A Shock to My System

On Monday I was in court all afternoon. I sat with a friend of mine as we waited for a sentence to be handed down from a judge. We both were there for one older man. He has done some bad things and in particular he has breached conditions that were set up for him to be guided by in our community. He eventually found out that he will be staying in jail a while longer. For that I am thankful. It is justice.

The shock to my system came not from this particular case, but rather from the other cases that were being dealt with over the two hours prior to my friend’s case. We sat listening to all the stories that went through the court that afternoon. It was Youth Court Day – Monday.

The halls were jammed with teens of all kinds. There are innocent looking teens that are well dressed, shy looking and eyes darting as they look for some one that they know. Mixed with that are the shifty, cocky, and just plain obnoxious teens that will likely be dropping from school soon – if they haven’t already. The emotions I feel as I sit, listen and look is overwhelming. These kids just don’t get it.

In court we listen as the kids are called forward to be addressed by the judge. The clothing speaks accurately of the attitude in many cases. Sloppy and grungy – usually carries with it an attitude that needs some real adjustments – but that hasn’t been done along the way. About half the teens have a parent with them. Another 25% of the group has a social worker/case worker with them and the others have no one.

The sign at the court entrance instructs everyone to take out their gum and take off there caps. A couple of times the judge stopped to instruct a teen to take out their gum as they stood to be addressed. When someone in the court whispered the judged paused and asked who was talking. One girl giggled and the judge asked what was funny and who was it that was laughing. There was no room for hilarity in this court.

The man that I consider my friend, and that I was there for, is over 70 years old. He has committed crimes since the mid 1940s – the last century. There have been many crimes and a variety. However the worst, in most of the community’s mindset, is the ones that he committed against children. This man is a pedophile. The community will not tolerate his kind of crime/sin against children. He fits the classic, dirty old man kind of characterization. You know the horrible pedophilic mindset that seeks to groom his relationship with children. We all hate that image and are repulsed when thinking of his kind.

The shock to my system was not the pedophile that I consider to be a friend and that has breached his conditions. The shock came on Monday when I listened to three cases that afternoon of children that have done the same kind of thing. They are identified as pedophiles now at 12, 15, & 18 years old. They don’t know each other and they come from very different homes and circumstances. But all of them have molested other children younger than themselves. In one case the teen was charged with molesting three children.

Monday afternoon was a snap shot of life in 2006. He in my picture was a man that had molested his first victims in the 1940s – last century! It was over 60 years ago – he was around 12 years old. In the picture, of Monday afternoon, was his identical counterpart – 60+ years later – for the SAME THING. But not just one in this “picture frame” – but three more!!!!

That is shocking for me. And for myself – as a minister – I deal with all sorts of adult criminals as they seek to get their lives together. Here is a brand new group that is being trained up by a sick family and/or an even sicker society that has produced new pedophiles.

YES – we, as a society, produced them. WE are responsible. And we need to take responsibility – but haven’t. We instead BLAME the dirty old man that is the miserable pedophile hurting our children. That is so wrong. He didn’t wake up one morning and say, “I think I will try on Pedophilia as my sexual preference.” Something happened to him along the way and it was very sad.

The 70+ year old man was rapped by another older teenager when he was about 10. That is the hard part of the story for me. Whatever happened in his story, whoever should have been there for him, wasn’t. And the rest is 60+ years of hurting others has a disgusted community that feels a loathing for him at the end of his life.

It is shocking to think that the three boys, in court Monday, have produced at least 5 more victims of this horrible crime. When you place the grid of experience of the 70+ year old man, my friend, over their potential lives – these three have produced 5 victims (that they were charged for) – who in turn could produce three more each- and the next level produce another 3 more each...and so one. Put that number over 60 years of living and you will not be able to count the number of people that are hurt and hurting.

What is shocking is that pedophilia is not an old man’s crime. That is when they get caught – or re-caught. But the cycle often starts when they are young.

Who produces a pedophile is the bigger question? The community is a good start for an answer. We understand that when we look at the gun violence in the big city among gangs of teens and youth. Without the proper parenting guidelines and discipline we see the violence. Is pedophilia under a similar kind of cloud of a community lacking in what it should do? Who is there to support the family, the parents and the children? Not many I am afraid. Not many.

Are you shocked enough to get involved? Would you be willing to do something to help arrest this process of producing sick people? Would you not only pray – but maybe get involved and say enough is enough – then pitch in and do something to help a family in distress – or a teen that could be redirected?

I am.

(Written by Murray Lincoln, Pastor of Northview Pentecostal Church - Peterborough, Ontario)

Sarnia Revival Report - May 30, 2006

The past five nights have been marked with salvations and healings, continuing to demonstrate the awesomeness of God as Evangelist Tom Scarrella ministered with great passion and enthusiasm.

On Friday night, during the worship, a man standing at his seat was miraculously healed from a knee injury. He was unable to contain his excitement and ran to the front, jumping, telling of what God had done for him. That same night a woman who had been deaf in both ears for 15 years, wearing a hearing aid, had her hearing completely restored, no longer in need of the hearing aid.

On Saturday afternoon a group went to Canatara Park in Sarnia to witness. One team prayed for a teenaged boy who had what doctors called "jumpers knee" and he was healed in that park.
A woman with severe pain from gull stones testified that she couldn’t bend over the pain was too intense, but after receiving prayer, all pain left, she believes she is gull stone free.

On Sunday night, a woman who had lost a finger and mobility in her hand from a workplace accident was able to move that once crippled hand.

Many are coming to the Sarnia Revival because they’re hungry. This past Sunday night a Buddhist man visited, because he needed a healing and heard that people were being healed here. – God is doing great things.

God continues to move – the revival continues. Make plans to join us again this week for Tuesday night revival prayer at 6:30 p.m. Then Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, revival services are at 7:00 p.m.

Next Sunday night (June 4), Reverend Mike Kerychuk will minister in the Sunday night revival service at 6:30 p.m.

Don’t miss out on what God is doing.

Finding Wisdom

We hear a lot about shortages these days. Some areas face drought and even the rationing of water. Other areas are experiencing famine so there's a shortage of food. But one shortage that seems universal is wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge in a practical way. The world is filled with knowledge, but it desperately lacks the ability to apply it in a helpful way.
There is a solution to this; it's called God's Word. Through God's Word, you can learn how to apply truths to your life that will benefit you and all those around you. Let's see what the Bible has to offer.

What Does God Say?
"If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do" (James 1:5-8, NLT).

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT).

• According to James, who are we to ask for wisdom?
• What kind of an attitude do we need to have when we ask?
• The apostle Paul tells Timothy that Scripture is the instrument God uses to impart this wisdom. List at least three characteristics of God's Word found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that relate to wisdom.

My Thoughts
When was the last time you turned to the Bible for wisdom? What might be stopping you? For some it's the thought that the Bible was written thousands of years ago and couldn't possibly be relevant for today. However, the Bible deals with human nature, and while technology changes, human nature doesn't. Others don't know where to start. One good place is with those books of the Bible called the Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

My Part
For the next 31 days, read a chapter from Proverbs each day. Before you begin reading the chapter for that day, stop and pray. Ask God to show you the wisdom He wants you to learn for that day. Keep a notebook handy to record the insights God gives you.

Additional Scripture: 1 Kings 3:5-9

Testimony of Rev. Danny Blackwell - The Sarnia Revival Attendance

This weekend afforded us an opportunity to go andvisit Bethel Temple in Sarnia and see for ourselves just what is happening!

Arriving at the church we found an exuberance and aspring in the step of the people we met…The servicebegan with someone giving background of what has beenhappening at the church and how they are handling logistics like childcare. {They asked that each parent be responsible for their own children and that they would like all children to sit in the services and experience the presence of the Lord. They also asked that any visiting pastors allow their own people wearing white badges to pray for people.}

They spent time telling of miraculous healings which have been taking place every night and they invited several to the platform to testify in their own words. They were careful to explain how many of these healings were verified by doctors. This part of the evening took awhile and then they called up the worship team who led in worship, calling people to feel free to come forward and soak in the presence ofthe Lord, which we could really sense throughout this whole time. It was simply amazing! A lot of the music reflected a call for revival and a plea for more ofthe Presence of the Lord. People worshipped all overthe building from the front to the back and there was a truly awesome sense of the Presence of the Lord. The Lord spoke into our hearts, as we worshipped telling us of areas that need to be given over to His control… areas that we have been clinging on to which have been hindering the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Our hearts were being prepared to receive fromHim.

One of the things that I felt was this: I was born in Sarnia and it is like the Lord said to him ‘I am birthing a new thing in you’. They called people to come forward for healing and there were people touched right as we watched. Some had been experiencing ongoing healings night afternight as they continued to attend the services. This truly felt like a revival atmosphere.These meetings have been going on since Mar 29t nightly. I would love to go again…

Rev. Danny Blackwell
http://newhope-outreach.blogspot.com
www.newhopeoutreachtoronto.org

Ten Surprises About the Unchurched

For the past 8 years I have ministered in Peterborough. This wonderful time of connecting with this community has been such a blessing. The congregation is a loving group that has a great heart. It has remained faithful through good and bad times. To say we are stretched at times is an understatement. But we have stretched together. And we have grown together.

There is however a second congregation of people in our city that I am the pastor to as well. They are not good attenders at church. Most don't attend church anywhere. Very few give even a "Loonie"(Canadian Dollar) to the church - or any church. These people however know me as a minister. Together we connect at important times in their lives and mine. Often they invite me to their weddings and sometimes to their funerals. I am told of their successes and sometimes of their failures. I have watched them cry and also laugh. They will correct their language with me.... when they find out that I am a "Reverend".

But again - I will say it - they don't attend church. They are the "unchurched" in our community. And they are everywhere. There is more of them than people that are "churched".

I have discovered a wonderful article that I including with this posting on our Blog. It is written by Dr. Thom Rainer and was published in Christianity Today.

Ten Surprises About the Unchurched
Understanding their hearts and minds.
by Dr. Thom Rainer

Over the past few years, I have been privileged to enter a world that I really did not know very well. It is the world of the unchurched. Now, like many Christians, I have interacted with the unchurched, worked with the unchurched, socialized with the unchurched, and witnessed to the unchurched.

But I have been a Christian for more than 30 years. I really did not understand the hearts and the mindsets of the unchurched until recently.

For the past three years, my research team and I have been involved in extensive and intensive interaction with the unchurched. We have come with our computers and pre-planned questions, but many times we would just sit back and listen for hours.

Our team has covered all 50 states and Canada listening to the unchurched. We have been among a diversity of ethnic groups and socioeconomic groups. We have been in wide-ranging demographic areas, and we have talked to as many females as males. We have listened to the unchurched with modest education, and we listened to the unchurched with doctoral degrees. We have indeed listened for thousands of hours.

A team of 17 men and women gave not only their time, but their hearts to this project. You will hear some fascinating information that we gleaned from our time with the unchurched.

Surprises and Then Some
In this two-part series, we will present 10 of the surprises our research uncovered about the unchurched. Now we understand that a surprise is only a surprise in the eyes of the beholders. But the information you are about to read defies the conventional wisdom about the unchurched. In many ways, it goes against the grain of some "truths" we have been told.

Our research project involved 308 men and women in the United States and Canada. Every person interviewed was deemed to be both unchurched and non-Christian. While we asked some pre-determined objective questions, we also let the unchurched person speak freely. Some of the best interviews we had went off our planned script. And it was in those contexts that we often discovered some surprises. The surprises below are not listed in any particular order.

Surprise No. 1
Most of the unchurched prefer to attend church on Sunday morning if they attend. Perhaps the unchurched responded this way because that is the time they have always heard church should be. But when we asked the formerly unchurched (new Christians attending church) the same question, they gave us the same response. A very distant preference was a weeknight service other than Friday night.

"If I attended church, it would be the only time I could go regularly," said Al V. of Tulsa. "I work five days a week, and I like to go home to my family at night. And we almost always have some activity that one of our kids is involved in on Saturdays. I just think Sunday is the best time. And Sunday morning is the best time, because we get the kids to bed at a decent hour on Sunday night."

Are there any groups that prefer a day of worship other than Sunday among the unchurched? Though their number is relatively small, single adults and adults who must work on Sunday seem to prefer Saturday evening worship as a fairly strong second choice to Sunday morning.

Surprise No. 2
Most of the unchurched feel guilty about not attending church. Though we did not ask a specific question about their feelings about not attending church, the majority of the unchurched expressed guilt in different ways. These guilty feelings were especially prevalent among adults who had children living at home.

"Every Sunday morning I wake up and feel terrible about not taking Shanna and Tim to church," Mary G. of Sarasota, Fla., told us. "Mike [her husband] feels the same way. It's tough to start a habit of doing something you've never done before."

So, if they feel guilty, why did the unchurched continue to avoid church? As strange as it may seem to a churchgoing Christian, the church intimidates the unchurched person. They do not think they can fit in a place they have never attended. And they are uncertain about church protocol. They just fear that they will feel out of place.

Is there anything that could get the unchurched to attend church? That answer led us to the next surprise.

Surprise No. 3
Ninety-six percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if they are invited. Perhaps we need to pause on this response. Perhaps we need to restate it. More than nine out of 10 of the unchurched said they would come to church if they were invited. If you glean anything from this article, please remember this point.

We estimate that 160 million people in the United States are unchurched if we define unchurched as attending church two or less times in a year. If our research is close to accurate, the implications are staggering, Over 153 million people would start attending church if they were invited!

What constitutes an invitation? For many of the unchurched, it was a simple invitation to come to one's church. For others, it was an invitation that included an offer to meet someone at church to show them around or walk them in the building. In either case, the process was pretty basic. If we invite them, they will come.

The next obvious question is: Are Christians inviting non-Christians to church? The heartbreaking answer is "no." Only 21 percent of active churchgoers invite anyone to church in the course of a year. But only 2 percent of the church members invited an unchurched person to church. Perhaps the evangelistic apathy so evident in many of our churches can be explained by a simple laziness on the part of church members in inviting others to church.

Walk with me through one more calculation. Let us suppose that, instead of 96 percent, only half of the unchurched in America would come to church if invited. That means, out of 160 million unchurched persons, 80 million would be willing to come to church. Can you imagine how many people would be reached for Christ if that happened?

We who are leaders in the church must challenge the church members. When is the last time they invited an unchurched person to church? When is the last time they offered to meet someone and show him or her around the church? The answers they give could make the difference in the eternal destiny of a person. Perhaps it is time we sounded the clarion call to invite the church. It may be that simple, and it may be that profound.

Surprise No. 4
Very few of the unchurched had someone share with them how to become a Christian. And Christians have not been particularly influential in their lives. The surprise is no longer a surprise in light of the previous discussion. If Christians do not invite non-Christians to church, we cannot be surprised if they do not share the gospel with or influence the unchurched.

I wish my readers had the same opportunity we had to listen to these unchurched persons. If you could have heard how many of the unchurched are waiting on someone to explain the way of salvation, you might have a whole new outlook on reaching these people. You might be surprised that, when some Christians may think "the time is just not right," the unchurched are wondering why we are so reticent.

Surprise No. 5
Most of the unchurched have a positive view of pastors, ministers and the church. Only a few said the ministers are hypocritical, only after money, always drive nice cars, and have a condescending view of others. The scandal of the televangelists and other Christian leaders is a faded memory for most of the unchurched. And for those who still have vivid recollections of the tainted past, most do not believe that all pastors and ministers are like their fallen brethren.

Perhaps even more surprising was the generally positive attitude the unchurched had toward the church. For the vast majority of the unchurched, the church is still relevant today. Indeed many of them perceive the church to be the most relevant institution in society today.

This surprising response then begs another question. If the unchurched see the church in a positive light, and if they perceive the church to be relevant, why are they still unchurched?
The answer seems to be twofold. First, some of the unchurched have visited churches, but their experiences have been negative. Unfriendliness, unkempt facilities, poor signage, and general confusion have been some of the descriptions about the church from the unchurched.

What is amazing is that most of these men and women still view the church positively after a negative experience. These men and women tend to be a forgiving lot, even if they are hesitant to return to church.

But the second reason for their not attending church takes us back to the third surprise. Most of the unchurched have never been invited to church. And most of them would attend if invited. If you get nothing else from this, hear the main point. The unchurched must be invited to church.

Surprise No. 6
Many of the unchurched have a church background. From the most recalcitrant unchurched person we encountered to the most receptive, many have some type of church background.

Some had previously been members of churches and left for various reasons. Others visited one or more churches for a season. Still others were taken to church as children.

The point is simple. Do not assume that all unchurched persons are clueless about the church. A majority can recall many years of church in their past.

The reasons they left the church are numerous. Some had negative experiences. Others who went as children dropped out when their parents dropped out. And a number of unchurched tried church but left unimpressed and inspired.

Conventional wisdom about the unchurched suggests that these men and women are total strangers to the church. Such is not the case with the majority of the unchurched.

Surprise No. 7
Some types of "cold calls" are effective; many are not. A debate persists in the Christian community about the effectiveness of cold-call evangelism. The definition of "cold call" is simply "uninvited." The type of cold-call evangelism most often resisted by the unchurched is an uninvited visit to their homes.

"I really don't mind talking to people from churches," Roger S. of Wisconsin told us. "But please don't show up at my home without an invitation. It reminds me of a telephone solicitation, only worse!"

The formerly unchurched agreed. These new Christians said that unexpected visitors in the home were rarely welcomed.

Sarah F. of a small town in Alabama noted, "I was most positively impacted by Christians who asked for permission to meet me or talk with me. The cold-call visitor to my home was a pain. I ended up accepting Christ through the witness of a church member who took me to lunch on three different occasions. I knew what her agenda was, but at least she invited me to lunch."

But not all cold calls are ineffective, the unchurched told us. We heard numerous stories about Christians who always seemed to be able to share their faith in casual conversations. They were not invited by the unchurched to talk to them, but these churchgoers often seemed to find a way to move a conversation to eternal issues.

"Eric is a trip," Peter W. of San Diego told us. Peter is an unchurched man who works with Eric. "We will be talking about the Chargers or the Padres and, before I know it, he's telling me something about his church or God. I really respect him, you know. He doesn't beat me over the head with his beliefs, but he sure isn't shy to talk to me about it. Most of the church people I know act like they are ashamed of what they believe."

The bottom line of cold-call evangelism seems to be to make the most of every opportunity God gives you. Pray for such opportunities. But showing up at someone's home without an invitation was one of the biggest turnoffs articulated by the unchurched.

"I would be glad for church people to come talk to me in my home," said Millie B. of Odessa, Texas. "I just want to know when they're coming."

Surprise No. 8
The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian. Our study of the unchurched continued during 2001 and 2002 with a noticeable intermediate point of Sept. 11, 2001. The attack on our nation that day engendered many questions from American citizens, and many of the questions were about God. Though the door was open for Christians to develop relationships with non-believers before Sept. 11, the opportunities increased after that infamous day.

The leader of our research team, Twyla Fagan, stated this issue clearly to me in a memo she wrote about the progress of our research project: "Most of the unchurched that the team is interviewing would respond positively to a 'genuine' Christian who would spend time with them in a gentle, non-judgmental relationship."

Twyla continues, "Most of the unchurched can easily tell the difference between 'drive-by' evangelism and a person who rally cares."

I learned how to share my faith by reading "Evangelism Explosion" by D. James Kennedy. The manner in which Dr. Kennedy taught me how to start a conversation with a non-believer, and the way he taught me how to share a biblical plan of salvation are infinitely invaluable to me.
Kennedy's book is one of the more popular training tools in personal witnessing. It belongs to a category of tools sometimes called "canned evangelism." The label "canned evangelism" is unfortunate because it implies an uncaring, notch-belt approach to evangelism.

But the book originated from the heart of a man who is passionate about the lost and deeply concerned for the unchurched. When Christians used a canned evangelism tool to witness to the unchurched with no obvious concern for the person, the unchurched immediately detected this impersonal approach.

"I had some people come to see me from the Baptist church just three blocks from here," Monte G. of Baltimore told us. "I felt like they were meeting a soul quota with me. They just wanted to spill their presentation and move on. But I would've been happy to talk with them for a long time if I thought they really cared."

The "soul quota" use of canned evangelism tools is neither the intent nor the desire of those who created these programs. But many of the unchurched quickly recognized the abuse of these good tools.

If we who call ourselves Christians really believe that a person is lost outside of salvation through Christ, we would make the lost and the unchurched one of our highest priorities. And if we really had broken hearts for these unchurched persons, we would take whatever time is necessary to get to know them and to share the love of Christ in word and deed.

Winning the lost and reaching the unchurched is really no big mystery. There are millions of these men and women waiting for one of us Christians to spend time with them and to show them we really care. Jesus desired that none would perish. In this midst of his packed schedule, He took time to show His love to sinners. Are we willing to do likewise?

Surprise No. 9
The attitudes of the unchurched are not correlated to where they live, their ethnic or racial background, or their gender. The unchurched are not a monolithic group. That reality came through with the wide variety or responses we received.

One cannot therefore expect a certain attitude from an unchurched person from Georgia just because he or she lives in a Bible Belt state. And we could not describe to you the common characteristics of an Asian-American unchurched person. The variety of responses within each ethnic group was significant.

The only pattern where we saw any correlation was related to income. The higher an individual's income level, the more resistant to the gospel he or she is likely to be. Jesus Himself warned us of the power of money to be like a god to us: "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 18:24)

Surprise No. 10
Many of the unchurched are far more concerned about the spiritual well-being of their children than themselves. A few years ago my research team and I studied the Bridger generation, those born between the years 1977 and 1994. We discovered a large unchurched population among these young people, but we also discovered a generation highly receptive to the gospel.

In my consultation ministry with the Rainer Group, I have found that churches that are highly intentional about reaching youth and children tend to be among the most evangelistic churches in America.

And now, in this research project, we found that the unchurched with children at home are deeply concerned about the spiritual welfare of their children, even if they articulate little concern for themselves.

Perhaps in our encounters with these unchurched persons, we need to mention their children. Perhaps churches in America need to be more intentional in reaching children and youth. And perhaps we need to heed more closely the words of the Savior, who exhorted us to let the children come to Him.

Some Days We Are Just Plain Tired

Do you remember the movie “The Karate Kid”? Remember Daniel LaRusso, the Karate Kid, doing his famous Martial Arts kick and winning the match against that ‘bad guys’? Remember Mr. Kesuke Miyagi – Daniel-son’s teacher?

I was thinking about the character Daniel the other day. At the point he was struggling to get off the mat again – one more time – his knee was killing him as he was hurt so bad. Shaking he stood on one leg. Then at the right moment he did the famous kick that finished the fight. Then they carried him off the floor absolutely exhausted.

After talking with some of my friends recently they seem to represent this kind of tiredness. All of the events that have been coming their way in life have left them almost too tired to go on. Maybe it is just this time of year, after a long winter, snow shoveling, and some colds/flu mixed into our life – we are worn out and ready for a summer break. Soon many will begin their summer vacation/change time. We all need it I am sure.

There is another kind of weariness that comes from just “being there”. It is weariness from daily ministry to your family and friends. To being there for people that need you. It is called “ministry”. Each of us has some each day. People need to talk. Emails are important from a friend that is struggling. Letters(the old snail mail way) arrive telling an account of a family problem, doctor’s reports and other things of concern. Daily we are surrounded by situations where we must give ourselves away.

I think of Jesus at times like this. He did this on a daily basis. But he began the day preparing himself for this giving of himself away – by meeting with his Heavenly Father first. What an example for me and you. Time alone with God before the rush begins.

There are interesting words from another busy man called Paul. He wrote, in Galatians 6:9-10(NIV) verse 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Becoming “weary in doing good” is a common problem in 2006. We are all weary after doing the stuff we have to do, and then someone in the family needs just one more thing done. A mom that has worked all day, comes home to a house in turmoil after the kids get home from school. Then she grabs a few things “to make dinner”. After homework, there is bath time, preparation for the next day and even clothes to wash. In the middle of all this regular stuff, some one calls to ask if she will volunteer for one more thing at school. Weary? You betcha!

I like what Paul says… he sees that we do grow weary and that we are doing good. But he promises us that we will reap a harvest some day. The kids will grow up and finally leave. The bills will get paid. The wash will get done. The renovations that you launched into will be done soon.

Jesus spoke to me today again. He has actually said it many times before… but again today reminded me of his program for today…. Matthew wrote about it for me.

Matthew 11:28-30(NIV)
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I hope you find the rest you need today. Maybe this weekend alone in your yard work or garden you will be refreshed. Maybe in these next few weeks as everything comes together with the repairs you are doing in that special project – you will find relief too.

Take time to sit with him today. Jesus is waiting to take the burden.

Special Note - SARNIA REVIVAL

You will notice that we have a LINK to the SARNIA REVIVAL at the right hand side of our Blog. This will help us to follow the posting of testimonies. There is so much happening that it is hard to keep posting each day. They have found that this is an effective way to communicate with all of us.

Please pray for their church and the leadership as they continue waiting on the Lord. There is a great harvest taking place now and many people are being encouraged and drawn into a closer walk with God.

Dealing With Impossible Situations

Have you ever prayed and the prayer seems to go no where? Perhaps you have asked Christ into your life long ago but there is a still a constant nagging thing that brings you down. Maybe it is a habit or a way of thinking that has left you feeling as if you can't tell anyone what you are facing. Most of the time when this happens it has left you wondering about your own salvation and your own Christian walk. After all if there is no victory in these areas - "How can you be a Christian!?" (So often that is one of Satan's favourite statements... have you ever heard that one?)

One man that I listened to told a story of a constant string of habitual thinking that was ruining his family and marriage. Yet he still believed in Jesus and had long ago let Christ be a part of his life. He served in church and was faithful in all that he did in his service to God – except this one area. He had come to the point where he knew that he was losing what was very dear to him. He needed help.

There is a unique story in the Bible that tells us much about inadequacy and a lack of prayer power. Let’s read it together.

Matthew 17:14-22 (NIV)
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
15 "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."
17 "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."
18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.

In the King James Bible there is an additional verse accredited here that you will notice the NIV and some other translations do not place here – it is verse 21(KJV).

Matthew 17:21(KJV)
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

The account is powerful for all of us that struggle with these beastly attitudes, habits and thought patterns. Here is a man that is beside himself. He has done everything to try to help his son. The boy is obviously under some kind of control. The KJV says that he was a “lunatick and sore vexed” – the NIV brings it down a notch and says “he had seizures and is suffering greatly”.

