PASTOR BERNARD'S CORNER

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

The fragrance of love
Now saturates the air
Sweet scent from above
To our weary hearts cheer.

Sweet fragrance of peace
Bringing feelings we enjoy
Springing from God's presence
Is the fountain of pure joy.

Sweet fragrance of hope
When haunted by despair
From heaven comes this silver rope
Giving us help in hours dire.

Sweet fragrance of mercy
Flowing from the Holy place
Oh, such effulgence of glory
As we bask in His grace.

The fragrance of love
We feel in the place of prayer
His awesome power we prove
And then, in sweet fellowship share.


by BenjaminU Anabaraonye

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

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

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)

THE RESURRECTION We hold so close to our hearts The cross where Jesus died But so much more than the blood-stained cross Is that Jesus came back to life The stone's been rolled away The tomb lay open and bare They looked for Him, and then the angel said That He is no longer here Oh what joy they must have felt To see Him just once more To eat with Him, to drink with Him To receive Him back as Lord So much did He accomplish Through His death upon the cross And in His rising from the dead He reconciled us back to God Nothing else could bridge the gap That sin had wrenched apart Now we can freely go to God And receive Christ in our hearts © By M.S.Lowndes

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.

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. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. 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. -- Author Unknown

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.