CONSTRAINS - JUNE 28

There is a verse in Second Corinthians that has put my mind into quiet contemplations. I will quote the old King James Bible for this verse, since in this case, I prefer the way that it is translated in this version. In particular, there is a singular word in that verse that I wish to consider.  In part, the verse reads like this: “For the love of Christ constrains us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

What interests me about this verse is the word constrains (or constraineth, if you prefer the 1611 version). Other newer translations of the Bible interpret the word in this verse, “control” or “compel.”

“The love of the Lord controls us; the love of the Lord compels us.” Either of these words is also probably a fair translation of the word that Paul wrote, but I think that the word constrains better communicates what Paul was saying.

In our day, we often use the word constrain to speak of something that we wish to keep in check or to hold it together. In our thinking, this is not necessarily a positive word. We do not like the idea of constraints being placed on our lives. We instead value our freedom.

This meaning that we place on the word actually also seems also to be close to the meaning of the Greek word that the Apostle Paul used in writing this verse. Why then, should Paul say that Christ’s love would constrain us?

THE LOG CHURCH BULLETIN - JUNE 28

June 27, 2020 

 
Opening Song

Call to Worship

We are soon to arrive at the time of our celebration of the birth of our country. Independence Day!
The 4^th of July! Freedom!
Yet, in this time of the celebration of our freedom, perhaps as never before have we felt so constrained in our activities. Lockdowns.
No hugging.
Six feet social distancing.
Facemasks.
Stay home!

But today we have ventured out of our individual places of isolation long enough to learn about another source of constraint. It is not a constraint placed upon us by a government mandate, nor is it a constraint that is motivated by fear. Rather, it is a constraint of love. It is the constraint of the love of Christ.

Invocation Prayer

Our Loving Father, we live in a world filled with fears. People fear disease and pandemics. They fear war and death. They fear shortages and famine. But you have told us that we are not to fear these things.

You have said to us “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Thank you for these promises, and thank you for teaching us this morning about your love.  Amen

Selected Reading – Psalm 52:8-9 

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

I will thank you forever, because you have done it.

I will wait for your name in the presence of the godly, for it is good.

Prayer of Confession

Dear Father, our entire week is filled with warnings. By the time Sunday comes around, we are ready for some promises, especially if they are promises that we can rely on to be true. In this hour, help us to turn our thoughts to what you have to say to each one of us as individuals. Also, as we meet together as your children and your body here on earth, be pleased with our praise unto you. You are our Father and Sustainer. Amen

Words of Assurance

Here is another promise given to believers from Isaiah 54:10: “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

The Lord’s Prayer

Song of Faith

Scripture Reading:

OT – Zephaniah 3:16-17 

Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.

He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love.

He will exult over you with loud singing.

NT – Romans 8:37-39 

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Responsorial Reading  (selections from Isaiah 30)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

To him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;

To him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

To him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;

To him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;

The sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;

The moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever…

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;

And rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;

He who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Message           Constrains

Song of Unity 

Offering     (Please place you offering in the basket on the table as you leave. Thank you!)

Prayer of Intercession

God of Love, we are thankful that we can bring our requests to you this morning. We pray with thankful hearts, because we know that you have only the best intentions for us and are working to bring us to complete fullness of life.

Thank you also for hearing our prayers concerning those who have been abandoned or forgotten by society. We know that you have not forgotten them. Help us to also not forget them. Help us to know how to reach out to give ourselves in service to those who need a hand of support.

We pray for those of our community who are facing needs or crises of one sort or another. We pray also for our churches and orphanage in Kenya. These are suffering with the restrictions of the pandemic far more that most. Please provide for them and open a future path for them.

We pray for those present with us today whose problems are of such a personal nature that they do not feel comfortable telling others of these needs. Although we do not know of these needs specifically, you know them. Please minister to these individuals. Heal them, comfort them, supply their physical needs, and encourage them.

We continue also to pray for our nation in this time of our own testing. Give our leaders and give all of us clear vision, so that we can see solutions not only for what may affect us personally and for today, but for all the people of our nation, for both the present and the future.

Thank you for your gracious answer to all of our prayers.

Thank you Father, for listening to the voices of all of your servants. Amen

Closing Song

Benediction and Prayer

NEW BOOK - WHAT I SAW FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP

If I can hand you the book, it's $14 (305 pages). If I send it to you in the mail (only in US), it's $20.

I think on Amazon it's $16.95, so if you can get free shipping from Amazon, you're better off ordering it from there.

 

 

LIFE IN KENYA WITH COVID-19

Dear Beloved Dad, Mum, Church and friends,

 

Greetings in Jesus name, we thank God for the love and love, we are praying for your safe each day. We trust that God will keep you safe under his wings. Thanks for every remembrance for the family in Kenya.

 

We are humbled for the help you sent we bought food and the children are sending their thanks for helping for food because we had many days of starvation but we are humbled to God for everyone who sent help to Pastor Don and Vivian. Be assured that we do receive the help and kindly keep praying for us we request not grow weary of praying and helping despite the challenge you go through.

 

We are challenged with the corona virus. You also but things here are tough because we have nothing from government to help. Because everyone is struggling kindly help your family in Kenya for the well-being of the 49 Children under our care

COVID 19 CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE

 This is what is on the ground: it is the hardest moment ever in the lives of people in our country Kenya. Since the break of Covid 19 pandemic began in Kenya like in other countries in the world.

 Everyone was caught unaware and unprepared to adjust life, so many people have lost their jobs and the economy seriously affected. In our community most people depend on odd jobs and small scale farming. Things changed to the worst  when those people working in our cities lost their jobs, they are the majority who send money up country even to hire people of odd jobs in helping them in the garden here at the rural areas hence the majority who depend on odd jobs are totally palarized.

Those in my community who depend on small scale farming also are affected since transportation of this produce is a great challenge with the lockdown and curfew times right now. Their commodity has no value since there is no exporting as it used to be in the previous times.

Most families are really starving and the government is not helping

their families with anything for survival. It is a great struggle to get their daily meals at this time of covid 19 pandemic. It remains only God to stand with his people because the government is not giving food to even the poorest families in all over Kenya except in urban areas where landlords and landladies were requested to avoid harassing their tenants with rent issues. But most landlords and landladies did not comply with the president directive some governors in urban areas rarely donate food staffs but governors in rural areas do not support their members at all.

The challenge is overwhelming but we believe God is in control. Kindly let us join hands to pray for our church believers outside there and the people of God everywhere in the globe God to supply to their needy and heal them from covid 19 pandemic.

  Thanks for your prayers and help, we request your prayers for the orphanage and church for the church members who are starving and staying without food some are now one month without food. Prayers are needed. May God bless all the hands that have helped and supported the children in Kenya spiritually, financially and even through you prayers, we need your prayers in this time as we also pray daily for you all. Be encouraged God is on your side. God bless you all.

 Yours Son Pastor Joel and Log Church/Orphanage Leadership

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Joel also included a link to a website from the Netherlands that gives a good summary of how Kenya has been affected:

https://www.msm.nl/news-events-and-blogs/covid-19-updates/covid19-and-food-security-in-kenya

KISII REPORT- 18 DAY FAST

Below is a letter from Pastor Joel. We are thankful that the Lord has provided a way so that we could send the gifts that many of you

Have donated for the orphans.

 

It has been a long time without food for them. 18 days. I actually thought it may have been more and even told some of you that I thought they were 20-some days without food, but apparently Joel is counting from the day someone brought some bananas.

 

Thank you so much for your provision as well! I owe several of you a thank-you note. Please bear with me. The past few weeks have been ones of many personal difficulties that have taken a great deal of my time.

 

Even in these longest days of the year, the day seems to pass too quickly. Then, the problem is, when I finally go in the house for the evening, it's already time to go to bed! No quiet dark evenings to do office kinds of work.

 

But please receive my thanks on behalf of Vivian and I and the children of the orphanage.
Below is Joel's letter.
With the monetary values, the Kenya currency is the Shilling (Ksh), and its value is about Ksh 100/ $1 US.

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Dear Beloved Dad, Mum, Church and Friends,

 

Greetings in Jesus name from Kenya family, our prayers are with you all, thanks to all who have donated for the food situation in Kenya, we have been for 18 days of struggles thanks to all who prayed for us and children in Kenya its has been a tough time here but we thank God who kept us alive which was the time of test and prayer to hear the voice of God.

 

Yes the children had grown weak but strong in faith because we did not stop serving God in the house despite no food.

 

Effect of Corona virus in Kenya, food cost has grown movement restriction, no job, no service gathering and no help from the government at all. The track drivers’ restriction has cost increase of food price. In Kenya each county depend each other now others are locked down this has made more suffering because most places of

market are closed down.

 

We are praying for you that God will keep you all. Keep praying for us, we still need prayers for these children to glory spiritually. The schools remain closed and we will keep updating you all on the progress of reopening school and churches.

 

Below is the breakdown on food purchased.

 

One kilogram of maize cost Ksh.200

Bought 600killograms =Ksh.200x602=Ksh.120, 400

 

One Kilograms of beans cost=Ksh.250

Bought 362 Kilograms x 250=Ksh.90, 700

 

One kilogram of rice cost ksg.170

Bought 651 Kilograms x Ksh.170= 110,690

 

One litre of cooking oil cost Ksh.250

Bought 89 litres xKsh.250=Ksh.22, 200.

 

One of kilograms vegetables cost Ksh.150

Bought 200.6 kilograms x150=Ksh.30090.

 

Sanitary towels 200pieces, one cost ksh.35x Ksh.7, 000,

Sanitizers for hand wash 33litres =Ksh.5100

Workers appreciation Ksh.6, 000

Water treatment chemicals =Ksh.2, 000

Transport cost Ksh.5, 820

See pictures attached and receipts, we request your prayers.

 

Now the food will last for 19.5 days it's Ksh. 400 child consume day x49 children =Ksh.19600.

The amount spent in food above is Ksh. 374180÷19600=19.5 day, it will last from now 16 June to Date 5 July 2020.

God bless all have given the help for food, request prayers.

 

Thanks. Yours Son Joel and Church leadership Kenya
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If you would like to help the children of the Log Church Orphanage of Kisii, Kenya, you may make your check out to “The Log Church” and write “Orphans” on the memo line.

Send it to:

The Log Church

PO Box 68

Tripoli, Wisconsin 54564

We now need to pay a wire transfer fee with every payment, which amounts to $50 each time, but other than that, your donated money will be used only for purchasing food, clothing, schooling, and other necessities of living. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose