Advent: Wisemen seeking God

www.EasTview.org
Song: You are calling us all by name.
You choose the humble and raise them high
You choose the weak and make them strong  
You heal our brokenness inside 
And give us life
The same love that set the captives free
The same love that opened eyes to seeIs calling us all by name
You are calling us all by name
The same God that spread the heavens wide
The same God that was crucified Is calling us all by name 
You are calling us all by name
It's a really nice song; why sing it over ad nauseam?

Oh come all you faithful
O come let us adore him

Fabulous choir music. We anticipate the Christmas eve choir programs Dec23 6:30, & Dec 24 5:00 & 6:30. Worth putting on your calendar!

A new king was born. 400 years of silence broken by the cries of the son of God.

Dave Ens

"Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes – The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."– Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Interconnectedness. God is present in all our times.

People are seekers. The Wiseman were seekers.
They had expectation - 2 years the Wiseman followed the special star. (Maybe it was 2 months?)

Am I keeping up with Jesus? God is working. Are you watching for it? The Wiseman stopped to see Herod. (Was that wise?)

When they finally found Jesus they had a God moment. Finally they found the promised messiah! They were overcome with joy!

Jesus is difficult to see because we have so many preconceptions. We think he is with our team.

We presume to speak for God in spite of the fact we are not good at seeking God's will.

There is something bigger than we are. The seekers in the Bible were often outsiders. The Greeks came to see Jesus. Jesus said come follow me.

Seeking to see stuff is not truly coming to see Him.

Leave things behind to really find Jesus!

Advent Waiting for God

Steve says, Easter is what Christmas is all about so let's sing Easter songs today. Jesus Messiah Lord of All!
Humbly to the earth you came. Born into this world to save. Your name is a strong and mighty tower. Nothing has the power to save but your name.

Elton Da Silva
Jesus's parents brought Jesus to the temple. 2 devoted people recognized him as the Messiah. Simeon and Anna had been waiting for the deliverer for a long time. They recognized God had come!

Do we recognize God in our lives? Are we ready to meet God? Do we recognize God at work at Tim Horton's?  I felt down that day, and when I opened the door, someone opened it and said I know who you are. God told me to come here to encourage you! Never met the man before but God worked something miraculous.

A four year old prayed for the man who is very sick. Who? The man who sold us the car. The next day mom went to encourage him.

God is doing amazing things. Are we missing Him because we have lost our passion? We don't expect him. Do we come just because or are we expecting God in church?

Are we hugging God with excitement like people at the airport?

Consolation Redemption are the 2 words of the text. Jesus brings healing comfort restoration.

God wants your life to be an exciting revelation. The glory of the King is about beauty.

Surrender. The story starts with the old law. There is a junction of the old and the new. The 2 old people are surrendering. Their lives are over. The new has come.

When guests come we surrender a room. It's yours for a season.

We need to surrender and say to Jesus this life of mine is now your temple.

Good Grief: What's Healthy; What's unhealthy

www.RussellCounselling.com www.DrDonRussell.com
There are all kinds of losses where there is no funeral. You get kicked out of the family business but there is no funeral for that.
Our world has been turned upside down.
Could be loss of a job or not getting the job you want.

Grief is a process of:
Orientation 》 Disorientation 》 Reorientation
Grief is fatiguing because it takes up a lot of emotional and mental space inside as we attempt to find a new normal after the old one has been lost. It is only as we digest emotional happenings.
Sometimes there's more than just grief. It can be traumatic. Consider the 2 layers. Trauma adds anxiety, avoidance, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, fatigue, brain freeze, nausea, guilt, should haves, the feeling of I'll never get better......

Unhealthy grieving includes:
Denying or suppressing the cocktail of feeling
Doing a spiritual bypass jumping to God knows. You can't take a spiritual bypass. God gave you the ability to feel
Becoming anxious or depressed for more than a year
Engaging in numbing self medication
Staying stuck in one of the stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression
Avoiding places or people that remind us of the loss

Take care of yourself. Stress of loss will deplete your energy and emotions.

Face your feelings. In order to heal acknowledge and express the pain or you'll kill yourselves. Not everyone is weepy. That's OK. Talk with people you feel safe with. TALK.

Express your feelings. Write a loss journal. Write a letter to the one who passed. Read it at the grave. Make a scrapbook or photo album. Get involved in a cause.

Don't let anyone tell you how you feel or should feel. Your grief is your own. Let yourself feel whatever you feel. Let yourself grieve without embarrassment or judgement.

Plan ahead for grief triggers: Anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, .. Be prepared for an emotional wallop and know it's normal. Give yourself permission to me cranky. Agree on strategies to honor the person you loved.

I so want to say something to take your pain away but Mr Fixit in me just can't. I must learn that the most important thing is to sit and listen.

Does the church help people who grieve? I would love to be out of business but I'm not.

We know Jesus is the answer but sometimes we are too superficial. The deep corners of the soul don't get touched.

