Heartland News & Prayer

July 17, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

A very warm Hello!

“A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.” Proverbs 13:19

Gary and I have put a lot of sweat equity into our Churchville heritage kitchen since the beginning of spring. It is 95% finished and looking good even if we do say so ourselves. The added insulation Gary put in the walls and attic is an extra bonus to keep our house cool particularly during these very hot days. (William must have left his hot climate behind when he returned home.) I am also getting my spring cleaning done in the summer along the way. Now that is fulfilling but not as fulfilling when someone decides to turn from his old ways of life and follow Christ. Please pray that our church will find those who are longing for real truth in our mult-ethnic community.

We are continuing to research foundations that are willing to donate to our charity, Kainos International Ministries, so that these monies can be sent to both Richard for his orphanage ministry and William for his church planting/business endeavours in Myanmar. Please pray that we will be successful over the next few weeks and months. Even though there are too many countries and peoples in similar dire needs God has laid it upon on hearts and opened doors for our church to work in this militaristic, impoverished society.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton “manor” at 7:00 p.m. We are continuing to view Don Carson’s series on the Bible and praying together.

It is Can Nghiem’s birthday today. All the best, Can, as you and your family open a new chapter in your life with your move to Vaughan in a couple of weeks to start a church in that community.

Remember to pray for Ron Burton who goes to camp today for two weeks and for employment for Howie Johnson.

Please pray for our son Lee and his wife, Melissa, who have just been appointed as directors for the Popcorn House in Hespeler where they live. This organization is an outreach community service to provide support in various ways particularly to new Canadians.

Don’t melt in the summer’s heat!

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.

Let There Be Light by Gary Carter: It is very exciting to hear about William’s progress from one week to the next with his portable solar panel project to produce light. Several problems have been solved. A member of his congregation who is out of a job just happened to visit him when he was working on plans for constructing the metal box to house the battery. Since this man is a welder he created the box out of a sheet of tin and even added a handle. Secondly William had a 45 minute conversation with the factory owner who makes LED lights. His order can be custom made for a very fair price. This came as a result of a lady in his church who works there. Thirdly, William can purchase batteries for half the price he originally thought. The remaining problem to be solved is to find a place to purchase the solar controller/regulator so that the battery doesn’t overcharge. The complete system will involve workers adding wires and plugs in the box. His father, John, has an extra room in his house that can be used for the “sweat shop.” The total cost for materials will be about $63 plus $10 for labour for each system. Gary has asked William to do some market research to find out if 30 families (poorer families could share in the cost) would buy these units for $150 each. The business would have $40-50 net profit after all costs including marketing and sales. Shop keepers would be another source for sales. Can 5 be made in a week or 250 in a year? A sales person could earn $15/unit sold. There are lots of questions to be answered. Myanmar people can be very industrious and intelligent but are just unaware of possibilities such as this project. The government has shut their country off to the outside world and countries like Canada have boycotted them. Please pray that this opportunity will be an opening for a new start in many lives.

The Third Journey Begins by Steve Macdonald: The third missionary journey (Acts 18:23) began in 53 AD and continued into 57/58 AD. It is covered in Acts starting at 18:23 and ending in 21:17. During this time, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians (55 AD), 2 Corinthians (55 AD), Galatians (55-57 AD), and Romans (57-58AD). Paul started out going to different regions Galatia and Phrygia, including Tarsus and Iconium. He strengthened all the disciples by doing exactly what he did in the past – teaching, encouraging and reinforcing all those who believe. He travelled to Antioch, Tarsus, Derbe, Lystra, Ephesus, Troas, Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, Azssos, Mitylene, Samos, Miletus, Cos, Rhodes, Patara, Cyprus, Tyre, Ptolemais, Caesarea and Jerusalem.

In Ephesus he met Stephanas whose name means a crown or crowned stepho (to twine or wreathe). He is mentioned three times in the New Testament - 1 Corinthians 1:16; 16:15; 16:17. He was a resident of Corinth and according to Paul the first convert along with his household in Achaia. So who was the first converts mentioned during Paul’s first two missions? During the first trip, Paul didn’t reach the province of Asia. Looking at the second mission, we have Lydia and her household, then the jailer and his household. Is Stephanas the jailer, or a member of Lydia’s family? It doesn’t really matter as he was loyal and devoted after he came to believe.

Paul also met Fortunatus, meaning lucky/fortunate. He was one of the leaders of the Corinth church along with Stephanas and Achaicus (a-ka’-i-kus, meaning belonging to Achaia). These three probably delivered a letter to Paul from the Corinth church. Was this in response to an earlier letter from Paul? 1 Cor. 5:9 says, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.” Is this referring to Corinthians’ first edition? Did their letter and Timothy’s report prompt Paul to go over to Corinth for a short visit? We know Paul was in Corinth according to the records in Acts 18:1. He went to Corinth from Acts 20 which is his second journey so so what is he talking about (2 Corinthians 13:1-2)?

Tyrannus is also in Ephesus along with Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 19:9). Tyrannus means a prince or one that reigns. Schole is a lecture-hall or teaching room of a philosopher or orator which were in every Greek city. Was Tyrannus either a Greek rhetorician or a Jewish rabbi? The common opinion is that he was a Greek rhetorician and Paul would appear as a traveling rhetors of the time who had hired such a hall to proclaim his own peculiar philosophy. Was Tyrannus a believer? We don’t know. There are at least 12 disciples who originally only heard of John’s baptism (Acts 19:7). They received the Holy Spirit after being baptized and Paul laid his hands upon them. Who were they? Who else was in Ephesus with Paul? Brothers (e.g. Apollos + others – I Corinthians 16:12); Erastus (Acts 19:22); the Seven Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:11); Gaius and Aristarchus (Acts 19:29); maybe Luke?

Ready … Reset (Nehemiah 1, 2) by Gary Carter: In our review of the Old Testament story of Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezra restored Jewish faith in Jerusalem. Then years later when the Jewish people were so discouraged Nehemiah came along to unite them so that they could rebuild their city walls. It is amazing that it only took 52 days to accomplish this important task for a city without walls is like a house without locks. When people come together united it is astounding what can be done. More to follow next week.

Communion: There are two external indicator behaviours or ordinances the New Testament enjoins to demonstrate that a person is a follower of Christ. Seven out of nine writers in the New Testament place importance on the act of baptism as a demonstration of the self-aware choice to follow Jesus. The observance of the Lord’s Supper is only mentioned in I Corinthians and the 3 synoptic Gospels (Matthew Mark and Luke). The church in general has put far more focus on this second activity. Needless to say these few words are sufficient for our understanding and regular observance should be done to remind us and provide the opportunity to be thankful for Christ’s new covenant or new deal for our lives.

Really Punny by Steve Macdonald:
Games to Play at Parties by Bob Frapples
Introduction to Archery by Beau N. Arrow
Causes of Global Warming by C. O. Tu
Making your Point Clearer by Clara Fie
Why Tune up Your Auto by Carl Humm
Exercise on Wheels by Cy Kling
I Hate the Sun by Gladys Knight
Discovering Rural Country History by Dusty Rhodes
I Lost My Balance by Eileen Dover & Phil Down

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