Greetings from San Francisco,
I apologize for the seeming demise of Grace Notes. It was nice to hear some actually missed it! Hopefully, we will tack to a recovery.
Our near term is a little bumpy as physical circumstances are in a bit of flux. But we know “all things” are moving toward a good closure somewhere down the road. I have re-located my VA “stuff” to a local storage facility in McLean. Daughter Kimi will be getting her DVM this spring, relocating from Pullman, WA to Alaska where she and husband Fred have their old home. They are already planning their move. Dr. Kimi will begin her new vet practice in Christochina, AK. :)
Meantime, my trip to Ethiopia is looming with tickets bought and dates firmed. I’ll be gone for two weeks only on this October trip, 10/03 thru 10/20. My itinerary will be sent to me shortly. Our initial focus is expositional content pastoral directed.
We also have in view the physical needs of people who by our standards are poor. There are several projects addressing physical needs we hope to assess in addition to a spiritual ministry. We will have one day to meet with an Ethiopian business leader to probe these potential possibilities.
It was forcefully brought to my attention by a spiritual brother and friend that this Ethiopian trip needs exposure to our larger church body. It is the scriptural model and we are eager to participate with as many as God may lead to join us. To that end, God immediately provided us with an existing qualified ministry, already supporting the Brethren Church of Ethiopia with whom we are both delighted and thankful to serve.
If you prayerfully desire to participate with us, you can do so through Heralds of Hope, PO Box 3, Breezewood, PA. 15532.
On line: http://heraldsofhope.org/
Please mark contributions: Ethiopia – Moran/Mulugeta
We covet your prayers for this trip before committing to another. It has been suggested we follow up with a return trip in January. Pray about this with us.
Pray hearts will be prepared and we will be in submission to the power of God’s Spirit. May we glorify Jesus and discern God’s open doors for work and making connections in our Lord’s community of hearts committed to His plans and purposes. Our ministry content to pastors in Ethiopia will be focused on the person of Jesus.
Our recent Grace Notes has been looking at the fullness of God as described in Paul’s Ephesian 3 prayer. Paul also speaks to this issue in his letter to the Colossians. In this letter the context is the deity of Jesus where he says in Christ the “whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” Col. 2:9.
The seeming difference in these two passages evaporates as does the believer’s issue with self by being created new in Christ Jesus. The mystery of Christ becomes revealed to the believer as Christ becomes manifested by faith in the believer. It is God’s resurrection power operating in our life, creating living water, enabling the believer to be able to experience the circumcision of Christ, putting off our body of flesh. The mystery of union in Christ becomes the reality of the believer’s heart, mind and will through faith and God’s grace of love. Growing in both grace and knowledge of the person of Jesus is the highway to Zion we travel through our journey in the Valley of Baca, Ps. 84.
This mystery of Christ in us will be our ministry focus as we present Jesus resurrected full of power to deal with the issues of our life through His living water as we go from spring to spring.
The mystery of Christ in us wanes as the believer grows in the knowledge of Christ. May God open our hearts and minds into the reality of oneness God already has provided by the union of our spirit with His Spirit. It is moving from milk to meat. It is acquiring the ears to hear what the Spirit of God wills within each believer.
This is our prayer and message as we offer God’s word as the resource addressing needs whether they be in the hearts of Ethiopians or Americans.
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple.
For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble;
He will conceal me under the cover of His tent;
He will lift me high upon a rock.”