Sunday, May 02, 2010
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
April 6, 2010 - Pics
Easter Sunday morning we gathered together at the chapel at Navy Base for an Sunrise service, Breaking of Bread and breakfast. It was a sweet time of remembering the Lord and of fellowship. This was followed by the family bible hour.
Pics below as follows:
Mr and Mrs. Badilla, They were both in fellowship when the work began back in the 1960s
Ronald, Lean, and Joyce following Sunrise Service
Wini Mata, and Tatay and Nanay Badillia Breakfast following Sunrise Service Easter Sunday morning
Breakfast, nice and hot.
Family from the bible study at Tip Top.
Jethro and Jairo Mata
Some of the Young People at the assembly
Zeny, such a blessing
Wonderful, sweet fellowship
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Update - March 30, 2010
He is risen!!! What wonderful words to still proclaim.
Someone the other day said, “I think the symbol of Christianity should be the empty tomb” This coming week here in the Philippines men and women will be reenacting the story of the cross. Some will whip their backs until they are open bloody wounds. Others will carry crosses in long processions down the main streets of many towns and cities throughout the country. Some will even have themselves literally nailed to crosses. The words of the great hymn come to mind as I type. “Jehovah lifted up His rod, O Christ it fell on thee. Thou was’t sore stricken of thy God, there’s not one stroke for me. Thy blood beneath that rod has flowed. Thy bruising healeth me.” He has done it all. Oh how we praise Him. So sad to see many who have been deceived and who are deceiving themselves into believing that somehow they can atone for their own sins. So the message of the gospel of grace still goes out to a lost world.
The work here in the mountains of Central Luzon is going along well. We continue to thank the Lord for His faithfulness. It seems to me, that so often I begin letters this way. It is wonderful to continue to experience His hand at work and to see His blessing in His work here. This past Lord’s Day the worship time, as we remembered our Lord, went on for an hour and twenty minutes, and no one seemed to mind. One of the men of the assembly arose after the meeting and was so surprised that we had spent so much time…and he said; “That was a sweet time of worship.” It was such a blessing. Several men shared and the lifting up of Christ was so very evident. We praise the Lord that when many are abandoning the worship time or changing it into a more “organized” time that the saints here still simply enjoy allowing the Spirit to lead and that the men are standing and participating. It is a blessing. We also have a new hymn book we are using for that time which contains just hymns of worship. So every song given out is exalting our Lord and His finished work. The men’s fellowship is still working through the book “Worship” by A.P. Gibbs, it also has been a blessing.
We recently finished the second “semester” of classes of mini Bible school at the assembly at Navy Base. We call them “semesters” for lack of a better word. Each “semester” runs for five consecutive Sunday afternoon, each lasting between one and a half to two hours. In the first “semester” we covered the universal church, the local church, elders, deacons and the priesthood of all believers. In the second “semester” we covered spiritual gifts, and the role of men and women in the assembly of the Lord’s people. The third “semester” will be starting sometime in May, Lord willing. Next week we will begin teaching the same course down in Baguio Gold, so we would appreciate your prayers.
The weekly home Bible studies continue to do well and are producing fruit for His glory. There are studies in homes each night of the week with the exception of Sunday and Monday evenings. Different men are taking up the responsibility for these various studies. I am currently teaching the Friday study down in Fatima, a small village about 20 minutes east of Baguio. Last week we had 13 out at the study which was an encouragement.
The men’s fellowship, ladies fellowship, couple’s fellowship and youth fellowship are meeting on Sunday afternoons on various Sundays throughout the month. We are much encouraged at what the Lord is doing in the lives of His people. The saints here are such a blessing to us. They love the Lord and it is so evident in their lives.
Many have asked regarding my health. I am doing much better, for which we thank the Lord. However, I will need to get some issues with my kidneys taken care of before any further treatment can be sought for my heart. We appreciate all who have been praying for us, and for your kind emails and words of encouragement. Joyce continues to do well, and to date remains cancer free. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for her.
Someone the other day said, “I think the symbol of Christianity should be the empty tomb” This coming week here in the Philippines men and women will be reenacting the story of the cross. Some will whip their backs until they are open bloody wounds. Others will carry crosses in long processions down the main streets of many towns and cities throughout the country. Some will even have themselves literally nailed to crosses. The words of the great hymn come to mind as I type. “Jehovah lifted up His rod, O Christ it fell on thee. Thou was’t sore stricken of thy God, there’s not one stroke for me. Thy blood beneath that rod has flowed. Thy bruising healeth me.” He has done it all. Oh how we praise Him. So sad to see many who have been deceived and who are deceiving themselves into believing that somehow they can atone for their own sins. So the message of the gospel of grace still goes out to a lost world.
The work here in the mountains of Central Luzon is going along well. We continue to thank the Lord for His faithfulness. It seems to me, that so often I begin letters this way. It is wonderful to continue to experience His hand at work and to see His blessing in His work here. This past Lord’s Day the worship time, as we remembered our Lord, went on for an hour and twenty minutes, and no one seemed to mind. One of the men of the assembly arose after the meeting and was so surprised that we had spent so much time…and he said; “That was a sweet time of worship.” It was such a blessing. Several men shared and the lifting up of Christ was so very evident. We praise the Lord that when many are abandoning the worship time or changing it into a more “organized” time that the saints here still simply enjoy allowing the Spirit to lead and that the men are standing and participating. It is a blessing. We also have a new hymn book we are using for that time which contains just hymns of worship. So every song given out is exalting our Lord and His finished work. The men’s fellowship is still working through the book “Worship” by A.P. Gibbs, it also has been a blessing.
We recently finished the second “semester” of classes of mini Bible school at the assembly at Navy Base. We call them “semesters” for lack of a better word. Each “semester” runs for five consecutive Sunday afternoon, each lasting between one and a half to two hours. In the first “semester” we covered the universal church, the local church, elders, deacons and the priesthood of all believers. In the second “semester” we covered spiritual gifts, and the role of men and women in the assembly of the Lord’s people. The third “semester” will be starting sometime in May, Lord willing. Next week we will begin teaching the same course down in Baguio Gold, so we would appreciate your prayers.
The weekly home Bible studies continue to do well and are producing fruit for His glory. There are studies in homes each night of the week with the exception of Sunday and Monday evenings. Different men are taking up the responsibility for these various studies. I am currently teaching the Friday study down in Fatima, a small village about 20 minutes east of Baguio. Last week we had 13 out at the study which was an encouragement.
The men’s fellowship, ladies fellowship, couple’s fellowship and youth fellowship are meeting on Sunday afternoons on various Sundays throughout the month. We are much encouraged at what the Lord is doing in the lives of His people. The saints here are such a blessing to us. They love the Lord and it is so evident in their lives.
Many have asked regarding my health. I am doing much better, for which we thank the Lord. However, I will need to get some issues with my kidneys taken care of before any further treatment can be sought for my heart. We appreciate all who have been praying for us, and for your kind emails and words of encouragement. Joyce continues to do well, and to date remains cancer free. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for her.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Update - Feb 27, 2010
Once again I send you all our greetings from Baguio, which this past month has been celebrating Pangebenga, the flower festival. Today is the day of the big parade in town which will feature several floats made entirely of flowers. This also means that there are lots of tourists and visitors in town which makes getting around a bit more difficult.
Last Lord’s day we began the second semester of classes in Ecclesiology at the assembly at Navy Base. We had 11 out for the class, which is encouraging, and there are others who will be joining us this coming week. Currently we are studying Spiritual Gifts which often times sparks lots of questions. Our desire is to see the saints focused on what the gifts are and if they are exercising their gifts than to focus on the controversial gifts. But we will see how the Lord leads. Following the study on Spiritual Gifts we will look at the New Testament ministers, and those who serve the Lord on a full time basis to see what the scripture teaches concerning them.
Last week one of the former elders from the assembly in Baguio Gold was called home to be with the Lord. He had been sick with cancer for several years, so it came as no surprise. Although I personally did not know him well, he was a source of blessing to many over the years. I was disappointed that I was unable to attend the services for him, since they were down a steep set of stairs, which I am still unable to climb. We drove a group to the location, but after examining where the home was, I had to turn back. This is very discouraging to me, but I know the Lord has His purposes, and we will continue to trust in Him for our health issues.
