It Is Well ...

Yesterday was was one of the most incredible days I have lived! I went to bed and it seemed as though the water was in my brain and between my ears .. I had seen so much of the stuff! Every time I closed my eyes I saw fast, muddy water that looked like coffee!

It was heavy rain again last night and I feared the worst. I left St James Subdivision and literally hundreds of people were sitting on their tricycles or standing in the mud waiting for the water to subside. With the heavy rain I thought that they would have to wait a long time. But praise God ... I found out this morning that the water finally subsided in Pastor Adonis' house at 1am!

Mary & I went to St James this morning to see the pastors and their families .. as well as many families who have sent their kids to our school in the past or at the present. A lovely christian lady texted us to swing by her house to take some food for the people. She gave us ten big boxes of noodles, two boxes of Coffee sachets and hundreds of buns. My car was full.




When we entered St James, it was like a war zone! Che, one of our members, showed me how high the water came in her house (above) and look at her belongings! Everyone, and I mean everyone, had all their earthly possessions out on the street or in their garden and all of them were busy cleaning their furniture and possessions. We saw mattresses that were drenched... sofas that were soaking... everywhere!

We visited Pastor Jun and he had already cleaned his house and had gone to help Pastor Adonis. Pastor Marlou was almost finished his house. We went to Pastor Adonis' house ... what an absolute mess! His whole house had been caked in mud. The mud was around a foot deep and the water was about 7 feet - touching the ceiling! When we saw him he was busy washing his furniture ... with a toothbrush. I told him he'd better not brush his teeth tonight! How can this man smile when everything he has has been under the water? Incredible.


Pastor Adonis took a step of faith three months ago and rented the house next to his to start a new Cornerstone Church. He pays for the rent himself and he and his family, along with some neighbours, really sacrifices to make this simple house into a place of worship. I went there a few weeks ago and there was around 60-70 people attending! Below are the photos before the typhoon.


But when I saw the devastation in the church .. I was so sad. All the PA equipment was covered in mud. The musical instruments - drums, keyboard, guitars - looked as if they were pretty much destroyed. The floor of the church was covered in mud. I just felt in the spirit, " We will get this place more beautiful than before!"



Some of our Cornerstone members' houses are in a bad way too. I said to one member, "Yesterday was a terrible day for you." His response? "Yes, but today is a day of challenge and opportunity for me and for us." In all of my travels in these last two days I have never heard one complaint or angry word. Filipinos are people of resilience, respect and gratitude ... and I admire and love them more and more.

I was so proud of our Cornerstone Pastors and workers. Yesterday, Henry told me they fed 2000 people with Congee! He was so tired. But he asked if I had any money to give him ingredients to make another 1000 meals today! So he rose at 4am and started making food for everyone again. I met them going around every street in St James with free food. People came with huge pots ... and we filled them. These people were so busy cleaning they had no time to cook ... but thanks to Henry and the team a great need was met. We also went round on tricycles giving out coffee, noodles and buns! Meals on wheels ... Cornerstone style!




I heard on the news that 24 people died in Isabela. When I saw the river yesterday, I knew that some people would have had no chance. Please pray for those who have lost so much. Pray for our Pastors as they try and get back to a normal life in their homes. Pray that we westerners could learn from these Filipinos about how to live by faith, how to respond to difficulty and how to smile. Pray for many Muslim families who had their homes completely destroyed. Pray for our Cornerstone churches .. that they would reach out and touch lives in this hour of need. Pray for all our Pastors and staff and all the people we know in Santiago who are going to bed in wet homes with no electricity tonight.

Thanks for all your prayers. If you have only started reading the blog in the last day or two, why don't you bookmark this page and check it out from time to time. Please sign our Guestbook on the right and leave a message or comment.

I leave you with the words of an old hymn that I have been singing away over the last few days:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul...

... and that, my friend, is the most important thing.

Selah

P.s. - there is one good thing that came out of the typhoon. Pastor Winston found two fish in his living room as he was cleaning it out! Will make a nice snack!

