Sunday, February 27, 2022

THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, FEB 27 - ATONEMENT PART 2, THE RANSOM HAS BEEN PAID

The “Oneness” of the Atonement
Last Sunday we learned that the original word in Hebrew used for our English word atonement is kippur.  This word in Hebrew has a sense of a covering of some sort, or more importantly, of a ransom paid. If a ransom is the true meaning of the Hebrew word, why then is it translated to us as the word atonement?

 If you break it down, our word atonement is a combination of three parts: at+one+ment. It is unclear if this is the actual etymology of the word, but there does seem to be a connection with a medieval Latin word for “unity.”

My own definition for the word atonement, or rather the act of making atonement, is “paying the necessary reparations to bring together two parties (people) who had been separated because of a wrong done or an injury.”

There may be a better definition for the word, but that is mine. With that, we can see that although the word atonement is much different than kippur, both describe the act relating to paying a ransom in order to redeem someone. And, by that act, we are bringing together two people who were separated. It is an at+one+ment.

We live in days of international terrorism, and we often hear of people being kidnapped and held for ransom by some terrorist organization. In our country we have a policy similar to that of many countries, in that “we will never negotiate or pay ransom to terrorists.” I agree with that policy, but I admit that it seems a rather cold and detached way of dealing with the fact that someone has been separated from the people that they love.

Living with the Threat

In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s our family lived in Venezuela near the Colombian border. These were the years of extreme terrorism being carried out by the then strong Colombian drug cartels and terrorist organizations, such as FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia). The border between Colombia and Venezuela was quite porous, so the Colombian guerillas passed easily between the two nations.

Kidnappings were not infrequent in the area of our frontier town, especially in the last couple years that we lived there. These were mostly kidnappings of people from wealthy families who were then held for ransom. We were not wealthy, so I did not feel that we were in too much danger—at least I did not until in the final months, when the kidnappings began to take on political overtones. It was then that kidnapping a family member from the only American family living on that area of the border could have its motivations.

It began to become worrisome for Vivian and me. In the final weeks that we were in that town, I began to form the habit of walking around town to visit the panadarias (bakeries) to have a bit of coffee and to find out the overnight local news from the various shopkeepers. The panadarias were the only places open in that time of day, so it was like getting the early morning local news.

I would say that at least once a week, a child or wife of some family of the area had been kidnapped and held for ransom. One morning the shopkeepers told me of one family receiving an envelope containing the severed finger of one of their sons, along with the ransom note.

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

THANKS GIVING LETTER FROM KENYA FAMILY

Dear beloved Dad, Mum, Church and Friends,

Greetings from Kenya family, we are humbled to praise God for new week and grace to be able to let you all know how your family in Kenya with the orphanage is faring. Thanks for your prayers and help to the Log Orphanage Kenya. May God reward you all. We appreciate your help. Thanksgiving from Kenya family.


From Vincent (On behalf of orphanage children)

THANKS GIVING LETTER

We thank God for the provision of all the necessities that he has provided since we came to this orphanage until this date, and more so during this heavy pandemic. We also thank God for the provision of good health, food, clothing and all other provisions.

We also thank Him through his leaders who have able leadership to guide in all righteousness. We will continue to thank God day by day so that He can continue to open doors in our life and release the blessings every moment. Thanks goes to all who have donated food, school fees, clothing, beds, blankets all our provisions. Best regards.

This is the leadership for the churches
Pastor Joel is taking the picture for this one.
Church Leadership Letter

We praise God for the love and grace, we are humbled to give God all the glory for the provision we have received for the church and Bibles, and other necessities for the church God bless you all. Keep praying for the new souls which was added to the church. We request your prayers for plastic chairs for more are coming to the Kingdom. Thank you for your prayers and help welcome Kenya. God bless you all.

All Log Churches in Kenya and orphanage staff humbled to thank all who are sending their resources to overseer Donald and Vivian. Be assured we receive all resources that you send to them. We request your prayers for this work may God bless you all. We thank God each day for His provision. Our prayers are with you. We trust God will provide for you and for the needs of this children. Kindly we request prayers. Do not grow weary in well doing in due season shall reap to God be the glory.

