Sunday Afternoon Thoughts

When I pulled up to our parking lot on Sunday morning, I couldn't help but notice the recently weeded garden beds!  It turns out a weeding angel, Kim N., stopped by on Saturday and weeded the front entrance garden beds and the bed alongside the East side of the Church!  Thank you Kim!  When I asked her if she had fun her response was, "I normally don't like weeding, but I put some worship music on and it actually went well."  I couldn't help but think that the tough jobs in life go way better when we do them as an act of worship.

On Friday night we had our College opener and it was really cool (see pictures above).  Things have gotten much better since I was a student there.  Every year the College trains more leaders and gets even better at doing it.  I enjoy being a part of what God does through our Bible College.  You may not know this, but you are huge part of our Bible College too! Our Church gives 1% of our income to the College each month. This goes to help subsidize student's tuition which helps them graduate debt-free and ready for low-paying and/or volunteer positions.

On Saturday, Angela was at a funeral, so I go to watch the kids.  I always feel like I'm a substitute teacher because Angela does so much and I am a foreigner to the mid-day routine.  Even though I love my kids, I really didn't want to spend the day with them because I had so much on my list.  In the end it all worked out... I had fun with the kids and wasn't too worried about what wasn't being done... and I was able to get all the "critical" stuff done. I took the kids to Northridge Foursquare's (Maple Ridge) annual September carnival.  It's a free event they have to bless their neighbourhood and it has been a great outreach to their community.

I thought today's service was good.  I really enjoyed hearing Diane's heart for our kids and seeing all those moving on to new classes this fall.  We rarely give our teachers and helpers enough recognition, yet they have one of the most important responsibilities in our Sunday gatherings.  We'll need to work on this!

Following our gathering, our Elders met to pray, reflect, and plan.  We also ate soup and pie.  It was a good meeting and I am grateful for their love for Jesus and His Church.

I think I'm going to treat myself to a movie tonight although I will pay for it tomorrow... 4:30 comes early.  I get to start my weekly carpooling commute with Isaac to the Bible College tomorrow too.  It will be a busy, but great week.  Once this next weekend is over, things will start to get into routine for the school year.

I hope you have a great week and that you find yourself in many situations where you need the Holy Spirit's power and gifts.
 
 

Prayer Focus

Church Family 

• Friend of Rob G. who is fighting cancer.
• Friend of Eugene D. who is fighting cancer.
• Shaela Warkentin (eyesight)
• Zain Krikau (Health)
• Mike K. (Health)
• Praise for the good news of Kienen's (Sparwood, BC) return!

Foursquare Family

• Restoration House (Grovedale, AB)
• Barry Buzza (President of Foursquare Canada)

Other Churches 

• Bethel Pentecostal Assembly (Mission, BC)

Our Community & World

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

The Real Miracle

Explore More
What Now? A Study in Acts (Pt. 18)
Whine or Worship? (Acts 8:5-25)
September 11-17, 2011



PRAY
Before you begin reading, reflecting, discussing, and applying, begin by opening your heart up to our Savior and Lord.  Praise Him and ask Him to incline your heart to His.   Invite Him to search your heart and make Himself known.

STUDY
Read Acts 8. 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
Are we talking, praying, and acting in the power of the Spirit to see those around us loosed from the bondage of sin and demonic power?  Do we call ourselves a Christian and yet hold grudges, bitterness, anger, jealousy or withhold forgiveness towards others... whether they are a people group or an individual?  Are our motives in following Christ pure and humble?  Or are we here for selfish reasons?

LIVE
Take your answers to the above discussion and apply them to your life this week.  Seek out the motives of your heart.  Seek out the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Move as He directs you and share the Word... be a witness (a martyr) by dying to self and loving/forgiving others.

Does God Set Us Up to Fail?

I thought this Scripture to be a good follow up to our text on Sunday (Acts 8:1-4... listen here):

James 1:12–15 (NIV84) "12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

We often think that God is tempting us, just waiting for us to screw up so he can say, "I told you so!"  The opposite couldn't be more true.  God does test us, but he does not tempt us... and there is a big difference.  Tempting sets us up for failure.  Testing sets us up for success... and God is all about seeing us succeed (hence Jesus).  Earlier in James 1:2-4 he says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  then he follows it up with this confirmation in v. 17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

In other words... God does not hide or mask himself slipping around in the shadows trying to trick us (that's what Satan does).  God never changes and He always makes Himself known.  He will give you wisdom if you ask for it (James 1:5) to know the details of your situation and how to respond.

As you begin the work/school part of this week, may you know that God is cheering you on, setting you up for success (even if it is in the form of a test... it is a test that you can pass and use to grow in your purpose, fulfillment, and calling)!

Sunday Afternoon Thoughts

I had a great time with our Church family today and I hope you did too.  The Vanson's rocked out the breakfast.  Seyoung and Diane lead our Children's ministry.  Tony lead us in worship. Dave shared a moving report of kid's camp.  I got to reflect on Acts 8:1-4.  Then a bunch of us headed over to Centennial Park for a picnic and disc golf.  Jayson A. took home first place with a score of 22 (par was 27).

This week is one of my favourites of the year... it's back to school week! I love the excitement that comes with the beginning of new and old routines.  I hope you have a great week. Remember to not just live a typical week, but seek God and His ways every day.