Living at the Edge of Uncertainty

Long time no blog! Need to keep you up to date with events here at Sefton Village. Last Tuesday night Pastor Jun and I went down to Manila on the overnight bus. Nightmare journey ... smelly bus with bad brakes and broken air con! But that's another story ...

We went down a day early so that we could get all the Christmas gifts for the children in the orphanage and all our staff! A whole day of non-stop shopping. To some, this would be like heaven but to me it's like a nightmare! Thousands of shop assistants shouting "How about this ... or this ... or this .. or that!" Aaagggghhhh.... get me outa here! Anyway, we completed the task at 8:30pm ... over 120 gifts bought! I know what you're thinking ... Christmas? Yup, here in Philippines they start celebrating in September 1 ... and this was the only opportunity I had to get the gifts before Christmas!

Anyway ... the main reason for going to Manila was to pick up my family and bring them North. It was AMAZINGLY GOOD to see them again ... dad, mum, brother Paul, Ashley, Nathan, Aaron and cousin-in-law Monica. Words can't describe how it feels when you meet people you love but who you haven't seen for a long time. They arrived safe and well and we had a night in Manila to give them time to adjust.

They have been here for a week now and I will ask one of them to do a 'Guest Blog' to let you know what they have been up to! Things have been very busy here at Sefton this October and it seems as if there are so many doors opening to us to walk through. More about that next week ...

For now, I want to really challenge us. On Monday I took the family to a beautiful place called Banaue. There are rice terraces there that have literally been hand made in the middle of a very mountainous area. Amazing thing is that this was done over 2000 years ago by people with primitive tools. Pretty unbelievable. Anyway, on the way there we encountered around 20 landslides on the road ... some really big ones.

At one place, tragedy was evident. At 10pm one night last week, a huge chunk of mud slid down the mountain and completely swept away and destroyed two small homes on the roadside. It was so dark and so silent. Tragically, nine people were inside the houses and never stood a chance ... 5 of them little children. So as we drove past the site we saw the newly erected tombs of these none poor people. They were built where their houses stood just a few days before. A few feet away at either side were two other houses that missed tragedy by a few inches. Incredible.

Really got me thinking. Things like that make you stop and take a deep look at yourself. Coming face to face with death and tragedy forces you to self-examine your whole life.

Imagine, one minute sleeping ... next fighting for breath in a sea of mud. No light. No sound. No help. No hope. That's it. It's over. Life is finished in less than a moment.

We always think we have plenty time. Definite opportunities. Limitless years. Undoubtable days. We plan and work out our finances, working options, family plans and goals that will enhance our standing in life. Truth is -and I hate to remind us - that we cannot even guarantee today. We don't know what is around the corner, through the door or on the road.

The MOST important thing right now, as you read this blog, is that at this moment in time:

* You are in right standing with God. You are His. He is yours. No matter what happens ... you know who you are and where you are going and who is Lord of your life. Church attendance, friends, good deeds and a hope that you will make it is not enough. You won't make it. Only your faith in Christ and your relationship with Him will bring you to heaven.

* You are in right standing with your family. No regrets. No tears. Don't leave this world with unresolved issues with those God has put you closest to. Make a phone call today. Arrange a time to talk things through. Swallow your pride, take a deep breath and do what you know in your heart is right.

* You are in right standing with the world around you. Don't leave this world with a bad reputation or with broken friendships. Don't leave with undisclosed debt. Leave with a good name and a good reputation. Don't allow 'things' come between great friendships ... especially church problems. I know so many broken and bitter people who have lost true friends through church mis-understandings. Tragic. How the Lord's heart must break. But now, while you have time, deal with the past to ensure a great future.

I know this blog is a bit strong and a bit challenging. But that is where I am this week. I don't know what will happen tomorrow ... but I know there are times God brings you to a place where we have to take a close look inside out hearts.

You never know ... you may be at the edge of a 'landslide' and don't know it.

I leave you with a poem that was sent to me by a missionary from Cambodia. It is written by a young girl who is terminally ill in a New York hospital. Let it challenge you today ...

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.


Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done!
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.


Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.


When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Selah ...