Have you MEMORIZED Romans 6 yet?

My father-in-law is a master orchardist in Kelowna, BC.  When I visit his orchard I am always amazed at his obvious keen ability with growing things.  The Okanagan Valley federal research station often chooses him to work with them in developing new apple varieties and other projects.  I have watched him graft-in apple branches that produce yellow apples into a tree that normally produces red apples.  Seeing a tree produce multi-colored apples on different branches is indeed interesting!

That "grafting aspect" of his orchard work often reminds me of how God wants us to "in-graft" scripture into our minds.  Christ has given us His beautiful robe of Righteousness to wear.  It is spotless & beyond beauty!  His Righteousness needs to be appropriated to our thinking, literally "grafted" into our thought patterns!!!  Memorizing key passages like Romans 6 & 8 is a huge step in this direction !!!


Are you serious about your walk with the Lord?  Have you MEMORIZED Romans 6 yet?

...but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life;   ...For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.  Romans 6:14

Romans 6 (NIV)

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Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,^a that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^b Christ Jesus our Lord.

2012 June ANVIL BBQ & LOBSTER COOKOFF

Where We've Been is NOT Where We're Going !

Where We've Been Is Not Where We're Going 
- Rev.Dave Slauenwhite (Link to Audio)

• Have questions on where today's church is headed?
• Need some new ideas on adjusting to church-life?
• Check out the above Audio by Rev. Slauenwhite, PAOC former Maritimes District Leader and longtime pastor ! 
• from his series entitled:                                                                                                                         "What you Really Need to Know, But may not like, About Your Church"

I'm a Soldier in the Army of God!

     I am a soldier in the Army of God!  The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.  The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.  Faith, prayer and worship are my weapons of warfare.  I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by His experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire.  I have been inducted in His army, but I am enlisted for eternity.  I will either retire in this army by way of rapture or else I will die in the army...for I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out.  I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.  If my God needs me, I am there!

I am a soldier...not a baby.  I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up or pepped up.  I am a soldier!  No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me or entice me in my duties.  I am a soldier... I am not a wimp.  I am in my place, saluting my King, obeying His orders and building His kingdom.  No one has to cuddle me, cradle me or cater to me.  I am committed!  I cannot have my feelings hurt badly enough to make me turn around and I will not be discouraged enough to turn aside.

     I cannot lose enough to make me quit.  When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing,  if I end up with nothing, I will still come out even!  I will win because I am marching with the Champion.  My God will supply all I need and I will always triumph.  Devils cannot stop me...people cannot disillusion me.  Weather cannot weary me and sickness cannot stop me.  governments cannot silence me; hell doesn't know how to handle me and death cannot destroy me.  I am a soldier in the Army of the Lord!

     Are you on active duty?  Serving the Lord faithfully, daily 24/7 ?  I refuse to be in the reserve status, only called upon once or twice a year.  I am on active duty and I will not be AWOL ...ABSENT WITHOUT THE LORD... for I am a soldier!

     When we allow this to be a part of who we are, WE WILL BE FINISHERS!

-from an unknown soldier-

2012 ANVIL Retreat Pictures

Rev John Howson Speaking @ ANVIL this Thursday.

Traditionally, storm clouds visit Israel only in the winter months.  But this year, storm clouds of war, conflict, and threats are brewing—and they may reach Israel and the region anytime.

Men! ... we will be having a special speaker at ANVIL this Thursday, May 24/2012.  

Rev. John Howson will be speaking to our group on this Thursday. Briefly as an intro, John has just retired from his position as the Canadian national director for Bridges For Peace Intl., a christian organization that blesses Israel. John has held that position for 17 years.  Prior to that he has worked with 100 Huntley Street as their Winnipeg manager and before that as a pastor for many years.  He is just returning from living in Israel for the past 3 months, and brings us an interesting christian perspective from the middle east.  

Website:                   BRIDGES for PEACE
BFP eMagazine:        DISPATCH from JERUSALEM Online Magazine

Men, you won't want to miss this evening!

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Other Links about this speaker: 
 jewishpostandnews
BFP Director Moving On

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"...I will show them my BACK and not my FACE" - the "IF" clause!

Lessons At the Potter's House (continued):
-from Jeremiah 18

FOCUS:  The Lord retains the right of limiting his own absolute sovereignty on the basis of human response to his offers of pardon and restoration and his threats of judgment and destruction !!! Depending on how we respond, we will see God's FACE or his BACK.

"If...If...If...If..." :  The "IF" clause of God's sovereignty:


Jeremiah 18:  (Selectively)
Verse 7If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8and If that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.9And If at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10and If it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.  11 ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’12But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”

13Therefore this is what the Lord says: . . .

15 . . .  my people have forgotten me  . . . 17 . . .I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their disaster.”

Here in Jeremiah 18, we can clearly see how God's promises and threats are conditioned on man's actions. Whether in nationhood or at a personal level,  God, who himself does not change, nevertheless will change his preannounced response to man, depending on what man does.  

I John 1:9-10 says:

9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

The man who asks forgiveness, and turns from the wrong way he is going, "reforms his ways and actions"  is promised here to receive his FACE.  His face symbolizes his gracious blessing and favour.

I want much more of God's gracious blessing and favour in my life, far more than his back.  Oh God it's your FACE I seek !  Keep me Oh God from your back - It's your FACE, your grace and favour that I want more and more and more !!!  May I live my live daily before you, more conscious of each word and deed before You and the others you've placed in my life!  

I ask that your Holy Spirit will convict me of the sin in my life daily.  May I get past my own flesh and be a blessing to others around me.  I'm starting to understand Lord, that ...IT's NOT ABOUT ME!

"Men of the Hour"

“Men of The Hour”

– by Aris Metaxukis, (April 26, 2012 - ANVIL Guest Speaker)

Luke 12:37 "...It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching   
                      when he comes."

Aris's Background:

As a young boy, Aris grew up on the northern part of the island of Cyprus, which was later invaded by Turkey.  Although Greek was his native tongue, he lost much of it when he moved with his family to Guelph, Ontario.  Growing up as a teen in Canada, he recalls living a troubled teen life, getting into trouble and using some of the readily available “soft” drugs.  He knew he was going in the wrong direction and somehow he sensed God working in his life.  Without being assisted or influenced by another person, Aris started to pray on his own.

Aris began working in the food service industry, and in his travels in downtown Toronto in the 1980’s, he attended a ministry coffee shop called "Evergreen"  on Young Street in downtown Toronto.  There he met “Arnold” who was apx 65 years old and a Christian.  He was drawn by his joyful persona and they began a conversation on the walk home.  The conversation lasted two and a half hours, during which time Arnold explained salvation using Romans 10: 9&10.  Arnold asked Aris if he was saved, and then after he explained what being "saved" meant, Arnold asked Aris to bow in prayer.  Aris decided to pray in Greek to hide his embarrassment of asking for forgiveness for his sin. Arnold then surprised him by asking him to repeat the same prayer in English.  Aris prayed earnestly, and meant every word of his prayer. He became a child of God that night!  Surprisingly, although seemingly in good health, Arnold died a few months later.

Aris began to grow ever deeper in his faith, and soon began to take bible college courses.  God has blessed his life in so many ways; a very close Prescence with God, a Christian wife, a son and a granddaughter are some of the many things he is so thankful for.  Aris was an encouragement to our ANVIL men as he gave us his testimony and encouraged us to be “Men of the Hour”.  Here are several highlights of his speaking points Thursday, April 26, 2012 for the benefit of the men who weren’t able to make it out.

“Men of the Hour”:

Introduction:  

“The 'Call to Watchfulness' in this late hour”  (- Luke 12: 35-48)

During Roman times, a watchman (or guard) was kept over a settlement to keep a wary eye on dangers that would occur from enemies wanting to inflict damage on the community, especially during the night.  The guards would work in shifts from 6pm to 6am.  (4 watches x 3 hours each = 12 hours; cf. Mark 13: 32-37). 

Jesus spoke of similar dangers to christian men using the "watchmen" analogy.  We need to be watchful as christians, on guard against our enemy Satan - He is a liar, He is called the "deceiver of the brethern" and so our challenge is to be on guard against his evil schemes, especially for men who are assigned a protective role as head of the home, and "high priest" so to speak, of the family.

The Watchmen's ground-rules were:

1)      No Sleeping on your watch!  ; it is paramount for security

2)      Luke 12:35-48 –

a)      V. 35a -“…let your waist be girded…”  (Eph. 6:14 – Mentally focused, prepared with God’s belt of truth…”)   

b)       V.35b – “…and your lights burning.” Lamp: the presence and power of the Holy Spirit needed today to illuminate, empower us…

c)      V. 37-38 – God expects us to be alert, watching for the day is evil

d)     V. 39-40 – we do not know the hour of His coming, so we need to watch for FAMILIES, MARRIAGES, CHURCHES, NATION, REVIVAL.

3)      V. 42 God expects us to be faithful: “…who then is that faithful and wise steward…?”  this is a challenge to us…!

4)      V. 45-48 – “A warning to not assume anything or take God for granted”

Conclusion:

1)      How are you watching?  ; …Are you God’s “man of the hour”?  You can be!

2)      Where I’d like to be is ….”here I am Lord; I am available and willing.”

Thank you so much Aris, for your insightful thoughts tonight!

More About Change…

   We find the theme of change surfaces again in Jeremiah 18.  God’s absolute sovereignty over his creation is quite evident as we can see during Jeremiah’s visit to the potter’s house.

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand…”.

   God can make of your life whatever he pleases, in fact as painful as it sounds God uses the circumstances in your life to change you.  Are you staying soft, & pliable in His hands….. are you teachable!

An Agent of Change?

9Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”  Jeremiah 1:9

   In my bible tour I'm passing through the book of Jeremiah, "the weeping prophet".  It is interesting to read the "marching orders" or "the call" that God gave to this man of God.  It seems God's plan was for Jeremiah to be his "agent-of-change", severely scolding rebellious Israel; to "uproot, tear-down, destroy, overthrow - and then to build and plant".
   Here the "Unchangeable God" is all for change in his people Israel.  They were rebellious and their hearts were wayward.  I am reminded of how God wants to keep changing and making me ever more closer to the image of His Son.  I know of areas in my life that need to change and be placed more firmly in his hands.  
   Jewish legend has Jeremiah as being stoned to death as he faithfully lived out his marching orders for God. Change it seems is often not well-received.  How have you dealt with a recent change in your life?  Do you see it as an opportunity to trust God a bit more?