Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On the Lord’s Day, February 5, I had the privilege to worship with the saints at Mabalacat where Ric Darasin has labored for many years.  It is a joy to report his life has been spared after serious health problems although he continues utilizing alternative treatments which may help him recover.

This church began meeting about 1975 and I first visited here on one of my early trips to the Philippines.  At least 40 attended as I taught “From Wretched Man to More Than Conquerors” and “Modest Dress through the Ages.”  There is a good mix of age groups in this congregation including young married couples.  A young Catholic man courting a sister was very attentive and the brethren scheduled a Bible study with him for later the same day.

I often enjoy glancing at the front inside cover of the songbooks to see if they may have been previously used by a congregation with which I am familiar.  I sang with a book which had been used by the Loop 287 church in Lufkin, Texas.  Most of their books are worn down to a frazzle with missing covers and pages.  I hope to round up some better songbooks for them after I return home.  Ric has had serious health problems but presses on, and he is an excellent song leader.

Road construction prevented us from going to an afternoon appointment.  This was a blessing in disguise because I used the time to review and prepare the first four lessons to be presented tomorrow in the two-days lectureship at Angeles City, as well as catching up on some of the backlogged emails.

I have been dragging from jet lag, discomfort in the legs from the long hours sitting on planes, and weakness in my voice associated with tiredness – not to mention trying adjust to the 12 hour time change.  After studying this afternoon, I took a break by walking to the huge parade ground used by the military when this area was a U.S. air base.  By forcing myself to walk about five miles at a vigorous pace, I gradually forced my legs to loosen up.  This will also add strength to my voice and stamina to overcome jet lag after a good night’s rest (key:  I must not work late tonight!).  These are just typical challenges involved in international travel (and maybe I am not as young as I used to be in meeting them?).  What a small price to pay for such a great privilege of preaching the unsearchable riches of the gospel of Christ!

There was a big bonus because the moon came out early to shine over the parade ground and it became brighter and more beautiful as the shadows of evening fell.  The simple blessings of life are priceless, especially when we serve the God who gives them.

A lectureship on “The Bible Is the Word of God”was conducted at the Southside church of Christ in Angeles City on Monday-Tuesday where Lordy Salunga has served as an evangelist for many years.  He estimated we should prepare for up to 60 attendees, but over 80 appeared on Monday – some having traveled 7 hours and even 8-10 hours to attend.  The singing started at 9:00 A.M..  Then our first lesson was a study of “The Glory of God” in Psalm 19, and next “The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture” (2 Tim. 3:14-17).  These presentations show that the same God who created the universe gave us the Bible by the miracle of divine revelation – making the Bible God’s authoritative Word in our lives.

After the lunch break, there was lecture on “The Writing and Canon of Scripture” (2 Pet. 3:1-2), followed by an examination of “Apocryphal Books and Other False Scriptures” (2 Cor. 11:3).  Finally came the open forum during which questions ranged from the textual issue regarding the genuineness of Mark 16:9-20 (it is genuine), to whether there is a formula of words to be repeated at every baptism (no), to the importance of godly living (agreed), to whether God executes people today the way he did Nadab and Abihu (no), to other good points of discussion.

It was greatly encouraging to see so many brethren whom I have not seen for several years including the pandemic years.  During that period Lordy has suffered severe health problems, but he appears to on the mend and looks good (I would add “considering his age”…but that might turn into a boomerang!).

After 5 hours on my feet today, I was exhausted when we dismissed at 6:00 P.M.  I took my laptop to supper at the hotel in order to start immediately reviewing the 4 sermons planned for the next day.  After working in my room until 9:45, I headed off to the parade ground for an hour’s brisk walk – catching up with the news from Donna at home with the cell phone as I exercised. Clouds had covered the full moon as I started out, but God allowed the big beautiful moon to push open a window to smile down on me with His love, and your love.  I miss everyone at home and am praying for you, with much thanksgiving for your prayers as well.

Our Tuesday session started at 9:00 A.M.  After our singing and prayer, the lesson “The Bible: God’s Only True Word” was presented in two parts before lunch.  The design of these lessons is to present evidence establishing beyond all reasonable doubt that the Bible is the exclusive revelation from God.

In the afternoon session I presented studies on “Preserving Unity in Christ” and “Navigating the Present Distress.”  Both of these sermons are designed to help brethren deal with differences which arise in the church in a way which preserves biblical unity and avoids the danger of division.  The same stress and friction brethren sometimes experienced in the U.S. during the covid pandemic were experienced here in the Philippines as well.  We must not let Satan succeed in using questions generated during the pandemic to leave us divided long after the pandemic is gone!  Everyone remained calm and respectful during this open forum where views were exchanged, generating light rather than heat.  This is a time for healing.

We dismissed at 6:30 but then visited and took pictures (no event here is complete without picture taking).  By the time I got back to the hotel, I took supper at 7:30 (a working supper), then worked in my room awhile before taking my walk at 9:45. The moon presented itself in a border of clouds, then escaped to bath the open sky in its grandeur!

Thank you for remember the saints here and myself during this trip, and Donna at home as well — I could not do this work without her quiet consistent unwavering help.

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook