Sunday, November 29, 2009

Football Canadian Grey Cup

Two years ago, I could not get the Grey Cup on TV at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. I used Renee's apple laptop to try to find it online. The only place I could find it was on CJOB Online Radi. Martha and Renee were in the room at the hospital, but neither one was interested in football, so they watched some lame TV show, while I hugged the apple in my corner.

Since we still don't have cable at our house, I went to Dan's to watch the game on TSN to cheer the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. Martha went to Loni's for a stuff party. Kara is busy studying at home.

What happened? Saskatchewan led the scoring all the way but ended up with one too many men (unlucky 13) on the field, a penalty, and Montreal won by one point in the very last second. Bummer. Shucks! Someone forgot to count and they lost the game. 17-3 become 27-28 for Montreal! Let's go egg somebody's house in Saskatchewan!

Family Makeover

Enduring the Unbearable
Pastor Del- Eastview
2 Sam 18-19
Some problems must be endured until God steps in.
Learn Love & Foster family relationships.
God knows and cares. His wisdom will guide you.
David's family had problems. He had an affair and his life became a tragedy. By law he should have been stoned.
Absalom undermined his father and ultimately aimed to kill the king.
The army general Joab made a point to ignore the king's command and killed Absalom. All the king wanted, was his son back. In light of the unbearable he wanted his family restored as it was before.
When his son died he was devastated. Unbearable pain. Precious son - gone. David was done. Beat.
Where is my family? David was crushed with unending grief. Joab spoke truth.
Truth teller said:
1. Face the truth. Trust
2. Reject self pity. Face the facts and move forward. Don't keep hitting yourself
3. Affirm those closest to you. Get out of the self pity mode and love those who love you.

Why wait till the bottom falls out? Adjust your schedule today. Be with the ones closest to you. Go out to them.
There may be unbearable moments in your family. Don't give up. You can not rewind the tape.
Do what you Car today. Pass on a rich relationship legacy Bless your family today.
Numbers 6.24-26
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord smile or you and be gracious to you. May God give you shalom peace.
It is God's blessing to you.
Pray this every day.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Issues in Prayer

Why doesn't God always answer our prayers?
Dr Pierre Gilbert CMU
1. Futile prayer?
2. The Lord's Prayer
3. Beware what you pray for. You might get it. Habbakuk

We tend to pray when things get tough. There are no atheists in the trenches.
We expect instant answers. Reckless faith? Not seek medical care?
Do you pray regularly?
Why? What or whom to? Does God answer your prayer? What is appropriate? Why doesn't God always answer our prayers?

Prayer of relinquishment by Catherine Marshall
Prayer of relinquishment gave joy and health.

God takes us even if He is our last choice. He is humble.
talk to God thank him praise him focus on the future.

Lots of prayer is selfish. Live one day at a time. Still we don't get the answer, the healing.

''The Problem of Prayer"
If God is all powerful and good, no legitimate prayer should ever go unanswered. Either he is not powerful or he doesn't care

What is prayer? Do we have a biblically adequate understanding of prayer?
Develop, articulate a Christian worldview.
Precedent: the Creation Story.
Israelites were pagan. They built an idol and engaged in sexual orgies. The Creation Story helped them change the culture.

Biblical worldview:
Understand the system:

God is good and all powerful.
The world is a tough place.
Make sure you work off biblical data - not experience
Beware of the empirical theologian /Christian.
Paul Hiebert encouraged writing the book

The Power of the Shaman vs. The Power of Jesus.
Often Jesus is presented as an alternative power.
Mother Theresa vs. Hitler
If you pushed them off the Empire State Building at the same time they would die at approximately the same time. The law of nature doesn't care. If that is your God he is evil.

God tested Abraham. Game of chicken. God blinked first. He lost the game of chicken.

Faith is acting on what we know to be true. Engineers build bridges on that basis.
God is good. That is our basis of faith.
The dentist might hurt us but we go back because we trust that he is good and competent.
We have the hope that in the end, things will turn out to be good. What would we pray for in heaven?

Is our life better because we are Christians? The 30 second prayer changed my life. Avoided so many problems. Diminished fear. We have mercy, grace and love in abundance. Emmanuel El Sharif became a Christian after his friend got killed. In Islam there is only law. No grace.

No hatred in Christ. Love and faith. God is not just mighty God, he is also a counselor. Muslims get a Vision of Christ. If they follow Christ they know they can be killed. But they know God is all powerful and good.

Our Father in heaven. "Our" part of community.
"father" abba. Dad family
"heaven" kingdom
"Hallowed" God's status

Context- Matthew is a discipleship book
The Sermon on the Mount is a re-calibration.
Series of 3 statements - hypocrites.

