PR- April 15, 2009

The hunchback...
You probably have read the book or watched the movie or at LEAST seen a clip from The Hunchback of NotreDame. So you have a visual image possibly right now of the hunchback from the Disney film. Now imagine him with darker skin. That is a picture of a hunchback that lives in our town as he stands at a major intersection in town and begs for money. Often when I am thinking of who to write about, I pass "these", such as the hunchback and others who stand at the intersections begging, right up. Yet... are they in any less need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Of course not. So I am bringing them to you this week, asking you to pray for these that are physically and spiritually poor. Two specific beggars this week: Hunchback and Young mentally handicapped boy and those that accompany them asking for money at the major intersections in town. They have received tracts, so pray that God will speak to these two and those that lead them around town. Pray that the Holy Spirit will prick their hearts and God will call them, and many others in physical and spiritual darkness unto Himself.

Does this sound familiar... as it can apply to the physically and spiritually blind all over the world...

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn..."
-The Messianic Servant in Isaiah 61:1-2

Downcast...
This past week two families that are good friends and national partners, whom have a great burden to see the lost come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, have said that they are downcast. Both families. I have mentioned the Jokers and the Thumpers in the past. In the past year, they took on new positions moving from a primarily agricultural trainer to now a more front line evangelist. They have experienced troubles of various kinds. Please pray specifically for these two families this week. They are also facing a trial in which they did not expect to experience: ridicule from other believers. It is hard to understand how this happens, believers ridiculing other believers, such as the Thumpers and the Jokers because they have taken a new role, not necessarily working with their hand to the physical plow anymore but sowing seeds of Truth. Possibly this trial from other believers has been one that has brought the most hurt. Please pray that these two families will hold to Christ as their life and hope in this sinful world. Pray that they will forgive as the Lord has forgiven them (see Col 3:13), and thus give no foothold for the devil in their lives and ministries(see Eph 4:27). Pray the Father will embolden them and strengthen them according to His Word. And may many come to faith and worship our Risen Lord Jesus Christ because of these faithful few. I pray you will be as Paul in his letters, and join us giving thanks to the Father for these brothers and sisters(see 2 Thess 1:3 and many of Paul's letters). Pray that God will encourage their hearts and they will not give up the "good fight of faith" until He calls them home. (1 Tim 6:12)

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus...

Dear PB partners,

At the time of writing this two thoughts lay heavy on my mind and heart, and these will be what we will focus our prayers on for the next two weeks. One thought.... mind-boggling, possibly, for some of you and the second a common topic that I ask you to pray about here.

*I hope you will read the entire blog, and pray for those mentioned below, but if you are pressed for time, please read the portions that are in bold, and these are the prayer requests for the next two weeks.*

The first.... dreams and visions (see I told you this might stretch some of you)

One thing we have been hearing about lately and we ourselves are seeing happen even among a few (but possibly more) of the PB peoples... Muslims dreaming dreams and visions about Jesus Christ. How many of us, Westerners, have actually had dreams and visions of God? How often do we, in the Western society, hear about those in the West coming to faith in God because of dreams and visions of Jesus inviting people to come unto him? Thus the very reason I say that perhaps this may be stretching or mind-boggling for some us. I wish that I could paint a picture for you of those are who dreaming the dreams and having visions of Christ, yet I feel that any words I could say would be insufficient. Yet I can say, that it TRULY IS happening. It is happening among other people groups on our island, and the reason I am writing is to ask you to pray that the PB Muslims WILL REOCURRINGLY have life altering dreams/visions/encounters with Jesus Christ. We want Jesus to make HIMSELF known here among the PB peoples, by whatever means. And to pray that as we, followers of Jesus Christ, hear of those having dreams and visions will follow-up with these Muslims and challenge them and question their beliefs and call them to believe in Jesus Christ.

You see God is Almighty. It is HE that calls sinners unto Himself. May we be faithful to testify to Christ.



And the second thought is on the beauty of hobbit feet...

Have you ever seen Lord of the Rings and noticed the hobbits feet... flat, spread out, bare feet? That is the feet I see most every day. Feet that have spread and flattened from living in a society where shoes are not allowed to be worn in the home and so the people have feet that flatten and spread on the concrete floors over time. Anyway, I hope this description isn't offensive to you but that you get where I am going here. I find some of those feet just... beautiful. Does this sound familiar..."How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns'" (Isaiah 52:7). You see, those feet that I think are beautiful hobbit feet, are those of our national partners. I know that I bring them to you as a prayer request almost every month but I pray that you will NEVER tire of praying for these brothers and sisters who are sharing the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ to Muslims/animists/ and a mixture of both.
Brother Paul says "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worth of the Lord, fully please to Him, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." Col 1:9-10

Please do not "cease" to pray for them. And do not cease to pray for the salvation of the PB peoples.

"...His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1:14)