Well, we had a once in a lifetime experience this morning as the Olympic Flame Relay passed within 100 feet of our home. London is hosting the 2012 Olympics and the flame has travelled throughout the United Kingdom.  We enjoyed seeing it. I'll put some pictures below.

The Lord gave us a divine appointment yesterday as we had a picnic on Calton Hill in Edinburgh.  Sanjo (sp.) is from Japan. He is 22 years old and will be completing his last year of studies in Glasgow next year.  His family worships idols that have "spirits" in them.  I don't think anyone has ever explained Christianity to him before.  We talked for close to 20 minutes. I took a picture of him with my kids on his camera.  Hopefully, he will email me and we will be able to keep in touch.  

Enjoy the flame pics.  We have an Olympic flag that we are going to use with our HBT (Holiday Bible Time.)  Thankfully it arrived in time for today.

(You can see the torch bearer in white just in front of the car.)

(There he is!)

We saw the flame that will burn at the olympics!

Today I went to Rosslyn and put out flyers for a couple hours.  Rosslyn is less than 2 miles from Loanhead. Rosslyn Chapel is the supposed location *according to the Davinci Code - where the Holy Grail is located. (....or so I have been told.)

I enjoyed listening to Pastor Tony Slutz on my ipod as I walked.  I witnessed briefly to a man named Alec. I didn't feel like I did that great of a job in expressing the Gospel but he was a good listener.  And I'm reminded that God can use simple things to awaken men's hearts.

Michael texted me. It was good to hear from him.  Please pray that God would meet the needs in his heart. Lord willing, we will see him back with us soon.

The Lord gave us an encouraging day today.  We had the Hikins and Adele with us in Sunday School. Timothy and Alec joined us for the morning service.  I preached on, "When God Fills Your Net" from Luke 5:1-11.  One point that stands out to me is that "When you see God as He is - you see yourself as you are."  The disciples were confronted with the glorious power of God and Peter cried out, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man."

Tonight it was the Shore family.  We looked at what the Bible teaches about faith. Timothy's mum peaked in just before the service and invited us over after church.  Her cat just had a litter of kittens and she knew the kids would enjoy seeing them.  She was right!  We had a good time with their family.  Please pray for Timothy's younger brother.  He is having both hips replaced next Monday.  Obviously it is a major surgery and he is a bit scared. We have let him know that we are praying for him and trust that God will show him His grace through the surgery.

Onward...forward!  Thanks for your prayers.

The Lord gave me two good opportunities while knocking on doors this morning.  David (82) is part of the church of Scotland.  (I would have guessed him to be in his early 70's.) He allowed me to share with him by memory several passages from the Word of God. We talked for about fifteen minutes before encouraging me to keep on going to convert others. :)

Iain was my best opportunity.  He had questions and I was able to show him several passages from God's Word.  He was interested and allowed me to take some of his time although he was heading to an appointment.  Please pray that God would work in His heart about the authority of His Word. He has a successful business in our community.  It was good to meet him this morning.

Yesterday after going to the museum in Edinburgh with my family.  I met Travis Snode, who is a missionary in Northern Ireland, and a tour group from the States.  A few of the members of that group are preparing to come as missionaries to the UK.  I enjoyed showing them some of our city even though the weather was cold, rainy and windy.  *(No illusions for them about the fair weather of Scotland.)

Thanks for keeping up with us and God's work in Scotland.  Appreciate your prayers.

I finished putting flyers out in the village of Bilston today. Bilston is a small village about a mile from the place where we meet for church. 

I witnessed to Angie.  She has just become a Buddhist.  Buddhism is somewhat common here.  There are statues of Buddha in many gardens (yards). Please pray that she will get her Bible out and read it.

I spoke briefly to two young men who were doing a delivery.  The one said that he was a Catholic and that he was going to Heaven because he was a good person.  I turned to the other man and said, "Have you ever heard him swear?"  The catholic said, "Oh I swear like a sailor." I said, "And you think that is what a 'good' person does?" The other man was walking away as I said, "Nobody is a good person.  If good people went to heaven then why did Jesus die?" (His death is pointless if we can go to heaven by being good." God can use short conversation.  I hope he doesn't forget that He can't go to Heaven without Jesus.

I had another similar conversation with two older men. I asked the man who said he believed in God, "Are you scared to meet God?"  He said, "No, I enjoy meeting people."  I asked, "Do you think He'll let you into Heaven?"  He pointed to his goodness and said, "I don't (do this that and the other) but I do tell a lie now and again."  I told him, "Revelation 21:8 says at the end that '...all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."  I hope he was sobered by our brief chat and that he will get a Bible out and start learning about Jesus.

Thanks for your prayers.  Tonight is our Kids Club and Bible study.

PS.  We are making preparations for our Holiday Bible Time (VBS) 23-27 July.  I'll put our flyer below.  We've already printed it and it turned out really nice.  It is a small postcard.

I'm sure you are aware that Queen Elizabeth is celebrating 60 years as Queen. So, today and tomorrow are holidays.  Most people I saw today were hurrying to some destination.  But, I did have two opportunities to briefly witness as I put out flyers in Billston for a couple hours.

Parker and Nelson are much better today.  Thanks again for your prayers for our health.

....we will rejoice and be glad it in.

This wasn't our plan but it was God's plan.  Parker and Nelson were still ill this morning.  So, Kay Lee, Benson, Logan and I, went to Sunday School and church.  Alec joined us for the morning service.  Instead of having a normal service, we sang the hymns and read the story of the crucifixion.  Honestly, it was a good morning at church and I am encouraged from our time there.  However, we want to get back to "normal" if there is such a thing.  So, please pray for wisdom about this illness and for God's healing hand.

Michael let me know that he was helping a friend move this morning and that he wouldn't be in church.  It was good to hear from Him.  Please pray that God will meet the needs in his heart.

I anticipate an attendance increase, Lord willing, next week.  We've cancelled our service this evening.  The message I didn't preach this morning is one that applies to our situation.  Peter and the disciples fished all night with nothing to show for it.  But, then Jesus told them where to fish.  God knows how to build a church.  Please pray for His blessing and guidance. It's His work not ours. He's faithful.  Thanks for praying!

Just a short note to say that Mayzie Hikin is out of the hospital.  The Hikins were supposed to be leaving for England today but they are going to wait until Monday.  Their family is going to rest up for a couple of days. They would appreciate your continued prayers.

Nelson had a low grade fever again this morning and Parker has been in bed all day complaining about his tummy.  So, please pray for wisdom and grace for tomorrow. We are amazed at how much illness has hindered our ministry this year.  God is in control.  Thanks for praying.

Well, it seems we have turned the corner on this thing and everyone is heading in the right direction.  We went on a family outing this morning and took a bucket and paper towels just as a precaution.  Thank the Lord, they weren't needed.

Mark Hikin just called and asked that we pray for their baby, Mazie.  She has had this "bug" since Monday and is being admitted to the hospital for dehydration.  So, please pray for her soon recovery.

The house that we viewed turned out to be a no.  We thank the Lord for His clear leading.  Please pray that God will give us wisdom as we seek His will.  Housing here is very expensive and much smaller.  It is hard to find a home that is adequate for our family size. Most of the housing here is attached housing.  It is kind of like duplexes in the states; but, it could be attached on both sides. Housing is one of the biggest adjustments to moving over here.  So, please ask for God's provision and direction as we seek His will.

Most of you know that I am in daily contact with our sponsor, Tom Gritts. Please pray for brother Tom.  His heart has been beating irregularly and he is on manditory rest. He is awaiting a procedure to shock his heart.  I know that Gail and Tom would appreciate your prayers.

 Today I'll just post my letter to him which will fill you in on what is going on in our lives.  You'll see that we are praying about moving if it is the Lord's will. Please pray with us about this.

Dear Brother Tom,

Here is the play by play - We are doing a bit better today. Parker is quite well. Logan got up in the night because he was feeling ill. He ended up going the other way. Nelson's fever has gone away, praise the Lord, but he vomited this morning after taking food for the first time. He's still not great but definitely better.

So, I went to a home viewing with Kay Lee and Benson first thing this morning. The home could not be more functional. It would be amazing if the Lord allowed us to get it. We want His will. We've given the landlord's a letter of intent. They have four other applicants. Please pray for God's guidance.

After I got back I had to turn around and take Logan into an appointment with a neurosurgeon to review Logan's CT scan. He has some large openings in his skull from his restructuring surgery at 6 months of age. The doctor does not recommend an additional surgery at this point because his bones should continue to fill in for another half year or so. Please pray that God will fill in the gaps. The danger is if he falls on a sharp implement. But, the danger seems less risky than surgery which has a 10 percent infection rate to install synthetic material.

This afternoon I've been preparing a message on, "When God Fills Your Net" from Luke 5:1-11. We've cancelled the service tonight due to this virus. Ahmed texted me back and is coming to visit us soon. Please pray that God will work in His heart.  

Praying for you,

Ben