Digg'n Through Some Old Files.....

As I was going through some old e-mails I came across this letter from Lawrence.

Here's a little play on words that came out of this morning. I see the word"revival" that churches across America are using to look to the past to findtheir passion, to get the masses moving again, to find heart and soul andcourage. The "glory days" of old, so to speak. It always alludes to a stateof being where people are dead, complacent, apathetic, even comfortable.Just watch "the Matrix" and you'll see what I mean. God can't help thosethat don't help themselves! So the real word that we are looking for is andalways has been "Revolution". We as born again, bible believing Christ-likebeings are at war. Not necessarily with a weapon. Your Sword and Trowelimage comes to mind. We work hard and endlessly to build the churchfoundation, but yet we as culture have no idea how strong to build it and wedon't have the "army" to protect it. This bodes the question, how are wegoing to build Christ's Church strong enough to withstand the forces at workin our world. Where are we going to find men and women with enough guts tostand and resist. When will we actually fight for our lives and ourfreedoms. What inspires people to become alive....a reason to live. How dowe learn and be open to love people....I shed a tear this morning, thereason...seeing how people have been stripped of their souls throughout theages. At this moment I feel God's pain. And I believe that His pain isintensified when people don't move. Free will is given to us and He can'tmake us do anything. He weaves in and out of our lives trying to inspire us.The word revival, as my wife just put it is for the World, to come alive andsee whats really going on and that they have to fight for their lives.Enslavement is coming on a global scale and the infrastructure is nearly inplace. Much to think about. Unfortunately, the majority of people won't seeit. I just pray for the difference. Lawrence.

God's Quick Response

Bravo! God Bravo!

This past Tuesday at the Men's prayer meeting we requested prayer for the release of finances for the church. We believe that our calling to be "That" church in Osoyoos and Sidley area is valid and worth investing in. So as we prayed we gave our financial needs over to God and in faith released our anxiousness to Him.

Within two hours of our prayer one of our fellowship's newest members stopped by the offive on Main. She donated a wonderful framed print of an eagle in the storm. This numbered print is a beautifully matted and framed work of art worth well over $200.00. Rather than hanging it in our office we, with the permission of the donator are seeking direction as to how to generate some funds for the ministry using this item. We thought of a "Silent Auction", Raffle or a private sale. On Sunday we will be asking our congregation for some input.

Then today, this same sister brought in two more items to be used in the same fashion. The first is a Collectable Coca Cola Barbie, the other is a beautiful set of diamond earrings. Praise the Lord for the generosity of our new sister.

Thanks Living

Listen to what the psalmist says: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs… Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

When it comes to thanking God, we can't remain silent and we must not remain silent.

The psalmist tells us to rejoice in the Lord. We are to shout for joy to the Lord. We are called to serve Him with gladness. We are urged to come before Him with joyful songs. We’re to be filled with an enthusiastic, overflowing joy.

In the Hebrew, joy or rejoicing is an inward emotion that simply has to express itself as praise to and for God! The Old Testament shows God’s people were filled with joy they couldn’t help but come into God's presence with clapping, singing, shouting, and dancing. Joy, all joy, expresses itself in praise! Though joyful thanks is to be given in all of Christian life, Serve the Lord, come before him, Enter his gates, and his courts. Our life is to be a life of Thanks Living!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Dear Friends of the Gathering Place

It is with real joy that I write this short note to you. At The Gathering Place, we feel it is OUR responsibility to “clear the way” for you to take hold of all that God has for you. YOU are a very important part of YOUR church family. As senior pastor, I will do my best to bring you “doable” messages, in the hope that what you learn on the week-end, will be usable during the week.

Our leadership team is dedicated to helping you connect with the personal hope and practical help that God can give us. We are concerned with meeting your real life needs.

The purpose of the Gathering Place is summed in this way: To bring people to Jesus and membership in His family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world in order to magnify God’s name.

It is our dream that our fellowship will be a place where the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement.

The analogy of the Christian as salt is appropriate for the church in Canada. In order to be effective, salt must not only retain its saltiness, but it must leave its shaker and touch what it wishes to enhance.

To reach today’s generation, the church needs to examine once again what it means to be salty.

Too often we are so engulfed in our own problems of maintaining the traditions of our church that we fail to see the larger picture - that of people hurting and in need of saltiness, needing to be touched by God’s love. We lose saltiness when the comfort of our church is the most important thing to preserve. But when we see the church as a hospital that administers caring and healing to the hurts of society, we are preparing the way for the Holy Spirit to do His work.

We would like to thank each of you for the interest and support you’ve shown regarding this wonderful opportunity that the Lord is laying before us.

Matthew 5:1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions.

Counted among His climbing companions…. Pastors Ed and Judi Brouwer

PSALM 101

My theme song is God's love and justice, and I'm singing it right to you, God.

I'm finding my way down the road of right living, but how long before you show up? I'm doing the very best I can, and I'm doing it at home, where it counts. I refuse to take a second look at corrupting people and degrading things. I reject made-in-Canaan gods, stay clear of contamination. The crooked in heart keep their distance; I refuse to shake hands with those who plan evil. I put a gag on the gossip who bad-mouths his neighbor; I can't stand arrogance. But I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people—they're the ones I want working with me; Men and women on the straight and narrow—these are the ones I want at my side. But no one who traffics in lies gets a job with me; I have no patience with liars. I've rounded up all the wicked like cattle and herded them right out of the country. I purged God's city of all who make a business of evil.

A Thought In Passing....

This morning I heard Dave Wilkerson say, "We (the Church) are being influenced by the very things that influence the world".

In light of this upcoming Sunday's message this statement hit me pretty hard. My text for Sunday is the Apostle Paul's proclamation that "Jesus is all and all" . I wish that were true of us today. Is Jesus our everything? If not what is He competeing with?

Are we being influenced (driven, drawn or enticed) by the same things that influence this world?

Dear God, how do we change that?

A Question For You....

For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by him and for him Colossians 1:16

When is the last time you thought of Christ as the One by whom all things are created, as Colossians puts it; by whom all things were made: as John puts it; by whom God made the worlds, as Hebrews put it?

Safe In His Arms

Every little girl needs a big brother. Two of our grandkids are shown here, being at their best.

I can hear some of you saying, :Awww how cute!"

Sorry to burst your bubble, they are not always like this. ;-)

The Brethren

We had a great meeting this morning. It is very encouraging for men to get together, sharing, praying and sometimes even crying together.

As the author of Proverbs reminds us, the refining of character requires a second individual against whom we can hone ourselves: iron sharpens iron

Proverbs 27:17

One thing for sure, we are not in danger of being alone in this unique ministry. We as a family are surrounded by unsung heroes of the faith.

It is for that, we are very grateful.

Not Your Usually Church Event

Ok so its not the norm, but then again why not?

Last Saturday night we entered the Lawn Mower Races at the Rock Creek Fall Fair. It was awesome! I even placed in one of the heats.

I'm so very glad to see we are not a fellowship of bumps on a log. We can actually have fun! What a neat opportunity to meet new people and build relationships.

Great Ideas......

What a blessing we had several weeks back. Our folk thought it would be great to provide a FREE pancake breakfast at the park.

