While in Egypt, most likely, Abraham picked up Hagar as Sarah's slave. She may have been a gift of Pharoh after he discovered Sarah was Abraham's wife and not his sister. whatever it was, Hagar was the slave of Sarah.
Sarah encouraged Abraham to have a child through Hagar when it was obvious Sarah was to old to conceive. The Word says, "Sarah...took Hagar...and gave her to Abraham as a wife." This was not uncommon and we see later that Rebecca did the same thing. Hagar became proud and full of disrespect (contempt) to her mistress when she realized she was pregnant with Abraham's child, so Sarah went to Abraham and blamed him for the problem she created! "May the wrong done to me be on you!...May the Lord judge between you and me."
Wait a minute! You, Sarah, came up with the idea! What are you talking about? As if that was not enough, Sarah then became a terrible mistress and mistreated Hagar so badly that Hagar ran away.
Next we find Sara eavesdropping in the tent. The LORD told Abraham that in a year's time Sarah would conceive and have a son. Sarah laughed. Now, she laughed to herself, but we know from Scripture that God knows our hearts and our thoughts, so He asked Abraham why Sarah laughed. Then Sarah lied. She denied laughing. She lied to the LORD's face!
Now Isaac is weaned - probably two or three years old. Ishmael is about 15 or 16 years old here and, being a typical teen, he was laughing at the big deal being made by Abraham at the big party thrown to celebrate weaning - much like the first birthday party in the Philippines. My impression is that Sarah was a very protective mother since she had waited 90 years for motherhood! Sarah was angry. She demanded Abraham drive away Hagar and Ishmael so that her sole would be the sole heir. Jealousy, greed, coveting, anger, bitterness are all part of this.
Do you get the picture of Sarah? She was not a good person!
Yet... God is full of mercy and grace.
I Peter 3 hold Sarah up as a woman who "adorned the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit!"
Wait a second! That is not the woman we just saw!
"For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening."
Sarah lived under law, but grace triumphs law!
Hebrews 11:11 tells us that it was "by faith that Sarah herself received power to conceive...since she considered Him faithful Who had promised."
After she laughed, she was caught by the LORD and she realized who He was and she believed! Am I ever convicted by God of my sin to the point that I change and believe His promises?
This is so encouraging to me. Even when I sin, when I don't trust God and live faithfully, blame others for problems I made for myself, lie, and am unkind and unreasonable to others, angry, jealous, etc, God still gives me grace. He still brings me to repentance and forgiveness. He can still cause me to be a work of His grace and beauty, someone who adorns the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit!
Oh, Lord! Work in my life. I need Your grace and I need to be a grace-giver. I long to adorn myself as Sarah did, honoring my husband and being more beautiful on the inside than the outside. Help me to prioritize my time and my "beautification" to be in line with you and Your Word. Thank you so much for the example of Sarah and the encouragement it brings to me today.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I was wrapping up a fix-it project for my daughter, Pami, when my cellphone rang. Startled, I answered. Then came the voice; “Pastor Paul, did you forget that you are invited as our special guest speaker at our annual ministerial ceremony? Can you still join us?”
Oh no!!!
There are times I am frustrated with my own shortfalls as a human… I assured the pastor I would be there asap and rushed to change into the only other clothes I had brought with me: jeans and a golf shirt, definitely not keynote speaker appropriate attire! Oh well, it was the best I had. I jumped into the car and raced to get to the venue, praying all the while that God would use what was suddenly a gaping weakness for His glory. I knew that whatever I said would either reveal my gross lack of preparation OR be Spirit-filled with His words. I prayed for the latter.
The occasion was the Cainta Ministerial Association’s annual installation of new officers. Cainta City is part of the sprawling metropolis, but it is just outside the official “Metro Manila” boundaries. It was amazing to see the number of those officers, both the outgoing and incoming, who have undergone the 6-month Life Discipleship training in our home. The invited mayor gave his address about what the association can do in cooperation with this city government to improve the quality of life for its communities and for other nearby communities.
I arrived in the middle of the city mayor’s speech. As I sat down, I felt the calm assurance that God would provide for what I should say from His word when I got up to speak. And sure enough, He did by His grace. I was invited to share some biblical encouragement with exhortation that focused on three things:
1) Pray that you may be given a heart that seeks after God so that you may know Him and his love even more (I John 2:15-17, I Corinthians 6:11).
2) Commit yourself to a life that lives by and teaches the principles of God’s Word (I John 14:5-17, Matthew 28:19-20).
3) Prepare and follow-up those who will be faithful to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2, 20-21, 24-26).
This message was well received and I offer my full gratitude to the Lord. Please pray with us that these men and women will be faithful to be examples of the faith teaching others in this ministerial organization to teach others also.
PS - I looked at what the ministerial officers were wearing and guess what? Some of them were wearing jeans like I had to wear. Whew! While my jeans were not what I would have planned to wear, they sufficed in a pinch.
Oh no!!!
There are times I am frustrated with my own shortfalls as a human… I assured the pastor I would be there asap and rushed to change into the only other clothes I had brought with me: jeans and a golf shirt, definitely not keynote speaker appropriate attire! Oh well, it was the best I had. I jumped into the car and raced to get to the venue, praying all the while that God would use what was suddenly a gaping weakness for His glory. I knew that whatever I said would either reveal my gross lack of preparation OR be Spirit-filled with His words. I prayed for the latter.
The occasion was the Cainta Ministerial Association’s annual installation of new officers. Cainta City is part of the sprawling metropolis, but it is just outside the official “Metro Manila” boundaries. It was amazing to see the number of those officers, both the outgoing and incoming, who have undergone the 6-month Life Discipleship training in our home. The invited mayor gave his address about what the association can do in cooperation with this city government to improve the quality of life for its communities and for other nearby communities. 
I arrived in the middle of the city mayor’s speech. As I sat down, I felt the calm assurance that God would provide for what I should say from His word when I got up to speak. And sure enough, He did by His grace. I was invited to share some biblical encouragement with exhortation that focused on three things:1) Pray that you may be given a heart that seeks after God so that you may know Him and his love even more (I John 2:15-17, I Corinthians 6:11).
2) Commit yourself to a life that lives by and teaches the principles of God’s Word (I John 14:5-17, Matthew 28:19-20).
3) Prepare and follow-up those who will be faithful to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2, 20-21, 24-26).
This message was well received and I offer my full gratitude to the Lord. Please pray with us that these men and women will be faithful to be examples of the faith teaching others in this ministerial organization to teach others also.
PS - I looked at what the ministerial officers were wearing and guess what? Some of them were wearing jeans like I had to wear. Whew! While my jeans were not what I would have planned to wear, they sufficed in a pinch.
Graduation!
There is nothing quite so thrilling as seeing your children doing more than what you can do by teaching others what you have taught them to do.
The same is true in ministry. Paul and I headed off to Bauan, Batangas for the graduation of 15 students early December 20. These students have worked diligently to do the lessons and assignments. Batch 4 graduate, Pastor Jim Delos Santos, has been their faithful teacher.
These students are all full-time workers/pastors in local churches that are a part of Jesus New Covenant International. JNCI has a unique story. It began as a Bible study for overseas contract workers (OCW) from the Philippines in a country that is closed to the Gospel! As the OCWs returned home, they started Bible studies in their own neighborhoods and towns. JNCI now has three churches in Canada, 19 churches in the Philippines, at least one in Japan, plus churches in two major cities of that “closed country”.
It was a real privilege to be able to participate in the graduation exercises of this group of special people. They are committed to carry their training to yet others, spreading the message that we are to “be doers of the Word and not hearers only.”
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Patty and I have been under a marathon of ministry activities recently. We had a special reunion for all qualified pastors and church leaders of past Life-Discipleship graduates. Great testimonies came out from the reunion last month. A sample of those testimonies is well worth posting here.Pastor Lito is a member of the first batch of pastors and church leaders who were trained in our home dating back to 2007. Since then, he has trained two groups of prisoners at the Philippine National Penitentiary. Next February, plans are in place for him to begin training a 3rd group of prisoners, some of whom attended seminary in Maximum security, under Life Discipleship.
This prison compound has four Evangelical denominational churches each with their own church facilities inside. A few years ago, we were able to start a Christian worker’s library and resource center for these prisoners with many of the books coming from libraries of churches in the Seattle area and from the low desert in Southern California. With the impact from this pastor and what this ministry has done for those prisoners combined with results of their testimonies, the churches inside along with Volunteer Religious Workers from the outside are planning to build a new training and resource center. Included will be the transfer of the library and a classroom.
Two of the prisoners who have become pastors since their release attended the reunion celebration. They had wonderful encouraging testimonies to share with all who attended. A highlight of one ex-prisoner’s vision is to multiply this ministry to yet another high security national prison in the south. Big, big challenges to his vision lie ahead of him. How we praise the Lord for what He is doing with this ministry for the prisoners.
The weekly training session for a current group of pastors and church leaders are on-going. They're scheduled to complete their training by mid-January.
Pastor Lito speaking to the prisoners.
One of the prisoners sharing his testimony.
Graduating prisoners sharing their testimony in song
The prisoner's Certificate of Completion
A prisoner receiving his certificate and a free book to enhance his life in Christ
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Pastor Ogie
Several years ago our hearts were broken by the tragic story of Pastor Ogie and his wife Gina. Their simple home burned to the ground with three of their four children trapped inside.
Missionaries mobilized to give assistance to this grieving poor pastor, his wife and one remaining child. A missionary doctor treated them for TB and other illness. We pitched in to purchase a small lot and construct a simple home for them to call their own. Someone else bought a nice small motorbike. The whole family rides it – together!
Pastor Ogie was referred to us for Batch V this year. Paul interviewed him and noted that he struggled to express himself in English. The referring pastor paid the P500 ($12) deposit on his materials. (If he completes all the requirements for the certificate, this money is refunded.)
Pastor Ogie has been a faithful student. His assignments are all up to date and done with the greatest of care – read that “easy to read”! It is clear that he comprehends the lessons and is applying them in his life better than many of our other pastors who do not have a struggle with the language.
A month ago, Pastor requested a meeting with us after class. In front of him was the Counseling Record form from his packet of worksheets. “How do I properly use this?”
A story unfolded of two women in the church, an unsaved husband, and adultery. Children are being affected as well as the testimony of the little church in an area in the grips of a corrupt and controlling cult. We carefully and prayerfully discussed where he needed to begin in counseling the ladies. We showed him how to use the form to plan for the counseling sessions, keep records, and track progress. Tears flowed as we prayed.
The next week he was grinning from ear-to-ear! He told us how the offending lady had actually come to him for counseling! He and Gina had the plan and kept perfect notes – even color coded! He told us the form was of great help in preparing and identifying areas that needed to be addressed.
Please pray for this dedicated couple as they seek to serve a very depressed area just east of Metro Manila. And, pray for God’s provision to repair the rim on his motorcycle. The roads he needs to travel are hard on rims.
Missionaries mobilized to give assistance to this grieving poor pastor, his wife and one remaining child. A missionary doctor treated them for TB and other illness. We pitched in to purchase a small lot and construct a simple home for them to call their own. Someone else bought a nice small motorbike. The whole family rides it – together!
Pastor Ogie was referred to us for Batch V this year. Paul interviewed him and noted that he struggled to express himself in English. The referring pastor paid the P500 ($12) deposit on his materials. (If he completes all the requirements for the certificate, this money is refunded.)
Pastor Ogie has been a faithful student. His assignments are all up to date and done with the greatest of care – read that “easy to read”! It is clear that he comprehends the lessons and is applying them in his life better than many of our other pastors who do not have a struggle with the language.
A month ago, Pastor requested a meeting with us after class. In front of him was the Counseling Record form from his packet of worksheets. “How do I properly use this?”
A story unfolded of two women in the church, an unsaved husband, and adultery. Children are being affected as well as the testimony of the little church in an area in the grips of a corrupt and controlling cult. We carefully and prayerfully discussed where he needed to begin in counseling the ladies. We showed him how to use the form to plan for the counseling sessions, keep records, and track progress. Tears flowed as we prayed.
The next week he was grinning from ear-to-ear! He told us how the offending lady had actually come to him for counseling! He and Gina had the plan and kept perfect notes – even color coded! He told us the form was of great help in preparing and identifying areas that needed to be addressed.
Please pray for this dedicated couple as they seek to serve a very depressed area just east of Metro Manila. And, pray for God’s provision to repair the rim on his motorcycle. The roads he needs to travel are hard on rims.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Our Kitchen
Just thought I would share a little about our food during class.
I made "Raised Orange Doughnuts" this week for our starter. Some of our students come from quite a distance, traveling for several hours to get here. We have something for them to eat when they arrive. Some weeks it is "Pinoy" (Filipino) spaghetti - with hot dogs in it, pancit, egg pie - what we call custard pie, banana BBQ, or even their breakfast bread - pandasal - with CheezWhiz, or their highly sugared peanut butter. Other weeks I have fun and serve something that will probably be new to them. Pumpkin pie is always a hit. They love the tuna-mac salad with cheese cubes in it. This week I made the doughnuts and for the first time had pastors coming into the kitchen to tell me, "These are really good!" Thank you, ancient Betty Crocker recipe cards! I then had a load of fun having them guess the secret ingredient: sweet potatoes! In a few weeks I will try them out with a chicken quesadilla!
One of the pastors came in to the kitchen after lunch and asked if we have a hundred menus! Fely, my helper and cook for all this food (I am the assistant cook) laughed and told them, "No."
I have 13 menus. While all three groups have the same food upon arrival each week, we serve a different lunch each day. With three groups a week, that is four weeks of menus with one left over. That automatically rotates the menu so they have 13 different meals at our home before they eat the meal a second time. So, I have 13 salads that I serve and 13 main dishes! For some main dishes that are mostly meat, there is also a veggie dish - like today. It really works great. So, I am still laughing at the pastor's question...100 menus?
Filipinos do not usually eat salads, but I have yet to have one not eating salad by the time our class is over - 22 weeks. Today's salad is one of the one that gets them going - Cambodian Salad. It is made with Napa Cabbage (the Ellis' kids' favorite- NOT! It was our "lettuce" while they were growing up. It was always soaked in bleach to
kill the critters and retained some of the taste -yuck), bean sprouts, carrot, red pepper, garlic, basil and mint and topped with fried garlic bits and chopped peanuts. The dressing is soy sauce and lime juice. The pastors declared it very Pinoy! Fely had another chuckle as she told them it was Cambodian.
The kitchen is quite the gathering place for about half the ladies during lunch break. They all know where my book of menus and recipes is and freely access it. What is my main task? Teaching 13 ladies or seeing that all 39 of our students eat nutritious and delicious meals? For some of them, class day is the best meal of the week. What a privilege to serve them this way!
I made "Raised Orange Doughnuts" this week for our starter. Some of our students come from quite a distance, traveling for several hours to get here. We have something for them to eat when they arrive. Some weeks it is "Pinoy" (Filipino) spaghetti - with hot dogs in it, pancit, egg pie - what we call custard pie, banana BBQ, or even their breakfast bread - pandasal - with CheezWhiz, or their highly sugared peanut butter. Other weeks I have fun and serve something that will probably be new to them. Pumpkin pie is always a hit. They love the tuna-mac salad with cheese cubes in it. This week I made the doughnuts and for the first time had pastors coming into the kitchen to tell me, "These are really good!" Thank you, ancient Betty Crocker recipe cards! I then had a load of fun having them guess the secret ingredient: sweet potatoes! In a few weeks I will try them out with a chicken quesadilla!
