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

Courage and Corruption

Today's sermon will come from John 2:13-25, and the theme is going to be "corruption".   It can be a challenging topic.  Often we apply this word to those in positions of power, sayings like "power corrupts & absolute power corrupts absolutely", are common in our modern culture.  Yet I believe the Truth is far closer to home and far deeper in perspective.

Corruption starts with our sinful selfish state.  Acts of sin are an outflow of our self centered nature we all receive as humans, passed on through our fathers because of the curse of the fall in Genesis.  This sin and its outcomes will cause corruption if it is left unchecked.  If no one brings correction and there is no repentance, the act of remorse and change from our sinful direction, then corruption will seep in.  Corruption will eventually take power and authority and much damage will be done.  Common examples we hear about have to do with money, lies and sex.  But corruption can often fly beneath the radar for a long time.

Lets consider that people often do not like change.  So instead of listening, praying and responding to God and the voice of the Holy Spirit.  They make decisions based on what is "normal" or what is comfortable or easy.  Yet if we are seeking to make decisions on our own, then we are sinning.  If we have allowed such sinful practices to take control then corruption has set in and we are headed for trouble.

Anytime we are allowing our sin nature to be in a position of control we are in danger of corrupt behavior and decision making.  Even things that seem harmless and acceptable can have deep consequences because we are not seeking to live under the Lordship of Christ.  I am not saying that this is easy to avoid.  It is hard.

We must be courageous, we must make the hard decisions to follow God and seek His voice, regardless of what "we want".  Our own selves should not be the barometer for our decision making.  Our likes, dislikes, emotions and traditions can not be trusted.  God can be trusted.  So please join with me in a stand to be courageous.  Let us be Honest about our fears, hopes, dreams, challenges, etc.. yet let us walk with Integrity, not allowing such things to have a hold on us.  May we be Transparent, not hiding our weakness and failures, but having a true spirit of humility so that God is glorified in us.

As we take on the path of courage, in following Jesus fully.  Part of the path is for us to show great amounts of grace to our brothers and sisters who are struggling with their own selfishness and weakness.  We are to walk with them and help them, not slaughter them like enemies.  Such a negative attitude is from our prideful selves, please do not hold up righteousness in order to damage your brothers and sisters.  True courage to follow Christ sets His glory first and follows the Biblical model for how we are to grow together.

Walk with humble courage!

Pastor Bruce

Passion for Life

What is given, often abused, taken for granted, not appreciated, taken from others, seen as a choice and expected to be easy but never is? the answer is LIFE. I have found that our world today does not have a healthy understanding of life. It is unfortunate that some of the views and expressions about life that are seen as "champions" of the cause are so very wrong. Many things we hear about life in our culture are based out of humanism. In a nutshell, humanism is a belief, a philosophy, where by humanity is highly valued, I would even say humanity is supreme. So often a lot of the positive life language we hear is actually coming from a humanistic belief. Statements like "you can do anything if you want to", "you deserve a break today", "take time for yourself", "if you put your mind to it and work hard you can achieve it", "be all that you can be", "good people are the answer to the world's problems", "if we work together we can achieve anything", "today will be what you make it to be" and many many more are all around us everyday. Often they have an element of truth to them and yet there is a deeper lie that is present.

The lie of humanism is one of achievement and perfection gained by people. It is based on a belief that people have unlimited potential and capability to be good. I have even heard countless pastors use humanistic phrases as the basis for their teaching, it can be difficult not to at times because of the wide spread use and acceptance in our culture. One of the worst is the concept of "free will", this short phrase is used time and time again by Christians and emphasized as being Biblical. Yet this is not found in the Bible, it is found in the teachings of humanism. People do not have freedom in their will, freedom is about the removal of boundaries. Our will is about our decisions and determination. The essence of this concept is that people have the freedom to choose to be who they want to be, to choose what they want to do, to move without limits, to think without measure. Unfortunately it is not True. The Bible teaches us that people are corrupt and sinful (Romans 3) and in our natural sinful state we are dead (Romans 5) and slaves to our own sinfulness (Romans 6). People are not "free", their wills are bound, bound by sin. Sure the obvious is also true that we are bound by the laws of nature, physics etc... But more important is our spiritual state, we do not have our own freedom to be good, to be righteous.

The Biblical view about life is more than a movement to stop abortion, though I think that is a good thing. It is about spiritual life.

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:9-10 (ESV)

True life can be found only in a relationship with the one who grants us that life, Jesus. Jesus, God in the flesh, who came and paid the price for our sins. This Jesus that 3 days later rose from the grave and now sits in Heaven holding all authority to judge the living and the dead. This Jesus will give you true life. He will give you true freedom. All you have to do is recognize Him as God. Recognize your sinfulness and then repent of your sin, apologize to Him for your sinfulness and ask Him to forgive you of your sin and He will. Make Him the lord of your life and live for Him and not yourself. This is where we find the true life and freedom that we seek.

If you are a Christian then you are to live with a thriving passion for Life! Not in a save the environment, the whales, the poor, the sick, etc... kind of way. But instead a passion for helping people find the True Life in Jesus and then helping them to live that life. We should clean up the environment, because it is Gods and we are supposed to be caretakers of it. We should want to care for animals, God appointed us to be their caretakers as well. Biblical teaching calls for us to care for the sick and the needy, people were made by God and He instructs us on how to care for them. We are to make a difference in this world, but only out of the True Life that Jesus gives us. Those who are Spiritually dead need to experience Life more than anything else. This needs to be our priority, our passion.

May God be glorified in our lives today as we serve Him.

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

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