November 28, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Hi again:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” ( Timothy 4:12)

[NOTE: If the link in the notification email doesn’t work, you can always go directly here to see the latest post. http://blog.heartlandfellowship.ca.]

Do you ever use the expression, “Oh, man!”  When Gary and I were in Bible School the popular phrase to exclaim when excited was, “Hold the phone!”  (What on earth does that mean and where did it come from?)  Our granddaughter, Carleigh (2 1/2), came to visit this week.  She was hungry so I pulled my cookie container out of the cupboard.  Looking inside, her eyes seemed to bulge out when she saw all the chocolate ones. She quickly retorted, “Oh, man!”  Now who did she learn that from? Was it her grandfather, her parents, Debbie Macdonald?  Who knows?  Her little mind soaks up everything.

We are very impressed with William who is still in Bangkok waiting to see if he can get his Canadian visa.  But he is not just sitting around.  This past week he found 11 Burmese people.  They met together and he was doing the preaching.  Today he attended a Calvary Baptist Church and then joined in the international service held at the missionary guest house where he is staying.  Who has trained this young man so well?  Please pray that his visa will be finally issued tomorrow.  Carleigh wants to teach him to say, “Oh, man!” and I will try, “Hold the phone!” on him.  At least if he has to return home to Myanmar his visit in Bangkok will not be in vain.  He has learned lots already.

Please remember our Fellowship Denomination and its Executive Council with its ongoing search of a new president.  We learned this week that Heritage College and the Ontario region of the Fellowship are amalgamating in Cambridge, using Heritage’s school facilities.

The cholera deaths are up over 1600 in Haiti.  During the Christmas season, Dec. 1 – Jan. 6, our families will be collecting money for FAIR, a part of our denomination, that will forward these funds to this very needy country.  Start filling your Christmas boxes this coming Wednesday.

Continue to pray for Debbie Macdonald contending with her broken arm.  Monday she will either get a different cast that is more moveable or there is a possibility of surgery.

Home Group will happen this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Burton home. We have finished looking at Paul’s sermons in the book of Acts.  If William arrives we will get to meet him in person.  If not, did you know that this year is the 400th Anniversary of the printing of the King James Version Bible?  We have purchased an interesting video about it.

A new church directory was handed out today.  If there are any corrections please let me know e.g. Fred Brown’s b-day is not Dec. 24 but Apr. 18.

There’s less than a month to get your Christmas shopping done!  Enjoy!

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.  It can always be found at www.blog.heartlandfellowship.ca.

Quick Life Changes by Gary Carter:  Stan Dale & Phil Masters became missionaries to the Yali tribe in Papua, New Guinea but in 1968 they were all of a sudden martyred by this tribe.  The seed was sown and because of the work of others since then these people have received God’s Word in their own language.  Another nearby stone-age tribe received God’s Word in March of this year. Viewing the video this morning of them receiving their New Testaments we were marvelously caught up in the celebration of their rejoicing over this great gift.  (Kimyal Video)  Maybe they will help other tribes be able to get the Bible in their own language.  The Bible that William uses today was translated by Adoniram Judson many years ago.  Another friend lost his dear wife this past week.  She has been suffering with cancer over the last couple of years.  Lee Anne is no longer suffering but Michael is now quickly learning what it means to be strong.  Life can happen quickly sometimes; many know how to keep going so others will gain because of these changes.

Martin Luther (Part I) by Chris Burton: “Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures, or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience.  Here I stand.  I can do no other. God help me Amen!”  This famous quote is from Martin Luther who initiated the Protestant Reformation.  He was born in Eiseleben, Germany in 1483.  His father was a wealthy copper miner which allowed him a good education.  He attended university at Erfurt in 1501-1505 which was one of the best universities at the time.  His father had wanted him to become a lawyer to be secure but he surprised everyone when he took the vow in 1505 to become a monk – a life that consisted of fasting, prayer and work).  He was ordained as a priest in Erfurt and started studying theology. He embraced the humanist’s slogan, “back to the source” for he delved into the original Hebrew and Greek of the Bible.  In 1512 he became a theological professor at Wittenberg and gave lectures on the Psalms, Romans and Galatians.  He learned that the justice comes through the grace of God and not through works (Romans 1:17).

Blessings! by Gary Carter: Matthew, Mark, Luke and once in Acts refer 16 times to the importance of proper relationships.  A popular book these days written by Brendon Burchard is called Life’s Golden Ticket and asks three questions – Did I live?  Did I love?  Did I matter?

