Monday morning was already slated to be event-full. Bill Holeman was to have a heart cath to check on whether a stent was still functional (it was, so open-heart surgery is the only other option).

Before we got word on Bill, Ramon Garibay was killed by a hit and run driver. As you may have read, Ramon is a part of the Spanish congregation. In the midst of the shock of this news, there was a comfort knowing that God had extended His grace to Ramon to be saved on the very day he was burying his wife, who had asked prayer for him to be saved over 20 years. Pastor Tony Núñez made a good point that because the Scriptures don’t tell us, we don’t know absolutely that individuals are aware of another’s presence in heaven. We are aware of our presence with Jesus Christ, but we are not told whether (at this time) we would be aware of each other. But, if we are, what a joy it must have been Monday for Martha to see that her prayers had been answered and to know that Ramon had professed faith in Jesus Christ to save him.

Later I would receive email notes from Gabriel and Jamie Frees that a much anticipated surgery on their son was canceled.

Once home for the evening, I was preparing to work on some 35mm slides, then the telephone rang. Carmen Arbuckle was headed to Emergency. The next morning, I would learn that Jerry Ozmon was also rushed to the hospital in Tennessee.

Those of you who receive the Bulletin via email and the internet received our urgent plea for prayer. Quite a few of you responded with much appreciated notes assuring your prayer for these people and their troubles. To each of you that offered prayer on their behalf, thank you.

I have tried to condense the reports in the prayer portion of our Bulletin so as not to keep you from other matters. Since last week, there are additional needs to be aware of and, hopefully, joining us in praying about.

It is weeks (or even a day) like this that remind me of the steady, constant prayer that undergirds God’s work in this church (and others as well) and the people we love and know, whether we are made aware or not of a specific need at a time of crisis.

In earlier days, someone borrowed a nautical term that illustrates our work in prayer. I am not sure why it has fallen into disuse. Maybe it is time to revive the word picture and the practice.

“Hold the ropes.”

Hello Everyone,

Because of the urgency in prayer concerning Bill Holeman’s hospital procedure (you can read about it above, if you haven’t already), I wanted to be sure this ibulletin was sent as soon as possible (that is, not like last week, several days late). Again, I would like to encourage you to be praying that Bill’s body will cooperate completely, with the Lord’s enabling, of course. Also ask God for His peace and comfort for Joyce and the family who will waiting before, during, and after everything is done.

This has been an incredible week of “interruptions,” every one of them a delight. I’ll mention two:

How many times do I get to visit Pastor Monroe Nunley twice in the same week (you can’t keep him off the golf course that long).

Then, Thursday I received an email (with photos) from Jackie (Bodin) Williams, who attended Bell Gardens Baptist more than 25 years ago. For those who remember Jackie, she and her husband Kevin are still living in Arkansas and their youngest, Rylan just began college. Their daughter, Shreese is attending college in Pensacola.

Thanks to “Lil Ray” (Banks) as Jackie calls him (and probably the only one who can get away with calling Ray “little”) for forwarding the iBulletin to Jackie! It was good to read of one who is still faithfully following Jesus Christ.

Please pray for Bill Holeman.

I got stuck on verse 13 in the Bible study Wednesday night from Proverbs 8.

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride, arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

The verse was a throw back to Proverbs 1:7, “The fear [both reverence, respect; and a healthy dose of terror] of the Lord is the beginning ["the starting point" (start at the wrong point, end at the wrong point—get the point?); or "the capstone" (the essence without which all else falls apart)] of wisdom ["seeing and responding to life from God's point of view"].

Then I remembered learning Proverbs 6:16-19 which begins, “These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look….”

In Proverbs 8:13, the concepts of these other verses came together.

Solomon uses that phrase “The fear of the Lord” eleven times in Proverbs. I’m glad, for our sake, that he repeated to Rehoboam this foundational truth. How is it that we learn? How much I need to be reminded of His truth in order that I will come to believe it until I have put it into a habitual practice.

To read that God “hates” is troublesome after all we’ve been told (quoting from the Bible), “God is love,” and “God so loved the world.” Then we read Malachi and Paul when they say God says, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” and we become very creative in helping God look like He doesn’t really “hate” (as we have come to understand “hate”). What does God mean when He says He “hates”? If you really want to know, do a little study on your own. It is always enlightening when we learn the meanings to the words we commonly use.

Fortunately, God defines what He hates. It is “evil.” In our pluralistic, “right is wrong and wrong is right” culture, so many have confused what God says evil is. In another discussion this week, the subject of a so-called “Church” came up. “What do they believe?” was one question. Not knowing an adequate answer, we searched the internet. It only took a quick, brief glance to compare their beliefs with God’s truth. On one page, they presented a list and description of the “Nine Satanic Sins.” What topped the list? It was “stupidity.” I’m thinking that, like me, you, didn’t guess this to even be named a sin or called evil.

Fortunately, we are not left to ourselves to define “evil.” Using Solomon, in this verse God defines it for us.

“Pride” [This Hebrew word is used only in this verse, no where else in the Old Testament. How is pride different from arrogance?].

“Arrogancy” [While the definition to follow is often used of pride, it illustrates the shift in confidence from God to oneself: "Believing I have achieved what God and others have done for me and through me."].

“The evil way” [Journey, direction, habit, (figuratively) course of life; (figuratively) moral character.].

“The froward mouth” [Later versions use "perverse mouth," for clarification. The root Hebrew word here is used often in Israel's exodus from Egypt. For example, God turned the Nile into blood; Pharaoh changed his mind; God turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate His people. It is possible that just as "arrogance" amplifies the meaning of "pride," so "the perverse mouth" amplifies the meaning of "the evil way." Any talk, speech or conversation contrary to God's "way" could be considered "froward" or "perverse."].

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” … “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” Maybe I have something to learn from the other nine uses of “the fear of the Lord” in Proverbs.