Some things are non-negotiable

A lot of things in this world are negotiable.  Some that often even cause wars, murders and other great hardships, can be solved with negotiation.  Negotiation has become a main political priority in most of the modern world.  It Is a bit of an art form, with many significant universities offering training in negotiation tactics to assist people in their leadership.  But not everything is open to be negotiated.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10 ESV)

The Bible teaches that there are a lot of things that are not negotiable because they are from the Almighty God and His instruction is perfect and will stand when all else fails.  We don't have room today to talk about all the non-negotiables in the Bible, so we will focus on one.

The Gospel is not open to be negotiated.  It is plain.  If is simple. Yet it is vast its depth and application.  The Apostle Paul warns that if someone twists, changes, alters, adds to, takes away from, or teaches a blatant different Gospel, that such a person will be cursed.  The message about Jesus, God the Son, who came, lived and willingly suffered and died to satisfy the wrath of God in payment for our sin.  This same Jesus who after 3 days rose again displaying His power and authority, this Jesus now sits in Heaven at the right hand of the Father holding all authority to judge the living and the dead.  The message that if you recognize your sin, asking God to forgive you based on your belief in the name of Jesus.  He will not only forgive you but will give you the very righteousness of Jesus, this is so full of the Grace of God.  You cannot earn it you cannot negotiate it, it is a free gift of grace.  In this process you are repentantly surrendering your life to your new Lord, Jesus.  Your life is now for Him and He gives you His Holy Spirit to take up residence in you to guide, empower and help you along the journey of transformation in this life.  When this life is over Jesus has made a home in Heaven for to enjoy the bounty and blessings of God for eternity.

Anyway, here is the reminder.  To teach a different Gospel or a message contrary to the Gospel as found in the Bible is wrong.  It is something we all need to take seriously or we will be cursed.  I do not believe that Paul is warning those who are on the journey of understanding what the Bible teaches about the Gospel, that they better hurry up and get it right.  No instead I am certain that Paul is referring to those who would teach a different Gospel which leads people astray.  

Recently I read a book that talked about how the purpose of the Gospel is for us to love the nation of Israel.  In fact in that book (I will not name it here that is a different blog) the author seems to believe that all of Gods purposes are centered on Israel.  Yet the Biblical Gospel finds us centered on Jesus.  We find the purposes of the Gospel to be about the Golry of God, the supremacy of Jesus, how we need to be reconciled to God through Jesus so we can begin to love God and be a part of His family.

So beware of those who try to set your focus away from Jesus, it may sound nice and innocent enough but if it takes away from the Golry of God or the supremacy of Christ then it stinks of a false Gospel.

Stay focused on the Biblical Truth of the Gospel of Jesus.

Pastor Bruce

Are you "bent" towards "lent"?

Every year there seems to be a growing trend of evangelical Christian believers celebrating "lent" in some form.  I have found it very interesting and I am sure that a few of you have as well.  As a child I can remember being told that only the "Catholics" practiced "lent" and that it was not for us.  Ever since that time I have been aware and listening as people who are not "catholic" celebrate "lent".  If you want to know about "lent" then feel free to use this link to wikipedia about it.

The concept of denying yourself as a part of your Christian Faith is found in many places in the Bible.  We could take the time today to go through them all but we wont.  Please feel free to do your own study on that.  Instead I want to talk about why as a Christian I would fast or deny myself for a period of time.

We are to understand that the Bible clearly teaches that our works will never save us, they will never clean us up enough for God to be pleased with us.  My works, whether they be of activity or sacrifice will not erase my sin.  Only Jesus and His completed work can provide salvation, freedom, cleansing from sin, placing us into God's family being reconciled to Him forever.  So "lent" or any other fasting and denial will not save us, in full or in part.

So what then?  Why should we fast?  We should fast and pray and deny ourselves at times because we need to put aside our humanity.  We need to keep our selfish, sinful, flesh in check.  By doing this we also use such time to with greater intent and clarity focus on God.  This type of fasting and prayer is for the Christian, we are to draw near to God in part by challenging our flesh.  Fasting and self denial is part of how we train our physical self to greater appreciate our Lord.  But then we must also set a strong focus on the Word of God, the Bible is our main tool for the Christian's mind to be renewed in the process.  And the third thing is prayer, we must "commune" with the Father, spend time in communication with Him, this is good for our Soul.  None of this is to improve our standing with God, but should be driven by our desire to have a healthy relationship with God.

