Saturday, January 29, 2011

Free Skate Cancelled

Due to a booking error on UW's part, tmr's free skate has been cancelled. We will update you when another suitable time is found.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Nobody's Perfect

I will be the first to admit that I am certainly not perfect.... BUT... I have an insatiable need to be right. Can you relate? Certainly as Christians we have accepted and professed an underlying principle that we are all sinners and yet, having to admit that we are wrong certainly contravenes certain fabric of our being. Nobody likes being told that they are wrong, especially when it comes to matters of personal choice. So we call upon logic, reason, and/or a higher authority to set up our defenses. Naturally, what greater defense can you have than that of God! So you pull out the "God-card" and lay it down. Then they lay down their "God-card" and then you are at a standstill and all everyone can do is say, "The Lord's will be done!" (Acts 21:12-14).
Certainly the Apostle Paul has become one of the most endeared early disciples of the New Testament. We recognize his passion, the strength of his character, his love and compassion, spiritual maturity and wisdom, and the zeal of his spirit. And certainly to attribute any fault to Paul is almost sacrilegious. To accuse Paul that he deliberately disobeyed the Holy Spirit seems to be an impossibility but yet, a close examination of Acts 19-21, with some insight from Romans 9 and 11, seems to point to the possibility that Paul might not have necessarily gone to Rome in chains. (You can listen to my sermon defending this view on Dropbox)

But not so fast. Maybe there is another side to this story. Perhaps Paul was in the right and everyone else was in the wrong. If you want to hear the argument of this view you will have to come this Sunday to SimplyChurch.

Announcements:

1. Exciting event this coming Sunday Jan. 30th. Free skate at CIF 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Bring your skates along for a time of fun, fellowship and falling!

2. Do you have a heart to serve and yet you don't know where you can fit in at SC? Please speak to Pastor Tim. There are many serving opportunities available.

3. We have 2 fixed pick up locations for Sunday Service - the PetroCan at Philip and Columbia at 9:40 a.m. and the Burger King at Philip and University at 9:45 a.m. If you require a pick up outside of those two locations, please contact us and we will make sure you get a ride.

Blessings,
PT

Monday, January 17, 2011

The Spirit Made Me Do It!

I believe that most of us have come to (or most certainly will) a crossroad in our life where we must make some radical decision - a decision that would put us in direct contradiction to conventional wisdom, social norms, familial expectations, and just good old fashioned logic. Some of us would say it is a gut-feeling (like Leroy Jethro Gibbs) or it is a certain restlessness that needs to be resolved ("Run Forrest run!... right across the country ... and back). For others it is a disillusionment and they need release from that which binds their spirit from pure freedom (btw that is what 6/49 tries to sell you with their "Imagine the freedom" slogan). Often we, as friends, try to help these confused sojourners with sound advice, life testimonies and experiences, logical arguments, and sometimes just putting the fear of God into them. But what do you say to someone who tells you that it is a call from God? How do you argue that one? This was the case with one notable and popular Christian pastor in the USA. Francis Chan left his thriving church and ministry, sold his house and other earthly belongings, packed up his family and moved to Asia in response to a call God put in his life. There was no specifics as to the call. "I started to just feel too much like this earth was my home in some ways – you know you just get your roots in and get comfortable. And then I started feeling this call and there's all sorts of fears," he said. "It's just a really crazy time in my life right now."
Certainly there was much criticism and some backlash from his decision from various sources - including other renown and popular pastors (see : http://www.theresurgence.com/driscoll_chan_harris_roundtable).
Francis Chan is not the first nor the last person who has received such a radical calling in his life. The apostle Paul went through a similar incident during his 3rd missionary journey. He was resolved to go to Jerusalem at the Spirit's beckoning despite warnings from caring brothers in the Spirit and a prophet of God. And I am certain we have all faced (or will face) such a similar dilemma. As we study through Acts 19-21:16 over the next 2 weeks, we will examine the two sides of this proverbial coin problem.

Other exciting news at SimplyChurch this week:

1. Car repair workshop - If you are interested in learning some basic automotive skills, we will be running some car repair and maintenance workshops over the next few months. First one is scheduled for Monday January 17th at 7:30 p.m. 427 Albert St. at Meetz Small Engine.

2. Pick up for Sunday services are available at two fixed locations: Petrocan gas station on Philip and Columbia at 9:40 a.m. and the new Burger King on Philip and University Ave. at 9:45 a.m. If you require a pick up outside of these two locations, please contact pastortim@gmail.com for a CTO pick up location and time.

3. We are looking for people to help with set up and tear down. Please contact Joseph Wong (jyfwong@alumni.uwaterloo.ca).

4. Worship teams - if you have an urge to serve in our music ministry, we have a need for AV personnel, musicians, and singers. Please contact pastortim@gmail.com.

5. Free skate - January 30th from 1-2 p.m. at Columbia Ice Fields. Bring your skates and have a time of fun and fellowship.

6. Sunday School - BBS (Basic Bible Study) We are starting a new series on basic Bible study. Bring your laptop, Bibles and whatever resources you may possess and be prepared to be amazed, astonished and challenged.

Well that is all for this week. May you have a blessed week.

PT

Friday, January 7, 2011

P H L U E

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Nietzsche.

No one likes to get sick. (Except when your mother is trying to set you up with a childhood friend on a date and you remember that she was pretty ugly back then and horrible towards you, but then you think that possibly she was that ugly duckling who has now transformed into a beautiful swan, but then again, this is reality and life isn't a fairy tale so you really don't want to take that chance and go about trying to catch the flu... but that's a whole other story for another time...)

Well I am certain that I will live and conquer this flu but the inconveniences of being sick has cause a ripple effect in the normal routines here at SimplyChurch. Just to be sure that all will go smoothly on Sunday, I have the opportune privilege of acquiring the services of one of our former student to come preach on Sunday.

Mr. Yu-Ling Lee is a UW graduate, with a MDiv degree from Tyndale Seminar, and currently PhD candidate at Regent College. He was also on staff with Ambassadors for Christ in Canada, overseeing several CCF in the Toronto area.

I look forward to having him share the Word of God this Sunday and I am certain that you would benefit from hearing him as well. We welcome you to come join us and see how God has led this young man's life from his years here in Waterloo to where he is today.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

January Twenty Eleven

Welcome back! After a 2 week hiatus for the Christmas holiday, I look forward with eager anticipation in joining everyone in worship together at SimplyChurch this coming Sunday, January 9th, 2011. The Christmas holiday season is often spent with family and friends, many of whom we don't necessarily see as often as we should or want to. Hence, what a privilege it is to see all of you on a regular weekly basis - to worship, fellowship, share some food, pray, laugh, hug, and even cry a little. Certainly we often don't appreciate what we have until we don't have it anymore. While I certainly enjoyed having some time off over the Christmas season, but I think I would gladly trade in that time off with time spent with you.

SimplyChurch... meeting Sunday mornings at 10:05 a.m. at St. Paul's University College in McKirdy Hall. If you need transportation, pick up from the new Burger King on University Ave. and Phillip Street at 9:45 a.m. If that is not a convenient location, please contact me at pastortim@gmail.com and we will arrange for a ride for you.

See you there!