April 8, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Resurrection Day Greetings!

“… Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord’ … these stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4: 5-7

Easter in our society revolves around children decorating eggs, eating chocolate bunnies, wearing pretty clothes. This is similar to Christmas and the fantasy surrounding Santa Claus. It is not a Resurrection Day to most of them. I like the passage in Joshua when the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River. God told them to make a memorial of stones to teach their children how He stopped the flow of water so they could cross easily. Children are always full of questions and God is so very practical in His advice to their parents on how to teach them.

The US is planning on sending an American ambassador to Myanmar. What will this mean for the future of this country. Please continue to pray for Richard and William. Richard reported that “We had move the old house to our own new land and house on 31, March, (1:00 pm). According to the lender order to me. All our things keep out side the house, because of we can’t finished the buildings. Here, a lot of raining and every night big win, by the grace of God we are are very well. We cook out side and we stay very simple.”

The FEB Central Conference or our denomination takes place April 10-11 at their new location within Heritage Bible College & Seminary in Cambridge, ON. Please pray for renewed energy and direction for the leaders and pastors to reach out to all our Fellowship church communities throughout Ontario.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton home at 7:00 p.m. Please pray along with us for Heartland’s future and possible property acquisition for Kainos International Ministries.

Gary and Kaiya Burton are back to recording their Little Big Show (www.thelittlebigshow.ca). Have a listen.

Congratulate us on our 9th Anniversary weekend as the Breakfast Church!

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.

Twenty Seconds of Insane Courage by Gary Carter: Gary, along with our real estate agent friend, Michael Femson, will meet with the real estate agent for the development owner of the historical property we have been considering this week. By the way, Michael and Brad went to Sunday School together as boys. Will there be further meetings? Please pray to this end as the potential for our church is incredible. Since the property is very deeply historical situated along the Credit River, this causes too many strings imposed by the City of Brampton for the average buyer to be interested in. We need more than “20 seconds of insane courage” (from the We Bought A Zoo movie) to keep following the next step in this new adventure. Nehemiah is our example whom we are trying to replicate. We need your prayers that God will direct us specifically. It reminds us of how we started Eastwood Fellowship Baptist Church in St. Thomas when Gary was in his mid-30s. He had to make some bold decisions in his dealings with the city at that time and interest rates were up to 18.5% to pull it altogether. It took a lot of nerve and initiative working with a small group of people who took the next step in faith with God. More details to follow.

Conversations with Jesus – Jesus is Nailed to a Cross (Luke 23: 26) by Chris Burton: So picture the scene. Jesus was being led up the hill to be crucified. Hoards of people —mostly tourists from out of town — gathered along the roadside to watch the horror unfold. Remember that Jerusalem was normally a large city, with about 30,000 permanent residents. But during Passover, the population would have swelled to about ten times its normal size. Some visitors to town would know the story leading to these events; but many others probably had never even heard of Jesus. They just gathered along the roadside as humans do whenever there is something terrible unfolding. In that group was Simon from Cyrene (near Lybia) who has now been tasked with carrying the cross.
He was not one of the disciples that professed to love Jesus - there to help in his greatest moment of need - just some guy in the crowd. While the men have fled or are hiding in the back the women follow closely weeping for Jesus. They were sobbing hysterically as was the custom for grieving. This was for real; they were not hired.

Jesus has been beaten, whipped, paraded from the chief priests to Pilate to Herod and back again. He has been spat upon, jostled about and likely not slept since he was taken in the garden. He had been dragging the cross given to Him until Simon took over; yet He has time to console the grieving women and give another hint of things to come. “Don’t cry for Me. I am going to be okay. You need to cry for yourselves and your children. Why? Things are going to be rough down the road. So bad that you will be glad if you don’t have kids because you won’t need to see them suffer. Things will be so bad that you will be praying for it all to end.

Jesus was nailed to the cross along with two criminals on each side of Him. Criminal 1 was selfish to the end, mocking and defiant even as death is approaching. He was unrepentant. Criminal 2, facing death, rebukes the other and acknowledges that God is to be feared. He accepted that he has sinned and deserves this judgment. He recognizes that Jesus is blameless, not deserving of this fate. He was repentant. That’s it - nothing special, no magic words, a repentant sinner and a forgiving Savior. Job done! Check out Petra’s It is Finished - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZxRh0epMqY&feature=related

Revelation (Part 24 – Revelation 11:15-19) by Steve Macdonald: The kingdom of the world has ended. The reign, the rule of man/Satan is over, or quickly coming to an end.
The inmates have run the asylum long enough. The Boss is coming back and taking over. Ever been told that when your father comes home you’re going to get it? Some people are about to get it as Daddy’s coming up the front walkway (Daniel 2:14).

Three times (Revelation 4:10; 5: 8, 11:16) the 24 elders have fallen down and worshiped God. Why? They are rejoicing over the coming of Christ. They are worshiping God.

