Photographic Memory
Does this picture make you think of Revelation 9:2? "And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit." Taken November 15 when several fires raged in Southern California.
"Suffering helps us look for our Savior. If we never have any trouble along the journey, we would never have any reason to long for Heaven. Like the Israelites, we need the house of bondage to help drive us to the Promised Land." —Philip Graham Ryken
Begging His Mercy, Remembering His Grace
If you had thought "we've got problems" before Sunday's sermons, maybe you've changed my mind. Isaiah's warning from God to Damascus was way too graphic. But Habakkuk's hard question "where is God?" could leave you hopeless. We needed this reminder. God will take care of our enemies. He is the God of all comfort for those who turn to Him.
We would like to add two more names to our prayer list who are serving in the United States military. These men are two of Don and Edna Kiser's grandsons. Jason Kiser is in the Navy on a ship that is currently in the Gulf. John Kiser is in the army and currently in Iraq.
- Marvin Funkhouser—deployed to Iraq for 18 months
- Coleen—a friend of Woody and Barbara Blalock
- Tony Loving—flying troops in and out of various areas
- Bryan Miller—in Guam, will be in Iraq soon
- Chris Shelton—deployed to Iraq
- Jeremy Mullens—is now discharged!
- Sam Im
- Steven Henning
- Jorge Avalos
- Ryan Bareng
- Kenneth Miller—National Guard unit in Iraq
- Jeremy Peters—currently in Iraq
- Jeremy Thomas—currently in Afghanistan
- Jason Kiser—currently in the Gulf
- John Kiser—currently in Iraq
Stella Rogers learned there is a cancerous growth on her ear. Stella will also have a lung test this week.
Teri Lopez continues to have numbness in her neck and was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists.
Fires in Southern California rage all around our area. Smoke is heavy in the air, darkening the sky and covering the sun. Would you ask God to spare the loss of life due to these dangers? Would you pray that as a result of the fires all of Southern California would recognize Who is really in control and be saved?
Surgeons removed Leonard Csema's good eye Friday because the infection had already done irreversible damage.
Ray Banks' Grandpa Charley died about a week ago. Would you ask God to be near this grieving family?
Donna Banks asks prayer for a child who is being ostracized due to his learning disability and how his situation is being handled.
Wow! You would have thought it was time for Spring cleaning around the church-house this week. All the light bulbs were replaced in the auditorium—and that would have been a huge accomplishment alone. Then came Saturday! The short is description is that there was a "deep" cleaning (and you thought all that smoke was from the fires). Praise the Lord for the sacrificial acts of kindness given by so many. How we all thank Him and we also thank you for your joyful service to our Lord. What a blessing!
Sharon and Ronald Greene have been ill with bronchitis but are better now and hope to be back to church soon, if not today.
Donna Rigsby's mom, Mrs. Duncan, was hospitalized with pneumonia last week. She is home now and Donna will be with her mom in Tucson this week.
In the midst of preparing for the special evangelistic outreach in the Spanish congregation, Ezer Lopez, learned he may have gallstones. Ezer has been the organizing influence in this campaign and is prepared to preach if the pain is not too great (by the time you read this we will know whether Ezer preached). If God has, by His mercy and grace, saved some today—remember to pray for protection and nourishment of these new "babes in Christ."
Would you ask God to give us, as a church, a thirst for righteousness that we would grow spiritually, hunger for the Scriptures, and pursue His holiness?
We are moving into the season when we reflect on Jesus Christ's incarnation and our union with Him. At this season, we also remember in a special way those who are taking the "good news" to other people in various places around the world. If God leads you to participate in the Missionary Christmas Offering, please mark your envelope or check "Missionary Christmas." The deadline for receiving these gifts is the last Sunday in November, November 30, 2008.
Hear God's Word
Browse the audio sermons preached by Pastor Rigsby (or download for later listening).
Past recent sermons are now posted!
The Burden of Damascus and Ephraim | Isaiah 17
In this section (chapters 13-27) The judgment against Damascus and Ephraim demonstrates that chastening must precede blessing. Listen now.
How long, O Lord? | Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk wrestled with hard questions. In summary he wondered, "where is God?" Listen now.
Read the Bible
The final three months of 2008 are devoted to reading the New Testament. In November we will read the The Epistles, These are the letters written to various churches and leaders. Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, James, Jude. To help set a pace, think in terms of reading about 4 chapters each day (or one "letter" each weekday). Remember the 3 Psalms and 1 chapter from Proverbs each week.
The suggested 2008 Bible reading guide (1 page) can be downloaded here.
"When our depravity meets his divinity it is a beautiful collision."
Steve & Eida Irwin
Of all the things you might have had on your mind this morning, one of them probably was not…
WHAT IN THE WORLD MIGHT STEVE BE DOING AT HIS DESK TODAY?
But since you are part of this team, I thought I'd share something with you. It won't take 10 minutes. I'm working on editing the Spanish translation of a training powerpoint for Bible translators. Here's a sample:
Here's what it looks like in Spanish:
Does that look like fun?
