Kid History: "Healthy Food" Episode 6 (Kids Tell, Adults Act) True Stories

Our kids are really into these. This one is the funniest to them....

Friday's message

Here are my sermon notes from the installation of the new minister in Thunder Bay URC on I Timothy 4:12-16. ^"12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. ¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (NIV).

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ: Have you ever noticed how there are two ways of saying something? There are two ways of saying something. For instance, you can say to someone in a kind voice: “Have a nice day!” Or you can say it sarcastically: “Have a nice day!” As women, you may look at what someone is wearing and say (as a compliment): “well that looks nice.” Or you can say, “Well that looks nice” (but not as a compliment). There are two ways of saying something.

This is also true in the ministry. There are two ways of looking at your calling and you say with awe: “Why has God called me to this? Why has God put me here?” Or you can say in despair: “Why has God called me to this? Why has God put me here?”

There are two ways of looking at your congregation. You can say, “I don’t deserve this congregation” (in awe). OR you can say: “I don’t deserve this congregation” (with a sigh). Life can be very exciting in the ministry or life can be very stressful. It can be very encouraging or very discouraging. This is certainly true b/c Paul says to Timothy that he was called to preach in season and out of season.

Certainly we all want all our ministers to say: “I don’t deserve to be here today”. We all are miserable sinners. It is amazing that God could call us to himself. It certainly is more amazing that He calls us men to serve in the ministry! But there are times in the life of the minister and in the congregation when we need to recapture the zeal and rediscover our strength. Those days come in every way and situation.

What makes an effective Christian ministry? How can this work be carried out effectively? This is what we’re going to consider this evening from these words in I Timothy 4 with the theme: “THE EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY” with 4 points....

Read the rest by clicking here

Changing seasons

I'm Proud of our Youth :)

My name was on the list on Sunday to visit the nursing home for our church's bi-monthly afternoon service.  One Sunday a month this service is done by adults, couples and families from the church.  The service consists of a welcome, singing, message, more singing and a farewell.  The other Sunday service every month is done by our youth.

This past Sunday was supposed to be led by one of our men, and attended by families, couples, etc.  But the leading man needed to be out of town at the last minute, so my son, Luke, stepped up to do the leading, while another man graciously did the message.  We had a number of young people in attendance and what I witnessed brought tears to my eyes.

For years I was on the "other side" - I was one of the youth who did the service.  But 2 days ago I was given the opportunity to see a few of our young people 'in action' at the nursing home.  I saw my son up front, leading.  I saw young people bending over older bodies to help them find the right pages in the song book.  I saw the down-side of growing older being overlooked - the drool, the drooping heads, the glazed-over eyes, the blank smiles, the meaningless chatter - overlooked by these strong, vibrant young people as they leaned over to give a much needed smile or a pat on the back.  I saw young men watching for a chance to give their chair up for a latecomer, even getting up to direct the elderly to a vacant chair.  I heard songs of hope and salvation being sung, giving an opportunity for the gospel to shed its light, giving comfort and joy to those who've already embraced the gospel.  I heard a message of God's love going out in all its power - armed with the Word of God which is living and active, able to reach through wherever the Spirit has intent.  I was touched and encouraged and made to look upward to the God who can take young people and make them a powerful force for good in a broken world.

If you have the opportunity, encourage the youth in your life.  Encourage them to put aside the inconvenience of having to give up their 'own' time to serve.  Church leaders, encourage your youth!  Let them know that you're behind them - even that you'll stand beside them!  So many of today's youth are completely apathetic to the needs around - yet completely in-tune to their own 'needs'.  Let's get behind our church youth, get to know them, open our homes to them, be a friend and mentor to them so that they can be better equipped to use their energy and time for things of eternal value.

(ps - the pics are all stock photos, courtesy of the internet)

Open House @ the Church!

 The day finally arrived!  The day we'd been anticipating!  The day our evangelism committee had laboured over, planning from scratch, attending to details, designating responsibilities, shopping for supplies, setting up, - really, just putting their heart and soul into this event.  Their desire was not just to give our church folk a fun afternoon together, but to draw some people from the community - people who need the Lord but may never be drawn to a church for the sake of worship.  So, they wondered how we could draw these people in, get to know them a little, perhaps plant a seed or more, and give the Spirit fodder to work with in their hearts?  Well, we've recently expanded our building, surely putting on a show for the whole neighbourhood as the work progressed.........so why not monopolize on their curiosity and invite them to see what we've done?  Great idea!

 And to make the event celebratory and fun, as well as informative and God-directed, the committee set up a number of different stations in our new foyer.  There was the cotton candy machine in the corner run by our young peoples group.......and me.......b/c I just couldn't leave it alone.  I mean, how fun is that?!!!

 There was a poster board of pictures of the work in progress.

 A welcome table right inside the doors.  The table featured our church's card, our brochure, outlining our statement of faith and what we believe as a church, some sermon CDs, and some books.

The sanctuary had a projector set up to play clips from Christianity Explored, where anyone could sit for a few minutes, or more, and watch.

 A beverage table, offering pop, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

 A Sunday School corner, with colouring pages and special pencils/erasers and the material used on display.

 More cotton candy :)

 A Cadets table, showing off some of the work they've done, as well as a do-it-yourself kite that any visitor could do themselves.  A Kingdom Seekers table was also there, sporting examples of their crafts over the years.

 Volunteers braved the cooler temps (though we really had a gorgeous day, with some very welcome sunshine) and held up signs, while also waving around cotton candy to draw people in :)

 The Cadets (with their fearless leader basking in the glow of his prestigious position.......) manned to popcorn machine, while eating their fair share and handing way too many bags to Yvetta....

 And Luke was there.

 The Committee had burned a number of CDs with Rich's recent sermon on John 3 - a simple - and yet never simple - explanation of the gospel in all its beauty and comfort and conviction.

 And Rich was there.  Seems our family like the cotton candy.  I won't even begin to talk about how much of it Corin ate. And don't ask me.  I'm trying to forget.....

 We also had lots of time to chat as a church family, enjoying each other's company, laughing, talking, eating, discussing, praying, helping - all the things that bind our group together.

 And we had a decent number of people from the community come in those front doors (though that's just Betty and Shane......;) - not as many as we would have liked, perhaps, but we know that the Spirit moves whom He will and we now pray that the seed sowed will reap a harvest of joy in time!

 A coupla little cuties :)

 And here is another Luke, also trying to hide behind his cotton candy......but well know it's you, Luke :)

And my beautiful friend, Michelle - beautiful inside and out, as she takes a turn with the newest member of our congregation - Lyla :)  As ladies we tend to fight over new babies...... :)

I feel like the excitement of this event is lasting - spurring us to pray for our community, making us more aware that they're out there, all around us every Sunday as we gather to worship.  Surrounding our building are people who need what we have - they desperately need our Saviour, our love, our care, our sacrifice of time and convenience for them.  For Him.  For His glory!  May our church foyer now be filled to overflowing with people, like us, who once were lost but became found by His grace!  Lets pray this way - and be willing to work towards it, that His kingdom may come and His Name be lifted high here in Winnipeg.

Thanks, Evangelism Committee!

The kids and the dawg....

Legislative Building - with Mom and Dad!

So, we finally visited the legislative building here in Winnipeg.  It was one of those things that we'd been told we'd enjoy, but I must admit I didn't think I would.  I mean, really?  Legislative building?  What could possibly be so interesting about that?

But then friends of ours from church here, Lisa and Beschier, lent us a book about the building.  And my interest was piqued!  It outlined how the building was designed by a masonic lodge member and almost everything has some sort of meaning - from the number of steps to the imagery and designs on the furniture to the star in the circle on the main floor central room.

The details in this place were just amazing!  And done without sparing cost - evident from the woodwork and the statues, and the carvings.

 And the Queen was there, stopping to chat and have her picture taken with Caleb.  ;)

 Contemplation......that brochure really held his interest.  No, he's not posing.  Certainly not.

                                                                          Love this scene!

                              Everything is made more fun when we can do it with visiting family!

                                              And when chocolate makes an appearance :)