As we come to the end of February 2017, I received news for this update through a phone call as I was traveling south along the Dead Sea. As is usually the case, I have received both good news and also tragic news. Before I get to the actual House of Blessing update, it will be helpful to give a […]
MIDEAST UPDATE 2/19/2017
As one reads the epistles in the New Testament, there are numerous reminders by Paul for the churches to keep him in prayer, usually because he was being held in custody somewhere for preaching the gospel of Christ. One of these examples is found in Colossians where he ends his letter in 4:18 with, “This salutation by my own hand–Paul. […]
MIDEAST UPDATE 2/14/2017
In Mark 16:15-18, we find what has been known as “The Great Commission.” It is the instruction Jesus left with His followers and reads like this in the New King James Version of the Scriptures: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be […]
WHERE IS THAT WOLF? Part 4
Just as in the story of the boy who cried “Wolf!” so many times that eventually no one paid attention to him, many have stopped paying attention to those who have been shouting out for decades that the end of the age and the return of the Messiah are imminent. Just as the Wolf that the boy warned about really […]
MIDEAST UPDATE 2/8/2017
As I read news reports from all around the world, I am continually reminded of the warnings Jesus gave about the signs of the end of the age. These signs are here today. One one of the signs is wars and rumors of wars, nation coming against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. I have read numerous accounts written by servants […]
PRAYER UPDATE
I received a phone call from Pastor R this morning with some additional information concerning the men that have been taken in custody. Two of the House of Blessing leaders took it upon themselves to go to the Iraqi police to see if they could find out what happened and why. Because there had been no recent problems with the […]
URGENT PRAYER NEEDED
Greetings All: It seems before the most recent Mideast Update had officially been made available, a great need for prayer has come about. As you will have read in the update, there have been two large mass meetings in Iraq. One of these was in Mosul and the other in Fallujah. Thousands of people gathered to hear the Word of […]
MIDEAST UPDATE, 1/27/2017
The situation in the Middle East continues to change from day to day. The House of Blessing missionaries adjust as best they can so that they can survive the circumstances as well as continue the work of the ministry they have been called to. Although there is a partial ceasefire of sorts in place, fighting continues involving assorted jihadist groups, […]
MIDEAST UPDATE, 1/21/2017
I have used Ephesians 5:14-17 as a passage of Scripture lately in Bible studies and even mentioned it on occasion while writing these Mideast Updates. The passage reads like this: Therefore He says: “Awake you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming […]
MIDEAST UPDATE, 1/9/2017
As I think back to the events that have transpired during 2016 in the lives of Pastor R and the House of Blessing missionaries, I am struck by what an eventful year this has been. Many true life stories have been chronicled and then retold. These accounts describe how God honored the trust, faith, and obedience of His loyal servants […]