One of the pastors came in to the kitchen after lunch and asked if we have a hundred menus! Fely, my helper and cook for all this food (I am the assistant cook) laughed and told them, "No."
I have 13 menus. While all three groups have the same food upon arrival each week, we serve a different lunch each day. With three groups a week, that is four weeks of menus with one left over. That automatically rotates the menu so they have 13 different meals at our home before they eat the meal a second time. So, I have 13 salads that I serve and 13 main dishes! For some main dishes that are mostly meat, there is also a veggie dish - like today. It really works great. So, I am still laughing at the pastor's question...100 menus?
Filipinos do not usually eat salads, but I have yet to have one not eating salad by the time our class is over - 22 weeks. Today's salad is one of the one that gets them going - Cambodian Salad. It is made with Napa Cabbage (the Ellis' kids' favorite- NOT! It was our "lettuce" while they were growing up. It was always soaked in bleach to
kill the critters and retained some of the taste -yuck), bean sprouts, carrot, red pepper, garlic, basil and mint and topped with fried garlic bits and chopped peanuts. The dressing is soy sauce and lime juice. The pastors declared it very Pinoy! Fely had another chuckle as she told them it was Cambodian.The kitchen is quite the gathering place for about half the ladies during lunch break. They all know where my book of menus and recipes is and freely access it. What is my main task? Teaching 13 ladies or seeing that all 39 of our students eat nutritious and delicious meals? For some of them, class day is the best meal of the week. What a privilege to serve them this way!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Led by the Lord - in the little things
I never cease to be amazed at how the Lord directs our paths and decisions from day to day - often without our knowing. Every so often God shows me that after the fact and I think it is to give me chills of excitement and awe.
I recall when we ordered our first 50 manuals from Hong Kong in 1995. As a last minute decision we ordered five manuals in Chinese "because we have a sizable Chinese population here in the Philippines." The day those manuals arrived we also had a letter from Alice Ngo requesting a seminar with her Chinese students!
It has happened again.
For three years we have had pastors come to our home for 22 weeks of training. For three years I have served unlimited 3-in-1 (coffee, creamer, and sugar) packets, hot tea, Milo, Tang, and instant iced tea. This year as I was purchasing tea bags, my eye caught "Ampalaya" tea - an herbal tea widely promoted even by physicians here for diabetes. I bought two boxes. Yesterday, Vicke mentioned that she is diabetic. I pulled out the sugar-free 3-in-1 for her with instructions that she needed to come to the kitchen for it.
"Oh, no. I don't drink coffee. I only drink ampalaya tea."
I recall when we ordered our first 50 manuals from Hong Kong in 1995. As a last minute decision we ordered five manuals in Chinese "because we have a sizable Chinese population here in the Philippines." The day those manuals arrived we also had a letter from Alice Ngo requesting a seminar with her Chinese students!
It has happened again.
For three years we have had pastors come to our home for 22 weeks of training. For three years I have served unlimited 3-in-1 (coffee, creamer, and sugar) packets, hot tea, Milo, Tang, and instant iced tea. This year as I was purchasing tea bags, my eye caught "Ampalaya" tea - an herbal tea widely promoted even by physicians here for diabetes. I bought two boxes. Yesterday, Vicke mentioned that she is diabetic. I pulled out the sugar-free 3-in-1 for her with instructions that she needed to come to the kitchen for it.
"Oh, no. I don't drink coffee. I only drink ampalaya tea."
Monday, March 15, 2010
A wonderful answer to prayer was experienced when Patty & I along with a few super volunteers put on the closing celebration for the 3rd batch of small groups in the Life-Discipleship 22 week training program. Over 85 attended including alumni members from batch I and batch II. It was an all-day celebration with meals, worship and praise sessions, special speakers, the showing of the Life-Discipleship video, and awarding the qualifiers with their certificates of completion. We gave two complete ESV Study Bibles to the first two qualifiers who completed all their course work assignments. After all the celebration, Patty and I were exhausted but satisfied and praising the Lord. We pushed to prepare for it during the past two weeks so afterwards, we went out to relax and eat at Chili's Mexican restaurant and then went to Starbucks to have dark chocolate cake dessert and hot vanilla roiboos herbal tea drinks.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thoughts on Peter
Peter, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, also known as Simon, is a Biblical example of believers. While he was a “special” disciple of the Lord, he was typical of us.
Jesus gave special care to Peter at the last supper when Peter burst out – left in the dust of his own thoughts about Jesus “going where you cannot go” (chapter 13) It is my personal belief* that John 14:1 was said to Peter after Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny him three times. “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God [the Father], believe also in Me.” Jesus then went back to the discussion.
After the cock crowed, Jesus turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61-62) Again, it is my personal belief* that Jesus look was one of “Remember what I said, Peter! Don’t let this get you down. Don’t despair. Believe in Me!”
We see Peter’s reaction to the news that the tomb is empty. He and John ran to the tomb. John arrived and bent over to look inside. When Peter arrived, he didn’t stop. He bent over and ran right in to see for himself. This grieving man was grasping for anything that would ease his grief – he had denied his master, his rabbi.
John 21 gives us the end of this wonderful story. The discouraged disciples threw in the towel and went back to fishing. The distinction of being disciples of a famous rabbi had been a nice three years of their lives, but things had changed.
Jesus appeared to them a third time since the resurrection and singled out Peter. Peter, do you love Me? We read one question and answer for every time Peter denied Jesus. “Do you love Me, Peter? Then feed My sheep, My lambs. Work for Me. Follow Me.” Jesus loved Peter in spite of Peter’s failure.
The next time we see Peter, he was preaching at Pentecost. Thousands became believers and were filled with the Spirit. Then he healed a lame man (silver and gold have I none…) and preached a sermon pointing to Jesus. God gave Peter boldness to proclaim to the religious rulers that the healing was by Jesus “whom you crucified!” He had the discernment of the Holy Spirit to confront Ananias and Sapphira about their deceit.
In Acts 10 we find Peter confronted with a vision to “Rise, kill and eat” a variety of unclean animals. The Spirit then told him to go with the Gentiles who received the Gospel message and were filled with the Spirit in the same way the apostles were at Pentecost. Peter reported to the apostles and brothers, “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” The apostles glorified God. The church in Antioch began to reach out to Gentiles as a result.
This is Peter. He is a godly man, filled with the Holy Spirit. Yet, in Galatians 2`, we find that Peter’s primary work was with the Jews. Paul was proclaiming the Gospel among the Gentiles. In front of the others, Paul rebuked Peter for eating with the Gentiles until the arrival of the Jewish brothers. Paul charged him (and the rest of the Jews) as acting hypocritically. ^ “Their conduct was not in step with the Gospel.” (v 14)
We love the Lord. We are each called by Him; singled out for a job. Yet, just as Peter’s “conduct was not in step with the Gospel”, not without actions and words that he regretted, so we also have conduct that is not “in step”. We are thankful that our wonderful Lord and Savior sees fit to use us in spite of ourselves. It is our prayer that the brothers and sisters in the world today will be as faithful as Paul in rebuking us (Gal 6:1) and allowing us to repent and grow spiritually.
No missionary, pastor or artist should ever be put on a pedestal, revered any more than any other member of the Body, because we are certain to crash. None of us want to be a stumbling block to anyone. As long as we are all doing what God has called us to do, we are all on equal ground before Him.
In Chapter 15 of Acts`, Peter “got it”. He stood up and rebuked the brothers for placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that no one can bear. Salvation will be “through the grace of the Lord Jesus” for Jews and Gentiles. Instead of Law, they agreed the Gentiles should abstain from just four things: what is polluted by idols, sexual immorality, what has been strangled, and from blood.”