So...  "lent" ... are you "bent" towards "lent".  I hope you are not.  Mostly because of the root of the practice is found in trying to please God and prepare ourselves by purification, to celebrate Easter.  Christians are not to fast to please God and we cannot physically prepare ourselves for Easter.  However to take time to fast and pray and camp in the Bible, is good practice as we seek obedience to our Lord and Master.  So my stance is that if you do "lent" then please keep evaluating why you are doing so and do not let yourself be deceived and drawn into a works based salvation.

May we live in a greater understanding every day of the sufficiency of the work of Jesus on our behalf.

Pastor Bruce

Love God - Glorify God

Today I am pondering the worship of God.  The Bible in the book of Philippians chapter 2 verses 9 through 11 says this ... 

God has  highly exalted him and bestowed on him  the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus  every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and  every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is  Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

As I consider the challenge we have received from Jesus to "Love God", I begin to consider what that means, how do I do that?  My mind turns to passages like the one from Philippians above and I think about worship.  To Love God must include worship.  If we Love god we will demonstrate our Love in worship.  This will include our Sunday morning service, our singing, our prayer, our reading of the Bible, our hearing the teaching and preaching of the Word, but also a whole lot more. 

My Love for God is to display the Lordship of Jesus in my life. This is about a life of worship, not just a time of worship.  Everything I do is to be in worship, displaying my Love for God.  My thoughts conclude that this must be a part of my Love of God.  

Then I realize that I do not measure up to this.  I am not perfect in living a life of worship.  I am not even close.  I cannot even perfect a time of worship.  I find myself distracted and wound up in the wrong mindset.  Too often treating worship as something that "feeds me".  Something that is about what "I like".  Yet it is not supposed to be about me at all.  It is supposed to be about God.  About worshiping Him.  About His honor and glory.  Not about my preference, my style, my comfort.  Worship, like my life, is to be all about Love for God.

And so I sense conviction.  Conviction that I need to humbly walk in repentance for my self-centered attitudes.  Conviction that I need to seek to Love God more and more.  Conviction that the more I Love God the more He will change me.  The more God changes me, for His purposes, then I will be able to glorify Him and honor Him better, living out my Love for God.

So I come to a conclusion that I need humble myself.  So that I can Love God more which should result in glorifying God in a life of worship.

What about you?

Pastor Bruce

Where to start?

Today was a really good day in so many ways that I won't get into here.  However I did get some time to consider some of the conversations of late about where do we go from here?  The direction we should take as a Church and where we should start.  

As I have considered these things, I am drawn back to the Bible.  By reading the Scriptures we find the answers to what we are to do.  Our instruction that we have received is not new but often we have neglected it.  We need to communicate and connect with the one who is our leader, Jesus.  Prayer is essential to this process.  Prayer as time with God both speaking to Him and allowing time for Him to speak to us.  

For any Church to be healthy we as God's people must be striving to be humble and obedient to Jesus and His Word.  The foundation of Prayer and living the Truth of the Bible must be the way forward.  This is not about a program or a set of goals but about a re-awakening a revival of the heart.  We are to move past a daily ritual of reading and prayer, to a living ongoing digestion of the Bible that fuels a Prayer-filled, disciple-making, walk of life.  This is not to be based in emotion but a commitment to be obedient to who Jesus bought us to be.

Jesus purchased us with His shed blood, we are now His and we are supposed to live under His Lordship.  This is not some idea of floating around in emotional spiritual highs and lows.  Nor is it some idea that we must now be perfect in everything we do.  Instead it is a committed life of following our new Master, our Lord, Saviour and Friend, Jesus.  The path is found through the Bible and Prayer, not alone but in a community of believers that we call the local Church.  This is where we start.  

We start by making a fresh commitment to put aside the things that distract us from this basic Truth.  The more we focus on this then the rest will become clear.

Consider the following statements

"I find my deepest desire for God and a closeness to Him when I am most humbled."

