Christmas Message 2013

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Christmas Message

By Rev. George Miller

 Introduction:

Why is this Wednesday so different from every other Wednesday in 2013? We are meeting to honor someone's birthday.  When it is the Prime Minister's birthday do we meet and celebrate like this?  In the USA we have President's Day, which is a public holiday of sorts to honor the birthdays of all our presidents.  But I have a hard time remembering this exact date and it comes and goes without much recognition except the banks, post offices and public offices are closed.  Some of the presidents accomplished great things, but their birthday comes and goes without much fanfare.  Yet Jesus has impacted the world so that even non-Christians today are celebrating the day of His birth. 

Even the most popular calendar in the world refers to Jesus' birth. You don't hear it much anymore but we use to say eg for AD 2013 "In the Year of Our Lord, 2013".

We really don't know when Jesus was born, but we are fairly certain it was not in December, since the shepherds were in the fields and December in Israel is winter and cold.  Every year in the Commonwealth countries we celebrate the Queen's birthday.  Even though we know the date of her birth we don't celebrate on the exact day, or even the same month. (At least not in the Solomon Islands.)

There is a poem written nearly 100 years ago.

One solitary life ...  This is copyrighted poem but you can find it a lot of places on-line including the URL address below. http://www.holybible.com/resources/poems/ps.php?sid=47  Dr James Allan © 1926.

Some people of the world spend the holidays drinking.  Many will be celebrating with giving of presents.  Many, especially in the Western world, will emphasize father Christmas, Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, and the children all go to bed on Christmas eve believing that in the morning if they have been good during the year that Father Christmas will deliver presents for them.

Title of Sermon:  I have titled this sermon, "Wise Men Still Seek Him"

Text: Matt 2:1-12 (NKJV)

^1. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

⁶ 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." ⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

I.              Wise men saw His star: 

We refer to these as three men.  We really do not know the number but only that they brought 3 different gifts.  Tradition even gives us their names: Casper, Melchior, and Beltazzar or something like that.  Tradition tells us that one was a black man, one was an Asian, and one was a European.  We're not sure if that is correct.  But we are certain that these men were searching the sky and examining the stars for signs.  God appeared to these men through the stars.  Why?  Because, that was what they understood.  If God wanted to come to me with instruction, He wouldn't use the stars.  Why?  Because I would miss it.  I wouldn't understand what the star meant.  God uses a method of communicating with people that is understood by the person receiving the message.

II.           The wise men obeyed the star

They followed the star.  They came to see this King of the Jews.  They felt a King would be born in the palace.  Maybe they thought King Herod had a son and so they came to visit this prince.  They obeyed the Lord.  These magi were from the east.  We do not know exactly where they were from but one thing we know for sure is that they were not Jewish.  Up to this time salvation was for the Jews.  This story shows us that God sent his son for every race, every people, every tribe, and every color.  Jesus came for all of us. 

The wise men were important people to be able to see King Herod.  King Herod knew about the promised messiah.  His advisors even knew where he was to be born.  They knew the scriptures.  The messiah was very near to them.  Instead of accepting him and worshipping him they tried to kill him.

III.         Other wise men in the scriptures who followed Jesus.

¹⁰ "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding

Prov 9:10 (NIV)

If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom to follow the Lord is to be wise.  So those who obey the Lord are wise.  Those who disobey are then foolish.  We should not play around with the Lord.

The Shepherds were wise too:

They were not in the same class as the magi.  Shepherds are considered poor and without much education.  The news came to them, but in a different way.  They received the news in the way that they understood it.  The angels came.  Why did the angels come to these particular shepherds?  I don't know how many hundreds of shepherd may have been out in the fields that night.  The angels appeared to these.  They must have been ready.  Maybe they were talking about this or thinking about the coming Messiah.  Maybe they were faithful so that God knew He could trust them to go and find the Messiah.  We don't know what happened to their sheep.  Did one shepherd stay back, or what?  They obeyed and left their sheep to see the messiah. 

 He did not look like a King that night.  He was lying in a feed box from where the cows and horses ate hay.  They obeyed.  They were the first messengers of the Good News.

