Today is Briana's first birthday, and we had friends and family over to celebrate with a party.  Here she is, being held by her grandmother preparing for an attempt to blow out the candle on her cake. 

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD
does not count against him
--Psalm 32:1-2

           Imagine you're being given the opportunity to have everything you want for the rest of your life  -- to just snap your fingers and see your wishes granted.  But imagine there is one catch: in return, you must forfeit God's forgiveness of just one of your sins.  Would you take the offer?
          Not if you were wise.  Because if we did not have salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and the eternal life it brings, there would be no gift or blessing that could be of any real value.
          We tend to put a lot of things on our "wish lists," convincing ourselves that if we just had that certain something, or if that certain circumstance changed, or if that certain thing would happen, then we would be satisfied.  But the truth is, if we know Jesus, we already have the greatest blessing we could ever receive:  Our sins have been punished on the cross, and God will never hold us responsible for them.  Even though our sins were innumerable -- "more than the hairs of my head," as Psalm 40 describes them -- when we stand before Christ, our sins will number absolute zero.  Even though our hearts were deceitful and above all things wicked, we shall stand before Him clothed in the spotless garments of the redeemed.
          "My sin (oh the bliss of this glorious thought) my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh, my soul!"  We've not been partially forgiven, but completely forgiven.  Our sin debt hasn't been decreased, but cancelled.
          Truly that is the greatest blessing.  That's why throughout the ages more songs than can be counted have been written of the wonders of God's grace and mercy and the miracle of His salvation.  Millionaires don't write ballads in praise of the joy their money brings.  But even men in utter poverty can cry out in irrepressible joy at the knowledge that God has forgiven them of their every transgression.
          "Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; for God the Just is satisfied, to look on Him and pardon me."
          If just one sin remained unwashed by Christ's blood, we would be eternally doomed.  But every wrong thing we've ever done, said, or thought has been erased by the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary.  Rejoice brothers and sisters!  That which you already have is the most wonderful thing anyone could ever receive.  Do not withhold your rejoicing until the temporal things of this life improve for you; rejoice now, and rejoice forever.  If you have the Son of God and the life He brings, then nothing more do you need to have reason to praise Him.

Here's the forecast for this weekend in Buzau.  More like the weather we would have expected in Texas where we used to live.  Almost unheard of levels of heat for this country that is as far north as the state of Maine.  Praise God we have air conditioning now.   

Friday
Sunny. Extremely hot, Dry. Temperature of 99°F. Winds 4mph SE. Humidity will be 19% with a dewpoint of 48° and comfort level of 95°F. There is a 0% chance of precipitation.
High:  99°F    Low:  68°F

Saturday
Sunny. Extremely hot, Dry. Temperature of 102°F. Winds 5mph SW. Humidity will be 18% with a dewpoint of 50° and comfort level of 99°F. There is a 0% chance of precipitation.
High:  102°F    Low:  70°F

Sunday
Sunny. Extremely hot, Dry. Temperature of 106°F. Winds 7mph SSW. Humidity will be 18% with a dewpoint of 52° and comfort level of 104°F. There is a 0% chance of precipitation.
High:  106°F    Low:  73°F

Monday
Morning clouds. Extremely hot, Dry. Temperature of 102°F. Winds 12mph WSW. Humidity will be 19% with a dewpoint of 50° and comfort level of 99°F. There is a 0% chance of precipitation.
High:  102°F    Low:  75°F

Today we received a package with balloons for making balloon animals from a friend in the US, so that we now have a supply to begin doing more of the children's outreach this week.  Our plan is to go Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to each of the three main city parks where we had our campaign ministry last month, to share the gospel with new people, as well as get conversations started with people we saw before. 

Please pray with us that Briana's health will improve, making this ministry plan possible.  She has been sick, and not sleeping much at all.  Also pray for my foot (Dave).  Something is injured in some way in my right foot that is making it very difficult and painful to walk, and lots of walking is required of us in our daily lives and ministry here. 

This month is the orthodox holiday celebrating the "falling asleep of the mother of the Lord" -- a time of fasting and various religious rituals worshiping Mary.  The local priest is also taking advantage of the event as an opportunity to collect money.  A notice posted on our building's door says that he wants to come "bless our home" and then instructs that we will be expected to make our "2006 contribution" when he arrives Friday evening.  You may post your suggestions in the comments field about what you think we should do when he knocks on our door. 

Here's a picture of the cathedral construction he expects every resident to help fund: 

Briana may be only 11 months old, but she seems here to be pretty good at art.  Her Dad posed for her to draw this evening, and I think she got the likeness pretty good. 

Well, okay, in all honesty, she had a tiny bit of help with the drawing, but she does sometimes amaze us with other things.  For example, she's the only baby I know who can whistle, and when you tell her, "clap, clap, clap" she starts clapping and says, "Bravo."  That part is no joke.