http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916 This devotional guide is designed to help you in your walk with God. The goal of each day's reading is for you to communicate with God; to hear from Him through His Word, and to respond in prayer. In order to meet this goal, I encourage you to keep a daily journal of your time with God. I have found it helpful to use the following four categories when I journal... Scripture: Write out a verse or verses that especially spoke to you. Observation: Briefly write down the truth that is expressed in the verse. Application: Reflect on how the truth of this verse can be lived out in your life. Record these reflections. The thoughts expressed by the pastoral staff each day can help you in your observation and application. Prayer: Write out a prayer of response to God. Thank Him for the truth He has shown you. Ask for His wisdom and strength as you seek to apply this truth. May God bless you as you journey with Him through His Word. Pastor Lyle AdvancedMinistry Psalm 95 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.5 The sea is his, for he made it,and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our Godand we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,8 “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested me;they tried me, though they had seen what I did.10 For forty years I was angry with that generation;I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger,‘They shall never enter my rest.’” Today, Junior Figuereido will bring the message in our services.  Apply What did God say to you through this message? Journal your thoughts on this passage.  Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for all who will be involved in our 3 services today. Pray for Daunavan Buyer, our 3rd Service Intern. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo. Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. Pray for the ministry of Missions Fest. Pray for Elsie Lewandowski as she serves in Cameroon as a teacher to missionary children. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34233 34233 Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Judges 1 Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites 1 After the deathof Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up firstto fight against the Canaanites?” 2 The Lord answered, “Judahshall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” 3 The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeoniteswent with them. 4 When Judah attacked, the Lord gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. 5 It was there that they found Adoni-Bezek and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites and Perizzites. 6 Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7 Then Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me backfor what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem,and he died there. 8 The men of Judah attacked Jerusalemalso and took it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire. 9 After that, Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev and the western foothills. 10 They advanced against the Canaanites living in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba ) and defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. 11 From there they advanced against the people living in Debir(formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 12 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 13 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage. 14 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” 15 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. 16 The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms with the people of Judah to live among the inhabitants of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad. 17 Then the men of Judah went with the Simeonites their fellow Israelites and attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they totally destroyed the city. Therefore it was called Hormah. 18 Judah also took Gaza, Ashkelonand Ekron—each city with its territory. 19 The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron. 20 As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak. 21 The Benjamites, however, did not drive outthe Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem;to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites. 22 Now the tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23 When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz), 24 the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Show us how to get into the city and we will see that you are treated well. ” 25 So he showed them, and they put the city to the sword but spared the man and his whole family. 26 He then went to the land of the Hittites,where he built a city and called it Luz,which is its name to this day. 27 But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. 28 When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. 29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. 30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. 31 Nor did Asher drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob. 32 The Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land because they did not drive them out. 33 Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath ; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. 34 The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. 35 And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the tribes of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor. 36 The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Passto Selaand beyond. Reflect Today we begin our reading of Judges, a book of the Bible that offers a sad commentary on living outside of God’s direction.  A cycle that repeats itself throughout the book traces how the people of Israel disobeyed, fell under God’s judgment and then were saved and restored when they called out to God, only to once again disobey.  Even in the first chapter, we see how they failed to drive out the original inhabitants of the land, even though God clearly told them to do so (Deut. 9:3-5).  In verse 28, we get one of the reasons they failed to drive them out when we’re told they chose to take these people as slaves rather than send them on their way. Ultimately this choice of economic advantage over godly obedience proved costly as the people of Israel continued to be surrounded by the idols of the original inhabitants of the land and would eventually practice idolatry.  God has good reasons for giving us His commands and we can be sure that disobedience to these gracious commands will lead to negative consequences. Pastor Lyle Apply Are there any areas in your life where you are knowingly disobeying God’s direction?  If so, confess this and ask God for deeper understanding of the gracious love and truth behind this command that you might increasingly obey from the inside out.  Pray Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend. Pray for the nation of Canada. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to the churches in our land. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to Edmonton.  Pray that God would be at work in all the churches in our city this weekend. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34231 34231 Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 24:28-33 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance. Buried in the Promised Land 29 After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 30 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 31 Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elderswho outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel. 32 And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants. 33 And Eleazar son of Aarondied and was buried at Gibeah,which had been allotted to his son Phinehasin the hill countryof Ephraim. Reflect “After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.  And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.”   A simple line, "the servant of the Lord", coupled with the description that Joshua lived to the age of 110 years is quite impressive.  He had been faithful to the calling that God put upon him. Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land and established each of the tribes into their areas of Israel.  He was faithful.  He was the "servant of the Lord."  What better description to have of you as you come to the end of your life and people think of you!  As we consider our lives, what will people say about us? What will they say about you? Pastor Blain  Pray Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministry pastors. Pray for our Student Ministry Intern, Dave Schneider. Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening, & for the directors, David & Kathy Gottlob. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Alan and Hilda Faszer, working with orphanages in India.   Pray for Leigh Labrecque and his family, serving overseas with Wycliffe. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34230 34230 Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 24:1-27 The Covenant Renewed at Shechem 24 Then Joshua assembledall the tribes of Israel at Shechem.He summonedthe elders,leaders, judges and officials of Israel,and they presented themselves before God. 2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.I assigned the hill country of Seirto Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt. 5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they criedto the Lord for help, and he put darknessbetween you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them.You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians.Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time. 8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed youagain and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a landon which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’ 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove outbefore us all the nations,including the Amorites, who lived in the land.We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.” 19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lordand serve foreign gods, he will turnand bring disasteron you and make an end of you,after he has been good to you.” 21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.” 22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnessesagainst yourselves that you have chosento serve the Lord.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied. 23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign godsthat are among you and yield your heartsto the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recordedthese things in the Book of the Law of God.Then he took a large stoneand set it up there under the oaknear the holy place of the Lord. 27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stonewill be a witnessagainst us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrueto your God.” Reflect The evidence is clear.  Look at what God has done.  He sought Abraham, brought him out of idolatry and made him the beginnings of His people. God led and protected His people across the generations and desert wanderings. God fought the peoples across the Jordan and gave them a land they didn’t have to build.  And much like the people of Israel the choice is now ours. Will we doubt or discount that evidence?  Will we live out that choice to serve?  God continues to call us to step forward. Serve Him wholeheartedly and say no to any false gods; He alone is faithful. Pastor Christine Apply What evidence has God placed in your history of His action and love on your behalf?  Can you recount some of it today?  Where do you shrink back from belief and action?  How are you choosing whom you will serve today?   Pray Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Children’s Ministry Interns, Marina Edlund, Lyndi Blackwell, Arvind Azariah and Anna Tuininga. Pray for the ministry of Renaissance Community Church. Pray for Laura Werner as she serves with Young Life in Ft. McMurray. Pray for Jim Hall and the House of Prayer in Edmonton. Pray for the North American Baptist Missionary of the Week, Calvin & Susanne Hohn, in Cameroon. Pray for the encouraging visit and ministry of the Dojohn family, our home church pastor and family from Kelowna. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34228 34228 Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 23 Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders 23 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man, 2 summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials —and said to them: “I am very old. 3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will push them outfor your sake. He will drive them outbefore you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you. 6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lordyour God, as you have until now. 9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very carefulto love the Lordyour God. 12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive outthese nations before you. Instead, they will become snaresand traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes,until you perish from this good land,which the Lord your God has given you. 14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. 15 But just as all the good things the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. 16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.” Reflect Remaining separate (holy) from the other nations was critical in the survival of Israel. Unfortunately, Joshua’s warning was not heeded by future generations so Israel not only fell from God but also from their promised land.  The same holds true for us today; we must be set apart from the culture around us. Canada was once a very Christian nation but that is not the case anymore. We live in a secular country.  It is becoming more and more apparent that as a church we need to be different from the culture around us.  