Heartland News & Prayer

October 24, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings!

“Now we ask you brothers, to respect those who work hard among you…”
I Thessalonians 5:12

Children all over will be getting themselves ready this week for one of their most favourite and yet controversial times of the year – Hallowe’en. It actually is a very good time to meet your neighbours before winter sets in. But did you know the following? “On October 31, 1517, nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.  This event marked a key turning point in the emerging Reformation.  The commitment, vision and bravery of men such as Luther, Hus, Wycliffe, Calvin, Zwingli, and Tyndale left a lasting imprint on the unfolding of Western civilization and the Christian Church.“ These men certainly worked hard for the Gospel’s sake.

William in Myanmar is making progress in his plans to come here for a 6 month internship, staying at Mylene and Can Nghiem’s home. He hopes to travel to Bangkok, Thailand around Nov. 11 to get his visa. He will purchase his ticket from there and then be on his way to Canada. He is currently training his leaders and disciples so that they can continue to work together at his place while he is away.

Congratulations to Steve, Debbie, & Macdonald and to Cassidy & Kaiya Burton for successfully reaching the top of the CN Tower very early this morning to raise money for the United Way. Their time ranged from 21 – 38 minutes.

After today’s service Gary is heading over to Logos Baptist Church in Mississauga where he will be preaching in their English Chinese service. Please pray for good health and ability to cope with his busy schedule.

We are grateful to God for answering prayer this week. Howie Johnson has obtained another job. Except for a bump, Kaiya Burton was not injured in a school bus accident last Wednesday. Please remember to pray for our Heartland children day by day for protection and safety, for peer pressure or influence that is not positive.

Home Group will happen this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Burton home. This week we will study Paul before Agrippa in Acts 25.

Don’t forget to vote!

Wendy
wendy.carter@kainos.org
This blog is a summary of our Sunday morning services held at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON L6Y 0H3, 905-230-8116.

Did You Smile Today? by Gary Carter: Many children will be carving a smile on their Jack O’ Lanterns this coming week. Did you know that babies smile 200 times a day, women 60 times and men 8 times? How about you? Our friend, Helen who died last week, had a “grand piano” smile as described by her husband. Someone has demonstrated by research that you can tell by a couple’s smiles in their wedding pictures if they will be happy in the years ahead. A smile can reveal what is really going on in your heart. Here are some benefits to smiling:
It makes us attractive.
It changes our mood.
It is contagious.
It relieves stress.
It boosts your immune system.
It lowers your blood pressure.
It releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin.
It lifts the face and makes you look younger.
It makes you seem successful.
It helps you stay positive.
Note that these points are mostly personal except the third one which affects others. People often pay lots of money for tooth whitening to enhance their smile. Smiling is a universal human act that everybody understands. Use your smile; it makes a difference to those around you as they will be more responsive to you. You can even hear a smile over the phone. Proverbs 17:22 is a great verse to follow this week, “A cheerful heart is good medicine…”

The Spanish Inquisition (1478-1834) by Chris Burton: The Inquisition was a Roman Catholic tribunal for discovery and punishment of heresy which had been started by Pope Innocent III (1198 - 1216), not the Spanish or the Portuguese. By 1255 this system was in full gear throughout Central and Western Europe. Clergy would sit at the proceedings and deliver punishments such as confinement to dungeons, physical abuse and torture. Those reconciled to the church were still punished with their property confiscated and banished from public life. Those who never confessed were burned at the stake without strangulation first. Those who did confess were strangled first. High attendance occurred at these events during the 16th & 17th centuries. Initially they only dealt with Christian heretics, not Jews. But in 1242 thousands of Talmuds were burned and in 1288 the first mass burning of Jews took place in France.

In 1481 the Inquisition spread to Spain and targeted secret Jews and new Christians. Fear of Jewish influence had led Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to petition the pope to start an Inquisition there. More than 13,000 secret Jews were put on trial in the first 12 years of the Inquisition. Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 Finally this procedure was abolished by Joseph Bonaparte in 1808 in Spain. It had been stopped in Portugal in1765.

There were many martyrs throughout these years. In 1560 a Nicholas Burton, an English merchant, who lived in Cadiz, Spain was arrested. He witnessed to the prisoners for 14 days and was then transported to the city of Seville where he was burned at the stake with many other Christians who had professed their faith.

A Blessed Life by Gary Carter: Everybody wants a better life. People often look to others as their heroes. They don’t understand the blessings that surround their own lives or have a big enough picture of what a blessed life is all about. The Apostle Paul in Acts 20:34-35 quoted Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Instead of receiving support for his ministry Paul had chosen the different route of supplying his own needs as a tent-maker. He had:
Hustling Hands: He was a busy guy who worked very hard.
Hospitable Hands: He covered the needs of his companions as well. He took care of about 12 co-workers at any one time. He probably was the chief sales person for his tent-making business.
Hovering Hands: “In everything I did” he made sure he could work the system by generating a lot of money to achieve a purpose. He led the way.
Hardened Hands: He set an example as a hard worker mentally and physically.
Helping Hands: He helped the weak coming along side of them and helping them move forward. I Thessalonians 5:14 encourages us to “warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
It is more blessed to do the hard thing than to receive from others.

Business Signs By Steve Macdonald:
Muffler Shop: No appointment needed – we hear you coming!
Towing Company: We don’t charge an arm and a leg – we just want your tows!
Optometrist’s Office: If you don’t see what you are looking for you have come to the right place!
Veterinarian’s Door: Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!
Safe Company: If your stuff is stolen, it’s not our vault!
Outside a Hotel: Help wanted – we need your inn-experience!
Restaurant Window: Don’t stand there & be hungry – come in and be fed up!

Posted in Weekly News | Print | No Comments »