They are praising God that His reign is about to begin. They know the prophesies are now all being fulfilled. They are giving thanks for God’s complete sovereignty, His reign through His great power, God’s wrath fulfillment and the judgment and reward.

The nations were angry - really? Was it because of the plagues, drought, famine, water shortages, earthquakes, locust, suffering, millions dead? This is a different anger; the nations aren’t mad about all the hardship that has gone on recently. These are the nations, the people whose hearts are so hardened that they cannot repent, cannot accept what is coming, cannot accept Jesus. They are angry that their reign is ending and there is nothing they can do to prevent it. They have lived their lives as they wished, answering to no one; concerned about only themselves and what they are entitled to. Rules are guidelines, not something to be observed and heeded. They know they are about to have to submit to God. Clearly they are mad at God; however, who else – themselves, Satan (Psalm 2:2-9)?

The curtain that was torn when Jesus was crucified has been removed; it is not only the high priest that can see in the Holy of Holies. John’s readers can now see inside the Most Holy place in God’s temple (verse 19). And what do we expect to see? Moses was commanded to place three items into or beside the ark: Aaron’s rod that budded (Numbers 17:10); a golden pot of manna (Exodus 16:33, 34); the tables of the law (Deuteronomy 31:26). But what are we really seeing in the temple? God’s faithfulness, God’s law, Aaron’s rod - or a picture of resurrection. A pot of manna - or a picture of Jesus and daily provision. God’s divine holiness could not be approached without blood sacrifice, Christ’s sacrifice. Lightning, peals of thunder, earthquake, a great hailstorm, impending doom, God’s majesty and power, God’s wrath – all a reminder for us of some of the spectacular things which took place when the Ten Commandments were first given at Mt Sinai. God is restoring law and order.

Peter’s Mood Swings by Gary Carter: How often do you find your emotions are not always in line with what you really need to do? This describes Peter plus others during Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. The order of the events at this time are not all that clear from the Gospels. Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ messy body and wrapped it in fresh linen, not some old rags. Good on him for it showed his deep respect for Christ. When the women told the disciples that the tomb was empty they did not believe them which would be a normal human response (Luke 24:10-12). But Peter took the initiative and ran to check the facts out for himself. Most today will not even take a look. Jesus appeared to the disciples (Luke 24:37) even though the doors of their meeting place were locked because of their fear of the Jews. They were startled and frightened as they thought He was a ghost. He stirred up their emotions.

Peter decided to do something useful so he went back to his familiar occupation of fishing (John 21:1-14). Others went with him; our own mood does lead others along with us. They caught nothing but in the morning Jesus called to them from the shore and told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. Their boat became overloaded with fish. Peter still confused realized it was Jesus. He immediately wrapped himself in his garment, jumped into the water and swam ashore.

Jesus told the disciples to go to Galilee (off to the Muskokas!) where He met them. They worshiped Him but some still doubted Him. There He gave them the responsibility to go out and make disciples and that is exactly what they did (Matthew 28:16-20). 2000 years later we have the same message and responsibility even though, like the disciples, we are often scared and uncertain. We can’t wait to get our act together before we go and with all the ups and downs it is less than perfect. We must take the next step as Peter did. God moved the stone from the tomb for them and the women brought the spices which was what they could do.

Book Titles That Never Will Be by Steve Macdonald:
Edible Insects by Henrietta Moth
Wild Animals by Bob Katz
Dishonest Animals by Cheetah Lyons
Using a Telescope by Seymour Starrs
Modern Diapers by Dee Sposable
Cemetery Markers by Hedda Stone
Missing the Fairway by San Dwedge
Foot Coverings by Susan Socks
Do It Yourself by Bill Jerome Holme

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April 1, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Greetings for Palm Sunday!

“The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!’” John 12:12-13

People are always looking for a better solution to the suffering in their lives. Can you believe there were long lineups last week to purchase tickets for the Mega Millions Lottery jackpot that was drawn Friday night? It grew to $656 Million and 3 have won who have not yet been identified. One MBA player bought $10,000 worth of tickets because he can. Other winners have found out too late that it only leads them to more unhappiness. The Jewish people were looking to Jesus to become their King so that their hardship from Rome’s hand could be diminished. Jesus’ solution was much different than what they were thinking. It is our primary purpose as a church to reach out to our multi-ethnic Brampton community to let them know about His perfect way. Please pray that we will be given the opportunity to do this more effectively in the days ahead.

Maybe people of Myanmar have turned a corner in regard to the oppression in their country and steps towards democracy. It seems the world is becoming more aware of their plight. This news report is encouraging, “Aung San Suu Kyi’s party says she has won a seat in Myanmar’s parliament after Sunday’s landmark election, setting the stage for the pro-democracy icon to hold public office for the first time. The victory, if confirmed, marks a major milestone in the Southeast Asian nation, where the military has ruled almost exclusively for a half-century and where the government is now seeking legitimacy and a lifting of Western sanctions. The victory claim was displayed on a digital signboard above the opposition National League for Democracy’s headquarters in Myanmar’s main city, Yangon. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is congratulating the people of Myanmar for participating in the election process — a first for many of them. At a news conference in Turkey she said that she holds hope for the people of Myanmar.” Please continue to pray for William and Richard and their various ministries.

Rev. Josh Brake from Maple Ave. Baptist Church, Georgetown is in the process of developing a mission agency called Kutoa (www.kutoa.org). Josh reports, “What a great month it has been for Kutoa! Since March 12th the Kutoa page has been viewed by hundreds of people on 5 of the 6 inhabited continents (who really counts Antarctica anyway?).  On top of that, the numbers show that 73% of those coming to the site end up signing up. This is  HUGE !  That being said, we’re working hard to keep making Kutoa better and better.” His website should be completed in May.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton home at 7:00 p.m. We are going through Gary’s latest book, See You Next Week! Gary’s seminar went well for 14 World Team Filipino pastors yesterday morning. Steve Macdonald also gave his testimony. They make a great team together. Next seminar is Meadowvale Bible Baptist Church on April 29 at 6:30 p.m.

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.

Nehemiah by Gary Carter: In Nehemiah 2:1-10 we learn about Nehemiah being sent to Jerusalem by King Artaxerxes to rebuild the city walls. He was employed as the king’s cupbearer or last line of defense and the king had noticed his sadness of heart. He conquered his fear and spoke up about his people in ruins. When the king asked him what he wanted he first of all prayed to God and then requested that he travel to Jerusalem. He had no clue as to how long he would be gone but the king granted his request along with the use of his Visa card to pay for the timber needed and letters for safe travel. This is a great Bible story that could not happen unless God was with Nehemiah. We are considering a large property for our church and charity but without God’s help and direction it will be impossible to move forward on it. Please pray for any meetings that are set up this next week that God would go before us in our negotiations. We have no money but the owner has no buyer. There is no harm in asking.

Conversations with Jesus – Son of God on Trial (Luke 22: 66- Luk3 23:1-15) by Chris Burton: After His arrest Jesus spends the night being beaten by the Roman guards.
Taunting, laughing, humiliating, abusing, Jesus takes it all without comment. He is Beaten down but not defeated! We have progressed through Jesus’ life and ministry through Luke. Over the final three years his fame and popularity have grown - not fame in the sense that He was trying to be famous; but fame in that people had heard of His miraculous deeds and teaching.

This “movement” is what threatens the power base of the religious leaders. Jesus is brought before the elders, chief priests and the teachers of the law to answer the question, “Are you the Son of God?” If this was all a big misunderstanding or a lie this would be the time to come clean. Being beaten is one thing but now we are talking a death sentence. If Jesus were lying, would He not come clean? A lie is only useful when it still serves a purpose, when it can gain you some advantage. There is nothing left to gain when He answers, “You are right in saying that I am.” Not only is He the Son of God but He is also placing Himself right beside God at the thrown in Heaven. If He had a defense lawyer it would be right about now when the lawyer would ask to approach the bench and ask for another day to speak with His client and get some psychological evaluations done.

Jesus is then passed onto Pilate because only he can pass a death sentence. The religious leaders lay out the charges: misleading our people, against paying taxes to Caesar claims to be Christ, a King. Again a good defense lawyer would object to the obvious slant and misdirection of the prosecution, but Jesus knows why He is here.
Pilate gets right to the point and asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes. It is just as you say,” Jesus replied. This would have been a second chance to change His story.

And yet again as He is hauled before Herod He could have recanted. Peter caved in after three questions and not a hair being harmed on his head. Jesus was beaten beyond comprehension and still stuck to His statements. He was crazy OR He was who He claimed to be. Crazy ideas last for a while and then they are gone. Sometimes they are revisited by others but by then everyone recognizes it for what it is – crazy. Jesus wasn’t crazy so what’s left? Jesus was and is The Christ / The King / The Messiah. His trial was far from fair; but thankfully his judgment, His mercies and blessings hold no bitter resentment for those that call Him My Lord / My King / My Saviour. Listen to Rich Mullins’ song, Creed ( http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=2B19MNNU) which says “I did not make it, no it is making me.”

Revelation (Part 21 – Revelation 11:1-14) by Steve Macdonald: At the beginning of chapter 11, John is given a reed. Reeds that grow in the Jordan River are as high as 20 feet. They were used as measuring rods because they were straight, firm and usually
used in ten foot lengths. Are we being told that we must measure up to God’s standard (the temple) or ours (the court yard)?

Who were the two witnesses mentioned in verse 3? Were they Moses and Elijah because they had already been associated with Jesus (the Transfiguration event - Mark 9:2-13)?

Were they Joshua and Zerubbabel who were associated with the rebuilding of the Temple? Were they angels that can control the weather, cannot be harmed, able to inflict plagues? Verse 6 says they were men with God given powers. They were undefeatable for 3 ½ years and maybe wore Levis (rough cotton cloth)! They were killed and left in the street before being resurrected. Again, the who is not as important as the what; God selected them, gave them miraculous powers, and their enemies face immediate death. They are the two lamp stands and the two olive trees before the Lord. Do these two witnesses represent the Old and New Covenant along with the Law and the Prophets? In chapter 2 we saw that the seven lamp stands represented the seven churches and the seven Spirits of God. Olive trees were a source of oil which would sustain the flame of the lamp stands. The Word of God sustains us. If you oppose these two, you die. Clearly the most amazing fact about the two witnesses is, that despite being sent by God,
neither they nor their message will be received. The world will have sunk so low into deception and depravity that anything good and true will be widely rejected by the majority. And then after 3 ½ years, God pulls their powers and the beast from the abyss battles and kills them.

The symbolism in this chapter at first reading is almost overwhelming. You get lost in the days, months and years; the trees and lamp stands, the beast, the droughts and plagues. Do the witnesses get seen all over the world on TV, internet, You Tube? With everything that John has recorded, what struck me the most was that John was retelling the story of Jesus. He had the authority of God. He could command the wind and seas.

He had power over life and death. He was raised on the third day and ascended into heaven. Yet despite the people of the time seeing all that Jesus did, many refused to believe. Surprisingly or maybe not so surprising is after earthquakes, meteors, smoke, locust, stars falling, water turning sour, wide spread death and suffering; despite everything that has passed, no one would repent. No one would heed what was happening. Now suddenly, “terror struck those who saw them.” The light switch goes on and everyone realizes that there is something happening that is beyond their control and it scares them. Something is going on that is shaking the foundation of their existence and they are terrified. Unfortunately, having either not heard or chosen not to believe in the word, they are lost and don’t know what is next or how to correct it. Maybe Stephen describe them best in Acts 7:50-51, “Has not my hand made all these things? You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”

Living in Brampton by Gary Carter: Statistics Canada is beginning to publish its findings from the census of 2011. Brampton has grown by 90,000 people in five years thus making our community very different since the last census was performed. There are many nationalities that reside in this city. Some believe that their group is larger than it really is. We put filters on our minds and see what we see and know. Heartland Fellowship is currently a white minority church. The Filipino participants at Gary’s seminar yesterday want to break out of their culture or world but are finding it really hard to do so. The second generation of children want to be here and change but their parents find it very difficult. They were engineers back home but now cab drivers in Canada. We need to tilt our outreach to these people by providing help to transition; they are grieving over their past life but need to learn the history etc. about their new country. In our nearby No Frills grocery store where you can hear many different languages spoken you often see a woman dressed in her sari but wearing a ski jacket over top in winter. Please pray that God will open our eyes and give us opportunity to minister to them.

April Fools’ Day:
April Fools’ Day is celebrated in different countries on April 1 every year. It is not a national holiday but just widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness. In France and Italy children traditionally tack paper fish on each other’s back as a trick and shout “april fish!” in their local language. In some countries, such as the UK, Australia, and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an “April Fool.” The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (1392). Here’s some more pranks:
1.An Australian millionaire towed an iceberg from Antarctica to Sydney harbour on 1st April 1978. The Australian people were very excited. As the iceberg neared the harbor, it started to rain and the secret was revealed. The “iceberg” was really made from shaving foam!
2.The BBC announced in 1980 that Big Ben was going to become digital. The British people were really angry about losing the clock-face - especially when they heard the clock hands were on sale to the highest bidder!
3.In 1997, an email told people that the Internet was shutting down for cleaning from March 31st until April 2nd. It said the cleaning was necessary to clear the Internet of “electronic flotsam and jetsam!” People were told not to use the Internet during this time.
4.Burger King revealed, in 1998, that they had developed the “Left-Handed Whopper.” The burger contained all the usual ingredients but they were rotated by 180º! Thousands of people asked for the new burger, which of course, did not exist!

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March 25, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Hi there!

“… if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.” 2 Timothy 2:5

I am so excited as I have two beautiful yellow forsythia bushes blooming in my front and back yards. Now that is early! Last year they did not bloom; they just came out in green leaves. I learned from my horticulturist neighbour that you should not trim them back after July 1 or 4-6 weeks after blooming. I followed the rule and was rewarded this year. How easy is that except that every type of flower or bush seems to have its own set of rules! That’s what makes gardening such a challenge; you have to know the rules.

Continue to pray for Richard’s orphanage in Myanmar. His lender is saying he must move to his side of the property by March 31 and his buildings are not finished. Pray that he and his staff will be able to make money through the use of their truck in providing a delivery service as well as find enough resources for materials to make more bricks to sell.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton home at 7:00 p.m. We are going through Gary’s latest book, See You Next Week! Gary is presenting a seminar on this book for World Team on Sat. March 31, 9-1 and for Meadowvale Bible Baptist Church on April 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Here’s some Holy Week Readings from the Gospel of Matthew put out by the Canadian Bible Society:
Palm Sunday - 21:12-22; Monday - 26:1-30; Tuesday - 26:31-56; Wednesday – 26:57-27:2; Thursday – 27:3-31; Good Friday – 27: 32-56; Saturday – 27:57-66; Easter Sunday – 28:1-15.

Our Ontario Fellowship Baptist Convention (FEB Central Region) is happening April 10-11. Gary is currently working on a book to help the local associations of our Fellowship operate more effectively. Please pray that he will get much accomplished this week as he concentrates on this.

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.

A New Opportunity to Consider by Gary Carter: We are continually concerned about the future of our church, Heartland Fellowship Baptist. We long to see it grow and reach out to our Brampton community with all its diverse nationalities. Over the past couple of weeks Gary has been researching an historical property in the Churchville area that may better serve our needs. Please pray that God will open doors of opportunity for our church and that we will know His will as we follow Him. More details to follow in the weeks ahead.

Conversations with Jesus – Jesus in the Garden (Luke 22: 39-46) by Chris Burton: During the Passover meal Jesus had referred to the “temptation” to come and was now again in the Mount of Olives garden with the disciples after the meal. He prays to His Father, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you want, not what I want.” We turn our nose up at liver or other foods we don’t like. We can’t imagine drinking Buckley’s even though it works. What would suffering taste like? And could you take it willingly? This is a last ditch plea. You won’t hear Jesus ask for mercy for Himself again even while being beaten and crucified. But it is also a plea to God that He be given the strength to drink the cup given to Him.
Jesus could have walked away. He could have done what He wanted; but He didn’t.

Hematidrosis (also called hematohidrosis) is a very rare condition in which a human being sweats blood. It may occur when a person is suffering extreme levels of stress, for example, facing his or her own death. Was Jesus sad and troubled about his own plight? He prayed even harder because He knew what His disciples were about to face. Seeing Jesus as He was praying this night was likely different than they had ever seen before.

It had been a tough few days, a difficult Passover meal and now Jesus is wrestling with what was about to happen. Sad and perhaps confused the disciples fell asleep. He might have said to them, “Hey, I know there have been times when you didn’t understand what I was saying, but you are about to be tested and tempted like never before. You need to be ready. Are you prepared to carry your own cross?

The words of Third Day’s song, Carry My Cross, are very good.

As long as I remember
I’ve been walking through the wilderness
Praying to the Father
And waiting for my time.
I’ve come here with a mission
And soon I’ll give my life for this world.

I’m praying in the garden
And I’m looking for a miracle.
I find the journey hard but
It’s the reason I was born.
Can this cup be passed on?
Lord, I pray your will be done
In this world.

So I’ll carry my cross
And I’ll carry the shame
To the end of the road
Through the struggle and pain.
And I’ll do it for love.
No, it won’t be in vain.
Yes, I’ll carry my cross
And I’ll carry the shame

I feel like I’m alone here
And I’m treated like a criminal.
The time has come for me now
Even though I’ve done no wrong.
Father, please forgive them
They know not what they’ve done
In this world.

Three more days and I’ll be coming back again
Three more days and I’ll be coming back again

Revelation (Part 22 – Revelation 10:5-11) by Steve Macdonald: So the mighty angel who claimed the land, sea and air for the Creator is now swearing by the Creator of these that that there will be no more delay (Daniel 12:10; Habakkuk 2:3); Hebrews 10:37) and God’s mystery (I Thessalonians 4:16; I Corinthians 15:52; Matthew 24:31) will be revealed just as it was told to his prophets about Christ’s return (Colossians 2:2). The seventh trumpet reveals the mystery of God. For us the mystery has already been revealed as it would have been to anyone in John’s time who had listened to the apostles. There may be more to the mystery of God, but John is certainly giving any reader now or then, at least a glimpse into the mystery.

So the voice, which John recognizes, probably from verse 4, where he was instructed to seal up what the seven thunders had said, tells John to have a papyrus scroll up. This is the third time in the Bible a person is told to eat a book (Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 2:8-9). Why eat the scroll? Nutritional value isn’t much. Papyrus may be high in fibre content! In reality, John was being challenged to know and understand God’s Word. These lines are telling all of us that assimilating God’s knowledge into our lives will change us. It is not enough to read the Bible; we must apply the Bible to our lives and allow it to transform us. It will upset our normal routines. It was sweet like honey. Psalm 19:10 and Ezekiel 3:3 both indicate that God’s Words are sweet like honey, easy to enjoy, making it easy to want more. Yet, it turns John’s stomach bitter. As sweet and good as God’s Word is, there is a bitter side to it (Psalm 9:7). The good and sweet Word of God also brings judgment for all. It brings God’s wrath, a bitter result to those who have heard it, yet not allowed it to change them.
And then the instructions given to John, but also intended for everyone, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” The Word is in our mouths; our task is laid out for us (Jeremiah 1:4-9).

