November 27, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings!

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20

About thirty-five years ago Gary and I with three children moved to St. Thomas, ON for Gary to take on the role of Christian Education & Youth Pastor at Faith Baptist. We met a fine, Godly couple, Bob & Audrey Ormiston who helped us establish Eastwood Baptist a few years later. After 66 years of marriage Audrey gained her citizenship in heaven last Sunday afternoon. That’s a lot of years. A favourite Canadian Christian author, Phil Callaway says of his marriage, “We’re learning to celebrate and emulate God’s grace. It’s not so much where we start out but where we end up that counts.” He also quips, “Sometimes I tighten jars. That way she needs me.” We attended Audrey’s joyful and sad funeral Thursday morning when God and Audrey were both honoured. It is also always fun to get re-aquainted with old friends, some we haven’t seen for 30 years. Time does march on; however Christian marriages and friends can last forever even through all the hard stuff.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burtons’ house at 7:00 p.m. when we will be reviewing the videos on Islam we have been watching for the past several months.

God bless,

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.

Myanmar Update by Gary Carter: Richard’s Bible School graduation happened this past Tuesday with 10 graduates and Pastor Jake Stewart, the special speaker with William translating. About 200 people attended. Richard is extremely resourceful being able to pull this event off with rented gowns, hats and a tent with about two weeks’ preparation time. From the money Jake brought over to them Richard has been able to purchase one brick form plus other needed materials to get started. The students have cleared land for the bricks to dry. They even had a prayer of dedication to begin this new business adventure. It is amazing that our church plus other outside supporters including $6000 from a local foundation have donated about $30,000 over this year to the various ministries we are connected with in Myanmar. Richard needs about $6000 for a truck that is yet to be purchased - $3000 of which has already been pledged by mid-February. This truck will be available for other deliveries and so his business sense is increasing so much so that he is thinking that eventually he will be able to get another truck. His latest e-mail says, “If we can have two truck every day they can get money for to carry ( bring ) for other people need. Yesterday, the truck owner say to me, for one year he can get the original money in one year.” He is now seeing hope to be able to solve their own problems and we are very pleased and gratified with the total progress thus far. (Capital Cost is Ks. 4,500,000/- = $6,000; Net Profit / Delivery = $10.50; Deliveries / Day = 2; Delivery Days / Year = 250; Deliveries / Year = 500; Net Income Per Year = $5,250) Please remember to pray for Hillary Clinton’s visit to this country this week. This visit is similar to President Nixon visiting China way back when. Also we are very grateful to Jake. This has not been a vacation for him and it will probably take him a few days to get back to normal living. He has learned a lot. We are very proud of him and everyone else in this project.

Revelation (part 8 – Revelations 5:6) by Steve Macdonald: This verse reads, “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center before the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Steve was good with seven lamp stands and seven Spirits of God from 4:5; but he just didn’t understand about the Lamb with this mutated image that “looks like it was slain” before he really started his study. A slain lamb stays slain; it doesn’t look dead - it is dead. We know that Jesus is the “Lamb of God” and this chapter is referring to Jesus, stressing His sacrificial death on the cross, on our behalf. Jesus died, was dead for three days and rose again.
The Lamb is still bearing the marks of the sacrifice, but He is standing because He rose again. Here is the New Testament theme in one line - victory through sacrifice. But why make the Lamb look so different? John is writing this all down. He is using symbolism for his readers to relate to while making points about doctrine. Jesus does not always appear this way in heaven. The first time John saw Jesus, Jesus appeared to him in the form of “a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest…” So why the change? The Spirit of God (the seven Spirits) and God are inseparable.  John knew Jesus as a man and was the only one of the apostles who watched Jesus die on the cross. He witnessed the Lamb being slain. But now the Lamb appears to be one and inseparable with the seven Spirits of God. This is a lesson on the Trinity;God, the Spirit of God and the Son are not separated from each other; but they are all One.
But why seven horns and seven eyes?  These represent two of the main ways that the Holy Spirit operates, power and revelation. Horns are a Biblical symbol for power or strength (Psalm 75:4-10; Psalm 89:17-24; Psalm 132:17; Psalm 148:14; Jeremiah 48:25; Lamentations 2:3-17; Daniel 7:8-8:22). Horns symbolize various military rulers (Micah 4:13; Zechariah 1:17-21).  Seven horns point to the power/strength of the sevenfold Spirit of God. Eyes are a symbol of spiritual knowledge. The Bible makes reference to this in 2 Chronicles 16:9, Proverbs 15:3, Psalm 33:18; Psalm 11:4. Zechariah makes reference to the seven eyes of God in Zechariah 3:9 and 4:10. The Holy Spirit searches all things and knows everything; the Holy Spirit is our source of true knowledge and revelation (I Corinthians 2:9-10). The number seven is used 55 times in Revelation. It usually means fullness or completeness as in seven days of the week. God rested on the seventh day. Revelation 5:6 (NIV) has 49 words. In these 49 words we are told the Lamb of God was slain as a sacrifice; is still alive; is in heaven; is in front of the throne of God; is not separated from God; is One with the Spirit of God; is the source of true knowledge and revelation and searches all things and knows all things.

Conversations with Jesus - “That Love Thy Neighbour” thing, I Meant that – God: by Chris Burton: The parable of the good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25-37 – Who is my neighbour? When Jesus was here on earth, He did what He taught. He was willing to help those who came to Him and asked His help. He never ignored or rejected those who were wounded, hurting and broken. All the miracles that happened through Jesus are the results of His compassion. He did every miracle out of His love for the hurting even though sometimes He sounded harsh. The news spread through the testimonies of those He helped. When Jesus sends out the 72 they are in many ways testing the waters, looking for those that are receptive - searching for some “Good Neighbours” (10:5-17).
Jesus tells us through this story that our neighbour is the one who is in need – the broken, the wounded, and the worried around us. The expert in the law was testing Him to see how much He really knew or wanted to trap Him. Robbers didn’t generally mess with priests or Levites. The priest and Levite who didn’t help were probably concerned about becoming unclean from his blood. The Samaritan, one who was treated as if he came from the other side of the track, cared for the man. If we don’t consider those around us, we in fact, are not loving them as God wants us to do. The one who had mercy on the needy is a real neighbour. God doesn’t want people to remain in problems; so He sends somebody to rescue them. His compassion is shown through people. God wants to see those who act on seeing a need. Those who are willing to be good neighbours will find opportunities where they can help others (like helping our friends in Myanmar). They are not forced to help someone, but willingly come forward to do it anyway. BUT if we pass by on the opposite side of the road, if we turn a deaf ear when we hear of a need, if we don’t give what we can, are we not like the towns that did not welcome the 72? Do we not risk answering some tough questions at the throne of our LORD?

Obstructed View – Why Can’t They See? by Gary Carter: As a Grade 7 & 8 teacher, Chris Burton often sees a child misbehaving and knows that there is a reason behind this misbehaviour. Too often his colleagues will just yell which doesn’t really help. You cannot avoid important questions in life e.g. what happens after death? Gary and Wendy ate supper at Costco Friday night. Gary was watching all the various nationalities around him. How many of them have heard the name of Jesus? There is always the alleged problem: How could a good God punish people for eternity when they have sinned for three score and 10 but get punished forever particularly when they have never heard the Gospel. Who can be saved? There are various thoughts that have been formulated to soften the blow such as everlasting might not be everlasting; the elect might get a second chance after death; hell might diminish in punishment strength; the highest levels in hell might not be much worse than life on earth. Before redefining your beliefs make sure you ask the question, “Where did they get that?” and be sure it is based on Scripture and considers the full weight of God’s revelation.
Jesus speaks about hell in Mark 9:42- 48. Hell has fire. Verse 48 reads, “…their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” It is like a stinky dump where garbage is burned. You don’t want to go there; it is not pretty. Maybe we have to do radical surgery in our lives so that we have a guarantee of not going. Another passage is in Matthew 22:1-14. Quite often it is the down and out who come to Jesus first. But you can’t sneak in to heaven. You have to wear the right garments – no designer religion. There is no party in hell. There is darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth. People around us worry about various human problems. For example, deaths in the US in a year are caused by family baby cribs (4); lead paint (5); speeding (14,000); AIDS (18,000); alcohol (75,000); obesity (120,000). However, taking out those who claim to be born again there are 1,725,000 at risk of going to hell. There is no greater problem. Softening the definition of a real hell to solve a human intellectual problem about how it all works is no solution and very risky business. In Canada there are 225,000 deaths per year – about 25,000 are born again and about 200,000 are at risk of hell.
Degarmo and Key were well-known Christian singers in the 80s. One song called Boycott Hell says it all.
We got a job to do, runnin’ out of time to do it
You got a gift to use, get out in the world and use it
Bury your foolish pride, we gotta unionize
Hey don’t you think it’s time to boycott hell, to boycott hell?