What is the most important?
Don't become obsessed consumed by the necessities of life.

Word structure, every line starts with an imperative verb. Hallowed, let it come, our daily bread give us, forgive us,
As family members we can come to him in full confidence.
The order has been changed for the daily bread line. A device to draw special attention to that element of prayer. We need the context. Immediate. Less emphasis on daily physical needs. Because God is good and powerful.
Our kids are not concerned about us providing their daily needs. Mention it to God and move on.
There are more important things in life. Space for relationships Matth. 6:25-34 explains it further.

How NOT to pray.
Not like hypocrites. Fakes. Say one thing and do another. Al Gore should move into a small house. Hypocrites are insecure? terrible?
Let God transform us. Scripture has a shotgun approach. Does the definition apply to us or just to others?
Jesus called people hypocrites to wake them up. He said what was true.
The Gospel of John video is good. Jesus said things only GOD could say.

Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or who he said he was. God. There is no other choice.

We all have our fault lines. They are not all the same. We tend to be hypocrites with our own fault lines. Blind. Like David was with Bethsheba. But we are critical of others. Only God can fix our fault lines.

What is a hypocrite?
Hypocrite: actor to simulate or pretend.
New Testament usage is broader: hypocrites make a big production.
Care mostly about themselves. Not other people. Charity without love destroys others
It's all about image.
Judgmental
Vortex of self-destruction and evangelists of death
Major in minors
Denounce sins of the past. Ignore issues of the day
Soft on themselves hard on others.

Don't babble like pagans with meaningless words and vain repetitions or magic
If we trust Got we don't have to keep asking Him over and over. God doesn't want me to bore him.
Prayer must be soaked in relationship and reason.
-tenderness.

How we ought to pray- privately- as per priorities set in the Lord's prayer.
Start with God
Passionate about God's kingdom
Relationships.

Life is 80% maintenance here but not in our future life.

God hears every one of our prayers. Cut out the repetitions. But God loves you anyway.
Luke 11:13 keep building the kingdom.
God is not a coke machine. He is our father. A person. Relationship. Conversation
Prayer is about purpose and strategy.
Prayer is a win-win situation.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Compassionate Friends 25th Annual Candlelight Service

We Come together tonight in Memory of our precious children whose lights burnt so brightly yet so briefly. These children are forever a part of our lives.
We have come together again to express our love for them, and to celebrate our memories of them.
Again we light their special candles and we say their beloved names, Kris, Jason, Renee.
Our children
Remembered like a touching of the wind, in the smiles of other children, alive in silence and in absence, present.

I will remember you, will you remember me?
let not your life pass you by. Weep not for the memories

It breaks my heart in two to say goodbye to you.

As we light this candle representing grief, we symbolize our pain and sorrow and we acknowledge that our children have died and we must grieve.

With hope we light this candle knowing life and love are eternal and death is only a horizon. That horizon is only the limit of our sight. It is our fondest hope, that love will bring peace to each of us this Christmas.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Memorial Candlelight Service

Compassionate Friends Memorial Candlelight Service is tomorrow Nov 20 at Ft Garry United Church, 800 Point Rd Winnipeg
Please join us at 7:30PM for a therapeutic evening of remembrance. All friends and family welcome.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

McGregor Choir

They were in Carmen this evening. We met Henry and Martha there. Martha and her sister Irene sang in the choir. Good music and fun fellowship.

Mike Duffy

He sure is a good speaker and an Advocate for Common sense. See
www.conservative.ca

You look just like..

Dave Ens www.eastview.org
Created in whose Image?
Football basketball volley ball?
Train up a child in the way God wants him to go? Leaving a legacy - is it about my legacy or God's legacy? What is God's desire? Gen 12:2-3 to be a blessing. To an extended family.
Alexander prayed: "God help this food to be good"
We sometimes forget to just say thank you God!

We exist to reflect God's image. As a family we need to do more for others.
Rom 12:1-2
Present yourselves... together
Start early to establish caring for others. Parents need to create intentional habits helping others being generous. Deliberately. Connect faith and life. Do it together. Your belief in generosity will be strengthened.

Eastview Community Church Christmas Calendar

Nov 28 Steve Bell Concert
Dec 3,4,5 6:30 Christmas Theatre and Dessert "All I wanted for Christmas"
Dec 13 7:00 pm Choir Christmas Concert
Dec 24 3:30, 5:00, & 6.30, PM Christmas Eve Services
Dec 31 Baptism & Membership celebration

Hope to see you there.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Vision and Leadership

Vision without action is only a dream
Action without vision is a waste of time
Vision and action will change the world.

