Friday Mashup

Lots of thoughts rolling around in my head and heart this morning.  I'm praying for Zain (he was admitted back to Abbotsford Hospital).  I'm praying for the Khela's.  I'm praying for this weekend's message that I might be accurate and effective in communicating its purpose.

I've been thinking lots about our Church and wrestling with what we do and why we do it.  A phrase from one of Jerry Cook's lectures at PLBC last year is rippling through my life.  He made a statement that, I believe was birthed of the Holy Spirit, "to the degree that the Church is wrapped up in its world is to the same degree it loses its voice."  It's from the 'in the world' but not 'of the world' vein.  It smacks of what our Church has been challenged with as we journey through Acts... will someone stand, will someone stand with you, and will someone speak prophetically?  It's that last question that relates most to what Jerry stated.  To the degree that I am entangled in my culture is to the degree that I lose my prophetic voice.   It is to the degree that what I say loses power.

Our Church knows the teachings and way of Christ, but we get entangled by our culture.  Through our own selfishness, laziness, and lack of discipline we give in to the comforts of our culture.  We live like our culture, look like our culture, and talk like our culture.  So when we do speak, we are just another person adding to the noise.  My hope is that we will begin to see a renewal of a Christ-centered culture in our Church where Jesus' teachings mean more on Monday or Saturday than they do on Sunday.  My hope is that living with Christ as our focus will change what we do and why we do it.  Not out of a sense of legalism, elitism, or separatism, but simply because following Christ looks much different than following our flesh.  It is my understanding that the closer we follow Christ, the deeper we will go into our culture/world and when we speak, our voice will be heard.  Perhaps, people will come to Christ.  Perhaps, many will be added to their number.

I could go on all day about that "stuff"...

Here's the explanation for the photo above:  1) a coworker at PLBC gave me a book to read yesterday, called "Deep Church" by Jim Belcher (what a last name) and I'm really looking forward to reading it (hopefully this weekend sometime); and 2) a while ago, my neighbour gave me an electric tea pot that brews loose leaf tea... I've been using it at the Church and I love it.

Today I'm hanging out with Isaac (our Summer Intern) for a bit, working on Sunday's message, and doing miscellaneous tasks.  Tomorrow, I'm hanging out with the family, working a bit more, and will mow the lawn

I'll leave you with the 2010 video report from the US Foursquare Church (it includes International figures).


2010 Foursquare Annual Report from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.
An overview of the number of salvations, baptisms, churches openings and newly credentialed ministers that happened in The Foursquare Church, as reported in the 2010 Annual Report.

Monday Morning Thoughts

Well... we got to hear Isaac's voice again on Sunday... and the rhythmic styles of Aaron on the cajon.  We continued in Acts and discovered that doing ministry (being the Church) doesn't require self-made ministers, but people who fully lean on the power and righteousness of Jesus.  We learned that God gave Israel multiple chances to hear the Good News and that the surprise of the Good News really shouldn't have been a surprise at all... all of history and Scripture points to Jesus as the Christ.

Following the service about 30-40 of us headed over to Centennial Park for a picnic and afternoon fun.  Peter and Harry took first place in our bocce tournament (we'll award the trophy this Sunday).  The kids played in the park and clapped at mosquitoes.  It was relaxing and enjoyable.

Sunday evening was pretty quiet for us.  I played in the back yard with the kids.  Angela did some work inside.  I sent a text to Josh P. to say goodbye (he's headed to NWT for four months on a mineral exploration venture).  I also asked him to take some pictures of wolverines.  I then sent a 'to do' list to Isaac and watched a few episodes of The Office from season two and then hit the hay.

On Saturday night we had the Mannings over for schmores (spelling?).  It was fun.  Our kids ran around and got marshmallow all over themselves.  We told a few embarrassing stories, shared our favourite movies, and reflected on the difficulties of dating when you have little kids.

This morning I'm back to work at Pacific Life Bible College.  It's a beautiful morning and I'm looking forward to a week of great weather.  I've also got a few meetings and wood working projects.  I hope you have a beautiful week being the Church on Monday!

Prayer Focus This Week

Church Family

• A 3 month old grandson fighting bleeding in the brain 
• Friend of Rob G. who is fighting cancer.
• Shaela Warkentin (Sight)
• Zain Krikau (Health)
• A friend of someone in our Church that is fighting leukemia
• Jim Moses (Health)
• Mike K. (Health)
• Vaughan W. (Recovering from surgery)
• Dagneau's ministering in Bella Coola
• 
  

Foursquare Family

• In House Christian Fellowship (Surrey, BC)
• Barry Buzza (President of Foursquare Canada)
• Amber Ward (Needs Physical Healing)

Other Churches

• St. Andrews United Church (Mission, BC)

Our Community & World

• Mayor James Atebe & Council
• Premier Clark & MLA's
• Prime Minister Harper, Senate, & MP's
• Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, China, Egypt, Greece

Surprised by God?

Explore More
What Now? A Study in Acts (Pt. 9)
Surprised by God? (Acts 3:11-26)
July 3-9, 2011


PRAY
Before you begin reading, reflecting, discussing, and applying, begin by opening your heart up to our Creator and Sustainer.  Praise Him and ask Him to incline your heart to His.

STUDY
Read Acts 3 & John 10.  Continue to read Acts to get more comfortable with this part of our history.  We encourage you to make time to sit down and read all of Acts in one sitting at some point... the context of everything really hits home then.

DISCUSS
When was the last time you were surprised by God?  Was it really a surprise?  When things go “your way” who gets the credit?  On a daily basis whose power do you lean on more: yours or God’s?  When it comes to viewing yourself, whose righteousness do you lean on more: yours or God’s?

LIVE
Ask the LORD to continue to fill you with His Holy Spirit.   Take time this week to step out in faith and follow God.  Pray for someone.  Invite someone over for dinner or coffe.  Dedicate your life and your “things” to God.
 
 

Saturday Mashup

We may have lost, but at least we looked good doing it (took home the best dressed award)!  16 brave people from our Church took the field yesterday morning at 8:30am to compete for the Canada Day Softball Tournament Cup.  We were cheered on by friends and family members.  Although many of us had either never played baseball or hadn't in over 15 years, we managed to hold the 'pro' teams to 6 runs... an inning (tournament max per inning).

Even though we lost our first two games badly, we had a lot of fun doing it.  It was great to see a real cross section of our Church family participating.  We had the most spirit of any of team (many thanks to Tony 'The Mouth' O'Hara who kept the chatter going all day).  There were lots of high fives, laughs, and pulled muscles.   Many people put their body on the line and will be feeling the effects long into next week.

I think we could have been compared to a diesel engine... we were powerful, but needed a little more time to warm up.  By the time we got to the third game, we hit our stride and destroyed the competition 11-4.  Isaac was striking them out, Christian was like a gazelle in the outfield, and Renee hit a foul ball so hard it went way out of the park and through a van window.  I was up at bat a few turns later and hit the same van (although with not enough power to break another window)... the van had been parked there all day and we were the only team to hit it.  And we did it twice.

It was a great day, but both Angela and I were so pooped after we didn't have the energy to take our kids to the fireworks.  Instead we opted for sleeping for 9 hours.  I am sore and moving slow this morning, but I was able to get out and mow our lawn.  We're looking forward to having the Manning's over later for a bonfire.

I'm really looking forward to Church tomorrow.  Following our gathering, we're heading over to Centennial Park for a picnic and bocce.  Bring your own everything.