We got the strength to win, standin’ arm-in-arm together
Forget our differences, we can change the world forever
Bury your foolish pride, we gotta unionize
Hey don’t you think it’s time to boycott hell, to boycott hell?

Don’t let a neighbour go, form a holy picket line
We gotta let them know
Don’t you think it’s time to boycott hell, to boycott hell?

These Must B Punny! by Steve Macdonald:
The Disco Craze by B. G. Singers
Why People Avoid Me? By B. O. Problems
I’m in Debt by Bill Zardeux
The Pullman Sleeper by Bertha Buv
The Smorgasbord by Buffy Dinner
Uninteresting Road Signs by Bill Bored
How to Go Broke Fast by B. X. Travagant
Handbook of Great Art by B. U. Teeful
Custom House Construction by Bill Jerome Holme

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November 20, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

Hello there!

“Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.” Psalm 119:33-35

Do you like working on jigsaw puzzles? They have been around since the mid-1700s. My grandmother and mother were great puzzlers and so apparently I inherited their addiction. Periodically I set up a jigsaw puzzle in our church cafe room where we hold our Sunday morning services. It is interesting to see how much our teenaged Heather Macdonald and a recent newcomer Susan Kerr enjoy these puzzles. I think every church should have a puzzle center in their foyer to provide the opportunity for all ages to work together so they can get to know each other better. It also gives a newcomer something to do for a few minutes when they don’t exactly feel at home. You can purchase some really beautiful church scenes, often with a Bible verse. All our lives are like jigsaw puzzles for we can’t foreknow which piece to choose next or how it is supposed to fit in the whole scheme of life. The above prayer by the psalmist is really encouraging.

Pastor Jake Stewart along with William and his father, John, arrive tomorrow in Anisiken, the location of Richard’s orphanage and Bible school. They will begin determining the initial steps in starting a brick-making business. This is exciting. Please pray for wisdom and understanding as they think through this vital, sensitive process together. The potential is huge to eventually help with 1% of Myanmar children who would otherwise be possibly kidnapped for prostitution in Thailand or taken into the army at age 12 to kill. Jake spoke at a seminar for 100 pastors in Yangon this past week and will again be speaking at the Bible School graduation as well. Richard has invited 200 pastors for lunch at this event. We are also excited because we saw yesterday that Hillary Clinton will be visiting Myanmar in early December. This is huge for this country’s leadership and people.

The Burton family sold their house once more with all conditions met. Please pray for a smooth move in January. Remember Steve Macdonald with his heavy responsibilities at the TTC. Some of his colleagues are off sick which is adding to his workload and causing a decline in his own state of health. Thank you Steve for all your work on the music presentations you prepared for this morning’s service. Susan Kerr is flying to England today to visit with her aunt who is suffering with cancer. Please pray for her safety and opportunity for spiritual discussion.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burtons’ house at 7:00 p.m. when we will be reviewing the videos on Islam we have been watching for the past several months.

Just to let you know that the financial records for Kainos International Ministries for years 2009 and 2010 have been recently audited by Brad Sanders of Cambridge, ON. All is well. Our church, Heartland Fellowship Baptist, is under the umbrella of Kainos.

