Heartland News & Prayer

September 20, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings!

 

“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.”

Psalm 111:3

The autumn is fast approaching this coming Wednesday - not too many gardening days left. Here’s one last tip for the year. Do you want to get rid of dandelions? Just pour boiling water on them and you will see them die quickly. Now that’s cheap enough and very green. My problem is Creeping Charlie which is creeping all over my backyard. Any suggestions? I am always amazed at how people figure out all these solutions and amazed all the more that our Creator has given us so much to discover and enjoy in nature around us.

 

Gary and I will be leaving for Williamsburg, VA next Saturday for a week of writing and relaxation plus another week in Pennsylvania. His latest book will be called Life on the Zipline – From Fear to Awe. This is a compilation of the writing from his colleagues for Compass Coaching International (www.compasscoachinginternational.com) – a program that trains life coaches. We will return Oct. 9 just in time for Thanksgiving Sunday. If you need to contact us please touch base with Sara Burton @ 905-230-1693.

 

Can & Mylene Nghiem are graciously willing to open their home to William from Myanmar for an approximate six-month period. Please pray for the logistics of this endeavour to come together. William needs to renew his passport and get to Bangkok to obtain his visa in the next few weeks. I will be making flight arrangements for him from Yangon to Canada. His apprenticeship will include working and speaking in our church, developing his English language skills, figuring out our Canadian culture and learning to put a business together to make money for his ministry back in Myanmar. Please let us know if your family can provide one meal/week during his stay so you can get to know him better and vice verse plus it will allow him to practice his English.

 

Our son Rob and his wife, Jessica, didn’t make it home to Moosonee this week as Jess began labour last Monday and was ambulanced from Huntsville to the Orillia Hospital. Unfortunately the labour did not continue and now they are hunkered down in Port Parry with her sister and husband for the next couple of weeks so that the baby can grow closer to full term. Her Moose Factory hospital cannot handle a premi delivery. Their 3 girls are back in Moosonee with their grandparents. Please pray for this unsettling time in their lives and that their baby will be strong and healthy when finally delivered.

 

Home Group will happen this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Burton home. We have been looking at all the sermons in the Book of Acts. Come and join us in our thought-provoking study.

 

Enjoy those beautiful leaves that are just beginning to turn,

 

Wendy

wendy.carter@kainos.org

This blog is a summary of our 9:00 Sunday morning services held at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON L6Y 0H3, 905-230-8116.

 

 

Handling Fear by Gary Carter: Have you ever tried ziplining or riding the Hampster Ball or Giant Swing at an entertainment park? These activities can be very fearful at the beginning but as the ride continues you may begin to enjoy it. Often people do not move forward as they are frozen in time and afraid to look for a new job or take a new course to improve themselves. They may also have a fear of the future that is totally unknown. Plans made in the past might not have worked out or a project started might not have been finished. Many don’t want to pursue the Christian life as they fear they can’t. No one can unless their eyes are fixed on the truths of the Bible. When a problem arises others will say that they are questioning God right now. If you can’t face your fear than you can’t understand the subsequent awe. Gary is enjoying the sunflowers planted in his backyard. If you are locked in fear you won’t notice the sunflowers of the Creator.

 

Paul in Athens by Chris Burton: This past Thursday at our Home Group we were learning about Paul’s short visit to Athens (Acts 17:16-34). When he arrived there he probably disembarked at the Port of Piraeus, six miles from Athens. The roadway from this port to Athens was lined by two walls 600 feet apart, six miles long. Athens at this point was an intellectual centre of Greece, no longer the political centre as Corinth had become. Some famous intellectuals from Athens were Pericles, Demosthenes, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. Paul usually made a point of traveling to the political and commercial regions when he travelled but here he was in Athens with time to kill. He decided to go sightseeing and what grabbed his attention were the many idols of gods (some 30,000) found in every corner of the city.