The difficult part of this account is the fact that the man tells Jesus that he has brought his son to Jesus disciples and they were not able to cure him. He reveals the disciples inadequacy to see anything happen with their prayers. What a place to be in if you are a faithful disciple of Jesus. Everyone knows you are a believer and that you follow this great miracle worker – yet when you pray nothing happens. Would you like to be one of the disciples at that moment? I am not sure I would.

Yet in our world we are the same in many ways. We are surrounded with these awful things and perhaps even have some of them in us. We pray and nothing happens. As I look at my life – I am whole lot like these men that follow Jesus so close.

Then they asked him the “hard question” …. Why couldn’t we cast out this demon? Why didn’t we get results when we prayed? They asked what we often think about our own prayers.

Jesus gives them this amazing challenge that talks clearly about their faith and big need for a little increase in faith… to the size of a tiny mustard seed.

Then the powerful statement in the KJV translation – “this kind only comes out with much prayer and fasting”.

Personal problems and life problems that we find impossible are not impossible with God. They are to us. With an additional step forward that launches us into a new realm of spiritual walking with Jesus we will see a new freedom to pray and release – the problems to God.

In our Bible Study last evening we discussed this one at length. This is called the “Disciples Fast” in Elmer Towns’ book “Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough”. By taking time to consider what we are facing and then beginning to Fast with prayer we can see this impossible situation that we have prayed for – RELEASED. We can see the Bondage Broken.

We have agreed that we will consider further steps to Fast and Pray in our lives. We want to make a difference. Will you join us to know that release of you own life?

You might like to check out this Web Site entitled “Just Pray No” It has some powerful notations about fasting and prayer.

Jesus Out of Focus

Oh how the days fly by! It has been a few days since I sat to file another Blog Entry for Northview. Part of that comes from a "Fast from Media" that I have been working with. It is amazing as I took this step what floods into your life. But that is another story - on another day.

I am copying in a great article to help you understand some to things that are happening around the release of The DaVinci Code movie (and book). Truly it has opened doors to talk about it with non-believers. It has also opened doors for a further driving away of people that are sceptical about Christianity - as they have numerous bad experiences with some of us.

I hope you will glean something from this article.

The following article is located at:http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/006/10.24.html

Jesus Out of Focus
The Da Vinci Code is raising issues that go to the heart of the Christian faith—and it's starting to confuse us all.
by Gary M. Burge posted 05/18/2006 09:30 a.m.

While visiting relatives in northern Sweden last September, we flew from Stockholm to Luleå. Then we drove to Piteå, a small town far from any tourist itinerary (and 100 miles from the Arctic Circle). I found Piteå's one bookstore in the town market, entered out of curiosity—and there it was, a full display, spilling over with Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code in Swedish. Here among the reindeer and lingonberries, Swedes were preparing for their long winter with copies of Da Vinci Koden.

The book has been translated into 43 languages since being published three years ago. Now Hollywood is hoping for similar blockbuster status for its heavily hyped movie starring Tom Hanks, now in theaters.

Though the general public is fascinated with the book's conjectures, The Da Vinci Code has merely brought into the open a heated discussion among scholars that is at least 50 years old. Among Dan Brown's more controversial claims are these:

• Jesus had an intimate relationship with Mary Magdalene.
• Jesus and Mary Magdalene were husband and wife.
• Jesus and Mary Magdalene had children.
• Church leaders (some mysterious Catholic order) hid this secret.
• Long-suppressed Gospels—such as the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Philip—now are finally telling us the truth.

These claims are not being made only by agnostics and "liberals." Recently, in a basic New Testament class at Wheaton College, a sophomore presented me with the February 27 edition of Time. An article described a "long-lost second-century Gospel," the Gospel of Judas, that promised to unveil new secrets about Jesus. Later that same hour, another student asked, "I've read that the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of John are similar, so if John is trustworthy, why not Thomas?" Welcome to the new world of New Testament studies.

An Old Battle
Since the earliest years of the church, Christian leaders have had to confront rival accounts of Jesus' life. These were Gospels that refashioned Jesus' life, often giving it a spin palatable to the Hellenistic trends of the day. From about A.D. 125 to about A.D. 600, people with active religious imaginations wrote numerous Gospels. As Origen of Alexandria wrote in his Homily on Luke, "The church has four Gospels, but the heretics have many."

In some cases, we know about these writings through the refutation of church leaders. Orthodox writers cite the Gospel of the Hebrews, the Gospel of the Nazareans, and the Gospel of the Ebionites, but we have no copies of these texts themselves. In addition, we have always had apocryphal (meaning "hidden") Gospels, which often expanded stories about Jesus' childhood centuries later. Infancy Gospels are attributed, for instance, to both Thomas and James. Fragments of lost Gospels have also been found (such as Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 840) that record supposed supplemental sayings of Jesus. But these are so short they can hardly be dated.
In 1945, however, an archive of 57 Christian writings was discovered in central Egypt at Nag Hammadi. Here were Gospels we had never seen. Although they were clearly early, they were out of the mainstream of New Testament thought. The Hypostasis of the Archons, the Exegesis of the Soul, the Apocalypse of Adam, and the Acts of Peter were among these.

Nag Hammadi's Gospel of Thomas has 114 sayings from Jesus, unconnected to any narrative. About half appear to be a direct echo of the New Testament. Others are utterly far-fetched.

But this archive raised forcefully a set of questions now confronting every New Testament scholar and church historian. Were rival "Christianities" competing in the ancient world? Did our Scriptures come to us thanks to the power politics of ecclesiastical leaders during the first centuries?

Today, many books explore these themes. In 1979, Elaine Pagels wrote The Gnostic Gospels, received numerous awards and accolades for her creativity and courage, and promised to help us unpack the formative centuries of Christian belief. Perhaps some Christians did not believe in Jesus' resurrection or even in one God, she proposed. Perhaps they thought of God as both male and female. And who is to say they were wrong? In 2003, Pagels returned to her subject with Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas. In it, we are told that the earliest form of Christianity was not certain what it believed and that the orthodoxy that emerged simply out-maneuvered its rivals and repressed alternative scriptures. Thomas supposedly represents one such repressed voice.

Of course, to evaluate these claims we must determine the value of these apocryphal Gospels. Do they represent legitimate voices suppressed in antiquity? In the last five years, this debate has intensified. Some scholars argue that the canonical boundary that separates our Scriptures from the apocrypha should come down. Others argue that Gospels such as Thomas should have equal weight with Matthew. Still others believe that notions such as "orthodoxy" and "canon" are simply arbitrary conventions of the winners.

But they fail to mention that while most of the recently discovered Gospels will claim to come from an apostle (such as Mary or Peter), virtually every scholar knows these claims are fictitious. Moreover, these Gospels are not easily dated. When someone claims that, say, the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Judas is "late first century," we are merely hearing conjecture.

Furthermore, the early church was well aware of these writings and understood that they offered a view of Christian faith utterly different than the genuine apostolic Gospels. Christians of the time did not see these Gospels as rivals. They simply saw them as wrong in every respect: They presented an understanding of creation, humanity, Jesus, and salvation that significantly departed from what Christians had believed from the very beginning.

Bart Ehrman's New Gospel
Which brings us back to Dan Brown and The Da Vinci Code. Brown's astonishing claims about Jesus and Mary are found in two apocryphal Gospels, the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Philip. Brown, a skilled author but no scholar, simply picked them up and spun a fictional narrative around them.

Bart D. Ehrman, however, is chair of the religious studies department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ehrman has studied Christianity's first three centuries carefully since leaving the evangelical fold. In 1996, he wrote The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture, in which he claims that not only did the winners "write the history," but they also shaped the Greek texts making up the New Testament. Last year, Ehrman wrote a popular study of the transmission of the Greek New Testament, Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why (HarperSanFrancisco).

In Misquoting Jesus, Ehrman retraces the common knowledge that scribes transcribed the Bible for 1,500 years until Gutenberg came along. But Ehrman further suggests that not only did the scribes alter the theological message of the texts, but that they also were simply continuing in the tradition of biblical writers such as Matthew and Luke, who shaped Jesus' message to fit their theological agendas.

What Ehrman fails to tell us is that most of the scribal errors he likes to list are incidental. And when they do have substance, the thousands of Greek manuscripts we possess permit us to reconstruct the original by making minute comparisons of their discrepancies. For instance, the shorter version of the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:2-4 is notorious for its many "variants" (textual discrepancies or anomalies) in Greek manuscripts. However, it quickly becomes evident that scribes were harmonizing this prayer with Matthew's longer version in Matthew 6:9-13.

On other occasions, scribes heard dictation wrong (in Rom. 5:1, "let us have peace" and "we have peace" sound the same in Greek) or they sensed a problem they wanted to solve. Mark 1:2 quotes from both Malachi and Isaiah, but Mark wrote, "As it is written in Isaiah the prophet." Some scribes sought to correct this by amending the text: "As it is written in the prophets." In most cases, scholars can quickly restore the original. To be sure, some textual problems are hotly contested and solving them is thorny (the story of the woman caught in adultery is a case in point, see John 8), but none of these variants jeopardizes a single major teaching of the New Testament.

In 2003 (the same year The Da Vinci Code was published), two more Ehrman books were published. In Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament (Oxford), Ehrman offers an anthology of 47 Christian writings from the centuries following the New Testament era. Some are cited by church fathers (such as the Gospel of the Nazareans). Others come from Nag Hammadi (Acts of Peter). Ehrman divides his book helpfully into sections: noncanonical Gospels, acts, epistles, and apocalypses.

Here are easy-to-read translations of books such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the Secret Gospel of Mark. An introduction summarizes each book and suggests a historical setting. This is an outstanding resource for the beginning student of apocryphal literature. The cumulative effect, however, leaves the lasting impression that many early Christians read a lot of things that have been left out of our canon of Scripture. Thus, Ehrman writes, "Jewish Christians in the early centuries of the church were widely thought to have preferred the Gospel of Matthew. …" Or: "The Gospel of Peter was known and used as scripture in some parts of the Christian church in the second century."

These sentences carry with them huge historical and theological assumptions. Locating an apocryphal Gospel in antiquity certainly suggests that someone was reading it. But it hardly means that this Gospel was enjoying widespread support and authority, especially among Christians. Such an argument would be the same as someone who finds an example of eccentric Christian or cultic literature today and then concludes that this is "what Christians read." It simply goes beyond the evidence.

Ehrman's more important effort appears in the companion volume, Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew (Oxford). Here Ehrman says that early Christianity witnessed remarkable theological chaos. Everything was in dispute: monotheism, Jesus' divinity, creation. Then, Ehrman says, in the second and third centuries, powerful clerics imposed their views on rivals, ending a golden age of diversity and tolerance. The vanquished rivals supposedly were reformed, suppressed, or forgotten. Other religions and other Christian voices, those outside the mainstream, were crushed. And it is only now, Ehrman says, with the discovery of their lost scriptures, that these long-silenced voices are being heard once again.

What drives this interest in lost scriptures today? Ehrman concludes,

The broader interest in and heightened appreciation for diverse manifestations of religious experience, belief, and practice today has contributed to a greater fascination with the diverse expressions of Christianity in various periods of its history, perhaps especially in its earliest period. This fascination is not simply a matter of antiquarian interest. There is instead a sense that alternative understandings of Christianity from the past can be cherished yet today, that they can provide insights even now for those of us who are concerned about the world and our place in it.

This remarkable admission unmasks what may be Ehrman's hidden agenda: Finding a wild diversity in the early church—or perhaps, undercutting orthodoxy in that church—will do the same for our generation. In an era that shies away from the scandal of certain truth, dismantling religious authority based on an argument from antiquity will be received eagerly.

Other Voices?
Karen King at Harvard Divinity School has analyzed one such supposedly recovered voice. In The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle (Polebridge Press, 2003), King affirms Mary and other women who are said to have departed from the arbitrary orthodoxy of orthodoxy. It doesn't surprise me that recently at an O'Hare Airport bookstall, I saw King's book prominently displayed next to The Da Vinci Code as the latest "must read."

On top of all this, like-minded scholars now claim that the New Testament itself carries a hidden code revealing alternative voices to orthodoxy. The prevailing theory for Gospel origins suggests that Mark's was penned first, then Matthew and Luke used Mark independently as they wrote their Gospels. However, Matthew and Luke still have a lot of material in common, sayings of Jesus not found in Mark (such as the Lord's Prayer and the Beatitudes). Thus, scholars have posited a lost source that may have stood alongside Mark and have called it "Q" (from the German quelle, or "source"). We commonly hear that Matthew used Q and Mark when he wrote.

But, in fact, Q has never been found, and some scholars doubt that it ever existed. Using Matthew and Luke, Q can be reconstructed to build a hypothetical Gospel source. Using this method, we "discover" that Q lacks a narrative of Jesus' work, shows no interest in his death, and doesn't record his Resurrection. It is a collection of sayings underscoring the wisdom Jesus offered so that we might learn God's true nature. For a long time, scholars wondered why anyone would bother to form a collection such as this without a narrative or the Cross.

Until we discovered the Gospel of Thomas at Nag Hammadi, that is. Here was a collection of sayings just like the Q hypothesis (although no one thinks that Thomas is Q). By this argument, an early stratum of the synoptic Gospels shows a system of faith not focused on Jesus' divinity or sacrifice. It is no surprise that a number of scholars argue that the Gospel of Thomas is very early—as early as Mark—and a solid source for understanding Jesus. Is Q another rival (and silenced) voice in the earliest church that succumbed to orthodox power?

Many New Testament scholars would be alarmed at such a statement. The Q hypothesis (and the literary priority of Mark) are regularly criticized. (For instance, if Matthew wrote first, and Luke used Matthew, and Mark abbreviated both, then Q represents the material Mark left behind.) Moreover, since no manuscript evidence for Q has ever been found (you can only "see" it by accepting one hypothesis for the origin of the canonical Gospels), many scholars doubt that any Christian ever had a Gospel now called Q. Scholars who describe a "theology of Q" or a "Q community" do so with slim justification. Even if Q existed, it may simply have been a compilation of material about Jesus, not a comprehensive portrait of him.

Taking Up the Challenge
What do we make of all this? And how much of this theorizing is convincing?

Darrell Bock of Dallas Theological Seminary has taken up the challenge. In 2004, he wrote a compelling critique of The Da Vinci Code (Breaking the Da Vinci Code, Nelson), one of the best analyses of Brown's novel available today.

In August, he is releasing The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative Christianities. The echo to Ehrman's work is obvious: Bock intends to challenge the scholarly trend that now gives voice to the apocryphal Gospels, and to question the theory of unfairly repressed "lost Christianities."

After he outlines the documents under discussion, Bock surveys the history of Gnosticism—a religious movement that valued secret knowledge (gnosis) and disdained the physical world as inferior to the spiritual realm, thus denying the Incarnation of Christ. Bock's survey shows the paucity of evidence for a uniform Gnostic movement in the earliest centuries, undercutting the claim from Ehrman and others that Gnosticism was a competing "Christianity."

Bock then examines the theory (widespread among modern scholars) that the terms heresy and orthodoxy are arbitrarily applied to first-century losers and winners. On the contrary, Bock argues, early Christianity did indeed make theological judgments based on sound reasoning, deciding what agreed with revealed truth.

Bock's most valuable contribution, however, is his assessment of four theological themes that no doubt disqualified these Gospels from mainstream thinking: (1) God and creation. These Gospels uniformly deny a link between God and the world: Creation is subject to imperfection and evil, while God is perfect. (2) The humanity and divinity of Jesus. The tension between Creator and creation (called dualism) posed a problem for the Incarnation. The Gnostics said Jesus either had to be divine without human qualities—or he had to be created. (3) Redemption of humanity. The same dualistic dilemma now follows the nature of humanity and our salvation. Does God redeem us (and the world) in our totality—or is only the soul saved? These Gospels commonly favored only a spiritual redemption. (4) Sin and knowledge. Salvation comes not through a physical deed (the Cross) but through knowledge, or enlightenment. In this approach, Jesus shows us the way to enlightenment but does no incarnate or substitutionary work to save us.

These four theological distortions departed from the teachings of the New Testament and are clearly foreign to it. No wonder orthodox teachers said that Gnostics had utterly compromised the faith to fit the cultural tendencies of the day. Bock says the hypothesis about rival diversities is exaggerated to the extreme, implausible historically, and neglects how the New Testament Gospels preserve a reliable witness back to Jesus himself.

The Da Vinci Code is of little consequence in itself. But it is raising a host of questions about the origin of our faith (and our Scriptures) that Christians need to master.

This came home to me when I was discussing The Da Vinci Code in a book group recently. Everyone there had a graduate degree, was a professing Christian, and had a professional career. But I was asked: "What are the apocryphal Gospels, such as the Gospel of Mary, anyway? Don't Catholics have them in their Bible?" Another: "What is the New Testament apocrypha, and who decided it wasn't inspired?" More: "Didn't Thomas write the Gospel of Thomas? And if so, didn't he know Jesus?"

Thanks to a blockbuster novel with absurd claims, and a big-budget summer movie, this academic debate has moved from the ivory tower to the public arena. The intellectual battle has been joined. Are we ready?

Gary M. Burge is a professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School.

Assessing the Apocryphal Gospels

• When the mainstream media present apocryphal Gospels as authentic, what do we need to keep in mind?
• Their naming is misleading. While most of these documents are named after biblical characters (such as Mary, Thomas, Peter, and Judas), the attribution is completely false. Even liberal scholars readily concede this point. (Hence, the Gospel of Judas has nothing to do with Judas.)
• Their dating is speculative. One scholar may claim that Thomas is from the first century, but numerous others will assert that it was penned a hundred years later.
• Their theological framework is utterly foreign. Gnostic strains abound. This fact alone dates them later than the New Testament writings. It also explains why orthodox teachers excluded them from the canon.

—Gary M. Burge

Good News - Oh I need some - How about you?

I have become aware of how much we need just a little good news sometimes. It doesn't take much - just a little - to make everything easier. Let me explain.

In the course of a week, let alone a lifetime, we all face the reports that are not so good. We have employees do things that are not so right. We have associates that mess things up. We have kids that disappoint us. Then add a broken down car or maybe the furnace goes - more bad news.

We have all been there.

I have noticed in my own life that at one of those low points, a simple email made such a difference. Some said thank you for something that had taken place between the two of us. At a different time some one sent a card to express their happiness for what had happened.

Some times just one word has made a difference. But when the message comes as paragraphs - WOW!

The Bible says...
Proverbs 25:25 "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."(KJV) or a more modern translation states it Proverbs 25:25 "Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty."(TLB)

A wee bit of news from some place far away... maybe far away from my immediate thoughts of doom and turmoil of all the bad news of that last 24 hours.... makes a difference.

Most of us cannot read another person's mind. Add to that - when someone doesn't feel good they usually don't call to say, "Hey, I just had a really bad 24 hours and I would like to tell everybody about it!"

But... if we let God tell us... make us more aware... help us to be there when most needed.... what might happen? We might start having a few more "God Moments".... and realize a brand new blessing pack that we are carrying with us all the time.

There are two ways this works. First - you are the receiver.... someone says something to you and you receive it. Second - you are the giver.... you say/give it to someone else and bless them.

Recently we were in a very busy restaurant. The customers were not all happy. Too many people and not enough staff at that moment. The waitress that we had was obviously stressed and was run off her feet. We had come in a little later that the rest of the crowd so we had to sit a little longer for the service we were going to get. After an hour had passed the bulk of the work had eased somewhat. I stopped the girl as she walked by our table and said, "I want you to know that you have done a great job. It was super busy here tonight and you are amazing how you handled all of this. Thank you. You did a great job."

The look on her face was amazing. The tightness that had developed over the hours of serving ornery people simply lifted like a mist.

I made a conscious effort to watch for people like this and say thank you.

It happened another time in a men's washroom, at a very larger function with many hundreds of people attending. The washroom was small and it was not pleasant. One lone teen was swabbing the deck below the urinals. His uniform was a dead give-a-way. He was staff and had drawn the short end of the shift. Before I left the room I said, "Hey, you are doing a great job. Thank you." His grunt of thanks was a sign that he appreciated even that statement.

We can make a difference this next week. I have a goal to offer good news to two people each day. I have to look for the opportunities and then act on them.

I have noticed something with this simple plan. My own problems seem easier to deal with. I still have them - but I am so much busier now looking for the "God Moments" - which are really my "Good Moments".

Preparation for Power 3

A Step Forward
As different members of our church have been discussing fasting and the results that are coming from it, there has been two suggestions that have been offered to begin the discipline of fasting in our church. For some that already take part in fasting as a regular part of their spiritual practices, it will not be new.

Together we can see great things happen.

To Begin Fasting
For this next week our Wednesday Night Group is looking at how they might take up this challenge to fast. They will be setting aside a time when they will take up fasting. They are looking at the following possibilities for their lives;

• fasting of meals and food
• partial fast of some foods
• fasting from media of different kinds - this may involve just one TV program, or one evening's worth of television viewing, or even cutting off all forms of media for a period of time.

Setting aside a time period
A group of people are looking to "fast" on the weekends at one point or another - in preparation for the Sunday services. If this cannot be done on a weekend or close to the weekend then we are asking that you set aside one period of time in the week with the idea this would be for the Sunday services.

Adding two important ministries
Along with fasting comes prayer. In reality it is the only way that fasting is effective as a personal and corporate discipline. Prayer must be linked to fasting. During your chosen fasting time - please pray with us that God will use Northview and its various ministries related to it to draw many people to Christ.

The following is taken from... http://www.christianadhd.com/fasting.php

FASTING OBSTACLES
Make a list of reasons why you have had difficulty fasting in the past or failed to fast at all:

FACTORS THAT CAN KEEP CHRISTIANS FROM FASTING

• Ignorance - don't know the facts about fasting
• Selfishness - allow temporal desires to cause us to esteem food higher than doing God's will
• Indifference - don't see the need to fast in our own life or the lives of those around us
• Lack of self-control - one of the fruits of the Spirit is self control. We need to deny ourselves and follow Christ (Mark 8:34-35).
• Wrong priorities - placing the good and pleasant above the spiritual (God's desires)
• False concept of Christianity - involves not being aware of what it really means to be a disciple (disciplined follower) of Jesus. Paul gives us an example in 2 Corinthians 11:27:"In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness..."

TYPES OF FASTS

COMPLETE FAST:
A normal fast is no food, but beverages are allowed (caffeine is to be avoided). Unless supernaturally sustained, you should not do a complete fast for more than 3 days and nights.
Before starting a longer fast (3 days or more):

• Divine direction - don't copy others; be sure you are led of the Lord as to what type of fast and how long.
• No caffeine - discontinue a few days BEFORE the fast
• Eat less the day before a fast to help your body adjust eat fruit as a last meal before the fast
• Temptations - know that the evil one will try to discourage and distract you during your fast. Be sure to trust God, not your feelings during this time.
  

During the fast:

• Dress warmly - you can expect to feel colder during a fast, especially in your hands and feet
• Use warm, not hot, water for showers and baths
• Avoid ice cold beverages
• Exercise regularly, but moderately - if you experience weakness, discontinue
• Fast in secret - don't tell others you are fasting; it is between you and the Lord. You can talk about the benefits or reasons why you fast, but do not give details about a particular fast.

After the fast:

• avoid starches for a few days
• chew your food well
• stop eating when you feel full
• don't become physically active too soon
• eat healthy food
  

Here is a suggested schedule for reintroducing food after a complete fast:

• DAY 1: liquids every couple of hours in small amounts; fruit juices are great
• DAY 2: eat small quantities of fruit, milk and yogurt in small quantities
• DAYS 2 and 3: (the longer you fast, the more time you should allow before introducing these foods)
• In small quantities: salads, homemade vegetable soup without grease, cooked vegetables
• After a few days: cheese, nuts, eggs
• Lastly: fish and meats
  

DO NOT UNDERTAKE A COMPLETE FAST IF YOU ARE:

• a diabetic
• malnourished
• pregnant or nursing

PARTIAL FAST:
A partial fast eliminates certain foods, drinks or non-food pleasures. The Lord may lead you to do a partial fast eating and/or drinking certain foods and avoiding others. For example:

• drinking fruit juices
• eating bland foods (foods which are nutritional and yet are not especially pleasant to the taste)
• eliminating meats
• eliminating sweets
• eating only fruit, nuts and vegetables
• abstaining from non-food items like a favorite TV show, or eliminating TV altogether

Preparation for Power 2

Part Two
In 2006 - Why should we fast?

Over the past few months we have been studying revivals - actually three centuries of revival. We have looked at the different moves of God in the world and in particular the response of people to his Holy Spirit moving. Over and over again it is remarkable to see that the great revivals were preceded by people praying and fasting.

Fasting is a powerful discipline, that when properly exercised, can produce amazing results in the loves of those that take part in it. Further reaching is the powerful affect that it has on the church as its members take part in fasting and prayer. There is a difference.

In Sarnia, Ontario in recent times we have heard reports of remarkable things happening in a continuous series of meeting - now known as the Sarnia Revival. One interesting note is that it was preceded with people from the church committing themselves to prayer and fasting.

With an interest to help us understand what Fasting does for our personal lives and for our church the following is taken from a book entitled “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough” by Elmer Towns.

In 2006 - Why should we fast?

• Because more than ever before, believers are in bondage todemonic powers and need strength to stand against sin (seeThe Disciple's Fast).
• Because believers throughout the world need solutions tomany complex problems and threatening situations they arefacing (see The Ezra Fast).
• Because the Church is in desperate need of revival, andevery tribe and tongue and nation is in desperate need ofevangelization (see The Samuel Fast).
• Because the world in general and the Church in particular arecrying out for people of character and integrity—people whohave found in Christ the emotional healing and strength toovercome sinful and destructive habits (see The Elijah Fast).
• Because the abundance of food has insulated NorthAmerican believers from the realities of starvation and mal­nutrition in the two-thirds world (see The Widow's Fast).
• Because the media has so captured the national attentionthat even believers are operating according to principlescompletely alien to God's will for their lives (see The SaintPaul Fast).
• Because even with the abundance of food and medical tech­-
  nology in North America, people are not necessarily health­ier
  (see The Daniel Fast).
• Because a great many believers have become so entangled ineconomic and social pursuits that they need to be set free toestablish their testimonies and to influence others for Christ(see The John the Baptist Fast).
• Because of the growing influence of demonic forces and thewaning influence of biblical Christianity in North America,and the fact that believers need protection from the evil one(see The Esther Fast).

Nine Fasts God Can Use
- From “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough” by Elmer Towns

To better illustrate and reveal the significance of these nine reasons for fasting, I have chosen nine biblical characters whose lives personified the literal or figurative theme of each of the nine aspects highlighted in Isaiah 58:6-8. Each fast has a different name, accomplishes a different purpose and follows a different prescription.

I do not want to suggest that the nine fasts we are about to explore are the only kinds of fasts available to the believer, or that they are totally separate from each other. Nor do I want to suggest that there is only one type of fast for a particular problem. These suggested fasts are models to use and adjust to your own particular needs and desires as you seek to grow closer to God. What follows is a brief overview of the nine fasts that will comprise the rest of this book:

1. The Disciple's Fast
Purpose: "To loose the bands of wickedness" (Isa. 58:6)—freeing our­selves and others from addictions to sin.
Key Verse: "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" (Matt. 17:21, KJV).
Background: Jesus cast out a demon from a boy whom the disciples had failed to help. Apparently they had not taken seriously enough the way Satan had his claws set in the youth. The implication is that Jesus' disciples could have performed this exorcism had they been willing to undergo the discipline of fasting. Modern disciples also often make light of "besetting sins" that could be cast out if we were serious enough to take part in such a self-denying practice as fasting—hence the term "Disciple's Fast"

2. The Ezra Fast
Purpose: To "undo the heavy burdens" (Isa. 58:6)—to solve problems, inviting the Holy Spirif s aid in lifting loads and overcoming barriers that keep ourselves and our loved ones from walking joyfully with the Lord.
Key Verse: "So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer" (Ezra 8:23).
Background: Ezra the priest was charged with restoring the Law of Moses among the Jews as they rebuilt the city of Jerusalem by permission of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, where God's people had been held captive. Despite this permission, Israel's enemies opposed them. Burdened with embarrassment about having to ask the Persian king for an army to pro­tect them, Ezra fasted and prayed for an answer,

3. The Samuel Fast
Purpose: "To let the oppressed (physically and spiritually) go free" (Isa. 58:6)—for revival and soul winning, to identify with people everywhere enslaved literally or by sin and to pray to be used of God to bring people out of the kingdom of darkness and into God's marvelous light.
Key Verse: "So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said mere, 'We have sinned against the Lord'" (1 Sam. 7:6).
Background: Samuel led God's people in a fast to celebrate the return of the Ark of the Covenant from its captivity by the Philistines, and to pray that Israel might be delivered from the sin that allowed the Ark to be captured in the first place.

4. The Elijah Fast
Purpose: "To break every yoke" (Isa. 58:6)—conquering the mental and emotional problems that would control our lives, and returning the con­trol to the Lord.
Key Verse: "He himself went a day's journey into the wilderness....He arose and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights" (1 Kings 19:4,8).
Background: Although Scripture does not call this a formal "fast," Elijah deliberately went without food when he fled from Queen Jezebel's threat to kill him. After this self-imposed deprivation, God sent an angel to minister to Elijah in the wilderness.

5. The Widow's Fast
Purpose: "To share [our] bread with the hungry" and to care for the poor (Isa. 58:7) — to meet the humanitarian needs of others.
Key Verse: "The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah" (1 Kings 17:16, NIV).
Background: God sent the prophet Elijah to a poor, starving widow — ironically, so the widow could provide food for Elijah. Just as Elijah's presence resulted in food for the widow of Zarephath, so presenting our­selves before God in prayer and fasting can relieve hunger today.

6. The Saint Paul Fast
Purpose: To allow God's "light [to] break forth like the morning" (Isa. 58:8), bringing clearer perspective and insight as we make crucial deci­sions.
Key Verse: "And he [Saul, or Paul] was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9).
Background: Saul of Tarsus, who became known as Paul after his con­version to Christ, was struck blind by the Lord in the act of persecuting Christians. He not only was without literal sight, but he also had no clue about what direction his life was to take. After going without food and praying for three days, Paul was visited by the Christian Ananias, and both his eyesight and his vision of the future were restored.

7. The Daniel Fast
Purpose: So "thine health shall spring forth" (Isa. 58:8, K/V)— to gain a healthier life or for healing.
Key Verse: "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile him-self with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank" (Dan. 1:8).
Background: Daniel and his three fellow Hebrew captives demonstrat­ed in Babylonian captivity that keeping themselves from pagan foods God had guided them not to eat made them more healthful than others in the king's court.

8. The John the Baptist Fast
Purpose: That "your righteousness shall go before you" (Isa. 58:8) — that our testimonies and influence for Jesus will be enhanced before others.
Key Verse: "He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink" (Luke 1:15, K/V).
Background: Because John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, he took the "Nazirite" vow that required him to "fast" from or avoid wine and strong drink. This was part of John's purposefully adopted lifestyle that designated him as one set apart for a special mission.

9. The Esther Fast
Purpose: That "the glory of the Lord" will protect us from the evil one (see Isa. 58:8).
Key Verses: "Fast for me...[and] my maids and I will fast...[and] I will go to the king...[and] she found favor in his sight" (Esther 4:16; 5:2).
Background: Queen Esther, a Jewess in a pagan court, risked her life to save her people from threatened destruction by Ahasuerus (Xerxes), king of Persia. Prior to appearing before the king to petition him to save the Jews, Esther, her attendants and her cousin Mordecai all fasted to appeal to God for His protection.

Preparation for Power - 1

Part One
Over the past few months we have been studying revivals - actually three centuries of revival. We have looked at the different moves of God in the world and in particular the response of people to his Holy Spirit moving. Over and over again it is remarkable to see that the great revivals were preceeded by people praying and fasting.

Fasting is a powerful discipline, that when properly exercised, can produce amazing results in the loves of those that take part in it. Further reaching is the powerful affect that it has on the church as its members take part in fasting and prayer. There is a difference.

In Sarnia, Ontario in recent times we have heard reports of remarkable thinsg happening in a continuous series of meeting - now known as the Sarnia Revival. One interesting note is that it was preceeded with people from the church committing themselves to prayer and fasting.

With an interest to help us understand what Fasting does for our personal lives and for our church the following is taken from a book entitled “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough” by Elmer Towns.

1. The normal fast is going without food for a definite period during
which you ingest only liquids (water and/or juice). The duration can be 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month or 40 days. Extreme care should be taken with longer fasts, which should only be attempted after medical advice from your physician.

2. The absolute fast allows no food or water at all, and should be short.Moses fasted for 40 days; but this would kill anyone without supernatur­al intervention, and should never be attempted today. Be sure to test thespirit that tries to talk you into a 40-day fast, even if it includes liquids.

3. The partial fast is one that omits certain foods or is on a schedule thatincludes limited eating. It may consist of omitting one meal a day. Eatingonly fresh vegetables for several days is also a good partial fast. JohnWesley ate only bread (whole grain) and water for many days. Elijahpracticed partial fasts at least twice. John the Baptist and Daniel with histhree friends are other examples of those who participated in partialfasts. People who have hypoglycemia or other diseases might considerthis kind of fast.

4. A rotational fast consists of eating or omitting certain families offoods for designated periods. For example, grains may be eaten onlyevery fourth day. The various food families are rotated so that some foodis available each day.

What is Wisdom?

To help you follow this posting you might like to look at the Bible Gateway site to look up the scriptures referred. It is a very good On-line Bible reference.

What Is Wisdom?
Often we define a person, who has a great deal of head knowledge or who has gained a lot of wealth, as wise. But is wisdom just about the ability to accumulate facts or money? Let's see how God's Word defines wisdom. What Does God Say?

What does God say?

Solomon, supposedly the wisest man who ever lived, wrote: "How much better to get wisdom than gold, and understanding than silver! " (Proverbs 16:16, NLT). He also stated: "Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality" (Proverbs 3:7-8, NLT).

James wrote: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere " (James 3:17, NLT).

• Why do you think that Solomon valued wisdom more than gold or silver?
• What are some of the benefits that Solomon saw in wisdom?
• How does James describe wisdom? My Thoughts

My Thoughts
What type of wisdom do you honestly seek after the most--the world's type or biblical wisdom that brings life?

What do you think you need to do to gain the wisdom that Solomon and James are talking about (look also at James 1:5)? My Part

This week spend some time reading Proverbs 2:6-19. Make a list of the ways that wisdom can benefit you. Put a star(s) by the way that is most relevant to your life right now.

Additional Scripture: Psalm 90:12, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 2:6-9

Preparation for Friday - May 19, 2006 Movie Release

The In Touch Ministry - Dr. Charles Stanley - is running an excellent series this week on their Web Site on the Internet . Click on one of these lines to go to their pages.

You will find accurate and positive help here when trying to understand the hype being generated in the Media.

You may well become a student of church history as a result of what is happening with this book and movie - "The Da Vinci Code".

As of a few minutes ago - a Google Search gave me 87,100,000 opportunities to read something about the book and movie. WOW! Amazing promotion for a fiction that is a top seller.

Problems Solved

Problems Solved
It's a fact of life that people experience pain. Sometimes it's physical, sometimes it's emotional and sometimes it's spiritual. But none of us can avoid it.

So, why does pain exist? The Bible provides insight into the pain that comes eventually to all of us. What Does God Say?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NKJV).

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4, KJV).

"And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us" (Romans 8:23, NLT).

"'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57, NLT).

The Bible teaches us three great truths about pain:

• Pain was not in God’s original creation but, along with death, came into the world because of the curse of sin.
• God promises to be with us, sustain us in our pain and comfort us in our pain.
• Because of Jesus, there is a day coming when there will be no more pain.
  

The source of pain is the curse. And it does me no good to say, "God, why are You allowing this to happen to me?" It's not happening because God doesn't like me. It's not happening because He has a problem with me or He wants to punish me.

This is happening because I live in a painful world. And the painful world is not going to get any better just because another pain reliever is invented, because pain gets worse all the time.

It's only going to get better when God, in His love and in His great concern and in His great grace, takes pain away from this world. And that's a future thing, not a present thing.

My Thoughts:

• What brings you the most pain? List the three worst.
• Do you have any hope of dealing with your pain? If so, where does it come from?
  

You may still endure pain on earth. After all, this is a sinful world. But Jesus conquered pain the way He conquered sin. Jesus overcame pain the way He overcame death. In His death, burial and Resurrection, Jesus Christ was victorious over the pain of sin; He triumphed over the pain of death; He beat the pain of pain.

My Part

So, how do you deal with the pain of the present? You can beat pain, but not by yourself. Open the door and let Jesus into your life. Let Him beat pain for you. Give it all to Him, and let Him give you hope in place of your pain.

How? Turn your sin over to Him. Ask Jesus to forgive you today and become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Turn your life over to Him. Ask Him to live in you and through you, and He will be your resurrection to new life. And He will help you deal with the pains of life.

Scripture:
John 14:1-3
Revelations 21 - 22
Roamns 8:18
1 Chronicles:25

The Amazing Way That God Works

There are times that we get discouraged and wonder if it is worth going on. I am not sure if that ever happens to you - but it does to me. You do what you can and it seems that no difference is made at the moment. Or if there is a difference it is small and the really big change you wanted doesn't seem to materialize.

I have an account to share with you today that hopefully encourages your view on things.

Background
In 1974 my wife and I moved to Walkerton, Ontario to begin our ministry as the full time Pastor of the Walkerton Pentecostal Church at 421 Colbourne Street. I wanted to make a difference and change the whole world. I was young and like all young people I believed that could happen during my time in Walkerton.

In 1974 I prayed that God would help our church to make a difference in the community. For the most part the little church on First Avenue had done little to change any world - let alone their world. They were happy meeting each week, singing the songs that they loved, praying prayers and just being a church.

One Sunday in that first year someone came to church to worship with us. The woman came in not knowing anyone in the church. At the end of the service she came forward to pray asking Jesus come into her life. It was wonderful to be a part of this beginning of change for this woman. It was even more wonderful to see the church's reaction to this conversion experience for this lady.

One man commented that he felt that God was doing something in our church. He had been praying about this and could remember that it had been 9 years since anyone had been saved in our church. I questioned him when he said this because he was so specific with a date and year. At which time he produced a newspaper clipping that told of a lady dieing at a railway crossing when her car had been hit by a train. That terrible happening took place on a Tuesday. The man described how this had hit our church. The same woman had come into the church on the Sunday before and come to the altar to give her life to Christ - marvellously saved! Then she was taken from this life and the church two days later. The conversion and death had left a powerful affect on his family - enough so to keep the newspaper clipping for 9 years.

I left that meeting with a thought in mind.... "If that is true God we have a big problem, how are we going to change it?"

I prayed for God to give me three men that would help me to reach out to our community. He gave me Everett, who stuttered badly; Steve, who had a severe nervous problem that often left him running to the bathroom when you most needed him; and John, a big Dutchman that had a serious anger problem. Each of their stories is amazing and unusual. God used all of them to touch someone.

To explain my opening comments I want to tell one story.

The Miracle
John the Dutchman, called me and said that he wanted to be apart of doing something in his community. He felt that we could go together to tell someone about the Lord. A few weeks later I was driving with John down a country road near Paisley, Ontario. He had a family that he thought we should visit. The family consisted of a man and his wife, Len and Shirley. As we approached the farm where they lived John warned me that Len didn't like church people and had a strong dislike for ministers. By the time we arrived at the farm door I was apprehensive about who we would be meeting and what might happen.

Len was very tall standing around six feet five inches. Shirley was very kind and welcomed us into their home. It was a good visit that evening but nothing special happened. When we left Len said that he would like us to come again sometime.

A few weeks later I couldn't get Len and Shirley out of my mind. I had prayed for them and felt that God would do the rest. Maybe they would come to church some day... and maybe... when the time was right I would get back to see them again. After all it was a 25 mile drive to their farm from where we lived in Walkerton.

One particular day I remember clearly that God had nudged me about them. They popped into my mind and I would pray for them. It happened again and again. Then the thought changed - "You need to go visit Len and Shirley." I prayed for them again and again - not knowing when this visit should take place. Later that day, about 4 PM, the thought came - "You need to go now!" It was just before dinner time and it meant that I would miss our meal as a family. I slipped into the car and off I went for Paisley and the farm.

When I arrived at the farm their very large dog was barking at my car. I went to the door and knocked. When Shirley opened the door I asked if I could come in to visit them. She had a puzzled look on her face and told me that Len had just arrived home - but she didn't know if he was still awake or not.

When I came into the kitchen she called out to Len in the next room and them told him that the minister was here for a visit. There was stir in the other room and then Len walked out to the kitchen, and took a chair next to me at the table. He had obviously been drinking. The smell and the sway in his gait was telling the story before me.

Len first statement to me was a question. He looked at me and asked, "If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?" I was startled and answered, "Yes." Then I said half smiling, "Len, I am suppose to be asking you that." Len looked straight at me and asked how I could be so sure that I would go to heaven. In the next little while I shared how this could happen for me and him. Then I asked, "Len, would you like to be sure you would go to heaven? Would you like to ask Jesus to come into your heart now?"

His answer was truthful and to the point. He said, "Yes I would but I am not sure it will help, as you can see I am drunk. I have a problem with alcohol."

I assured him that God would not only save him but also help him with the alcohol problem too. Something inside of me gave an assurance that was very special.

As we prayed together Len cried. At the end of a prayer of inviting Jesus into his heart and asking forgiveness of his sin he broke into tears. He said, "Pastor, I sure hope that I can do this." Right then I prayed that God would set him free from alcohol completely. We cried together.

When I left the farm that night I was thanking God that He had nudged me earlier that day to pray and then to come. The feeling inside at that moment was one of having to trust God with Len that he would leave the alcohol alone and continue to ask God for help. It was Tuesday night.

On Sunday as people were coming into church a very tall man was among the procession filing through the doors. Along with him was a lady. They looked familiar but different. You guessed it - Len and Shirley had come to church. Both were dressed up and were smiling.

Later in the service I invited people to share a testimony of what God had done for them this week. After a few people had spoken, Len stood up. Len and Shirley were sitting in the back row. He told his story.... and there was a special awe that fell over the congregation and people began to praise the Lord.

Len told how he would drive home from work each night returning to the Paisley farm. His habit for many years was to stop at the Tavern on the highway between Walkerton and Paisley for some drinks before coming home. It was his happy hour. Every night he would return home drunk and fall asleep in his chair shortly after getting home each night. He told how I had come last Tuesday night and talked with him about Jesus and how we had prayed together. Then he told the rest of the story that I never knew. He remembered being drunk when we started praying. He remembered me saying the words and asking God to heal him of the abuse of alcohol. Then what he said next was amazing, "When the pastor prayed, I sobered up and the feeling of being drunk was gone. I went to bed sober!"

We all praised the Lord when he said that. Wow, the Lord sobered a drunk in his own kitchen!

Then Len told us some more. He said the next day he was praying and praising God on his way to work. He was different and things had changed. He didn't realize how different things were until Thursday and Friday. On his way home on Thursday night he was driving and praising God. Len happened to look up at the rear view mirror and in the mirror he could see the Tavern growing smaller until it was out of site. This was the Tavern that he always stopped at each night to get drunk before arriving home. He realized that for the second night in a row that he had no desire to drink. Len said, "I am free of alcohol! Jesus set me free when the pastor prayed for me."

We all cried and praised the Lord that Sunday.

Fast Forward to May 10, 2006 - Yesterday.
My cell phone rang and another Pastor introduced himself. He was a minister in Paisley, Ontario and asked if I was a minister that might remember Len D. I said yes, definitely. Then he put Len on the phone to talk with me.

Len told me that Shirley was dieing and likely wouldn't last the night. I was so thankful that he called and told him we would pray for him and Shirley at this time.

Then Len told me how thankful he was that I came that night to his farm - so long ago. His words left me weeping with him on the phone.... He said, "Pastor, I have not had a drink of alcohol since that day to this. Thank you for coming to the farm that day."

That was 32 years ago!

I am humbled and encouraged again - when I think... when there are times that I get discouraged and wonder if it is worth going on.... God says... this is what happened... this is why you do what you do.

Len - and the Lord - reminded me again miracles happen when we pray.

Be encouraged. God has a plan for you today.