February 26, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there!

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13

Gary Carter passed away Thursday, February 16, 2012. No, I’m not referring to my hubby. Gary Carter, baseball catcher for the Montreal Expos (1972 – 1980) and New York Mets (1980s) made it to the Hall of Fame because of his contributions to the 1986 World Series championship over the Boston Red Sox. During his days of fame, my Gary (10 years older) would often be seriously asked if he was the baseball player who had become one of Canada’s “most recognizable and beloved athlete” while playing for Montreal. This well-known sportsman did not hide his Christian faith. He admired the apostle Paul for along with quoting the verse above he said, “Paul wrote about faith and perseverance and hard work overcoming adversity and he didn’t worry about why things had gone against him. The more I read, the more I realized the one thing that I was to do during a tough spell, a long slump, a jinx, was to look forward, trust the One who truly controls my life.” His positive stand for Christ added to the list of many other athletes like Jeremy Lin today is great to see. Gary has now received his ultimate prize.

This week I have placed an ad on Kijiji to sell the remaining 700 pieces of slate we have stored in our little barn that we brought in from China a couple of years ago. We were going to put it down in our kitchen but have decided against it. We intend to send the money to Richard in Myanmar to help him with his campus rebuilding. Please pray that we will make a good quick sale asap. Would you believe that William now has Internet capability in his apartment in Yangon? That is huge. Please pray for these two gentlemen and their various ministry needs.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burtons’ home at 7:00 p.m. We are going through Gary’s latest book, See You Next Week! It can be purchased at www.seeyounextweek.info. Gary presented this new church system to our Credit Valley Association luncheon this past Tuesday and it was very well received. (He had been having some problems with a buried virus but it is now all cleaned up after a day’s work. This world is too evil!)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.

Somebody Left the Gate Open by Gary Carter: Have you seen a recent Citi Bank commercial with a gal mountain climbing? Are you familiar with the song playing in the background? Here are some of the words which are very telling regarding our society.

Into The Wild
Are we on the lonely side
Say oh now the past long away?
Are we’re so lost in the dark of our hearts
There oh now there’s no light of day.

Somebody left the gate open!
You know we got lost on the way.
Come save us a runaway train
Going insane.

How? do we how do we not fade?
How do we how do we how do we not fade away?
How do we not into the wild?

Into the wild
How are we living living living

Oh please believe me I’m more scared than not
That oh now this isn’t the way.
And please be there I can barely hang on
But oh I wait til I break

Somebody left the gate open
You know we got lost on the way
Come save us a runaway train
Going insane.

From current news reports (worry over our economy, fear of Iran’s activities etc.) life is bad but it isn’t any crazier today than yesterday. In the 1960s President Nikita Krushchev threatened to bury us. But in the 1980s the Iron Curtain dividing the Germany’s was finally torn down so these countries could be reunited. History takes on its own course into the wild. Our faith can’t be in the future but in the God who holds the future. There will always be wars and rumours of wars according to the Bible. Who knows if World War III will occur? Will our economy crash? In the 19th century Britain moved to abolish slavery. 50% of their tax money went to pay off slave owners. The US feels the weight of 17% of their money going into the army but at the end of World War II that was 60%. We didn’t sign up for this mess but we can put all our uncertainties (fears, relationships, health, economy, jobs) into the hands of the God of history. I Peter 5:7 reminds us, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Learn to not put your mind over there but put it on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is admirable” (Philippians 4:8). Concentrate on what God has done (e.g in His nature) and the pressures won’t be so huge.

Conversations with Jesus – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Luke 19:1-10) by Chris Burton: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus (meaning the righteous one – name didn’t really fit); he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy (really a toll collector on the road). He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd (a crowd that would also recognize him for who he was). So he ran ahead (probably down the middle of the street) and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him since Jesus was coming that way. (Who’s that guy in the robes running up ahead? Is he climbing a tree?) When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (How did Jesus know his name? Was it previous knowledge or His divinity? This was powerful for Zacchaeus.) So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” (not just any sinner but a traitor!)

Tax collectors have never been popular. But in Roman times, they were particularly hated. It was bad enough that they collaborated with the foreign oppressors. The Roman system of “tax farming” made tax collectors especially hated. The Romans wanted to collect as much tax as they could without tying up their own personnel. So they recruited locals and gave them a percentage of what was collected. The more they could wring out of the people, the more they could keep. Jesus looks past all of that and looks at the person. He already knows Zacchaeus’s heart and is offering forgiveness, mercy and acceptance by God when he makes His request for dinner - something the crowd didn’t understand. It’s okay to heal the sick and make the lame walk or the blind to see;
raising a loved one from the dead is cool; and even eating with a prostitute is okay with the people. BUT NOT THE TAX MAN!

