

A rainbow reflecting off God's firmament. Photo by Kenya I sat for a while in front of the rice store and looked at the unusually thick crowd today and thought to myself, "how do you talk sense to this people? What do I say?" The task is totally impossible. But I serve the God of the impossible. Yet if the Spirit of God will not move and breathe life to these dry bones, no one would be made alive. I have endeared this people to my heart and make it a point to plead for them before God. I know He will reward this weak servant with peace, and I shall behold His glory among the people. I had so many excuses in my head not to go out today. ( I am still unable to walk and every step is painful, at least for my right foot. I have an ongoing deadline.. ) Any reason not to go. It was the flesh talking. But grace would always have me going home after thankful that I went.  The LORD has given me respect in the eyes of the vendors at this blessed fishing hole. I am now greeted with,...

Week 2 Day 4. If I were to gauge the day according to my fallible opinion, today was dead and cold. In terms of souls won the labor of the gospel for the most part yields little to no results. But the gospel is not about results. Neither is it about souls. It is about Christ, and the lifting up of Christ, who in turn draws men to Himself. The proclamation of the finished work of Christ on the cross is the singular means by which God glorifies His name. He is revealed to be gracious and merciful in the saving of His elect. He is revealed to be holy and just in rendering to the proud and reprobate the error of their ways. Before we left God quickened our low spirits with encouragements from a Samaritan.

I have never had the inclination to read a considerably copious amount of material much less simultaneously than now. The most I have had before was a Hardy Boys book. Some comics. But I am given the pleasure to immerse myself in learning anew for the sake of learning Christ. Having begun last April of this year I am aiming to finish 10 books before the year ends. I read slow. Concerned more in understanding than in finishing. This present personal reading list includes the ebooks listed below. Recommended readings: A Certain Sound by Ryan Denton and Scott Smith is an introduction to the theology and practice of preaching the gospel in public. I had no guidance to preaching in public when I first started, and I was enabled to learn as I went - often alone. The route I took was very long, and I am pleased to read that much of what I learned is communicated in this work. There are no master blueprint on engaging the proclamation of the gospel in public as it differs in every culture. T...

I spent a good while sitting there just watching the crowd and looking intently at the faces of the people passing by. I saw one vendor happily servicing her buyer with her items, and after the customer left she slumped back in her chair but the huge smile she had just seconds ago was gone. She looked really tired. It was humid, and noisy, it smelled. You can tell for most of them it was a long day; pure chaos. I felt totally inadequate. I was afraid, nervous,and I wanted to simply leave. But who else will tell them? I courted and pleaded with the people for an hour. God is He who justifies the ungodly. Christ died not for the righteous, but for sinners. Not for the good ones, but for the bad ones. The doctor is for the sick, not the healthy. The Savior is for the sinner, not the saintly. And for the first time I realized towards the evening, the vendors were silently listening. This is the third day for this week. 17 vendors came and personally asked for free bibles. May they be grant...

I can walk without the aid of crutches today but my soles tire easily. Walking zaps me quickly more than pleading with the people. I am pained and humbled in proclaiming the sentences of the Law of God that is impossible with men, yet am also filled with strange joy in courting them with the mercies and goodness of Christ. We have been commanded to Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19) Indeed, but where is the man who will tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49) I truly praise God for bringing me to praying brethren who are fully aware of our poverty of spirit pertaining to the things of the kingdom, but also greatly trust that God hears prayers and will do what is right. This day some of the vendors showed me familiarity and extra kindness.  After hearing that they were indeed somewhat the forgotten of the lot and of the concern I have that God has remembered them in bringing them the good news, th...

The LORD never fails to send in timely helps to this stubborn and stupid mule.  This particular verse has time and again ministered to me. Yet in my devotions this morning, it gently spoke to me a truth I always seem to forget: He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). Mark 6:31 The following is part of my lecture notes taken from a recorded seminar of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. "Putting in long stressful hours in the Lord's work doesn't grant one immunity from the laws of health. The minister must eat nutritionally, sleep sufficiently and live relaxingly. I had to learn the lesson of relaxation the hard way. Remember that the Israelites didn't keep the Sabbath year. And the punishment was that they would have the Sabbath year spent in exile. So they missed 70 Sabbath years. They were going to spend 70 years in exile. I think that does work out in a lot ...