The well-known CBS commentator Andy Rooney passed away last fall at the age of 92. In one of his famous rants, Rooney talked about his penchant for hoarding stuff. He made a very insightful observation: “It’s hard to know how much of your life you ought to try and save so you can enjoy remembering it. Sometimes all you can remember are the things you’d rather forget.” Probably all of us hold on to some things from our past which need to be thrown out. Some of these items just clutter up our basements and garages. But in this process of housecleaning, we also need to de-clutter our hearts. Many of us are hoarding bitterness and old grudges. We are unwilling to let go of past hurts, and we cannot offer the forgiveness which can heal both the offender and the offended.

The apostle Paul writes: “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32) The writer to the Hebrews said much the same: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble.” (Hebrews 12:15)

As we continue to move forward in our ministry at Lorne Park, let’s resolve to de-clutter our lives and open our hearts to God’s housecleaning. It may be a little painful to throw some of these things away, but we will be richer for it in the end.

Happy “de-cluttering!”

Next session: February 23rd at 9 AM

Ladies’ Event – What’s for Dinner?
A fun hour of cooking at Loblaws on Monday, February 27 from 6pm to 7pm. The cost is $10.00 but Loblaws then gives all those who register a $10.00 gift card. The spaces are limited (20 only probably) so those interested will need to sign up ASAP on the sign up list in the narthex.
Any questions – please speak to Donna Rose.

Apr. 20-22, 2012 – Ladies
Retreat…

Save the date for this is a wonderful weekend
for you will want to be there!  Registration begins on Feb. 19 in the Narthex at LPBC, from the link on this page or via email from LPBC (talk to Ward Pipher or email him at wardpipher@rogers.com if you are not already signed up to receive emails from LPBC).  If you would like a copy of the registration form, please click here for a pdf version or click here for a form fill-in in Word.   The pdf registration form can be filled in and mailed electronically to our registrar if you are able to view it  in Acrobat Reader and it has the option in the top right hand corner to add text.  If this option is not available to you, the form may be printed and handed in with your payment.  If you would like instructions for this online completion option (after you have downloaded a copy of the registration form), please click here. The Word version needs to be simply opened, completed online by tabbing and filling in the various fields, saved and then mailed as an attachment to Wendy.  When you bring your cheque in, you will need to hand in a completed waiver form as well.  The release of liability waiver can be downloaded here and printed out at home or you can pick up and complete one when you hand in your cheque.

ATTENTION BOOK CLUB!
Next Gathering – Wed. Feb. 22nd at 7 PM
The Book Club will be meeting at Laurie Karasmanis’ house. We will be discussing “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett.
Feel free to pass this note on to others.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Barbara Neal or Sharon Mueller. Happy reading!

On Thurs. Mar. 29, 2012 from 7-9 PM, Mike will be giving a seminar to teach coping skills to overcome your struggles with anxiety and depression.  Mike has not only recovered from these struggles, he has worked for The Midwest Center for stress and anxiety for the past 14 years.  Mike has had the enjoyment of helping tens of thousands of people in the over 1100 seminars he has given on anxiety and depression.

If you can relate to some of the symptoms above, Mike urges you to come to his seminar and learn how to gain control of your struggles with anxiety and depression.  Mike also encourages you to tell your friends and relatives so they as well can benefit from the seminar.

This is going to be an exciting year.  We are going to dive into scripture and into God.  We are going to talk about issues that matter; issues that affect us today.  We are going to answer questions that some of us may have had for years, not knowing if there even was an answer.  We are going to really look at what Jesus said, what that means, how it affects us, how it should change us, and what we’re going to do about it.

I’m going to finish with a verse.  You have probably heard me quote it before.  It’s one of my favourite verses because I feel like it pretty much sums up Christianity.  We say we love Jesus, or want to love Jesus, or want to have a relationship with him.  Well how to do we show it?  Matthew 25:40
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Whatever we do for others, even the least of these brothers and sister, we do for Christ.  How are you going to show Jesus love this week, this month, this year?  It’s a brand new year.  Let’s embrace it.

I want a house more than anything I can think of.  Apartment living just doesn’t seem to cut it now that I have kids.  The idea of sitting in my house, looking out into the back yard with a warm cup of tea is more than pleasing to me, it’s downright sinful.  I am trying to get in shape so I will quite often go for long walks or runs on which my mind glances from house to house thinking about what I like and dislike about them.  I like to think about the features I want my house to have; how many rooms, bathrooms, open or closed concept, back yard, back patio, near parks, schools etc.  I actively covet houses.  It’s something that I enjoy doing, but something that ultimately leaves me feeling unsettled and unsatisfied.

We all know we aren’t supposed to covet; and yet we all do (I’m fairly comfortable making that generalization).  We covet things that we don’t have, things that we are sure will make our lives better, but deep down are we really convinced that they will?

