Heartland News & Prayer

January 9, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

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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