Taking down the old thinking.

One of the most important parts of our daily teaching time is the open forum question time. Here Kisamalam asks about a closely held Pal belief about the original sin.

My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. (Psalm 119:25 NAU)

Stirring the pot

We’d like to let it be known that, for sure, if anything good comes out of the teaching here in Pal, it will be the hand of the Lord working the hearts of our friends. As we taught on sin and judgment this week there was no argument from them that the world we live in is messed up. They came to appreciate with us the significance of separation from God’s holiness and His perfect provision. Over and over they said to us, “We are just like Cain! What are we going to do!”

Our friends immediately compared their own offerings to spirits and ancestors to that of Cain. Conversation after conversation with them involves little else. Interestingly, when a couple of big men suggested that other work be done on Friday instead meeting for the teaching, a village shouting match ensued. We offered to not teach anything new on Friday if there were some people who really needed to get other work done. We did say that we would review and strengthen the lessons that we had already taught – and everyone (or nearly) came.

We are under no illusions. If our friends are this excited about God’s Word, its not because we are anything special. It is He who is making them hungry. Please keep praying for excitement and hunger for them as we continue to march through the teaching.

Nate and Chris share the question time – taking turns to get up and answer or clarify. We want to demonstrate unity and teamwork and submission to God’s Word.

After the daily teaching Elizabeth and the other team ladies always have a crowd of ladies who want to hear the scripture and the main lesson points explained again. (Since they cannot read it, they really want to get it.)

This Week:

Monday : Chris kicks off the week with a lesson on the descendants of Adam and Eve – up until Noah. Nate then takes over and sets the stage for the story of Noah – that every man was only doing evil continually.

Tuesday:  Nate finishes the Noah story. We dramatize this one showing that there was only one door and it was shut by God himself. That God is both the judge and the way of salvation.

Wednesday: Nate will teach on the tower of Babel. This is a big lesson for our friends in that they are not certain that white people can do wrong. They are still working through the idea of the size and scope of the world. They are not sure that America is not heaven. The truth about Babel will give them a clear understanding of our ability to relate to them. (Some have heard that black people are the descendants of Cain and therefore doomed to judgment while whites are the descendants of Abel – and therefore somehow without sin)

Thursday: Chris takes over and introduces Abraham. How God talked with him and made promises to him. We establish again that God’s plans do not change. That He does exactly what He determined from eternity past and that it depends on His own strength.

Friday: ** Further into the Abraham story – the offering of Isaac. Demonstrating that it was Abraham’s acceptances and trust in God’s ways that was acceptable to God. That God was providing and promising to provide – and that is what is important to Him.

** We are working with the community to figure out how to honor the leaders who are asking for time off (ostensibly for garden work)  without taking away from the excitement that is gathering about the teaching. Please pray fervently with us for wisdom about these things.

Thanks so much for your care for us.

Nate for us

PS: if you think about it – please pray for our printers to hold out. Demand for the written lesson handouts is keeping us printing over 500 pages a week – double what we had planned.