Summit Church Thunder Bay

Tonkanin the police officer:

Finnish do Christmas on Christmas eve

We have some untruthful people here. Who is here for the first time?

Melody the best gift ever? Got 7 dinky cars at age 6.

Mr Fairs leads the men's group. Dad made a little barn for me and a little non functioning rifle at age 5. We now gave it to Caleb. 

Leslie and Sue made lunch for others. 

Gift. A chatty Cathy doll. Pull the string and it talked to you. Loved it very much.

Finns don't have guns. 

We have memories. The material possessions pass away. 

Isaiah 9:6,7

A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be vast authority and endless peace for David's throne and for his kingdom, establishing and sustaining it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of heavenly forces will do this.

Isaiah 9:6‭-‬7 CEB

http://bible.com/37/isa.9.6-7.CEB

There are refugees who have seen atrocities. Jesus was born 2022 years ago. 

In times of stress we get upset. I play worship music and pray and the stress lifts. I remember God's peace. We have no excuse. In times of turmoil remember God gives us peace. There is God's peace for panic attacks. Share it with family and friends. The angels brought good news.

Fear NOT!

Luke 2:13

The message of hope. Celebrate the hope. Share the message of hope that comes from Easter. 

Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 CEB

http://bible.com/37/php.4.7.CEB

Went to Nigeria for dad's funeral. Sang Give me Jesus. 

That gave me peace. That funeral was not easy. 

If the enemy is tormenting you or if you have never given your life to Christ you are not here by mistake. Give your life to Christ now. Think about the peace that God gives you. There is Jesus's peace. Get on your knees and pray. 

Joy to the world the Lord has come. 

Happy 4th Advent!

Dave Ens www.EasTview.org 

Think ahead 3 weeks. Christmas is done. Your wallet is empty and you are searching for weight loss plans. 

Was it worth it? Think about it now. How will you make it worthwhile? 

John the cousin of Jesus was also born.

Matthew 3

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing, "Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!" He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said: The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, " Prepare the way for the Lord;  make his paths straight. "  Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I'm not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Matthew 3:1‭-‬3‭, ‬8‭, ‬11 CEB

http://bible.com/37/mat.3.1-11.CEB

John's story is short. Was he successful? Is his life what a God honoring life looks like? The next time we encounter him he is questioning Jesus. "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"

Matthew 11:3 CEB

http://bible.com/37/mat.11.3.CEB

Are you real? John got beheaded shortly after. 

Jesus answer: Those who were blind are able to see . Those who were crippled are walking. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. The poor have good news proclaimed to them .  Happy are those who don't stumble and fall because of me."

Matthew 11:5‭-‬6 CEB

http://bible.com/37/mat.11.5-6.CEB

The LORD 's ransomed ones will return and enter Zion with singing, with everlasting joy upon their heads. Happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and groaning will flee away.

Isaiah 35:10 CEB

http://bible.com/37/isa.35.10.CEB

Out of lifeless will come life. Handel's Messiah includes this chapter. 

What will your salvation look like? 

Yes. This is what God's salvation looks like!

All are one in Jesus. 

Was it all worth it? Who is your neighbor that needs to hear?

Balancing the Scales

Dave Ens www.EasTview.org

Isaiah 11

LIn 586 a terrible army destroyed 

Israel. Yahweh wants a people that love him. 

500 years later Jesus came.

A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots. The LORD's spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of planning and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. He will delight in fearing the LORD. He won't judge by appearances, nor decide by hearsay. Righteousness will be the belt around his hips, and faithfulness the belt around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them. A nursing child will play over the snake's hole; toddlers will reach right over the serpent's den. They won't harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain. The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the LORD , just as the water covers the sea.

Isaiah 11:1‭-‬3‭, ‬5‭-‬6‭, ‬8‭-‬9 CEB

http://bible.com/37/isa.11.1-9.CEB

Luke 1.31 Matthew 2.2

Psalm talked about justice. 

God came in and punished Israel.  We judge too often. God knows what we do. To often it becomes oppression. 

The season is not about us. The kingdom is coming to celebrate what God is doing

Testimony journey

Ken Silk.

Grew up in Christian home. Billy Graham was in town. Sat up on the top level. When he made the alter call he dragged his girlfriend down all those stairs to get to the floor. Someone came to talk and pray. He started preaching on the bus but his parents had no use for what he had done. 

It took years. 

Now involved in business and traveling around the world. Heart in ministry. Youth leader pastor. Doing gospel work in all sorts of ways whatever God has asked for. 

In Ireland they loved the accent. 

At a church meeting met the girl that God told me I would marry. 3 years later got engaged and married. Wonderful wife she was and is now in heaven. Geoblastoma. At age 40. 3 days to surgery. 6 months to live. She ate healthy. She was a stay at home mom.

They cried and committed it to God. People were getting saved. The 12 year old kids became involved. They helped pray and call on Jesus. She lived 25 months. We did the medical trip. Every relative had a cure.

Fasted and prayed and prepared for the memorial. She had a massive seizure and after that she couldn't talk. That was hard. 

What I did for her was sacrificial but nothing compared to Christ. Had respite help. Knew something was happening. There was never any anger. 

God if this is your time then take her quickly. Called her parents. They came she stopped breathing. Took her pulse. When it stopped we prayed and thanked God for who she was. 

We could not have anger about this. She was my precious partner. 700 people showed up for the memorial. She is now in the fullness of Christ.

In 2015 God brought another woman into my life. She's a makeup girl. So different. 

God taught me so much through her. I want to die to self. And learn what God has for me. 

It's about what God has for me. 

Sometimes the only thing we can do is pray. 

Baptismal Sunday 12 baptisms 4 transfers

See the video at www.EasTview.org/sermons
Jaylene believes and is baptized.

Susan and numbers. She no longer wants to go through the wilderness. Wants to be baptized.

Matthew grew up in non Christian home. Now his family is here. Now believes that Jesus is the son of God and died for him. He accepted and chooses to follow Jesus.

Leoni felt unloved and unworthy. Wanted to end her life and then God intervened. At that moment she knew. Came to a youth event scarred. Found out they were not so scary. I know I've been saved. I want to be Baptised.

Nathan started coming to www.EasTview.org earlier this year. Felt he was not good enough for redemption. Went to a retreat and decided to become a follower of Jesus. Johnny prayed with me. Wanted to be baptized. Is choosing to follow Jesus.

Juanita grew up in a wonderful Christian home. Went to a weekend retreat at Briercrest. Baptised just before wedding. Told that her 2nd baby should be aborted but he was born alive and is now doing fine. Had a third healthy baby.

August was into sports. Went to church as an obligation. Got major injury. Baptised at Springfield Heights Mennonite Church. When our son was about to be born a lady helped our daughter off the play structure. It turned out that she was the head nurse at NICU. My play book now is the Bible. We want to be part of this.

Sing now. Hark the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king.