I Preached My Last Sermon Today ....in 2007

This morning the service was beautiful. Kyla Moon shared what the Lord was doing in her life. Mrs. Comfort, from South Africa, with her children joined today. Her words of thankfulness for the church were so kind. Tears flowed freely.

When the church is alive it is a beautiful thing to behold. Passion is in the air. Focus becomes natural because all are walking, even running, in the same direction. Church is good.

We made our financial budget with money left over to bless and be involved with Kyla's mission trip. We desire to be united in the activity of God no matter who is directly going through the experience.

It reminds me of the very early church in the Book of Acts. And you remember what they accomplished in the few short years of coming into existence!

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

But the impact of the Kingdom of God movement was not fully realized until a few years later... Acts 17:6b ...“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."

Royal Heights, may the Lord use us, as His people, to turn this world upside down!

Just Sitting Around

Why do people feel guilty for taking a rest?

Someone calls you on the phone when your resting on the couch and you quickly get up and answer the call trying to clear your voice. "Were you sleeping?" "No, I'm up!"

Why the guilt?

The Bible encourages rest. One of the commands is to take a rest. Exodus 20:8 “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work..."

Rest seems to be the one thing that eludes us. Peace is what we need.

Take a break - without the guilt!

Chocolate

Christmas is a time for sweets! Chocolate seems to be the "gift" given when you don't really know the person you are gifting or when you just want to say "thank you for being my friend". Chocolate is always a hit. How can you really go wrong!

Nothing seems to taste better than when you find the perfect chocolate.

Psalm 119: 103
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

As I study the Word of the LORD often I find a tasty morsel. The Word is sweet and pleasant to the taste. Finding a morsel is what I am looking for as I go through the Bible. The morsel will lead to the meal.

As the new year approaches, it will be good to start afresh getting back into the Word of God. Let's read it together. It will give you a good appetite!

Family Photos

Why does a family photo muster up feelings? Just looking at one can bring a smile or a thought? The power of a photo. It is a simple but powerful way to make us remember.

Jesus had the same thought when He introduced baptism and the Lord's supper. These are photos to capture a moment in time that has great value. Baptism shows the death and resurrection of the Lord and the Lord's supper shows the death of Christ. His suffering is His photos for us.

"...As often as you do this do this in rememberance of Me!" ~Jesus

Boxing Day Specials!

Everyone seems to be looking for that special deal. The one piece of furniture or electronic devise that life can't be lived without.

On Boxing Day I went to the store, Future Shop. People had slept out side throughout the night just so they would be the fist people into the store in the morning. They had to have the deals they were oftering. The place was packed with people. I left without pciking anything up.

Everyone seems to be looking for the best deal. A deal where they know they have got the best price. If this is "really" true, everyone would run to receieve the gospel.

The gospel is free. It's a gift. People should be staying up late just so they could be the first to aquire it.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Christmas!

I'm sitting with family - Eric, Cynthia, Adam, Aaron, Wanda, Richard and Simon, enjoying the day of celebration. We are watching "Who wants to be a Millionaire", guessing at a the questions and missing each one. Laughter! Fun! and Joy!

Phil 1:5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

So much of what we do is in the context of family and fellowship. If this area of our lives are in conflict much of life is disappointing. It is important to keep a watchful eye on all our relationships. The value of family is critical.

Often we treat those who we love like strangers, relationally and strangers like family. We MUST turn this around to see our families improve. Let's celebrate our love for each other!

The Day Before Christmas

To watch the reaction of children on the day before Christmas would make anyone smile. Each are exciting as they anticipate the coming of the day. A day full of fun, presents and food.

Can you imagine the day before the coming of the Lord as a human unto planet earth? How did the angels react to the news of their LORD coming? Did heaven get excited about the events that were about to unfold?

1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

...angels desire to look into the ways of God!

Rejoice for the day comes tomorrow to celebrate the birth and coming of our LORD! He is our King and Saviour!

Snow! Snow!! Snow!!!

Wow, I'm looking outside and seeing a lot of white stuff!

The area around our house looks so fresh and clear with all the snow freshly fallen. The trees look like Christmas is just around the corner. All this reminds me of the verse...

Isaiah 1: 18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“ Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.

With the Christmas season upon us, I hope this verse has us think about the LORD of our salvation. We are clean because of Christ. We are new and fresh because of the death and resurrection of the Son.

There is no other way to be right with God other than through His only Son. This Christmas would be a great time to invite someone who needs to "reason" this out, to the Christmas Eve service at Royal Heights - 11706 - 96th ave Delta, BC at 7PM.

Shelia, can you make it out even with the snow on the ground?!

This Program?

The Blog program would not let me type for some reason!

Something is wrong with this Blog program

Somethings wrong with this blog program????

Finding Meaning in it All

One man wrote, "We are all on a search for meaning, purpose and significance in our lives that is how we are built. Victor Frankl, a Nazi concentration camp survivor, states, “The will to meaning is a really specific need not reducible to other needs, and is in greater or smaller degree present in all human beings.”

Frankl experienced what happens when people lack hope, and a sense of purpose or meaning in their lives. In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, he tells the story of a fellow prisoner who had a dream that he would be released for the camp on a certain date. He believed the dream to be true and for awhile it gave him hope that he would survive his experience. However, as the date approached, he realized he would not be released and he lost hope. Without hope, he lost his desire to live and he quickly succumbed to illness, dying on the very day he was dreamed he would be released!

This experience led Frankl to develop a psychological therapy called “Logotherapy” to help people identify the sources of hope and meaning in their lives. He states,
“One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.”

Thus man’s search for meaning is the defining quest of the human identity. It is the need to find “fulfillment” The need to answer the questions ”Who am I?” “Where do I belong?” “Why was I born?” “What is my purpose?”

Our lives are for a purpose. It is important that we discover what that purpose really is or we end up spending a lot of hours in waste and confusion instead of investment and focus. Life is a precious gift. Meant to have meaning and purpose, how is yours going?

Church's Christmas Eve Service

12 Signs Your Church’s Christmas Eve Service is Too Traditional

1) Greeters welcome visitors who are in their 50s by saying “Hello there, young whipper-snapper. Want some candy?”

2) Silent Night is still sung in the original German even though nobody speaks German.

3) Vinny and Guido stand in the center isle and make sure anyone who doesn’t sit in the right pew “disappears.”

4) The president of the congregation was recently impeached for suggesting they consider indoor plumbing for the restrooms.

5) The head elder insists that during the reading of the Christmas story the names of all the sheperds be recited. After all he was there and was responsible for the guestbook.

6) After getting away with lip-syncing the same Christmas Eve sermon for 27 years, the senior pastor was busted when the record player started skipping.

7) Nobody is sure which is older, Grandma Ethel or the fruitcakes she gives out as gifts after the service.

8) Mrs. Tanunbaum was diagnosed with 90% hearing loss in both ears in 1988, but that hasn’t stopped her from playing the piano at every Christmas Eve service.

