http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022 My desire as a pastor is to see people have what they were designed by God the creator to have...an intimate, personal, and real relationship with a God who not only created us but also loves us relentlessly. Right in the beginning of the Bible God came down to walk and talk with man 'in the cool of the day' (Genesis 3:8) My hope is to bring you thoughts or even questions that might bring you inot that place with God. AdvancedMinistry In part 1 I shared a simple idea for combating greed, and creating a discipline of giving both to God and to others. Pregressive - has your giving amount changed as your income has, or as God has revealed His faithfulness to you. Priority - have you dedicated money to God and His kingdom before spending or saving money for yourself. Percentage - follow the example of the Old Testament and decide on a percentage and re-evaluate it periodically. Having disciplined giving...actually helps us grow spiritually. Our heart is in direct contact with our finances. Jesus makes this clear in Matt. 6. "where your treasure is there your HEART will be also" . God will at times test our Faith through our giving. and we know that "the testing of our Faith developes perceverence" -  James 1. I don't know about you but I want to know that what I do here on earth matters. I know from Matt. 6 that our investments here can be stored up in heaven where they cannot be corrupted or taken away. When I get to heaven I want to be invested in as much of God's kingdom as possible. and to be honest with you...%10 is probably not gonna allow me to do this. In Pt. 2 I want to lay out 8 myths that we have about money....in hopes of encouraging you to invest and divert your heart to where God's heart is on money matters. 1. It's my money - James 1:17 tells us that "Every good and perfect gift comes from above" It's not really your momney. God gave it to you...God created you with the talents, abilities, time, energy, health, and opportunity  to do the work which earns you money...so really everything we have - we have because God gave it to us. 2. I need to give %10 of my money - There is really two myths here and we have already tackled one so understanding that it's not really my money anyway will also help me to realize that God does not want access to just %10 of His money (imagine if your banker told you that) He wants accesss to all of His money that He has entrusted to us. We talked about picking a percentage to give to the Lord in Pt. 1 and I believe this is a good discipline...but please don't assume that your percentage is %10...God' wants to use the money He has given us, and may at times want more than %10. Read the Parable of the 10 Minas in Luke 19 and see from Jesus' perspective what God wants from us. 3.What I save makes me more secure - I Cor.5 tells us that there will be plenty of people who will escape from the fire but only by the skin of your teeth. The security that we create is really a false sense. Jeremiah 17:5-10 is an interesting passage on this. Not that I am against saving, but if your hope and security and in fact your well being is wrapped up in your savings and not in the Lord you are laying a shakiy foundation. 4. If I had more I'd give more - here is one I have heard plenty of times but have NEVER seen. In fact the opposite is very often true. Luke 19 and the Prable of the 10 minas shows God's heart. He wants us to be faithful with what we have and when we are faithful with little we may be entrusted with much. Remembering God wants access to all HIS money. read again the story of the widow who brought her tiny little offering to the Temple and understand the reaction of Christ to her giving everything and you understand God's heart. 5. God's kingdom needs my investment - there are many people who would laugh at this one and say Yeah I know that's not true - and then turn around and try to hold sway in the church because of their financial contributions. They hold positions of influence not because of their spiritual maturity but because of their financial power. The same misunderstanding has led to many leaders in the church allowing people like this to make important decisions and innevitably alter the direction of the church...in fact holding the church ransom. This fear of losing donations and allowing things  like this to happen  comes from this misunderstanding. "That God needs our money." Do you think He puts his work on hold if we don't give...."He owns the cattle on a thousand hills" Ps. 50:10 6. What I give I lose, What I keep I gain -  "Remember Lot's Wife. Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it". Luke 17:32-33 When we make a statement like this we in fact are being like Lot's wife and looking backwards, when God has a different perspective for us. Actually great freedom and benefit comes from giving instead of hoarding or consuming. "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Pr. 11:25 7. Our Giving grows by addition - We often think..."I give $120, you give 300, and someone else gives 200 and we come to the total of $620" However. God is a God of multiplication. Look at the story of the feeding of the 5000. You see God acts as a lever- multiplying the amount of benefit that can come from a very small gift. THat's why you have instances all through Scripture where the understanding is -  you give a little God will apply His power -  and much will be done. So the size of your gift therefore becomes irrelevant. "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed"... 8. Our giving is a financial transaction - If there is one point that I hope you get it is this one; our giving at the very core is very very spiritual. It is really a matter of the heart. It all comes down to FAITH  "And without faith it is impossible to please God, becasue anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" - Hebrews 11:6 http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=27171 27171 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:34:00 +0000 For the last number of weeks we have been looking at issues of the heart. When we reached the issue of greed the obvious progression is a discussion on money and giving (the easiest way to combat the heart of greed) This topic is not much fun for pastors to talk about...but I can guarantee that it is one that should be more often. In the last week have you thought about money?...Have you argued with someone about money?..Have you worried about money?...Have you complained or thought that you just don't have enough money? Likely you have done one of these in the past week or so. If your thinking about it why can't the church talk about it? Matt. 6 tells of Jesus teaching on treasure..."Don't store up for yourselves treasure on earth...but store up treasure in Heaven..." then