THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, JAN 30 - THE FEAST OF WEEKS (Part 1)

The fourth Holy Day of those that God had given to Moses is called The Feast of Weeks. It is called this because of the counting of the weeks leading up to the actual day of the celebration.

Here is what God told Moses: “You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:15-16 NAS).

In a second giving of these in instructions from the book of Deuteronomy (the name which actually means “second law,” or “repetition of the law), we read these instructions for the Feast of the Weeks:

You shall count seven weeks for yourself; you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give just as the LORD your God blesses you. (Deuteronomy 16:9-11 NAS)

The words that we have written in our Bibles as “seven weeks,” are actually “seven sevens.” That is, we could write the instructions as, “You shall count out seven sevens for yourself.” The Hebrew phrase for this is shiv’a shavuot,[1] which is where the Jewish community, who still celebrate this holy day, get their name for the day as Shavuot.

THE LOG CHURCHES OF KENYA

As all who read these posts on the orphanage in Kenya know, the orphanage is not the only work happening in Kisii.

There are also two churches that are known as the Log Churches in the area. One of the churches is right next door to the orphanage. The other is some miles away in the village of Nyakembene.

Like many churches here in the US, these two churches went through many challenges during the pandemic times, including lengthy lockdowns and number restrictions when they were allowed to meet.

Nevertheless, even in the midst of the covid-19, they were able to reach and grow by 250 additional souls in 2021. Now in 2022, they are renewing efforts to reach their areas with the Good News of Jesus. They are praying for 1200 people to come to God.

Pastor Joel, Pastor Vincent and the leadership of the two churches are asking for prayer for these efforts. They are also asking us to pray for some items that would help them in this work.

Included in this list of items is 4 box speakers and an amplifier. A large tent would also be useful, since there in the hills of Kisii, rains can come at almost any time.

Transportation is another need. Public transport is not always readily available.

Also, another need that is very important is Bibles in the local Ekegusii. They are praying for 500 of these Bibles to be given to the new believers.

Thank you so much for your prayers for this effort by the churches there. People in these areas are very open to hear the word of God.

THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, JAN 23 - THE LESSON OF THE FIRSTFRUITS

For the past couple of weeks in our Log Church of Tripoli, Wisconsin, we have been studying the seven Holy Day Feasts of the Old Testament. These were given to Moses by God during the time of the Exodus. They are usually called “feasts” in the Bible, but they are not feasts as we would generally think of them in these days. The Hebrew word actually means an appointed time, a place, or a meeting.

Even though our word feast probably does not exactly carry the modern definition to describe these seven holy days, for convenience sake, and since they are commonly called that in our translations of the Bible, we will also continue to use it. Primarily, we have been thinking what these feast days were to teach the ancient Israelites, but more importantly for us today, what they are to teach us.

The Feast of the Passover was the first of these feast days. It commemorated the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This remembrance took place on the fourteenth day of the first month of Nissan. Following that, on the fifteenth day, the Feast of the Unleavened Bread began. This feast was a seven-day event. The primary teaching of this feast is the importance of preserving the purity in our spiritual lives.

On the sixteenth day of the first month, which was also the second day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, another feast began. This one was called the Feast of the Firstfruits—a one day event. This is the feast we will look at today.

UPDATE ON ORPHANAGE CHANGES

Some changes have occurred at the orphanage in the past couple of months. Up until now, the boys and the girls of the orphanage have been staying in separate ends of the dormitory that we had built a couple of years ago. We had been given permission to do this by the Ministry of Children’s Welfare. Now however, they are telling us that the kids must be housed in separate buildings. Part of the reason for this seems to be covid distancing requirements.

Thankfully, there is a neighboring property with a couple rooms that the owner has allowed us to use at no cost. So the boys have now been moved out of the dormitory.

But if the reason for this move was to give more social distancing, for now that goal is not being realized, since despite the extra rooms, we only have a certain number of beds.

All of this means that we will have to be soon buying extra beds, mattresses and blankets. This is noted in Joel’s letter below.

On another subject, early next week I will be sending out the year-end receipts for those who I believe would like to receive them for tax purposes. Many people tell me that they don’t need to receive a receipt, since they do not itemize on their tax form. However, if you would like to have a receipt and you do not get one in the next couple of weeks, let me know and I will send it. These can only be given to those who have made their payment to “The Log Church.”

This work in Kenya is truly a “grass roots” ministry, meaning that there is no office staff to do this type of work. That is why I don’t send the receipts for every single gift. But be assured, any money given to me goes directly to the orphanage needs. No portion of your gift, whether it be a check or cash, goes for any other purpose (other than the bank transfer fee. See note at the end of this blog post).

Below is an email that I received today from Pastor Joel.

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Praise the living God! Dad, Mum, Church and Friends,

Greetings from Kenya Family. We are humbled each day God gives us the grace to share, thanks to all who are praying for the work in Kenya. We begun the year well and thank all who are helping and praying for the orphanage and Church. We trust this year God will restore your wasted years.

We thank all who have ever donated blankets, beds and mattresses. We appreciate for the all donations which has helped us to have the dormitory for the girls and now as were advised by the government we have to separate boys and girls from living one house.

We thank you for the prayers that now we have room free of charge till God provides for house for boys. Now the restriction of covid-19 is demanding that we separate girls from that one room to the next which were previously used by boys now we are praying for beds, blankets and mattresses. On the pictures attached as you can see even the mattresses they are using now it’s worn out and they not worth. That is why have crowded then in those beds which has at least have good mattress.

Thanks for all helped us last year and previous years kindly we request your prayers toward orphanage need. Keep praying for mosquitoes nets for preventing malaria. See pictures attached of the orphanage in separate settings.

We appreciate and humbled for everything you are doing for the Kenya family, the church, children and leaders thank you all.

Prayer request.

Pray for food (We presently have food in our store for 5 days)

12 mattresses (Ksh 4500 or $45 each)

16 blankets  (Ksh 1000 or $10 each)

5 Beds. (Ksh 12,500 or $125 each)

School fees

School building.

We cover you all in our prayers welcome Kenya, we trust God will clear the way for you. May good God bless you all. Thanks for the love.

Yours Son Joel and Church Leadership.

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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. We wait until we have $4000-$5000 before we make the bank transfer to make each transfer more economical. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose. Thanks!

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KISII ORHPANAGE SCHOOL UPDATE

Christmas and the New Year celebrations are past, and the new school year has begun in Kenya. The children are all back in classes at the two primary schools and the one secondary school.

Our focus is again also on the building of our own school on the orphanage grounds. I had hoped to be able to go there in order to better see the progress and the needs, but of course that did not happen, but I will try to get as good a handle on what is happening by asking questions and receiving the replies and photos.

I have again included here the plan for the completed building to help you get a sense of the photos below. I had asked Pastor Joel to take pictures of every part of the present construction site and tell me what each photo showed.

Please also remember to pray for the children. The greatest disappointment for Vivian and I is that we missed our opportunity to see them all and reconnect. I do wonder how they are all doing, and if they are remaining strong in their commitment to the Lord. I know that they have good leadership and examples, so I am grateful for that assurance.

Here is the letter from Pastor Joel:

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Praise the lord! Dad, Mum, Church and Friends,

Our prayers are with you all. The church and leadership of the Log orphanage Kenya are humbled for the work you are doing. We appreciate you all for everything. We have no words to express for the joy that is in our hearts for you, but we are praying that heaven to honor you and bless you all and release every blessing attached to 2022 for you, your family, church and the USA as well. Please receive our gratitude.

Thanks to all who helped for food and school fees for start of term,we request your hand of help and prayers. Thanks below is the food purchased:

Budget Ksh. 300,000

Unga ngano/baking flour 188. kgs One kilogram =Ksh.140 x188 kgs=Ksh.26,300

Cooking oil =60itres,one litre cost Ksh. 360x60litres=Ksh21600.

Vegetables 160 kgs. 1kgs =Ksh. 160x160kgs=Ksh.25700

Salt 38Kgs=3800

Sugar 156.8kgs. 1kg=ksh.160 x156. 8=Ksh.25100

Maize =375kilogram, one kg =Ksh.260 x375kilogram=Ksh. 97500

Beans=200kilogram,one kgs cost Ksh. 300x200kgs=Ksh. 60,0000

Rice=200Kilogram,one kgs=Ksh. 200x200kgs=Ksh.40,000

We thank God for the offer of free transport in this January now we're not paying transport cost.