Thanks, God bless you all.

Yours Son Joel and Church Leadership Log Church Kenya.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, FEB 20 - THE FEAST OF THE ATONEMENT

         
One of the most important words in the Bible is the word “atonement.” Without this word, it is impossible to have a true understanding or a meaningful relationship with God. And yet, many do not have a clear idea of what atonement means.

We can see the importance of this word in what God said about the feast that is called by that namethe Feast of the Atonement, or the Day of Atonement. As we have looked at the other feasts that God ordained for the early Israelites, we saw that he gave clear instructions that the feasts were to be “permanent statutes wherever you live for the generations to come.”

But for the Feast of Atonement, the requirements were even more demanding. For this feast, the Lord also said to Moses, “If anyone does not humble himself on this day, he must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on this day” (Leviticus 23:29-30 BSB).

Why such a severe punishment for neglecting this feast? Why is it that this concept of atonement is so important to God?

What is Atonement?

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

THIS WEEK'S LETTER FROM THE KENYA ORPHANAGE

Below is this week’s letter from Pastor Joel. The two churches have been holding evangelism campaigns on the streets of the surrounding communities. The entire area is one where there is much interest in hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.

One of the prayer requests that the churches had was the need for Bibles for the new believers and church members. We are thankful that $1000 was given for this need. The details are in Joel’s letter below.

We are also thankful for the many continuing donations for the needs of the orphans. Actually, this is our calling and we will remain faithful to those needs. We are grateful that the children have been able to continue in school and have had their food and other needs met.

As far as the school building that we are in the process of constructing, this remains on hold. We trust the Lord that he will also provide those funds when the time is right to continue the construction.

Joel’s letter below:

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Praise God! Dad, Mum and Church,

Greetings from Kenya family! We are humbled to thank God for using you to be a blessing spiritually and physical support we have ever received from you. We praise God for the love and prayers we feel the power of your prayers because the church is reaching souls.

We went to evangelism soul winning and for those came and gave their life to God are 30 souls and we know the gospel is the seed more are coming. Thanks to all who sent help for the Bible may God bless you all, we are humbled thanks. We were able to distribute 80 pieces and we have 25 pieces left. We will distribute as new will join us.

One Bible was cost Ksh.1000. Beloved we had to mix Ekegusii and English Bible for youths who had need of English.

Thanks keep praying for the souls winning mission. We will be doing even each week if can
have means to hire vehicles and public addresses system. Kindly pray for us to have church bus and box speakers and all it take to carry out this mission this what we can do in the earth. Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Daniel 12:3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Thanks. We request your prayers once again kindly mention us daily in prayer as we pray for you. We really covet your prayers. Be of good courage. We love you and may God keep you all in good health. God bless you all, we look forward hearing from you beloved. We trust God will provide for you and for Kenya family. Thanks.

Yours Son Joel and church/orphanage Leadership-Kenya

Food list and receipts below:

Sunday, February 13, 2022

THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, FEB 13 - THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

Last week we saw how the first four of the seven feasts were prophetic to the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These were holy days that God instructed the ancient Israelites to observe, the first four feasts being: Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Feast of the Firstfruits, and the Feast of Weeks.

During the centuries leading up to the time when Jesus was crucified and when he rose from the dead, the prophetic significance of these four feasts no doubt was lost to most people, and perhaps to everyone. This connection came only afterwards with the teaching revealed in the New Testament. For us, living after the events and able to tie together these teachings, it is a relatively easy study to learn some of the more complete significance of what God told Moses and the Israelites.

Since the first four feasts of the seven had a prophetic component to them, it is reasonable to assume that in all probability, the final three also would be prophetic in some way. If so, however, these three were not predictive of anything surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. They are not as we saw in the first four feasts.

In fact, they seem not to be indicators of anything in the life of Jesus, at least not during his first coming and the days of his ministry on earth. Can we say then that these final three may be predictive of his second coming?

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

A DAY IN SCHOOL - LETTER FROM PASTOR JOEL

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

Greetings in Jesus name, we want to thank God for the love for the church and orphanage in Kenya, we know that there is power in prayer, and we request your prayers because it can make impossible to happen and make way to have this work in Kenya move forward.

Thanks to all who have been in the forefront in helping and supporting this church and orphanage. We are praying and covering you in our prayers that God will supply for your needs we know that you are passing through tough times because of the restrictions of covid-19. May God provide and make door open for you all.

This day we went to the schools where our children are learning and the children are progressing well, despite the long distance of walking to school. We have attached class pictures. We are trusting God will that we will have our school completed so that we can have the children in them as they appear in those pictures. We are praying for your trip to Kenya to see the work God is doing through your commitment and donation.

Once again beloved thanks for your prayers and help, keep praying for the children to have food, clothing, school fees and other needs, we request your prayers, thanks to all. Thanks. We pray and trust God will answer your prayers. Thanks. God bless you all.

Yours Son Joel and Church leadership Church of Kisii- 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!

Sunday, February 6, 2022

LOG CHURCH SERMON, FEB 6 - THE FEAST OF WEEKS (2)

We left off last week speaking of the principle of gleaning. As I talked about in the previous sermon, the act of gleaning teaches us that God intends that his grace be for all to accept. For some people this grace of God is relatively easy to find, but for others it is quite difficult. Nevertheless, despite much that might seem unfair to us in our present experience, in the end we will see that God is entirely just in all of his intentions and actions.

But there is more about the Feast of Weeks that we must consider. In fact, there is much about all of the first four feasts that we must think through. These were not simply memorial feasts. These were more than just remembrances of what happened in the history of the ancient Israelites.

Thursday, February 3, 2022

NEWS FROM KISII - NEW BUNK BEDS FOR THE BOYS

I think that I mentioned two or three posts ago that the Kenyan Ministry of Children’s Welfare has now required us to move the boys from the dormitory on the orphanage into a separate building from the girls. This decision came unexpectedly, but we are thankful for two crucial answers to prayer:

1- A brother with a property that is adjacent to the orphanage has two empty rooms in which he has given rent-free permission for us to house the boys.

2- The needed funds so that we were able to buy the new bunks needed, as well as blankets and mattresses. These were given by faithful people like you, the readers of this blog,

This week we also made further payments of the school fees for this term, as well as buy food. The orphanage was out of food at the time, so we are thankful that the children and staff again can take nourishment.

With these added costs, the school building that we are constructing has been put on hold for now. But as always, we move ahead as God provides.


Below please read Pastor Joel’s letter

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

Greetings from Kenya Churches and orphanage, we are praying for you each day, we are humbled for the help we receive from you all through pastor Donald, Vivian, church leaders and friends to the Kenya orphanage and church.


Thanks from the children and church leadership Kenya church and thank you for your prayers.

Thanks to you, we were able to buy blankets, beds and mattresses (see pictures). We are humbled for the donation towards food and Ksh. 200000 for the school fees. Thanks to all this team we have school balance of Ksh. 111500.May God bless you all.

Below is the budget of what we received,


Food budget Ksh. 467500

Maize =523 kilogram, one kg =Ksh.260 x558.5=135900

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

Sanitizer 29litres, one litre @ 150=Ksh.4400

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

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


Salt 38Kgs=3800

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

Beans=400kilogram,one kgs cost Ksh. 300x400kgs=Ksh. 120,000

Soap 20Kilogram,1kg @150=Ksh.3,000.

Rice=479Kilogram,one kgs=Ksh. 200x479kgs=Ksh.95,800

Transport cost Ksh.5900

We are praying for you all, keep us in prayer as we do daily. Humbled for the work you are doing sure may God provide for you and bless the work of your hand. We trust God will provide for the school building to continue. May God bless you all.

Thanks

We call you blessed. Thanks

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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Please see receipts below: