Posted on February 8th, 2010 1 Comment »
There is a piece of us men that is attracted to, in the words of popular comedian Jeff Foxworthy, “bright and shiny things” like fishing lures and bass boats…there is just nothing as irresistible as all the chrome and colors under bright lights. I say I don’t like shopping, but my wife says it’s a different story when I step into a tackle shop, boat dealership or sportsman’s trade show. She says she can hardly keep up with me…
And yet for the many times I have succumbed to the urge and made a wild purchase, there comes a time when the Visa statement arrives and I am filled with “buyers remorse”…and I have been there more than once. The “bright and shiny” is replaced with regret.
Here is a great quote by Doug Cecil:
“You will never find in sin what you go into sin to find.”
…what a challenging thought…
How many times are we tantalized by the bright and shininess of a sin, maybe in the form of an illicit action or conversation, a choice morsel of gossip, or “venting” on someone, then realize what we thought we would obtain has now vanished?
Where did all the bright and shiny go?
Today, I have a fresh view of James 1:14 (NIV) “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed”…I am just a little more cautious of the enticement of bright and shiny sins…and maybe a little wiser too.
Pastor Dave S.
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Posted on January 29th, 2010 Be the first to comment. »
Well Christmas is all about giving. God the Father gave us Jesus! You celebrated the Spirit of Giving all throughout December as a Church and I want to honor you and your generosity.
One gift you gave was our 19th Annual Nativity Drive Through. It was a huge success with over 800 cars passing through that’s approximately 5000 sets of eyes taking in the glory of Christ’s birth. Thank you for standing out in the rain, setting up, feeding and dressing everyone to make this event possible!
As a result of the Nativity Drive Through you hosted, another gift you gave was $3,389 for the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope, serving the homeless in our City, and in addition to that, a truckload of food for the Abbotsford Food Bank and our in-house food bank was collected.
You gave the Christmas Morning Gift to the homeless. You donated money and countless items and assembled 140 huge duffle bags full of socks, underwear, pants, shirts, winter coats, warm blankets and food stuffs. And together in a unified effort with other Churches, orginizations and individuals hosted a breakfast for the homeless where they received gratefully these duffle bag gifts!
You gave 26 nicely wrapped Christmas presents that were carefully chosen, purchased and wrapped with care by you to give to 26 children from single parent families in our congregation. This Annual Love Tree expression of your giving blessed 26 children!
This year through your in-house Church Food Bank and Charity Dept. you gave out 25 huge food hampers furnished with Christmas Turkeys and Hams to families who needed a bit of help.
Another gift you gave was organizing, hosting and attending this year’s Christmas Banquet as a fundraiser for our Interns Peru Trip that raised over $1,500 for their costs.
You also gave a $2,000 Christmas Blessing Offering to help the Vancouver City Church plant and Pastor Herb and Pearl Lee.
Thank you for giving to the Lord! It’s a blessing to serve the Lord together with you and be a part of such a generous group of people.
Pastor Mitch
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Posted on December 4th, 2009 1 Comment »
I was dangling about 25 feet off the ground from the eaves of my house last Monday on that cool, but gratefully dry, afternoon. I had two things going for me; no rain and free time, sort of. It was my day off and the “honey-do-list” was pressing on my conscience. I desperately needed to hang my Christmas lights up before the first winter snows fly. Besides, my wife’s Christmas nostalgia was getting restless about the seasonal necessities.
Just as I was finishing, my brother-in-law drove by, saw my garage wide open and spotted me hanging on a corner of the roof doing my reindeer impression. I waved and made a funny face at him and he returned it warmly as he passed by heading who knows where. Moments later I heard a noise and there he was pulled up in my driveway. He had deliberately turned around, put his agenda on hold, and stopped in to chat it up with me.
I tend to take my cues quite responsibly and since I had numb fingers, and had run out of garland, I quickly suggested he come in and sit down for a cup of coffee and a visit. He gladly complied — after all, he changed his plan for my sake it seems, or perhaps because we share a healthy relationship. He values my friendship and knows I value his.
This friendly encounter with my brother-in-law reminded me of God’s interest in meeting with you and I. It’s quite interesting to me how ready God is to meet and talk with us and enjoy our interaction with Him. he’s very interested in our lives and thrilled to engage with us about it in great detail and enthusiasm.
I have come to truly believe that He would love it if you would turn your truck around, put your daily agenda on hold and pull into His driveway for an assumed coffee visit. After all, it is a relationship and He’s always ready to meet and talk. Are you?
Posted in Christianity, Community, Friendship, Love
Posted on November 18th, 2009 1 Comment »
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Thank you for visiting our site, we value your interest in us. We hope we can bring some inspiration and encouragement to you!
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Posted on November 18th, 2009 4 Comments »
Last Friday morning after driving my kids to work & school I enjoyed a delicious hot cup of home-brewed coffee in front of a toasty crackling fire together with my wife. We talked and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company as we reveled in the fire’s warmth and the tranquility of the early morning alone together.
I’m always amazed and so happy that my wife loves me so much. I’m so far from perfect yet my wife loves me in spite of my flaws and mistakes. My mishandlings of her tender emotions at times or misunderstanding or somehow forgetting her needs. My impatience, my moods….I could go on and on. Now without sounding arrogant, I do believe I must possess a certain amount of quality characteristic that she loves and that makes her feel wonderful & loved but, I fail often and suffer from inconsistency. The most amazing thing is that she loves me in spite of my lack. That’s unconditional love!
It’s awesome when people love us unconditionally, but what is even more awesome is that God our Father loves us absolutely and totally with an unconditional love. So much so, that He pursues a relationship with us that is only subject to our agreement and willingness to interact with Him. You see, He wants you not for what you can give Him but for what He can give you. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Now it’s up to us to respond to His love. It’s not forced nor is it illusive. His invitation to you says, “Come to me all you who are week and feeling burdened…I will give you rest.”
He knows you and loves you as if you were the only person on the earth. You are the apple of His eye! So if you are feeling like you have to measure up or be more lovable to qualify for His love, forget it. He accepts you as you are, freely and without reserve in spite of your inconsistencies and failings. He doesn’t base his love for you on your good performance either. You can’t earn His love. He’s bigger than that. You don’t want religion nor does he. He wants a relationship with you! He loves unconditionally and He is God…not a human being.
Posted in Christianity, Church Life, Community, God's Love, Love, Relationships, Uncategorized