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Archive for January 2011

Heartland News & Prayer

Hi there!

“When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2

If you have been watching the news from Egypt this week you definitely see the truth in this proverb.  This crisis is building daily with thousands of people in the streets along with the country’s military standing by.  The people have had enough and now taking matters into their own hands.  We must remember to pray for this country and others like it for a good end result.  As William mentions below thousands are crying out for help and we have long lasting answers.

William was to have gone skiing yesterday with our son, Lee and his wife Melissa but roads between Cambridge and here were not great.  Looks like it will happen next weekend.  Please pray that they will all have a good time together with no broken body parts!

This past week I sent a cheque off for $200 to our Fellowship office for its FAIR Relief work in Haiti. Well done everyone!

Birthday greetings to Steve Macdonald whose birthday happens tomorrow, January 31.  Thanks so much, Steve, for all the Biblical research you do each week for your part in our service.  We are learning lots.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burtons’ home at 7:00 p.m.  We are viewing a video series by Canadian, Don Carson on Christianity and spending more time in prayer.

We are finally having a farewell potluck supper next Saturday at the Burton “manor” at  5:30 p.m. for Fred & Maureen Brown.  They are involved in another church in our area where Fred is broadening his music ministry.  Maureen is still not back to work because of her eye ailment.  Please continue to pray for this need.

Don’t forget to be on the look out for more information about the “Little Big Show” coming to a station near you in the weeks ahead!

Isn’t it great that we are nearing the end of January!  Have a good week.

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.

Churchill Meadows by Gary Carter:  Churchill Meadows Christian Church is a church we helped to start in 2001 through a MPC (Mass Personal Contact) Campaign with 4 people and now has grown to an attendance of about 500.  Their new church building is situated facing the 401 on the south side west of Winston Churchill near Rona.  Their grand opening is March 27.  They are awaiting their occupancy permit with a few deficiencies to fix. The total cost for land and building is approaching $14 million.  They must grow more to be able to meet their financial obligations. In our society a church building particularly with a gym seems to have become very important. But it is not nearly so important as individuals being a part of a church. However, 66% of those who meet the evangelical belief profile in Canada don’t believe it is important to be part of a church to be a good Christian. A few years ago we also helped start a daughter church from CMCC which has now merged back with them.  In church mergers one plus one usually only equals one when it comes to church growth.  That is the case here as well. Please pray that God will “build” this church (Matthew 16:18) through the church members each one reaching out to reach one, developing relationships and sharing faith.

If you go to www.Canada411.ca you can do do a reverse look up on your postal code and you will find the names of all your neighbours.  Why not give them a call and invite them to church?  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  GoodLife Fitness sales people go through 17-25 potential people to make one sale.  Their general advertising only reinforce what the “sales person” achieves with personal contacts. In a similar fashion, inviting more people to church is hard work but it gives those who respond the opportunity to see loving relationships in a church. They can only know we are truly his disciples when they see love between believers  (John 13:35). When we make our offer to more people we are following Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Give My Regards to … Romans 16:14 - by Steve Macdonald:
“Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.”  These are Greek names: Asyncritus means incomparable; Phlegon means zealous or burning; Hermes and Hermas both meaning Mercury, gain or refuge; and Patrobas is paternal (one who pursues the steps of his father).  All of these men are  included in the list of the 70 Apostles made by Hippolytus and they all became bishops.
Asyncritus: Bishop of Hyrcania - Hyrcania was situated between the Caspian Sea, in the north and the Alborz mountains in the south and west.
Phlegon: Bishop of Marathon in Thrace, a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east.
Hermes: Bishop of Dalmatia, a historic region of Croatia, extending along the Adriatic Sea, approximately from Rijeka (Fiume) to the Gulf of Koto.
Hermas: Bishop of Philippi - Irenaeus, Tertullian and Origen (2nd century Christian historians) all agree that Hermas wrote The Shepherd. This book was read throughout the early churches but never received into the canon. It was so respected that it was second only to the New Testament.
Patrobus:Bishop of Neapolis, a town on the northern shore the Aegean, originally belonging to Thrace. This was the seaport of Philippi and the first point in Europe at which Paul and his companions landed; from Troas they had sailed directly to Samothrace and on the next day reached Neapolis (Acts 16:11).
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 describes Paul’s hardships and these men followed accordingly.  They did not follow a false Gospel of health, wealth, smooth living, nice stuff and a beautiful church building.

Here I Am, Send Me by William:  William has written another song to check out  www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca.  This one is based on Romans 10:14-15; Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 9:37; and Exodus 4:10-12.  There on 1000s and 1000s of souls crying out for help who need us to bring them to God.  We must pray for more workers.  We must not have excuses like Moses who said that he was slow of speech and tongue.  God tells us that He will help us speak and teach.  We are not alone;  we are only His tools.  Let’s together make the commitment to the Lord of inviting our friends to Him and to His church.

The Background of Luke by Chris Burton: Since Gary has asked several to research the four Gospels to find Jesus’ one-on-one conversations, Chris decided to provide some background information on his assignment from Luke.

The book of Luke was written to give a reliable and precise record of the history of Jesus Christ’s life.  Luke explained his purpose for writing in the first four verses of chapter one. Not only as an historian, but also as a medical doctor, Luke paid great attention to detail, including dates and events that happened throughout the life of Christ. He used several themes such as the humanity of Jesus Christ and his perfection as a human; Jesus as the perfect man who gave the perfect sacrifice for sin; and Jesus providing the perfect Saviour for humankind. Luke was a Greek and the only Gentile Christian writer of the New Testament. The language of Luke reveals that he is an educated man. Since we learn in Colossians 4:14 that he is a physician he refers many times to sicknesses and diagnoses.  Luke was a faithful friend and travel companion of Paul. He wrote the book of Acts as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke is also the only gospel not written by one of the 12 disciples; however, he had access to historical records. He carefully researched and interviewed the disciples and others who were eyewitnesses to the life of Christ. It is said to have been written around 60 A.D (some have it between 60-70 A.D).

The Gospel of Luke was written to Theophilus, meaning “the one who loves God.”  Historians are not sure who this Theophilus (mentioned in Luke 1:3) was, although most likely, he was a Roman with an intense interest in the newly forming Christian religion. Luke may also have been writing in general to those who loved God. The book is written to the Gentiles as well and all people everywhere. He is careful to give a detailed and accurate record of his investigation so that readers can trust with certainty that Jesus is God.  Luke also portrays Jesus’ profound interest in people and relationships. He was compassionate to the poor, the sick, the hurting and the sinful. He loved and embraced everyone. God became flesh to identify with us and to show us His genuine love. Only this perfect love could satisfy our deepest need. Luke’s Gospel gives special emphasis to prayer, miracles and angels as well. Interesting to note, women are given an important place in his writings.

We Are Blessed!  (Matthew 13:16) by Gary Carter: Jesus promised blessing about 15 times in the New Testament. You might hear, “Are you ever blessed!” when someone notices your good health, wealth, job, new house etc. But Jesus measured blessing with a far different standard.  Matthew 13:16 records, “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” There is an obvious contrast with something - you are blessed but others aren’t because they don’t see and hear.  Matthew 13:1-23  gives the full account of the sower and the receptivity of the four soils – the path where the birds snatched the seed; the rocky place lacking in depth of soil; the thorny place with too much negative influence; and the good soil which yielded a crop yield 100 X, 60 X, and 30 X.  If 25% of seed gets to the harvest (100 seeds X 25% = 25  to harvest) and there are 3 levels of yield with 8 seeds each (8 seeds X 100 = 800 reproduced; 8 seeds X 60 = 480 produced; and 8 seeds X 30 = 240 produced) then the total yield is 100 leads to 1,720.

Since most seeds die in the field and when 3 out of 4 don’t get it at all, it isn’t the failure of the seed and it isn’t the failure of the sower.  The blessing isn’t only in the results. The blessing is in the knowing. The blessing is in the sowing. If you are “in the know” you go out to sow.

Giving Business a Bad Name by Steve Macdonald:
Cherry, Pitts & Appelman - Fruit Market
Levin N. Sinn - Clergyman
Stan Tall & Bea Best - Physio Therapists
Dr. Ickies - Internal Medicine Specialist
Boxwell Brothers - Funeral Directors
Flowers, Bush & Hedges - Landscaping
Light & Powers - Electrical Specialists
Amigone -  Funeral Home

Heartland News & Prayer

Hi again!

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-8

Brrr! It has certainly been a frigid weekend.  Our son, Rob and his family are enduring -39 degree weather without the windchill factor in Moosonee and Friday night at 3:00 a.m. they lost electrical power until 10:30 the next morning.  Since about 80% of the homes there are heated by electricity this is close to emergency status  Please pray that their church can be there for their community in any way possible.

We have been enjoying watching the various birds at our bird feeder this winter.  If Gary doesn’t get out there on time to add new seeds they are waiting for him.  Doves, chickadees, juncos, cardinals, blue jays, a finch and several squirrels all seem to get along really well in sharing the food provided.  They do, however, have their enemies – the two neighbour’s cats and a hawk came to roost in the evergreen nearby one day to spy things out.  Isn’t it comforting to know that no matter who we are and the circumstances we find ourselves in God does not forget about us.

William’s educational process continues to go well.  Please pray that he will be able to further research a root that he brought from Myanmar that is good for medicinal purposes.  He would like to farm this root back home in order to support his church planting ministries. We saw a frozen pumpkin left on a porch the other day and were able to tell him about our Hallowe’en traditions.  William is enjoying his new chair and microphone for his guitar that Penny and Brandon Spears purchased for him last Sunday at Wal-mart.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton’s home at 7:00 p.m.  We have started viewing a new video by Canadian, Don Carson on Christianity.

Be on the look out for more information about the “Little Big Show” coming to a station near you in the weeks ahead!

Keep warm,

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.

Pray for Teenagers by Gary Carter:  Last week Gary referred to a study (www.fullerinstitute.org) Dr. Kara Powell (Executive Director of Fuller Youth Institute and teacher at Fuller Theological Seminary in the US) did in 2010 regarding what happened to 400 church teenagers after graduating high school. Dr. Powell says that kids don’t really know and embrace the Gospel so it is very important to pray for them. We need to help them deal with their doubts as they arise so they will have answers later in life. Parents can’t just continue to say, “Because I said so” as their children move into adulthood. This no longer works for teens who are starting to understand that parents don’t always do what they say.  If you want your child to be honest and industrious you have to be that yourself.  Parents must not get in the way of the faith of a child or a teenager.  Life is always about the next generation.  Their energy and desire for a better world is essential even though some times they don’t roll their ideas out very well.  Paul in I Timothy 4:12 writes, “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.”

Rufus – Romans 16:13 - by Steve Macdonald: Steve researched another name mentioned in this passage for us.  “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.”  Rufus from a Latin nickname meaning “red” was a common slave name. Mark 15:21 records, “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. Mark mentions Rufus along with his brother Alexander as if they are well known to his Roman readers.  It is likely this is the same person in both verses.  According to Paul, Rufus was a disciple of note at Rome; it makes sense to associate Simon who was unknown to the Romans, through his fatherhood to one whom they knew well. By doing this, Mark gives the Romans a reference for the truth regarding Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection to one who was accessible to them all, and who could attest to the facts on the authority of his own father, the reluctant bearer of the Lord’s cross (Luke 23:26).  Simon picked up and carried the cross. He also became a believer in Jesus and this was obviously passed on to his entire family, wife and sons. Why was Simon in Jerusalem with his sons – for business or the passover? It doesn’t really matter but we do learn they traveled from Cyrene to Jerusalem; so moving into Rome and other cities is not unreasonable. Travelling with Paul is likely too.  It also appears that Simon’s household was among the intimate friends of Paul to the point that the mother of the family is affectionately addressed by him as “Rufus’ mother and mine.”

The Importance of Love by William:  Check out William’s latest song on his blog – www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca – based on I Corinthians 13:1-7 which talks about the importance of love.  If you do not have love, you just become noisy.  Faith without love is nothing.  The greatest thing is true love as God is love and that will never end.  If we have love we will have true peace in ourselves, our church, our community and our world.  God commends us to love one another.

I Need Thee Every Hour by Chris Burton: Annie Hawks, author of this famous hymn, was born in 1836 at Hoosick, New York. Her earliest poems were published in the 1850s at the early age of 14.  In 1859, she married Charles Hawks and spent much of her life in Brooklyn.  This couple became members of Hansen Place Baptist Church whose pastor was Robert Lowry, writer and composer of such hymns as Shall We Gather at the River, Nothing but the Blood, Christ Arose, Marching to Zion and the song that his new parishioner would give him. After writing the lyrics, Annie gave them to Robert Lowry, who added the tune and refrain. The hymn was first published at the National Baptist Sunday School Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November 1872. Some years later, after the death of her husband, Hawks wrote, “I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long after, when the shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood something of the comforting power in the words which I had been permitted to give out to others in my hour of sweet serenity and peace.”  She wrote 400 hymn in her life, mostly for Sunday School.  Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w3y3iT3NlU to hear this hymn sung by Jars of Clay.

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.

We Are Blessed!  (Matthew 13:16) by Gary Carter: Matthew records in Jesus’ parable of the sower, “…blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”  The eyes and ears mentioned are our our receptive organs which serve as symbols or ability to percieve in our inner personality.  Too often we see and hear what we want.  Our reticular activating system is the gatekeeper to the brain which filters out what to send to our frontal lobes.  Years ago when out for a drive, Gary’s mom would point out flowers along the way; whereas his dad always saw the make of a car.  We are tuned to be aware of certain things.  Having ears ready to hear is a gift from God.  God matches our readiness to respond to Him.  We recognize that we don’t know it all and that we “need Him every hour.”  The 66 writings in the Bible combined were a direct revelation from God and unanimously accepted at the time to be God’s book by Paul and Rufus and down through the years by Richard, William and us.  Pray for our teens that they will also have ears to hear and eyes to see so they can be used for God’s glory.

More Business Partnerships by Steve Macdonald:
Dolittle and Dalley - Efficiency Consultants
White, Sands & Son - Travel Agents
Argue & Phibbs – Solicitors
Lewis N. Clark - Outdoor Adventures
Hyde & Haire - Tannery
Reid & Wright - Learning Centre
Mary Annette’s  -  Puppet Shop

Heartland News & Prayer

Greetings!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

Have you seen the concave of 6 new gigantic beer vats inching along the back roads from Hamilton to near the Toronto airport?  Gary and I passed them the other day as they were parked along Mississauga Rd.  They are so big that travel under bridges was impossible and electrical wires had to be cut for proper passage.  After several days at walking speed with delays due to poor weather conditions final destination should be reached today.  For some people production of more beer is a good thing but Gary’s comment was “more impaired driving, more abuse in the home, more broken marriages, more waste of money and life etc.”  More beer will not produce more blessing for our country this year or the next.  May we remember to pray for our family members and friends for daily constraint, whose God is not the Lord.

Our church family was blessed this morning as we listened to William sing another new song, Blessed Are You, with his guitar (see his blog for the words – www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca).  Maybe by  the time June rolls around and he returns home he will have put together a songbook that he can sell on the Internet.  This week he got to buy ice skates and eat fish & chips with the Macdonalds, enjoyed the 3D version of the Chronicles of Narnia at the theatre with Howie Johnson and had all the food he could eat with Penny & Brandon Spears at Tucker’s Marketplace.  Thank you Heartland family for your good care.

Next Sunday will be the last Sunday for bringing in your donations for Haiti relief which will be sent to our Fellowship office.  Please continue to pray for our denomination and the search for a new President.

Birthday greetings to Miss Kaiya Burton this coming Thursday as she turns ten.  Thanks again for being Heartland’s #1 IT manager.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton’s home at 7:00 p.m..  We will be watching the latest version video of John Wesley.  Come watch and pray together.  Gary will be out of town.

Your 2010 tax receipts for Heartland are now available.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding your giving.

Enjoy that sun which hasn’t appeared too often lately,

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.


Where’s Waldo by Gary Carter: 
When you think of Waldo (Wally to the rest of the world) you see in your mind a cartoon character with a goofy smile, glasses, a red striped shirt and hat.  Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17 remind us that we are to fish for people.  We are looking for “Waldo”.  We can’t make him – we must find a Waldo who is already searching with his glasses.  People don’t come to Jesus without a problem recognition.  This is a difficult task as we are surrounded with people don’t appear to be interested.  Christians belong to a Waldo convention as we are all sinners and our lives have been interrupted by someone else who has explained Jesus’ plan of salvation.  Paul, the Apostle, described himself as the chief sinner or “greatest Waldo”.  The next Waldo is out there go find him!

Triple Play – Romans 16:12 - by Steve Macdonald:
Tryphena and Tryphosa are two women that Paul also greeted in this passage.  Their Greek names mean luxurious and delicate.  They were probably sisters, partly based on the fact of them being mentioned together as well as the similarity in their names.  How different were these ladies from the babies born to flesh and blood (see John 3:5-8)? Obviously their parents had hopes of a good life for them since the meaning of their names may give us an idea how they grew up. Did they have servants? Were they educated?  Were they raised to be Roman noble ladies? Paul says they worked hard in the Lord.  Then how did they get from the easy life to being recognized as labourers in the Lord?  See John 3:6 again which says, “… the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”

The third woman in this verse is Persis whose Greek name means Persian woman.  Being a dear friend of Paul’s, she likely traveled with him on one of his missions and he recognizes her for working very hard in the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58; Matthew 9:37-38).

Francis Rous by Chris Burton: Since William is aspiring to become a songwriter, using Biblical passages set to music, Chris decided to check out Francis Rous (Rouse) who was born at Halton, Cornwall in 1579 and educated at Oxford.  He practiced law and was elected to Parliament during the reigns of James and Charles I. He was appointed a member of the Westminster Assembly of the High Commission; and of the Triers for examining and licensing candidates for the ministry. He also held other appointments under Cromwell including that of Provost of Eton College. He died at Acton, Jan. 7th. 1659 and was buried in the chapel of Eton College.
Scottish Bibles in the Seventeenth century often had psalms in meter printed (very graphic in design) after the book of Revelation.  These (known as a psalter) were sung daily in Scottish homes and often people became more familiar with these tunes then the actual text itself in the Psalms.  The version of Psalm 23 put to meter by Rous came about because he was dissatisfied with the accuracy of some of the other translations – mainly ones sung by the Puritans.  Listen to The Lord is My Shepherd – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JN1uLkwc_0.

Blessings!  When the Going Gets Tough (Matthew 5: 11-12; Luke 6:22; Matthew 11:6) by Gary Carter: According to Dr. Kara Powell (Executive Director of Fuller Youth Institute and teacher at Fuller Theological Seminary in the US) 50 % of high school graduates will drop out of church after 18 months due to temptations, new freedoms etc.  Christian teens don’t get going; but if they have strong relationships with five adults within the church this will help solidify them.

Jesus predicted mistreatment.  The promise of “easy” is every where.  The promise of “easy” attracts a crowd.  “Easy” is hard to find – there are less than 100 years of miracles in the Bible.  The promise of the NFL (no friends left) club is not attractive.  The promise of mistreatment is not just in the fine print.  The cause of this mistreatment is because of righteousness (Matthew 5:10) and because of Jesus, the Son of Man (Matthew 5:11; 11:6; Luke 6:22).  This is not the mistreatment of being a jerk, being stupid or mishandling an issue.  The actions involved are persecution (Matthew 5:10), insults (Matthew 5:11), falsely saying all kinds of evil (Matthew 5:11), hatred (Luke 6:22), exclusion (Luke 6:22) and rejecting your name as evil (Luke 6:22).  The result of this mistreatment is blessing unless you don’t live it out or if you fall away.  Do you remember the chorus, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus?  Current blessing provides an opportunity for example setting, for adjustments, and creativity (finding a way to go over, under or through a problem).  Stored up blessing is for later in the age to come.  This is your retirement plan.  Another chorus you might know says, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, all sorrows will erase, when we see Him.”  Let’s go for the blessings in the middle of the messing!

Communion:
  It is a blessing to partake together in the Lord’s Supper from month to month.  This act of worship, based on I Corinthians 11, can help build one’s spiritual life unknowingly throughout the years.  Dr. Powell reported that a high school drop out complained about the purpose of going to church as few sermons were ever remembered.  One answer came back, “I have been eating three meals a day every day and I am pretty sure I would have starved without them.”

What’s in a Name (or company names gone wrong)? by Steve Macdonald:
Get your car tuned up at … Adie Miles & Auer
Loans While You Wait at … Bank, Rupp & Baroque
Tax Law specialist … Dewey, Cheatam & Howe
Drainage System specialists … Muddy, Waters & Soeurs
Undertakers … Ketchum & Killum
Surgeons … Doctors Hakim & Stitch
Driving School lessons at … Rex Carr’s
Chartered Accountants … Cook, Books & Hyde

Heartland News & Prayer

Hi there!

“…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Revelations 21:6-7

I like the beginning of a new year. How about you? Last weekend we began the New Year way up north in Moosonee with our son Rob and his family. We got to drive across the frozen Moose River over to Moose Factory, we watched fireworks set off in a huge pile of snow, and we even joined in a cookout Sunday afternoon where we ate hot dogs from an open fire. Moosonee Community Church where Rob is Chairman of the Board is renovating its facilities and looking forward this year to reach out more and more to the Cree community surrounding them. Please remember them in prayer. All in all it was a super week. We are now back home and anticipating all the other new things that are heading our way this year. May you also eagerly anticipate all the good things “the Alpha and the Omega” has in store for you.

William is continuing to enjoy his stay in Canada and learning lots every day. This past week he had a haircut, ate lasagna and yogurt for the first time, visited a Chapters book store and the Eaton’s Centre. He also wrote his fourth song with Sara & Chris Burton’s help which he performed in our service this morning. Thank you so much everyone for contributing in many different ways to William’s Canadian experience. Don’t forget to check out his blog – http://william.heartlandfellowship.ca. It’s very interesting to read about his perspective on our way of life e.g. he didn’t know you can eat turkey like you eat chicken. When asked if he missed his home he said that when he decided to come to Canada he would not look back.

Money was sent to Richard in Myanmar before Christmas, some of which was for a special Christmas dinner for his staff and orphans. Money was also sent to William’s father in Yangon for his ministry. Some of the money was from the sale of scarves that William brought here and were sold in our church. They have in turn taken that money and bought more materials for more scarves. Now that’s the business!

Belated birthday greetings to Frances Kerr on January 3. She gets to go to Disney World in Florida this week with her brother and his wife! Also belated birthday greetings to Gary on Dec. 31 and Heather Macdonald who turned 17 on January 5.

I am now looking for the money you collected in the Christmas boxes for Haiti. Please bring it in over the next two weeks so that I can send a cheque off to our Fellowship office. Also please continue to pray for our denomination and the search for a new President.

We are grateful with Debbie Macdonald that surgery is not necessary for her broken arm. Please pray for quick restoration.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton’s home. Come join us in Bible study and prayer at 7:00 p.m.

Your 2010 tax receipts for your Heartland giving should be available in the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your faithfulness in this area once again.