Our prayers are with you all. Thanks God bless you all, we are praying for you all daily and we pray that God will supply for your needs also and provide for these children in the orphanage and Kenya Log Church.

Besides the food purchased, we also used Ksh.200,000 of the help we received to pay school costs for this term. The balance is Ksh. 311,500 to complete the payments.

Our prayers to God who made heaven and earth who is our help and sustainer. Kindly join us in prayers for the breakthrough for the children to have school building school.

For the building to continue in construction we request for Ksh. 850,000. With this amount we will be able to put on the cross beams to support the first floor and begin the preparations to put the concrete for the first level.

By the grace of God we request your prayers. We are praying that God will send you to Kenya and see the work in Kenya. Welcome all of you to Kenya witness the great work God is doing through your prayers. God bless you all.

We love you and may God keep you all in good health. God bless you all. We look forward hearing from you beloved. We are humbled for the regular help do receive from you. We look forward to the blessings that God has for us in heaven places for 2022. Thanks.

Sorry for the delay in my response to your questions. I lost my aunt this week.

Yours Son Joel and church/orphanage 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. We wait until we have $4000-$5000 before we make the bank transfer to make each transfer more economical. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose. Thanks!

**************

RECEIPTS BELOW:

THE LOG CHURCH SERMON - JAN 9. LEAVEN OR THE PEARL?

We saw last Sunday that in the Passover Feast, the primary event was the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb and the application of the blood to the side posts and lintel of the doorway. 

It was the presence of the blood on the doorframe that was the indication that the family inside had obeyed the Lord in terms of the sacrifice, thus saving their firstborn son from being struck dead.

There also was a meal involved with Passover Feast, although it was nothing that approached what we today would call a “feast.” God instructed Moses that the people were to eat the meat of the lamb on that night, roasted over a fire and not boiled. They were to leave no leftovers until the morning. If it was not all consumed, then the people were to burn any part that was left. In addition, it was to be eaten along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

This was to be a meal hastily eaten. “You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand,” God told the Israelites (Exodus 12:11).

This was the Passover meal. As I mentioned in the previous sermon, although it is properly part of the Feast of the Passover, the meal could also be considered a part of the next of God’s Old Testament Holy Days—the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, since that holy day, which was actually seven days long, also began at that point.

Here is what God said concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread:

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE LOG CHURCHES AND ORPHANAGE, KISII, KENYA

It is a new year and a good time to review what God has done in the orphanage in 2021, and assess what is ahead in 2022. Since Vivian and I failed to make it to Kenya last year, I have asked Joel some pointed questions concerning the things that I had intended to speak with him about when I was there.

The first thing that I have asked is to send pictures and explanations about the school building that we are constructing on the orphanage grounds. I will post about that next week.

For this week, I include the letter sent by Pastor Joel for the New Year. Please read it below:

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THE LOG CHURCH SERMON - JAN 2. THE SEVEN HOLY DAYS OF GOD #1-THE PASSOVER FEAST

The Scandal of the Passover Feast

An Introduction

Eight days ago, we celebrated Christmas. Today we are welcoming in the New Year—2022. These two celebrations and others are annual events on our calendars, events that help us to mark time throughout the years. Many of these dates commemorate specific historical events, either religious in nature, or events of our own history, such as Independence Day.

In the Holy Days in the calendar of the ancient Israelites that were instituted by God in the early days of the Exodus, he also had the historical aspect in mind. Like those special days in our own calendar, the holy days of the Israelites also commemorated occurrences in the history of the people. It was a look back to a time when God did something on their behalf or for their benefit.

We could compare this aspect of a commemoration to our celebration of Christmas. As we gathered together for Christmas, we spoke only of the birth of Jesus Christ as a man child some 2000 years ago. Our celebration was almost exclusively a commemoration of this historical event.

However, in God’s holy days of the Old Testament, the celebrations also carried with them certain spiritual lessons. Each was meant to teach something about the lives of the people in relation to God. They were meant to be times of introspection and reestablishing personal priorities, as well as the priorities of the nation as a whole.

There is also a third element involved with the holy days instituted by God. In addition to the historical aspect and the introspective aspect, these days also had prophetic elements connected with them. The days not only were to remind the people of what had happened in the past, but also were meant to teach them what would happen in the future.