April Connexion

Page 8

April 2012

EXTRAORDINARY by John Bevere Isn't it true that we long to see the extraordinary , experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp.

Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God-inspired longing... for the extraordinary.

Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were "meant for more," extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment.

Isn't it time to pursue your extraordinary life?

RIVER'S SONG by Melody Carlson Sometimes when we look back, we are able to see ahead.

Following her mother's funeral, and on the verge of her own midlife crisis, widow Anna Larson returns to the home of her youth to sort out her parents' belongings, as well as her own turbulent life. For the first time since childhood, Anna embraces her native heritage, despite the disdain of her vicious mother-in-law. By transforming her old family home on the banks of Oregon's Siuslaw River into The Inn at Shining Waters, Anna hopes to create a place of healing--a place where guests experience peace, grace and new beginnings. Starting with her own family…

BEHIND THE VEILS OF YEMEN With only a prayer and a faith that always seemed too small, Audra Grace Shelby departed with her husband and children on a one-way flight to Yemen...deep into the heart of conservative Islam.

With honest and passion, she shares her harrowing journey as a Christian woman thrust into a culture dangerously different from her own. From the friendships she forged, to her gnawing doubt and fear, to her offers of hope when her new friends' religion failed them, she gives us glimpses of a world most have never seen: behind the veils of real Muslim women--and how the grace of God touches lives in the midst of an Islamic stronghold.

Audra Grace Shelby served nine years as a missionary in the Middle East alongside her husband and four children. They remain actively involved in reaching the unreached people in the Middle East and around the world.

The Externally Focused Church

Why Pray

-by Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson

“Externally focused churches do more than confront their communities – they cooperate was well. They’re quick to partner with community agencies. Open to building new relationships. They flood their neighbourhoods with practical compassion.

And through it all they carry the love of Christ.

Discover how to partner with people outside your church walls Find the balance between service and worship Shift focus from inside your church walls to outside If non-Christians aren’t asking what’s behind the excitement of your church members, it’s time to get externally focused!”

page 2

The Fruit of a Healthy Body page 3

Strengthen your Marriage by getting Your Finances in Order Page 5 cover photo courtesy of Edna Penner

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Page 2

Treasure and Applause for This Day

by Mac Dumcum

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

This is a great question that deserves a straightforward answer.

Allow me to offer some perspectives as to why the practice of prayer is important.

A Powerful Statement of Faith Out of all the ways God's people demonstrate their faith, prayer is probably the most powerful. Look at Hebrews 11:6.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ESV When God's people pray to the Lord, they are making the unabashed statement that they believe He is there and listening. Even though He cannot be discerned with the naked eye, there is the conviction in the heart that God is. Not only is a statement being made of His existence, those who pray are also demonstrating the belief that God is willing to get involved in their lives; that He cares about their dilemmas

and concerns. Though the rest of the world may call them crazy and wonder why they are wasting their time, the people of God know with a settled assurance that He is there and active.

A Partnership with God Besides being a powerful statement of faith, prayer is also a primary means of partnering with what God is doing in the earth. Wait a minute! Does God need partners? Absolutely! Let me illustrate. st

In 1 Kings 17 we see Elijah announcing to King Ahab that it would not rain again until he gave the word. However, in James 5:17 we see that he also prayed fervently that it would not rain. And it didn't for three years and six months. James 5:18 tells us that he prayed again and Heaven gave rain. This is exactly what we see him doing in 1st Kings 18 when he bowed down and put his face between his knees until a cloud appeared on the horizon and the rains came. Interesting!

This really shouldn't be a surprise. Didn't the Lord Jesus teach His followers to pray, "Your King-

dom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10)?

The Lord has always sought for those who would agree with Him for His will to come to pass in the earth. The two main ways of agreeing with God are prayer and obedience. Through prayer God's people can partner with what He is doing in other nations, in the lives of their children, even with what the Lord is doing in their own lives. This makes prayer exciting!

Armed with a wooden stake, she marches over dirt and etches Xs everywhere. He follows close behind, wielding his mini garden claw. “HaHA!! ‘X’ marks the spot!!” he bellows, and scratches furiously. They hope to discover bones.

Their random expedition is hopeful, yet without expectation.

They never once asked mom if a treasure hunt would fit within their life purpose; if it contained enough meaning or served a goal.

They just did it. … is that allowed? Can I just be too?

I watch, perched on bent Willow bough, and stillness opens my ears.

The wind rushes through leaf-less trees, imitating ocean waves.

Last year’s leaves flap on flat grass; a ceaseless applause for this day.

Can it be so simple? Is that allowed?

If everything is measured and weighed, I want to know what the scale says. I want to know how much to add or subtract.

I want to know what to choose or be or do.

So I become the Measurer instead of what is measured.

Let me be measured and shaped and simply enjoyed by my Father.

Beloved, prayer is anything but a meaningless religious exercise. It is a dynamic declaration of faith in God, and a primary means of working together with Him. If you have become discouraged with the practice, take heart! You are engaged in one of the most important activities on earth. I would like to encourage you to persevere. Pray on!

“You can follow Mac online by subscribing to his blog ‘Living in the Reign’ at http:// livinginthereign.wordpress.com/, or by following him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MacDumcum”

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

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Built For Battle

by Mike Doerksen The Promise Keepers Conference this year was packed almost wall to wall, with men of all ages in attendance. The theme this year was ‘Built for Battle’, backed by Ephesians 6:10.

The entire weekend was geared to providing Biblical wisdom and strategies to equip us, as we navigate the ever present battle that rages around us. This battle can and will encompass every aspect of our lives if we let our guard down, as satan is ever present and continually strategizing our downfall.

The war is huge, and as men, we have become passive, allowing satan to gain ground where he ought not to be. This includes church, community, government, work, and sadly our own families.

The victories satan temporarily enjoys, are the casualties that we the soldiers of God, are failing to protect.

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

Christianity is not built upon passivity, but upon faith and perseverance as modeled by the apostles

and other Godly men of history.

Our call as men, to function as men of integrity in this present war is not mundane or for a faint heart.

Rather, it is one filled with attributes that ultimately bring glory to God, and the peace knowing that we have indeed fought the good fight and through this perseverance, our loved ones are and will be safe in the arms of God in Glory Land!

Attending Promise Keepers can and will challenge us in whatever season we are in, as well as refresh our walk with Christ. I am encouraged each time I attend, in knowing that I am not alone and that there are others engaging in similar wars, and that united in Christ, and upon the Word of God, there is hope in personal trials and more so victory!

Thanks to those who were able to make it out for this recent conference. I hope you were blessed by the weekend and the fellowship we shared, and I encourage those who could not attend, to keep Promise Keepers in mind, for March 2013.

What The Young Adults Are Up To… -by Averil Penner I am excited to talk about the Young Adults group here at Christian Fellowship Church. Just a few months ago, several of us got together and decided that there needed to be a place for young adults to meet and worship the Lord together. It has really been a blessing to see how many people have come out to worship, pray, sing, learn, and serve God! Every second and fourth Saturday of the month we get together and have a study, or just a night of singing his praises! We have been blessed to have Pastor Mac lead our Bible studies.

He has so much to teach us, and we have so much to learn. Lately he has been sharing with us how to pray over each other in different situations!

The Fruit of a Healthy Body

by Gerry Rogers As we have described the four essentials for a healthy body (Church), some may be thinking, ‘Is that all?’ We are reminded of our priority as a body of believers in Ephesians 3:14 “I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep and how high HIS LOVE really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God Himself.” (The Life Application Bible).

I fully believe this is what was happening to the early believers in Acts 2. If you take note of the 4 essentials (verse 42), three of the activities are focused toward God, their devotion toward the teaching of the Word, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. These are all a direct result of their new found love for God. They no longer were worshipping God because of religious traditions or legalism. They now had an intimate love relationship with their heavenly Father.

They had been set free from the law of sin and death. They had been “called …out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” Their

priority now was to love the L o r d G o d with all their heart and all their soul and all t h e i r m i n d , (Matthew 22:38). They had been delivered from religious activity to a loving relationship with God, their Heavenly Father. True, genuine fellowship with God the Father leads to fellowship with one another. I John 1:3-7, and we have noticed in Acts 2:42 they were devoted to the fellowship, to God and to each other.

In Matthew 22:39 we are told the second commandment is like the first; love you neighbor as yourself.

We also need to take note of John 13:34 “love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.” In other words God expects His children to treat others in the same way as He has treated them.

