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 [1] 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
[2] 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  Gary admitted that as a child he was shy, withdrawn, fearful and quiet in the classroom.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