WEEK 4 UPDATE

I am heading home Monday, leaving from here by taxi at 2:30 am so please pray for my trip home. And please pray for a busy week when I get home preparing for my mom's funeral on Saturday as I recover from jet lag.
It is time to head for home. My shoes tell the story of a great month of work, reading, prayer, and personal and public ministry. I am returning home spiritually renewed, more appreciative of the Master's dedicated workers in the field, and wanting to do more for and in the needy and neglected fields of our Lord.

Time to say goodbye to these faithful soles

One of my jobs this week was to paint the large concrete overhang of the main lobby of the hospital, first with a sponge roller and paint that leaves a textured surface and then the next day with a final coat of white paint. This work was done from the existing flat roof surrounding this overhang. The painting required that for about 1/3 of the job I be on my knees or sitting with my legs stretched out in a four foot space between the overhang and lower flat roof of the hospital. The point here is that it was in direct sunlight and movement was  limited. Enter the pesky Jordanian fly.

This fly taught me a lot about our enemy the Devil. In the Bible one of the many names for the Devil is Beelzebul which means "Lord of the flies". What an appropriate dishonoring name for the Devil. To me flies are useless annoying pests who love to hang out around garbage and waste. Here I was at my most vulnerable, crouched in the hot sun, working with this sloppy textured paint dripping all over my skin and clothes, using both hands, and along comes this useless annoying pest to bother me. Isn't that like our enemy the Devil who has no useful purpose in himself, (Praise God by His Grace even the Devil is used to make us like Christ), and comes around when we are most vulnerable and are hands are tied to annoy us and to tempt us to anger, and frustration, and criticism and bitterness and complaining, and quitting. But I have to admit the Devil is persistent in his attacks. Mr pesky Jordanian fly showed up on the second day to continue his ministry of spoiling the day. The Devil is also territorial. This fly was claiming this rooftop as his territory not realizing that it already belonged to someone else who bought it and built it. This fly, did not realize his days were numbered as cold and rain are on the near horizon. Jesus thank you for reminding me again this week that I live in a fallen world and for a time the Devil and his fallen angels have been allowed to cause much unneeded evil and suffering and pain in this world with persistence for a short time until you bring to pass the full victory you won at the cross and in the resurrection. Beelzebul's time is short. Help us as your people to work with greater praise and thanksgiving and to give all that we have to the building of your kingdom with this bright future in sight. Beelzebul is the lord of lies and deceit and waste and death but YOU are lord of all creation and all humanity, YOU give life and love and hope, and one day every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord while the Devil suffers in pain and shame for ever in the Lake of fire. YOU are Lord.
Had a great day on Saturday with my friend as he took me to visit some old church ruins in Al-Jimal (click for link to Wikipedia).

I am looking forward to getting home and seeing all of you again. ron