He makes this statement...."For where your treasure is there you heart will be also" You see our money effects our heart....Greed very simply reveals wheter or not our heart is truly in Christ or still self centered. It is absolutely possible for us to make investments into eternity and for our giving to effect our heart and becasue the heart is the wellspring of life (Prov. 4:23) it will then effect our whole lives. There is a portion in Jesus teaching where he pauses and announces "If your eyes are good your whole body will be full of light...if your eyes are bad you are full of darkness" Upon reading this interuption in the teaching on treasures in heaven I had to pause for a while. Why was that in there? After a bit of study it became crystal clear and actually shed light on the rest of the passage. When it says that our eyes can be either good or bad....the translations for those words have roots in generous - "good;" and envious - "bad". The eye is the lamp of the body and practically  speaking what gives us direction and helps us make decisions and adjustments to our path or where to turn. If our eyes are generous we will inevitably be like Christ in His very neature...who GAVE everything. If our eyes are envious we will cease to ever find satisfaction in Christ or in our wealth because there will always be something we want or wish for....this will lead to a darkness and despair where greed shows up as only the tip of the iceburg. So how do westore up treasure in Heaven? How do we ensure that our eyes are "good" or "generous"/ The answer may seem too simple really.....The greeatest commandment is to "Love God with all your HEART, soul, mind and strength, and the second is like it Love your neighbor as yourself". Let your eyes not look for opportunities to hoard or collect and accumulate but look for ways to give to the work of God, and to the well being of others. A great principal that I have come to appreciate, which makes a great spiritual discipline is make your giving... Progressive - meaning it grows as you grow. As you see the Lord using your gifts and he strengthens your faith.     Priority - the OT example is to give the firstfruits. Give to God first then use the rest how you see fit.          Percentage - decide ahead of time what you will give and make it your priority to give that first. Then every so often re-                               evaluate your percentage so your giving is progressive and let the cycle continue. This discipline will help you to invest in the kingdom of God (things that will last), and will help to change your heart (or eyes from "bad/envious" to "good/generous" http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=27112 27112 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:36:00 +0000 The entire goal of the disciple makeer  is to bring someone to the point where they learn to Follow Christ (by themselves), they allow Christ to change them to be more like Him (through the work of the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.).And the greatest blessing of all for the disciple maker is the releasing of a disciple who is confident and competent in making other disciples, who will then make other disciples and so on. "Come FOLLOW me, I will MAKE you, fishers of men (Disciple makers)". Matthew 4:19 Releasing a mature disciple looks like they are becomig independant but in reality their maturity has brought them into a deeper more dependant relationship with their Heavenly Father. Now their direction, purpose and encouragement comes not from others but from Christ Himself. It's pretty funny to watch a kid who is about 3-4 start to become independant.. At first it almost comes accross as rebellion. "NO!! I'll do it!"  - but in reality this is a very good thing that can easily be squashed by daddy (trust me I've been there) Watching your child fumble around and take 30 minutes for a 2 minute job is difficult - but this is discipleship. Our elderly neighbor was sitting on his deck watching me and my son work together(probably laughing because he had had three boys as well) . After Bo had gone inside I must have looked a little flustered and as he approached I cringed becasue I knew I had been impatient. He smiled and simply said..."It always takes time to teach your kids to do something right....and it takes failure" What a profound thought that we often miss in the process of discipleship. We often try to rush people into maturity so that we can thrust responsibility on them. Shake our heads when they fail, and then get frustrated with them when they are too busy to serve or are unwilling to try again. It's hard to let your kids do it their way while gently coaching them. It's sometimes painful to watch. But walk with them, help them,  allow them to fail and encourage them to try again and you have raised up someone who will be competent and confident.  THIS IS DISCIPLESHIP. Christ did it! Read the Gospels and watch his interactions with His disciples especially Peter. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=26896 26896 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:17:00 +0000 We live in a world today that is very often outrightly opposed to Biblical prinicpals of Family and Marriage.The next few weeks we will be adressing the issue of Marriage and Family and as a way of introduction We took a look at today's world view of marriage and family, what is at stake if we continue on with this trend, and if it is possible to right the ship and live as God intended in marriage and family. First we looked histroically at some of the steps that ancient societies took prior to their fall and how historically the downfall and eventual devestation of a society followed very closely ont he coattails of the disolving of marriage and family as God has intended it. Carl Zimmerman in his book "Family and Civilization"  written in 1947 gave some startling insight into what had happened to Greek, Roman, French and German society (in regard to their views of marriage and family) prior to their fall from illustirous power and affluence. He makes these observations from history...and how fitting they are today: 1. Marriage loses it's sacredness - divorce and cohabitation without marriage becomes prevalent. 2. Feminest movements flourish - there is little desire for women to be a wife and mother....as well as no honor granted those who do pursue these things. 3. Increasing deisre for and acceptance of adultery - excuses and reason trump the bond of marriage. 4. Growing disregard for parental authority - And authority in general (ie: teachers, police,, etc.) 5. Growing Tolerance foor sexual perversions - The Biblical view of marriage and family is no longer respected but is quetioned and rejectied. as intolerant and narrow minded.   It is startling to see thse trends repeated in every one of the societies. And the impact that God's view of mariage and family has on Society. I belive this is one of the reasons we are called to be both "Salt and LIght" we are here to preserve and flavor society with what God has intended for us in these areas and in turn preserve healthiy relationships.  Christian marrige today shines as a light probably brighter than ever when it is done according to Biblical principals, because the worlds view has become so darkened. The World is changing rapidly and is tending towards erosion of Godl principals. But there are some things that do not change: 1. The heart of man - we are and have always been depraved. We will always tend toward selfishness,, and without the redeeming work of Christ we cannot pull out of this downward spiral, but even though Christ promises to do so we must submit our lives and actions to His will or we will continue in our depravity. 2. The Heart of God for people - God does not change like the shifting shadows or the changing tides nor is he changed when society does. His heart is that we find joy and peace in Him and that in following His principals we also find health in our relationships - marriage and otherwise. 3. God's Truth as laid out in Scripture - His Word is as relevant today as it was yesterday. It is interesting that society has changesd and repeated the same cycles but His desire for marriage and family has remained the same since Adam and Eve.   So is it possible to pull out o fthis downward spiral and what is it going to take to do so? 1. WAKE UP - look at your life and take stock of where YOU are. Are you right now questioning whether God's rpincipals really fit in today's society or are you viewing God's Word as an authority? Are you aware of any sin in your life that has gone unchecked and unrepented of. wake up and realize what is at stake here. 2. LISTEN UP - Get into the Word of God. Find Godly literature, conferences, and mentors to help you form a BIblical view of marriage instead of a worldly world view. 3. SPEAK UP - Be proud to follow God's design for marriage and family. Talk plainly and confidently about God's desire and also God's blessings within a God centered family. This does not mean that we have to be argumentative but that we actually let our light shine before men. 4. LOOK UP - Pray for your marriages and for your children. Christ left us with His Spirit to help guide us and counsel us in many areas and I believe marrige and family are dear to God's heart and He will honor your requests for wisdom and grace in regard to these areas. If you don't feel that you can make a differnce... In the 18th century Britain was in shambles, kids filled the streets becaus they had been abandoned, adultery was public and open even within government offices, sin was every where. Parliment was dismissed early one afternoon because there were too many who were drunk. But two men JOHN WESLEY, and GEORGE WHITEFIELD. dedicated themselves to prayer for revival of their country and God honored their prayers and Britain was spared the same fate as France, Rome, and Greece. Many people credit these two men for saving all of Britain. Read about it in either of these two mens biographies. Please pray for our families and for those who are hurting in these areas. Many of these principals were found with very little searching but with much discretion. Please be wise and discerning in what you both read an dlisten to! Podcasts by Swindoll, Dobson, Mark Drscoll are all available along with hundreds of books on the topic. So study and look for God's truth and He will honor you. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=20396 20396 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:57:00 +0000 "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matt. 11-28-30 In the days of Jesus boys from a very young age dedicated much of their time to the study and especially the memorization of the Torah...first 5 books fo the Bible. Before they had reached their teenage years most would have had this memorized and some would have continued to meomirze the remainder of the Old Testament as we know it. The young Jewish boys who excelled in their studies would possibly have the opportunity to be apprenticed by a Rabbii. this was a great honor...very much like the Hockey draft of today. Rabbis would travel around looking for very gifted boys who would excell in study and would extend the offer to come to or with them and learn from them. This is the context of the statement that Jesus is making here TO EVERYONE. This is first modeled in the calling of His disciples...notice in the Gospels how many times Jesus is called Rabbi or teacher...People look to him as such and so when you see Jesus going and selecting His disciples it is very contrary to the custom of the day. The choosing of fishermen, tax collectors etc was odd enough but the choosing of grown men not yung men was also strange. The Rabbis Yoke was the term that was used to encompass the all of his teaching and practice. What he knew of Scripture, what he practiced as far as the Law was concerned, How he taught, how he counselled, how he judged. and especially how he acted was all part of the Rabbis  Yoke. So when Jesus comes along and offers us the opportunity to come to him without having us prove ourselves or look like we earned our position or the opportunity it sure fits with our understanding of Grace doesn't it. We have done noting to merit the acceptance and invitation of Jesus. And yet He invites us to "come". He then invites us to take His yoke upon us. or His teaching...mainly the teaching of unmerited favor and grace.. many rabbis were strict and demanding but Jesus was different. There were many times however that Jeus laid out plainly the fact that to be a follower of Christ there would also be sacrifice and opposition but in this instance we are told that the burden is light and under it we may still find rest. For the jews this meant that they no longer had to work for their salvation, For us it means that we have a means of Salvation. ...This is one of those moments in Scripture where you wish the chapter diviions where not in there. becasue as you keep reading you will see this come to light. Jeus heals on the Sabbath and recieves a lot of grief for it. He goes against rules traditions and guidelines and gets to the heart of what is important. OUR SOUL. In Chapter 12 Jesus makes the claim that He is greater than the Sabbath. and that He is Lord of the Sabbath. in both of these statements jJsus is making clear the point htat religion should not point to us but to the one we are worshiping and if we miss this point we have missed the boat entirely. Mere Religion does 1 of 2 things both of which offend God. 1. Make us arrogant - we feel we have done right, we feel we have followed the traditions, customs and teachings to a tee and don't need any help. These were the Pharisees who missed Jesus because of their arrogance. or 2) Makes people feel worthless - those who cannot measure up feel like they have no hope of reaching God or pleasing him and are at a loss for what to do so most give up. Jesus teaches us that if we are willing to put Religion aside and follow Chirst the focus of our worship we will find rest from our business and failed attempts to please Him and instead  find comfort, counsel and communion with God Through Christ Jesus. . http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=20247 20247 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:41:00 +0000 It's funny how easily we fall into the same trap as the super fanatical pharisees who in their own right looked very religious. But Christ condemned ruthlessly.... I came accross a simple yet very profound verse in the chapter we will be studying this Sunday: "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of POWER"  -  I Cor. 4:20 Boy,  what a powerful statement. I really believe we have done the church a great deal of harm by eliminating the mysterious from the Church...everything is safe calculated and structured. You know there used to be and still is in some countries an awe that surrounds the Church. Where is the miraculous? Where are the bold prayers of Fatih? Where are the people broken before God? Where is the absolute conviction of sin? The book of Acts holds an instance that illustrates my point exactly...you remember the story of Annanias and Saphira? They decided to give a portion of land to the Church but held back a portion for themselves...and yet passed it off as a complete surrender. Long story short they both dropped dead. Why? Because God is powerful and He iis Holy? Or themany stories of the  apostles preaching and healing and ministering in the most devastating of circumstances and yet the kingdom of God advancing with unexplainable power. . Matt. 11:12 - " From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it." Has this been your experience in the church? Maybe/ maybe not? But I do know that Christ promised for His kingdom to advance and go forward into this community and the whole world with force and the defences of the opposition will not be able to stand. ....meaning that people who you never thought could or would change.... do; circumstances which you never thought you could overcome... are overcome; people are healed, relationships are mended and hearts are convicted not by any persons great words or actions or speach, but by a powerful, mysterious, and gracious God. But who are the forceful people who lay hold of the kingdom? Let me give you a picture from the Old Testament...Jabez A man who asked God to give him more that what he already had...what he knew...what he understood...and what was comfortable. And I Chronicles 4:9-10 tell us that God granted his desire for the Lord to bless him....not just bless him with comfort and security but also with responsibility and duty. God honored that request, and expanded his influence. Matt 7 tells us that we are to ask, seek, and knock. It will be given, and doors will be opened. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=19536 19536 Wed, 2 Feb 2011 14:37:00 +0000 From what I understand God's design of the sacrificial system was that it be a  very personal experience. The head of the household was responsible for picking a newly weened lamb without blemish or spot to offer as a sacrifice that year. This lamb was then brought into the household of the family,  it was fed special food,  it was brought up in the household perhaps even named. It was treated differently than the other lambs with the intention of keeping it pure and without broken lumbs or other such things. It was done I believe that the lamb would thebn become a very intimate part of the family. This lamb was then brought to the temple as the sacrifice on behalf of the whole family. When the father of the house would lay his hand on the head of the lamb and slit it's throat just imagine what that experience woud be like. Remembering the personal interaction that perhaps he or his children had had,. the shared life that this lamb had had with his family. That this innocent lamb would have to die on behalf of the sins that he his wife and children had commited throughout the year. The lamb had committed none of them... As we approach Christmas it is important to understand Christ in a similar way. Christ existed with humanity a long time before His earthly birth. John 1, and Col 1 both speak to this. We are also told that Christ died once for all...so is it possible for one man to die for hte sins committed in the past and that would be committed in the? Absolutely!!! because Christ dwelt and participated with humanity before Christmas and He exists still today. his eternal presence is a wonderful truth that we cannot miss. Jesus saw the struggles that humanity had before his birth and death., he understands our struggles today even ithroughout all the cahnges of society. He exists still today and has died for our sins. Think deeply of Christ this Christmas...Understand the personal implications of Christ being with us even before we accepted Him as a sacrifice on our behalf. Or maybe you have never recognized Christ in this way...I urge you to recognize the ability of Christ to forgive sins..He loves you before you accept Him, He loves you so much that He would be willing to pay the penalty for YOUR sins. Different from the lamb, Christ was raised to life after the price for sins was paid. He now  dwells in heaven where He sees us... He fights for us... He intercedes for us...He has given us His Spirit for power Hhpe and, the full riches of His presence. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=18125 18125 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:38:36 +0000 Wea re given so many pictures of Christ throughout the Old Testament..However they are just that..."pictures". They are glimpses in to the great character of God and His Christ (Annointed one). This Sunday we studied one such "picutre" in  Hosea. What an interesting picutre he is as a prophet who was to go out and show the love of God to a rebelious and adulterous people. "For God loved the world so much that He sent His one and only Son. That whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." The picture of Hosea going back to pay for his wife makes very little sense. Would it not have been enough for Gomer to just come back and try to live as best she could as Hoseas wife. Yes she could have come back to Hosea and given everyone the impresson that she was a good wife to Hosea...but to God that was not enough. God wanted to remove the guilt/ shame and duty that she had put herself under as a prostitue. Hesea was to BUY her back. Romans talks at length of the inability of the Law to free the Jews. In the same way Gomer returning to Hosea and looking like a married couple was not enough to really set Gomer free. In Hosea 3 we have the instnace of Hosea going to find Gomer and pay for her freedom from prostitution. After he pays for her (notice that it is not before) Hosea lays out some guidelines. "You are not to go and be intimate with anyone else, and I will dwell with you" there was to be exclusivity...how rare this is tody even in "Christian" circles. God is a jealous God. Now this helps us to understand Romans 8::1-4  "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (why we needed to be payed for), becasue through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that is was weakened by the sinful nature, God did nby sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but accoding to the Spirit." What other God would make payment for us before making demands  or precursors to His love....in fact He also gives us the ability and strength to follow through with our responsibilities...what other religions or god's do you know that would do that?   http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=17957 17957 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:33:48 +0000 Last Sunday I encouraged you to go through Proverbs with a pen and ruler. I decided to go back and reread the passages I had underlined.previously... I got to Proverbs 4:18-19 and had to stop for a minute... Have you ever been expected to fai?. Has someone ever told you flat out that there was no hope of success.I have had these discouraging people around me before, and many of them think they are actually helping...they think they are bring you a realistic  perspective or just giving you some insight - that becasue you are too young and ingnorarant to understand they must giv you. Frustrating isn't it? actually kind of crushing.   Sadly, we do this to many  young believers. We expect them to fail! In Fact, we often tell them they will fail. How many times have you heard mature Chritians tell an excited young believer; "Some of this excitement will wear off", or "It won't always be like this", or "Don't worry, when you mess up God is still there". Many of these statements are made with an arrogant attitude, they are made to sound like; "I have experienced this and now will pass on my wisdom to you....". I also feel that sometimes people who have been believers for a long time often inadvertently desire for young converts to fail. This will bring the excited, passionate overflowing attitude of the young believer back down to the level that the older more reserved, bored and apathetic Christian isand actually what he/she is comfortable with. ...without the older Believer having to change his/her  lifestyle at all. This is a terrible tragedy that I believe has brought distaste to the Church and to what it actually means to be a Christian. HOW MANY CHRISTIANS DO YOU KNOW WHO HAVE JUST SETTLED? Likely it is because they believe there is no hope for it to be bette, this is what was expected of them and this is what is being modelled for them. What was expected to happen has happened, They are right on course. One of God's claims against his people was: "They've forgotten their first love".Meaning they had settled for what they have now when they could have what the young beliver has right now. Interesting thought isn't i that when David does sin and comes before the Lord, David asks: "Restore unto me the joy of my salvation". I believe there was an ever increasing joy and excitement in the relationship between David and his God. It didn't plateau when he fought Goliath....that's crazy talk. "The Path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, they do no t know what makes them stumble." Proverbs 4:18-19 WHAT A PROMISE!! As we are saved, our growth is to be gradually greater and greater...not a sunset where after we are saved ourspiritual lives just wane off into darkness. How different would the church look if the old converts are growing more excited and jubilant about their faith than the new believer who has a simple childlike faith? http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=17642 17642 Fri, 3 Dec 2010 11:00:47 +0000 We talked on Sunday about the book of Job and the response of Job's friendsduring his suffering. There is a game I used to play in the vehicle. where  we would take turns asking questions beginning with "Have you Ever...". For instance Have you ever milked a cow? If you had then you remained in the game if you had not then you were out. Job comes to a pont in his suffering where he finally begins to confront and make requests of God. At this point God plays this little game with Job. God asks Job a long series of questions beginning with "Have you ever...", and "Can you..." The point of this was to put Job in his place. Of course Job had not seen where the lightning comes from. He had not put the mountains in place. But God had! I am hoping we can get a great glimpse of God this Sunday as we read some Psalms together. There is so much truth and so many of these statements which remind us of who God is and who we are. "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart, I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you, I will sing praise to your name, O most High." Psalm 9:1,2 http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=17356 17356 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:37:13 +0000 How great is it that the same Holy Spirit who helped the writers of the Bible also helps us to grasp it and understand it...? I have been praying this week that as we go to a time of sharing on Sunday about the Psalms that God, through His Spirit would have opened your eyes to understand or to be impacted by something that you have read and probably rattled around in your brain on occasion. I am also praying that as we share these things, it would be obvious that the Spirit has prompted us to bring a message of truth or encouragement that would benefit others who hear it.   http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=17156 17156 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:26:08 +0000 The question has been posed before today I'm sure! Why would Jesus come as a baby? God was more than capable of just sending a fully grown human to come and do the same work. He already did this with Adam.... the major difference of course is the world in which they came into. For Adam the world was perfect and without sin...for Christ, the earth was covered with sin and sinners....but "God loved the World so much that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." Christ came to deal with the problem of sin...but why as a Baby, why not like Adam? I believe Christ had to come as a helpless infant for 2 reasons; #1 - to Grow (to learn); and #2 - To be able to identify with us. Luke 2:52 states; "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with both God and men" This statemnt has always sort of vexed me. How did Jesus grow?...I understand the "stature" part but what about wisdom? And what about in favor with God? The Bible also tells us that "The fear of teh Lord is the beginning of WISDOM, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."  Proverbs 9:10. So did Jesus not understand God fully? He absolutely did not...that's why Jesus had to come as a baby.He needed to know the love of God from a human standpoint.. To understand the desires of God upon those who fear God. To understand the strength and grace of God as a recipient of His strength and not just as a provider of it. This needed to be done through living a frail human life, dependant on God....which is actually a good description of the fear of the Lord (the willingness to admit our weakness and submitt under His greatness).This may also what earned Him favor with God, His willingness to submitt His life fully unto death to the will and purpose of God. It was in this context that God would utter from Heaven  "This is my Son,  in Him I am well pleased" This growth happened physically (stature), mentally (wisdom), socially and emotionally (favor with God and men). To grow in  these areas he needed to be human from infancy. Most of our developement in these areas takes place before the age of 12...and in fact this is the exact age that Jesus was when this statement was made of Him in the Gospel of Luke. "Therefore, since we have a great hight priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard becauae of his reverent submission. Althugh  He was a son, He learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him."  Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 HOW GREAT IS THAT!?!!?! Christ came for all mankind, but for those who trust HIM there is reserved a relationship with God that is not possible without Him. A relationship that makes it's first steps in this world but dwells eternally in Heaven. This relationship cannot be forced, it cannot be bought, it cannot be earned however in Christ we have it as a gift.."But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, In order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace , expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7 You see, we can't do it on our own but in that little bundle that we celebrate during this Christmas season we have both the savior for our sins and shortcomings, and an example of growth to follow as we struggle through our lives here. He has gone before us....He has prepareed the way.  Thankyou Jesus.   http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=17115 17115 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:17:00 +0000 Matthew 16:24  - " Then Jesus said to his disciples, " If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Jesus pulls no punches when He lalks about the costs of being a disciple of His. Jesus does however say that those who do choose to follow Him will recieve life and have it to the fullest. .  Compare the passage in Matthew to John 10:10 and you get a great truth in opposition to a lie..."Satan Comes to steal to kill and to destroy...But I (Jesus) have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly" The lie that the world is believing s that God is the one that is robbing people...or fun...popularity...great wealth...whatever people view that people who follow Christ have to give up. But in fact the truth is that Satan is the one who steals, killss and destroys. Satan has been inflicting his damage on people for years, peoples marriages have been robbed of joy ,security and love. People are killing themselvews to earn money, the economy is being rdestroyed by people buying what they can't afford because they want it Right Now! And these things don't even touch on what is happening in the hearts of lost people today. To the children of divorce, the hearts of the depressed and outcasts who believe they can't match the rest of society. Yet in the midst of what Satan is robbing us of,  killing in our lives, or destroying in our society, Christ comes and says that "we can have life and have it more abundantly" What do I need to do to get it....? Die to yourself and surrender your life, livelyhood, family, and possessions . Trust Christ completely. Boy this is easy to say and sounds very Christian...but to stop and wrestle with God is the great challenge. "What if God takes....?" There are many tings that I am absolutely terrified that God might take completely away from me. What if God takes my kids or my wife or my money or house...? I guess the real question is am I really satisfied in Christ? And do I trust Christ enough to surrender these things to Christ? In the past few years I have wrestled with God in a few of these areas....I began to trust Christ with my marriage - following the picture that Christ models for the church (as best I can). I have had to give up trying to pass on my wisdom and counsel to friends who are struggling and just begin praying for them...(this has often seemed hopeless and totally out of my control). I have had to stop working rediculous hours at a couple jobs to get the money that I thought we needed to maintain a certain lively hood and just trust God with our finances...You know in the past two years my marriage has improved, my firends and I have drawn closer together, and we have never starved in fact we are probably better off than we ever have been. God has promised to give life...if we are willing to trust him with ours. So to live...to die...or both? "Whovever loses his life for me will find it..." -  Find out how much God really does love you. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16608 16608 Tue, 2 Nov 2010 18:45:52 +0000 I came accross Eph. 3:14-19 this week as I was preparing for this Sunday. It basically points out that we even need help to grasp how great the love of God is... It is too immeasurable,  to vast and to great for us to even fathom. This definately changed the way that I prayed this week...We cannot fathom in our own power the riches of God's love for us...we surely cannot open the eyes of the lost in this community to Christ's limmense love for them. This sure creates a burden to pray that God would work in the lives of those surrounding us. UGod will use us as He wishes but all our words and actions must be accompanied by the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. in us.  I encourage you to pray in this way for a while ans stop trying to convert and convince...start praying that God would enable you to see Him in a new way and perhaps that He would empower the people of this community to understand God's immense love for them as well . WE CANNOT DO IT1   http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16515 16515 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:34:32 +0000 The installation service has come and gone and I was very grateful to have people pray over me and  my family. It was a huge encouragement. I made a joke with harvey Schultz about the book that he gave me "A Tale o Three Kings" - Gene Edwards. I said, "maybe I could get a paraphrase from the other pastors who are reading i t"...You see rarely do I appreciate the same books that a majority of other pastors. This one was definately the exception to the rule. I read it this morning...in absolute seriousness ...it brought me to my knees. I don't read many books like this one - actually you don't get many books written on leadership that talk entirely about brokenness, humility, grace and patience. Most books just mention thee attributes as things that most  leaders might have in their character but they are traits that go along with their power, creativity, speaking ability, organizational skills, ability to cast vision or administrative strengths.So rarely do I read a book like this that I didn't really know how to react. This book had nothing to do with teaching strategies for leadership or giving practical assignemtns to develope my leadership and character. What it did do was point out who I was and point me to who God Is and wants me to be. Praise the Lord for bringing this book into my path at this exact time. God's timimg and disign are awesome aren't they? http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16408 16408 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:06:42 +0000 The odd time I look at my book shelf and see nothing that I want to read. Last night just before going home for the evening, I sat and stared at the shelf for a minute... It's always amazing how having your eyes opened to Scripture also opens your eyes to the rest of the world around you. I think as I have embarked on this study of the Bible in it's entirity as well as reading "Measure of a Church" and "Crazy Love" this past week that I became keenly aware of one very simple truth. WE ARE TO SERVENOT JUST TO BE SERVED. The Bible makes clear the fact that "If you love me you will obey my commands" we are to serve/obey  God and serve other. So as I just sat quietly for a second beofre going home to rambunxious (not real sure how to spell that) kiddos I looked at my book shelf. I was a mazed at how many books I had on serving and humility - funny thing is that most of my books are gifts! ( I wonder if people are trying to send a message?) So I picked one up last night that I remember having to read in Bible School but not really reading; .Improving your Serve - Chuck Swindoll. Old Chuckles begins "Improving Your Serve " by sharing the verse that shaped the entire book. and he says changed his life... Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" I'd sure like to see you argue that we're not supposed to be like Christ. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16328 16328 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:17:24 +0000 Near the end to "Crazy Love" Francis Chan makes a statement which has been ringing around in my head as I woke up last night and when I woke up this morning. "Christians are like manure....spread them out  and they make things grow and flourish and thrive. keep them in a big pile and they stink horribly." - paraphrase mine. pretty deep and philosophical isn't it? Hahaha. Really  though there is some truth to these words.isn't there? As I have been preparing for this Sunday I have really had my eyes opened to God's desire to show the world who He is through His people. As I have been studying the sacrificial system in the Old Testament  i came to realize how much of this points to Christ and to the holiness and character of God. The question came to me...."So we don't follow these regulations and sacrificial system and outward signs that God laid outfor the jews to follow. So how do we show Christ to a lost world today?" The only answer I could find in the New Testament is LOVE...for people in the church yes but more than that; for our enemies, for our community, for the hurting , the lost, and the outcasts of society. This is kinda hard to do within the walls of the church. Don't get me wrong I think Church is important. Gathering together to praise God and be fed is immensely important but it is not the end of our "Spiritual act of Worship" (Rom 12:1-2) that act of worship is just beginning as we step out the door into our community. "Present you bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and pleasing to the Lord" WHY?  To show Who God is through our lives. Cool Eh!  What Kind of manure are you? (hahahahaha) http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16295 16295 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:05:00 +0000 Phil. 1:9  - "And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight." I Cor. 13:13 - " And now, these three remain; faith, hope and love, butthe greatest of these is love." I  have been struck with the importance of love in a way that I have never been before. This sounds kind o crazy coming from the pastor. You'd think that a person should be keenly aware of how important love actually is to the church. But In the last week I have picked up two separate books which both emphasize the same points in unique and different ways. Love must be evident in His Church. Book 1 -  "CRAZY LOVE" by Francis Chan... As I picked it up I thought it was just going to be another one of those books that points out a whole bunch of problems in the church but gives no answers or offers no insight into God's solution to these porblems. Boy was I wrong! "crazy Love" not only pointed out many of the problems in the North American church but aslo offered simple to understand and practical insight into how to fall deeper in Love with Christ. How to bring Him glory and how to build His church from a changed heart and renewed passion for Him. Book 2 - "MEASURE OF A CHURCH' by Gene Getz I really didn't think this book would carry a similar message. It was humbling to see how prsonal love for Christ mentioned in "Crazy Love" could spill over into corporate blessings to the church as a whole. The greatest commandment is this "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind, and the second is like it...Love your neighbor as yourself." This second book tackles the second portion of Jesus' statement to the Pharisees - Love your neighbor as yourself.. "Measure of a Chruch"  weighs out the importance of our love for one another as both a measure of our spiritual maturity in Christ and also the level of maturity of a church body. It was amazing to me to have these two books go hand in hand so well...not by random happenstance but by God's design. One book written very recently and the other a number of years ago both ended up on my desk at a time when I probably needed theses words of insight most...as we as a church look to move forward and set new goals and vision. It's amazing how God sometimes works to remind us of truths that we either skimmed over or forgot. LOVE is one of those. I have a lot to learn and a lot of maturing to do. These two books have definately opened my eyes to passages of Scripture that I had never really understood before. If you are interested in reading eitehr of these books please come talk to me I would love to loan youa copy. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16246 16246 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:22:18 +0000 I've often been asked; "why would God put that tree in the middle of the garden."   The answer is very simple...God has and always will give us a choice to love  Him. God has wired us in the same way.  I can't really imagine being forced to marry and try to love someone. or be forced to be best friends with a person for no other reason than they were the only choice I had  - Imagine someone telling you "....yeah if there would have been another choice I would have taken it but I guess you'll do..."  Sounds harsh but sadly this is the way many peoples relationship with Christ is. Christianity is more than just getting out of hell and getting into heaven. It is - and has been from the beggining - about relationship wtih Christ.God wants us to choose HIm. We face these decisions daily as we choose between feeding our own desires and passions (Satan tempted Eve with knowledge,  power and peace if she would eat the fruit)or  the choice to trust and be satisfied with what God has for us. THIS IS FAiITH  and God is honored by it. James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself , if not accompanied by action, is dead." In fact to expand... not only is Faith (saying what you belive to be true) without action dead ,but it also leads to more distance between us and our Savior. Francis Chan in his book Crazy Love (great book by the way...more to come in helping the pilgrims make progress.) paints the picture of a person jumping into a slow moving stream. He swims hard against the current and is making progress but when he stops struggling against the current he begins to drift backwards. As you read the gospels you come to realize the extent to which Christ wanted believers to be aware of the cost of following Him. It will not always be easy to swim against the current that is both constant and powerful.  We will have these difficult decisions to make daily ...decisions to forsake wealth or to go after it, to dedicate time to God or to waste it, build up ourpride and reputation or to do something unrecognized by others that God is asking you to do.You may be asked by God to put aside power or a promotion and  sometimes even family or friends  Christ laid it out plainly that there would be decisions to make if we choose to follow Him. Every stroke as you swim propells you upstream closer to the Savior.  When we stop making these difficult decisions we will innevetably float backwards. Apathy, laziness, bitterness toward others who are still swimming, selfishness, greed and envy all show up as we float. But is it possible to just keep swimming? Here is some good news. God helps us and empowers us in our swim. Ps. 103:2-6  -  "Praise the Lord  , o my soul, and forget not His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all you diseases. who redeems your life from trhe pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." We closed our service on Sunday with these words and i want to encourage you with them... II Cor. 13:14  - "May the grace (undeserved favor) of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love (we all need this don't we)of God, and the fellowship ( it is possible for relationship) of the Holy Spirit be with you all" http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16210 16210 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:39:32 +0000 I would like to dedicate part of the blog to reading and reflection. Thoughts from books and from moments that have impacted my spiritual journey in hopes that you can gain encouragement, hope and, perhaps a tool that will bring you closer to a God that desperately wants to belose to you. http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16138 16138 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:32:33 +0000 Ok, Ok, Ok ....we won't be tackling the whole BIble chapter by chapter or anything, but we will be stepping back a fair bit to get a general overview not just of Scripture but also of the Person and Purpose of God, as He reveals Himself to us from the very first chapter of Genesis to the last and final verse of Revelation. My hope is to reveal God[s origional intended purpose for us and How he has made it possible through His great powerand His relentless love. It is trully amazing that the God that created the earth (and me for that matter) , and the God who parted the Red Sea, conquered armies, rained fire from heaven and healed the sick is still the same God today.  More than anything I hope that as we go through Scripture that you will grasp God's plan for you personally and His absolute relentless desire for relationship with His children. Gods heart is woven throughout the Bible; starting in the pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) , moving into the Historical Books (where most of our favorite stories from the Bible are found). You see Him in the Wisdom and Poetry books (I know I know...Poetry? ...yeah But I promise we'll make a stop in Song of Solomon) and the Prophets. (pointing the way to Christ) . My hope is to introduce Christ and God's plan taking on flesh in the Gospels by Christmas. From there we will look at the words of the Apostles in the Epistles (God's plan for His Church. )  By the end of January we will reach Jude/revelation, catching just a glimpse of what's next. Along with this study I would also like to include intermittent Q&A. I am asking that the questions come through responses on the Blog or to me personally...I would then like to answer them as part of the service. It is important to me that your questions and concerns are...becasue more than likely you are not the only one  pondering...well...whatever it is you are pondering. Please pray for us as a church as we grasp these very foundational truths. Pray that God would grant us the humility to accept them and not overstudy them...to be changed by them and not to attempt to change the truth to fit us. God bless Pastor Sean Brandow.  http://www.humboldtbiblechurch.ca/index.cfm?i=8231&mid=25&blogid=5022&comments=16137 16137 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:23:40 +0000