Folklorama Time 2011

We started this year's multi cultural celebration at the Pavilion of Scotland with meat pies and mashed potatoes. Music and dancing was good always.
Sing-a-long included:
Scotland the Brave
Towering in gallant fame Scotland my mountain hame
We're No Awa' Tae Bide Awa'
Mairi's Wedding
Donald where's your Troosers?
Land of my heart forever Scotland the brave.

After that we went to Belgium. Martha's Mom still talks about that one from last year. Unfortunately it was full.

From there we went to Celtic Ireland for a standing room only show. Next time let's remember to bring ear plugs. Very enthusiastic audience. And bring money $$$ $6 for admission 3/4 hr show. $8 for good food $5 for drink.

Terrific tap dancing colorful costumes

Unlikely Hero: Getting Even Isn't Even

www.eastview.org 1 Sam 24:1-22

Songs: this is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it. I won't worry about tomorrow. I'm trusting I'm trusting what you say. I will stand upon your truth. I'm giving you my tears and sorrow.

Hosanna praise is rising. Hope is stirring. In Your presence our tears are washed away. You are the God who saves us.

David is on the run hiding in the caves of Engedi. Saul and his men are hunting for David. Saul needed a potty stop. David's 600 men are hiding in that cave. David cut off a piece of robe off God's anointed king. David could have become king that day. But he did what's right. He waited for God's time.

Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty

Pastor Dave Ens:

Only once did a destination elude me. Not really lost. 12 year old boys brigade walked and walked. Fear and excitement set in.

Vacationed on Lake Erie when Alexander suddenly disappeared under the waves. Fear gave his dad total clarity and energy.

Saul dedicated all his time to try to get rid of David. David had to flee. This may have caused David to examine his life. When we get cast into the wilderness we don't choose to go there. James says consider it pure joy. As a pastor I've seen people on their death bed with complete clarity.

David may have written Psalm 57 while in that cave. God will send me peace while I lie among lions. My heart is steadfast awake my soul make music. Written while a maniac was chasing him.

There are lots of wilderness stories.

In most of them David prays - not fight. God guided him - the times he fails is when he forgets to pray. Stop and listen to what God has to say. That can be hard because it takes time. Prayer changes us to do what God wants us to do. David came out of the wilderness with prayer.

Sometimes we try to get out of the wilderness so we say God must want me to do this because I want to. We cloak it in religious language and do what we want. Gaining clarity from God means waiting.

We vilify others to justify the evil we do to them. God doesn't do that. David saw Saul through God's eyes.

Rom 12.14-19 bless those who persecute you. Live peaceably with all. Vengeance is God's.

The wilderness is a scary place.

May you in that situation find clarity of who you are called to be.

Unlikely Hero: Who Needs Friends

www.eastview.org
Pray for the teams in Thailand. www.thaiaction2011.blogspot.com www.thailandin2011.blogspot.com

Songs:
God only wise You are the Lord of space and time. All that we are is Yours alone.
2. Our God Saves There is hope in your Name. We are gathered to lift up your Name. And the world will see that our God Saves.
3. Then sings my soul my Savior God to You How great you are! Oh Lord my God when I think that God his Son not sparing He bled and died to set me free.

Children's Story- David & Jonathan - Good friends take care of each other.

Song; Lord of all creation you are holy. Lord of heaven and earth. God of wonders beyond our galaxy the universe declares your majesty you are holy.
Praise is rising we long for you hosanna you are the God who saves us.

Pastor Dave Ens:
David has a mandate. David is growing. Saul's momentum is fading. The songs of the people make Saul angry. He wants to eliminate David 6x in 3 chapters. David & Jonathan's friendship grows at the same time. David was on the right track but came up against barriers and opposition. Ps 7 Save me from my pursuers. If I have done wrong kill me. Why are my enemies so relentless? Not everyone finds us as likeable as we really are. Eugene Peterson. Taking the right path is not always easy. That may cause us to doubt. So do we build walls to shut off others? David could have decided to kill Saul, but did not do so.
Friendliness vs. friendship. Friendly is easy. Friendship is hard. It requires entering into the other person's pain. To get into the nitty gritty of life.
Every once in a while someone enters your life that is willing to enter into your pain. the Soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David. Soul = heart.
Friendship is not convenient. Not efficient. Friend seeks core good in others. Trudge through the tough times. You might run out of energy. A friend can help you through. AA understands that you need friends.
Let's reclaim friendship and let's stop using friendliness to keep people out.
Friends lowered the lame man through the roof. Jesus said your sins are forgiven.

Go and make friends this week. Make connections. Help others keep walking in their spiritual walk. We need real friends to do that.

All People's Church Falcon Lake

Announcements included 5oth Anniversary for Jake & Fran Funk and 4oth for Raymond & Martha Dueck

Michelle Sawatzky, her son Tyson, and Michelle's sister in law did a number of songs including:
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.
Yes I love my Jesus deep down in my heart.
Victory is won and I will rise when he calls my name no more sorrow no more pain. And I hear the voice of angels crying out worthy is the lamb. I will rise on eagles wings. Before my God fall on my knees.

Pastor Brian Hamilton
Positive preaching- God's vision for his people.
God gives us lots of positives. Not always does things turn out right but we car have a positive out look in Christ
Positive Pricey playful Party Prosperous Powerful

Paul said forgetting what is behind and pressing forward. v13 he had not yet achieved
Strength in Christ allows me to be positive.
Toss what is behind, in the river of God's grace.
Bring those who are in turmoil a measure of your peace.

Michelle & Shannon: we are pilgrims on a journey of the narrow road. Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. May all who come behind us find us faithful. May the clues that they discover become the light that helps them find The Way.
Michelle: Time for a Christmas Song:
Jesus came like the winter snow. He could have come in a hurricane, or in the Fire of heaven, but He came quietly. Not like a tidal wave. Soft and Slow like snow. From the sky to the earth below.

Pastor:
Phil 3: God's Vision for His people
There is a positivism in Christ. Paul was the chief of sinners. He had a terrible past but he moved forward. Positive.
Frank Lloyd Wright at age 83 said the next project is his masterpiece.

We live in a world with negativism. News is too full of negativism. Limburger cheese in our attitude? The whole world stinks? Believers tend to say that.
Negative people are so tense.
Someday you will stand around my grave. Will you be able to say he loved God?
Negative thinking keeps us from enjoying life. Paul was unjustly imprisoned yet he wrote Rejoice and again I say rejoice.
God is with us and can use us in every situation. Negative thinking limits our potential. Joshua and Caleb were positive but 10 emissaries were negative and hence they had to wander in the desert for 40 years.

Attitude Building Blocks:
Choice. Choose to believe God is who He is. Choices Of the journey. Walk forward.
Bible. Filled with examples of victory NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. God's Comforter will be with us
The more we pray the closer we get to God's heartbeat. Like John the beloved disciple.
With God all things are possible.
Circumstances are different every day. Goal to reach our eternal home.

Michelle: Lord God of all build up your kingdom in me. Father take my life everything I am. God of all of me. Reign over dreams I dare not speak.
Father take my heart hold it in your hand. Keeper of my soul.

Sunday at mom & dad's

Church for me today was watching the prayer service conducted on the deck of HMS Montreal for our future King & Queen.
CBC was very rude and kept interrupting the service with all kinds of prattle.

We went to Arborg bringing lunch for my parents and after Martha's delicious food a new family settling in Riverton came to entertain mom & dad with some very slow singing. Jim & Tina Kennimon with their children John & Kimberley sang a for a long time. They lived in Bloodvein for 8 years and got to know Neil & Edith Von Gunton quite well.

Jazz on the Rooftop

It's a hot day for that! 33c outside. But this jazz was in air conditioned comfort in the WAG auditorium. Fabulous music by the Ron Paley Big Band featuring several world class soloists, including trumpeter Mike Harriot and trombonist Brad Shigata as well as our friend Karl Kohut on bass.

