As we started the last day of
our classes, we were on schedule to finish the week’s studies with a short
class on Friday morning. Since our flight from Tuguegarao was to depart shortly
after noon, we only had a little over two hours to complete 2nd Peter.
These students adjusted quickly to our routine after the first day or two, so that
made our plan of study easier to fully cover. In fact, we covered more material
than I had even planned.
We studied 2 Peter 3 in the
morning session. As the text looks to the certainty of Christ’s return for the
final Judgment, we noted the fact that scoffers have always denied it, despite
God’s plain assurance. We examined the parallel to the Lord’s coming in
judgment in the time of Noah to destroy the world that existed then and begin a
new one. Understanding that fact and recognizing that God has always come in
temporal judgments that He promised, we discussed how it should make us realize
the need to prepare ourselves for His final Judgment.
Though all of us were
extremely tired from the work of this week, we were also sorry to see this study
come to an end. I want to express my deep thanks to all of you that helped to
make this effort possible and the students in these classes also asked me to
express their thanks for your sacrifices on their behalf. I have known many of
these men for 15 or more years. Many of them went through the one-month
preacher training that Rody Gumpad hosted for several years starting in 2003.
After a quick lunch, Rody and
Tessie Gumpad as well as Jonathan and Nanette Carino joined me on the flight
from Tuguegarao to what used to be Clark Airbase, an American Air Force base,
but is now an Enterprise Zone just outside of Angeles City. This is a new route
that is being offered by Philippine Airlines using a prop airplane. It took
less than one hour. Lordy Salunga and another brother met us and took us to the
hotel. After we had a little while to rest and get settled in, Lordy and his
wife, Lynne, joined us for supper at the mall right across from the hotel. We
had a nice, leisurely supper as we had time to visit for several hours. The
women especially enjoyed being able to be together since that is a rare
opportunity for them.
So far, Saturday has been a good
day. Our baggage arrived Saturday morning on schedule. We were all able to rest
some, but I have spent most of the day getting ready for the classes next week.
This evening, I plan to work on my sermon for tomorrow.
Thanks again for your prayers
on our behalf. God bless!
