April/May 2024 Update

Not a lot to report right now other than I've reached the end of another semester (today is the last day of class and final exams start tomorrow and end on 5/6).  There haven't been nearly as many contacts this semester as previous semesters, but I've extended my reach a bit by building my YouTube channel with math tutorial videos that hopefully will get some people to subscribe, and hopefully those subscribers will then see The Gospel Project lessons that I publish on a weekly basis.  I also hope in some way that some of the viewers make their way to the website where they can find out more about the Bible, discipleship, apologetics and more.  While not necessarily something "new," it is a new way of using something old.  You can pray with me that I catch some fish.

You can pray for my friend Trey Gaines from Florida (a fellow Christian that I watch play some video games on Twitch and chat with and talk to through Discord).  His parents appear to be about ready to divorce one another and his mother is making statements like Trey being the only reason she has for living.  He said, "It makes me dread talking to them and I hate feeling like that, but they're both so incredibly miserable and only want to spread that misery.  I tolerate it due to being commanded to honor my father and mother, but wish it were a healthy relationship."

You can also be praying for my brother-in-law Frank as he does some work with Jim and Jennifer Snyder (the missionaries in Philadelphia that my sister Elizabeth used to work with).  Jim and Jennifer hope to have some chances to share the gospel with Frank without Elizabeth around as it looks like she is the one that is piloting things in their marriage.

You can also be praying for my dad's long-time friend and co-worker and current boss, Larry McGuffin.  Larry seems to have believed a form of cultural Christianity (he's from East Texas) that says that every who is a "good person" goes to heaven.  If you ask him what it means to be a "good person," he would start talking about good things that he's done (he's a salesman who thinks he can make a good enough pitch to God about why he should be allowed into heaven).  Larry will see things on the news (like what's happening in Israel) and ask what the Bible has to say about it.  He knows the Bible has something to say about it, but he doesn't read the Bible for himself, and has correctly said that when he does try to read it, it doesn't make sense to him.  Pray for him that he would have his heart softened and that he would be open to reading the Bible and that God would reveal His truth to Larry.  Also pray for my dad, as I think he's impatient wanting Larry to take initiative.  Only recently did my dad even think that Larry is acting in a way that is consistent with him not having the Holy Spirit and that it is unfair to expect him to act like a Christian and desire the things of God without God first doing the work in his heart.  This is as much about my dad as it is about Larry as my dad has been trying to do the work of the Holy Spirit and has made Larry a "project" of his for most of his life (most likely feeling like he would be able to take credit for all the hard work he put in if Larry does repent and believe).

You can also be in prayer for my parents.  My mom has had some issues with getting her diabetic medications (she just got it yesterday, but I think she had to miss one of her weekly injections because of issues with supply, and this seems like it's going to be on ongoing issue that may make it difficult for her and others on these medicines to get the medication they need).  My dad is having a couple of different issues--the first is headaches, tiredness, and a sore throat that he has several days most every week.  However, he's been unable to have a doctor's appointment while this was happening (and he's usually cancelled any doctor's appointments he's had when he felt like that because he didn't want to go out).  He's going today to get the other issue checked out which is that his heart will race, and he'll have shortness of breath and then get lightheaded and feel like he's going to pass out from even a little bit of exertion like walking from one end of the house (his bedroom) to the other end (the kitchen and living room).  That's been debilitating for him as he can't really get out and do anything now.  My mom is going to the doctor's appointment with him today so that she can hear everything and because he should no longer drive due to neuropathy in his feet.

Mike and Evan seem to be doing well and are enjoying our study of Acts (I'm not sure if I had given you an update after we finished Exodus, but they even ended up enjoying the second half of that, even though they didn't expect they would).  Evan is looking for a new job.