Being very busy doing the Word and being engaged in important ministry activities that have meaningful impact on those being ministered to is what loads-up the scheduling of so many pastors. It’s no different for pastors in the Philippines including those attending the three respective weekly Life-Discipleship groups. Patty and I did a review of Rev. 2:2-3 for the weekly groups who are being trained to care for their respective congregations. Although leaders of the Ephesian church were busy being doers of the word and doing all the listed practices in their ministries, they obviously were too busy in order to submissively maintain their first-love relationship with the Lord, abiding in the Vine (John 15:5, Proverbs 3:5-6). We all came under conviction about these issues since any one of us can be so caught up in so much busyness. Other discussions during our sessions had to do with “Temptations”. In themselves, are they sin or not? Hm-m-m-m-m! What do the Scriptures really teach about this? What’s the difference between “trials”, “testings”, and “temptations”? Needless to say, we had rich discussions about these topics as we reviewed the lesson together during the week of December 15-19.
Pami (our daughter from the greater Los Angeles area) is visiting us over here in Metro Manila for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Being that she just completed her nursing training to become a RN upon her completion of the California state RN examination after she returns, she’s assisting at a birthing clinic for a week.
An interesting situation came up that should be well worth the subject for discussion when our Life-Discipleship groups study the two lessons on marriage relationships. A young woman in her early twenties was brought into the clinic to deliver her baby. She is a mistress of the man and his wife who her brought her in. Both this women and her newborn baby encountered serious problems during the birthing process. She spent more than 20 hours in labor and during that time, the baby was in serious stress. As of last night, the mother was in critical condition. The “father” of this baby remained at the clinic and was very concerned over this whole matter.
Now let’s suppose that the Lord may have allowed this whole situation to be in order to get his attention preparing his heart for the Gospel. And let’s imagine that he prays to receive the Spirit of Christ into his life while undergoing counseling by a local pastor or missionary. This would mean that he would need a local church to take him in for spiritual-nurturing and to disciple him in the Scriptures. If he should grow in the Lord, then what should be done concerning the relationship with his mistress and what limitation should there be concerning his role in that church? Men and their mistress relationships are common among married men in this country. What should be done through the local church leadership for the whole family including the mistress? These are issues that we would like to take up with the pastors being trained in the groups. Please pray with us for the Lord’s guidance on our discussions and discovery of practical biblical principles relating to this matter. The culture in family relationships in this country must also be taken into account.
There’s a young pastor who’s active in one of the training groups. He’s the same young man who was rather distractive during the beginning sessions with his humor during the beginning weeks of training. But as the weekly ensuing sessions continued and because of the group discussions on very important life-changing biblical principles with many references to the Scriptures, he seems to be growing spiritually based on his interactive participation in the discussions. However, he hasn’t turned in his week-by-week homework lesson assignments as others have done. He did promise that he would be up to date by the next scheduled session after the holidays. Please pray for him that he will have much interaction with the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures while he studies the lesson assignments.
We’re glad that you read this blog offering you an insider’s view of what’s been going on in our lives and ministry here. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. If you would like to respond offering your comments, feel free to send us an email with your thoughts. lifediscipleship@gmail.com.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
I Think that I'll Crash
Twas the week before Christmas
and all through the days
We bustled and scrambled
in so many ways.
The kitchen was humming
with the sun still in bed.
With yeast set to proofing
For Sugar Plum Bread.
First beat it then knead it
Then set it to rise.
The citron within it
Will make it a prize.
Now make the plain Jello
With coconut cream.
Pour over the cubes of
Red, yellow, and green.
Fill the filters with water
To clean it all up
For coffee or chocolate
Or tea in their cup.
Quick put on some breakfast
Before pastors arrive.
Alas, not the doorbell!
“Lord, help me survive!”
Delayed by the pastor,
Ready or not,
Quick cut up the cookies
The oven is hot.
Gulp down some cereal,
Sweeten the tea,
Punch down the bread dough
And pray, “Lord, help me!”
Set the loaves up to raise,
“Wow! They look great!”
Once over the classroom,
Chairs are all straight.
Oops! Fill up the Igloo,
Put in the ice,
Make sure that the mugs
Are all arranged nice.
My tea’s gotten cold,
My fruit is now hot
But ready for pastors
Is something I’m not.
Not the doorbell again!
“Lord, why today?
Tuesday and Thursday
Were sure not this way!”
The cookies are cooling.
The bread’s in the oven,
How many are coming?
Fifteen or a dozen?
Put my tea on the warmer,
Sit down with a sigh.
Dare I start the computer
Before more arrive?
Tangerines and bananas!
They’re still in the bag!
Put them out, all arranged,
“I must look like a hag.”
Half my breakfast still waiting,
My hair yet uncombed,
Glaze the bread while it’s hot -
It turned out nicely domed.
Devotions. No time yet!
But get them I will.
At the end of this bustle
I’ll take time to be still.
I’m thankful I wakened
Scripture verse in my head.
It sure makes a difference
As I serve up the bread!
It’s the third time this week
That I’ve raced down this trail.
“Lord, I am tired,
But nothing is stale.”
Chinese cabbage half frozen!
What do we do now?
Shall I race to the store?
Naw, we’ll manage somehow.
Cabbage! Mix in with bean sprouts,
We’ll chop it up small
Add some carrots and onions
It’s not bad at all.
Yummy smells fill the kitchen
As chicken thighs bake,
Mix honey, ginger and soy sauce
And use it to baste.
The rice! It’s not cooking!
I wonder why’s that?
The power bar wasn’t turned on!
We’ve now time to chat.
Fely fries Shanghai lumpia,
Serves up the thighs,
We take out the salad
And hear the, “Oh, my”s.
Unmold the Jello onto the plate,
(It looks oh so pretty)
If the pastors don’t eat it
It will be such a pity.
It’s been like this all week,
Been there, done that.
Late nights, early mornings
I think I’ll fall flat!
With homework assignments
To check and record,
And cooking and teaching,
You help me, Lord.
You give me strength when
the going gets tough,
But I’m glad that it’s Friday.
I’ve had enough.
Next week it is Christmas,
Year’s gone in a flash.
But this week has done it –
I think that I’ll crash!
and all through the days
We bustled and scrambled
in so many ways.
The kitchen was humming
with the sun still in bed.
With yeast set to proofing
For Sugar Plum Bread.
First beat it then knead it
Then set it to rise.
The citron within it
Will make it a prize.
Now make the plain Jello
With coconut cream.
Pour over the cubes of
Red, yellow, and green.
Fill the filters with water
To clean it all up
For coffee or chocolate
Or tea in their cup.
Quick put on some breakfast
Before pastors arrive.
Alas, not the doorbell!
“Lord, help me survive!”
Delayed by the pastor,
Ready or not,
Quick cut up the cookies
The oven is hot.
Gulp down some cereal,
Sweeten the tea,
Punch down the bread dough
And pray, “Lord, help me!”
Set the loaves up to raise,
“Wow! They look great!”
Once over the classroom,
Chairs are all straight.
Oops! Fill up the Igloo,
Put in the ice,
Make sure that the mugs
Are all arranged nice.
My tea’s gotten cold,
My fruit is now hot
But ready for pastors
Is something I’m not.
Not the doorbell again!
“Lord, why today?
Tuesday and Thursday
Were sure not this way!”
The cookies are cooling.
The bread’s in the oven,
How many are coming?
Fifteen or a dozen?
Put my tea on the warmer,
Sit down with a sigh.
Dare I start the computer
Before more arrive?
Tangerines and bananas!
They’re still in the bag!
Put them out, all arranged,
“I must look like a hag.”
Half my breakfast still waiting,
My hair yet uncombed,
Glaze the bread while it’s hot -
It turned out nicely domed.
Devotions. No time yet!
But get them I will.
At the end of this bustle
I’ll take time to be still.
I’m thankful I wakened
Scripture verse in my head.
It sure makes a difference
As I serve up the bread!
It’s the third time this week
That I’ve raced down this trail.
“Lord, I am tired,
But nothing is stale.”
Chinese cabbage half frozen!
What do we do now?
Shall I race to the store?
Naw, we’ll manage somehow.
Cabbage! Mix in with bean sprouts,
We’ll chop it up small
Add some carrots and onions
It’s not bad at all.
Yummy smells fill the kitchen
As chicken thighs bake,
Mix honey, ginger and soy sauce
And use it to baste.
The rice! It’s not cooking!
I wonder why’s that?
The power bar wasn’t turned on!
We’ve now time to chat.
Fely fries Shanghai lumpia,
Serves up the thighs,
We take out the salad
And hear the, “Oh, my”s.
Unmold the Jello onto the plate,
(It looks oh so pretty)
If the pastors don’t eat it
It will be such a pity.
It’s been like this all week,
Been there, done that.
Late nights, early mornings
I think I’ll fall flat!
With homework assignments
To check and record,
And cooking and teaching,
You help me, Lord.
You give me strength when
the going gets tough,
But I’m glad that it’s Friday.
I’ve had enough.
Next week it is Christmas,
Year’s gone in a flash.
But this week has done it –
I think that I’ll crash!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
A Trip to the Bank
We have 33 of our 44 pastors needing assistance with their travel expenses every week. In order to give each one exact fare requires a specific number of each denomination each week. With Monday being the day we are not allowed to use our vehicle in an attempt to have 1/5 fewer cars on the congested roads every day, Tuesday is banking day. Paul is teaching, so the task falls to me, Patty.
Last week I arrived at the bank to find a very long line curling around the interior of the bank. I dutifully took my place at the end of the line, behind a nice grandfatherly (now that I am a grandmother I am inclined to say "great-grandfatherly") gentleman. He promptly turned to ask where I was from. When I told him he launched on a monologue about his life and family that ended only when it was his turn with the teller.
In the meantime, an equally older woman entered the bank and joined the line behind me. She was wearing an expensive cream-colored pants and jacket with a fun little hat with flowers on it - not bad. I sensed that she wanted to talk to me, but since I was already politely listening to the gentleman in front I was not available. She was creative in her attempt to get my attention: She started off in what was probably a professional voice in her prime, "Around the world in 80 days. I traveled on and hope was gone...", loudly serenading the entire bank through all the verses at least five times! The music stopped the moment the gentleman in front stepped to the counter. "And where are you from?"
Today I entered the bank to see a well-dressed lady with a large floppy hat filling out her bank form at the counter. I took a moment to take a closer look and quickly turned around, muttering to the guard manning the door that I would return in a few minutes and took off like lightening!
Last week I arrived at the bank to find a very long line curling around the interior of the bank. I dutifully took my place at the end of the line, behind a nice grandfatherly (now that I am a grandmother I am inclined to say "great-grandfatherly") gentleman. He promptly turned to ask where I was from. When I told him he launched on a monologue about his life and family that ended only when it was his turn with the teller.
In the meantime, an equally older woman entered the bank and joined the line behind me. She was wearing an expensive cream-colored pants and jacket with a fun little hat with flowers on it - not bad. I sensed that she wanted to talk to me, but since I was already politely listening to the gentleman in front I was not available. She was creative in her attempt to get my attention: She started off in what was probably a professional voice in her prime, "Around the world in 80 days. I traveled on and hope was gone...", loudly serenading the entire bank through all the verses at least five times! The music stopped the moment the gentleman in front stepped to the counter. "And where are you from?"
Today I entered the bank to see a well-dressed lady with a large floppy hat filling out her bank form at the counter. I took a moment to take a closer look and quickly turned around, muttering to the guard manning the door that I would return in a few minutes and took off like lightening!
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Great Day!
First allow me to apologize for the wrong planet! I thought it was a little strange that we could actually see Pluto much less so clearly, but I didn't think about looking on the web for verification. Yes, the large one was Jupiter and the smaller one Venus. Makes a lot more sense!
We have lost a couple of pastors in the discipleship groups. Paul now has 15 on Tuesdays and 14 on Fridays. I have lost one lady that really shouldn't have been in the group to begin with so I have 12. This is week 7. We will break for 3 weeks after lesson 8.
One of the pastors has been especially difficult for us to deal with outside of class. He, bless him, is a single dad with a twelve-year-old and a six-year-old, both daughters. His little one has been sick since we have been meeting. He lives on an island in an inland lake east of Manila and has struggled with someone to care for her while he comes on Fridays. Ten days ago he stayed to ask for financial assistance as she had fever and the government doctor had ordered a chest x-ray, diagnosed pneumonia in both lungs, and ordered an expensive antibiotic. We urged him to take 1,000 pesos ($20) to be sure and have enough medicine, but he would not take it. Sure enough he ran out after 8 days. To make a long story short, the doctor was mad at him and he came back to us, dragging his daughter who now had fever again. We were frustrated as he just didn't seem to listen nor understand. I was ready to pull my hair out! I finally called a missionary doctor last Thursday and asked how to get this poor pastor into his clinic. If I took him and was physically present, they would see little Lenny Mae without the wait. We decided on Monday - today.
In the meantime, Paul received the authenticated documents for the import of the discipleship workbooks. Shipping documents also arrived from the printer in Hongkong the end of last week. He called the forwarder and scheduled a meeting in the ACTION, Philippines office for today. He prepared the paperwork for the Philippine government and had our director sign them at the Christmas party last Saturday.
We prayed this morning as we went to the vehicle - prayed for both our days. I specifically prayed for understanding and a still heart as I dealt with Pastor. Both Paul and I agreed he was difficult to deal with because he was distraught. We prayed for Paul's day, not knowing if the paperwork would be complete or not.
