Glory Breaks in

This is one of those viral videos you don't want to miss! My mother-in-law verified for me that this actually took place the way you hear it in the Welland Mall. 
It was a powerful reminder to me of how the glory of God can break into the most mundane and familiar of places through very ordinary looking people! Here were people arrested by beauty in the midst of shopping and eating and talking. How many heard the words I wonder? Reminds me of another time many years ago when the glory of God broke through into the lives of ordinary people. A chorus of angels in a field, a heaven-sent child born in a motel garage. Very cool.
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlphabetPhotography

Ur Video: Testimony from North Korea | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders

Ur Video: Testimony from North Korea | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders

This is a MUST WATCH video of the testimony of a North Korean girl shared at the 2010 Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. It's heart rending and inspiring. 

The Anglican Fringe

On Monday, the B.C. court of Appeals ruled that Anglican congreagtions that have aligned themselves with the Anglican Network must leave the buildings that they have worshipped in all their lives. This conflict has been brewing for some time ever since the Anglical Church of Canada voted to extend their blessing to same-sex unions. Christians within the church who believed in the authority of the Word of God felt in good conscience they could no longer support a denomination that had changed the essence of it's teaching. So, when a congregation decided to stand on the word of God and oppose such teaching, the denomination took the position of "if you don't like it then you are free to leave". The church members, who paid to buy and maintain these building all their lives argued that the diocese and the denomination broke faith with them by changing the essentials of what it meant to be Anglican and therefore they should give up the right of ownership. The essence of the ruling, recorded in the National Post, read  

“The plaintiffs cannot … remove themselves from the bishop’s oversight and the diocesan structure and retain the right to use properties that are held for purposes of Anglican ministry in Canada.”
Lesley Bentley, a trustee at St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church, said the court has essentially ruled that it is “okay for a church to change its faith” without incurring consequences."
Bishop Michael Ingham ( of this Diocese) was the first Anglican Bishop to perform a same-sex blessing and labeled these dissenting churches in B.C. as a "fringe group". Well, yes, unfortunately that is what believers are in this world and always will be. Jesus said in Matthew 7:12-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
The decision reminds us that a church's identity is not wrapped up in a building but in it's identification with it's head, Jesus Christ. What makes a group of believers a church is that they are united to Christ by faith in His shed blood and submit to The Word as the final authority for their lives.


Read more: http://life.nationalpost.com/2010/11/15/dissident-anglicans-cant-keep-churches-court-rules/#ixzz15SUs9rIj

Spiritual Encouragement

Hebrews 3:13,
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin"


"...what is the main thing that the church does for each other? We speak to each other in ways that help us not be deceived by the allurements of sin. Or to put it positively, we speak to each other in ways that cause us to have hearts of faith in the superior value of Christ over all things. We fight to maintain each other's faith, by speaking words that point people to the truth and value of Jesus. That's how you guard against an evil heart of unbelief. Unbelief means failing to rest in Jesus as your greatest treasure. So helping each other believe means showing people reasons why Jesus is more to be desired and trusted and loved than anything else."
John Piper


Was struck this morning by the power of spiritual encouragement in this passage. Paul links this encouragement with God's grace at work in our lives enabling us to persevere in the faith. This is not " oh, I like your hair" or " wow you sure are smart" but these are words that cause other believers to have renewed hope and faith in Christ. Without encouragers in our lives we easily fall prey to sin's deceit and become hardened toward God and others. God help me be just such an encourager!  Amen.

More Landscapes!

Some of these need a bit more work now that I see them from a distance. Posting these is great because it helps me see the paintings in a larger perspective. My room is so small I can't get any more than 3 feet away! Ha!

New Paintings

All human devotion apart from devotion to the One true God is idolatry. A simple statement but true of everyone seeking fulfillment in anything other than a relationship with Christ. In north america we devote ourselves to sports, memorize names and plays. Pay tithes of our money and time and children to this god. We devote ourselves to the pursuit of the god of pleasure and materialism and pay tithes to these gods in money and time devoting weekends to their pursuit. I recently had someone criticize my tithing and devoting of weekends to church yet they dropped $40 on beer and spent the weekend boozing and riding their sea doo. Hmmm... sounds like devotion to me.

Old Guy

So was biking with Ellie at the waterfront and some old guy we went by said, " Make sure you keep up to your grandpa little girl!" I just kept riding...

Recent paintings

"When we behold the light and brightness of the sun, the golden edges of an evening cloud, or the beauteous bow, we behold the adumbrations of his glory and goodness; and the blue skies, of his mildness and gentleness..." Johnathan Edwards in Miscellanies

Glorify Him!

"As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart and glorify Your Name"


 lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/paul_baloche/#share

Sacred and Secular

J.I.Packer, in his book "A Quest for Godliness" writes in the first introductory chapter entitled "Why we need the Puritans" quote " There was for them no disjunction between sacred and secular; all creation, so far as they were concerned, was sacred, and all activities, of whatever kind, must be sanctified, that is, done to the glory of God." People often ask me, how do you integrate your Pastoral ministry with your art? As if the two were diametrically opposed. They are not. They are one in the same kind of ministry. Helping people see life from a different perspective. The division between the sacred and secular is artificial because the life lived for God touches everything we do. It sanctifies every creative act done by a believer who is filled with the spirit and seeking God. Thank God for this heritage left to us by the Puritans and the Dutch Neo-Calvinists.

painting

Finally got my art room done. Also got the house renos done. Did some painting today. Hoping to get out this week into the bush to do some on-site painting. Feel so rusty. It's been two years since I've picked up a brush. Yikes... Been reading the Puritan Walter Marshall on "The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification". Awesome read if you have time and patience and can understand Puritan era English. In other words It's been a trial for me. But worth it. Will post some quotes soon.

Cold

Oh man, the weather is getting cold and I feel like I am running out of days to get out and sketch. Time to bundle up and get out. Why not paint in the rain and cold? It's as much a part of the Northern Ontario ethos as anything. Thanks for everyone who is praying. Many days I sense the grace and mercy of God healing me. Reading lots of Puritans lately. Yum.

Sabbatical

So am now almost at the half way point in my 3 mo. Sabbatical. Done lots of work on the house and traveled a lot with family in August. Now working on setting up a studio at home so I can start painting. Need to get out some more and do more sketching and photography. Starting to daydream again and think creatively. A good sign. Have learned to be patient. Recovering from exhaustion takes time. Some Sunny days coming so I can't wait to go into the bush!