&

"When I feel empty and dry and long for a new experience, I must recognize that my sinful self-seeking emotions are driving me and I need to seek God's face repentantly, finding my refreshment in Him and not my emotional experiences."

Pastor Bruce

Race Night @FFBC

Last night was pine car race night at FFBC in Brandon. It is part of our AWANA program and was a lot of fun. So great to see so many children out with their parents and grand parents. It was encouraging to also see people from FFBC that do not have children in AWANA come out just to be a part of the event. Everyone of our volunteers worked hard and it seemed everyone had a lot of fun. I was very glad I could be there to be a part of it. So today my theme is racing.

In a race, whether you are running or driving, you need to have your sights set on where you are going, a goal or target needs to be understood. You need a reference point, depending on the race it may be lines on the road, a finish line in sight, pylons, flags or even posts or fences. But if you do not keep your eyes open and aware of the points of reference then you will probably be headed for trouble.

If a driver hits the wall in a stock car race when no other cars were touching them. They most likely did not properly pay attention to their points of reference in relationship to their speed and direction. In a drag race if a dragster begins to swerve and then loose control and crash into the wall or flip, it is usually because the driver did not keep things steady and focused on the end goal.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

In our Christian life, we are to follow Jesus. Jesus came to earth as the Son of God. lived a perfect sinless life and then was killed because of our sins. 
Have you ever sinned? Not sure? lets check ...
(Most of these questions were the ones I used with the kids last night)
Have you always listened to your parents and done what you are told, right away, never complained? Never had a bad attitude? Never grumbled to yourself about your parents? That is all sin

Have you ever done something mean to someone else? Told a lie to them or about them? Hurt someone else, hit them, tripped them, screamed at them? Have you ever said mean or cruel things to someone? That is all sin
Have you ever been selfish? Refused to share your cookies, your drink, your snacks, your toys, your bike, your lego? Pushed your way into a lineup in front of others? Gotten upset because someone else was in your seat, used your things or wanted to have some of your fries? That is all sin
Have you always loved God, properly, putting Him first in everything? Living a life of worship and prayerful communion with Him? Always living in obedience to God and what He teaches in the Bible? If not then you have lived a life of sin. I have too.
God said that there had to be punishment for sin and that punishment was death and an eternity away from God in a horrible place called Hell. But God is very good and He sent Jesus who is God, to come in the form of a person and to take on the punishment for our sin. And to those who accept His gift of Grace, as they repent of their sins, He forgives them for their sin and grants them an eternal relationship with God. Jesus enables us to be a people who do not have to sin, we can seek freedom and strength to resist sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. When the spirit of God takes up residence in us, which happens when you become a follower of Jesus, then we can live in greater obedience to Him. We will not be perfect, not in this life, but we have received the perfection of Jesus on our account so we can be God's friend, His Child. 
The Christian Life is like a race, Jesus is our point of reference so make sure your sight is set on Him. The Bible is our map for the race so that we can avoid wrong turns. But if we stop paying attention to the map or get ourselves distracted and loose our point of reference, then we will loose our way, get lost and off course or crash. These distractions are sin, when we stop focusing on Jesus that is sin, the sin of selfishness and pride. We need to recognize that as a Christian Jesus forgives our sins and we need to stay away from sin so that we can stay on course, so that we can finish the race without a big crash. Unlike a race though, if you do crash big, you are not removed from the race. Instead Jesus forgives you if you repent and then He picks you up and helps you get moving again.

Pastor Bruce

Rest

Rest ....  A difficult theme for most of us in our culture today.  I find myself often feeling guilty about taking a break.  For some reason I have a negative view of rest.  Maybe it has to do with the work ethic I have that was instilled in me by my parents?  Maybe it has to do with the attitude our society has towards the topic?  Or maybe it is even deeper?

As I pondered rest, I thought about the "rest principle" God gives us in Genesis.  He creates the 7th day (or Sabbath Day) and calls for it to be a day of rest.  We were created to work 6 days and rest one.  This can sound a like a little much in a society that views rest as time off work.  Many take the idea that they work 5 and are off 2 days to mean that they follow the rest principle really well.  But I don't think most of us do.

I am pretty sure that most people with their multiple days off in a row, still do not rest very well.  Most of us believe that by doing projects around the house or yard, working on our car, going shopping, etc... we are getting our break from work.  Yet we really fail to rest.  We are sometimes busier when we are not at work, we are just busy with other things.  Even when we would say we are not busy, in the back of our minds we think that someone may think less of us if we really did "NOTHING" for a few hours or even (GASP) a day.  Yet I believe God made us to function better if we rest properly.

I am not really good at this yet, I am growing and God is working in me.  I find my family struggles with this as well.  Often a time of really resting leave them feeling like they wasted a day.  The challenge for me and I hope also for you, is for us to "redeem" our time.  Sometimes we need rest, rest from thinking as well as doing.  But sometimes we need the rest and refreshment only God can give us.  We need to remember that God is our true place of "sabbath".  He is the one who gives us True Rest and Refreshment.

Anyway I should get some sleep.   Hmmmm ... Conviction setting in?

Good night

Pastor Bruce

Attitude

"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

As I have been reading, praying and pondering this morning, I saw this verse come up as the verse of the day on Youversion.  What a great reminder not only to place the Holiness of Jesus in your hearts and minds.  But also for us to be growing in wisdom.

Wisdom is more than knowledge, it is knowledge applied and contained within an attitude of humility.  We are not to be prepared to make a defense with prideful war drums.  rather a defense with respect and a gentle spirit.  This passage is about how we respond to those who question us about the Hope we live with and express.  This Hope is found in Jesus and His completed work on the Cross.

So when a non-Christian inquires about what you believe, even if they are antagonistic we are not to join in that type of attitude.  Instead we are to gently and humbly present Truth.  This can be difficult but we should strive for it.

The bigger challenge for us I think is that we need to employ the same attitude within Christianity as well.  We need to grow and practice this with each other.  Often we as Christians have a tendency to be harsh with each other when we are questioned about something we believe.  Yet if we  are  to respond in this attitude of gentleness and respect to those who do not know Christ, then how should we respond to others that have Jesus as their Lord?  

We are to treat each other better than we treat non-believers.  We are to love one another with a humble heart as it honors God and is a testimony to others.  So I would ask you to take up this challenge with me.  Let's strive to treat one another with healthy respect and a gentle spirit.  Let's not be harsh with one another.  Let's stay away from attempts at humor at a brother or sister's expense.  Sure we will have differences and we want to laugh but let's not hurt each other in the process.

Remember that as a Christian Jesus resides in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The same Lord and Master for us all.  Let's not mis-treat His servants, His Children.

Let us walk together!

Pastor Bruce

Family Time

Family, often such a misunderstood concept in our culture today.  I could go into a long discussion about my thoughts on the current culture but instead I want to take a moment to share my current pondering.  

I love family, I love the idea of family, I love experiencing family.  Family is a beautiful God given gift for us.  A set of relationships wherein we can find love, compassion, care, encouragement, laughter, tears, comfort, strength, life, mourning, sadness, and a true sense of community among other things.  I know no family is perfect, in fact I think all of them are a bit messy in one way or another.  

I got to spend time with a very special part of my family tonight.  Time with my wonderful wife, two sons, daughter (in-law) and yet-born grand child.  Such a great and close family.  Warms my heart.  Are we perfect ... NOPE!  But even when things get tough we will always love each other and be there for one another.  

As I pondered family, my mind regularly flashes to different people.  Many of them as close a part of our family as anyone and yet we are not blood related, at least not close "blood-relatives".  We all have the same common ancestors in Adam and Eve but we do not necessarily share last names or grand parents.  I have so many family members that I often long to spend time with.  They are all over the world.  Some are my parents, grand parents, brothers, sisters, etc... but so many are close to me because we are part of the family of God.  god brought us together and connected us.

Some people who are family to me I have spent very little time with, and yet I feel a close bond to them.  Others I have had the honor of spending a lot of time with.  All are so very special to me.  I am glad we have such modern technology so that I can try and stay connected with them.   

Here in Brandon where I have been only a short time, I have already been finding more family.  I love discovering all of the family members God has for me to meet up with.  This family idea is amazing, a great opportunity to make sure others know they are valued and cared for.  We are so blessed that God gave us this model.  I pray that we learn to embrace it better.

Find someone to encourage every day, if the day is not yet over find another one and then repeat.

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce

Love - Valentines Day?

Today it is Valentines day, named after Saint Valentine as a day to remember those we love dearly.  If you want to look at the history behind it, feel free to google it.  Our culture has taken Valentines day and made it all about "romance".  This is not a bad thing in general but often I find the real point of love is missed.

Love, true "Love" is much much larger than "romance".  It is meant to be selfless, giving and not looking to receive.  The Truest form of Love is learned from God, as Jesus is our prime example of this Love.  We learn that Love is a commitment more than a feeling.  We learn to love not only those who love us but those who do not.  We begin to understand that hard work of loving during times when the people we are caring for are not treating us well.  When we seek to Love like Jesus, then we begin to understand what Love really is about. 

Sure for couples romance is a part of their Love, God gave them those emotions and desires, it is good for married couples to enjoy their romance.  To those who are single this day is a great opportunity to be reminded of the Love God has shown you.  The great Love that you can show to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and even strangers, can become your focus.  Take the day and redeem it to use for God's glory.

Let us all walk together in unity and Love, the same Jesus resides in all of His people and as such we are united.  Regardless of our marital status, age, race, culture, as Christians we are the Family of God.

Pastor Bruce

Priorities Priorities Priorities ....

Many things run through my mind all day and sometimes all night.  Maybe you are a lot like me?  Lots to do and not enough time it seems to do it all.  Yet we continue on and find ourselves as slaves to the most "urgent" item on our todo list or the emergency that walked through the door.  Yet we know that this is not the way life should be.  We recognize that this continuum is not healthy.  So what do we do?

Well most of us decide to plan out time better, make better lists, take a time management class or get more organized.  Yet almost always we find ourselves back where we started.  Maybe we need to learn from God and His Word.  In the Bible one of the first principles we learn is rest.  In Genesis after God creates everything, He creates a 7th day for us to rest.  The rest principle is not just about a day off, it is far more than time freed up.  It is about us not focusing on the busy things, not being distracted by regular life.  Our rest needs to be directed toward the One who can truly give us rest ... God.  If we fill our rest time with other "busy" things that are not considered your regular work, then you will have some fun maybe but you probably won't rest.  Rest is where we begin to find balance in our lives, that is how God made us and it is where we need to start.

The second thing is that we need intentional time with our Creator, the God who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.  Prayer is a key part of this relationship.  We need to be a people of prayer more than we need to be a people who climb the ladder of success.  Martin Luther the great Church reformer who dies hundreds of years ago once said "I pray 3 hours every morning but I am getting so busy, maybe I should start praying 4 hours every morning".  This sounds counter productive and yet we are not to live in our own wisdom but the wisdom from God.  you will not find this wisdom in your busy task filled day but instead you will find it in communion with the one who has such wisdom to give.  

So I urge you today to join with me to put the important things first.  God should be first in our lives, and that needs to be reflected in our time with Him.  For that time to be effective we need to be a people of Prayer and the Word.  God will work in us to help us meet the challenges of the day, do not worry, take proper care of your family, be properly involved in your Church, and when you are at work - work hard to honor God in all you do.

Let us press on together, but we need not set a fast pace on the less important things.

Pastor Bruce

Let us Pray

When things change I have come to understand that the most important thing we can do is pray.  Lets look at Acts 1 today, Jesus has just given his final instruction to His followers and ascended to Heaven.

Acts 1:12-14 (ESV)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.  And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying,Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

So we have the community of Jesus followers coming together to pray.  They pray as they wait for what He has next for them.  It should challenge us as we recognize that they came together, plural, a group, a community.  This was not singular in nature, but group prayer.  So often we set a focus on "personal prayer time" and not enough on community prayer time.  I find that part of the reason is a lack of proper instruction and training on how to pray as a community.  So I find myself pressed to not only teach on prayer but to live a life of prayer.

I am glad to be here at Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Brandon, Manitoba.  And it would be easy to just get really busy and start new things.  But I believe it is more important for me as a leader and for our Church family that we be a people of prayer.  So that we will be ready when God gives us a new direction.   Then we should continue in prayer as we move forward, ensuring we stay on the path He has chosen for us.

Blessings

Pastor Bruce