Dear family, brethren, and friends,

ALERT: Preaching is never dull work, including reports, and we get plenty of advice.  Some brethren like reports cut to the bone, short, with only the most essential information (I understand: you have other things to do than read long reports).  Others tell me the most interesting parts of these reports are the details of what is taught including the open forum discussions.  So, short, or elaborated?  This one includes elaboration on the open forum discussions because so many interesting questions were submitted.  Therefore, some of you may need to delete this report before wading into it. You can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time, as the saying goes!  Feel free to smile here, if you like!

Salvador Parbo took Mark and me from Kidapawan City to Davao City early Monday morning to catch our flights about 1:00 P.M. – Mark to Cebu City to work with Chris Reeves, but James Paet and me flew to Manila.  Jaime, James’ daughter, was kind enough to meet James and me at the Manila airport with James’ vehicle.

Although James had to be as tired as myself, he drove us to Angeles City, Pampanga where we arrived about 7:30 P.M.  I slept some as we traveled, but, as far as I know, he didn’t!  We stopped along the way for a light lunch at 4:00.  After checking in at the hotel, I walked for an hour to boost my stamina, then ate a salad in my room while preparing for tomorrow’s lessons.  God has answered many prayers as Mark, Chris, and I have been traveling and teaching His Holy Word.

I walked at my favorite walking place in the Philippines tonight.  The U.S. military established a base here in 1903 and part of it was named Clark Field or Clark Air Base in 1913.  Though the base closed in 1991, the area has been preserved as an economic zone including the excellent airport.  The military parade ground has been preserved as a huge open park consisting of 23 hectors (57 acres) with a walking track which runs 1.4 miles around the park.  I walked about a mile to get to the track and then covered it twice, all under the light of the most gorgeous full moon!

“Marriage and Morals” is the theme of a 2-day lectureship which started Tuesday at a rented function room in Santo Tomas, Pampanga near San Fernando where Archie Alarcon labors with the Unity St. church of Christ.  The series was originally scheduled for the Southside church of Christ in Angeles City, but Lordy Salunga had emergency surgery and Archie provided the backup venue.  80 souls attended today’s session while we studied “Marriage: God’s Gift to Man and Woman (Gen. 2:24),” “Marriage: Joined by God (Matt. 19:6),” “The Truth about Abortion (Rom. 13:8-10),” and “The Truth about Homosexuality (Jude 7).”

The open forum ran over an hour with about 30 questions on various aspects of marriage and morality.  Does a man sin if he feels attraction to another male?  No, that is only temptation – sin occurs when we yield to temptation and violate God’s law.  What advice can we give a woman guilty of the traumatic sin of abortion who is willing to repent?  Assure her that God’s love in sending Christ provided a perfect sacrifice for all sins of all people (Jn. 3:16).  Point her to the beautiful invitation of Jesus to “all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28-30).  Jesus will lift the crushing weight of this sin and the mother will some day meet her aborted child in heaven!

May an abused wife divorce her husband and marry someone else?  No, fornication is the only ground for divorce and remarriage.  She may remove herself and her children from harm’s way by seeking temporary shelter in a safe place until the abuser gets help and will no longer endanger her.  In short, “love your neighbor as yourself” means not only you can help a neighbor get out of a burning house, but you may also rescue yourself from a burning house.

Several people asked about the status of unbelievers’ marriages.  Does God bind them in true marriage?  Yes, 1 Corinthians 7:13-15 shows He does.  Is it a sin to abort a child when a nation has a two-child policy like China had?  Yes, because we ought to obey God rather than man just like the parents of Moses in Exodus 1-2 (Acts 5:29).

Does God bind people in marriage who do not register it with the government?  The marriage vow is binding once taken, like any vow before God, but the person errs by not complying with the government requirement to register the marriage.  Marriages are not registered at times in the Philippines because of people of living in remote areas or because of poverty.  Filipino preachers and other saints help to guide them and provide any necessary funds to register their marriages when they come down from the mountains.

Are two people married because they love each other and decide to live together?  No, the “live-in” arrangement involves fornication.  Marriage requires intent, agreement, and the vow committing the man and woman to the marriage covenant.  Is the innocent party required to reconcile with the fornicator if he repents in all cases?  There is no such requirement.  The best case is always to be reconciled if possible, but it is very hard to restore trust after a mater violates the marriage vow – and other complications may be involved which impede trust.  Some people are able to accomplish it but not all.

Does God join someone in marriage who is forced into the marriage?  No, this is an attempt to sanctify rape.  Both persons must exercise free will with the intention to marry, the agreement to marry, and the vows of marriage.

Wednesday was the final day of this lectureship and the final day of my preaching on this trip.  62 souls heard sermons addressing “The Threat of Pornography: Making Sex a God (Eph. 5:3-5)” (in 2 parts), “The Truth about Transgender (Gen. 1:27),” and “Preserving Unity in Christ (Jn. 17:17-21).”

