Greetings, dear friend, from sunny California.

Margaret and I are here for two weeks of ministry.

1. A Death Sentence Causes One to Focus. The Theologian J.I. Packer wrote, “Dr. Johnson is credited with the remark that when a man knows he is going to be hanged soon it concentrates his mind wonderfully, and in the same way the Puritans’ awareness that in the midst of the life we are in death, just one step from eternity, gave them a deep seriousness, calm yet passionate, with regard to the business of living that Christians in today’s opulent, mollycoddled, earth-bound Western world rarely manage to match.”

2. Shepherds Conference. We enjoyed much Biblical teaching and excellent fellowship with 3500 pastors, elders, church leaders, and missionaries worldwide at the Shepherd’s Conference in Panorama City. Next year the conference is being extended to four days dealing with the "Inspiration, Inerrancy and Sufficiency of the Word of God." It with be a powerful conference.

3. The Philippines Has Moved to LA. We were hosted by a Filipino family during the conference; we spoke and had six hours of wonderful fellowship at a Filipino gathering on Saturday and preached Sunday at Christ Community Church, which is mainly a Filipino congregation. Margaret and I were very encouraged in the Lord with the week with God's people!

4. Follow Up Visit. At present we are in Valley Center, California, with church friends where I preached in their missions conference recently after returning from the Philippines. Wonderful time at evening meal with pastor and family and friends! We will have the opportunity to visit friends in the area who have supported us for nearly 50 years in ministry as well as a breakfast meeting with the pastor.

5. Preaching This Weekend. Sunday we are in ministry at Trinity Baptist Church on Monroe St. in Indio, California, the town where I spent much of my rebellious childhood. I speak at 10:30 am on, "The Gospel, Christ in You, the Hope of Glory for the Nations." Please join us and PLEASE PRAY. Thank you.

You are appreciated! Glory!

In Christ,

Doug (and Margaret) Nichols