Tidbits

The Weather: Some brief showers passed by us during the last couple of days. Just enough to remind us that there is such a thing as rain. But nothing significant since Christmas. Farmers still hurting. Our Blessings ministry has been handing out bags of rice to mostly Christian families and will be giving school supplies to their needy children at the end of May. Philippine schools start back up first week of June.

Ministry: In the past few weeks, we’ve begun testing our newer strategy: using fewer, simpler, and more visual lessons; focusing more on homogeneous groups, and making plans to gather our house church leaders for mutual encouragement and training. It’s going to take months before we can begin evaluating its effectiveness. But we continue to search for the best means to communicate the saving message of Jesus Christ in culturally appropriate ways. My team of seven continue to be excited as they see God at work in the lives of those who have followed the Lord through baptism and have become part of a growing house church movement.

Jonathan: When it comes to schooling, Jonathan, of all my kids, has caused my blood pressure to rise the most. He just hates school (like I did when I was his age). He prefers to work with his hands and do something that’s visually constructive. A few weeks ago, I bought him a 1200+ page technical book on computer repair and maintenance. He’s about half way through it and has his old computer disassembled, dissected, and scattered across his room. He keeps telling me computer stuff that’s beyond my smarts to comprehend. His birthday is on May 11. He’ll be 14. Maybe I can go buy him a bunch of computer scraps to work with.

Martha: Bless her heart. She’s way far behind in some of her school work. She makes excellent grades and does a marvelous job with her assignments, but she and Jonathan remind me of the fabled tortoise and the hare. Martha is the tortoise, slow, but sometimes, too slow. So slow that I wonder how in the world can she win the race. Jonathan is the hare, sprints here and there, but is easily distracted and looses interest in the race. Martha is eager for Hannah to come next month, and for her mission trip to India in July, but right now she’s trying to win the race of chemical compounds, expository essays, and the history of World War II.

Entertainment: Jan was good to read to the kids regularly. I’ve tried to continue that practice, even though Martha and Jonathan are both good readers. There’s something about being together as a family and reading wholesome books. Several weeks ago, I began reading Little Britches, the first of eight autobiographical books by Ralph Moody. The books remind us of Little House on the Prairie, but from a boy’s perspective. We have enjoyed the readings tremendously. Ralph is an impetuous, adventurous boy who develops strong character and an incredible work ethic while helping to support his family. Great reading for anyone with kids.

Me: As a way of helping our house church leaders, I’m working on simple, half-page questionnaires that they can use during their participatory worship times. The heart of our house church worship is taking a New Testament Bible story and using questions to help dig out eternal truths that can be life-changing. It has been refreshing to dig into these stories and see the gold nuggets of timeless truths that the Lord continues to build in my life. God’s word is powerful, practical, full of divine wisdom. I’m so grateful for those who were faithful to teach me to love the Scriptures. May we be faithful to teach it to others as our best hope of reclaiming those conservative values that were so evident generations ago.