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

Now Reading

The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter

todays quote..

In my ongoing preparation  for Sunday's sermon I read chapter 2 of Knowing God by J.I. Packer and read these wise words....
"..when a man knows God, losses and 'crosses' cease to matter to him; what he has gained ( knowledge of God)  banishes these things from his mind."p.23
This is one of those quotes that  makes me think hard.
Today I was at our local christian  bookstore and asked him if my mystery men had been in  to which he said no, oh well , while there I picked up the Life Application N.T. Commentary hoping it was money well spent :)
Later

update on visitors

Wednesday came and again our two men were with us.
But this time I asked them were they Mormon or JW to which they said no,
but to get info from them wasn't easy so I asked about their home meetings, their structure, to which they repied they have a hymn, share and pray under the leadership of a elder. So for Sundays they do the same as a house bible study, their answers made me more curious , especially since they made eye contact with each other before the younger of the two talked. Their motto is out by two' as in acts, and they grow by gospel meetings, Yet they told me that they only follow the bible, no particular doctrine or creed just the bible.
Their simple poster says Come learn the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in a home bible study.
They told me they had no literature to give me, so I could read about them, and checking their poster it gives no web address a phone number but so secretive.
And they may come back again one said.
Their presence made many uncomfortable, why they have picked us I don't know, but they have come.
Another chapter to the story of my life perhaps.
they kinda of remind of that movie Men in Black ....

Later

Church Killings - washingtonpost.com

Church Killings - washingtonpost.com

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The Gospel Coalition - Preaching Through Bible Books

The Gospel Coalition - Preaching Through Bible Books

Shared via AddThis

I couldn't believe my ears...

I attended a meeting Today of ministers with their wives and there was a discussion on negative expectations by church people , what a opening topic .
Some one complained that they always have to say grace - which others added their complaints of having to pray publicly...
O.K. enough is enough !!
So I blurted out " aren't we a room full of ministers and your complaing of praying " It got quite quick !
Give me a break , they also fussed over having to turn on lights, turn up a furnace, shovel snow.
Because it interfered with their time. boohoo and humbug to them.
Its a part of the JOB !
Serve the Lord with Gladness and p.s guys its a sin to complain!

Later

what a week

What a week -- starting Sunday by doing a nursing home service I forgot about.
Then Sunday night taking my son to pick up hockey - where he got a puck to the throat while on the bench so off to the hospital and off to the iwk he went via a helicopter - with his mother of course to watch him and his throat after he had a breathing tube inserted and all kinds of pins and needles to him and in him.
And waiting for phone calls on his recovery and getting folks to pray and off Monday to the iwk in Halifax to be with him and his mother and thank the Lord he was released Monday and what had happened he fractured the bone that holds the muscle to the voice box.Serious yes but could of been a lot more. the doctors advice " wear all your equipment"
So now its wed. night our mid week night and in walk two men with identical coats shirts ,pants and bible cases to our bible study they said nothing, took lots of notes and i asked one what church he went to and he said home bible studies where they go around teaching people the bible - but they couldn't find Malachi .
So who were they ????
Will they return ????
What was their purpose ?
They said they'll be in the area for 8 weeks ??
Should I be concerned ???
so many should s ....

Well I see while I'm trying to figure things out here I see on twitter my kids are at MacDoanlds... the joy of twittering
my final thoughts for to night - I finish James this week having preached trough it for September and its been great I love preaching expository though the Lectionary passages.
so off to new episodes of favorite shows I Hope....
Later

Currently Reading

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs.

wed. Night

I can't believe a week ago that my 2 teens were getting ready for their first day of school.
Since that  day my family and I spent  the weekend tenting by a lake and it was fabulous !
watching the moon rise over the lake and its reflection on the water can not be described  well enough - But I know who gets the glory and it is God for such beauty.

Our mid week group has been  going through the bible and tonight we did the book of Haggai and what a challenge Haggai gives us for priority setting, in our lives  So  I tried to help them see that  Sunday morning is not the only priority in life and  that we have daily ones to attend, and most of all we can't judge others by our own priorities.
It was interesting to me when I asked them what they had for their life priority's that the  seniors went silent, could it be that  by having no defined ones in their lives they are open to worry and faithlessness and ,and.....this needs more thinking time.

This week my sermon is coming from James 3:1-12
Hope to put an outline up when finished.
Later

Sept.3

The first day of school !
I realized  yesterday that my kids are really teenagers  when I offered them a afternoon of fishing and they opted for a trip to town even the mall.
So They start off  a new year and new adventures.
And its in God's hands I must trust them into daily that He will care and protect them.

This week I am reading " so you don't want to go to church anymore "
I am not a fan of fiction but this is one of those occasions that I do read one but to keep in the balance I also have on the Go this book ON KEEPING THE HEART by John Flavel

Later

Just finished reading...

The book I just finished is by Erwin W. Lutzer
Oprah Miracles and the New Earth.

Great book - well researched !

later

Now Reading

I am now reading : The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit by James Buchanan.

These next two Sundays I have a retired pastor booked to speak in our church as I am supposed to be on vacation but I had booked a wedding a year ago and so here I sit while my family is in Hamilton, but while I'm home we have a carpenter that might show up any day to finish his work so I need to be  ready - and today I made some calls on seniors so am i really on vacation ????
Being attached to the church here in the parsonage I'm still thinking church.
which is no vacation in my mind.

So if the weather man could give us sun I  hope to take the dog and go fishing even tent over night with him.

later

Sundays Outline

Text: Eph. 4:25- 5:2
Title: the old and new
Introduction....
Looking at V's 17 -20 which sets up the text.

1. v 25 The old man was a liar the new man speaks truth.
2. v.26 The old man was use to anger the new man knows this offends God.
3. v.27 The old man was driven by the devil the new man gives him no opportunity.
4. v.29 The old man was foul mouthed the new man is grace spoken.
5. v.30 The old man isn't sealed while the new man is sealed by the spirit.
6. v.31,32 The old man isn't forgiven the new man forgives as he is forgiven
7. 5:1 the old man goes his own way the new man follows God.
8. 5:2 the place to examine ourselves.

Sunday Sermon outline.

text: 2 Sam 11:26-12:14

Introduction...

point one : David shows us we should never think we can't sin v.7-8

point two : we live in God's sight v.9

point three: God disciplines His own v.1-12

point four: The secrets out v.12

point five : God forgives. v.13

Whats new

Its July 29 and soon July will be history so this month I have gone fishing 2 times and have watched the fog a lot . July means Beulah Camp! Which is now over, and thinking about being there seems like a blimp on the calendar, and as I think on it Beulah was good, yet not life changing.

Returning home meant starting to tear out the parsonage bathroom and re-build it with a carpenter. So it's interesting but when the toilet is in all will be much more happier.

Now I am reading " countdown to Sunday by Chris Erdman " which is really good as he writes on preaching through the Lectionary weekly as now I use the Lectionary scriptures to choose a text from and preach on.

Off to help in the Bathroom....

Later