THE GATHERING PLACE

Day 40: Love is a covenant

2011-05-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Ruth 1:16

TODAY’S DARE
Write out a renewal of your vows and place them in your home. Perhaps, if appropriate, you could make arrangements to formally renew your wedding vows before a minister and with family present. Make it a living testament to the value of marriage in God’s eyes and the high honor of being one with your mate.

Day 39: Love endures

2011-05-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Love never fails.1 Corinthians 13:8

TODAY’S DARE
Spend time in personal prayer, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse. Include why you are committing to this marriage until death, and that you have purposed to love them no matter what. Leave it in a place that your mate will find it.

Day 38: Love fulfills dreams

2011-05-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

TODAY’S DARE
Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable. Commit this to prayer, and start mapping out a plan for meeting some (if not all) of their desires, to whatever level you possibly can.

Day 37: Love agrees in prayer

2011-05-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father. Matthew 18:19

TODAY’S DARE
Ask your spouse if you can begin praying together. Talk about the best time to do this, whether it’s in the morning, your lunch hour, or before bedtime. Use this time to commit your concerns, disagreements, and needs before the Lord. Don’t forget to thank Him for His provision and blessing. Even if your spouse refuses to do this, resolve to spend this daily time in prayer yourself.

Day 36: Love is God’s Word

2011-05-20T06:34:00.002-07:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

TODAY’S DARE
Commit to reading the Bible every day. Find a devotional book or other resource that will give you some guidance. If your spouse is open to it, see if they will commit to daily Bible reading with you. Begin submitting each area of your life to its guidance and start building on the rock.

Day 35: Love is accountable

2011-05-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 15:22 NIV

TODAY’S DARE
Find a marriage mentor—someone who is a strong Christian and who will be honest and loving with you. If you feel that counseling is needed, then take the first step to set up an appointment. During this process, ask God to direct your decisions and discernment.

Day 34: Love celebrates godliness

2011-05-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:6

TODAY’S DARE
Find a specific, recent example when your spouse demonstrated Christian character in a noticeable way. Verbally commend them for this at some point today.

Day 33: Love completes each other

2011-05-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

If two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
Ecclesiastes 4:11

TODAY’S DARE
Recognize that your spouse is integral to your future success. Let them know today that you desire to include them in your upcoming decisions, and that you need their perspective and counsel. If you have ignored their input in the past, admit your oversight and ask them to forgive you.

Day 32: Love meets sexual needs

2011-05-16T09:19:00.002-07:00

The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:3

TODAY’S DARE
If at all possible, try to initiate sex with your husband or wife today. Do this in a way that honors what your spouse has told you (or implied to you) about what
they need from you sexually. Ask God to make this enjoyable for both of you as well as a path to greater intimacy.

Day 31: Love and marriage

2011-05-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

TODAY’S DARE
Is there a “leaving” issue you haven’t been brave enough to conquer yet? Confess it to your spouse today, and resolve to make it right. The oneness of your marriage is dependent upon it. Follow this with a commitment to your spouse and to God to make your marriage the top priority over every other human relationship.

Day 31: Love and marriage

2011-05-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

TODAY’S DARE
Is there a “leaving” issue you haven’t been brave enough to conquer yet? Confess it to your spouse today, and resolve to make it right. The oneness of your marriage is dependent upon it. Follow this with a commitment to your spouse and to God to make your marriage the top priority over every other human relationship.

Day 29: Love’s motivation

2011-05-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men. Ephesians 6:7

TODAY’S DARE
Before you see your spouse again today, pray for them by name and for their needs. Whether it comes easy for you or not, say “I love you,” then express love to them in some tangible way. Go to God in prayer again, thanking Him for giving you the privilege of loving this one special person—unconditionally, the way He loves both of you.

Day 30: Love brings unity

2011-05-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. John 17:11

TODAY’S DARE
Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and look on today as a fresh opportunity to pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that is threatening oneness with your spouse. Pray that He would do the same for them. And if appropriate, discuss this matter openly, seeking God for unity.

Day 28: Love makes sacrifices

2011-05-11T09:32:00.002-07:00

He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:16 HCSB

TODAY’S DARE
What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse’s life right now? Is there a need you could lift from their shoulders today by a daring act of sacrifice on your part? Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.

Day 27: Love encourages

2011-05-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
Psalm 25:20

TODAY’S DARE
Eliminate the poison of unrealistic expectations in your home. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you’re expecting too much, and tell them you’re sorry for being so hard on them about it. Promise them you’ll seek to understand, and assure them of your unconditional love.

Day 26: Love is responsible

2011-05-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. Romans 2:1 HCSB

TODAY’S DARE
Take time to pray through your areas of wrongdoing. Ask for God’s forgiveness, then humble yourself enough to admit them to your spouse. Do it sincerely and truthfully. Ask your spouse for forgiveness as well. No matter how they respond, make sure you cover your responsibility in love. Even if they respond with criticism, accept it by receiving it as counsel.

Day 25: Love forgives

2011-05-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ. II 2 Corinthians 2:10

TODAY’S DARE
Whatever you haven’t forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Let it go. Just as we ask Jesus to “forgive us our debts” each day, we must ask Him to help us “forgive our debtors” each day as well. Unforgiveness has been keeping you and your spouse in prison too long. Say from your heart, “I choose to forgive.”

Day 24: Love vs. Lust

2011-05-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17

TODAY’S DARE
End it now. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it. Single out every lie you’ve swallowed in pursuing forbidden pleasure and reject it. Lust cannot be allowed to live in a back bedroom. It must be killed and destroyed—today—and replaced with the sure promises of God and a heart filled with His perfect love.

Day 23: Love always protects

2011-05-06T06:44:00.003-07:00

[Love] always protects. 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV

TODAY’S DARE
Remove anything that is hindering your relationship, any addiction or influence that’s stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse.

Day 22: Love is faithful

2011-05-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord. Hosea 2:20

TODAY’S DARE
Love is a choice, not a feeling. It is an initiated action, not a knee-jerk reaction. Choose today to be committed to love even if your spouse has lost most of their interest in receiving it. Say to them today in words similar to these, “I love you. Period. I choose to love you even if you don’t love me in return.”

Day 21: Love is satisfied in God

2011-05-04T07:19:00.002-07:00

The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire. Isaiah 58:11

TODAY’S DARE
Be intentional today about making a time to pray and read your Bible. Try reading a chapter out of Proverbs each day (there are thirty-one—a full month’s supply), or reading a chapter in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). As you do, immerse yourself in the love and promises God has for you. This will add to your growth as you walk with Him.

Day 20: Love is Jesus Christ

2011-05-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6

TODAY’S DARE
Dare to take God at His Word. Dare to trust Jesus Christ for salvation. Dare to pray, “Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner. But You have shown Your love for me by dying to forgive my sins, and You have proven Your power to save me from death by Your resurrection. Lord, change my heart, and save me by Your grace.”

Day 19: Love is impossible

2011-05-02T07:16:00.000-07:00

Let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

TODAY’S DARE
Look back over the dares from previous days. Were there some that seemed impossible to you? Have you realized your need for God to change your heart and to give you the ability to love? Ask Him to show you where you stand with Him, and ask for the strength and grace to settle your eternal destination.

Day 18: Love seeks to understand

2011-05-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.
Proverbs 3:13

TODAY’S DARE
Prepare a special dinner at home, just for the two of you. The dinner can be as nice as you prefer. Focus this time on getting to know your spouse better, perhaps in areas you’ve rarely talked about. Determine to make it an enjoyable evening for you and your mate.

Day 17: Love promotes intimacy

2011-04-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 NIV

TODAY’S DARE
Determine to guard your mate’s secrets (unless they are dangerous to them or to you) and to pray for them. Talk with your spouse, and resolve to demonstrate love in spite of these issues. Really listen to them when they share personal thoughts and struggles with you. Make them feel safe.

Day 16: Love Intercedes

2011-04-29T11:44:00.002-07:00

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. III John 2

TODAY’S DARE
Begin praying today for your spouse’s heart. Pray for three specific areas where you desire for God to work in your spouse’s life and in your marriage.

Day 15: Love is honorable

2011-04-28T07:58:00.002-07:00

Live with your wives in an understanding way . . . and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life. 1 Peter 3:7

TODAY’S DARE
Choose a way to show honor and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine. It may be holding the door for her. It might be putting his clothes away for him. It may be the way you listen and speak in your communication. Show your mate that he or she is highly esteemed in your eyes.

Day 14: Love takes delight

2011-04-27T07:43:00.002-07:00

Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 HCSB

TODAY’S DARE
Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they’d really like to work on. Just be together.

Day 13: Love fights fair

2011-04-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
Mark 3:25

TODAY’S DARE
Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to “fight” by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Day 12: Love lets the other win

2011-04-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

TODAY’S DARE
Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting their preference first.

Day 11: Love cherishes

2011-04-24T05:18:00.002-07:00

Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. Ephesians 5:28

TODAY’S DARE
What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.

Day 10: Love is unconditional

2011-04-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

TODAY’S DARE
Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse—something that proves (to you and to them) that your love is based on your choice and nothing else. Wash her car. Clean the kitchen. Buy his favorite dessert. Fold the laundry. Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

Day 9: Love makes good impressions

2011-04-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

Greet one another with a kiss of love. 1 Peter 5:14

TODAY’S DARE Think of a specific way you’d like to greet your spouse today. Do it with a smile and with enthusiasm. Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them.

THE LOVE DARE!

2011-04-21T07:36:00.001-07:00

We have started posting a forty day journey to improve your marriage / relationship. It cannot be taken lightly. It is a challenging and often difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and a steadfast determination. It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life, and your marriage. Consider it a dare, from others who have done it before you.

