Friday the 27 of Nov.

I am now reading the  Prayer Life by Andrew Murray - I read it back in 1994, then in 2004 and now again.
This  week , I attended another funeral of a family friend in Ingomire N.S. I have not been in that church in perhaps 26 years what a flood of memories, seeing friends from long ago, I traveled there along with a gentleman from our church, which was great!
This funeral lasted an hour and ten minutes ! Wow !! have funerals changed in my ministry, I believe 30 min. is enough , but now  people wanna get up and speak , who can't speak publicly, and now funerals include a power point presentation movie .And readings that are suppose to sound spiritual and comforting yet have no scriptural presadent in what is said to comfort ( in my opinion far to wordy  ) Which I'm not sure they do.
This week our county has had a prayer encounter conference which sadly I only attended one seminar - hence my reading a Murray Book, This will I hope lead to great changes in our county as people pray more.
And finally this week  along with another church person went and served communion to our shut-inns. What a joy this was !
So now its off to advent and preaching from Jer. 33:14-16 which has been so far a challenge to work through in a sermon. But its coming a verse a ta time .

Later

now reading

the Gospel according to Jesus by John MacArthur.
So Far it's very impressive. I wonder if Jesus as He portrays is one that the church  wants, I say this only again to learn by accident a couple have  left our church three weeks after the fact - (HOW) it was  Friday night I saw them at a restaurant and after  saying we missed  I herd the words we are going church in town.
There went my appetite so the next day  I followed through on the why and learned In my sermon on the bible doctrine of the Holy Spirit when comparing  this Doctrine to the J.W's and others by this  I judged other religions and so they left. I did apologize in that it was not meant to offend but not for the truth, so they are gone for now.
Apparently now this is the 3rd time in 10 years I have said something of or Judged other religions interesting I can't remember what I preached last year ...
Its no wonder people are leaving the ministry with this kind off stuff happening.

And the bottom line I come back to again and again with now at last count  8 people leaving the church in about a year and a half , is it my turn to go ? Before  there are none left ?

Later

Nov 11

One day last week I picked up the 1961 used copy of Martin Luther by John Dillenberger for under a Tonnie  and thus my new read, but what I noticed is for a pocket book of 526 pages the  price on the cover is $1.95 ! Oh to have those prices again!

Church life these days is taking us down the carpentry trail as we are installing 7 New Windows in our church thanks to a gift . The  lead  Carpenter is 86 and our helper is 70ish and me 40 something. What a learning experience, these Men are using tools their fathers and grandfathers had, hope my Canadian tire stuff last that long.

Personally I am trying to get back on the healthy food track - for myself and family,  I'm down to only my breakfast coffee  and then green tea the rest of the day plus a green and orange vegetable for supper and healthy eating in between, plus exercising !
I've never been a athletic person so then here is a big challenge but I have a goal to be in some shape so I can join my wife who works out daily at the gym, and not be winded at the 5lb weights lol.

So its November 11 and Remembrance Day , or the day after my brothers 50 birthday.
its off to the remembrance  gathering  lay a wreath and home. for more painting and sermon prep.

Later

Words from Spurgeon

A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God's work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God's warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, "I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory," defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for "it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the earth he casteth away; he will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will empty out all that thou hast before he will put his own into thee; he will first clean out thy granaries before he will fill them with the finest of the wheat. The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly springs. God will have no strength used in his battles but the strength which he himself imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.

"When I am weak then am I strong,
Grace is my shield and Christ my song."

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."

-      Frank A. Clark