If you did not get a notification of last week’s blog please be sure to check for that issue at www.blog.heartlandfellowship.ca.

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.

Changing Logos by Gary Carter: Did you know that the Toronto Maple Leafs have changed their hockey logo six times since 1927? The original was green. The present logo was changed in 1971. The Blue Jays have also changed their log several times since 1977 and have agreed to change it one more time next year. Some prefer a change; others do not. Is it more advantageous in selling merchandise to make the change? General Electric is a company that has not changed its logo. A logo is a picture or image that summarizes one’s identity. Christianity has used these kinds of pictures of symbols in its history e.g. the fish symbol with its Greek ICTHUS lettering meaning Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour. This summary statement cannot be fiddled with or changed. Some wear an empty cross to signify Christ’s death on the cross. He was our sin-bearer. Some others leave a dying Christ on the cross or crucifix. If you wore a symbol on your forehead about yourself, what would it be? What are you known for? A good Christian man or woman?

Revelation (part 7 – Revelations 5:1-5) by Steve Macdonald: Continuing on with John’s description of what he saw in heaven, he reports, “… in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” A scroll is a roll, as of parchment or papyrus, used especially for writing a document; an ancient book or volume written on such a roll; a list or schedule of names; an ornament or ornamental design that resembles a partially rolled scroll of paper, as the volute in Ionic and Corinthian capitals; music- the curved head on an instrument of the violin family; or heraldry - a ribbon inscribed with a motto.

What is this particular scroll? Is it the Old Testament or the Old and New Testaments together? Unlikely since at this point John is in the Spirit looking forward speaking about things that are to come. To bring the Old and New Testaments or fulfilled prophecy which are looking back out at this time serves no purpose. Is it God’s claim of divorce against Israel? Is it God’s sentence against the enemies of the Church? Is it the title deed to planet earth? Is it the book of Life? What can we learn about the scroll? Are there any clues we can follow? Read Daniel 12:4-9 and Ezekiel 2:9-10 who both spoke about a scroll in their visions. Daniel speaks of astonishing things; Ezekiel indicates the words are full of lament, mourning and woe. These descriptions should exclude the scroll being the Book of Life, but you never know.

How does Daniel’s experience compare to John’s in regards to what they see? They both provide similar descriptions of the people and surroundings involving a scroll - one in the future, one in the now. It is clear from John’s description that Daniel is about to get questions from his vision answered. Is it God’s “will”, his final settlement of the affairs of the universe? Roman law required a will to be sealed seven times as illustrated in the wills left by Augustus and Vespasian for their successors. Does God have a book in which the history of the universe is already written? Has He written the history of the world in advance? We know that whatever the scroll contained was so important, so vital, so long anticipated that John wept and wept uncontrollably when no one was able to open it. A mighty angel proclaimed, “Who is worthy to open the scroll?” Is this mighty angel Satan (I John 5:19)? Is he challenging the opening of the Book of Life, not wanting anyone to escape from him? Who else would have a reason to challenge the opening of this scroll?

But it really isn’t about the scroll itself that we need to focus on (nor the will, Book of Life, deed to earth etc.) It is the “Who.” Who is worthy? It’s not who is strong enough, not who can overpower the seals and open the scroll. John turns to see, ”the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.” The conquering Messiah obviously will be able to open the seals. What he expects to see is strength, power, might but instead he sees a Lamb standing as though it had been slain - not conquering through military might, crushing enemies to rule supreme, but by enduring hostility and dying as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Victory has been achieved, not by the sword, not by power and strength, but by sacrifice. Jesus is the conqueror but His victory was won on the cross (Matthew 16:24-25). Jesus took up His cross and gave His life for all those who choose to believe. Are we strong enough? Are we worthy enough? Are we nice enough? Are we rich enough? Perfect enough? Honest enough? Good enough? Quiet enough? John 14: 6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Do you see Jesus in everything you do? Do people see Jesus in you? Revelation is a book of wonderment. The mystery is intended. Revelation 22:7 says, “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” The blessing doesn’t come from understanding it.