I waited for Pastor and Lenny Mae outside the gate of the clinic. Lenny Mae was dressed up in a lovely Christmas dress when they arrived. As we stood outside waiting for the doctors to arrive we had a wonderful talk. He was relaxed. He was not trying. I discovered he is a college grad, a professional who forsook that to pastor a very poor little church on the island. The doctor looked at the x-rays, listened carefully to her chest, gave her a TB skin test and new medicine. Then she turned to Pastor. She made a chart for him and the doctors gave him the once over, a skin test, and antibiotics! They promised to supply the TB medicines if they have positive tests. Pastor was very, very happy and is confident that they will be healthy again!
Paul and the forwarder (a bi-vocational pastor) met at the office. The paperwork was all there and complete! No changes. They needed a check for P4,500 (almost $100) and since it was Monday, the right person was present to write the check! The workbooks have arrived and we should have them by the end of the week.
What a day! We were both home for lunch and praising our Faithful God. Romans 15:5 calls God the God of Encouragement and Endurance (ESV). I love that. He changed our hearts and then met us there today.
We have lost a couple of pastors in the discipleship groups. Paul now has 15 on Tuesdays and 14 on Fridays. I have lost one lady that really shouldn't have been in the group to begin with so I have 12. This is week 7. We will break for 3 weeks after lesson 8.
One of the pastors has been especially difficult for us to deal with outside of class. He, bless him, is a single dad with a twelve-year-old and a six-year-old, both daughters. His little one has been sick since we have been meeting. He lives on an island in an inland lake east of Manila and has struggled with someone to care for her while he comes on Fridays. Ten days ago he stayed to ask for financial assistance as she had fever and the government doctor had ordered a chest x-ray, diagnosed pneumonia in both lungs, and ordered an expensive antibiotic. We urged him to take 1,000 pesos ($20) to be sure and have enough medicine, but he would not take it. Sure enough he ran out after 8 days. To make a long story short, the doctor was mad at him and he came back to us, dragging his daughter who now had fever again. We were frustrated as he just didn't seem to listen nor understand. I was ready to pull my hair out! I finally called a missionary doctor last Thursday and asked how to get this poor pastor into his clinic. If I took him and was physically present, they would see little Lenny Mae without the wait. We decided on Monday - today.
In the meantime, Paul received the authenticated documents for the import of the discipleship workbooks. Shipping documents also arrived from the printer in Hongkong the end of last week. He called the forwarder and scheduled a meeting in the ACTION, Philippines office for today. He prepared the paperwork for the Philippine government and had our director sign them at the Christmas party last Saturday.
We prayed this morning as we went to the vehicle - prayed for both our days. I specifically prayed for understanding and a still heart as I dealt with Pastor. Both Paul and I agreed he was difficult to deal with because he was distraught. We prayed for Paul's day, not knowing if the paperwork would be complete or not.
I waited for Pastor and Lenny Mae outside the gate of the clinic. Lenny Mae was dressed up in a lovely Christmas dress when they arrived. As we stood outside waiting for the doctors to arrive we had a wonderful talk. He was relaxed. He was not trying. I discovered he is a college grad, a professional who forsook that to pastor a very poor little church on the island. The doctor looked at the x-rays, listened carefully to her chest, gave her a TB skin test and new medicine. Then she turned to Pastor. She made a chart for him and the doctors gave him the once over, a skin test, and antibiotics! They promised to supply the TB medicines if they have positive tests. Pastor was very, very happy and is confident that they will be healthy again!
Paul and the forwarder (a bi-vocational pastor) met at the office. The paperwork was all there and complete! No changes. They needed a check for P4,500 (almost $100) and since it was Monday, the right person was present to write the check! The workbooks have arrived and we should have them by the end of the week.
What a day! We were both home for lunch and praising our Faithful God. Romans 15:5 calls God the God of Encouragement and Endurance (ESV). I love that. He changed our hearts and then met us there today.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Planets
Tonight I received a text from a young missionary friend of Bobby (our eldest) instructing me to go outside and look at the moon. Venus and Pluto were just above the moon. Awesome! Who would have ever thought that we could see two large planets forming the "eyes" of a smiley face over the moon in the middle of Metro Manila! Adam took some pictures for me and I'll try to post those this week. Did anyone else in the world see this?
We apologize for the lack of posts. I have been sick for two weeks - and trying to keep up with all the responsibilities. I am on the up-side now and anticipate keeping up.
We apologize for the lack of posts. I have been sick for two weeks - and trying to keep up with all the responsibilities. I am on the up-side now and anticipate keeping up.
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