We rushed home from work (not too fast with all the cops out there!) enjoyed Martha and Justin's pulled pork and rushed downtown.

I really enjoy this jazz, in part, because all the band members enjoy what they are doing.

The quilt on display in the art gallery was a millenium project started in Ontario and represents Canadians from around the world. It is 120 ft x 10 ft. The colors at the top of the center section represents the Canadian flag. More info

Ontario Trip

We flew to London Wednesday. We planned to visit Taunte Truta,

my mom's oldest sibling and my favorite aunt, but when I called her number there was no answer. When I finally got ahold of my dad, he informed me that she had died 2 weeks ago. I knew she had recently been diagnosed with cancer, but this was quite a shock.

We had business meetings in Aylmer and Cambridge. Our Cambridge business friend introduced us to Glenn and to the Coping Center in Cambridge, an organization dedicated to help families deal with grief and help them mourn their loss. Is there a need for such a centre in Winnipeg?

After fighting Toronto traffic for 2 hours we had supper with Alayna before she went to work. Something in my food did not agree with me.

Saturday we spent the day with Alayna. Lunch at the market and then Toronto Zoo for the afternoon. That Zoo has to be one of the best in the world. Lots of greenspace, trees & valleys and animals from around the world including camel rides for those so inclined.

Supper at The House On Parliament was fabulous. Then time to say goodbye again and "auf viedersehen"

This morning we wanted to see Aunt Esther but she had left for church before we were ready. By that time we had to head off to the airport for our flight home.

Our church was on board Westjet with Lorna Dueck's "Listen Up" broadcast. Her guests included Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi and Eugene Peterson talking about the Bible and how it has changed the world.

After that we watched "The Hour of Power". They had Evangelist Jay Lawder on the program with a good solid message. They spent a lot of time begging for money.
''The Best Life Possible" who wants that? Jesus said Love God and others. Then you will have the best life possible.
Commandment six: Don't kill. Jesus said don't use words to kill. The power of words. Words can kill. Words have the Power to give Life. ''You saved my life" with words of life from the Hour of Power. People need Words of Life. Dream Center of LA is helping many people in LA. So many people have been saved. One man was shot and left for dead. Then restored through his wife's prayers.

John 11 The Story of Lazarus. Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the Life" His sisters called Jesus expecting him to hurry on over and help them. But Lazarus died. Jesus did not come. Why not? Why not? Where is Jesus when your kids fall into substance abuse?

When Jesus finally showed up he asked- Do you believe? Jesus asked to go to the tomb. Open it up! No way! He's been left for dead for 4 days.
Jesus says "Come out of the tomb of your pain". Accept Jesus' resurrection power today.

Put Down the Kool-Aid: If a Little is good, More must be better

www.Eastview.org/Media For on-line audio

When oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar
above the storm I will be still and know you are God

Dave Ens-
''I want it all" the cultural lies. Is having more better? A friend with drug addiction had an epiphany that he had chronic discontent fuelled by wanting more. Drug use creates dopamine release to drive us to more brain rewards. Things feel good when narcotics are involved. So the brain wants more and more drugs. Then everything else goes flat.

In many ways we do the same things. Retail therapy. ''I have nothing to wear" Come home raid the fridge and pantry and say ''why is there no food in the house?" while looking for chocolate.

Drugs. What a cycle of shame! Then you need more drugs and you end up more ashamed! Addicts keep feeding the addiction to dopamine. And the cycle continues.

Truth of scripture speaks against the lies. I Cor: 1:26 God is the source of life in Christ Jesus. Everything good comes from God. We can't ever lift ourselves out of the cycle of shame. God's grace / strength is made complete in Christ.

We always want things to make us feel good about ourselves.

Deut 7 God talks about all the things he will do for Israel. Not because you earned it but because I love you.
Matth 6:25 Is not life more than food and clothing? Find value / pleasure in other things.
The birds - God feeds them. Aren't you of more value? v27 Can you add one hour to your life?