9) The Christmas Eve program gets printed every year using a Commodore 64 and a dot-matrix printer.

10) Three years ago the church split over whether the pink candle in the advent wreath is to be lit on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of Advent.

11) Two years ago the church split again after the words to “What child is this?” were changed to “Where ox and mule-like mammal are feeding.”

12) Some members still object to the large number of “horseless carriages” in the parking lot during the service.

My Friend had a Birthday

We are getting older! When I was young it seemed as if the world was on a slow motion ride. Now that I'm 48 years old, it seem like the roller coaster of life is speeding a head at 90 miles an hour!

My friend had a birthday this past week. He feels the same as me. We were young friends and now we are old friend! Wow!!

The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of the use of time on this planet.

Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Redeeming the time - get the best life out of it; use it to the highest level that it will allow you to.

Soon you will be old. Have you passed your faith on to someone else, as yet? Have you delivered the most important relationship to another who would enjoy it? Redeem the time, right now!

Drinking Parties at Christmas

Many of you work out in the "real" world. The world where it is very common to have a party happening where your fellow employees are under the influence or out right drunk. Christmas is the season where this seems to be the norm.

I remember my fire fighting days when I would go to these parties. Before I started to get serious about the Lord, I was also one of those employees that drank too much. But after I made peace with the Lord I experienced a noticeable change in me. I still went to these parties to laugh and fun with the guys but instead of becoming drunk, I became a friend, I just didn't drink any more.

After these events, some of the guys would say, "I thought Christians were all stuffy and pious but I can see that you can still have fun." I always appreciated how the Lord let me continue to witness with Him, without fearing to go into the place where sinners dwell.

The Apostle Paul understood the balance that a believer must have in order to function and make a difference in his world of influence.

Romans 14:14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Maybe this is the fulfillment of the words of Augustine, "Love God and do whatever you want!" Notice he DIDN"T say, "Do whatever you want and try to love God!" The key is Love God than enjoy this holiday season with your fellow employees and friends. Be a witness before your Lord!

Things are Breaking Down

My 1997 Van just turned over to 400,000kms! That's a lot of kms under the bridge. I can see "ol' Betsey" giving up the ghost, soon.

Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The Lord gave us a new spirit when we became His child. We were born again. Our "real" you has been made righteous before our holy God. We were given His righteousness,...as a GIFT! This is an amazing truth when we start to fully grasp it.

We have received our new, clean, fresh, righteous spirit in our old unrighteous mind and body which the Bible calls "The Flesh". Our new spirit joyfully desires to fulfill the will of the Father in Heaven but our "flesh" desires to live out its life on the earth. The flesh is not heaven bound and it has no desire to serve the Lord except in a religious and pious way.

Christian, we are to put off the "old conduct" that the flesh is desiring us to remain in even after we become a believer. We are to renew our minds and begin to think like a person who we really are,...a child of God.

The Young Are Asking,...WHY?

Here's a great video of a young man seeking answers...

Christ or Santa

Many holidays today have two different celebrations or connotations - one worldly, and the other Christian.

The world celebrates Easter with Easter bunnies and Easter eggs, new clothes and spring breaks - heralding the coming of spring. But Easter is a holy day for Christians. A time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, His victory over sin and death, and our hope for eternal life. It is a very special day for us.

Christmas is another such holiday. For the world it is Xmas, Happy Holidays, Santa Claus coming down the chimney, and toys. But for Christians, Christmas celebrates the miracle of the virgin birth and the coming of our Saviour. We realize that God loves us so much that He came into our world to live and die among us, and teach us how to live both now and for all eternity.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Paul is warning Timothy that in his day there would come a time when people would just as soon believe a fable over the truth. Sounds like today's world, doesn't it? Nothing shows up quicker than when we come to celebrate Easter & Christmas. Even Christians teach their children the worldly fables as if they are truth to their young, vulnerable children.

Santa is NOT real and should have no part of the Christmas story in a believer's home. Our children believe what we tell them. If we "pretend" which is really LIE to our children about Santa Claus when we we come clean and tell them that we were lying to them? Who will be the first to say to them, "Santa is NOT true!" Your child will be needlessly hurt.

If Santa has to be brought up around your home because the children are taught this story at every level of their schooling, couldn't you just tell them the truth? "Santa is a made up fairy tale. He is like a clown. He is just a man dressed up like a common clown to teach children to be friendly. There is NO REAL Santa Claus, it is just make believe."

Your child will probably go, "Oh, okay mom! Thanks!" Then they can see and understand the Santa Claus story WITHOUT the confusion of a parent saying "He's real!" That's a LIE!

I encourage us to tell the story of Jesus, Mary and Joesph. Keep this story alive. It's TRUE! It is the story of the ages! It's over 2000 years old and is the foundation to your children's faith later on.

We choose what and who we worship during this season of celebration. Chose to celebrate and worship ONLY the Christ. The world is going to do it's best, (now says, "Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas") to take this season as their own, let's take it back to a focus of Christ and His coming or do like the early church and not even celebrate this season at all.

By definition, we worship what we choose to give the supreme devotion of our feelings, time and energies to. God must command us to worship Him because we can choose to give our feelings, time and energies to things other than God. Therefore, acceptable worship of God involves consciously choosing to worship and serve only Him even in the face of the temptation to give these things to others.

You can't be in love with anything without letting your mouth, knees, hands, body know about it. God's loves to see His children teaching their children the proper ways of God. Remember how the Lord first instructed the children of Israel to be careful to teach the true ways of God to their children:

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Welcome to the Church Body

Every healthy church body will have people desiring to be apart of it. But the way a person joins a church is different from church to church. Some churches would have each person wanting to join to come before an Elder Board to be examined to see if they are in the faith. Some churches don't have formal membership or joining at all.

At Royal Heights we join people on Sunday morning or during a Home Group. These statements below explain the why and how they join to the body:

To the person:
We believe that when you accepted Christ, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you. By your coming to join this body of believers, will you be open to be used by the Holy Spirit? To help us become stronger in the faith and in our relationship with God? If you are willing would you say 'amen'?

To the congregation:
God has invited this person today to this local congregation to strengthen us in our relationship with Him. People will you be open to let this person into your life? To strengthen you and encourage you? If you are willing will you say 'amen'.

To the congregation:
We also believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. We see the evidence of the working power of the Holy Spirit amongst us. Church, will you be open to be used by the Holy Spirit to strengthen this life? To invest in this person so that they will have a strong relationship with the Lord? If you are willing, stand up and say 'amen.'

To the person:
We can't get into your life unless you let us in. Will you be open to let us in to help you in any area of your life so that we can strengthen your walk with the Lord? If you would be open to our involvement in your life would you say 'amen'?

To all:
We have just made a covenant agreement. We have promised before God and each other that we will love and encourage this life and each other in the Lord.

Let's pray; Thanks Lord.

Pride

“Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
“It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest.” CS Lewis

This morning during the worship time we had together we talked about Angels. Angels are the Lord's servants. They are His messengers.

One of His great angels made a choice to go against Him and receive the worship that was due Him. This Seraphim, was a glorious one, called Lucifer, the Son of the morning. His sin was PRIDE.

Isaiah 14:12
“ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Pride is an evil that's hard to break away from, especially if we are really good at something in our lives. And the difficulty here, is we are each really good at something that sets us apart from the rest. We begin to see this "good" in us as something to be praised and honoured. We forget we are like the moon, the reason we shine is because the light of God shines upon us. If the moon comes under the shadow of the earth, it's "light" immediately disappears. It has no light in itself without the light of the sun. So, this truth is the Christian's truth.

Proverbs 16:4
The LORD has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

Christian, we have so much,....in Christ! We have the Source of the universe as our Lord and God. He has given freely to us the things of God. He has resourced His church with power and authority. Our mission is one of the greatest honours given to a created creature, to bring all men to the Christ.

He asks only one thing of us, never to do it in our own strength. Never to believe it is us doing the good works and not His power that works within us. He asks us to give glory only where glory is due,...to our only God and Saviour!

When we confess that without Him we are nothing. Without Him we are worthless and deserving of death as a vertict in the highest court. Without Him we are a people of no hope, no promise and no life. When we confess these things, then pride vanishes and a humble, thankful heart enters as it seeks to worship its Lord.

Oh, the joy of being a Christ-ian!

Quotes

"Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever."- Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss Universe contest

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC

"I’ve never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body."- Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that but not with all those flies and death and stuff."- Mariah Carey, pop singer

"I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president."- Hillary Clinton, commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents.

"The police are not here to create disorder. They’re here to preserve disorder."- Chicago Mayor Richard Daley during the 1968 Democratic convention.

"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."- Former French President Charles de Gaulle

"I haven’t committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."- David Dinkins, former New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.

"The Internet is a great way to get on the Net."- Former Republican presidential candidate and Senator, Bob Dole

"Things are more like they are now than they ever were before."- Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower

"Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas."- Former Australian cabinet minister Keppel Enderbery

"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees."- Jason Kidd, upon being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks

As we read the Scriptures we find that Jesus NEVER said one word without clearly thinking it through. All Scripture is perfect. All the words of Christ are LIFE and TRUTH.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Passports Soon Needed

In January, 2008 I hear that we all will need passports when we cross the USA border. Life is changing. How many years have we just been able to drive across from country to country with little or no real checks going on?

Our passport is going to become critical to our movement in the world. Without a passport you won't be leaving this country. This compares well to the spiritual world. Without a "Passport" we will not be leaving this planet either to go to a home far away.

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

An Ambassador was someone who belonged to another country but was sent by the leadership of that land to connect with the other land. They represented their country to the other country. They had to have a passport which stated their true country of origin.

Christian, our "Passport" is Christ. We are "in Christ". He has sent us on mission to this planet called earth. We are not part of this world but are in this world. We do not speak our own message but instead the message of our King. This message is clear, "That all the world should repent and turn from their ways of vanity and empty search for meaning, turn to Him alone as King, Saviour and Lord of all." We come with good news, that God has made a way for us to come into relationship with Him. His "Passport" is the death and resurrection of His only Son.

Christian, are we carrying our Passports with us? Are we telling others that they need to get their Passport before it's too late? The day is coming when all will come to an end, are we ready?

Even so, come Lord Jesus, come!

LOST!

There was a very popular show titled, LOST! on TV for a few years. I never got into the series but I liked the title. Have you ever been lost? What deep feeling of fear & confusion it can bring up.

Jesus said, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Jesus saw Himself as a good Shepherd and the people of Israel as lost sheep in need of a Shepherd that would lead them to higher ground. His ministry of bringing His lost sheep home as been one that He past over to His under-shepherds.

Each believer is an under-shepherd. Each should be activity seeking to bring the lost to the Saviour. His mission is now our mission.

Nothing thrills me more as a pastor when someone tells me a story of their reaching out to the unsaved or unchurched in their world of influence. As these carry out there day, they activity seek to fulfill the great commission of God to win the world back to Himself.

May we encourage each other to learn how to declare our faith, how to connect with our community and how to develop training systems so that everyone can be about the great task of finding lost sheep. If you are good at connecting, take someone else with you so they to could learn. If you are good at declaring your faith in a clear manner, take someone else with you so they to could learn.

Paul Johnson is fond of using this phrase, which makes the point very well, "what is worst than being lost? Being lost and no one is out looking for you!"

Remember the words of Apostle Paul in his last letter to Timothy before he was beheaded for his faith. "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul saw the necessity of declaring your own faith, while you taught others to do the same. Let's stir one another up, in love!

The WORD

God the Son is called the WORD of God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Why this name, WORD?

Our words are an expression of who we really are. What we say (and do) become the expression of who we are. In days gone by, it was the words of a King that a subject experienced life or death. The power of the word is everlasting.

God the Father created through the WORD of God in the power of His Spirit. The Triune God in perfect harmony and unity of purpose and focus. Each and exact expression of the other. Each fully God but only ONE GOD!

The amazing thing is verse 14 of the same chapter: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

The WORD became flesh and lived with us, humans! Amazing! Amazing!

How We Treat Our Weakest

One man said, "You can tell the strength of a society by how they treat their WEAKEST members." If this statement is true than Canada is lacking a great deal as a society. We abort over a million children every year! We introduce easy ways for the elderly to "leave" the planet if they so desire.

These thoughts become standard in society and if you were to publicly oppose them you would find great opposition. These positions of thought have been "well" thought out by the "wise" of our society. And so laws are passed and people are given choices that "in good conscious" can take the lives of others. We can this "our freedoms"!

In a culture that devalued children, women and the poor, Jesus arrived. His views challenged the thought of His day. He flipped the common thinking on its head.

Mark 10:13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Jesus publicly rebuked His own disciples for how they treated children. Children are special to God. We live in an age where the most dangerous place for a child to be in Canada is in a mother's womb. These things are not right.

At church a little baby was born, Sofia, 8lbs 11ozs. What is her value? How much is she worth?

Psalm 139
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

Sofia's value,...PRICELESS!

About the Lord's Business

Luke 2:49 And Jesus said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

When Jesus was left to himself, at the age of twelve, he headed off to the Temple. His parents lost sight of Him for a few days and were shaken by the experience. They find Him in the Temple talking to the spiritual leaders of that day. He says He's about His Father's business.

What is the Father's business?

When He becomes thirty and begins His public ministry He says what He is about. "...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” This is His Father's business!

As Jesus dies on the cross He states, "It is Finished!" What is finished? His Father's business! At the cross He completely fulfilled the work of the Father. There was nothing more He had to do. It was complete!

