As you know, many countries in Asia ban the Bible and Christian missionaries from their countries. I asked one missionary from the Asia region at SBCD how they kept their ministry flourishing when the country kept such a strict watch over preaching God’s Word. She told me that they would meet in the park and have Bible study together and the police would show and even watch while they taught the gospel then leave when they got bored. The police did not know sign language so didn’t know what they were saying. If they knew that the gospel is what is being taught to the deaf, it would be immediate imprisonment, but because the police could not understand the conversation going on, they were ignorant. It reminded me of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were thrown into a fiery furnace and left to die, but they were not harmed, as Nebuchadnezzar noticed,

“I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (Dan 3:25)

Imagine the fiery hatred of the Truth surrounding these and they policemen had the authority to imprison anyone suspected of such gospel preaching, but in plain daylight in a public place they were openly preaching the gospel to the Deaf.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psa 18:2)

After a long drive from Charlotte, we made it safe and sound in St. Louie. Really enjoyed seeing the various changes in landscape and got a chance to try the Kentucky BBQ. It was quite a  trip, but I was glad when it ended. There is just enough fun one can take in one day. The hotel, Ramada Inn, is a comfortable enough place but I could sleep on a log if I am tired enough. Saw my good brother Rocky Shifflett.

more to come…

No, I did not take this picture

I spoke with Aric Randolph, pastor of New Life Deaf Fellowship and president of SBCD, about live blogging the SBCD sessions this year. For you who are not familiar with “live blogging”, it is writing about what the conference speakers are saying while the conference is in session. I will also be taking pictures and publishing them on this Silent Matters. If you are interested in what is happening at SBCD, check out Silent Matters beginning Saturday and I will keep you updated.

This morning I was reading Al Mohler’s post on the government’s control of the school systems and parent’s lack of input in this. Dr. Mohler was citing a column by the Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby in which he quotes John Edwards regarding schools teaching same-sex marriage literature at an early age:

former senator John Edwards promptly replied. “I want my children . . . to be exposed to all the information . . . even in second grade . . . because I don’t want to impose my view. Nobody made me God. I don’t get to decide on behalf of my family or my children. . . . I don’t get to impose on them what it is that I believe is right.” None of the other candidates disagreed, even though most of them say they oppose same-sex marriage.

John Edwards does not think he should “impose” his views or beliefs on his own children. Seems that he means the best option is to leave it up to the world to bring up his children, but the Bible commands us to train our children “in the way he should go” (Prov 22:6). Maybe Edwards was saying that his children can make their own decisions in what is right and wrong, but again, the Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:15 that “A child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Proverbs 29:15 also speaks of “the rod and reproof give wisdom” but this does not mean beatings, but if we look to 2 Timothy 3:16, we find Paul telling Timothy that Scripture can be used “for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” So we can see the rod as not for beating with (as many misunderstand), but for correction as the rod was used to turn sheep to the right path and for protection not to beat them with.

So, as Christian parents, we do not say we have a right to decide what our children learn, but we have a God-given command to raise our children in Truth for as we belong to children

When I was director of the Baptist Student Ministry, there was a student, Corrie Smith, who was faithful to the ministry through fellowship, study, and evangelism. It is a blessing to find students remaining faithful years after graduating. You can find her blog at http://deafforjesus.wordpress.com