Heartland News & Prayer

May 4, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there!

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (I Timothy 2:1-2).

What a week it has been! Prince William & Kate got married in England; horrendous tornados occurred in Alabama with so many killed; Gaddafi’s son and two grandsons were killed in Syria Saturday; and within our own country election campaigning has been tense. Are you ready to vote tomorrow for the Canadian party of your choice? (I will be working as a Deputy Returning Officer at a local school.) Who would have thought that Jack Layton will probably form the opposition party.

William returned Tuesday morning from his trip to Ottawa. He will not go back again before he leaves for Myanmar and so it is always hard to say good-bye to friends. Check out his blog at www.william.heartlandfellowship.ca. William came back with a hat and shirt from Ottawa so he is definitely branded Canadian. The English tutorial program arrived this week that he will be able to take home with him to teach English to his students. The program, www.tellmemore.com, looks very good. Jot down Sun. evening May 29th on your calendar for his farewell potluck supper. Bring any food items you wish to share except dessert. Don’t forget to invite anyone who has an interest in this young man’s life and ministry in Myanmar.

Please pray for Howie Johnson’s brother who suffered a concussion recently which is affecting his ability to work.

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 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.

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.

Choosing the Right Challenge or Discarding an Old Habit by Gary Carter: Gary obtained a very old hatchet the other day which had once belonged to Wendy’s dad. The head was cracked and thus bolted together with four bolts. The mentality often in the early 1900s was to make do with what you had. But could his time have been used more wisely by purchasing a new one? It probably was a challenge to repair his hatchet or maybe it had some emotional connection. By today’s standards it seems like a useless tool. The other day Gary’s chiropractor scolded him for putting his wallet in his back pocket. Sitting on the wallet could be one of the reasons for his periodic sore back. He could resist this new knowledge or change his thinking even though he feels more comfortable with it in his back pocket than his front one after too many years. When William travels to visit his Chin tribe in Myanmar with the new solar panel system (looks very good) that arrived last week from China and light is made available to these people, it will definitely make a difference in their lives. As you evaluate your life is there something that you can change or get rid of that will make your life better or more worthwhile?

Conversations with Jesus (Part 11) by Chris Burton: Luke 7:1-10 describes the story of the healing of the centurion’s servant. Faith was not just for the Jews. The centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Most centurions commanded 83 men despite the commonly assumed 100, but senior centurions commanded cohorts (6 groups of 80) or took senior staff roles in their legion. Faith translated into action. His faith was in Christ for sure, but faith also was demonstrated by the Jewish elders for the “character” of the Centurion. He built a love for the people and demonstrated it by building a synagogue (with his own money). He recognized something lacking from the faith he was brought up in; he saw it first in the Jews but then the true power in Jesus. Faith makes us humble. This was a far contrast from the Pharisees demanding Jesus answer their questions. Faith trusts in Christ alone. Again, this was a far cry from the reaction of the Pharisees or the wealthy. He understands what it is to have unconditional faith or trust in somebody. He doesn’t need any guarantees that it will work. It is interesting that even Jesus was caught off guard and amazed by this man’s faith.

Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:16-18; 2 Timothy 4:19-21) by Steve Macdonald: This Greek gentleman was another associate of Paul. His name means to bring joy or bring profit. It was on Paul’s second journey, about 51 A.D., that Paul came to Ephesus while returning from Greece to Syria (Acts 18:18-21). He stayed a short time as he was hurrying to be back at Jerusalem for Pentecost. Priscilla and Aquila remained to carry on with the work of the Gospel. Did Onesiphorus become a believer at this time or was he converted during the revival at Ephesus (Acts 19: 1-20). In 2 Timothy 1:16 Paul mentions the “household of Onesiphorus.” This phrase may indicate that he was dead - not an unreasonable possibility since Nero’s persecution against the Christians was fierce. Onesiphorus boldly declared his belief in Christ to the Roman officials. Some religions hold that if Onesiphorus was dead then Paul is praying for intervention for the deceased. Whether dead or on a trip and away from his household, Paul recognizes that Onesiphorus was a true friend, spiritual supporter, constant companion (returned often), a refresher, a counsellor, a comforter, accepted him (in his chains), not timid and a role model for others. From 2 Timothy we learn that he knew Priscilla & Aquila, Eubulus,
Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. From Acts 19 he had connections with
Apollos, Tyrannus, Gaius, Aristarchus, Titus, Erastus, Tychicus, Timothy/ Lois/Eunice and Luke.

The following poem is from a children’s Sunday school lesson:
Remember Rhyme
A true friend cares
When no one else cares
A true friend loves
When no one else loves
When you’re forgotten and alone
A true friend is there
When the world seems quiet
A true friend offers prayer
Ask God to place a true friend
In your life today
Ask God to show you friendship
The Paul and Onesiphorus way!

Ready … Reset by Gary Carter: Are you at your peak of your game or are you putting up with dirt, problems, fading commitment? Many say that they are too old to change no matter the age. No one is too old to make an effort and restart one’s life to try and make a better world. If you do make a change in your circumstances that can be very powerful.

King Hezekiah’s life (2 Chronicles 29) was one of the good news stories in the Old Testament. His contemporaries were Isaiah and Jeremiah. At age 25 he became the king of the southern kingdom, Judah. Israel, the northern kingdom had already fallen to Assyria. He made a significant difference even in the first month of his reign when he repaired the temple doors. Do you have a squeaky door in your house that you have put up with until you finally get out the WD40? There are lots of squeaks in our lives. The fixing of the temples doors in Israel was a symbol of repairing life.

As well Hezekiah’s parents had no real awareness of forsaking God; they were not taking care of His priorities. Often we go by a church and see that the flower beds need weeding. This is my job or your job or everybody’s job – not somebody else’s job. Too often programs are shut down to simplify or is it just really laziness or too much cost? When Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet it wasn’t a waste; it was worship. It is too easy to get used to a new pattern until the next generation doesn’t know about Sunday evening services or a separate Sunday School hour or bus ministry which has been the pattern in the past for many churches. King Hezekiah, the new kid on the block, made a covenant with the Lord similar to Joshua who said, “…as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). The temple was cleaned. It took 16 days to remove the junk to the Kidron Valley. God did it quickly through the hearts of the people. In 2 Chronicles 30 the king then sent out couriers to all Israel and Judah to invite them to Jerusalem to celebrate the passover of the Lord. This was a harder activity for them without the notice being published on a website or the message being sent to an email list. The letters were handwritten.

King Hezekiah started young. He analyzed the situation carefully recognizing the failure of his parents and noticing the junk in their lives which consumed time and interest. He evaluated the program (e.g. no celebration of the Passover) and made immediate changes. If you say you are going to go on a diet next week, you won’t. Start now. You are young compared to what you will be next year. Look at your life. Recognize the failure you inherited – don’t just bad mouth it. Get rid of the junk. Since the beginning of television in the 50s and then the Internet in the 90s, people look for 20-30 hours per week of entertainment. It is the same in the secular world as in the sacred world. Recreate the program. The first pass will feel awkward and hard to remember. If you put God first He will bring awareness to your mind.

Just Asking! by Steve Macdonald:
Is a locomotive a crazy reason for doing something?
Is there something I can take for kleptomania?
Is the life story of a car an autobiography?
If people don’t like tailgaters, why do they buy bumper stickers?
If a boxer was knocked out by Dracula, is he out for the Count?
Is a very small mother a minimum?
If people dream in colour is it a pigment of their imagination?

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