ALL THINGS FITTING TOGETHER PERFECTLY

ESTHER AND I HAVE BEEN LENT A PUZZLE!    In fact this is the second one, we having re-discovered after many years how very relaxing and a peaceful an activity it is to be engaged upon.

King Ludwig 11 of Bavaria
1845-1886

The one we are now busy with is of the Castle above.     It has been called a 'Fairy-tale' Castle, and was built by Ludwig 11 of Bavaria.    The setting, amidst mountains, forest and lake, is quite striking scenic.     It has an almost unreal appearance.   The castle was 'intended as a home for king Ludwig, until he died in 1886.'      In actual fact he only lived in it for a total of 172 days!!.     Since his death the Government has opened it up to the public and more than 6,000 as day visit it during the summer months.       Kind Luwig 11 built it out of his own pocket, and extensive personal borrowing, as a Personal Retreat. 
Ludwig was only 18 when he ascended the Bavarian Throne in1865.    He reigned for 21 years before being deposed.    He spent fortunes building castle after castle, and it
is suggested that in an effort to stop his building craze, he was  found to be mentally unable to rule - they said he was mad.  Just three days later he was DEAD -  he was found floating in the lake with his psychiatrist - he was dead as well.    What happened?   Nobody knows.     A creator of great beauty and inspiration, yet somehow never able to enjoy the fruit of it.
YET others, in their millions, have been thrilled and blessed to share in his vision, and in his dream.

AND so now WE are hooked on Puzzling!!   

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HERE IS OUR SON, Daryl who celebrated his
45th Birthday on the 27th of September.   We had him with us for a Birthday supper together with Carol and their kids, Becky, Jeremy and Erica.    Jessy was unable to be with us since he is in Nairobi continuing his Engineering Course.  We had a happy evening together.

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A Word About Choosing our Friends!!

Friends can change one another - for better or for worse.

Friends can can also HURT you.  In Psalms 41v9 the Psalmist writes  ' My own familiar friend who ate at my table, has lifted 

up his hand against me!'    Some have thought these words can be transferred to Jesus, speaking of Judas!    Judas had been with Jesus THREE years, walking, talking, and eating with Him.    But he secretly sold Jesus down the river for a handful of silver!   Jesus knew the flaw in Judas' nature, but went along with him - but JUDAS did NOT change for the better.

Pick your friends carefully, and take care they do not lead you into evil.

JESUS is my Friend  -  Is He yours also?

Amos 3v3 asks ' Can TWO walk together unless they be agreed?'        Do I  -  Do YOU agree together with Jesus, to follow Him, as He follows His Father?

CAN FRIEND OF JESUS go along with deception and lies?    Can he agree with us speaking Slander, Foul Language, and to partake of sexual promiscuity, or delve into pornographic films or literature?

CAN a Child of God, walking hand in hand with HIM indulge in drunkenness, drug abuse, and other damaging human addictions of any kind that are let into his body - the very Temple of God; the dwelling place of God.

NO!    That kind of friend is NO friend of mine that I should have a close relationship with him, and spend my time with..      A True Friend will always be ready to DIE for his friend, and to ensure that he does nothing to bring hurt, or endanger the life of his friend - Romans 13v8-14
JESUS, - even our Father in Heaven, would never lead anyone into HARM, of any kind.

WE, likewise, should watch over our personal example of life,  that WE should not lead another astray so that they may be at risk!   We should be ready to warn,  exhort and encourage all those we meet, and especially those who are walk away from THE WAY in order to please themselves, and to conform to the ungodly world around them.  REMEMBER 'Faithful are the wounds of a friend'.  A real friend will no fear to displease a friend if it means he may at the same time save his friend.

What FRIENDS we might Be, if we a Friend like JESUS  -

 A FRIEND LIKE JESUS,  Oh what bliss

That one so weak as I

Should ever have a friend like this

To lead me to the sky.

A Friend when other friendships cease

;

A Friend when others fail.

A Friend who gives me joy and Peace,

A Friend who will prevail.

A Friend to lead me in the dark;

A Friend who knows the way.

A Friend to steer my weak frail bark,

A Friend my debts to pay.

A Friend when sickness lays me low;

A Friend when death draws near.

A Friend as through the Vale I go,

A Friend to help and cheer.

A Friend when life's rough voyage is o'er;

A Friend when death is PAST!

A Friend to GREET on Heaven's shore;

A Friend when home at last!

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TODAY THE SKIES ARE GREY!     But WE are rejoicing and Praising God for His very special assistance to us.    At a time when we could not share with a brother or sister, HE has yet again taken our prayers and Himself taken our Burdens to the hearts of His Chosen, and RESCUED us.   Yea, we DO, and SHALL REJOICE.     Our Thankfulness to all those who may have contributed and felt led to help us from our distress.      Our FORTH UPDATE of the year is finished, and I hope to send it out before Tuesday, with our usual Acknowledgements,  where addresses are available to us.

Politically, the situation here in Kenya remains grave.    The opposition continues to demand one new condition after the other of the Ruling Party, AND of the Election Organisers, with the threat that if these demands (all of them) are not met then they, the Opposition, will not vote on the 26th October.

The Government is determined that satisfied or not, the opposition not voting, the ELECTION will go the vote of whosoever will brave the day and cast their ballot.       Meanwhile the Country is rife with demonstrations, strikes, and a kind of expectant tension.       The Country is also feeling the effects of slackening rainfall in more tan 40 area.     Please continue to pray.    

Esther and I remain well and active.    HOWEVER I am just now having a problem with my TOES.

They are all nice and pink, thank you, but especially at night they become uncomfortable due to soreness, sometimes little stabs of sharp pain, and a kind of dryness of skin which stops me from wiggling my otherwise admirable toes!     This is I believe another symptom of Diabetes, and I am hoping I will not find my toes falling, or being amputated.      I am determined to march on - but if anyone knows how I might find relief I would be most grateful.

Our Love to you all, and our prayers.       We are ALL of us wrapped about with His Love.   We are indeed SO Blessed, SO protected, and noticed.

John, Esther, Daryl, Green

MALE AND FEMALE MADE HE THEM

THESE PARENTS ARE UPSET AND INCREDULOUS  that the Church of England Primary School, their 8 and 6 year old sons attend, has permitted another male student to attend the School wearing GIRLS clothing.      The Rowes are a Christian couple wanting to bring up their two boys in the best possible way open to them.     The Sunday Times has reported Mr. Rowe as saying 'A child aged six would sometimes come to School as a girl, or sometimes as a boy.    Our concerns were raised when our son came back home from School saying he was confused as to why and how, a boy was now a girl.
We (my wife and I) believe it is wrong to encourage very young children to embrace transgenderism.
Boys are boys and Girls are girls.

They want to sue the School!

The School has stated that their pupils are protected under the Equalities Act of 2010. and   "The refusal to acknowledge a transgendered person's true identity was 'transphobic' behaviour."

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THERE IS A GREAT DEAL I MIGHT SAY ABOUT THIS.     However, I do not wish to enter into strife with anyone, or inflict myself with the hubbub of ill informed spite which this couple had to undergo both on TV and in the Press.      BUT, in principle. as a Christian, and by intuitive inclination, I must support Mr. and Mrs. Rowe in removing their children from that School.    They were and are RIGHT to be concerned.      I would have done the same.     And, of course, they have every reason to be free to choose where to send their children to be educated        They are said to be Christian, and so no doubt they felt a Church of England School would be a reasonably safe place.   But these days it is rather difficult to be sure what a Christian or a Christian Institution stands for.

AS A CHRISTIAN, and as a reasonable human being, expecting my species to be pretty well uniform when it comes to sexual differences, I would expect that my SON should be treated as a BOY, and brought up in an environment which would confirm him in his own understanding that he is a BOY.         I have never been agreeable to the idea of muddying the truth.      I was biologically asserted to be a 'boychild' at birth, and have no reason to question that fact.     AND YES, I am leaving out all the arguments about In or Out balances of hormones, testerone, and other chemistry.   I concede they can make a difference as to HOW any of us might feel, but nevertheless I cannot accept that it can overturn my CREATED and intended AND planned MALENESS - unless I let it do so, unless I give in to it.     I do not feel it is healthy to confuse the issue.     I was brought up that way.    My belief in the Word of God in the BIBLE confirm this belief, and my inner conviction of who and what I AM underlines it.   ANYTHING that might in any way affect or blur that belief, and fact, needs to be ministered to.   Not all of us will see it this way.    And those who don't Will make their stand and continue to live as they persuade themselves to live.     ALL of us have the right to be HEARD with love and understanding, appreciating  that we ARE all part and parcel of the human race.    I believe God creates each one of us, but that we also have ability to take ourselves out of the Plan and Pattern He means us to follow and demonstrate  -   AND that we are responsible for the outcome of our own wilful actions and human liberties.

OUR BROTHER AND SISTER,   following the Bible direction, have been trying to obediently bring up their boys in the WAY that they should go, hoping and believing that they will one day become well balanced, educated, and confident young MEN.    See Proverbs 22v6 together with Deuteronomy 6v4-8 (The Bible).      WE also, in Testimony, are trying to do the same with the children we have been entrusted with by Government, as well as our own.     We have not permitted  'Cross-dressing' or encouraged a 'Unisex' perspective, and it is very unlikely that we ever will unless our Human Rights are nullified, and we no longer be free to believe what we believe in.    It IS confusion, and of the worst kind.      

BUT, with the greatest sympathy for the treatment meted out to the Rowes for publicising their feelings and actions related to the practise found in their chosen Christian School, I feel they are WRONG to go to Court.       This is NOT the truly Christian answer or Way.    Let us all remember that God has Himself stated in His Word  'Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, says the LORD - and again I will judge my people.   - Hebrews 10v30 together with Deuteronomy 32v35-36. (The Bible).         The Primary School in question is under the Church of England - for a Christian to sue THEM is like suing a family member - part of the 'Body of Christ'. And again St. Paul (the great Evangelist - AND lawyer), in his 1st Letter to the Corinthian Christians, chapter 6v1-7 clearly states the WRONG in this kind of action.      He says in v.8  'NO, you do wrong......'     If you cannot have Agreement between you; if you cannot be satisfied; if the CHURCH cannot judge fairly, then leave the matter with GOD the only JUST GOD.     Go you way.    Shake the dust of you shoe against them.   Seek another School for your children, or continue as the Rows are now doing, to to their boys, teach them yourself at home.        In the midst of disagreement, miss understanding, unjust persecution of any kind .......' Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering............and let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works ' Hebrews 10v23-24.
IF we do not seek the way of PEACE and Forgiveness then we shall be eaten up and devoured with BITTERNESS encouraged by an unreliable self righteousness.    ' BEWARE that any root of bitterness.springing up, trouble you, and thereby MANY are (contaminated by it).      FOLLOW PEACE WILL ALL, AND HOLINESS, without which no one shall see the LORD.'  -  Hebrews 12v15 and 14.

AT IS SAD, that the world is falling away from all it has learned and been taught to value, into a free fall towards progressive moral and human darkness.     Those who may still have LIGHT keep their lamp burning, and their wick trimmed. (so that their light is not dimmed, or made to smoke, or waver).     This IS the time to SHINE.    My heart goes out to the Rowes  -  my brother looks so upset, even outraged, (even angry) and both look shocked that such a fissure should have opened up between themselves and the school they had felt would stand with them.        I AM EVEN MORE SHOCKED by the short thrift they were given by the Presenters of the TV Program, how they were interviewed , AND many unpleasant comments from the viewers themselves - all without ANY understanding, or moral insight, OR human respect for another point of view apart from their own.     Not that they might not disagree, but with more CARE and KINDNESS.         What they achieved was only another form of discrimination and judgement founded only on their own opinion without the confirmation of any GOD given Truth..

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on

THIS IS PHOTO OF ME taken recently with the adopted son of good American missionary friends of our.     When I first met Joshua he was small - just a baby - in  November 2003.
I was Guardian ad Litem on his behalf before and during his Adoption.    NOW he is 14 and taller than my 5'11''!!   He is now just commencing his High School away from home, and his parents are feeling his absence.     All these years, as an only child in the family, Josh has grown up in the midst of a busy Christian life and ministry, becoming himself an integral part of it.       We have always had him much in prayer and have met fairly often at missionary prayer meetings, watching him GROW in every way.
This photo was in fact taken at a Prayer Fellowship just a few days before he left home.      He seems to have settled well at his new Christian School,  but I think his Mum and Dad have really found it hard to fill their home and space without him.   It has been like taking part of their life away, but necessary for his further development and education.
I shall always be glad for his advent into a loving but childless marriage, and for the sonship AND togetherness God has sewn in their lives with each other.    Thank you Lord.    It was a real privilege to be able to stand with him that evening, and to be share in his Sending Off with Prayer.

THE DATE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SET FOR 17TH OCTOBER, is still at risk. The Opposition say they will boycott it unless the Government fulfils what they believe are necessary obligations.      The Government refuses to do so.     The days go by.    We WAIT.     The Elephants still trample the grass around them.    The Economy still trembling with baited breath.   The schools and their examination classes still unsure if the National Exams will go ahead on time or now - or indeed what might happen.     BUT so far all is 'peaceful'.

Our August Salaries and Bills have now been PAID, and we are full of Thanksgiving for it.    BUT we are still - both school and Homes - having to retrench some staff.     We had been unguarded in taking ON staff from time to time, and really were over the necessary number.      This should also assist us to keep our General Monthly costs down.        We shall not be losing any houseparents.

God Bless you all.     We shall be praising God for you and praying for you.     Receive our sincere love and thanksgiving in Jesus Name.

John. Esther and Daryl Green

BEARING OUR INFIRMITIES

A RECENT PHOTO of our son, James 'Manu' taken in an Eldoret cafe.   He looks good there, and happy, but today he is rather 'down' and feeling low and uncomfortable physically.      Yesterday, Friday, he had been away at the Eye Clinic for another duo of eye injections.     It was fraught with frustration at every turn on this occasion, and he returned tired, hurting, and depressed..      He is 33 this year and quite a bright and informed young man, but when he is hurting he easily gets into despair.  Glaucoma - in both eyes.
THIS time Dr. Roberts was not there!


Manu has to get a bus on a Thursday evening each month in order to attend the Clinic at 7a.m. on the Friday.   It is a three to four hour journey.   He arrived as usual, and was placed first in line to see the Doctor.    He waited and waited, and more and more patients came behind him - but no sign of Dr. Roberts. By 1p.m.  there was still no sign of him, and at last the Receptionist said that he was not coming, and that Manu would have to see another doctor LATER!    Manu was finally seen around 4p.m.     He was in some pain, and very weary.     The Injections were done by a NURSE!    It was too late for him to return to Eldoret - no connecting bus to Kericho, and then on to Eldoret.     He spent an uncomfortable night and finally arrived home at 7p.m.   yesterday.       The stand-in doctor told him his Glaucoma now seemed to be worse.   He was then re-examined and tested, and told that he may yet still have Pneumonia!!? - OR  T.B.!!?    Tests were done and we should now hear something more by Tuesday, next week!!     He arrived home deeply cast down and upset.   He must now wait a further month before seeing Dr. Roberts who will by then, hopefully, have returned.    He is still hurting today in both eyes.   But he felt that the careless, off hand, attitude of the Hospital staff was not geared to help or cheer the patient and this pulled him down the more.
We believe the LORD is into all of what is going on in Manu's life and heart, and we are believing for his healing and Salvation.    

BY THE END OF AUGUST, Esther and I felt the 'Ship' was going down again.    (Mark 4v36-41)  I say 'again' because it isn't the first time we have had that 'sinking feeling' and have felt the urge to cry out, as that one in the boat with Jesus on the lake did  -  'Lord!  Don't you care that we perish?'      Well it is true we have been found to be those of 'little faith' at times...  Esther and I were Meeting with four other members of our Board of Management to discuss the situation  (we could not pay salaries, and had very little even available for housekeeping).   It was suggested that we 'borrow' funds......but this was finally rejected, and we accepted that we had to WAIT further on LORD and trust Him.     If nothing came in we would just continue to WAIT now matter things went.         BUT out of the discussion also came the realisation that we had, for some time, being carrying more staff than we needed, both in the Homes and in the School.      It was therefore decided to lay off eight workers in the Children's Homes and about the same in the School.     Some of these would have soon Retired in any case.     Salaries went unpaid until yesterday, as also most of August's monthly accounts.      NOT SO comfortable - I mean we all did feel at peace - but it still felt, ongoingly that we WERE sinking........UNTIL yesterday, that is,  when funds arrived enough to relieve the Salary situation......  and the wind and the waves abated enough and the ship has steadied.          We are back on track,  Thanks to our watchful Father in Heaven, and thanks to all of you who responded to His Spirit sharing OUR prayers.

FIRE AT MOI GIRLS SCHOOL, NAIROBI

Above is a photo taken of a Dormitory within Moi Girls School in Nairobi on the night of 3rd September.      The fire took NINE lives, injuring several others.    It was reported the following day as having been ARSON and not an accident.    Several other Schools in the country had also suffered in a similar way.      In 2016 more than 100 Schools had been reported as cases of Arson.

Investigations in 2016 pointed to student unrest caused by increased examination and study time, as well as in some cases school management shortcomings.   However, considering the general sorrow and trauma shared by all students in affected Schools, and the discontent expressed by both parents and school managements toward the Government, one wonders if there could also be another element; an element of political effort to increase discontent with the Government, even using students from within the Schools.      It is certainly worth considering at this time of Political tension, and upheaval in the midst of discontent over one failed Election and the prospect of yet another Election in mid October; with both major Parties and their followers doing the best they can to make sure the man of their choice is finally chosen to be President of Kenya.        None of this can in any way provide comfort or satisfaction to parents and fellows students who have lost loved ones, or to the Managements of affected Schools who have to contend with interruption and disruption of the School Program, together with repair, rebuilding, and provision of material and other losses.

BUT THE RAIN HAS BEGUN TO CEASE, and clouds seem to be dispersing in favour, once more, of clear blue skies and some warmth from a now visible sun.      It continues to be a brilliant day even now at 3p.m. our time, as I write.

It will soon be time for another Update - possibly within the next two weeks.      Otherwise we hope to continue sending at least something to some, every Saturday via this Blog.      We are so much strengthened in knowing so many of you are praying for us, AND for whole ministry of T.F.H.   Our hearts go out to you all, with sincere Thanksgiving

Yours in Jesus

John, Esther, and Daryl Green

JESUS SAID 'I HAVE NOT COME TO JUDGE.'

YESTERDAY, Kenya's Supreme Court sitting under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice, Mr. David Magara (left) and five other Justices, ruled that the Election of Kenya's President had been found faulty, and that 'fresh presidential elections would now take place in 60 days.     Prefacing his Ruling Mr. Mangara pointed out that

'The greatness of any nation lies in its fidelity

to the Constitution, and adherence to the Rule of Law,

and above all 
respect for God.'

The Chief Justice is said to be a very outspoken Christian, and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

GENERALLY the Ruling has been received peacefully, both from the Government and the Opposition, the President himself calling for peace from all parties and individuals.      Business as usual.        However,  the next two months will continue to leave the Country in uncertainty as to the future, and no doubt little meaningful advance will be achieved until the new Election is over and and a President accepted.       We are none the less all glad that so far the Country is more willing to pursue a lawful ballot than an unlawful bullet.       We do see the hand of God in this.

RAIN continues to heavily pour down out of grey skies.    There are floods.   It is cold, dank and rather cheerless in our part of the Country.

AND now the new School Term is already challenged by the call of another General Election to discover a President.      The Term is already quite short, as I mentioned last week, and exams are scheduled to take place in October/November.      NOW, with the Elections called for exactly that time, the Ministry of Education will have to consider to either let them go ahead or to DELAY them.

This can only complicate and disturb schooling for this current Term.      Not a good thing for the children especially at a time when they should be calm and secure.

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LAST SATURDAY'S BLOG seemed to go unnoticed by most - we only received one reply to it.

This Week  I feel a need to say something on another topic - though in a way connected.    It is Character Assassination - in one way or another.     It is something that has in recent years been an increasing factor in western society in particular.      I mean one is more and more being forced to mistrust the most trusted and respected among us, including our very own family - perhaps also our very own selves.       This may, in one way, be a good thing - I mean as I laboured to remind us last week, we are ALL sinners, and therefor capable of sinning.     I suppose, therefore, we can all be suspected........

BUT St. Paul says in 1. Corinthians 13v7, talking of God's type of LOVE for which he uses the word 'charity' -

'Charity beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.'

The Amplified Bible translation expands 'believeth all things' to  ' is ever ready to believe the best of every person '.        When I was growing up in the 40s to 50s I would say that, compared to today this attitude was closer to society in it's their regard to one another.    A more generous outlook in many ways.      In these recent times we seem to have gone in for a determined effort to find out and enjoy the worst we can discover relative to one another's failures - especially those in the public eye.   Perhaps we demand the best of those whom we admire, and secretly hope are more perfect than we are; MORE admirable.    And so when we, or others, discover we are not so perfect we demand our 'pound of flesh';  a proper, and sometimes even more unreasonable, punishment.       Even then in my youth, when the PROOF was there and exposed it was appropriately dealt with.      BUT today we more and more seem to lean towards rumour and suspicion rather than clear and proven fact.  Our Law in Great Britain has rested, as it still does, on a man or woman being found GUILTY of a crime ONLY when the facts are clearly there to PROVE the guilt.       We cannot be imprisoned on suspicion alone beyond a few days at most.        NOW, though, suspicion can be worse than guilt for it can ruin your life without recourse.

In our current world society it as if there is a 'spirit' at work to debunk history AND even the present when it comes to believing in the best, the most worthy and honourable and praiseworthy people and things.     There is almost a malicious delight in 'digging up' sin - a spirit of HAM - that son of Noah, who, in discovering his venerable father naked and drunk in his tent, immediately went out to tell every one else.      It is RAMPANT today.     It as if society WANTS to prove the best is in fact the worst.     Noah's other sons refused to see their father's nakedness and went backwards into his ten and dropped a blanket over his shame to cover him up.     NOT natural to the fallen nature of man, but it pleased God.    I believe it still pleases Him.     

To the right is photo taken of Edwin Bramall, later Lord Bramall of Bushfield in the County of Hampshire.   He was also invested a Knight of the Garter in 1990.   A man of considerable military stature and achievement attaining the rank of full General and appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff in October 1982.      He retired in 1985 becoming Lord Lieutenant of Greater London from 1986-1998.

IN 2013 WHEN HE WAS 90, Metropolitan Police Officers entered his home with orders to search it on 'suspiscion' that he might in some was be involved in child sexual abuse activities during the 80s.

The immediate slur upon his name and character was immediate.

THIS YEAR  2017 the Metropolitan Police apologised for allowing four years to pass without clearing his name.      During that time Lord Bramall's wife died without knowing that he had been cleared of suspicion.     He will receive financial redress of some one hundred thousand pounds.  He is now 93.     One cannot imagine what he has had to go through.

GOD has said ' I will revenge - Vengeance is Mine!'     Whatever any of us may have wickedly done in our lives we must by Judged by God Almighty when we all stand before Him on that Great Day.  All the 'secret sins' all the unconfessed and unregretted wrongs we have done; they will all be read out with undisputed proof.      All the 'good' too.      Nothing will be overlooked or forgotten.     And God will JUDGEMENT.      And it will be a RIGHT and JUST Judgement based on the TRUTH both apparent and hidden.       I fear for the 'Witch Hunters' of our world, those of us who put ourselves in the way of exhuming one another's hidden faults and failures, and handing each other to premature 'judgement' made so often in the dark by men and women who are themselves living in the DARK.

LAW AND ORDER we need must have in our human society, but woe to those who are destroyers and not Life Givers in the manner in which that Law and Order is dispensed.

THE RAIN HAS COME AGAIN.     Outside (it is 2,20p.m. our time) is a kind of lurid yellowish light.     It is very eerie and strange...........

We do enlist your prayers, that our hands (lives) may be uplifted, and the current battle against the Enemy won.      He has told us to WAIT and do nothing.     To WAIT and to let HIM win the Victory for us, to unlock the prison door, to open the Windows of Heaven and pour out His Deliverance.   He LOVES to do this.        WE find it a little nerve wracking at times.

Love from us all to you all, in His Wonderful Name.

John, Esther and Daryl Green