Missionary Update - Joe & Debbie Tassell

Joe and Debbie Tassell – Ohio

Board- Faith’s 100

• Had a successful week of VBS last week. They had 90 kids the first night! The theme was “Crocodile Dock” and they were studying Moses and learning about being fearless for God. The closing night with a video was Friday.
• Continue to pray for the youth group. Some transitions are needed and some struggle with the priorities of church. Pray for wisdom in these areas. Also pray for the leaders, Nate & Colleen and Brandon & Jessie.
• Continue to pray for their son, David, as he stayed in PA this summer to work. He has two jobs. One at Baptist Bible College as a telecounselor and the other at a UPS store. Pray as he goes to school part time this fall to stay out of debt. Also pray for the Lord to give him direction on his future plans.
• Pray for Debbie’s mom as she is still in rehab. She has very little strength in her legs and is trying to build back up.

Tassel Missionary Page

Birds of the Bible - Speckled Bird

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. (Jeremiah 12:9 KJV)

In Jeremiah chapter 12, the LORD was stating that because Israel had turned to other gods instead of the God of Israel (the LORD), that He was bringing judgment. The people had bowed down to other gods and then brought some of that worship and intermingled it with the true worship of God. The House of God was "speckled" or of mixed beliefs.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes - "The birds round about - It is usual for other birds to flock about a strange coloured bird, such as they have not been used to see."

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - "God's people had been the dearly-beloved of his soul, precious in his sight, but they acted so, that he gave them up to their enemies. Many professing churches become like speckled birds, presenting a mixture of religion and the world, with its vain fashions, pursuits, and pollutions. God's people are as men wondered at, as a speckled bird; but this people had by their own folly made themselves so; and the beasts and birds are called to prey upon them. The whole land would be made desolate. But until the judgments were actually inflicted, none of the people would lay the warning to heart. When God's hand is lifted up, and men will not see, they shall be made to feel. Silver and gold shall not profit in the day of the Lord's anger. And the efforts of sinners to escape misery, without repentance and works answerable thereto, will end in confusion."

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary - "speckled bird — Many translate, “a ravenous beast, the hyena”; the corresponding Arabic word means hyena; so the Septuagint. But the Hebrew always elsewhere means “a bird of prey.” The Hebrew for “speckled” is from a root “to color”; answering to the Jewish blending together with paganism the altogether diverse Mosaic ritual. The neighboring nations, birds of prey like herself (for she had sinfully assimilated herself to them), were ready to pounce upon her."

From Clarke -Dahler translates the whole verse thus: -

"Birds of prey! inundate with blood my heritage.

Birds of prey! come against her from all sides.

Run together in crowds, ye savage beasts!

Come to the carnage!"

According to those above, it seems that the bird must have been either spotted or multi-colored. The bird is a:

"speckled bird" in the KJV, MKJV, Webster

"speckled bird of prey" in the ASV, Darvy, NASB, RV

"speckled vulture" in the NKJV

"speckled fowl" in the YLT

"colorful bird of prey" in the GWV

"brightly colored bird" - BBE

"hawk" - CEV

"hyena's lair" - ESV
All these variances make it hard to show a picture, but the ones shown are guesses.

Also, the application should give those today a stern warning about bringing the "worldly practices and beliefs" into our church services. I see it today in churches that do things that are clearly taught against in God's Word, the Bible. Many things could be named, but one that disturbes this writer alot is the denial of God's Creation of this world. More and more supposed Christian leaders are teaching different theories to "blend" the world's theory of evolution with the Lord's clear teaching in Genesis.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1 NKJV)

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* Pictures in Order - White-backed Vulture, Ruppell's Vulture, Hartlaub's Bustard

See also:
Great Speckled Bird
The Great Speckled Bird (song) from Wikipedia

Missionary Update - Jonathan & Jenny Reiner

Prayer Requests:

• Dr. Pasi and Dr. Marjatta’s salvation.

• Ernesto & Paula’s salvation. Jonathan is doing a Bible study with Ernesto.

• Mrs. Cicera’s salvation. He is also doing a Bible study with her.

• More Bible study opportunities with contacts they are making near their new home in Intermares.

• The process of building the church in Intermares to continue to proceed.

• Just finished up two weeks of camp in June. One week for teens and one week for children.

