Tuesday, November 29, 2005

The Blood of Jesus

Hi,
Today I'd like to post a few thoughts from Sunday's message: The Blood Of Jesus.

Knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ:
(1Pe 1:18-19 ASV)

Twin thoughts emerge from Peter's text:

1. The Blood of Christ is PRECIOUS
2. The Blood of Christ is POWERFUL


Thousands of years before science discovered how precious and necessary blood really is, the Word of God contained this amazing truth...

For the life of the flesh is in the blood(Lev 17:11a ASV)

Consider the ancient ignorance of blood – Prior to William Harvey’s discovery of the circulation of the blood in 1628, little had been known about the value of the blood. In fact, blood was thought to be the source of disease rather than life and it’s defense; so sick men were bled to get rid of the disease. George Washington’s death is said to have been hastened by “bloodletting.”


Now, blood is so precious there are banks where you can make a doposit!
Some years ago the American Associates of blood banks honored a man name d Joe Kerkofsky as America’s blood donor champion. Because he had lost an arm in an accident when he was six Kerkofsky was rejected for military service in WWII. Since that time he had donated 31 gallons of blood. That is 20 times the amount of blood in a human body (10 – 12 pints). He had donated blood 250 times! Of his record Kerkofsky said, “Money can’t buy the joy of giving blood to someone in need. It is contributing life itself.”

Think of it: just as your blood is vital to your physical life, so the blood of Jesus is vital for your spiritiual life. Consider how precious and powerful His blood really is:

I. Power to cleanse – Sin makes us dirty and only the blood of Christ can make us clean (1 John 1:7) Isa 1:18; Psa 51:7; 2 Cor 5:20

Christ not only bore the penalty of my sin but was “made sin”
This is why he sweats drops of blood in Gethsemane, as He contemplated being defiled with my sin and separated from His Father.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me. (Charles Wesley)

II. Power to Justify – Sin makes us guilty and only the blood of Christ can give us pardon (Romans 3:23-25)

III. Power to Reconcile – Sin makes us enemies of God and separates us from God and only the blood of Christ and make peace and bring us back to God (Colossians 1:20)

IV. Power to Redeem – Sin makes us slaves and only the blood of Christ and break the power of sin and make us free. (1 Peter 1:18,19; Ephesians 1:7)

"There is power, power, wonder working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb."

Monday, November 28, 2005

John 3:16 (Part II)


Hi,
Thanks for coming back! Look again at John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:16 ASV)

That's right! 25 Words!
1st 12 words - What God has done
Last 12 words - Our response
The Middle Word - "SON"

The Son is at the centre of John 3:16 and the centre of the plan of Salvation and all of God's purposes. The wonderful thing about this verse is that it shows us how God loved us before we ever thought about Him. When Jesus died the veil of the Temple ripped in two from top to bottom, showing, not only that the Lord Jesus had opened a way for us to come to God, but also showing that it was God reaching down to man, not man working his way to God. John would later write, We love Him, because he first loved us. (1Jo 4:19 ASV) This is the difference between Christianity and all other religions. All other religions are man's attempt to work and gain favor with God, whereas Christianity is the good news that God loved us through Christ and that He finished the work of salvation on the cross. Eternal life is a gift of God's grace. Have you accepted that gift? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus to be your own personal Savior? If not do so today and become God's next missionary!

Thanks for reading,
Sean

Friday, November 25, 2005

John 3:16

Today I'm posting one of the best missionary verses in the Bible: John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Probably the most well known verse worldwide. I even heard an inmate quote it word-perfect from memory in prison! (I was a volunteer with New Life Prison Ministries, not a fellow inmate!) It summarizes the good news which we need to spread to every person in the world. Until next time I want to ask you,
1. First, have you believed "in Him" and therefore have everlasting life as a present possession?
2. How many words are in John 3:16?
3. And, what is the middle word in John 3:16?"

Monday, November 21, 2005

Googling Tapachula


Here is a view of Guatemala with the southern-most (and poorest)Mexican State of Chiapas in the foreground. You can see the town of Tapachula close to the Guatemala Border.

Thanks Google Earth!

Stan in Tapachula, Mexico



Earlier we posted some photos sent to us from our friend in Guatemala. Above is a shot of Tapachula, Mexico where Hurricane Stan really hit hard. We used to visit this area and the saints there. Through contact with the Falconers in New Zealand (Missionaries to Guatemala that we worked with) we are making arrangements for channeling relief funds to these dear Christians. We don't know of any assemblies in Guatemala that were directly affected by the flooding yet, but the assemblies in Guatemala have a history of fellowship and ministry with the saints fo Tapachula. Here is some info about how they have been affected...

"Access to this area is very difficult, since roads are destroyed. The Category One hurricane is estimated to have destroyed the homes of up to 150,000 people, many more than can be housed in government shelters. More than 85% of the region’s cattle and farms are destroyed in this region where most people are dependent on what they raise to feed their families." (from the World Wide Web)

So, you can see just how much of a challenge these people face. We stand with them in prayer and in whatever other ways we can help.

Sean

Friday, November 18, 2005

Books I'm Reading


Earlier we reported on the 17th annual Ottawa Valley Missionary Conference and Fred's keynote address. Here is a shot of his book, "Letters Missionaries Never Write". A summary of what the book is about in his own words from his website (www.frednjenny.com)...

"Our ministry to missionaries over many years has given us considerable insight into their lives, emotions, and burdens. Letters Missionaries Never Write is a collection of fictional letters we believe reflects the challenges, feelings, and temptations of missionaries. These letters, often thought, but seldom if ever written, will give you a glimpse into the lives of missionaries who, just like us, are ordinary people. This book will guide you in praying for missionaries. 155 pages."

I'm just starting the book, but I find myself indentifying very much with some of these letters. Some of the titles include...

A Missionary Candidate
A Short-Term Missionary
A New Missionary
A Missionary on furlough
"Shipwrecked" Missionaries
A Failed Missionary
A Missionary Widow

Reading this book will invigorate your prayer life. I think you could find a copy through their website.

Praying for you!
Sean

Monday, November 14, 2005

Shalom!



Hi,
On a recent visit to West 5th Bible Chapel in Hamilton I was made aware of this website: www.templeinstitute.org. We are living in amazing times! Above you are looking at the recently completed garments of the high priest. Here are the goals of the institute as stated by the organization:

"Shalom and welcome to the official website of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. The Temple Institute is dedicated to every aspect of the concept of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, and the central role it fulfilled, and will once again fulfill, in the spiritual wellbeing of both Israel and all the nations of the world. The Institute's work touches upon the history of the Holy Temple's past, an understanding of the present day, and the Divine promise of Israel's future. The scope of these activities includes education, research, and development. The Temple Institute's ultimate goal is to see Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, in accord with the Biblical commandments."

Friday, November 11, 2005



Hey,

I'm just taking Jeremy to Youth Group, but I just had to remind you about the Voices for Christ website. If you haven't visited it, you need to. The VFC site offers over 20,000 messages in MP3 format. All the messages are well organized and searchable. Just click and listen! The speakers are assembly men from mostly all over the States and Canada, but also includes excellent conference ministry from across the pond and spanning decades of preaching. I should mention there are messages by ladies too. You can listen to Corrie Ten Boom for example. Just take a browse, I think you'll be blessed! You can find the link over there to the right ----->

Of one accord with one accordian


Hi,
I finally found the photo I wanted to post. This is Herbert Cain from Belize City. He is an elder at Grace Chapel. He is one of the warmest, most encouraging Christians I have ever met and has been associated with the assembly work in Belize for many years. The reason why I am posting this photo is becuase we are looking for a new accordian for him. Mr. Cain plays almost every hymn, old and new, under the sun with his accordian and is often the only musical accompanyment at meetings. If you know where we could find one, or if you happened to have one that you would like to donate, please let us know. He has been playing this one for something like 26 years and it is tired.

Thank you and Happy Remembrance Day!

Sean

Thursday, November 10, 2005

The Pineapple Story

Kids + Basketball = Fun
Kids + Fun + Bible = AWANA! ...that's A-approved W-workmen A-are N-not A-ashamed

This is the JV (Jr Varsity) group at the Northside Awana program. You can see Rob helping some with their memory verses and others working on their jump shots during a lively basketball game. On this night we shared The Pineapple Story. It's an account of a missionary who tries to plant a garden of pineapples but they keep getting stolen. He has a problem with anger until he learns to give his pinapples to God. Then, when the natives find out they are stealing God's pineapples they are alarmed and stop so the missionary is able to enjoy his garden and ministry. What are the pinepples in your life that you need to give to God? Maybe your job or money? Family? Time? Friends? Health? All that we have is from God and belongs to Him.

Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.
(Rev 4:11 ASV)



Tuesday, November 08, 2005

As the Father has sent me, even so, send I you..."


Thanks Adam for sending me the photo! Here are the missionaries that took part in the Ottawa Missions Conference. The guy in the back row with the dark blue shirt is Garnet Cooney, my spiritual father. He and Gwen serve the Lord in Ireland. It was amazing to hear the various reports. The lady behind me on the right is Marjorie Beckwith, missionary to Angola. She reported that Angola enjoys peace right now after many years of war. She shared the great need for workers there, especially teachers. She has been serving Angola for over 50 years!
The Keynote speaker was Fred Kosin; here is a summary of his excellent message...

John 17:18, 20:19-21 "As the Father has sent me, even so send I you". We are all called to go...across the street or across the country. Jesus was sent to seek and save those who were lost (Luke 19:10)
He was sent
1. To the Poor (2 Corinthians 8:9)
2. To the Paralyzed (John 5)
3. To the Prisoner (Luke 4)
4. To the Prostitute (Luke 7)
5. To the Politicians (Pilate, Herod etc.)
6. To the Prosperous (Luke 19)

Monday, November 07, 2005

Goooooooogle Earth!


Well, there is Belize City. As you can see it is completed surrounded by the Sea. I just got connected to Google Earth....Wow! I went to Guatemala City and saw our old house, then flew to Timmins and then jumped over to Jerusalem.... Incredible, mindboggling!!

This program can be downloaded at Google.com

17th Annual Conf. and West 5th...


Hi,
Many thanks to the saints at West 5th in Hamilton for the opportunity to share with you yesterday and for your hospitality. My daughter Rachel accompanied me as we stayed at the St Onges from Northern Ontario. The 17th Annual Ottawa Misssionary Conference was a success and was really well attended. We hope to get a photo to post and a more detailed report. At the conference and at West 5h we shared a Microsoft Movie of our 2005 short-term mission to Bolivia. The short movie highlights the new camp under construction. The photo above shows the multi-purpose building that was started in January.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Blessed Assurance


Hi,
Nice to be back after being on the road..... was at Hopedale in Oakville reporting on Bolivia and Belize and then had to take a funeral of a dear sister in Northern Ontario. She was a believer in the Lord Jesus so having that "Blessed Assurance" in God's Word was a blessing (John 14, I Thessalonians 4, 2 Corinthian 5 etc.).

I am looking for a photo to post but can't find it just now. In the meantime here are a couple of girls from Grace Primary in Belize City. This school is an outreach of Grace Chapel where many Christians teach boys and girls about the Lord and His Word.

Will try and bring you those details on the Ottawa Valley Missionary Conference coming up this weekend.

Warmly in Christ,
Sean