Last Sunday's Martyr

Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu

Nfuufu Village and More from the Thomasons

Feb 25, 2008

Hello from Nfuufu village,

The name of our community (Nfuufu) means dust which is quite appropriate as most all the roads are dirt and we had rain only one day last week. I don’t know what the word for mud would be but that would replace Nfuufu for a couple of days.

The construction project has consumed most of my time. In a week there have been major changes in basic building design. The Church/College/Seminary folks were unaware that the electrical and plumbing would be surface-mounted and they actually expressed a desire to have mostly interior walls with plaster so changes were negotiated with the design team. Two, two-story buildings also were reconsidered and below-grade concrete walls have now been modified to brick above-grade walls. We have been pushing dirt for three days and we have repositioned the buildings slightly to accommodate the changes. There is not a transit or builder’s level on the site so we are addressing that today. I have designed metal scaffolding for the project and located a welder to fabricate it if the project can financially support it. The first building foundation on the site is somewhat a mystery. When I arrived a week ago and measured, I found that one corner is mostly square with the front and rear walls, 4 1/2 inches short and long respectively. Two corners are 6 and 4 inches low respectively, yet the diagonals measure very close to the same. I pondered this for awhile and when asked how this was accomplished, I replied, “It is a sortallelozoid.” Other than that, last week was rather mundane at the construction site. (Ha!)

Gorden in his office

Mom has settled in, so thanks for praying. She and Sally went to meet Catharine Coon on Saturday. Catharine is a missionary from Mom’s home church in California and she heads up Children of Hope which is a ministry for the children here in the Kampala area. Mom met Dorothy, the young lady she has been supporting since the beginning of the program. It was a very emotional time. They also met Sophia who is a young lady that mom’s Bible Study group supports. Many hugs and smiles were exchanged and the girls treasured the gifts that were given. Mom was the first representative from her home church (Centerville Pres.) to visit Catharine on the field so that meant a lot to Catharine. (She enjoyed the gift bag too!)

Now for the exciting news about how God can use a 79 year-old grandmother who struggles with memory problems! There is a young boy, Vincent, who is 15. He is an orphan and is now being helped by Pastor Emma’s family. He is going to school for the first time in his life. He comes to our house each evening for an hour of tutoring (coaching as they call it here) with mom. She is helping him with his comprehension, vocabulary, and reading. It is such a blessing to see a 79 year-old missionary in action.

Sally is beginning to spend time in the clinic. The staff is giving her a crash course in tropical medicine. They have been wonderful in showing her the ropes. Malaria seems to be the most prevalent problem. One of the nurses is out with her new baby who was born on Sunday and another is pregnant and due in May so it seems a good time for Sally to be here.

One of the most humorous things to happen last week centers on Sally’s first trip to Owino market (the big open market downtown) with Allen (Pastor Emma’s wife.) As you know, because of previous melanoma issues, Sally wears protective clothing including a large wide-brimmed hat, similar to the Queen of England, apparently. The Queen was here for a visit and Commonwealth meetings last year. At every turn in the market you could hear, “The Queen! The Queen!” This was quite humorous until Sally considered the age of the Queen. Enough of that subject.

Just so you know that life is not all work we packed in a few great things over the weekend. We took Pastor Emma, his wife and two boys and Vincent out to dinner. I think it was the first time Vincent had been to a nice restaurant and he really loved the food. It was outdoors and very nice. We had some folks over for dinner on Sunday after church and then we went to a great dance/music program Sunday night at the Ndera Cultural Center. They danced and sang for three hours with energy beyond belief. It was fascinating watching the different dances from different tribes. Everything has a meaning and explains some about their particular people group.