 The Scripture says: ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:17-18 (NKJV)

Simeon and Anna were wise and recognized him:

The messiah was now revealed to the Rich Magi, the poor shepherd, and the priests and workers in the church.  How many priest lived in Jesus day?  I don't know but the news came to Simeon.  Simeon had a promise from God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.  I don't know how long he had been waiting for the promise to be fulfilled, possibly for many years.  Now here he was a very old man, but he did not give up.  What was different from this baby to all the thousands of children he had held?  Simeon was so close to God that when Mary and Joseph came in carrying their 7 day old son, Simeon knew from the witness of the spirit in his heart that this is He. 

Many in the Bible followed him:

There were the disciples. The women traveled with him and helped him.  Even Jesus' mother and brothers were his followers.  They were all spiritually wise.

IV.         Wise Men still seek him today.

Today 2000 years after Jesus' birth those who are wise still seek Jesus.  Most of us have never seen an angel that we know of.  Wise men respond to the message.  Many people have gods today.  

Money is a big god.  Money is good.  Jesus came to the wealthy and they gave him generously of their wealth. 

Position is a god to many, even position within the church.  Announcement of Jesus came to the palace but they rejected him.  But the shepherds of low position accepted the message.  They had nothing to give.  Jesus wants nothing but you and your life.  He wants your all.  The King had his chance. 

Conclusion:  This Jesus born over 2000 years ago, is the "real deal".  He is still the Messiah, Immanuel (God with us), the great "I Am", the "Bread of Life", the "Living Water", the "Solid Rock", the "Great Physician", the "Resurrected Lord", the one who came to, "Baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire", the one who sent the counselor, the "Prince of Peace", the "miracle worker", the "Good Shepherd", the "Gate of the Sheepfold" and many other scriptural metaphors are used to describe this Jesus, whom we serve and honor on the 25^th of December.  Wise men today still search after this Jesus, and when they find Him and are in a living relationship with him, oh there is nothing NOTHING al all that compares.  If your life is a mess and out of control try JESUS, for He is always there to comfort and sustain.

Merry Christmas

 

Prayer updates 19 Dec 2013

Thanks you for your Prayers.

For more information concerning the sunken ship: 

The ship was a local made, Langalanga ship, made in the Langalanga lagoon, Malaita Province.  

This is our surviving girl, Melissa's story.  It is so good seeing her this morning as she sat in our living room recounting the story.  This ship was owned by an intending Candidate and he was giving all the passengers a  "free ride" home for Christmas as an election campaign booster.  This ship had a leak in the hull and the stern of the ship began to sink, then it rolled to the side and within time it was totally submerged.  The small children were put into the 3 or maybe 4 outboard motor boats available (Two boats owned by ship and towed behind the ship and used to ferry passengers to/from shore and at least one other boat came from the island of Ngella) Melissa estimated the passenger count at 300 or more, I haven't heard the exact count. There was total chaos and confusion.  She said much of the ships crew were intoxicated and when the ship began to sink they too went into a self preservation mode.  There was a small girl with Melissa and she panicked and jumped into the sea.  Melissa followed her. One of the miraculous things is the ship was to depart at 6 p.m. (nearly dark), but delayed their departure until morning, making the ship sinking occur at 2 p.m. and the passenger could see well.  There were drums of fuel onboard and they floated so the passenger could hang onto these floating objects.  Most of the passengers were floating/swimming in the water for 3-4 hours before the rescue. Most of the ship's life jackets were safely stored away in the cargo hold, which filled with water making the life jackets inaccessible.   The Helicopter dropped life jackets, water, and other things while waiting for the ships to arrive.  Melissa grabbed a life jacket dropped from the chopper and hung onto it and her small friend hang onto her back.  Melissa said that people who never or seldom prayed were praying and calling on the name of Jesus. She said she was surprised because one lady who she never heard praying was calling out to Jesus.  She said that she had a peace, and knew Jesus was with her. At first she was afraid but then she felt peace.The passengers were all picked up by dark which really helped for a successful rescue operation and definitely increased the survival. Thanks for your prayers.

District Assembly:

The District Assembly went well.  It was a good assembly.  It was the final week of school and graduation programs, Christmas activities, etc. going on and so some of our churches did not attend, which was unfortunate.  Then everyone returning after Christmas, some of our delegate are struggling trying to find transport to their home island.  Pray for the Solomon Islands as we develop and mature as a district.

Land Issue:

We have an issue with our land where one of our neighbors is claiming part of our land.  Please pray.

Pastoral Vote:

Pastor Alick Hagi received a good vote and will be the new pastor at Zion Church.  Pray for Pastor Jeremiah and he find God's will for his ministry.  Thanks for your prayers and for the spirit of unity felt throughout this process.

Bible College Class:

Continue to pray for the Bible College Class.

Sovereign Grace Church:

Pray for me as I leave in about 18 hours or so for Munda to organize the Sovereign Grace Church.  It is a quick trip down Friday afternoon and return Sunday afternoon.

George Miller
PO Box 712
Honiara, Solomon Islands

Phone: +677 7468920

blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com

Web: http://oceanianazarene.org

26 November 2013 Prayer Update

Dear Prayer Partner,

BOT Meeting

The SPNTC Board of Trustees meeting held last week was a success in every way. We arrived home yesterday very tired and went to bed early.  Our meeting with the IBOE was very encouraging.  The IBOE members complemented our school and we also have some areas where we need to improve.  Working through the self study was very good as we could reflect on the things we do well and also on those items that need more attention.  One of the very positive things from this BOT is that we are becoming more unified, as one college, instead of being a loose affiliation of four independent campuses under one umbrella.  Before it seemed like we were each doing our own thing, but now their is a tremendous cooperation and the tremendous energy that generates.  Continue to pray for the South Pacific Nazarene Theological College.

District Assembly (DA)

Please Join me in prayer for the DA and training meetings coming up (Nov 29 - Dec 7).  We are in a spiritual warfare.  I really need you to bathe this in prayer.  We had this BOT meeting which was awesome but now I am not ready for the DA.  I did some work on my lessons while in Nadi but not nearly enough.  There have been many interruptions and things affecting our preparation for assembly.  We need a spiritual breakthrough, which will come as a result of your prayers.  PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!  Pray for DS Gabriel Kaula from PNG, Rev. Mark Louw, Regional Director, and Rev. Harmon Schmelzenbach, Field Strategy Coordinator, as they attend and this assembly.

Honiara Zion Church:

Pray for the Zion Church as they are having a pastoral vote on Sunday.

Bible College Class:

Looking ahead to 2014 please be in prayer for our February Block Classes.  I, George, will be teaching Theology 3 [The Holy Spirit and the Church] an intensive class from 5-11 February.  Then we have a guest teacher, Herb Ireland will teach two classes from Feb 12-28.  His two courses will be New Testament Survey and Doctrine of Holiness.  You will hear more about this as time approaches.

George Miller

Web: http://oceanianazarene.org

Funeral of Simi Tome

Funeral of late Simi Tome

{Apologies, this was started and in the draft for a long time}

Simi Tome, a 74 year old double amputee, went to be with the Lord or Saturday Evening 21st of September.  Simi welcomed the Jesus Film showing in his place and was instrumental along with his children in the establishment of the Petra Church in Iriiri Pasapasa village in the Vonavona Lagoon.

Saturday night when I received the news from Pastor Fred, Simi's son-in-law, it was not unexpected as he had been ill for a long time.  Pastor asked if I or another pastor would be available to come for the burial.  The shipping schedule travels to the western Solomon's every Sunday morning.  The timing worked out great.  There was a former pastor of the Petra Church, Pastor Revelation, who is now in Honiara for other church business.  He was the right one to go and conduct this burial service.

Thank you for your continual prayers for the work in the Solomon Islands.  Pray for Pastor Fred Safe, the pastor at the Petra church and his continued effort to bring the healing love of Jesus to the people in the Vonavona Lagoon.  The Petra church is also operating a school teaching reading to the children of the village.

Prayer update for 6 August 2013

6 August 2013

Return to the field Prayer update,

Introduction:

Thank you for your prayers during our home assignment and our return to the field.  It was good to see many of our friends and prayer supporters while home and then we met many new friends along the way.  We serve an awesome God and have a huge spiritual family.

I apologize for not posting this sooner.  I am trying to figure out how to post photos.  It has to be simple, but they changed the blogspot and I'm having difficulty navigating through it. We need your prayer support, as that is so crucial to what is happening. 

Highlights from Home Assignment:

Touring and Deputation Praises:

We crisscrossed the USA, mostly by air.  Every home assignment we vow that we will not schedule a service for the first Sunday back.  And we don't unless someone asks.  We are so passionate about what we do that it is hard to refuse a service.  We arrived in Dallas on Wednesday and our first service was Saturday in Westminster, Maryland.  We hit the ground running.  The Lord was faithful in meeting our need there.

We toured the following districts or spoke in conventions: NE Indiana, Indianapolis, Upstate New York, Los Angeles, and North West districts (includes Eastern Washington, Idaho panhandle, and few counties in NE Oregon).  In addition to the district tours and services mentioned above we had deputation services in Smyrna, Delaware; Woodson Park, OKC; Carnegie, OK; Spencerville, OH; Miami, OK; Everett, WA; and Camp Creek, OK.  We shared in a missions class at SNU, Caravan class at Choctaw, OK; and led the Solomon Islands delegation after General Assembly to share in a children's camp on the Dallas District.

Thank you for your prayers.  Our schedule was considerably lighter than last time.  The Lord knows exactly what is needed as we spent more time than usual visiting doctor's offices.

Family Time:

We don't see our grandchildren too often, so when home on their birthday we like to take them on a date.  The way it works is we go wherever the grandchild wishes and spend a sizeable part of the day just hanging out with them.  We went out with Raina to the Orange Leaf, a frozen Yogurt place and shopping, took Addie to a science museum, and grandpa took Geoffrey to the toy section in Walmart, where he purchased some of the latest toys that I had never heard of before.  We will have a lot of cultural adjustments when we return to the USA to live as the world has really changed since 1989.

We had a week (Monday to Saturday) off while in Upstate New York and so we flew down to Washington DC and met our family (Geoff and Churie and girls; along with Wendy and her 4 children.)  

We enjoyed visiting the capitol and our time together in Washington and then in New York.  Fortunately we love each other as the house we rented in DC, advertised to sleep 16, was crowded with our 5 adults and 8 children.  We had fun but there is always more to see than time allows, and the time just flew by.

General Assembly was another large family reunion.  We saw a lot of people we hadn't seen in years, and there were others there that we so wanted to run into but did not manage.  We rode in two vehicles to Indianapolis with Gloria and her two youngest along with Churie and her 4 daughters.   Also our son Gary was with us as well as Hannah, our SI 'daughter' who flew into LAX and traveled with us from there to General Assembly.  Rex and Ezra, two young men from the Solomon Islands who attended the convention traveled back with us to await our return trip to Solomon's.

Health Concerns:

While on HA necessary things we have to take care of are the medical exams and procedures not available on the field.  I (George) was diagnosed with liver cysts in 2012 and as most of you know I needed further evaluation in Australia.  But in Australia they felt it nothing serious but advised me to follow up once back in the USA.  I had a lot of lab tests to verify there wasn't a pathogen causing the cysts on my liver.  All lab tests came back normal or negative except the Iron, Iron Binding Capacity (IBC), and serum Ferritin.  These tests were really abnormal and indicated too much iron stored in the liver.  The diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) was confirmed by MRI and genetic testing.   Some of the tests performed on me I had never heard of before, in my former life as a Medical Technologist.

The treatment for HH is frequent blood donations.  The doctor gave me an order to have a therapeutic phlebotomy performed weekly as we travelled.  HH has other associated symptoms which I had begun to notice, mainly muscle weakness.  In most places in the USA this procedure was a challenge as we travelled.  But in the 8 weeks from the diagnosis to our departure I successfully donated 6 times, and my lab tests were almost within the normal range when we departed for the field.  I was praying about the monthly donation once back in the Solomon's.  Incidentally HH does not disqualify one from being a blood donor as long as one is otherwise an eligible donor.  Within days after our return I went into the blood bank and inquired about this and the blood bank director knew exactly what was needed and no trouble at all.  I even forgot my doctor's order, but that too was no problem.  Tomorrow I am scheduled for the second donation.  It looks like I am going to supply the blood bank here and bless a number of people with my iron-enriched blood.

