My Apologies
Hi people. I apologize for the numerous repeated posts. Seems that impatience isn't a virtue and neither is hitting the refresh button on my browser. Anyways, today I get to attend a Ugandan wedding, including the reception. APparently these things are a little boring with many tedious speeches and things. So I'll give you an update on how it went. You;ll find that the spelling and stuff in this post are a little suspect. Well I['mn at an internet cafe and this keyboard is driving me nuts. so instead of hitting back spcae I decided to just keep on typing and hope you can read this. So double apopoligies for today. YEsteday I got to lead bible study again. it was about John 1:1-18. Thanks for your prayers about this.
God bless

My Apologies
Hi people. I apologize for the numerous repeated posts. Seems that impatience isn't a virtue and neither is hitting the refresh button on my browser. Anyways, today I get to attend a Ugandan wedding, including the reception. APparently these things are a little boring with many tedious speeches and things. So I'll give you an update on how it went. You;ll find that the spelling and stuff in this post are a little suspect. Well I['mn at an internet cafe and this keyboard is driving me nuts. so instead of hitting back spcae I decided to just keep on typing and hope you can read this. So double apopoligies for today. YEsteday I got to lead bible study again. it was about John 1:1-18. Thanks for your prayers about this.
God bless

Let's Try This Again
Ok, sorry it took so long to update this. Actually, I've tried but slow internet speed and impatience have a lot to do with the lack of updates. So now I'm at the office and hoping that this will actually work this time. Ok, so updates from like, last week. Friday was a great day. That's because I got to lead a bible study for some high school and primary students. This guy from church asked if I wanted to lead it so I said sure. But by "lead" he really meant "preach." That's kind of...ok, that's very, scary. I really enjoyed it though. They were mostly new Christians and don't have much in the way of Bible training. They know the basics but that's it. They asked a lot of questions like what to do if their parents tell them to do something they think is against God's word. And then this one little boy about 10 years old stood up and asked what he had to do to be saved. It was really precious. So now I'm going to be speaking every Friday afternoon. Please pray for this. Pray that I can be simple enough for them to understand and that they would be able to take what I say and it would strenghten their faith. Sunday was also a good day. Sunday is always a good day, actually. Anyways, I got to go. I'll try to update this a little more often.
God bless

Greetings...Once Again
Ok, so I've finally decided to update this page again. I mean, not having an internet connection at home is starting to get a little boring. Plus I can't keep up to date on all the stuff going on at home. Anyways, things here are going just swell. Church yesterday was very convicting. It was about 2 Timothy 3 where Paul is talking about the attitudes of people in the last days. Just read through the list once and you'll realize that it describes the world today. Everything is stemming from men being "lovers of themselves." Pastor Brian stressed how the self-love teaching that has spread from the world into the church has started to hurt Christianity. THe problem people have is that they spend too much time looking at themselves and not enough time looking to Christ. People don't have to be told to love themselves. We do it enough as it is. The way to keep ourselves from this is to keep ourselves grounded in the Word of God. God has provided us with the "Way, the Truth, and Life." Scriptures have been given to us from God and are for our edication, instruction, reproof, rebuke, and so on.

Friday was a really special day for me. A few weeks ago a teenager from church asked if I would lead a Bible Study at a school here. And by "lead" he really meant "preach" I found out. I had a good time there. Then he asked if I would come and "lead" a Bible Study for some of his friends and neighbours. So I went with him to his neighbourhood, which is in the slums of Uganda. About 15 teenagers and children came. I spoke about the resurrection of Christ. Then they had time to ask questions. They asked questions like "If I'm born-again but my parents aren't, do I have to obey them if they want me to buy them alcohol?" That's a pretty tough question to answer. Then this one boy about 10 years old stood up and asked "What can I do to be saved." It was a pretty good afternoon. They want me to "lead" their fellowship every Friday from now on. So if you could pray for this please. Many of them are new believers so they need real simple teaching. Pray for simplicity from me and understanding for them.