The mid-week studies are continuing on. Wini, one of the elders at Navy Base, is teaching at the studies at Tip Top, and with the Reed Basket parents. Reed Basket is a pre-school program held at the chapel. Ronald has been teaching the study at Mines View, and I have been teaching the study at Fatima, and on Wednesday nights. Wini and Ronald have been sharing the study at a home in the former Navy Base compound. We still see fruit from these studies and so are encouraged. So please be praying for these dear brothers in Christ as they prepare and teach these classes.
The youth group had a good outing last Sunday afternoon up at Camp John Hay, the former US base here in Baguio. They enjoyed a good time of singing, and sharing and many were out so it was an encouraging time for those leading the group.
We had a lovely couple’s fellowship at our home a couple of weeks ago. We hosted a sit down, candle light dinner for the couples, which was preceded by a time of singing hymns and followed by a time of sharing from the word as we sat around the table. It was a nice relaxing and enjoyable time of fellowship. The couple’s fellowship will be attempting to meet every couple of months. Next time we will be beginning a study in marriage with them, so you can keep this in your prayers as well.
Many of you have inquired about my health. The result of the heart monitor I had to wear for 24 hours was not good. So my cardiologist wants to schedule an angiogram to find out exactly where the blockages are, and then follow that up with angioplasty as needed. The only problem is that in order to do the angiogram I had to have my kidneys tested. I had an ultrasound and blood work done both on my kidneys and liver a couple of weeks ago. The results were not good. I have two rather large stones and my Creatinin levels are high. So the cardiologist said that if she did an angiogram on me now I would have immediate renal failure. So now I am going to a urologist. He has prescribed some meds to take to try and soften or dissolve the stones which may be the reason for the high levels of Creatinin in my kidneys. On the bright side, my liver was good, which is important because the meds I need to continue to take for my heart can have an adverse effect on my liver, which does not seem to be the case at this point. Thank you all for your prayers. It has been an eventful month and your prayers carry us through. We are looking to the Lord for all of these things trusting Him for His care and will to be done.
Again thank you all so very much for your prayers and support of the Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon. It would be nice to hear from a few of you, just to know that you are reading the updates and are praying. That would certainly be an encouragement to us.
Last Lord’s day we began the second semester of classes in Ecclesiology at the assembly at Navy Base. We had 11 out for the class, which is encouraging, and there are others who will be joining us this coming week. Currently we are studying Spiritual Gifts which often times sparks lots of questions. Our desire is to see the saints focused on what the gifts are and if they are exercising their gifts than to focus on the controversial gifts. But we will see how the Lord leads. Following the study on Spiritual Gifts we will look at the New Testament ministers, and those who serve the Lord on a full time basis to see what the scripture teaches concerning them.
Last week one of the former elders from the assembly in Baguio Gold was called home to be with the Lord. He had been sick with cancer for several years, so it came as no surprise. Although I personally did not know him well, he was a source of blessing to many over the years. I was disappointed that I was unable to attend the services for him, since they were down a steep set of stairs, which I am still unable to climb. We drove a group to the location, but after examining where the home was, I had to turn back. This is very discouraging to me, but I know the Lord has His purposes, and we will continue to trust in Him for our health issues.
The mid-week studies are continuing on. Wini, one of the elders at Navy Base, is teaching at the studies at Tip Top, and with the Reed Basket parents. Reed Basket is a pre-school program held at the chapel. Ronald has been teaching the study at Mines View, and I have been teaching the study at Fatima, and on Wednesday nights. Wini and Ronald have been sharing the study at a home in the former Navy Base compound. We still see fruit from these studies and so are encouraged. So please be praying for these dear brothers in Christ as they prepare and teach these classes.
The youth group had a good outing last Sunday afternoon up at Camp John Hay, the former US base here in Baguio. They enjoyed a good time of singing, and sharing and many were out so it was an encouraging time for those leading the group.
