"I'M CONFUSED"

I have to tell you about our couples' meeting on Saturday. This time we had pot luck. We bought 6 pounds of beef and 2 pounds of chicken for BBQ, and two cakes, of course. They brought the rest of the meals. It was a banquet! But that is not why I am writing. Yirardi's parents came with him along. After dinner, we started the Bible study. As you recall, we have been talking about who Jesus is. Saturday's topic was that he is our advocate (1 John 2:1-2). I explained why we needed an advocate, and they were tracking with me. Then we went to 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus", and that's when the discussion got interesting. They could not get over the fact that not even the Virgin Mary can be a mediator. I told them that she did not die for my sins, was not resurrected, and that she is dead. I told them that saints, amulets, and things like that were useless. I asked, "how many mediators does the Bible say there are?" They said "one." That's when one of the girls said, "Wait, I am confused!" My mother tells me that I have to pray to Mary, but my mother-in-law is a Jehovah Witness (Oh, dear!). I went to Deuteronomy 5 and read the 10 commandments. We went over each one. They are very clear. For the first time on this trip, the Christians in the group began to speak. We really had a good discussion. But I think that they came out of there more confused. Pray that the Lord will speak to their hearts as they ponder these things.

We had a game and dessert afterwards, and got home very late. John did not have to speak in church this Sunday. We went to both churches. Some of the kids (3) and two adults from our town wanted to attend the second church, so we took them. That meant that we were already seven in the car, and we did not have to take anybody from the other town across the river. They heard the same message, but the music is better because they have instruments. On the way back, John stopped at the local "7-11" and bought ice cream for everybody. They will probably all want to go to the second church next Sunday!

Today we are resting, since we really have not had a "day off" since May 28.

Until next time...from the beach...