Trinity Christian School Bazaar!

If you're not busy this Saturday, come on out to TCS and help support Christian education in Burlington!

Remembering Fred

I am enjoying the book, Don't Waste Your Life, by John Piper.  I've just started scratching the surface, but it is a wonderful read!  With all the reminders of eternity lately, one cannot help but be given a renewed sense of the brevity of life.  There have been several deaths in the extended families of our church family in recent days.  It seems that this grey, wet, weary weather is a reflection of how I feel today.  My heart is heavy for the sorrow that so many are feeling, but I know that some of these folks who have died, lived their lives with the "hope of glory", and now that glory is a reality.  Those who have lost loved ones who died in the Lord, don't mourn as others who have no hope.  Their loved ones are seeing Christ face to face.  I remember with fondness dear Mr. Fred Hambides, who died last week at the age of 93.  I remember his warm welcoming smile and firm handshake every Sunday.  I remember his enthusiastic leading of the hymn, "Blessed Assurance" every time someone came up out of the waters of baptism.  He was a sweet man who loved God and lived it!   He lived with the assurance that Jesus was his, and now he is experiencing that "glory divine." 

   

Autumn Sunday Stroll

Beatitudes in Revelation

I love days like today when I can relax, rest and spend extra time in reading and studying the Word.  Today I came upon something that I'd never read before, so since I found it interesting, I thought I'd share.  It has to do with Beatitudes in the book of Revelation.  To be honest, I guess I never realized there were beatitudes in that book.  If I think about Beatitudes I automatically think of the book of Matthew, but thanks to my new MacArthur study Bible, I now know that there are seven beatitudes in Revelation.  MacArthur says that this is the only biblical book that comes with a blessing for the one who listens to it being read and explained and then responds in obedience.  I love learning new things...

#1  Revelation 1:3    "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near."

#2  Revelation 14:13    "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this; Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'  'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them!'"

#3  Revelation 16:15    "Behold, I am coming like a thief!  Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!"

#4  Revelation 19:9    "And the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'  And he said to me, 'These are the true words of God.'"

#5  Revelation 20:6    "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years."

#6  Revelation 22:7    "And behold, I am coming soon.  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

#7  Revelation 22:14    "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates."

Praying God will bless these verses to your heart...

His Promises...Mine

"Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?"  Luke 24:38

The Lord cares for all things, and the meanest creatures share in His universal providence, but His particular providence is over His saints.

'The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him.'  'Precious shall their blood be in His sight.'  'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.'  'We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.' 

Let the fact that, while He is the Saviour of all men, He is specially the Saviour of them that believe, cheer and comfort you.  You are His peculiar care; His regal treasure which He guards as the apple of His eye; His vineyard over which He watches day and night.  'the very hairs of your head are all numbered.'  Let the thought of His special love to you be a spiritual painkiller, a dear quietus to your woe: 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee'.  God says that as much to you as to any saint of old.  'Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.' 

We lose much consolation by the habit of reading His promises for the whole church, instead of taking them directly home to ourselves.  Believer, grasp the divine word with a personal, appropriating faith.  Think that you hear Jesus say, 'I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not'.  Think you see Him walking on the waters of thy trouble, for He is there, and He is saying, 'Fear not, it is I; be not afriad'.  Oh, those sweet words of Christ!  May the Holy Ghost make you feel them as spoken to you;  forget others for a while-accept the voice of Jesus is addressed to you, and say, 'Jesus whispers consolation; I cannot refuse it; I will sit under His shadow with great delight'.

C.H. Spurgeon

(Yours truly needs regular reminders...KYS)

Psalm 96:12

Kid's Club Pumpkins

David started kid's club this year, so every Wednesday, David, Levi and I head off to TBC to enjoy an evening together.  This past Wednesday I also did the lesson.  I told Levi I would try not be be too long.  After it was over Levi whispered, "that was still a long lesson"... sorry Levi.  I didn't think it was that long, but I'll try to be shorter next time.  On a positive note, he did assure me he learned something... 

We decorated pumpkins.  No carving knives involved, so it was relatively safe....although I did hear a few kids exclaim, "ouch!" once in a while from the hot glue guns... 

Cross Country Meet #2

Last Friday, Taylor and Levi competed in Brantford at their second cross-country meet of the season.  The weather was sunny and windy and the competition and course were a great challenge.  They both finished very strong and are now looking forward to the all-Ontario meet this Friday in Dundas. 



Anniversary Weekend at TBC

Trinity Baptist Church celebrated 38 years of God's goodness this weekend.  We had a lovely time together as church family, enjoying fellowship and worship, amazing singing and edifying lessons from the Word of God.

Our visiting pastor from Coconut Creek in Florida, Pastor Bill Hughes, gave us some wonderful messages.  We were challenged to be the salt and light God wants us to be and to have GREAT faith.  The focus on our Heavenly Father and the home He has for us in heaven gives us perspective while we go through difficulties here on earth. 

At times, the "tough times" seem to be everything and all-encompassing in our lives, but as we were reminded again, these are just "light afflictions" and they pale in comparison to what God has prepared for us in glory.  We were reminded to keep eternity in perspective and heaven before our eyes..."to have heaven in us now, before we are in heaven."  Deep things to meditate on and put into practice. 

I'm so thankful for men like this who have such God-given gifts to open up God's words and "thoughts" in a way that our feeble minds can understand and our hearts can be encouraged and built up. It was awesome to sit under the Word again.  Isn't it amazing how our Father in heaven always gives us what we need to hear, when we need to hear it!?!  We came to church hungry and we went away fed.  I believe this weekend was another foretaste of heaven.  God is so Good!

We learned a new hymn this weekend and I suppose it was our "theme" song:

O God beyond all praising, we worship you today

and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay;

for we can only wonder at every gift you send,

at blessings without number and mercies without end;

we lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word,

we honour and adore you, our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Saviour, accept the love we bring,

that we who know your favour may serve you as our king;

and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill,

we'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still;

to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,

and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.

Michael Perry 1942-96

Isaiah 55:12

Autumn Morning

After Ladies Bible Study this morning, I took some time to catch a few beautiful shots.  These are all taken around the area close to our church...Sideroad #1, 2, and Walker's Line.  We love the view every time we drive to church! 

 This season passes much too quickly for my liking, so I'm trying to enjoy it as much as I can.  I think the colours are much more brilliant than last year...

A Thanksgiving Prayer

(This prayer was written by our David...He read it at the TCS Thanksgiving chapel on Friday, October 8, 2010)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the world that we live in and play in all of the time.

Thank you also for a house to live in with all we need.

Thank you for lots of education and for a school that tries its best to keep us safe and warm.

Thank you also for making me who I am God and if you didn't we would be all the same and boring.

Thank you for warm clothes that keep you warm at night time when you're cold.

Thank you also for a bed to sleep in when it's late.

Thank you for your Son who died on the cross for our sins for whoever believes in Him shall not perish.

Thank you also for friends who help you in your time of need.

Thank you also for animals.  Without cows, we wouldn't have milk.

Thank you for plants, without them we would probably die.

Thank you for shoes to wear or we would get really hurt feet from the ground.

Thank you for cars and vans and trucks to help us get around.

Thank you!

Written by David Schenk (age 8) 

Another Win!

This weekend Amber's junior basketball team played in a tournament at White Oak's HS in Oakville.  They played two games Friday afternoon and another game this morning. Rick, Taylor and I climbed out of our warm beds earlier than usual for a Saturday morning to go watch Amber and cheer her team on to victory.  This is win #2 for the team this season.  It was great to see them play so well today.  The game was great and so was the Tim's coffee we enjoyed during the game...