I (George) also had a stress test to check out my heart.  The cardiologist that examined me was a quiet/contemplative sort of guy.  He carefully and meticulously searched through the cardiogram and sonograms in complete silence and then turned to me after 20 suspenseful minutes going over the graphs and images as with a fine toothed comb while I watched in silence.  Then he stated in his stoic manner, "I don't see anything here.  It looks completely normal to me."  That was good news (no great news) considering my brother died suddenly from a massive MI.  I also had a colonoscopy exam that previously I had avoided like the plague.  But now at 62 years old I was told by a doctor, friend of mine, "It is time."  After the exam the doctor told me there was no significant findings and I didn't need another one for 5 – 10 years.  Of course I heard the 10 year part.  PTL

Prayer request:

Kenoly Akoeasi – Our pastor's son has a real puzzling illness, that has left him weak.  Pray for him.  When we returned he was in the hospital, and after I donated my first unit he was given a unit and his blood type is same as mine.  We have a medical team visiting the Solomon's now and Kenoly went to see them.  They treated him and he shows improvement. 

Note: At the time of this posting he is much improved, but does need your prayers.

Pastor Barnabas and the Kwalaitutu Church 

– The Kwailatutu church started a preaching point at Ote, about a 4-hour walk up the mountain and in the bush. Barnabas rang me and told me that they were returning on 23 – 25 of this month and they have 16 new believers to be baptized including 6 from the Kwalaitutu congregation.  Barnabas wants you to pray for good weather [rain free] for that weekend.

Note: Malaita where he is have been having lots of rain.  With too much rain it will be difficult for them to go.  Honiara has had not rain and our water tank is dry.

Bible College Block Class: Pray for our block courses coming up in Sept 18 – Oct 4.  In this block course, two of the classes will be taught by graduates of our Bible College as we are training potential teachers.  Pray for our chancellor, Dave Kerr and family as they come and visit in the Solomon's.  Dave taught a course to our graduates to train teachers and this is their practical experience.  We will have something for his wife Dr. Rosie Kerr to do while here.

Additional Prayer requests for our Solomon Island District:

• ·      Pray for unity.
• ·      Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to call people into the ministry.
• ·      Our churches and members to get the vision to plant churches.
• ·      Our District Secretary, Brother Alick, as his job is reassigning him to Renell Island.  Pray that God will help him there.
• ·      Our youth and district president, Pastor Revelation, who is touring Vella la vella Island that God will bless his ministry there.
• ·      Our two Bible College students, Gibson and Kendrick, that will soon be going on practical, and preparing to graduate this year.
• ·      IBOE (International Board of Education) review process looking at our Bible College.
• ·      Pray for a Holiness revival to sweep through this nation and region.

As I conclude this prayer letter, I want to thank you for your prayers.  This letter has become quite large.  I will try to keep the letters shorter in the future.

If you do not want included on this mailing, or you receive duplicate mailing let us know.

Your partners in His Ministry,

George Miller 

Report of return to Solomon's

Dear Friends,

(This is excerpts of a letter sent to churches that hosted us on our last HA) 

Summary of our Home Assignment:

We visited 11 districts and had district tours on 5.  We shared the story in 45 venues (mostly churches) and held 59 services.  This was somewhat down from last time, which was providential because we needed the time for medical checks [the 100,000 mile check-up].

Thank you for your prayers and generosity.  We were able to bring 20 e-readers back to the Solomon's to use in the Bible College.

Please continue to remember us in prayer.  Some of you have been our prayer partners for a number of years while some are new and we welcome you.  We can stay connected through Christ and email.

Travels:

We had an enjoyable time in the states, . . .   We have many fond memories, reconnecting with old friends and making many new ones.  This was our 8th home assignment in our 25 years of ministry.  During our home assignment we travel lots of miles, and have seen a lot of accidents, but God has been good to us and kept us safe again as we traversed one of the most dangerous places on earth, the US highways.  Thanks for your prayers for traveling mercies.

Our return trip took longer than expected.  We were almost home to the Solomon Islands when our aircraft developed a "minor" mechanical problem and we then returned to Nadi, Fiji to sort the problem out.  We then arrived 7 hours or so late and after the stores were closed and it was dark.  Minor inconvenience as we had packed our house up preparing for 4 months away and there was no food in the house.  But we were safe, and praising God to be back in the Solomon's.