As you can see we are through the first week, however you can easily scroll down through the older posts to Day 1. Enjoy!

Day 8: Love is not jealous

2011-04-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire. Song of Solomon 8:6 NIV

TODAY’S DARE
Determine to become your spouse’s biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday’s list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

Day 7: Love believes the best

2011-04-20T07:31:00.002-07:00

[Love] believes all things, hopes all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

TODAY’S DARE
For today’s dare, get two sheets of paper. On the first one, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose and plan for each. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.

Day 6: Love is not irritable

2011-04-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. Proverbs 16:32

TODAY’S DARE
Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list below of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

Day 5: Love is not rude

2011-04-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14

TODAY’S DARE
Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.

Day 4: Love is thoughtful

2011-04-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

How precious also are Your thoughts to me. . . .How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. Psalm 139:17–18

TODAY’S DARE
Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

Day 3: Love is Not Selfish

2011-04-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. Romans 12:10

TODAY’S DARE
Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. It’s hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, “I was thinking of you today.”

Day 2: Love is Kind

2011-04-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

TODAY’S DARE
In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

Day 1: Love is Patient

2011-04-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV

TODAY’S DARE
The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It’s better to hold your tongue than to say something you’ll regret

Acts of Random Kindness

2011-04-13T07:07:00.001-07:00

Good Morning Saints

As some of you may know it has become my "Mission" to bless (at random) different business locations in Osoyoos. My plan is simple - I go get several boxes of Timbits and drop them off at locations the Lord lays on my heart - I leave the box with an ARK card and a "Happy Tuesday". It started out as two boxes a week and grew to three. I have "Tagged", Home Building Centre, Good Shepherd School, Osoyoos Medical Centre, RCMP Detachment, OK Tire, Post Office, Town Admin Office, Sonora Centre, Osoyoos Elementry School and the Osoyoos Times. Some have been tagged more than once.... several comments have returned to us via e-mail - comments such as:

"Thanks for the free coffee this morning! It was indeed a pleasant surprise !
May God continue to bless you and your ministry."

"Wow, thanks for the ARK today - not sure if I want to share them, but I will. I will definately keep the ARK going!"

Aaron the manager noticed that I come in every Tuesday and buy TimBits, he thought what we were doing was great - He commented that he wished there were more people like us (good testimony PTL) however this Tuesday as I went to get my three boxes there was an extra box - Aaron ARKed me! He smiled at me and said "I want in on what you are doing".... cool hey?

Saints we must remember that both Good and evil increase at compound interest.
In other words the smallest good act today can in a few months lead you to go on to victories you never dreamed of.

FYI - Many people spend upwards to $2000.00 to go on a one week mission's trip - at $10.00 a week (3 boxes) I can have a fun filled mission's adventure every week of the year for under $600.00.... "I'm love'n it, to God be the Glory"

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

God bless you all for who you are in Him - P Ed

The Application of Christ’s Second Coming

2011-04-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

Ten "R"s as a result of our prophetic knowledge.

1. Refrain from judging others: Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. I Corinthians 4:5

2 Remember the Lord’s table: For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. I Corinthians 11:26

3. Respond to life spiritually: If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ m God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3: 1- 4

4. Relate to one another in love: And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. I Thessalonians 3:12-13

5. Restore the bereaved: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:13-18

6. Recommit ourselves to the ministry: I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. II Timothy 4:1-2

7. Refuse to neglect church: And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

8. Remain steadfast: Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8

9. Renounce sin in our lives: And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. I John 2:28-29

10. Reach the lost: Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Jude 2:1-23

Some Osoyoos History

2011-03-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Aboriginal People roamed the Okanagan Valley for centuries. They stopped at Spotted Lake above Osoyoos, for physical and spiritual healing. They made Osoyoos a favourite meeting place, and they named our town "Sooyoos" a Native Okanagan word meaning the “narrows of the lake” or “meeting place”.

The narrows afforded a natural crossing, so that, even before the days of the brigades, there was a junction at this point of important trails. Osoyoos Lake is British Columbia’s warmest lake and it crosses the border into the United States. Osoyoos, a version of that word, is pronounced: O-sue-use.

The "O" prefix is not indigenous in origin and was attached by settler-promoters wanting to harmonize the name with other O-names in the Okanagan region (Oliver, Omak, Oroville, Okanagan).

In the 1800’s, Osoyoos was merely a rest stop for fur traders seeking a better route for sending their furs back to Europe.

The extension of the Canadian Pacific Railway to the town in December of 1945 gave orchardists and producers a better way to market their produce.

The first school opened in 1917. There were six pupils.

In 1946, Osoyoos was incorporated as a Village and the railway arrived. Rail service was discontinued a number of years ago, but the Village has grown to be a Town.

In the early 1950's, immigrants from Portugal settled in the South Okanagan. Over the years they proved themselves expert orchardists, proudly making their mark as successful growers of fruit and vegetables and vital members in the community. In recent years, more land has been cleared to make way for vineyards, and the orchards are being redeveloped by an enthusiastic Indo-Canadian Community.

Osoyoos Indian Band The Osoyoos Indian Band has lived for thousands of years in the desert, harvesting fish, roots, berries, and wildlife for food and clothing. Today, over 400 people live on 32,000 acres of Osoyoos Indian Reserve land and have continued their resourceful ways. The band also regularly holds ceremonies at Spotted Lake that it owns and values for its healing properties. One must be creative in order to live life in the desert, and the Osoyoos Indian Band is a living proof of how this can be achieved.

John Carmichael Haynes In the mid-19th Century, the settlement of Osoyoos was born. Haynes had decided to make Osoyoos home after riding on horseback through the area and being struck by Lake Osoyoos' beauty. He is credited with being the first non-Native settler of Osoyoos as well as its first colonial officer and judge. While he did not build a hotel or restaurant, he and a partner did establish cattle ranches to feed nearby mining camps. Osoyoos’ commercial fruit-growing industry was born when an engineer purchased some of Haynes’ land and planted 30 acres of plums, apricots, apples, and other fruit in 1907. Soon after, the Irrigation Canal was built to supply local orchards with water so that crops could be reliably grown. Haynes Point Provincial Park and the Haynes Point Wetlands Trail are named after Haynes in honour of his importance to Osoyoos’ establishment as a community.

Osoyoos is home to Canada’s only official desert.

Fruit production remains a major industry, but Osoyoos has grown into a hot tourist destination since its first hotel was established in the 1920’s. Osoyoos today has retained its agricultural heritage. The ideal climate has resulted in the area producing a variety of fruits, vegetables and vineyards, catering to the early seasonal markets. The climate also has attracted many visitors who flock to the area beaches to enjoy the warm waters of Osoyoos Lake.

Never Before

2011-03-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Never before in our life time have we been aware of such devastating news and medical epidemics. Wide range food shortages, record high fuel prices, and natural disasters of floods, earthquakes, cyclones, tornados and volcanic eruptions, housing defaults, and foreclosures are reported daily. Food prices have fuelled riots in Haiti, Cameroon, Egypt, Mexico, Philippines, Indonesia and Ivory Coast. And most recently the earthquake in Japan. Looking at all this, one cannot help but wonder “What in the world is going on?”

We at the Gathering Place believe that it is of the utmost importance to be in right relationship with Almighty God. I know churches can let you down, and certainly Christians can let you down, but the Word of God is Rock Solid. The Bible can be trusted as the one source of reliable information about the meaning of the events of our day and what those events tell us about our hope for the future. The lyrics of an old country music song written by Roy Acuff and Odell McLeod (recorded by Hank Williams) say it all.

There’s a mighty battle coming and it’s well now on its way.
It’ll be fought at Armageddon, it shall be a sad, sad day.
In the book of Revelation, words in chapter sixteen say:
There’ll be gathered there great armies for that battle on that day.

All the way from the gates of Eden to the battle of Armageddon
There’s been troubles and tribulation, there’ll be sorrow and despair.
He has said “ye not be troubled for these things shall come to pass.”
Then your life will be eternal when you dwell with him at last.

Turn the pages of your Bible, in St. Matthew you will see,
Start with chapter twenty-four and read from one to thirty-three.
In our Savior’s blessed words He said on earth, He prophesied,
For he spoke of this great battle that is coming by and by.

There’ll be nation against nation, there’ll be war and rumor of war.
There’ll be great signs in heaven, in the sun, the moon, the stars.
Oh, the hearts of men shall fail them, there’ll be gnashing of the teeth.
Those who seek it will receive it, mercy at the Savior’s feet.

A message of hope from “That” Church in Osoyoos, The Gathering Place. www.thegatheringplace-osoyoos.com

ABLE MEN

2011-02-22T11:52:00.003-08:00

Today, we're going to talk about men. However, this doesn't mean our sisters should tune out, they might learn something.

Average Christian congregations in Canada will draw an adult congregation that is 61% female and 39% male. About 24% of married women attend without their husbands. Sadly, the majority of men, who actually show up for services are there in body only. Their hearts just aren't in it. In general women are the participators, men the spectators. Thankfully this is not the case with our fellowship - we must ensure that it stays that way.

Consider that our faith was founded by a man and his twelve male disciples. So why do Christian churches around the world experience a chronic shortage of males? Why are church-going men so hesitant to really live out their faith, when men of other religions willingly die for their faith?

Interestingly many churches don't mind having more women than men. After all, women are the key to having a smooth running congregation. Women keep the activity machine going, they sing in the choir, care for the children, teach the classes, cook for the potlucks and serve on the committees.

But over the long term, a lack of men, real men will doom a congregation. If you want a healthy church for the long haul it's been proven, you have to attract men. Jesus' strategy still works today. But there's one little problem. Men don’t like going to church. Quite a few men go to church only to keep their wives, mothers or girlfriends happy.