God bless

Greetings...Once Again
Ok, so I've finally decided to update this page again. I mean, not having an internet connection at home is starting to get a little boring. Plus I can't keep up to date on all the stuff going on at home. Anyways, things here are going just swell. Church yesterday was very convicting. It was about 2 Timothy 3 where Paul is talking about the attitudes of people in the last days. Just read through the list once and you'll realize that it describes the world today. Everything is stemming from men being "lovers of themselves." Pastor Brian stressed how the self-love teaching that has spread from the world into the church has started to hurt Christianity. THe problem people have is that they spend too much time looking at themselves and not enough time looking to Christ. People don't have to be told to love themselves. We do it enough as it is. The way to keep ourselves from this is to keep ourselves grounded in the Word of God. God has provided us with the "Way, the Truth, and Life." Scriptures have been given to us from God and are for our edication, instruction, reproof, rebuke, and so on.

Friday was a really special day for me. A few weeks ago a teenager from church asked if I would lead a Bible Study at a school here. And by "lead" he really meant "preach" I found out. I had a good time there. Then he asked if I would come and "lead" a Bible Study for some of his friends and neighbours. So I went with him to his neighbourhood, which is in the slums of Uganda. About 15 teenagers and children came. I spoke about the resurrection of Christ. Then they had time to ask questions. They asked questions like "If I'm born-again but my parents aren't, do I have to obey them if they want me to buy them alcohol?" That's a pretty tough question to answer. Then this one boy about 10 years old stood up and asked "What can I do to be saved." It was a pretty good afternoon. They want me to "lead" their fellowship every Friday from now on. So if you could pray for this please. Many of them are new believers so they need real simple teaching. Pray for simplicity from me and understanding for them.

God bless

Happy Easter

Belated Easter Greetings. Not having an internet connection at home is kind of starting to show. Right now I'm at an internet cafe by the Bible College. I'm on Easter Break, which ended up being a little longer than I thought because not only did I get sick, but the Pap's extended it by a day also. I go back tomorrow. So today I'm going to help at the Bible College with the proofreading of some essays. Not the most glamourous of jobs, but it is needed. Anyways, I hope you all had a fine, happy Easter. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. I had Easter dinner with some Ugandans, which was interesting. We had a huge meal, but with a Ugandan flavour. This included matoke, which is steamed bananas mashed so it kind of has the texture of mashed potatoes. Anyways, my time here at the cafe is running out so I'll bid you adieu. Have a great week, and I'll try update again when I can.
God bless,
Mike

For Me

Jesus said
"This is My body, broken for you.
This is my blood, shed for you."

Jesus went to Jerusalem
and it was for me.
Jesus was betrayed
and it was for me.
Jesus was forsaken
and it was for me.

Jesus was arrested
and it was for me.
He was accused falsly
and it was for me.
He was declared innocent
and it was for me.

A crown of thorns was placed on His head
and it was for me.
He was nailed to the cross
and it was for me.
He was forsaken by God
and it was for me.

He bled and died
and it was for me.
He endured hell
and it was for me.
He washed away my sin
He lived and died for me.

I'm Back

Hello. It's been a while, I know. And I appoligize for any inconveniences. I do have a valid excuse. Or two. On Saturday I started house sitting for a MAF family. They are on vacation and attending a MAF US conference in Kenya for 3 weeks. So I'm staying in a place that doesn't have internet. Ok, so it does have internet, I just can't figure out how to use it. So I have to come to the office to get internet. Oh yeah, and then for the past two days I have been sick. Thankfully today I am feeling ok today. Yesterday though, ON MY BIRTHDAY NO LESS, I had a huge headache and the chills. I guess I haven't really built up my immunities to African bugs yet. I hate being sick, because I can't do anything. If I was back home I would take two asperin and show up at work. But seeing as I teach kids here, I don't want to get them sick. It gets plenty boring in that house with nothing to do. Anyways, I'm feeling ok today. I still have a bit of a headache but I think that's from not drinking coffee. I'm trying to break my addiction and it's not pretty, let me tell you. I blame it all on Tim Hortons and their "Rollllll up the Rim" contest. Although it's hard to have bad thoughts about that place, so I just don't think about it. A large double-double is still the first thing I'm going to order when in Canada. So right now I'm on Easter Break until Monday. I think I'll be helping out at the Bible College by proofreading essays. Well, I hope you all have a great day and thanks to everyone for sending me happy birthday emails. It made my day.
God bless,
Mike

Cockroaches and Church
Ok, so the title might make you think that I'm going to talk about the cockroaches at our church. Well, that is not the case. In fact, I've never seen a cockroach at church, although I'm sure they're there. These are two seperate incidents.