C S Lewis- Consider the staggering nature of the rewards God has for us. Our sights are set too low! God wants to give us more.
v32 Strive for the kingdom of God.
Let your worth be derived from the One who created you! Seek pleasure in Him.

To often we point at ourselves as the reason for our existence. God has a better plan. Outside of ourselves. Instead of a church picnic for ourselves why not have a Keenleyside picnic to bring joy to an underprivileged community? June 30 - be there

Turning on the Light

www.Abbeydale.org Christian Fellowship (EMC) Calgary

Pastor David & Kendra Funk
Need your voices today. Summer is here - the season for traveling.
Imagine driving at night and coming to a town with no lights. What would you think? Many of us have the same problem. We have an inexhaustible supply of Light- the Holy Spirit. He was there at creation, when Christ was baptized, and at Pentecost.
One thing that is clear in the book of Acts is that it is the power of the Holy Spirit that built the church.
If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from us, today's church work would mostly continue as is.
When we come to the Father through Jesus we become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. You are in His presence, always
"Turn on the lights - I am His dwelling place." The dwelling place of the Living God.
Rachael had a very bad spell on Friday. Saturday I was working through this. Where is God why does he let it happen? This sermon applies directly. I am sad and emotionally strung out but I know that the God of Creation is with me.
"Turn on the lights - I am His dwelling place."
God is not reducible to our feelings. A wasted prayer is "God be with me today". Rather thank God for being with me today. Bank on the Love of God. His love is perfect. That's a fact. Grow in awareness that God is passionately and compassionately with you.
If we serve God with that awareness, what would it do?
You and I are always in God's loving presence.

Trent & Liisa Wedding Song

God's love is warmer than the warmest sunshine, softer than a sigh
His love is deeper than the deepest ocean, wider than the sky
God's love is brighter than the brightest star that shines every night above
There is nothing in this world that can ever change God's love
Something happened to my heart the day that I met Him
Something that I never felt before
He is always on my mind no matter what I do
And everyday, it seems I Love Him more
His love is warmer than the warmest sunshine, softer than a sigh
His love is deeper than the deepest ocean, wider than the sky
His love is brighter than the brightest star that shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world that can ever change His love

Once, I thought that love was meant for everyone else but me
Once, I thought He'd never come my way
Now, it only goes to show how wrong we all can be
For now, I have to tell you everyday
His love is warmer than the warmest sunshine, softer than a sigh
His love is deeper than the deepest ocean, wider than the sky
His love is brighter than the brightest star that shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world that can ever change His love
His love is warmer than the warmest sunshine, softer than a sigh
His love is deeper than the deepest ocean, wider than the sky
His love is brighter than the brightest star that shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world that can ever change His love

Nice soccor evening

At the plus 55 Centre in Gimli. Looks like Roger and friends need a pep talk!
We went to Mennville to plant weeping evergreens at the cemetary memorial garden. Roger and Anita helped with that. Thank you.

Put Down the Kool-Aid: I've got the Power

www.EastView.org
Birthday Song for Pastor Delbert Enns.

Daydreaming is a form of walking away from it all.
Abracadabra of fantasy is our ideal. We wish we could speak it and it would happen
Retirement fantasies drive us to pursue our dreams. What is the prime motivation? We have fundamental desires for a free enjoyable life.
Ryan went to Haiti and gave a report - with a good work ethic anything is possible. We are made to believe we can do anything we want to do. It's a lie! but it affects us in all sorts of ways.
Adam and Eve had a problem. They thought they could enjoy life. That they had access to infinite power and control.
ML King said: I have a dream. But it cost many lives. Not easy.
The dream of a life with no responsibilities is a hoax.
Look at History - the book of Acts. Simon the sorcerer had a following. Like Lady Gaga. They have nothing They have nothing real to offer. When Phillip the evangelist showed up, the sorcerer was being shown as a fraud. He then decided he would try to buy Phillip's power. He had shallow faith and was baptized but really had no idea what the gospel was all about.

Simon did not live with the power of the Holy Spirit. Phillip was bringing revival. Church H. O. sent Peter & John to check up on Phillip.
We often believe that we can do the same. I paid my dues. Now God has to give me what I want
We do not want God to change us.
The sorcerer wanted the good life under his own control. We do the same thing. Peter told him to repent. There is no evidence that he repented. Tradition says that he led many Christians into agnosticism.

Christ is the visible manifestation of the invisible God, everything was created in and through Him.
Jesus IS God. We need Jesus. Not power.

Let us confess that we have lived a lie thinking we con do things in our power.

Abrahadabra

The word is thought to have its origin in the Aramaic language, in which abra (אברא) means "to create" and cadabra (כדברא) which means "as I say", providing a translation of abracadabra as "create as I say". This was the basis of our message in church today. I forgot my PDA at home, so that's the summary of Dave Ens message for today!

Put Down the Kool-Aid: Love is All You Need

Operation Christmas Child Ryan will do a presentation on Tuesday evening showing the distribution he was involved in in Haiti.
Volunteers Celebration Monday May 30 with comedian entertainment

Dave Ens:
Love gives us a good feeling. The world tells us to get rid of everything that does not give us a good feeling.
Our Sunday School teacher told us to love the bully.
How do we define love? Physical love, emotion, feeling. Eros is very self centered. Easily distracted. Lusting after a feeling. Neighbour's grass is greener? Love becomes God? Advertizers are asking as to need things to satisfy ourselves.

Steadfast love in the Bible. Hessad- a Hebrew word that means loyalty, faithful, promise, covenant, till death us part. Agape is the Greek action word for the Hebrew word.

Jonah 4 - Nineveh repents. You are a gracious God abounding in Hessad love - to help others thrive. Irrational commitment. Unselfish

Eros is selfish - what can you do to make me happy? It becomes an idol.

Hessad love - how can I help you thrive? Love everyone. Reflect the character of God.
What does God ask of us? Love the world the way He loves the world. Live life with wide open eyes.

How would hessad love change what you do with your money?

New playmobile boys have a nicer haircut so kids need these now. We now need new high defination video phones. Selfish.

Michael Porter speaker -how do we respond to the needs of our society? The church has the greatest potential to do good and a great potential to destroy when they leave a project in the winds of change.

What would it look like if you lived your life with eyes wide open?

Communion. God's beautiful example of hessad love. For 2ooo years the church has done this in remembrance.

Amazed and overwhelmed
Wonderful God Savior wonderful Love None could compare

The broken bread, a symbol of Christ's body broken for us.

Behold what you are become what you receive (what dos this mean?)Take up this bread and wine embrace the Mystery.

Put down the Kool-Aid: Money will make you happy

(Friday night Martha and I went to see Soul Surfer. Excellent movie.)

Soul Sanctuary has a family seminar tonight.
Pray for the flood victims

www.EastView.org
Songs.
We stand and lift up our hands.
You are Holy (Prince of Peace)
You will never let me go.
He Knows My Name
Choir: What Wondrous Love is This? For my soul. When from death I'm free I'll sing on through eternity.

Video Clip. Money makes me happy.
Pastor Dave Ens:
Nov 18, 1978 800 people committed suicide by drinking cyanide laced Kool-Aid. (shortly after that we did a survey, for Here's Life and some people responded with this event as an example of the badness of religion)
Put down the Kool-Aid. There is abundant life available.
Money is often a big lie. We have embraced the lie that money is the best thing in life.
Go to a higher paying job. Everyone understands.
An island off the coast of Australia, Nauru was mined of fertilizer till it was uninhabitable.
Soon they could not grow any food. Today they have no local food. Everyone will die of over eating junk food. One Islander bought a Lamborghini but was too fat to get in the car. (only 13,000 inhabitants they now have an international debt of $1B)

We pursue money. That should not be our goal. The way we use money should show that we have been changed by God. Sell everything? Is your money for yourself? Where your treasure is your heart will be.
Think about your first dating relationship. Your whole being gets wrapped up in it.
Zack the wealthy tax man. Jesus did not lay out any rules. He built a relationship and it changed Zack.
Has your Money been transformed?
In 2004 3.5 B$ was spent on cellphone ringtones. Is that a transformed perspective?
Eternal perspective? Nauru people lives off trust funds today.
2Cor 9:6-8 she one who sows bountifully reaps bountifully. Join God-He is generous. We are most like God when we give. Tithe - a tenth part. Give it to God. We need to learn to be generous. Train kids to share.

