PASTOR BERNARD'S CORNER

August 14, 2011

One of the ministries that we want to focus on as a church is the children’s ministry. We feel this ministry is very important for three reasons; 1. Jesus commanded us to do it. 2. It has a very high success rate. 3. It is the right thing to do.

Children have a special place in God’s heart and He wants us to bring them to Him and to protect them. When you bring children to Christ two things happen; 1. You save them for life. 2.They will definitely bring their families to God.

We do not have unlimited resources in facilities and we are limited in staff and volunteers. However, we feel that to be most effective in our mission of bringing the Love of God to the largest number of the unchurched, we should focus our resources and efforts where there is the highest probability of success. While not neglecting other age groups we feel that we should encourage the children’s ministry and focus more on children. Children will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior for a lifetime relationship.

Barna research showed that, “attracting younger children to a church to learn about the Love of God will have 5 to 8 times the impact of attracting the same number of older children or adults.” Barna's research on faith development and discipleship also found that the moral development of children is complete by age 9.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

http://www.whitehutchinson.com/religiousfacilities/childrenministry.shtml

Mark 10: 13 to 16 reads, “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

Taking care of children builds strong homes, strong churches, strong communities and strong nations.

May we at FIC recognize the children that come to worship here and those that we meet in our neighborhoods and on the streets. “It takes a village to raise a child,” as someone has said.

Having written this I would like to encourage you to train to be a children’s ministry worker. You can sign up as a helper, a teacher, a storyteller, or other areas that may be needed in the children’s ministry.

Julie went to be with the Lord Sunday, July 24^th around 6 p.m.. A week before she died, she had a sense that the time had come for her to go to heaven. Since Julie could no longer communicate through speech, due to her physical condition, she wrote down a message to visiting friends that she would be in heaven soon.

We will surely miss Julie at FIC. Even though she had been attending FIC for a little over three years, she had become the face of the church, like many others. She loved to greet people at the door and give out offering envelops so that people could have the opportunity to worship God through tithes and offerings. Julie had a servant’s heart, and she proved this as she served others through giving rides to people and encouraging them.

Julie suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, which was the disease that also took her brother three years ago. When Julie organized a memorial for her brother at Johnston Heights Evangelical Free church, she was so impressed and grateful that a number of FIC people came to support her and help out, even though they had only known her for a brief time.

What people at FIC are saying about Julie: 

• She loved to sit at the front of the church and just lift her hands in praise to the Lord. 
• She always volunteered to usher and greet during services whenever needed. 
• She was a woman of prayer.
• She was an encourager to many people in the church. 
• She loved to serve in the Children’s Ministry. 
• She was available to come and help serve in the church office. 
• She gave rides to visitors who needed rides after the services. 
• She always encouraged the pastor in prayer and with uplifting words every Sunday. 
• She was such a blessing to many people!

July 17, 2011

Since the beginning of this year we have had strategic meetings with some home group leaders, the church board and later the ministry leaders. To sum up, the reason for such meetings I use the proverb: “If you want to go fast…go alone. If you want to go far….go together.”

By drawing from all of you we can refocus on our vision so that we can go far together. It is important to stop and listen to God and gain a fresh perspective of His call on us as leaders and as a local church. We need to be refreshed on who He wants us to be as well as what He wants us to do!

God is already at work and we should align ourselves with God’s purposes so as to be spiritually rooted in what we do.  Our church has seen God’s faithfulness for 30 years. In the past 30 years a lot has changed. However the message we preach is still the same. Our refocusing process is helping us answer these three questions as well as address them in action:

1. Who lives in our Mission Field? Our Mission Focus is to know the people the Lord is calling us to reach as a church. We are serving in a multiethnic field.

2. What must we do to reach them? Our Preferred Values. In order to respond to God’s call to reach His people we have to change some things so that we may be consistent with the message we preach and how we deliver the unchangeable truth to the people. We need to love all people and learn how to exist and worship with people from various ethnic backgrounds. We also need to build a new facility and update the one we have.

3. What could the future look like if we did? Our Vision shows us what the outcome will look like. This is our goal as a church. To have an “International Church“ that worships God in Spirit and truth. A church that serves one another and reaches out to the hurting world.

All the above are affecting how we sense the Lord leading us to restructure ourselves as a board of overseers and deacons, the life groups and various church ministries. Please join us in seeking His face and promoting the unity of the Spirit so God’s purpose will be accomplished in our midst. The team of overseers will serve with our senior pastor in overseeing various ministries in the church. Our board of deacons is being organized to serve in teams that will be: the administration committee, the finance committee, the building committee, hospitality committee and other teams that will help us serve effectively. They will draw from those in the congregation according to their gifts and equipping.

July 4, 2011

This week we celebrate the life and Christian service of our beloved brother in Christ Arsenio Buenaventura fondly known as brother Jun. His life was a great example to all of us. Jun was known as the face of FIC. Almost everyone who has ever visited FIC or joined the church after Jun will tell you that he went to greet them and make them feel at home. He made sure they were doing well and offered to see if there was anything that he and his dear wife Lenie or the church could do to help. Described as a generous man he truly realized the fact that we are saved by faith and not by works. However, his understanding was that Christians are to do good works in order to put their faith into action.

