Sunday, December 28, 2014

Waiting

Delbert Ennswww.EasTview.org
A miracle happened. Mark was healed of prostate cancer. He is willing to pray for you. Prayer for Morgan who is going on DTS in Maui.

2015 is just around the corner. Spent 3 days in Ottawa. Prayed with the politicians. Met with the Prime Minister. Asked him about the shooting. Spiritual epiphany? Leave or be concealed. 8 hours of waiting hiding. Am I at peace with God? Yes. Prayed for him.

Delbert wished for tinker toys. Got pajamas. Disappointed.

What I want and wish for I want soon or it becomes an ordeal.

The Jewish nation waited thousands of years for liberation.

Diedrich Bonnhoffer waited for his door of freedom to be opened from the outside. He could not open the door himself.
Jesus came into the world and opened the door for us.

Nelson Mandela knew he had to leave his bitterness behind if he wanted to be free.

Simeon in Luke 2:25 was waiting and did not get edgy.

Marianne went to Calgary to visit her dad. So Delbert was all alone on Christmas day. He got edgy.

Simeon waited expectantly. Patiently.  You have to work at waiting. When God steps into our waiting things happen differently than we expect. Anna spent all day every day praying expectantly.

If astonishment and wonder don't overcome you, you missed the point.

You are invited to join us at the place of wonder at the Lord's table. He released me with his broken body and shed blood.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Christmas eve service EasTview.org

Go Tell it on the Mountain
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Angels from the realms of Glory
We Three Kings of Orient
Star of Wonder
Recitation. I left John at the nursing home. He isn't worried about anything. I choose to be happy that he has good care.

Oh come all ye faithful

Recitation: What pump are you at? Got busted a few years ago. Alone in my cell. Went to the eve service. The story included Mary saying she was blessed being pregnant and unwed. Now God has blessed me. Merry. Christmas.

Quartet:
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know That your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered Will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand? Did you know That your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when you kiss your little baby You've kissed the face of God
Mary, did you know? The blind will see The deaf will hear And the dead will live again The lame will leap The dumb will speakThe praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know That your baby boy will one day rule the nations? Did you know That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you're holding Is the Great I Am
Oh Mary did you know?

Recitation about the mess in the house.

Song, What hope we hold? Rejoice in the hallowed manger ground. Emanuel praise his name

Pastor Delbert www.EasTview.org
Since God did not spare his only son he will give us much more.
Russian nesting doll. Another gift inside the next. 10 in total.
Accept the greatest gift. Receive it and you can give. When you accept Jesus you can accept many more gifts from Him!
Has your identity been taken away? Jesus wants to give a new identity. A new person. God's gift will not disappoint us.
Christmas. Profoundly quiet.
A new family.
Mom, did you want me? Yes, you became part of us. 3 kids in 2.5 years.

Christmas. The story of destiny. Nothing lasted at our house. We took it all apart.

Years ago a man had a collection of art. His son died in the war. Christmas day there was a knock on the door. A soldier friend delivered a portrait of his son. He really appreciated that painting.

When his estate was auctioned no one wanted that painting. Finally a neighbour bid $10. The auction was over. He got the whole estate.

Receive the gift of Jesus.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

The gift of carrying joy

Dave Ens www.EasTview.org
A simple gift. Enjoy. Revel in music and food. Be filled with love and wonder. Enjoy what God has given. Carry joy with you.

Psalm 16:1-11 NIV

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord , "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." I say of the holy people who are in the land, "They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight." Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Lord , you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord , who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord . With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Luke 2:8-20 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,   "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."   When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."   So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

They exuded joy when they got the good news of great joy. The shepherds help us understand joy.

The least often carry the most joy. They have nothing to lose.

King Herod was not happy. Responds with fear! With a new king born he responded with horrible cruelty.
If we want joy we need wonder and hope.
Adults tend to be sceptical and cautious and lose wonder and joy.
Faith in the resurrection God brings joy.
Paul and Silas are tortured in Acts 16. They were praying and singing praise to God when all the doors were opened and chains fell off.