If Jesus finished the Father's work why do we seek and save the lost today?

First, we do not seek and save the lost as Christ did. He sought them out and did the saving! We proclaim His salvation to all but never assist in the saving of a person in the true sense.

Second, we were lost and now we are found. We are telling the story about what happened to us. We were lost and then saved and whosoever will may come!

We are people who declare the finished work of the Lord. He alone won our freedom! We owe it all to Him, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson strain and He washed it white as snow!

The Trinity

The Athanasian Creed (Quicumque vult) is a statement of Christian Trinitarian doctrine and Christology that was used in Western Christianity. Its Latin name comes from the opening words Quicumque vult, "Whosoever wishes."

The doctrine of the Trinity is difficult to be into words, the Athanasian Creed does a great job of it. It is worth the read.

Athanasian Creed(fifth century)

This creed is attributed to Athanasius, the fourth century bishop of Alexandria who was the strongest defender of the doctrines of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. It defines the doctrines of the Trinity and the nature of Christ in very concise language.
Please note that the term "catholic" in its usage is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church, but is a reference to the universal (catholic) faith since that is how the term was originally used.
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Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one Uncreated, and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord. And yet not three lords, but one Lord.
For as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge each Person by Himself to be both God and Lord, so we are also forbidden by the catholic religion to say that there are three gods or three lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.
And in the Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another, but all three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.

Conditions of Prevailing Prayer

FIVE CONDITIONS OF PREVAILING PRAYER
by George Mueller

1. Entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only ground of any claim for blessing.
2. Separation from all sin. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us, for it would be sanctioning sin.
3. Faith in God's word of promise as confirmed by His oath. Not to believe Him is to make Him both a liar and a perjurer.
4. Asking in accordance with His will. Our motives must be godly; we must not seek any gift of God to consume it on our own lusts.
5. Persevere in supplication. There must be waiting on God and waiting on God, as the husbandman has long patience to wait for the harvest.

God has used mighty men of the past to lead His church on, in the future, to worship Him. Great people of prayer have been the inspiration to many for a deep relationship with the Lord.

God's desire is to move us in life, to His Life. He is seeking oneness in the heart of His people. Our prayers are to seek the heart, mind and will of the Lord. If we could or would understand the love of Christ for us it would completely overwhelm us, in love. If the church were to be filled with the LORD of the church, we, as His people, would bring Christ into our daily experience. As we move into relationship with Him we are and would be miraculously transformed into His likeness.

The Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians is a great prayer to understand where God is taking us.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Roller Coaster Rides

Sometimes life is up and sometimes it's down.

When I went on a Sabbatical in 1998, I asked the family to pick the 10 largest roller coasters that they could find in western USA and we would drive to them all. We looked things up on the web and any where we could find information. We ended up with our ten favorites. Roller coasters here we come!

The joy of the roller coaster rides in the up and the downs. The ups are scary because they are so high and the downs are even more scary because the fall appears like we will crash and die. Roller coasters are much like life.

Psalm 37:23-25
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.

God will take care of us. I sometimes feel like I'm on the top of the world and then LIFE COMES SWIRLING DOWN.

Life is a ride. Sometimes you are screaming out of sheer panic and you learn to trust the Lord and sometimes you are getting ready to experience sheer panic where you will learn to trust the Lord. One man said, "Either you are in a problem right now or you just came out of one or you are just about to enter one."

The Lord teaches us to deal with challenging expereinces in life so we trust Him more. I am sorry where I have not trusted Him as I should in difference situations I have been in but I'm learning. Learning is a word that means "by expereince" these attitudes are lived out and valued.

Have fun on the roller coaster they are meant to enjoy!

Travelling

We left the conference yesterday, early morning to get on the road. We had to drive from Kananaskis, AB to Vancouver, BC, about a 11 hour trip. We did not know how the weather would be along the way.

As we drove, we went through some snow storms. The roads were very slippery in one or two places. We saw three major accidents, two where semi-trucks were laying on their sides! Police were around with ambulances standing close by. We lift up these families to the Lord.

In the Old Testament, Nehemiah is building the walls of Jerusalem again. He reminds the people about the goodness of God as they travelled along their way.

Nehemiah 9:12
Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar,
And by night with a pillar of fire,
To give them light on the road
Which they should travel.

Our God never changes. I can say the same, "Thank You, Lord for watching over us as we travelled through icy and dangerous situations. You kept us safe and delivered us to our family and friends. Thanks for being our God-who-travels-with-us!

We're back!

Are We Glad & An Encouragement?

As the time at the retreat draws to a close, Bob preached from Acts 11, verse 23.

Acts 11:23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

Has it been a joy to be a part of the Christian faith? Are we enjoying the journey? Are we glad and an encouragement to others in the walk of faith?

The retreat was excellent! The fellowship was sweet. The times of refreshing were so needed. I know I am going back to Royal Heights more on fire for the Lord and His mission. Wanda had a good time also, making new connections with pastor's wives throughout the area.

I am so thankful the Lord called us into the ministry. I feel I could not be about a greater task for myself than this calling. I am thankful I have expereinced the favour of the Lord in the ministry. I am thankful the Lord gave me a mate that loves Him more than I. I am thankful. I am thankful!

Stay the Course...with Friends

We have heard a good words about staying the course in the ministry. Bob Shelton & Hamish did a great job in leading us into a spiritual rest in the Lord.

We were given quality time to just visit all the friends that came to the retreat. My friend, Paul, was there and lead a short break out group, which I went to. I saw Sid & Peggy Waterman, the associate pastor of Abundant Life. Zack, Orlando, Ceasar, Joey and many others were there, celebrating our God together. These people are quality.

Philippians 4:2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

I see why the Apostle Paul would list a number of his friends and fellow workers in the ministry. These people become a part of a great time in your life. They are in the good and in the bad but they have come because of the gospel.

May we always value those who have brought value to us. May we stay the course and finsih well in the kingdom of our King, Jesus Christ.

Sitting In a Nice Hotel

Wanda and I are sitting in the Delta Hotel in Kananaskis, Alberta at a Pastor's and wife's retreat. The place is beautiful. As we drove up, with our friends in their 2007 Caravan, a white-tail deer skipped across the road. We also saw a herd of elk grazing beside a river. It is beautiful.

The theme of the event here is "Stay the Course". We are being encouraged to start and finish well in the ministry. To value each other as husband and wife. It is good to be here and refresh.

But my mind goes to the first century Christians and their times of retreating. Paul and Silas, working hard at setting up the Kingdom of God in new territory. People hearing and misunderstanding their message and intent. In a short time they are in trouble with the community. Acts 16 takes us to their "Delta Hotel".

Acts 16:22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Oh, what power the early church displayed for the generations that followed. These two men are praying and singing hymns to God while sitting in the stocks. The temperature of my room is perfect. The temperature of their hearts were perfect.