Do we "get it?"
* We have had many Bible Scholars stay in our home in Manila. I have had the opportunity to ask them about this. Every one of those scholars has agreed that my personal belief is plausible; we can certainly interpret the scriptures this way. In part this is because the original writings did not have paragraphs or chapters or verses.
`Also, scholars believe this probably happened before Chapter 15 of Acts. That may be incorrect, however. I am assuming it is correct. If it is not, the impact of Paul’s rebuke is even greater since Peter had stood up to state that God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile.
^ Hypocrite: Saying one thing while believing/feeling another.
Jesus gave special care to Peter at the last supper when Peter burst out – left in the dust of his own thoughts about Jesus “going where you cannot go” (chapter 13) It is my personal belief* that John 14:1 was said to Peter after Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny him three times. “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God [the Father], believe also in Me.” Jesus then went back to the discussion.
After the cock crowed, Jesus turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61-62) Again, it is my personal belief* that Jesus look was one of “Remember what I said, Peter! Don’t let this get you down. Don’t despair. Believe in Me!”
We see Peter’s reaction to the news that the tomb is empty. He and John ran to the tomb. John arrived and bent over to look inside. When Peter arrived, he didn’t stop. He bent over and ran right in to see for himself. This grieving man was grasping for anything that would ease his grief – he had denied his master, his rabbi.
John 21 gives us the end of this wonderful story. The discouraged disciples threw in the towel and went back to fishing. The distinction of being disciples of a famous rabbi had been a nice three years of their lives, but things had changed.
Jesus appeared to them a third time since the resurrection and singled out Peter. Peter, do you love Me? We read one question and answer for every time Peter denied Jesus. “Do you love Me, Peter? Then feed My sheep, My lambs. Work for Me. Follow Me.” Jesus loved Peter in spite of Peter’s failure.
The next time we see Peter, he was preaching at Pentecost. Thousands became believers and were filled with the Spirit. Then he healed a lame man (silver and gold have I none…) and preached a sermon pointing to Jesus. God gave Peter boldness to proclaim to the religious rulers that the healing was by Jesus “whom you crucified!” He had the discernment of the Holy Spirit to confront Ananias and Sapphira about their deceit.
In Acts 10 we find Peter confronted with a vision to “Rise, kill and eat” a variety of unclean animals. The Spirit then told him to go with the Gentiles who received the Gospel message and were filled with the Spirit in the same way the apostles were at Pentecost. Peter reported to the apostles and brothers, “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” The apostles glorified God. The church in Antioch began to reach out to Gentiles as a result.
This is Peter. He is a godly man, filled with the Holy Spirit. Yet, in Galatians 2`, we find that Peter’s primary work was with the Jews. Paul was proclaiming the Gospel among the Gentiles. In front of the others, Paul rebuked Peter for eating with the Gentiles until the arrival of the Jewish brothers. Paul charged him (and the rest of the Jews) as acting hypocritically. ^ “Their conduct was not in step with the Gospel.” (v 14)
We love the Lord. We are each called by Him; singled out for a job. Yet, just as Peter’s “conduct was not in step with the Gospel”, not without actions and words that he regretted, so we also have conduct that is not “in step”. We are thankful that our wonderful Lord and Savior sees fit to use us in spite of ourselves. It is our prayer that the brothers and sisters in the world today will be as faithful as Paul in rebuking us (Gal 6:1) and allowing us to repent and grow spiritually.
No missionary, pastor or artist should ever be put on a pedestal, revered any more than any other member of the Body, because we are certain to crash. None of us want to be a stumbling block to anyone. As long as we are all doing what God has called us to do, we are all on equal ground before Him.
In Chapter 15 of Acts`, Peter “got it”. He stood up and rebuked the brothers for placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that no one can bear. Salvation will be “through the grace of the Lord Jesus” for Jews and Gentiles. Instead of Law, they agreed the Gentiles should abstain from just four things: what is polluted by idols, sexual immorality, what has been strangled, and from blood.”
Do we "get it?"
* We have had many Bible Scholars stay in our home in Manila. I have had the opportunity to ask them about this. Every one of those scholars has agreed that my personal belief is plausible; we can certainly interpret the scriptures this way. In part this is because the original writings did not have paragraphs or chapters or verses.
`Also, scholars believe this probably happened before Chapter 15 of Acts. That may be incorrect, however. I am assuming it is correct. If it is not, the impact of Paul’s rebuke is even greater since Peter had stood up to state that God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile.
^ Hypocrite: Saying one thing while believing/feeling another.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Engagement Ring
Paul and I shopped together in downtown LA for just the right engagement ring. We were unread and did no homework before going, but we did choose a stone that was a first class cut and color. Clarity...well, you could see a couple carbon spots if your eyes are first class eyes. However, the color and cut still more than made it a good diamond according to Ivan Munson of Munson Jewelers, a long-time friend of the family. Another mistake we made is the setting. It only has four prongs. Never, ever put a good stone in just four prongs. I was washing the car before we got married and sprung one. The stone stayed put, but it weakened the entire setting.
When we came to the Philippines in 1981, I chose to put my ring and a few other things into a safe deposit box. Every trip home we would get it out right away and I would wear it the full time in the US, putting it back just days before our return to Manila. Then one year we ran out of time, so I asked Mom to do that task. She put it in a "safe" place until she could get there and promptly forgot about it. Then "our" little back house was burglarized and my grandmother's peridot (spelling) earrings were taken along with some other things. We came home and my ring was not in the safe box. Mom was horrified and insurance coughed up the money for us to buy a new set (with a small ruby on either side of the diamond). I loved it, but as we were preparing to return to Manila, Mom discovered my original! She had put it in a "safe" place! Both wedding sets went into the box!
Next time we were home I wore the original and decided to bring the second back with me. I left before Paul - unexpectedly and another long story - and he was left to put things into the box. I did not wear the new ring when I was going to be on public transportation or going places where I knew hold-ups occur. But, a year or two after our return, I went to the bank and was off to do a little grocery shopping before meeting up with some short-termers in a major shopping center when I was roped into a scam. Before I knew it, I had been robbed. My ring was gone. Never to be seen again. I suffered a lot over that loss because it was my own stupidity. I prayed while talking to them (elaborate scheme) asking God what He wanted me to do and He caused me to see the guy look at my ring. I stuck the ring in my pants pocket, but I did not get out of there, which was obviously what God was telling me to do!
Back to "the ring". We arrived back in the US and went to get my ring. No ring. Many people came to help Paul pack up the house after the kids and I had left and the ring was gone. It did not make it to the deposit box. The other items did, but not the ring. We were heartsick. We mourned the loss. Then, in 2008, we went to the safe deposit box to put stuff in and get rid of stuff that was no longer needed and I went through everything. I was greatly relieved to find that my high quality pearls and my grandmother's rubies were safe and sound. I got them out to wear, but, wait! There was something underneath in the box. My ring!!! I took it out and joyfully wore it for the few weeks left. We put it back right where we had found it before we left.
We did not get to the bank until just before we returned to the Philippines this time. I pulled the ring out and turned to Paul. "Do you mind if I take this back with us this time? What good is it sitting here in this bank? If I loose it, I loose it, but I will have lost it while enjoying it." I knew the setting was weak and I planned to see what Ivan could do to fix it, but...no time. So, we got back here. And I wore it Sunday. On the way to church (before 8) I inspected the prongs. The two of the three good ones were scooched around just a little to give the weak one a little extra strength and I thought, I need to find a good jeweler here who can fix this.
Sunday night I was walking home with Paul from the hourly parking way down the street when a street kid came running up asking for money. Now we never give cash to kids. Never. Food, yes. But, I had neither. However, I was afraid he might see my ring and I would be prey in the future. I turned my stone to the inside of my palm. After the kid left us I thought, that feels funny. I looked at it under the street light and there was no stone. My heart sank. When did it fall out? Where was it? Was it on the street back there? Was it at the hospital where we had visited one of our pastors with kidney stones? It could be anywhere.
I swept the kitchen floor and looked on the counter. I got down on my face in the bathroom to inspect the floor. Logically, I decided it had gone down the drain while washing my hands or fallen out when drying my hands - but under both towel racks are floor drains that would swallow up my little rock very nicely. It was gone.
I had been meditating all day on the difference between love and value. Our pastor kept saying that Jesus died because he valued us. NO! That is not what John 3:16 says. When men of the Bible saw the glory of God, they fell on their faces and declared how unworthy they were. All my worth, value, comes from what God put in me, gave me. It is not of me. In and of myself, I am of no value. God does not need me, but He loves me. He chose me, predestined me, called me, justified me, and glorified me because He loves me. I do not understand *why me*, but I love Him and serve Him out of gratitude for His great love and sacrifice for me.
All this came into play. Do I love that ring? I had to conclude that I do not. Love for that ring died a long time ago when I thought it was gone - again. Do I value it? Yes. In and of itself it has value. I can sell it and receive money for it (though probably not it's worth.) If I loved it, I would not have brought it to the Philippines. Cousin Bill was a Lieutenant in the US Air Force when he married. On top of the last box to leave his parents' home for his new home with his bride was a pathetic teddy bear. An ear and an arm were missing. He had mildew from being sucked on as a toddler and his fuzz was about 25% of the original. That teddy belonged on the trash heap. He had no value. But! Bill loved it! It was a prized possession of his, to be taken to his new home. I am that teddy to the Lord. He made mankind beautiful and whole, but we are missing parts, have skin blemishes and mildew. Yet, He gave His only begotten Son for us ... because He loved us. All He asks is that we love Him back - with our ALL - and that means above all else, even our own lives.
Do I love my ring? No. I did not cry, I did not mourn, I did not lie awake all night.
But! Monday morning Paul and I went back to the section of street where I had twirled my ring to see if we could catch a sparkle, that was not broken glass, in the sunshine . When Fely came to work I told her about the missing stone. I told her I had only been in the kitchen (it could be in the veggie bins, on the counters, in the freezer, etc), the office and our bathroom. She went to work with her eyes open. She cleans the kitchen on Mondays, so it was perfect. I was not feeling well all weekend and getting worse, so I was in bed when she came to the door, "Ma'am, I found it!". Sure enough. There was my stone in her hand. It had been on the counter near the juicer.
Did I rejoice? Yes! I enjoy my ring. I value it and want to wear it. But if it is gone, it will be history with a real story! Now to find that jeweler!
When we came to the Philippines in 1981, I chose to put my ring and a few other things into a safe deposit box. Every trip home we would get it out right away and I would wear it the full time in the US, putting it back just days before our return to Manila. Then one year we ran out of time, so I asked Mom to do that task. She put it in a "safe" place until she could get there and promptly forgot about it. Then "our" little back house was burglarized and my grandmother's peridot (spelling) earrings were taken along with some other things. We came home and my ring was not in the safe box. Mom was horrified and insurance coughed up the money for us to buy a new set (with a small ruby on either side of the diamond). I loved it, but as we were preparing to return to Manila, Mom discovered my original! She had put it in a "safe" place! Both wedding sets went into the box!
Next time we were home I wore the original and decided to bring the second back with me. I left before Paul - unexpectedly and another long story - and he was left to put things into the box. I did not wear the new ring when I was going to be on public transportation or going places where I knew hold-ups occur. But, a year or two after our return, I went to the bank and was off to do a little grocery shopping before meeting up with some short-termers in a major shopping center when I was roped into a scam. Before I knew it, I had been robbed. My ring was gone. Never to be seen again. I suffered a lot over that loss because it was my own stupidity. I prayed while talking to them (elaborate scheme) asking God what He wanted me to do and He caused me to see the guy look at my ring. I stuck the ring in my pants pocket, but I did not get out of there, which was obviously what God was telling me to do!
Back to "the ring". We arrived back in the US and went to get my ring. No ring. Many people came to help Paul pack up the house after the kids and I had left and the ring was gone. It did not make it to the deposit box. The other items did, but not the ring. We were heartsick. We mourned the loss. Then, in 2008, we went to the safe deposit box to put stuff in and get rid of stuff that was no longer needed and I went through everything. I was greatly relieved to find that my high quality pearls and my grandmother's rubies were safe and sound. I got them out to wear, but, wait! There was something underneath in the box. My ring!!! I took it out and joyfully wore it for the few weeks left. We put it back right where we had found it before we left.
We did not get to the bank until just before we returned to the Philippines this time. I pulled the ring out and turned to Paul. "Do you mind if I take this back with us this time? What good is it sitting here in this bank? If I loose it, I loose it, but I will have lost it while enjoying it." I knew the setting was weak and I planned to see what Ivan could do to fix it, but...no time. So, we got back here. And I wore it Sunday. On the way to church (before 8) I inspected the prongs. The two of the three good ones were scooched around just a little to give the weak one a little extra strength and I thought, I need to find a good jeweler here who can fix this.
Sunday night I was walking home with Paul from the hourly parking way down the street when a street kid came running up asking for money. Now we never give cash to kids. Never. Food, yes. But, I had neither. However, I was afraid he might see my ring and I would be prey in the future. I turned my stone to the inside of my palm. After the kid left us I thought, that feels funny. I looked at it under the street light and there was no stone. My heart sank. When did it fall out? Where was it? Was it on the street back there? Was it at the hospital where we had visited one of our pastors with kidney stones? It could be anywhere.
I swept the kitchen floor and looked on the counter. I got down on my face in the bathroom to inspect the floor. Logically, I decided it had gone down the drain while washing my hands or fallen out when drying my hands - but under both towel racks are floor drains that would swallow up my little rock very nicely. It was gone.
I had been meditating all day on the difference between love and value. Our pastor kept saying that Jesus died because he valued us. NO! That is not what John 3:16 says. When men of the Bible saw the glory of God, they fell on their faces and declared how unworthy they were. All my worth, value, comes from what God put in me, gave me. It is not of me. In and of myself, I am of no value. God does not need me, but He loves me. He chose me, predestined me, called me, justified me, and glorified me because He loves me. I do not understand *why me*, but I love Him and serve Him out of gratitude for His great love and sacrifice for me.
All this came into play. Do I love that ring? I had to conclude that I do not. Love for that ring died a long time ago when I thought it was gone - again. Do I value it? Yes. In and of itself it has value. I can sell it and receive money for it (though probably not it's worth.) If I loved it, I would not have brought it to the Philippines. Cousin Bill was a Lieutenant in the US Air Force when he married. On top of the last box to leave his parents' home for his new home with his bride was a pathetic teddy bear. An ear and an arm were missing. He had mildew from being sucked on as a toddler and his fuzz was about 25% of the original. That teddy belonged on the trash heap. He had no value. But! Bill loved it! It was a prized possession of his, to be taken to his new home. I am that teddy to the Lord. He made mankind beautiful and whole, but we are missing parts, have skin blemishes and mildew. Yet, He gave His only begotten Son for us ... because He loved us. All He asks is that we love Him back - with our ALL - and that means above all else, even our own lives.
Do I love my ring? No. I did not cry, I did not mourn, I did not lie awake all night.
But! Monday morning Paul and I went back to the section of street where I had twirled my ring to see if we could catch a sparkle, that was not broken glass, in the sunshine . When Fely came to work I told her about the missing stone. I told her I had only been in the kitchen (it could be in the veggie bins, on the counters, in the freezer, etc), the office and our bathroom. She went to work with her eyes open. She cleans the kitchen on Mondays, so it was perfect. I was not feeling well all weekend and getting worse, so I was in bed when she came to the door, "Ma'am, I found it!". Sure enough. There was my stone in her hand. It had been on the counter near the juicer.