Philippians 4:4-8 NIV

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Carry Joy with faith. Enjoy God's gifts.

Come thou fount of every blessing!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

The gift of hungering. 3rd advent

Christmas eve services Tuesday Dec 23 6:30 Dec 24 5 & 6:30 at www.EasTview.org

Dave Ens
We want to unwrap the gift that is being offered. We all have a trait of being nosey or compassionately interested. Capable of interjection of wisdom into other's conversations. Grandma's mind was so curious to the end wanting to know everything that was going on. The gift of wanting to know more. The gift of longing.

The story of the Magi. They were curious. Hungering for knowledge. They were willing to travel for 2 years to find the new born king.

WWJD was a 1990s fad. What would Jesus do in this situation? When are you going to do what Jesus would do?
Are we in an ivory tower? Stagnant and unsatisfied?
Do we want something we know we shouldn't want? Do we arrange our lives to satisfy our wants?
Jesus said blessed are you when you hunger and thirst for righteousness.

What are you hungry for?

The Wisemen worshipped Jesus. They were overwhelmed. That's the most important. They were prepared with good gifts.
Without hunger worship makes no sense. What you see is not what it is.
Not just information but an encounter with the living God. When you are flat on your face in front of the Living God it makes no difference whether you are singing a hymn or a corus!

Sunday, December 07, 2014

The gift of being free

Choir Christmas presentation at www.EasTview.org at 7pm tonight.

Dave Ens
One of the gifts of Christmas is freedom! What does that look like?
The freedom Jesus offers?

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The Ragman by
Walter Wangerin, Jr.

I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for.

Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it to you.

Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of our City. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "Rags!" Ah, the air was foul and the first light filthy to be crossed by such sweet music.

"Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags! Rags!"

"Now, this is a wonder," I thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four, and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashed intelligence. Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city?

I followed him. My curiosity drove me. And I wasn't disappointed.

Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad X. Her shoulders shook. Her heart was breaking.

The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping round tin cans, dead toys, and Pampers.

"Give me your rag," he said so gently, "and I'll give you another."

He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver.

Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained handkerchief to his own face; and then HE began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear."This IS a wonder," I breathed to myself, and I followed the sobbing Ragman like a child who cannot turn away from mystery.

"Rags! Rags! New rags for old!"

In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her cheek.Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart."Give me your rag," he said, tracing his own line on her cheek, "and I'll give you mine."

The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw: for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood – his own!

"Rags! Rags! I take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent Ragman.The sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to hurry."Are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man shook his head.The Ragman pressed him: "Do you have a job?"

"Are you crazy?" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket – flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm.

"So," said the Ragman. "Give me your jacket, and I'll give you mine."

Such quiet authority in his voice!

The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman – and I trembled at what I saw: for the Ragman's arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one."Go to work," he said.

After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, and old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes.

And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. Though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling for drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, old, and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. On spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the City, this mile and the next, until he came to its limits, and then he rushed beyond.

I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And yet I needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so.The little old Ragman – he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. And then I wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. He climbed a hill. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army blanket. And he died.

Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who has no hope – because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and I cherished him; but he died. I sobbed myself to sleep.

I did not know – how could I know? – that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and its night, too.

But then, on Sunday morning, I was wakened by a violence.

Light – pure, hard, demanding light – slammed against my sour face, and I blinked, and I looked, and I saw the last and the first wonder of all. There was the Ragman, folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that, healthy! There was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness.

Well, then I lowered my head and trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then I took off all my clothes in that place, and I said to him with dear yearning in my voice: "Dress me."

He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!

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At the heart of Christianity we should be falling on our knees. God loves us more than we could ever understand. As long as we live outside God's plan we will never be free. Jesus takes the burden sin from us.
Stop! Focus! He was wounded for our transgressions. Share in the bread and fruit of the vine in remembrance. Fall on your knees. Eat and remember!

Do you have this gift of freedom?
It is trite this say Jesus gave me freedom but I do nothing.
The hope of restoration is for the whole world!
How does that change your celebrations?
When the son sets you free you are free indeed!

I worship Christ the coming King! My life is His alone.