Tithing trains us to be generous. When we turn money over to God it changes us. May your wallet be transformed.

-----------------
Questions:
What does the Bible mean when it says-
Work if you want to eat?
Work as unto the Lord?
Don't be a sluggard?
"Work" appears 555 times in the Bible?
Work will be rewarded?
God will judge the quality of each man's work?
I worked much harder?
Work- do something useful?
Could it be that the Protestant work ethic is obedience to God? Could it be that the "manana" work ethic causes poverty?
Why should we feel guilty about having worked and earned?
Could it be that the only way to help the poor is to provide them with the gospel?

The Peking Acrobats

With WSO
The Lion Dance a terrific light hearted intro to the show followed by impossible contortions of the Glass Dance. Transition by a clown to the Hat Dance
Fabulous acts that can't be described. During the Rope Act One of the acro fell headfirst almost all the way to the floor. Lots of ooohs!
Intermission
Ring dance lots of muscle and skill while jumping through a turning hoop.
Fabalous flower pot and tables dance where 3 girls twirl objects with their feet. They do things that can't be done.
7 plate twirling maidens twirling 6 plates each while doing impossible acrobatics.
The chair tower builder built a 24 ft stack of chairs on top of 4 bottles and then performed acrobatics on the top of the pile.
10 Chinese on one bicycle!
17 acrobats in all plus 4 musicians

All in all a good show. But not as good as the one we saw in Shanghai.

Another Memorial Picture

To be laser cut into black granite.

Rene's Layout of memorial

1st draft

Eastview Fusion Service

Who keeps going when things get tough?
MOM!
Naomi & her family had to travel to Moab. Things were going well until her husband died. Her sons got married and then they died.
Naomi and Ruth went back to Israel. Ruth got married and had a baby who became the grandfather of King David and an ancestor of Jesus.

She did not give up. Michael Jordan got cut from the high school basketball team. He did not give up.

Don't give up. Maybe someday someone will talk about you about as an example.

Moms give out the best advice. Study all summer? Or play laser tag? Don't give up.

Pastor Dave Ens:
Endure. James says when (not if) you go through trials consider it joy. Testing produces endurance.

Maybe you are at a stage where you are ready to give up. Persevere. Endure. Beauty will come.

Song; You (Jesus) never let go of me through the calm and through storm.

SOAR Mission Sunday

www.Eastview.org
Combined with other churches Eastview youth spent Spring Break working in the inner city of Winnipeg. They did DVBS, house and school cleaning. They got /became worn out refreshed awkward Comfortable Judgmental understand unsure bold focussed impatient patient lazy disciplined confused clarified Confident Know-it-all understanding naive aware
Kathy grew up Catholic. She joined SOAR to hear God. She took a workshop where she learned 1 Cor 3 Paul & Appollos were both workers with God.

God used learners to teach others. Now more dedicated and reading the Bible cover to cover
Adam - SOAR leader. Very unsure to start. As a YWAM grad, was anxious to be involved in missions. 4 hrs of sleep was hard but worth it. Now have more compassion. People 1st Now going to Thailand with MBMSI for the summer.

This has been a wonderful missions trip to own own city. There is a lot of sadness in our own mission field. We are all on a missions trip for the rest of our lives.
SOAR is an orientation for life. Where are you going to join up with God? Is your life going to be a life of missions? Where are you going to serve God? Where is God calling you? Corey Bell.

I will follow. Where you go I'll go I will follow you.
If this life I lose I will follow you.