An accepting congregation is a beautiful thing. People need to be open to each other's junk.

Getting angry at God is part of grief. God does not need defending. God can take it. It doesn't make you a bad person. Just read the Psalms. Your feelings need expression. I get it. That's a strong feeling.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. God knows us in the deepest places.

How do you help children grieve? Language appropriate. Diluted to their level. Prayer is not a slam dunk. You may not eat dessert before you eat your vegetables.

What's mental health got to do with the church?

Mennville EMC north of Riverton.

Scripture reading by Roger Friesen:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

DrDonRussell.com
Privileged to be here this morning. Beautiful drive this morning from Landmark.

Deals with people issues. Jesus has understanding about mental health.
Bullying and postpartum depression news is all around us.

1 of 5 people will have serious mental issues. All of us are touched by mental issues. Costs $51,000,000,000 in Canada.

Jesus speaks to us.  Romans 8:22 Creation is groaning. Great crowds came to Jesus with all kinds of issues.

In the beginning no one had mental issues.

In the end Jesus will make everything right again.

We make sense of it because we live in a fallen broken world.

Don't just sit and wait. Do something. Don't say the dreadful phrase: it is what it is.

We treat mental issues like they used to treat leprosy. Jesus has something to say about it. Leave something for the poor. Be extra gracious to the disadvantaged in society. We need to draw the 'thems' into our circle of friends. That includes the gay. If Jesus came to Steinbach would he shoot hoops with the cool jocks, or would he find the bullied? What did he say to the prostitute in John 8? What was Jesus writing when the self righteous wanted to stone her?

When clients talk about depression, I say I get that.

Shame bad is bad. Adam and Eve were not ashamed to be naked. The fall created shame. But now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Rom 8

There are bad simplistic answers that hurt
1. Mental illness is demonic.
2. Psychobable
3. Medical problem.

We are fearfully made. Spirit. Body. Mind. Mental illness impacts all 3 areas of the person.

Exercise improves the body and mind.
Talk about it. Open the conversation. Love and acceptance goes a long way. It makes it far more manageable. Know where to find resources. Be the bridge.

So can I help myself?
Reach out. Ask for help.
Practice mental hygiene. Anchor yourself in biblical truth.
Practice spiritual disciplines. Read Ephesians. Practice gratitude. That is mood altering. Just as good as any drug.
Dialog with God. Talk to him about your crankiness.
The Lord is near. With thankfulness present your requests to God. Focus on the good.

Started an anger management group some years ago. One person dropped out. Then he came back after spending time in psych ward. They used to call them asylums. A safe place to rest. Not doing anything. Just resting.

Make the church an asylum. A place to rest.

The Marvel of Earth's Canopies

The Marvel of Earth's Canopies
by Professor C. Theo Schwarze
A fascinating book on the harmony of science and the Bible
This book is out of print
Click on the image to read it on line

Choices are OPTIONAL. Consequences are NOT.

Malachi 3
There was a small group who feared the Lord. God wrote their names in a Book of Remembrance. The Book of Life.
V17. They will be my people. My own special treasure my jewel. Recorded by name.
Do you know that you are the special treasure of God? If not, get right with God today!

Baptism and new member's Sunday:
Val has 7 grandkids. Wants to be baptized. Attended an Anglican church. Married 40 years. Lived in Flin Flon and Selkirk. Went to Roman Catholic church. Sherry was baptized at EasTview. Husband was diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago. Ted was doing well. They had an accident. Then she had cancer. Tough times brought me closer to God. God loves me and he has a perfect plan. The struggle is to learn to trust God.

Kelly was raised in a Christian home. Never got baptised. Got married very young. Moved to northern Manitoba. Forgot to attend church thinking she had spirituality. Mom got sick and wanted to go home to heaven. After 6 months she got better. Started to attend EasTview 6 months ago.

Scott grew up in Selkirk in a Lutheran church. Worked 6 days a week before having children. Had a tough time getting pregnant. Thought they lost that 1st child. Carter was born. 3 years later our second son was born.

Greg born in Winnipeg. Baptized as a baby in a united church.

Kelly always considered herself a Christian. United church. Then EKMB. Now wants to be join EasTview. Attended NK Alliance and got baptized there.

Cindy married 21 years with 2 children. Accepted Jesus at camp and war baptized there. Jesus is my rock and salvation. EasTview is now our spiritual home.

Choir
A Mighty Fortress is our God. A really good musical arrangement.
Praise the name of Jesus.
He's My Rock in Him will I trust.
His kingdom is forevermore

The baptismal water is too cold. Val God has never left you. I baptize you in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Today is the right day to be baptized. This is the day that the Lord has made.
Do you confess that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior?

Congregational songs.
He became sin who knew no sin.
Love so amazing Jesus Messiah Lord of all. All our hope is in you.
Jesus Messiah name above all names Blessed Redeemer
In Christ Alone my hope is found
O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Choir
Be still and listen to God

Pastor Delbert. You are God's special treasure. Pray to be included in God's special chosen ones. Meditate on God's Word day and night. Be planted firmly so you can celebrate for all eternity.

Let's read the covenant together.

Song. You choose the humble. The same love that set the captives free is calling us all by name.

Blessed are the merciful

http://www.knoxtoronto.org/
5pm worship gathering
Ken Mitchell music
Paul Johansen Pastoral Care
Let us honor those gave so much and remember the One who gave his all.
Song. Your grace is enough.
Lord have mercy on us.
Gospel Encouragement. Passing the Peace
Hosanna Praise is rising
Kids Church. This is multi generational church.

God be with you.... and also with you!

Www.AdventConspiracy.org to make Christmas more meaningful. Worship fully. Spend less. Give more. Love all.
The average Canadian spends $1200 each Christmas much of it on gifts no one needs.

Pastor Paul
Merci bouquet!
Mercy me
Lord have mercy on me a sinner.
Bob Dillon when his career was flagging produced a CD entitled O Mercy. Everything is broken is a title that talks about the brokenness of the world.
Mercy is hard to define. Strong emphasis to enter into the brokenness of others. Tenderness meekness kindness
Willingness to forgive. Let others off the hook.
Psalm 28. Hear my cry for mercy.
Daniel prayed for mercy.

Micah. This is what God is asking you to do.
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God.

Blessed are the merciful they will be shown mercy. He saved us because of His mercy.
Les Miserables the book. 83 year old mom just read it. She was moved. Quite a story she said.
Only the grace of God can change us from the inside out.
Lord have mercy for those in the path of the typhoon.
Lord treat us in a way we don't deserve.
For Mayer Ford, Lord have mercy.
We need to show mercy every day.

Did Micah do an about face? Do the right thing but at the end of the day, walking with God is very personal. Mercy comes when you extend mercy.
Ps 103 God knows who we are. How fragile we are.
Paraphrase the beatitudes. Show you understand them.

Song. I'm getting down to the mercy seat.
Here is love vast as the ocean.

God's Word to us

Mennville EMC

Stan Burkholder from Alberta

Sat in on the Sunday School and got a lesson on grief. Not sure how to respond to that.

Praise like never before
130 passages in the Bible on praise.
I have no practical application for grief. How many have sorted out how to praise God?
They had a community advent program. He was supposed to preach on why creation praises God. Why are the colors more majestic for Christians?
When we give God proper recognition we praise him.
Luanna's garden grew all the wrong things. The red beets were red so that was good.
Do the stars do what they are created to do? When they do they praise God.
Gravity does what God created it to do.
120 days a year Stan travels all over teaching. It's a fun job. Every two days his students evaluate him. Some praise him with fluff. Some really appreciate his work.
He was the president of the  lumberman's association. He got real recognition in front of his peers. That felt good.
How can I praise God? How about giving him proper recognition? How does that make the mountains more majestic? When I admire God's handiwork I praise him because I share with him the beauty of creation.

We live in a society of entitlement.  Why? Do you remember the first $ you were given? The first $ you earned. How did you deal with that.
My voice is the gift of God to me. I'm not entitled to it. If I recognize that God gave me my voice and I praise God with it.
Link with grief somehow. Whatever may pass whatever lies before me. In grief when you cry you praise God. Recognize your loss.
Let me singing when the day is done. When the end draws near and my time has come still my soul will sing your praise unending ten thousand years and then forever more.
My praise will be different  each season of my life. When my store burned down I wrote about my firey Christmas.
Got a call from a customer wanting to help. Shared my struggles with him. I was praising God by writing my story.
There are 10,000+ reasons to praise God. When God created us I always tell my students. I got a free trip to Scotland.
When you do what God created you to do you are praising him.
God, thanks for being real and sharing your creation with me. Help me to do what you created me to do.

Essentials by design: Hope

I was depressed forsaken and God healed me. Only through Christ have we been saved.
www.EasTview.org
Delbert Enns
Winnipeg is Canada's murder capital but there is hope!
Just as there was hope for Ephesus there is hope for Winnipeg.
Hope.
1 Timothy 6:12 fight the good fight. Hold tightly to eternal life. The church was facing all kinds of pressures. He was in a battlefield. It was hard.

Who wants to move away? Who wants to move west? In the last 100 years things have changed.
What does Hollywood think of Winnipeg?
Simpson's says We live here. We were born here. What is your excuse?

While we face many difficulties we have bought into cynicism and negativity.

Too often we say what's in it for me?
Timothy agonize through your struggle of faith. Wrestle with it. Wrestle together. V13 I charge you before God and Christ Jesus to remember when Jesus stood before Pilate he confessed that he was God and that took him to the cross. Hope begins there.
You have hope through Jesus when you die to your own ideas.
Obey without wavering.
Love your neighbor. Stand your ground. Unwavering.