Our open forum ran 1 hour and 15 minutes with about the same number of questions as yesterday.  Is there a difference between “preacher” and “teacher,” and which one can the church support?  They are synonyms with “preacher” or “evangelist” indicating a  proclaimer of God’s Word and usually includes full-time devotion to this work.  “Teacher” simply indicates conveying information such as God’s truth, not a full-time work in the gospel.  The church can use its resources to support all aspects of its work including evangelism, worship, and benevolence to the saints.

Is it good for a marriage to have a long distance relationship as when one partner works in a foreign country, a common practice for Filipinos?  We cannot say it is always sinful because each case may have different circumstances, but it does create great strain on a marriage and on proper nurturing of children.  What is the greater value: financial income or cultivating our marriage and raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord with both a father and a mother?  Should we watch movies for entertainment that glorify homosexuality and other sins?  No, we should reprove them (Eph. 5:11).

When issues are stirring that divide Christians, how can we help the situation?  We should be sure that we approach them with our hearts fill with love for God, with an unwavering commitment to know the truth, and with sincere brotherly love.  Discussions should be conducted in a calm and respectful manner.  We should extend patience and allow for growth in understanding various issues.  When someone pushes an issue to the point that error and evil practices are spreading, public debate to expose the false teaching becomes necessary as happened in Acts 15.  Even then, it is imperative to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7, but how should we treat repeat offenders such as alcoholics, drug addicts, and people who have been addicted to pornography?  We should forgive them as Jesus commanded but also reassure them of our love and prayers, reach out to help them in any way possible, and make ourselves available to them 24/7.

Is the current worldwide push to advance abortion, homosexuality, and transgender conduct evidence that Satan is marshaling his forces as prophesied in Revelation 20:7-8?  I have wondered about the same thing, and the passage may refer to all of Satan’s work until his final defeat at the end of time.  These particular sins have been rampant throughout most of human history and they are certainly on the rise as Satan exerts every effort in his malicious war against God and the human family.  Will God perform a miracle again like He did in Genesis 19 to punish nations?  No, but He has plenty of other avenues through which to execute judgment on nations such as His providential control of natural forces and of the rise and fall of nations.

Both days brethren asked several questions about when does God actually join or bind two people in their marriage?  Genesis 2:24 as reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19 and by Paul in Ephesians 5 shows that God joins us in marriage when we have the intention to marry, we agree to marry, and we make our vows to enter the covenant of marriage (see also Mal. 2:14-16).  The government does not join us but makes an important record for legal protections.  The witnesses do not join us but play important roles to confirm to society that we are married.  The preacher does not join us but declares God’s instructions for marriage from His Holy Word.

It has been a pleasure working with Archie Alarcon, with Jerry Moral and other good men helping us with singing.

Tonight I walked about 5 miles because for the past week I have been abbreviating the walk for lack of time and the press of the work.  It has been a joy to see what appears to be a full moon for 3 nights in a row (according to the phases, it not full 3 nights but has that appearance).  Again, tonight it was brightly beaming, reminding me of the love of many who read these reports and watch for the moon!

Before leaving Angeles City Thursday morning, James and I visited Lordy Salunga at the hospital lobby.  He was released yesterday but had an appointment with the doctor at the hospital, so we had a good visit there.  By the mercies of God, his surgery was successful, but he is managing the effects of allergy to some of the medicines.  God willing, I hope to reschedule the lectureship that had been planned with him next year. After our drive back to Manila, I was able to exercise, eat supper, do some work, and then get a very good night’s rest.

I got some more work done Friday morning including the submission of last minute Bible orders, and then met Chris Reeves and Mark Mayberry after their return from Cebu City where they had a very successful lectureship and baptized 4 precious souls.  James Paet drove us to the Philippine Bible Society where we purchased 805 Bibles in various Filipino dialects which will be delivered to preachers scattered around the islands to distribute to our brethren.  This high privilege is made possible by the donations of many dear saints at home – God will not forget your sacrifices and service which make this blessing possible!

After exercise, supper, and completion of this report, I hope to get another good night of rest in preparation for the long trip home.  All of us are anxious to join our loved ones at home for the holidays.

Saturday morning James will bring Chris and me to the airport to fly together to South Korea, where I will catch a plane to Minneapolis and a connecting flight will bring me to the loving arms of Donna at the airport in Louisville, Kentucky at midnight (if the flight is on time).  Chris’ connections will take him to Atlanta and back to Nashville, Tennessee.  Mark’s plane leaves Manila late Saturday night, taking him to South Korea and then straight to Houston, Texas.

May God bless the dear Filipino saints we leave behind, bless our families who share in our work, and bless every saint who has prayed for us and contributed funds to finance these labors!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
https://www.hebronlanechurchofchrist.com
https://biblework.congregateclients.com
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com