O Happy Day

I am writing to you from the Shores in Canada's only desert. It is plus 2o in the shade and the sky is clear from here to the gates of heaven. I am in one of my many offices in Osoyoos. Today it is the Shores restaurant. A great cup of coffee and delicious home made pie - mmmmmm! I'd tell you it was lemon morange but I can't spell morange. I am working on Sunday's message, while hoping for an opportunity to witness for our precious Savior. I love where the Lord has planted us. There are many incredible people here... one of them is Pat.

I just dropped into his ranch about an hour ago. I was with him and his wife just days before she passed away.... she had called for the "cowboy preacher" to come and read out of the good book for her. I was pleased to do so and was rewarded by being able to pray with her. A week later I was doing her service up in Rock Creek at the Fair Grounds. That was last year and today Pat and I talked about what cowboys love to talk about - cattle - good horses and ranching. As I listened to my old friend I was pleased to see the light in his eyes sparkle as he told me the secrets of ranching in our desert land. As always with these type of guys I gleaned a little more knowledge about how things are to be done.

To whosoever reads this - have a great day - and please give the heavens more than just a pass'n glance.

Ed (whosoever) Brouwer

Bible Junkie

I have a confession to make…. I’m a junkie …. A bible junkie
It all started—I was sitting in the park and I saw a little black book under the bench I picked it up and thumbed through it — it was a pocket size New Testament I thumbed through it some more and then I did it I read a verse

Don’t ask me why though because Lord knows I didn’t want to.

I read a verse it was in Matthew … within a couple of days I was through Mark and Luke and heading toward John. It was just the start though—I went on to bigger things I read a full King James with concordance. I went out and got about 8 different bibles I stashed them every where, my drawers, my car and the water cooler at work. I couldn’t go thru the day without the Word….. that’s addict slang for the Bible.

Well I was doing ok….. but then one weekend I went to the mountains and I forgot my bible…. Its hard to talk about now, I got the shakes and broke out in a cold sweat I might not have made if I hadn’t found a boy scout who read me John 3:16 for 4 hours straight.

Well pretty soon my so called friends found out about it…. I was reading a lot but I wasn’t blind…. all of a sudden I didn't get invited to those kinds of parties anymore. The college newspaper voted me most likely to be come a nun.

It didn’t bother me though…. it really didn’t bother me until a couple of months ago this girl I liked her dad said he didn’t want his daughter hanging around with my kind of guy … my kind of guy like I had a disease or something … I don’t know how he found out about — he must of seen my tracks.

Didn’t stop me though I just got deeper I started pushing … I started getting other people hooked. Yea I know what your thinking…. I’m a real sico…. a real scum But Hey I’ve been to doctors and they couldn’t help they put me on dosages of awake and it just put me to sleep

I didn’t know where to turn ,my friends couldn’t help, my girl left me... then one day I slowed down and instead of just reading the Bible I started believing it and as if believing wasn’t enough I started living it all of a sudden I realized I didn’t have a problem anymore because it didn’t matter what my friends or my girl’s dad or the doctors thought of me... alls that matters is that Jesus loves me and that right there is so neat.

I’m proud not to be just a bible junkie but a Jesus junkie I’m hooked but I’m hooked on the real thing. thank you.

My Dinner Guest

Joseph: described Matthew "a righteous man".

I’d ask him how he felt when he found out that the girl he was engaged to was pregnant not by him

Humiliated?  Embarrassed?  Angry?

Did he have trouble believing Mary when she said God was the baby's father?

The Bible says he loved both God and Mary, and it seems he really struggled with the decision of what to do.  

he was a "good man" by his decidion to "divorce her quietly" rather than humiliate her publicly.

I admire his faith - come on think about it - to believe the message of a dream... that he should accept the baby in Mary's womb as the Son of God and share with her the humiliation and endure with her the small town gossip…..   take her into his home, protect her, care for her and her baby, and that he should raise "God's Son," as his own child.

Then I’d like to talk to him about the fact that their baby, was born in an animal shelter because "there was no room for them in the inn."

Why did he have to go to an inn in the first place?

After all, Bethlehem was Joseph's home town, why wouldn't he and Mary have been able to stay with family or friends?

What made them so unwelcome in their homes?    

· because the scandal of Mary's pregnancy?          

· because Joseph continued to love and care for her?

It seems Christmas cost Joseph his family and friends.

Then the fact that they had to flee for their lives to Egypt leaving behind their home, business everything they had!  

Think of Joseph having to take his family into a foreign country where they didn't understand the language or the culture.

I really respect Joseph being willing to pay the price of bringing Jesus into his world and for that matter into ours.

Joseph paid a price that actually relates to each of us as fellow believers. He cared for Mary while Christ was being formed in her.   He set aside his ambitions and desires in order to nurture, train, and develop this the child of God. His greatest task and his real success was not in how many tables and chairs he built, but in nurturing and developing Jesus so that He could fulfill His mission.

When I look at Joseph’s life (very few people do) I see that none of us have been chosen to do our own thing.  Rather we are to develop the Jesus-life in others.

Think about it, Joseph accepted the responsibility to care for, protect, and nurture the life of God's Son.

Is that not to be our primary focus - our life the task:

Developing, Disciplining, Influencing, Training, Protecting, Nurturing, Equipping ……. people for the kingdom of God.

Our life task is developing the Jesus-life in those with whose lives and futures we’ve been entrusted.

In closing please consider the Cost of Christmas... 

· What will it cost you to bring Jesus into your world?

· What will it cost you to bring Jesus into your family,  workplace, your circle of friends and acquaintances?

It may not involve public humiliation or relocating to another country, but than again it might!       

                                                                                                                       

It may involve some misunderstanding, some discomfort, some sacrifice, some changes in your life. Certainly it will involve less of you and more of God.

It may involve less of what you can do and achieve and more of what you can develop and nurture in others.

Once again God is looking for Josephs to accept the responsibility for nurturing, disciplining, and developing the life of Jesus in others.

I encourage you to do as Joseph did and give yourself to developing the Jesus life in others.

We Are Moving... to God knows where!

Due to the "sick air" in the building where we house our Ministry Offices we have concluded our lease. We are going to be completely out of there by the 12th of December. We will for a short time be using our home office on Sidley Mountain Road. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Our prayer is that we will be able to locate a building that will be able to not only house our offices but our Sunday meeting area as well.

"Where Does The Time Go?"

I'm working from home today (dial up)and things are a bit slow. However, we have been off line too long. It is already December and we are only 22 days away from another Christmas.

Our fellowship is entered in the Osoyoos Christmas Parade and we are anticipating an opportunity to witness for God, our God. On Sunday we are inviting folk to join us for a Christmas Continental Breakfast.

I'd really appreciate your prayers for a young man (16) Nathan who is in need of God's healing power. He has been diagnosed with cancer and is presently in Calgary Children's Hospital.

Sad News

We were sorry to hear that Pastor Wes Mohninger passed away yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

We're Back!

We are back at it! We've been very busy fighting the forest fires that raveged BC this summer. Sorry we've been silent on the blog.

We'll try to make up for it...

More CANADA DAY PARADE

A few more pics

CANADA DAY 2009

The Yard Sale Was Awesome!

We were blown away by the help from our fellowship. What an incredible bunch of people. Judi and I are blessed beyond words! We were able to raise over 690.00. Whow! Thanks again to the Gathering Place family.

Imagine

This past week has been very moving for me. It started out when Casey and I reviewed a little audio clip. I had heard this before but I found I was instantly in a state of weepiness.

I wanted more than anything to be the one preaching those wonderful statements. “Are you going to the revival?” “What church?” “It doesn’t matter.”

Imagine God moving in Osoyoos—not just in a church but in all of the town. I long for my sons and daughter to see—to experience—to be a part of a God ordained REVIVAL.

I am very excited about what God has done in the past and certainly as to what He is doing right now. However, I hunger for more! There has got to be more! This can’t be all that there is, God our God says He wants to do more than our minds can imagine.

Influenced By C.S. Lewis "Mere Christianity"

Those visiting our fellowship should be warned that we offer no help to anyone who is as they say, “church shopping”. If you are hesitating between two Christian "denominations", you will not learn from us whether you ought to become an Anglican, a Baptist, a Pentecostal or a Presbyterian. This is intentional (even in the list I have just given the order is alphabetical). We are not better or worse than any other Christian church in Osoyoos, just different.
There is no mystery about our own position. We are very ordinary people who are in relationship with an extra ordinary God. We are part of Life Church International, but we are not trying to convert anyone to our own position. We have the utmost confidence that God, our God is able to direct you to the fellowship of believers that will best suit your path in life.

Sad News

Our dear friends and co-pastors Keith and Lynne Jones have sold their home in Osoyoos and are moving to Greenwood. This is mainly for health reasons but I got to say they will surley be missed.

We are going to continue working together through The Gathering Place and Sidley Mountain Cowboy Church, but they were so involved in our Main Street mionistry that God will have to bring four people in to replace them. This is not a "blessed subtraction" this couple has won my heart and respect and I will miss my time with them.

We will have a "Going Away" get together for the Jones in late April.

Surprise Visit

Well today was just made a little brighter.... Ethan Wolfe brought his mommy in for a visit. It was a cool spring day and Ethan had taken his mom for a walk. No walk is really complete without \a quick stop in at The Gathering Place on Main. ;-)

Thanks little buddy.

Congrats!

Pastor Casey and Elizabeth got married March 21st. It was an awesome time. We really enjoyed visiting with friends and family. We are trusting God to watch over Casey and Liz.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for them.

A Further Word by Dave Wilkerson

If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?"Recently I felt compelled to send out an URGENT message warning of an impending great calamity - such that will cause even God's elect to tremble.One Bishop asked, "Is there no further word: How should the righteous respond to such a word?"

I can only answer by sharing what the Holy Spirit is speaking to my own heart and what I am to do. I shared that I was led in a practical way to lay aside a month's supply of food - because I have witnessed the panic in the wake of terrorism. That has to be a personal word for every individual.

This is what I hear the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart concerning my own spiritual response to impending calamity. It is simply this -"STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD."

And Moses said to the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you today.The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace" Exodus 14:13-14

This is the attitude of faith in the face of calamity.

What could Israel do on the brink of the Red Sea? Pharaoh's army is pressing in, mountains are on both sides, and there is an impossible sea ahead. The flesh cries, "Do something!"The flesh cries hopelessness. Can God's people dry up the sea? Level a mountain? Fight a great army without having weapons? They are in what appears to be a dreadful, frightening situation. God's people tremble - and in this hour of trembling comes a word from God.

In essence:"Stand still. Fear not. This is the hour of salvation. You are going to witness the pulling down of the foundations of a world power. But in the same hour, I will fight for you. Hold your peace - be still and see my works."

Beloved, my warning is just one voice among many who are saying the same thing. We may all tremble for a season, but those who truly know God's Word will be quickly comforted by the Holy Spirit. We will be baptized with a great peace - a supernatural quietness - which will be a tremendous witness to the fearful multitudes.

In Christ, David Wilkerson Posted by David Wilkerson on 3/09/2009

Urgent Message from David Wilkerson

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world. AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.

For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires-such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting-including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God's wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3).God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, "God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jeremiah 18:11-12).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, "Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire).fire.burning wind.will be the portion of their cup." Why? David answered, "Because the Lord is righteous" (v. 7).

This is a righteous judgment-just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah's generation.WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO?

WHAT ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE?
First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We "flee like a bird to a mountain." Or, as David says, "He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven-his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men" (v. 4). "In the Lord I take refuge" (v. 1).

I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God's righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take-trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you.

Do with the message as you choose.
God bless and keep you, In Christ,DAVID WILKERSON Posted 3/07/2009

Spiritual Health Check

Happy moments…..PRAISE GOD
Difficult moments…..SEEK GOD
Quiet moments…..WORSHIP GOD
Painful moments…..TRUST GOD
Every moment…..THANK GOD

You Gotta Love This Judge

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the coming Easter and Passover holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days.The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring,"Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."

The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.'Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned.

You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture! (forwarded to us)

The Bible Does Not Say....

"Stay ye there for between the walls of this building and they will come unto your potluck dinner" … it says, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (NIV) Mark 16:15