July 25, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there!

“What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider’s web. He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold.” Job 8:14-15

Do you like spiders?  Apparently Penny and Heather in our church hate them.  I have been doing a lot of painting lately.  It beats spring cleaning any day.  Our house in our Churchville valley attracts all kinds of insects.  One day while caulking a window to help keep these predators out I watched a tiny spider catch a fly in its web.  No matter how hard the fly battled to get loose the spider’s web held him firm with the silk the spider produces (60 ft./hr.).  The more the fly flipped around the faster the spider, one third his size, bound him in. Amazing! The next day only the empty fly carcass remained with a fat spider fast asleep in the corner.  However, little did the spider know that in half a second I would wipe the web, the spider and the dead fly into the garbage pail.  Job’s friend’s comment about the fragility of a spider’s web is very correct. But Job’s comment, “…the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding.” (28:29) is vital.

Maureen Brown visits her doctor this week to check out her eye that is causing double vision.  Pray that her health will be restored soon so she can get back to work.  Remember Chris Burton’s dad who is struggling with his health due to his recent surgery for prostate cancer.  Pray for Brandon Spears and his summer involvement at Camp Borden.  May he stand firm as a Christian young man.  Pray for Hayley Macdonald who fell off of a climbing apparatus in a local park Thursday evening.  Thankfully she is only badly bruised with no broken bones.

Two weeks (Aug. 7) and Gary and I will be leaving for Quebec.  Now that is scary with all the details to get ready for our Mass Personal Contact campaign for St. Eustache.  Please pray lots for this outreach endeavor to establish a new church among a people that are very disillusioned about any church.  Heartland’s services will continue as usual here in Brampton. Also remember our Fellowship denomination this week as the Board meets together to discern God’s will for the future.

We have a cupboard in our hallway that contains the books and videos we have been accumulating over the years.  Why not take one home today?

Join with us for Bible study and prayer at a our weekly home group this Thursday evening, 7:00 at the Burton home. 

Gary and I celebrate our 42 wedding anniversary this Tuesday morning by going to the dentist – Gary for a root canal and myself for a broken tooth with filling.  Now that is togetherness!

God bless,

Wendy

wendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.org;  www.fellowshipnetworksradio.org; www.ttcbiblereading.org; www.dtfbmusic.com; www.gvc.name; www.compasscoachinginternational.com; www.myanmar.kainos.org; www.churchcreation.com.  This newsletter is always located at www.blog.heartlandfellowship.ca.  It is a summary of our Sunday morning church service which takes place at 9:00 a.m. at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON. 

Questioning One’s Devotion by Gary Carter: Who is the most devoted person you have ever known?  What is that person devoted to?  It may be to model railroads; this person may know every detail connected with this hobby.  Another may spend numerous hours in Internet gaming.  Some of these distractions may be useful but many are not particularly when a crisis hits e.g. the onslaught of a hurricane, a broken marriage.  Warren Buffett, the “oracle of Omaha”, says he has everything he needs.  He has lived in an ordinary house for 41 years and drives a 5 year old Cadillac. When he was 6 or 7 he decided he wanted to become the richest man in the world. Through his entrepreneurship and wise investments in Coke and other companies he is now worth $51 billion. All that wealth won’t matter when he finally dies as there won’t be a U-Haul trailer being pulled behind his hearse.  His recommendation is to “invest in yourself.”  This could be through schooling, trying out something new etc.

The Bible encourages us to develop a strong devotion on matters that count such as focusing on behaviour or activity which will in turn show our commitment or devotion to God.  The question may be asked, “Do I have to?”  And the answer is “Yes!”  Gary is working on a list of all the commands mentioned in the Bible for a Christian.  Go to www.healthierchurch.com and see how you do on his survey.  When you take your car in for a car wash you are instructed to take your hands off of the wheel, relax and let the machine go through its cleaning process.  This is an illustration of grace in a Christian’s life.  If you stay out of grace your life will get dirty.  What are God’s expectations for your life?
Another One Hit Wonder by Steve Macdonald: Gamaliel (or Gamaliel the Elder or Rabbi Gamaliel) is mentioned in Acts 5:30-39 (same passage as the last two men we studied) and in Acts 22:3. His name means “reward of God.”  He was a Pharisee and a leading authority in the Sanhedrin in the mid-first century.  He was the grandson of the great Jewish teacher Hillel the Elder who was associated with the development of the Mishnah (the first written recording of the Jewish oral law) and the Talmud (Rabbinical discussions on the law, Biblical interpretation, ethics, etc.).  Gamaliel was a father to a son, Simeon, and a daughter. He died 20 years before the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem.

Gamaliel held the  reputation of being one of the greatest teachers in the annals of Judaism along with teaching Saul (later called the Apostle Paul).  From the Acts 5 passage we learn that his wise advice to the religious leaders was to leave Peter and the other apostles alone.  If their teaching was only a mere idea of man then it would be overthrown.  If not then they would be fighting against God.  Gamaliel must be listened to twice.  In his first declaration we must assume that Christ is Lord because His Gospel has not been overthrown.  Secondly, If the Gospel has not been overthrown and someone opposes it ultimately that person is waging an attack on God.  They are fighting against God for Christ is of God.  In other words, he taught us that Christ is who He claimed to be – the Son of God and Saviour of the world.
One Another – It Sets Us Apart (John 13:34) -  by Gary Carter: An interesting survey was made among 1000 Christians in which 89% concurred that the church exists to meet the needs of “me and my family.”  11% said the church exists to reach others.
John 13:34 commands us to “love one another.” Another word overlapping the word “love” is “devotion” as found in the following verses in the New Internationa Version of the Bible: Matthew 6:24 (referring to money); Acts 2:42 (teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer); Romans 12:10 (brotherly love); I Corinthians 16:15 (service); Colossians 4:2 (prayer); I Timothy 1:4 (myths/geneologies); I Timothy 4:13 (public reading of Scripture); Titus 3:8 (good works); and Titus 3:14 (doing good).  In the King James Version of the Bible this word is translated as hold to; continue steadfastly; kindly affectioned; addicted themselves; continued in; give heed to; give attendance to; be careful to; and to maintain.
Can you make a list up to about 10 choices that show what you are devoted to in your life?  What would be on that list if someone else did it for you?  Romans 13:8 encourages us to have a “continuing debt to love one another.”  We can’t wait for the other guy to respond first.  Recognize that you are “it” whether they reciprocate or not.  Then others will see that difference and know that you are a devoted disciple of Christ.

Wonder? Phrases by Steve Macdonald:
Is it a bargain if you buy a violin with no strings attached?
If you are on a low carb diet, are you not going against the grain?
Would a get-together of optimists be a glee club?
Does a glee club ever sing sad songs?
If a race is neck and neck, would that be a necktie?
How can you dig yourself out of a hole?
If you make ends meet, aren’t you just going around in circles?
Should you break into song, if you can’t find the key?
 

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July 18, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Hello One and All!

“…always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

Do you know of anyone that prays particularly for you?  Irene Kenyon was a name I heard in our home when I was growing up.  Recently with Gary helping with a church evaluation at High Park Baptist in Toronto I read in their church history that she was a deaconness there in the 1930s.  In the 1940s (the decade I was born) she had become a secretary for the well known pastor and founder, Dr. O. J. Smith, at Peoples Church (location at that time on Bloor St. in downtown Toronto).  She lived with my parents who owned a boarding house not too far from the church. No doubt she prayed for my arrival and ensuing years even though I never remember meeting her. The mother of a missionary friend prayed for our ministry faithfully for many a year before she received her heavenly reward - and now an encouraging Bible School professor and his wife plus others we know and don’t know about. It is always hard to measure the impact of these prayers but what a great demonstration of love for someone else!

Congratulations to Fred & Maureen Brown as they celebrate their first year of marriage – a year that has been filled with unemployment and health struggles.  Movement in Maureen’s eye seems to be improving but she still has double vision.  Please pray for full time employment for Fred.

Please pray for our church particularly since Gary and I will be away for most of the month of August.  We will leave Sat. Aug. 7.  Continue to pray for our Mass Personal Contact campaign in Quebec that a good church start will happen for this 95% French community of St. Eustache near Montreal.

Chris Burton’s father’s surgery seemed to go quite well this past Wed.  Pray for complete restoration from his prostate cancer.

This past week we finally got our Internet connection fixed which was due to a problem with Bell’s wire from our home to Steeles Ave.  The technician was curious about our cafe room, as are all those strangers who enter our front door.  He seems to have had some Christian background but probably not attending church elsewhere currently.  Gary had a good conversation with him and presented him a copy of his book, Hot Brass Tacks.  Pray that God will work in his heart.

Join with us for Bible study and prayer at a our weekly home group this Thursday evening, 7:00 at the Burton home. 

Take care,

Wendy

wendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.orgwendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orgwendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orgwendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.orgwendy.carter@kainos.org;
www.heartlandfellowship.ca; www.the-music-project.com; www.cafeontheway.org; www.fellowshipnetworksradio.org; www.ttcbiblereading.org; www.dtfbmusic.com; www.gvc.name; www.compasscoachinginternational.com; www.myanmar.kainos.org; www.churchcreation.com.  This newsletter is always located at www.blog.heartlandfellowship.ca.  It is a summary of our Sunday morning church service which takes place at 9:00 a.m. at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON. 

Getting Something out of Church by Gary Carter: So what do you get by going to church? Someone suggested encouragement.  What else would you have on your list?  Sometimes you don’t realize what you have received until maybe you leave that particular church.  Even watching children grow up year after year matters to you along with good memories or relationships you have developed with other family members.  All that is part of what you have become today.  A bad day in church is better than a good day at the baseball park, the Indycar race, a family reunion, even school or work. When someone walks away from a marriage is life really better for that person?  When you walk away from the church are you really better?  The relationship with the church was bought by God’s Son at the greatest price.  God gave the church for us to become closer to Him and to each other.

One Hit Wonder by Steve Macdonald: In Acts 5:37 we learn about Judas the Galilean, another leader of a band of people in revolt who was killed (according to Acts) with his followers scattering.  The historian Josephus reported that Judas, from the city of Gamala (born about 6 or 7 C.E.), and Zadok, a Pharisee, had rebelled due to new taxation ordered by the Governor of Judea.  The High Priest could not overcome this revolt. Publius Sulpicious Quirinius, Governor of Syria, conducted the well-known census in Luke 2:1-2. Judas was the author of the fourth branch of philosophy called Zealotism (the other three Sadducees, Essenes, Pharisees).  This group believed that no one but God was Israel’s master.  As with Jesus and Theudas (see last week) being called the Messiah, Judas probably also bore the name trying to make a bid for national dependence

One Another – It Sets Us Apart (John 13:34-35) -  by Gary Carter: The concept of “one anothering” is used about 100 times in the New Testament and refers to about 40 different issues that sets Christianity apart from other religions.  Companies organize or configure themselves in various chart forms e.g. several rectangles with one rectangle on top, concentric circles, a pyramid, overlapping circles etc.  These configurations help to describe how people relate to one another.  Two-way parallel lines with arrows pointing in opposite directions picture how church people relate to each other - back and forth.  The thickness of the lines may depend on how much love is shown to the other person.  John 13:34-35 is our anchor point or verses which mention we are to “love one another” three times as commanded by Jesus.  Other verses with the same theme are: Romans 12:10; Romans 13:8; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:2; Hebrews 10:24; I Peter 1:22; I Peter 3:8; I Peter 5:14; I John 3:11, 23; I John 4:7, 11, 12; 2 John 1:5.
Love One Another:  What do I do to make this real in my church?  For example, do you speak to each other by singing in church?  If you don’t sing you are failing one another.     Appreciating the other person’s music has become a #1 battle in our churches.  It is our Biblical responsibility, young and old alike, to expand and appreciate all music so that the church can be unified and become outstandingly attractive.  Give your love sacrificially in light of Christ’s sacrifice for you.

Communion: The passage in I Corinthians 11 talks about sharing the Lord’s Supper with one another.  Eating together plays a big part in the New Testament. This interaction built into the context (thus our Breakfast Church) allows people to better relate to each other.

Sport Orts (or Sport Terminology that Doesn’t Make Sense) by Steve Macdonald:
In baseball when you miss the ball why is it called a strike?
How come all baseball players are not called catchers?
Is football coaching a sideline career?
What do they keep in a pole vault?
Can playing golf get you teed off?
Isn’t polo mostly horseplay?
How come baseball innings are made out of outs?
In boxing during every round why do the boxers square off?
 

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July 11, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there!

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth…in my flesh I will see God; I will see him with my own eyes. Job 19:25-27

Many Canadians were able to see the Queen and Prince Philip last week with their own eyes.  These included a Bible School acquaintance of old and our son, Lee’s, father-in-law.  How exciting for them all!  The  Queen always appears so personable and interested in the particular person she meets no matter how tired she might feel from the oppressive Toronto heat.  Even more, Jesus Christ, is a personal Saviour to Christians all over the world and how truly exciting it will be to meet Him face to face.

Rob Carter heads back home from Kazakhstan this Tuesday.  Their music team has been busy playing almost every day - sometimes twice a day.  Recently they had a gigue at a Men’s Prison where 5 guys accepted the Lord.  Please continue to pray that good follow up will happen with all the contacts made.

Please continue to pray for the return of Maureen Brown’s vision in her one eye. Also remember Howie Johnson’s dad who has had recent heart surgery and Chris Burton’s dad faces prostate cancer surgery this coming Wed.

We will be sending more money to Richard and his cohorts this week for food.  It’s not too late to add some more!  One of the orphans, Judith, has just graduated from high school (very hard to do) and they are very proud of her.  Pray for the next step in her life.  Establishing their own business would provide so many opportunities for their graduates. 

Join with us for Bible study and prayer at a our weekly home group this Thursday evening, 7:00 at the Burton home.  Steve Macdonald will be in charge as Gary and I will be attending a Credit Valley Association Pastors’ and Wives’ dinner to honour 3 couples who have retired.

We have been having problems with our Internet the last few weeks along with publishing this newsletter.  Sorry for the e-mails that say the blog is not there.  We are working on it all.

Have a great week,

Wendy

wendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.orgwendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orggaryvcarter@kainos.orgwendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.orgwendy.carter@kainos.org;
www.heartlandfellowship.ca; www.the-music-project.com; www.cafeontheway.org; www.fellowshipnetworksradio.org; www.ttcbiblereading.org; www.dtfbmusic.com; www.gvc.name; www.compasscoachinginternational.com; www.myanmar.kainos.org; www.churchcreation.com.  This newsletter is always located at www.blog.heartlandfellowship.ca.  It is a summary of our Sunday morning church service which takes place at 9:00 a.m. at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON. 

Do You Care About Sports? by Gary Carter: Have you been following the news this week about the final destination of the famous basketball players, Chris Bosh, Lebron James and Dwayne Wade in Miami?  This afternoon nearly a billion people worldwide will be watching the World Cup game between the Netherlands and Spain. (Oops, as this blog is being written Spain has just scored to win the game!) All these super stars really want to win and they work extremely hard at it.

Societies have always been consumed by sports.  Paul, in I Corinthians 9:24-27, describes running a race an inferior pursuit as the crown won will not last.  Paul knew he wanted to finish his life well.  God set the bar high and he strove for it.  Are you doing your best for Jesus?  Do you want to be happy or unhappy? Aim matters more than the results.  It is hard to do your best when those around you don’t; however if you try you will meet God’s standard even if you don’t win.

One Hit Wonder by Steve Macdonald: In Acts 5:34-36 we learn about Theudas.  So who was he?  According to Josephus, a Jewish historian of the time, he was a self-proclaimed prophet. Theudas, this Jewish rebel, said he would command the Jordan River to divide so that people could cross with ease as in Joshua 3:14-17.  400 believed him; however the Romans raided his camp.  He was killed and his followers dispersed.  He had a short-lived debut which came to nothing. Gamaliel, the Pharisee, convinced the Sanhedrin with this illustration that Peter and the other apostles should not be killed for their preaching.  He realized their activity, if not of God, would fail.  Millions and millions of people through the centuries have followed Christ’s teaching.
My Unique Design – Ephesians 2:8-10 -  by Gary Carter: You have been uniquely designed for a special role.  The dash between your birth date and the day of your death is all that matters.  That does not mean you are better than anyone else.  You have been created for a reason.  Do you understand that reason or plan that God intended before He made you? 

The person of God, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, must be completely equipped.  The Bible, God-breathed and inspired, teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains us to live righteously and do good things.
Hebrews 10:24-25 suggests four active words to follow.
Consider: To consider or think about what we should do we must invest time.  Our cafe room, 95% finished (yeah!), has been well planned – not just slapped together – for added functionality (extra electrical plugs with a new light in the hall cupboard etc.) and pleasing appearance.  Why is it we find it hard to spend the same amount of time spurring one another to good deeds?
Meet: To make our church move forward we must continue to meet even if there is only one person that can participate.  We must resist cancelling a meeting; the second time it will be twice as easy.  Some churches take the summer off and end up with nothing in the fall.
Encourage: To encourage one another we must have the courage and readiness to do the right thing.  We must consider and meet to know what people need.
Hurry: To affect society we must believe that life is a hurry before one’s final day.  Every day may not be perfect but it could be our last.  Bob Probert, a well-known hockey player, died unexpectedly this week at age 45.  He was not a gentle giant on the ice and yet his death was a shock to many.  His day is gone.
We must all get right with God for this is what He made us and saved us for!

Ghost Words by Steve Macdonald:
Some English words suggest the existence of other words – either their opposites or stem words which are not real.  These are ghost words.
1. Behead: Shouldn’t it be dehead instead?
2. Gruesome: if it is so bad shouldn’t it be grueplenty?
3. Preempt: Is there no empt because something else always happens first?
4. Refrigerate: What is frigerate and why are we doing it again?
5. Substantial:  Is this worse than stantial?
6. Window: If it has glass in it shouldn’t it be no-wind-ow?
7. Underneath:  Did you ever wonder what was overneath?
8. Kilter: If being out of this is bad, where do you get more?
9. Interrupt: Is this what connects the rupts?

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July 4, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there once again!

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5

So who are you rooting for now to win the World Cup? There have been a lot of surprising losers this year. The players and fans alike get so upset and disappointed when their particular team didn’t win. I like that verse above because of God’s provision of hope and love when all else can so easily fail.

Continue to remember Richard and his daily ministry needs. Pray that he will be able to set up a self-sustaining business to be an example for many in the rest of Myanmar.

Our son, Rob, and his music team arrived safely in Kazakhstan on Tuesday but no further reports on their ministry. It isn’t very safe to communicate much by the Internet. Please pray that this team of about one dozen will work together and impact many lives for Christ. Could you also please pray for our other son, Lee and his wife, Melissa upon the birth of their first baby (Aiden Jackson born July 5 - both mother & son doing well)? They will be moving back to ON from BC the end of this month. Please pray for a location to live and employment.

Home Group happens this coming Thursday at 7:00 at the Burton Home. Come study the Bible and pray with us.

Have a good week if you enjoy the heat!

Wendy

wendy.carter@kainos.org; garyvcarter@kainos.org; 905-230-8116
www.heartlandfellowship.ca; www.the-music-project.com; www.fellowshipnetworksradio.org; www.myanmar.kainos.org; www.cafeontheway.org; www.ttcbiblereading.org; www.dtfbmusic.com; www.gvc.name; www.compasscoachinginternational.com. This newsletter is always located at www.blog.heartlandfellowship.ca. It is a summary of our Sunday morning church service which takes place at 9:00 a.m. at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON.

Salting our Good Land by Gary Carter: Canada is 143 years old. Does any of her birthdays stick out to you e.g. her 100th in 1967? Where were you at the time? Even in those 43 years we have seen tremendous changes. The Carters received a new programmable thermometer the other day for their furnace/ac which is hooked to Hydro One via satellite so that if need be the city can change the temperature in our home in relation to electricity requirements for the day. Some changes may be good, some bad. The plastics in our oceans don’t decompose. Vast areas of the ocean now have water without oxygen. Apparently the water can recover itself with proper care. What can we do? We must become more serious about our world physically and spiritually. This week Gary hopes to obtain an appointment with our local city councillor to see if something can be done about speeders coming down the hill near us in Churchville and spinning out. One day a pedestrian will be unexpectedly hurt or killed and it will be particularly sad if that person is walking with a baby carriage. Since 1985 when the Brampton recycle program began we now recycle 70% of our garbage. Will our society get better? If Christians live as they should then yes. Jesus is recorded in Matthew 5: 13-16 (His sermon on the mount), “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Hiding in Thee by Chris Burton: Are you acquainted with the old hymn below? It was written by William O. Cushing who lived from 1823 - 1902. He was born in Massacheusettes. He attended the Unitarian Church and tutored by the pastor; however later on he joined the Christian Church. At 18 he began to prepare himself for the ministry with his first pastorate being in Searsburg, NY where he met his wife, Hena Proper. They married in 1854 and served in different places in NY. He was a noble, sweet-spirited pastor, loved by young and old alike. Unfortunately, Mrs. Cushing’s health failed and she died in 1870. Then Mr. Cushing contracted a creeping paralysis so he had to go into retirement. He started writing Gospel poems as he needed to find something to do with the remainder of his life. This particular song began his hymn writing career. It grew out of his own sorrow and suffering. Mr. Sankey, well known for his hymnal at the time, had someone write music for it. The last 13 years of William’s life was in the care of others. He had no home but lots of friends.

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
Alone I would perish, undone would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Refrain:
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its pow’r;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

My Unique Design – Ephesians 2:10 - by Gary Carter: A book Gary is currently reading called, unChristian, comments that Christians in the US define themselves by what they don’t do. Isn’t it better to be known as a “good works” machine rather than a “non-swearing” machine? Our local mayor is calling for volunteers to help with the restoration of our local historical society. As a Christian would you participate for her sake or God’s? Let’s look at some more verses from the New Testament on good works.

I Timothy 5:9-10: These verses list the qualifications for a widow to receive welfare from the church. Since money was limited it was important that no one take advantage of this service. She was to help bring up children, not just her own (maybe for the people of God); she was to be known for her hospitality which is in disrepute in our day (most just go to Tim’s); there was washing of the feet of saints refers to demeaning tasks and hard work; helping those in trouble; and devoting her time to all kinds of other good deeds.

I Timothy 5:24-25: Good deeds are obvious; good deeds cannot be hidden.

I Timothy 6:17-19: Rich people in the church are often known as not being generous so it was important for this to be mentioned. Christians are frequently afraid of rich people. Rich Christians are not exempt at doing good deeds; they are used to having other people do things. Rich Christians are responsible to be rich in good deeds (above the norm).

2 Timothy 3:16-17: The Bible is inspired by God to equip you for good works. Its purpose is teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. It is not to make you feel better or happier.

Titus 2:14: The word, “eager” meaning zealous is used twice in this book in relation to good works. Our World Cup enthusiasts are a great example of being zealous. Jesus gave Himself to redeem us; Jesus gave Himself to purify us; and Jesus gave Himself to create eager good workers.

Titus 3:8: Good works take devotion (the root word = rule); good works are to be stressed (so you won’t head in the wrong direction and miss opportunities); and good works create excellence and profitability.

Titus 3:14: There are other benefits as well. Devotion to good works is learned. Devotion to good works leads to provision of daily necessities. Devotion to good works is necessary for a productive life.

So what good deeds did you do last week? Should these have been noticed? And what is your schedule like this week? It will get filled up with something. Why not take the rest of this day to figure out your plan for good works for this week?

De-Lighted Words by Steve Macdonald:
1. Isn’t it embarassing to be debriefed in public?
2. By constantly nagging her husband does that default him?
3. Does a butcher deliver a chicken?
4. After choosing the wrong floor on an elevator why can’t you depress the button?
5. After blowing out the candles on a cake, are they delighted?
6. Laryngitis will denoted a good singer every time.
7. If the Sergeant finds a Cadet still in bed, is it necessary to debunk him?

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