Our fellowship showed once again how a small group of dedicated people can do much for God's glory. We severed over 60 people. All ages and backgrounds were treated to flapjacks, juice and fruit.

Several people were witnessed to, and/or prayed for. It was very neat to see the Spirit of God's love ministering so freely. As a group of French Canadian fruit pickers was leaving, one of them yelled out, "We love you guys". That made our day.

Its All About Attitude!

My Heavenly Father knows, and He alone, what it is,

day after day, and hour after hour, to fight against bodily

feelings of almost over­powering weakness and languor and

exhaustion, to resolve, as He enables me to do, not to yield

to the slothfulness, the depression, the irritability, such as a

body causes me to long to indulge, but to rise every morning

determined on taking this for my motto, “If any man will come

after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

The preceeding was a statement of resolve made by Charlotte Elliot (1800s) as she lay bedridden for some 52 years. During her struggles she wrote over 150 Hymns, one being "Just As I Am". What a powerful story of God's ability to use us in spite of our lot in life.

What Part Do You Play?

The Wrecking Crew
I stood on the street of a busy town,

Watching men tearing a building down,
With a ho heave ho and a lusty yell,

They swung a beam and a side wall fell,

I asked the foreman of the crew,

“Are those men as skilled, As those you'd hire if you'd wanted to build?”

“Ah, no, no indeed, Just common laborers are all I need,

I can tear down as much in a day or two,

As would take skilled men a year to do.”

And then I thought as I went my way,

Just which of these two roles am I trying to play?

Have I walked life's road with care,

Measuring each deed with rule and square?

And Now You Know .......

Dr. Thomas Welch (1825-1903) was the communion steward of the Methodist church in Vineland, New Jersey. The son of a Methodist minister, he himself studied to be a minister.

However, due to voice problems, Welch decided to become a medical doctor and later a dentist. At the time, unfermented wine (grape juice) was not available year round for use in communion. From history we know that unfermented wine was widely used and preserved in ancient times. William Patton in his classic book, Bible Wines and the Laws of Fermentation (c.1870), documents four methods of preserving grape juice in The Bible times. Apparently, these methods had fallen into disuse.

In 1869, Dr. Welch began to experiment in his kitchen with concord grape juice, using the pasteurization techniques developed by Louis Pasteur just four years earlier. He soon perfected a process for preserving grape juice and began marketing it with the label Dr. Welch‟s Unfermented Wine.

He produced it with the thought of providing churches with an alternative to alcoholic wine, never envisioning a beverage for the general public. His son, Dr. Charles Welch, envisioned greater things and bought the business in 1873. Charles said that the company was born, out of a passion to serve God by helping His church to give communion as the fruit of the vine instead of the cup of devils.

In 1893, the grape juice business really took off when samples were given out at the Chicago World‟s Fair and the name was changed to “Welch’s Grape Juice.”

Today, Welch’s is a $650 million a year business. Welch’s Grape Juice made worldwide headlines in 1913 when Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan, gave a formal state dinner honoring the retiring British ambassador. He served Welch’s Grape Juice instead of fermented wine. Bryan was a dedicated Christian who once ran for U.S. President.

Worldwide headlines were made again in 1914 when Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the U.S. Navy, forbade the use of alcoholic beverages aboard navy ships and substituted Welch’s Grape Juice in their place.

Thomas B. Welch proved the truth that, I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me Philippians 4:13
His son, Charles, demonstrated the Truth, where there is no vision, the people perish Proverbs 29:13.

The next time you see “since 1869” on the Welch’s Grape Juice label you can remember this service… and now you know the rest of the story!

Good Question

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyerof the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with namesand small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six-year oldhad been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up,stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, 'Good morning Alex.''Good morning Pastor,' he replied, still focused on the plaque. 'Pastor,what is this?

The pastor said, 'Well son, it's a memorial to all theyoung men and women who died in the service.' Soberly, they just stoodtogether, staring at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex's voice,barely audible and trembling with fear asked, 'Which service, the 8:30or the 10:45?'

LAUGHTER IS A GOOD MEDICINE

A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she feared the electrical storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did she saw her little girl walking along. At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile. Another and another flash of lighting followed quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile. When the mother's car drew up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her 'What are you doing?' The child answered 'I am trying to look pretty because God! keeps taking my picture.'

May God bless you today and everyday as you face the storms that come your way...

FREEDOM!

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.”

Good News

What a powerful week July 13-20 has been. Two of our grandchildren although many miles apart, in two different households, on two different days had one wonderful thing in common.

They both gave their hearts to the Lord. Both young boys responded to the tugging of God on their tender young hearts. We are thrilled to see the Spirit of God working His wonderful grace in their lives.

To God be the glory!

What part of GO don't you understand?

When Jesus came back from the dead, why didn't He go to Herod or Pilate and say, “I'm back!”
In fact why did He make himself known only to those who believed?

To the women at the sepulcher the angel said, “Go tell his disciples”. Mark 16:7

The disciples were bewildered. Jesus had died; their dreams had faded; their hopes had vanished. They didn't know what to think. Some had gone back to their old ways. They were trying to live on the memory of a dead Christ. But there was a message for bewildered church:
“Go tell His disciples that He is going on before you!” The message is simply Christ is risen!
We need a new experience of the living Christ.

Listen to the result, Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord,

Is He really in our buildings? He is if He is in us! And if He is in us let us never be content with leaving our gathering together as if we been to a funeral - instead may we as the disciples were when they saw Jesus, “be glad”. Jesus Christ - victorious conqueror!

“Go tell his disciples AND PETER.” Peter was a backslider and the Lord singled him out as though he were marked “special”. Jesus wished to restore Peter. Unfortunately, many congregations miss the fact that Jesus can fire up the lost with new love and zeal.

What a field day for the gossips who heard about Peter denying the Lord! Can't you imagine them whispering, “Have you heard the low down about Simon Peter?” Ever wonder why they call it the “Low” down? Let us be know for our desire to lift up - not tear down.

"How are you?" "Great, since the resurrection!"

Jesus only had one question for him, “do you love me?” Not, “Aren't you ashamed of yourself?” He only asked, “Do you love me?” The issue is Christ. “Do you love ME?”

"Go into all the world and make disciples". Jesus is the Center: “All power is given to me; Lo, I am with you always.” When Jesus spoke with Peter, He was the Center: “Do you love ME?” But there was also the circumference: “Feed my sheep.” In geometry we use a compass. One prong is stationary, fixed. With the other we scribe our circle. Folks, Christ is the fixed Center, the same yesterday, today and forever. From that Center we make the sweep of the whole world as our circumference. Once we admit to loving Jesus, He sends us out to feed His Sheep. “We've a story to tell to the nations”.

Our story is not centered about “a way of life” “our church” or even “Christianity”, it must be centered around Jesus.

“All things are mine: Come, Believe, Go.” That is the full Christian experience.

We are to let our light shine and that light is Christ. It is a glow, not a glare, and we do not shine it, we let it shine. Before you start thinking of how hard this is consider the fact that, the disciples did not have any special advantage over us! It wasn’t any easier for them to believe the miracles than it is for us. True, they were eyewitnesses, but being an eyewitness to an extraordinary event doesn’t make it any easier to believe.

But Jesus didn’t care about their doubts! He gave the Great Commission to every one of them, even the doubters. The doubting disciples loved Jesus and that is all that really mattered.

Even if your not a Bible whiz the Great Commission still applies to you. You don’t have to have it all figured out, simply trust and obey the Lord Jesus. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Hold your questions to the end. Right now your primary task is loyalty and obedience.”

Go ye therefore…… Before you imagine having to leave Osoyoos to do this understand that “Go” could mean next door or across the street. But make no mistake about it “Go” is an action word.

Mark 5:18-20 And when Jesus got to the boat, the man who had been possessed with the devil asked Jesus to take him with him. However, Jesus said, no, GO home to your friends and tell them about the great things the Lord has done for you. Tell them how the Lord had compassion on you. And he WENT, and began to testify about the great things Jesus had done for him: and all the people marveled.

Commission: an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts: charge: authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another: a task or matter entrusted to one as an agent for another

Got A Question For You....

What shall we do to recover the lost radiance of the Christian faith?

Strange thing about us Christians: we would not leave our faith for anything, but neither will we live it! We would not give it up, but neither do we give it out. "Man has never been willing to give up the next world for this or this world for the next."

Vance Havner said, "We are afraid not to give something to the cause of Christ: we are equally afraid to give it everything. And yet, if it is worth anything it is worth everything. Who will arise in all the babel of our confusion, the rattle of our empty worship, the whir of our religious wheels-within-wheels, and recapture the fervor of the first apostleship?"

We shall have a dull time of it until we either live our faith or take down our sign.

JESUS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

What an interesting statement. Early this morning Paul Vieira's book “Jesus Has Left The Building” was recommended to me. I've only read the first chapter and already I have been challenged.

Many pastors have learned how to operate without dependency on the Holy Spirit. Tragically, you can learn to study without revelation, to preach without anointing, and to lead with words but not by example.

We need to once again become desperate in our dependency on Jesus.

I recently shared with our congregation that we must stop praying for God to bless what we are doing. Rather, we should pray that we are involved with what God is blessing!

Paul states, "there comes a time when believers should mature to a point where they are able to feed themselves and others in need. We know so much today. Why are so many Christians staying in infancy?"

So often what we traditionally do in the church building is completely
irrelevant to the people in our culture, especially to the emerging generations.

There is a pressing question that drives my quest for an authentic expression of church for me: "If Christ were to send a letter His church, who would get it?"

Paul said, “It seems like Jesus' church was the gang that hung out with Him, and they gathered in a house, or by the sea, or in the desert, or wherever they happened to be. Jesus did not start a religion or an organization. He lived a lifestyle in the context of community and mission.”

The church Jesus started looks very different to what we call "church" today.

Church as we know it today looks extremely different from what it was in the beginning. But things are changing. Christianity, as we know it, is morphing and its appearance will be a reality that we haven’t seen in a long time, perhaps two thousand years.

I am ordering several copies of this book for our church library. Let me know if you want to borrow a copy. May God lead us by His Holy Spirit! Out of the building and into the streets!

How Great Is Our God

THE SPLENDER OF THE KINGS,

CLOTHED IN MAJESTY
LET ALL THE EARTH REJOICE,

ALL THE EARTH REJOICE

HE WRAPS HIMSELF IN LIGHT,

AND DARKNESS TRIES TO HIDE
AND TREMBLES AT HIS VOICE,

TREMBLES AT HIS VOICE

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD,

SING WITH ME,

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD,

AND ALL WILL SEE HOW GREAT,

HOW GREAT, IS OUR GOD

July 1st Report

INCREDIBLE! It was so exciting to see the impact our small fellowship had on those who came to Osoyoos to celebrate Canada Day. The morning started off with a bang, when Keith arrived at the office at about 7:30. A young man came by asking for something to eat - Keith not only fed him physically but was able to share the gospel with him. What a day starter.

By 8:30 we had a number of us setting up the old Rambler stationwagon brought in by one of our new families. We set up our sandwich board depicting our church service, loaded the over 800 bottles of Miller Springs water (donated) and after donning our new "witness" t-shirts we even had time to pray.

Several of us then participated in the joint church service held at the bandshell. After hearing a bit of our testimonies several people approached us with prayer requests. One father said, "after hearing what God did for you, I know there is hope for my son." PTL

We then worked our way through the already growing crowded Main Street to the starting point of the parade. We located our group and prepared ourselves for the intense moments ahead. Although we were not sure of our reception we felt that God was going to bless it and we certainly didn't want to miss it..... It was overwhelming! People we very appreciative of the free water we were distributing. Our t-shirts looked great, the car was a definite attention getter - and we had a blast. We ran along the vehicle and dashed back and forth with bottles of cold water being readily and gratifully accepted. I heard people yelling - over here! we want water!

I thought later, wish they would call for the living water with the same enthusiasim. Our runners were exhausted but the thrill was incredible. What a "feel good" experience.

An hour later as we sat rehabing back at the office three fruit pickers stopped in to see if they could cook up their spagetti. After finding some sort of pots (empty coffee cans) we did cook up their lunch. They thanked us with a song and went on their way. What a day!

It Is Later Than You Think

Although no one knows the hour nor the day when the Lord will return, the Bible is filled with many indicators or conditions we can use to assess how close we are to His return.

The following are but a few of the signs:
There will be a mixture of believers and false believers within the Church body:
Matthew 13:24-30: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

There will be scoffers:
The Bible tells us one of the key signs of the end times will be people doubting the return of Christ will ever happen. II Peter 3:3-4: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Perilous times will come for mankind:
II Timothy 3:1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

As it was in the days of Noah (Luke 17:26), so it shall be at the end.
Genesis 6:11: The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

There will be warfare all over the globe:
Mark 13:8: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

Deadly diseases will be rampant:
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Famines will be common:
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Earthquakes will be occurring globally:
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

There will be violent weather:
Luke 21:25- And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Mankind will be in a state of moral decay:
II Timothy 3:2-5: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Religious cults will flourish:
II Peter 2:1: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

There will be progress made toward a global government:
The European Union, the revived Roman Empire, is alive today and moving steadily toward the fulfillment of this prophecy as seen in Daniel 7: 23: "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces." The Antichrist who will lead this world government (after the rapture of the Christian Church takes place) will be a leader from the European Union as seen in Daniel 9:26. He will be of the people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem and its sanctuary in AD 70, the Romans.

The world will be desperately seeking peace:
I Thessalonians 5:3: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Israel will exist as a nation in the latter days:
Read Ezekiel 37:1-14 to see this prophecy, which was fulfilled in 1948.
Israel's birth as a nation will have happened in one day:
Fulfilled on May 14, 1948 as seen in Isaiah 66:8: "Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once?"
Israel will be in possession of Jerusalem (has been since 1967):
This happened as a result of the Six-Day War in 1967. The capture of Jerusalem was critical from a prophetic standpoint as the Antichrist will someday enter a rebuilt Holy Temple that will be standing in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation Period where he will declare himself to be God. This event, referred to by most as the abomination of desolation, is documented in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15.
Israel will be surrounded on every side by enemies:
Psalms 83:4: They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
The possession of Jerusalem will be the source of international conflict:
Is this happening today or what? It's a HUGE sign to us! Zechariah 12:3: And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Christians will be lukewarm in their faith:
In Christ's address to the seven churches, He says in Revelation 3:15: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

There will be signs in the heavens:
Luke 21:25: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Many Christians and church doctrines will depart from the faith:
I Timothy 4:1: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Have you seen any of these signs in the world today? If so, I suggest you quickly enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ if you haven't already done so! He is coming soon!