In what way has Canadian culture affected the way you live?  Is being a Canadian affecting your walk with God?  What are the things in our culture that we need to be wary of accepting?  What does it look like to be a Christian Canadian and how are you different from a secular Canadian?  Stephen Epp Pray Pray for Pastor Sam and his family. Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood. Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches. Pray for the Pastoral Staff as they meet this morning. Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.  Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church. Pray for Prime Minister Harper, Premier Redford, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34226 34226 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 22 Eastern Tribes Return Home 22 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2 and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3 For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. 4 Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 But be very careful to keep the commandmentand the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lordyour God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands,to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” 6 Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. 7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock,with silver, gold, bronze and iron,and a great quantity of clothing—and dividethe plunderfrom your enemies with your fellow Israelites.” 9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shilohin Canaan to return to Gilead,their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses. 10 When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shilohto go to war against them. 13 So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14 With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans. 15 When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: 16 “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 17 Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! 18 And are you now turning away from the Lord? “‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. 19 If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. 20 When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things, did not wrathcome on the whole communityof Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’” 21 Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. 23 If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings,or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account. 24 “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord. 26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witnessbetween us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings.Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’ 28 “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witnessbetween us and you.’ 29 “Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.” 30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. 31 And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us,because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.” 32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 33 They were glad to hear the report and praised God.And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived. 34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A WitnessBetween Us—that the Lord is God. Reflect “built an imposing alter there by the Jordan…the whole assembly gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them…” (v10&12). This is a very interesting story about the politics of preserving unity in a nation of sub clans. Two and a half tribes had received their inheritance of the east side of the Jordan, now they were going home and establishing their new homes. Joshua had blessed them to go and claim their property on the east side of the Jordan. The river formed a very strong natural boundary, and so there was concern that the land stay unified. When the eastern tribes built a big alter, it looked like there was a rebellion going on. It took some very careful conversation to de-escalate this tension and prevent war. We learn a lot about mediation in this chapter. We need to clearly identify the facts, talk directly to the offending party and seek a pathway that can be accepted by both parties! Pastor Sam Apply Where are you experiencing tension and conflict? How can you de-escalate this tension by a graceful conversation? Pray Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin. Pray for Pastor Neil. Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave. Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor. Pray for his family and for the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell. Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church. Pray for Paul Tan and Bonnie Nikkel as they serve with Navigators. Pray for our Daycare Staff and the Director, Kristy Thomas. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34225 34225 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 21 Towns for the Levites 21 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel 2 at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.” 3 So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance: 4 The first lot came out for the Kohathites, according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. 5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh. 6 The descendants of Gershonwere allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar,Asher,Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 7 The descendants of Merari,according to their clans, received twelvetowns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun. 8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses. 9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them): 11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron ), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession. 13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain,Juttahand Beth Shemesh,together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes. 17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathothand Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns. 19 The total number of townsfor the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands. 20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim: 21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer, 22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon,together with their pasturelands—four towns. 23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalonand Gath Rimmon,together with their pasturelands—four towns. 25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanachand Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns. 26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans. 27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan(a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns; 28 from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, Daberath, 29 Jarmuthand En Gannim,together with their pasturelands—four towns; 30 from the tribe of Asher, Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath and Rehob,together with their pasturelands—four towns; 32 from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedeshin Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns. 33 The total number of towns of the Gershoniteclans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands. 34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given: from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah and Nahalal,together with their pasturelands—four towns; 36 from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth and Mephaath,together with their pasturelands—four towns; 38 from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon and Jazer,together with their pasturelands—four towns in all. 40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve. 41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands. 42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns. 43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promisesto Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. Reflect This chapter describes the assignment of cities to the Levites, teachers of the Law. The Levites were not given specific territory, but they did need places to live and pasture for their cattle, so God assigned 48 cities and a specific amount of pasture land to them.  Common people did not own copies of the Scriptures so it was important that people who trained in, and had knowledge of the Law were close at hand to help them understand and apply the Law of Moses. Consider for a minute what the implications would have been for the Israelites if the tribe responsible for teaching the Law, later serving in the temple, etc. had been assigned a specific geographic territory. God knew what He was doing when He made specific arrangements for spiritual leadership to be scattered amongst His people. Pastor Sharon    Apply As Baptists we believe in the priesthood of all believers (Peter 2:4-10). Ask God to help you fulfil your priestly responsibility in the world in which you live.  Pray Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family, and his ministry. Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling, Jesse Boulianne and Dylan Taylor. Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Donna Collins, Robin Hellewell, Tricia Unsworth and Naomi Voss. Pray for the faculty and staff of Taylor Seminary. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34224 34224 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 11:17-44 Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrectionat the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believingin me will never die.Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah,the Son of God,who is to come into the world.” 28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her,noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind manhave kept this man from dying?” Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe,you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen,and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Today, Pastor Lyle will bring a message on this passage entitled, “A Time to Mourn,  A Time to Rejoice.”  Apply What did God say to you through this message? Journal your thoughts on this passage.  Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for our 3rd Service Intern, Daunavan Buyer. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo. Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. Pray for Sheryl Grunwald as she serves with Kidzana Children’s Ministry. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34054 34054 Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 20 Cities of Refuge 20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. 4 When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5 If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. 6 They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assemblyand until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.” 7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron ) in the hill country of Judah. 8 East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentallycould flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly. Reflect One of the attributes of God is Justice.  He is a Just God.  It is thus not at all surprising that He provided cities of refuge for those who had unintentionally killed someone.  It would not be just that these people suffered the same fate as those who intentionally took another life.  By fleeing to a city of refuge, the accused would be given protection until a fair trial could determine their true guilt or innocence.  Here we see God’s desire that people be dealt with according to truth and justice, not rash vengeance.  We also get a foreshadowing of God’s ultimate provision of refuge and mercy through Jesus, who took on Himself what we justly deserve so that we might be forgiven. Pastor Lyle   Apply To what degree do the justice and mercy that comes from God characterize your dealings with others?  Pray Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend. Pray for our Property Development Team. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Nick & Iris Hung in Nigeria. Pray for the NAB Conference in Chicago. Pray for the nation of Canada. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to Edmonton and the churches in our land. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34053 34053 Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 19 Allotment for Simeon 19 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon according to its clans. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah. 2 It included: Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen—thirteen towns and their villages; 7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan —four towns and their villages— 8 and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, according to its clans. 9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah,because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah. Allotment for Zebulun 10 The third lot came up for Zebulunaccording to its clans: The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid. 11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam. 12 It turned east from Sarid toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon and turned toward Neah. 14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. 15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal,Shimron,Idalah and Bethlehem.There were twelve towns and their villages. 16 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun,according to its clans. Allotment for Issachar 17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar according to its clans. 18 Their territory included: Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 22 The boundary touched Tabor,Shahazumah and Beth Shemesh,and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen towns and their villages. 23 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar,according to its clans. Allotment for Asher 24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its clans. 25 Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph, 26 Allammelek, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath. 27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Kabul on the left. 28 It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Akzib, 30 Ummah, Aphekand Rehob.There were twenty-two towns and their villages. 31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher,according to its clans. Allotment for Naphtali 32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali according to its clans: 33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim, passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anathand Beth Shemesh.There were nineteen towns and their villages. 39 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans. Allotment for Dan 40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its clans. 41 The territory of their inheritance included: Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa. 47 (When the territory of the Danites was lost to them,they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and namedit Dan after their ancestor.) 48 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan,according to its clans. Allotment for Joshua 49 When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, 50 as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serahin the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there. 51 These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land. Reflect The Israelites have conquered the Promised Land and some of the tribes have taken possession of their "allotted portions".  There are still some tribes of Israel who have not been given their portion and it is decided that the rest of the land will be mapped out and lots will be cast for the remaining areas.  The whole idea of casting lots is somewhat foreign to us.  Although many a playground game was often decided on "one potato - two potato", the adult world doesn't function like that any longer.  They now enter into a period when they begin to discern the will of God by fair methods.  No longer does God map out every little step of the way for them but instead points them in the right direction and lets them figure it out.  This is very similar to where we find ourselves.  Often we know the basic direction given by God for our lives.  The steps taken to get to the destination is often a journey in which we need to take each step discerning God's will.  Sometimes it will feel like “one potato - two potato; other times it will be very obvious.  That's the journey. Pastor Blain   Pray Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministries Pastors. Pray for our Youth Ministry Intern, Dave Schneider. Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening. Pray for the Canadian Bible Society and Gideons International. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Ken and Jerilyn Bayer, working with the Chain of Love Orphanage in Brazil.   http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34051 34051 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 18 Division of the Rest of the Land 18 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control, 2 but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. 3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you? 4 Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me. 5 You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north. 6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the Lord our God. 7 The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the Lord is their inheritance.And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them.” 8 As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord.” 9 So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. 10 Joshua then cast lotsfor them in Shiloh in the presenceof the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions. Allotment for Benjamin 11 The first lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin according to its clans. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph: 12 On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the wilderness of Beth Aven. 13 From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz(that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addaron the hill south of Lower Beth Horon. 14 From the hill facing Beth Horonon the south the boundary turned south along the western side and came out at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim),a town of the people of Judah. This was the western side. 15 The southern side began at the outskirts of Kiriath Jearim on the west, and the boundary came out at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel. 17 It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth, which faces the Pass of Adummim, and ran down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 18 It continued to the northern slope of Beth Arabah and on down into the Arabah. 19 It then went to the northern slope of Beth Hoglahand came out at the northern bay of the Dead Sea,at the mouth of the Jordan in the south. This was the southern boundary. 20 The Jordan formed the boundary on the eastern side. These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides. 21 The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba—twelve towns and their villages. 25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah,Haeleph, the Jebusite city(that is, Jerusalem), Gibeahand Kiriath—fourteen towns and their villages.   Reflect Joshua is working hard to help the tribes claim their inheritance.  Yet here we read that seven tribes were yet to make an effort to have their land identified. They knew they had an inheritance, but didn’t seem to care about it.  They really enjoyed their present condition, not wanting to be separated from the larger group. As I read this passage, I wondered if we are any different. We know we have an inheritance of eternal life, but to receive this inheritance, we need to claim it, to make it a part of our life, to leave the old behind and live in the new reality.  Joshua had to kick them into gear to go discover their land.  What kind of nudge do you need to pursue your inheritance in Christ Jesus?                                                       Pastor Terry                  Pray Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell. Pray for Alpha Canada. Pray for the NAB Dalit Ministry in India. Pray for the North American Baptist Missionary of the Week, Becky Lengefeld in Japan.  Continue to pray for the hurting and homeless.  http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34050 34050 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 17 17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers. 2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer,Helek, Asriel,Shechem, Hepherand Shemida.These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans. 3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. 4 They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command. 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, 6 because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh. 7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asheron the north and Issacharon the east. 11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth). 12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely. 14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.” 15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forestand clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzitesand Rephaites.” 16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron,both those in Beth Shanand its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill countryas well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with ironand though they are strong, you can drive them out.” Reflect Understanding where each tribe fit into and where they were located in the  Promised Land was important to Israel.  For a nomad nation that had no king, they needed to live in an orderly way to help them function as a nation. Understanding what part and place every tribe was supposed to go was important to ensuring order. One of our core values here at McKernan is godly order. At McKernan we have order although it looks a little different than the order of the tribes in Joshua. A New Testament picture of godly order is in 1 Cor. 12:12-31.  We are one body with many different parts and it is important that we all know what our part is and how we contribute to the functioning of the body of Jesus Christ. What part do you play in the church? Stephen Epp   Pray Pray for Pastor Sam and his family. Pray for the effectiveness of his ministries. Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood. Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches. Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.  Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church. Pray for the Prime Minister, Premier Redford, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34049 34049 Wed, 9 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 16 Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh 16 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. 2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz ), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, 3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horonand on to Gezer,ending at the Mediterranean Sea. 4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance. 5 This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon 6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. 7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8 From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites. 10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor. Reflect “so Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendents of Joseph received their inheritance…the boundary of their inheritance…” (v4&5). This reading about the boundaries may seem somewhat boring, but here is a way to think about this. If you have purchased property, you know how exciting it is to see what it looks like. I have walked with several people recently who were purchasing their first homes. It was exciting to go and see the property and get to know where the property lines were or who was next door. When you are looking at what is yours, it means a lot. We are not getting land in Israel but there is a spiritual principle in the idea of inheritance. We are all given “every spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ…”  (Eph.1:3) This is our inheritance as God’s children. It is encouraging today to think about how generous God is and all that He has provided to assist us to live lives that honour Him! Pastor Sam Apply Thank God for His spiritual blessings in our lives. The best thing for us is being His adopted child!  We belong!  Pray Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin. Pray for Pastor Neil. Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave. Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor.  Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry.     Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Richard and Lori Barcelona, pastoring in San Luis, Mexico. Pray for our Daycare in its service to children and their families this week.  Pray for the director, Kristy Thomas. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34048 34048 Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 15 Allotment for Judah 15 The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom,to the Desert of Zinin the extreme south. 2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea, 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is their southern boundary. 5 The eastern boundaryis the Dead Seaas far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 6 went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 7 The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel. 8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem ). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. 9 From the hilltop the boundary headed toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, came out at the towns of Mount Ephron and went down toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). 10 Then it curved westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Kesalon), continued down to Beth Shemesh and crossed to Timnah. 11 It went to the northern slope of Ekron,turned toward Shikkeron, passed along to Mount Baalahand reached Jabneel.The boundary ended at the sea. 12 The western boundary is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. These are the boundaries around the people of Judah by their clans. 13 In accordance with the Lord’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba , that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites —Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” 17 Othnielson of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage. 18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” 19 She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev,give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. 20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans: 21 The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negevtoward the boundary of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), 26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, 29 Baalah, Iyim, Ezem, 30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ainand Rimmon—a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages. 33 In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah, 36 Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)—fourteen towns and their villages. 37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 41 Gederoth,Beth Dagon,Naamah and Makkedah—sixteen towns and their villages. 