Jesus is coming back. The relationship with Jesus starts when you admit that you are lost. There is no hope without Jesus's promise that he's coming back.
He said we will be coming back. Jesus is immortal. Lord of Lords he lives in light so brilliant that human eyes can never see him.

Paul says that this excites him. Teach those who are rich not to be proud. To be generous to those in need. Instruct para angelo means come walk alongside like an angel. Live and walk alongside with someone that needs you.
V20 guard what God has entrusted to you. Be careful. Walk carefully. Guard yourself! We need each other. May God's grace be with you all.

Lord's supper. The Eucharist. Hope is an active decision. Live it in the community.
Jeremiah 29 work for the peace and prosperity of the city where God has put you.

Jake Plett Memorial service

Oct 18, 2013

Memories from:
Eddie and Erna of Port Colborne.

Sam knew grandpa the least. He was too far away. Grandpa loved the Bible. Tara and Sam work with troubled young people.
Is there anything more beautiful than a young couple? Yes! Old love. A couple holding gnarled hands in love. Growing old in love.
Parkinson's is hard. Rom 8:37 we are more than conquerers. Grandpa has not lost the battle. He was victorious through his savior. He did not fight to stay. He fought the good fight and finished the race. He loved singing. What a wonderful change in my life has been brought since Jesus came into my life. He is singing a new song face to face with Christ his savior.
1 Cor 15 death has lost its sting and life is not in vain.

Nico the singer will sing the song grandpa wrote: Help up the fallen Cheer up the sad Avoid all evil and bad. Hold unto Jesus By Him be led

Rachel. Alviera and Marvin's daughter. Grandpa loved unconditionally. Rides he gave to the great grandkids with the walker.

Dale. Leroy's son. Meaningful verse. Grandpa's faith was very important. Many years of mission work. Matth 25 faithful servant enjoy what God has in store for you.
Kim remembers her grandpa fondly

Garner and Betty Reimer. Loved spending time with them.

Mission Conference Austin EMMC

www.AustinEvangelicalFellowship.com
Loretta. Crisis Pregnancy Centre Brandon
We listen to people with values different than our own. A teenager cried deeply about her post abortion pain.
A young woman found out she would not be able to have children because of an abortion. She is getting married and mourns the loss of her ability to have children.
Jesus loves every person and our hope is that we can help each one to realize that there is redemption. Canada has no restrictions on abortion and 100,000 babies are aborted every year for convenience. We affirm and respect every client. We hope they will affirm the value of their baby.
We provide clothes and help them find housing when needed.
Housing can be very difficult to find when a woman is pregnant.
http://www.cpcbrandon.ca/
Recently a woman shared how she tried to kill herself after an abortion. Guilt of abortion.
Post abortion women find it hard to believe God could ever love them again. It's not too late for her. Love won when Jesus sacrificed himself. His love replaces ashes for beauty.
You don't have to be what you were before.
We pray for Loretta and the staff. May God bless their ministry.

Dedrich Friesen family
Music: The Family Bible. Mother singing Rock of  ages cleft for me.
We want to be a blessing wherever we go. God showed us how much he loves 2000 years ago.
Song. Jesus wants to love you. He will never fail you when the doubts assail you. His love is a boundless love that will last through all eternity.
We have a God that loves us so much that: I pledge allegiance to the lamb.

We went to Bolivia and preached and sang in low German plautdietch. They had heard us on the radio.
Sang one song over and over in low German:
Come you sinners lost and lonely. Jesus blood can make the vilest sinner clean.
Come, ye sinners, lost and hopeless,
Jesus' blood can make you free;
For He saved the worst among you,
When He saved a wretch like me.
Refrain:And I know, yes, I know
Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean,
And I know, yes, I know
Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean.

Message by Mr Friesen.
4 weeks in Bolivia. So amazed that people would invite us to sing. Mom and dad were musicians. My wife and I both had a strong call to missions as children. We felt God wanted us there. Came back to go to Bible school. We got called to Shipyard Belize to establish a church and school. God impressed upon us that we needed to minister in low German. Agatha started translating songs into low German. They sang on the radio in low German to some 40,000 listeners. They need the gospel in low German. Desperately needed.
12 year old girl Terri was babysitting her baby brother. She went out of the house. Then she saw smoke coming out of the house. She rushed into the house to rescue her baby brother. It was hard to pull him out from under the rafters. But she got him out. Why did she do it? "I heard my brother cry!"
How many people do you hear crying? What do you do about it? Are you responding?
Do you see what's most important in the eyes of God?
Mk 12:28 Jesus sums up the whole law: The LORD our God is the one and only LORD.
You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'

The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

Others will know you are Jesus' disciples when they see your love. How do we do that?
Matth 25 you visited the lonely and fed the hungry.

There are neighbors here that need love. Recently one life was lost right here in this community.
There are so many ways to show love to your neighbor.

I hope your service starts when you leave this place.

