Day 1/2 of Men’s Retreat with Conrad Mbewe. More excellent exposition from 1 Timothy 3, in particularly reminding us constantly how growth is the required response to faith!

Dinner and Conversation this evening with Conrad Mbewe, the “Spurgeon of Africa”. He encouraged us as leaders in the church from 1 Timothy 3, in particularly vs 15 “… the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

Picture is of another (belated) birthday gift. I’m however still meditating volumes of thoughts and applications just from one verse, Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

As I continue to dwell on Matthew 7:24-27 I thank God for the beautiful around the home we live in here at Diacovery Gardens.

I was reminded today that even though we can’t know God exhaustively, we can know Him truly: John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Still meditating deeply on the sermon two days ago: http://uccdubai.com/sermons/20100305.mp3 Matthew 7:27 “And the rain fell, and the floods came …”

Baby sitting for friends, half dozen kids in the house this afternoon … What a blessing children are. I was reminded as I told them all a bible story before bed just how wonderful the news of Jesus dying in our place for our sins is. 1John 4:4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Luke cutting bread in this photo was just one cute highlight to a great day of church, friends, prayer and praise. Solemn reminder from Matt 7:21-30 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven …”

Deep meditation and applications from Bible study this evening on living a life ‘dead’ to the world from Galatians 6:14 “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Unexpectedly spent 6 hours in Starbucks today, discussing different aspects of life as a Christian with various different people … No bible verse today, just grateful joy for my loving Christian wife …

My lunch today, prepared by my lovely wife :-) was also reading Genesis 24 this morning and struck by God’s gift to Isaac in Rebekha

Was contemplating the good news of the gospel earlier today, in particular the BUT in Romans 3:21 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it …” (the picture of home bread is totally unrelated)

Mat 7:9 “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?” After almost 4 years of faithful service our breadmachine baked her last loaf (a burnt stone of a loaf) a few days ago :-( We replaced her today …

The word “joy” appears 244 times on the bible, but the word “bubble” never does :-)

Luke: “Daddee, can we play Bonopoleee?”
Me: “Certainly, Luke, we can play Monopoly”
Luke:”Yippee … I’m going to be the garbage can!”
Me:”Sure, Luke, you can be the thimble” :-)

We were going to go camping in the desert this weekend – this sandstorm (hardly visible in this photo) blew those plans away :-) Had a strong reminder to guard against false teaching from Eze 13:1-16 and Matt 7:13-17 in Church this morning!

Fourteen days ago was my birthday – One of my gifts was this door-plaque announcing our home in English and Arabic – Matt 7:7b “Knock and it shall be opened”

My beautiful Bride! … and I am proud of that, unlike Abraham in Genesis 20 :-)

Was shocked again in Genesis 18 this morning at just how evil man inherently is … Also, Luke has been sick all day (nausea) and this is all he’s been eating.

I was encourages by God’s faithfulness to Abram in my reading of Genesis 17 this morning – the pic for today though has nothing todo with it…. Simply some typical Dubai architecture :-)