My dear readers,

1. Sobering and Searing reminders (letter from Rev & Mrs Bill Ebert of Hilltop, Philippines, dated Feb 18, 2015)

Many thanks to Kathie for the reminder concerning ISIS and the recent beheadings of the Coptic Christians in Egypt. Our hearts are still shaken and we are made aware all over again that believers today have to take a stand and risk having to sacrifice their lives for the cause of Christ. I still can hardly believe this news report and the haunting pictures and yet it is alarmingly true. We had some inkling, a "taste" of what others experience when the "Ch" brethren were studying on Hilltop. We were made aware in such a painful way of the suffering of Christians via stories we recently shared. It just seems it is all coming closer and closer. Only remember to pray (for wisdom and discernment).

We have been thankful for our Bible study and the GREAT feedback and response of those who attended. Their questions prove they are listening and absorbing. Bill has some ideas for future study and discussion of any doctrine over which there is confusion. Last night we studied more in 1 Peter 2 and Bill had his usual hand-outs with questions designed to make us think.

Our ladies’ fellowship went very well last Saturday, Sis Tess gave a short devotional from 1 John, appropriate to Valentine’s Day. I will be devotional leader next time and we will meet in town for breakfast and then go walking at the nearby stadium in the town.

Our air filter is working superbly, and many thanks to a very caring couple who helped us to purchase it. We are breathing so much better at night, and even though the air is still heavy with smoke much of the time. Bill’s cough is nearly gone! He wants to get back to exercising as soon as possible now that he is not coughing and his back is better. "Thank you" to those who prayed for these things.

It has been SO COLD. I know there are those up-east in the US who are laughing, but to have frigid air at night is almost too much for us. I’ve been having to wrap up in a blanket while sitting in the family room, and wear socks to bed at night. We sleep under two blankets and a thick comforter. Actually in Baguio, it is down to probably the low sixties at night and Pastor Lubaton’s daughter lives there but says it is too cold for the baby so she will bring him back to Hilltop until our "winter" is over. The change from Cold to Dry Season will happen VERY soon, probably early March. The extreme cold was so serious for the aforementioned baby (Baby Pabs) that in the absence of heaters the parents were turning on hot water at night for a time until there was steam in their room, that was the closest to actual heat they could get.

We have graduation next month and so there is a lot of excitement on campus. Sadly, the speaker we had scheduled for conference cannot make it this year, we recently learned. Another possible speaker is being contacted by Pastor Leo.

We were informed a week ago of two raises in our support, two of our supporting churches having done this for us. What a blessing and help! And we received so many generous love gifts over Christmas, we could never express adequately our gratitude.

Most of all, we are deeply grateful for your prayers.

Love in Him, Darla and Bill

2. JEWISH JOURNALIST RECORDS ANTI-SEMITIC HATE ON PARIS STREETS (Friday Church News Notes, February 20, 2015)

The following is excerpted from "Ten Hours of Fear and Loathing in Paris," nrg.co.il, Feb 17, 2015: "Welcome to Paris 2015, where soldiers are walking every street that houses a Jewish institution, and where keffiyeh-wearing men and veiled women speak Arabic on every street corner. ... In modern-day Paris, you see, Jews are barred from entering certain areas. ... For 10 hours I quietly walked down the streets and suburbs of Paris, with photographer Dov Belhassen documenting the day using a GoPro camera hidden in his backpack. Given the tensions in Paris, which is still reeling from a wave of terrorist attacks (including the murder of Charlie Hebdo magazine journalists), I was assigned a bodyguard. ... Areas known as tourist attractions were relatively calm, but the further from them we walked, the more anxious I became over the hateful stares, the belligerent remarks, and the hostile body language. At times it was like walking in downtown Ramallah. Most women were wearing a veil or a hijab, most men appeared to be Muslim, and Arabic was prevalent everywhere. We decided ahead of time that I was to walk through these areas quietly, without stopping anywhere, without speaking to anyone, without so much as looking sideways. My heart was pounding and negative thoughts were running through my head. I would be lying if I said I was not afraid. Walking into a public housing neighborhood, we came across a little boy and his hijab-clad mother, who were clearly shocked to see us. ‘What is he doing here Mommy? Doesn’t he know he will be killed?’ the boy asked. ... Over at a nearby street I was lambasted with expletives ... At a nearby cafe, fingers were pointed at us, and moments later two thugs were waiting for us on the street corner. They swore at me, yelled ‘Jew,’ and spat at me. ... Two youths were waiting for us on the next street corner, as they had apparently heard that a Jew was walking around their neighborhood. They made it clear to us that we had better get out of there, and we took their advice. ‘A few more minutes and this would have been a lynching,’ the bodyguard told me as we were getting into the car. ‘Leave this area right now.’"

3. EGYPTIAN SCHOLAR DEMANDS THAT JEWS RETURN EXODUS TREASURE (Friday Church News Notes, Feb 20, 2015)

Egyptian scholar Amar Ali Hassan is demanding that Israel return the treasures they took from the Egyptians when they left Egypt 3,500 years ago. In an interview with Egypt’s Channel 1 in July 2014, Hassan said, "When they left they stole Egypt’s gold and treasures. We demand that they return the treasures they stole from us" ("Egyptian Academic Demands Jews Return Exodus Gold," Israel Today, Sep 15, 2014). Hassan is referring to the Bible’s statement that children of Israel "borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment" (Exo 12:35-36). In fact, that was the just wages that the Egyptians owed Israel for abusing them as slave labor to build their cities. It is interesting that Hassan, Ph.D. in political science, author, and Middle East research center scholar, acknowledges that Israel has a long history in the region and that Israel’s history in Scripture is accurate. This flies in the face of the Israel denial movement since Yasser Arafat.

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor