Orion Image from https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jBaW3ZCr6XK4zM5wRaCUxc.jpg.
Orion is vivid in the night sky on the equator in Kenya, where the length of daylight and night is equal. In the Northern Hemisphere, we can see Orion only for half of the year, but in Kenya, they see Orion year-round. Ruth's mother taught her to recognize Orion as a child, and that constellation has been her favorite ever since. She was surprised to read in Job 38 that God mentioned Orion when he was questioning Job. God considered Job to be the most righteous man of his time. God allowed Satan to test Job. Satan struck Job with financial loss, the loss of his children, and physical pain and suffering. When Job's health was destroyed, God visited Job. In a nutshell, God asked Job where he was when God created the heavens, the earth, and every living thing. Of course, Job was not there during creation. Job asked for forgiveness for speaking as though he were full of all wisdom and knowledge. God restored Job's fortunes twofold and gave him seven sons and three daughters. Job enjoyed his children the rest of his 140 years, and the grandchildren to the 4th generation during his lifetime.
This week, Christians worldwide celebrate Jesus sacrificial death in payment of the sin of all mankind and His resurrection three days after His death. Jesus is God's one and only begotten Son, who is truly righteous and who was the Word of God through whom God created the universe.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Ruth and Neil always consider the creation when looking at the night sky. While Neil is in Kenya, he often tells Ruth if he sees Orion while he is outside after the sun goes down. The night sky enveloping the earth is one of many ways Neil and Ruth stay connected, even when they are a third of the world apart. People around the globe can be worlds apart, even within their own families, as unforgiveness and differences of opinion separate them. But Jesus gave us a ministry of reconciliation by forgiving us of our sins by His blood shed on the cross in our place. Orion is one of the wonders of God's creation, but not nearly as precious as a living person. Jesus is our example that hatred is not worth separating one person from another, when He has offered us the power to forgive. While Jesus was dying on the cross, he cried out concerning the Jewish leaders, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 24:34, NIV)
This morning (Wednesday), Neil called at 6:30 a.m. Minnesota time. The conference is close to the Northeast shore of massive Lake Victoria, so they have lake effect weather. Several inches of rain had fallen during the night. Neil said it was BH (Beyond Holly. Holly will know what we mean.) Neil has learned to adjust the temperature dial on the shower before stepping into it. Jim tried adjusting the dial while taking his shower and discovered it was a shocking experience. The extra jolt wakes you up for all day.
Neil and Jim had already preached in the morning sessions at the conference. They are a good team because one inspires the other, and they fill in thoughts that come to mind while the other is preaching. People from the church on the Ugandan island joined them on Wednesday, swelling their number to about 300, with more expected to arrive on Thursday. The Ugandan island people came in large boats, taking five hours across the water. When they arrived, it looked like a caravan of homeless people with their belongings wrapped in sheets like huge knapsacks over their backs. Then the caravan turned into the church and filled it to overflowing. Some gift funds sent with Neil will be used to feed the conference attendees, because they have no funds to feed themselves, and the church can't feed such a large crowd. The conference is Cosmas' way of providing Bible teaching for the Riverside Ministries church pastors and leaders.
While teaching, Neil asks basic questions, such as, "Does someone need to speak in tongues to go to heaven?" They look at Neil, but are shy about answering for fear of getting it wrong, when it is meant to be a simple question with a resounding, "No" response. Then Neil explains, "Salvation is trusting Jesus' death on the cross as full payment for our sin. After being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, we are given power to be Jesus' witnesses." So Neil had them review that concept a few times until they could confidently answer, "You can be saved by trusting Jesus' blood shed on the cross to fully wash away all our sins without speaking in tongues, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you must follow Jesus."
After struggling with a few more fundamental Christianity 101-type questions, the pastors asked Neil to teach them discipleship from his book, Navigating Life: A Mentoring Toolbox. Neil is happy to do so, because our book is filled with Bible passages in 73 practical lessons learned over a lifetime. Please don't think Neil is on a marketing tour for selling the book. He invested his personal funds into the first publication, many copies of which were given to those who would make good use of them. The second edition has been published in Kenya by Outfitters for Adventure to make copies available for free to our Kenyan friends. The pastors are brilliant but need teachers, Bibles, and clear teaching tools. Jesus' example of living life as fully human with all of the problems and temptations we face, yet living this life on earth with the Holy Spirit inside of Him, was the first message today, going "boing, boing" in Neil's head.
The overwhelming response of the people coming to the conference this year reminds Ruth of the passage in Revelation 22:12-17.
"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
Neil is still struggling with a skin rash that makes it difficult to sleep at night. After lunch, Neil fell asleep in the house where meals are prepared. The others didn't want to disturb him, leaving quietly and just letting Neil sleep. He didn't awaken until 2:30 p.m., Kenya time, when the afternoon meeting had already begun. The beauty of Kenyan time is that they are never in a rush. Cosmas and a few others have also been teaching. Others took the first teaching slot, leaving a spot for Neil when he arrived.The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Our neighbor's little girls are trying to get their heads around Neil being 1/3rd of the way around the globe. Little Willow was full of questions as she tried her best to help me shovel last fall's pile of leaves off Neil's asparagus now that the ground has thawed. As I wrap this up at 10:00 p.m. Wednesday night in Minnesota, Neil is already awake at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday morning in Kenya, and has called my cell phone.
Please pray:
- Neil has had rash outbreaks again, especially at night.
- For grace when the soccer balls and copies of our books are passed out, because there aren't nearly enough for everyone to receive in the overflow crowd.
- For a break in the rainfall, the church roof has not been completed on their new, larger building.
Love,
Ruth