I find it interesting that nothing yet is mentioned about evangelism, but as He loved them, and they in turn loved one another. Notice the fruit of such activity, verse 43 indicates that all those witnessing this new body of believers, (and the previous events and wonders being done

by the apostles) were filled with awe (fear).

John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”(NKJ) The next few verses are testimony to their love, and along with the ministry of the apostles, it gave authenticity to the Word of God that was being preached. Their lives had been so radically changed that others wanted what they had, what a powerful testimony. “And the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved” v 47.

When good friends visit, we should welcome and entertain them and hope they’ll call again. The same cannot be said about undesirable visitors. If we warmly welcome them into our lives it can be very difficult to get them to leave.

Entertaining visitors is similar to entertaining thoughts. We have to be very discerning about what thoughts we choose to let in. If we welcome undesirable thoughts into our mind they’ll soon become unwelcome guests. Entertaining thoughts like worry, judging, jealousy, bitterness, lust, pride and so on, only encourages them to make themselves at home. Once entrenched, it is immensely difficult to get them to leave.

Our very first meeting, we went carolling around Steinbach! It was great to get to sing to people and be a blessing during the Christmas season. We also had the opportunity to serve at an event in church a few weeks ago. We helped out at the preschool lunch and it was wonderful to be able to talk and connect with others in the church.

We have really seen a growth in the group over the last few weeks and we are continuing to pray that God will bless us and nurture us as we continue to grow. We have really high hopes for the young adults and we know that God has great plans for us.

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

God has given us a golden rule: Entertain noble, graceful and charitable thoughts, but should undesirable thoughts come knocking - best not to answer the door.

(Philippians 4:8) Courtesy of www.freechristianillustrations.com

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Page 4

that has over 200,000 miles on it, is 10 years old, and a few dings in the doors. I’ve heard image is everything when you’re a doctor, but I like not having a car payment.

Should I just get over being selfconscious about my old car?

Mario

Dear Mario,

Worry About Your Wallet, Not Your Image Dear Dave, I’m a new doctor, and I drive a car

now. So you need to get out from under all that before you start thinking about driving something fancy.

If this car is truly on its last legs, then I’d say save up for a few months then upgrade to a good, reasonably-priced, used car.

Just remember, a Mercedes or BMW doesn’t prove you’re a doctor, and it doesn’t mean you’re a good doctor, either. You just need to worry about what’s smart for you instead of what other people think!

I like not having a car note, too.

I’d walk, ride a bike, or drive your -Dave car with a great, big smile on my face before I picked up a car payment!

For more financial help please visit As a new, young doctor you’ve daveramsey.com. probably got six figures in student loans hanging over your head right

Ladies Night Out Friday, April 20th at 6:30 p.m.

Food, Games, Praise & Worship Speaker: Audrey Guenther Please bring some party food, appetizers, snacks, etc.

Looking for video material for your small group? Want to catch up on sessions you missed?

The following video series are available in the church office.

Please ask the church secretary for them and she will sign them out to you.

The videos are best used as a group and they all have workbooks that can be purchased to accompany them.

The video kits are costly and we want to be able to keep track of them, but we want them to be available to bless others in the church.

Women's Ministries Team "Living Beyond yourself" by Beth Moore "Fingerprints of God" by Jennifer Rothschild "Loving Well" by Beth Moore "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed" by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur

Flames and Racing at Awana’s Grand Prix -Kimberly Dawn Rempel

Expectant faces lined the raceway at the Awana Grand Prix on March 23rd. Uniquely carved masterpieces raced to the finish. Parents and children gathered for the event; a perfect opportunity to share God’s love. It’s not only for the kids.

Everyone heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo, and how God made them impervious to fire. If God can protect these men while inside a flaming inferno, surely He can protect us in our trials. The fiery demonstration (with extinguisher close at hand) served to illustrate the point powerfully.

Awana continues until Awards night on April 25th.

The new season will start up again in September.

Hope to see you there!

Focused On Marriage - with John Neufeld

Strengthen Your Marriage by Getting Your Finances in Order Have you ever had an argument over money issues? Some counsellors say that 43% of all married couples argue over money issues at one time or another in their marriage.