Shawn O'Kelly heard a mother of 5 was going hungry. He bought 3 bags full of groceries and delivered them. When the small child that opened the door saw him he called his mom to come quickly. "Jesus brought us food!"

If we gave 10% of our money to the church and all our love to others, there would be no hungry people.

How long has it been since you heard someone crying? Perhaps it's time.

Song: Each day I'll do a golden deed
By helping those who are in need
My life on earth is but a span
And so I'll do the best I can
Life's evening sun is sinking low
A few more days and I must go
To meet the deeds that I have done
Where there will be no setting sun
While going down life's weary road
I'll try to lift some traveler's load
I'll try to turn the night to day
Make flowers bloom along the way

Mission conference Austin

CSSM will become One Hope Canada. They had a fabulous year at Valley View Bible Camp this year. The horse program was very effective.

Chris and Cheryl Peters were in the Dominican Republic all summer.
Started going there with Green Valley Equipment in 2007 and been going there every year. Good jobs pay $7 a day. Maids get $1 a day. Not everyone has food every day. Building houses out there cost $700 per house.

When they graduate they get a small piece of land and they can grow 2 crops a year and support their families. 80% of women in some communities have HIV. Prostitution is legal. Most girls are pregnant by age 12.

1/2 of the children live in poverty. Sponsorships make a big difference in those villages.

Cultural shock for Jacqui 17 was overridden by the peace of knowing this is where God wanted me.

Got baptized in the ocean was her highlight. Ecstatic to be able to go. Got dengue fever. That was hard.

Jennifer: Want to go again. It was 40 degrees all summer.

Did hospital visitation. Hospitals don't provide food or bedding. Often a few patients became Christians. Cheryl lost 5 babies over the years. She was able to lead a woman (who had lost her baby) to Christ in DR hospital.

Went to visit a man in the men's ward who was comatose. The interpreter prayed for the man and he was healed.

The 40 degree heat was almost unbearable but the smiles and hugs made it all worthwhile. We lived in a gated community with armed guards and thieves were regularly shot with shotguns.

80% of the men are unemployed. The mission teaches them to work.

This last mission for 10 weeks was very challenging. He was teaching engine repair in DR. A course with no material trying to teach uneducated men how to repair engines. Very challenging. Also taught ethics.

Who is the queen in your home? The wife. Who is the king? The man. Who is the king of kings? Jesus. Men should model Jesus in the home. Jesus came to serve. Men ought to serve their wives.

Appreciate that we can share here. It was hard but willing to do it again.

God is good always. Open the eyes of my heart.

The Steinbach youth group went to Mexico through YUGO missions. Need to share Jesus. Evangelism. Reach out across the border. They need groups to create an event. Events draw people. The churches of Mexico request these teams to help them impact their communities. They learn from the teams that come in. Children's ministries
Soccer ministry to boys and girls. Go twice a day. The kids cling to us.
Going there is an easy place to share Christ. Let's go and share Christ here and there.
Women's ministry is very effective. They did a foot washing and ladies came to Christ.
Sports ministry was so powerful. All the guys prepared sermons and testimonies. All the participants were changed for life. There is now a different awareness.

We were there two years ago and God put us on the same soccer field and the community gang leaders said they would start going to church.
Safety is covered. We need to disciple. Jesus wasn't safe. When we go into uncomfortable territories God can change us and those around us. Let's mobilize our kids to go out make a difference. Our youth are showing the way. That's exciting!
Youth get 15-20 hours of preparatory training before leaving.
Dave was the Designated Old Guy (DOG) drove the big motorcoach bus. Through the narrow streets of the city. Shared his story. Cancer. Scared. Peace. Shared the gospel. Connected with people.

Curtis. This was his second trip. Scared spitless to share God's story. It was a blast to do this.

Allie. Her second trip. Maximum we had 12 kids at the site. That was hard. Would have liked to have more kids.  We had 24 people trying to teach those kids.

We worked with the churches. One of the kids on the trip had the opportunity to win a provincial championship but chose to go on this trip. Amazing!

Phase 12 Thai ministry

Www.EasTview.org
Phase 12 had 2 phases
1 training
2 travel to Thailand
Romans 12
Training in Falcon Lake
Team building exercises
Small group sessions
Worship time
5 leaders each mentored 2 students
Competed to not be last
Living conditions in Thailand were not what we are used to.
We shared and became vulnerable. Did a foot washing. That was emotional but it helped us support each other.
Spiritual gifts thinking was helpful.
As a leader it took a few days to adjust being with them 24,7
Really built a solid team.

Thailand
1st impressions. Why am I sweating? Went straight into a church service. Were welcomed.
Why is everything so smelly? Embrace the sweat.
Pick up kids from the slum. Houses built out of scraps.
Stayed at the lighthouse. On the 3 rd floor. So very very hot. 1 bathroom to share. 1 squatty and a hose on the wall.
Our days varied a lot. Start off with donuts from the market. 4ish do kids ministry. Ended the day in small groups.
Worked with Bethal church and Lighthouse.
Worked with the Hope Centre a youth ministry centre. Louise asked me to share my testimony. Shared how mom encouraged her to love her enemies. A handicapped girl in the audience really connected. 3 girls in the audience accepted Christ that day. I realized what a wonderful mom I have.