Jun fondly spoke of his dear wife and his precious daughter. He felt supported by them. I noticed that he also was a great pillar and support to them. He was also a father figure to young people of many ethnic groups. Truly people will miss this great man of God and servant of Christ. He was a friend and dear brother. Many testify how he prayed and encouraged them. He also practically went an extra mile to help where he could.

He once told me, “pastor you were blessed to have come to know Christ as your personal Saviour when you were younger.” He said, “I became a Christian at age 45 even though I had been religious. I will live the rest of my life serving God.” He fulfilled his desire. He served God till the end, sharing the Gospel by his life and words in many places. I remember when he was still in pain he would join the Night Shift ministry to serve people on the streets of Wally.

Church was his life. He loved to clean the yard or attending meetings, assisting the pastors and calling people to encourage them and many more. When he could not actively do some of these things he continued one thing that he loved doing. Prayer! Jun loved to pray.  When it was time to give thanks for a meal. He would always request that he be the one to pray.

His saying, “You can have money and riches but if your health is not good it’s nothing.”

Jun’s last words to me were, “THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON!”

It reminded me of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15: 57-58

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

May 29, 2011

We are living in a world that is filled with fear and uncertainty.  People are losing jobs or having their pay cut because of the economic situation. On top of this we have natural disasters that keep hitting our planet. There are wars and uprisings in many parts of the world. People are terrified and terrorized. With all this in mind I ask myself whether God cares for his people. In other words, how should Christians live in this world that is filled with fear and uncertainty? I think that we should trust that God will take care of his people. We should however, be obedient to God’s Word. 

Paul reminded the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, that due to their partnership in spreading the Gospel with him, God would provide for them.   The Corinthian church had sown finances in the ministry of advancing the kingdom of God, because of this Paul assured them of God’s ability to take care of them at all times. God provided for them so that they were able to be generous at all times. Christians should realize that God takes care of his children in all situations. Nothing happens without God’s notice. He loves his people and he will provide for them. 

The story of the prophet Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:7- 15 is very instructive. When Elijah went to the widow’s town during the time of famine, he asked for water and then for bread. However, the woman’s situation was desperate as she only had enough food for one day  for her son and herself.  She believed Elijah’s word that God would provide for her if she obeyed and gave food to the prophet. This may have sounded selfish on the part of Elijah, but it was the condition to releasing faith and God’s blessing to the widow and her son. 

The other instructive story is that of Jacob who had been fleeing from his brother Esau. He realized that God would take care of him as he fled. He also longed to be back to his own people one day. Upon committing to God as his God, Jacob vowed to give a tenth of whatever God would give him (Genesis 28:20-22).

With this in mind I would like to encourage God’s people to keep serving God and his people. We should continue being generous at all occasions. Christians should continue giving tithes and offerings that advance the kingdom of God through the preaching of the Gospel. God will do his part of taking care of us.

March 21, 2011

Paul in Philippians 1:1 shows that in a local church there are saints, (Christians) who are set apart by God to worship and serve God, overseers who are the elders overseeing the spiritual aspects of the local church and deacons who serve in the practical matters of the local church. All these are in partnership with those called to proclaim the gospel of Christ.

The Bible instructs us as Christians to obey our leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over us as men who will give an account. We are also to pray for them making sure that their work is a joy and not a burden since this will not be helpful to us, (Hebrews 13:17-18).

As we recommend or nominate people to the office deacons here at FIC and as the pastor chooses elders it is imperative that we are reminded of the qualifications needed in them.

(Elders/Overseers)

1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. 

(Deacons) 

Timothy 3:8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.

Thank you for choosing Fleetwood International Church as your home church. By choosing this local church you have chosen to be in covenant relationship with all those in this local church body of Christ. We believe that God will greatly use you and that you will continue to grow spiritually and to participate in advancing the Kingdom of God through this body of believers.

A covenant is an agreement or promise made between two or more parties regarding things they will do or not do together or individually in order to uphold the terms of the covenant. Here at FIC having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we have joyfully covenanted together as one body in Christ, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, to live and serve together in unity and peace according to the word of God, the Bible. Our goal is to worship God together, to serve one another, to reach the lost and hurting world and to grow in the Lord through personal discipleship and to be involved in the discipleship of other believers.

It is our understanding that we will be trained within this body of believers for Christian service. We understand our responsibilities to this church to include walking in Christian love with one another, praying for one another and tenderly regarding one another. It is also our covenant to share in worship through giving of tithes and offerings to this local church for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God. All we have comes from God and we honor him by giving back the tenth of our income and by bringing offerings to his house of worship, the local church.

March 13, 2011

As we have covenanted together to make FIC our home church we have become part of this local church of believers. It is a privilege to serve alongside all of you worshiping God, ministering to one another and serving the lost and hurting world. This is only made possible as we recognize the body that we are and also the fact that each one of us has gifts to bring to the body of Christ here at FIC.

