Many of you have been asking God to provide funds for the major remodeling of “House Nazareth” to begin. There is still a big gap between what is needed to complete work on the ground floor so that the rent-paying offices can move in and begin to help us meet the regular mortgage payments. Yet, God has provided a way to move forward: the owner of a large construction company in Berlin, a committed believer, has caught the vision for “House Nazareth” and has offered to begin work on the property management office. Please pray with us that God will provide the funds for this next step of faith!

In this post-Easter week, I’ve been reflecting on what the Apostle Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth about the relationship of Jesus rising from the grave and our own day-to-day lives as His people:

“He was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.” 2 Corinthians 13:4

The House Nazareth project has, of course, occupied our thoughts, prayers and almost every waking moment for the past year. Sometimes I just feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all.
Yet, as Paul reminded the early believers, our weakness is not the end of the story. God’s power is what brings life out of death and service out of weakness.
Please continue to pray for us as we seek to discover new partners for the outreach in Berlin. Remodeling must begin on the ground floor right away for the property management office to move in this summer. This is crucial for the entire business plan to succeed: the rent from the ground floor offices will carry the main weight of the mortgage and upkeep payments for the entire project.
Email us if you would like a copy of the DVD explaining the project for friends or an updated overview of the financials and business plan. You can write us at info[at]philosophia[dot]org.

[This is the fourth and last of Paul Cowan's reflections on the film Amazing Grace. Thanks, Paul, for letting us share in your thinking and reflection!]

Faithfulness, without ‘theories’ and predictions of success, seems the only way forward in society, doesn’t it? Hope is only anchored in the belief that there will be an ultimate end to “this world” - maybe 2 yrs down the road, or 2,000 yrs, or maybe even 200,000 yrs! - and an ultimate, “new earth and new heaven”. Right?

So, I think we work for the cup of cold water for this person and that family; and we just continue until we die. It is enough. If God gives a broader success, PTL. If it doesn’t come, while we continue to work for it, we just continue to work for it. And sometimes martyrdom comes. Which is not sought for (like Islam), but is accepted.

Scripture do seem to indicate a reward comes “later” - The Real reward.

I say all the above, living a contradiction: the single most important theological phrase for what I do, in my vocation, is: “Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven”.

What expectations does the Bible really hold out for us for successes here on earth?
If conceivably some Wilberforces, and some Clapham Societies, did emerge today, what hopes should there really be? Besides slavery, it was the reform of “manners” (societal values) Wilberforce aimed at. Again, where is Britain on that today? Or for that matter, the USA? Especially in light of the fact that less than 50% of the boys today grow up with a living and intimate experience of a father! Where will we be in 20 years?