Money is like a good lubricant – it makes life run smoothly. That is if both partners are in agreement about how to earn, spend, save and invest it. If they’re not, then discussions about money can be like sand in the ointment.

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

When we help couples prepare for marriage we use a 3 sliced pie as an illustration for financial management. The slices are marked 10%, 10% and 80%. The first slice represents the tithe. That should be a nonnegotiable item on the list. The 2nd slice represents paying yourself. Put 10% of your monthly net income into a savings vehicle of some sort – TFSA, RRSP, etc. This will prepare you times when you may not have an income. The third slice is yours to do everything else –

pay the bills, buy groceries, entertain, etc.

Here’s a simple method to help keep that 80% in order. Use a simple scribbler to record your information. Before you do this though, talk about it with each other and pray together asking God to help you have right attitudes towards this process and most importantly towards each other.

Get an exact as possible figure for your monthly net income.

List all your recurring expenses such as tithe, savings, mortgage, loans, utilities, cell phones, internet, credit card payments, etc. Be sure to list all of them. Total them up.

Subtract column 2 from column 1. This is the disposable income you have for the month.

Divide that number by the number of days in the month. This is the average daily amount available to you. Record that number at the top of the page for easy reference.

Now make 4 columns on your page.

In column 1 mark the date.

In column 2 record daily expenses. Groceries, coffee, medications, clothes, movies, etc. should be recorded. For example Sobeys $24.53, McDonalds $3.50 etc. Use as many lines as you need to record your purchases in a day.

In column 3 keep a cumulative or running total.

In column 4 record your daily average. To get this number divide the number in column 3 by the day of the month. This will tell you how close you are to staying within your daily budget.

You will exceed it from time to time especially when you make larger purchases like groceries or gas for the car. When that happens it’s a signal to cut back on spending to bring the average back down again. The important thing is that you stay within the daily average amount by the time you get to the end of the month.

Don’t be alarmed if you go over this amount the first month you record your expenses this way, especially if you’ve been over spending on a regular basis. It takes time to readjust. Explore where and how you over spent, discuss how you can cut back, ask the Lord to help you with this new discipline and then try again the next month. Before long you will be on an adventure to see how far you can stay beneath the daily average.

Page 5

Page 4

that has over 200,000 miles on it, is 10 years old, and a few dings in the doors. I’ve heard image is everything when you’re a doctor, but I like not having a car payment.

Should I just get over being selfconscious about my old car?

Mario

Dear Mario,

Worry About Your Wallet, Not Your Image Dear Dave, I’m a new doctor, and I drive a car

now. So you need to get out from under all that before you start thinking about driving something fancy.

If this car is truly on its last legs, then I’d say save up for a few months then upgrade to a good, reasonably-priced, used car.

Just remember, a Mercedes or BMW doesn’t prove you’re a doctor, and it doesn’t mean you’re a good doctor, either. You just need to worry about what’s smart for you instead of what other people think!

I like not having a car note, too.

I’d walk, ride a bike, or drive your -Dave car with a great, big smile on my face before I picked up a car payment!

For more financial help please visit As a new, young doctor you’ve daveramsey.com. probably got six figures in student loans hanging over your head right

Ladies Night Out Friday, April 20th at 6:30 p.m.

Food, Games, Praise & Worship Speaker: Audrey Guenther Please bring some party food, appetizers, snacks, etc.

Looking for video material for your small group? Want to catch up on sessions you missed?

The following video series are available in the church office.

Please ask the church secretary for them and she will sign them out to you.

The videos are best used as a group and they all have workbooks that can be purchased to accompany them.

The video kits are costly and we want to be able to keep track of them, but we want them to be available to bless others in the church.

Women's Ministries Team "Living Beyond yourself" by Beth Moore "Fingerprints of God" by Jennifer Rothschild "Loving Well" by Beth Moore "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed" by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur

Flames and Racing at Awana’s Grand Prix -Kimberly Dawn Rempel

Expectant faces lined the raceway at the Awana Grand Prix on March 23rd. Uniquely carved masterpieces raced to the finish. Parents and children gathered for the event; a perfect opportunity to share God’s love. It’s not only for the kids.

Everyone heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo, and how God made them impervious to fire. If God can protect these men while inside a flaming inferno, surely He can protect us in our trials. The fiery demonstration (with extinguisher close at hand) served to illustrate the point powerfully.