The teachings on spiritual gifts in Romans 12;

1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 are all given within the body context. God has gifted us differently so that we may be a blessing to one another. Romans 12:6-8 lists the gifts given to individuals as: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing to the needs of others, leadership and showing mercy. Anyone who is gifted in these areas should use them in accordance to his or her faith recognizing that he or she is only one of the many parts of the body. Everyone should serve out of respect, appreciation for others while recognizing equality that exists in the body. 

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 also discusses the following gifts: the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. These gifts are given to the members of the body of Christ for the building of the body of Christ. Spiritual gifts are not ties that you wear to show off but tools that you use to serve others. 

Lastly Ephesians 4:11 lists ministry gifts that are given by Christ to some people in the church. These people are themselves gifts given to the church. They have been called and equipped by Jesus himself. They are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They have been called by Christ to equip the church members for service to God and other people. 

All these gifts in the body will function well says the apostle Paul, “As each part does its work.”

Ephesians 4:16.

Does Love Hurt?

When I heard the statement that “Love Hurts” I was surprised. Since for me love is supposed to feel good and not to hurt at all, I concluded that whoever originated the statement was probably dumped by a girlfriend or a boyfriend. It kind of reminded me of the sour grapes story. Have you heard about the sour grapes story? It is found in one of the fables (The Fox and the Grapes) attributed to Aesop (620-564 BC). The fable goes like this: “ a fox sees grapes high hanging in a tree but cannot have them because he cannot reach them. Since he can’t reach them he concludes that probably the grapes are not worth eating, they are sour. This story is used to describe people who want something but since they can’t have it they become critical of it.

Upon reflecting on the statement “Love Hurts” I began to think that there might be some truth to it. The fact that love hurts does not mean sour grapes or that you stop to love. There are different types of love. Agape which is the God kind of love that loves people regardless of their condition or what they have done. In this love God loved people who did not deserve to be loved. While we were God’s enemies because we had gone our own way, he still chose to love us. It grieved God when we rejected him by turning our backs on him. He however, still chose to love us. This type of love goes beyond human love. We can have it as we develop our relationship with God.

Other types of love are; eros which is romantic love between lovers. It is sensual in nature. Philia which is the pure and natural kind of love that exists between friends. Storge which is the affection of parents for their children. Xenia which is hospitality love shown to strangers.

I think that any type of love should not be selfish. Many times a person will say, “I love you.” What the person might really be saying is that, “I love you” so you should do me a favour. In this case love sounds selfish. To love someone is to love unconditionally. It is not because you want something back but because you want to serve the person you are expressing love to.

So here we go! It hurts when the person you love disappoints you. It hurts when the person you love makes bad or wrong choices. It hurts to see people you love hurt. Sometimes this causes you to want to do something to help them. Sometimes people you love will hurt you. People from all walks of life have been hurt by the people they love. Children have had parents walk away from them. Spouses have been cheated on. Friends may have turned against you. Some parents may have been hurt by their own children. A person hurt by love may feel lonely, used and rejected.

You can turn your situation around by realizing the power of love. Love is a choice that you make. It is not the feeling that you have. When you love you choose to not let circumstances define you. When you love you realize that grieving should not be forever. When you love you exercise forgiveness with appropriate boundaries in place. When you love you learn from your circumstances. When you love you conquer evil. It reminds me of two statements I heard at different times. “Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will die!” (unknown). “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
Lewis B. Smedes

I will close with1Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

FIC Anniversary and Vision Casting

This year our church celebrates 29 years of ministry. We are grateful to all who have laboured before us and those whom we continue to labour with. It is a great blessing and privilege to serve the Lord. Together we are building on a great foundation. The celebrations and vision casting began on Thursday November 18 with lunch hosted for pastors who came from FIC. These men and women are faithfully serving the Lord in the Lower Mainland. It was a time of reconnecting and vision sharing for the future. God willing we plan for a home coming of all those who have had connections with FIC in the past 29 years.

The lunch was followed by a celebration of our ethnic and cultural diversity on Saturday November 20th. We enjoyed an evening of music, dances, worship, desserts and fellowship. Truly God has brought us together in Christ from different backgrounds. We worship the Lord as one body in Christ. This celebration was followed by the Sunday worship service on November 21. We enjoyed a time of worship, parade of the nations' flags represented in our church and the welcoming of our Mandarin speaking brothers and sisters who have merged with our church.

During these times it has been emphasized that God has called us to be an international church that worships God in truth and spirit, expressing itself through ministry to one another and reaching the lost and hurting world. A Church that is actively mobilizing, training, and deploying servant workers to advance the kingdom of God.

Today Sunday November 28, we continue the celebration by honouring you all for your faithfulness in serving and supporting the vision God has given us. Thank you for being faithful in your financial giving to support God's work.

Canada like many nations has been experiencing economic challenges and yet you faithfully trust God and give sacrificially to advance God's kingdom.

Wonderful Advice

1. Pray.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in your everyday life.
16. Carry an inspirational book and/or the Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favourite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus.'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

Author Unknown.

August 29, 2010

You're Always There for Me When the world comes crashing in And chaos rules my mind, I turn my heart to you, Lord, And pure, sweet peace I find. You lift me out of trouble You comfort me in pain; You nourish, heal and cleanse me, Like cool, refreshing rain. In times of joy and bliss, When things are going right, You lift me even higher, And fill me with delight. You listen to my prayers; You hear my every plea; I'm safe because I know You're always there for me. By Joanna Fuchs

August 22, 2010

A Motivational Story with Wisdom - The Mouse Trap By Author Unknown   A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose." So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. The next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage and help one another.

August 15, 2010
Thank you all for your commitment and sense of family that you bring to FIC. We appreciate the support you have given to those who have had their loved ones pass on to be with the Lord.

This encouragement and support you give to one another makes me think of the importance of covenant in a local church. Even though we belong to the larger body of the church it's important that each one of us belongs to a local church, where we can covenant together with other believers for worship, prayer, evangelism, discipleship and ministry to one another.

It should be in our local church where we pay our tithes and give offerings for the extension of God's Kingdom. Belonging to a local church helps us to also become a blessing to other people. We think of how we may be a blessing to others in many ways. We should move from just thinking and desiring to actually becoming a blessing to others.

I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you to stay connected in the local church. Sometimes this is not easy to do in today's culture where many people are busy. However, there is a longing to belong in each one of us. We all long to be loved, forgiven, appreciated and encouraged. Just as we long or appreciate these things we should do them to others.

May the Lord bless you as you continue to enjoy your summer. However, remember to belong by encouraging others by your life.

August 8, 2010

Dancing In Dreams In dreams I am dancing with the Lord, It's a slow and glorious waltz - I'm waking as the devil cuts in, His two-step praising my faults. A twist of uncontrolled movement, And I begin to doubt my own feet - Until I call for the Lord to come, And bring back the dance so sweet. I get lost in the soft, soothing melody, As we glide to the dear angel's song, That's when He shows His love for me, And proves the devil so wrong. Heaven's canopy is our ballroom, Twinkling stars - our only light, Doves and angels surrounding us, As I fall gently to sleep for the night. Author: Anonymous

August 1, 2010
Remember to mark your calendars for our upcoming events.

God Bless you.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August to December

AUGUST

August 06 ESL Picnic

August 07 Rock The River (Millennium Park Cloverdale) 2:30 to 9:30 pm

August 10 Fleetwood Festival Committee mtg @ 6pm

August 20 ESL Outing

August 21 FIC Picnic 10 am

August 22 FIC Amazing Race for Youth! 3pm

August 24 Fleetwood Festival Committee mtg @ 6pm 

August 29 FIC Ministry Leaders' Meeting 6pm

SEPTEMBER

September 11 Fleetwood Festival 11am Library 84 Ave/160st

September 16 Ministry training module 7pm to 9pm

September 18 Ministry training module 9am to 4pm

September 26 FIC Ministry leaders Meeting @ 6pm

September 30 Ministry training module 7pm to 9pm

OCTOBER

October 02 Ministry training module 9am to 4pm

October 03 Missions Sunday Service

October 10 Special Thanksgiving Service

October 14 Ministry training module 7pm to 9pm

October 16 Ministry training module 9am to 4pm

NOVEMBER

November 11 Ministry training module 7pm to 9pm

November 13 Ministry training module 9am to 4pm

November 13 FIC Anniversary @ 6pm

November 25 Ministry training module 7pm to 9pm

November 27 Ministry training module 9am to 4pm

November 26 & 27 FIC leadership retreat Cedar Springs

November 28 FIC Ministry Leaders Meeting

November 28 Christmas Hamper Drive

DECEMBER

December 09 Ministry training module 7pm to 9pm

December 11 Ministry training module 9am to 4pm

December 16 Ministry training module 7pm to 9pm

December 18 Ministry training module 9am to 4pm

December 24 Christmas Eve program

December 31 FIC New Year's Party

July 25, 2010
Maybe when the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

Maybe the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Maybe it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but if it does not, be content it grew in yours.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

-- Author Unknown        

July 11, 2010

Fragrance of Love

July 4, 2010

CHILDRENS MINISTRY UPDATE

The FIC children's Ministry is in constant need of volunteers. We still need people to help us out in our Sunday School classrooms, in our Nursery and most especially, in VBS and AWANA. - Sandy Candido

YOUTH MINISTRY UPDATE

The Youth meet once a week on Friday's and on the occasion meet on Saturday's and Maricel and I have had the deep pleasure of having served the youth a great crop of leaders who were once part of the youth themselves. We usually have games and worship along with some sharing from the word during our regular meetings and we have special events like camping, retreats, worship nights, workshops, and rallies that we attend and/or organize. The Youth is also active with fundraising as well as collect non-perishable food items to reach out to the people who need them. - Roni Simangan

June 27, 2010

Our church is involved in a number of community outreach ministries and we would like to profile these in the coming weeks. We have been involved with Night Shift every other Wednesday, ESL every week, VBS every summer, Awana every Monday during school days and periodically we run the Alpha ministry. We would like to thank you for your prayers and participation in these programs amongst many others that we are involved in. All these ministries help us connect with the community as we share the love and message of Christ.

ESL class started in January and has been running consistently every week. It is a place where men and women from various walks of life can come and practice conversational English in a laid back environment. It allows new immigrants to interact with each other alongside of the locals and it also gives students the opportunity to build meaningful relationships. Students talk about Christianity, life, love, culture, food, travel, health, media, dance, music, and various other topics. There is also a grammar and comprehension component taught by certified teachers. We provide child care for parents of young children and classes are held every Friday at 9:30am - 11:30am.

During the summer months of July and August the ESL class will be having family picnics around the lower mainland. This gives more opportunity or interaction and conversation while enjoying the beautiful BC weather. The outings will be held every 2nd week starting July 9th. Please join us during the summer and make some new friends! Contact the church office or April Iguidez for more information.

FIC has joined many other churches in serving at Night Shift in the Whalley area of Surrey. NightShift Street Ministries Society is a Christian multi-denominational front-line street ministry. They invite the homeless into the street church. Shake their hand. Make them welcome. Serve them supper. We listen. And serve. We have discovered this can have a profound impact on the human heart. Many people we serve begin to see their lives anew, find self-esteem, seek recovery programs and realize life-altering changes.

NightShift is not just a soup-kitchen or band-aid. We create change. We are at the cutting edge of Christian charity, working with the support of all Christian denominations. Please join us as you are able on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. For more info. please contact the office or Amanda Cheung.

June 20, 2010

1. Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind.
2. You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying over the future.
3. Love ... and you shall be loved.
4. God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.
5. All people smile in the same language.
6. A hug is a great gift one size fits all. It can be given for any occasion and it's easy to exchange.
7. Everyone needs to be loved ... especially when they do not deserve it.
8. The real measure of a man's wealth is what he has invested in eternity.
9. Laughter is God's sunshine.
10. Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.
11. It's important for parents to live the same things they teach.
12. Thank God for what you have, TRUST GOD for what you need.
13. If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow, you have no today to be thankful for.
14. Happy memories never wear out ... relive them as often as you want.
15. Home is the place where we grumble the most, but are often treated the best.
16. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks within.
17. The choice you make today will usually affect tomorrow.
18. Take time to laugh for it is the music of the soul.
19. If anyone speaks badly of you, live so none will believe it.

June 13, 2010

God brings revival where His people meet His conditions. One of the conditions is unity. It is oneness of mind among those seeking the visitation of God. He commands the blessing of life where there is unity (Psalm 133). Unity precedes the blessing from God. It is one thing for an individual to seek and obtain great spiritual blessings from God and yet another when people unite to seek for a new visitation from God. This requires spiritual labor that is superior to the first. We need to move from personal affairs of blessings to the blessing of many people. It requires humility before God and other Christians for the sake of all those that need the blessing of revival. On top of your personal times of prayer, please move to join others in prayer for revival. We need those who desire to unite with others for the greater cause.

Unity does not happen on its own, it has to be actively pursued. It neither means uniformity nor doctrinal oneness. Unity is celebrated and exercised in diversity. People you unite with may not agree with you in every trivial thing, neither will you agree with them. However, unity is so important in that it's exercised in the midst of the differences we have. We actively unite choosing to push differences aside for the sake of what's important. We do this that men, women and children may come to the saving knowledge of Christ.

"The disciples at Pentecost were one only in the things of the Spirit; in everything else they were one hundred and twenty. Harmony may be defined as oneness at points of contact. God will bless a body of men and women who are one in spiritual purpose, even if their doctrinal positions are not identical on every point."

Please join with others as we pray to seek God for his mighty move on his church.

June 6, 2010

Sometimes people may wonder why the Church exists. I believe part of why we exist as a church is to worship God, serve one another and to reach the lost and hurting world. This is an upward ministry- to glorify God, Ephesians 1:11-12; inward ministry – to build one another, Ephesians 4:16 and outward ministry- to reach the lost world, Acts 1:8. Any existing Christian group must define its philosophy that encompasses the three dimensional points mentioned above. The name church is taken from the Greek word; "ekklesia." It is a compound of two words; "ek" meaning "out of" and "kaleo" to call. The secular understanding of the term ekklesia was an assembly or a gathering of people called from their homes. The New Testament usage refers to the called out ones. It is an assembly of believers who have been called out of the world. We have been called out from every tribe, nation, ethnicity, people and social background to worship our God and saviour in unity as one body. We are to continue serving one another as we also reach out to the lost and hurting world. We should reach all people groups.

The church is Christ's feet, hands and mouth. We represent him in the world and we should continue doing his works. This is not easy as we work with people who are human and have shortcomings. We have to walk and function with the grace that does not condemn people but graciously lifts them to find their significance and healing in Christ. At the same time we do not condone sin and evil to rule in our lives and others. We should find healing and deliverance from Christ. The reason he came was to set us free from the power of sin.

Sometimes you may stumble and fall, but God does not condemn and discard you. He loves you so much that he lifts you up and forgives your sins and cleanses you from all unrighteousness. God is interested in lifting you up so you may walk with him. In Christ we have been forgiven and set free. So continue walking in his grace while not justifying any sinful behavior as the standard Christian life. Let's find significance in Christ who loves us, who does not condemn, who forgives us and sets us free.