We had a lovely couple’s fellowship at our home a couple of weeks ago. We hosted a sit down, candle light dinner for the couples, which was preceded by a time of singing hymns and followed by a time of sharing from the word as we sat around the table. It was a nice relaxing and enjoyable time of fellowship. The couple’s fellowship will be attempting to meet every couple of months. Next time we will be beginning a study in marriage with them, so you can keep this in your prayers as well.
Many of you have inquired about my health. The result of the heart monitor I had to wear for 24 hours was not good. So my cardiologist wants to schedule an angiogram to find out exactly where the blockages are, and then follow that up with angioplasty as needed. The only problem is that in order to do the angiogram I had to have my kidneys tested. I had an ultrasound and blood work done both on my kidneys and liver a couple of weeks ago. The results were not good. I have two rather large stones and my Creatinin levels are high. So the cardiologist said that if she did an angiogram on me now I would have immediate renal failure. So now I am going to a urologist. He has prescribed some meds to take to try and soften or dissolve the stones which may be the reason for the high levels of Creatinin in my kidneys. On the bright side, my liver was good, which is important because the meds I need to continue to take for my heart can have an adverse effect on my liver, which does not seem to be the case at this point. Thank you all for your prayers. It has been an eventful month and your prayers carry us through. We are looking to the Lord for all of these things trusting Him for His care and will to be done.
Again thank you all so very much for your prayers and support of the Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon. It would be nice to hear from a few of you, just to know that you are reading the updates and are praying. That would certainly be an encouragement to us.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Update January 28, 2010
Greetings to you all in the matchless, peerless name, of our wonderful Savior, who provided for us the propitiation for our sins. Now we can approach our Holy God without fear and know that we will always be accepted there because of the propitiation that our Lord Jesus Christ has provided for us.
We finally finished up the final session of bible school for the saints down in Baguio Gold this past Sunday. I was there for three messages this past Sunday. We looked at Exodus chapter 20 and the law, fear and access, in the early morning. Then we shared on 2 Tim 1:13 in the late morning, finishing up with the bible school session on Heb. 12-13 in the mid afternoon. Needless to say I was a bit tired by Sunday evening.
The mid week studies continue to go well. This past Wednesday night we continued in our series on 1 Peter with a reminder to continue to “Gird up the loans of our mind”, and the need to always be prepared. Then on Friday we continued in James and were reminded by the scripture of the sin of favoritism in the local assembly, as well as loving our neighbor as ourselves. The other studies are also moving along well, and we are encouraged.
We will be beginning the next semester of classes on Ecclesiology at Navy Base in a couple of weeks. We had planned to start on the 7th of February but we have encountered a couple of schedule conflicts. On the 7th we will be having our men’s fellowship, women’s fellowship and youth fellowship all at the same time at the chapel. This is something new we are trying with the hope that more will be able to attend. Then on the 14th Joyce and I are hosting a Valentines couples dinner at our house with the couple’s fellowship.
I had my last check-up with my cardiologist on Monday. She has cancelled the stress test that was planned for Saturday instead I will be wearing a holter monitor for 24 hours to check other irregularities that she is noticing with my heart. So please keep these things in your prayers, I so want to have the restrictions, I am under, lifted. But it looks like they will stay in place for the present.
Again, thank you all for your prayers and support of our Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon. If all things work out, we are planning to take another trip up to Sagada in February or March. Much of this decision rests on being sure the car is in tip top shape for hitting those mountain roads without breaking down in some isolated area.
We finally finished up the final session of bible school for the saints down in Baguio Gold this past Sunday. I was there for three messages this past Sunday. We looked at Exodus chapter 20 and the law, fear and access, in the early morning. Then we shared on 2 Tim 1:13 in the late morning, finishing up with the bible school session on Heb. 12-13 in the mid afternoon. Needless to say I was a bit tired by Sunday evening.
The mid week studies continue to go well. This past Wednesday night we continued in our series on 1 Peter with a reminder to continue to “Gird up the loans of our mind”, and the need to always be prepared. Then on Friday we continued in James and were reminded by the scripture of the sin of favoritism in the local assembly, as well as loving our neighbor as ourselves. The other studies are also moving along well, and we are encouraged.
We will be beginning the next semester of classes on Ecclesiology at Navy Base in a couple of weeks. We had planned to start on the 7th of February but we have encountered a couple of schedule conflicts. On the 7th we will be having our men’s fellowship, women’s fellowship and youth fellowship all at the same time at the chapel. This is something new we are trying with the hope that more will be able to attend. Then on the 14th Joyce and I are hosting a Valentines couples dinner at our house with the couple’s fellowship.
I had my last check-up with my cardiologist on Monday. She has cancelled the stress test that was planned for Saturday instead I will be wearing a holter monitor for 24 hours to check other irregularities that she is noticing with my heart. So please keep these things in your prayers, I so want to have the restrictions, I am under, lifted. But it looks like they will stay in place for the present.
Again, thank you all for your prayers and support of our Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon. If all things work out, we are planning to take another trip up to Sagada in February or March. Much of this decision rests on being sure the car is in tip top shape for hitting those mountain roads without breaking down in some isolated area.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Update for Jan 8, 2010
The hectic holiday season is over and we are getting settled back into the regular routine once again. We did enjoy a rather relaxing time in Manila with family over Christmas and into the New Year. The Philippines celebrates the New Year with massive amounts of fireworks. From our perch above the city, at the dorm Kim and Larry live in, we could see all the firework displays simultaneously. It was quite a show, everywhere you looked across the entire city of Manila there were fireworks. But being high above it all we faced little of the noise and breathed little of the smoke, which was a blessing.
While in the Manila area I had the opportunity to speak at the assembly in Antipolo, Rizal. The saints there are a wonderful group of believers, always so happy to have you come and share the word with them. This week, back in Baguio, I am back to the regular schedule of meetings and studies. I taught at the Study on Wednesday night, continuing a series in 1 Peter. Friday I will continue to teach the book of James at the home bible study in Fatima, Saturday morning we will have our Men’s early morning fellowship at the chapel beginning at 6 AM. We are continuing our study of Worship, using A.P. Gibbs book “Worship The Christians Highest Occupation.” It continues to be a source of encouragement and challenge. Sunday I will be continuing the mini bible school sessions down in Baguio Gold. Then in a couple of weeks we will begin the next “semester” of classes at Navy Base on the Church. So things are back in full swing again.
It is only a couple more weeks now until my next series of tests on my heart. Please continue to pray that the meds I have been taking now for almost three months, will have the desired effect and that some of the restrictions I am currently under can be lifted so that I can return to the other weekly studies.
Thank you all once again for your continued prayers for us and the Lord’s work here in Baguio. May the Lord richly bless you in this new year. Perhaps this year we will be caught up to meet Him in the air and be always with the Lord. But until that day may we continue to be active in our service for Him.
While in the Manila area I had the opportunity to speak at the assembly in Antipolo, Rizal. The saints there are a wonderful group of believers, always so happy to have you come and share the word with them. This week, back in Baguio, I am back to the regular schedule of meetings and studies. I taught at the Study on Wednesday night, continuing a series in 1 Peter. Friday I will continue to teach the book of James at the home bible study in Fatima, Saturday morning we will have our Men’s early morning fellowship at the chapel beginning at 6 AM. We are continuing our study of Worship, using A.P. Gibbs book “Worship The Christians Highest Occupation.” It continues to be a source of encouragement and challenge. Sunday I will be continuing the mini bible school sessions down in Baguio Gold. Then in a couple of weeks we will begin the next “semester” of classes at Navy Base on the Church. So things are back in full swing again.
It is only a couple more weeks now until my next series of tests on my heart. Please continue to pray that the meds I have been taking now for almost three months, will have the desired effect and that some of the restrictions I am currently under can be lifted so that I can return to the other weekly studies.
Thank you all once again for your continued prayers for us and the Lord’s work here in Baguio. May the Lord richly bless you in this new year. Perhaps this year we will be caught up to meet Him in the air and be always with the Lord. But until that day may we continue to be active in our service for Him.
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