New Year New Hope New Start

The new year always brings with it a perceived sense of being able to turn over a new leaf and start afresh. Of course the truth of the matter is that those burdens, fears, and problems don't magically disappear with the turn of a page. But we just take on a fresh perspective, a new hope, and a certain enthusiasm to tackle all that the new year throws in our way.

As we have been learning through our study in Galatians, true change and freedom only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Perhaps this is where we should start off the new year. A good foundation and everything else will fall in place. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; And all these things will be added unto you." Mt.6:33

At SC this week...

We are very excited to have Elena Wang back with us after her STM with EMI. She will be sharing of her experiences this coming Sunday (Jan. 15).

A reminder that there is a new pick up location for Sunday Service. CLV Community Center at 9:55 a.m.

Keep posted for more news and announcements.

A blessed new year to one and all.

PT

Updates.

We have a NEW PICKUP location besides our existing 2 locations. 1) the PetroCan at Philip and Columbia at 9:40 a.m. and 2) the Burger King at Philip and University at 9:45 a.m.NEW: CLV Community Center @9:55a.m. If you require a pick up outside of those two locations, please contact us and we will make sure you get a ride. If you drive, parking is free at the Gold Lot.

Weekly grocery runs are also being offered. Please contact us for more info.

Sunday School classes are finished until Jan. 8, 2012.

Upcoming Events:

Dec. 18th - 2nd Anniversary Celebration & Luncheon

Christmas Hiatus - We will be taking a brief holiday from Dec. 23rd, 2011 - Jan. 2nd, 2012. We will return to our normal schedule Jan. 8, 2012.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Plugged In

Yes I know an update to my blog is long overdue. My apologies to all. Not that I lack a plethora of ideas/topics to write about (probably some that should be censored) but rather, unfortunately (as someone pointed out to me), I tend to craft my blog with more care than I would a Sunday sermon.

Ironically, as I looked down at my power bar, I was reminded that although I have all these communication tools yet I am very poor at communication. I have a charger for my Win7 phone, Android phone/tablet, landline cordless phone, Blackberry playbook, HP Touchpad, and laptop all plugged into my charging station. All these devices are useless without their daily dose of power to replenish them after their productivity has been exhausted. It's a reminder to me that I need to be plugged in daily as well. Yes, sleep and good nutrition are necessary, but more importantly the need to be plugged into God daily to restore and renew me in order to face the challenges of each day. So just as you plug in your BB, iPhone, Android remember to plug yourself into God as well.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, the will walk and not be faint." (Isa. 40:28ff)

Progressive ... ?

Someone said to me that people don't change. That change is bad. That we should stick to the tried and true. Don't change horses in mid-stream. Well perhaps when it comes to the selection or choice of some things we are creatures of habit. Consider the following. What we have here in the above photograph is the progression of my glasses over the last 3 decades. Can you see a common theme? Apparently my style of glasses is making a styling comeback. I am actually leading the eye-wear fashion parade. Can you guess the style of my next pair of glasses? If you said, "Exactly the same" then you are correct... kinda. The hidden change is that I have made the transition into progressive lenses. "Progressive" - not bi-focal, not old-fogies glasses, not tri-focal.... they are "progressive". Perhaps it is just a marketing terminology to make the transition into old age more palatable. But after getting a refresher course in the physics of lens making, progressive is a very appropriate terminology for the complex shape of the lens.

That being said, though I may not have changed my style of glasses over,... well let's be honest here and say my lifetime, I do believe that people can and do change. Actually I am in the business of people-change. God is in the business of people-change. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2Co.5:17) I can understand the skeptics who have tried to implement self-change and have failed. The reality is that true change can only come about through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we are in the business of change - personally, corporately, socially, and globally. If we cannot see change happening within ourselves from our past life before Christ, to our current life in Christ, then something is wrong. Unlike getting progressive lenses to correct our vision, our lives require a more radical measure to make a change. It isn't just a matter of a change in perspective but a matter of change in personhood.

As we have been investigating the life of Abram and his journey of faith, we have seen quite a bit of change in the person of Abram. From his initial calling to learning obedience to having faith in nothing else but God, Abram slowly and progressively is changed into the man that God was able to credited to him righteousness and honored in the Bible as a man of great faith. His journey of faith has been... well... progressive. In our instantaneous society, sometimes it is hard to understand and accept progressive. As the old saying goes, "Slow and steady wins the race". How is your race going? Have you left the gate? Are you out of steam? Or has it been ... progressive?

Easter vs. Christmas

When Christmas rolls around, the Bluevale house is full of activities - mass cleaning, decorations, baking, calendar adjustments to accommodate all the get togethers, gift wrapping and church events - but when Easter rolls around, there isn't so much preparation going out around the house.

If we were to do a comparison, which event is more significant? The birth of Jesus or the death and resurrection of Jesus? Certainly in terms of a worldly perspective, there is much more hype for the Christmas season than Lent, Passover and Easter weekend. Can we truly compare the wonders of the incarnation with the power of the atonement? The manger to the cross? Is it really like comparing apples to oranges? Hummmm something to ponder about.

We have been preaching through a series of sermons on "Reflections of the Cross" - a selection of some of my most favorite passages about the cross of Christ. We have looked at the "Foolishness of the Cross" and the "Fragrance of the Cross". Last week we encountered "The Formidable Cross". And as we end our series on Easter Sunday we directly encounter the "Cross - Friend or Fraud".

If you want to see a portion of the sermon on "The Fragrance of the Cross", click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwoGqXCqzIU&feature=share

Have a blessed Easter Season.

PT

It’s Good To See You Again My Walking Shoes

I dusted off my summer walking shoes this morning and put them on my feet. Ahhhh. The re-emergence of the walking shoes signifies the end of the dreary winter months and the insurgence of spring. With an anticipated high of 12C today, and many hours of waiting in the hospital, I thought it would be best that I don’t cook my feet with my winter boots today.

There is something comforting about slipping back into my summer shoes. A certain familiarity and liberation that comes in comparison to the waterproof, weatherproof, insulating winter boots that have protected me during these past 4 months. I think the same feeling comes over us when we reunite with friends of old.

This past weekend there was somewhat of a reunion of my old church friends from my youth. Though the circumstances were not for the most part a joyous occasion (my condolences and prayers to the Au Yeung Family), the sight, hugs, and sounds of the voices and faces from my youth certainly brought back many memories and a certain comforting familiarity when I was surrounded by the “uncles and aunties”, “brothers and sisters”, and the “young ones”. The older generation still called me by my nickname, and then apologizes and addressed me as “Mook Si”… which was often followed by a laugh or giggle. There were still a lot of “Tim Gor gor” and “Uncle Tim”, though in reality we are now all peers – equals before the eyes of our God – brother and sisters in Christ. The one thing that binds us all, now that most of us are separated by miles, oceans, and even continents, is that which brought us all together in the first place. Montreal Chinese Alliance Church was more than just a building. It was, for most of us, the origin and motivator for who we’ve become today. It was a place where the gospel message was boldly proclaimed; where the love of God was demonstrated to all ; and a place where worship and service to our living God was practiced.

Of course, shoes become worn. And as much as I love my summer walking shoes, I know that I will need to replace them soon. Many of us have moved away from our MCAC shoes and put on new shoes – shoes that have brought us to many new and great adventures for our God. Simpychurch is my new shoes. I hope that it will be yours as well.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News”

Walking in His Steps,

PT

Oreo's Social Network

My cat has always been an indoor cat, though Oreo has on the odd occasion escaped the confines of the house and ventured out into the wild. I suppose we do this for her own good. No fear of a car running her over. No fear of some other wild animals attacking her (since she is de-clawed and hence at a disadvantage in a fight). No fear of some person snatching her and imprisoning her for themselves (though I suppose we are just as guilt in terms of keeping her as an indoor cat). What is her motivation for wanting to leave the house? Why can't she just be satisfied with everything she has here with us? Is the proverbial catnip really greener on the other side of the door?

We hope that we have provided the best environment possible to meet her every need, to show her all the love we can, and to be her friend and relational support. But obviously this is not enough. Since her fore ray into the outside world has been trumped, she has decided that the cyber world will become her outlet. Her new facebook page has become her social medium allowing her to leave the confines of Bluevale to open a whole new world for her to explore. (Oreo Wai on FB)

I suppose that Naomi had similar hopes when she left her homeland and ventured into the forbidden land - an adventure that would result in her becoming "Mara" and turning that bitterness against God. But in fact, she had become her own worst enemy.

If you want to know more about this story, come visit simplychurch for the next few weeks as Pastor Lew preaches through the book of Ruth.

Until next time,

Meow.