42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah,Akziband Mareshah—nine towns and their villages. 45 Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages; 46 west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages; 47 Ashdod,its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egyptand the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. 48 In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh, 49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir ), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen,Holonand Giloh—eleven towns and their villages. 52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba(that is, Hebron) and Zior—nine towns and their villages. 55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeahand Timnah—ten towns and their villages. 58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon—six towns and their villages. 60 Kiriath Baal(that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah—two towns and their villages. 61 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi—six towns and their villages. 63 Judah could notdislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem;to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah. Reflect I do hope that you have a map that shows the division of land amongst the twelve tribes beside you as you are reading.  Otherwise, the detailed description of how land was allotted might be boring and you could miss the historical significance of what you are reading. After describing the allocation of land to Caleb, we read how land was allocated to Judah. In verse 8, the writer notes that Jerusalem was part of the land allocated to Judah.  Although Jerusalem was within the territory allotted to Judah, the conquest of Jerusalem was not complete. More about the conquest of Jerusalem is found in 2 Samuel. Pastor Sharon Apply Jerusalem is still a very important city today.  How can insight into its early history help us to understand key issues in the news today?  Pray Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and his ministry. Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Jesse Boulianne, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling and Dylan Taylor. Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Donna Collins, Robin Hellewell, Tricia Unsworth and Naomi Voss. Pray for a church plant called “The Link” in north Edmonton by Bob and Audrey Carroll. Pray for Sheldon Tibbo in his work with Campus for Christ. Pray for the Alberta Baptist Association and our Regional Minister, Jim Leverette. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=34047 34047 Mon, 7 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Preparation for Sunday Pastor Terry will be preaching this Sunday   Apply What did God say to you through this message? Journal your thoughts on this passage.   Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for all who will be involved in our 3 services today. Pray for our 3rd Service Intern, Daunavan Buyer. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo. Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. Pray for Cornerstone Counseling in Edmonton. Pray for Sheryl Grunwald as she serves with Kidzana Children’s Ministry.   http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33844 33844 Sun, 6 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 14 Division of the Land West of the Jordan 14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them. 2 Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine and a half tribes, as the Lord had commanded through Moses. 3 Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest, 4 for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds. 5 So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Allotment for Caleb 6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’ 10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakiteswere there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arbaafter Arba,who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war. Reflect What’s the longest you’ve ever waited for something?  Is there a promise that has been made to you still to be fulfilled?  Are you still waiting for it, or have you given up?  Today we read about the division of the land West of the Jordan, and Caleb asking for the land that had been promised to him 45 years previous.  45 years is a long time to wait, but Caleb did wait.  What I appreciate about Caleb’s story, is that in those 45 years while he waited, he continued to follow God “wholeheartedly”.  Sometimes when we pray and ask God for an answer, we think God is taking too long to answer.  Today we see that Caleb waited 45 years for an answer, but in the wait, he never gave up on God.      Pastor Terry    Pray Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend. Pray for Yuri Nakano, an NAB missionary we support. Pray for the Northern Canada Evangelical missionaries, Kit & Debbie Elford. Pray for the Pregnancy Care Centre. Pray for the nation of Canada. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to Edmonton and the churches in our land. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33843 33843 Sat, 5 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 13 Land Still to Be Taken When Joshua had grown old,the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. 2 “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, 3 from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites 4 on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites; 5 the area of Byblos;and all Lebanonto the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermonto Lebo Hamath. 6 “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, 7 and divide it as an inheritanceamong the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.” Division of the Land East of the Jordan 8 The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the Lord, had assignedit to them. 9 It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, 10 and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites. 11 It also included Gilead, the territory of the people of Geshur and Maakah, all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salekah — 12 that is, the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was the last of the Rephaites. ) Moses had defeated them and taken over their land. 13 But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshurand Maakah,so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day. 14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them. 15 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Reuben, according to its clans: 16 The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba 17 to Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth— 21 all the towns on the plateau and the entire realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled at Heshbon. Moses had defeated him and the Midianite chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba —princes allied with Sihon—who lived in that country. 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination. 23 The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their clans. 24 This is what Moses had given to the tribe of Gad, according to its clans: 25 The territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah; 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir; 27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkoth and Zaphon with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Galilee[b] ). 28 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the Gadites,according to their clans. 29 This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the family of the descendants of Manasseh, according to its clans: 30 The territory extending from Mahanaim and including all of Bashan, the entire realm of Og king of Bashan —all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns, 31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan).This was for the descendants of Makirson of Manasseh—for half of the sons of Makir, according to their clans. 32 This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance;the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance,as he promised them. Reflect “ 1 When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.” Guess what?  There is no retirement in our faith. No moving to Arizona and letting the young ones take the reins.  Although we can certainly share them!  The church needs those elder in both age and faith to participate and be involved just as God used Joshua in his old age. Stepping back?  Maybe this is the time that you should be stepping forward.  Pastor Blain  Pray Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministry Pastors. Pray for our Student Ministry Intern, Dave Schneider. Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening. Pray for an NAB mission we support, Making Disciples In Russia. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Ken and Jerilyn Bayer, working with the Chain of Love Orphanage in Brazil. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33841 33841 Fri, 4 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 12 List of Defeated Kings 12 These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. 3 He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah. 4 And the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaites, who reigned in Ashtarothand Edrei. 5 He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, all of Bashanto the border of the people of Geshurand Maakah,and half of Gileadto the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession. 7 Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. 8 The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These were the kings: 9 the king of Jericho one the king of Ai(near Bethel) one 10 the king of Jerusalem one the king of Hebron one 11 the king of Jarmuth one the king of Lachish one 12 the king of Eglon one the king of Gezer one 13 the king of Debir one the king of Geder one 14 the king of Hormah one the king of Arad one 15 the king of Libnah one the king of Adullam one 16 the king of Makkedah one the king of Bethel one 17 the king of Tappuah one the king of Hepher one 18 the king of Aphek one the king of Lasharon one 19 the king of Madon one the king of Hazor one 20 the king of Shimron Meron one the king of Akshaph one 21 the king of Taanach one the king of Megiddo one 22 the king of Kedesh one the king of Jokneamin Carmel one 23 the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor) one the king of Goyim in Gilgal one 24 the king of Tirzah one thirty-one kings in all. Reflect I think sometimes it’s easy to get lost in a passage like this where there are lists of kings that Israel defeated.  But there are some important spiritual truths that we would miss.  God is righteous, and these defeated Canaanite peoples had opportunity to repent, or surrender and did not.  They kept their wicked practices and also kept coming against Israel in battle.  They were a people far from God.  God also keeps his promises to His people Israel, and when they went to battle He stood and battled for them.  He is the God who can defeat giants.  He is sufficient! Pastor Christine Apply Do you think we take for granted the truth of God’s judgment?  How responsive are we to God’s calls for our repentance? Today, what areas of your life do you need to cling to the truth of His sufficiency for you?    Pray Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis, Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Children’s Ministry Interns, Marina Edlund, Lyndi Blackwell, Arvind Azariah and Anna Tuininga. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell. Pray for six units affiliated with NAB service in security sensitive regions of the world. Pray for wisdom in conversations and relationships, and protection in travel. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33839 33839 Thu, 3 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 11 Northern Kings Defeated 11 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, 2 and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; 3 to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. 4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forcesand made camp together at the Waters of Meromto fight against Israel. 6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will handall of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstringtheir horses and burn their chariots.” 7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8 and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. 9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. 10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) 11 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them,not sparing anyone that breathed,and he burnedHazor itself. 12 Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14 The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses. 16 So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19 Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 For it was the Lord himself who hardened their heartsto wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza,Gathand Ashdoddid any survive. 23 So Joshua took the entire land,just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritanceto Israel according to their tribal divisions.Then the land had restfrom war. Reflect My favorite part of this chapter is the very end, “Then the land had rest from war”.   Joshua fulfilled what God commanded. He worked hard capturing the Promised Land and then rested. Even in resting he was fulfilling God’s command for Israel to rest.  Our God is a God who gives rest to the weary and Israel needed rest. Do you need rest?  When did you last rest, and I don’t mean just took a nap but really time rested from the fast pace of our society? Working hard is important, Israel had just finished one of Israel’s most successful military campaigns but then they needed rest.  What does taking God’s command to rest mean to you? Read Deut 5:12-15. Stephen Epp   Pray Pray for Pastor Sam, and his family. Pray for the effectiveness of his ministries. Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood. Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches. Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.  Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church. Pray for the Prime Minister, Premier Redford, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33838 33838 Wed, 2 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 10:29-43 29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30 The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. 31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezerhad come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left. 34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish. 36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyonein it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it. 38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. 39 They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron. 40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, foughtfor Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal. Reflect “All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel…” (v42). What are you fighting for? What dreams are you pursuing? Is there a cause bigger than yourself that you are working toward? We are looking at the narrative of Joshua fighting for the land that had been promised to Israel. Centuries earlier God had promised Abraham this very land! Now God is making into reality what he had revealed to his servant Abraham some 600 years earlier. But the Promised Land needed to be conquered; there was the human part of obedience by the people of God to bring to reality what God had promised. There are many general promises that God has for every one of us. Things like the promise of peace, guidance, provision. First, it is encouraging to remember that God has promised these things. Then we need to faithfully do our part to step into and make into reality what God has promised. Pastor Sam Apply What promise do you need to remember today? What steps can you take to “fight” for the things that have been promised?   Pray Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin. Pray for Pastor Neil.  Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave. Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor.  Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Richard and Lori Barcelona, pastoring in San Luis, Mexico. Pray for our Daycare in its service to children and their families this week.  Pray for the director, Kristy Thomas. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33837 33837 Tue, 1 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 10:16-28 Five Amorite Kings Killed 16 Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” 20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites. 22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kingsto Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feeton the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feeton their necks. 25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” 26 Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening. 27 At sunsetJoshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day. Southern Cities Conquered 28 That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho. Reflect We might find Joshua’s action in this passage rather graphic, but he wanted his army to be encouraged and strengthened.  God had just sustained them through an incredible battle so verse 25 must have been a real encouragement to them. The Lord God leading them WAS who He said He was! When they walked in obedience they were victorious over the enemy! Pastor Sharon   Apply What enemies (temptations/trials) are you facing? In what situations do you need to be ’strong and courageous’? Do you really believe that God will give you victory over all the challenges you experience in life?  Pray Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and his ministry. Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Jesse Boulianne, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling and Dylan Taylor. Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Donna Collins, Robin Hellewell, Tricia Unsworth and Naomi Voss. Pray for Sheldon Tibbo in his work with Campus for Christ. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33836 33836 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Matthew 18:15-20 15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Today, Pastor Lyle will continue his short series of messages entitled, “In Step with the Spirit …in the Midst of Conflict.”   Apply What did God say to you through this sermon? Journal your thoughts on this passage.  Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for all who will be involved in our 3 services today.  Pray for our 3rd Service Intern, Daunavan Buyer. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell. Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33652 33652 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 10:1-15 The Sun Stands Still 1 Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. 4“Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” 5Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. 6The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.” 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” 9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. 12On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself onits enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! 15Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal. Reflect As someone who grew up going to Sunday School, I learned this as simply the story of how God made the sun stand still.  I have since come to appreciate that there is a lot more going on here. The story starts with an alliance against God and His purposes.  Five kings got together to try and stop what God was doing.  Throughout history, both supernatural and natural forces have tried to thwart the purposes of God.  The truth of this story shows how impossible this is.  God showed His sovereign hand by intervening in nature to send hail and make the day last longer.  Truly, God is able to ensure His purposes will prevail.  So, whatever you face today, you can be assured that God is still on the throne of history and that what He wants to have happen in our lives and our world will ultimately occur! Pastor Lyle   Apply Are there areas where your life seems confusing and chaotic?  Ask God to work His purposes through whatever you are facing. Are there areas of your life not surrendered to God’s greater purposes?  Take some time to submit these areas to God.   Pray Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend.  Pray for the city of Edmonton.  Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to this city.  Pray for the ministry of Central Baptist Church. Pray for Randy & Shelly Schmor serving with NAB Gateway Teams. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33651 33651 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 9 The Gibeonite Deception 1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— 2they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. 3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.” 7The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?” 8“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?” 9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.” 14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. 15Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. 16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” 21They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept. 22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? 23You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” 24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.” 26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day. Reflect  “14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.”  Something is fishy about these travellers. Joshua suspects something is up with them but chooses to ignore his hunch. Many decisions in our lives are life impacting, yet we choose not to let God be a part of them. Things can go sideways when we do this and we often wonder "why"?  What do you need to seek God's guidance in today? Pastor Blain     Pray Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministries Pastors. Pray for our Student Ministry Interns, Dave Schneider , Calvin Elias and Stephen Epp. Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, David & Annette Faszer, working with orphanages in India. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33650 33650 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 8:30-35 The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal 30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. 32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses. 33All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel. 34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. 35There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them. Reflect Time to stop, reflect and remember.  Three things we are not really wired to do in this day and age.  Today’s passage is all about remembering where the Israelites had come from, who they were, and what God had promised them – both the blessings and the curses.  The Promised Land was being conquered and the temptation to see this as being done in their own strength was very real. But by stopping and reflecting back to see where they had come from, and how God had carried them, they were working toward avoiding this temptation.  How about you?  When is the last time you stopped and looked back at where you have come from, and what God has carried you through?  Have you reflected recently on the promises God has given you?  Why not take time today?              Pastor Terry    Pray Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for Camp Caroline, our ABA retreat centre. Pray for the ministry of Renaissance Community Church. Pray for the North American Baptist Missionary of the Week, Carol Potratz, in Japan.  Pray for the Japan Baptist Conference and their leaders. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33649 33649 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 8:1-29 Ai Destroyed 1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.” 3 So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: “Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. 5 I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. 6 They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So when we flee from them, 7 you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The LORD your God will give it into your hand. 8When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded. See to it; you have my orders.” 9Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people. 10 Early the next morning Joshua mustered his army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai. 11 The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city. 12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13So the soldiers took up their positions—with the main camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley. 14 When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set against him behind the city. 15 Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. 16 All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. 17Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel. 18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand. 19As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire. 20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising up into the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction; the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the wilderness had turned back against their pursuers. 21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from it, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. 22 Those in the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives. 23But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. 24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. 25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai. 27But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the LORD had instructed Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. 29He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day. Reflect Last Wednesday I talked about how if we look to the Holy Spirit He will guide us through foreign lands.  This week Joshua and Israel are not only following God, but also acting and fulfilling what it means to follow God.  Last week Israel was told to just “follow the Ark”.  This week God is asking them to act by “setting an ambush and attacking Ai and destroying them“.   Similarly in our walk with God when we first come to Christ, God asks us to just follow Jesus.  As we mature in our faith following Jesus turns into things we act on and do.  For instance “loving your neighbour”, “serving those who are in need”, “caring for those around you” are ways we can act out following Jesus.   How does following Jesus in your life turn into the action of following Jesus?  What is God calling you to do? Stephen Epp Pray Pray for Pastor Sam and his family. Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood. Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches. Pray for the Pastoral Staff as they meet this morning. Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.  Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church. Pray for the Prime Minister, the Premier, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33648 33648 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 7Achan’s Sin 1 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel. 2Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?” 10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 13“Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. 14 “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the LORD chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the LORD chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the LORD chooses shall come forward man by man. 15Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’” 16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen. 19Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels,I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. 24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achorever since. Reflect “The Lord said, ‘Israel has sinned, they have violated my covenant’…Achan replied, ‘It is true I have sinned against the Lord’…” (v11,20). This is a very familiar story of how Achan’s sin of coveting and taking forbidden things cost the community dearly. I see something very interesting in this narrative. When God speaks to Joshua about this He speaks as though the community is responsible. He says “Israel has sinned…”. So what does this mean? Because of this individual behaviour the community was defeated in battle. What we do as individuals impacts the people around us. When we sin it is not only ourselves that we hurt, we also hurt those we are in relationship with. This gives added motivation to resist the temptations that come our way. There really are significant consequences when we sin. Achan thought this was done in secret but the result was a very public loss of his life and a public defeat for Israel. Pastor Sam Apply Take some time and ask God to search your heart to see if there is any sin that needs to be brought to the light. Claim God’s forgiveness and move ahead, assured that you are blessed. Pray Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin. Pray for Pastor Neil.  Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave. Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor, currently on sabbatical leave.  Pray for his family and for the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church. Pray for Kristy Thomas, our Daycare Director, and pray for all the staff. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33647 33647 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 6:12-27 12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the LORD and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. 15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.” 20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 21They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. 22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. 24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house. 25But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. 26At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.” 27So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land. Reflect Had Joshua considered God’s commands as simply ‘guidelines’ or ‘ideas to be taken into consideration’, the Israelites could have marched around Jericho as long as they wanted and shouted as loud as their voices would let them and nothing would have happened. The fall of Jericho was an act of faith, not the result of good planning by Joshua. I am sure that some Israelites were anxious to claim their inheritance and get on with life. Taking a whole week to destroy Jericho might have seemed like a waste of time to them. However, patience is a virtue that the Israelites needed to learn and God is never in a hurry! Pastor Sharon  Apply Are you waiting on the Lord for direction in your life? Are you praying for God’s will to be done as we choose our new provincial leaders today?   Pray Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and his ministry. Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. Pray for our Bookkeeper, Lynette Carlson. Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Jesse Boulianne, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling and Dylan Taylor. Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Robin Hellewell, Donna Collins, Tricia Unsworth and Naomi Voss. Pray for a church plant called “The Link” started in north Edmonton by Bob and Audrey Caroll. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33646 33646 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Ephesians 4:14-28 New International Version (NIV) 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Instructions for Christian Living 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Today, Pastor Lyle will begin a short series of messages entitled, “In Step with the Spirit …in the Midst of Conflict.”  Apply What did God say to you through this message? Journal your thoughts on this passage.  Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for all who will be involved in our 3 services today. Pray for Daunavan Buyer, our 3rd Service Intern. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo. Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. Pray for the ministry of Missions Fest. Pray for Elsie Lewandowski as she serves in Cameroon as a teacher to missionary children. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33516 33516 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 5:13-6:11 The Fall of Jericho 13Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lordhave for his servant?” 15The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 6 1Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” 6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” 7And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the LORD.” 8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. 9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there. Reflect The story of Jericho is quite a familiar Bible story.  Its familiarity may cause us to forget how odd the story is.  God really did prescribe a strange battle strategy for Joshua to follow.  In light of this, I find Joshua’s response (6:6) quite challenging.  Rather than question this unusual game plan or at least push for some sign or clarification, Joshua simply instructed the people of Israel to follow through on God’s request.  After clearly hearing God, Joshua simply followed.  How unlike so many of our responses!  God addresses issues around our finances, calling us to be generous.  He challenges our sexuality, calling us to purity.  He challenges our relationships, calling us to selflessness, loving truth and forgiveness.  While these things may sound odd within our culture, Biblically they are quite clear.  So, do we follow as Joshua did, or start bargaining and making excuses? Pastor Lyle Apply Are there areas in your life where you are hesitating to follow what you know is God’s clear direction?  If so, ask for the strength and resolve of Joshua that you might follow through.   Pray Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend. Pray for the nation of Canada. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to the churches in our land. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to Edmonton.  Pray that God would be at work in all the churches in our city this weekend. Pray for Leigh Labrecque and his family, serving overseas with Wycliffe. Pray for our Daycare Staff and the Director, Kristy Thomas. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33513 33513 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 5:1-12 1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until theyhad crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. 4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. 9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgalto this day. 10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day afterthey ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. Reflect The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for years by now.  They were on the edge of their future.  Having endured the slavery of Egypt, the desert heat and having a place to call home; they found themselves almost "there". God then ordered them to circumcise the men that had been born in the desert wanderings. Why?  As an act of purification and to acknowledge that God had indeed provided for them and that they needed to go into this new home clean and grateful.  Think about how many times in your life you have been on the verge of something new; moving, new job, new relationship, etc. How might have coming clean been an advantage to you?  Saying to God, "I didn’t give you everything the last time but I want to try to go into this on the right foot this time." Think about how you can, like the Israelites did, go into your next job, next move or even next day clean with God. Pastor Blain    Pray Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministry pastors. Pray for our Student Ministry Interns, Dave Schneider, Calvin Elias and Stephen Epp. Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening, & for the directors, David & Kathy Gottlob. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Alan and Hilda Faszer, working with orphanages in India. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33511 33511 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 4 1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” 8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had beenin the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. 10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, 11 and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. 12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. 13About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war. 14That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses. 15 Then the LORD said to Joshua, 16“Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan.” 17So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. 19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.” Reflect God knows that we are people who need to be reminded; we need things to touch and feel to remember deeper truth, and to help us tell His story to others.  He also has this beautiful way of book-ending the events of Joshua 4 to remind the people of Israel how far He’s brought them.  The Stone Memorial of the 12 Tribes would be a tangible story starter; a reminder from generation to generation of who He is.  And just like the Red Sea, He leads them into this new land over the Jordan, with miraculous evidence of His power.   He tells us and shows us He is real and at work.             Pastor Christine Apply What are tangible reminders God has given you in your faith journey?  Do you need to set up a new “group of stones” so others can see and ask about the evidence of God’s work in your life?  What would that look like? How and to whom are you passing down the story of what God is doing in your life? Pray Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Children’s Ministry Interns, Marina Edlund, Lyndi Blackwell, Arvind Azariah and Anna Tuininga. Pray for the ministry of Renaissance Community Church. Pray for Laura Werner as she serves with Young Life in Ft. McMurray. Pray for Jim Hall and the House of Prayer in Edmonton. Pray for the North American Baptist Missionary of the Week, Gordon & Denise Erickson, at the CMF (Cameroon Missionary Fellowship) Hostel located in Yaounde, Cameroon. Praise God for putting people in their lives who are helping them adjust to life in Africa. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33510 33510 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 3 Crossing the Jordan 1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubitsbetween you and the ark; do not go near it.” 5Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” 6Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’” 9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. Reflect Sometimes we enter new phases and places in life that are foreign and strange to us. The future is uncertain and there seems to be no direction.  Sometimes we know the destination but huge obstacles stand in our way of getting there and we don’t know how to navigate through them.  Israel was in a similar place; they were in a foreign land and the Jordan river stood between them and their destination, the promised land.  But when the Ark of the covenant went before them and directed the way they had direction and success.  Similarly, for us, if we look to the Holy Spirit to direct us and guide us the impossible foreign land will become navigable; not because we know the land but because we know we are following a true and good guide.  Often it’s the last thing we want to do as frequently we are guided right into obstacles just like Israel went right into the Jordan.  However, if we keep on following the Holy Spirit as our guide we will find ourselves passing through obstacles and foreign lands and find ourselves coming into promised lands. Stephen Epp  Pray Pray for Pastor Sam and his family. Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood. Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches. Pray for the Pastoral Staff as they meet this morning. Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.  Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church. Pray for Prime Minister Harper, Premier Redford, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33509 33509 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 2 Rahab and the Spies 1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.” 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” 17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24They said to Joshua, “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” Reflect “they went and entered into the house of a prostitute named Rahab…she tied the scarlet cord in her window…” (v1&21). Today we look at the account of an amazing woman, Rahab, mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy and also part of Hebrews 11 “Hall of faith”! How does a pagan woman, a prostitute, become such a hero? This makes for a very interesting discussion. It shatters our preconceived ideas about what God notices, how God works. What we know from the story is that when the Hebrew spies came to look at the land, Rahab helped them. In some way she recognized that God was at work. She says to the men, “I know that God has given the land to you…”. We do not know how she got that insight, but she acted on what she knew. She endangered her own life to protect what she saw happening, because she saw this was God at work. In return God blessed her life and saved her. Not only that, God gave her a husband and she is the great, great grandmother of King David. What a legacy! She acted on what she knew; God did the rest! Pastor Sam Apply Where do you need to act on what you know, maybe risk for God? Pray Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin. Pray for Pastor Neil. Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave. Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor, currently on sabbatical leave. Pray for his family and for the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell. Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church. Pray for Paul Tan and Bonnie Nikkel as they serve with Navigators. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33508 33508 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Joshua 1 Joshua Installed as Leader 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’” 12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them 15until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” 16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” Reflect Today we start our devotional series on the Book of Joshua.  God was preparing a people through whom the Messiah would come.  This preparation included giving His people a land of their own. Deuteronomy tells how God prepared His people for the Promised Land, under the leadership of Moses. When Moses died, Joshua replaced him as leader. There was no campaigning, democratic vote or election. God spoke and Joshua became the spiritual, military, social and civil leader.  Although he had been ‘in training’ under Moses during the wilderness wandering, this responsibility was a lot for one man. He absolutely would need God’s help! God promises His help/presence in verse 5-9. Having heard from God, Joshua immediately gives instructions to the 12 Tribes of Israel and concludes his instructions with the same words he received from the Lord: “Only be strong and courageous” (v18). He knew their courage would be tested! Pastor Sharon Apply Although God does not appoint leaders today, He does care deeply about who our leaders are. Take time to pray for our leaders and for God’s guidance in exercising our right to vote.  Pray Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family, and his ministry. Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling, Jesse Boulianne and Dylan Taylor. Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Donna Collins, Robin Hellewell, Tricia Unsworth and Naomi Voss. Pray for the faculty and staff of Taylor Seminary. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33507 33507 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 17 Jesus Prays to Be Glorified 1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. Jesus Prays for His Disciples 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Jesus Prays for All Believers 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” Today, Pastor Lyle will conclude His series, “In Step With God’s Spirit, Even to the Cross,” with a message on this prayer that Jesus prayed just prior to His betrayal and arrest.  Apply What did God say to you through this message? Journal your thoughts on this passage.   Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for our 3rd Service Intern, Daunavan Buyer. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo. Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. Pray for Sheryl Grunwald as she serves with Kidzana Children’s Ministry. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33294 33294 Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 21:20-25 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” 24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. Reflect John ends his gospel with an interesting exchange between Jesus and Peter.  After Jesus told Peter about the nature of the suffering he could expect in his life, Peter turned to John and asked Jesus what would happen to him.  It’s almost as if Peter was looking for comfort by comparing his plight with the plight of others versus finding comfort and ultimate hope from Jesus.  Jesus’ response called Peter back from comparison with others to submission to God.  How often are we like Peter as we look around to others who seem more gifted or have less difficult circumstances and we wonder why?  Jesus’ response would have us take our eyes off the plight of others and find our comfort and strength in Him.  He does not give us strength and grace for someone else’s journey, but for our own! Pastor Lyle   Apply In what ways do you find yourself wishing God treated you like it seems He is treating someone else?  Where might this thinking ultimately lead? Rather than wish for someone else’s situation, ask God for His grace and strength in the midst of your situation.  Pray Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend. Pray for our Property Development Team. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Nick & Iris Hung in Nigeria. Pray for the NAB Conference in Chicago. Pray for the nation of Canada. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to Edmonton and the churches in our land. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33290 33290 Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 21:15-19 Jesus Reinstates Peter 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Reflect Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."   Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter said, "you know I love you." Jesus' response is interesting as it requires action. Love is not just a simple word uttered. It requires us to show the person we care. We love our families by doing things for them. Jesus requires us to show our love for Him by taking care of His "sheep". So then I ask, "how are you showing Christ's love today?" Pastor Blain   Pray Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministries Pastors. Pray for our Student Ministry Interns, Dave Schneider, Calvin Elias and Stephen Epp. Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening. Pray for the Canadian Bible Society and Gideons International. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Ken and Jerilyn Bayer, working with the Chain of Love Orphanage in Brazil. Pray for a church plant called “The Link” in north Edmonton by Bob and Audrey Carroll. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33288 33288 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 21:1-14 Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish 1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. Reflect The disciples are still in a bit of a fog.  They are not sure what they should be doing, so they head out to do some fishing.  The only problem is they weren’t successful.  Jesus sees them from the shore and offers them some advice on what they should do and they catch more fish than they know what to do with.  Jesus knew where the fish were.  I love this picture as it gives me a look at how I think we sometimes approach our relationship with God.  We go out ahead of Him and hope He blesses our work.  Sometimes He does, but sometimes it takes us stopping, asking and listening to God before we see any positive results. Pastor Terry  Apply Where in your life do you feel like you’re in the boat, but not catching any fish?  What is Jesus telling/asking you to do?  Pray Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell.  Pray for Alpha Canada. Pray for the NAB Dalit Ministry in India. Pray for the North American Baptist Missionary of the Week, Zach & Cara Sommerlot, Great Plains Association in Brandon, South Dakota. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33287 33287 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 20:19-31 Jesus Appears to His Disciples 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jesus Appears to Thomas 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The Purpose of John’s Gospel 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believethat Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Reflect We are a Thomas generation.  It seems as though more than the generations before, this generation needs to see the hands and feet of Jesus before they will believe.  So how do we then evangelize to a Thomas generation that will not believe until they have seen the hands and feet of Jesus? We need to show them that they can see this through the church which is the hands and feet of Jesus.  We need to continue to be the Body of Jesus Christ on earth, doing and proclaiming His works and miracles today.  If we do not show this generation that the church is the hands and feet of Jesus they will never believe.  In what ways are you the hands and feet of God?                                                  Stephen Epp Pray Pray for Pastor Sam and his family. Pray for the effectiveness of his ministries. Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood. Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches. Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.  Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church. Pray for the Prime Minister, Premier Redford, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind. Pray for Sheldon Tibbo in his work with Campus for Christ. Pray for the Alberta Baptist Association and our Regional Ministers, Bob Walther & Jim Leverette. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33283 33283 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 20:10-18 10Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. Reflect “at this she (Mary) turned around and saw Jesus standing there... ‘I am returning to my Father…’” (v14&17). It is interesting to note that although the men had already been to the empty tomb, they did not see Jesus. Mary was the first to see the resurrected Christ. Jesus gave her a message to give to the other followers of Jesus. I am going to the Father. We know how significant that is, because in Acts 2 we hear Peter explain that Jesus had to return to the Father so he could ask the Father to pour out the Holy Spirit that had been promised all through the Old Testament. This supernatural resource for us is exactly what we need. And the Holy Spirit is given because Jesus had paved the way by His obedience and sacrificial death so that the New Covenant could begin. Jesus is alive, ascended and at the Father’s right hand. He intercedes for us there; He is our high priest and advocate. There is an ongoing ministry that He carries out on our behalf. It is a wonderful thing to think about the fact that we have someone who loves us that much! Pastor Sam Apply Thank God today for His triune nature, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Pray Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin. Pray for Pastor Neil. Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave. Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor,currently on sabbatical.     Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Richard and Lori Barcelona, pastoring in San Luis, Mexico. Pray for our Daycare in its service to children and their families this week.  Pray for the director, Kristy Thomas. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33282 33282 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 20:1-9 The Empty Tomb 1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Reflect Imagine this scene, if you will: Mary Magdalene, with her robes flowing behind her, running to Simon Peter ‘and the other disciple’ (v2) to tell them what she saw at the tomb! We know that the other disciple was a faster runner than Simon Peter because he arrived at the tomb first. He went into the tomb after Simon Peter and “he saw and believed” (v8). Imagine what thoughts were going through the minds of Jesus’ followers. They were in shock.  They had just witnessed the crucifixion and knew where He had been buried and they hadn’t understood His teaching about the resurrection. In their minds, this was the end. We shouldn’t be too hard on Mary and the disciples.  The truth of the resurrection can seem too good to be true, even today. But it is true – Jesus did rise from the dead. Paul states it clearly in I Corinthians 15: 14; “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”. Our hope is based on a resurrected Christ; the TOMB WAS EMPTY!  Pastor Sharon Apply Take time to meditate on the wonder of the empty tomb and what that means to you as a Christ-follower.  Pray Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and his ministry. Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Jesse Boulianne, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling and Dylan Taylor. Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Donna Collins, Robin Hellewell, Tricia Unsworth and Naomi Voss. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33281 33281 Mon, 9 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 16:17-33  17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”  19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.    25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”  29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”    31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.    33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Today, Pastor Lyle will bring a message on this passage, in which Jesus speaks of His impending resurrection.  We will see how Christ’s resurrection ushers in a whole new era in which there can be joy greater than the difficulty of our circumstances.    Apply What did God say to you through this message? Journal your thoughts on this passage.   Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for all who will be involved in our 3 services today. Pray for our 3rd Service Intern, Daunavan Buyer. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo.  Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. Pray for Cornerstone Counseling in Edmonton. Pray for Sheryl Grunwald as she serves with Kidzana Children’s Ministry. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33039 33039 Sun, 8 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 19:38-42 The Burial of Jesus  38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. Reflect On this Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we read of the burial of Jesus.  It is interesting to note how the passage emphasizes the way Joseph and Nicodemus both came out of hiding to provide for Jesus’ burial.  Up until this time, both had been somewhat secret about following Him.  Having now seen His death, they could no longer remain so removed.  Both took the risk of identifying with Jesus, even before they understood He would rise again.  There is something about His sacrifice that called into question their desire to remain comfortable.  This challenge to our secrecy and desire for comfort continues today. Pastor Lyle   Apply In what ways might you be a “secret believer”? How are you challenged by the examples of Joseph and Nicodemus to be more public in how you live your walk with Christ?   Pray Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend. Pray for Yuri Nakano, an NAB missionary we support. Pray for the Northern Canada Evangelical missionaries, Kit & Debbie Elford. Pray for the Pregnancy Care Centre. Pray for the nation of Canada. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to Edmonton and the churches in our land. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33037 33037 Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 19:16-37  16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. The Crucifixion of Jesus     So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”  22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”  23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.  24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”    This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,    “They divided my clothes among them    and cast lots for my garment.”    So this is what the soldiers did.  25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. The Death of Jesus  28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” Reflect   "Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother there and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." Taking care of your own is a good saying for a reason. Do it today.   Pastor Blain        Pray   Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministry Pastors. Pray for our Student Ministry Interns, Dave Schneider, Calvin Elias and Stephen Epp. Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening. Pray for an NAB mission we support, Making Disciples In Russia. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Ken and Jerilyn Bayer, working with the Chain of Love Orphanage in Brazil.   http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33035 33035 Fri, 6 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 18:28-19:16 Jesus Before Pilate  28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”  30“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”  31Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”    “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.  33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”    34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”  35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”  36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”  37“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.    Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”  40They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising. John 19 Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified  1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.  4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”  6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”    But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”  7The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”  8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”  11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”  12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”  13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.    “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.  15But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”    “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.    “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.  16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. The Crucifixion of Jesus     So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Reflect The Jewish leaders did not have authority to execute prisoners, so it was necessary for them to get the approval and cooperation of Rome; hence Jesus’ visit to the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate. In this passage we see Pilate trying to find a loophole that would keep the Jews satisfied but not jeopardize his job; a very tough position to be in! During Jesus’ trial, Pilot struggled to find the answers to key questions: (1) What was the accusation against Jesus? (2) Was Jesus ‘King of the Jews’? (3) Should he release the ‘King of the Jews’?  (4) Where did Jesus come from?  The trial ended with Pilot releasing Jesus to the Jews to be crucified as he could find no fault with Him. From our human perspective, Jesus’ trial was the greatest tragedy in history and a crime; from God’s perspective, it represents the fulfillment of prophesy and God’s will. Pastor Sharon Apply Verse 11 marks a significant change in the trial. How does Jesus’ response impact your reaction to the cruelty and lack of fairness of the trial depicted in this passage?   Pray Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis, Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. Pray for our Children’s Ministry Interns, Marina Edlund, Lyndi Blackwell, Arvind Azariah and Anna Tuininga. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell. Pray for the North American Baptist Missionary of the Week, Ronald & Jeannie Seck, in Hungary.  Pray as they train community workers in holistic ministry (they are both certified in Community Health Education). http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33028 33028 Thu, 5 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 18:1-27 Jesus Arrested  1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.  2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.  4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”  5“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.    “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,”they drew back and fell to the ground.  7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”    “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.  8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”  10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)  11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”  12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. Peter’s First Denial  15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.  17“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.    He replied, “I am not.”  18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. The High Priest Questions Jesus  19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.    20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”  22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.    23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Peter’s Second and Third Denials  25Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”    He denied it, saying, “I am not.”  26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. Reflect How do you respond to Peter’s denials?  Do you point a finger or shake your head? Before we look too closely at Peter’s faults let us look at our own life.  Do you deny you are a follower of Jesus to others?  Perhaps, your answer is “people don’t ask me.”  Fair enough, but why are people not asking you?  Are your actions not showing that you are different?  Should we not stand out in a world that is continuing to turn away from God?  Perhaps one of the greatest questions someone can ask us is “why are you different?”   What is your response?  Stephen Epp   Pray Pray for Pastor Sam, and his family. Pray for the effectiveness of his ministries. Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood. Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches. Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.  Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church. Pray for the Prime Minister, Premier Redford, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33027 33027 Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 17:1-26 Jesus Prays to Be Glorified  1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:    “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. Jesus Prays for His Disciples     6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.    13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Jesus Prays for All Believers     20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.    24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.    25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made youknown to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” Reflect “that they may have the full measure of my joy within them…” (v13). When you think of joy, what do you think of? What has been your most joyful moment in life? What brings joy from the recent week? Do you wish you had more joy? Here is the longest recorded prayer that Jesus expresses to his Father in heaven. After having shared the deepest issues of his heart with his disciples in the days before his death on the cross, Jesus now pours out his heart to God in prayer. Much of this prayer has to do with God upholding his glory in and through the disciples he has chosen. Jesus was hoping that the disciples would experience the deepest joy in their inner lives as they carried on after his death. Isn’t that a good ideal to pursue? We can also aspire to this promised fruit from our relationship with God: full joyful hearts! When the Apostle Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, joy is the second one he mentions. This is not something we try to conjure up in our own strength, this is something that resides in our hearts when the Spirit is active. Pastor Sam Apply How is your “joy” quotient? Ask God to fill your heart with His joy today.  Pray Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin. Pray for Pastor Neil.  Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave. Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor, currently on sabbatical leave. Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church. Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Richard and Lori Barcelona, pastoring in San Luis, Mexico. Pray for our Daycare in its service to children and their families this week.  Pray for the director, Kristy Thomas. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33025 33025 Tue, 3 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 John 16:5-33 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.    12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy  16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”  17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”  19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.    25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”  29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”    31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.    33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Reflect In this passage, Jesus focuses on the truth that He is returning to the Father and that the disciples will not see Him until He returns at some future date.  Jesus describes what will happen to them and the early church when He is physically absent. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, will come and provide a means of ongoing fellowship with Jesus AND provide guidance and comfort. The Holy Spirit will also “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (v7)  We can appreciate the disciples’ original response to what Jesus said, but they finally ‘get it’ and “believe that you{Jesus} came from God” (v30). Verse 33 sums up the whole message: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Pastor Sharon   Apply How does this passage about the Holy Spirit speak peace to you in your circumstances? Do you need to be reminded that Jesus has “overcome the world”?  Pray Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and his ministry. Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards. Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Jesse Boulianne, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling and Dylan Taylor. Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Donna Collins, Robin Hellewell, Tricia Unsworth and Naomi Voss. Pray for Sheldon Tibbo in his work with Campus for Christ. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=33024 33024 Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Matthew 16: 13-16 Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah  13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”    15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”  16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”   Today, our choir will lead us in a reflection on the Christ we celebrate on Palm Sunday.    Apply What did God say to you through this sermon? Journal your thoughts on this passage.   Pray Ask God to work in your life as you worship Him today. Pray for all who will be involved in our 3 services today.  Pray for our 3rd Service Intern, Daunavan Buyer. Pray for our Technology Intern, Junior Figueiredo. Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Helliwell.. Pray that God would effectively be at work in our church and in all His churches throughout our city today. http://www.mckernanbaptist.ca/index.cfm?i=5912&mid=25&blogid=5916&comments=32887 32887 Sun, 1 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000