Actually, it is pretty interesting. In order to translate this stuff, we first need to understand it (since our translations are "meaning-based"). So as we work, we're learning. This material is actually helping us understand some aspects of the things we already do as translators.
And every once in awhile we bump into fun little things. One of the illustrations this morning referred to "popcorn" and because I have lived in Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico, I'm aware that they have a different name for popcorn in each of those countries. So I googled it and this is what I found:
- Argentina: pochoclo (de pop y choclo), pororó (del guaraní), ancua (en el norte)
- Bolivia, Brasil: pipoca
- Canary Islands: cotufas, roscas [spirals]
- Chile: cabritas [little goats]
- Colombia: maíz pira, crispetas, totes
- Cuba: rositas [little roses]
- Ecuador: canguil
- Mexico, Spain: palomitas [little doves]
- Paraguay: pororó (en guaraní)
- Perú: canchitas, cancha
- República Dominicana: cocaleca
- Uruguay: pororó, po
- Venezuela: cotufas, gallitos [little roosters] (en parte de la región Zuliana y Andina)
Since I can't use the whole list, I'll select a few that will cover the locations where this presentation is most likely to be used.
God is on His throne. Let's work while it is day; the night is coming when no man can work. Hope you have a great day!
Steve & Eida Irwin
New Tribes Mission,
Personal Website at NTM
Spanish Language Resources (SLR)
Sergio & Miriam Ramirez
November 12, 2008
Dear Brethren,
Thank you so much. God continues working mercifully in, through and for us in His grace and for His Glory through the kind partnership of each of you.
PRAISES
- Joel and Ami's Redding was an extraordinary time of celebration and testimony. God answered all our prayers. Family came from Guatemala, Mexico and the States. Lives were touched. Anabel, who has postponed her baptism due to fear said, "Seeing all this I am even to be baptized".
- Zurisadday came to the wedding with Xavier, our first grandson. Rhashaun, her husband, could not come because of his work. We enjoyed them greatly.
- Enrique came to our church seeking baptism to be able to get married to an evangelical lady. He found Jesus and is studying the Bible.
- Our Lord helped Sergio to preach the Word for an all evangelical churches meeting in Santander to celebrate the Protestant Reformation Day.
- We have started distributing the 800 evangelistic calendars among contacts and friends. It is a special time for witnessing.
- Our Lord delivered us from being smashed by a car going more that 110 miles on wet asphalt when he lost control, narrowly missed us, and went out of the highway while passing us.
- There is much enthusiasm in the church in Santander in preparation of the Christmas evangelistic presentation for December 20th.
PRAYER
- That Joel and Ami's home may be always centered on the Lord and His the things that are important to Him.
- That Enrique may grow in the faith and may want to come to church.
- That Anabel, Belén, and Daniel may grow in their commitment and would be baptized soon.
- For the Rhashaun's job. The trial period has been extended to December 5th. That his contract me be confirmed with the blessing of our Lord.
- That the Christmas evangelistic presentation may be of testimony and salvation to many and encouragement to the brethren.
- For the distribution of the 800 evangelisti calendars and the provision for the payment of them. For Francisco, who carries most of the load of the distribution.
- For the salvación of Edu, Christian, Guille, Lucrecia, Antonio, Mar, Mercedes, Enrique (another), Nino, Chelo.
With much gratitude and love in our Lord Jesus,
Sergio and Miriam Ramirez
CAM International,
Evangelismo en Acción
Nestares, Cantabria, Spain
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you…"
de la Fumos
Hello Everyone,
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is credited with christening San Pedro Bay in 1542 as "La Bahia de la Fumos" — Bay of Smokes — for the way smoke from Indians' fires hug the ground. If he had discovered California this weekend, I wonder what he would have said? Even now a few ashes are swirling around my face.
As a twist on another famous fire quote, while Southern California burned, the Spanish congregation did not fiddle. The final day before a service devoted as an evangelistic outreach many of their members gave the church-house a (as I overheard one say) "deep cleaning." It was not the best day to be outside doing a lot of heavy breathing. Nothing was going to deter what they had set their heart and hand to do.
God blessed their organization, prayers, invitations to come, and all their preparations. I know I won't get the numbers exact (and I certainly don't want to overstate what God has done). I was told there were about forty "guests" present, that is, individuals who do not normally attend a church service. I also heard from a couple of folks whose guests did not come. Instead of being disappointed they remarked how they planned to continue to invite them and others to come and hear God's Word and the "good news" about Jesus Christ.
This Sunday, a special musician sang and Ezer Lopez preached. God moved upon the hearts of several, maybe twenty. Did these all profess faith in Jesus Christ for salvation? I don't know. Maybe in a week or so we will know more because, as part of their preparation, the Spanish congregation set in place a plan for follow-up, too. I did receive one report that a relative of one of the members that has been prayed for a good number of years (something like twenty-five years or more) came to the service and publicly responded.
What a blessing and encouragement it is to see their growth in this area of faith! I know they would appreciate your continuing prayer on their behalf as they aim to be faithful to the Lord. Would you also especially pray for those new "babes in Christ"?