 

Paul acted upon what he saw and went to the synagogue but didn’t have much success with his message there. These Jews were used to many new ideas that came and went. In the market place he spoke to the common citizen, trades person or vendor. These people likely worshipped the “gods” out of fear or superstition believing they would either prosper or fend off misfortune. The last group to listen to Paul were the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. The Epicureans denied God’s existence, were materialists and believed you should get the most out of life here and now (“Eat, drink & be merry for tomorrow we die”.). The Stoics believed everything is God; He is in the rocks, the trees, anything material. They prided themselves in taking whatever came (“Grin and bear it.”) Apathy was regarded as their highest virtue of life. They were proud fatalists. These groups took Paul to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) where he spoke.

For Paul…What started as a short stop off became the start of a new church community.

For the Epicureans & Stoics…What started as a novelty would be the first seeds of the faith that would soon traverse the trade routes from East to West.

For the others… What started as a new idea would become the foundation of their salvation. Not bad for a short lay-over on his journey!

 

 

 

Two Tales/One Name by Steve Macdonald: Acts 19:13-19 is an interesting passage about some Jews driving out evil spirits. An example of this was the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest. So who was Sceva? He may have been the head of one of the 24 courses of Levi (possibly Caiaphas) or Luke, the writer, might have just been contrasting the priesthood of Christ with the Jewish high priesthood. Whatever the background the sons of the “chief priest” had no authority over devils and were beaten up for their action. Without the real authority of Jesus in our lives, without the full acceptance that He is the Lord and God of everything, we are living lies and will one day receive our punishment as did the seven sons. The end result was that many of the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus believed and “openly confessed their evil deeds.”

 

 

One Another – Colossians 3:16 - by Gary Carter: Gary is continuing on his theme of admonishing one another and his “mug” and “jug” concept - some helping others to mature in Christ and others respecting those in leadership. Sometimes there are those “jugs” that do not communicate well and sometimes there are those “mugs” who fall asleep or don’t pay attention. We must all stir our own souls and be held accountable to assimilate truth given so that this pattern can move forward. Paul is our great example in Athens even though he only ended up with a few who became followers of Jesus. Gary will provide some video tapes on this topic for the next couple of Sundays.

 

Communion: This being the 3^rd Sunday of the month we followed the Lord’s commandment to remember Him. In many churches a communion table inscribed “In Remembrance of Me” is placed at the centre of the church to help the church family to focus on Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection.

 

 

Hmmmm! By Steve Macdonald:

Why do they call them mobile homes when 99% of the time they are not.

What happens if you add water to a condensed book?

Is it really “all-purpose” flour? Can I use it to bathe in or use it as a driveway sealer?

What slang word does a frog use to describe another frog’s death?

Why do ads for pet products promise that “your pet will thank you for it” when it never does?

Why is an outdoor theater called a “drive-in?”

Why do they call it life insurance?

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Heartland News & Prayer

September 12, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there!

 

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him… Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” Psalm 127:4-5

It’s good to have family around particularly when your children are all married and living with their families in various communities throughout the land. Our son, Rob and his wife, Jessica, with their 3 girls (Sydney, Jade & Ava) arrived this past Thursday evening for a visit over the weekend. Jess is very much pregnant with their 4^th coming due mid October. Please pray for a safe baby delivery (C-section) in Moose Factory across the river from their home in Moosonee. They return home Tuesday after two weeks of holidays. They even survived Hurricane Earl during a wedding in Halifax. Rob is Chairman of the Deacons Board at Moosonee Baptist Church. It is exciting to hear of this church’s growth. Please pray for positive adjustment as they merge with another church in town this month and ongoing efforts to reach out to this needy Cree community. Our second son, Lee and his wife, Mel with their 2-month old baby boy, Aiden, are in the process of moving to Hespeler, ON which is so much closer than Surrey, BC. God has certainly blessed Gary and me with a quiver that is overflowing! Until today I had not realized that the above verses were in the same psalm as the first verse which we had inscribed in our wedding rings so long ago - “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.” - and have quoted to numerous couples getting married since then.