So what are the personal characteristics that most people appreciate in others?  Are these characteristics  developable?  Can a grouchy person wake up happy in the morning?  If you make up your mind you can, but habits become harder to change as the years go by.  Are these characteristics consistent with the personal characteristics that Jesus promoted?   What did Jesus promote?  Martin Luther and the Kimyal people learned what He said in the Bible and were then able to change by His grace alone.

In Matthew 5:5 Jesus said that the “meek” will inherit the earth.  Being meek means to be humble in spirit or manner.  Mathew 21:1-13 refers to Jesus as meek, riding on a donkey; He was a gentle King.  It was the crowd that made His entry a big deal.  But in the same chapter he overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple.  He wasn’t always gentle and never acted cowardly.  He took a stand when He needed to. We must be humble in spirit or manner when it pertains to human matters; we must be fierce in spirit when it pertains to heavenly matters.  Martin Luther took a stand publicly by nailing his 95 theses against the Roman Catholic church on the “billboard of the freeway”; this action changed the world.

When will we inherit the earth?  Jesus didn’t explain that.  Stan Dale and Phil Masters inherited the earth when they were martyred.  Perhaps your inheritance will come in time but most likely it will be in the “new heaven and new earth which endures forever.”

In Matthew 5:7 Jesus said that the “merciful” will be shown mercy.  If you are merciful to other people you will be shown mercy in the age to come.

In Matthew 5:9 Jesus said the “peacemakers” will be called “sons of God.”  Are you finding or creating a road to peace like the Prince of Peace or Aung San Suu Kyi who spoke to a UN envoy in Burma yesterday?  Are you working towards peace in our world, your neighbourhood, your family?  There is nothing higher than being called the “son of God.”  By God’s grace you can become meek, merciful and peaceful in relationships.

Foreign Phrase Fun by Steve Macdonald:
When you take a well known expression in a foreign language, change a single letter, what do you get?
RIGOR MORTIS drop the “T” add an” R”. RIGOR MORRIS:  The cat is dead.
RESPONDEZ S’IL VOUS PLAID:  Honk, if you are Scottish.
VENI, VIPI, VICI: I came, I’m a very important person, I conquered.
VENI, VIDI, VISA:  I came, I saw, I shopped.
COGITO EGGO SUM:  I think, therefore I am … a waffle.
QUE SERA SERF:  Life is feudal.
HASTE CUISINE: Fast French cuisine.
ALOHA OY: Love; greetings; farewell; and from such a pain you should never know.
VISA LA FRANCE: Don’t leave your chateau without it.
HARLEY-VOUS FRANCAIS?  Can you drive a French motorcycle?

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November 21, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there:

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Epheisans 5:16

Whew!  We just made it back in time to Ontario this past Tuesday evening before the snow started happening.  Calgary was hit early this week and then it was Kelowna’s turn yesterday.  Our daughter sent us a picture of our granddaughter shovelling their driveway – 3 inches and falling.  During our service this morning we were able to Skype William in Bangkok.  Cassidy Burton was running the camera and she went out on our front porch to show him a few snowflakes that had just appeared.  William does not know cold and his life in Canada will be filled with such new experiences.  He is up for it but first of all we have to get him out of Bangkok.  Last week his visa application was denied for a few reasons given but in reality it was probably not granted as they think he might not return to his homeland of Myanmar.  Please pray for him this week – he is staying at a mission guest house and will reapply.  Pray that we may help supply him with all the answers he needs.  May this opportunity be completely directed by God.  Let us know if anyone has some warm clothing for him during the winter if and when he does arrive.  The conversation we had with William was so clear and he speaks English extremely well.  With our wonderful modern technology ever developing we will be able to teach his church so much from the Bible via the Internet, DVDs etc. in the years ahead from our own Sunday services.  That’s as amazing as the first snowfall of the year!

Just in – William’s e-mail this afternoon:
“I am really glad to talk with your people tonight. It will be such a blessing to get there. We will try our best and God will make a decision and solution for us.
Thank you so much also for praying for me. Please also pray for the visa officer, that the Spirit of God will touch her heart and make it soft so that she will not resist the plan and way of God for us.
By the way, a Burmese man is coming back from Norway and he will continue to go to Canada. My friend whom I met will help him apply for the visa. He told me that if I want to move to their hotel we will share the hotel price by half with that man who will go to Canada. I am not sure yet if he is a pastor or not.
We will keep in touch and help each other by prayer.
By for today,
Blessings, William”

The Fellowship Baptist Convention went well in Banff, AB.  Every time we turned around there was another mountain facing us in that beautiful venue.  Unfortunately attendance was too low for a quorum so business matters have been mainly left up to the National Executive Council.  Please pray for wisdom in decision-making and a thorough understanding of our Canadian churches.  The Council is searching for a new President.

Haiti is now contending with cholera resulting in over 1200 deaths. During the Christmas season, Dec. 1 – Jan. 6, our families will be collecting money for FAIR, a part of our denomination, that will forward these funds to this very needy country.

Please pray for Debbie Macdonald who tripped and broke the upper part of her arm while helping Hayley deliver newspapers a week ago Thursday.  This is an added burden and stress on the whole family.

Home Group will happen this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Burton home. Join us for Bible study & prayer!

Winter is a’coming!

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.

The Circle – Romans 16 -  by Steve Macdonald: In Paul’s circle of friends listed in Romans 16, he sends personal greetings to Mary.  Even though known to Paul little is known about this woman who was noted for her hard work.  It would seem she laboured to the point of exhaustion unlike others spoken of earlier in the church at Rome. Was she single, widowed, married?  The passage does not say but we do know she loved her fellow believers and the Lord.  True love never hesitates at labour but pleasures in it. According to I Corinthians 15:58 her work is “not in vain” and will not be forgotten by God (Hebrews 6:10).

Persecution of John Huss by Chris Burton: In the library at Prague there is displayed a triad of medallions dated 1572. The first contains the figure of Wycliffe striking sparks from a stone, the second Huss kindling a fire from the sparks, the third Luther holding high a flaming torch. The medallions tell in symbolic form the story of the Reformation as it began, continued, and crystallized under the touch of an Englishman, a Bohemian, and a German.  So let us look at the life of John Huss.

John Huss was born in the village of Hussenitz, Bohemia around 1380.  He was educated at the University of Prague and then pastored the Church of Bethlehem in Prague as well as becoming the university’s dean and rector.  He was a powerful, popular preacher and passionately supported Wycliffe’s message of reformation to the point of being noticed by the Pope and his adherents.

The Archbishop of Prague decreed the suppression of the spread of Wycliffe’s writings.  This was opposed by John who was then removed as the pastor of his church.  The Pope demanded that he appear before him in Rome.  John, his friends at the university and even King Winceslaus didn’t want him to go; three friends went on his behalf.  John was excommunicated as well as his friends upon the appeal for him.  He retired to his home town where he continued to defend Wycliffe’s writings from the pulpit and with his pen.  His numerous letters boldly declared against the vices of the pope, cardinals and clergy.

In 1414 a Council was convened in Constance, Germany.  The real purpose of this council was to crush the progress of the Reformation. John was invited to speak which actually proved to be a trap.  The streets and roads of Germany were lined with people paying their respects to him. He was arrested and accused of heresy but all protests were ignored.  The council condemned the doctrines of Wycliffe and even ordered his remains to be dug up and the ashes burned.  John was derided and mocked by the whole council.  They placed a paper miter on his head which read “a ring leader of heretics.”  He was chained and executed by being burned at the stake with his ashes cast over the Rhine river.

Blessings! by Gary Carter: In continuing his series, Gary looked at the blessings of proper relationships.  People want to be treated right.  The statement, “It is my right!” is often heard.  People need to treat others right.  Check out Luke 14:1-14.  Jesus ate at the house of a prominent Pharisee one Sabbath where he healed a man with dropsy.  A discussion ensued about where to sit at a wedding feast – the place of honour or the least important place.  A practical human strategy illuminates a spiritual truth.  The back seat is the best choice.  Don’t “blow your own horn!”  Humble yourself.  As well a  practical human strategy demonstrates a Christ-like attitude.  Favour the underdog; pay attention to the needy; respect the disabled.  Your reward will not be in time but at the “resurrection of the righteous.”

Communion: Communion is an opportunity to remember Jesus and His sacrifice for us.  In turn how much will He ask and require of us?  How much sacrifice?  How full is full?  Can we become like Mary in Rome who was a full-hearted Christian?  Christianity is growing by 6% across the world but here in Canada it is barely holding its own.