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Zacchaeus “stood his ground.” He was determined not to lose his chance at redemption. He knew that accepting Jesus into his home meant that his life had to change. His wealth had come at the expense of his people. Clinging to it would mean letting Jesus go. He had to choose. “I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor. If I have defrauded anyone in the least, I pay him back fourfold.” This was something the rich young ruler that kept the Laws couldn’t do. Was Zacchaeus in the crowd that day? Was that his salvation moment? We can’t know because it isn’t written. Luke is the only one to write about this event. Why? Was it to show that though it is hard for the rich to inherit the Kingdom of God it is not impossible. Zacchaeus was able to get the camel through the eye of the needle…he just needled a little help! Did he get a new job afterwards? Did he get connected back into the community? We are not told; however when you get the Good News, it gets you!

Revelation (Part 18 – Revelation 8:13) by Steve Macdonald: The last verse of chapter 8 reads, “As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in mid-air call out in a loud voice: ‘Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!’” There is discussion whether this is supposed to be an angel or an eagle. If an eagle, is this one of the four creatures surrounding the throne? Is this vulture looking forward to the death and destruction - a feast of carrion awaiting the coming “woes?” (See Job 39:27-30; Luke 17:37; Matthew 24:28). Or is it an angel appearing like an eagle warning the earth’s inhabitants of the coming three judgments?
The image of an eagle has been used in prophecy regarding the destruction of Israel before. Is John going back to get the message across yet again (Hosea 8:1; Deuteronomy 28:49)?

Who is delivering the message is not as important as the message, “Woe! Woe! Woe!”
Woe means grievous distress, affliction, or trouble; grief; sorrow; misery; heavy calamity. The woes are coming to the inhabitants of the earth or those whose hearts would not soften even through the plagues brought on by the last four trumpets. So are the woes about to become different and more severe than what has already happened? (1/3 of trees and green grass gone; 1/3 of the sea turning to blood, 1/3 of the sea creatures gone, 1/3 of the waters useless, 1/3 less light during the day and night.) Are they more severe in the sense that the first four trumpets brought large scale disasters to the planet and there was some death associated with these disasters? These woes are not a disaster unless you are an inhabitant of earth that is a non-believer. Romans 2:5 records, “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.” Also read I Thessalonians 5:9.

The Fisherman – When the Going Gets Tough by Gary Carter: How tough does it get? It is important to be kind to one another as everyone carries a heavy load. We really don’t have any idea about that load as everyone looks fine on the surface. More importantly we must learn how to respond.

History has revealed the values that have been built into society through e.g. the Magna Carta (1215); Habeas Corpus (1679); BNA Act (1867); National Health Care (1966); Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982).  We count on these pillars of our society. However there are stronger foundations for life. if we don’t know the Bible we can’t even guess right about what to count on. If we aren’t committed to living “The Life” we won’t like the best options because we will look to cultural values above the Word.

When Peter wrote his epistles in the New Testament it was the first century. Paul was in jail in Rome; there was slavery; government taxes were high; Emperor Nero was not a nice guy. His influence was every where even though he lived in Rome. He started his reign at age 17 (54 AD – 68 AD); was under his mother’s control at first; he gradually assumed power; executed his rivals; murdered his mother; loved popularity; built big developments with shows and immorality. The Christians were picked on and persecuted (some dipped in oil and set on fire on a pole). The church was forced to go underground to the catacombs underneath the city. There were a lot of uncertainties.

In reading I Peter 2:11-17 we understand that Peter had become a different man since the day he cut off Malchus’ ear in the Garden of Gethsemene. He used several verbs to give sound advice on how to live – abstain from sinful desires, live good lives, submit to authority, show respect, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.
As Christians we should not take on the pattern of society. In verses 18-25 he is addressing slaves and members of the dispersed church who are foreigners and exiles to develop a relationship with God. What does He want of us? Don’t fuss over where you live, being hired or fired, unfairness etc. We don’t belong here any more. Gary Carter, the baseball player, was known to be over-exuberant, always available for interviews. He led a good life but it was hard for he made a stand and took a lot of hits. Return to the “Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” and saturate yourself in His Word so that over time you will change as well and not hit back.

Authors by Any Other Name by Steve Macdonald:
Offer Assistance by Linda Hand
Learning to Add by Juan Plus/Juan Equals
Noisy Nights by Constance Norah
Winning at Poker by Jack Potts
The Chocolate Bar by Ken I Havesum
Mastering Magic by Beatrix Star
Food on the Table by E. Diddup
I am not guilty by Wai Hang Mi
Freshly Made Sausage by Delia Katessen

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February 19, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Happy Family Day Weekend!