The Fisherman – The Life of One with Genuine Faith According to Peter (I Peter 4:1-11) by Gary Carter: Peter warns the readers in verse 1 of this passage, “… since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves with the same attitude…” Life is about to get harder. As we consider a new property there will be a yes, no or wait answer. But then the question for each answer should be asked, “Then what?” It is a more powerful question than, “Now what?” because it sets your course before you get caught in the circumstances. What ideas and possibilities are you committed to? Know the risks. There is a measure of suffering in the anticipation, relationships going awry in the process, things not turning out as they are supposed to, hitting walls. The Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time. We need to try to get the good news out there for Canada which is an entirely different country than America which is made up of 77% Christians (28.9% evangelicals). There are five times as many Christians to find your church if you sit in Albany, Georgia. Brampton is the most ethnically diverse city and it is ten times harder for us to see automatic growth.

Have you heard of a “tell tale” compass? With this compass a captain of a ship could read it upside down from his bed as to which way they were headed. What is the “tell tale” compass of Scripture tell us? We learn that God is not willing for any to perish and that if we are faithful in little things, much will be given. We must do everything we can to follow Peter’s example.

Authors & Their Books by Steve Macdonald:
Forestry by Teresa Green
I’ll Go Second by Hugo First
Housework by Dustin Cook
Armed Heists by Robin Banks
Get Moving by Sheik Alegg
A New Dawn Coming by Tamara Morning
The Joys of Pig Farming by Chris P. Bacon
Off to Market by Tobias A. Pigg
Bubbles in the Bath by Ivor Wynn D. Bottom

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March 18, 2012 by Wendy Carter.

Belated St. Patrick’s Day Greetings!

“Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration but my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.” Jeremiah 8:7

So did you wear green yesterday? I learned that “the real St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish. He was born in Britain around A.D. 390 to an aristocratic Christian family with a townhouse, a country villa, and plenty of slaves. Patrick professed no interest in Christianity as a young boy. At 16, Patrick’s world turned as he was kidnapped and sent overseas to tend sheep as a slave in the chilly, mountainous countryside of Ireland for seven years.” While there he was converted and became a very strong Christian. “According to folklore, a voice came to Patrick in his dreams, telling him to escape. He found passage on a pirate ship back to Britain where he was reunited with his family. The voice then told him to go back to Ireland.” He was ordained as a priest and went back to spend the rest of his life trying to convert the Irish to Christianity. “Patrick’s work in Ireland was tough—he was constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty and admonished by his British superiors. After he died on March 17, 461, Patrick was largely forgotten. But slowly, mythology grew around Patrick and centuries later he was honored as the patron saint of Ireland. According to St. Patrick’s Day lore, he used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Christian holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Today, St. Patrick’s Day revelers wear a shamrock. The wild-growing, three-leaf clover that some botanists consider the official shamrock is an annual plant that germinates in the spring.” (excerpts from the National Geographic Daily News). It is very sad that the terrible rioting of Fanshaw college students because of too much drinking didn’t make for a good St. Patrick’s Day for London, ON last night.

Continue to pray for Richard’s orphanage in Myanmar. He has been given a reprieve for a couple of weeks. He doesn’t have to move until the end of March. Pray that they will be able to make money through the use of their truck in providing a delivery service during this transition period..

Rev. Josh Brake from Maple Ave. Baptist Church, Georgetown is in the process of developing a mission agency called Kutoa (www.kutoa.org). Members are invited to join upon agreeing to contribute $1/month They are presented with three choices of mission projects per month to be voted upon. The project with the most votes wins and receives the money raised. Please pray for the success of this new idea. It would be great if it went viral.

Our Credit Valley Association luncheon happens again this coming Tuesday at our home. Please pray for our local Fellowship pastors and their heavy responsibilities. Great friendships are resulting because of this monthly event.

Home Group happens this Thursday at the Burton home at 7:00 p.m. We are going through Gary’s latest book, See You Next Week! Gary is presenting a seminar on this book for World Team on Sat. March 31, 9-1 and for Meadowvale Bible Baptist Church on April 29 at 6:30 p.m.

We can officially welcome spring on Tuesday! Isn’t this warm weather incredible?

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 Importance of Foresight by Gary Carter: Have you missed something along your journey? Could you have done something better but you didn’t have the right kind of foresight? People are not good in that area. Aging adults regret that they should have taken better care of their bodies. Experience does teach. It is sad, however, that too often we’d rather do it our own way and not pay attention to others’ advice who have been down the road longer.

