You Can Do It - We Can Help!

The words ring in my ears now each day I get out of bed… “You can do it. We can help.”

If you haven’t heard it already – you must visit The Home Depot store – where the voice of “Wilson” (– the unseen TV Character from comical TV program featuring TV’s Tim Taylor) speaks words of wisdom over and over again.

To every “tool man’s” delight – I have been in Home Depot everyday since this project has started. Some days it is twice… or more. Yesterday I think we were there three times. I needed a little of that and more of this. The trouble is that it is only a short drive away from where we live. Actually a short bike ride away from where we live – but long boards don’t do well on a bike.

Lessons Learned
I have discovered that the expression “You can do it. We can help.” is a great one for our church and Christianity too. If we can get people in their “Christian walk” to do the same it would be wonderful! We believe that each is able but they may need help – and we are there to help in whatever way we can.

Usually the visit to HD is to find out a little more of what I need to do in order to get this job done. In all likelihood I know I may have to buy more stuff. The best part is that most of the time I am able to pick up little tidbits of information from people that are working there or others that are shopping there.

In the tile department I met a man that was a tile expert buying more products for a job he was doing. When he heard me ask the staff member my question – he pitched in and gave a perfect suggestion – saving me a lot of money.

On the opposite and even frustrating side there are a number of answers to the same question asked in different departments. Each department has a department answer… often offering a product that specialises in doing one part of the task. This info may clash with another department’s suggestion however.

Oh how much that is like the Church in general. Messages are not all the same coming from its “department members” – the ordinary Christians. Check out what one denomination is saying compared to another. Even contrast the message within the same denomination… WOW!

Conclusion
Home Depot will help in every way possible. “If you are willing to do it, they will help!” They are a happy and active bunch in our store…. Or is it my store?! They are helpful all the time.

Now as I think about this today – how will that translate into the church as a whole? What is my part in this big organization called “The Body”? Lots to think about today as I begin the mudding.

Psalm 91"15-16
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

A Creation Story

My arms ache this morning… so does every other muscle in my body. This week is my first week of holidays. I have learned some brand new lessons. Instead of traveling a long way this year to escape – we decided to renovate. It is another kind of escape. For that reason my posts on the Northview Blogspot have been some what sparse.

When I read the Creation Story in Genesis – the idea of 7 days of God’s creating fills me with new awe. I am in my third day of renovating and the results are shown in the pictures.

First – the tile in the bathroom is/was super ugly. It is now history. Removing it was the hardest part. No… that isn’t true… maybe the getting the old tub out was….. no… getting the new tub in was. It was bigger – much bigger than the old metal one.

Second – is the planning and the plodding to get this done. My head hurts as much as my body hurts at times. But the one consolation is I am in the Home Depot Store – about two, three, maybe four times a day. That part I love – it is break and it is cool.

Third – it smells better now. The mold and mildew that was in the carpet on the floor was enough to make a person sick. Maybe it did make us sick – come to think of it.

The best part is – every day we are seeing something done.

Conclusion…
I have a brand new appreciation for my friend Larry that has renovated his entire house over this past year. I have a brand new appreciation for my friend Tim that does this every day for a living – and runs into snags all the time – and solves them.

We would appreciate your prayer for our “vacation time”. Not so much for safety on the highway –but rather on the job.

Powerful Testimonies From Sarnia's Revival

This morning I received an up date from the Sarnia Revival. The following is a report given from the Bethel Church as they continue to be blessed with God's presence.

LETTER FROM A TEACHER

I am a kindergarten teacher at Bluewater Lighthouse Christian Academy. One of our teacher's got hurt very severely and was unable to work fulltime. Our senior grades have been attending revival meetings at Bethel and had started revival in our school. My family and I also attended revival and my son received the gift of speaking in tongues (Baptism of the Holy Spirit). I had strongly believed that our Junior grades can have revival at the same level as the senior grades. During one of our Bible class, worship went on till 10:00 the children just wanted more of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit, We prayed for each student and as weprayed, Mrs. Welch and I were led to pray for families, and our grade 5&6 teacher as well. It was an awesome experience for the SK and Grade 1& 2 class students to witness a miracle. Our grade 5&6 teacher is healed from a minor concussion previously she was unable to work fulltime, she was very sensitive to noise. After she received prayer from the young students she told the principal what took place and she felt better already. The next day she came into work full time.

We give God all the praise for what he is doing in the hearts of our Junior Students. This is to show us that God can and is still using little children to minister as well. Keep encouraging the young kids, God is moving through them. Thank you for allowing the kids to be apart of the revival.

LAST WEEK

ANOTHER POWERFUL WEEK
Ex-football pro, Rev. Brian Warren was scheduled to minister last Thursday night and Friday night. Those services were powerful as people were saved, healed and delivered. Brian was challenging those gathered to go deeper to press in for a move of God that would sweep this nation. As the founder and Executive Director of Canada in Prayer, Brian’s heart is for this nation. Brother Warren stayed over and ministered at the Youth Revival Service on Saturday night. Many were saved in that service, and about 52 young people pledged to be carriers (couriers) of the gospel of Jesus Christ to their generation.

As the Holy Spirit fell, Brian recognized the need to hold a water baptism for those who were saved. On Sunday night, 10 people were baptized in water, their testimonies were powerful!Some of these people testified of being delivered from drug and alcohol addictions, and being set free from a spirit of depression.

At the prompting of God, Brian stayed and preached the Sunday morning service at Bethel. Things are happening quickly, God is rearranging agendas and schedules to see His will prevail.

This Friday, Brian is hosting a prayer conference that will be focusing on the Sarnia Revival.

Pastor Tim Gibb, Lead Pastor at Bethel Pentecostal Church has called the church to a 3 day fast, praying for an increase of God’s power and anointing on this revival.

We’re asking that you stand with us and fast and pray this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for an increase of God’s power. We desire to see lost souls saved, the sick healed, and the captive set free.

Life More Abundantly

If you have read the last post you may have question or two about life... specially the one that you are witnessing pass before you eyes each day. I have lots of them.

Please read this verse again...

John 10:9-10 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

Yesterday was one of those days. I met with more people that have life passing them by in a hurry. The kind of things that are happening to them is terrible. Some have had horrendous things happen or are about to.

I met with Sue... she may lose her executive job. She is frightened by the very mean and horrible manager that she has. I have met with the manager and she is mean.

I talked to Jane... she was raped by a man that was extremely violent. To say her life was ripped from top to bottom is an understatement. She is picking up the pieces over a decade later.

I have met the man that raped her. His life is in shambles. He was arrested for being drunk again.

I have met with a Chinese family and I speak with them about every other night as they call on the telephone from New York City. Last night I had to give them no hope for their brother that is in jail waiting an expulsion order from Canada. I was told this week he could be sitting there for 5 years. The situation he is in not good… a small cell and a common room area… one TV… he cannot read… he cannot speak English or the common Chinese or Mandarin or Cantonese… He is alone with no hope. If and when they do release him he will be possibly executed in China…. Or imprisoned for another 10 years of longer…

Human Rights? – Now that is an interesting and quaint concept.

My thoughts are a swirl this morning as I consider if this is “Life More Abundantly” – “Life to the fullest” or as Jesus promised, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

• First problem – Who will tell these people or show these people this abundant life?
• Second problem – When will it happen?
• Third problem – How could it ever happen? Most situations are isolated from all of us. We are in our bubbles and they are in their cells, small rooms, isolated worlds from us… far from us.

I know I must do something.

• I can pray.
• I can go or be available.
• I can share if given the chance.
• I can do something with God’s help.

How about you? Are you sharing Life More Abundantly where you live? Are you living life to the fullest? Have you discovered what Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – even though your own life is impossible and ridiculous at times.

For me this is an adventure that is so amazing. Will you join me in a new life adventure today and begin sharing what God has given you?

Get a Life

The disgusted grunt from the teen described it all. The common expression of a while back did also… “Get a life…”. How ever it is said, everyone has an idea that because of how you are living you should change and ‘get a life’.

Television ads suggest that what we have isn’t enough. The one that is a regular ad right now in our area of Canada comes on with good music… no words. There are shots of this guys walking through hundreds of women. As he does they are turning to look at him as he travels the opposite direction to where they are going – apparently very much his own man. Then as the music changes slightly he proceeds to the stage area of a dance floor where the camera zooms in on him and the girl that he is now standing beside, she is cute and he is handsome…. and the only guy in this entire advertisement. The girl looks at him with interest and suddenly her countenance changes from an approachable smile to a grimace… then the female voice in the background says with authority… “It wouldn’t matter if you were the last man on earth if you stink!”

The poor guy is left stinking in the middle of hundreds to women.

Get a life man... get some deodorant or SOMETHING!

Whether it is the pursuit of more money or the product that you get with more money, the evidence is that most of our waking hours (and maybe even our sleeping ones) is given to “getting a life”.

What do you do after a full working career with retirement looking blankly at you and you haven’t yet got a life?

What do you do if the wedding that you were hoping for is over and in the next months the fairytale life you anticipated is pretty much the same as the one that you had before only now you have added a “lump”. You didn’t get a life – you got someone that wanted a fairytale experience as well. This one is just too common today!

Everyone is looking for some form of life that will make them happy… make it easier… get ahead and stay ahead.

There is a new TV program on now that describes the life story of group of people that win a huge lottery and share it(kind of..). Each story through out the hour long program is a complicated one. Each is struggling with the idea that they are newly minted multi-millionaires. What I have watched so far… no one is happy and everyone is in horrendous life situations. None of them have a life!

Pursuit of a life is what it is all about… isn’t it? Well almost.

Jesus said some powerful words to people that he talked to one day. Some of them were rich and some were powerful. Others were common folk that struggled like everyone else around them. He met them where they were.

Take a look at the words that he spoke to them…
John 10:9-10
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(NIV)

Wow! Having life to the FULL! In another edition of the Bible it says “life more abundantly”.

In other words it doesn’t matter who you are, rich or poor, healthy or facing huge health issues we can have life more abundantly… life to the full. It doesn’t come someday. It can be now.

Walking in our backyard recently I noticed the quiet and the stillness. As I stood there a little, bright yellow bird darted into sit on the bird bath. It looked at me as I stood about three steps away. Then he dropped his head and took a drink – then was gone again. The only sound was his soft flight in and out.

In that moment I felt that abundance and knew a fullness that others look for.

The house isn’t ours… the bank and I look after it. I pay them and they let me stay here. The house needs fixing and next week I begin some of that task. But I am happy with what I have… and I am living an abundant life – having it very full and very happy at this time.

Summing it up Jesus also said these words to encourage us – just in case we might get a little upset and anxious.

Matthew 6:25
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
(NIV)

Clusters of Care

The young man sitting at the table looked and felt dejected. He was slumped forward with his head in his hands.

Everything about him seemed to hurt. This was true about his heart in particular. He lost his best friends. His family had moved from one community to another and all his friends were left behind.

The actual truth was his family had split apart a number of years ago and this recent move was necessary because his mom couldn’t afford the place the lived in. She had said something about his dad not sending enough money each month.

Stuff happens in your life… and it is hard to understand. This specially true when you are 12 years old.

But it isn’t just the young that suffer this kind of struggle. Not far from this young man sits another person. He is much older with an entirely different kind of problem – he has been fired from a job he has held for 16 years. Too old was his suspicion. They had said it was because the company was failing and it needed a new person at the helm. They had offered him a buy out package. Now he was out with nothing to do. The feeling in his heart is one large pile of sand entitled, “Useless”.

We are looking at only two scenes of life from yesterday. How in the world can we help them? They are looking for help today.

In our case these are people that sit in our church – or at least attend our church from time to time. They are the fringe so to speak. They are representative to literally hundreds of others not far from all of us that are lonely and broken having no support through their life struggles.

Reading some old letters again this week something caught my attention. The letter I was looking at was written by a man named Paul – to a group of people that lived in Corinth. He was describing how a group of people should work together. In the letter he describes the group as if it was a body – like your body or my body. Here is an excerpt from one of his letters.

1 Corinthians 12:23-26 (New Living Translation)
23And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, 24while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. 26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

The part that jumps out at me is …. “care for each other”. That has been the Hallmark of the Church for years. The church has always cared for people – hasn’t it?

The teen sitting with his head in his hands at the table has found help in the youth group. The older man has found help in a small group of men. Thankfully we have witnessed to success stories that have made a difference.

The question that must be asked is… “Where do you fit in to help?” You see, everyone fits somewhere and will connect with someone. That is God’s plan.

Every time I read of Jesus’ life and then follow him as he walks through life – he is involved with people.

He walked up to Zacchaeus, a tax collector, and said "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." (NIV) Luke 19:5

There are many other situations where he comes to their homes, spends time eating with them, and generally gets completely involved with them. I would dare say that this total involvement was what set him apart from other religious leaders of his day and produced such a great following. It was also likely what had him crucified – jealousy because of his effectiveness.

Do you remember the “old days” pictures and stories about the Bar Raising efforts in the rural setting. A family has lost their barn with a fire and everyone comes to help build a new barn for them. I saw an artists rendition of this lately – everyone was involved. The canvass he painted on was very big depicting the care.

Now the word “Clusters” – how does it fit?

In every group of people there are clusters of people that care for each other quite naturally. Common interests, family situations and perhaps age draw them to each other. As you look carefully at the Cluster you will see Care as the central theme. You will see each Cluster ministering to each member. They are natural and they flow with the situations that each group has encountered.

I know the clusters that I fit in and am very much aware of the places I receive the support and strength that I need.

Where do you connect in a cluster? An old song states, “Everyone needs someone sometime…” Some one needs you. Job number one today is to find them.

Mr. Robin's Song

Early this morning Mr. Robin was singing his heart out. It was 5:00 AM. The song had some variation but for the most part it was the same over and over again. He was singing from the bottom of his heart.

I noticed a few months ago just after the snow was leaving, the air was still cool and even cold, the Robins were coming back to our area of Canada. They simply were there. None were singing, in fact I doubt that any were making noise of any sort. They were looking for food and trying to keep warm.

Now things have changed. The nests have been built in our area – near our home. Everything is ripe for the arrival and up bringing of a little family. Their babies are almost here now.

Someone shared with me that the reason the Robin sings so loudly and so long – and from the same place in the tree – is for his family. He wants the mommy Robin to know he is still there. He wants the babies that are unborn yet to know what his voice sounds like. Apparently every Robin’s voice and song is different from other Robins around them. There is some strong evidence that the little ones – even in the egg shell, not yet hatched, are learning the song of the daddy Robin.

What a powerful example for human beings. Our kids pick up everything from us. The good and the bad are all part of the mixture. The impression we leave with them is so important.

One other thing I have noticed about Mr. Robin, his singing will stop after the nest is empty. His job is done and his family know what they need to know. It is deeply imprinted on their Robin hearts. He only has a short time to get the job done.

Last evening we sat with a young couple with a new baby. There are struggles with their housing –hot and crowded. There is a struggle with no work yet. There are struggles. Yet they are happy. As daddy held the baby boy in his arms he described how his son smiled at him for the first time on Father’s Day – it was his best gift ever. The love in the young dad’s words for this special son is amazing and good to hear.

Now daddy just has to do one small thing for the next few years – sing his heart out with his actions and love and example and demonstrations of all the stuff that a daddy should do. The baby boy will be a daddy some day too.

Recently I have watched with great delight from the sideline at a soccer game for 8 year olds and from the sidelines of different baseball fields. Moms and dads cared enough to be there with their kids – at the big game of the week. Whatever sport it is – the cheering at the sidelines is greater than the Edmonton Oilers experienced in Game #6. These parents care and are doing their best to show some love.

I honour them. Their song will be heard.

It also reminds me of how much our Heavenly Father supports us and looks forward to being there for us. He keeps singing his song of love and care. The Apostle John said some special words for me to help me understand.

John 10:14
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--
(NIV)
John 10:27
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
(NIV)

Oh how much I need my Heavenly Father to show me the way and teach me his song. How about you?

Pinging & Performance

As my wife came home one day from shopping, she asked me a simple question, “Have you noticed the pinging when you drive the van?”

Truthfully I hadn’t – that is not my department. My hearing isn’t the best and my schedule is too full most of the time to do anything about car problems – at least until it is absolutely necessary. An old adage makes sense to me – “If its not broken , don’t fix it.” Add to that another one that is from a Mr. Murphy, who I believe is a distant relative of my mine, who has stated, “If it can go wrong, it will, when I most need it not to.”

For a few weeks now the “pinging question” has been nibbling at my mind. It usually is taken care of by turning the radio up a little louder when traveling together in the car. With the assistance of a good radio and the right level of volume you can effectively cover the sound of squeaking breaks and rattles of other parts that come from the lower extremities of an automobile.

Well I did hear the pinging after she pointed it out. I also noticed the results in performance of the vehicle. It was slower on take offs and was shaking a bit more than usual on start ups. Not a big shake - just a little shudder – more like a cough. It usually levelled out when it would run for a bit.

Bumping into a mechanic friend of mine in the local Canadian Tire store, the time was right to ask some one for help. I described the problem and asked if he knew if there was something I could do to help my cars cough and pinging. His smile was slow and gentle along with his careful answer. “Start buying better gas for a while.”

That seemed to easy and also more expensive in my mind. At over $1.00 average a litre of gas, it would be easier to trade the vehicle in for a new one. But my wife wouldn’t go for that at this stage of time and budget.

So I pressed him for more ideas. He told me there was an additive that could be poured into the motor to help clean the carbon particles from the engine. It seems that without running a lot of highway miles and also by driving slower around the city the carbon build up is common in a car engine. The small carbon lumps get hot and as the new fuel is shot into the combustion chamber it pre-ignites the gas before it should be ignited and give a small explosion that sounds like a ping.

I can take care of this. I headed off to the additives aisle in the store. Did you know they have a car juice for almost any ache and pain the old girl might have? There are black bottles, red bottles and grey bottles along with the yellow and gold ones. The bottles are all different shapes and sizes and prices. It is almost like looking at the range of “beauty bottles” at the hair dresser's shop.

I found what I thought I needed – not too expensive – not too cheap – mid range. The label said it was the best on the market. It promised that no other product today could do what this product could do. It was excellent. As I read what was being stated about the contents, I was convinced that ever race car driver used this stuff in there private vehicles when the pit drew was not available for old “Betsy”.

Arriving home I began the procedure that promised results. I was to pour the contents slowly into the carburetor. It said the motor should be hot and to do it slowly. Then it encouraged me at one point to pour the remaining 25% of the bottle in until it stalled the motor – wait for 10 minutes and then start the car again.

Picture this… my wife is now involved. I have her sitting behind the steering wheel with the vehicle running. She has it running a little faster – revving the motor a little at a time. Then I began to administer the red substance that has a warning to not get it in your eyes and to not induce vomiting if swallowed.

The van shook a little at the first few squirts of the fluid. My wife pushed the pedal further to keep the motor running. I squirted and the motor shook. This went on a for a few minutes and then I gave it a good drink… if a little seems to help… a lot will do the trick. It did say on the bottle to pour the remainder into the motor. Well I did it. Then the motor gave a mighty tremble and died. With one last cough it was over. All life left the old girl. I looked up and my wife was starring at me. She said, “I couldn’t keep the motor going. Is it okay?” With all the reassurance I could muster I said, “I think so. I did what the bottle said to do.” As she left the operation scene for the house her solid gaze at the ground did not leave a feeling of strength.

I retreated to the garage to do another task that I was involved in. I starred at the van with its hood raised. It had said to wait for 10 minutes – so now we wait. When I came back to try to start it again… nothing. Just the sound of a starter trying real hard to get the motor going… but nothing. After the fifth try my neighbour could sense the despair that I was building in my throat. I was ready to scream. My wife peeked out the kitchen door and asked if it was okay. No problem –it said to wait a little while. So we waited.

Two rain clouds later and a burst of sunshine I tried again. Whirrr and away it went. It was coughing and sputtering and little but it was going. I took it for a spin to the highway… and we had power. I kicked old “Betsy” into passing gear – she hesitated a little and away she flew. I did it again and again. The tremble was gone and she was feeling better. The pinging was gone as well as the shudder that was there before.

As I pulled back into the driveway I headed to the kitchen to tell my wife that it was okay. Her gentle response was, “That’s great!” (Her thought was – now he won’t push for a new one…;)

This “maintenance mode” of yesterday has a strong personal lesson for me as I thought about it later last evening. Often our(my) spiritual life is like my van. After many months of service in the slow lane, it starts to run rough. Poor fuel and a louder radio leaves it shuddering with lots of pinging – carbon build up from the stuff that gets into our “life motor”.

I have a better maintenance program with my life than with the car and it is summed up with the following verse….

Isaiah 26:3-4
3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
(NIV)

PRESSURE & Worry

PRESSURE!

Every person experiences it—

• in their job,
• in their marriage,
• in their role as a parent,
• in their ministry,
• in their friendships/relationships,
• in their various roles as provider, spiritual head of the home,
• in their physical health issues,
• and even in their walk with God.

Pressures like these are common, normal and beneficial to every man and woman, every person. In fact a life without pressure may be one of the most boring ones we could live.

A popular advertisment brings the idea of "freedom fifty five" to our minds The idea expressed and encouraged is - if you will work with them they will make sure that at 55 you will not have to worry about money again.

The question begs to be asked of this company.. "How much 'worry' will be necessary on the way to the 55 mark? How much pressure will the lucky person undergo if they sign up?"

It has been said of worry that ....

• 40% of all worries will never happen.
• 30% concern old decisions which cannot be changed,
• 12% center on criticism, mostly untrue, made by people who feel inferior,
• 10% relate to health, which worsens while you worry, and
• only 8% are legitimate which you can do something about.

Think of all that you worry about with a value and a weight. Let’s make this worry, for the average person, about 100 pounds in weight. Let’s imagine that it sits heavily on our backs – like a heavy load carried in a back pack. If the worry that we carry has a value – let say it is $1000.

In pounds.. 40 never happen, 30 are old decisions that cannot be changed, 12 are from criticism, & untrue statements made by inferior people, and 10 of the load is related to health issues that can be dealt with. That total is 92 pounds of nothing to worry about - leaving you with 8 pounds of worry that you can deal with.

In terms of the $1000 weight… $400 never happens, $300 are old Ds, $120 are Cs and lies, $100 are health issues that can be helped – leaving you $80 of the entire $1000 worth of worry that you can deal with.

We know worry is wrong and counter-productive. We know too that pressure can cause this worry.

How do we deal with it? How do we roll this worry a way? How can we deal with inordinate pressure and the worry that comes with it?

Two ways are possible..

1. By myself - On my own..
2. With God’s help..

I have chosen God as a helper. He has made some great promises and from what I have come to know about him –he has always kept his promises. Here are some of them…

Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."Deuteronomy 31:5-7 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter)

Deuteronomy 31:8The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."Deuteronomy 31:7-9 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter)

Joshua 1:5No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.Joshua 1:4-6 (in Context) Joshua 1 (Whole Chapter)

Hebrews 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:4-6 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole Chapter)

(References found at http://www.biblegateway.com/)

Why God?

As parents, we often get tired of our children asking us the simple question, "Why?" Sometimes they ask us because they are simply trying to figure life out. Sometimes they ask us because they don't understand why we treated them in a way they didn't like. We may not always be able to explain our actions in words they can understand. It's also sometimes hard for us to explain to them that things they view as unpleasant may be good for them. The same goes for God.

Many Christians today say it is a good thing to ask God, "Why?" when we face difficulties. Yet does our question indicate a lack of trust toward God? Do we sometimes get angry at God because we don't think He cares for us or we wonder if He really knows best? When life gets crazy, do we really believe God is in control? In Psalm 37 King David gives us some good advice on how to handle some of those inner thoughts and feelings we have toward God. What Does God Say?

"Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others-- it only leads to harm" (Psalm 37:7-8, NLT).

• What two characteristics should we show as we spend time in the presence of the Lord?
• If we are angry at God, how will "being still" in His presence help?
• How does waiting for God to act (rather than taking things into our own hands) reveal our trust in Him? My Thoughts

When facing difficult circumstances, how do you respond? What do your responses indicate about your relationship with God?

My Part
Take inventory of your life this week and see if there are areas where you have doubted God's goodness toward you. Ask for God's forgiveness for not trusting in His goodness. Tell someone else about an area of your life where God has been good to you. Determine to trust in the unchangeable character of God that is revealed in the Bible, regardless of the questions of your life that remain unanswered.

Habits of the Heart - & The Elijah Fast

Elijah is my hero!

Ever since I made a commitment of my life to Christ I have admired and been drawn to the life of Elijah. What a man he was. Such an amazing power he had. I guess it was the fact that he was a man of action that attracted me. Under God’s guidance he was moving forward all the time. Something was happening in his life. The fact that he had a “low time” at one point didn’t really bother me – everyone has that time of frustration. I just moved past that part of the story in 1 Kings 19 and kept watching him as he pushed forward for and with God. Elijah was the kind of man that could be a hero for any Christian!

God helped me to do a little adjusting lately as I prepared to speak on fasting. Last evening we came to the “Elijah Fast” as part of the fasting series that Elmer Towns wrote about in his book “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough”.

Towns talks about “Habits of the Heart” and points to “Elijah’s Emotional Negative Habit”. I have never really thought that my hero suffered so deeply with an “Emotional Negative Habit”.

Returning home last evening I sat for a long time considering the overwhelming possibilities that this has for the ministry of people (and to people)… not that an “Emotional Negative Habit” is a possibility – BUT RATHER that the setting free of the “Emotional Negative Habit” would be the greatest release that we could know.

In 1 Kings 19: 4- 9 we read the following (this is the NIRV - from Bible Gateway click here)
"Then he traveled for one day into the desert. He came to a small tree. He sat down under it. He prayed that he would die. "Lord, I've had enough," he said. "Take my life. I'm no better than my people of long ago." Then he lay down under the tree. And he fell asleep.

Suddenly an angel touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat." Elijah looked around. Near his head he saw a flat cake of bread. It had been baked over hot coals. A jar of water was also there. So Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came to him a second time. He touched him and said, "Get up and eat. Your journey will be long and hard."

So he got up. He ate and drank. The food gave him new strength. He traveled for 40 days and 40 nights. He kept going until he arrived at Horeb. It was the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

Elmer Towns points to the fact that the “Elijah Fast” was not that intentional – but that what Elijah did in his broken and fearful state was a fast. And the most important thing is the Fast brought results. He had spent a day alone in the desert (frightened and in panic…mind you), then sat down admitted that he could not take any more, and prayed… and then fell asleep.

After he was ministered to by an Angel he rose and went back into action. In fact the excess of action is not pleasant in my thoughts – 40 days and 40 nights, traveling the full length of the country where he would spend more time alone with God.

Elmer Towns points to the fact that Elijah traveled to Horeb – a mountain range that had special mountain – Mt. Sinai. This was the “heart of all places” for the people of God. Mt. Sinai was where God had met Moses and had prepared the First Email in a Stone Tablet called the Ten Commandments.

In his book Mr. Towns suggests that we can help ourselves by either returning to the actual place we knew that God spoke to us, or doing so in meditation.

Last night with my mind swirling with these many thoughts, I returned in my thoughts to an altar in Oakville, Ontario at the front of Evangel Pentecostal Church – it was there that God called me to ministry. I then traveled to another spot in the sanctuary where he filled me with the Holy Spirit. Later I traveled with God’s help to some other major turning points in my spiritual walk. What amazing things God has done for me.

A I turned to bed last evening… I had entered a fast. I did not eat after the dinner meal. As I explained to the group last night, I usually(translate ALWAYS) have food before I go to bed. I mean ALWAYS. It is part of my religion I am sure. It was very small – but very powerful – I didn’t eat anything.

As I climbed into bed I was praying and certain men that I am praying for came strongly to my mind. In fact I believe that some amazing things began happening last evening as a result of what God led me through.

Today I making further plans with God’s help. I am spending some special time with just God and my thoughts. The next step is happening for me.

I encourage you to consider getting the book that Elmer Towns has written “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough”. Perhaps making it some of your summer reading would be a good thing. You can get this through your local Christian bookstore or click on the line above.

Enter the World of a NIGHTMARE

Meet Bill today. Bill is 67 years old. He is living a nightmare each day he wakes up. I am not sure any of us can help him but my heart nearly explodes when I think of his story.... because his story could be anyone of our stories.

Bill came into my life in direct response to my prayer. It is the prayer that I live, pray and believe in... "Lord please give me people that no one else can help. With your grace and help I will do my best to offer them hope."

Here is his story. I offer it so that you will begin to pray with me that God will work a miracle for this man. He certainly needs two things...

• One – people that will pray with him, and
• Two – people that will stand with him in love and acceptance.

Bill has two children, a boy aged 15 and a girl aged 13. Both live with their mother in England now. They haven’t always lived in England – but rather here in Ontario – not far from Peterborough.

Bill is a criminal in the eyes of the law now - "ex-offender". He has served 15 weeks in jail. He has a record.

What did he do you ask?

He spanked his son and daughter. His son, when he was about 13, went to school upset with the discipline he had received and told his teacher. The school contacted the Children’s Aid Society who in turn contacted the police. Bill was arrested and convicted and then put in jail. The story is complicated.

Yes there are facts that are not as easy as the words above. These facts likely complicated the story even more. Bill hit his son with a shoe horn. He also confessed, under questioning, to spanking his daughter as well.

In Ontario, the Children’s Aid Society(CAS), is a group that works to protect children. In many cases they perform legitimate and invaluable work to keep kids safe and also to get them out of dangerous places in homes that are in crisis. However, and this a careful word in this article, there are times it appears that they are more out of control than the parents they are protecting kids from. I know the risk in even making that statement. The perception is they are a law unto themselves. The group answers to no one. Once they have acted or reacted there is little anyone can do to reverse the decisions they have lead courts through. The damage is done.

In Bill’s case it is even more complicated. It appears that through continued contact with CAS his wife could take no more. She may well have been threatened by CAS officials that they were going to take the children away from her if she had anything to do with Bill, or allowed him to have any contact with his children. She fled to England. She also filed for divorce and got it to make sure that they, CAS, doesn’t get access or try to get access to the kids. A very normal thing for a loving mother to do is to flee and protect.

I know that something has happened to your thoughts as you have read this posting. Your emotions are drawn many ways as mine were. You are not sure of what to do for Bill. Was CAS correct in their evaluation? Did Bill deserve what happened? Is there more to the story than what you have read here? What kind of man is Bill anyway?

For some of these questions I have not yet received a full answer. But I know Bill is a man that needs help. I know that he is a solid Christian brother and we pray together.

Finally, as you make up your mind to pray for and maybe with him, let me tell you the rest of the story.

Bill is a University Graduate that has attained his Masters Degree. He has been a teacher and school principal. He has served in large corporations and government departments. His has a wealth of experience and years of commitment to family and children. He has written three good books, about family and relationships, with others soon to be launched.

Each day Bill wakes his nightmare is there again. He lives on a senior’s pension now. Part of that pension is taken each month automatically and banked for his family. It leaves him with about $400 for rent and not much for food. Bill teeters on homelessness. This month he has to leave the place he has been living in for these past years. The older man that he shares the house with is changing and has asked him to move out. He has an automobile that has broken down recently but is running now. Thank God for that because it may well serve as his residence if no room comes available at $400 per month.

Yes, he fits the description of my prayer, some one that no one else can help. I will and can, by God’s grace, help him.

Please pray for Bill today.

Entering the World of the Blind

Over this past year I have walked closely with a young man that has lost his eyesight. His name is Jason.

I was there the day that it happened. He woke one Saturday morning with no vision. Then, during the course of the year, vision was limited to small amounts of light at the perimeter of his eyes. Finally one eye lost all vision and the other has a very small amount of light and dark recognition. Jason is a diabetic that faces many challenges.

Pausing here to say, Jason doesn’t look for sympathy, he is amazing. His attitude is ready for anything that he faces.

Yesterday I watched, with great appreciation, as he took his first computer training class. Together we sat and listened to a very capable instructor “show us” the great things that Jason’s new computer will do. And Jason is one of the most amazing students that I have had the opportunity to work with. His new instructor said the same about him as well.

With his new machine Jason can read and write. He has now applied to a College for the Blind and expects to finally become a Social Worker some day.

I believe he will do it. In fact I know he will.

Jason’s world is a dark one in our terms of reference as seeing people. However, in his terms he can see everything. I have entered the Blind World with him and it is amazing what you can see when you try to do it Jason’s way. As the instructor talked to us we both discovered amazing things that the new computer could do.

After three hours of this kind of “seeing” I was exhausted but so delighted at what I had learned. Jason called later to ask how I thought he had done in the first session together. He was so excited about the new things that he had picked up in our time together. I was humbled by his ability.

Thank you Jason for letting me be apart of your world.

360 Degree Leadership - An Amazing Study

Meet Philip and Karin Bennett – newly weds June 10, 2006.

Yesterday was an amazing day for this young couple. They were married in a beautiful park setting. They began a journey of life together. It was a joy for me also as I was given the opportunity to perform their ceremony.

After the ceremony was over we moved into the next important stage of the wedding – Photographs. The photographer took over at this point.

Then came the next few hours for the rest of us – just waiting… in our case, 3:45 PM until 6:30 PM, until the meal would be served. We moved into a time of watching/meeting each other. Some are meeting old friends and others meeting family members they haven’t seen since the last wedding (or funeral). One part the afternoon is very interesting – two families are meeting each other’s extended family. Then there are all the co-workers of the bride and groom that are having so much fun it is hard to describe.

I realized yesterday the amazing reality of the 360 Degree Leadership factor. In every speech throughout the reception people testified of the way that others had touched their lives. There were many “thank you-s”, and some tears and many relationships described. For the outsider, such as a minister and his wife, it was like reading a new book and discovering who each character is. It was simply amazing to say the least.

You could clearly see…that lives of each family reached many people, so had the couple’s life. Each in their own way had an influence of each guest.

• They had Lead Up - Influence the boss and others higher in your world
• They had Lead Across - Influence co-workers/peers in your world
• They had Lead Down - Influence subordinates and those lower in your world
• They had Lead Out - Influence those who do not work in your world

The “peer” relationships are perhaps the most powerful evidence for the couple. They had so interacted with each other that it would be hard to describe in a few words. This couple are “leadership quality people”. They have a potential to encourage and reach-out to their friends. But most of all to let their light shine… the light of that continued leadership. This couple will make a difference in their world.

This is a photo of the second happiest couple at the wedding, Winston and Brenda Van Lier. They have continued to offer their care and leadership to their daughters. God bless you richly!

360 Degree Leadership

As I have been reading the Book of Acts again, preparing for my Sunday messages, it has been interesting to take a new look at leadership at the same time. I have been reading “The 360 Degree Leader” by John Maxwell. This is such an amazing, down to earth book.

Over 32 years of ministry I have met literally thousands of leaders that have amazing abilities – but as yet they do not know it. These are not famous people – that have been elected or have risen to power with their wealth. They are ordinary people. Let me explain what they do and the way that they touch their world. You are one of these kind of people.

Please get a picture of a 8 sided star in your mind – or draw this on a piece of paper. Four points of the star are at the North, South, East and West of a compass. The other four points are at the points in between, i.e. North-west, North-east, etc.

Now label the points –

• the top-(north) Your Boss,
• the bottom – Your subordinates,
• the left & right(east & west) – Your peers,
• the top left and right – Your boss’s peers,
• and finally the bottom left & right – Your subordinate’s peers.

You are in the middle of the star. Around you there appears an array of people that will be in your life.

This not only applies to people that are employed but also to stay at home parents/retired folks and everyone else. We all connect with many.

• Change boss for partner/spouse/leader of a group,
• peers with friends,
• and subordinates with children…
• then add the peers of each of these groups of people.

You are still in the middle. Your life is influenced by these host of people around you. But you are also a leader in all of their lives.

Realizing this potential is the hardest part. Often this happens too late in life to make a difference. Or in some delightful cases it happened without us even knowing what was happening.

I looked up to my father as a boy. Then there were other times that his discipline in my life was hard to handle – I didn’t like it. Yet today as I look back and see the huge influence he had on my life – he was in that “north position” on my star. Then all the others in my life fell into place – my brother and sisters were peers. Their friends were there as “peer subordinates”. My parent's friends were My boss’s peers.

They all had a deep affect on my life – but most importantly I had some form of leadership roll in their lives as well.

In our early years this was even more true. Place a brand new baby into a family – he or she is the “leader” for quite a few years. And this will continue through this little one’s life – at every stage.

If I haven’t already lost you completely (I thought I might with the compass/star diagram) – there is a huge lesson here. You are a leader in your world.

Now take that potential thought and place some design around it… “How might you change the circumstances of your situation as a leader?”

In another way we can state it this way …Your leadership touches all areas of your compass/star.

Your life reaches Up, Across, Down and Out....

• Lead Up - Influence the boss and others higher in your world
• Lead Across - Influence co-workers/peers in your world
• Lead Down - Influence subordinates and those lower in your world
• Lead Out - Influence those who do not work in your world

1. What is your potential as a parent today?
2. What is your potential as a grand parent today?
3. What is your potential in your place of work or your social club etc.?
4. What is your potential?

A long while back in an earlier life I read a poster that simply said it all…
“Bloom where you are planted”

God knows your potential. He states something powerfully for us to remember…

Isaiah 55:8-12 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.(NIV)

- by PML

My Catalogues

My garage is my retreat center. Some people travel the world to find a place of repose and spend many thousands of dollars to find what I have in my garage.

In my case I have inherited old tools and have some new ones. It makes work easier to have a tool that is just right. Every good “tool man” knows that. He has likely stretched his spouse’s understanding a little as well at times – as he will need just one more tool to get the job done.

The one important thing that we receive from time to time is the “Tool Catalogue”. These come in different forms – from weekly flyers to online catalogues to full coloured catalogues that I can sit for hours looking through.

One small catalogue has come via a friend passing it on to me. It is “pocket book” size. It has only about 64 pages – so it is relatively small compared to others.

On the cover it states, “The Unique World of Princess Auto”. Below that, on the recent booklet it states, “Sale Starts Tuesday May 30th 8:00 AM – On Sale May 30th to June 11th”

Now I will tell the rest of the story…. A few days ago, on my day off, I walked into the Princess Auto Store in Whitby, Ontario. WOW! It is like walking into the most amazing place ever! I have never been to a place like this. It even smells GOOD! It smells like a real man’s store. It is filled with much more than the 64 page catalogue is – like maybe a million things more than a booklet can contain.

I walked around this store for one hour. They have everything. Not that I need everything right now – but just knowing that it is there is amazing. I know where I can get it if I need it. There is a store house of good things just a short drive away. But actually it is only one click away and there is Princess Auto on the Internet.

As I have thought about my visit to Princess Auto it brought me to a far greater realization.

I have more than this garage and my tools for blessings today. I have a catalogue that is full of resources for me. It represents a store house of amazing “tools” – just ready for me to use. The tools are all old and yet new for me. They are inherited too. They are in God’s workshop of blessings. The catalogue is my Bible. I have everything available to me.

Three main items on sale each day –in fact they are a door prize as you enter the great big place of blessing – Love, Joy and Peace. As I open the Bible as my resource catalogue it has an abundant offer on each page of these give-aways.

The Bible says of the Word of God… in Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.(NIV)

I am using these tool catalogues all the time for reference. God has encouraged me to do the same with his amazing book to… and guess what – it is filled with just what I need.

Have you looked at His catalogue lately? If you don't have a Bible handy - click on the Bible Gateway - the Bible On-line at the side of this Blog (or here) to read what God has in his blessings for you!

With a Sad Heart

Today is not the "highest time for me" as I face some huge struggles with family issues. I have a sad heart.

One family is facing the extradition of an Uncle and a Brother. This brother and uncle will likely go back to China soon - where he could be jailed again, which would be good, or on the other hand executed. I will share some of this story later as details come available.

The second family faces the product of violence and anger - fuelled by alcohol. It is the typical family violence. Isn't that sad to say it that way -"typical"? There has been emotional abuse for years. There has been some physical violence but that is small compared to the threats and anger expressions laid clearly on the table in heated arguments.

If there ever was a week that Peace is needed it is this one. I am overwhelmed with some of the accounts that come my way.

I offer these verses today... all the same but different translations... they have been a great blessing to me.

• Phil 4:77 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.(KJV)
• Phil 4:77 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(NIV)
• Phil 4:77 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.(TLB)

Looking at the Need for PEACE in our Communities

Further to the idea of PEACE and how much it is needed. In Haggersville, Ontario there is a Pentecostal Church. It is a sister church to ours. The pastor and the congregation have been deeply affected by the actions of people in their community. It is just down the road from where this action has been taking place.

The following account, taken from another Blogspot and also from the newspaper reporter in Kitchener-Waterloo area, describes how things can get out of hand.

There certainly is a need for prayer for Peace - and for people to find it personally.
PML

Law no longer rules in Caledonia

A group of native protesters has been flouting the law for more than two months and government just watches

by MATT WALCOFF

(May 31, 2006)
Good liberal that I am, I have always tried to be on the side of the aboriginal inhabitants of North America. Lately, though, I've been hit with a bout of cognitive dissonance over the standoff in Caledonia.

News reports about members of the Six Nations taking over part of the town, destroying property and making life miserable for the citizenry challenged my impression of the Iroquois as a group of underappreciated victims of the perfidy of the white man.

Last weekend, I decided to check out the situation in Caledonia for myself. Initially, I saw little sign of conflict. The barricades looked more like a picket line in a labour dispute than parts of a war zone.

I had no intention of involving myself in the dispute, but I thought it would be cool to snap a picture of the barricades from a safe distance for posterity. I stopped my car on the other side of the street, away from the disputed property. I clicked the button and prepared to be on my way.

How foolish of me to believe the laws of Canada were in effect in Caledonia.

Immediately, a one-eyed protester came darting across the street, motioning to me to roll down my window. I complied, which was my second mistake.

"Gimme your film," he said.

"I'm sorry?" I asked.

"Give me your film. We have authority from the OPP to take your film."

I found it ironic that someone challenging the authority of the government of Ontario would use the OPP as his justification to harass a passer-by. My journalist's instincts set in. I told the one-eyed protester that one, the camera was digital and two, that I was on a public road and had the right to take a picture.

"What public road," my inquisitor asked.

"This one. Highway 6."

"This was Highway 6," he said with a humph. "It's our lane now."

Two more protesters, a man and a woman, joined this unscheduled customs inspection. The man opened one of the back doors of the car and began searching my things for my camera; the woman yelled and gesticulated while rifling through the stuff on my passenger seat.

To his credit, the one-eyed man began to explain how protesters had received threats and feared retaliation if photos were disseminated. I replied that I was from out of town and had no vested interests in his dispute.

I tried to explain that I would be happy to erase any images of him and his friends from my camera if they would just step back from my car.

But by the time I explained that, his colleagues had realized the camera was in the little cubbyhole under my elbow. The second man grabbed me by the throat and pulled me back so the woman could reach in and grab my camera.

"You just lost your camera!" she said, skipping back to the barricade.

My protestations that I was going to delete the pictures met with a gleeful smile.

"You snooze, you lose," she said.

The one-eyed man, though, offered me a deal. If I would show him my driver's licence and let him take down my personal information, they would return my camera, minus the pictures. Seeing little choice in the matter, I handed over my licence, hoping the occupiers weren't going to abscond with that, too.

In the end, the protesters returned my camera after deleting every picture, including the ones that had nothing to do with Caledonia. The woman let me off with a warning: "If we see these pictures anywhere, we know where you live."

How I was going to do anything with the pictures they had deleted, I haven't the faintest.
In their five-minute encounter with me, the protesters had broken several laws -- interfering with traffic, assault, robbery and extortion among them. Throughout the incident, an OPP officer, perhaps 40 metres away, watched and did nothing. I suppose the one-eyed man was right when he said the protesters were operating with the sanction of the police.

Of course, my minor trauma is nothing compared to what the residents of Caledonia have been dealing with since the occupation of a housing-construction site began in February.

Vandals behind the barricades have destroyed a bridge and knocked out power for thousands of homes. Serious accidents have resulted from the diversion of vehicles onto side roads not suited for the traffic. Local businesses have lost thousands of dollars as customers elect not to run a gauntlet to go shopping.

Until the protesters removed a barrier on Argyle Street last week, people who lived on the road could only enter or leave their homes with the permission of the occupiers. They could not have visitors and were subject to an 11 p.m. curfew -- imposed by the protesters, not by any lawful authority. The local newspaper reported one Argyle Street youth has had to move away from home, since no school-bus driver dares to pick him up.

What is going on in Caledonia is not a noble struggle of members of an oppressed minority asserting their civil rights. This is not a 1960 sit-in at a Georgia Woolworth's lunch counter. This is a gang of militant thugs victimizing the law-abiding citizens of Haldimand County, emboldened by the timidity of a province and country paralyzed by political correctness and the fear that one of the occupiers might get hurt.

The Ontario government has responded to the crisis as if it was a teachers' strike, sending in David Peterson to negotiate. But the occupation is not a political dispute; it is a long-running criminal act.

We do not negotiate with bank robbers or drunk drivers. We arrest them and throw them in jail. If they resist? Well, that's why cops have handcuffs, nightsticks and tear-gas grenades.

I'm sure some readers still think the occupiers are the victims, automatically deserving of sympathy as people of colour fighting The Man. Those sympathizers should take note: The Six Nations radicals claim all land within six miles of the Grand River. That includes all of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge. If the occupiers are able to get their way in Caledonia through violence and intimidation, you might wake up next year to find your street under occupation.

Matt Walcoff is a business reporter for The Record.

Peace is Overwhelming

This idea of Peace is an overwhelming one. Peace that is not like the “peace” of this world. The offer that the world makes is not the same one that God gives.

If you have read the earlier Blogspot you will have read this verse,

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)

The reality is that this Peace is there from God. It is powerful and it can weather almost any and all storms… it we allow it to. However, we are the keepers of Peace. It is up to us.

Immediately after I published the last instalment about Peace, I was shaken by an email that indicated an all out assault on my character. Literally for a half hour I was shaken as I read over the words that the person had used about me. The Peace that I had just written about was still there as my heart came back into my chest. It had never left me but a huge cloud of fear was dropped minutes before with the intent to take me out of the place of Peace.

I can report that I survived. It was a weathering of the storm.

The photo of the red flower at the left and the one at the beginning of this posting shows the “Gerbers” that have come to live at our place. We found it and 9 of its friends at a flower center and they now grace our yard. The beauty is not only in its colour but its ability to weather a storm. If you look closely you will see a collection of water on its face – with a huge tear about to fall from its petals.

This flower is so much like our lives. When the wind and weather come, it stands tall and takes what comes. After the storm is over it is still there making the garden beautiful. A few tears falling but the Peace is still there.

The Bible says…in Luke 12:25-29
25 "And besides, what's the use of worrying? What good does it do? Will it add a single day to your life? Of course not!
26 And if worry can't even do such little things as that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 "Look at the lilies! They don't toil and spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not robed as well as they are.
28 And if God provides clothing for the flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, don't you suppose that he will provide clothing for you, you doubters?
29 And don't worry about food-- what to eat and drink; don't worry at all that God will provide it for you.
(TLB)

May God’s Peace be yours this week.

The SARNIA REVIVAL Update June 5, 2006

Since April 26th, Bethel Pentecostal Church has been experiencing a wonderful move of the Spirit of God. We have been having nightly services since that Wednesday night with attendance ranging from 150 to over 500people nightly. In the past 40 days, we have hosted 36 services, and plan to continue again this week. Each service is marked with signs and wonders.Every night we are seeing people born-again, receiving physical healings,many are being spiritually revived, and some are testifying of financial break throughs.

To date, we have had visitors in these nightly services coming from Toronto, Niagara Falls, Peterborough, Windsor, Lansing Michigan, Ohio, British Columbia and all over the South Western Ontario region, just to mention a few places. There is a hunger in this nation for the manifest presence of God. The church office is receiving telephone calls from people all over Canada, who are making plans to fly to Ontario to be part of this revival. Some are making special travel plans while others have altered their vacation plans.Every night of revival services are different, no two are the same. Some nights there is a holy hush, as all who gather sit in reverence before God. Other nights are marked with jubilant worship and dancing. Some nights, people are crying out, wailing for forgiveness and mercy. Other nights the power of God is healing people in their seats, without prayer, without alter calls, without pastors or evangelists laying hands on them.We encourage you to make plans to come to revival meetings to be blessed.

STORIES FROM THE REVIVAL

Friday, June 2, 2006 –
A woman who had a bad ankle since 1994 came forher second time to the revival service. She attends a local United Church.As the congregation worshipped, the pain she had experienced for 12 years subsided, she testified that all pain was gone, Praise God she was healed.

A young man and his wife came to Sarnia four weeks ago to visit family. One night during their visit, they came to a revival service, God spoke to them and told them to move from Sault Ste. Marie, where they were living, to Sarnia to be part of the revival. In obedience, they made the move, and God provided a job for this young man. While in Sarnia, he broke his hand. On Friday night as he worshipped the Lord, he said he felt a tingling in his hand, he went the next day, had the cast removed, and is completely healed. He testified that when he got the cast, the x-ray showed a gap in the bone where it was broken when he had the cast removed, the doctor confirmed that there was no gap in the bone. He was completely healed.

Sunday, June 4, 2006 -
A teenaged girl came out to church on Thursday night. God convicted her of the sin in her life, and she dedicated her life to Christ. On Friday, she went to school and a friend of hers was complaining of pain in his ear, so she prayed, the power of God touched that young man, and healed his ear in that High School. On Saturday, she joined a team in Canatara Park who were witnessing. On Saturday night, through the word of God that was preached, she left the service went home, and filled two garbage bags full of drug paraphernalia, alcohol, clothes, posters, and other things that she believed were strongholds in her life. She has completely turned her life around, has been set free from bondage"

SERVICE SCHEDULE
The revival continues this week. Services are planned as follows:
Tuesday – Revival Prayer at 6:30 p.m. – this is a prayer time, all are welcome
Wednesday – Revival Service at 7:00 p.m. – Pastor Ken Bombay will be ministering
Thursday – Revival Service at 7:00 p.m. – Pastor Ken Bombay will be ministering
Friday – Revival Service at 7:00 p.m. – Staff Pastor of Bethel ministering
Saturday – Revival Service at 7:00 p.m. – Staff Pastor of Bethel ministering
Sunday – Revival Service at 6:30 p.m. – Water Baptism Service
*NOTE* On Friday, June 9, 2006 a major Christian news agency will be visiting the revival service to document this move of God. This agency has hundreds of thousands of readers/subscribers. Mark your calendars and make plans tobe here all this week, you won’t be disappointed.

REVIVAL ON THE STREETS
More and more, we’re hearing of amazing things that are happening on the streets. From healings in the local High Schools to salvations in Canatara Park. God is sweeping this region. We encourage you to step out in holy boldness in your workplace, high school, and home and witness to the lost, proclaim freedom to those in bondage, and declare healing to those who are sick.

On Saturday, June 10, 2006 we will be ministering in Canatara Park once again and is stepping out in power and authority for the cause of Christ. Meet at the play equipment, near the bandshell at 4:00 p.m. – If it’s raining this outreach will be postponed.

Very Special Family Heirlooms

My wife and I have been blessed with some very special family heirlooms. No they are not worth much on any market or garage sale - but there value is beyond imagination to us personally. I want to describe two of these treasures for you.

One special treasure is my father-in-law’s New Testament. He died when my wife was about 9 years old - long before I had a chance to meet him. His name was Edgar Jones. The small blue New Testament was part of his possessions.

The book is small and fits easily into a shirt pocket. On the front below the words New Testament is a Crown with the symbolic initial GR. The “GR” has smaller “VI” between the two initials. Then below this is the old symbol of the Royal Canadian Air Force. For those that are too young GR with the “VI” inserted was the emblem of His Majesty George the VI – King of the British Empire.

Inside the front cover is the following inscriptions.

13/5/44
Presented to
LAC Jones, E.R.
By the
British Foreign Bible Society in
Canada and Newfoundland
“Be strong and of good courage”

Signed, E.R. Woodside, Padre, Dartmouth, N.S.

One the first page to the right you read these words….
“A MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING
To all serving in my forces by sea, or land, or in the air, and indeed to all my people engaged in defence of the Realm, I commend the reading of this book. For centuries the Bible has been a wholesome and strengthening influence in our national life, it behoves us in these momentous days to turn with renewed faith to this Divine source of comfort and inspiration.
September 15, 1939

Edgar served on the east coast of Canada doing warfare against the German Submarines in the 1940s. The German subs came into Canada’s costal waters sinking our ocean going vessels right off our shore. Edgar’s part was to help protect our people.

The second treasure for our family is my Grandma Kirkpatrick’s “Hope Chest”.

The Hope Chest was hand built by my Grandpa Schledee in southern Texas in about 1900. Today it is about 106 years old and it sits as a hope chest in our family room. It is built of Camphor Wood from southern Texas, a wood that was used for making coffins.

The Hope Chest is grooved on the top with six notches that allowed the ropes tied around it to find a place to hold the contents securely. After 106 years the fragrant sap of the camphor tree is almost gone leaving large holes in the wood.

When I sanded the wood down preparing it for an oil finish, the fragrance was there very powerfully. That was the day I discovered the Camphor Wood. For years it had been covered with wallpaper – 15 layers to be exact. The Hope Chest stood at the foot of my grandparent’s bed all those years on the farm in southern Saskatchewan. All of the kids used it as our launch pad when we jumped on to their bed.

So many memories in these two treasures – a little Bible and a big old box. These special treasures that are so close to our hearts are invaluable to connecting us to our roots. Emma Kirkpatrick was part of an immigrant family from Hamburg, Germany coming to southern Texas – then later to southern Saskatchewan. Edgar Jones was part of an immigrant family from Minnesota, U.S.A. Both from large families that pioneered the flat prairie of southern Saskatchewan.

I wouldn’t give up these treasures for any money.

Yet as I pause today to reflect on these special family pieces, I am reminded of something that is even more important to my wife and me. It is not quite like a book or a box. It is not so tangible and yet it is. It is something that we would never give up –and yet some people and things try to steal it away at times. It value is far greater than anything that we own now.

It is Peace. It is from God himself delivered by Jesus his son. It is a family heirloom that is beyond monetary value. It has been “in the family” for over 2000 years now. Each one of us that have held it close to our hearts, have loved it dearly. Jesus describes it this way…

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)

It carries a huge “rider” with it – just like any real good insurance policy. This is like no other package that you will ever buy or receive. It prevents troubled hearts and raw fear. Because with it – comes the fact that God himself is there to personally supervise its application to every aspect of my life. He said one special thing that I hold tightly to… “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)

Can I ask you today…. Is your life a little tough right now… with many or even some upsetting things happening? Can I ask you to simply stop, sense and know God’s Peace. It is there just for you. It is a great treasure that he has allowed us to have from the family heirlooms.

The Sarnia Revival Update - Youth Deeply Motivated

Tonight marks the 34th service in 38 days. Over the past 38 days all who have gathered at the revival services have witnessed a mighty move of God. A man with cancer under his eyes was completely healed. A local doctor even sent an email confirming, "Where cancer was once present, it is no more, call it what you want, he is cancer free."

Numerous testimonies of hearing being restored have come forth.
A boy who doctors told would be completely blind in six months had his sight restored. Some afflicted with arthritis and tendonitis have been healed; all pain gone, mobility being restored. One woman testified that after 20 years of a pay equity dispute, a previous employer of hers is paying a large settlement, more than she needs to get out of debt. It’s only by the power of God. A woman who has worked the past four years on the handi-bus in Chatham, Ontario came to the service. She said her arms would pull out of their sockets because of the job she did. She worked with excruciating pain. She was touched by God, completely healed, and works now with no pain, and the arms don’t pull out of the socket anymore. A woman addicted to alcohol for 19 years completely set free. A young man addicted to crystal-meth and alcohol, set free from him addictions. This is just a sampling of what God is doing in our midst as we join together and press in. To read about these and other miracles go to http://www.sarniarevival.com/testimony.html

Each night of revival is different. Some nights there are over 500 people earnestly worshiping, and seeking a touch. Other nights as few as 100 people join together, earnestly pressing in to God. The amazing thing is that no matter how many come, there is a marked outpouring of God’s manifest presence. Some nights those who come have seen a visible presence of God in the form of a cloud. One woman from London, Ontario testified to being taken
up in the spirit and seeing heaven. Every night is different,
but the power of God continues to flow.

Last night, Thursday, June 1, 2006. Many youth from schools all over the city gathered. A call was given that any youth who wanted boldness to reach their friends and schools to come and be filled with a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those who were present rallied around these youth and a powerful prayer time ensued.

God is raising up a generation of young people who are passionate about him, who are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you live in the area, or are driving distance away, we encourage you to come out as often as possible and be blessed, renewed strengthened and healed. A pastor from B.C. has made his intention known that he is flying in for revival services. A family from Winnipeg is doing the same. A pastor in Calgary heard about revival and altered his vacation plans to come in June. Those who are hungry and those who desire a mighty move of God throughout this nation are dropping everything, sacrificing time and money to come to experience the manifest presence of God!

Don’t miss out.
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REVIVAL ON THE STREET
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Many youth have been so set on fire for God that there is a buzz in one of the local high schools. A principal called the church office concerned over the lunch hour one day this week because over 150 students had congregated in a church parking lot across the street from the high school and there was a "healing service," as this principal described it, taking place. Some youth were healed during that impromptu service, and the administration of the school doesn’t know how to handle it. In fact, one student was suspended for praying, and preaching. The local media caught wind of this and is running a story about it today.

This revival is breaking out of the confines of four walls, and hitting the streets. It will flood this city, and spread through the region, and will not stop until it reaches coast to coast.
This Saturday at 4:00 p.m. those who are interested can join us again in Canatara Park for outreach to the community. Meet at the band shell.
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SERVICES THIS WEEKEND
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Friday, June 2, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Pastor Tim Gibb preaching Saturday, June 3, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Pastor Greg Holmes preaching Sunday, June 4, 2006 – 6:30 p.m. – Pastor Tim Gibb preaching

The Ezra Fast

The amazing story of Ezra and God’s chosen people leaving Persia to travel to Jerusalem is a good one to read this week. They had been in captivity in this country and were now ready to leave. Last evening we looked at this account in depth. In Chapter 8 you will read…

Ezra 8:22-23 – The Living Bible
For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and cavalry to accompany us and protect us from the enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king that our God would protect all those who worshiped him, and that disaster could come only to those who had forsaken him! So we fasted and begged God to take care of us. And he did.

The great problem they faced was the danger that was along the way. In Ezra’s day you didn’t travel anywhere without an armed escort. It was possible that they could have had one from the scripture’s account – but they told the King that God would look after them. They put themselves out on a limb so to speak – where God was the only one that could or would take care of them. A step of faith some would call it.

Elmer Towns in his book on Fasting for Spiritual Breakthroughs, pointed out that the people that Ezra was leading had been taken into captivity to Persia when they were poor farmers in their own land. While in Persia they had moved into different kind of occupations including shop keeping. Most importantly they were blessed. As they were leaving Persia to head out for Jerusalem people gave them gifts on top of all the things that they were carrying with them of their own possessions.

The account in Ezra says…

Ezra 8:24-29 - The Living Bible
I appointed twelve leaders of the priests-- Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten other priests - to be in charge of transporting the silver, gold, the gold bowls, and the other items that the king and his council and the leaders and people of Israel had presented to the Temple of God. I weighed the money as I gave it to them and found it to total $1,300,000 in silver; $200,000 in silver utensils; many millions in gold; and twenty gold bowls worth a total of $100,000. There were also two beautiful pieces of brass that were as precious as gold. I consecrated these men to the Lord and then consecrated the treasures-- the equipment and money and bowls that had been given as free-will offerings to the Lord God of our fathers. "Guard these treasures well!" I told them; "present them without a penny lost to the priests and the Levite leaders and the elders of Israel at Jerusalem, where they are to be placed in the treasury of the Temple."

Elmer Towns points out that the gold actually was about 7,500 pounds. That is terms of today’s gold prices is about $70 Million worth.

Now from a practical point of view – it would take a transportation system to move that much weight across the countryside in that day. With no tractor trailers of today you would need to rely on slowly moving animals plodding along dangerous trade routes – carefully watched by robbers and thieves. In other words you are easy picking.

They realized their problem and the fact that they had not asked the King for help. That is the best reason to turn to God. In fact just turning to God for help is the first thing any of us need to do.

The Ezra Fast is a fast that encourages a whole church or group to take up, when important and even dangerous events are in front of us. It is not blind spirituality –but rather intelligent and rational steps taken towards an answer. If you can read Ezra chapter 8 completely – but in particular verse 15 to 32 – you will catch the different steps that Ezra leads them through.

As you read this portion of scripture look at what Elmer Towns suggests with the following…

Prescription for the Ezra Fast

• Step 1: Choose those to be involved
• Step 2: Share the problem
• Step 3: Fast Seriously
• Step 4: Fast before attempting a solution
• Step 5: Fast on Site with Insight
• Step 6: Fast for Step-by-Step Guidance

Applying this Ezra Fast to the “fast pace of 2006” is almost difficult to imagine. But we are willing to try.

In our discussion of last evening we are looking at an Ezra Fast for the summer of 2006 as we face an interesting fall season. We are looking at a possible growth spurt in our church. But there are some dangers ahead as well. We have wisdom and good leadership – but before we move forward we are gathering together to ask for God’s guidance.

How could you use it in your life? How could you join with the rest of us as we seek God’s protection and guidance in some important areas of our church life? Finally – will you join us in this great step forward?