FREEDOM! Many see Christian freedom as freedom from sin, death, law, and the need to earn God’s favor by works. However, Christian freedom is not just freedom “from” it is much more it is freedom “for”, freedom for doing what’s right.
When we were still caught in sin, we weren’t able to please God, no matter how hard we tried. But now, in Christ, we are free to do what God desires, even what His law requires.
Yet, we don’t do this to earn God’s favor, rather in an attitude we respond this way for the favor already given in Christ.
Here’s the good news of your freedom in a nutshell: You are now free to do the right thing.
You are free to live your life for God.
You are now free to live the best possible life there is.
In Christ you have freedom from and freedom for.
Paul is quite specific in Galatians about what our Christian freedom is for. Galatians 5:13-14 For you’ve been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one law: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Did you catch that? Don’t use your freedom for your sinful nature (“the flesh” in Greek). Rather use it “to serve one another in love.”
The English misses the shocking irony of the Greek, which literally reads, “You were called to freedom , so use your freedom by becoming slaves to each other in love.”
Building great people, because great people build great families and great families build great communities.
To God be the glory!
To God be the glory!
Verse for Today
Our Team
Every Member a Minister
Reverend Ed & Judi Brouwer
Reverend Casey & Liz Brouwer
Trevor Caldecott - Treasurer
Reverend Ed & Judi Brouwer
Reverend Casey & Liz Brouwer
Trevor Caldecott - Treasurer
Places & Times
Sunday Morning Service
The Sonora Community Centre, 8505-68th Ave
Sidley Mountain Cowboy Church
Bridesville Community Hall
Last Sunday of the month at 7:00
Church Office
At various coffee spots in Osoyoos,
call 250-535-0777 to find Pastor Ed
Mailing Address:
Box 512, Osoyoos, B.C. V0H 1V0
The Sonora Community Centre, 8505-68th Ave
Sidley Mountain Cowboy Church
Bridesville Community Hall
Last Sunday of the month at 7:00
Church Office
At various coffee spots in Osoyoos,
call 250-535-0777 to find Pastor Ed
Mailing Address:
Box 512, Osoyoos, B.C. V0H 1V0
About Us
My wife (Judi) and I along with our son Casey and his wife Elizabeth are pastoring The Gathering Place in Osoyoos, British Columbia. We are helped in this ministry by Pastors Keith and Lynne Jones.
We are blessed of God to be in fellowship with the amazing people of this unique fellowship. We are humbled by the favor the Lord has shown us. We are loved, respected, honored and cared for by the brothers and sisters that we labour with. Each day is an awesome adventure. My family can testify without hesitation to the faithfulness of our God! We trust the pages of this blog will bless you. Look up... the best is yet to come!
We are blessed of God to be in fellowship with the amazing people of this unique fellowship. We are humbled by the favor the Lord has shown us. We are loved, respected, honored and cared for by the brothers and sisters that we labour with. Each day is an awesome adventure. My family can testify without hesitation to the faithfulness of our God! We trust the pages of this blog will bless you. Look up... the best is yet to come!
How You Can Support
We are a faith ministry and as such we rely on the regular support of those whom God has called to sustain us with their gifts and prayers.
Thank you for considering how you might be able to support our ministries through The Gathering Place. Although we are just the latest in the long line of willing servants, we thank God daily for the privilege He has given us to serve Him.
When you pray for us, volunteer to help us, financially support us or tell others about us, you are joining us in this ministry and becoming a part of what God is doing in the Okanagan Valley. We sincerely thank you for considering how you may choose to become involved.
Prayer Support As we seek to continue providing an environment where people can experience spiritual transformation and renewal we are asking for your help. One way to help support us is to commit to regularly pray for us.
Please pray for our staff and volunteers, asking God to give them the strength, wisdom and compassion they need to be effective in their particular fields of ministry.
Volunteer Support Volunteering to serve through The Gathering Place, either in Music Ministry, Youth Outreach, Children’s Ministry, Street Ministry, Cowboy Ministry, Counseling or as part of the Servants Team is another way you can help support our ministry.
We presently have many wonderful individuals and couples who serve by volunteering. If you are in a position to do so, would you prayerfully consider volunteering some of your time?
Financial Support Another way to work with us is by supporting The Gathering Place financially. We have invested heavily in establishing this “New” ministry in Osoyoos believing in faith that God will provide. The Possibilities are Unlimited!
The Gathering Place is a Non-Profit Ministry supported by the love gifts of people involved in this ministry and people who believe in it. We appreciate your prayerful consideration to the supporting of our ministry. You may perhaps consider remembering us in your estate planning.
Promotional Support One more way you can serve with us is to become a promotional advocate for The Gathering Place.
This simply means that you will commit to promoting our ministry within your personal circle of influence, encouraging those you know to experience the Face-to-Face Faith connection that can result from time spent at The Gathering Place. We need your help to spread the good word about The Gathering Place.
Thank you for considering how you might be able to support our ministries through The Gathering Place. Although we are just the latest in the long line of willing servants, we thank God daily for the privilege He has given us to serve Him.
When you pray for us, volunteer to help us, financially support us or tell others about us, you are joining us in this ministry and becoming a part of what God is doing in the Okanagan Valley. We sincerely thank you for considering how you may choose to become involved.
Prayer Support As we seek to continue providing an environment where people can experience spiritual transformation and renewal we are asking for your help. One way to help support us is to commit to regularly pray for us.
Please pray for our staff and volunteers, asking God to give them the strength, wisdom and compassion they need to be effective in their particular fields of ministry.
Volunteer Support Volunteering to serve through The Gathering Place, either in Music Ministry, Youth Outreach, Children’s Ministry, Street Ministry, Cowboy Ministry, Counseling or as part of the Servants Team is another way you can help support our ministry.
We presently have many wonderful individuals and couples who serve by volunteering. If you are in a position to do so, would you prayerfully consider volunteering some of your time?
Financial Support Another way to work with us is by supporting The Gathering Place financially. We have invested heavily in establishing this “New” ministry in Osoyoos believing in faith that God will provide. The Possibilities are Unlimited!
The Gathering Place is a Non-Profit Ministry supported by the love gifts of people involved in this ministry and people who believe in it. We appreciate your prayerful consideration to the supporting of our ministry. You may perhaps consider remembering us in your estate planning.
Promotional Support One more way you can serve with us is to become a promotional advocate for The Gathering Place.
This simply means that you will commit to promoting our ministry within your personal circle of influence, encouraging those you know to experience the Face-to-Face Faith connection that can result from time spent at The Gathering Place. We need your help to spread the good word about The Gathering Place.
No Other Name....
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
Isaiah 35:8-9 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Isaiah 35:8-9 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Sermons Preached by Pastor Ed
Our Cowboy Ministries
BIBLE SEARCH
Good News
God Loves You! The Bible says, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"
The problem is that . . . All of us have done, said or thought things that are wrong. This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God. The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.” The good news is that, about 2,000 years ago, God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Jesus lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we recieve Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."
God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.
Pray to God in our own words.
1. Admit - that you have sinned.
2. Ask - Jesus to forgive you of your wrong doing.
3. Repent - change direction, stop doing wrong.
4. Believe - trust in His ability to save you.
The problem is that . . . All of us have done, said or thought things that are wrong. This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God. The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.” The good news is that, about 2,000 years ago, God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Jesus lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we recieve Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."
God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.
Pray to God in our own words.
1. Admit - that you have sinned.
2. Ask - Jesus to forgive you of your wrong doing.
3. Repent - change direction, stop doing wrong.
4. Believe - trust in His ability to save you.
Why Are We Associated With I.A.M.?
By the official act of association with and membership in I.A.M., members are saying,“I want to belong to the greater Family... I choose to commit myself to mutual accountability!”
Commitment one with another.
There is such a wonderful strength in unity! Mutual accountability among I.A.M. members means they are committing themselves to watch over one another, and to protect each other from errors and deception. The Biblical standards of I.A.M. call for a commitment from each member to live out their lifestyle and leadership roles in accordance with the principles of God’s Word.
Commitment one with another.
There is such a wonderful strength in unity! Mutual accountability among I.A.M. members means they are committing themselves to watch over one another, and to protect each other from errors and deception. The Biblical standards of I.A.M. call for a commitment from each member to live out their lifestyle and leadership roles in accordance with the principles of God’s Word.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world they live in.”
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