Did I rejoice? Yes! I enjoy my ring. I value it and want to wear it. But if it is gone, it will be history with a real story! Now to find that jeweler!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Five Loaves and Two Fish
Five Loaves and Two Fish
In the last two months or so we have heard three sermons on “The Feeding of the Five Thousand”. I began to ponder what the Lord is trying to tell us. Why is He bringing us back to that so often? Is it just that going through the Gospels seems to be the “in thing” right now? Somehow, I think not. So what is it?
We are in the US for just seven weeks – not long enough to lease a car (get a phone line, cell phone plan, or internet service, either). Paul rented an Enterprise economy car for 23 days, reserving it on-line. We were up-graded twice when we picked it up. Nice car, plenty of room, satellite radio.
Paul was within 30 minutes of renting a car for five days in Seattle when one of our US colleagues offered us one of their cars. It was comfortable and roomy.
Now we are back in So Cal for 18 days. Once again Paul reserved an economy car on Orbitz. He fretted that it would be too small for our needs. After repeated comments from him, I reminded him that we are nearly always up-graded at the rental office and that God knows just what we need. We prayed together.
Off to Hertz we went Friday morning. Economy car. Didn’t have any. The Corolla could only be rented 3 days at a time. Hmmm. How about “that Mustang”. I about gulped. One of us mentioned that we needed to fit our luggage into it. “Oh. Well, let’s see…How about a Subaru Outback? I have one of those.”
Today as Paul and I loaded the crippled lawn mower into the back of the Outback we both commented how God certainly knew exactly what we needed!
I thought back to the sermons. Little boy has an economy lunch. Jesus fed 5000 men plus women and children. We had an economy car reserved – three times – and God gave us so much more.
Why the sermons? What’s ahead? I only know that God is our “Provider” and we are anticipating His meeting every need – with leftovers! His call to us is to trust Him and be faithful with all that He provides. Please pray for us.
In the last two months or so we have heard three sermons on “The Feeding of the Five Thousand”. I began to ponder what the Lord is trying to tell us. Why is He bringing us back to that so often? Is it just that going through the Gospels seems to be the “in thing” right now? Somehow, I think not. So what is it?
We are in the US for just seven weeks – not long enough to lease a car (get a phone line, cell phone plan, or internet service, either). Paul rented an Enterprise economy car for 23 days, reserving it on-line. We were up-graded twice when we picked it up. Nice car, plenty of room, satellite radio.
Paul was within 30 minutes of renting a car for five days in Seattle when one of our US colleagues offered us one of their cars. It was comfortable and roomy.
Now we are back in So Cal for 18 days. Once again Paul reserved an economy car on Orbitz. He fretted that it would be too small for our needs. After repeated comments from him, I reminded him that we are nearly always up-graded at the rental office and that God knows just what we need. We prayed together.
Off to Hertz we went Friday morning. Economy car. Didn’t have any. The Corolla could only be rented 3 days at a time. Hmmm. How about “that Mustang”. I about gulped. One of us mentioned that we needed to fit our luggage into it. “Oh. Well, let’s see…How about a Subaru Outback? I have one of those.”
Today as Paul and I loaded the crippled lawn mower into the back of the Outback we both commented how God certainly knew exactly what we needed!
I thought back to the sermons. Little boy has an economy lunch. Jesus fed 5000 men plus women and children. We had an economy car reserved – three times – and God gave us so much more.
Why the sermons? What’s ahead? I only know that God is our “Provider” and we are anticipating His meeting every need – with leftovers! His call to us is to trust Him and be faithful with all that He provides. Please pray for us.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Pastor Nestor
Pastor Nestor stayed after class one Friday to report on his medical condition - kidney stones. We have been helping with the costs. Then he told us he was planning to preach on life-dominating sin. He shared some of what was happening in his church that led him to this decision. We had a time of prayer together before he left. We received the following texts (edited from cell phone spelling!)
Ptr Paul, Good PM. I have a wonderful testimony... I preached last Sunday the issue of life-dominating sin. 30 persons got repented and recommitted themselves to the Lord when I made a challenge for an altar call. Tears are flowing and joy of grace was heard when they shout Hallelujah!
The wonderful thing is my wife and I discuss it Saturday night, we repent before God that night. We felt God’s favor by that night. Therefore it was also same favor that the church received last Sunday.
Thank you so much that when I pray for a minister’s life enhancement, God provide Life Discipleship program and thank God that both of you with Sis Patty were sent by God to become part of life and ministry.
Please pray for this gentle man. Pray that he may continue to lead his people into the ways of God, obedient to all that Jesus commanded us - Matt 28:20
Ptr Paul, Good PM. I have a wonderful testimony... I preached last Sunday the issue of life-dominating sin. 30 persons got repented and recommitted themselves to the Lord when I made a challenge for an altar call. Tears are flowing and joy of grace was heard when they shout Hallelujah!
The wonderful thing is my wife and I discuss it Saturday night, we repent before God that night. We felt God’s favor by that night. Therefore it was also same favor that the church received last Sunday.
Thank you so much that when I pray for a minister’s life enhancement, God provide Life Discipleship program and thank God that both of you with Sis Patty were sent by God to become part of life and ministry.
Please pray for this gentle man. Pray that he may continue to lead his people into the ways of God, obedient to all that Jesus commanded us - Matt 28:20
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Urging of God
Paul and I went to Starbucks this Saturday morning – a venti hot tea, our Bibles, and my laptop went together to make a full morning. After a wonderful time discussing the Word together we began to work on a presentation. I noticed a very attractive and nicely dressed young woman waiting to pick up her beverage. I chuckled because the price tags we still on the underside of her heels, very visible and detracting from the back view. My thought? I should tell her. No! That wouldn’t be right!
Later, she was waiting for the restroom and again I saw those tags – one on each shoe. Again, tell her. No, Patty! That’s not appropriate! She sat near us to wait and the urge was so strong that I got up and went over. She was very thankful and embarrassed, taking them right off.
Then it happened. She wanted to talk. She was raised Catholic as most Filipinos are. However, she has recently begun going to both Greenhills Christian Fellowship and Christ Commission Fellowship with Christian friends. She has read the book of John. I shared how God says in Hebrews 11 that first we must believe that God exists and second that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. I then explained that until we begin to really seek God, we cannot understand all that the Bible says because it is the Holy Spirit of God who teaches us. She admitted that she is confused by what Brown wrote the Davinci Code and is interested in a Bible study with me! We exchanged cell phone numbers. I promised I would pray for her and about when we could meet.
I did not realize it was the Holy Spirit bringing us together! What if I had hidden behind my embarrassment at telling her about her shoes or the fear of embarrassing her? I have certainly embarrassed my family by doing things like that before!
Later, she was waiting for the restroom and again I saw those tags – one on each shoe. Again, tell her. No, Patty! That’s not appropriate! She sat near us to wait and the urge was so strong that I got up and went over. She was very thankful and embarrassed, taking them right off.
Then it happened. She wanted to talk. She was raised Catholic as most Filipinos are. However, she has recently begun going to both Greenhills Christian Fellowship and Christ Commission Fellowship with Christian friends. She has read the book of John. I shared how God says in Hebrews 11 that first we must believe that God exists and second that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. I then explained that until we begin to really seek God, we cannot understand all that the Bible says because it is the Holy Spirit of God who teaches us. She admitted that she is confused by what Brown wrote the Davinci Code and is interested in a Bible study with me! We exchanged cell phone numbers. I promised I would pray for her and about when we could meet.
