Heartland News & Prayer

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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