Signs Everywhere by Steve Macdonald:
In a Florida maternity ward: No Children Allowed.
In a Maine restaurant: Open 7 days a week and on Weekends
On the grounds of a private school: No Trespassing without Permission
On a military base: Restricted to Unauthorized Personnel
In a New York restaurant: Customers who find our Waitresses uncivil ought to see the Manager
On a long-established Mexican dry cleaner: 38 years on the Same Spot
Outside a country shop: We Buy Junk and Sell Antiques
On the walls of a Baltimore estate: Trespassers will be Prosecuted by the Full Extent of the Law – Sisters of Mercy

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November 7, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings:

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

Remembrance Day is an important date on our calendar each year even though so many years have come and gone since World War I & II. We do get a taste of the horror and suffering of war when periodically we hear about another soldier killed or maimed in Afghanistan. How blessed we are because of past sacrifices so that we can daily enjoy the freedoms we have in Canada.

William in Myanmar has booked his ticket for Bangkok, Thailand for November 10. This is not confirmed as the air-ticket service is unable to access the internet for Myanmar Air Way. What a difficult country to live in! Please pray for this new adventure for William as his plans to arrive in Canada enfold.

Tomorrow night we arrive in Banff for our Fellowship Baptist Convention. Please pray that good decisions and connections will be made for His glory and the advancement of our churches in Canada. We return home November 16. Next Sunday’s church service will take place as usual with Chris and Steve leading.

Haiti has been ravaged yet again by Hurricane Thomas over the last few days. During the Christmas season, Dec. 1 – Jan. 6, our families will be collecting money for FAIR, a part of our denomination, that will forward these funds to this very needy country.

Birthday congratulations to Elianna Nghiem who turns six this Thurs. She is a Remembrance Day baby!

Home Group will happen this coming Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Burton home.

Take care,

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.

The Dangers of Drugs by Gary Carter: In the news this past week we learned about a report on alcohol from the UK published in the well-renowned accurate medical journal, Lancet. Alcohol scored the highest of all the drugs compared – 72 out of 100, well ahead of heroin and crack – because of its harmful impact on individual users, others and society. The cost to our health care system is incredible. Alcohol has become socially accepted. Unfortunately the implications of decisions made are not easily seen, particularly in the lives of our young people who think it is cool to drink. The benefits are not near the value of the cost. Google the famous preacher, Billy Sunday from the 1920s and his sermon on “Demon Rum.” The Apostle Paul encourages living exemplary lives as recorded in I Timothy 4:12, “…set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Total abstinence is easier than moderation, a choice that the Carters made many years ago.

Paul & Company by Steve Macdonald: Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3) were probable converts of Paul mentioned seven times in the New Testament. They had lived among the Jews but were expelled from Rome by the Roman Emperor Claudius in 49 A.D. This couple worked in unison spreading the Gospel together. They were hospitable for they invited Paul to live with them in Corinth. They were familiar enough about the Gospel that they were able to correct Apollos’ teaching (Acts 18:26).

Blessings! by Gary Carter: No one ever lived a better life than Jesus and he taught how to be blessed and share in his blessings. One blessing in life is to receive communication from God. People are created to communicate. They are driven to find new ways of doing things. Just look at the deluge of new electronic communication stuff that comes on the market year after year. Without communication relationships fail, wars break out, people become despondent – they go nuts!

People need God to give meaning to life. Read Ecclesiastes 3:9-14. Verse 11 says that He has “set eternity in the hearts of men…” There is no society that says death ends it all and it is particularly notable when your relative or friends dies or you have a near death experience. When we have called into a particular community, those who want to hear about a new church are those who have children or teens in their home as Godlike questions are being asked. Many are looking for God; they want to see what we see. St. Augustine, a Christian philosopher, lived from 354 – 480 A.D. Here is one of his quotes, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” People also need to hear from God. He declares Himself in nature (Psalm 19:1-4). His words are amazing. When Jesus asked His disciples who He was in Matthew 16:13-17, Peter said He was the “Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This information was revealed to him by Jesus’ Father in heaven. In Luke 10:16-24 the Father revealed hidden truths to little children and He declared Himself in words about His Son and salvation. People are blessed by receiving God’s communication. People are truly blessed by responding to God’s communication with obedience. Why not own it and spread it!

How to Write Good By Steve Macdonald:
Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
Avoid cliches like the plague.
Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
One should never generalize.
Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.

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