The second Sunday of August is Father’s Day in Brazil. Antonio preached a wonderful message on the Family. We had 60 people in the service and 11 Fathers present. After the service we had a fellowship with pasteis! (a fried pastry filled with chicken, ground beef or cheese)
As part of the program we had church people answer questions on little pieces of colored paper and fan-folded them and tied them on a branch. This served as decoration also.
Near the close of the program Jessica and Lawanda read the papers. Some of them were written with praise and gratitude for their fathers, but many of them were heart wrenching! Things like; “I wish that my Dad….had protected me”. “I wish that my Dad…still lived with my Mom”. “I love my Dad because…well, I can’t say that I love him because he abandoned us and I only met him when I was 13 years old”. May our Dads learn by the mistakes of others!
(written by Lawanda Doolittle Duarte)
There is a thing that has me concerned
As we travel here and there;
Something that burdens and stirs my heart
And makes me cry out in prayer.
You see, I’ve entered many a church
On a bright Sunday morn,
To meet a few, sweet elderly ladies
Their faces all leathered and worn;
Their silvery heads and teary smiles
Brighten the near empty pew
While beside them playing with crayons or cars
Bobs an illigit grandchild or two.
After the service they gather round
Sharing pictures of all of their kin
And I honestly say that I have a hard time
Distinguishing a “her” from a “him”!
Now they say that its really not that hard to tell
Who is Jill and who is Jack;
It’s just a matter of closely observing
On which side the earring is at!
As I stand and I gaze at the near empty church
A scene oft repeated again;
My anguishing heart cries out in despair:
“Oh, God, Where Are The Men?”
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
On Wednesday night it is not much different
Nor on Saturday visitation.
A few young ladies and a few old maids
Respond to Pastor’s invitation.
And that’s not all, the dilemma continues;
We are asked to speak to the teens...
I am met by blank stares, or rebellious glares
And whatever “whatever” means.
The girls look like guys with cropped hair and low waists
Chewing on gum like a cud,
Their faces all gooped up with colorful paste,
Or did they fall in the mud?
The guys are so “cute” as they “pony” their hair
Teasing with gel the curls,
With earrings and necklaces, bracelets and chains
Trying to look like the girls.
Is it any wonder our homes fall apart?
I sigh at the sad, sad condition.
The wives are bossy, rebellious and hard,
Refusing to learn submission.
So I stop to reflect at the state of our Nation
Being destroyed so by sin,
And I cannot but help to cry out once more:
“Oh, God, Where Are The Men?”
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
If you’d but stop; look around the world
To that place away over seas,
You’d see a missionary, that man of God,
Down there upon his knees.
He’s so tired and footsore; he’s heartsick and weary.
So heavy is his load!
He cannot at this moment see
Light at the end of the road.
But do you know what he is doing?
He is praying for YOU, my friend!
Can’t you hear him as he cries:
“Oh, God, Where Are The Men?”
The Harvest is plenteous, as Jesus said,
The laborers are so few.
Does this not touch? Does this not concern?
Does this not bother you?
Will you arise and be the first
To boldly come today
And willingly answer God’s sweet call
And very humbly say:
“Dear Lord Jesus, take my life
Use me; Here I am.
My ALL, I at your altar lay;
Oh, God, Make Me A Man!”?
(Camp Victory, July 24, 2002)
August 9, 1986 – August 9, 2011
We celebrated 25 wonderful years together! God has been so good to us and blessed us in ways beyond measure! We didn’t have a big celebration as we are planning and saving for a “dream” trip next year, but we did go out at night for ice cream! We got a nice gift from the Schrocks….a professional photo shoot…..so stay tuned for some photos soon!
I made a birthday cake for my brother-in-law’s 47th birthday yesterday. This is the brother-in-law who lost his 22 year old son last week in a motorcycle accident.
I tried making a “checkerboard” but it was difficult without the proper dividing equipment. The results, though not perfect, were praised and appreciated!
The best part of the entire cake making was letting Joshua lick the frosting beaters!
Doesn’t he look content?!
