Hi there!

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11

Spring is here and it’s the international Masters Golf Tournament happening this weekend in Augusta, Georgia with magnificent scenery. The extremely focused plan for each of these men is to direct a small white ball into 18 holes throughout the course in the least number of strokes (with lots of birdies, lots of frustrations, and lots of onlookers) to win a green jacket. Do I sound like I know what I am talking about? God is just as focused on our lives according to this popular verse above. His plans for the Israelite exiles in Babylon were for them to settle down, build homes, marry, plant gardens, increase in number, and pray for the prosperity of the city. After 70 years He would direct them back home to Jerusalem. As with golf we never know what the end of our story will be like.

William is continuing to allow God to direct his life. This past week at our FEB Central convention in Cambridge he was able to meet some new people with Burmese connections in Ontario. His challenge is to develop these relationships further. Our neighbour Ferd is heading to China this week for his adjustable bed manufacturing business. He will be on the look out for any portable way of creating electricity (possibly solar) that William could sell in Myanmar. We are planning William’s farewell party some time the end of May. Details to follow.

Our proposal for funds from a local foundation was couriered last Thursday. Please pray for a positive response so that Richard can begin his brick-making business to support his orphanage. Several students will be graduating high school in the next five years. They also need proper direction for their lives.

The Nghiem family put their house up for sale this past week where William is living and in a couple of days they received a conditional offer. They want to live closer to the school where Mylene teaches in north Toronto and plant a new church nearer that community. Pray for God’s leading in their lives as they hope to move the end of June. We have been very grateful to them for their good care of William since December.

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. Continue to pray for a president who will be able to manage this national organization well.

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

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.

Influencers by Gary Carter: Are you familiar with the name, John Walsh? He has been the host of the television program, America’s Most wanted. Candy Lightner founded MADD as a result of her 13 ½ year old being killed by a drunk driver. Robert Raikes (1736-1811) worked with down and out kids in London, England and established the Sunday School movement. He had great influence on George Mueller who founded orphanages, pastored a church of 1200 members, distributed tracts and wrote 60 letters each week. Bill McCartney started Promised Keepers known today as a large Christian men’s organization. C. T. Studd (1880-1931) was a son of a rich man who wanted to live by faith and gave lots of money to support George Mueller’s orphans. He became a missionary himself to China where his two sons died at an early age. He was, however, able to show the Chinese the importance of females in a country that valued males. He later went to India and then Africa to begin World Evangelism Crusade with 100s of missionaries. Studd declared, “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” He inspired Adoniram Judson, one of the first missionaries in Burma. William wouldn’t be in our church today without Judson’s influence in that country. John R. Boyd (1914-1994) pastored a church in Sudbury. He had a great impact on young people with employing four interns every summer. The American Elmer Towns has become well known as a Sunday School speaker at conventions. He started “Friend Day.” Over 10 million people have come to church because of their friend’s invitation through this system. Gary’s pastor friend, Doug Porter, from Napanee has ghost written many of Mr. Town’s books. There is always someone standing behind someone else. One may lead to many over time.

Many make a difference in many others’ lives. And yet, with our study on Jesus’ conversations in the Gospels we have learned that 30% of the Gospel of John is about one person, Jesus, influencing one other person. 15% were conversations with 12 or fewer. Whatever the influence, large or small, being known or not, according to C.T. Studd’s poem, Only One Life (“Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”), we must follow God’s will for our own unique lives every day. We can’t waste time on mere complaining. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)

William: This week William wrote another song (www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca) based on Psalm 33:12. It is very important that God is our Lord – if so, we will be blessed. He has been encouraged to see one of the Ottawa congregations that doesn’t have a pastor increase their giving. This is spiritual progress. He was also excited to learn that a Burmese couple who have not been able to have a child for several years are now expecting their first. He will return to Ottawa Easter weekend. It is fun to see William’s much improvement in his guitar playing and song writing.

Titus - by Steve Macdonald: Steve is particularly fond of the book of Titus written by Paul as it helped turn his life around for Christ several years ago when we first started Heartland. Titus, another associate of Paul’s, was mentioned 13 times in the New Testament. He was the recipient of this letter. His name means honour and he was a Greek (Galatians 2:3). Eusebius, the historian, records Titus as the first bishop of Crete. Tradition indicates he died in peace in 107 AD in Gortyn, Crete at an advanced age (between 94-97). He travelled to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1), Macedonia (2 Corinthians 7:5-6), Corinth (2 Corinthians 8:17), Rome & Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:9-10), Crete (Titus 1:5), Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), and Ephesus with a “severe letter” (2 Corinthians 2:3-4). His travel companions were Paul, Barnabas, Peter, John, James, Artemas or Tychicus, Luke, John Mark, Timothy, Silas, Aristarchus, Sopater, Secundus, Gaius, Trophimus, Erastus, Crescens, Zenas, and Apollos.
Titus was one of Paul’s dear and trusted friends. He was reliable as Paul chose him to be his delegate to Corinth. He was a politician who managed to deal with difficult and delicate matters in the church. He was patient; he returned to Corinth more than once. He was tactful, resourceful and skillful in dealing with the Corinthian church factions, handling the men and the affairs regarding alms. He was upright, honest and held in high esteem - “Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker to you-ward.“ (2 Corinthians 8:23)

Conversations with Jesus (Pt. – Jesus Questioned about Fasting (Luke 5:33-39) by Chris Burton: Jesus was challenged for not being as “spiritual” as John or the Pharisees and gives another hint as to who He is and why He has come. There is a vast contrast between what Jesus is teaching and what the Pharisees are saying. He was bringing new thinking with authority. People were tired of hearing old stuff. The wineskin illustration He used would have made sense to them; they knew how it was made from one goat piece. When fermenting took place the skin would expand. It would be drained and couldn’t be used again. A new skin would be needed for new wine. You have to get rid of old thinking, the old self. This was a loaded conversation.

Ready … Reset by Gary Carter: We need to evaluate on a daily basis our old framework of values whether they be inherited, accepted or even chosen. A teenager approaching adulthood will decide which values to keep. C. T. Studd gave away all his inheritance. Often a giant leap forward in this area occurs due to a tragedy, failure etc. God knew the plans He had for the Israelites in their Babylonian captivity in the Old Testament. He told them to settle down and pray for prosperity which included spiritual prosperity. Do you have spiritual children and grandchildren? We need to learn to be pliable, not always following our own preferences. There is always time to hit the reset button. You never know what’s coming around the corner. Gary found himself sitting in McDonald’s Saturday night surrounded by people with non-white skin colours. Brampton is our Babylon. It is time to reach out to it.

Anagrams by Steve Macdonald:
A Decimal Point - I‘m a Dot in Place
The Morse Code - Here Come Dots
Slot Machines - Cash Lost in ‘em
Desperation - A Rope Ends It
Snooze Alarms - Alas! No More Z’s
The Public Art Galleries - Large Picture Halls, I Bet