Video of the trip. Working with slum kids. Playing with them. Carrying them.
Doing touristy things
Teaching English to the kids.
Eating Thai food.
Enjoying the ocean.

Jeanette. Planning the English camp. Cory asked her to share the story of Jesus. Did a lot of worrying about what to say. It went well. Had to trust God for what to say.
One night went to an HIV family. The dad was dying. They prayed for his healing and he was healed. They still have lots of struggles.
Church for the Thais is a new and fresh thing. They eagerly share their faith. We grew from this experience. Bought a Bible and started reading it daily.
Need to learn not to be so selfish.
The Thai people have simplified their lives to be grateful for everything. The youth group is really dynamic there now. The new believers 2 years ago are now dynamic leaders of the church. They have really grown.
Get the book of stories that we prepared for you.

Cory
There were so many experiences we had. Watching the EasTview kids sharing the gospel every day all day. To see them share their faith. That was the highlight of the trip.
1st day Louise took 2 people to a factory to witness in the middle of Asia. Can you preach?
In cell groups the students shared  voluntarily whenever the opportunity came up. There is a new generation that loves God  enthusiastically.
To have a trusting relationship where we put others first. Christ sacrificed his life for us, now he trusts us to put Him first.
We are in the top 2% of wealth. This summer we witnessed the bottom.
It's about loving God wherever we are. To be moved by him to reach others. Your prayers made a big difference.
Tell people about Jesus. We are blessed and we have a responsibility to share.
I hope that stimulates you to bless others.

The Meeting House Oakville

Matt - the lead pastor is 30ish? 14th site opens today in Brantford. Katie attends in Ottawa.
Starting a series on modern family today. Not the tv show.
www.theMeetingHouse.com

http://m.youversion.com/events/268685

The vision of Jesus for the Church is that those who have left family and possessions to follow Jesus will receive things back even in the present age – a new and ever-enlarging family of their fellow-disciples, with homes open to them wherever they go. ~ N.T. Wright

Family is one of the metaphors Jesus uses. This series will:
1. Focus on family
2  singleness of Jesus
3. Singleness of Paul
4. Diversity in harmony
5. Hot seat Sunday

Ecclsia the gathering of the family of God. Church means gathering together of the people of the spiritual.

Family is supposed to have loyalty love safety security.
Brady bunch. All in the Family. There are some wild examples of family.
Paul wrote to 1Timothy 3.14 get back to church. You are called to community that rallies around.
Matt12.46-50
The Bible pictures the "church" as a... nation, race, body, bride, temple, family

Crowds are people that are interested. But not committed. Religious practices and religious pedigree do not make us a family. It takes committed people to be Jesus's family. Jesus pointed to the committed and said they are my brothers and sisters because they are living out the will of God. Jesus points out that women are included in his group of disciples.

How does this impact us? Peter and the disciples were always worried about which thrones they would sit on in the new kingdom.
When you follow Jesus you will get 100 x as many homes and when you die you'll get the cherry on top of eternal life.

Take out: share a meal
Adjust the experience of what it means to be a church. A list can become legalism. We need examples to inspire us to follow.

Kimmy and Fred are here to talk family. Fred: Connected to home church. Kimmy has a bunch of stories. Kimmy is an elder. Fred now gets supper at Kimmy's house. He does the dishes.

Go for lunch and invite others to join the family meal.

Now it's your time to sign up for a home church. Arrange a meal. Invite someone for lunch today. Every week we get together to meet family of Jesus. Get together with someone you don't know. We are family because of Jesus. We share communion because of Jesus. Reflect and celebrate.

I will exalt you. You are my God. My hiding place.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Musical grandchildren

60th anniversary of George and Maria Wiebe.
Interview by the grandchildren:
Where did you learn: If you don't have time to do it right the first time how will you have time to do it again?
Grandma did you have other dreams besides marriage? Wanted to have cows to milk.
One year of dating once a week. Went to the weddings in a horse and buggy with wooden spokes on the wheels.
Grandpa did you have any other dreams? No.
How old were you when your first child was born? 43 How old were you when your youngest child was born? 90. How did you manage raising 13 children?
We had $1,000 and got a one month working permit.  In 3 years got Canadian citizenship.
What do you love most about each other? The love she he has for God.
How do you keep married for 60 years? Always make everything right before going to bed.

Grandchildren sing: You are my sunshine.

Milton Loewen: moved to Arborg in the same year. The Wiebes have been a real blessing to us.
They drew their strength from the Lord. They made simple vows 60 years ago.
King David recognized that he needed to praise the Lord. How long is your list of blessings? We are getting older. David prayed that God would keep him in old age. Praise God more all the time.
God will guide us. We will flourish in old age. Ps 91 the Lord is my refuge.
God's hand is over you. May God richly bless you!
Kids Anna Susan Anna Peter Marie Jake Tina George Helen Margie Nettie Abram Abe Johnny Martha plus 10 spouses children and grandchildren = 106-4 in the family.

Riverton Community Service

This service today is in memory of pastor Don who passed away recently.
Unity and diversity. People telling their faith stories. God's Word in many languages. 1st Corinthians 12:12-13 Romans 12:3-5
English French Ukrainian Icelandic Spanish German

Hymn: The love of God.
Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade to write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.
Oh for grace to trust him more

Come thou fount of every blessing.

Faith story Menno Friesen
Sharing our faith walk should be an encouragement to you. Grew up in a wonderful home. Parents tried to install biblical values. I rebelled trying to do my own thing. Called Christianity a crutch. I wanted fire insurance for protection from the fries of hell. Was in several accidents and came out of it alive even though we got soaked in gasoline. Tried to hide during thunderstorms. In 72 went hunting and prayed that if God existed he would send a moose to him without taking another step. A moose came straight at him and when the moose was less than 50' away he finally had the gun loaded and dropped the moose. God said this is nothing for me. You will see greater things. From that day on I've served the Lord. It took some struggles to die to self. Do you really love me? Jesus asked. My life changed so dramatically. I became a new creation. God was making all mankind his friends. God said go and share the good news.

Enjoy your faith walk. You are a new creation. It's wonderful and we have heaven to look forward to. When my vitals stopped a few years ago I had a taste of heaven. The angels were with the doctor and staff that day.

Hecla pastor John: in volunteering with Siloam I have realized there are lots of needs. Today's offering is for the Riverton Food Bank. It is not government funded. Your donations keep it going. 50 families need this every week. You can also volunteer.

Riverton Lutheran church choir: A wonderful savior is Jesus my Lord.
Oh come angel band and bear me away in your snowy wings to my immortal home.

Children's feature: A sheep story. Little lamb what are you doing out there by yourself? I have a shepherd that looks after me but I ran away and got hurt and scared. Then my shepherd called and I was so happy to respond. I heard all the wolves howling and when I heard my shepherds voice I responded so happily. Now I'm happy to be in the fence my shepherd built. Jesus is the good shepherd who looks after us. He loves you. Jesus loves me this I know. The Bible tells me so.

Special Music: Willie Nelson song. That Bible on the table. Dad would read to us from the family Bible. I can see us sitting round the family and hear my mother softly singing rock of ages cleft for me. If we only had more Bibles on the family table.

Thrift Shop story: Luanna Friesen. A black garbage bag. Could contain the remnants of a life well lived. I work as a volunteer. I'm swiss. Amish. I never met a perhogie till I moved to Manitoba. The thrift shop is what keeps me busy. I belong to Christ you belong to Christ I belong. I bring hope to the world. 34 years ago Ruben and I were invited to join the thrift shop start up. We served on the board for 20 years. Volunteered there for 40 hours a month bridging the gap between the black garbage bag and hope.

Special Music: His Church song by Ruth Dyck and daughter. Be encouraged it is His church. The cornerstone is in place. It's God's church. Not yours not mine.

Faith Story: young man's story: The Crazy Farmer. Wanted to do things differently. By hand. He seeded each seed by hand and watered it all by hand. Even seed that was planted many years ago. He never gave up. God is like that, caring for each of us and never giving up hope. Theology is trying to understand the logic of God. Jesus gave himself and died for us. Let's sing Amazing Grace.

Music Ministry: Amazing Grace.  Sam & Barb

Closing and Prayer: Dwight Plett
We have seen people working together and we are having potluck
Closing song Jesus loves me sung in all the languages simultaneously.

The essentials of church. Worship

www.EasTview.org
Pastor Dave Ens.
In 42 years I may have attended 1,400 church services. Why? What are the things that make the wheel go round?
Take a spoke out of the wheel and it loses integrity.
1Tim 2.1 First of all then... refers to something before this. Keep the church on track.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
Paul is challenging us.
Mark 12.30 Love the Lord and your neighbor goes together.
Where does it flow from?

1st you need to worship God. What's the chief end as humans. To glorify God and enjoy him forever.
How you understand God depends on your understanding of God. Get worship right. They had all kinds of arguments in the early church. Worship had to get right.
Presentation and order is not important. Entertainment is not worship. The church can't compete in the entertainment world. Each episode of 'Thrones' costs $6 million dollars to produce.
Does my worship pull me out of this world? Or do I find something bigger. Experience know and appreciate God who is so much bigger than I can imagine.
When we worship we are all at the same place at the foot of the cross.
God's love sustains us. Of the 1400 times I've been in church Psalm 27:4 behold the beauty of the Lord.
1Tim 2.1-9 the Lord our God and savior wants everyone to be saved.
When we get threatened we retreat. Paul wants us to reach out.
The church needs to be salt and light but FIRST OF ALL get your worship right.
Transcend our pressures and fears. Worship is an essential spoke in the wheel.
Read Scripture together to worship God. Rev. 5 fall down and worship.

What is working in the kingdom of God?

Mark 2.1,12
Falcon Lake Church
Pastor Brian Hamilton
What is easier, tell him he is forgiven or tell the paralyzed man to get up and walk?
Jesus was back home in Capernaum. Jesus was making a huge impact. News spread quickly. Soon there was a crowd at the door spilling out unto the street. People at the windows trying to see and hear Jesus. 4 men showed up with a physically handicapped friend. This is strange for that era. Handicapped people were mostly ignored. These friends carried the paralytic. They could not get through the door so they climbed up and chopped a hole in the roof so they could lower the man to the feet of Jesus!
Would I be willing to do that? These men are a good example to us.
1. They were people focused and willing to be inconvenienced. Could they have been the 1st row? Yes They were healthy men.
They had to repair the roof afterwards. Be concerned about others more than about ourselves.
2. They had a spirit of cooperation. One might have been able to haul him up the roof and drop him at Jesus' feet. Jesus could have healed him of the concussion too. We all need each other. We have different gifts but as we work together the kingdom gets built.
3. Conviction. These men were determined to reach Jesus. That determination meant victory and healing to their friend. That determination causes church growth. James Corbett was a boxing star. How do you get to the top? Fight one more round.
4. They knew that the most important thing for their friend was to be laid at the feet of Jesus. Will we disturb others too much. Thank you God for people willing to dig holes in roofs. People willing to bring friends to Jesus.
Imagine what God can do if we all become willing like the 4 friends to bring people to Jesus.
Come back to the cross and say Lord forgive me.
See yourself in the story to be led of the Lord and bring others to the feet of Jesus.
That can only be done in the power of God.
Let's pray.
Come thou fount of every blessing.

All People's Church

Pastor Brian Hamilton
Communion
Luke 22.7
John 17
I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me.
The essence of the Lord's table is unity.
Paul was scolding the early church for creating disunity. We need to be brought to complete unity.
Nova Scotia was as beautiful as ever. We felt belonging with the family. When parents die some people feel like orphans.
have always felt secure in his family. His Mom wrote a letter to Brian every week since he left home at age 18. Last week she gave it to him in person. (She's 81 now)
Mom provided a package of goodies every month. She kept reminding him of home and family.
God has placed eternity in our hearts. That's how God made us.
Jesus left us a message to celebrate the Lord's table. His message to us is that He loves us. Jesus prayed for our protection.
When you pick up your communion cup and bread think
How much Jesus loves you.
We are significant in Jesus's eyes.
We've created so many things to make us feel significant. When you participate this morning remember that Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself.
Mom was always concerned about him. Communion reminds us of God's presence.
Jesus said I'm leaving for your benefit. I'm sending the Holy Spirit to be with you all the time.
Jesus wants a close relationship. Rev 3 Jesus says I stand at your door and knock. Come near and eat with me. There is a safe place. The Lord's table is A care package from our home in heaven to remind us of his love. Remember Jesus today.
Celebrate God's presence today. Thank God Jesus forgave you.
This is my body BROKEN for you.
This cup is the new covenant.

Harry Funk and family

Harry Funk and family at All People's Church in Falcon Lake.
The 5 couples shared one cottage this weekend. Last night they had no hot water. Emergency repair and they are all here sparkling clean.
Psalm 23 is a favorite. Husband was a teacher and then a pastor in 4 churches. Where to retire was a hard decision. Set aside a day of fasting and prayer. The next day we both knew that Portage La Prairie. Now working with needy boys ministry.
Song:
Here we stand at a crossroads again. We turn our hearts to what is yet to come. We know you will lead us Lord. Prepare our hearts to risk again to lead a life of fruitfulness.
Like a shepherd God protects us. John 9. Jesus came to give us abundant life. He gives us strength. Reach out and experience the breadth and depth of God's love. Glory to God through all millennia.
Song duet
He leads me by his hand he leads me through Jordan or wherever. His faithful follower I will be.
Solo by Harry
There has never been a friend like Jesus. We walk hand in hand through this pilgrim land. Let me recommend this friend so faithful.
Group song
Because the Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need. I will never be afraid because he is close beside me.
Reading
Our shepherd gives us nourishment of every kind. Psalm 59 I will sing of your strength
Solo
Your love is life to me. My truest longing my deepest need. Without it I don't know where I'd be. Your love is life to me.
Ladies Quartet
Holy Words long preserved. Ancient words will guide us home. They will change us they will change you. They resound with God's own heart.
Reading
Shout for joy.
Song
Harry with the Ladies Quartet
God will carry the lambs close to His heart.
When I pause in God's presence I enter God's cathedral. There are times when I can't feel his presence because doubts fill me.