I did not realize it was the Holy Spirit bringing us together! What if I had hidden behind my embarrassment at telling her about her shoes or the fear of embarrassing her? I have certainly embarrassed my family by doing things like that before!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Flood Relief
Isaiah 43:2 – 3a – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God.”
Paul and I are so blessed to have so many friends praying for us and for our daughter Pami as we work here in the Philippines at this time! We are seeing the hand of God at work.
My Facebook name is Patty Spencer Ellis. I am posting updates there.
We have had two good meetings with our pastors. The first was organizational and 12
area coordinators were selected. They have been busy contacting the other Life-Discipleship pastors in their areas to see what their personal needs are. The second meeting was held to get the reports.Needs are great. Pastor Dan still has a foot of water in their home. He needs a kerosene stove so they can cook. Many other pastors in his area need similar help. His daughter made a video that is posted on my Facebook.
The typhoon death toll is over 600 and rising from disease. Pastor Rey’s son is critically ill with a flood-water-borne disease. I heard of two others today, one with kidney involvement already. I could go on.
300 bags of canned fish, powdered milk, bottled water and rice along with five big boxes of flipflops went out on Sunday afternoon at the church of one of our pastors. We have given out several very nice used study Bibles sent from churches in the US.We ordered $2000 in relief – sleeping mats to get them off wet mattresses, tarps or cardboard, cooking pots and cups, plates, etc for 50 families. We will also have 20 single burner stoves. Delivery will be delayed until Tuesday because some items have sold out.
Pami has ordered medicines and supplies for basic medical needs resulting from the
flood and remaining water. She has four doctors and another nurse to go to a needy shantytown near us Thursday. Two local pastors have set two sites up and will do the spiritual follow up. She has 9 more clinics planned before she returns to her hospital job in the US the 27th. She still needs doctors for next week and would appreciate your prayers. www.pamirn.blogspot.comClasses are resuming this week. We appreciate your prayers for our stamina. Paul has picked up some kind of illness and can sing low bass right now. He feels good, however.
In the middle of all this, the 1000 manuals we have been praying for arrived at noon today! Duty free, too! It is a time for celebration!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
How would you respond if you were waiting to cross the street and a motorcycle hit you?
Fely, the lady who cooks all the food for the three discipleship groups and helps me with the household needs, was on her way home from work Monday night when just that happened. She sent me a text from the x-ray department of the hospital, but I was already asleep in bed!
Three pastors were already at our home when I read her message the next morning. Oh, no! Is she OK? The pastors, Paul, and I prayed for her. I quickly thanked the Lord that the salad was already made. “I can cook the rice. We will scratch the main dish because the recipe is in Fely’s head plus, Fely was going to the market on the way to work to buy the ingredients! Let’s see. KFC? Jollibee chicken? Hmmm.”
I ran up the stairs to get Styrofoam trays so we wouldn’t have to do dishes for the mid-morning snack and then I heard something absolutely unbelievable! Fely was at our house! With the marketing done! Wait a minute. She was hit by a motorcycle last night!
As the day progressed the story came out. So did her bruises.
The motorcycle was coming fast, skirting to the right around a vehicle as they commonly do. (Yes, drivers have to be very watchful for those two-wheeled menaces.) He hit Fely’s left side, knocking her to the ground so hard that she rolled several yards down the street! The good thing is that Fely had the left over rice from the week before and landed on the it – a lovely cushion!
The amazing thing is that the driver stayed put and has taken responsibility for the accident. All expenses (US$22 for the ER and the x-rays!) will be deducted from his salary. Knowing that, I instructed Fely to accept the company's payment for the hospital expenses, but to give that money to the young driver as she shared Christ’s forgiveness and concern for him. He knew it was from me, Fely’s employer. He will not accept the money, but he did promise to attend Fely’s church.
I have encouraged Fely to take time off and rest. She has not missed a day of work! She won’t even leave an hour early!
Back to my question: How would you respond if you were waiting to cross the street and a motorcycle hit you?
Fely, the lady who cooks all the food for the three discipleship groups and helps me with the household needs, was on her way home from work Monday night when just that happened. She sent me a text from the x-ray department of the hospital, but I was already asleep in bed!
Three pastors were already at our home when I read her message the next morning. Oh, no! Is she OK? The pastors, Paul, and I prayed for her. I quickly thanked the Lord that the salad was already made. “I can cook the rice. We will scratch the main dish because the recipe is in Fely’s head plus, Fely was going to the market on the way to work to buy the ingredients! Let’s see. KFC? Jollibee chicken? Hmmm.”
I ran up the stairs to get Styrofoam trays so we wouldn’t have to do dishes for the mid-morning snack and then I heard something absolutely unbelievable! Fely was at our house! With the marketing done! Wait a minute. She was hit by a motorcycle last night!
As the day progressed the story came out. So did her bruises.
The motorcycle was coming fast, skirting to the right around a vehicle as they commonly do. (Yes, drivers have to be very watchful for those two-wheeled menaces.) He hit Fely’s left side, knocking her to the ground so hard that she rolled several yards down the street! The good thing is that Fely had the left over rice from the week before and landed on the it – a lovely cushion!
The amazing thing is that the driver stayed put and has taken responsibility for the accident. All expenses (US$22 for the ER and the x-rays!) will be deducted from his salary. Knowing that, I instructed Fely to accept the company's payment for the hospital expenses, but to give that money to the young driver as she shared Christ’s forgiveness and concern for him. He knew it was from me, Fely’s employer. He will not accept the money, but he did promise to attend Fely’s church.
I have encouraged Fely to take time off and rest. She has not missed a day of work! She won’t even leave an hour early!
Back to my question: How would you respond if you were waiting to cross the street and a motorcycle hit you?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
With a Grateful Heart - The story of GG
Here in the Philippines, a pastor’s wife is regarded as a pastora even though she may never preach. She is considered to be in ministry full-time and her church has very high expectations for her involvement in the church – even if she has a full-time job (often as a teacher) to support the family.
One of the wives in Batch 2 was just such a wife. GG is a full-time pastor’s wife, full-time mother of three, and full-time seasoned schoolteacher. She is the pastor’s wife who just “showed up” and stated, “I need this class!” She didn’t miss any classes, her homework was completed, and she readily shared in class.
GG and her husband recently came to visit us and shared the following amazing story:
First semester had just finished when, due to mismanagement of funds, the school laid her off. She came to class the very next week. After studying about half the lessons, GG and her husband began teaching the material in their church and seeing the real growth they had been asking the Lord for. We finished the classes the end of April and one week later the school called to ask if she could report to work immediately!
GG and her husband believe the Life Discipleship class was a divine appointment. Because she was unemployed and her husband’s income is very small, she received assistance with her travel expenses each week. Before they left the day of their visit, they gave us an envelope containing enough money to cover 13 weeks of her transportation money and the instructions that this money was to be used to pay someone else’s travel expenses!
Transportation subsidies for the current 25 pastors/wives amount to nearly $100/week! If you, too, would like to help a pastor or his wife pay their transportation to class every week, please visit www.actionintl.org/index.php?page=contact_us. Please also make a comment on this page so we can be sure to use your gift for this purpose.
One of the wives in Batch 2 was just such a wife. GG is a full-time pastor’s wife, full-time mother of three, and full-time seasoned schoolteacher. She is the pastor’s wife who just “showed up” and stated, “I need this class!” She didn’t miss any classes, her homework was completed, and she readily shared in class.
GG and her husband recently came to visit us and shared the following amazing story:
First semester had just finished when, due to mismanagement of funds, the school laid her off. She came to class the very next week. After studying about half the lessons, GG and her husband began teaching the material in their church and seeing the real growth they had been asking the Lord for. We finished the classes the end of April and one week later the school called to ask if she could report to work immediately!