New Computer:

We purchased a new computer (for me, George) as our old one was processing slow (kind of like me somedays).   I think I'll like my new Apple but it has been a while getting my address and mailing list straightened out.  If you do not want to get our letter please let us know or if you see this letter and would like one delivered directly to your box let us know that too.

Update on the Some of the Stories:

You know when I was with you I told you to pray for those I talk about because Satan will work hard in the Solomon's to destroy their testimony.

Patricia:

I shared about Patricia who had tragically lost her son right before our last District Assembly.  Pastor Patricia and Pastor Phillip from Vella la vella Island and their group of 22 from their island are still here.  They came to attend the district youth and then followed by the district children (Sunday School) camp.  They are doing fund raisers to earn money to return home.  It is an expensive trip and quite a sacrifice for them.  It was awesome seeing them make the sacrifice to come and in such number.

Patricia was encouraged when I told her that I had shared her story.  I assured her of your prayers. She thanked me (and you) as she relayed how she almost died.  She credits the Lord for healing her.  The ministry in Vella la vella is going strong.  Continue to pray for her.

White River Church:

I showed a photo of the baptism in White River and about the church that was started by Pastor Osborn among the children.  I want to report the church is growing.  They lost their uncompleted building where they were meeting and moved the church into a homemade tent, using a plastic tarp covering a frame.  The church is continuing to grow as people are coming to the Lord.  It was exciting hearing Osborn and others attest to what God is doing.  They now have a number of adults.  Osborn shared that he is beginning a membership class and hopes to start construction of a church building soon.  It sounds like this church will soon be organized.  They are still carrying on with their Saturday night prayer.

I mentioned in some services about a woman who was led to the Lord through the testimony of her daughter.  Prayer is requested for her as I am sad to report that she has backslidden.

Kwailatutu Church:

I told you about the Kwailatutu church where daddy Jacob lived.  Their new pastor shared with me how the Lord is moving there and he has over 20 that are ready to join the church.  Their attendance has now outgrown their building.  What a wonderful problem!

Delegates to General Assembly:

Our Solomon Island delegates had a wonderful time at General Assembly.  Our GA delegate was Alick Hagi, and then we had two NYI convention delegates Ezra Kuki and Rex Dagga, and we had one visitor, Hannah Konainao.  The delegates traveled to the USA on $20.  The banks ran out of US currency and so they went to the airport to wait their flight when someone from the church was trying to exchange their funds.  The plane departed before their treasurer returned.  They have numerous stories of miracles along the way to meet their needs. 

Hannah, met up with us in Los Angeles and toured with us for 3 weeks prior to General Assembly.  She had a wonderful experience and I know she was a blessing to those churches she visited and sang a special.  She made lots of friends along the way.

One incident that I'll relate concerning God's provision for the delegates - We were together in OKC eating lunch at a Golden Corral and a Maury man from New Zealand, seeing the Melanesian Neighbors talked with the boys and asked if they were from the Solomon's, then he shook hands with Ezra and passed through his handshake $40. This was a gift from a stranger.  Thank you for praying, as they were supported through your prayers.

Health Checks:

We had extra complete physicals while home this time.  

I have been experiencing weakness and also had the liver cysts diagnosed during last term.  I am 62 yo and have never had a colonoscopy done.  Our Nazarene Physician said, "It's time."  Then my brother died suddenly from presumably a massive heart attack, so I was advised to have my heart thoroughly checked out.

I had my stress test and the cardiologist looked intently at the cardiogram scan and sonogram images for a long time in complete silence, before turning to me and exclaiming, "I don't see anything at all here, it looks completely normal."  That's good news! 

After viewing my colonoscopy the doctor said, "There was a small polyp but it was nothing to worry about, you don't need another one for 10 years".  More good news!

The liver was checked out by every lab test imaginable to see if there was a pathogen causing the liver cysts.  All tests returned negative.  Good News!