Churches around the world are short on men. No other major religion suffers from a shortage of males. In the Islamic world, men are openly, publicly, unashamedly religious. Of the world's major religions, only Christianity has a consistent, nagging shortage of real men.

The Old Testament shows that two entire nations were taken into captivity because the men turned their backs on God. But, there was one group of men that proved their faith. I Chronicles 9:10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin… v13 and their brethren - 1760 they were found to be able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

God called and is still calling able men to serve Him.
The problem is, it's getting harder and harder to find men who’ stand against the cultural norm and say, "as for me and my house, we will serve God."

God is still looking for able men who will put on the armor of God, take up the sword of the spirit, and fight the good fight of faith.

There are four attributes of a man of God. These four points can also be attributed to women, but I'm focusing more from the male perspective.

Availability:

God is looking for Available, able men. It doesn't matter what abilities you possess, if you're not available to God, you're useless to the cause.

Isaiah 6:8 I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I send me."

Isaiah gave himself completely to God, and completely to His cause. It was a ready response – "here I am, send me." It was a faithful response. He didn't specify where or when, he just wanted to be sent to do the work of the Lord here.

We often look at men like Isaiah, Abraham, Moses, David, Paul and many others as men with tremendous abilities. But the truth is, they were men, just like you and me.

They were ordinary men who made themselves available for Almighty God. God then did amazing things through them. What it is, is a matter of commitment, being there, being available and being committed to what God wants you to do.

So many today are not available. Men in society have put up the "Do Not Disturb" sign when it comes to their church attendance.

Far too many things going on, they just don't have the time to serve God and His people.

So I have to ask, "Do you have too many irons in the fire? Are you too busy? Do you feel like you can't catch up?

I Kings 18:19-21 Elijah was told to go and present himself to Ahab. And he knew it wasn't a safe thing to do, but he made himself available anyway. He did so and set up this challenge with the prophets of Baal. But there were others that day that sat on the sidelines, as spectators waiting to see what would happen. So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people… not just the prophets, but to all the people there of Israel, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him."
But the people answered him not a word…nothing.

Nobody stepped up, Elijah was alone. Elijah was man enough to stand alone, but the rest were unavailable. Elijah was looking for someone from the nation of Israel man enough to stand up with him. He said, "Is anyone available? Are there any more men that will stand with me against Baal?" But no one would.

2. Dependability (Dependable Able men)

In the Apostle Paul's time, a steward would completely run a property for the owner. These steward's were to be faithful, and dependable. I Corinthians 4:1 consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God….. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

You got to like it when, someone says, "I'll be there." and they are. When they say, "I'll do it" and they get it done.
We like dependable people. People who are faithful to their word. One day Christ will say to His servants, "I knew I could depend on you, thank you for being faithful and dependable."

3. Mobility

Mobile, able men. Men were not created to sit on their spiritual recliners, but rather to actively live and share the good news of the gospel of the kingdom. If we want to do God's work, we have to participate.

In everything we do, God living in us – should be seen.

We have to be about our Father's business. Growing, learning and developing in the grace of God. As Peter told us in II Peter 3:18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…"

Reader's Digest recently asked, "What has six eyes and cannot see?" The winning answer – three men in a house with dirty laundry, with overflowing trash cans and a sink full of dirty dishes.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem…then He continues… and (but also) in all Judea and Samaria, and…you shall be witnesses of me…to the end of the earth.

Three verses later we read…. Men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven? Acts 1:11

With the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be actively mobilized as men in God's church. We can be witnesses of His way of life to all corners of the globe.

4. Stability

We are in a spiritual warfare, the world is falling all around us, unless we stand fast, we may fall with it.
How many members of the church have you seen over the years that have not been able to stand for the faith once delivered to them?

How many have become entangled again in the yoke of bondage, overcome by their own human efforts?
I Corinthians 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

The Modern King James Version puts it this way: Watch, stand fast in the faith, be men, be strong.

God is looking for stability in His congregations. Looking for stable, able men. There is strength and stability that comes from us working together in God's church. Every man needs a band of brothers, friends. And we need strong friendships in the faith. Jesus began His ministry by assembling a team of men.

Men need a band of brothers standing around them.

Why should we be more involved?
Why should we stand fast?
Why should we present a stable foundation in the congregation and in our homes?

Here's one reason – Children with involved fathers are more confident and less anxious in unfamiliar settings, better able to deal with frustration, better able to gain a sense of independence, more likely to become compassionate adults. Children with involved fathers are more likely to have higher self-esteem, more likely to even have a higher grade point average and more sociable. That's in the family, but the same thing can happen in the congregation.

It makes for a more stable congregation when you have stable men involved. God is looking for available, dependable, mobile, stable, able men to stand up, to stand firm, to do His work.

Will you be that man?
Will you be the one who will put on the armor of God?
Will you take up the sword of the spirit, and fight the good fight of faith.
Will you be an able man for the house of God?
Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Will you be an able man in the house of God?

8 of 8 An Angel in Queens

2011-02-22T11:51:00.000-08:00

An Angel in Queens: Every weekday, Jorge Munoz starts his shift at 5:15 a.m. He drives a school bus, picking up elementary schoolchildren at a bus stop and dropping them off at a few schools on Long Island in New York. As part of his regular route home, he passes a food factory.
Something always bothered him: "These guys, they were throwing away a lot of food." One day in 2004, Munoz couldn't stand seeing good food go to waste. He pulled over and asked if they would give him the goods. He knew some families having trouble. Two weeks later, he got some food and gave it to about 10 families that didn't have food. Only two people in those families had a job."
The food he received from the factory turned out to be a one-time thing. Munoz scrambled to continue helping the hungry families. He collected small food donations from local businesses, but those weren't enough. He started to use money from his own salary to buy food, brown-bag meals, and handed them out to eight day laborers, three times a week.
The eight soon tripled to 24. A few months later, Munoz and his mother started cooking meals for 45 people in his shoe-box-sized apartment. The economy worsened, and the hungry population grew. More than half of his weekly salary of $700 went to buy food, drinks and packaging.
The act: For the past six and a half years, Munoz has been delivering home-cooked meals every night out of his white Toyota pickup. He has missed only one night, when a snowstorm shut down all lines of transportation. These days, about 140 people -- many of them homeless, jobless immigrants -- line up some times stretching nearly one block.
His makeshift meal program has turned into a well-oiled nonprofit called An Angel in Queens. A handful of volunteers, including his mother and sister, begin prepping the food around 1:30 p.m. When Munoz returns from his day shift, he switches gears from bus driver to good Samaritan, with a 10-minute break for coffee in between.
The volunteers have learned to work in a tight space, shuffling past each other in the apartment turned soup kitchen. The kitchen and living room look more like food pantries, stacked with crates of small juice cartons, produce bags, and trays of hot food. There's always the smell of onions cooking in oil, beans, and meat, but the menu changes nightly, ranging from ham and cheese sandwiches to beans, rice, and chicken. The family multiplies whatever they're having for dinner by 140.
Munoz attributes his motives to "God. God and my mom. My mom since my childhood teach me to share, and that's what we are doing here."
And he shares the family spirit with every person who receives a meal. "They feel like a part of the family. Most of them, they are alone. I got my mom, my sister, my nephew, my friends, a lot of members of my family are out here. But they are alone. But at least they feel like they have a small family taking care of them."
The ripple: Munoz's generosity has been contagious, and his friends and the community have chipped in. "A couple of times a week, I go to collect food from my friends. Some buy extra oil and rice. Other friends, some have restaurants tell me to go pick up extra food they cook," Munoz says. "Whatever I don't have, I go to stores to pick up." In June of 2008 a couple of volunteers helped him set up his website and nonprofit.
Soon word about An Angel in Queens spread through local, national, and international media. The blogosphere blasted his message. His selfless act has been featured in the New York Times, CNN, Univision, and Telemundo. That coverage has inspired the global community to reach out with support: monetary donations, appliances, food, drinks and lots of thanks.
Munoz has received personal recognition as well. Renowned chef Jamie Oliver featured him on his cooking show, "Jamie's American Road Trip." He also got a presidential nod. Munoz, his mother, sister, and nephew visited President Barack Obama at the White House in August and received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor behind the Medal of Freedom.
His biggest reward comes from those he serves. "You have to see their faces, when they smile, that's the way I get paid," Munoz says. "When they smile, I thanks God, this guy got something to eat tonight."

