"And he shook off the beast...and felt no harm."

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
--Acts 28: 1-5 KJV

When Paul continued to 'feel no harm' the natives changed their minds, no longer thinking Paul was cursed of God, but on the contrary, was equal to God. After Paul corrected that thought, he allowed them to bring to him, the king's son, sick of a deadly disease. Paul laid hands on him and he was miraculously healed. The king and the people then responded by 'honoring Paul with many honors' and loading him down with everything he would have need of. (Acts 28:10)

Apparently, that was enough to allow Paul to 'rent' a house for two years, in which he preached the gospel to all who would come and hear him (Acts 28:30). This assumption is arrived at, considering the fact that the shipwreck in Malta left him with absolutely nothing... All he had was the money the king and the native people sent him on his journey with.

In following up with the last update, our daughter Andrea's recent experience (on her second 'missionary journey') with 'Dengue Fever', a sometimes deadly disease, was not quite as dramatic perhaps as was Paul's experience with the deadly viper. And though she did begin to be deathly sick, her recovery, subsequent to all the prayers of the saints, was tantamount to 'shaking off the beast into the fire and feeling no harm'. Since then, she indeed, has 'felt no harm'. Praise the Lord forever!!

Pray for me tomorrow (June 14-Father's Day) as I preach the Word at Victory Church in Reedsville, WV. It's been a while, so I am extremely excited about it and looking forward to that wonderful anointing, and surge of the life of God, meeting the current needs of God's people.

I also pray that Pastor James Sabin will be further blessed, comforted, and strengthened during this period of grief with the departure of his mother, just a few days ago. He is very strong in his relationship with the Lord and his knowledge of the Word, so I know that is already taking place, but godly love and compassion, inherent in that relationship also intensifies that period of grief that comes to anyone, in the loss of loved ones.

Thank you again for your continued prayers.

Andrea's Home... Bearing a Few 'Marks' of the Ministry

After long hours of travel, from Samoa back to Fiji, and from the Fiji Islands back to Los Angeles, CA---and then, of course, the long flight from L.A. to Pittsburgh, as well as the drive from Pittsburgh to the YWAM Base where graduation ceremonies were conducted last night, followed at last, by the final hour of this tedious journey to Morgantown, WV---we are, to put it lightly, very glad to have our missionary-in-training daughter, Andrea, back home again.

As I noted, however, in the title, she bears 'a few marks of the ministry'. That, which had it not been for the overwhelming joy and sense of accomplishment, could have robbed her of the same, comprises the remaining symptoms of what is known in Samoa as 'Dengue fever', a wicked disease, spread by the bite of a 'wicked' mosquito, which attacked our little giant in the enemy's feeble and vain attempt to mar the otherwise gloriously successful mission, as Andrea was continuing her preparation for the ministry of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For days, doctors, nurses, and other experts in the medical profession in Samoa, Fiji, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, indicated to Andrea that 'she is a very sick young lady and would probably need to be bedfast for a while and was in for a very tough recovery' (not exact quotes).

This morning, however, (Friday, June 13, 2008), we are taking Andrea to a local physician, where, we believe, she will receive a clean 'bill of health'. Her recovery, within just the past two days has been phenomenal to all concerned, except those of us who were expecting the same and would accept nothing less. We are just plain, ordinary, believers---Christians---who have 'no better sense', as it is said, than to simply believe, 'nothing shall by any means harm us (Luke 10:19, Acts 28:1-5); especially as we endeavor by the faith of the Lord Jesus, to cooperate with His holy calling... So actually, there is really nothing (by worldly standards anyway), that is 'plain and ordinary' about believers, and the glorious gospel of Christ, in Whom we believe.

Amen??? AMEN!!!