Arctic Update

This is a report received from Justin and Melissa Vold who are serving with their family in the remote parts of Alaska. The names of the remote villages have been taken out due to concern about cult activity in the area and the Vold's safety. Please pray for them as they serve The Lord of the Harvest on the mission field.

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Dear Friends,

It is always a challenge to write to you and report on what the Lord is doing in Western Alaska. As one friend of mine said, "When we share, it is a danger to not sound as if we are boasting, as if we have done anything, when actually we have only witnessed God doing great things. But it is important for those who pray for us and the work here to hear testimony of these things. So with that in mind, here is my report of what God has done and is doing in the remote parts of the U. S. here in Alaska. Much will be left out, as I do not have the space here to tell you all that I witnessed, but I will give you the highlights as best as I can.

My flight was delayed going to Anchorage, which turned out to be a fruitful time of ministering the Gospel to several travelers in great need. One was a cowboy named Jake from Australia. I ask that you pray for him. Another was a young lady who recently lost her husband and was upset with God. After 6 hours of flying and a long time in the book of Job, she was able to release many tears and express thankfulness to God and gain more understanding into His plans and ways.

After arriving in the first village it took only seconds to realize I was in more of a pagan area than I have ever traveled to. This area has been under heavy Russian Orthodox oppression for over 200 years, as well as mixed with the deceitfulness of Catholicism and their abusive priests.

The darkness of the enemy and the strongholds of sin were evident everywhere. My heart was grieved heavily to see such a state and then to think of all those living here, as well as the nearby villages who are like sheep without a shepherd. No true church, no Good News, no hope, and yet the Lord of the harvest is stirring hearts in these villages.

When I arrived, we got word that a cousin of Michael's had committed suicide by his second attempt after running his 4 wheeler at a high speed into the village council building. Michael's mother wanted to go to the services and so we paid the fuel to get her there. It also proved to be a fruitful time of sharing the Word of God and encouraging the very few there who are believers.

I met one family who have been strict Russian Orthodox, but in the last few months, their Dad has come under conviction of sin and a desire to read the Word and here in this lonely village he is seeking God. We had a good visit and season of prayer in their home.

When we returned 3 days later, we took a steam with some of the village elders. I was in the small cooling room, asking the Lord where the open door was to share the Gospel with them. Just then from inside the steam, Michael yelled out "Feed them some milk, brother!" He has only been a Christian for 2 years and is so fervent to see his people come to the truth and believe on the Lord Jesus.

From that point on, for the rest of this first trip, every house we went in and nearly every person we walked by, Michael said, "Justin tell them why you are here; tell these people about Jesus."

Each day from the time I woke up until I went to bed seemed to be constant ministry and preaching. One young man nick-named Monster walked in and sat down and the Lord opened the door to share with him. He was so hungry and had just moved back from living in a nearby village for 5 years. He said it was like hell to live there. God's hand seems to be on this 13 year old in a special way. In fact he told me when he was in that previous village he was "being mischief with his friends" and when he heard the Catholic Church bell, he left them behind and went in. They taught him how to read prayers to Mary and his guardian angel, but he was still so hungry for God. He said, "I don't want to do the bad things I've been do before; I am glad I heard about Jesus now while I am young." I have a lot of hope for him and ask you to keep him in your prayers.

A couple I believe the Lord saved while on this trip was Gary and Kelly who have a 2 year old son. We were in their house for several hours, explaining the Scriptures from Genesis onward about salvation in Christ alone. They were so hungry for the truth and His Word, and prayer with them was sweet and real.

Of course not all received the Gospel message warmly. In fact, Michael wanted to set up and announce some meetings, so he put up some posters to say I was coming, but they were always ripped off the walls of the native store. Several people would walk away with angry looks at the ground when they found out I was there to preach the Gospel.

I was able to sow some seed with one man known as a notorious God-hater in the village, as I wanted to look at a moose he had shot. After a general visit, I talked to him of the things of God and his responsibility as the spiritual head of his home and over his children. He spent the last year in prison for severe domestic violence and he has just been allowed back into his family. We prayed and I hope God will save him, as I see he could be used as an apostle Paul type. Please pray for R.N.

While I was there, Michael received a call from a family member who wanted to give him grief about his faith in Jesus. This gave us time to look into the Word on what God says about persecution and suffering, despite what he had learned from some of the white-washed tombs preaching on the TBN religious program that airs out here. We went through a stack of envelopes that were all requesting him and his wife to sow their seed to get rich and we had a good time looking in the Word on how God supplies our every need through Christ Jesus our Lord.

One of the highlights and most grieving experiences of the entire trip was walking through and ministering in a certain village. As many of you may remember, 4 1/2 years ago I asked you to begin praying for this village. I had never been there nor had I ever heard anything of this village. I had only found it by accident on Google Earth one night and then God gave me a burden for the souls in this village.

I told Michael, who is from there, that we have been praying for this specific village for 4 1/2 years. He looked at the ground with some despair, and I said, "I want to go there and I will pay the fuel for your boat." So we loaded up and left. On the way, I thought of all of you who have prayed for this village and I thought, "Here we go now, to share the Good News in a village that has no Gospel at all."

When we got there, all we saw was a mean dog tied up on the beach. We went to see Michael's brothers and then walked through the entire village, which was all on one dirt road. We passed by lots of children playing and I found out later they were playing in the village cess pools. Then as we passed by one house where many children were playing, there was the sound of people coughing and the strong smell of marijuana. I looked over and there in broad daylight were parents getting high at 2:00 pm. I saw many other things like this and the Lord opened the door to share the Good News with four of them who were living such wretched lives.

As I left the village that night, I was filled with grief for these people and their children. They don't have any church there at all. There is an old Russian Orthodox Church there where Michael's Dad is buried, and Michael asked me if I would pray at his Dad's burial sight. He told me of his Dad's last words to him, which amazed me, coming from the lips of an Orthodox church member: "Michael, if our way won't help you, then go to a church that will help you and use my Bible when you go to share in the villages."

We prayed for that village and decided we must come and preach to this whole village in November. We asked the head council for permission and she said to send a letter to the other board members. Please pray for this opportunity He has laid before us and for those lost souls dieing in their sins.

I also saw a young man saved by the name of Jerome. He stayed with us the rest of the trip and says he wants to give all to God. He began sharing in the village roads with me as we walked around. I gave him a Paul Washer CD the first night and J. C. Ryle's "Thoughts for Young Men". He stayed up that night listening to the CD and began reading the book. I have a lot of hope for him and ask you to please pray for him, as he is just a babe in Christ. Jerome and Michael are going to start meeting every Monday morning to study the Word and are hoping the Lord will add to their number.

We had the first meeting as a church there on Sunday the 13th and they plan by God's grace to continue the meetings, despite what the village says about them inviting others to come pray, worship, study the Word and fellowship.

In summary, as I walked around one night about 3:00 am after walking with Jerome, I had the opportunity to share with three of the village police officers, one of whom is Gary. When I mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah, Gary said with a smile on his face, "I read about that in my Bible this morning." He was not afraid to testify in front of them. When I walked home, the streets were filled with stoned kids offering me drugs and punk, which is a tree fungus they mix with tobacco for a hallucinogenic high. I also saw fights between men and women and even a young lady nearly raped. I said, "Lord, what is wrong with this village! O God, what is wrong with these people? I have never seen such depravity." As soon as I spoke those words, the Lord flashed before me all my past and I realized they are not different than any Christless person in all the world.

They are like I was years ago--groping through the darkness, filled with every sin, and all hatred. Like me so selfish as to not care about any one but myself. Oh, the thought that He poured out His blood to cleanse me, to satisfy the wrath of God, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst; however, for this reason, I obtained mercy, that in me Christ might show all patience as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

I have much more I could share with you, but I think that is enough for now. Now to the KING eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.

Thank you all for your faithful partnership and prayers on our behalf and on behalf of those we serve.

Yours because He lives,
- Justin & Melissa

The Wall, the Winepress, and the Watchtower

I wrote this poem after reading the passage in Mark 12 about the vineyard and its tenants. What really got me thinking was the phrase in verse one which says this: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower." The poem is written in a way that focuses on the care that the Father takes of his children, and various attributes of God. I realize this is not at all the original meaning of the parable, but these are the things that came to my mind when I read that phrase in Mark 12.

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‘Round about His children the Father builds a wall
To keep them from the danger that encompasses them all.
The wall stands tall and firm, hemming each one in,
Helping shield them from the evils of flesh, and self, and sin.

He also builds a winepress, to trample out His fruit
For when it has been crushed it yields up all its juice.
The crimson that flows out from ‘neath the oxen’s feet
Has been pressed, but not destroyed, for its taste is sweet.

Last of all a tower, in which His guards await,
Looks out across the vineyard, watching all the gates.
When the enemy is spotted, there sounds a great alarm
And defenders soon respond by taking up their arms.

The meaning of these verses is carefully explained;
In each one an attribute of the Father is contained.
The wall depicts the strength with which He keeps His own,
In a shelter fortified, instead of leaving them alone.

The winepress shows us how He also tests and tries,
Using suffering and trials, His children to refine.
All is done in love, and when no dross remains
Unharmed they are brought through the purifying flames.

The tower in the field where the guardsmen stand
Is the ever-seeing eye that watches all the lands.
An urgent cry resounds, and warns all those inside
There is refuge in the Lord for those who will abide.

~A.L. 09/04/09

A Very Delicate Thing

(Arthur Pink, "The Eye of Faith") and distributed by Grace Gems:

Faith is frequently represented in Scripture, under the metaphor of bodily sight. Of Moses it is said that "he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" Hebrews 11:27. That is, his heart was sustained through faith's being occupied with the mighty God.

The eye is a very delicate thing--it is soon hurt and easily damaged. A tiny speck of dust will cause pain and make it weep. It is very striking to note, that this is the very way to recovery--it weeps out the dust that gets into it.

Just so, faith is a most delicate grace, thriving best in a pure conscience. Hence the apostle speaks of "holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience" (1 Timothy 3:9). The lively actings of faith are soon marred by the dust of sin, or by the vanities of the world getting into the heart where it is seated. And wherever true faith is--if it is hurt by sin--it vents itself in a way of godly sorrow.

The Ballast of Humiliation

An excerpt from John Piper's book "The Roots of Endurance," containing a quote from Charles Simeon, a main subject of the book. The following statement was made by Simeon after 40 years of serving and cherishing Christ.


"With this sweet hope of ultimate acceptance with God, I have always enjoyed much cheerfulness before men; but I have at the same time labored incessantly to cultivate the deepest humiliation before God. I have never thought that the circumstance of God's having forgiven me, was any reason why I should forgive myself; on the contrary, I have always judged it better to loathe myself the more, in proportion as I was assured that God was pacified towards me (Ezekiel 16:63)....There are but two objects that I have ever desired for these forty years to behold; the one, is my own vileness; and the other is, the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; and I have always thought that they should be viewed together; just as Aaron confessed all the sins of all Israel whilst he put them on the head of the scapegoat. The disease did not keep him from applying to the remedy, nor did the remedy keep him from feeling the disease. By this I seek to be, not only humble and thankful but humbled in thankfulness, before my God and Savior continually."

A Service to the Flock

The other night I was thinking about the role of the pastor and shepherd of the flock. Part of that role includes church discipline, which I have seen first-hand place great pressure on men of God. While thinking about the weight placed on pastors to carry out church discipline I came across this quote in a book I am reading. It is an excellent quote from the perspective of a Shepherd that I was blessed by.

"Remember the nature of my office, and the care incumbent on me for the welfare of your immortal souls....Consider whatever may appear in my discourses harsh, earnest or alarming, not as the effects of enthusiasm, but as the rational dictates of a heart impressed with a sense both of the value of the soul and the importance of eternity....By recollecting the awful consequences of my neglect, you will be more inclined to receive favorably any well-meant admonitions." ~Charles Simeon

A Faint Symbol of Unutterable Affection!

From Grace Gems:

"Yes, He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

In calling the Lord Jesus "altogether lovely," the redeemed Church asserts that she sees nothing in Him which she does not admire. The world may rail at His cross and call it shameful; but to her it is the very center and soul of glory. He is never without beauty to her! She presses His pierced feet to her embrace--and looks upon His wounds as jewels! Fools stand by His cross and find many a theme for jest and scorn; but she discovers nothing but solemn reason for reverent adoration and unbounded love!

"You are absolutely beautiful, my Beloved--with no imperfection in You!" Song of Songs 4:7. Viewing Him in every office and relationship--she cannot discover a flaw! She knows too well, His perfect Godhead and His spotless manhood--to offer a moment's shelter to the thought of a blemish in His immaculate person! She abominates every teaching that debases Him! She spurns the most gorgeous religious drapery that would obscure His beauteous features! Yes, so jealous is she of His honor, that a hint against His unsullied purity would stir her soul to holy wrath--and speedy would be her execration, and relentless her execution of the heresy! Nothing has ever aroused the ire of the Church so much--as a word against her beloved Redeemer. To all true believers, this is high treason and an offense which cannot be treated lightly.

Jesus is without a single blot or blemish--yet this negative praise, this bold denial of any fault--is far from representing the fullness of the loving admiration of the Church. Jesus is positively lovely in her eyes! Not merely lovely--His beauties are attracting beauties, and His glories are such as charm the heart. But although this utterance of the Church is the very climax of the language of praise, and was doubtless intended as the pinnacle of all description--yet it is not possible that this one sentence, even when expanded by the most careful meditation, should be able to express more than a mere particle of the admiration felt. Her description towers above all others; but its stature fails to reach the towering height of Heaven-born love. It is but a faint symbol of unutterable affection! It is a choice pearl washed on shore, from the deep sea of Divine love.

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"Yes, He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

I was thinking on this verse after getting the Grace Gems email. What a wonderful thought that we can call Jesus friend! I am still trying to grasp this concept in its fullness. A close friend is someone that you can confide all things in. But who do we run to when there are trials, when there is something bothering us, or when there is something that has taken place to be thankful and rejoice over? There is nothing wrong with confiding in earthly friends, but above all we should confide in our heavenly friend who graciously gives us all things.

Sovereignty

(John MacDuff, "The Rainbow in the Clouds," from Grace Gems)

"The Lord reigns!" Psalm 93:1

No rainbow of promise in the "dark and cloudy day" shines more radiantly than this. God, my God, the God who gave Jesus--orders all events, and overrules all for my good! "When I," says He, "send clouds over the earth." He has no wish to conceal the hand which shadows for a time, earth’s brightest prospects. It is He alike who "brings the cloud," who brings us into it, and in mercy leads us through it! His kingdom rules over all. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." He puts the burden on, and keeps it on, and at His own time will remove it!

Beware of brooding over second causes. It is the worst form of atheism! When our most fondly cherished gourds are smitten; our fairest flowers lie withered in our bosom; this is the silencer of all reflections, "The Lord prepared the worm!" When the temple of the soul is smitten with lightning, and its pillars rent: "The Lord is in His holy temple!" Accident, chance, fate, destiny, have no place in the Christian’s creed. He is no un-piloted vessel left to the mercy of the storm. "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters!" There is but one explanation of all that befalls him: "I will be mute, I will open not my mouth, because You O Lord, did it.

"Death seems to the human spectator, the most capricious and severe of all events. But not so. The keys of death and Hades are in the hands of this same reigning God! Look at the parable of the fig-tree. Its prolonged existence, or its doom as a cumberer, forms matter of conversation in Heaven; the axe cannot be laid at its root--until God gives the warrant! How much more will this be the case regarding every "Tree of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord?" It will be watched over by Him, "Lest anyone hurt it." Every trembling fiber--He will care for; and if made early to succumb to the inevitable stroke, "Who knows not in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has wrought this." Be it mine to merge my own will in His; not to cavil at His ways, or to seek to have one jot or tittle of His will altered; but to lie passive in His hands; to take the bitter as well as the sweet, knowing that the bitter cup is mingled by One who loves me too well to add one ingredient that might have been spared!

Who can wonder that the sweet Psalmist of Israel should seek, as he sees the rainbow spanning the lower heavens, to fix the arrested gaze of a whole world on the softened tints of this Rainbow of Comfort, "The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice!"

Strength to Hope

This is an excellent message from Mason Vann that I just finished listening to. The purpose of the message is mainly to encourage Christians to guard their hope. The message also talks about ways to rid your life of things that encumber you. A questions useful for this that Mason mentions is "Will this help me run after God?" I was greatly encouraged by this and hope that you are also.

A Peculiar Kind of Striving

"The form of endurance has a peculiar energy: We put out great effort to endure to the end, but we do it in a peculiar way, namely, in the strength that God supplies. Paul said it like this in Philippians 2:12-13, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." We work and we tremble at the magnitude of what is at stake in our endurance and what great obstacles there are in ourselves and in the world and in the devil. But we do not tremble with the anxiety of the abandoned. We are not abandoned. In all our striving, there is a deep restfulness of confidence, for we are striving not in our strength but God's."

~John Piper, The Roots of Endurance

Fellowship with God

"There is an experimental fellowship, or partnership, with the Father and with His Son, which consists in this, that all which we possess in God, as being the partners with God, is brought down into our daily life, is enjoyed, experienced, and used. This experimental fellowship, or partnership, allows of an increase or a decrease, in the measure in which faith is in exercise, and in which we are entering into what we have received in the Lord Jesus. The measure in which we enjoy this experimental fellowship with the Father and with the Son is without limit; for without limit we may make use of our partnership with the Father and with the Son, and draw by prayer and faith out of the inexhaustible fullness which there is in God."

George Muller, Valuable Selections from the Writings of George Muller, page 28