7 of 8 Secret Agent L

2011-02-22T11:49:00.002-08:00

Secret Agent L: By day, blogger Laura Miller, 32, worked as an administrative assistant at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her busy workload -- booking schedules, managing projects, and fielding inquiries from students and the public -- didn't allow much time for another important thing she neglected on her to-do list: good will.
The Secret Agent L idea blossomed in July 2009, after she asked one of her blog readers, whom she had befriended, what she wanted for her birthday. Her friend replied, "Don't send me anything; just do a random act of kindness for someone else." Caught up in the excitement, Miller even made Secret Agent L business cards with her blog address on it.
Mission No. 1. Miller attached a homemade business card with thick green ribbon to her first gift, a stem of lavender hydrangea, and left it on a stranger's windshield wiper. The first blog "Unleash the kindness" said Today we start to unleash anonymous acts of kindness and day-brightening all over Pittsburgh.
The act: Her gifts, about $5 to $10 each, fit her admin salary: coffee gift cards, a roll of quarters wrapped in pink and green ribbons at a Laundromat, sunflower bouquets at graves of fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, colourful cards filled with inspirational quotes in public parks and bathrooms.
The first three weeks she carried out and blogged about her mission every day, signing her entries Secret Agent L.
Quickly, words of appreciation filled her inbox. Nearly a month into the project, though, she realized that giving every day would bust her budget. She called for backup and encouraged readers to execute their own secret missions across America.
The ripple: She received a few responses at first, then dozens. Soon, Miller recruited more than 80 worldwide secret agents in Canada, Denmark, Germany, England, Japan, and Mongolia. The clandestine acts were both creative and practical. One agent gathered a note, a coupon, and enough cash to buy a bag of diapers, then left the items at an diaper-changing station in a public bathroom.
Miller blogged about her drop-offs and Affiliate Agents' good deeds. A local Pittsburgh TV news station featured the secret project. Then other TV networks, bloggers, and websites helped her message go viral at Kirtsy.com, the Huffington Post, Reader's Digest, CNN, and Fox News.
These days, Miller receives about 1,000 daily blog hits, and she's received more than 2,500 email testimonies about these simple, thoughtful, inexpensive gestures. Nathan in Pittsburgh emailed, "I sat down on the park bench next to the package and read the words on the front of the envelope over and again: "For you! Yes ... you!" But, surely, it couldn't have been for me. Why would it be? But then, what if it was...? I was touched by this random act of kindness. Just when I was losing hope in myself and life's purpose, something like this comes along."
George from Massachusetts wrote about finding a card in a restroom on top of Mount Everett, the fifth highest peak in Massachusetts. "When I first opened the card, I was overwhelmed -- I sat there and cried, wondering how did you know, how wonderful it was that you thought to leave that card for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Exactly one year after Secret Agent L launched her project, she revealed her identity. "I saw the positive response the project was getting. I wanted to get out in the community as a real person to see what I could do to spread kindness," said Miller. So far, she and her Associate Agents have completed more than 300 missions. "How easy it is to pay attention to the people around you," Miller says. "Imagine what 2 to 3 minutes could do to brighten someone else's day. It's the easiest and simplest thing to do."

6 of 8 Phoebe's Food Bank

2011-02-22T11:48:00.001-08:00

Phoebe’s Food Bank: Five-year-old Phoebe Russell asked her mother “Why do the homeless live that way?” In Phoebe's city, San Francisco, the homeless population ranges between 6,200 and 15,000.
Phoebe's mother, explained about hunger and homelessness. That led to another question: "Who helps them?"
Phoebe also took this question to her preschool teacher, Kathleen Albert. I explained to her some people don't have homes and jobs; some people have really bad things happen to them." Phoebe was determined to help.
Her family would often take cans to the grocery store and recycle them for cash. She asked her parents, "We collect cans at home -- can we do that for the food bank?" Her goal: $1,000 in two months when the school year ended.
Phoebe also recruited her preschool class in her new project. Albert didn't think it could be done. "At five cents a can, one thousand dollars.. A bit unrealistic. But Phoebe was adamant.
The act: Albert and the classmates were onboard. Phoebe spent her recess crafting a handwritten letter and sent them to 150 friends and family members. In neatly written, oversized letters, she wrote: "My charity project is to raise lots of money for the food bank. They need money. Please give me your soda cans."
Phoebe's enthusiasm was infectious. People dropped off checks, cash, and cans at Phoebe's classroom door. The first couple of weeks, a few bags filled with cans showed up. Over the next few weeks, thousands of cans poured in. Once a week for two months, Phoebe counted every single bill and coin herself. She stowed the cash in a box she decorated with shiny star stickers and hand-drawn flowers, dollar signs, and the words: "Phoebe's Project. SF Food Bank." A local columnist got wind of the project and wrote about her effort. Word of mouth also carried her message.
"I've never seen so many cans in my life," Albert said. "People would leave them at the preschool door; others put cash in the mailbox.
The ripple: By the two-month deadline, just before summer break, Phoebe nearly quadrupled her goal, raising more than $3,700, equalling 18,000 meals. A social networking site devoted to inspiring stories posted an online video about Phoebe's project, and it went viral. Six months later, the total reached $20,202, or about 80,000 meals. The video was submitted to Tyson Foods' Hunger Relief Challenge, which led to a donation of 15 tons of chicken, bringing it up to 120,000 meals.
Phoebe's determination to feed the hungry created a "Yes, we can" preschool campaign.
Phoebe, now 7, is in first grade, and her family and friends volunteer at the San Francisco Food Bank. Perhaps more importantly, she inspires her preschool protégés and fellow classmates to pay it forward. Three students at her former preschool raised more than $5,300. That makes a total of more than 135,000 meals served in her community. "It makes me feel good," she says politely.
Her first question -- "Why do the homeless live that way?" -- may never have a good answer. That second one -- "Who helps them?" -- she answered on her own.

5 of 8 Wonder Capes

2011-02-22T11:46:00.002-08:00

Wonder Capes: Like many superheroes, Amy Pankratz a stay-at-home mother from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, discovered her powers by accident. One cold winter day, her then four-year-old daughter Isabella said, "Mommy, I want a superhero cape." Pankratz says, "I told her OK." But then she couldn't find capes for little girls at the store, so she sewed her own. Months later, when Isabella fell ill with a double virus and had to be hospitalized, the power of the cape multiplied and transformed into Wonder Capes.
The act: During a brief hospital stay, her daughter begged Pankratz to pack her pink princess cape. "On the third day, Isabella asked if she could wear it in the hallway. Pankratz says. Kids with IV poles looked on in awe. "That's when Isabella put the cape on another hospitalized child." Every other pediatric patient on that hospital floor wanted to soar through the halls. Pankratz started creating, sewing, and donating customized superhero capes: more than 4,000 and counting.
This mom has full days but at night she sews capes. It takes her three or four hours to customize a cape, she considers each child and gives their capes a special blessing. "I read their stories, think about them, their hobbies, favorite colors; I pray over them," she says. "If, even for a moment, the cape brings some relief, comfort, and hope to them, it's worth it,"
The ripple: The Wonder Capes project inspired Angie Kappenman, a mother from Madison, South Dakota. "The cape made [my son] Nicholas feel strong. He’d fly through the hospital halls to receive his treatments.” The cape inspired the Kappenhams' backpack donation program, Stay Strong, Carry On, at the local hospital. The backpacks include coloring books, toys, and activities and can be used as organizational tool for the formidable amount of hospital paperwork.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children's Miracle Network, and St. Baldrick's Hospital are teaming up with the supermom to give her special capes to sick, injured, or disabled children and their siblings around the world.

4 of 8 Operation Beautiful

2011-02-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

Operation Beautiful: Caitlin Boyle was writing environmental compliance documents for a land developer. But writing legal docs and analyzing the development's environmental impact from the confines of her home office was too technical for her taste -- and too solitary. The 25-year-old yearned to do something more creative and self-directed, and wanted to connect with people on a more personal level.
Boyle was taking night classes, hoping for a career change, and on one "really bad day" felt completely overwhelmed by work and school. Boyle realized that her own self-image was holding her back: "I thought I wasn't smart enough to go to work and take night classes at the same time. I'm going to fail my chemistry final. I'm bad at math and can't do this. I was suffering from negative self-talk," she admits.
The act: So what's a woman to do? Brighten up someone else's day. She scribbled "You Are Beautiful" on a piece of paper, posted the note in the ladies' room at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, took a photo, and blogged about the moment. She wrote, "If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is -- it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically."
In three days, 75 notes with photos of people posting their own messages flooded her inbox. On the fourth day, Boyle launched her site, Operation Beautiful.
The ripple: The viral message has inspired tens of thousands of anonymous, positive notes, posted in public spots: bathroom mirrors, libraries, hospitals, and gyms. Boyle blogs six days a week, sharing stories with heartfelt messages of hope. Her favourite is from a gym: "Scales measure weight, not worth." Others include "This is not a trick mirror, you look this awesome" and "Take a diet from your negative thoughts, fill yourself with positive ones."
Boyle's mission has touched girls on every continent except Antarctica, sparking impassioned online discussions on the notions of beauty. A girl headed to the roof of a parking garage spotted a note: "If there's no you, someone else will be as alone as you feel now. Turn around. Operationbeautiful.com"
She turned around and called a friend to pick her up. The friend wrote this email to Boyle: "Thank you so much for starting this project. She’ll never admit it, but she owes her life to this project."
Boyle's positive message continues to multiply: "The Today Show," "The Early Show," the Oprah Winfrey Network, and many other mediums are spreading the compassion. As for her career, Boyle is literally writing the next chapter of her professional life. She continues to blog for a living and has been commissioned to write a book, appropriately titled "Operation Beautiful: Transforming the Way You See Yourself One Post-It Note at a Time." "It created a circle of random acts of kindness, proving you're never alone, you can change a life and you can do something nice for strangers," says Boyle.

3 of 8 KIDSWING

2011-02-22T11:43:00.002-08:00

KidSwing: Ben Sater was 3 years old when he received his first surgery for trigger finger. When he was 10, he had surgery on three other fingers at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, an orthopaedic facility that treats about 40,000 patients yearly, at no charge.
"He thought we forgot to pay the hospital bill after his treatments," chuckles his mother. She explained that the hospital relies on the generosity of donations. “I was more confused than amazed," Ben recalls. "I didn't understand how this huge hospital could run on donations and charity events, so I wanted to give back." He later pledged to himself that he’d donate a million dollars to the Dallas hospital before going to college.
Despite his big thinking, his initial attempts to raise money were modest: car washes and lemonade stands. Sater's parents inspired him to think a little bigger.
The act: Golf enthusiasts, Ben and his father came up with the idea of holding a children's charity golf tournament at the sprawling courses of Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas, Texas. They formed two committees, adults and children. Kids aged 7 to 18 were asked to raise $100 to participate.
The tournament became so popular that organizers added another at the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney, Texas.
The ripple: Local golf professional Cameron Doan was inspired by Sater's efforts and organized KidSwing to continue the charity fundraiser. In the fourth year, the number of kids who took a swing on the green tripled. The running total: just over $500,000.
In July 2010, KidSwing surpassed the goal, with $1,026,000, plus change. From his dorm room, Sater's still in awe of the journey. "I can't really explain how I got to this day. I was just a 10-year-old kid with an average GPA. I just wanted to do something simple to give back."