Reiner's Missionary Page

Missionary Update - Kent & Kelly Craig

Kent & Kelly Craig – ABWE Asia/Pacific Regional Administrator


Board- ABWE

• Thankful for representation of the Asia/Pacific region at the first of two Candidate Seminars in 2009. On March16 - 18, thirty new ABWE missionaries were appointed at the board meeting. They also had interaction with 27 pre-field appointees who have reached 85% of their support requirement and attended the March 16 – 27 Field Preparation Seminar. This included seven preparing to depart for Asia/Pacific fields.

• Also in March several of the ABWE international office staff was terminated due to additional mandated cuts to the operational budget. This included the Craig’s Asia/Pacific Administrative Assistant – Julianne Beard.

• The Romphrakhum Baptist Ministry Center in Phangnga, Thailand is under construction under the leadership of Reuel & Phebe Lumilang. The building will be used as a local church ministry center including worship services and educational ministries, ESL classes, a Bible institute, and community events. Gifts can be given to this account through the home office. They are seeing God work in the lives of people in this area.

Craig's Missionary Page - CLICK HERE

Birds of the Bible - None

I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD. (Zephaniah 1:3 NKJV)

That verse caught me off-guard when I read it. Would the LORD really destroy all the birds? I hadn't noticed the verse before. So, I went in search of what was meant by it and here are some of my findings:

From Geneva Bible Translation Notes:
"The Argument - Seeing the great rebellion of the people, and that there was now no hope of amendment, he gives notice of the great judgment of God, which was at hand, showing that their country would be utterly destroyed, and they would be carried away captives by the Babylonians." In response as to the beast, birds and fish being consumed - "Not that God was angry with these dumb creatures, but because man was so wicked for whose cause they were created, God makes them to take part of the punishments with him." God had created the critters and fish for man, but because of man's sin, they (critters) are included in the judgement.

From John Darby's Synopsis:

"The prophet (Zephaniah) begins by declaring that the land should be reduced to complete desolation; afterwards, that Judah, Jerusalem, their false gods, and their priests, should be smitten by the hand of Jehovah. The idolaters, those who mingled the name of Jehovah with that of other gods, those who had turned back from Jehovah, those who had not sought Him, ..." Some of the other commentaries also indicated this mix of God and other gods. The New Testament reveals this is not an acceptable way of life in "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13 NKJV)

The other commentaries seem to indicate the same, that because their sin was so bad, God was going to judge them. Have the birds and critters been caught in the judgment of man other times in the Bible? Yes! Here are some examples from Torrey's Topical Textbook:

As you can see, each time, man's sin caused or will cause them to suffer.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:5-8 NKJV)

Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind. But You, O LORD, know me; You have seen me, And You have tested my heart toward You. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, And prepare them for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn, And the herbs of every field wither? The beasts and birds are consumed, For the wickedness of those who dwell there, Because they said, "He will not see our final end." (Jeremiah 12:1-4 NKJV)

so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.' (Ezekiel 38:20 NKJV)

Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. (Hosea 4:1-3 NKJV)

God is going to judge the world and everyone in it. Here in America and around the world, the sinfulness of mankind just continues to increase. How long before we are judged and the critters caught in that judgment with us?

* Photos top to bottom all by Birdway.com.au: Flame Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Coquette, Fire-tufted Barbet

9Marks eJournal

9Marks, a ministry of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, in Washington, D.C., (pastored by Mark Dever) publishes an eJournal once every two months. Each issue focuses on a single topic and contains many articles and book reviews. I look forward to reading each issue.

The newest issue is now available. You read it online at their website or download the entire issue as a pdf file.

This issue examines the topic of Missions.

Missionary Update - Totman's

Missionary: David and Anora Totman – Niamey, Niger
Board- Faith’s 100

• They praise the Lord for a safe trip back to Niamey. Everything went smoothly.
• The EBM missionaries have welcomed them back with open arms and SIM missionaries are being very kind and gracious too. They are very thankful for the community in which God has placed them.
• Praise of an understanding landlord as they had to terminate their lease. They have moved into a SIM house. Check their website: totmansinafrica.wordpress.com for pictures.
• They were able to participate in the graduation of the class of 2009 from Sahel Academy.
• Thankful for the rains they have had. Not only does it cool the temperature down, but the country is in desperate need of rain for its crops.
• They ask for prayer for the country of Niger. There is some dissatisfaction on the part of some people right now. Pray for the leaders to have wisdom and for peace to reign there.
• Continue to pray for them as a family as they continue to adjust to the new house and climate.

Totman's Missionary Page - CLICK HERE

Live it!

"The lives of Christians are the transcripts of their doctrine."

Richard Allestree in The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety