Philippines Mission Letter: October 2023
Click to download the letter. Dear Brethren, May the Lord continue to bless you abundantly, and may His grace be with you always. Last month, our youth group had an amazing time connecting with young people from neighboring congregations, helping them grow stronger in their faith and build closer friendships with fellow believers. These interactions included meaningful discussions, singing spiritual songs, testing their Bible knowledge, playing games, sharing meals, and more. These gatherings brought our young members closer together and…
Wardrobe Change
Have you ever voyaged into the deep recesses of your closest only to discover clothing that is well past its time? The style is out, they no longer fit, and the holes are no longer justifiable in polite society. We would be embarrassed to be caught wearing some such things we find in there. Some clothes have so much wear and tear that salvaging them even for rags may be questionable! Time for them to go into the trash and…
“This is a Test… Is Action Needed?”
For weeks they were advertising it. For weeks they were warning about it. This past Wednesday, October 4, at 2:20pm all cellular devices, all TVs, and all radios blared a sound similar to an Amber Alert as a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert was conducted. This affected people whether in a busy office, in a sports arena, in a serious meeting, in their cars, in their homes, and in their schools. Virtually anyone anywhere within the sound of a…
Philippines Mission Letter: September 2023
Click to download the letter. Dear Brethren, May the Lord’s blessings and protection always surround you. In the past few months, our congregation has been working to strengthen the bonds among our members. Last week, our women organized a Women’s Retreat, which was a wonderful opportunity for our sisters to come together, strengthen their relationships, and get closer to one another. This retreat helped them feel more connected spiritually and gave them a chance to share and grow personally. Additionally,…
Do You Think About the Roman Empire?
I am amused and baffled by what amuses and baffles our culture. Trends rise and fall and what is new today is despised and forgotten tomorrow. A video trend today is to ask men how often they think about the Roman Empire. Apparently, it’s a thing now to be amused at (particularly men) who think of the Roman Empire daily or weekly (I know, I don’t understand it either). If you are in the New Testament at all in daily…
Have You Heard of ‘Silent Walking?'”
There is apparently a new trend on TikTok (one of the popular social media apps of our day) called “silent walking.” The trend goes that a person just gets outside and takes a walk with no phone, no earbuds, no electronic distractions of any kind and just walks, listening to nature and being silent. Incredible! Revolutionary! Why didn’t anyone else ever think of such a thing? Just walking… The roots of this claim Buddhist philosophy, but respectfully, it is from…
“There’s Just One More Thing…”
“Oh, there’s just one more thing…” There are few things more frustrating than thinking that everything is understood and then there is an addition to the instructions. In the book of Colossians, Paul is addressing a people who have been told, “you have Christ and that’s great…oh yeah, but there’s one more thing you need….” What Paul writes to them is that if they have Jesus, they have it all they need to be fully assured in the faith! They…
What Do You Do With The Mad That You Feel?
In 1969, Fred Rogers addressed a frustrated, tired, and angry U.S. Senate subcommittee concerning funding for PBS educational TV. His calm demeanor and earnest reasoning stands in sharp contrast to everyone in the room. Yet it was a song that Mr. Rogers wrote and quoted that won the day. “What do you do with the mad that you feel when you feel so mad you could bite? When the whole world seems oh, so wrong, and nothing you do seems…
Philippines Mission Letter: August 2023
Click to download the letter. Dear Brethren, May the Lord’s grace be a constant source of inspiration and hope in your life. Last month, our youth group did something special. They came together for an activity that improved their singing skills and strengthened their friendships. They realized that singing not only enhanced their individual abilities but also deepened their sense of togetherness as a group. Moreover, during this activity, our youth group had a lot of fun and shared laughter,…
“Hitching Your Wagon to a ‘Mad’ Man”
Pro 22:24-25 – Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Nathaniel Philbrick wrote a book called, The Last Stand, in which he described George Custer with the following words: “Custer did not drink; he didn’t have to. His emotional effusions [outbursts] unhinged his judgment in ways that went far beyond alcohol’s ability to interfere with clear thinking.” Imagine following a man…
The Cost of Following Jesus
The cost to follow Jesus is high! It will cost all our love. Jesus said the great and first commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Mt. 22:37-38). The second, like it, “love your neighbor as yourself (Mt. 22:39). If we want to learn from Jesus, we must learn to love like Jesus loved! It will cost all our life. “Whoever does not bear his own cross an come after me cannot…
For the Students (Disciples) (Part 2)
Students in school and disciples of Christ (cf. Mt. 28:18-20) desire to look at life the way God looks at life. Consider carefully some of God’s thoughts on life: Proverbs 19:21 – Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 20:19 – Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. Proverbs 20:22 – Do not say, “I will repay evil”;…