Heartland News & Prayer

April 3, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings!

“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27

Daily news reports from Japan (over 15,000 have died plus up to 3000 injured so far and many more still missing) and the ongoing horrific problems with the nuclear plants that were damaged during the March earthquake are revealing to the whole world this nation’s dire situation. It is very hard for Japanese people to ask for help. Shinto is the major religion alongside of Buddhism; however it has been said that 70% of Japanese do not have a personal religion. How can they cope with their fear, anxiety, loss, even lack of hope for the future? May we pray that many will ask for help and seek out our God who is not far from them.

William had another great weekend in Ottawa as he preached to 3 or 4 Burmese congregations. His ministry to them is helping them realize how important it is for the different groups to work in harmony here in Canada. There are more details on his blog, www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca. This Wednesday Gary will take him to our FebCentral annual conference in Cambridge to get a taste of our denomination.

Don’t forget to listen to Gary’s and Kaiya Burton’s weekly program – www.thelittlebigshow.ca. Gary also continues to record another radio program every Thursday afternoon with Dan Shurr from our Fellowship denomination. Check out www.listento.fellowshipradio.ca.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Carters’ home at 7:00 p.m. as we continue to view Don Carson’s video series and pray.

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.

Foundation Presentation for Myanmar by Gary Carter: These days we are pursuing foundation money for Richard’s orphanage in Myanmar. He wants to begin a brick-making business to support their daily needs and provide for the children’s education after high school. One local foundation also interested in orphanage work is willing to receive our proposal. To help with this presentation we recorded William during our service. He described the usual pattern of life for children there. Many teenagers do attend university with financial help from their parents if possible. William attended university with about 10,000 students. Only 1000 graduated with him because of financial constraints along the way. Even though there are not many jobs available upon completion of this education it does better prepare them for life. Myanmar is a large unknown country sandwiched between Bangladesh and Thailand. 43,000 orphans live on the streets. This is not the only place in our world that requires outside help; however the world quickly learns about other countries (e.g. Japan’s plight). Please pray for a positive outcome to our financial pursuit so that Richard’s orphanage can become a template for other orphanages in the land. This will move the country forward in many ways.

John Mark - by Steve Macdonald: John Mark was another associate of Paul’s who lived in Jerusalem with his mother, Mary (father unknown) according to Acts 12:12. His family was comfortable if not wealthy and well known as Christians. They opened their house for others to pray. Was this the house Peter went to after escaping jail where Christians were praying for him? Mark knew and was exposed to some prominent leaders in his teen years – Peter, John, other disciples, Barnabas. He became very close to Peter, possibly a convert/a student (I Peter 5:13). He is probably the author of the Gospel of Mark. He wasn’t really a leader but a good second man. In Hebrew, John is Yohanan meaning “grace” and Mark in Latin is Marcus. Was Mark then a Roman citizen?
According to the historian Jerome, Mark travelled with Peter to the Jewish believers who had been disbursed to Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia and Rome in AD 42. Eusebius also indicates that Mark was Peter’s recorder writing down accurately all his experiences with Jesus. Mark would have been too young at this time. Jerome also claims that Mark took his Gospel to Alexandria where he formed the first church there. This would have impressed Philo a learned man among the Jews. Mark also travelled with Paul and Barnabas as their helper from Antioch to Salamis and Paphos on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:5-12). He did leave them in Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13) to return to Jerusalem. Why? Did he have a special mission to perform for Paul and Barnabas? Not likely as in later years Luke refers to this departure as a desertion. Mark may have had some doubts regarding what Paul and Barnabas were preaching and to whom. Being close to Peter, Mark may have leaned towards their preaching of circumcision as well as not preaching to Gentiles. Was it too much of a leap for him that he had to return to Peter with his beliefs and teachings where he was comfortable? Were the discussions regarding the Gentiles so animated between Paul and Mark or was Mark so unmovable about his beliefs that Paul could not accept him back on another trip (Acts 15:39)? Barnabas always the “son of consolation” or “son of encouragement” obviously spent much time working with Mark during their trip to Cyprus. Mark does not resurface for almost 11 years at which time he is once again with Paul in Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:23). Mark must have made quite the impression many years earlier to be remembered by Philemon and others.
Mark’s associates were Peter, the disciples, Paul, Barnabas, Luke, Philemon, Epaphras, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, Silas, Bar-Jesus, Sergius Paulus, Elymas, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila, Tychicus, Onesimus, Justus, Gaius, Sopater, Secundus, and Trophimus.

Conversations with Jesus (Pt. 7) – Tax Collectors & Sinners by Chris Burton: In Luke 5:27-31 we learn about Jesus calling Levi (Matthew), a tax collector, and eating with sinners. The tax collectors were Jews who collected taxes from fellow Jews for the Roman Empire. They made their living by charging an extra amount. Some of them made more than a living; their “hired hands” would help them collect whatever amount they could. They were also considered traitors who became wealthy by collaborating with Roman authorities at the expense of their own people. The sinners who are grouped with the tax collectors were not “ordinary” sinners. Even the Pharisees along with others would admit that everyone was a sinner and needed God’s mercy and forgiveness. But the sinners associated with tax collectors were people who deliberately and persistently sinned. In this group would be money-lenders who charged interest on loans advanced to fellow Jews. These individuals were making a living by disobeying the commands of God and betraying their own people. They were the “wicked” and “unworthy” to be cast aside and avoided by the people of God. But Jesus was “hanging” with them - it’s not too hard to see why the Pharisees were unhappy and the others were confused. If Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners in order to preach to them (convert them), perhaps the Pharisees would have not raised a stink. But they didn’t think Jesus was doing any of that (condemning their actions and demanding repentance). What angered the Pharisees was that Jesus was not directly asking tax collectors and sinners to do any of this. Some of them likely did repent, like Levi, but Jesus also accepted them as they were and was freely having dinner with them without requiring that they first clean up their lives. Jesus did have a message for them. It wasn’t, “Straighten up your life and keep the law.” His message was, “The kingdom of God is yours; you are included.” By eating with them, he was extending to them the kingdom of God.

Finding God (Acts 17:26-27) by Gary Carter: These verses are very precise (see them at the top of this post). God has orchestrated the exact times and places where we will live on the earth. He has tilted His system in favour of us seeking Him. There are approaching 7 billion people in the world presently. With the six degrees of separation philosophy anyone can know the truth. We can find Him whether we live in a dark city like Yangon, Myanmar or a hard to reach city like Brampton, Ontario. In a few weeks many parents will be celebrating Easter with their children by hiding Easter eggs for them to find. They won’t put them in really hard-to-find places as they want to participate in their children’s joy of discovery. God has placed the joy of discovery of the resurrection where it can be found because “he is not far from each one of us.” God is discoverable.

Police Reports & Bad Ads by Steve Macdonald:
Theft: A woman in the 1900 block of 129th Lane Northeast reports Oct. 15 that someone must have stole her mail because she did not receive birthday cards from some of her friends.
1:33 p.m., Sonora – A man came to the Sheriff’s Department to “find out how to legally kill” a person who was harassing him.
2:58 p.m. - The Learning Center on Hanson Street reports a man across the way stands at his window for hours watching the center – making parents nervous. Police ID the subject as a cardboard cutout of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Don’t Pay High Prices for Central Air Conditioning! Only $5,500,000 and one or two days is all it takes to install top quality Lennox Central Air in your 3 bedroom raised ranch.
A deputy responded to a report of a vehicle stopping at mail boxes. It was the mailman.
3:35 a.m. A woman on Serrano Road said two people were in her backyard cutting her marijuana plants.
Weight Loss: Treadmill, almost new $200 or trade for scooter with large seat.
Dog Attack: Lower Duck Pond, Lithia Park, Ashland. Police responded to a report of two dogs running loose and attacking ducks at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday. The officer cited a resident for the loose dogs. The duck refused medical treatment and left the area according to police records.
Tombstone: Standard gray. A good buy for someone named Grady.

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