 

This next Thursday the Credit Valley Association Pastors’ Luncheon start meeting here each month for another year. Please pray for these Fellowship Baptist pastors in our Peel region with all the responsibilities they face day by day in leading their various congregations. A retired pastor, Rev. Brian Gibson, has just been diagnosed with Myleodysplastic Syndrome which could move to acute Leukemia. He begins a 7-day treatment tomorrow followed by 3 weeks of rest. Please pray that his health will be fully restored.

 

Please continue to pray for wisdom and direction for our whole Fellowship denomination as well as the ongoing follow-up of the St-Eustache church people who want information.

 

Home Group will again happen this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Burton home. We have been studying all the sermons in the Book of Acts. Come and join us in our study.

 

I seem to keep having problems with the publishing of our automatic mailing list for this blog. Thanks for being patient with me and for those who let me know when it is not working.

 

God bless,

 

Wendy

wendy.carter@kainos.org

This blog is a summary of our 9:00 Sunday morning services held at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON L6Y 0H3, 905-230-8116.

 

 

So What Do You Know about Einstein? by Gary Carter: You might be acquainted with Einstein’s theory of relativity which says that energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared. Most people are not really sure what all that means but there are a lot of things in life that are relative. A friend often complains about the struggles she has over her non-cooperative co-worker; however yesterday it was learned that our doctor is contending with the vindictiveness of an associate doctor who had erased all her patients’ billing from her computer for this past week. Even though someone else’s pneumonia won’t help cure your cold, it is important to keep in mind what is relative so that you can keep your wits about you throughout life.

 

The children we support in our Myanmar orphanage seem very happy, well disciplined and extremely grateful but we must realize they have nothing. It is also heart-wrenching to see and hear the reports from Pakistan of the people’s suffering from the terrible floods. Our society often does not show its gratefulness for all that it has. We, as Christians, must remind ourselves to give thanks constantly in all circumstances. This is Biblical (I Thessalonians 5:18) and health-producing. “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.” Proverbs 15:30

 

 

Barnabas, The Encourager (not a one hit wonder!) by Chris Burton: We first meet up with Barnabas (meaning a son of encouragement) in Acts 4:36. His real name was Joseph and was a Levite from Cyprus. He had some wealth for he had sold a field and brought the money to the apostles for distribution. When Barnabas accepted Christ he became a significant character in the early days of the church for often he would come along side of another person to offer encouragement and help. Eventually he was martyred.

 

Barnabas was an encouragement for a desperate man (Acts 9:21-28): When Saul was converted he had a hard time getting a hearing from the Jews in Jerusalem because of their fear and prejudice towards him. Barnabas went out on a limb and stood up for him. He gave Saul (Paul) a chance even though Saul may have been putting on an act.

 

Barnabas was an encouragement to other believers (Acts 11:22-23): Barnabas was sent to the church in Antioch (where believers were first called Christians) which was beginning to take off. He looked beyond the faults of others; he did not look for their hidden agenda.

 

Barnabas was an encouragement to the discouraged (Acts 15:36-40): Barnabas became Paul’s mentor who probably started out quite raw. As things developed during their first missionary journey Barnabas often allowed himself to step back and Paul moved forward. For their second journey Barnabas wanted John Mark to accompany them but Paul refused because of John’s desertion of them in Pamphylia. With no resolution to this disagreement Barnabas leaves for Cyprus with John Mark. He didn’t write him off but gave him a second chance. Paul went to Syria and Cilicia with Silas. Great work was accomplished in Cyprus but eventually Paul and John must have reconciled for in 2 Timothy 4:9-13 we learn that Paul wants John to come to him in Rome because he had been helpful to him in his ministry at some point.

 

Barnabas’ legacy included helping the growth of the Christians in Antioch which became quite an epicentre; he nurtured Paul so that he was enabled and empowered; and he restored John Mark.

 

 

One Another – Colossians 3:16 - by Gary Carter: “One anothering” is a two-way street. Too often the arrow on the one side of the street is wider than the arrow on the other side. This probably was the case with Barnabas; he gave much more than he got. Last week we looked at admonishing and teaching one another. Are you a “mug” or a “jug”? The purpose of a “jug” is to perfect a “mug.” A “mug” may justify himself for falling short because of problems with a neighbour, wife, poor health etc. Will you say to your Saviour when you meet Him face to face, “I wish I had given more!” Suzannah Wesley was a mother to 17 children. She was able to teach the Bible, giving time for each one of them along with her other multitudinous chores such as looking after hens and collecting their eggs daily. Who is the person you have mentored?

 

From the following list which would you find the most difficult?

Love one another

Be devoted to one another

Look to one another

Bear with one another

Teach one another

Admonish one another

Many find it most difficult to admonish someone else. The dictionary meanings for this word are to caution, advise, counsel against something; to reprove or scold in a mild, good-willed manner; to urge to a duty. In today’s terms it refers to “kicking one another’s butt!” In order to admonish you must be prepared by saturating yourself in Christ’s Word (Colossians 3:16 – does it square with Scripture?). You must be aware or clear about the issues (Philippians 3:15). What about your own position? Are you a growing example (I Corinthians 11:1-2)? Sometimes if you do put your life on the line your effort will fall flat and your impact counts for nothing. Don’t be discouraged. With the Holy Spirit’s help you can move on.

 

 

A Couple of Sports Daffynitions (since the Macdonald family are away camping this weekend!):

A duffer is a golfing enthusiast who shouts “Fore!” takes five strokes, then writes three on the scorecard.

A pro football coach is a man who’s willing to lay down his players’ lives in order to win.

 

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Heartland News & Prayer

September 5, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Happy Labour Day Weekend Everyone!

“The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each one will be rewarded according to his own labour.  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:8-9

Did you know that the first Labor Day holiday in the US was celebrated September 5, 1882 in New York City according to the Central Labor Union? Many other labor unions followed this example over the next decade. In 1894 Congress passed an act making this “workingman’s holiday” the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the rest of the states.  Many other countries celebrate International Workers Day on May 1 known as May Day. Typically we Canadians follow the American pattern.  No matter our labour, we can be rewarded with rest.  Ovid says, “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” Our teachers and students have rested over the summer and now it’s back to work on Tuesday.  Please pray for good adjustment and a strong Christian testimony by all so that positive results will be realized by next summer for God’s glory.

This week we will be sending some more money to Myanmar for school supplies for the children in the orphanage.  If anyone wants to add some, please let me know early in the week.  William is a young man who wants to come to Canada to learn business so he can go back to Yangon where he lives and become self-sustaining in his church ministry.  We are looking for a place for him to stay for about six months.  He can come into Canada as a religious worker.

Please continue to pray for the follow-up happening in St-Eustache from our MPC Campaign.  September 26 is not too far away for their launch Sunday.  If you want to pray for particular individuals receiving mail, check out www.mpc101.info to register.

Congratulations to Sara Burton whose birthday is happening this Thursday.  Please pray for her managerial position at GoodLife as it is being reconfigured.

Home Group will take place once again this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Burton home.

