Remembrance Day 2013

This is a day for remembering — remembering those who sacrifice their own security and safety to secure our freedom.  It is a day to remember that life is precious — that all of us are valuable — that we need each other — that we are called to be a people who look out for one another.  We want the best for the other person, and let me remind you that it is not that way in some parts of the world.

The reason we need a day for remembering is because sometimes our memories fail us.  We either loose touch with the reason behind the day, or we forget to uphold the truths, rights, and freedoms secured for us by those who went before us. We live in a land of hope and promise, and we take that for granted.

Hope can be described as a light shining in the darkness — a touch point that leads the way out of despair — encourages us on our journey — keeps us on track for the right outcomes.  When life gets difficult, we hold onto hope.  When accidents happen, we have hope that our medical teams will come to the rescue.  When the fires burn, we have hope the firefighters will extinguish the flames.  When disaster strikes, we have hope in the first responders to protect us.  And when enemies threaten us, we have hope that our troops will protect us.

As this is the year to honour our Korean War veterans, we think back to June 1950.  As the army from North Korea invaded the south, we heard the cry, “I hope someone will come to our rescue.”   We did, and the rescued people held onto a renewed hope.  While war is messy and creates other issues while solving some issues, Canadian troops have been a sign of hope to millions around the world.

1 John 3:16-18      We know what real love is because Jesus laid down his life for us. So we also ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has resources to help and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

You first responders and military of our society are the ones who lay down your lives for us, and we thank you deeply.  We encourage you in your task of serving and protecting our community.  You bring hope to troubled times.

This is a day for hope.  We hope that wars will cease to the ends of the earth.  We hope that we will continue to live in freedom.  We hope that there will always be someone to defend us when necessary.  We hope that any new conflict will end quickly.  We hope our own families will be able to get along.

We also hope that our health-care system will be there for us.  We hope that our environment hold out.  We hope that the sex-trade children in Thailand will have a better life.  We hope that factory workers in India will have a safe workplace.  We hope that the victims in the Philippines will get relief help.  And in true Canadian fashion, we need to take seriously how we can help these things happen.  We can be providers of hope in troubled times.

But, our hope must have a secure foundation in order to be real hope.  King David wrote:
Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
    but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.      Psalm 20:7

The prophet Isaiah commented:
Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.     Isaiah 40:30-31

When all else fails, and life seems to crumble around us...  When you are standing alone with nothing else on which to hold, nothing else in which to hope, you need something secure.

Again, Isaiah writes:
So the Lord is patiently waiting
    so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
    Blessed are those who wait for his help.
Isaiah 30:18

I am always reminded of the mission of Jesus, who at the beginning of his ministry, quoted these words:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
    that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
    and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.
Luke 4:18-19

Remembrance day should spur us on to love and good deeds – to be the kind of people who bring hope into a troubled world.

I will end with a prayer from apostle Paul:
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17     Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

Thanksgiving Macedonian Style

2 Corinthians 8 (ESV)

Encouragement to Give Generously

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, ² for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³ For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ⁴ begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints— ⁵ and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 

In the New Testament there appears to be no church more generous than the Macedonian church.  In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Paul tells us how their joy overflowed in rich generosity.  The encouraging thing for us is the circumstances from whence it came.  Paul explains that they were in the midst of severe affliction and extreme poverty.  And it was in these times that God gave them this overflowing joy that resulted in generosity.  Trials and suffering could not shake these believers because they didn’t care about material stuff.  Their secret was not in what belonged to them but to whom they belonged.  

Every one of us will also face trials and sufferings at some point in our lives.  And, just like the Macedonians, we must decide in whom or in what we will trust when they do arise.  So, let us look at three truths that the Macedonian believers teach us that will help us obtain the same joy and generosity they had in the midst of extreme poverty.

First, nothing can shake the joy of the generous.  Paul’s description of the Macedonian state of affairs should not be taken lightly – a severe test of affliction and extreme poverty.  These circumstances were more than minor setbacks.  Yet, God gave them the joy to not only make it through, but to give generously in the process.

Second, generosity flows from a heart of self sacrifice, not self preservation.  The motivation of giving is not to get, but instead, just like the Macedonians, it begins with our surrender to God and flows from his joy as we trust in him.

Third, biblical giving comes from grace, not the law.  A tithe, or 10%, is the biblical starting point for giving.  Jesus validated this in Matthew 23:23.  But, as the Macedonians showed us, their giving was a direct result of the joy they found in God’s grace, not from an obligation to give.  These verses model for us the response God is looking for when we look at our financial situation.  

Paul tells us that the Macedonians gave themselves first to the Lord.  In this same way we should approach our finances by first affirming, or re-affirming, our commitment to trust God’s promises.  And then we are told the Macedonians gave to others.  Their generosity was proof of the source of their joy.  In the same way, our giving echoes in what our hearts are trusting.

Regarding the USA Supreme Court and Marriage:

One solution is to remove "marriage" from the legal/government hands altogether. Give every type of couple the same legal rights and "sign up" at the local notary as a civil union of two people. If people want to be "married", find the faith group that sees things the way you do and get their clergy to perform the religious ceremony. Separation of church and state, I say! It's clear to me that many who come to the church to get married have no desire to submit to God's view anyway. And it's improbable that any whole society will agree on this issue -- unless forced. The role of government and the courts is to protect justice and freedom. Morality cannot be legislated.

Depend Upon Jesus

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Listen to the message at https://www.facebook.com/middlesackvillebaptistchurch

“Christ has set us free to live a free life!” Galatians 5:1 The Message

Depend Upon Jesus

Proverbs 3:5  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” 

John 14:1 “Trust in God; trust also in me.”

What does it take for you to trust someone…

What does it take for you to trust Jesus Christ?

Trust comes from deep knowledge and a conscious choice.

Deep Knowledge

John 10:27  “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they know me.”

John 8:32 “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 7:17 “If anyone chooses  to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

Conscious Choice

…you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking… Ephesians4:17

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

John 10:3 “He calls his own sheep by name and he leads them out.”

John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Daily Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and honour You as my Lord.  You are in control of all things.  I thank You that you are always with me and will never leave me nor forsake me. You are the only all powerful and only wise God.  You are kind and loving. I choose not to love the world nor the things in the world, and I crucify the flesh and all its passions. Thank You for the life I now have in Christ.  I ask You to fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I may say no to sin and yes to You. I declare my total dependence. I choose to believe the truth of God’s Word despite what my feelings may say.  I refuse to be discouraged; You are the God of all hope.  Nothing is too difficult for You.  I am confident that You will supply all my needs as I seek to live according to Your Word. I now take my stand against Satan and declare that the evil one cannot touch me.  I choose to put on the full armour of God so that I may be able to stand firm against all the devil’s schemes.  I submit my body as a living and holy sacrifice to You, Lord. By so doing I will be able to prove that Your will is good, acceptable and perfect for me.  In the name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Balance My Life

Listen to the message at https://www.facebook.com/middlesackvillebaptistchurch

“Christ has set us free to live a free life!” Galatians 5:1 Message

Balance My Life

“Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Ephesians 4:17 - 5:2

Balance My Life: Mind

Input = Output

…you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking… 4:17

Thoughts Matter

…to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self… 4:23

…we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.   2 Corinthians 10:5

Positive Reinforcement

…what is helpful for building up others according to their needs… 4:29

Balance My Life: Body

Nutrition

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?   1 Corinthians 3:16

Exercise

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?   1 Corinthians 3:16

Rest

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?   1 Corinthians 3:16

Balance My Life: Spirit

Sabbath Keeping

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20

“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”  Luke 6:5

Daily God Time

You were taught… to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 4:24

Meditation

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children…   5:1

 “I am tired of living in a way that looks exactly like people who do not have the Holy Spirit of God living in them.”  Francis Chan, Forgotten God

Acknowledge My Struggle

Acknowledge My Struggle

Part 2 of “Freedom is Possible”

April 28, 2013

Celebrate Recovery (Step One)  “I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.”

Why won’t I acknowledge it?

Fear of Consequences

Lying & Denying

Blaming Me & You

Acknowledge My Struggle

What causes it?

Genetic & Family History

Physical Conditions

Upsetting Life events

Spiritual Battles

Galatians 5:1 “Christ has set us free to live a free life.”

Ephesians 6:12

What are the consequences of it?

Confusion… v.15  “I do not understand what I do.”

Compulsion… v.17  “It is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.”

Guilt… v.18  “I know that nothing good lives in me.”

Frustration… v.18  “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”

Failure… v.19  “For what I do is not the good I want to do.”

 Despair… v. 24  “What a wretched person I am!”

What can be done about it?

Deepen my understanding of Jesus.  Romans 7:24-25

Deepen my dependence on the Spirit.  Galatians 5:16 

Deepen my connection with others.  James 5:16

Connect With Others (When You Feel Like Giving Up)

“Connect With Others”  April 21, 2013

Review: “When You Feel Like Giving Up”

Acknowledge My Struggle

Balance My Life

Connect With Others

Depend Upon Jesus

Connect With Others

Why?

How?

With Whom?

When?

Why connect with other?

We need each other!

Galatians 6:2  “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Romans 12:5  “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

How do we connect with others?

Open Up

Be a Friend

Be as honest as possible

Be as brief as possible

Be as caring as possible

Join a Group

Pray

Philippians 4:6-7  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.”

Mark 9:29  He replied,  “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

James 5:14-16  “Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each another and pray for each another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

How do I pray for someone?

“How can I ask God to bless you today?”

Be Brief

Be Specific

Be Confident

Be Sensitive

With whom should I connect?

Someone with whom you are comfortable.

When should I connect with others?

At any and every opportunity.