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:24

“Maybe you should make a habit of it!” quipped Rev. Al Sharpton to Don Lemon, CNN news reporter at Whitney Houston’s funeral. Don had been marveling at how wonderful the service had been and that Whitney’s mother had brought the world to the church. Gary and I were both really taken with the Black Baptist Worship service and some excellent speakers as we listened yesterday to it in the background of our work. Piers Morgan, another CNN commentator was blown away; it definitely wasn’t like a Catholic service he would be used to. It portrayed Whitney as a true Christian in her “home going”; however one who unfortunately made bad choices throughout her life even though she was so extremely talented. It was interesting to hear one say that life is like living in a hotel – you check in and then you check out to go home. Their celebration of death is a great illustration of how the black people have coped down through the centuries by asserting their belief over their mind and the hardships they have borne. Good on you New Hope Baptist Church! As Canadian Christians we are jealous as to how open you can be with your faith.

Richard in Myanmar sent through an e-mail today about their present circumstances as an orphanage. They seem to move three steps forward and two back. What if we hadn’t sent money for the development of their brick business or the truck? Please give.

Dear Gary,
Our tears of joy are flowing down whenever we consider about your
compassionate and love to us. Though we have nothing in our hands, we
have to build our buildings as it is necessary so much… We have just built are as follow:
1. For the orphanage girls, we divided in two parts and we built half-upstairs for them. So they do not need any beds now. We just need to paint them.
2. We need to paint also the dinning room, cooking room and Andrew’s
couple apartment.
3. We had just decorated the water-tank room with zinc roof.
4. For the orphanage boys’ dormitory, we finished to cover with
bricks and decorated with zinc roof. Now we are covering with cement.

I told you about fee for decoration for the electricity. As regarded with the chapel, it is good too if we build later as you said.

They ordered us to move in the end of this month. So we work hardly to
do as they requested us. Now we have nothing in our hands. But as we
need to do regularly, we bring my wife’s gold rings and necklace, two
motor-bike and hand phone to the mortgage and we received 1,500,000
Kyats. Now we know nothing to do more. Because of our worries and
awesome situation, we can not sleep well and we can not eat well…

We gained 1,000,000 Kyats also by working to others’ compounds by
chopping the grass and plants. then, their final examination will be
held now and they are really in coward situation. They pray for you
without ceasing.

With great trust, Richard

Home Group happens again this Thursday at the Burtons’ home at 7:00 p.m. We are going through Gary’s latest book, See You Next Week!

Enjoy this beautiful day with your family!

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.

Supplying Needs by Gary Carter: Will God really supply all of Richard’s needs as recorded in Philippians 4:19, “My God shall meet all of your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.”? Paul who wrote this should know as he had money problems too. We can take comfort in that. The orphans are being taught daily that God will supply. They have no government to rely on to help them like the village of Attawapiskat that has been in the news lately in northern Ontario and is finally receiving new houses delivered on flatbed trucks. We have amazing capacity in our country but it is so much more important to do rather than say what should be done while children go without food. Too many of our churches have cash on hand in the bank that could be used.

In 1967 New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey when half of their population left during the race riots, did start building housing for their needy people. When a crisis occurs sometimes Christians do respond. What can you do? Wendy suggested that the remaining slate (worth up to $1000) that was purchased for Heartland’s cafe room be advertised on Kjiji to sell and the money be sent to Myanmar. Please pray that this will take place or maybe you know someone that would like to purchase it. Is there something that you can turn into money for this cause?

Conversations with Jesus – Give the Money to the Poor (Luke 18:22-30) by Chris Burton: Jesus seemed to have a real connection with this rich, young ruler. He really wanted him to get it. What can we learn about the man?
1.He was rich: If he were not rich then he would have followed Jesus, but he didn’t want to give everything he had away.
2.He was young: He was too young to have earned the money so he likely inherited it, which would mean he wasn’t blessed with the riches for his actions.
3.He was a ruler: We don’t know what kind of ruler but a man of some power (wealth bringing the power). Some translations even refer to him as a religious ruler/leader.
4.He was very much attracted to Jesus. In Mark (10:17-30) this man throws himself at Jesus’ feet. He is not challenging Jesus but calling him “good teacher.” The fact that he was saddened and not angered shows that he cared about what Jesus thought/said.
5.He had a serious question for Jesus: Jesus was sincere not harsh - he wanted the rich man to follow him. Previously Jesus had been responding very boldly and firmly to challenges. This man came with a serious question longing for an answer and Jesus wanted him to understand. He didn’t speak and then dismiss him when he saw his reaction; instead he looked him in the eyes. In Mark there is even more feeling, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.”
6.He was unable to do as Jesus asked; he is saddened (verses 24-25). It is not impossible, just very hard to give up possessions, status, power, community leadership, family.

Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?” The others gathered were not all rich but they still could figure out the gravity of the message that Jesus was giving. How can this be realistic? It is a standard that is unreachable. Jesus agreed that it is an impossible task alone but not with God directing the path. Selling everything isn’t the point - obedience is, relying on Jesus/God is, ordering things correctly is, applying value correctly is. By doing this we will receive “many times as much in this world. In the world to come they will live forever.” Of course God does not measure, “many times more” with riches and perishable items. His riches and blessings are seen in the people around us and the opportunities to continue to give more from what we are given.

It should be a never-ending cycle of giving and receiving with the ultimate “eternal life” awaiting in the end. Maybe we just need to keep on giving to the needs of our friends in Myanmar. The opportunity certainly keeps arising!

Revelation (Part 17 – Revelation 8:6-12) by Steve Macdonald: This passage describes four out of seven angels sounding their trumpets with the ensuing effects. Hail and fire mixed with blood hurled to earth - something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, thrown into the sea that resulted in one third of the earth and trees burnt with all grass gone. One third of the sea turns to blood, one third of sea creatures die, one third of the ships were destroyed and one third of the waters turned bitter and many people died. A great star named Wormwood, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky. A third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars turned dark so that one third of the day and night were without light. There are references to many of these disaster that John’s readers would be familiar with in the Old Testament - Exodus 9:13-25; Exodus 7:20-21; Exodus 10:21-23; Proverbs 5:3-4; Jeremiah 9:15; Lamentations 3:19. But note that the destruction is not complete, not final. Even at this late stage, God is allowing time for people to repent.

Trumpets, have been used for a number of reason which have previously been covered. One thing that has not been discussed about trumpets may just provide the significance of the seven trumpets in Revelation. This is the Feast of Trumpets. Tishri was the first month in the Babylonian calendar; the Jews called the first day of Tishri Rosh Hashanah. Translated from the Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year.” Rosh means head, while hashanah means year. The first day of the month of Tishri, is a Holy Day to Jews throughout Israel and the world. To Christians, it’s known as the Feast of Trumpets.

The Feast of Trumpets was observed on the first day of the seventh month. The first day of every month was begun with the blowing of trumpets (Numbers 10:10).
So why make a special deal about the seventh month when all months (new moon cycles began) start with a trumpet call. The seventh month was contained the Day of Atonement when the High Priest went in before the ark of the covenant (Leviticus 23:24-27). Everyone was to search their hearts and consecrate themselves to the Lord in preparation for this solemn day which represented the final judgment. For the number fans out there, isn’t it interesting that seven months pass, each month beginning with a trumpet blast. On the seventh month, we have the seventh trumpet which has the Day of Atonement. During the Day of Atonement, the High Priest walked up the ramp to the altar, filled a gold censer with coals and a golden ladle with incense. With everyone watching, he walked into the Most Holy Place, the High Priest stood alone and separated from the people outside. He placed the censer between the staves of the Ark. He now carefully put the incense into his hand, and threw it on the coals of the censer. He waited until the smoke filled the Most Holy Place, and if all went well, emerged unscathed from the inner sanctuary. While the incense was being offered in the Most Holy Place, the
people withdrew from it and worshiped in silence. When the people saw the High Priest emerging from the sanctuary, they knew that the service had been accepted. If someone had not atoned for their sins, made it right with God before the High Priest came out of the Most Holy, it was too late. The High Priest’s emergence after burning the incense signaled that everything had gone well, the prayers had been accepted and he was moving on with the ceremony.

Is John using the blowing of the seven trumpets in Revelation to correspond to the blowing of trumpets at the seven New Moon festivals in the Old Testament? Each new moon trumpet blowing is understood as a day of judgment in miniature, warning people to prepare for the final judgment ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets. When the seventh trumpet was blown, it was to announce the Day of Atonement was at hand. The trumpets in Revelation each have a warning function as well. The first four all unleash damage and death, telling John’s readers to get ready. The next three will take it to a new level, but there is still time (2 Peter 3:9).

We have devices that tell us how to get from point A to point B, cell phones and computers with pop up reminders so we don’t miss an appointment. There are automated phone messages to remind us to vote or if our kids are on early release day. There is no more trumpet blowing to remind us that judgment is coming, so how do we make sure
we’re in the right place when that final trumpet sounds? How do we know we have it right? Follow 2 Peter 1:3-11 and we are good.

The Fisherman - The Life of One with Genuine Faith according to Peter by Gary Carter: Let’s clarify one’s identity. Identity is a person’s mental description of him or herself, self-esteem and individuality. It is the distinctive character belonging to any given individual or shared by all members of a particular social category or group. It includes the idiosyncratic things that make a person unique. It includes the collection of group memberships that define the individual. It requires the capacity for self-reflection and the awareness of self. It requires learning of social roles through personal experience. It requires negotiation with society at large regarding the meaning of one’s identity.

Think about who you are. Gary is a Blue Jays’ fan and is excited about going to their opener on Easter Monday with his son, Lee. What is your role and responsibility in your particular group? You need to negotiate with society e.g. husbands or wives can’t always say “no” to their spouse or it doesn’t make for a good marriage. You can’t afford to say “no” to your employer. You must give and take or relationships break down. The more isolated we are the worse we are. All of our roles overlap.

Who are you? I Peter 2:9-10 says, “… you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” We are a people who belong to a group. We are not an item; we are chosen. A slave was earmarked for life. We are a royal priesthood that takes the responsibility to represent people before God and God before people. Where was the priesthood when Whitney Houston was growing up? Drew Pinsky from CNN jumped on the fact she should not have been toasting earlier in the week since she was hooked on it. It fries the brain and leads to other things. We are a holy nation that is stable and permanent. We speak for God as His children.

When did the penny drop for Peter? Was it the night he betrayed Jesus? He came a long way from Jesus’ remark, “Get behind me Satan!” (Matthew 16:23)

Communion:Peter never wrote about the Lord’s Supper as Paul did in I Corinthians 11. This activity we do regularly like blowing the trumpet on the first of the month. It gives us an opportunity to give thanks to Jesus Christ for the blood He shed. His death was horribly burned in the mind of someone like John. We didn’t experience it but this remembrance gives us hope until He comes.

Book Titles by Steve Macdonald:
Grow Your Own Vegetables by Rosa Carrots
Scalp Problems by Dan Druff
The Escaping Herd by Gay Topen
The Hurricane by Rufus Blownoff
The Garlic Eater by I. Malone
Roping and Ranching by Larry Yett
Shipwrecked! By Mandy Lifeboats
Neck Exercises by G. Raff
Communicating with Cattle by I. Ken Mooue

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February 12, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

“Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” I Peter 4:8-10

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.

Richard’s Property by Gary Carter: Richard sent us some more pictures this week on the progress of rebuilding their campus. At least they no longer have any debt on this property and they are able to rebuild with the bricks they have already made on the part of the land that used to be their garden. Unfortunately the previous owner wants them to vacate the portion he has taken back by the end of February instead of in March. This transitional period is hard for them all along with their manual labour (many working in bare feet with their “longyis”!). Pray for God’s wisdom as they consider the next best step – to build staffing accommodations. They are still lacking financial resources to finish this huge task; however, once they get over this hurdle they should be able to sustain themselves.

Conversations with Jesus – The Coming of the Kingdom – Are You Ready? (Luke 17:20-27) by Chris Burton: Jesus answers the Pharisees’ question in this passage about when the Kingdom of God would come. We have seen many doomsday prophets and cults throughout the years come and go with their various predictions Chris listed the top 10: Halley’s Comet, 1910; Doug Clark, 1976; Marion Gordon Pat Robertson, 1982; Vladimir Solovyev, 1990; “Hyoo Go” (Rapture), October 28, 1992; Heaven’s Gate, 1997; Michel de Nostrdame, July 1999; Y2K, January 1, 2000; Ronald Weinland, 2008; Harold Camping, May 21, 2011.

But do you know about the Doomsday 2012? One of the main theories driving this prophecy is that the Mayan calendar ends on Dec. 21, 2012. The Mayans studied our sun and made their prophecies based on the cycles of the sun. With their observations, the Mayans predicted that from the initial date of the start of their civilization, 3113 B.C., one cycle being completed would be 5,125 years in their future, Dec. 21, 2012. The sun, having received a powerful ray of synchronizing light from the centre of the galaxy, would change its polarity which would produce a great cosmic event that would propel human kind to be ready to cross into a new era, “The Golden Age.” Chris created his own doomsday prophecy with calculations predicting that in the year 2788 the world will end! How crazy is that.

Some key verses in this passage are, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation (verse 20).”; “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it (verse 22).”; ‘Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it (verse 33)”. Whatever speculations come along we do know that the world will end, we will be judged and it won’t be nice for those that seek to save their own lives. Are you ready?

Revelation (Part 16 – Revelation 8:1-2) by Steve Macdonald: The seventh seal is opened and then there is complete silence in heaven for about one half hour which is very different when the other six seals were opened to earthquakes and stars falling from the sky (Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13). Some have tried to determine if that is a half hour or something else but does it really matter how long the silence lasted (2 Peter 3:8)? There is silence - a silence of fearful apprehension, a transitional silence, a silence to introduce a new series of symbols (the trumpets), a silence to begin a new series of visions, the trumpets or a silence as heaven breathlessly awaits the final act of divine judgment.

