The sun has only been up for half an hour!

View from our bedroom window!

When I climbed into bed last night I was excited about sleeping in about 40 minutes longer than usual!!  I had no intention of running or getting up earlier for any other reason. I would allow just enough time to get ready to be at work by 8 o'clock! 

As I began to become aware of my surroundings I realized it was not because my alarm clock had gone off as it was only 6:30 a.m. Rather it was because there were voices outside my window! Familiar voices.  MK voices.  Quiz coach Bill McCoy's voice.   Yep!  Today is a flash practice day!!  (If you don't know what that is, scroll down a couple of blog entries and you'll find out!)

Some appear more awake than others!

I really didn't mind being woke up!  I am ecstatic about the effort the kids are putting into Bible Quizzing. 

A couple of week-ends ago I went on a hike with a number of our missionary family members.  Included on the hike were 3 of our quizzers.  You know what they all had in their pockets? Their portion of scripture for quizzing; Hebrews and 1& 2 Peter!  The picture to the right is taken at the top of Mt. Tabi.  If you look close behind the quizzers to the left you can see Kudjip station about 2000 ft below!

Update on Quizzing!

Our kids continue to work hard.  Last Friday night and Saturday morning they had a quiz using some of our "adult quizzers" to create 2 teams. There were 3 rounds Friday night followed by 7 rounds on Saturday morning.  The idea behind it was to give the kids an idea of what back-to-back rounds in competition will be like.  They did great! 
The excitement is growing as we continue to work out details of travel and accomodations and all the numerous details.  Airline tickets prices are quite crazy right now ranging from $2900 - nearly $4000 per person. We believe that this experience for our kids is well worth the effort.  If you are in agreement and if the Lord should lay it on your heart to contribute financially in this endeavor we have a way that you can do that! 

Checks can be written to:    
Global Treasurer Church of the Nazarene
In the memo write: 
"Work of Mccoy - Quiz Team"

Send to:  Global Treasury Services
                Attn: Molly Cole
                17001 Prairie Star Pkwy
                Lenexa, KS   662200



For another story on the MK quiz team in PNG go to erininpng.blogspot.com.au/



Thanks for your love and support and prayers!!  Yes, please keep those prayers coming!! God hears and answers!
The Myers4

Teen Bible Quizzing - World Quiz or Bust!

It has been many years since there has been a Nazarene Teen Bible Quiz team here at Kudjip, PNG. The last team was in 2001.  At that time they traveled to the USA and competed at the World Quiz held during General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana.  There they took 2nd place in the World!!
We are now embarking on a new era.  The books to learn are Hebrews and 1st and 2nd Peter. The team is inexperienced but excited and determined to compete!  Bill and Steve, both whom have personal experience with teen quizzing, are the coaches. The team is working hard! That means they have regular quiz practices, flash practices and practice competitions, in addition to studying on their own. Most the practices are held at Coach Bill's house.  But "flash practice"?  Ever hear of it?  That means getting up and meeting at about 6:30 in the morning at various places around the compound and spending a bit of time in the Word.  It doesn't last long but is great for raising the level of excitement and commitment to the team and the learning of God's word!  Competitions?  No, there is not another teen quiz team here but...there are some awesome aunties and uncles who are studying as well in order to give the kids some competition and experience, with jump seats and all!

There are a lot of details to work out in order to transport a team of quizzers to the USA from PNG for a quiz.  Airline tickets, road transportation, accommodations, meals, team T-shirts, chaperons and more.  Please pray for our kids as they "hide the word of God in their hearts"...and then find it again at a moments notice as the next question is being asked!! Pray also for all the details!  A sale on airline tickets would be great! 

Drugs for Jesus

 

           A day I will remember for the rest of my life, Saturday December 31, 2011. The missionaries Uncle Mike and Aunt Diane Chapmen came to our door at around 10:30, inviting us to go with them to visit a revival that has been taking place in the churches of the village up behind the mission station. By the time we reached the village, I knew this was no ordinary revival.

This was the day the drugbois* had chosen. It was today when they would publicly renounce their drugs. As we approached the village, men were constantly coming up to us saying that they had tried every way to stop the drug use that was so prevalent. They had tried heavy police involvement, to no avail. “Christ really is the only answer, there is no other explanation for what you are seeing today,” one elder in the village said.

Piling two trucks high with marijuana, and an additional eighty men each carrying a large bundle of marijuana plants, they commenced a three to four kilometer march from the village, through the rot bung* to a designated field where a platform had been constructed. During the march, one man started singing in the local language of Jiwaka. This soon caught on, and every person was yelling at the top of his lungs. “Jisas Chrais na wirosimba!” “Jesus Christ has called me!”

In talking with one of the men in the truck I was in, I found out this was the first time anything like this has ever taken place, this was completely unprecedented, for as far back as any histories went. The local market place was full, with hundreds of people witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit, moving among these men.

Coming to the final field, the men circled around and laid, in front of the platform, and a crowd of witnesses, the very thing they had been holding on to so fervently. There wasn’t a look of hesitation on anyone’s countenance. This was what they had said they were going to do, this is what God had told them to do, and there was no turning back now. God didn’t miss this opportunity to teach this missionary kid a lesson in the midst of all the happenings around him. What am I holding on to, what is God putting His finger on in my life, and saying, “This needs to go. Lay it down. It’s going to be ok, turn to me, and find all the comfort you will ever need.”

*drugbois: Tok Pisin = drug addict

*Rot bung: Tok Pisin = where the major roads of the area converge, usually containing some small shops and roadside stands. 

Article by Quinton Schmelzenbach
Photos by Dr. Andy & Judy Bennett

What do you see at Christmas?

You and I are a part of the Christmas story because it is for you and I that Jesus came to earth as a baby, as our Savior.

You – Does the Lord see someone who does more wrong than right – or as the special person He came to earth for as a baby, because He loves you?  “For God so loved you (paraphrased) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  This Baby, Jesus, born in a stable with a manger for His bed is the same Jesus who loves you today, He is Jesus who died on a cross and rose again so that we can have eternal life with Him one day in heaven.  What is Christmas to you, a day when your Savior came to earth to free you from sin, if we ask or only a time of decorations and presents.   How do you see Christmas?  Even more important how do you see the baby Jesus, as your Lord and Savior or just another baby born a long time ago.  This Christmas would be a great time for you to take the present of salvation that Jesus wants to give to you, now would be a good time for you to be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life.   The Lord might be asking you to do something that is hard or seems impossible for you to accomplish.  You must remember the angel’s words to Mary, “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)  He was present to help Mary and Joseph He will be there to help you and give you the strength you need to do what He has asked you to do.

"So they hurried off and found ... the baby, who was lying in a manger." (Luke 2:16)  I hope that you will find Jesus this Christmas in whatever way you need to experience Him.  He is Immanuel, God with us! (Matthew 1:23)
Merry Christmas!

I call him Bo.

This afternoon was our traditional time of “Caroling on the Wards.”  Every Christmas Eve the mission family gets together and we go to each ward and sing Christmas Carols.  This year we even had a mini Christmas Pageant and read from the Pidgin Children’s Bible, the Christmas story as our players came in and took their places.  After we sang, read the Christmas story and prayed with the patients on the ward we handed out little Christmas presents to each of the patients.  As we finished on the Medical ward and some were handing out gifts I was walking around wishing Merry Christmas to the patients and their families. I saw this young boy sitting up in his bed with a single tear running down his cheek.  I walked over to his bed and sat down next to him.  I started to talk with him and Dr. Erin, who has been seeing him on the ward, told me his name and I am sorry that I cannot remember it now.  It was not a common name but it started with Bo, so I call him Bo, the Lord knows his full name.  Dr. Erin said that Bo does not talk or respond much and as I talked with him I came to realize that it seems he is not able, because as I talked with him he seemed like he wanted to talk.  I prayed for him and asked him if Jesus was in his heart and if not, did he want to know Jesus. The whole time I was with him tears were running down his cheeks.  In laymen’s terms Bo came into the hospital with infection in the muscle of his leg and reactive arthritis in his knee.  Bo is the reason we are here. Even more importantly Bo is the reason Jesus came as a baby at Christmas over two thousand years ago.  Jesus came to bring hope, peace and salvation to a world that is aching, hurting and desiring the love and peace that only a loving Savior can give.   Bo was not able to answer my question, although I believe he tried, of whether Jesus was in his heart or not, but I prayed a sinner’s prayer with him anyway and asked him to pray with me if he wanted Jesus to be his Savior.  Pray that Jesus would bring healing to Bo, both physically and to his spirit also.  Bo is one of the reasons Jesus came to earth as our Savior and He loves Bo very much!

Part 5, What do you see at Christmas?

Today's character is possibly not as well know as some of the others we have looked at.  But he still has a message that we need to see.
 

