I heard what sounded like a deranged cow mooing outside our apartment. I went out on the veranda and instead of a cow, I saw a camel. It took me by surprise, but really, I shouldn’t have thought twice about it. Life here is always an adventure. I grabbed Claire and the camera and we ran outside.

The “Welcome to Heaven” tracts have been translated into more than ten languages, among them Tagalog, one of the official languages of the Philippines. Here is a story I received today via email from friends who are using the Tagalog track in the northern part of the Philippines.

Charles S., Brian B. along with Filipino pastors Cesar and Ronald visit Pugaro Elementary School in Dagupan City and after sharing the gospel with the kids we inform them we would like to share a handout with them if they would please stay in their lines (the Jesus tract in Tagalog language for them). They not only remain in their lines without moving about, but they allow us to walk thru the lines and hand the tracts out to each child individually without reaching over one another or taking a neighbor’s tract (common in the other elementary schools we visited). Even when Cesar runs back to the van for more tracts, they sit patiently until we can hand one to each and every one of the ~500 students. At that point the principal addresses them and tells them they are released to head back to class - and they ….don’t move! Instead they remain in their spots, eyes glued to the tracts and start reading aloud… in unison… until the have read the entire tract from cover to cover. What a sweet sweet sound. The angels must have been hi-fiving over this wonderful sight and sound! Thank you God for allowing us to be observers to this wonderful sight.

“I would rather light a candle in the darkness than hang another chandelier in the fellowship hall.” —Roland Vaughan

Pray for the quick release of some Gideons from Georgia who were arrested in Mumbai for distributing Bibles. This is all the info I have at this time.

Don’t think India is some distant land; you deal with Indians frequently when you call for technical assistance or customer support and your call is routed to India.

Adrian Warnock encapsulated my thoughts on the resurrection perfectly. Read the article HERE.

We started a Twitter feed for the purpose of giving timely updates and prayer requests related to our life and ministry. Go to Twitter.com, sign up for an account, and look for us. Our Twitter account name is joeyandchristy.

Tomorrow we begin the long trip back to our country. In addition to traveling with two small children over three flights, we also have a fifteen hour layover. Please pray that everything goes smoothly and the luggage arrives.

Hope isnt optimism. Optimism often denies reality. Hope never does.Optimism is positive thinking; hope is passionate trust.

Optimism is psychological; hope is theological. Optimism focuses on what you think you can do. Hope trusts in what God can do.

Optimism says “It’s not so bad!” Hope admits “Yes, it’s bad. Really bad. But I still beliieve & trust in God!”

Due to our rebellion against God, we struggle with difficulty, doubt, discouragement & despair. It’s why we need hope.

“Human curiosity renders the discussion of predestination, already somewhat difficult of itself, very confusing and even dangerous. [Therefore] if anyone with carefree assurance breaks into this place, he will not succeed in satisfying his curiosity and he will enter a labyrinth from which he can find no exit.” (Institutes III, XXI, 1, pp. 922 23)

Q. How do you know if you have the heart of a servant?
A. By how you respond when you’re treated like one.

I don’t know who first said this, but I heard it from my Dad.

“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.”

–Stuart Chase

(Comments on this quote are welcome.)