HOWSON Family Members

Joseph Howson (Chart #2)  All Saints Record
-born Yorkshire County, England 1812
-died Windsor, Ontario, Canada
-buried on March 1, 1862 in St John's Cemetery

It's Friday.... but Sunday's Coming!

   We have just scratched the surface in our mini-study the past few weeks of what God has done at Calvary in providing for us "Our Great Salvation."    There are so many aspects of Salvation we could continue to study, like Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Redemption, Substitution, Adoption and Judgement to name a few more.  However, it is in the application of what we learn that really is the heart of the matter!
   Tony Campolo is gifted with the ability of communicating perspective to the body of Christ.  He may inspire you to find an application of how you can continue to live out your "Great Salvation".
  Here is his classic sermon ....

>>>It's Friday....but Sunday's Coming! -Tony Campolo (Click to Play)


>>>It's Friday ...but Sunday's Coming! -(Long Version) - Tony Campolo (Click to Play)

"...Believe with your head, but let your heart break with the things that break the heart of Christ."  - Tony Campolo

OUR GREAT SALVATION: Sanctification

Focus:      In the Fall, human nature became depraved – passions became unruly, thinking distorted, and spiritual life died.  But in Jesus Christ, we are sanctified; we are changed into His holiness.  We are separated from sin unto God for holy service.

1 Corinthians 6:11  ...But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

  In this study we have another aspect of salvation being pictured.  Sanctification is a temple scene where men are set apart, dedicated and consecrated for service and ministry in the presence of a holy God. 

   Immediately when a person asks Jesus to be his Savior and Lord, and repents of his sins, he is set aside as a special vessel to accomplish God’s will.  When a man is born again, he is a new creation in Christ Jesus!  This is regeneration, but it is also sanctification.

   Sanctification contains these two ingredients:  service and holiness.  These may also be called dedication and separation.  The meaning of sanctification expresses a separation from wrong and evil and dedication to God and His service.  The Scriptures make clear that sanctification has to do with the turning away from all that is sinful and defiling to both soul and body.  However, it means not only a separation from, but also a separation unto.  In order to be sanctified, a person must be not only separated from sin, but also separated unto holiness.  Whatever is set apart from a profane to a sacred use, whatever is devoted exclusively to the service of God, is sanctified.

   The child of God is not only responsible for coming out and being separate.  He is also responsible for maintaining that separation.  When he is filled with the Holy Ghost, he becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit, holy and sanctified.

Keeping a list of Do’s & Don’ts  does not make you holy.

   Men and women become holy because God makes them holy and sanctifies them by His own presence. Apart from the presence of God, there is no way a person may become holy.  Keeping a list of Do’s & Don’ts does not make you holy.  It is through the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life that you are sanctified.  There is no sin beyond the power of Jesus to erase.  The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on Calvary, cleanses from ALL sin!

   One of the most powerful agents the Lord uses in sanctifying His people is His Word.  The Word has the ability to reveal a man’s true condition to himself, bring him under conviction, and finally to his knees in prayer and true repentance.  The source of faith is in the hearing of God’s Word (Romans 10:17).  God’s Word cleanses, purifies, and sanctifies! (John 15:3, John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26)

   A man who has been sanctified must continue to live according to God’s Word.  If sin is committed, it disturbs the relationship with a holy God and breaks the fellowship.  Sin must be forgiven through confession and repentance.  To be saved, a man must be sanctified; without holiness all men are lost.

Adapted from Word Aflame

OUR GREAT SALVATION – JUSTIFICATION: An Act of God!

FOCUS: Justification is a state of acceptance with God.  When God justifies a man, He takes him from condemnation and brings him into God’s favour! Romans5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wea have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

   There is only one plan of salvation from sin.  However, there are various aspects of salvation, and justification is one of those aspects.  Justification pictures a courtroom scene where a condemned man stands guilty.  When the judge declares him innocent and acquitted, he stands justified.

   Justification is entirely an act of God, by faith and faith alone.  When man rebelled by disobeying, sin broke the fellowship between God and His creature.  Nothing man can do can restore that fellowship.  The reconciliation and restoration must be of God and God alone.  For this reason it must be by faith and faith alone.

   It is important that we understand the doctrine of justification.  The main reason for the Reformation was the revelation understood by Martin Luther concerning justification by faith.  If we do not have a clear understanding of this doctrine, we may have many problems concerning our understanding of salvation.  All the truths concerning salvation are built upon this foundation of justification by faith alone.

   Justification is a change in a man’s relation or standing with God.  It has to do with the relations that have been disturbed by sin, and these are personal.  It means “to declare or cause to appear innocent or righteous.”   It is a question of relationship and means that a person is placed in right relation with God.  Justification is the judicial act of God whereby those who put faith in Christ are declared righteous and free from guilt and punishment.  Justification is more than mere acquittal.  It deals with the entire sin question.  It deals with the past as well as the present.  The sins of the past are covered and are as if they had never happened.

Justification is 

“Just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned.”  

It imputes the righteousness of Christ to the sinner!!!   This act of changing a guilty sinner condemned to death to a pardoned, righteous child of God is possibly the greatest miracle of all time.

   Jesus Christ took our long list of committed sins and wrote “PAID IN FULL” right across the page. 

 Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..."

    Just as Jesus died for our sins, the justified man must be dead to his sins.  The sin question is settled forever.  It is a tragic thing for a Christian to disobey and again go back to a life of sin.  When this happens he is no longer justified but again under guilt and condemnation.

   This need never happen, for Jesus provided the means not only to take care of the guilt of past sins, but also to give victory over the bondage of present sinful desires.  There is salvation and victory in Jesus and through Him alone.

Adapted from Word Aflame

NEXT: OUR GREAT SALVATION - SANCTIFICATION

ANVIL is...Accountability-Networking-Victory-Integrity-Leadership

OUR GREAT SALVATION - Jesus Our PROPITIATION!

FOCUS: The justice of God demands that every sin receive it's punishment of death.  Jesus Christ satisfied God's righteousness and secured for us a pardon for our sins. Romans 3:25  (Jesus) ...whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins...

As we approach the Easter season, how thrilling to look again at the power and “Wonder of the Cross”, and remember what exactly was accomplished on my behalf when “The Lamb” satisfied sin’s demands, defeated death and rose victorious. Hallelujah what a Savior!

   I find the word "propitiation" such a rare and interesting word.  

Propitiation is the sacrifice or the covering that becomes the basis upon which God satisfies Himself concerning man's sin. Jesus was our Propitiation!  

God pardons sinful man through the propitiatory death of Jesus Christ.  The background for a study of propitiation is found in the Book of Leviticus.  Here, the underlying principle and purpose of blood sacrifice as an atonement and propitiation for sin is fully explained.

   Israel came out of Egypt corrupted by idol worship.  The people were unfamiliar with the God that delivered them.  God desired to make them a peculiar treasure, and revealed to Israel the basis upon which they could commune with and please Him. 

   The only way to approach a holy God is by means of a redemptive sacrifice.  This sacrifice must be satisfactory to God as a covering for sin.  In Old Testament times, only a lamb without a blemish was satisfactory to be used as a sacrifice.  This Old Testament law was a pattern (a foreshadowing) of things to come!  The only hope of our reconciliation with God is through a propitious sacrifice that brings man back to God through forgiveness and remission of sin.  God decided to offer His son Jesus as a one-time sin covering to those who believed on him.  Jesus was the only one without the blemish of sin, and thus is referred to “the spotless Lamb”.

   In the old covenant, the high priest carried the blood of the sacrificial lamb inside the Temple and sprinkled it on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant –then the work of atonement was completed.  Jesus was not only the spotless sacrifice for sin; He also was His own High Priest to complete the work of the blood of atonement for sin.  Jesus Christ, our High Priest, arose the third day from the grave and ascended on high into the heavens. As our High Priest, He took His own life blood, as a ransom for many, into the prescence of God.

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence

   The divine plan of redemption began in Genesis and culminated in the sacrificial death of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is my sin covering or “propitiation” for my sin.  
When God looks at me, he only sees the blood of Jesus Christ covering me!!!  

When I trusted Christ through Faith and repented, he forgave me, and my sin is covered under his blood.  I am so thankful for that!

   Only what happened at Calvary can cancel the debt of your sin – Jesus Christ paid the account in full!

NEXT: OUR GREAT SALVATION - JUSTIFICATION

Adapted from Word Aflame

OUR GREAT SALVATION - Through FAITH

FOCUS:  It's only by FAITH in the atoning death of Jesus Christ, and His subsequent resurrection, that an individual can come to God.  Faith in God pleases Him and brings all the blessings He has promised us. Romans 10:17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Wow Guys, this winter has seemingly passed quickly and we are approaching that time of year when our faith (and our church calendar) turns it's focus on the "Wonder of the Cross".  Faith in Christ and his finished work on the cross is absolutely central to our beliefs.  Faith is not salvation, but the channel by which salvation is communicated to us.  Faith brings us to Christ, who creates the miracle of regeneration in us.

Consider these "Faith Facts":  (condensed from WORLD AFLAME)
Hebrews 11:1   Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see

• Faith and Obedience are inseparable companions in our walk with God!
• Faith is the necessary companion to prayer, baptism of the Spirit, operation of spiritual gifts, healing, tests & trials, worship, witnessing - all aspects of a Christian's walk with God.
• Faith in God leads to Salvation (not faith in the good works that you may have done). Martin Luther discovered this while reading Romans 1:17 "...the just shall live by faith".  (Notice though it's not about "faith in faith", but faith in Christ and his finished work on the cross.) 
• Faith is key to unlocking God's storehouse of blessings.
• Faith sees things as they are "going to be" and not as they are!
• Faith makes all things possible.  Jesus said, "with God all things are possible".

Our relationship with God is based on FAITH - an assurance that He is both able and willing to perform that which He has promised.  Perhaps you have "things" in your life that you need a breakthrough in ...remember that "Faith sees things as they are "going to be".  There are ANVIL men that would love to have the opportunity to join with you in prayer on your "Faith journey" on whatever this may be. Let them pray with you and - agree together with you!  God doesn't expect you to travel this journey alone!

Our initial step towards God comes by faith that is generated upon our coming into contact with the Word of God.  From that moment on our walk with God is controlled by our faith in God to sustain, deliver, protect and provide.  If we can believe that He will, He will!

As we go through this 2012 Easter season, perhaps you can do so with renewed respect and awe at what Christ has done on the cross, in providing you through FAITH with "Our Great Salvation!

NEXT: OUR GREAT SALVATION - JESUS, OUR PROPITIATION

E.Dewey Smith sings Southern Style -"At the Cross"
"...it was there by FAITH, I received my sight"

Psalm 147

While passing through Psalm in my bible tour, quite worthy of mention (here selectively) is...

"How good it is to sing praises to our God,  how pleasant and fitting to praise him! ...He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. ...The Lord sustains the humble ...Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God....The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love....He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you..."  Psalm 147

My bible commentator suggests this was composed for the Levitical choir in Jerusalem. The Levites were the tribe set aside to lead the people in worship. This psalm goes in different directions to acknowledge God's interest in our lives. How pleasant and fitting to return and lift up our hearts & voices to praise him with the very joy he gives to us!  

Standing in need of prayer?      "....He heals broken hearts and "binds up their wounds".

He is concerned in all details of his creation, (not just you, yet EVEN YOU), but so detailed in concern that he"....calls each star by name !!! "  

He is "crazy" in love with you, just because you are YOU!  - "...He delights in those who fear (respect) him, and put their hope in him." 

"He satisfies!

This week our emphasis at ANVIL is on prayer & worship, much along the same theme as this beautiful psalm. Rod will be there with his guitar.   How good it is to sing praises!

Some of you may want to consider fasting (maybe lunch and dinner food fast) to remind us to be in prayer over the needs in our church and to help us prepare for prayer.

Reading ANVIL inspires FAITH !

*Here is an actual photo of a regular ANVIL Ministry for Men Reader-guy at work on his farm.

Feature Interview: A Conversation with John Almey

The ANVIL Newsletter Feature Interview:

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John…!!!   (John 1:6)

We asked GCF’s own John Almey to share a synopsis of his “life’s story” with us at one of our ANVIL meetings one recent Thursday evening.  It is reprinted here with his permission.  At 81 years of age John is an encouragement to us, and a testimony of God’s faithfulness!  He  reminds us of Caleb, of the Old Testament!

   __________________________________________________________

The ANVIL: John, please give us a sense of your family background.

John Almey: I was raised just west of Trenton, Ontario, the ninth child of ten (6 boys & 4 girls).  Four were born in military camps in England and one in Ireland prior to Dad immigrating to Canada in 1920.  Dad was a Regimental Sergeant-Major in both the British and Canadian armies.

The ANVIL: Tell us about some early influences in your life and your journey to faith in Christ.

John Almey: We did not attend church though Mom professed to be Anglican.  One brother, Maurice, who had been in the Airforce accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and became a Pentecostal minister.  He prayed much for the family.

In high school, the sciences were my favourite subjects and I believed in a divine Creator but didn’t give a lot of thought about God.  After graduating in 1948 from high school, I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in working in a lab testing food products for a food company called Crosse & Blackwell.  Since I couldn’t afford university at that time, I accepted.  Four months later the plant was sold, as Crosse & Blackwell were consolidating their companies in the USA and I was out of work.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.

My brother Maurice, whom I hardly knew, showed up at the house for a visit.  He was pastoring a church in Haileybury in northern Ontario, and he asked if I would like to come to visit.  My younger brother, who had been up there with Maurice, said “Don’t go!  He will preach at you!”

I went.  He did preach but I didn’t make a commitment to serve Christ.  I did meet some of the kindest and friendliest people I had ever known.  There was definitely something different about them. 

Then one Sunday afternoon, a missionary from China was speaking.  She related that though many of her colleagues perished as the Communist troops swept across China, she and a number of others survived.  The Communist troops had broken through the Nationalist lines, & entered the city where the missionaries had taken refuge in a building on a hill, and proceeded to approach the building firing their weapons.  Suddenly the Communist troops fled!  The Chinese Nationalist’s recaptured the city and she had a chance to question a captured Communist soldier.  She wanted to know why they ran from the building they were in.  The soldier’s reply was unforgettable!  He said “…you had people dressed in white with flaming swords protecting you!”  By the end of the service I knew I had to ask Christ to forgive my sins. 

The ANVIL: How did accepting Christ at age 18 affect your life direction?

John Almey: After staying four months with my brother Maurice and his family, I headed for Toronto to find work. I stayed with my brother’s in-laws and attended theStone Church (a downtown Toronto Pentecostal church).  I got a job in an office of a company building construction machinery and again the Lord provided three other Christians to help me in my growth spiritually and the four of us had devotions at lunch time.  From the Stone Church, I joined a group witnessing on the streets of Toronto.

I didn’t particularly like Toronto, in part because of riding on crowded street cars and the weather was extremely hot that summer. I received a letter from an Inspector of Schools.  His territory took in Cobalt, Haileybury & Kirkland Lake area.  He wanted to know if I would consider taking a rural school as I could teach on a permit with my Grade 13 certificate.  I laughed at the thought and declined.  He kept writing and the summer kept getting hotter!  The company I worked for even sent us home early one day because of the heat.  Finally, I agreed to take a school.  I had already fallen in love with the North Country.  Thus began my teaching career.  It would take me to Wawa for four years where the Lord helped two missionary ladies and I establish a church there.  We began by simply holding street meetings and Sunday Services in the school gym.  The school, Sir James Dunn Public School had 16 teachers at that time, teaching grades 1 to 12.  To get grade 13, they had to go to Sault Ste. Marie.  Most went to work in the Iron mine.

To further my career (I now had a wife and daughter). I accepted a position with the Etobicoke Board of Education.  So here I am back in Toronto.  The Lord led me to attend the Lakeshore Gospel Temple with Pastor Alex Ness, the Senior Pastor.  Two years later the Lord performed a miracle for the growing church and we were able to purchase almost six acres of land on the Queensway for $75,000 that amazed real estate developers who had been trying for years to get the two owners to patch up a quarrel and sell them the land they owned. Thus began 30 years of my life at Queensway Cathedral.  It also led to the creation of a Christian school there from kindergarten to Grade 13.  I was asked to help start-up and run the school for Queensway and serve as chairman of the board. 

Upon retirement, I moved with my wife to Peterborough to help assist with her parents.  There we chose Calvary Church to attend.  My wife had been a Sunday School teacher when Calvary was just getting started in the south end of Peterborough.  Twenty-five years later, Calvary has grown, thanks to the Lord to over 1,000 people!

The PAOC Bible College (EPBC) eventually moved to Toronto. Trent University rented its buildings for 5 years.  Further efforts to sell it failed.  God had a purpose for those buildings.  Today it has reopened again as a Bible

College with 125 students enrolled.

My wife’s health has failed and so my children wanted us to live closer to them to assist us.  So now we are in Georgetown watching and waiting for the Lord’s return.  Praise His wonderful name!