And after the deafening silence, the seven angels before God receive trumpets. Another angel with a censer who stands at an altar is given incense to burn and to offer the prayers of all the saints. Incense is used to symbolize our prayers before God. Is it time for the souls of the martyrs (6:9-11) under the altar to receive the answer to their pleas? Is their blood about to be avenged? As soon as the smoke and prayers of the saints go up before God, the role of the eighth angel changes dramatically. The angel goes from presenting the prayers on behalf of the saints to that of an executioner of God’s wrath. The altar, a place of God’s mercy, becomes a place of God’s judgment. Heaven a place where countless people have been worshiping, where silence has been deafening, suddenly is being filled with an indescribable energy. The stage is now set, the censer is filled with fire and thrown to earth. The results are thunder, lightning, and another earthquake. But remember this is not localized - this is global. The entire earth is being shaken; the sky over all the earth is filled with peals of thunder and streaks of lightning. Is there anything to fear? There is no wind, no sound. There are global earthquakes, thunder filling the sky, lightening everywhere, yet there is no Light in the world at all.
Is there a reason to be afraid? Not if you are on the right side (I John 4:16-18).

The Fisherman - The Life of One with Genuine Faith according to Peter(I Peter 1:13-25) by Gary Carter: Peter’s life was transformed from an ordinary fisherman to a deep, profound, intense man of God. Somethings radically changed in him. He played a real role in the foundation of the early church. The expression “gird up the loins of your mind” conveys the idea of getting down to work. We’ve got to get down to business as there is no time to float. Peter’s transformation took place by a genuine faith which happened from the inside out over time.
Four Transformations:
1.From Hope to Holy (verse 13): Without the hope any attempt to be holy is futile. Be patient with yourself and others. It doesn’t all happen at once.  Be set apart as God is and aim for perfection.  Develop and commit to the hope of the Gospel in life or else you will just have a world of heavy rules that can become tedious. You will have deep feelings of obligation which you don’t want.
2.From Desire to Destiny (verses 14 – 21): As an experiment in church Carleigh (3 years old) was offered the choice of a nickel or a dime. She knew both were money and had value but she chose what came naturally for her age. She chose the nickel. That is a metaphor for how people live. The opportunities for now look bigger but life is really about eternity, not time. The world comes to an end for everyone. The 11 Peruvian men working in Ontario who died last week when their van hit a transport truck were all going to die eventually - just maybe not all at once. Our anxiety of fear is cast out through Christ; but with a reverent fear we take life more seriously. One does not go near Steve Macdonald’s TTC third track rail with its 600 volts; it must be treated with respect. Eternity requires even more respect. We can be redeemed from an empty life. When did Peter figure all this out? Was it on his fishing boat when Jesus said to toss the net on the other side and he caught a multitude of fish? If there has not been this change from normal desires to concern for destiny your life will be a world of endless (priority) conflicts and deep flaring anger because your ideas are being blocked.
3. Obedience to Love (verse 22): Love starts to grow sincerely as a follow up to the commitment to obey the truth. Over time, as you grow, you will learn to make choices for what the other person needs. That’s what love does. Without love that extends itself to others regardless of their response back you will face a world of empty yearning and feel a deep sense of lack of affection and appreciation.
4. Perishable to Imperishable (verses 23 – 25): The words “born again” are strong for they tell of an absolute change in personality as you interact with God’s Word. Many encounter a world of squandered opportunity like Whitney Houston with her beautiful voice who died tragically Saturday at the age of 48. She had sung in church as a child  but chose the nickels instead of the dimes later on in life. If you don’t see the end of moving from perishable to impersishable you will have deep questions about the meaning of life.

Pun with Book Titles by Steve Macdonald:
Gangway! by Hedda Steam
Bugs Begone! by I. X. Terminate
Someone’s Out There  by Will B. Watchinu
Star Spangled Burrito by Jose Canusee
Swimming in the Arctic by I. C. Waters
French Cooking  by Sue Flay
The German Bank Robbery  by Hans Zupp
The Sweat Shop  by Hiram Cheap
You Can’t Be Both! By Wong N. Wight

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February 5, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings from Churchville!

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” I John 1:7

Wow, are you enjoying these almost winterless days? Pretty soon it will be time for spring cleaning. A comment made by Rev. Charles Swindoll struck me the other day. He reported, “Medical professionals tell us that blood is the finest of all detergents. More than any other ingredient, blood does the greatest work of cleansing our bodies from the inside out, keeping us alive and free from contamination.” I had not considered blood as a detergent. As we continue to study and learn it is interesting how verses like the above take on new meaning through the work of the Holy Spirit in our thinking - wouldn’t you agree? Hmmm, there goes the street cleaner.

Please remember to pray for our friends in Myanmar – William & Richard and their cohorts plus their orphans. See Gary’s update below on Richard’s activities over the last couple of weeks.

Also remember Penny Spears who is suffering with some back and leg problems. Her son Brandon still needs that part-time job.

