IN ADYGEA

SPENT YESTERDAY GETTING HERE. ARRIVED IN KRASNADAR ABOUT 6 P.M. AND THEN CAME STRAIGHT TO MAYKOP. AM STAYING WITH LEONID RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK WE'LL TRY TO CHANGE THAT TODAY. ALL HIS FAMILY PLUS DEMA AND I IS A BUNCH FOR A 2 ROOM HOUSE. WE WILL PROBABLY MOVE TO A HOTEL LATER TODAY. PLANS ARE TO SPEND THE DAY VISITING WITH ANGELA AND TRYING TO DISCERN SOME STUFF ABOUT THAT SITUATION.

THE WEATHER IS WET HERE, BUT IT IS WARMER. TODAY WILL BE IN THE 40'S. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE SUN AGAIN FOR A WHILE. THAT ALWAYS AFFECTS ME. I NEED THE SUN.

I MISSED MY LONG RUN ON SUNDAY AND HAVEN'T RUN IN 3 DAYS. I HAVE TO GET IT IN TODAY. I AM AT MY 7 MILE LONG RUN AND I CAN'T MISS A WEEK. HEADED FOR THE BERRY HALF AGAIN. MARCH 6TH. ANY TAKERS THIS YEAR?

TONIGHT YA'LL GET TO DO SMALL GROUP! TRY TO GIVE YOURSELF AWAY TONIGHT. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER. PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. PRAY FOR ME AND THE SITUATION HERE.

I WAS ENCOURAGED AGAIN TODAY WITH SPURGEON. WHAT A GIFT GOD GAVE ME ON THIS TRIP BY RETURNING MY OLD FRIEND. I SHARE IT WITH YOU:

"Abel was a keeper of sheep."—Genesis 4:2.

S a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before His Father a sacrifice to which Jehovah ever hath respect. Abel was hated by his brother—hated without a cause; and even so was the Saviour: the natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man while serving as a priest before the Lord. "The good Shepherd layeth down His life for the sheep." Let us weep over Him as we view Him slain by the hatred of mankind, staining the horns of His altar with His own blood. Abel's blood speaketh. "The Lord said unto Cain, 'The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.'" The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! to see Him bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear His blood speaking peace to all His flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of eternity for blood-washed men. Abel is the first shepherd in order of time, but our hearts shall ever place Jesus first in order of excellence. Thou great Keeper of the sheep, we the people of Thy pasture bless Thee with our whole hearts when we see Thee slain for us.

OUR SHEPHERD IS WORTHY OF PRAISE!!

KEEP LEARNING EVERYDAY!! HERE IS SOME HELP:

(JEFF MAY SPEND A LITTLE MORE)

HEY, GOOD NEWS FROM MASSACHUSETTS, HUH?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.