A Word From James

James 5:7-12

If you've been praying for something and you haven't gotten it, you may think God doesn't want to give it to you. We have to learn the difference between "no" and "not yet".

Our problem is that we are in a hurry and God isn't!"

In advance, thank God because He's working things out. He gives the illustration of the farmer. When the farmer plants the seed, he's waiting for that seed. While he's waiting, God is working behind the scenes to cause that plant to sprout. He's creating the conditions so at the right time, in the right way there will be a harvest. The farmer waits, God works.
Philippians 2:13 "God is at work within you."

Romans 8:28 "we know that in all things, God is working."

What are you supposed to do while you wait?
Look at James’ three illustrations, and do what they did while you're waiting on God.

First the farmer. Wait expectantly. Expect a harvest. What does a farmer do while he's waiting on God? Sit and watch reruns on television all day? While he's waiting on the harvest, the farmer is preparing for a harvest.

Your preparation shows your expectation.

We get ready for the answer in advance. Psalm 130:5 "I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised.". What are you waiting for from God?

The Bible says, According to your faith it will be done unto you.

How can you prove that you're expecting God to do something? Simple. What are you doing to get ready for it? If the answer came today, would you be ready?
Remember, your preparation reveals your expectation.

A lot of times when I'm waiting on God, He's really waiting on me. He was ready to give the answer a long time ago, but I wasn't ready to receive it. Sometimes He's saying, "Grow up! I want to bless your life but you can't handle the blessing yet. Get some spiritual muscle in your life and I'll bless you beyond what you can imagine." Waiting is a time to get ready.

Isaiah 49:23 "The Lord says ... No one who waits for my help will be disappointed."

East Coast Reflections

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!

Some years ago a young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job. "That depends," replied the foreman. "Let's see you fell this tree." The young man stepped forward and skilfully felled a great tree. Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, "Start Monday!"

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday rolled by, and Thursday afternoon the foreman approached the young man and said, "You can pick up your pay cheque on the way out today." Startled, he replied, "I thought you paid on Friday." "Normally we do," answered the foreman, "but we're letting you go today because you've fallen behind. Our daily felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last on Wednesday." "But I'm a hard worker," the young man objected. "I arrive first, leave last, and even have worked through my coffee breaks!"

The foreman, sensing the boy's integrity, thought for a minute and then asked, "Have you been sharpening your axe?" The young man replied, "I've been working too hard to take the time."

How often do we work harder and harder spiritually only to find we are less and less fruitful. It time to hear the words, “Don’t just do something. Sit there and let the Lord minister to you.”

STOP PRAYING!

Stop praying, "God bless what I'm doing".
Don't pray that anymore.
Instead pray, "God, help me to do what You're blessing."

Help me do what You're blessing. I don't want my plans, I want Your plans in my life.

James 4:13-17 "Dealing With The Future"

We all want to know what's going to happen next. People try to forecast the future: tea leaves, fortune cookies, astrology, palm reading. We attend planning and goal setting conferences.

James says there are three mistakes that are commonly made that we should be aware of.

The first mistake is shown in v13 Now listen you who say, Today or Tomorrow. We will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.

What's wrong with this? People make plans every day.
The Bible talks a lot about planning. So what's wrong here?

James says the first common mistake we make is PLANNING WITHOUT GOD. There's not a single mention of God in this entire business plan. So James is not talking about what these guys did, it was what they forgot to do… “Include God!”

If you are a believer all your business is God's business.

What's the solution? v15 Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.

Right in the middle of the word LIFE is IF. Life is pretty if-fy. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, you don't either.

Christians for hundreds of years used to write the initials D.V. at the end of their letters. They'd sign their name and then write D.V.. This stood for the Latin phrase "Deo Valente" -- "Lord willing". James says that ought to be our life response.

Proverbs 16:9 make plans, counting on God to direct you

The second mistake is PRESUMING ABOUT TOMORROW.
V14-16 Why you don't even know what’ll happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while, vanishes. You boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

We shouldn't presume about the future because:
Life is unpredictable "you don't even know". None of us know what's going to happen tonight, much less next year.

One day life is a bowl of cherries, the next it's the pits.

Don’t be worried about tomorrow, let it cause you to trust God more, let it cause you to be more dependent on God.

Life is brief. you are a mist. Who knows how long we're going to live? None of us do. In describing your life the Bible uses phrases like a leaf, grass, shadow, cloud, puff of smoke, vapor. Life is short. It goes so fast from hot wheels to wheelchair.

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

What's the solution? Matthew 6:34 So don't be anxious about tomorrow -- God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

Live one day at a time, that's how God says to face the future. The future could be overwhelming but fortunately it comes in bite-size pieces, a 24-hour segment at a time. Plan for the future but, but live now. Life is what passes us by while we're planning something else.

Today is the Good Old Days you're going to talk about in 15 years. Enjoy the now. Make the most of your now.

"I may not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future", and that's what counts. Psalm 35:15 Lord, my days are in your hands.

A third common mistake is PUTTING OFF DOING GOOD.
Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins. V17. James is talking about procrastination.

Ever meet somebody who is always "aiming to do it." I always want to say, "When are you going to pull the trigger?"

How do you define sin? We think of evil activities: murder, adultery, cheating, and stealing. Those are sins of commission. But there's another kind of sin - sins of omission. "To him who knows to do good and doesn't do it, it's sin."

I can do nothing and still sin. Christianity is far more than simply avoiding evil. It is about doing good.

The solution is “Do it now”. Proverbs 3:27-28 Don’t withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Don’t say to your neighbor, `Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow' - when you now have it with you."

If somebody comes to you and asks you a favor, if you can do it now, do it now.

You can do one of three things with your life: spend it, waste it, invest it.

Invest your life in things that will last—make it count. You know it doesn't matter how long you live if you're not doing anything with your life.

Remember the story that Jesus told about the talents? The master gave one talent to one man, five to another and ten to another. He left and came back years later. Two guys had doubled their money. The third man had taken his gold, buried it in the ground and did nothing with it. The master said, “At least you could have put it in a bank and got interest on it!” He said, "You wicked servant!" Why? What had he done? Nothing.
Doing nothing with your life is bad. Make your life count.

Jesus tells the story about a man who is very successful in life but he made a very foolish decision. He made all 3 mistakes James pointed out. He planned without God, presumed about tomorrow and put off doing good. Luke 12:16 The ground of a certain rich man produced abundant crops and thought, What shall I do. I’ve no place to store my crops. Then he said, this is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store all my grain and my goods and I will say to myself, `You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink, be merry, but God said, You fool. This very night your life will be demanded from you, then who’ll get all that you have prepared for yourself.

This guy had "I" problems - all he could see was himself. The fact is, none of us have any certainty how long we're going to be here. Just consider that in your planning and do three things: plan with God; Don't presume on tomorrow, Make your life count!

You weren't created just to take up space. There is more to life than that. It starts when you give your life to Jesus, God's Son, and you commit yourself to Him. He becomes the manager of your life and He will direct you. Start by getting in tune with the Lord and establishing that relationship with Him.

If you only had a week left, how would you spend it?
What would you do with your husband, wife, children? God says, live each day and each week as if it were your last.

God Pleasers

I trust that today will be a great day to move forward in the Lord. When it comes to faith it is kind of like our Grade 8 Dance - some (mostly girls) were dancing while the rest (mostly boys) sat on the sidelines. If you can see the dance as faith and the sidewall lined with chairs as unbelief and doubt - then you - we should all do as the song, "I hope you dance" says. Dance! David said, "do not sit in the seat of the scornful." So my friends, if you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you DANCE! For without faith it is impossible to please God.

May 25th at 10:30

You are invited to join us at

THE GATHERING PLACE

for our

2008 El Salvador Report

Psalm 34
I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.

God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan. Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;If you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. God pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.

THE VISION OF SLAUGHTER

Ezekiel 9

Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, "Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand." Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst." But to the others He said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.
"Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary." So they started with the elders who were before the temple.

How Many More Casualties?

Just how many more pastors and their families need to be cast away like yesterday's newspaper before we cry out against this injustice?

I met with a local pastor this week, he too has been attempting to heed God's call for change in the church. After coming to an impass several months back he felt it best to resign his post. Since then he has been left totally isolated from the denominational body that he and his family have served in for years. Not one call as to how he was doing... no one seems to be concerned with those who don't fit the typical mold... but wait there is another brother not far from here who is pentecostal through and through (even attends the ministerials) alas he and his wife are struggling in their church right now and guess what? Yes sir, they too are on their own. It would seem by all appearances that once you get placed in a church you are on your own baby. Pardon the expression - but that sucks!

Judi and I after spending 35 years within that same denomination have not been contacted by our leadership officers since our choosing to stay ministering in Osoyoos. We got a slap on the hands for being out of order and I can understand that, but what I don't get is the total lack of caring for one another as brothers and sisters. You'd be pretty hard pressed to sell that bill of goods to a non christian. People today are starving for relationships that work. God help us if the church can't do more than the world in that area. Is it any wonder we are loosing pastors to secular (not sure about that word) empoyment. Is it any wonder there is extreme lonliness in the ministry today?

God have mercy! We need you to reach out to the pastors and their precious families missing in action. God, please search out the MIAs in the prisons of discouragement.

What in the world is going on? Three pastors from the same denomination, within a 25 minute driving distance of each other, all seeking God's permission to be effective and relavent in this late hour - abandoned, neglected and seemingly judged not worth the effort by the very ones that should be loving on them. Absolutly inexcusable! The sad part is the denomination doesn't even blush, they just justify themselves. Shame on you!

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The Wrecking Crew

I stood on the street of a busy town,
Watching men tearing a building down
With a ho heave ho and a lusty yell
They swung a beam and a side wall fell
I asked the foreman of the crew, "Are those men as skilled
As those you'd hire if you'd wanted to build?
Ah, no, no indeed, Just common laborers are all I need
I can tear down as much in a day or two
As would take skilled men a year to do
And then I thought as I went my way
Just which of these two roles am I trying to play?
Have I walked life's road with care,
Measuring each deed with rule and square?
Or am I one of those who roam the town
Content with the labor of tearing down?

ARE YOU PLAYING GOD?

James 4:11-12 James says that anytime I judge you, anytime you judge me, we're playing God. It's only God's responsibility to judge. James says we’ll be a lot happier if you learn how to deal with this issue.

Romans 2:3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them, and yet do the same thing, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Paul says one reason we tend to judge other people is to excuse our own faults. We think by pointing the finger at somebody else, we don't look so bad.

The always “Practical” James gives 3 reasons why we shouldn't judge other people. It's unchristian v11 Brothers, do not slander one another... anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law.

Notice it says, "Brothers, do not slander..." The word "slander" and the word "devil" are the same word. The word "devil" means slander. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren.

The devil's number one activity is putting people down. Sadly even church goers get involved in this activity. James warns brothers not to criticize, malign, or judge. When we do we're doing the devil's work for him. It's unchristian to judge others.

I heard about a guy who came to a pastor one time and said, "I only have one talent." The pastor asked, "What's your talent?" The man said, "I have the gift of criticism." The pastor thought a moment and said, "The guy who had only one talent went out and buried it. Maybe you ought to do that with yours."

We shouldn't judge others because it's unloving. James says when I judge you, I'm breaking the Royal Law - the law of love - Love your neighbor as yourself. James 2:8

We say, "It's just words - people will forget them."
It's unjustified "There's only one lawgiver and one judge." The word "lawgiver" is used six times in the OT and once in the NT each refers to God. Only God has the right to judge.

We tend to judge in other people things we dislike in ourselves. What we see is usually just a mirror of self.

WHEN IS IT WRONG TO JUDGE OTHERS?
We are to judge certain things, ourselves for example.

But there's seven times it says, don't do this. Romans 2:1-3 For at whatever point you judge others you're condemning yourself for you who pass judgment do the same thing. It's wrong to judge other people when I do the same thing.

Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? It's wrong to judge when it blinds me to my own faults. We are great speck analyzers, nitpicking specks when we have a logjam in our own eye.

It's wrong to judge others when you draw conclusions based on outward appearance. Ouch! 15 seconds is all it takes.. the way they look. Their face, clothing, hairdo.

I Samuel 16:7 God doesn't look at the appearance. God looks at the heart.

John 7:51 Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he is doing? It's wrong to judge when you condemn somebody before you hear the facts.

Colossians 2:16 don’t let anyone judge you by what you eat, drink, or in regard to religious festivals, new moon celebrations or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the thing to come. Reality, however, is found in Christ.

You can't tell where a person is at with God by the church they attend, what they eat or drink or if you worship on Saturday or Sunday. Just a shadow…. Reality is found in Christ.

v13 let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. Don't offend others. Don't judge each other. Whatever you do have a clear conscience about it.

v22 whatever you believe about these things, keep them between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

If you can't watch TV with a clear conscious, you better not watch it. Keep it between you and the Lord, don't flaunt it. Enjoy the liberty you have but you don't flaunt it. Don't use it to be a stumbling block.

v20 Don't destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean but it's wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It's better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else to cause your brother to fall.

It's wrong to judge when it causes you to speak evil about another Christian. Anything that causes me to speak evil about another Christian, is wrong. We are to hate wrong but we're to love people even when they are doing wrong.
Ephesians 4:29 speak only those things that build up and encourage.

We’ve no right to judge other people's motives. Nobody really knows what's in somebody else's heart. You can guess but you don't know. I Samuel 17

I have a hard enough time just trying to figure out my own motives, much less making a good guess at yours.

HOW DO YOU BREAK THE HABIT OF JUDGING OTHERS
1. Realize that I'll be judged by the same standards I use to judge other people.
2. Realize that each of us will have to give an account of himself to God.
3. Realize how much God has been merciful to me.

God's Three Letter Message

i y Q

COUNT DOWN TO EL SALVADOR

MAY 2-11

MISSION"S TRIP

TO

EL SALVADOR

A Christianity That Works

How To Treat People Wisely Part 9 of 15

Have you seen the bumper sticker that says, The more time I spend with people, the more I love my horse. The fact is, a lot of the problems we have in life are because of personality conflicts. It's important we learn how to get along with other people. Again we look to James for practical advice. “And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness”. James says, every day in every relationship, you're planting seeds, and inevitably you reap what you sow.

How you get along with other people shows how wise you really are.

If I’M WISE I WILL NOT COMPROMISE MY INTEGRITY.
"The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure..."
Pure means uncorrupted, authentic, genuine.

IF I AM WISE I WILL NOT ANTAGONIZE YOUR ANGER.
Some people are always arguing, always looking for a fight? Wise people work at maintaining harmony. Proverbs 20:3 Any fool can start arguments. The wise thing is to stay out of them.

The secret of wise relationships is knowing what to overlook.

IF I AM WISE I WON'T MINIMIZE YOUR FEELINGS.
Wisdom is considerate: "mindful of the feelings of others".

We often belittle people’s feelings. Feelings are neither right nor wrong, they're just feelings. When my wife has a feeling it's valid. Whether it's logical, whether it makes sense, the fact is she feels it. If I'm wise I'm not going to minimize that.

IF I'M WISE I WON'T CRITICIZE YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
A wise person can learn from anybody. Wisdom is submissive: submissive meaning reasonable, willing to listen, open to ideas and suggestions.

Most of us are oversensitive. If somebody makes a suggestion we take it as a personal criticism and we become defensive. James says that's dumb. A wise person can learn from anybody. Proverbs 12:15 A fool thinks he needs no advice. A wise man listens to others.

IF I'M WISE I WON'T EMPHASIZE YOUR MISTAKES.
Wisdom is full of mercy and good fruit. Do you jump on people every time they make a mistake? Cut them some slack.

Some people just hound you about your past. If I'm wise, with mercy I'll give you what you need, not what you deserve.

Two long-lost buddies meet at a convention they attended with their wives. The two guys sat in the lobby all night talking. When they realized the time they knew they’d be in trouble with their wives. The next day they happened to see each other. What did your wife say? I walked in the door and my wife got historical. Don't you mean hysterical? No, historical. She told me everything I ever did wrong.

If you're wise you don't rub it in, you rub it out.

IF I'M WISE, I WON'T DISGUISE MY OWN WEAKNESSES.
The mark of a wise person is they don't hide or disguise their own weaknesses. When you reveal your weaknesses to others, they won’t be shocked, they already know.

I don’t know about you, but there were a few things in the above notes that need my attention. I hope you enjoyed “How to deal wisely with people”, part 9 of a 15 part mini series entitled “A Christianity That Works” we are studying at The Gathering Place.

A Voice In The Wilderness

Here's a little play on words that came out of this morning. I see the word"revival" that churches across America are using to look to the past to find their passion, to get the masses moving again, to find heart and soul andcourage. The "glory days" of old, so to speak. It always alludes to a state of being where people are dead, complacent, apathetic, even comfortable .Just watch "the Matrix" and you'll see what I mean.

God can't help those that don't help themselves! So the real word that we are looking for is and always has been "Revolution". We as born again, bible believing Christ-likebeings are at war. Not necessarily with a weapon. Your Sword and Trowe limage comes to mind. We work hard and endlessly to build the church foundation, but yet we as culture have no idea how strong to build it and we don't have the "army" to protect it.

This bodes the question, how are we going to build Christ's Church strong enough to withstand the forces at work in our world?

Where are we going to find men and women with enough guts to stand and resist?
When will we actually fight for our lives and our freedoms?

What inspires people to become alive?.... a reason to live!

How do we learn and be open to love people. I shed a tear this morning, the reason, seeing how people have been stripped of their souls throughout the ages. At this moment I feel God's pain. And I believe that His pain is intensified when people don't move. Free will is given to us and He can't make us do anything. He weaves in and out of our lives trying to inspire us. The word revival, as my wife just put it is for the World, to come alive and see whats really going on and that they have to fight for their lives. Enslavement is coming on a global scale and the infrastructure is nearly inplace.

Much to think about. Unfortunately, the majority of people won't see it. I just pray for the difference. Lawrence

Managing Your Mouth

James Chapter 3

We love to talk. Nothing is opened more wrongly at the wrong time than our mouth. Our mouths get us into a lot of trouble. James in Chapter 3 says, If you can control your mouth, you're perfect…. literally "mature, healthy".

Three reasons we have to learn to manage our mouth.

MY TONGUE DIRECTS WHERE I GO: Our tongue is like a rudder that steers us. Don't like the way you're headed, change the way you talk. Some people think it may be best not to say anything. A guy joined the monastery. He was given a 3 year probation period where he was not to speak at all, at the end of each year he could say two words. At the end of the first year he said, "Bed hard." At end of the second year he said, "Food cold." At the end of the third year he says, "I quit". The head priest says, "Doesn't surprise me. All you've done is complain since you got here."

MY TONGUE CAN DESTROY WHAT I HAVE v. 5 James gives another illustration. Imagine a beautiful forest - tall beautiful trees everywhere. Now imagine it in one minute up in smoke, completely destroyed by a tiny match. A careless camper can destroy an entire forest overnight. A careless word can destroy a life overnight. Gossip like fire, spreads quickly, wrecks havoc.

Fire and words under control can give tremendous warmth and light, but fire and words out of control can be devastating. A couple comes in for marriage counseling. "I said this and then she said that, then I said this..." Then what happened? "All hell broke loose".

MY TONGUE DISPLAYS WHO I AM It reveals my real character. It tells what's really inside of me. James says, with the tongue we praise God and with the same tongue we curse men who've been made in God's likeness. From the same mouth come praise and curses. My brothers, this should not be.Cursing here means any kind of put down.

Have you heard someone say, "I don't know what got into me. It's not like me to say that. I don't know why I said that. It's totally out of character.” James would say, “No, that is exactly like you. Quit kidding yourself. What's inside is going to come out. What comes out of a well is what is inside of it.” Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Your tongue problem is more serious that you think… for it is heart related.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? Get a new heart Ezekiel 18:31 Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit! Painting the outside of the pump doesn't make any difference if there is poison in the well.

Ask God for help every day. Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips

So my tongue can direct where I go; it can destroy what I have; and most of all, it clearly displays my true character. Bottom line - don’t let your tongue lick you! See you here or at the Gathering Place next week for Part XI “How To Relate Wisely To Others”.

For complete sermon see Sword & Trowel Volume 18 Issue 11

THANKS!

In spite of the artic winds ripping through our clothes, our hearts were warmed by the generosity of Osoyoos' yard sale junkies. Special thanks to our servant team who worked from early dawn until noon. We brought our junk, we sold our junk, we even bought some junk... but we raised 406.02 for our El Salvador missions trip.

What a neat way to meet our community, over 100 people passed through our impromto indoor (baby its cold outside) yard sale.

With each passing day I am more impressed with our "new" church. It is inevitable, no matter the project we have come to be surrounded by an amazing group of believers! As far as our ministry is concerned... its a new day, its a new dawn, its a new life! And I'm feeling good, yes praise God Almighty, I feel so good!

Why Raise Funds For El Salvador?

If this was your front entrance........


If this was your family bathroom .....

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK.......

One Day To ..... YARD SALE!

What a wonderful day... There were seven or eight of us busy prepping for the Yard Sale tommorrow. Judi and I are so blessed to be surrounded by such a great group of servants. We had a lot of donations for our fund raiser. It was a lot of fun pricing items - between Lynne and Beckie we had Wal Mart's Roll Back the prices beat six ways to Sunday. Ouch using the Wal Mart scenario I guess Keith and I are the Greeters - Hello Welcome - Have a nice day ....;-)

Please pray for our Yard Sale fund raiser - and our Mission Trip to El Salvador in two weeks.

Its A NEW Day!

I just watched Eli Stone (I kinda like that show) It ended with an old blues/jazz tune and I thought you'd like the lyrics .....
Birds flying high, You know how I feel, Sun in the sky, You know how I feel
Reeds driftin' on by, You know how I feel, It's a new dawn, It's a new day
It's a new life, For me, And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea, You know how I feel, River running free, You know how I feel
Blossom in the tree, You know how I feel, It's a new dawn, It's a new day
It's a new life, For me, And I'm feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when the day is done, that's what I mean
And this old world is a new world, And a bold world
For me, For me

Stars when you shine, You know how I feel, Scent of the pine, You know how I feel
Yeah freedom is mine, And I know how I feel, It's a new dawn, It's a new day
It's a new life, It's a new dawn, It's a new day
It's a new life, It's a new dawn, It's a new day
It's a new life, It's a new life, For me... And I'm feeling good

Its Like A Fire!

But His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, I am worn out trying to hold it in, I can’t do it! Jeremiah 20:9

When God does something in you - or in your life - it becomes a part of your experience! It becomes part of your testimony! I don’t know about you folk - but I just can’t keep quiet about what the Lord has done for me!

Psalms 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
Psalms 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.

Jeremiah while trying to preach the gospel to a wicked people in Jerusalem was mocked, beaten and placed in stocks. No one would listen to him. Utterly dejected, he cried out to the Lord that he could no longer even mention God’s name. Then, he must have felt something stirring inside him for he said, “But God’s word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones…and I could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:7-9

My dear friends here is God’s message to everyone of you who has ever been drawn by His Spirit. He’s telling us, “Don’t let anybody break you down! There is no reason for you to despair. There’s no cause for you to be confused before men. I’ve told you I am with you. I have made a covenant with you. So, there’s no reason for burnout, nor is there any cause for you to quit.”
Folks, it doesn’t matter what hardships you face. It doesn’t matter how badly people treat or abuse you. Your family and friends may even turn against you. But know this - THEY WILL NOT PREVAIL!

God has put a high wall around you. He made His covenant with you and has promised to deliver you! Paul testified, “I know who I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day” II Timothy 1:12

You may be almost convinced there’s no spark left in you. What you need my friend is to renew your faith in God’s Word. The only thing that will bring us out of our darkness is faith. And faith comes by hearing God’s Word! The Lord has promised, “I will not let you go down. Therefore, you have no reason to despair. Rest in my Word.”

Dear saint of God, you may be in the midst of the darkest night you’ve ever known. But I do know this: God has put a fire in your bones. There may only be a tiny spark left, but He is faithful to rekindle the flame in you.

Psalms 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God.

Had To Share This Encouraging Letter

Dear Ed and Judi

What a joy it was to meet you guys and share a meal a few times. Our hearts really went out to you when we heard of your situation concerning your son and the starting of a church anew. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay conquered Mount Everest on 29 May 1953. On a previous failed attempt to conquer Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary looked up to the mountain when going down and spoke to the mountain and said the following: “EVEREST YOU’VE GROWN ALL YOU CAN, BUT I AM STILL GROWING!!!” A year later he stood on the top victorious and a conqueror.

Carien and I see the same for you and your wife concerning your town and the past with its mountains. We see you and your wife saying prophetically: “Mountains, you’ve grown all you can, but we are still growing.” Go for it!!!!! – for YOU are more than conquerors in Christ.

We pray awesome healing and growth for both of you as you pick up the mantle from God to shepherd your town. The Word of God says: “With wisdom a house is build”. It also says: “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously.”

As you said you would like to pray for us, we truly thank you for it. Please pray toward the completion of our Transformation Centre. We have completed phase 1 which includes our children and youth department, however the conversion of our main auditorium will require a further $100 000. As you may know Africa and Canada are 2 different worlds when it comes to the finances. We truly need a miracle. Secondly, as we have already even prior to the conference began with a generational type church, please pray for our transition, that the body could move with and by no means loose people.

We will keep in touch and look forward to hearing news from you guys as to how your congregation takes awesome shape as you build according to a heavenly pattern.

Lots of love

Alan and Carien Ogilvie
KROONSTAD
South-Africa

How Do You Leave?

We live in an hour when the foundations of civilization are crumbling, the night of apostasy is deepening, lawlessness runs wild to its awful climax, the powers of Anti-Christ increase and abound, and wars and rumors of wars belt the globe. Yet the Church of God, with the only hope and cure for mankind’s sin and misery, rests, for the most part, at ease in Zion, and we who claim that Name above every name make mud pies and daisy chains and twiddle our thumbs while a world sweeps over the brink of disaster. We preach a Gospel that is God’s dynamite and we live firecracker lives. We sing of showers of blessing and the old-time power and faith, the victory and higher ground, and then we leave it all in the hymn books and go home. We read that when our Lord held a service the congregation went home amazed and glorifying God and filled with fear and saying, “We have seen strange things today” (Luke 5:26). How many, do you think, go from our meetings today in such a frame of mind?

Spark 2008

Pastor Casey is ministering in Vancouver this week-end at SPARK. We are very proud of him and are praying for Holy Spirit empowerment. Please pray for him as he ministers there. As well we are only a few weeks away from our El Salvador mission's trip. And that means we are only weeks away from RIOT "Radical In Our Trust" youth ministries starting mid-may. May God help us reach our community with the love of Jesus. Special thanks to Lawerence and Beckie, Trevor and Kate and Pastors Keith and Lynn for looking after The Gathering Place this week-end.

.... "That" Church

May God cause us to be known as "that" church. As we go out and do good, we will be remembered by our faith and works. Matthew Barnett said that there was a 73% drop in crime around their Dream Centre church because the members were going out "doing" good.

The following are points to become "That" church:
1) Put yourself in an other man's world
2) Have the gift of "inconvience" (be willing to be inconvienced)
3) Understand the true meaning of revival
4) Earn the right to be heard

Lost Dreams..

Well Day Three is history, but I pray the messages we heard wil live on for years to come. The following are statements that jumped out to me. They are not in any particular order. I challenge you to read them through and write them out in "your God order".

Dream for those that have lost their dreams.
Be more consistent in doing what is right longer then that those that are doing wrong.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space.
Giving is a way of life that keeps the fire burning.
Acts 10:38 = how to clearly change the atmosphere of a community.
Lose yourself to a cause
You get what you brag on.
When we are willing to do the unusual God does the supernatural.

There you have it. Judi and I wish you all a great week-end - go to celebrate Jesus - fellowship with the brethren - love on one another and remember, always remember, "the best is yet to come!"

Another Awesome Day

These days are full, full, full, but GREAT. The morning started early for us, (we are still on BC time). We met up with some great folk at the Word Of Life Centre and began our day by hearing the Top Eleven words that describe the church of the future. Pastor Mel Mullen expanded on the following points;
Vision
Relationships
Leadership
Culture
service
Growth
Influential
Transformational
Generational
Centre, and Life.

As the Word unfolded Judi and I marvelled,for there were so many points we had either just walked into or were about to do. Once again God had been graciously keeping us up to date so to speak of what He was doing in many other churches.

After a short break we heard from Brian Houston (Hillsong) - again a moving message challenging us to preach the Good News. Isaiah 52:7

If you can't proclaim something, why would you say it?

As well he said that we should refuse to listen to the "lowdown" Hey do you want to hear the lowdown about so and so? NO - Consider the bigger the opinon the smaller the character.

Phi 4:8 - meditate on these things - "Don't mess with my meditation!"

When he quoted James 1:26 I just smiled (I love James) Brian concluded with a challenge to be attractive in our conversations. Cool!

We had lunch with a couple from Olds and their friends from South Africa - and our hearts knit so tight that I feel we as a church should be praying for them. Perhaps they can even minister to Trevor's family.... the world gets smaller with each passing day.

Unfortunately I became ill after lunch and we left for a bit - We returned at 6:30 to partake of the two evening sessions. Peter Daniels spoke - whow! (He shared that the gifts the wise men gave Jesus were worth 400 million American dollars) I'll share more about that in another posting. Again after a short break the next speaker Tommy Barnet came up. Sweet Jesus, he stirred my soul. He is 70 years old and still rocking as a servant of the most high.

We came away with some awesome thoughts:
When God starts to do something great He starts with what is in the house!
Bigger things have happened with smaller groups!
Find a need and fill it!
Let your title be an adjective not a noun!
Do not seek a title!
There is no right way to do the wrong thing!
Lose yourself into a cause!
Do not quit!

We were encouraged to discover our spiritual second wind. At the close of the message all pastors were called forward and we were prayed over by Tommy. I am sure that Judi and I will look back on that as Casey would say, "God Moment."

I wish we could have taken all of you with us. Perhaps some day. Thanks for your love for us - and be sure to know that we Brouwers love each and every one of you conected to the Gathering Place ministry.

First Night At Generations

Well here we are in Red Deer. Judi and I are about to start our first day at the Word Of Life Conference. Last night after ten hours on the road we worshipped with a whole bunch of "on fire" young people. Awesome, black lights, bubble gum smoke, loud guitars and drums - cool!
I leaned over to Judi at one point and said, Darrin (our son in covenant) would love this! Then as I saw hundreds of young people, swaying, dancing, jumping and shouting praise to the Lord.. I added Rebecca would love this - and Casey - man I wish he was here and Aaron and Allison... If I could of I certainly would of transported them all here. I do recognize that we, (well me for sure) are getting older, yet we are young at heart. How we long to be part of what God is doing in the lives of those who follow behind us - God have mercy if we can't see or hear what He is doing in their lives. I shudder to think that I can with little difficulty hinder a move of God in the lives of our children and thereby the lives of our grandchildren.

To my children let me warn you, you may think yourself too young to be used of God.... others may consider you too young to be given responsibilities of leadership - the danger is that within a twinkling of an eye you realize that you are too old! GO FOR IT!

Pastors Gary and Kim loved on us and introduced us to more people then I can hope to remember. Brothers and sisters from across the country. One special intro was more of a reunion - Ken Gille an old acquantance from our early Ontario days. Awesome to hear what God is doing. What a difference from our previous connections. There was a genuine sense of "family".

Brian Houston from Hillsong spoke last night. He used Psalm 51 as his platform. He zeroed in on the fact that we need to realize ... "the best is yet to come." He spoke about how we often think of times in the past where we had better relations, better finances, more joy, more passion.... and that not only should we ask God to restore - renew or as the Message Bible says, "do a Genesis week work in me". Yet not "just" as it was but bring us further into the fullness of God's best.

It was very encouraging. We are anticipating a renewed vision and passion for our church in Osoyoos. God has been affirming our recent decisions to go on with our Market Place ministry.
Judi and I love the brothers and sisters God has placed us among at the Gathering Place.

It Is Time To Take Action - Heed The Call To PRAY!

‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’

THE REVIVAL OF 1857

On the corner of Fulton and William Street was located a Dutch Reformed Church in New York City. Things were not going well for the old church. It was located in down town New York City, and people were moving out to the suburbs and leaving the church. The neighborhood was becoming extremely blighted and poverty stricken. It was getting dangerous to go there.

A layman in the church, Jeremiah Landfear, made his rounds walking up and down the streets of the inner city of New York. As he passed businessmen on the street the marks of anxiety were written upon the faces of these businessmen. This nation was standing on the brink of economic disaster, and they knew it. A bubble of prosperity that had been building was about ready to burst. They knew it. They were frightened at the outcome.

Landfear thought it would be a good idea to give these men an opportunity to pray. He circulated very widely in hundreds of offices publicity about a prayer meeting that would take place on the first Wednesday of September at 12 o'clock on the third floor assembly room in the North Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street. You did not have to stay the whole hour. You could come and pray and leave. You could come and stay just five minutes, but come and pray.

On that first Wednesday in September Landfear was in the room alone. He prayed for five, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, and twenty minutes alone. Would anybody come? Twenty-five minutes his butterfly was turning to buzzards. Is anybody coming?

At 12:30 he heard footsteps on the stairs. And then another, and another, and another and another. Finally, five men had joined him in prayer. The meeting was such an encouragement that they agreed to meet the next Wednesday. The next Wednesday 20 businessmen were there. It was such a heartening thing to be together in prayer that they met again. The next Wednesday thirty men were there. Then they agreed to meet everyday. On the first day 100 men were there. Many of these men were not Christians. Many of them were lost. In a matter of three months every room in that old North Dutch Reformed church were crowded out with praying men. There was no room. The auditorium, Sunday school rooms, basement, ever room and corner was filled with men praying. Men on the outside were kneeling together praying because they could not get inside the church.

They agreed to open the John's Street Methodist Church just around the corner. On the first day the John's Street Methodist Church was opened for prayer it too was filled with men praying. Again, it was so full that men simply could not get in.

Within six months there were 150 prayer meetings like this going on somewhere in New York City. Fifty thousand New Yorkers were gathered for prayer. With that kind of praying blessings began to fall on New York City in 1857. *

What God did in 1857 He can still do today. Join me in prayer and repentance asking God to do it again. The promise has not changed, and our God does not change. He desires that we have a change of heart and turn to Him.

II Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”

* Frontline Ministries

Urgent Request

Inviting the men of Osoyoos to pray.
This meeting is intended to give men (church goers and non) an opportunity to stop and call upon God, standing in the gap for our families, our businesses, our community and our country. It will continue for one hour; but it is designed for those who may find it inconvenient to remain more than five or ten minutes, as well as for those who can spare the whole hour.

Every Tuesday, 12:00 - 1:00
at THE GATHERING PLACE on Main
8145 Main Street, Osoyoos