Obstructed View – Why Can’t They See? by Gary Carter: People have fun with optical illusions. Some can see an obscure picture in them; others can’t. There are 400 different names of Jesus in the Bible depending on one’s perspective about Him e.g. Rose of Sharon, Lion of Judah.

Last week Gary listed 12 dangerous coping mechanisms that people use. The third one is the avoidance of situations or thoughts that cause discomfort. Many rely on the avoidance of such a question as, “Where will I spend eternity?” They may assume that when they die they will go to heaven. But judgment is real and it is coming. Hebrews 9:27-28 reads, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” According to Matthew 7:13-14 most people will fail in the judgment, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” In verses 21-24 in that same chapter we learn that most people who call themselves Christians will fail in the judgment.
Gary showed a video of a girl being beaten by some boys. Onlookers, including three security guards, stood by and did nothing to help her. Could you stand there and watch? Then why don’t you do more? If the bridge in Churchville was out Gary and Wendy would want to warn the drivers coming down the hill to try and stop them from crashing into the Credit river and drowning. If they ignore the warning that would not be the Carters’ responsibility. What do you really believe about the lostness of people and the coming judgment? How much intensity is in your soul? Do “they” have an obstructed view because you are standing in the way of them seeing Jesus? What if every Christian did what you do? Discover why “they” avoid those most important questions.

Communion: The normal pattern in the New Testament was belief, baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Communion which we observe on the third Sunday of each month. The symbols of the bread and wine remind us of Jesus’ very messy death. He was so badly beaten that He was bloodied all over. Even His disciples didn’t know how bad it was going to get for Him. He couldn’t even carry His own cross. This activity gives us an opportunity to be thankful and remind ourselves that He is coming back.

Frankly, Dees are Punny! by Steve Macdonald:
French Overpopulation by Francis Crowded
Hot Dog! by Frank Furter
To be Honest by Frank Lee
I Say So! by Frank O. Pinion
Make Up Your Mind by Dee Side
The Twelfth Month by Dee Sember
The Realm of the Dead by Dee Seized
Racketeering by Dennis Court
Sun Tanned Legs by Denise R Brown

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November 13, 2011 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings!

“… let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

This past week I received an e-mail from Penny Spears listing the beneficial uses of Peroxide. Are you familiar with this inexpensive product that can be purchased in your drug store? The list included mirror cleaning, curing skin infections, lessening tooth pain, killing bacteria on a wooden cutting board, teeth whitening etc. Man is able to create so many good deeds such as developing this very practical product but all praise needs to go to God who put that intelligence and perseverance to discover in man to begin with. Thank you, Penny, for this helpful information!

Pastor Jacob Stewart leaves for Myanmar this evening to begin his trip to visit William and then Richard and his orphanage. Thank you everyone for contributing medical and school supplies along with your money. Jacob hopes to purchase some gravel and brick forms to get them started on their brick-making business in a small way. Please pray for wisdom for all in this project to allow the orphanage to sustain itself and help provide for the teenagers leaving high school in the years to come.

The Stand By Me Conference sponsored by Compass Coaching International went over really well last Tuesday evening. Dr. Swenson supplied us with fact after fact about our universe and the human body as created by God. Do we really realize Who we are dealing with? Also thank you for your prayers for Gary attending our Fellowship National Convention this week as he did have many heart-to-heart discussions with several pastors. Pray for the future under the new president’s (Steve Jones) leadership.

Please remember to pray for the Burton family this week as they had to resell their house due to financing falling through for original buyers. Lots of stress!

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burtons’ house at 7:00 p.m. Last week we watched the life of John Newton, writer of Amazing Grace. His life eventually did turn out very good after so many very bad years. It is amazing what God can do in one’s life when someone is willing to turn in an opposite direction.

God bless,

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.

Prepared Answers by Gary Carter: Peter exhorts us in I Peter 3:15 to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Gary’s question for some of the pastors at the Fellowship Convention last week was, “If a new believer came to your church and asked why he/she should come to your church, what would be your answer?” Most of the pastors said they would have to get back to him with their answer.