GG and her husband believe the Life Discipleship class was a divine appointment. Because she was unemployed and her husband’s income is very small, she received assistance with her travel expenses each week. Before they left the day of their visit, they gave us an envelope containing enough money to cover 13 weeks of her transportation money and the instructions that this money was to be used to pay someone else’s travel expenses!
Transportation subsidies for the current 25 pastors/wives amount to nearly $100/week! If you, too, would like to help a pastor or his wife pay their transportation to class every week, please visit www.actionintl.org/index.php?page=contact_us. Please also make a comment on this page so we can be sure to use your gift for this purpose.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
FIRE!
When the distinctive sirens of Manila’s fire trucks kept going past our home and didn’t keep going very far Monday night, I, Patty, decided to take a look. Out the back was nothing until I looked up – huge black billows were up there! I ran through the house to the front deck, knocking on Adam’s door on the way. When I stepped outside … it was huge!
The fire was about 2 blocks from our home. Flames were reaching up to more than 11 stories gauged by the nearby buildings. It was one huge, hot fire. Explosions shot flames up even higher. Fire trucks continued to roll in from all over Manila. A real ambulance arrived (most are converted vans). Adam grabbed his video camera and got some great feed. We prayed for the victims, whoever they may be.
Tuesday morning found Paul and me out the door before 6:30 to see what had burned. To our horror 201 families had lost their homes! Young and old were sitting around in shock and grief looking at the 3 lots that had been home for so many. They all lived in an area we are guessing to be about 16,000 square feet of land. A few were already beginning to clear the rubble even as it continued to smolder. Those inside the wall were handing off corrugated roofing to those below who stacked it.
Everyone there lost everything but life. All the people got out safely, but they were not able to take anything with them. They have nothing. Others have provided clothing, sleeping mats and pillows. They have no money, no home, and no toothbrush.
God is always good. As I asked how many families had lived there they took me to a man with a bullhorn who was announcing breakfast served on the nearby university basketball court (covered so they can play in the rain). Melvin came up with smiles and a warm handshake, glad to see me again Thursday as we returned with ACTION’s Street Impact Team members to assess the situation and see what we as an organization can do. He is a city councilor and in charge of the relief! He was most helpful and a plan began to formulate in the SITeam’s minds.
ACTION never does relief for the sake of relief. It is always coordinated through local churches who take responsibility to do follow-up and evangelism. Paul and I sent texts out to all the Manila pastors who have taken our course. Many responded, but Ptr (Pastor) Onie and Ptr Larry were aggressive. We praise God they will be taking this project on.
As of now, we will be packing 201 kits of plates, forks, spoons, a rice pot, a frying pan and a simple sack lunch on Tuesday. Wednesday morning we will meet in an arranged place to present the gospel and give out the packs. Christ Jesus Our Life will be the sponsoring church.
This has been an amazing time of seeing God’s coordination at work. Please pray many will come to Christ.
One last prayer request: Jeff and Luv found a todder with a colostomy among the families. He needs further medical care. Pray that we can see this family come to Jesus Christ as we seek ways to help little John Patrick.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Batch II Graduation
Last Friday, we had the grand closing ceremony for the 2nd batch of pastors and ladies who serve in their churches. We also invited alumni from the first batch who were trained in 2007, and other special invited guests. All in all, almost seventy people attended including family members of those trained. Of the 36 members of Life-Discipleship trainees, 24 of them completed all course requirements and received the LD Certificate of Completion!
The main speakers were Rev. Doug Nichols, ACTION’s International Director of Pastor Leadership Development and Children At Risk, Rev. Jeff Anderson, ACTION’s Philippine Field Director, Pastor Norman Dagdag (Life-Discipleship’s Alumni leadership) and the two of us (Paul & Patty). The over-all theme was to challenge these trained pastors and ladies to train yet others who will spread their training both locally and abroad wherever the Lord may send them. Another feature of the ceremony was the showing of the “Fire Proof” DVD, http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/ that served as a great review about marriage relationships as were taught in the course. Some came into the kitchen area asking for paper tissue to dry their eyes. We have yet to fully discover what all this will be doing in a living way. We do know that this will be added to the great rejoicing in Heaven some day.
Pastor Manalang’s wife and daughter attended the ceremony (See previous blog for this story). Mrs. Gina Manalang represented her faithful husband in receiving his certificate. All who were there were touched because of her husband’s testimony.
The main speakers were Rev. Doug Nichols, ACTION’s International Director of Pastor Leadership Development and Children At Risk, Rev. Jeff Anderson, ACTION’s Philippine Field Director, Pastor Norman Dagdag (Life-Discipleship’s Alumni leadership) and the two of us (Paul & Patty). The over-all theme was to challenge these trained pastors and ladies to train yet others who will spread their training both locally and abroad wherever the Lord may send them. Another feature of the ceremony was the showing of the “Fire Proof” DVD, http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/ that served as a great review about marriage relationships as were taught in the course. Some came into the kitchen area asking for paper tissue to dry their eyes. We have yet to fully discover what all this will be doing in a living way. We do know that this will be added to the great rejoicing in Heaven some day.Pastor Manalang’s wife and daughter attended the ceremony (See previous blog for this story). Mrs. Gina Manalang represented her faithful husband in receiving his certificate. All who were there were touched because of her husband’s testimony.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Times Past Interwoven with Current Events
Pastor Marcos “Bong” Manalang used a bolo (machete) to murder his grandfather and two young relatives as a teenager. He was tried and incarcerated in the adult maximum prison just south of Manila. There he came to know Jesus Christ as his Redeemer and Savior. He went on to complete high school, earn a BA in Business Administration, and complete seminary. He also met a Christian woman who became his wife and the mother of his children.
As Pastor Bong was nearing release, he learned that a prison church in a large prison on another island needed a pastor and applied to be transferred there. There he was given a simple house to live in and his children were able to live with their daddy for the first time within the prison gates. He had a small plot of land to farm. He had to report for roll call daily at 4 PM or he would loose the “freedom”.
Several years ago Patty and I went to the long slender island on the west side of the Philippines to hold Life Discipleship training for pastors there. Pastors came from both ends of this island, some traveling over many rivers with less-than-desirable bridges (or none at all) as this island still has many very remote tribal areas.
After the three days of teaching was completed, one of the pastors brought us to see various ministry and tourist sites in his military-style jeep. Our first stop was the large national prison where one of the attending pastors was working with the evangelical church. It was with sheer joy that we stopped at the little church. The prisoners themselves were paying for its construction with their tithes from the meager, meager earnings making handicraft items.
We met the prisoner-pastor and were blessed by his love for his fellow-prisoners. However, he was limping on a very discolored and swollen foot. Infection was inching its way up his leg. He had been working fish traps in the river and a “mud-fish” had bitten his foot. Pastor had gone to the prison doctor and been given antibiotics for five days. Now the infection was raging again. The prison would not give him any more medicine. Patty and I were able to purchase appropriate antibiotics for this dear man.
It is interesting how the Lord works. Pastor Bong was released from prison and returned to the prison compound where he spent so many years to pastor a church. He learned about Life Discipleship classes in our home. He was one of two former prisoners to be accepted into the classes that began last October.
When the Friday group convened its weekly session on April 3, 2009, Pastor Joel
announced that Pastor Marcos Manalang became seriously ill Thursday evening and was in critical condition in the hospital. Saturday evening I received a text message from Pastor Joel that Pastor Bong had passed away. Pastor Bong had completed all course requirements by Friday, March 27, his last day of attendance. He was among the most faithful in attending the sessions, was active in dynamic group discussions, and submitted his homework requirements. Upon visiting his family on Sunday afternoon, April the 12th, his wife told me that her husband showed her often, from the Scriptures, what dying to self really means. Who knows what we’ll discover about this dear brother in Christ and how his life impacted others when we all meet together in heaven.
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