Take care,

Wendy
wendy.carter@kainos.org
This is a summary of our 9:00 Sunday morning services held at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON L6Y 0H3, 905-230-8116.
Everyone is a Teacher by Gary Carter:  Today we had several teachers in our service.  Gary admitted that as a child he was shy, withdrawn, fearful and quiet in the classroom.  Later in high school years he realized that teachers were not really machines but individuals with concerns and lives outside of the classroom.  It is important to know that everyone has a responsibility to teach.  Gary remembers Jack from a former church who was always there as a friendly greeter.  His brother-in-law, another Jack, was very much missed in his church after he died as he had become known as the “candy man” who had a piece of candy for the children each Sunday.  He also took care of the church landscaping.  Both of these men were great examples of teachers.  Even students going to school can be good teachers through their friendliness, kindness and generosity with other students.
Two One Hit Wonders by Steve Macdonald: In the New Testament Paul, the apostle writes to Timothy as a son. In 2 Timothy 1:5 he remembers the sincere faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.  He saw this same faith living in Timothy.  We do not know much about these two women from outside sources but looking at other passages we learn that they lived in Lystra (Acts 16:1-3) where Paul visited on his first missionary journey.  Timothy’s mother was a Jewess believer and a loyal wife, whereas his father is only referred to as a Greek, probably an unbeliever.  This family was well-respected in the community.  Both Lois and Eunice were good teachers in their family as 2 Timothy 3:14-17 mentions that Timothy had learned about the “holy Scriptures” from infancy. The name “Eunice” means “good victory” which was seen in her son, Timothy.
Scripture Publishers by Sara Burton:  Sara has been house-cleaning this past week before everyone heads back to school.  She rediscovered a company seal labelled Scripture Publishers plus a letter written in Swedish that she had decided to keep from her grandfather’s estate (Wendy’s father). He had been a director of this organization that had helped distribute Bible tracts and raise money for a Finnish missionary couple who served for many years in the land of Ethiopia -  Anna-Liisa & Sanfrid Mattsson (probably her grandmother’s cousins).  They had met the Emperor Halle Sallasie in 1936 in London. He had been exiled from his country because of an Italian invasion.  In 1951 he was restored to his country and invited missionaries to work there.  The Mattssons established their mission called Scripture Publishers to Every Creature with a centre that included instruction in manual skills, farming, carpentry and handcrafts along with a missionary school and clinic.  Anna-Liisa also translated officials documents for the government.  In 1967 Pentecostal Finnish Mission (now named) set up new headquarters in Addis Abiba and employed 26 people.  In 1960 .8% of the population was protestant but by 2000 there were nearly 12 million – 19.7% of the population.  Check out Mark 10:28-31 and you will see that this couple certainly did follow Jesus’ words becoming very influential and prominent in the country of Ethiopia.
One Another by Gary Carter: Colossians 3:16 portrays a fifth concept of “one anothering” which says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  Sometimes Christians are like “jugs” as they teach and lead others and sometimes they are like “mugs” when they are being taught or admonished.  We must learn to be both a giver and a recipient depending on the circumstances in our lives.  Did you know that as you sing you teach those around you?  If you don’t sing it shows your attitude.  Music is a symbol for how we work with each other.  Are you prepared to adapte your preference in music for the next generation?

The objective of the “jug” is found in Colossians 1:28, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”  The quality of your life should not be evaluated by how much money you have or your name plate on an office door but by how you have mentored others.  Lois & Eunice were good teachers in their imperfect world to Timothy.

The perfected “mug” shows a right approach in attitude according to Philippians 2:12-13 as he works out his salvation with “fear and trembling” and God working within.  Sometimes the “mug” overflows with staleness as the person has not consumed what has been put inside or the person’s hand gets put over the top of the mug so no more information can enter.  Paul pressed on even though he was beat up and bruised many times and strove for perfection (Philippians 3:12-16) which he had not as yet attained.  If he had waited to become perfect then we would not have received his scriptures. 2 Corinthians 13:5 exhorts us to pass the test for we don’t get to be a “jug” unless we have been a good “mug.”  And trying to pass the course at 51% just to get the credit is not good enough.  Seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33-34); get His agenda on your calendar first.  The perfected “mug” is the suitable “jug” (1 Corinthians 4:14-17; 11:1-2).  Imitate Paul, the coach.  Can you say to your children to be just like you?  In this world you must operate as a “jug” and a “mug”!
More Collective Nouns That Would Be Better Understood by Steve Macdonald:

A rash of dermatologists
A pinch of pickpockets
A pound of hammers
A volume of speakers
A lot of car dealers
A trunk of elephants
A rush of fraternity men
A cup of trophies
A round of wheels
A run of noses
A run of cowards

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