Up date 12-16-08


Christmas Greetings to you all in the name of our wonderful savior, whose name is “…wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. “ How often we have drawn on His counsel through His word, His power in difficulties, His tenderness as Abba, and what wonderful Peace which passes understanding that He has brought to our hearts. This past year has once again demonstrated to our hearts the abounding grace of God. His faithfulness, gentleness, longsuffering, provision and mercy, which is new every morning, has been experienced again and again. For which we give Him the fruit of our lips.

This past Lord’s day we celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the assembly meeting on Morning Glory street in Baguio. The work actually began well before that time back in the late 60s when Ken and Marylou Engle were used of the Lord to start some Bible studies in which men and women were saved and the assembly established. The theme for the celebration was very appropriate, Ang katapatan ng Dios noon, ngayon at sa hinaharap” (The Faithfulness of God in the past, present and for the future.) The Engles, Brooks (Cyril and Anna, and Ken and Elaine) and others were fondly remembered by some of the old timers. As were Bev and Mike Smits and others who served the Lord among them over the years. We are actually the third generation of our family to have served the Lord here at the assembly in Baguio. Amazing Grace. Indeed He has been faithful in all of our lives and He is our hope for the future. I was privileged to give my personal testimony as a part of the celebration. It was good to once again reflect on the work of the Lord in my own life over the many years. This year I celebrate the 50th year of my new birth.

This week will be a full one. I will have Bible studies each evening, Monday through Friday, then I will speak three times at a conference down in Pangisanan and once on Sunday morning at Navy Base. The conference theme is the responsibility of men in the assembly of God’s people, with an emphasis on worship. A very appropriate theme for the day and age in which we live. Please be praying that the Lord would use the words spoken for His glory.
Larry, Kim, Tyler, Abby, Holly and Aunt Rose Brooks will be coming up to Baguio to spend Christmas with us. So we will have a full house, which is such a blessing after having an empty house last year. We will miss our Rachel, Abby and Daniel, but know they are where the Lord would have them in their service for Him.

Once again I would like to thank you all for your faithful prayers for us this past year, and for being sensitive to the voice of the Lord in your sharing with us. In Philippians 4 Paul rejoiced over that which was received from the hands of the people of God, and I can repeat his words as from my own heart to you all….”Not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you a sweet smelling aroma an acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

We love you all. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Perhaps this coming year we shall see Him coming in His glory, or be called home to Him. Oh that will be glory for me, when by His grace to look on His face. That will be glory…be glory for me.

It was quite enjoyable this year to have family to celebrate Thanksgiving with. It was truly a blessing from the Lord. Not only did we have Larry, Kim and the grandkids but ten dorm boys to celebrate with us, three of whom never have had a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner before. We had a great meal, and it caused me to remember what a wonderful Lord we have and serve, so much we have to be thankful for.

I spoke yesterday at Hill Crest Bible Chapel here in Antipolo. It was a part of my regular schedule to speak there once a month, while we were still living in the Manila area, so it was nice to see them all again and to share with them from the Word of our precious Lord.

These few days here in Manila have given me many hours to meditate and contemplate the work of the Lord in our lives over the past couple of years. To reflect once again on how the Lord has led, opened doors and provided opportunities for service all along the way, has cause my heart to swell once again in Worship. This morning as I sat on the porch of the Faith Dorm and looked over the city while it still lay in silence, I was remembering all the years the Lord has given to us here. What a blessing to remember His faithfulness!, and to remember how much He has changed us over those same years. It also provides encouragement and hope, as well, for the time which still lays ahead. To remember, once again, that “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” That He does not change, and there is “no shadow caused by His turning.” What confidence that gives as we move into the months ahead. His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is indeed great. So, as we travel back up the hill to Baguio in the next couple of days I return with a refreshed soul and an encouraged heart.

Thursday we will continue the bible study at Mines View in the letter to the Ephesians. It is a purely expository study, which I love. We will continue to observe the long sentence which draws our attention to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and their work in our redemption and future hope. To know that we have “redemption in His blood, the forgiveness of sins” is a wonderful truth that we too often take for granted, when in reality it is the greatest of works done in our lives and that which has placed us In Christ forever…wonderful truth.

The bible school at Baguio Gold will be on hold until after the first of the year. This Sunday is a joint fellowship with the saints from Baguio Gold and Navy Base. The men will once again do some evangelism in the mining area, and the ladies will enjoy a time of prayer and teaching together. Then on the 14th Navy Base will celebrate its anniversary and the following Sunday the assembly at Baguio Gold will celebrate theirs. So the month holds a lot of activities along with the regular Christmas celebrations and programs.

Thank you all so much for your prayers for us. May I ask, if it would not be too inconvenient for you, please take just a moment at the end of this note to pray for us, for the Lord direction for the months that lay ahead for the conferences, bible schools and special studies I will be teaching in the next couple of months. Lots of preparation will be necessary and we desire that the Lord use us not only to feed the mind but the soul, so please pray with us to that end.

Greetings to you all once again. Yesterday was another wonderful Lord’s Day here in the mountains. The time of worship with the assembly at Navy Base was wonderful. It seems the Spirit was continually leading our hearts to the greatness and wonder of His person and how that praise is due to His name. I feel as if I joined the “ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands” in the heavenly places crying out, “worthy is the Lamb that was slain”.

Yesterday afternoon we spend a couple of hours with the saints down in Baguio Gold. The roads going down were a bit sloppy due to some rains yesterday but very easily passable. We finished up chapter 5 of Hebrews and I was much encouraged to see these faithful saints coming out, yet once again, to spend a two full hours, non stop, in the study of His precious word. We will return on December 7th to begin a series with them on Sunday mornings and on that afternoon we will be having a joint fellowship with them and the saints from Navy Base. Due to the busy season upcoming with an anniversary Sunday for Navy Base on the 14th, and an anniversary Sunday for Baguio Gold on the 21st, then the holidays, our next session of Bible School will not be until January 4th. We have four hours of classes remaining for this session.

Tomorrow morning (Nov. 25) we head down to Manila. Joyce has a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon then we will have dinner with Rose Brooks and spend the night with Larry and Kim Keating at the dorm at Faith Academy. They are doing very well and the Lord is allowing many different challenges and decisions into their lives as they faithfully serve him there. So keep them in your prayers as well.

We also will be checking out the doctors and procedures needed for one of the ladies at the assembly in Baguio, as I mentioned in my last note to you, she is in need of surgery on her vocal cords and we want to see what is involved in making that happen for her sometime over the holidays. So please keep that in your prayers.

Thanks again for praying. It has been such an encouragement for me to know that you are keeping up with the “goings on” here and keeping us before the Lord. Drop us a brief note if you have a moment, it would be an extra encouragement to hear from you.

Our next trip to Sagada is in the works, so please be praying for that as well.

Greetings once again to you all, and thank you for your faithful prayers on behalf of the Lord’s work here among us.

This past week we completed session three in the evening bible school series on the book of Hebrews. This session covered chapters 7-9 of the epistle, and it was indeed quite a challenge to complete all those wonderful verses in ten hours of studies. But, what a blessing it was to once again remember the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. To be reminded yet once again of the greatness of our Savior’s priesthood, place of service and sacrifice, and to remember once again that it is “not with the blood of goats and calves but with HIS own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all having obtained eternal redemption”

This morning we had the men’s breakfast fellowship at the chapel and continued in our study on the value and importance of Worship. It was a wonderful time as we spoke of the greatness and glory of our God once again and exalted the person of His blessed Son. The time ended, as always, with all the men on their knees worshipping the Lord. It is such a time of refreshment and blessing.

Tomorrow (November 9) we will begin the second session of bible school down in Baguio Gold. We will be covering chapters 4-6 of Hebrews with the saints there. This bible school will run for the next 5 consecutive Sundays from 3 t0 5 each Sunday afternoon.

This coming week we also have the regular studies on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings in various homes. Next Sunday I will be teaching at Navy Base in the morning and then at Baguio Gold in the afternoon, so I would appreciate your prayers once again as His precious word is shared; that the Spirit of God would take His word and apply it to the hearts of His people.

On another note for prayer, one of the women of the assembly at Navy Base is in need of some surgery next month. She has some damage to her vocal cords and will need some lazar surgery down in Manila. Please be praying for this.

Again, thank you for your continued prayers and support of the Lord’s work here among us, we are seeing His wonderful hand at work and rejoice in Him.

October 14, 2008 Update - in Manila

Greetings to you all in the precious name of our wonderful Savior, He whose grace knows know limits and love knows no depths. It is wonderful to have such a Savior. Like one wave after another breaks on the shore, so does His grace and love without ceasing.

I was saddened by the home call of three brothers in the Lord this week and last. Last week my dear friend David Van der Noot went home to be with the Lord he loves and served so faithfully. I will always remember his zeal for evangelism and will continue to hear his voice singing, “Thank you Lord for saving my soul….” But, we know that he is rejoicing with his blessed Lord even as we type these words.

Following that we learned of the death of Noel, a brother whose family have been a special part of our lives for so many years. His suffering is past and He beholds now the face of the Savior who loved him and gave Himself for him. We will be attending services for him later today. (Tuesday).

We had planned while we were in Manila to visit today with Chito, a brother in the Lord who has been a part of the assembly in Baguio over the years. He was an active evangelist and recently sought to train and equip the saints at Navy Base to share their faith. The lessons he taught them and his active example encouraged many. We learned yesterday that the Lord has also seen fit to call him home to his reward. “O Lord Jesus how long, how long ere we shout the glad song, Christ returneth, Hallelujah, hallelujah Amen…”

We are extending our stay in the Manila area in order to visit with the families here who have lost loved ones. We plan, Lord willing to return to Baguio on Wednesday or Thursday as the Lord leads.

We were able to visit with Phil and Mary Parsons at the worship and celebration of the Lord’s grace and provision for the newest building at Faith Academy. It was such a wonderful time of true worship and thanksgiving to our wonderful Lord. It was great to briefly visit with Phil and Mary as well.

We also had the privilege of spending time with Marc and Rosa Grant as they were visiting the Philippines as well. They also are dear friends that we have known for many years it was good to see them again.

The work in Baguio continues to go well. This week there will be studies on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, as well as visiting and a study on Saturday afternoon. I will be speaking the next two Sunday mornings at Navy Base on Zechariah 3 and 4. The mini Bible schools for both Navy Base and Baguio Gold will be beginning soon as well, so please keep those things in your prayers.

We had a brief visit with Kim and Larry and the grandkids in order to celebrate Abby’s 2nd birthday. They are all doing well, and well immersed in the work of being dorm parents, which is an all consuming work.

Joyce is doing well, and we thank you all for your continued prayer for her, and for the work the Lord has placed in our hands.

Travel Pics - On the Road