In I Peter we have been learning about Peter’s great advice. He dwells on the broad theme of submission, the opposite of resistance. We fight against this because we don’t change easily, thus making ourselves and others miserable. Secondly he has said that Christians will suffer which no one likes to do. This is not self-imposed but imposed by others because a stand has been taken. Has the church grown stronger when it has suffered e.g. been driven under ground? Do we suffer less in our country? It is now legal for our Myanmar friends to meet. Elections happen April 1. The democracy advocate, Aung San Suu Kyi is allowed to have her speech televised. Does suffering create a more blessed life?

Peter also advises husbands in I Peter 3:7 to be considerate to their wives so that “nothing will hinder your prayers.” If a couple gets it right between each other then their aspirations, hopes, dreams will not be hindered. When they are properly aligned they can blow the doors off of this society where so many cultures push their women down. The only freedom is knowing Christ.

Conversations with Jesus – Next Question! (Luke 20: 27-47) by Chris Burton: Another group that came by to ask Jesus a question was the Sadducees. They were the complete opposite of the Pharisees. From Alexander on, the Sadducees were like a priestly aristocracy. They wanted close contact with Rome; whereas the Pharisees were traditionalists (conservative). The Sadducees were liberal.

These Sadducees didn’t believe in “resurrection” but here they were asking Jesus a question relating to it. There is a pause in the Q&A and in jump the Sadducees - an opportunity to discredit both Jesus and the Pharisees in one shot. If a woman marries each of seven brothers consecutively who die, after the dead rise whose wife will she belong to? This is likely not a new argument being presented. It’s one the Pharisees have no doubt heard before. The command is found in Deuteronomy: “…If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.” The main purpose of this “law” was to maintain the family unit - to keep inheritance within the tribes. Family name and maintaining a connected line of descendants was important to them. This was not why the Sadducees used this text though. They drew two main conclusions from this text.
1.Immortality was not attained by resurrection from the dead, but by the carrying on of an Israelite’s family line through his offspring.
2.Since a man’s younger brother had to assume the duties of his deceased brother, Moses must not believe that men would someday be raised from the dead. Why would such provisions need to be made for the perpetuation of a man’s offspring if he were someday going to be raised from the dead?
Jesus answered, “People in this world get married. And their parents give them to get married. But it will not be like that when the dead rise. Those who are considered worthy to take part in what happens at that time won’t get married. And their parents won’t give them to be married. They can’t die anymore. They are like the angels. They are God’s children. They will be given a new form of life when the dead rise.”

The Pharisees were stuck in the past. The Sadducees saw only the present. And Jesus was creating a future built from the past, relevant to the present but set in the future. That was then and this is now! In one answer Jesus not only puts the Sadducees in place but he still manages a backhand at the Pharisees also. The next age will be very different - no death, no marriage, no bearing of children. Marriage is for now, not heaven. The dead will be “like angels;” they are God’s children and given a “new form of life.” By quoting Moses he shows them that contrary to their interpretations Moses did support the notion of resurrection, as does Isaiah 26:19 and Daniel 12:2. The Sadducees just picked and chose what they wanted to suit their needs. Jesus refers to Exodus 3:6 which states, “… ‘I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.” The God of these saints are spoken of as “I AM” not “I WAS.” If after death there was nothing else, then there would be no need for “I AM.”

These “teachers of the law” (Pharisees) actually end up giving fist pumps to Jesus - that must have stung! Of course Jesus won’t just accept it as He sticks a knife in their already wounded pride in the next passage by asking “Whose Son is the Christ?” (Psalm 110:1). The Pharisees recognize that Jesus is ushering in a “new age” (verses 45-47). They understand the implications; they just can’t let go of the power and pride. For the Sadducees the future is now. For the Pharisees the future is bleak. They can see how the Romans have corrupted things. They long for the past but they can’t go back so they struggle to hold on to what they have. For those that understand “the new age” or “the coming age” that Jesus speaks of the “now” is a road to walk but the future (with God) is something to look forward to.

Revelation (Part 21 – Revelation 10:1-3) by Steve Macdonald: In Revelation 8:13 the eagle promised three woes - not two and a promissory note! But now John sees a mighty angel, robed in a cloud, rainbow above his head, face shining like the sun, legs like fiery pillars. He is rather large to be able to stand on the land and the sea. Does this angel bring mass destruction to both land and sea? Do we get great pain and suffering, people hoping for death? Is another 1/3 of the world’s population killed? We get none of these things from this angel.

So what do we get? Angels are described as mighty in Revelation 5:2, 10: 1, 18:21. There must be at least two of these angels if John is correct because he indicates this is another angel. This angel brings more than a scroll for John to snack on. The earth has just gone through five months of torment and suffering with no relief and more than 1/3 of the population dying, darkness day and night, 1/3 of the sun, moon and stars darkened, earthquakes, famine, deathly silence; yet people refuse to repent. There is a beam of light through the clouds after a big storm. This angel is reflecting the radiant glory and majesty of Jesus. The angel is not Jesus, but is reflecting His glory. This angel signifies judgment, glory, and power, but also deliverance for those who choose to follow God. Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27 all refer to clouds in reference to the coming of Jesus at the time of judgment. Is John relaying to us the readers the message that Jesus is coming? Is the message that He is coming being seen by those on earth? John’s readers at the time of the writing, being familiar with the Old Testament (Exodus 13:21; Exodus 13:22; Exodus 14:24; Numbers 14:14; Nehemiah 9:12; Nehemiah 9:19) should associate this angel wrapped in a cloud with the safety and guidance God provided to the Israelites in the wilderness.

If the message isn’t clear with the angel wrapped in a cloud, maybe there are other hidden clues about the message e.g. a rainbow above his head. A rainbow is mentioned six times in the Bible (Genesis 9:13; 9:14; 9:16; Ezekiel 1:28; Revelation 4:3; Revelation 10:1). Each reference is either about God’s covenant with mankind or a description of God’s throne with the exception of Rev 10:1. So is this cloud wrapped, rainbow toting angel a visual reminder to the people of earth? There is a higher authority and that authority has a covenant with them. If that isn’t enough, the angel’s face was like the sun, radiant, glowing, providing warmth and security after the darkness of the past times.

What about the legs like pillars of fire? In the previous verses which talk about God leading and protecting the Israelites with a pillar of cloud, also talk about the pillar of fire which protected them, warmed them and provided light for them every night (Psalm 69:29). This angel gave a shout like the roar of a lion. In nature to assert authority over his territory, a lion will roar. Is this huge angel telling all creation the time is near? Is he claiming the earth, the sea and the sky for Jesus? The seven thunders spoke, but we do not know what was said. John planned to record the conversation but had to seal it up for later. Who/what are the voices of the seven thunders? I lean towards them being the voices of the seven Spirits of God? What they say we will find out another day, just like we will find out how John liked his little snack (his fruit scroll up!).

The Fisherman – The Life of One with Genuine Faith According to Peter (I Peter 3:8-22) by Gary Carter: Do you know what the Golden Rule says? Some of this tenet exists in all religions, although negative and not proactive.
Buddhism:Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Udana-Varga 5,1
Hinduism: This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. Mahabharata 5,1517
Islam: No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Sunnah
Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. Talmud, Shabbat 3id

Matthew 7:12 (and Luke 6:31) records, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” Many live to themselves not hurting others so they think that is O.K. But you’re it! Own the initiative to help others. Peter had learned this standard for living. In verses 8-12 he wants “all of you” (no one excluded, even children should take on human responsibility associated with their age) to be united (the world teaches differentiation) and sympathetic (in the workplace most words about the boss are critical). Love is mentioned over and over in Scripture. Be compassionate and humble. Make a choice; turn around and be blessed by not repaying “evil with evil or insult with insult.” Fight for peace; fight yourself. You can do this because the Holy Spirit is living within to give you the capacity to be different.

In verses 13-22 he tells us that we won’t get harmed if we do good in this world of fear and controversies. We must be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks, not with combativeness but with gentleness as we follow Christ. His suffering produced new life for us. Peter reminds us about the Old Testament parallel of Noah and his family,only eight in total, that were saved from the flood because of Noah’s God-given awareness to build an ark.

Peter was pugnacious, combative and two-dimensional early on; he led the pact as an NHL enforcer. It was hard for him to say he was wrong. Don’t lead by being the tough guy. Lead by example which is a very different life. Peter was the strongest example of a truly transformed life in thought formation. This was an evolution for at the end of his life he was so humble and in love with his Master that he wanted to be crucified upside down unlike Christ’s crucifixion. Plan for this kind of life for yourself. Create room for flexibility so that you can talk with more people about Christ.

Communion: God relates to us. He observes us all the time. The apostle Paul was not at the Lord’s Supper but he said he did “receive from the Lord” (I Corinthians 11:23) through an awareness or conviction in his heart. The Lord speaks through others, His Word, circumstances. He wants us to give thanks, break bread and participate as we remember His death. The cup or original chalice was not a certificate of authenticity. It had no value. The value is in the shed blood of Christ who made a contract.

Book Titles by Steve Macdonald:
The Bog by Pete Maas
The Candy Store by Pepper Mintz
The Little Richard Story by Tudy Frudy
The Great Missile Barrage by Lonch M. Awl
The Hitchhiker by Juan Nalift
The Lady Pirate by Peg Legg
The Outboard Motor Died by Rhoda Shaw
The Wizard Of Oz by Ima Munchkin
The Great Escape by Freida Convict

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