We viewed a video of a frustrated mayor of Philadelphia who was addressing a public meeting. He blamed parents for not taking care of their children properly which resulted in their city having to take care of them in jail. He blamed teenagers for not making something of themselves, for not extending their English vocabulary beyond curse words, for blaming their problems on white people. He told them to “take off their hoodies, pull up their pants and buy a belt.” His sermon was prepared but did he really make progress?

Jake Stewart is on his way to Myanmar on our behalf to help William and Richard solve their huge cultural problem of begging by getting them to develop a brick-making business to sustain themselves. Both locations have similar problems but turning up the volume doesn’t really get leadership any where. There must be a concerted show of care, love and hope with gentleness and respect to pull them out of the slums.

Conversations with Jesus – Commitment (Luke 9: 57-62) by Chris Burton: Luke reveals the cost of following Jesus through conversations with three “not so wise” men Jesus met travelling along the road with His disciples. You are either in or you’re out – there is no such life in between. Two of these men declared that they wished to follow Jesus, to become His disciples. The other was one whom Jesus summoned to follow Him. Each of the responses seems a little harsh and unnecessary at first glance. Each of the three men seem to have reasonable responses to what Jesus says. If these responses were given to us today we’d likely say “sure…no problem…maybe some other time.” Jesus has many following him along the road. We cannot assume that only His disciples would chat with Him.
In the first conversation a man approaches and says he will follow wherever Jesus goes. REALLY! This man has seen what Jesus can do/has done and is moved to respond but has he counted the cost? Jesus reminds him that it isn’t as glamorous as he may think. Is he really ready to “live as I live” with zero job security, a zero earthly portfolio and zero property? Did the second man’s dad just die and was Jesus that callous? If the man had just lost his father would he be walking with Jesus along the road? Would he not be one of the healing stories if he had brought his father to Jesus when he was dying? Or is the man speaking of a family responsibility that he has to his dad while he is still alive. Perhaps he’s left the family business for a few days or weeks to follow Jesus as he passes through his area. Jesus asks him to give up his family tie/commitment and follow Him but the man can’t do it. “Let me wait until my dad passes away and I get the family business all squared up…then I’m good to go.” The third man’s request seems reasonable so why such a strong/demanding response? The plow image speaks of the importance of staying focused on the job. Plowing a field requires you to focus on a point on the horizon and aim for it. You may glance back to see if the rows are straight but if you focus on what is behind then the path/rows will be crooked. Once committed it is forward only not back where you came from. Sure the man could have written home to friends and family. He may have even been able to stop and visit, assuming they wouldn’t stone him for his new faith. But he wanted to go back first and in doing that he would allow the past to overtake the present. Jesus wants the past left behind; the goal is up ahead on the road.

So why turn away followers? Jesus isn’t looking for fair weather believers. Does He want to build the kingdom? Yes. Does He want to add to those doing his work? Yes. Jesus said to the first man, “Count the cost.” He said to the second man, “Leave it behind.” He said to the third man, “Don’t look back.” The cost of not following Jesus is no eternal life, no guidance (or meaning) in this life and no opportunity to glorify God.

Revelation (6) by Steve Macdonald: So who were the four living creatures surrounding the throne that John viewed (Revelations 4:6-11)? Were they cherubim, seraphim or possibly representations of Jesus? Cherubim, from the Assyrian “kirubu” (to be near) were familiars, personal servants, bodyguards, courtiers or angelic beings involved in the worship and praise of God. Cherubim are mentioned 69 times in the bible - 68 times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. The first time is in Genesis 3:24 after God drove man out of Eden. Other passages of note were Ezekiel 1:5-25,10:1-22 and 28:12-15 (description of Satan). Cherubim have four faces and four wings. Seraphim is from either the Hebrew verb “saraph” (to burn) or the Hebrew noun “saraph” (a fiery, flying serpent). Seraphim are only mentioned twice in Isaiah 6:2,6.
Some believe John describes different aspects of Jesus - like a lion, king of the beasts; (Jesus King of kings); like an ox (cow, heifer), an animal used for sacrifice (Jesus Christ the Servant who was sacrificed for man’s sin); like a man’s face, humanity (Jesus as a Man, Christ, the Perfect Man); like an eagle, high flying above anything else, sovereign, supreme (Jesus in all His Deity, Christ the Son of God). Are these cherubim, seraphim? They almost appear to be a combination of the two - a blend between Ezekiel and Isaiah’s visions. Johns says they were “like” these creatures. He is under a directive by Jesus to “Write on a scroll what you see …” So why not spend more time describing these creatures? Maybe the creatures’ exact description is not important. With what John provides, the seven churches can draw references from Ezekiel and Isaiah for a clearer picture.

Are the creatures watch dogs, keeping an eye on everyone and reporting to God, providing an account to Him on how we are doing? Nope. Read Romans 14:12. With the exception of Jesus, these creatures are closer to God than even the 24 elders. Covered with eyes, they see everything that can be seen. With that available knowledge they give glory and honour and thanks to God continually. They know that God is worthy of this glory and honour. As the creatures see all and proclaim the truth, the elders recognize this and respond to it; they fall in worship, as their natural response to Him. These elders, human representatives, lay down their crowns, lay down any claim to rule, before the One who alone is worthy to rule. They worship the Lord as the One who made all things and who sustains all things. He alone has claim to rule it. Is it important that John provide a detailed description of the creatures so we can know whether they are cherubim or seraphim, angels, or some kind of description of Jesus?? Does it matter - 1 eyes or 1,000,000; 1 face or four; four wings or six? If it was, he would have provided us with just such a detailed description. What is important is not what they look like; it is what they see and do. These creatures see everything and they are continually proclaiming the truth that God is worthy of glory and praise - that God alone is worthy to rule yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Obstructed View – Why Can’t They See? by Gary Carter: The church is growing the greatest in China. Most of the meetings occur underground. The darker the world the brighter the light we must be. People are broken and can be renewed (Romans 1:16) through love even with evil around. They can be rescued by a decision of reconciliation (Luke 24:47; 2 Corinthians 5:19). You can’t try to mix the old rules in with the new and create your own compromise recipe for life. You can’t rely on your own self-assessment for your answers from compelling media, solitary thought (seems good to me!) or group discussion. You can’t do it your way or learn as you go along (Isaiah 64:6-7). You need advice for eternity (James 1:22-24). Andrea Crouch, a well-known Gospel musician in the 70s reached out to Michael Jackson who never really seemed to get it.

We can learn about some dangerous coping mechanisms from Psychology 101:
Aim Adjustment … Lowering sights to what seems comfortable.
Avoidance … Avoiding situations/ thoughts that cause discomfort.
Compartmentalizing … Separating conflicting thoughts into categories.
Denial … Pretending it is not so.
Displacement … Shifting one’s attention to an easier target.
Intellectualization … Moving real issues to the harmless world of thought.
Passive aggression … Agreeing but then avoiding compliance.
Projection … Putting your bad feelings on others.
Rationalization … Creating realistic but false explanations.
Reaction formation … Over acting in the opposing direction.
Regression … Going back to a former state.
Suppression … Consciously holding back unwanted thoughts.

Using these mechanisms can hurt our bright light and the cause of Christ. Sometimes we see faults in others that occur in our own lives. We can’t compare. God doesn’t grade on a curve. The hallmark of the Christian life is love in the house (2 Corinthians 10:12; John 13:34). What if everyone did what I do? Would anything get done? We must see lost people and give them the opportunity to know Christ.

Punny Enough by Steve Macdonald:
How to Get Attention by A. U. Overthere
Woman in Danger! By Warner Quick
Ready … Set … by Sadie Word
The Miracle Drug by Penny Cillin
Overweight Vegetables by O. Beets
Political Correctness by Noah Fence
I Need Insurance by Justin Case
Nordic Groundskeepers by Leaf Rakers
The Palace Roof Has a Hole by Lee King

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