Heartland News & Prayer

August 28, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there!

“… you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14

What a very emotional week it has been with the unexpected passing of the well-loved New Democratic Party leader, Jack Layton whose life was taken by cancer at age 61. We also lost the friendship of a pastor, Doug Porter from Napanee, ON - probably due to a heart attack. All the uncertainty of where Hurricane Irene would go and the destruction left in her path didn’t help. I agree with James that we do not know what will happen tomorrow but also very grateful that I am following God’s path. How about you?

William is doing fine these days. He sends his greetings from Myanmar. We sent him some money this week which may go to the purchase of some bikes for his pastoral co-workers. Richard and his wife Hannah are not doing very well as their baby boy, Gideon is in the hospital. He is jaundiced. Healthcare in Myanmar is not very good and very expensive. Please pray for resources to pay for his hospital bills and wisdom to the doctors for his healing. We still have not heard from the foundations we have applied to for these various ministries.

Maureen Brown says, “I would like to thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.” She is now back to work full time after being off from work for 15 months with problems with her eyesight.

Our son Rob is contemplating another mission trip to Turkey and possibly Kyrgyzstan starting September 15 for four weeks. Please pray for wisdom for this decision and healing of his middle finger he uses to play his guitar. There has been some leakage of fluid inside so that he cannot bend the finger. His wife Jessica will also return to part-time work after her maternity leave on Sept. 12. Rob is concerned that if he does not go there will be people who have not heard the Gospel before.  

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

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.

The Mulitplier Factor by Gary Carter: Have you taken a course on economics? There are two contrary views held. Adam Smith, a conservative, maintained that governments should stay out of a country’s money affairs. The economy will be better with non-involvement. Albert Cains, whom Jack Layton followed, believed that for fairness and balance a government needs to be involved, to take care of its members. These ideas are both right and wrong; however, there is a multiplier factor in Cain’s thinking with the provision of a stimulus plan to create more money when people to take advantage of it. This past week Warren Buffet, a well-known American investment guru purchased $5 billion worth of stocks in the Bank of America and made $800 million. He put his money on the line which caused our world to gain back some confidence.

Gary learned that his nephew leads his church youth group of 12 -13 year olds who are not really children any longer and yet not adults. When one boy with difficulties was picked on he recommended that they welcome him back into the group which they did and the group has now grown. They are paying attention to each others’ needs. The potential of the multiplying affect has been realized in this group. Choices made whether big or small, negative or positive can produce a multiplying factor. Gary has purchased a small digital sign to attach to our mailbox so that passersby can learn about our church in Churchville. Will it be good/bad/different? We have to try to reach out to our community, to plant seeds that may grow into sturdy oak trees.

After Jail, Retirement? by Steve Macdonald: After spending 2 years under house arrest, Paul has his trial and is released. Who stood beside Paul before Nero? From 2 Timothy 4:16-17 we learn that apparently no one, other than the Lord, did. After his release from jail, he wrote Titus (64-65 AD), 1 Timothy (64-65 AD), 2 Timothy (66-67 AD), Philemon (63 AD? - before his release or after) and possibly Hebrews (64-65 AD). He visited Crete (Titus 1), Colossae (Philemon 1), Ephesus (1 Timothy 1), Philippi (Philippians 1), Nicopolis (Titus 3), Miletus (2 Timothy 4), Troas (2 Timothy 4), Corinth (2 Timothy 4) and returned to Rome.
Several journeyed with Paul. Artemas appears once in Titus 3:12. His name means gift of Artemis (Ancient Greek deity). Some churches believe he was the Bishop of Lystra as well as one of the 70. We have learned about Tychicus before in Titus 3:12. Zenas (Titus 3:13) was a lawyer whose name means living or was this a short form of Zenodorus, the gift of Zeus? Usually Jewish teachers who were specially learned in the Mosaic Law, who interpreted that Law, and taught it to the people were often hostile towards Jesus (John 10:25; Luke 7:30). Apollos (Titus 3:13) from Alexandria, knew about John’s baptism with water but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Along with Zenas it is believed he was one of the 70. He is reported to be the bishop of Corinth, Caesarea, and Crete and possible author of Hebrews. Erastus (2 Timothy 4:20) meaning beloved was also mentioned in Romans 16:23 and Acts 19:22. He was sent with Timothy from Ephesus into Macedonia while Paul remained in Asia. He was the treasurer of the city sent greetings to the Christians in Rome. Erastus along with Gaius represented the Corinthian church in dealings with the Roman community. Trophimus, meaning foster child (Acts 20:4; 21:29; 2 Timothy 4:20) was a witness to the Ephesus riot and travelled with Paul for most of his third mission right back to Jerusalem. Was the riot the reason or excuse for Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem? Trophimus again travelled with Paul after his release from jail. Eubulus (2 Timothy 4:21 - from Greek origin and means of good counsel) along with Pudens, Linus and Claudia, possibly a family, were all members of the Roman church who were faithful to Paul in Rome, but likely did not travel with Paul.

Conversations with Jesus - Bay of Pigs (Luke 8: 26-39) by Chris Burton: This two-minute conversation with a demon-possessed man took place in the region of the Gerasenes, a Gentile area. Jews wouldn’t go to this land – they wouldn’t eat pigs. This man didn’t just have one demon; he had many. “My name is legion for we are many.”A legion referred to the largest unit in the Roman army with between three thousand and six thousand soldiers. The man had sometimes been chained hand and foot but the demons caused him to break the chains and run away. His life had been completely wrecked. He would not wear clothes and had been living among the tombs. Demons know who Jesus is, even if they don’t worship Him and they know His power over them. These demons begged Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs that was grazing nearby. The herd of about 2000 went crazy and ran down the bank into the lake and drowned. Those caring for the pigs reported this to the residents of the area. When they came to see for themselves, the formerly demon-possessed man was sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. They were not happy for the man – now healed. Perhaps they focused on the drowned pigs and the loss of income instead of the restored life. Then the crowd asked Jesus to leave the area. The man, however, begged to go with Him; but Jesus told him to return home and tell others what God had done for him. Jesus has demonstrated his dominion over nature and now over the spirits in the last two conversations in Luke. The people have to recognize this is no ordinary person. Their reactions were anger, awe, fear and adoration! But they were never skeptical; they believe what they see, but not necessarily trust what it means. They are not sure they want to be impacted which is the same in our day and age.

Ready … Reset (Esther) by Gary Carter: “Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” (G. M. Trevelyan) “Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” (Gilbert K. Chesterton) “The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” (Henry David Thoreau)
Today is the last Sunday for Gary’s sermon series spread over 26 weeks. Are we ready to reset the button for change? Are we up for this? Sometimes taking people along does make it more difficult. During this time period there have been opportunities to have many amazing 2-minute conversations – maybe 1000? Even though life is crazy busy we have “come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Legion led a terrible life but when the “sliver” was relieved from his life the day he found Jesus, he began to think clearly and become a productive participant in society. It is time to tell our story.

There have been common threads in all the Old Testament stories we have studied over these weeks. Somebody spoke up; somebody else noticed; some others changed their lives; and God blessed. It is time to hit the reset button by giving more in time and money to church, touching others’ lives, reordering life to make a difference etc. What are the plans for our church this fall? Let’s make choices to make changes over the next 26 weeks.

Pun with Authors by Steve Macdonald:
Take a Day Off! By Colin Sick
Handsome, Charming, and … by Cary Smatic
The World’s Last Days by D. N. Izneer
Boiled Dry by Eve Aporate
Look Younger by Fay Slift
Genie in a Bottle by Grant Wishes
Lazy Employees by Hans Doolittle
Greek Unbeliever by Hera Tick
The Sheet She Wore to the Party by Connie Stoga

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