May 30, 2010
The Biblical basis for uniting nations in the worship of God is stronger than people realize. As human beings we have the tendency to divide people along the lines of race, ethnicity, nationality, culture and language. In fact it has been known and said in the US (and possibly in Canada) that the 11th hour on Sunday is the most segregated hour. This is because people have been told that when it comes to worship they should worship with their own people because it is cultural. We have compartmentalized Christianity within the realm of culture and ignored the fact that Christianity transcends culture. In order to unite people of all nations in worship we need to be intentional and biblical. The church should be in the forefront of racial and cultural reconciliation. Our ministry is global, we can't afford not to be multicultural. Just as we tell people to work with other ethnic groups in various work places we should also be willing to let people worship together across lines or ethnicity and race.

The Bible reads; Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Revelation 7: 9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

This is in agreement with Christ's commission to the church; Matthew 28:18-20

Traditionally churches have been accustomed to worshipping in the comforts of mono-cultural contexts. However, today's world has brought different ethnic groups within the same borders, and it calls for a different approach to church leadership and worship. We should reach all people groups and worship with every people group without prejudice.

The church cannot simply watch the changes in society and be oblivious to them. "If a congregation cannot recognize the growing diversity of its community and neighborhood, and if its systems and structures cannot respond appropriately, then the society will find other systems and structures to respond to its growing diversity" (Kawano 1992, 137).

Even though society may attempt multiculturalism and try to stamp out racism and prejudice, the church should be the place where diversity of ethnicity is celebrated. in relating with people of other cultures. Paul, became all things to all people in order to reach them for Christ 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.

May 23, 2010
For the last few months I have been sensing that God is about to bring us into revival as a church. I sense that there are good things happening around us and that God wants us to have a great impact in our community. However, before this can happen or as it happens we need a fresh breath of God's presence.

Sometimes Christianity can become stale in individuals and churches. They need the life of God to be infused again. Revival is the state of coming back to life. In the Christian sense it relates to the church and individual Christians who have had an encounter with God before but have now lost the freshness and passion for God.

Throughout church history God's people have experienced revival as they have met conditions for revival. God in his sovereignty has chosen to breathe life in them.

There is what is known as the omnipresence of God, and his actualized presence. Even though God is everywhere (omnipresent) in revival we need God's actualized presence where he becomes real to us and not just a philosophical belief. God wants to be real to us and to be part of our lives. We were created for intimate fellowship with God. In history God's people have had God's Revelation from His Word. Revelation produces faith to believe God's word. The word reveals the heart's condition and the need for revival. We cannot be agents for revival in the church unless we know what the church is supposed to look like. We need the revelation of how the church should look like. This will produce the correct desire for a New Testament Church, a sense of Prayer, a sense of expectancy.

Humility is a prerequisite for revival because it produces hunger and thirst for God Luke 1:53. In revival we die to ourselves (John 12:24).Join us as we pray to seek God to revive us again. You can do this in your homes or where ever you are. But we need you to join us every Wednesday 7:30pm at FIC as we join with other believers to pray and hear God's word.

May 16, 2010
Sometimes we get disoriented when we go to unfamiliar places or familiar places during the time of day we are not used to. There are many things that cause us to lose our sense of direction. In fact I have met people who tell me that they have trouble with directions. Most people say they are "direction challenged." I am not even sure if such a term exists.

Just as people get disoriented in the physical, they can also get disoriented in the spiritual. Things happen in life that are confusing or you can get to a season in your life when things do not make sense at all. This can be a time of minor or serious disorientation when you can't trust your senses and you are left to guess what decision to make. It is during these moments, if you do not guard your heart, that you can become suspicious of people and also make unwise decisions. You read life wrongly and interpret things wrongly.

If you have ever experienced this I am sure you know what I am talking about. What can you do in such situations? Well the best thing is to keep your head and trust the word of God. This sounds very simple but it is true. Can you imagine if the pilot is flying a plane and suddenly he or she gets disoriented up in the sky? The senses would say that the plane is upside down or descending but the instruments on the plane would be indicating otherwise. What should the pilot do? Trust the senses or the instruments? I am told that such situations do actually happen and pilots have been trained to trust the instruments because they can experience this up in the air. Some pilots have made mistakes and ended up crashing the plane.

Psalm 119:105 reads; "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." These words are authored from experience. The word of God will guide us in every situation. Christians should always depend on God's word in different situations. This requires that we get grounded in the word of God. You may wonder how accurately you will interpret the word of God in your situation. Well, the Bible says that the Spirit of God who dwells in you will help you. The Holy Spirit guides us in life and he is the one who will show us what to do in every situation and his leading is always consistent with the word of God. Trust the Holy Spirit. Trust the word of God.

Seek godly counsel, (Psalm 1:1-3). There are many people who will try to speak in your life and offer you counsel. What is important is to seek counsel that is godly and by godly I mean consistent with God's word. This counsel will always honor God and not just please us or fulfill our fleshly desires. Aim to honor God with your life and in your decisions. Obey your spiritual instruments and you will not crash your life.