Joy Smith MP Celebration on the passing of the Human trafficking law.
When it comes to honesty integrity leadership Joy Smith is it. www.JoySmith.com

We believe the Canadian government should take the leadership to stop slavery. Joy educated us on the horrors of child trafficking. Persistency has paid off. Joy's bill has passed parliament.

Ron Schuller MLA got elected in 1999 and worked together with Joy. Mother of 6 children. Best selling author.

Joy Smith is a woman that has earned respect around the world. With courage.

Senator Mike Duffy is here:
He had trouble with Air Canada
Found out how hard it is to affect change. We have a champion Member of Parliament. Remarkable
Passionate about justice. Human trafficking.
The Conservative Members are the best.
Sir John A MacDonold and all major changes in Canada were done by Conservatives. Loyal courageous Canadians. GST. Free Trade. Conservatives are the trail blazers. Stop being so quiet. Tell the stories.
We believe in honesty fairness. Tough on crime vs. hug-a-thug. www.Conservative.ca We are on your side giving you the tools to help you build a better Canada

On the elevator met Mr Microsoft. The Liberals paid $2,000,000,000 to a Quebec company for the long gun registry. Microsoft says you can't spend that much money.
The Liberals wasted billions more on all kinds of other crooked deals.

Stephen Harper is the real deal. Absolutely honest. He can be hilarious.
He takes the high road.
Canada's team standing for you for Canadian values. Canada's party. We trust the people.

We can't rest on our laurels.

A Conservative MP drove by the zoo and saw a lion dragging a child into the cage. He jumped into the cage, beat the lion off,
rescued the child and gave him back to the grateful parents. A reporter saw the whole thing and told the MP he'd be on the front page in the morning.
When the MP got the paper the headline read: Harper's stooge attacks poor African, steals his lunch and gives it to the rich folks.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Meritt Loves the Honey Tree

At the Honey Tree

With my honey at the Winnie-the-pooh honey tree

Cultivating a Heart Of Gratitude

Calvary Baptist Church
Sioux Lookout
Luke 17:11-19
Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the hearts of gratitude?
Remember God's deliverance in the past. Isreal had several festivals of thanks each year. But they forgot and became disobedient
They became satisfied with life became proud and forgot to be thankful. Forgetfulness always leads to ingratitude.
Remember God's benefits in the present. That's where we live. What do you have that you did not receive? 1 Cor 4:7
We tend to feel: Presumption Resentment Bitterness Jealousy Dissatisfaction
Rejoice always, give thanks- this is God's will
Have a gratitude attitude When your feet hit the floor thank God. Practice the presence of Christ all day. Remember God's provisions and say Grace all day
Remember God's promises for the future. And God's riches in the ages to come Eph 2:7
Make it a daily exercise to review God's benefits in the Past Present, and future.
As we learn the secret of gratitude we will be less driven less hurried and more alive
Do you want to go thru the motions or be conformed to the image of Christ? Your choice.

Matthew West musical video: "Do you want to just go thru the motions?"

Don't be a wuss. Follow Christ.

this post from Pocket PC mayContainTypos

The View from Arden and Twylla's House

They found a very unique and beautiful home on the lake in Sioux Lookout, ON

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Morweena All Saints Day

Tim Reimer
Saints and Mennonite does not google very well.

Is there anything Christian about churches, streets, and towns named after saints? Does it matter? Do we care? Does it help?

Eph 1:1 all Christians are saints. Later some were identified as saints if they were super spiritual. The average Christian was not expected to be holy.
Saints are expected to perform miracles after they died.

A saint is a follower of Christ. An even playing field. Like Steinbach. Every one has their own church.

Is it more biblical to call other Christians brother or sister or saint?

Eph6:2 Rom 12:10 1Tim12:1,3,17 double honor.
Num 12:1-11 sin to speak against God's Anointed.
1Cor2:4-5 Reflect God not Men's wisdom. Acts3:6-4:21 Peter John heal the cripple. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. People were saved and praising God. Focus on the Power and Grace of God. We should not build our own reputation.

What do we do to recognise the leaders among us?
Heb11 Who or what is honorable? Noah Abraham gave up their own dreams and followed God. Earth is not home.
Moses gave up his cushy connections.
Samson, David Gideon were honored even though they did not follow God faithfully
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
Is it a good idea to name public places after people? There is some Mennonite resistance to that.

Home work. Tell someone the story of a saint in your life.

Renee Dueck Memorial Building

Friday was the sod turning ceremony with Stephen Fletcher MP at CMU
The facility will open next summer.
Hopefully Renee will continue to impact her generation to challenge the church into missions and impact the world thru the arts.