There is an old Hindu story about a king who goes out into his country to see his people.  He sees many, many people in destitute poverty, and some who are very rich.  He sees different interactions between different people, but through it all he sees that all the people seem generally dissatisfied with life and with each other.  Finally he comes across a man sleeping by the side of the road with a stone for a pillow.  The man is sleeping with a huge smile on his face.  He is very satisfied.  The king asks one of his servants why the man looks so happy.  The servant asks the king for 99 rupees to demonstrate something to him.  The king obliges and the servant gets out of the carriage.  He goes to the sleeping man, wakes him, and hands him 99 rupees.  The man smiles, counts the money and frowns.  He looks at the king’s servant and says: “Why not 100?”

We are never satisfied.

I don’t think it’s wrong to want things, or to dream of what your life might have in store.  As I understand it, coveting things is not wrong because you want the items you covet; it’s wrong because you are not trusting God to provide you with the things that you need.  You are not satisfied with what the king has given you.  You want 100 rupees instead of 99.

I’m reading this book right now by a pastor named Francis Chan.  The book is called “Crazy Love” and it’s about God’s love for us, and the different ways we respond to that (both appropriate and inappropriate).  In one chapter Chan talks about how he felt God calling him to sell his house, move into a smaller house, give away the extra money, and use the money that they saved on monthly mortgage payments to help people in need.  He also talks about how his church and his friends responded to that.

“You’re crazy!”

“You aren’t being fair to your kids!”

“You aren’t doing what’s best for your family!”

“You’re taking the bible too literally!”

Now, Chan sold his house to better serve God, which I know for him also means to spend lots of time with his kids and his family.

When was the last time you ever heard somebody say “Yeah, my dad was around a lot, but I just wish he would have worked longer hours so we could live in a bigger house!”

Never. (I’m also fairly comfortable making THIS generalization)

You never hear that!  People always say the opposite. They talk about all the material things their parents were able to give them, but mourn the fact that they didn’t get more face time with their dads or moms.

Billy Crystal wrote a whole play about it!

If I buy a house, I will have little to no available income to give away if someone needs it. (Not that we should give out of what we have, we should give more, more out of what we don’t have and have faith that God will take care of it; but that’s a whole other blog!)

Maybe God is calling me to live in an apartment so that I can afford to bless people and projects with my available finances.  Maybe my coveting houses is blinding me from seeing the kingdom of God unfolding before my eyes.  Maybe my dissatisfaction with my living space is a spit in the face of the king who gave it to me (it’s certainly more than I deserve).

God gave me 99 rupees, and I have the audacity to ask him for the hundredth?

God knows my heart.  He knows what I want.  And he knows when, if, and where he wants to give it to me.  Maybe I should trust that.  His plans have proven way better than mine so far anyways.

Maybe I should stop coveting my neighbours ox, and start praising God for the ox he’s given me.

What do you covet?

(This blog also available at http://www.twoxtwo.ca)

See upcoming info, events and just connect!

“LPBC…a church made up of families, singles, children, youth, young adults and seniors. Some are long time Christ Followers, while others are trying to figure out who God is and what Christianity is all about. We are all different, but here for one common reason, to discover the truths in the Bible and make them practical in our lives today. Check out www.lpbc.ca.  All are welcome!

SEND A KID TO SPARC CAMP!
Many families cannot afford to pay for camp for their children. We hope to offer 30 FREE
spaces to children from our community. With camper registrations ranging between
$168 – $212 each week, we have a goal of raising $5500 for camper scholarships!
If you can assist us, even with partial registration fees, please place your cheque payable to: Lorne Park Baptist Church, designated for SPARC in the memo line, in the offering plate. Give a child a week they will never forget!

MANITOBA TOWEL & LINEN DRIVE
Each year, LPBC has generously contributed much needed bedding and towels for the First Nations community we visit in Manitoba.
This year, we need your help more than ever.
The spring floods have devastated the community of Little Saskatchewan, and it may be September before our friends can return to their homes again. When they do, we expect that their homes will have been damaged by water and mould.
Please consider donating your clean towels or bedding, new or used and we will deliver
them to Pathways Ministry for distribution to this and other needy communities.
They can be dropped off at the church before July 29th or call for pickup.
Thank you from the Manitoba Mission Team!

November 2011

Saturday November 19 Tea at Christmas
Contact: Cheryl Hughes
Date and time: Sat Nov 19 2 – 4 PM
Location: LPBC
Cost: $5.00
Special Music: Donna Parisien
Speaker: Anne Woolgar Bell of Matthew House Toronto

January – June 2012:

February 25 Program details TBA
Contact: Donna Rose

April 20 – 22 *note new date Women’s Retreat
Contacts: WM Team

Team Members: Rev, Andrea Cambridge, Shirley Wilk,
Donna Rose, Laurie Karasmanis, Anne Drost, Cheryl Hughes