MANILA, JULY 3 - Greetings from an Internet cubicle in Manila!

We left Atlanta June 23.

Last Sunday, we experienced worship at the Cathedral of the King CEC

in Manila with 3,000 worshippers. I have never been in such a worship

service! Believers from Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South

America all praising God in an awesome sacramental, evangelical, charismatic

service. Frankly, it is the closest to heavenly worship I have been where

John saw in Revelation a "multitude that no man could number ...

of every tribe, nation, and people ... worshipping before the Lamb on

the throne." I have a new vision of how great the church can be!

And the Filipino people put us to shame in their love for God's people

and in the demonstration of the servant's heart. If servanthood is the

mark of a deacon then every Filipino should be a deacon. We have been

impressed and humbled.

Last Saturday, three Islamic terrorists with links to Osama bin Laden

were killed by Philippine forces on an island off the coast of Mindanao.

Then, on Monday, we read that 6 members of al-Qaeda were arrested in

Manila. They were armed with explosive devices and were planning to detonate

them at the presidential swearing-in which occurred on Wednesday just

two miles from our hotel. These men were trained at a terrorist camp

in Mindanao. The security people at our hotel check every incoming vehicle

for bombs 24 hours a day. Makes you stop and think.

A typhoon swept across the Philippines a few days ago. We saw a LOT

of rain and high waves, since we are RIGHT on the ocean, but we were

unaffected except for minor power blackouts. In Mindanao, at least 14

people were killed by the storm and several more are missing.� Has anyone

mentioned that it's HOT here? I look forward to getting