May 9, 2010
Today we take this opportunity to show our love and appreciation to all mothers at FIC. Some of you may not be mothers yet or at all, for that matter we in fact would like to appreciate all women in the church. You all mean a lot to us and you continue to make valuable contributions in the church and the kingdom of God.

As women you understand the struggles you go through in your Christian walk, in being a mother and some of you in being a spouse. We live in the world that seems upside down. I mean that things just don't seem to fit in this world anymore. People will try to define you or give you a label. Whatever the case, I would like you to know that you do not need others to define who you are. Your identity should be found in Christ. The Bible says you are God's daughter. Through Christ you have been adopted and made part of God's family. Be grounded in this identity. You should not even allow past failures to define you.

The benefits of this identity are that God has forgiven you of all your sins and given you a new life. If you feel that you have failed society and your family in the past, there is forgiveness in God's grace. God has given you another chance to serve him in his church and the world in general. Through Christ you can be a positive influence again. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: writes, "17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

I would like to encourage you to continue in Christ through prayer, reading of his word, godly fellowship and telling others the good news of Christ. As you do this you will find strength and fulfillment in your innermost being. Thank you for being you and may the Lord richly bless you.

May 2, 2010

More Than Ever

April 25, 2010

"Handfuls Of Purpose" Handfuls of purpose, that's what Jesus gave to me, He knows how to make a way that I don't even see. Handfuls of purpose, Just like the Bible said, fed the crowd with two fishes, and five little loaves of bread. Handfuls of purpose, Ruth gleaning in the field, Boaz fell in love with her, to him her heart did yield. Ruth 2:16 Handfuls of purpose, a man who was born blind, Jesus came and touched him, and then that man was fine. Handfuls of purpose, a little man up a tree, when Jesus saw him, he said, Zacchaeus, It's time for tea. Handfuls of purpose, I sure needed a friend, He knocked on my door, I was happy to let Him in. Handfuls of purpose, God sent His only Son, He died to save us from sin, He died for everyone. If you don't have, handfuls of purpose, get to know the Lord, after that, I promise you, you'll get your reward. by Mary Eldridge

April 18, 2010

The Love of the Father

Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Romans 8: 35

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 38-39

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.
Ephesians 3: 17

April 11, 2010

April 4, 2010

And when they came to the place which is called The Skull [Latin: Calvary; Hebrew: Golgotha], there they crucified Him, and [along with] the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them ...

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the women] went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had made ready. And they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, but when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus ... He is not here, but has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee. ~ Luke 23:33-34; Luke 24:1-3, 6(AMP)

FIC Church Covenant

We promise by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to forsake the ways of sin and to walk together in Christian love and in the paths of righteousness. With this in view we engage to strive together for both the peace and purity of this Church; to sustain this worship and steadfastly to cherish and hold its ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute as faithful stewards such as time, talent and money, in the measure that God prospers each of us, that the responsibility for the work of the local church and the world-wide ministry of spreading the Gospel be faithfully and effectively discharged.

We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to teach the Bible to our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to be just in our dealings and faithful in our engagements, to be exemplary in our deportment; to avoid unkind words and unrighteous anger; to abstain from all evil; to combine zeal and knowledge in our efforts to advance the cause of our Saviour; to make Christ first in all things – spiritual and temporal.

Moreover, should we move from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some local church where we can carry out the spirit of this Covenant and the principles of the World of God.

March 14, 2010

When God Heals When God comes to heal us It's final and complete There is nothing that is lacking When He meets us in our need Whether it be in our body Or the hurt within our soul He will touch the point of need And will truly make us whole His healing is there for you Just receive it from the Lord Believe upon the living word That you can be restored Wherever there is weakness He is the strength we need And He will gently lead us through And heal the heart that bleeds Jesus came to restore us To fullness in our God But Satan has come to devour And to kill, destroy and rob But Jesus won the victory So we need not be afraid But claim the victory that is ours And no longer live enslaved We need to rise up in our faith And not depend on how we feel Keep on praying and standing firm For our God surely heals © By M.S.Lowndes

March 7, 2010

Your Word Your Word, O Lord Is wisdom and truth And we need to know this When in our youth To have it embedded Deep in our hearts To never give it up And never let it part We need to know The truth there in That will lead us to life And free us from sin Your Word, O Lord Is faithful and just And in your Word We must put our trust © By M. S. Lowndes

February 14, 2010

Many times it helps to reflect and evaluate who you are and your purpose in life. We should not wander aimlessly in life. Understanding your identity and your purpose in life is very important. It helps you to be focused and to use your resources in the most effective way as you live your life and engage others.

This applies not only on the individual level but also on the church family level. It is important to understand our identity as FIC. We are a multi-ethnic church made up of people from various age groups. The goal of our church family is to be an international church that worships God in truth and spirit, expressing ourselves through ministry to one another and reaching the lost and hurting world. We desire and plan to be a Church that is actively mobilizing, training and deploying servant workers to advance the kingdom of God.

We should be united by the following:

1. Our common faith in Christ.
2. Having a sense of family and belonging.
3. Our covenant relationship.
4. Our purpose statement (Loving God, and people).

We are placed on earth for a reason. From time to time, we should pause and ask ourselves what we are here for. Sometimes life's purpose can be vague and confusing. The following are some general guidelines that can help us gain sharper focus in our lives and fulfill our purpose on earth.

We are created to:

• Glorify God through worship, prayer, praise and thanksgiving.
• Live as caring people, serving one another in love.
• Reach our generation with the message of Christ by presenting His word with unconditional love to ALL people.
• Help people grow in their Christian lives.
  Colossians 1:28 "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ"
• Mobilize, train and send God's people into service both locally and abroad.

February 7, 2010

February 14 is Valentine's Day and many people will be excited about friendship and romance. I came across these sayings by an unknown author that may interest you.

January 31, 2010

Philippines Missions Team 2010

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We as a church participate in the great commission by praying, sending and supporting those who go.

We are God's royal priesthood to intercede for the people groups of the world and also to teach the word of God to them. We need to pray and financially invest in the spreading of the good news of Christ.

Whether you go or remain you have a great part to play in the missions of the Church.

It occurred to me that giving to missions is not just finances but to be willing to give people that serve in our church so they can bless the nations with the gifts God has given them. As we give and bless the nations we in the home church will experience spiritual growth.

January 24, 2010

Philippines Missions Team 2010

Prayer points for the trip:

1. That God would strengthen and protect each team member spiritually, physically, and mentally.
2. That God would provide the finances for a blessed and fruitful trip.
3. That God would prepare the way by His Spirit in the locations and hearts of the people we will be ministering to.
4. That the team will constantly be obedient and in tune with the Spirit's leading.
5. That the blood of Jesus will cover all those involved in the trip-even FIC as the sending church.

1. Complete recovery of families and businesses after the devastation of the flood.
2. Justice, political stability, and righteousness in government.
3. Righteousness and unity among church leaders for the transformation of the nation.
4. The fulfillment of God's divine destiny for the Philippines-- a springboard of missionaries to the world.
5. The salvation of children and youth and God's restoration for broken homes.
6. Spiritual refreshing and blessing for the hard-working.
7. That the predicted El Nino (drought) will not take place.
8. Thanksgiving for the safety of residents despite the lava flow from the famous Mayon volcano in Legazpi City.

January 17, 2010

Philippines Missions Team 2010

January 10, 2010

At the beginning of every year many people make the New Year's resolutions. There is nothing wrong in making them. The challenge comes when we are trying to follow through to make sure that the resolutions get achieved. Usually as the year progresses some people retreat into feelings of failure as they find that they are powerless to change situations in their lives or those surrounding them. This will also lead to feelings of frustrations and guilt.

If you find yourself in such a situation do not give up. There is hope. You need to re-evaluate the process of trying to change your life, other people or situations around you. The following are some helpful points to make that process successful.

The first thing to realize is that you need to make smart resolutions or goals in your life. They have to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. There are things about yourself and situations around you that you can change. But there are others that you can not. We need to know which goals belong to which category. Definitely it is difficult if not impossible to try and change other people.

After that, you need to be specific by identifying an area in your life that needs to be dealt with. Decide how you will measure success in that area on the journey of change. Then ask yourself whether you can attain the success you want on your own or whether you may need help. Your resolution has to be realistic. Setting a time and accountability is also often necessary to make sure you follow your resolutions through. Then comes the step of breaking the goals down to practical things you do daily to help you achieve those goals.

Begin with your thought life. How you think about yourself, life and other people is very important and will affect everything you do. What do you allow your mind to dwell on? If and when your mind dwells on negative things about yourself or other people, you will not be moving to the destiny God has for you. It has been said by someone that, " When you sow a thought, you will reap a deed". "When you sow a deed you will reap a habit and when you sow a habit you will reap a destiny". Therefore, begin with your thought life.

Paul in Romans 12:1-2 writes, "¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Transformation begins in our minds as we get renewed

January 3, 2010

As I reflect on beginning the New Year I would like to focus on the importance of beginning the year right and continuing the year in the right way. We Christians are called by God to lead lives worthy of our calling. It is lives that are lived in the light and not in darkness. This makes me think of what kind of life every Christian needs to be living regardless of the scars, frustrations and disappointments that may have been experienced in the previous year.

For sure you may have been hurt or disappointed by people, but you also may have hurt and disappointed other people. While it is easier to see all the wrongs other people do against you, it is also easy to be blind to the hurts and disappointments you may have caused others. Instead of being bitter and unforgiving you need to begin the year right by making things right from your end. Forgive and love others. You may not necessarily be a close friend to everyone but at least as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Paul in Ephesians 4:30-32 writes: ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

I find it strange that Christians would lead lives of bitterness, unforgiveness and all the other bad stuff and yet feel they can get into God's presence without being convicted by the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that as you enter 2010 you may enter with clean hands and a pure heart. May the life of Christ be seen in you so that others may come to glorify him because of your life.

I am reminded of the golden rule which reads,

Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. (Matthew 7:12) The Golden Rule or the ethic of reciprocity is found in the teachings of nearly every religion. It is the most concise and general principle of ethics which summarizes the longer lists of rules.