Home Group happens again this Thursday at the Burtons’ home at 7:00 p.m. Come study the Bible and pray with us.

Have a good week.

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: A rooster commented to his hen the first time he saw an ostrich egg, “I am not complaining about what you are doing but I do want you to see they are doing in other places! Just sayin’” That is how we feel in building a new washroom for Ron Burton in Burtons’ new home versus the building that is occurring on Richard’s campus for his orphans and staff. His lender repossessed the front half of his property a couple of weeks ago which apparently didn’t slow them down. There has been a flurry of activity to build a brick wall between these two properties plus constructing some new buildings (one 50 feet long) to replace the old with their own brick. These buildings are much more durable than the wood frame with masonite. It is easier to build there since it never freezes being so close to the equator and a foundation is not necessary. They sold 35,000 bricks for about $5700 US and have another order for 50,000 (about $8200 US). We have invested about $15,000 in this project since last November which includes the purchase of a truck - a huge asset for them. They continue to face hardships e.g. the internet cafe is about 4 miles away and is not always working which makes our understanding of their real situation difficult. They still need about $10,000 to finish the construction but can’t afford to borrow with such high interest rates. Please continue to pray for all their needs, the courage to keep going and ability to face new obstacles that arise day by day.

Conversations with Jesus – Ten Men with Leprosy but Only One Said, “ThankYou!” (Luke 17:15-18) by Chris Burton: Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, and passing near Samaria, He came to a village. Outside the village were ten leprous men. They didn’t come further as they didn’t want to be stoned. They recognized Jesus and called to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus saw them, and simply said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they left to carry out what Jesus told them to do, they were completely cleansed of their leprosy. What does that look like? Did they see their fingers growing back or were they healed but the fingers still missing? They needed to go to the priests to become ceremoniously cleaned and allowed back into their village. Only one of the men, when he saw that he was healed, turned around and came back to Jesus. With a loud voice he praised God and fell down on his face, prostrated at Jesus’ feet giving Him thanks - this man was a Samaritan.

What happened to the other nine, presumably Jews? “…Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Jesus uses the situation to ask a rhetorical question (with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek!) - another opportunity to teach a lesson to the disciples. Nine of God’s own “chosen people” took the blessing without so much as a thank you, as if it were owed to them. But one Samaritan, considered a half-Jew and despised by the Israelites, received the blessing with great humility and heart-felt gratitude. He left the others and came back to Jesus to offer his thanks and praise to God. The other nine were healed and that didn’t change even though they didn’t respond. Did they not notice that this man returned or were they just following the rules?

The Samaritan’s thankfulness brought him a wholeness that the other nine did not receive. “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” or “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.” (the Message) Is Jesus using a little “foreshadowing” to illustrate to the disciples what they can come to expect in the coming days? Or is it more importantly what to expect during their ministries after Jesus returns to “The Father” and for us as we share our beliefs with others? Some people just don’t know how to say thanks as if it were all just an expectation. Others are not sure where to place the thanks so it just gets tossed out there or lumped in with the universe. Others would rather suffer than accept the gift; they wish to owe nothing to nobody but themselves. Yet the gifts, the miracles, the blessings are given freely to believers and non-believers alike because if only 1 of the 10 returns the effort is still worth it!

Revelation (Part 15 – Revelation 7:2, 9-17) by Steve Macdonald: Steve returned to the second verse of this chapter which reads, “Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God.” The direction the angel comes from is significant. The tabernacle in the wilderness faces east (Numbers 3:38). The temple in Jerusalem faces east (Chronicles 5:11-12). Peter and John healed the lame man at the eastern gate of the temple, “the temple gate called Beautiful” (Acts 3:2). The Son of Man will come from the east (Matthew 24:27; Ezekiel 43:1-5)). It would appear that John is trying to get a message across - something big is on the horizon!

The angel from the east and co-workers place God’s seal on the forehead of the 144,000. Does this seal mean they get protection from what is coming? Seals are used in the Bible for a number of things: to secure something against tampering; to demonstrate authority; to seal a letter; to seal a covenant; to delegate authority; to seal documents. (Jeremiah 32:10; Matthew 27:66; 1 Kings 21:8; John 6:27; 1 Cor. 9:2; Nehemiah 9:38; Esther 8:8; Isaiah 8:16; Revelation. 5:1) Are the 144,000 protected from what is coming? Maybe not protected from what is coming, but they are secure from the tampering of Satan. They are part of a covenant with God. They have their name on a deed of ownership. They are now under the authority of the King of Kings.

Reading Revelations 7:9-17 we clearly see there are more that 144,000 in heaven. We just saw the seal placed on the 144,000 on earth and now John is before such a large crowd that no one can determine the number. They are from all parts of the earth, every race, creed, colour, nationality, not just from the tribes of Israel. And they are assembled before God, standing before the throne and the Lamb - a universal gathering, there to serve. Could they be the martyrs from Revelation 6:9? Unlikely - the martyrs were given white robes, had souls (spirits) and are crying out for justice for their blood to be avenged. The multitude have robes, bodies and are celebrating. So the multitude are? Apparently this question was also on John’s mind and the elder knew it. He provides us with the answer by asking John a question - an ice breaker of sorts. Once the elder has John’s attention we get the answer. They are from the great tribulation. This is not the rapture nor a partial rapture; this isn’t a test run to make sure all systems are working. We are being given a clear picture that the persecution will be far and wide; yet good news is in this image. Despite the trials and tribulation, countless people will be saved by believing in Jesus during this time and will be in heaven to serve. Not to be judged but to serve. The certainty in this cannot be disputed; “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple.” Mercy Me (Christian singers) says it this way:
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

Can you imagine it? As this multitude serves and worships unceasingly, what do they get? God’s presence will be among them. He spreads his tent (temple). Ezekiel 43:5
says, “Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.” He is everywhere, including us, covering us within His temple. They are surrounded by God’s presence, God’s glory. They will want for nothing, never hungry, never thirsty, never hot from the sun, never lost. Jesus, the Lamb will guide the multitude; He has taken away all physical, environmental discomforts (John 4:10-14). How will the multitudes get an opportunity to never want again? CNN?
Twitter? Facebook? It is by you and me (Matthew 28 :18-20). We must take every opportunity to follow the Shepherd - follow, listen, obey. The clock is ticking, whether in our life time or not. We cannot take the chance that people know. We need to carry out the commission before it is too late. Amos 8:11-12 reads, “The days are coming,’ declares the Sovereign LORD, ‘when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.” He will be the Shepherd, leading the multitude to the springs of living water. He will give the glorified people abundant life. There will be no more needs. God will wipe away every tear. There will be no more emotional discomforts, no pain or suffering. I can only imagine.

The Fisherman by Gary Carter: Gary started a new series on the life of the well-known fisherman, Peter, who was an independent, tough, resistant man when Jesus called Him to follow Him. It is interesting to study what happened to him over time. When did Peter truly come to faith in Christ? Was he given an elongated first chance? Did it occur when Jesus healed his mother-in-law? At the end of his life after over 25 years on the road his genuine faith in Christ had indeed expanded, deepened and intensified. Peter changed from being a fisherman to a fisher of people as an apostle of Jesus Christ.
1.One-of-a Kind Selection and Destiny (I Peter 1:1-2): Peter was chosen as an apostle or sent one by Jesus Christ to fish for people in Mark 3. Was he born again that day? His identity changed. When did this switch flip or was it a series of switches for him to become a true child of faith and not the fisherman from Bethsaida? Peter understood that he was called to speak to God’s elect or ones God chose who had been scattered mostly due to persecution. Many want to make their own choices. They don’t want God to be God. They want to be “God” themselves. We are exiles who no longer fit in this world but through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit we are set aside for a particular purpose like dishes used on special occasions or tools needed for a particular task. We are selected for a unique destiny similar to Queen Elizabeth or now Prince William who is in waiting. They didn’t get to choose their job. They were born into it.
2.One-of-a- Kind Hope and Inheritance: (I Peter 1:3-5): We have a distinct hope which is entirely different from anyone else’s hope. We have a living hope that energizes us. There are no if’s, and’s or but’s in our Christian lives even though it is hard. Our inheritance is not here on this earth. Many are worried about here. They want security and try to hoard to gain some sense of value out of tangible things. Our inheritance is set aside in heaven. We don’t know what it will look like as yet but it will be really good. We were saved but are also continually being saved each day until all fulness is revealed.
3.One-of-a-Kind Salvation and Delay (I Peter 1:6-12): Our salvation is a mystery still with all kinds of trials. These trials are important for us to test our spiritual muscle so that we don’t fade away. It is a process of receiving the end result of our faith. Even the prophets in the Old Testament couldn’t understand it fully. They were looking through an opaque or dirty window. Our window is cleaner to look through today because of the Scriptures.
It was amazing how far Peter went. He was given an important position and an incredible future. Like Peter even though we have some stuff to go through and it isn’t always understandable we are really on to something. Others see that we respond to trials differently.

Punny Books by Steve Macdonald:
Employment Handbook by Erna Living
Errors and Accidents by Miss Takes & Miss Haps
Irish Plants by Phil O’Dendron
Dull Razor by Drew Blood
Free Willy by Freda Wale
How to Annoy by Aunt Agonize
How to Cut Grass by Lon Moore
I Love Crowds by Morris Merrier
I’m Fine by Anna Howard Yu

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