ARK Part 2 of 8

2011-01-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Daily Ocean: For as long as Sara Bayles could remember, she's loved the ocean. When she took a trip to the big island of Hawaii, Bayles leapt at the chance to swim with the sea turtles and spinner dolphins in the warm Pacific waters. After her trip, though, she was taken aback at the contrast between the stunning Hawaiian sunsets and the Santa Monica beach, where birds pecked at plastic bags and rubbish was strewn along the sand.

After more research, she was shocked to discover the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area in the Pacific Ocean where the currents swirl together, collecting about 10 million tons of trash.
Of her home beaches, she says, "I saw so much trash on the beach and thought, What could I do?"

The act: In between book writing and teaching art for a local nonprofit, 34-year-old Bayles set a goal: pick up trash for 20 minutes a day for 365 (non-consecutive) days.
Collecting, weighing, and blogging findings on her website, the Daily Ocean. Every blog includes a tally: garbage weight and a countdown to day 365.

The ripple: More than 165 days along, Bayles has collected more than 665 pounds of junk. Across the country, Danielle Richardet started collecting cigarette butts in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, for 20 minutes at a time and posting the results on her own blog. She writes: We all impact each other. Sometimes we don't even know we've made a difference in someone's life.

Abby's Lemonade

2011-01-03T09:44:00.001-08:00

Eight-year-old Abby Enck frequently accompanied her 6-year-old brother, Cameron, born with cerebral palsy, to Lutheran General Children's Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Abby noticed that the other pediatric patients liked to color, but many of the crayons were broken. She wanted to buy a few new 24-count boxes of crayons. Her parents agreed to match any number she could buy herself.

The act: Abby, with help from a friend, decided to raise the money through a lemonade sale. Abby loved the idea of creating bottled-water lemonade kits with a packet and homemade tag. Her slogan: "When life gives you lemons, color!"

In that first summer selling to her Chicago neighbors, she raised enough money to buy 18 boxes of crayons and donated 36 to the hospital. This summer Abby gave 1,000 crayon boxes.

The ripple: Abby assembled 52 water-bottle lemonade kits and recruited family and friends to sell them for $1 each. The local press publicized Abby's efforts, and the response was sweet.
Abby exceeded her goal, raising a total of $551. She and her parents purchased 1,009 boxes of crayons,140 boxes of markers and 125 boxes of colored pencils.

Educational magazine Weekly Reader wrote about Abby's project, sharing her message and method with more than 250,000 teachers and 8 million students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. Other children in the community, including Abby's Brownie troop, are brainstorming ways to give next summer.

An important life lesson: "Everyone can make a difference," Her mom has learned from Abby too, saying, "Children don't see the obstacles. Adults create obstacles that stop them from achieving their goals."

Changing Your World

2011-01-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday morning we talked about Changing our world – “What man is a man who doesn’t change for the better the world he lives in?”

Changing the world starts with one simple act. Everyday acts, things so simple that we could easily contribute. Everyone, after all, has the power to give kindness.

We talked about people who saw an injustice or a void or someone down-and-out who needed a little help. Micah 6:8 He hath shown you, O man, what is good; and what the LORD requires of you, but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

If their stories which will follow in future postings inspire you, let God know that you are willing to take action and encourage others. Who knows your ripple of kindness might become a wave of change.

2011 - Time To Build An ARK

2010-12-31T16:17:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, January 16th, 2011 we will kick off our “Time to build an ARK” campaign. We've ordered 250 ARK cards for our church to distribute throughout the community! How does it work? You do an anonymous Act of Random Kindness and leave your ARK card behind to let them know how much you care! The card encourages the receiver of your kindness to "pay it forward" and do an act of kindness for someone else in the community.

Here are some ideas on how you can use your ARK cards: pay for the meal of the person behind you in a drive through and ask the cashier to give them your ARK card, tape the exact change for a snack or soda on a vending machine along with your ARK card, leave some baked goods on your co-workers desk along with the ARK card, send some money to someone you know who really needs it, etc.

The possibilities are endless! You can post your ARK adventure on our blog.

If You Have A Prayer Request

2010-06-29T12:27:00.002-07:00

Please e-mail your prayer request to Jan at dewarjm@hotmail.com

THE DOORS

2010-06-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos

Pulpit Series Volume 20 Issue 6 April 11, 2010

The “I ams” of Christ.

John 8:12 I am the light of the world:

John 6:35 I am the bread of life:

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd:

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, the life:

John 15:1 I am the true vine

Then there is John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in,he shall be saved.

Jesus compares Himself to a door….. Even a child knows what a door is.

Privacy Doors, Security Doors, Safety Doors and Fire Control Doors. There are Trap Doors, Garden Doors, Doggy Doors, re Dutch, French and Australian Doors. There are Stable Doors, Saloon Doors, Blind Doors as well as Disguised Doors, Barn Doors, Garage Doors, Single and Double Doors,. Some doors are Louvered, Flush or Molded. There are Wicket Doors, Bypass and Bi-fold Doors, Glass Doors, Wooden Doors, Hinged Doors, Sliding, Swing and Pocket Doors. There are Folding Doors aka Accordion Doors, Rotating Doors or Revolving Doors. Not to be confused with The Doors led by Jim Morrison selling over 75 million albums worldwide. There are Butterfly Doors, and Up-and-over Doors There are Car Doors, House Doors, Store Doors and Door Stores. Door Knobs, Door Hinges, Door Locks, Door Stops, and Door Latches. There are Exterior and Interior Doors, Patio Doors, Pocket Doors and the very useful Refrigerator Door.

A door can be open or closed, let us in or keep us out. It is said that behind closed doors we find shelter, security and rest.

When Jesus says, “I am the Door” He means an entrance.

An entrance to what? The Kingdom of God. By going through Him, we are brought into shelter, security and rest.

Lets look at few important doors in scripture.

· Door on the ark. This was a door of judgement. A door that God Himself shut. Revelation 3:7 ... Jesus opens and no man can shut, He closes and no man can open....

The ark Noah was commanded to build is a type of salvation and shelter. It is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. The way into the ark was a door; there was only one door.

To be saved people had to enter through that door. There was no other way! Impossible to pull a B&E

That door was kept open along time

I Peter 3:20

While God kept the door open, Noah preached II Peter 2:5

Those who believed and entered were kept safe (8).

The Lord God shut the door! They also were spared seeing the judgement scene, one window far above eye level.

Those who didn’t enter were shut out, no amount of weeping, begging, pleading or knocking could open the Door.

So God provided a place of salvation in the ark, all they had to do was go in through the one door! It was their choice.

Only those who have entered in through Christ will be saved.

There is also a door of deliverance. The death angel was to pass through Eygpt, slaying every first born. Exodus 12

God however provided a plan of redemption; the Children of God were required to kill a spotless lamb. The head of the family took the blood of that lamb and marked the top and two side posts of that door.

The door was to be blood marked!

The night came, death was everywhere, the horror and the wailing must have been incredible! But behind each blood marked door was deliverance!

He who said He is the Door died for our sins and it is His blood that marks the door of our redemtion!

The Door of the Tabernacle: The place of Israel’s worship was enclosed in fine white linen. The white linen wall shut the people out, however there was a door in that white linen wall. It was a hanging of blue, purple scarlet and fine twined linen. This door too speaks of Christ...

When hanging on the cross Jesus cried “It is finished!” that heavy veil was ripped in two...an entrance was made!

Christ being the door now became the veil through which we must pass into the holy of holies!

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

“By me if any man enter in he shall be saved!” Did you hear that? “Anyone”

That’s you; that’s me! “Anyone!”

The door will not always remain open.

Matthew 25:1-13...they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: the door was shut.

Then came the other bridesmaids, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he said, I don’t know you.

The Bridegroom is coming sooner than you think. Only those having entered in by the blood marked door will be ready.

Luke 13:23-28 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When the master has shut the door. You begin knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; and he will say, I do not know you.. Then you will say, We ate and drank in your presence, you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I don’t know you....

The word “Know” here refers to intimatcy.

BE WARNED

Don’t waste your oppurtunity to enter!

How awful to know that you could’ve gone in but neglected to enter.. dare you neglect so great a salvation!

Jesus according to Ephesians 2:18 is our only means of access!

Those in Noah’s day must have knocked - they must have cried, “Open up, save us!”

Think of the near future when thousands will again find themselves shut out! Having neglected the only Door which for such a long time has stood open to them.

Then it will be shut, they will be forever outside, lost!

If you have not yet done so - enter while the Door is still open before you..... who knows how soon for you that door will be shut?

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

It Is Our Time

2010-04-21T08:56:00.001-07:00

Everything to do with the Church must be up-to-date and living, meeting the present needs of the hour. David ministered to his Generation, Mosses ministered to his generation - and we must do the same - David is dead, Mosses is dead, Gideon, Samson, the three Hebrews—they are gone, silent and still—but we live - it is our hour to minister! It is our hour to proclaim the Gospel!

Sing With Me

2010-04-19T21:16:00.001-07:00

THE SPLENDER OF THE KINGS
CLOTHED IN MAJESTY
LET ALL THE EARTH REJOICE
ALL THE EARTH REJOICE

HE WRAPS HIMSELF IN LIGHT
AND DARKNESS TRIES TO HIDE
AND TREMBLES AT HIS VOICE
TREMBLES AT HIS VOICE

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD
SING WITH ME
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD
AND ALL WILL SEE HOW GREAT
HOW GREAT, IS OUR GOD

Radical

2010-04-19T21:13:00.002-07:00

As transformed followers of Jesus, we can offer hope and help to a needy world. We can speak to issues of society, we can lift the state of the poor, we can penetrate our world with light and salt, and we can transform society.

We believe that radically transformed followers of Jesus can make a significant impact on society and bring life-giving hope and wholeness where there is despair and brokenness.

Food for thought

2010-04-19T18:52:00.002-07:00

One of the reasons churches in North America have trouble guiding people about money is that the church’s economy is built on consumerism. If churches see themselves as suppliers of religious goods and services and their congregants as consumers, then offerings are ‘payment.’

Unity in the forecast...

2010-04-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

I just returned from our second meeting concerning the upcoming joint churches celebration May 16th at 10:30 at the Sonora Community Centre.... Go God!

What If Today Was The Day?

2010-04-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

I just feel like something good is about to happen,
I just feel like something good is on its way;
He has promised that He'd open all of Heaven,
And brother, it could happen any day.

When God's people humble themselves to call on Jesus,
And they look to heaven, expecting as they pray;
I just feel like something good is about to happen,
And brother, it could be this very day.

I have learned in all that happens, just to praise Him,
For I know He's working all things for my good;
Every tear I shed is worth all the investment,
For I know He'll see me through, He said He would.

Yes I've noticed all the bad news in the paper,
And it seems like things get bleaker everyday;
But for this child of God it makes no difference,
Because it's bound to get better either way.

I just feel like something good is about to happen,
I just feel like something good is on its way;
He has promised that He'd open all of Heaven,
And brother, it could happen any day.

I have never been more thrilled about tomorrow,
Sunshine's always bursting through skies of gray;
I just feel like something good is about to happen,
And, brother, it could be;
Better watch and pray,
What if it could be this very day!

O Happy Day

2010-03-05T15:01:00.000-08:00

I am writing to you from the Shores in Canada's only desert. It is plus 2o in the shade and the sky is clear from here to the gates of heaven. I am in one of my many offices in Osoyoos. Today it is the Shores restaurant. A great cup of coffee and delicious home made pie - mmmmmm! I'd tell you it was lemon morange but I can't spell morange. I am working on Sunday's message, while hoping for an opportunity to witness for our precious Savior. I love where the Lord has planted us. There are many incredible people here... one of them is Pat.

I just dropped into his ranch about an hour ago. I was with him and his wife just days before she passed away.... she had called for the "cowboy preacher" to come and read out of the good book for her. I was pleased to do so and was rewarded by being able to pray with her. A week later I was doing her service up in Rock Creek at the Fair Grounds. That was last year and today Pat and I talked about what cowboys love to talk about - cattle - good horses and ranching. As I listened to my old friend I was pleased to see the light in his eyes sparkle as he told me the secrets of ranching in our desert land. As always with these type of guys I gleaned a little more knowledge about how things are to be done.

To whosoever reads this - have a great day - and please give the heavens more than just a pass'n glance.

Ed (whosoever) Brouwer

Bible Junkie

2010-01-26T16:36:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make…. I’m a junkie …. A bible junkie
It all started—I was sitting in the park and I saw a little black book under the bench I picked it up and thumbed through it — it was a pocket size New Testament I thumbed through it some more and then I did it I read a verse

Don’t ask me why though because Lord knows I didn’t want to.

I read a verse it was in Matthew … within a couple of days I was through Mark and Luke and heading toward John. It was just the start though—I went on to bigger things I read a full King James with concordance. I went out and got about 8 different bibles I stashed them every where, my drawers, my car and the water cooler at work. I couldn’t go thru the day without the Word….. that’s addict slang for the Bible.

Well I was doing ok….. but then one weekend I went to the mountains and I forgot my bible…. Its hard to talk about now, I got the shakes and broke out in a cold sweat I might not have made if I hadn’t found a boy scout who read me John 3:16 for 4 hours straight.

Well pretty soon my so called friends found out about it…. I was reading a lot but I wasn’t blind…. all of a sudden I didn't get invited to those kinds of parties anymore. The college newspaper voted me most likely to be come a nun.

It didn’t bother me though…. it really didn’t bother me until a couple of months ago this girl I liked her dad said he didn’t want his daughter hanging around with my kind of guy … my kind of guy like I had a disease or something … I don’t know how he found out about — he must of seen my tracks.

Didn’t stop me though I just got deeper I started pushing … I started getting other people hooked. Yea I know what your thinking…. I’m a real sico…. a real scum But Hey I’ve been to doctors and they couldn’t help they put me on dosages of awake and it just put me to sleep

I didn’t know where to turn ,my friends couldn’t help, my girl left me... then one day I slowed down and instead of just reading the Bible I started believing it and as if believing wasn’t enough I started living it all of a sudden I realized I didn’t have a problem anymore because it didn’t matter what my friends or my girl’s dad or the doctors thought of me... alls that matters is that Jesus loves me and that right there is so neat.

I’m proud not to be just a bible junkie but a Jesus junkie I’m hooked but I’m hooked on the real thing. thank you.

My Dinner Guest

2009-12-07T10:11:00.004-08:00

Joseph: described Matthew "a righteous man".

I’d ask him how he felt when he found out that the girl he was engaged to was pregnant not by him

Humiliated? Embarrassed? Angry?

Did he have trouble believing Mary when she said God was the baby's father?

The Bible says he loved both God and Mary, and it seems he really struggled with the decision of what to do.

he was a "good man" by his decidion to "divorce her quietly" rather than humiliate her publicly.

I admire his faith - come on think about it - to believe the message of a dream... that he should accept the baby in Mary's womb as the Son of God and share with her the humiliation and endure with her the small town gossip….. take her into his home, protect her, care for her and her baby, and that he should raise "God's Son," as his own child.

Then I’d like to talk to him about the fact that their baby, was born in an animal shelter because "there was no room for them in the inn."

Why did he have to go to an inn in the first place?

After all, Bethlehem was Joseph's home town, why wouldn't he and Mary have been able to stay with family or friends?

What made them so unwelcome in their homes?

· because the scandal of Mary's pregnancy?

· because Joseph continued to love and care for her?

It seems Christmas cost Joseph his family and friends.

Then the fact that they had to flee for their lives to Egypt leaving behind their home, business everything they had!

Think of Joseph having to take his family into a foreign country where they didn't understand the language or the culture.

I really respect Joseph being willing to pay the price of bringing Jesus into his world and for that matter into ours.

Joseph paid a price that actually relates to each of us as fellow believers. He cared for Mary while Christ was being formed in her. He set aside his ambitions and desires in order to nurture, train, and develop this the child of God. His greatest task and his real success was not in how many tables and chairs he built, but in nurturing and developing Jesus so that He could fulfill His mission.

When I look at Joseph’s life (very few people do) I see that none of us have been chosen to do our own thing. Rather we are to develop the Jesus-life in others.

Think about it, Joseph accepted the responsibility to care for, protect, and nurture the life of God's Son.

Is that not to be our primary focus - our life the task:

Developing, Disciplining, Influencing, Training, Protecting, Nurturing, Equipping ……. people for the kingdom of God.

Our life task is developing the Jesus-life in those with whose lives and futures we’ve been entrusted.

In closing please consider the Cost of Christmas...

· What will it cost you to bring Jesus into your world?

· What will it cost you to bring Jesus into your family, workplace, your circle of friends and acquaintances?

It may not involve public humiliation or relocating to another country, but than again it might!

It may involve some misunderstanding, some discomfort, some sacrifice, some changes in your life. Certainly it will involve less of you and more of God.

It may involve less of what you can do and achieve and more of what you can develop and nurture in others.

Once again God is looking for Josephs to accept the responsibility for nurturing, disciplining, and developing the life of Jesus in others.

I encourage you to do as Joseph did and give yourself to developing the Jesus life in others.

We Are Moving... to God knows where!

2009-12-03T10:48:00.002-08:00

Due to the "sick air" in the building where we house our Ministry Offices we have concluded our lease. We are going to be completely out of there by the 12th of December. We will for a short time be using our home office on Sidley Mountain Road. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Our prayer is that we will be able to locate a building that will be able to not only house our offices but our Sunday meeting area as well.

"Where Does The Time Go?"

2009-12-03T10:04:00.002-08:00

I'm working from home today (dial up)and things are a bit slow. However, we have been off line too long. It is already December and we are only 22 days away from another Christmas.

Our fellowship is entered in the Osoyoos Christmas Parade and we are anticipating an opportunity to witness for God, our God. On Sunday we are inviting folk to join us for a Christmas Continental Breakfast.

I'd really appreciate your prayers for a young man (16) Nathan who is in need of God's healing power. He has been diagnosed with cancer and is presently in Calgary Children's Hospital.

Sad News

2009-09-29T09:22:00.001-07:00

We were sorry to hear that Pastor Wes Mohninger passed away yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

We're Back!

2009-09-08T10:49:00.002-07:00

We are back at it! We've been very busy fighting the forest fires that raveged BC this summer. Sorry we've been silent on the blog.

We'll try to make up for it...

More CANADA DAY PARADE

2009-07-07T12:33:00.004-07:00

A few more pics

CANADA DAY 2009

2009-07-07T12:26:00.002-07:00

The Yard Sale Was Awesome!

2009-05-13T15:09:00.003-07:00

We were blown away by the help from our fellowship. What an incredible bunch of people. Judi and I are blessed beyond words! We were able to raise over 690.00. Whow! Thanks again to the Gathering Place family.

