Happy Resurrection Weekend!

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said … “(Matthew 28:5-6)

Most of us in Canada are well aware that all snowflakes look different. It wasn’t until this past Thursday at our Home Group and supposedly when all the snow has now left us far behind that we thought to mention this fact to William. Unfortunately we never did get him to look at a single snowflake on his glove. Oh well, we will save that for another trip if that were to happen. Did you know there is a Snowflake Museum in Jericho, Vermont established by Wilson A. Bentley (1865-1931)? With his microscope and bellows camera he taught many, “Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind (www.snowflakebentley.com).” Amazing!

William arrived safely in Ottawa by WestJet early Good Friday morning. His schedule for the weekend is jam-packed with many preaching engagements among his Burmese friends. He will return Tues. morning with lots of stories to tell. Please pray for his ministry and check out his blog at www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca. Jot down Sun. evening May 29th on your calendar for his farewell potluck supper.

Our proposal to a local foundation for the development of Richard’s brick-making business in Myanmar has now been received. Please pray that they will look favourably upon our request for funds in the next few weeks. Richard wrote this week about their latest emergency, “By the grace of God, since 2007, we have water- tube and sufficient for clean water. This water- tube is deep 150ft. Last week, we have facing difficult of motor, now, we can’t used this motor is broken also we can’t prepare. Right now, we can’t use the generator and air compressor, because motor can’t work. There are 62 people who are living in the campus of Anisakhan; we have to pump up drilling water with generator every day. So, the generator is very old and we need  to repair it always, The fuel ( diesel ) its price also increase day by day. So, we would not like use it more. Please do remember our hardship on light too. We need to change the electric wire with a bigger one that we may have enough power in our campus. To make all the needed new system of electricity in our campus we need $1500 and please do pray for our needs. Instead of it, we have to decorate air-compressor which can be pumped up water electric power.” The children are walking a fair distance to get water which they carry in small barrels on their heads. We must get them involved in a business whereby they have the resources to cope with these kinds of emergencies.

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.fellowshipradio.ca.

Another April birthday happens tomorrow for Penny Spears. All the best, Penny!

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

Enjoy this weekend with your family and friends,

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.

The Hope in Resurrection Day by Gary Carter: To us as Christians every Sunday is Resurrection Day. The Bible does not tell us to celebrate this event once a year. In Bible times when Christians moved their worship day from the Sabbath to the first day of the week, this was a big change. In chatting with our neighbours over the fence yesterday, the husband mentioned to Gary that his wife was still with them. She has been suffering from a heart attack last year and diabetes. He is just not sure admittedly how he could face her death when it happens. In contrast Gary and Wendy met up with an old friend from our Eastwood days. She and her husband were the first couple to commit to helping us start that church over 30 years ago. Fifteen months ago this lady’s husband died. It has been very lonely for her since but her hope has allowed her to cope and move forward in her life. Most follow current trends e.g. one of the most influential people last year was Justin Bieber. Another influential person through the years is Billy Graham who has spread his message of hope far and wide. May we find someone to share our hope in the days to come.

Conversations with Jesus (Part 10) by Chris Burton: In Luke 6:1-10 there are two incidents about the Sabbath. Jesus and his disciples were picking some grain to eat from the grain field they were walking through and then Jesus healed the shrivelled hand of a man. Both times the Pharisees questioned Jesus. Out of the middle of the grain field the “Pharisee Paparazzi” jump out and start snapping pictures. The TMZ headline reads next day: Jesus Busted….Harvesting on Sabbath! Jesus has been hounded by the Pharisees ever since the little roof renovation project. The Pharisee Paparazzi are on hand once again looking for a new piece of controversy when He performs His healing and the TMZ reports: Sins of the Sabbath Part 2 … Jesus Heals!

Jesus responds with, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (Mathew 1:28; Mark 2:27).” He is again giving a picture of his true nature - THE SON OF MAN … THE MESSIAH and promised by God. Jesus is the Son promised to Adam and Eve who would crush Satan’s head (Genesis 3); He is the Son promised to Abraham and David who would bless all nations and reign forever on David’s throne (Genesis 12; 2 Samuel 7); and He is the Son prophesied by Isaiah who is the Mighty God (Isaiah 9). Jesus has authority over the Sabbath because He is God and Creator. John 1:3 says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Jesus can’t be bound by man made laws when he was the creator of man. The Sabbath was made by man to worship God (Jesus) and to glorify God (Jesus). When Jesus heals the sick or drives out demons on the Sabbath he is fulfilling the Sabbath by helping others to see who / what God really is. People are brought into worship with God, except the Pharisees who are too burdened by their laws and sins to see the truth. Jesus was a threat to their power. The Pharisees lost the true meaning or reason for the Sabbath; they followed Jesus to condemn where Jesus offered forgiveness or redemption.

All in the Family by Steve Macdonald: In 2 Timothy 4:12 we learn that Tychicus was sent to Ephesus to deliver letters to the church in Colossae, Ephesus, (Philippi) and to Philemon. In Philemon 1:1 we meet Philemon (Greek meaning affectionate), his wife Apphia (Greek meaning increasing) and Archippus, his son (Greek meaning master of the horse). Philemon was a noted man of Colossae, likely with some wealth or influence as he had slaves and a house large enough to hold a regular church meeting. As a fellow labourer, he probably held some office in the church at Colossae or took part in the work of spreading a knowledge of the Gospel. He came to know and believe in Jesus through Paul’s ministry possibly during Paul’s second journey (Philemon 1:19). Apphia, became a believer also through Paul’s ministry. She was the hostess and served in the domestic church (their home). She was martyred during the persecutions by Emperor Nero (54-68) along with Philemon and Archippus.

Archippus was mentioned twice in the Bible (Philemon 1:2; Colossians 4:17). His ministry was not known for sure, however, like others in biblical history, it appears he was trying to avoid the Lord’s assignment. It appears he tried to avoid the calling, so as a nice little push, Paul lets the whole church of Colossae know about it. Legend has it that mom, dad and son were all killed after being pulled out of their house by a group of non-believers who stoned, stabbed and whipped them.

Onesimus (Greek meaning profitable or useful) was a Phrygian by birth and a slave to Philemon. He ran away from Philemon at one time, stealing money/possessions to finance his way to Rome likely. There he met/heard Paul speak and was saved.

Philemon’s and Aphias’ connections were with Silas?, Timothy, Priscilla/Aquila, Apollos, Erastus, Gaius, Aristarchus, Tychicus, and Luke. Onesimus’ connections were with Tychicus, Jesus who is called Justus, Aristarchus, Mark, Epaphras, Luke, Demas & Timothy.

Resurrection Day by Gary Carter: Imagine a world without Easter or Resurrection Day — historically, culturally, sociologically, and personally. Many things would be very different. This year the most influential person listed by Time so far is the man who led the Egyptian rebellion. How is that working for that country? Societies founded on Christian values tend to prosper and others don’t. The risen Christ is everything; it is central to the Bible message. Christ will change society; that is the needed revolution.

In I Corinthians 15:13-26, the Apostle Paul is discussing life after death. The risen Christ is an actual, well-documented historical event. Will Justin Bieber have his same popularity in 20 years to come? Today some vaguely remember the life of Marilyn Monroe. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul all thought it important to record their experiences with Jesus a generation after his death. They had no photocopier but their message has been the greatest dissemination of literature in history and still stands above anything else. God has preserved the opportunity for people to see and hear His Gospel. He is not far from anyone of us. Even people in Myanmar can check out www.biblegateway.com on the Internet. This morning Carleigh Burton found her Easter eggs without much difficulty because her loving father put them where she could find them and have the joy of discovery. That is an illustration of how God has made the Gospel available easily to those who sincerely seek him.

According to Paul if Christ did not rise from the dead, then our preaching is useless, our faith is useless, our advertising would be fraudulent, there would be no after life, our faith would be futile, we would have unresolved sin, dead Christians would be lost and we would be pitiful people. There is an historical precedent set. In Adam all die; but in Christ all can be made alive. Many people don’t like to accept this. The coming King Jesus will demonstrate His Kingship and bring with Him those who belong to Him. In the final handover our enemies will be destroyed along with death. We are ambassadors to tell others to be reconciled to God.

Useful Chocolate Information by Steve Macdonald:
If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you’re eating it too slowly.
Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.
Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It’ll take the edge off your appetite and you’ll eat less.
If you can’t eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can’t eat all your chocolate, what’s wrong with you?
Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.
Put “eat chocolate” at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.
Chocolate is a health food. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived either from sugar beets or cane, both vegetables. And, of course, the milk/cream is dairy. So eat more chocolate to meet the dietary requirements for daily vegetable and dairy intake.