We don't have it that rough as church leaders. Nothing compared to the early days of the faith. Canada is a great country. With so much freedom to declare the claims of Christ, we should stand unafraid of the persecution we may face. These men, Paul and Silas, are men who bring a whole new meaning to "being on a retreat with the Lord".

I praise God for them!

When We Think We Know Better Than God

We live in a society that believes they have the inner scoop on everything. They know how the universe and the stars were made. They know the age of the earth is millions and billions of years. They know man cam from ooze in a swamp. They know how to raise children. They know how to do church. They know how to get to heaven.

We also are people who normally discover we really don't know as much as we thought when the years pass. Benjamin Spock made a confession before he died about the impact of his child rearing experiment. And now, Bob Burney just wrote and interesting article about the "seeker-sensitive" church growth movement. It seems Bill Hybels admits it did not bring his church people to the spiritual depth that is needed to walk with the Lord! Wow, what a humble confession from a spiritual leader of our day.

Listen to the words of Benjamin Spock...

If you are older than 40 the name Benjamin Spock is more than familiar. It was Spock that told an entire generation of parents to take it easy, don't discipline your children and allow them to express themselves. Discipline, he told us, would warp a child's fragile ego. Millions followed this guru of child development and he remained unchallenged among child rearing professionals. However, before his death Dr. Spock made an amazing discovery: he was wrong. In fact, he said:
"We have reared a generation of brats. Parents aren't firm enough with their children for fear of losing their love or incurring their resentment. This is a cruel deprivation that we professionals have imposed on mothers and fathers. Of course, we did it with the best of intentions. We didn't realize until it was too late how our know-it-all attitude was undermining the self assurance of parents."

Oops.

Now Bill Hybels is also saying an interesting discovery...

Willow Creek has released the results of a multi-year study on the effectiveness of their programs and philosophy of ministry. The study's findings are in a new book titled Reveal: Where Are You?, co-authored by Cally Parkinson and Greg Hawkins, executive pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. Hybels himself called the findings "earth shaking," "ground breaking" and "mind blowing." And no wonder: it seems that the "experts" were wrong.

If you simply want a crowd, the "seeker sensitive" model produces results. If you want solid, sincere, mature followers of Christ, it's a bust. In a shocking confession, Hybels states:
We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become 'self feeders.' We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

Incredibly, the guru of church growth now tells us that people need to be reading their bibles and taking responsibility for their spiritual growth.

1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Why it's Hard to Follow

We are people who sometimes struggle with following another person. Why is that? Is it because we are just too proud to say we are not the Leader? It is because we have not found someone we can follow, with confidence?

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Mark 8:34

Jesus is the Master. He processed all the gifts of the Spirit. He knew how to communicate; His Name was Word. And yet many struggled with following Him. That seems so strange to me why the people wouldn't want to follow Jesus and yet there are times in my life where I too choose not to follow Him. Why?

In Jesus' case the fault cannot lie with the Leader. It is the followers who don't know how to follow. The followers talked about following but struggled to do it. There seems to be some common reasons why we won't consistantly follow:

1. We know better than God.
2. We do not want to pay the price of following.
3. We are easily distracted when a "new" show comes to town.
4. We see others are not doing it, so why should we?
5. We ...

It really does matter the reasons because we have none. Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ asked us to follow, what should we do? FOLLOW! Let's do it.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

When People Forsake You

Have you ever felt like people forsake you in the heat of battle? That they get distracted or disguntled and leave you? That they seem to be attracted to other things instead of the ministry where they were called?

Cheer up, you are not alone. Look at the Apostle Paul with Demas.

Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

Philemon 1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

2 Timothy 4:10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica...

Each time Paul remarks about Demas he is giving him less praise. At the start Paul seems to see Demas really coming along. In the next letter there are no words around Demas. In the final letter, he comments he lays out the problem with Demas.

What an awful thing to be mentioned in Scripture throughout all of history as forsaking Paul and heading off into what Demas saw or thought as more important. Demas chose a path where he ended up missing the greatest work of God.

May we live with a different outlook on life. "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9

May we at Royal Heights run the race together. May we never tire of the good work the Lord has given to us to complete. May we be the church of the Living God,....together!

You Are What You Eat

"You are what you eat!" What a strange saying.

John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

Jesus said something simular to, you are what you eat. His desire was to have us eat Himself! Wow, no wonder many could not understand what He was really saying.

Jesus was saying, "I must become your consuming meal. I must be the One who sustains you. I must be the One who gives you life!" Jesus in His wisdom was laying out the deit of the human spirit. Our spirits are meant to live on Christ!

When we drink in the Word of God and seek to know Him deep within, we experience life. The Lord's desire is that we might have life and life abundantly. There is nothing that our spirit truely longs for outside of Christ. Now our flesh is the opposite, it longs to devouer everything that the world has to offer. The flesh seeks life on an earthly realm.

You are what you eat, so eat Christ! May He be our sustaining meal. Our life and our blood. As today was a day of worship to our Lord I feel I have eaten well today. I praised Him, heard the Scriptures, helped out those who needed a hand, laughed with those who laughed and wept with those who wept. I enjoyed Christ today.

1 Peter 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

When the Family Gets Together

I just finished sitting down for a great meal at home with my three children and Wanda, missing Jerry, the youngest. As we sat there, we laughed and talked about life in general. It was a good family time together.

Revelatian 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”

At the end of Revelation this verse appears where we will sit down with our Lord to a great meal that has been prepared for the occasion. Won't it be something!? To sit and laugh and celebrate the victory of the Lamb. To go through and hear the stories of the redeemed by grace. It will be a day of joy and glory to our Lord.

I am so pleased with my family. We are not perfect in performance but I would not trade any of them for another. I'm reminded of my own father's words when he was asked about the six boys that he had. He said, "I would not give one of them up for a million dollars but I wouldn't give you a dime for another one!" Then he laughed and laugh.

If you have a family, do all you can to keep it healthy. Swallow your pride. Go the extra mile. Seek to understand before you're understood. Serve. Give. Love.

Sometimes family is just hard work to keep everything in balance but it is worth it. Our two little grandchildren were at the table, Damien is two and Summer is a couple of weeks old. They have no idea of the joy that they have entered. They are in a home that loves them and wants the very best for them. There will come a day when the gospel will be clearly presented to them so they also may be a part of the great marriage supper of the Lamb. Oh, what a day that will be! Oh, what a family time we will have for all eternity!

I hope to see you there!

Contending for the Faith

What does it that for a person to be knowledgeable about the faith? Knowledgeable enough to carry, live out and yet defend the faith?

I'm in the Calgary area, right now, sitting on our Seminary Board. We are thinking out loud these questions above. It is a great meeting.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

To raise up the up and coming spiritual leaders while releasing the leaders of the day, is a real challenge. To create a movement there always has to be someone that will lead out. Who will it be but the "grassroot" leaders of the faith? Our role is to equip them so they are ready to 'contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.'

I'm very excited about our Seminary's future. Our greatest tool to develop and train leaders is beginning to wake up to the task that is at hand. A movement is about to start! We will see 1000s of people trained and ready to go in the fields of harvest.

May the Lord bless us. May the people see the great potential before us. May God's glory be magnified to the ends of the earth. May we take on the responsiblity of equipping every believer with the tools to contend and live out their faith in a manner that makes an impact! To God be the glory!

We I'm excited about the direction the Seminary is taking is I just have to look at my life's mission that I wrote down years ago.

"...To Be A Spirit-filled Leader
in Word & Action in order that I may,

through Christ, Teach & Motivate
Up & Coming Leaders
With Words & Resources,
In Order That They May Discover & Live
To Their Full Potential & Purpose
Before God & Man."
Alan Braun August 4, 1997

I Spoke with Someone Famous Today

I spoke with someone famous today on the phone. If you knew who it was you might even be impressed. But I have to ask myself, Why does it sort of give me a thrill to speak with someone who has alittle bit of fame on the earth? Their fame has only given he or she the ability to gain a few more friends than the "normal" person. So what, really?!

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

As believers, we have been given the priviledge of speaking with the LORD Himself! What an honour. And we have been encouraged and commanded by Him to tell others that we have a relationship with Him. He wants us to mention His name often to those who are searching for meaning and purpose.

It is strange that we don't boast in this relationship that we can have with the Lord, more. The Apostle Paul seemed to glory often in the communication he was having with his Lord. He wanted everyone to know it was Christ and Christ alone.

We have an opportunity to speak to our friends about the most famous Being we know,...the LORD God of Heaven! It doesn't get better than that. No other man could come along that has so affected the world like our Jesus. Let's speak to Him often. Let's encourage others to engage in meaningful communication with Him. He is central to all communication that has any value. His name is even called,...the WORD!

Hey, I got to speak with the LORD Himself today, did you?

Monday Morning EXCITEMENT!

Normally you hear, "Monday morning blues" from people as they drag themselves back into their offices and places of employment. But do Mondays have to be lived on this low level? Does any day have to be looked at in the negative?

Genesis 39:20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

Joseph reminds me of the attitude I should have to life. He is mistreated. Lied about to his face. Thrown in prison, although he has done nothing deserving of the punishment. And yet, in a short time he is at the top of his game. How does he do this?

I think the answer is found in the twenty-three verse, "because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper." Joseph just knew the Lord was with him all the time. He lived beyond his circumstances that he physically saw and lived in a world of belief that he saw only by faith. I believe every day he started the day with the firm understanding there is a God on the Throne and He cares for me.

His attitude of his life, being like a series of "Mondays", never stopped him from living with power and passion. He saw everything as a "God thing". He lived as he believed!

At the end of Genesis, Joesph buries his father. His brothers are afraid that now he may kill them for all they did against him now that his dad is dead. His answer to them is why this man advanced in the Kingdom of God. Genesis 50:19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.”

May we live as Joesph! May we look at our Mondays as a time to live for our God.

Heaven

To think high thoughts one's mind moves to Heaven, the place where God dwells! To understand the earth we are on it must be in contrast with the world we do not see. What we do not see is more important than what we do see.

Psalms 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple,
The LORD’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

God's heaven is a holy place. His throne is the seat of all authority and power. If a decree leaves from His heaven than no man or angel will stop it. It shall be accomplished according to His word.

As believers, our desire should be to find the mind of our Lord. The Lord of heaven and earth is LORD. His will is key to finding why events are working out as they are.

Today, I heard a message on the infinity of time in heaven. If we live there 10,000 years, infinity has not yet begun. Time has no meaning when we live in infinity. We are going to never end learning to love our Lord and Saviour. For all eternity we will be given opportunity to worship our Lord.

If God brought a person that did not fully love Him into heaven for all eternity, it would be hell for that person. Only those who desire the LORD because and through the gift of the Son will enjoy all eternity coming to know God. To a saint there can be nothing better. Nothing higher! Ahhhhhhhhhh, Heaven!

Grandchildren, The Reward of Parenting

My three year old grandson, Uriah, is over for a visit. He's just the sweetest. His little voice is so clear and precise. His smile make me smile just to see it. I've missed him.

Grandchildren are the reward of parenting. Parenting is HARD WORK. If you meet someone with a child in their teenage years, you can know they have been through many unexpected challenges. Parenting is difficult because there are so many decisions you must make in which you have no clear answer. To raise a child up before the Lord in this present day society is a challenge to say the least. Children are a gift you must unwrap.

Grandchild just seem to arrive. They stay at someone else's home until they are clean and ready to come visit. When they come over they seem to be excited about you and your home. They leave before you or them get too tired. They give you big hugs and many kisses for just being grampa. They stay away for a while till your heart is longing to see them again. Grandchildren are a gift!

When I think of church planting, I think of children and grandchildren. To plant a church from the "mother" church takes a lot of work, time and expense. It takes hours of energy and commitment but if done well a new day will arrive, the birth of a grandchild. You will find you will need alot less personal involvement but still receive the joy of seeing everything come together.

Do you want to have grandchildren? First you MUST have children! Do you want to see a church movement? You must first plant YOUR share of churches. The real reward will come when they take the responsiblity of planting their own churches.

Almost every grandparent I meet tells me of the joy of the grandkids. It is true! They are a joy! The secret is to have lots of good, healthy, loving children and you will have great potential to have lots of grandchildren!

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,...

Time

Time is so fleeting. It seems as if I grew up, got married, had kids and am now a grandfather again for the fourth time! Wow, time goes quickly.

Time an extremely value gift given to us by the Lord to use in a manner than is wise.

Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

How we live out our given time on this planet is critcal to making a difference in the Kingdom. God wants us to value our time. We are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.

Time is so important that if a person commits a crime we put them in a prision to take away their free time. We use up or waste a person's time as punishment for their sin. When Satan tempts us to spend our days "locked up" we are wasting precious hours to worship our Lord.

Many will ask you for your time. They are asking for your life. Time is the great equalizer, all people have 24 hours a day to choose and live out life. We must learn to say "yes" to things we know are important and "no" to the things that are not.

Christian, the one advantage we have over the people of the earth is our time is never lasting. It will go forever and ever. We should tell others about this ever lasting life that has been freely given to us! Wow!!

My friend, Paul

My friend, Paul Johnson, has a daily verse for his youth church called ROOTS. This is his post today. I thought it would be good for us to look at also.

My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They've pierced my hands and feet.
I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice for my clothing. Psalm 22:16-18


Today I'll use these words to imagine, Father.
To imagine Jesus on the cross, suffering.
A slow death, no one in a hurry.
Relentless pain.
Raw evil, hatred winning.
That's what this song, this prayer-poem, says to me.

Father, it is amazing.
This was written 1000 years before Jesus.
Yet it is his life, his cross, his suffering.

Imagine the people he sees from the cross.
Oh, what hatred surrounds him!
They're pit bulls, circling, attacking.
They taunt him, as he hangs there.
He is so helpless, they're so cruel.

They've stripped him naked, they gamble for his clothes.
They party while he twists in pain.

Imagine how he looks at himself.
His ribs showing.
His body with ribbons of skin hanging down.
His hands ripping, dripping red.
His feet bloody, oozing.
Every cell screaming with sensation.

Father?
This is your answer to my sin.
This is a friend, laying down his life for me.
This is love!

Nothing today is as important as this, Father.
Help me imagine this, picture this today.
Help me slow down, ponder.
Help me worship Jesus.
Who let his hands be pierced.
Let his enemies party.
Let his feet be nailed.
Let himself be brutalized, murdered.
For me.
For forgiveness of my sins.
For love.

I worship you today, Jesus.
I love you, Jesus.
Amen.

Marriage Practice Ceremony

Tonight, I had to take a young couple through a wedding practice. They are being married at the end of the month. The practice ceremony is a great picture of Christ and the Church.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Can there be a greater sign of love than a bride and groom in the freshness of the wedding ceremony? What a great picture of Christ and His bride, the church.

The day is coming when the Groom comes and receives His bride. He in all His glory and she in all her beauty. The angels will stand in awe of the perfection of the moment. As the bride enters, the husband reaches out with His nail scarred hands. As she embraces Him, tears of love freely flow down her cheeks as she realizes and remembers the cost He paid for her to be there. He is her Redeemer, her Lover and Friend.

As they forever unite in heavenly covenant, the Father smiles on and pronounces in victory! "This is my Beloved Son and His Bride, in whom I am well pleased! Come and reign with Me in and throughout the kingdom of God!"

Church, may we live as the Bride of Christ. May we treat our marriages as examples of the age to come. May we love each other as husbands and wives because something bigger than us is on display!

What A Sunday!

Ahhhh, the Lord's Spirit was in the room this morning during the worship service! Joy, celebration, tears, conviction, power, worship, impact, testimonies, repentance, acceptance, honour, and rest!

Ready for Death

The other day my insurance salesman came over to visit me. He wanted to update me on the strength and weaknesses of my policy with his company. If I died what would happen to the care of my wife, Wanda.

Deuteronomy 8:17-19
17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

God told His people a clear statement of where wealth comes from. It comes from God Himself. He can give it and He can remove it. When we understand this it helps us stay calm about situations in our lives. God is truely in charge.

God wants us to have wealth. He is only opposed to us saying, "we did it!" The song that goes the furtherest away from the truth of this scripture is by old "blue eyes" and made popular by Elvis Presley, "I've Done It My Way". God wants us to be responsible with the resources He gives us but not believe we did it on our own. We are NOT to believe it was just our smarts, our wisdom.

Wealth is suppose to bring limited security to us. God wants us to know that He brings us ultimate seurity. Often God is replaced by wealth in our lives.

My insurance man is a believer, he understands to keep this insurance thing in its proper place. They are ways we can be responsible with wealth but should not be the place where we find our peace. God can always say to us as builders of false security, “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Wealth can deceive us into thinking, I have some wealth so things are okay. Is my assurance found in Christ? Remember, the only way to collect an insurance policy is to DIE. Are we ready to collect?

The Market Place

Today I was helping a friend with his business. We were setting up for a trade show in a local Trade Complex. When the doors opened in came hundreds of people.

Acts 17:17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

The marketplace is an excellent place to engage the "real" world. The one outside the safety of the church. The place where people to not have the same opinion or view about life that you may have. A place where you will be challenged.

Many Christians fear the marketplace. We hide behind "prayer meetings" and "church meetings" often talking about our desire for the lost to come to know Christ but too scared to go out and find them. What will it take for the church to be the church? Advancing against the tide of the land?

I met a lady in the marketplace and told her about my faith. I spoke with another lady next door to our booth. Do you know what? Neither killed me,...hurt me,...even laughed at me. Nothing scary happened. They listened, smiled and accepted my thoughts,...not my Christ but my thoughts.

In Canada, it is a place where we can "safely" engage people in the marketplace with little concern to our personal health. Why are we scared? Maybe these fears are unreal?

12 Minutes Ago,...LIFE!

Twelve minutes ago I received a phone call from my son-in-law Adam! This is the phone call Wanda and I have been waiting for. Adam is married to our only daughter, Sharon. Sharon is past due!

"Hello,...dad? This is your son."

"Yes, hello."

"You are a grampa!"

"Oooooooooooooooo!"

"Sharon just had a baby girl!"

"What's her name?"

"Summer"

"Let's pray and thank our God!" As we prayed over the phone together in praise to our God, I could say again, thank You for being a God of LIFE!

I'm a grampa! I'm a grampa! This is the fourth time I have expressed these words. Is there anything better? I'm a grampa! Why it took twelve minutes to Blog this is, is I had to go tell gramma! Tears of joy welled up in Wanda's eyes to hear the news, "Our baby has had a baby!"

Jesus said in John 16:21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

These words of the LORD are so true. In a short time I will be able to speak with Sharon. Ask her all the questions I should have asked Adam, like, How much does she weigh? Is she healthy? How's mom doing? And like the time of her first child, Damein, soon the pain is forgotten and the joy of the life is only remembered.

For life to be birthed it takes a lot to go through the pain, the anguish but at the end, ...LIFE! What a great picture of the salvation of the human spirit. It took great anguish by our Christ to birth us new into the Kingdom of God. He, like a new mother, forgets the pain and focuses on the joy of the new babies that are His!

"God, thank You for today! Thank You for watching over my daughter through this difficult time. Thank You for delivering to us a new grand daughter! Thank You for the gift of life! O LORD, thank You for my family. Thank You! Thank You!! Thank YOU!!!"

New Creation

In six days the LORD created the heavens and the earth. The power to create is beyond understanding. With the Word He formed the physical elements. Then He rested.

4000 years later the Christ is born. As a man He lives out life as life was meant to be. Without one sin He conquers death, the separation of God and man. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us!

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

God the Son created one last time. At the cross and by the resurrection, man is born again. Made a new creature. We have become new in Christ. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

To secure this great gift of grace we must be willing to repent, turn from our sin, and place your heart and trust in the finished work of the cross. It is only through Christ a person will see life.

Today, a man visited me in my office. As I presented the gospel to him it became obvious he was being touched by the Lord. A new creation was happening right before my eyes. With a bowing of our heads he received the greatest Treasure of man. Forever transformed, forever changed, never to be the same. A new creation! Praise the LORD!

Child of God, you are special to your LORD. He made you fresh and clean to come into His presence again. What a privilegde to be called, "Christian". May we live with a sense of victory and strength because our God has made us new and as righteous as God Himself! For He gave us His own righteousness as a gift from above. O what love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God!

Sing for joy, Christian! Sing for joy!

The Church Family's Joy

I belong to a great church body. I think few churches operate with the quality of love and care Royal Heights has for each other. On any given Sunday people are standing around chatting up a storm at our own Lion's Den coffee shop.

Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

One young man in the church just started a ministry where he provides a hot grill every week after the church service so people can come together for a quick lunch. Just bring your own steak and potatoe and he's got the grill. Another lady is collecting resources to gather blankets and toques for the homeless when it gets cold. People preparing for the joy of doing church family stuff together. There is a lot of laughter here!

I visited a couple today and both gave their hearts to the Lord! I brought this news back to the church body. People cheered and celebrated what the Lord was doing. They brought this information to their staff meeting. They cheered and celebrated again! The joy of body life.

The verse says,..."and the Lord added to the church daily..." I believe God loves a church that loves. He freely gives the souls of men to churches who desire to care and develop them. He's giving them to Royal Heights.

I went to my evening HOME Group tonight and shared about the two that came to Christ today. They cheered and celebrated in the goodness of God. I love being in this church. It's real. It's caring. It's the genuine article.

Worship

This past weekend our worship team had the opportunity to go to training in the Vancouver area. They each came back from the conference pumped! They were excited to be a part of those who bring the worship to the body of Christ.

Nehemiah 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place.

God has always singled out people from His people to prompt them to worship. It is such an important role in developing a healthy church. I am so proud of our worship team at Royal Heights.

I wrote a song. I also want to be one (although I have no voice) who leads God's people in the worship of Him. My song comes from the study of Ephesians chapter one:

To The Praise Of His Glory
By Alan Braun - November 28, 1997

Blessed with every spiritual blessing
Chosen before the beginning of time
We are holy and blameless coming before Him
Hearing His words, “you are Mine”
To the praise of His glory

Chorus:
To the praise of His glory
To the praise of His love
To the praise of His glory
To the praise of the Son above
To the praise of His glory

Adopted as Sons in the beloved
According to His good pleasure
He redeemed us through the blood of the Son
Called in love and brought together as one
To the praise of His glory

In Him we have riches untold
As He seeks to rescue all who are lost
With wisdom, power and strength so great
They all come together at the foot of the cross
To the praise of His glory

Baptisms

This morning in church we baptized a young man who gave his life to Christ two weeks earlier. He had invted his family and friends to watch as he bore witness of his relationship with Christ. It was a moving time. Joy and a sense of seriousness as he enters the arena of building the kingdom.

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

From the early days of Gentiles being accepted into this "new" faith til today, 2000 years later, God is still at work. God's kingdom is a powerful kingdom, silently and relentlessly winning soul after soul into His presence. The Truth marches on!

Later in the evening someone called and asked, "How do you lead people to Christ?" We are going for coffee at 10PM to learn together the keys to the Kingdom. A preacher could not want anything better than a person showing interest in the ways of the Spirit.

At the end of the morning worship a man and his wife walked forward. With tears streaming down her face, arm in arm, he said, "I'm ready!"

"Ready for what?" I asked.

"Ready to follow the LORD".

"Are you ready to give your life to Christ and follow Him in baptism?"

"Yes!"

Next week we will baptize this new disciple of Christ! The Kingdom of God working, transforming, impacting and forever moving onward! To God be the glory!

Suffering

Hebrews 11: 32b For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy.

This is an amazing verse. As I read it it moves my whole being. The courage of those who walked before us, as believers. The sufferings of Christianity would be overwhelmning if we could take it all in.

God, You are worthy to receive all power, honour and praise. You are worthy to have us go through these experiences. LORD God Almighty, I love you! AMEN

May we always honour the saints that have gone on before us!

The MAIN Thing

Jesus was out witnessing one day. The outcome was that a city wide revival broke out! Jesus had the ability to always prioritize and keep the main thing the main thing. He was not side tracked with the multitude of problems that came His way. He focused. He focused His team, His walk and His heart. If you summed up His life it would be, "I come to seek and save the lost!"

Simple, powerful and clear!

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together."

Jesus knew without the message from God that all men must repent and put their trust in Him alone, they would be forever lost. This drove Him to leave the crowd of apathy and go into the crowd lostness.

The sea of lostness. He went fishing and taught others to do the same. He was a Fisherman who taught people how to fish. And He was good at it.

Our task is to bring the lost to safety of the cross. Our task is to seek and safe the lost. Our "Main Thing" has NOT changed for over 2000 years. We may have unprioritized it BUT it is still the Main Thing that we should be about.

O for the sleeping giant, the Church, to arise!

PS. I took at man to Denny's today. I presented the gospel message. He repented and gave his life to God as we sat in the booth with everyone around us. When we left he said, "Thank you! Thank you! I have had my burden lifted. I feel it!"

Praying Together

As we begin the HOME Group ministry at Royal Heights our prayer is that it starts in prayer. The connection with the Lord is critical for the health and growth of the groups.

(I don't know where I got this article below but do the best you can.

What Happens when Groups Commit to Pray for One Another?

Your relationship with Him and each other will deepen. You will experience spiritual growth in Christ.

There is less chance of burnout as you put problems in His hands and trust members to His care.

You allow the Holy Spirit to work in your group so your time together is filling and refreshing.

He will answer your prayers in amazing ways, and your faith will increase.

Creative Ideas for Group Prayer

1. Pray through a psalm out loud together
2. Pray the prayer requests of the person to your right, either aloud or silently
3. Vary prayer time between the beginning, middle and closing of the meeting
4. Pick a portion of Scripture to pray for one another during the week (Col 1:9, Eph. 3:14-19)
5. Try brief “popcorn” prayers – short one sentence prayers.
6. If someone is in crisis, stop and pray for them right then
7. Pray for the church, a country, a family in need, specific seeker-oriented events, or any area for which your group has a passion
8. Ask members to write out prayer requests and exchange them with another member to pray aloud.
9. Is there someone in your group with the gift of faith or encouragement? Ask that person to be the prayer coordinator who writes down requests each meeting and keeps track of answers. If a group member has an emergency, they can call the prayer coordinator, who will notify all the other members to pray for them.
10. Praise is a part of intercession. Is a group member in the midst of struggle? Praise God instead of praying requests.
11. Have each member write down requests for the week on a piece of paper. Fold the piece of paper and put it in a hat. Pass the hat, each member agreeing to pray for the person they pick and to call to encourage them during the week.

Thanksgiving Sunday

Does it get any better than be in a close fellowship, enjoying the company of family and friends on a grand Thanksgiving? We have so much to be thankful for,... Salvation, our family, the Church family, and Canada as a nation of diversity.

Psalm 26:7

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,

And tell of all Your wondrous works.

I am so pleased to be Christian. God is such a good God. His works are beyond finding out. His knowledge His too wonderful. His word is power and His heart is pure!

May all the world repent and know Him. Know Him as Lord and Saviour!