Imagine

2009-04-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

This past week has been very moving for me. It started out when Casey and I reviewed a little audio clip. I had heard this before but I found I was instantly in a state of weepiness.

I wanted more than anything to be the one preaching those wonderful statements. “Are you going to the revival?” “What church?” “It doesn’t matter.”

Imagine God moving in Osoyoos—not just in a church but in all of the town. I long for my sons and daughter to see—to experience—to be a part of a God ordained REVIVAL.

I am very excited about what God has done in the past and certainly as to what He is doing right now. However, I hunger for more! There has got to be more! This can’t be all that there is, God our God says He wants to do more than our minds can imagine.

Influenced By C.S. Lewis "Mere Christianity"

2009-04-25T19:09:00.003-07:00

Those visiting our fellowship should be warned that we offer no help to anyone who is as they say, “church shopping”. If you are hesitating between two Christian "denominations", you will not learn from us whether you ought to become an Anglican, a Baptist, a Pentecostal or a Presbyterian. This is intentional (even in the list I have just given the order is alphabetical). We are not better or worse than any other Christian church in Osoyoos, just different.
There is no mystery about our own position. We are very ordinary people who are in relationship with an extra ordinary God. We are part of Life Church International, but we are not trying to convert anyone to our own position. We have the utmost confidence that God, our God is able to direct you to the fellowship of believers that will best suit your path in life.

Sad News

2009-04-01T11:24:00.002-07:00

Our dear friends and co-pastors Keith and Lynne Jones have sold their home in Osoyoos and are moving to Greenwood. This is mainly for health reasons but I got to say they will surley be missed.

We are going to continue working together through The Gathering Place and Sidley Mountain Cowboy Church, but they were so involved in our Main Street mionistry that God will have to bring four people in to replace them. This is not a "blessed subtraction" this couple has won my heart and respect and I will miss my time with them.

We will have a "Going Away" get together for the Jones in late April.

Surprise Visit

2009-03-31T12:25:00.004-07:00

Well today was just made a little brighter.... Ethan Wolfe brought his mommy in for a visit. It was a cool spring day and Ethan had taken his mom for a walk. No walk is really complete without \a quick stop in at The Gathering Place on Main. ;-)

Thanks little buddy.

Congrats!

2009-03-24T13:08:00.002-07:00

Pastor Casey and Elizabeth got married March 21st. It was an awesome time. We really enjoyed visiting with friends and family. We are trusting God to watch over Casey and Liz.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for them.

A Further Word by Dave Wilkerson

2009-03-09T17:05:00.002-07:00

If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?"Recently I felt compelled to send out an URGENT message warning of an impending great calamity - such that will cause even God's elect to tremble.One Bishop asked, "Is there no further word: How should the righteous respond to such a word?"

I can only answer by sharing what the Holy Spirit is speaking to my own heart and what I am to do. I shared that I was led in a practical way to lay aside a month's supply of food - because I have witnessed the panic in the wake of terrorism. That has to be a personal word for every individual.

This is what I hear the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart concerning my own spiritual response to impending calamity. It is simply this -"STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD."

And Moses said to the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you today.The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace" Exodus 14:13-14

This is the attitude of faith in the face of calamity.

What could Israel do on the brink of the Red Sea? Pharaoh's army is pressing in, mountains are on both sides, and there is an impossible sea ahead. The flesh cries, "Do something!"The flesh cries hopelessness. Can God's people dry up the sea? Level a mountain? Fight a great army without having weapons? They are in what appears to be a dreadful, frightening situation. God's people tremble - and in this hour of trembling comes a word from God.

In essence:"Stand still. Fear not. This is the hour of salvation. You are going to witness the pulling down of the foundations of a world power. But in the same hour, I will fight for you. Hold your peace - be still and see my works."

Beloved, my warning is just one voice among many who are saying the same thing. We may all tremble for a season, but those who truly know God's Word will be quickly comforted by the Holy Spirit. We will be baptized with a great peace - a supernatural quietness - which will be a tremendous witness to the fearful multitudes.

In Christ, David Wilkerson Posted by David Wilkerson on 3/09/2009

Urgent Message from David Wilkerson

2009-03-09T16:55:00.002-07:00

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world. AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.

For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires-such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting-including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God's wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3).God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, "God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jeremiah 18:11-12).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, "Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire).fire.burning wind.will be the portion of their cup." Why? David answered, "Because the Lord is righteous" (v. 7).

This is a righteous judgment-just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah's generation.WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO?

WHAT ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE?
First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We "flee like a bird to a mountain." Or, as David says, "He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven-his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men" (v. 4). "In the Lord I take refuge" (v. 1).

I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God's righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take-trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you.

Do with the message as you choose.
God bless and keep you, In Christ,DAVID WILKERSON Posted 3/07/2009

Spiritual Health Check

2009-03-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

Happy moments…..PRAISE GOD
Difficult moments…..SEEK GOD
Quiet moments…..WORSHIP GOD
Painful moments…..TRUST GOD
Every moment…..THANK GOD

You Gotta Love This Judge

2009-02-05T08:50:00.001-08:00

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the coming Easter and Passover holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days.The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring,"Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."

The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.'Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned.

You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture! (forwarded to us)

The Bible Does Not Say....

2009-01-21T13:43:00.000-08:00

"Stay ye there for between the walls of this building and they will come unto your potluck dinner" … it says, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (NIV) Mark 16:15

Be Real

2009-01-21T13:38:00.001-08:00

The world is tired of hype. Set the standard high. Be genuine.
Someone wrote:

Do you know, do you understand
that you represent, Jesus to me?

Do you know, do you understand
that when you treat me with gentleness,
it raises the question in my mind
that maybe He is gentle too.
Maybe He isn't someone
who laughs when I am hurt.

Do you know, do you understand
that when you listen to my questions
and you don't laugh, I think,
"What if Jesus is interested in me too?

If you care, I think maybe He cares
and then there's this flame of hope
that burns inside of me, and for a while
I am afraid to breathe
Because it might go out.

Do you know, do you understand
that your words are His words?
Your face, His face to someone like me?

Please be who you say you are.
Please, God, don't let this be another trick.
Please let this be real.
Please

Do you know, do you understand
that you represent, Jesus to me?

What Is Inductive Study?

2009-01-21T11:00:00.001-08:00

This study method is a method that anyone can use.
It involves three skills: observation, interpretation and application.

Observation teaches you to see precisely what the passage says. It is the basis for accurate interpretation and correct application.

Observation answers the question: What does the passage say?

Interpretation answers the question: What does the passage mean?

Application answers the question: What does it mean to me personally?
What truths can I put into practice? What changes should I make in my life?

My dear friend, when you know what God says, what He means, and how to put His truths into practice, you will be equipped for every circumstance of life.

As we go on this adventure together, remember that God can give you insight at any point in your study, so be sensitive to His leading.

Take the Word as He reveals it to you, eat it, every bit of it. Allow it to become part of you, for as James says, it is the implanted Word that is able to save your soul.

As you study the Bible chapter by chapter and book by book, you will grow in your ability to comprehend the whole counsel of God. The result of this is a "wholeness" of spirit, character and life.

The very heart of inductive study is: seeing truth for yourself, discerning what it means, and applying that truth to your life. In His inspired Word, God has given us everything we need to know about life and godliness. But He doesn't stop there. He gives every believer a resident teacher - the Holy Spirit - who guides us into His truth.

I remind you in this introduction that Prayer is a vital key. Far too often prayer is overlooked.

Certainly NO study method apart from the Holy Spirit will be effective.... therefore it is imperative that you begin with prayer. I remind you that it is the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides us in all truth. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth would take the things of God and reveal them to us.

I cannot emphasize this point enough... ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study the Word. Ask for open ears to hear, and open eyes to see.

Where Do We Get Discernment?

2009-01-21T10:58:00.002-08:00

John reminds us that the Spirit abides in us in order that we might be empowered to distinguish truth from error.

"And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him (in context referring to the Holy Spirit) abides in you, and you have no need to have anyone teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him" I John 2:27

John teaches that the Spirit of God, Who lives in each believer, is our personal, private tutor.

To be sure, God has given us pastors and teachers for our edification
I Corinthians 12:28 but remember that they are in addition to and not a substitute for the Holy Spirit.

This allows the humblest believer in Christ may be taught of God through His Word, even when human teachers are lacking.

The Lord Jesus makes it abundantly clear in these words,

"When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you"
John 16:13-14

The apostle John quoted Isaiah 54:13 recording Jesus' promise that
"THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD”

The Holy Spirit has inspired the Word and He alone can bring illumination as we read the Word. When we devote ourselves to the study of His Word, with a keen awareness of our need to continually depend on our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, we will experience the joy of self, Spirit led discovery of God's Truth, Truth that will set us free so that we might be free indeed!

YBH Yes But How?

2009-01-21T10:54:00.003-08:00

In terms of Bible study methods, you can study someone else's study or you can study the Scripture for yourself.

"Knowledge that is self-discovered is stored in the deepest part of the mind and remains the longest in the memory. There is no jewel more precious than that which you have mined yourself."

I hear and I FORGET

I see and I REMEMBER

I do and IUNDERSTAND

Inductive study focuses first upon the Bible. You need to be willing to lay aside your preconceived notions, pet interpretations, ready references, study notes, sermon tapes, etc, coming to the Scriptures as if FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Prayer: “Holy Spirit I welcome your leading. You have promised to bring me into all truth. Please find me willing to hear what you have for me to learn. Heal me of my pre-conceived ideas and opinions. Remove the wax of worldly knowledge from my ears. Heal me of dull hearing and open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your word.”

Try This...

2009-01-21T10:51:00.001-08:00

In-duc-tion: (in-duk’shan) The bringing forward of separate FACTS as evidence in order to prove a general statement

Read the following scripture and underline the facts. There should be at least 8 seperate facts when you are done.

John 14:1-6
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. “And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Got A Minute?

2009-01-21T10:50:00.000-08:00

Before we begin may I ask you a few questions?

· Do you long to know God?

· Do you yearn for a deep and abiding relationship with Him?

· Do you want to live the Christian life faithfully – and know what He requires of you?

Most Christians have been encouraged to study the Word of God, yet many have never been shown how. The very heart of Inductive study is seeing truth for yourself, discerning what it means, and applying that truth to your life.

In His inspired Word, God has given everything we need to know about life and godliness. But He doesn’t stop there.

He gives every believer a resident teacher - the Holy Spirit - who guides us into His truth. Notice it says, “into, not up to”.

The Bible needs no other books or truths to supplement it.

In inductive study the Bible becomes its own commentary, and it can be understood by any believer.

We will begin each study with prayer.

Prayer is often the missing element in Bible study. You are about to learn the most effective method of Bible study there is. Yet apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, that’s all it will be - a method. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, who takes the things of God and reveals them to us.

Always ask God to teach you as you open the scriptures.

Climb With Us.....

2009-01-21T10:10:00.002-08:00

The Gathering Place is proud to bring you an instructional class on the Inductive Study Method. This little known study method is perhaps the best kept secret in God’s kingdom.

We have had the honor of seeing hundreds of people helped as they followed these three easy steps. It is our sincere belief that this method of study will revolutionize your spiritual life as well.

Our pastoral staff is praying that as you study God’s Word, you will get to know Him, for we have seen first hand that those who know God have great energy for God!

Matthew 5:1 (The Message) When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions.

You are welcomed as a fellow climber as we travel to the High Ground of God’s Word!

This study method is intended to give pointers to help you in your “untried” faith, producing in you spiritual maturity and bringing you to a place of Abiding Faith.

So in faith, together we will climb up the mountain to a quiet place, under an open heaven, with an open Bible, and in the fellowship of the believers.

May God bless you with the understanding of His magnificent Word.

Pastor Ed

2009-01-19T17:34:00.002-08:00

We love to talk. Nothing is opened more wrongly at the wrong time than our mouth. Our mouths get us into a lot of trouble. James in Chapter 3 says, If you can control your mouth, you're perfect…. literally "mature, healthy".

Three reasons we have to learn to manage our mouth.

MY TONGUE DIRECTS WHERE I GO: Our tongue is like a rudder that steers us. Don't like the way you're headed, change the way you talk. Some people think it may be best not to say anything. A guy joined the monastery. He was given a 3 year probation period where he was not to speak at all, at the end of each year he could say two words. At the end of the first year he said, "Bed hard." At end of the second year he said, "Food cold." At the end of the third year he says, "I quit". The head priest says, "Doesn't surprise me. All you've done is complain since you got here."

MY TONGUE CAN DESTROY WHAT I HAVE v. 5 James gives another illustration. Imagine a beautiful forest - tall beautiful trees everywhere. Now imagine it in one minute up in smoke, completely destroyed by a tiny match. A careless camper can destroy an entire forest overnight. A careless word can destroy a life overnight. Gossip like fire, spreads quickly and wrecks havoc.

Fire and words under control can give tremendous warmth and light, but fire and words out of control can be devastating. A couple comes in for marriage counseling. "I said this and then she said that, then I said this..." Then what happened? "All hell broke loose".

MY TONGUE DISPLAYS WHO I AM It reveals my real character. It tells what's really inside of me. James says, with the tongue we praise God and with the same tongue we curse men who've been made in God's likeness. From the same mouth come praise and curses. My brothers, this should not be. Cursing here means any kind of put down.

Have you heard someone say, "I don't know what got into me. It's not like me to say that. I don't know why I said that. It's totally out of character.” James would say, “No, that is exactly like you. Quit kidding yourself. What's inside is going to come out. What comes out of a well is what is inside of it.” Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Your tongue problem is more serious that you think… for it is heart related.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? Get a new heart Ezekiel 18:31 Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit! Painting the outside of the pump doesn't make any difference if there is poison in the well.

Ask God for help every day. Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips

As my old cowboy friend says, you don’t need to say everything you think.

So my tongue can direct where I go; it can destroy what I have; and most of all, it clearly displays my true character. Bottom line - don’t let your tongue lick you!

Our CAN DO GOD!

2009-01-06T13:22:00.004-08:00

Jeremiah 32:17 - “Lord, You stretched out Your mighty arm and made the sky and the earth. You can do anything.”

Jeremiah 32:27 - “Jeremiah, I am the Lord God. I rule the world and I can do anything!”

Matthew 19:26 - “With God, all things are possible.”

Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried about what will happen to us. If we are thrown into the flaming furnace, our God is able to deliver us and He will deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. But if He doesn’t, please
understand, sir, that even then we will never under any circumstance serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have erected.’

Psalm 27:1-3 "The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger - so why should I tremble? When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me, I remain confident.”

Daniel 6:16-23 “So the king gave the command and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Your God, whom you serve, He will deliver you.’ Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your
God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.’ Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they
should take Daniel up out of the den. Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury was found on him, because he believed in his God.”

I Kings 17:8-16 “Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.’ So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, ‘Please bring me a little water in a cup
that I may drink.’ And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said,‘Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.’ So she said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.’ And Elijah said to her, ‘Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’ So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.”

Deuteronomy 29:5 “I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.”

Exodus 17:5,6 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.’ And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

Preview of Sunday's Message

2009-01-03T09:40:00.003-08:00

Deuteronomy 32:11 “As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings....”

Perhaps not very much of a Scripture reading, but it certainly is the Word of the Lord. There is enough here that God will,without doubt show us something. If we have the right attitude I know it will cause us to grow in Jesus.

My dear Climbing Compaions as we enter this new year, I need you to understand that the Word of God is...
· Healing to you if you receive it as healing
· Pardon to you if you receive it as a pardon
· Every blessing is yours if you receive it as God wrote it

“As the eagle stirs her nest, flutters over her young, takes them on her wings and bears them….” What a beautiful picture of how God deals with his people!

There are at least seven stages that a young eagle goes through when learning to fly. As we talk about them, see if you can find what stage you are at?

The seven stages are:
Demonstration
Discomfort
Danger
Decision
Direction Change
Doing
Deliverance.

Praise God For New Beginings

2009-01-03T09:27:00.002-08:00

I realize it is just the turn of a page that seperates December and January, but it is significant just the same. I understand that we really don't get a clean slate because we enter a "new" year. However, with God, our God we can get a clean, fresh, brand new start any day of the year! For that I am grateful. Nevertheless, having said that, we humans do look forward to January 1st as a day to make new resolutions, new dreams and perhaps try to do a little better than the previous year.

I would like to start this year by saying - Thank You Lord!

The 2008 year was pretty good - I have no complaints. We even did a few things to bring honor and glory to His name. PTL

As we are entering the first week of '09 I pray that we at the Gathering Place will be "That Church". Although but a small part of the fellowship of the unashamed, used of God just the same. The Lord has heeded our prayers for the releasing of finances. It seems we may be able to enter '09 clear of debt. We just recieved word that a donation of $5000.00 is coming on Monday January 7th. God is so good - we can most likely get squared up with our salary and pay off a few small bills.

We continue to be hamstrung by the lack of cash flow - but we will press forward in faith, trusting in God, Our God! To Him be all Glory and Praise!

It Is Well With My Soul

2008-12-29T09:43:00.002-08:00

PSALM 46:1-11 ... God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah….. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah… Be still, and know that I am God:

We all have days when we’d like to run away from it all. Sometimes our hurt is so bad our spirit throbs inside us.Our dreams fall apart...our hopes fade. Our lives become wearisome drudgery. A marriage goes bad...Health problems develop...Financial problems come up...A loved one dies...And we are tempted to give up.... There is hope because...

God is our Refuge (a shelter or hiding place) and Strength (our security, boldness, might) a very Present (He is always with us) Help (aid) in Trouble (tight spots, misery, distress, agony, suffering).

The word “IN” means not before or after but during, in the midst of. In other words IN all these problems God is our refuge, strength, and a present help.

The words "it is well with my soul" are not found in scripture, But Jesus did say, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and you’ll find rest for your souls Matthew 11:28-29

Our compassionate heavenly Father gives us comfort, hope and peace in his Son Jesus Christ. One day God will wipe away every tear and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

Just a note

2008-12-29T09:39:00.003-08:00

I just read a quote from Vance Havner (my favorite preacher). I thought it was good enough to pass on.

"When I pastored a country church, a farmer didn't like the sermons I preached on hell. He said, Preach about the meek and lowly Jesus. I said, That's where I got my information about hell."

To all my climbing compainions - Be blessed!

Jesus Is Worthy.... He who died for your sins, is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. He is worthy to be believed, He is worthy to be followed, wherever He may lead us. Jesus is worthy to be our example, our confidant, our king, and our all. He is worthy of all He requires, all we can give, all His people have done for Him or suffered in His cause. He is worthy of 100% of our loyalty! Amen

TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

2008-12-29T09:35:00.002-08:00

Praise God for His faithfulness! Over a hundred local ranchers attended our 2nd Annual Christmas Eve Service. What a joy!

Last Sunday was incredibly blessed by God's presence.... truly all those who attended were able to say.... whatever my lot.... it is well with my soul!

A New Year's Statement

2008-12-19T10:08:00.001-08:00

"I'm Too Blessed To Be Stressed!"