The first incident happened this morning, somewhere around 9:33. Klazina asked me if I could lift a box for her and take it to the dining room. So I grabbed the box and started carrying it to the dining room when I felt something on my arm. I thought maybe something had fallen out of the box...until I heard the scream. Those of you who have experienced cockroaches know exactly what scream I speak of. It's high and shrill and usually comes from women, although occasionally it's been heard coming from a male. When I heard that scream I threw the box down and felt contaminated, if not defiled. COCKROACHES HAD BEEN CRAWLING ON MY ARM! With great joy did I smash those beasts with the shoe of Sarah Anne. They came, we saw, we conquered. After the battle was o'er, a mighty victory had been won by Klazina and I. Six dead cockroaches scattered the floor, with only two escaping to tell their fellow roaches the destruction.

Church today was great. We looked at 2 Samuel 16 and 17. 16:1-4 talk about Ziba lying to David about Mephibosheth and getting his land. Pastor Brian reminded us that we should always make sure we know both sides of a story before taking any action. 16:5-14 talk about Shimei cursing David and calling him a bloodthirsty man. Pastor Brian said that we can learn how to take criticism from this passage. Instead of cutting off his head, David listened to what Shimei had to say. He said that if it's true than he deserved it, but if it's false God will take of it. Instead of saying, "Shimei, you're right...and now I'm going to cut off your head." We need to be like David and take the critism, even from our enemies, and learn from them. 16:15-17:4 talk about the good advice of Ahithophel. He was giving great advice to Absolom, although Absolom ended up listening to Hushai. Hushai was a spy for David, and God made his advice sound better than Ahithophel's. Absolom took Hushai's advice to first gather the entire army, and in so doing gave David a chance to get over the Jordan River and escape. We can learn from this that God is taking care of us, even when all seems to be going against us. In verse 23 Ahithophel set his house in order and then commited suicide. Pastor Brian talked about how we need to make sure we are living for the right things in life. Ahithophel wanted the approval of others and when he didn't get it, he killed himself. Also, he compared Ahithophel to so many people on this earth who are setting their earthly houses in order but in doing so, they commit spiritual suicide. Instead of focusing on eternity, they focus on getting money and such. What will it profit if a man gains the whole world and loses his soul? The chapter ends with people helping David and his people in their need. You find out who your friends really are when you need help and they stick by you.

Have yourselves a good day. And remember, when you hear the scream, a cockroach is nearby.

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Good Sunday to everyone. Today's service was excellent. The singing was great but the sermon was even better. We had a guest pastor today, Pastor Wes, a missionary to Sudan. He was speaking about 2 Timothy 2:4, The Life of a Soldier. Pastor Wes spent many years in the Marine Corps, so he shared some great insights with us. There are seven duties of a soldier.
1) Protect and defend the nation. We need to defend and protect Christianity from our enemies: the world and Satan.
2) Defend threats to the country.
3) wait for marching orders from your superiors. In the military there is a command structure. In the kingdom of God, there is a command structure. We need to get our orders for our life from God.
4) Know and understand the enemy. Our enemy, Satan, attacks us from people outside the Christian faith but he also attacks us from people within. He doesn't follow a rule book.
5)Know the battle plan and your weapons. We need to be in prayer daily and read our Bibles. So many times we look for others to resupply us but God is the one who gives us all we need.
6) Train for battle. Confidence without training is dangerous. We need to count the cost of following Christ. He never promised us an easy life. Instead, He tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him.
7) The Christian life involves sacrifice. Sometimes it isn't pleasant to serve. We like to say, "Yes, Lord. Use me. And could it be somewhere that I could take my surf board? That was I could surf a few hours each day and then witness about You at the cafe." We need to serve on God's terms, not our own. We need to take up our cross and follow Him. A Christian life isn't an easy one. We need to have faith that He knows what He is doing with our lives. Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

Well, I hope you all have yourselves a wonderful day.