Praise the Lord for His provision and thanks to God's people for their generosity, the special offering for our Austria Missions Team on Sunday, August 10, came to $1,979.17.
Acts 5:41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. [NIV]
Comments: With a family as large as ours (five children and their spouses, and eleven grandchildren), there are a couple of things that are nearly impossible:
1) Getting everyone together for a photograph
2) Getting every family member sitting down together for a meal, and getting through it without someone’s drink spilling, and …
3) Keeping everybody “happy” at once!
We can be together having a great time, but before long someone is crying or whining in the background, so old grandpa (that’s me) asks “Is everybody happy?” Consider today’s verse, and you will discover that not everyone was happy when Peter and the others were flogged, threatened, and then released from their arrest.
Acts 5:40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [NIV]
Comments: I am presently reading a book of testimonies by Iranian Christians. It is encouraging to see how the Lord is working in that country to bring people to himself. It is sobering, however, to read of the oppression some of our brothers and sisters in Christ have to endure. A Christian doctor tells of being summoned to a police station which looked like a fort, with tall walls and barbed wire. In this two story building, he said that “upstairs is where they do the interrogations,” but the lower floor is “where all the torture is going on.” He was thankfully released without being physically tortured, but others have not been so fortunate. We Americans are so used to demanding (and getting) our “rights,” that we have a difficult time appreciating what it means to be flogged for Christ, and ordered to refrain from the free exercise of our faith.
Acts 5:39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. [NIV]
Comments: Check out this video of a fellow in Fort Lauderdale who came up with the bright idea of kite surfing during tropical storm Fay last week. Some have wondered why he did not let go of the kite the first time he was slammed into the ground, but unfortunately for him, he was harnessed into the kite. The report goes on to say that witnesses ran to help him as he lay crumpled on the ground in pain.
We like to think that we can handle any situation and resist any power that intrudes upon our plans, but that is simply not so. And if it is foolish to kite surf in a tornado, how much more to be found fighting against God!
I thought you all might like to see the thank-you note and photo from Alexis, back from her Teen Missions work in South Africa! I believe she will be back with us this coming weekend.
Alexis with orphan - South Africa-Teen Missions
Summer of 2008
Consider today’s verse, and you will discover that not everyone was happy when Peter and the others were flogged, threatened, and then released from their arrest.
We Americans are so used to demanding (and getting) our “rights,” that we have a difficult time appreciating what it means to be 