Simeon – Do you see just another old man – or do see a man who has longed all his life to see the Lord’s Messiah, and says, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people” (Luke 2:30-31).  The Bible says that Simeon was righteous and devout.  As I read these scriptures found in Luke 2 a thought came to my mind.  First ,the scripture says the Holy Spirit promised that Simeon would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  Verse 27 states that Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to go into the temple courts.  It is in the temple courts that Simeon sees the Lord’s Christ as his parents bring him in to do for him as the law requires.  What if Simeon had not been obedient to the Holy Spirit, it is possible that he would not have seen the Lord’s Christ.  We must, like Simeon, be obedient when we feel the Holy Spirit leading us.

Are you feeling the Holy Spirit's leading in your life?  Is the Holy Spirit asking you to do something or maybe like Simeon, He is wanting to move you into a better position to see Him, to experience Him?   Do you believe God's promises to be true, are you willing to do what the Holy Spirit would require of you to see the promise fulfilled?

What do you see at Christmas? Part 4

We continue today with a look at the shepherds.  I would say that they are one of my most favorites in the cast of Christmas characters.

The Shepherds – Do you see smelly men who spend all their time watching sheep – Or do you see the lowliest of people in Jewish time being honored by God with an angel choir, announcing the Savior’s birth.  Shepherds at this time of the story were looked down upon by others.  We must remember that ALL men and women are worthy of receiving Jesus and His salvation.  No one is too big or too small, no one is to rich or too poor too come to Jesus.  The shepherds are an example to me on how I must respond to seeing Jesus.  After the angels announced Christ’s birth the shepherds said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord told us about” (Luke 2:15).  The Bible goes on to say in verse 16, “They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby.”  When we hear the Good News our response must be to hurry and find Him.  After the shepherds had seen Jesus in the manger just as the angels had said the Bible tells us they told everyone.  And everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said.  When we find Jesus, just like the shepherds, there should be such joy that fills our hearts, that we become like the shepherds, we return, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:19-20)  Is your heart filled with joy this morning because you have seen Jesus?

Is the joy you had when you first saw Jesus and accepted Him still as bright today as it was then?  If not,  this Christmas season is the perfect time to rekindle that fire!  During this Christmas season let's be like the Shepherds and "glorify and praise God" for all that we have heard and seen.

Part 3, What do you see at Christmas?

Today we look to the very reason we celebrate Christmas.  It is the birth of our Lord and Savior. 

Jesus – do you see just another one of many babies born – or do you see the Savior of the world, Immanuel, God with us!”  On that night in Bethlehem, I have to think that there were possibly other babies born.  What made this one baby so special?  Why did this baby get to have angels announce His birth?  This baby was not only the “Son of Man” but was the very “Son of God.”  This baby was the Savior of the world; He was born so that ALL men and women could know Him as their Lord and Savior.  This is Immanuel – God with us, here and now!  This is not a God somewhere out there but right here, with us.  Right now He is here with you as you read this message  At this moment, He is in your heart, if you have asked Him to be your Savior.  This is why Jesus came as a baby, to save us from our sins.  We no longer need a priest or someone in the middle between us and God, NO!   Because of the birth of Jesus and ultimately His death and resurrection, we can now go directly to Him, confess our sins and He becomes our Savior.  Hebrews 7:24-25 tells us, "But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." What a wonderful reminder today, "Jesus saves completely and lives to intercede for you and I."  This is truly an amazing love! Is He your Savior today, if not He stands before you holding out the free gift of Salvation, waiting and wanting you to take and accept it!  It would be the best gift you can receive this Christmas!

If you want to take that free gift of Salvation, do it.  All you need to do is confess your sins and the need of Jesus in your life.  He will meet you right where you are and change your life like you never thought possible.  Trust Him and trust His great love for you and see if salvation is not the most wonderful gift you will ever receive!

What do you see at Christmas? Part 2

Today we look at Joseph, a man who had much to work through and yet was obedient to God's leading!

Joseph – Do you see a confused man, not sure what to do about his wife to be, being pregnant – or do you see a righteous man who was obedient when the angel told him to take Mary as his wife?  God knows who will do what He asks of them.  It may not be easy, but God will give the strength.  All God wants is for us to be obedient to Him.  Joseph does not know what to do, he thinks Mary has been unfaithful to him.  But being a righteous man he does not want to shame Mary anymore than she already is if indeed she has been unfaithful.  Remember, the Lord knows what we need, so he sends Joseph an angel to clear his thinking and put him on track with what God wants to accomplish through Mary and Joseph.  The angel says to Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit… He will save His people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:24 tells us, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”  Obedience is what God requires of us.

Is there something today that God is asking of you?  Have you been dragging your feet in getting it accomplished?  We all need to be more like Joseph.  He did not ask a bunch of questions of the angel, but Verse 24 of Matthew chapter 1 says, "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him."  May it be the same for us, today!