In the battery of tests they did Serum Iron level, and Iron Binding Capacity [IBC], and ferritin level.  The Iron level was really high, IBC nearly zero, and Ferritin level 5x normal.  Then I had a DNA test and MRI.  I was then diagnosed with Hereditary Hemochromatosis [HH] (DNA tests showed I inherited the gene from both parents)  This means I have too much Iron stored in the liver, confirmed by the MRI.  Therefore I had to do a weekly therapeutic phlebotomy or donate one pint of blood weekly to reduce the iron.  In the USA this was not an easily obtained procedure, for a traveling/transiting man.  Some places it was expensive and most places I had to jump through lots of hoops.  The easiest place, prior to returning to the Solomon Islands, was in Spokane, WA.  I was unable to get this done weekly during our travels but successfully donated 6 units of blood during the last 10 weeks of our HA.  Then on my lab exam prior to return the values were back to almost normal and doctor ordered a monthly phlebotomy.  Some things about the developing world is much easier.  I went into the Hospital (Red Cross) Blood Bank in Honiara yesterday to try my first monthly draw in the Solomon's and discovered the tech here knew exactly what I needed and I didn't even show her the doctor's order.  Thanks for your prayers as over the next term I'll be a regular blood donor.  HH does not make the blood unsuitable for transfusion, as long as the donor criteria are met.  HH does have symptoms of weakness, which explains some of what has been going on.  One of the problems in the US is my recent travel overseas.  Thanks for your prayers.

Nancy did not have the extensive tests.  However, as many of you witnessed she has a chronic cough.  She was under the care of an ENT as he tried various things.  The cough comes and goes.  We do not really know the cause of this cough.  Please be in prayer for her.

Health checks were done and nothing serious enough to keep us from returning to the field.

All Authority:

As you remember my theme for the deputation message was Jesus was given all authority in Heaven and on earth and we are under His authority to make disciples we are not alone.  Thank you for partnering together to build the Kingdom and make disciples under HIS authority.  

God Bless and Keep the Prayers coming.

George Miller
PO Box 712
Honiara, Solomon Islands

Phone: +677 7468920

blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com

Web: http://oceanianazarene.org

Devotional Thought - Holiness or Hypocrisy

Holiness or Hypocrisy

Words of Holy living to encourage and inspire

From Uncle George

Throughout the past two millennia Christians have attempted to live a holy life before God.  In order to accomplish this holy life style and therefore be a “Spiritual Person” some have isolated themselves from the world.  Others have adopted outward standards of dress, behavior, and customs. 

            Jesus cautioned against hypocrisy in Matthew chapter 23 when he spoke of the seven woes.  Jesus said that some try to clean the outside of their cup but leave the inside dirty.  If the heart is cleansed and full of the love of God and His light, the outside actions will be a reflection of that light and love coming from within.  It is impossible for one to purify the heart by just cleaning up one’s outside actions.  The Pharisees during Jesus’ time lived this double standard and there are Christians today who are acting the part of a servant of Christ without having the Holy Spirit reigning within.

            On the outside the actions of a person living with Christ reigning and one living a hypocritical life will be similar and in fact it may be difficult to tell the two individuals apart.  The difference is the motivation toward holy behavior.  If the motivation is due to the love in one’s heart, that person is truly a child of the Savior.

            I am certainly not advocating disregarding the standards of behavior within the Christian community, for we need these standards.  But if we are merely performing a certain way because of the church’s rules or customs we do not have the spiritual freedom Christ died to give us.  If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, as Jesus instructed, the church rules will give us no problem because we will be living a higher standard.

            Many times our rules exclude sinners from church, because they do not fit in.  They cannot live that way or match up to the standards.  Some want to become “good enough” first and then come to worship.  Others who are trying to live the double standard just give up and backslide because it is so hard to live righteous.  Hospitals are for sick people to make them well and churches are for sinners to heal them spiritually.  The first thing a person should do is to seek God and after the sinful heart is replaced with a heart of love, everyone will notice the difference in attitude and actions.

            If you are living a life based on outward works, God has a better way, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6.  God is waiting and ready to fill you with his Holy Spirit and purify your heart.

            May God bless you this week as you draw closer to Him.  If you need spiritual counsel, contact a Bible believing church.  You can also contact me at address below.

Uncle George Miller, 

A servant of our Lord, serving in the Solomon Islands

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

 

email: george_nancy@reachone.com

For other information about our ministry - http://oceanianazarene.org