We are all still in a huge learning curve: where to go, how to do, how not to offend, but encourage. Please pray that the mazoongoos (white skins) will become more culturally appropriate in the setting this week. Specifics would include:

1. Mom to connect well with Vincent as she tutors him and for his comprehension of the English words
2. Job site changes, new methods and equipment purchases for the construction site
3. Sally to quickly learn the common tropical diseases and treatments and also the protocol of the clinic
4. Health and relationships with Ugandans for the three of us
5. For our children at home

It is confirmed to us daily that we are supposed to be here at this time. Thank you so much for supporting us with prayers and finances. Because of your faithfulness the multitudes of Revelation 7:9 will sovereignly continue to approach that uncountable number who will be gathered before His throne.

Gorden, for the three of us

Wed morning additional prayer items:

1. Pray for Gorden on the worksite Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as he teaches the guys a new method for laying brick. If they are receptive it will really speed up their process and they can all go home earlier each day. Right now they leave at 6:20 a.m. and don’t get home until after 7 in the evening.

2. The power goes off here all the time with no rhyme or reason (typical 2/3 world) but we are asking God to make it go off in the day and be on at night so we can run a fan and Gorden’s CPAP machine. This would greatly facilitate our sleep which is essential for the long days of work. Thankfully none of this concerns mom as she sleeps through it all!

The Missional Church

Thoughts on being missional by PCA pastor Tim Keller. Bob Flayhart promoted this article to the Oak Mountain officers.

The Missional Church, June 2001

Preach to an Urban World, Part 1 and Part 2

Amazing Grace

Gregorian

Today's Martyr - Mehdi Dibaj

Here is the link to his story: http://www.farsinet.com/dibaj/

2008 Missionary Speakers

Alex, Jean, Joe and David Agha-Khan, England

Jim and Evelyn Anderson, Bonn, Germany

What is Reformed Theology?

The Foundations of the Reformed Faith

January 13, 2008

• Review TULIP

• Total depravity. (Jer 17:9, Rom 3:10-12)
• Unconditional election. (Eph 1:4-5, Acts 13:48)
• Limited Atonement. (John 17:1-2, Rev 5:9)
• Irresistible grace. (John 6:44, 65)
• Perseverance of the saints. (Jer 32:40, John 10:27-30)

The five points of Calvinism were developed by the Synod of Dordt in 1619 in response to five specific objections raised by Jacob Arminius. They are distinctives of reformed theology but not the essence. We are to look to the following principles for the foundations of reformed theology.

• Reformed theology is centered on God.

• The five solas - the great exclamations of the Reformation.

• Sola Scriptura – the only infallible rule of faith for the Church. (2 Tim 3:15-17, Heb 4:12)
• Sola Gratia – our only method. (John 1:12-13, 1 Cor 1:30-31)
• Sola Fide – our only means. (Eph 2:8-9. R Sola om 4:4-5)
• Solus Christus – our only mediator. (John 14:6, Acts 4:10-12)
• Soli Deo Gloria – our only ambition. (See various Scripture)

• Reformed theology interprets Scripture through the three major covenants (also known as Covenant Theology).

• The covenant of redemption. Between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• The covenant of works. Between God and Adam.
• The covenant of grace. God’s relationship with his people throughout the rest of Scripture.

Scripture

Total Depravity

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Rom 3:10-12 There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Unconditional Election

Eph 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Limited or Particular Atonement

John 17:1-2 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Irresistible Grace

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."

Perseverance of the Saints

Jer 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.

John 10:27-30 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Centered on God

Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 7. What is God?

1. God is a Spirit,[1] in and of himself infinite in being,[2] glory,[3] blessedness,[4] and perfection;[5] all-sufficient,[6] eternal,[7] unchangeable,[8] incomprehensible,[9] every where present,[10] almighty,[11] knowing all things,[12] most wise,[13] most holy,[14] most just,[152] most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.[16] Numbers are scriptural support

Acts 2:23 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

Phil 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Sola Scriptura

2 Tim 3:15-17 And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Sola Gratia

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 Cor 1:30-31 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Sola Fide

Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Rom 4:4-5 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Solus Christus

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:10,12 Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Soli Deo Gloria

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God; Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (1CO 10:31; 1PE 4:11; REV 1:6; 2PE 3:1; EPH 3:21; REV 7:12; ROM 11:36)