Awana continues until Awards night on April 25th.

The new season will start up again in September.

Hope to see you there!

Focused On Marriage - with John Neufeld

Strengthen Your Marriage by Getting Your Finances in Order Have you ever had an argument over money issues? Some counsellors say that 43% of all married couples argue over money issues at one time or another in their marriage.

Money is like a good lubricant – it makes life run smoothly. That is if both partners are in agreement about how to earn, spend, save and invest it. If they’re not, then discussions about money can be like sand in the ointment.

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

When we help couples prepare for marriage we use a 3 sliced pie as an illustration for financial management. The slices are marked 10%, 10% and 80%. The first slice represents the tithe. That should be a nonnegotiable item on the list. The 2nd slice represents paying yourself. Put 10% of your monthly net income into a savings vehicle of some sort – TFSA, RRSP, etc. This will prepare you times when you may not have an income. The third slice is yours to do everything else –

pay the bills, buy groceries, entertain, etc.

Here’s a simple method to help keep that 80% in order. Use a simple scribbler to record your information. Before you do this though, talk about it with each other and pray together asking God to help you have right attitudes towards this process and most importantly towards each other.

Get an exact as possible figure for your monthly net income.

List all your recurring expenses such as tithe, savings, mortgage, loans, utilities, cell phones, internet, credit card payments, etc. Be sure to list all of them. Total them up.

Subtract column 2 from column 1. This is the disposable income you have for the month.

Divide that number by the number of days in the month. This is the average daily amount available to you. Record that number at the top of the page for easy reference.

Now make 4 columns on your page.

In column 1 mark the date.

In column 2 record daily expenses. Groceries, coffee, medications, clothes, movies, etc. should be recorded. For example Sobeys $24.53, McDonalds $3.50 etc. Use as many lines as you need to record your purchases in a day.

In column 3 keep a cumulative or running total.

In column 4 record your daily average. To get this number divide the number in column 3 by the day of the month. This will tell you how close you are to staying within your daily budget.

You will exceed it from time to time especially when you make larger purchases like groceries or gas for the car. When that happens it’s a signal to cut back on spending to bring the average back down again. The important thing is that you stay within the daily average amount by the time you get to the end of the month.

Don’t be alarmed if you go over this amount the first month you record your expenses this way, especially if you’ve been over spending on a regular basis. It takes time to readjust. Explore where and how you over spent, discuss how you can cut back, ask the Lord to help you with this new discipline and then try again the next month. Before long you will be on an adventure to see how far you can stay beneath the daily average.

Page 6

Page3 3 Page

Built For Battle

by Mike Doerksen The Promise Keepers Conference this year was packed almost wall to wall, with men of all ages in attendance. The theme this year was ‘Built for Battle’, backed by Ephesians 6:10.

The entire weekend was geared to providing Biblical wisdom and strategies to equip us, as we navigate the ever present battle that rages around us. This battle can and will encompass every aspect of our lives if we let our guard down, as satan is ever present and continually strategizing our downfall.

The war is huge, and as men, we have become passive, allowing satan to gain ground where he ought not to be. This includes church, community, government, work, and sadly our own families.

The victories satan temporarily enjoys, are the casualties that we the soldiers of God, are failing to protect.

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

Christianity is not built upon passivity, but upon faith and perseverance as modeled by the apostles

and other Godly men of history.

Our call as men, to function as men of integrity in this present war is not mundane or for a faint heart.

Rather, it is one filled with attributes that ultimately bring glory to God, and the peace knowing that we have indeed fought the good fight and through this perseverance, our loved ones are and will be safe in the arms of God in Glory Land!

Attending Promise Keepers can and will challenge us in whatever season we are in, as well as refresh our walk with Christ. I am encouraged each time I attend, in knowing that I am not alone and that there are others engaging in similar wars, and that united in Christ, and upon the Word of God, there is hope in personal trials and more so victory!

Thanks to those who were able to make it out for this recent conference. I hope you were blessed by the weekend and the fellowship we shared, and I encourage those who could not attend, to keep Promise Keepers in mind, for March 2013.

What The Young Adults Are Up To… -by Averil Penner I am excited to talk about the Young Adults group here at Christian Fellowship Church. Just a few months ago, several of us got together and decided that there needed to be a place for young adults to meet and worship the Lord together. It has really been a blessing to see how many people have come out to worship, pray, sing, learn, and serve God! Every second and fourth Saturday of the month we get together and have a study, or just a night of singing his praises! We have been blessed to have Pastor Mac lead our Bible studies.

He has so much to teach us, and we have so much to learn. Lately he has been sharing with us how to pray over each other in different situations!

The Fruit of a Healthy Body

by Gerry Rogers As we have described the four essentials for a healthy body (Church), some may be thinking, ‘Is that all?’ We are reminded of our priority as a body of believers in Ephesians 3:14 “I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep and how high HIS LOVE really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God Himself.” (The Life Application Bible).

I fully believe this is what was happening to the early believers in Acts 2. If you take note of the 4 essentials (verse 42), three of the activities are focused toward God, their devotion toward the teaching of the Word, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. These are all a direct result of their new found love for God. They no longer were worshipping God because of religious traditions or legalism. They now had an intimate love relationship with their heavenly Father.

They had been set free from the law of sin and death. They had been “called …out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” Their

priority now was to love the L o r d G o d with all their heart and all their soul and all t h e i r m i n d , (Matthew 22:38). They had been delivered from religious activity to a loving relationship with God, their Heavenly Father. True, genuine fellowship with God the Father leads to fellowship with one another. I John 1:3-7, and we have noticed in Acts 2:42 they were devoted to the fellowship, to God and to each other.

In Matthew 22:39 we are told the second commandment is like the first; love you neighbor as yourself.

We also need to take note of John 13:34 “love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.” In other words God expects His children to treat others in the same way as He has treated them.

I find it interesting that nothing yet is mentioned about evangelism, but as He loved them, and they in turn loved one another. Notice the fruit of such activity, verse 43 indicates that all those witnessing this new body of believers, (and the previous events and wonders being done

by the apostles) were filled with awe (fear).

John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”(NKJ) The next few verses are testimony to their love, and along with the ministry of the apostles, it gave authenticity to the Word of God that was being preached. Their lives had been so radically changed that others wanted what they had, what a powerful testimony. “And the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved” v 47.

When good friends visit, we should welcome and entertain them and hope they’ll call again. The same cannot be said about undesirable visitors. If we warmly welcome them into our lives it can be very difficult to get them to leave.

Entertaining visitors is similar to entertaining thoughts. We have to be very discerning about what thoughts we choose to let in. If we welcome undesirable thoughts into our mind they’ll soon become unwelcome guests. Entertaining thoughts like worry, judging, jealousy, bitterness, lust, pride and so on, only encourages them to make themselves at home. Once entrenched, it is immensely difficult to get them to leave.

Our very first meeting, we went carolling around Steinbach! It was great to get to sing to people and be a blessing during the Christmas season. We also had the opportunity to serve at an event in church a few weeks ago. We helped out at the preschool lunch and it was wonderful to be able to talk and connect with others in the church.

We have really seen a growth in the group over the last few weeks and we are continuing to pray that God will bless us and nurture us as we continue to grow. We have really high hopes for the young adults and we know that God has great plans for us.

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

God has given us a golden rule: Entertain noble, graceful and charitable thoughts, but should undesirable thoughts come knocking - best not to answer the door.

(Philippians 4:8) Courtesy of www.freechristianillustrations.com

Page 7

Page 2

Treasure and Applause for This Day

by Mac Dumcum

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

This is a great question that deserves a straightforward answer.

Allow me to offer some perspectives as to why the practice of prayer is important.

A Powerful Statement of Faith Out of all the ways God's people demonstrate their faith, prayer is probably the most powerful. Look at Hebrews 11:6.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ESV When God's people pray to the Lord, they are making the unabashed statement that they believe He is there and listening. Even though He cannot be discerned with the naked eye, there is the conviction in the heart that God is. Not only is a statement being made of His existence, those who pray are also demonstrating the belief that God is willing to get involved in their lives; that He cares about their dilemmas

and concerns. Though the rest of the world may call them crazy and wonder why they are wasting their time, the people of God know with a settled assurance that He is there and active.

A Partnership with God Besides being a powerful statement of faith, prayer is also a primary means of partnering with what God is doing in the earth. Wait a minute! Does God need partners? Absolutely! Let me illustrate. st

In 1 Kings 17 we see Elijah announcing to King Ahab that it would not rain again until he gave the word. However, in James 5:17 we see that he also prayed fervently that it would not rain. And it didn't for three years and six months. James 5:18 tells us that he prayed again and Heaven gave rain. This is exactly what we see him doing in 1st Kings 18 when he bowed down and put his face between his knees until a cloud appeared on the horizon and the rains came. Interesting!

This really shouldn't be a surprise. Didn't the Lord Jesus teach His followers to pray, "Your King-

dom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10)?

The Lord has always sought for those who would agree with Him for His will to come to pass in the earth. The two main ways of agreeing with God are prayer and obedience. Through prayer God's people can partner with what He is doing in other nations, in the lives of their children, even with what the Lord is doing in their own lives. This makes prayer exciting!

Armed with a wooden stake, she marches over dirt and etches Xs everywhere. He follows close behind, wielding his mini garden claw. “HaHA!! ‘X’ marks the spot!!” he bellows, and scratches furiously. They hope to discover bones.

Their random expedition is hopeful, yet without expectation.

They never once asked mom if a treasure hunt would fit within their life purpose; if it contained enough meaning or served a goal.

They just did it. … is that allowed? Can I just be too?

I watch, perched on bent Willow bough, and stillness opens my ears.

The wind rushes through leaf-less trees, imitating ocean waves.

Last year’s leaves flap on flat grass; a ceaseless applause for this day.

Can it be so simple? Is that allowed?

If everything is measured and weighed, I want to know what the scale says. I want to know how much to add or subtract.

I want to know what to choose or be or do.

So I become the Measurer instead of what is measured.

Let me be measured and shaped and simply enjoyed by my Father.

Beloved, prayer is anything but a meaningless religious exercise. It is a dynamic declaration of faith in God, and a primary means of working together with Him. If you have become discouraged with the practice, take heart! You are engaged in one of the most important activities on earth. I would like to encourage you to persevere. Pray on!

“You can follow Mac online by subscribing to his blog ‘Living in the Reign’ at http:// livinginthereign.wordpress.com/, or by following him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MacDumcum”

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

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April 2012

EXTRAORDINARY by John Bevere Isn't it true that we long to see the extraordinary , experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp.

Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God-inspired longing... for the extraordinary.

Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were "meant for more," extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment.

Isn't it time to pursue your extraordinary life?

RIVER'S SONG by Melody Carlson Sometimes when we look back, we are able to see ahead.

Following her mother's funeral, and on the verge of her own midlife crisis, widow Anna Larson returns to the home of her youth to sort out her parents' belongings, as well as her own turbulent life. For the first time since childhood, Anna embraces her native heritage, despite the disdain of her vicious mother-in-law. By transforming her old family home on the banks of Oregon's Siuslaw River into The Inn at Shining Waters, Anna hopes to create a place of healing--a place where guests experience peace, grace and new beginnings. Starting with her own family…

BEHIND THE VEILS OF YEMEN With only a prayer and a faith that always seemed too small, Audra Grace Shelby departed with her husband and children on a one-way flight to Yemen...deep into the heart of conservative Islam.

With honest and passion, she shares her harrowing journey as a Christian woman thrust into a culture dangerously different from her own. From the friendships she forged, to her gnawing doubt and fear, to her offers of hope when her new friends' religion failed them, she gives us glimpses of a world most have never seen: behind the veils of real Muslim women--and how the grace of God touches lives in the midst of an Islamic stronghold.

Audra Grace Shelby served nine years as a missionary in the Middle East alongside her husband and four children. They remain actively involved in reaching the unreached people in the Middle East and around the world.

The Externally Focused Church

Why Pray

-by Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson

“Externally focused churches do more than confront their communities – they cooperate was well. They’re quick to partner with community agencies. Open to building new relationships. They flood their neighbourhoods with practical compassion.

And through it all they carry the love of Christ.

Discover how to partner with people outside your church walls Find the balance between service and worship Shift focus from inside your church walls to outside If non-Christians aren’t asking what’s behind the excitement of your church members, it’s time to get externally focused!”

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The Fruit of a Healthy Body page 3

Strengthen your Marriage by getting Your Finances in Order Page 5 cover photo courtesy of Edna Penner