The Jericho March

NEW POST: CHAPTER 7: EXCERPT 3 – “When Caesar Seems To Have The Upper Hand”:Pacific Islands:

Pacific Islands:
I witnessed what was obviously the work of western lobbyists trying to change the constitution of a traditional country’s government to embrace sinful behavior. At a rally I was the first to the platform. I spoke on the Way, the Way written into our being, Jesus. I spoke on the need for systems to support the people. Many alternative systems nestle themselves around the Christian system and claim to be better; however, when the Christian system is removed, the others crumble. I explained that Christianity is never on trial, because life proves it. The sinful behavior is not on trial, because sin and punishment are one and the same. However, the government is on trial. We do not have the authority, so we do not have the responsibility, but it does. Finally, I ended with a plea to the churches. “What gets your attention will get you. Do not let this issue become the focus of the Church. We are called to be redemptive, not to be anti-sin preachers.” There were three more speeches (and lots of music) after mine. The last speaker was a letdown. My personal experience is that every time someone stands up and proclaims to be God’s apostle and God’s mouthpiece, it spells trouble. I knew everyone from the Hindu to the sinners would bear the brunt of his condemnation. I just wished he would stop. Well, amen! After the rally, the church folks decided to march around the city park, requesting that as a foreigner I stay away, since they did not want the government to view me as protesting against it. They decided to do a “Jericho” march, lining up eight across and walking around the city park seven times very solemnly and without making a sound. When they came to a stop in front of the platform, a trumpet sounded with a deafening blast; and all the people, with arms stretched upward, in unison shouted, “God hear our prayer!” Then the band erupted as the crowd sang, “I went to the enemy and took back my soul from him.” It was all truly moving to watch.

I went by a house today that is magnificent. It is interesting how the government came into possession of the house. The owner had worked in this country, made a lot of money, and paid just as much in taxes. He got back at the government for the incredibly high taxes by giving them the house with the stipulation that it be maintained but never sold. It costs $400,000 annually to maintain! Now the government gets a taste of its own medicine by always having to pay him for the upkeep.

Untold Stories Unknown Saints, book by Michael Wells, available in “Resources” part of the website.

ABIDING LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL in Uruguay

The men that I work WITH!

We finished the pastors’ conference and have headed  to the interior.  Enclosed is a picture of Alfredo.  He is “high octane!”  Also, see Raimundo, one of the best translators and interpreters in S. America.  Often, American missionaries will say to me, “You could not have accomplished that lecture, communicating those concepts, without Raimundo.”  True, as he is a great teacher and helps with the lectures.  He knows what we are trying to communicate and He and Hilda (his wife) love the message.  Alfredo is eating the tip of some bread, just bought from a man on a bicycle.  I asked why and he said, “We believe if you eat the tip of the bread your mother-in-law will love you.”  At that I asked if I could buy all of the tips.  Another interesting thing was a man playing a harmonica on a bicycle.  When people hear him, they bring their knives to him.  On the back of the bike is a very simple stone, man powered, to sharpen the knives.  It is a great way to make a living.  We traveled for the afternoon and have arrived at our new destination.  We have rooms next to a river that is 10 miles across.  Really remote and beautful place.  The meetings will start soon.

In the Beginning!

Michael & Raimundo in Uruguay for a Pastors’ Retreat

A wonderful group of pastors and their wives have assembled in a retreat center in Uruguay for an ALMI retreat

Betty’s Bite

Thank you all so much for your interest in my wellbeing after the monkey bite! I had the last rabies shot Feb. 23rd and all is well. My body has even quit aching and acting like it is fighting off something. When I do come to mind in this regard, however, I would ask that you pray for Paul, Usha, and their children, Jemmy, Jasmine, and John Samuel, who are in that same city in India living with very few tangible resources but who have mighty hearts because of Christ for the ministry there.  Thank you!

The People of India

India Ministry Part 3 Photos

You will notice an elephant blessing, Pastor Paul interpreting, the government hospital (where I took Betty and gave a grateful doctor a book), the crowd at the meetings, and the ever present road hazards in India.

India Ministry Part 2

We are sending the photos in installments as the internet is very slow.  You will notice the largest fresh water prawns that I have every seen, the introduction of SIW in Tamil, the government hospital, a fellowship dinner, the largest lake in Asia, and eating on banana leaves.

The Ministry in India just keeps getting better and better and better! Part 1

We just completed part 2 of the ministry in India. In keeping with the requests of others, I am showing minimal photos of crowds to whom I am speaking, since one crowd pretty much looks like another. The time was really blessed of the Lord, and thank you for your participation in this ministry. Meetings were held in three different cities at the base of what is considered to be the third most “holy” site in India. I was surprised at the number of Hindus that attended and blessed by those who came to Christ. One engineer pulled me aside and asked, “Exactly who is God?” After explaining, he said, “All my questions are answered.”  We had an unusual amount of Christian workers in every conference from every denomination in the area. Paul, my interpreter and an abiding life teacher, is well respected in the whole Christian and Hindu community. I was riding on his shoulders, and it could not have been a more beautiful journey. Hindus are just two clicks off the truth, and it is my prayer that one day this nation might ignite for Christ. It is not an improbable vision. Please find attached below the article various photos of south India. You will see Paul, his wife, Usha, his daughter that is soon to be married and for whom we had the joy of picking out a wedding gown, something she prayed for and could not imagine getting. Also the crowds from the various meetings and photo of the hospital where Betty was treated for the monkey bite. Thank you for your prayers and support. A full report will be sent to the Abiding Life Ministries Support Team.

 

Singing Birds

 

Revelation 15:3,4; and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,

                  Lord God Almighty.

         Just and true are your ways,

                  King of the ages.

Who will not fear you, O Lord,

                  and bring glory to your name?

         For you alone are holy.

         All nations will come

                  and worship before you.

Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” 

 

Of all the animals on earth, only two sing: man and the songbirds. Of approximately 9,000 species of birds, about half of them are songbirds. This is unlike the chicken and the frog that have a hardwired sound they can make, even if deaf, for chickens do not have to hear to make that annoying sound. Many birds have a simple vocalization with very little variety, if any, in their patterns. In contrast, the songbirds can often follow an instrument note for note. One fellow reports going to an aviary and playing his instrument to a white-crested laughing thrush; the bird begins to follow along with the song. 

 

Carnal persons, like the chickens, seem to make the same noise day after day. They are deaf, and their droning is monotonous. The carnal show very little breadth or depth in what is said. Get them together and the sound is even more annoying. They are always an echo and never a voice. The spiritual, like the songbird, listen, become excited at the music, and begin to sing along with the One who started the singing. The spiritual move with Christ, and He will speak into their hearts a new song. Psalm 40:3, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” The sound of the spiritual is a balm for the broken and hurting heart. Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”  

 

In the end, it is good to be a follower of the One who is leading us, to listen to His voice and to follow what He is speaking. In so doing, make a beautiful sound for the rest of the world to hear.

 

Next Page »