A Leader’s Loyalty

Guest Blog by Heyoo

While watching the holiday classic White Christmas I was reminded of one of the common behaviours of a good leader. There is a scene in the film where Danny Kaye’s character is tasked with keeping the General from seeing his partner’s (Bing Crosby’s) announcement on the Ed Sullivan show. This is a challenge because the General’s character never misses the Ed Sullivan show. While I’m sure that the show was well received and provided a healthy dose of weekly entertainment, the General had another reason for his devotion to the show’s schedule – Ed Sullivan was one of his people.

Good leaders take ownership of their people beyond the circumstances that make them “their people”. To General Waverly, there was sentiment, there was pride and there was interest in his former soldiers. They fought a war together, through thick and thin, and the men knew that “they ate, then he ate.” General Waverly was a man who had sacrificed for his men and shared their hardships. He was proud of what they had become, and seeing Ed Sullivan on television, a star who had made something of himself, elicited a sense of pride and accomplishment for the General. This is often because a leader is attuned to the development of their people and sees their growth and transformation over time. This can be a great burden because leaders feel responsible for the directions their people take, but it can also be a great source of pride in seeing their people overcome challenges, invent new things and become something new.

Lastly, the General shows and expresses interest in the doings of his people, even when they don’t know it. Ed Probably didn’t know that his former General was a dedicated fan. Christian leaders will pray for their people, interceding on their behalf from a distance, advocate for their people when possible and seek God’s fingerprints on their people’s lives in order to learn from their experiences. In general, leaders will share in their people’s accomplishments and relate their accomplishments to others in their life. Sometimes they will even support their people, often in ways that will receive no thanks in return, be it buying a product, donating to a cause or mobilizing their people on the behalf of one another.

If you’ve had a good leader in your life, then you can be sure that they’re watching your show when they can. They’re still thinking about you, cheering you on, and wishing you well because good leaders are Loyal to their people.

Be It Resolved… Welcome to 2018

New Years Day has just past. I usually don’t make resolutions, mostly because I can’t or won’t keep them. As a result of our small group working through the series “Guardrails” by Andy Stanley from North Point Church, I have decided I need to create a set of guardrails as my New Year’s resolution?

Guardrail definition by Andy Stanley; a personal standard of behaviour that becomes a matter of conscience for you, a warning that will bother you, informs or ignites your conscience.

Be it resolved… to establish guardrails so I don’t cross over the line into things I shouldn’t do. 

  • Spiritual
    • Pick a Bible Reading Plan or
    • The 5 ones:
      • Word – One-On-One Time I Spend With God Each Day
      • Worship – One Worship Service I Attend Each Week
      • Group – One Group I Attend Regularly
      • Serve – One Ministry I Serve In Regularly
      • Reach – One Friend I Reach For Christ
  • Financial
    • Track every receipt for 6 months
    • Watch for trends in poor spending, then adjust these
  • Health
    • To track all my food and snacks in order to make more healthy choices

There will be a few more to come, but these are where I will start. “Resolved, to be a better person on December 31, 2018 than I am today through prayer, Bible study, and service to my fellow man.”

Peter said, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7

Don’t let your 2018 resolution be anything like this: My goal for 2018 is to accomplish the goals of 2017 that I should have done in 2016 because I promised in 2015 and planned in 2014. 😉 

Boxing Day What?

Today is boxing day. Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries since 1871 under Queen Victoria. 

Some suggest it’s a day to box up old toys or clothes. There isn’t actually a boxing match, but it gives us the chance to take part in the post-Christmas sales and watch the World Junior ice hockey games. Plus return gifts we didn’t want or like (if you’re willing to stand in long lines). 

The holiday may date from the Middle Ages (A.D. 400-1500), but the exact origin is mysterious. A ‘Christmas Box’ in Britain is a name for a Christmas present. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants (who worked on Christmas) and the day when they received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families.

December 26th is also St. Stephen’s Day (The Feast of Stephen). St Stephen was a little known saint who achieved fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith by being stoned to death shortly after Christ’s crucifixion. As he died, he begged God not to punish his killers. He’s also named in the Christmas song Good King Wenceslas, when the Duke of Bohemia, Wenceslas I followed a peasant out to his home with food and gifts.

It was the day when the alms box (possibly brought to the UK by the Romans) or collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were traditionally opened so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day. 

What will you do today? While not giving alms or returning gifts, I am doing good by donating blood. They say it can save the lives of 3 people! It’s in you to give. Happy Boxing Day!!

What Do You Want For Christmas?

by Julie Leis
For Noah, Caitlin and Gabriel

My children ask each year the same question. After thinking about it, I decided I’d give them my real answer: What do I want for Christmas? I want you. I want you to keep coming around, I want you to bring your kids around (when you are blessed with them), I want you to ask me questions, ask my advice, tell me your problems, ask for my opinion, ask for my help. I want you to come over and rant about your problems, rant about life, whatever. Tell me about your job, your worries, your children, your fur babies. I want you to continue to share your life with me. Come over and laugh with me, or laugh at me, I don’t care.

Your laughter is music to me. Maybe we will even cry and pray together.

I spent the better part of my life raising you the best way I knew how, and they were some of the best days of my life.
All I ask is that we continue some of the journey together.

As a family, let’s take just sit back and enjoy time together. Even when it seems like we are too busy. There is nothing that I enjoy more than to have you all together…..Or even short visits or phone calls here and there. Each one of you add such joy to my life.

Raid my refrigerator, help yourself, I really don’t mind. In fact I wouldn’t want it any other way. You might have to fight past Dad first 😉.

I want you to save your money making a better life for you and your family, I have the things I need. I want to see you happy and healthy and loving Jesus with all that’s within you!

When you ask me what I want for Christmas, I say “nothing” because you’ve already been giving me my gift all year. I want you!

So Will I 100 Billion X

We were introduced to a new to us worship song at church 2 Sundays ago – So Will I 100 Billion X by Hillsong United. I didn’t know the tune, so I worshiped by focusing on the words. They are fantastic! Follow the link to listen, read and contemplate the words. What is your reaction? The red coloured emphasis is mine. These words rings so true with me. I trust you will worship.

VERSE 1
God of creation
There at the start
Before the beginning of time
With no point of reference
You spoke to the dark
And fleshed out the wonder of light

CHORUS 1
And as You speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born
In the vapour of Your breath the planets form
If the stars were made to worship so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve made
Every burning star
A signal fire of grace
If creation sings Your praises so will I

VERSE 2
God of Your promise
You don’t speak in vain
No syllable empty or void
For once You have spoken
All nature and science
Follow the sound of Your voice

CHORUS 2
And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said
If it all reveals Your nature so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You say
Every painted sky
A canvas of Your grace
If creation still obeys You so will I

BRIDGE
If the stars were made to worship so will I
If the mountains bow in reverence so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I
For if everything exists to lift You high so will I
If the wind goes where You send it so will I
If the rocks cry out in silence so will I
If the sum of all our praises still falls shy
Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times

VERSE 3
God of salvation
You chased down my heart
Through all of my failure and pride
On a hill You created
The light of the world
Abandoned in darkness to die

CHORUS 3
And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here
If You left the grave behind You so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done
Every part designed in a work of art called love
If You gladly chose surrender so will I
I can see Your heart
Eight billion different ways
Every precious one
A child You died to save
If You gave Your life to love them so will I

TAG
Like You would again a hundred billion times
But what measure could amount to Your desire
You’re the One who never leaves the one behind

Songwriters: Joel Houston / Benjamin Hastings / Michael Fatkin

A Christmas Confession

I have a “Christmas confession“. This will be hard for some of you to hear and many people won’t understand, but that’s okay. This has been a problem for some years now, at least back to my teens. I need to get this off my chest; so here goes…

I really like fruit cake!! I like it a lot. There. I said it. I’m really glad it’s out in the open. I don’t have to hide it anymore or sneak pieces from the freezer when no one knows. I mean, how could you not love the cherries and candied fruit and pecans all swirled together in batter and baked with love?

There’s light ones and dark ones. Some with nuts and glaze on top. I may like the almond icing fruit cake the best. It goes great with an evening coffee for sure. At Christmas time you can get three kinds in one box from the Shriners at the mall. Homemade ones are good too. My mom used to make it for us every year.

Now that you know, feel free to bring me your unwanted, unloved fruit cakes.

I also like shortbread cookies. Just in case you have leftovers… and raspberry pie and pecan pie and chocolate cake and… but not brownies, just so you know. 😉

Giving Tuesday 2018

This year Giving Tuesday is November 28th!! Today! Happy Giving Tuesday! 

Following the American Thanksgiving we go to Black Friday then Cyber Monday then Giving Tuesday. Take the opportunity to give this year to the ministry of Muskoka Bible Foundation. Stuff wears out, decomposes and ends up as dust, but the word of the Lord will last forever. Your gift can change someone’s life.

Giving Tuesday was created when two organizations, the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation came together in 2012, about a month before that year’s Thanksgiving. Their intention was to set aside a day that was all about celebrating the generosity of giving, a great American tradition.

DOUBLE YOUR GIVING!
We have a ‘matching donation’ challenge for you! Will you help Muskoka Bible Foundation reach its #GivingTuesday target of $50,000 in support of growing healthy Christ-centred families and transforming youth? 

We are so thankful for the mission that God has granted us to work in the lives of our guests and campers to see healthy families and transformed youth. What are you thankful for this Giving Tuesday? How are you giving this week?

Every donation given between today and Giving Tuesday, November 28th, will be matched (up to $22,000) by generous MBC/Camp Widjiitiwin supporters! Give NOW, and your gift will double its impact!

When supporting the Muskoka Bible Foundation (Muskoka Bible Centre & Camp Widjiitiwin) this Giving Tuesday, you will be supporting the individual ministries working to impact families and individuals for a healthy spiritual walk.

We are excited about what God can do when his people come together and work together for His purposes.

A Few Faithful Friends

Everyone needs a few good friends! Really good friends. Faithful friends. Friends you can count on. I have some people, besides my family, that I would go out and help at the drop of a hat or a text or phone call more likely. 

Peter heals a lame beggar in Acts 3

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”. So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Acts 3:1-5 ESV

Daily, not just once or twice, but every day this man counted on his friends to deliver him to the temple gate so he could beg for s few coins to help support himself. Every day they brought their friend to outside the city gate to beg. Their regular, persistent and consistent caring for this person led to a miracle for the lame man. Who can you count on? Who can count on you?

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:6-10 ESV

Peter addresses the crowd: 2 topics; who do you have faith in and what are you going to do about it? To have faith in someone they have to be able to help you and willing to help you. Otherwise our faith is for naught. Jesus is both. Are you? 

Check out Luke 5:18-20 where Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man; Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

And consider 2 Samuel 23:13-16, During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord.

World Adoption Day

Brothers Christmas 13November 9th was World Adoption Day! Check out   www.worldadoptionday.org

I was adopted at six months of age. I have had several discussions about the area of being adopted as a child. I have never met my birth parents, but I know some non-identifying information about them like height, hair colour, my birth father worked with his hands, etc. I have no medical history, which saves me a lot of time filling out forms. I’ve had identifying information for a few years now and I’m just reaching out now to see who I can discover. 

It feels like I have always known I was adopted. I grew up in a loving family with the same rights and chores as my brothers. I’ve been curious about my birth family since I was in college. Who do I look like was always a question. There is certainly no resentment on my part. I believe it was done with my best interest in mind. I used to tell my brothers that they just came along, but I was chosen!

Please understand that my parents are Dave & Joan Greenfield and my brothers are Tom, Mark & Chris. That was my family growing up. Plus grandparents Thomas Ernest & Annie Greenfield , Cyril & Viola Copeland plus aunts, uncles and many cousins! 

It is similar with God’s family once we accept Christ as Saviour and Lord and become a child of God. We become the sons and daughters of God through faith and are entitled to the full rights and benefits of sons. I believe I have a unique situation to more fully understand the inclusion we have into God’s family.

Romans 8:13-29
v.14 – sons of God
v.15 – spirit of sonship; ABBA Father – Daddy (a term of intimate endearment, not to be taken flippantly)
v.16 – God’s creation
v.17 – children = heirs; heirs of God; co-heirs with Christ – what do you think Christ’s inheritance would be? We were made spiritual billionaires.
v.21 – children of God
v.23 – first fruits of the Spirit; adoption as sons
Romans 9:4 – adoption as sons

Galatians 3:26-4:7
v.26 – sons of God through faith
v.29 – Abraham’s seed; heirs
v.5 – full rights as sons
v.6 – sons – ABBA Father
v.7 – son = heir

Ephesians 3:6 – gentiles and Jews are heirs together in the promise of Jesus Christ
Titus 3:7 – heirs having the hope of eternal life
1 Peter 3:7 – wives – heirs with you of the gracious gift of life
Hebrews 11:8-10 – Israel & Jacob heirs with Him

Full Rights & Responsibilities of a son

  • Love
  • Acceptance
  • Privileges
  • Equal footing
  • Discipline
  • Responsibilities
  • Chores
  • Inheritance
  • Equal share
  • Property
  • Possessions

INHERITANCE
An inheritance is something that a person comes into possession of because of his relationship with another. It is not something that is earned; it is a gift.

The believer’s inheritance includes life itself. By receiving Christ as Saviour, the believer inherits eternal life.

The inheritance of the believer also includes everything he needs for his life. The believer is actually a citizen of heaven who is on a pilgrim journey on earth. However, God has made all spiritual blessings available to the believer.

The moment one receives Christ as Saviour he is placed as a mature son into the family of God and becomes an heir of an inheritance that is beyond human comprehension.

We are to let Christ reign in our lives now, but our full spiritual inheritance includes being with Christ and reigning with Him throughout eternity.

“And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:4.

We are Jesus’ inheritance and it is glorious!! Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”

GOD’S FAMILY
Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God. [Westminster Shorter Catechism]

Romans 8:37-39 – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That’s the love of our new family!

We MUST Remember

This week we celebrate Remembrance Day to remember the men and women who served or died to buy our freedom here in Canada and those who are still serving.

Why Remember? If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada.

  • In the same way, we were bought with a price by Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:20.
  • For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
  • He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25

Our freedom is not free! Too many brave men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives to earn us our freedom. Remembrance Day isn’t just about war and those we’ve lost, but about ideals and what we stand for. It’s about respecting our past and looking hopefully forward, and more than anything, thanking those who have served.

Buy a poppy an wear it proudly to remember the many men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for us!