Happy Civic Holiday Weekend!

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” Genesis 1:26

We did it! Our son, Rob, and his family from Moosonee and our daughter, Rebekah and her family from Kelowna came to town last week on vacation. Gary and I plus our daughter Sara and her family and our son Lee and his family from Cambridge went “Wild!” It is incredible that 18 people from young to old all agreed to go to African Lion Safari on Friday for the day. We had a super time together with hardly a meltdown by any little person. This animal park is very well done and has greatly developed itself over the past 30 years when we last attended with our small children. 13 Asian elephants have been born since 1991; 30 cheetah have been born since 2001; they house the largest herd of Rothschild giraffes in Canada; and they have maintained one of the largest collections of birds of prey in North American, successfully breeding many endangered and threatened raptors over the last four decades. A bus ride to see the baboons and lions, a train ride to view the camels, a boat cruise to watch the monkeys and a huge water splash pad all added to the fun. If you have not been, you must take your family to experience how man has learned to rule over all these interesting creatures that God has made.

After this morning’s service the Burton and Macdonald families are headed to Kingdom Bound for the next four days at Darien Lake, New York. Heather and Hayley are bringing girlfriends along; Hayley’s friend is a Muslim. Please pray that this event will be refreshing physically and spiritually for them all. Please pray for Steve Macdonald who has been having a difficult summer at the TTC with all his added responsibilities since a few of his colleagues are on vacation as well as trying to implement some new subway cars into the system.

We haven’t heard from William this week but please remember to pray for his safety, his health, his new believers, his business endeavours as well as Richard and his ministries.

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.

Continue to enjoy this hot summer as it sounds like August will just be like July!

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.

Eggspectations by Gary Carter: If you look at a raw egg or a cooked egg on the outside, it is difficult to tell which one is which so you spin them. Wendy had hard-boiled a dozen eggs for today’s breakfast. Upon taking them off the stove one sounded like it was chirping and so she was afraid to open it. Gary opened the egg at the beginning of our service and Wendy’s fear vanished – no dead chicken inside. Every day is like an egg to be opened. You have no idea what will happen with its good or bad surprises but you can’t worry about it all. Gary had a really bad car accident a few years ago. He could have died; the car was totalled. Is he now afraid to travel down that same road? Some would limit themselves with that type of crisis. Some of Gary’s favourite verses are, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Each day has enough unexpected trouble of its own. Too often we say that something is not fair. Gary and Wendy could have said that Saturday night when a young teen accidentally hit their back bumper as they were stopped at an intersection in Brampton. They were not harmed but their little red Hyundai Elantra needs some work on it and they won’t put in an insurance claim. It was an easy mistake but still a solution has to be figured out.

Conversations with Jesus – The True Family of Jesus (Luke 8:19-21) by Chris Burton: In this passage we read that Jesus’ mother and brothers were searching him out. Jesus’ statement could seem a little cold when He was told they were outside of the house He was in. Does it imply that Mary and James aren’t following God’s Word? Are they there to bring the “crazy son” home before he gets into more trouble? Is Jesus trying to disconnect with family? What is the purpose of this statement? Earlier in this chapter Jesus had told a parable about the sower and then a story about a lamp stand. The seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it (obey) and patiently produce a huge harvest. Jesus is saying, “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them. My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” Those that can learn how to hear God’s Words, listen to God’s Words and obey/cling to God’s Words because they have been gifted with understanding as members of the family of Christ. Membership has its privileges – no credit here as the debt has been paid in full.

Ready … Reset (Nehemiah 4) by Gary Carter: “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” (Albert Einstein) “Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.” (Dorothy Height) “Apathy is a more formidable enemy than direct opposition. However, both must be dealt with; that is the nature of life on earth.” Gary V Carter
Revival has always been about giant steps forward for a change as seen in the whole Bible. It is something that God does in concert with those who follow Him. Nehemiah repaired the fences or walls for the protection of Jerusalem. Even African Lion Safari has proper boundaries for all the animals. When reconstruction of the walls began, opposition arose. It always does. Nehemiah showed a positive spirit even with surprises along the way; he was satisfied with his vision.

We have to understand the nature of the opposition. Is there an angry foundation, implied negative answers in the questions, a willing chorus to agree? We have to understand how to respond to the opposition. We must pray about it and let God handle it. We have to understand that it takes a “we” with “all their heart” to rebuild a wall. If not, it can’t be done in 52 days. They also had to deal with all the rubble and figure out if the wall is worth rebuilding. We have to understand that opposition seldom goes away. Nehemiah prayed and posted a guard to cover the threat. We have to understand the threat within and without. “Within” is the weariness along with handling the rubble which is more noticeable when one is tired. You have to deal with it in your mind and not take off an hour early. The “without” is the piling on and the repetition. There were other Jews out there who became part of the complaint. We have to understand the need to remember and remind. We must remember who God is and the cause; we must remind ourselves to speak up and stand tall. We have to understand the need to get back at it. Return to the wall, pick up the trowel and the sword – tools for building and tools for warfare. Gary’s mom used to say, “That won’t get an old lady her 9 pence.” She was a slow worker with 5 children to look after. You can’t get weary and linger over your tea. We have to understand the need to adjust the plan. There will always be too much to do, no time to rest and always difficult circumstances. Is your groove in your couch getting deeper? Are you getting fatter and lazier? Proverbs 10:4 says, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”

What about this week? We always have lots to complain about. What wall will you begin to build? Will you be courageous for His mission?

Punny by Steve Macdonald:
Septic Tank Back Ups by X. S. Waste
Living on Social Security by Wilma Moneylast
Downpour! by Wayne Dwops
Learning Trial Law by Tess Temoni
Sweet Treats by Sugar Kane
Homes Does It Again by Scott Linyard
Children’s Songbook by Skip Tumalu
Wind in the Maple Trees by Russel Ingleaves
The Errant Sledgehammer by O. G. Datturts