Heartland News & Prayer

February 13, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15

Don’t you like happy endings? At least it seems the Egyptian people are headed in a more encouraging direction. They are saying they are happy now that their president has resigned. It’s amazing how the “twitter revolution” took over this country in just a few short weeks. Let us pray that Christians will be able to make good strides in reaching these people for His sake in the months ahead since they are more open and optimistic about their future. And may we remember other suppressed countries that are trying to follow in their example. The Egyptian people came out to celebrate in their cars. Very few people in Myanmar have cars which shows us once again how much poorer this country is than many others. We can rejoice with Egypt but still mourn for Myanmar.

Thanks to the Macdonald family William got a taste of skating yesterday. He realized how slippery ice can be. Continue to pray that he will be able to reach out to more and more people while he is here. So far we have been able to sell 12 of his hats and scarves which is great. We can send that money back to his father’s church so they can do some work. Why not consider buying one for yourself or a friend?

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

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!

A 2010 Kainos International Ministries financial statement was handed out this morning. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to ask. Also see Gary’s article on prayer in the Fellowship’s online magazine – www.thrive-magazine.ca.

Since Wiarton Willie indicated we are going to have an early spring Feb. 2, it looks like there are 5 weeks left to go. Yeah!!

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.

Valentine’s Day by Gary Carter: The origin of Valentine’s Day is rather uncertain. Frances Kerr mentioned this morning that a monk who had a garden hung bouquets on door handles. People gave to each other by following his example. However it started Valentine’s is for celebrating love. Love is first and foremost what you do and the way you act even when you don’t feel like it. Over the years its effect accumulates and you don’t realize until later in life how meaningful and valuable these acts of love are. We are here to serve others, not to be served which all leads to a wonderful life, family and church.

William’s Eighth Song – Embrace Me Warmly in your Wind www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca: As believers we fight life’s storms every day. There is only One we can hope and trust in to help us withstand these storms. Everyone has a cross to carry. We are not special people or scholars of God’s Word but we can ask for His help so that He will be glorified. Back in Myanmar William met a lady who was struggling with her marriage. When she came to hear him preach she wanted to receive Jesus into her life. Even though her husband was a Muslim and she was a Buddhist no one had ever taught her about the love of God. Another lady he prayed for was healed from her allergies. Some times people are healed and some times they are not but the joy is far deeper when the prayer is answered. We do not have health insurance to depend on. Submit your life to God and we will share our joys together in heaven over winning lost souls for Christ.

The 70 Apostles - by Steve Macdonald: Steve researched the names of the 70 apostles from Hippolytus the early church historian. Here they are: James the Lord’s brother, bishop of Jerusalem; Cleopas, bishop of Jerusalem; Matthias, who supplied the vacant place in the number of the twelve apostles; Thaddeus, who conveyed the epistle to Augarus; Ananias, who baptized Paul, and was bishop of Damascus; Stephen, the first martyr; Philip, who baptized the eunuch; Prochorus, bishop of Nicomedia, who also was the first that departed, believing together with his daughters; Nicanor died when Stephen was martyred; Timon, bishop of Bostra; Parmenas, bishop of Soli; Nicolaus, bishop of Samaria; Barnabas, bishop of Milan; Mark the evangelist, bishop of Alexandria; Luke the evangelist; Silas, bishop of Corinth; Silvanus, bishop of Thessalonica; Crisces (Crescens), bishop of Carchedon in Gaul. Epaenetus, bishop of Carthage; Andronicus, bishop of Pannonia; Amplias, bishop of Odyssus; Urban, bishop of Macedonia; Stachys, bishop of Byzantium; Barnabas, bishop of Heraclea; Phygellus, bishop of Ephesus.and Simon; Hermogenes. had the same mind with the former Demas, who also became a priest of idols; Apelles, bishop of Smyrna; Aristobulus, bishop of Britain; Narcissus, bishop of Athens; Herodion, bishop of Tarsus; Agabus the prophet; Rufus, bishop of Thebes; Asyncritus, bishop of Hyrcania; Phlegon, bishop of Marathon; Hermes, bishop of Dalmatia; Patrobulus, bishop of Puteoli; Hermas, bishop of Philippi; Linus, bishop of Rome; Caius, bishop of Ephesus; Philologus, bishop of Sinope; Olympus and Rhodion were martyred in Rome; Rhodion was martyred in Rome;
Lucius, bishop of Laodicea in Syria; Jason, bishop of Tarsus; Sosipater, bishop of Iconium; Tertius, bishop of Iconium; Erastus, bishop of Panellas; Quartus, bishop of Berytus; Apollo, bishop of Caesarea; Cephas; Sosthenes, bishop of Colophonia; Tychicus, bishop of Colophonia; Epaphroditus, bishop of Andriace; Caesar, bishop of Dyrrachium; Mark, cousin to Barnabas, bishop of Apollonia; Justus, bishop of Eleutheropolis; Artemas, bishop of Lystra; Clement, bishop of Sardinia; Onesiphorus, bishop of Corone; Tychicus, bishop of Chalcedon; Carpus, bishop of Berytus in Thrace; Evodus, bishop of Antioch; Aristarchus, bishop of Apamea; Mark, who is also John, bishop of Bibloupoli; Zenas, bishop of Diospolis; Philemon, bishop of Gaza; Aristarchus Pudes; and Trophimus, who was martyred along with Paul.

The following are included according to some Orthodox Churches, which then requires you to remove some listed by Hippolytus: Aquila, Crispus, Gaius, Archippus, Onesimus, Titus, Timothy, Symeon, Alphaeus, Apphia, Junia, Quadratus, Zacchaeus, Achaicus, and Fortunatus.

Conversations with Jesus in Luke 4:1-13 – If you Go Out in the Woods Today … by Chris Burton: Jesus was tested in the wilderness by Satan. He ate no food for 40 days. There are symptoms of inadequate food consumption; although it is not as critical as going without water. Missing even just a few meals can cause a host of undesirable complications such as irritability, low moral, lethargy, physical weakness, confusion and disorientation, poor judgment, weakened immune system, inability to maintain body temperature which can lead to hypothermia, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. There are also factors affecting how long you can live without food e.g. initial state of health, amount of muscle on the body, amount of body fat, one’s metabolism, the amount of work being performed while going without food and the temperature of the environment. Jesus’ body was taken to the threshold without sustaining damage. Medical doctors commonly cite one can survive 4 to 6 weeks without food. Ten political prisoners in Ireland lived 46 to 73 days before succumbing to lack of food. The results for 12 individual starvation protestors were: two lost tongues, one lost feet, seven went on kidney dialysis. Many war prisoners lived 28 to 40 days with no food . World War II concentration camps provided only 300 to 600 calories per day; many thousands did not have enough food to survive more than a few months at best. Terminally ill patients live 10 days to 3 weeks without food depending upon initial heath. Obese people can live from 3 weeks up to 25 weeks and more without food depending upon initial health and amount of fat. Mahatma Gandhi survived a 3-week fast while in his 70’s.

As part of this conversation, several questions can be asked. What did the devil look like and how did he present himself (verses 3-4)? Does the devil really believe this? Is he acutely aware that his days are numbered (verses 5-8)? “Hey Satan … didn’t you already test God? How’s that working out for you (verses 9-13)?” Jesus’ three responses were 1) there’s more to life than what you see before you (verse 4); 2) even if you are a Buddhist or a Muslim, there is only one God to worship; and 3) don’t test God.

Blessings (Matthew 5:8) by Gary Carter: Do you remember the Ivory soap commercial that stated the soap was 99 & 44/100% pure? The soap could float because the mixture was whipped and had a lot of air in it but with 56/100% contamination. “Pure in heart” refers to thinking and motives that are not selfish. Our motives are weighed by the Lord (Proverbs 15:26; 16:2). What do you want – an easier life? Why do you want it – the betterment of something? I John 3:2-3 talks about purifying yourselves. What is your hope worth to you today? What are you willing to set aside? Are you becoming pure and blameless as you grow in Him (Philippians 1:9-11)? What are you grumbling about and why (Philippians 2:14-15)? What are you doing to find purity (Titus 1:15)? The result will be we get to see God and be like Him eternally. That will be worth the price and effort of every day.

Headlines Galore by Steve Macdonald:
Gas Company Behind Bean Supper
17 Remain Dead in Morgue Shooting Spree
New Sick Policy Requires 2-day Notice
Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons
Inmate Attempts Suicide, Moved off of Death Row
Missippi’s Literacy Program Shows Improvement
Volunteerism should be Mandatory
Female Trap Shooters Aim to End Homelessness
One in for Kids Drops out of High School
Caskets Found as Workers Demolish Mausoleum

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