Metro Beat
Vol 2, Issue 2
Vol 2, Issue 2
Multiplication Theory
A few weeks ago I received a goodbye call from one of my ESL students. She has been recalled to China to fulfill an obligation but is hoping to get permission to return here in a couple of years. She wanted to let me know, though, that I was the best English teacher she had ever had. Despite how good such a compliment felt, I was naturally sorry to see her leave my class. The next day I arrived at the BCM expecting to teach a smaller group only to have the pleasure of welcoming seven more of her fellow exchange students to my course. Please pray that God will open doors during our times together and as I get to know each one of these new arrivals.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Sometimes we describe a moment of revelation as a bell ringing or perhaps a light bulb suddenly going on over our head. A young man from Taiwan in our Chinese Fellowship had an experience like that recently. During a discussion on the enemy's influence in the world, he questioned the degree of this as he understood that Satan was lord of Hell and not of earth. When we explained that Hell was actually a place of punishment for Satan, that he wasn't there yet, and that he is still exerting control over the world today (1 John 5:19), our friend was flabbergasted. He, even as a Christian, had mistakenly believed in the dualistic idea promoted by much of the media that God reigns in Heaven while Satan reigns in Hell as his polar opposite. You should have seen the wonder and excitement on this man's face as suddenly everything fell into place in his thinking. He saw the influence of sin in our lives and our desperate need for Christ in a completely different light. As I was explaining all of this to him, part of my attention was on one of the non-Christians in the group. She was absorbing our words like a sponge. Please pray for God's truth to continue to shine forth and impact lives in our discussions.
Tennis, Anyone?
Last night during my Bible study I was suddenly bombarded on two fronts. Two non-Christians, one from Taiwan and one from China, were peppering me with questions. One wanted to know why God bothered to save Noah's family (since only Noah was called righteous) and didn't just start afresh with new people after the flood. The other wanted to understand why God didn't just wipe out Satan before he could tempt Eve in the garden. Not only are these questions difficult to respond to as they are "Mind-of-God" questions and have no clear-cut answers, both people were asking them at once. I found my head swinging back and forth from one side of the room to the other like a spectator at a tennis match. Praise God for the keen interest and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide my responses.
Other Prayer Requests
My father is getting weaker all the time, yet his vital signs are usually pretty good. Still, we spent this last week making funeral arrangements. Please pray for all of us during this difficult period of our lives.
Many of my students will be traveling during the summer as will several members of the Chinese Fellowship. Two of the men will be returning with their wives in the fall and are eager for me to meet them. Please pray for traveling mercies and for the classes as we transition to a summer schedule.
Pray for Joyce and the kids as they also transition into a summer schedule in the next few weeks and have to adjust to the changes in responsibility and time management that will bring.
Praise the Lord for those who increased their support of this ministry. Continue praying, though, as we are still struggling financially.
Yours By His Grace,
John for the Rest of the Ropers
Sometimes we describe a moment of revelation as a bell ringing or perhaps a light bulb suddenly going on over our head. A young man from Taiwan in our Chinese Fellowship had an experience like that recently. During a discussion on the enemy's influence in the world, he questioned the degree of this as he understood that Satan was lord of Hell and not of earth. When we explained that Hell was actually a place of punishment for Satan, that he wasn't there yet, and that he is still exerting control over the world today (1 John 5:19), our friend was flabbergasted. He, even as a Christian, had mistakenly believed in the dualistic idea promoted by much of the media that God reigns in Heaven while Satan reigns in Hell as his polar opposite. You should have seen the wonder and excitement on this man's face as suddenly everything fell into place in his thinking. He saw the influence of sin in our lives and our desperate need for Christ in a completely different light. As I was explaining all of this to him, part of my attention was on one of the non-Christians in the group. She was absorbing our words like a sponge. Please pray for God's truth to continue to shine forth and impact lives in our discussions.
Tennis, Anyone?
Last night during my Bible study I was suddenly bombarded on two fronts. Two non-Christians, one from Taiwan and one from China, were peppering me with questions. One wanted to know why God bothered to save Noah's family (since only Noah was called righteous) and didn't just start afresh with new people after the flood. The other wanted to understand why God didn't just wipe out Satan before he could tempt Eve in the garden. Not only are these questions difficult to respond to as they are "Mind-of-God" questions and have no clear-cut answers, both people were asking them at once. I found my head swinging back and forth from one side of the room to the other like a spectator at a tennis match. Praise God for the keen interest and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide my responses.
Other Prayer Requests
My father is getting weaker all the time, yet his vital signs are usually pretty good. Still, we spent this last week making funeral arrangements. Please pray for all of us during this difficult period of our lives.
Many of my students will be traveling during the summer as will several members of the Chinese Fellowship. Two of the men will be returning with their wives in the fall and are eager for me to meet them. Please pray for traveling mercies and for the classes as we transition to a summer schedule.
Pray for Joyce and the kids as they also transition into a summer schedule in the next few weeks and have to adjust to the changes in responsibility and time management that will bring.
Praise the Lord for those who increased their support of this ministry. Continue praying, though, as we are still struggling financially.
Yours By His Grace,
John for the Rest of the Ropers
