VBS Pictures

VBS IS OVER!

We report with both a sigh of relief and a praise to God that VBS is over. What a long, blessed week it was. There was a lack of personnel, but just like in the story of Gideon it was obvious that the Lord was at work through our small number. The children really enjoyed the time and several made indications that they were receiving the truth of the gospel. Please pray for our continued discipleship of these children and for the further evangelization of others.
I (being the technological non-guru that I am) tried earlier in the week to post some video of the VBS. But unfortunately it didn't work out. However I will post some pictures along with this so that you can see a little of what was going on.
In our adult service yesterday we had a wonderful time praising the Lord. Our people are hungry for the Word and it gives us great joy to see them growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. (2nd Peter 3:18)
And again, as always, to God be the glory!

VBS Day 4

Day 4 of VBS was rather interesting. We had some new children come out today and that in and of itself was great. However there was one little one who sought to steal the show by doing his Chilean equivalent of acting the rap artist. He was very disruptive and very disrespectful. We realize that this is due to the fact that he (as all of us are) is a sinner and he needs to have his life transformed by God. So please pray for him and for us and the rest of the kids here in Curaco.
What a privilege to share the gospel 4 days in a row with all of these little ones. We trust in the power of God's Word and trust that it will fulfill with the Lord's purposes. Tomorrow is the last day of this VBS and we look forward to what the Lord is going to do. To Him be the glory!

VBS Days 2 and 3

The VBS adventure is still going strong. Day Two was better than Day One. Not only were there more kids, they were better behaved. This was a lot to do with Ruth's "zero tolerance" disrespect policy. I wasn't there when she instituted it but it was obvious that the kids were there and heard her loud and clear. By the end of the day Ruth was feeling very poorly. She already had an appointment at the doctor for a sick Tabitha and she also took advantage to have the doctor take a quick look at her. "You look palid" said the doctor and Ruth said "I need to get sick....." So both Ruth and Tabitha got sent home with some medication and around 8 o'clock the paramedic on call came by and hooked Ruth up to an I.V. right in our bed. I told Ruth that her situation looked bleak but it would get better and someday (soon) be a good analogy about the rigors of VBS.
Day 3 found Ruth at home recovering from her illness. Fortunately we had two brothers from another town come over and help us with the VBS. The music wasn't nearly as harmonious but the Word was preached and we trust in the Lord for the results. Several children indicated their need (and desire) to have Christ forgive them of their sins. Please pray for them and for the Spirit to truly illuminate them. (if He already hasn't)
Day 4.... What wonders will it bring?

Escuela Biblica de Vacaciones

Today was the first day of our Winter VBS. The kids down here have three weeks of winter break, so we thought that we would take advantage of the time by having a VBS. One day down and four to go! We are desperately short staffed but thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to minister to these children. Please pray for us and for them throughout the week. I will post more on how things proceed. To God be the glory!

A call for discernment

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--- with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2nd Timothy 4:1-5)
"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, 'In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.' These are men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (Jude 17-19)
Friends, it is time for us to be like the Bereans and diligently search the Scriptures. (Acts 17:11) False doctrine and teaching is rampant and we must be aware of its hazardous results. The post below has a link to a story in England of golf course maintenance gone wrong. The maintenance worker used a substance that appeared to be the right thing for the job, but it wasn't. His mistake had some serious ramifications. And so it will be for us if we do not make sure that we are receiving and dispensing the pure Word of God. (Psalm 12:6; 19:8; 119:140; Proverbs 30:5; John 17:17) "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Golf course stripped bare after bungling groundsman mistakes weed killer for water | Mail Online

Golf course stripped bare after bungling groundsman mistakes weed killer for water Mail Online

Thankful for a weak battery

As Elizabeth, Daniel and I were just outside of Puerto Montt the battery on the truck started to lose strength. "Oh great", I thought to myself. This was a one-month old battery and I could not imagine that it was the battery itself that was the problem, maybe it was the alternator. (No, I am not a mechanic but I have learned from past experiences.) So anyway we limp into town and do what we need to do and find our lodging for the night. First thing in the morning we go to a garage and they send us to another garage and they send us to another garage until we finally get to the place where a guy comes out to the truck and takes out the alternator. He puts it in the vise and takes it apart. "Aqui esta tu problema", here's your problem he says to me. I am directed to go across the street and buy a new part for the alternator. I go across the street and buy the part and when I come back the mechanic has found another problem. And I am glad he did. The fan belt was razor thin in at least three places and could have broken off at any moment. The mechanic proceeded to explain to me that this would have been "muy malo", or very bad. "El motor se puede calentar demasiado y el motor podria echarse a perder", the motor could overheat and be ruined. So I thanked him for his eagle eye and went across the street to buy a 3 dollar fan belt. He puts it on and we pay him his $25 fee and are on the road. Normally I would not have been thankful for a weak battery nor for the need to replace part of an alternator. But considering the fact that the Lord used this to mercifully save the functionability of our truck was reason to give thanks. The moral of the story..... Do not be so quick to judge that the situation is bleak and/or without hope. The Lord knows what is going on and He will use whatever it is for His glory. In all things give Him thanks! (1st Thessalonians 5:18)

Keeping watch

Tonight was one of the nights when I laced up the old sneakers and headed off to the local gym. I brought along two of my biggest fans, Elizabeth and Daniel. Of course they didn't spend much time watching me play, but just having them there made the time more enjoyable. The competition was decent as we had the old guys (my team) against the young guys. The final tally indicated that we might be old but we can score more baskets than the younger guys.
Anyway upon coming home I needed to get the truck in off from the street and park it in the driveway. So I did that and before coming into the house I took a quick moment to look up into the sky and check out the stars. It has been pretty clear the past couple of nights and this has made for some nice vistas in the sky. I really enjoy taking a moment (when I can and when I think about it) to look up at the stars. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord. (Psalm 19:1a) Well, as I am still out in the front of the house checking out the show in the heavens I look over to my left on ground level and see another thing of beauty. Next to our house is an open lot. Green grass and the open space make it a nice pasture for several sheep. When I saw them lying down for the night, I had the verse pop in my mind from Luke 2:8, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night." Why that verse? For several reasons. 1. There were sheep. 2.It was night. 3. I am a shepherd. The last reason brings to my mind another verse, found in Acts 20:28 "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which He bought with His own blood." What a beautiful, powerful verse! Without much commentary I would just ask that you pray for us and for the flock that the Lord has placed in our care. And that we as well would ever remember that although "we were as sheep going astray, (but) now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls." (1st Peter 2:25) And He doesn't slumber nor sleep, He is always keeping watch. (Psalm 121) Amen.

37 degrees farenheit (inside!)

It has been very cold over the last couple of weeks. And due to our house's lack of insulation and adequate heating sources we have been very chilly here in the south of Chile. Maybe we should start eating some "chili" for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With some nice, hot peppers of course.
Would any of you, the multitudes who read this blog, have any ideas about how we could keep the house warmer than 37 degrees? Our friend and partner in ministry, Jorge Villalobos, suggested that we get a different house. Good idea but easier said than done. We have followed up some leads but nothing has surfaced. It appears that we will be here for a while. So any good ideas would be "warmly" accepted.
Things are going well with the ministry. People are receiving and rejecting the good news. May we be found faithful to share as the Lord would have us to share and serve as He would have us to serve. Thanks again for your prayers and partnership in the ministry down here. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!