The Best of 2016

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians has been one of my favorite books in the New Testament; it is a repeated source of wisdom, encouragement, meditation and wonder. And it continues to be a source of new discoveries. We have been studying this book in the Rafiki Bible study series (this is usually a four page series of weekly notes with questions for each day eventually covering the whole Bible in three years). I still marvel with many others that God gave such a wonderful revelation to Paul while a prisoner in Rome and awaiting a trial before the emperor. There have been some things which have passed through my mind repeatedly but which have been beyond my ability to comprehend. I am writing this chiefly to get my thoughts organized and clarified so that they can be verbalized to others when the occasion comes along. Some of our adult students are going to be with us for three years by the time they finish the teacher’s training program so it is important for me to be always thinking about what could benefit them most in spiritual teaching as well as how we teach their curriculum.

 Pray with us for the effective discipleship of our orphans and teacher candidates. This is truly a golden opportunity.

New home for teacher's training institute

As a back ground I would commend to you an article from the internet which can be accessed by typing in “seven pillars of wisdom”, then choosing “Bridge to the Bible”. There is a lot there about the life and adventures of TE Lawrence but focus on the comments about Prov 9:1 and then in detail on 8:12-14. This wisdom is absolutely free to anyone who seeks and asks, it is the best of the O.T. and the heart rejoices in such a discovery. But I promise there is another world of wisdom which surpasses all that men can dream about and it ours for the asking! Just finish reading, I wish I had seen it long ago. What stimulated my discovery was our Rafiki Bible study in Ephesians 3:10 where Paul writes, “in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places”. He is writing about the details of the mystery of the Church and commenting that God has summoned angelic authorities to come and learn about the deep mysteries of His wisdom through observation of what He is doing in the Church (us, Gentiles mostly now and some Jews). And what is He calling them to observe and learn? I received some light on this through one very helpful reference, Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald. He lists at least nine things angelic authorities can learn: 1. God has triumphed over sin to His own glory, 2. He has sent heaven’s Best for earth’s worst, 3. He has redeemed His enemies at enormous cost, conquering them through love and is forming them as a Bride for His Son, 4. He has blessed them with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (there are 11 of these in chapter one), 5. Through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross more glory has come to God and more blessing to believing Jew and Gentile than if sin had never been allowed to enter, 6. God has been vindicated, 7. Christ has been exalted, 8. The devil has been defeated and 9. The Church by God’s reckoning has been seated in Christ to share His glory!

Laboring over lessons

I found this extraordinary list hard to swallow whole heartedly because as a physician and constant party to the open and secret sins of mankind including my own, why didn’t God create a sinless universe where it would have been impossible for sin to enter? Think of the suffering He would have saved and avoided the unspeakable evils of the last century alone. I focused on point number 5 and asked the Lord, wondering if the request was too philosophical, to show me how this could be true. Around Christmas time when typing an old diary I came across a list of nine (9) things which Christ has given us specifically mentioned in John 17. The chapter was very familiar from repeated meditation.

Making furniture for classrooms

Before reviewing them it would be good mention some startling discoveries about myself from the previous missionary service in Africa 25 years ago. There were eight things which stood out very clearly. I was: 1. proud of what I had accomplished in my life, 2. arrogant despite efforts not to be, 3. rebellious in not submitting to the discipline which God brought upon me, 4. ungrateful in forgetting all that God had done for me in the past through His fabulous grace, 5. young and self-sufficient, not having encountered yet the infirmities of aging, 6. self-righteous in witnessing close up some of the horrible failures of believers, 7. capable of despising so severely that I could consider murder and 8. go on to plan secretly my own self destruction. This was the man I had become despite the wonderful forgiveness of God applied to the past. “Sweet are the uses of adversity”.

7th grade with new desks made in our "carpenter shop"

God shows us in John 17 that through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross He has given us: 1. eternal life which starts now, 2. the Father’s words, 3. The Father’s name as our own Father in a personal way, 4. His joy and peace, 5. His separation from the world, 6, His commission, 7. His sanctification, 8. His glory which He had with the Father before the creation and 9. His love. What an amazing thing that He could bring sinners (some really bad) from their lost estate to such amazing grace and they would be truly transformed! This would indeed, be a theme which heavenly intelligences would want to pursue because it highlights extraordinary, unexpected grace. Here is wisdom, strength and love which are incomprehensible. This is my story, this is the story of everyone who has been transformed by the grace of God; God Himself has come to us, even becoming sin for us.

Art, music and PE teacher PTL

It is no wonder as Jesus walks among the seven churches in Revelation (chap. 2,3) He is looking for our faithfulness in holding to the truth about His person and work, service in the church and our lost world and ultimately, fervent devotion to Him. He is truly worthy of everything that we could offer. He has challenged us to walk worthy of Him and has urged us to the deepest devotion since He has given us so much. Peter asked when reminded about the coming age when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, “Lord, what then will there be for us?” Jesus challenges him and us, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for my name’s sake, shall receive many times as much and shall inherit eternal life” (Matt 19:29).

Teacher candidates and SOME disciples

Look at these pictures and reflect on the opportunities to bear fruit in this single village in these individual lives. Whatever we have given up for the brief time left, cannot compare with what we have gained and what is waiting for us. Thank all of you who have supported, prayed for and encouraged us along the way. We too are attending the school for heavenly intelligences regarding the riches of God’s wisdom and grace hidden for past ages.

Keeping track of where the money goes.