So many of you are fighting with us. You are upholding us with your prayers. You are continually bringing us before the throne of God, asking that He give us strength, wisdom, perserverance, and faithfulness as we fight the spiritual darkness of Bogota. 

Tonight was just one example, but such a good example that I feel I must share it with you. As many of you know, we work to build relationships with people and look for the opportunity through those friendships to share the light of the Truth. One such relationship is with a man named Edgar. Edgar approached Daniel at a park a few weeks ago and began to speak (faltering) English to him. His main interest was to develop his English language skills, but as they continued to talk, Edgar became interested in our faith. He has visited the church a couple of times on Sundays but tonight was the first time he attended a Wednesday evening prayer service. He had spent about two hours that afternoon with Daniel, talking some in English, but mostly discussing Catholocism and the other religious interests that he has. Namely the Moonies and the DaVinci Code. (If you can call that "religion.") 

You can imagine the stir that was caused when he stood up after several men of the church had prayed and asked if he could say a prayer. Not knowing what he intended, no one stopped him. Edgar began to pray to the Virgin Mary and the Saints! After a moment of shocked silence, the deacon stood and interrupted him and started right into the bible lesson. I believe Edgar thinks that he did not do anything wrong or offensive. He says that there should be "tolerance" for different religious "opinions." We continued to talk after church for about 30 more minutes. While we continued to state and reiterate that we base everything we believe and do on what the Bible says, Edgar kept referring to his heart and his feelings. When we pointed out that the Bible doesn't teach that Mary is a part of the Holy Trinity (which he does believe - although I'm sure trinity refers to only 3 persons, right?), Edgar interrupted and actually said that Mary is his co-redeemer. 

We are spiritually exhausted from this conversation. It is good for us to defend our faith, but we want Edgar to know that we love him even though we disagree with him. We need to be more ready to give that answer for our faith and we need to have God's word on the tips of our tongues because it is His words, not ours, that can pierce the heart. 

Please pray for Edgar and all those here in Bogota that he represents who are so spiritually blinded. People who believe that they should follow their heart. People who believe more in philosophers or priests than in the Holy Word of God. People who base their total faith on things that are mere custom and man-made tradition with little or no scriptural basis. People who recieve "direct revelations" from a god that cannot be our God. 

Praise God that we have an effective Advocate before God the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.