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

Catching Fish by Gary Carter: It is always important to do the next thing in life, to be faithful in the circumstances you find yourself in and to look at life as to how God looks at it. We need to know how to listen and share in proper balance to help those who are seeking. In order to become good fishers of men we must study the art of fishing to lure the fish (or people) into our boats. Some time ago Gary talked with an avid fisherman who had just caught a 19 pound Pickeral. When asked about his secret he said that he went to a certain spot in the lake, took a small fish hook and put a worm on it. Then he blew the worm up with a hypodermic needle, added a small lead weight upline with no leader. The worm would float a few inches off the bottom as he slowly trolled along and when he felt a fish nibbling at the hook he didn’t immediately set the hook but let the fish run for a bit with the hook. He would then set the hook and again let it run until it eventually came close to his boat where he could reach over and catch it with his net. This took about 45 minutes. We can’t be in a hurry particularly when dealing with people. Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17). He was talking to men who had been fishermen for many a year.

Narcissus & Herodian – Romans 16:11 - by Steve Macdonald: This verse says, “Greet those in the house of Narcissus who are in the Lord.” Narcissus of Athens was counted among the 70 Apostles. His Greek name means stupidity or numbness – we do use the word “narcotic”. There is a Greek myth about a beautiful youth who fell in love with his reflection in a pool and pined away, becoming the flower that bears his name. There are several widely cultivated bulbous plants of the genus Narcissus, having long narrow leaves and usually white or yellow flowers characterized by a cup-shaped or trumpet-shaped central crown.
Some authorities (such as Suetonius) believe that Narcissus was the secretary of the Roman Emperor Claudius I and that he died about A.D. 54. They further believe that he was a freedman with great influence amassing a great fortune. If this were the case, is Paul indicating that Narcissus is not a believer as the verse says “them of the household of Narcissus, that are in the Lord”, indicating that not all from that household were believers? This reminds us of Matthew 19:16-24 and the rich young man who could not give up all his wealth to follow Jesus. Or maybe Paul is indicating that Narcissus is dead, similar to the greeting to the household of Aristobulus (v 10). Along with the Apostles Urban, Stachys, Ampliatus, Apelles and Aristobulus he assisted Andrew and is one of the seventy. Philip ordained Narcissus bishop of Athens. But wait - Narcissus Bishop of Athens served between 117-138 according to Orthodox Wiki which would mean he died somewhere in his early 100s if he was around 18 at the time Paul wrote Romans. Despite the fact that history has distorted, combined and pretty much lost who Paul is referring to, it is certain that members of a household were saved by the gospel. Was Narcissus one? We do not know; his name was common. Also check out Luke 12:51-54.
Another gentleman mentioned in this same verse is Herodian, Paul’s relative. He was also one of the 70 Apostles and travelled with both Peter and Paul going to Rome with Peter. He was beheaded on the same day that Peter was crucified. Paul refers to Herodion as my fellow Jew; so we can believe that he was also a Benjamite, as was Andronicus and Junia, (Romans 16:7). Peter and Paul established Herodion as Bishop of Patara (Patras).

The Power of the Holy Spirit by William: As believers we are called to preach the Gospel with the help of the Holy Spirit. When Peter was with Jesus as one of His disciples he believed Jesus but he was afraid to be a witness. After receiving the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8) Peter did witness and saw many hearts touched. It is not enough just to believe in Jesus. We must ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to impact our community, to build the church, to accomplish the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We need His power. Read Luke 11:5-13 which tells about a man asking for bread from his neighbour at midnight. Verse 13 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven given the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” God loves the unbeliever. If we are humble and ask the Holy Spirit will work through us at our school or work. This is why William has written his 4th song found on his website (http://william.heartlandfellowship.ca).

Antinyms by Steve Macdonald (teaching William how to speak English – a big job!):
Sometimes antonyms can work together in a sentence without contradicting each other. Other times they are almost like an oxymoron; these are called antinyms.
1. The little boy didn’t know enough to come in out of the rain.
2. Why is it we know much less than when we were teenagers?
3. The earthquake was so strong, the gelatin was still shaking the next day!
4. Cora can’t can candy cantaloupes, can she?
5. The realtor sold few lots while the sale was on.
6. Because he was a soft touch, hard knocks were inevitable
7. Don’t do as I do; do as I dictate.
8. Where I come from, to err is hunam.

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