Farewell!
Well for those that don't already know, and there is a lot of buzz going around, Steve and Danielle have been appointed to the Australia South Territory. Their appointments become effective March 1st. They have been the founding forces for 614 Vancouver, but their next appointments, Steve - Assistant Personell Secretary: Leadership/Officer Development & Danielle- Territorial Social Justice Director, are perfectly positioned. God will bless them and use them in a tremendous way.
And this commericial break is from TWC
So I noticed the other day that the last post was mine on Oct 31, but didn't post. I was thinking about what to post when I thought, time for some recruiting.
<------COME TO THE WAR COLLEGE, IT IS LIFE CHANGING. AND WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE CALLED AN INCENDIARIAN.[Next year's session is called Incendiary]--->
Then, here I am posting, and I saw Megan post, Yeah. I thought this blog had died down. I just want to update everyone on how's it is going over here in Vancouver. What can I say, A LOT!! Elaine was with us last week. She has a wealth of knowledge, and I must say she challenged me on a lot of my thought patterns to do with how the church has lost a lot of it's Jewish heritage, because of various historical events. Anyways, she helped us to start to reconnect with our heritage; thanks Elaine.
Had freedom day yesterday (Mon Dec 4). Hard to explain. God has been freeing me from lots of stuff from my past, and I don't mind sharing some of the details. Yesterday was a culmination of all TWC had been working through. Lots of people got freedom from lots of stuff. Well for me, fear was a major breakthrough. Also I was able to forgive people that hurt me in the past. That was a huge load off my back. I was also got freedom from some sexual stuff from my past. HUGE burden now gone. Never told anyone about it until yesterday. Very big relief!
Term 1 is now official over and I arrive back in Ontario on the 21st. I'm excited to go home again.
If you are thinking of coming to the War College, I recommend it. I don't want this to be a deterrent, but I feel I must say that it is hard. There has been a few times that I've wanted to throw in the towel, but I am so glad I haven't. The bonds you form with your session-mates is indescribable. They are truly your support probably FOREVER.
Anyways, talk to you all later.
Matt Elcome
what it's all about
like many of you, I have gotten caught up in my school activities, school marks, working jobs, music, etc. Probably worst is that I have been caught up trying to make money to do God's will in the future but forgetting or just not doing his will for right now. By sacrificing his will now to provide for the future it's like saying I don't trust God to provide for the future and I will just make my own way on his path. But God reminded me of this on Sunday and I'd like to share it with you because it changed the way I think.
Yesterday a man walked to the front of my church and knelt down at the mercy seat. He was weathered and worn, as tough as nails but as fragile as a porcelain vase just waiting to crack. His face was tanned like leather; the lines on his face were a sign of a life lived lost and lonely in the cold shadows of the world.
I'll never forget his face.
He came up to the front in the song "Open our eyes, Lord" just before the sermon. I have never seen someone come up to the mercy seat before the sermon. That mercy seat has not been used for a long time.
There was something about him that told me he was so desperate to see Jesus; something about that song that called him to the Lord. He really wanted to see Jesus. He overcame shame and dignity, which can sometimes hold us back from walking that long way up to the mercy seat, because they didn't matter any more, only Jesus did.
For a moment it was as if our congregation stopped still, or rather I could feel thier hearts stop still, as we all kept singing along.
When he knelt down at the altar, it was then that I heard God say, "This is what it's all about; its all about seeing the lost come back to their Father God."
Prayers were offered up for our brother and the chorus was sung a few more times. Our church is usually pretty by-the-book, so this was a little strange; it was different because it needed to be. We had a lesson to learn.
As that man stood up from the mercy seat, I noticed he had tears streaming down his face. And in that instant I saw Jesus. Jesus tells us to look out for the least of our brothers as if it were himself. That man was the least of our brothers. But in that moment, he was also Jesus appearing to me and he was weeping because of how far we have gone from what its all about, for how many have lost sight of what its all about.
I've been meaning to volunteer time to serve the homeless at one of our mobile kitchens/hang-outs, but I've been caught up in school and in work, trying to get money to serve God NEXT year. I can't sacrifice his will for me now to provide a way for his will for me next year. He will make that way, but I've got to live for him now.
I've got to call that volunteer service.
There are so many that are lost from God, and we see hundreds of them walk past us every day, over and over, hundreds and thousands of people who don't know the way. If you don't know what is like to feel lost, it is terribly scary, cold, you feel like there is no where to go and no hope to find somewhere; being lost is one of the worst experiences in life. God doesn't want his children to be lost. Imagine how horrified your parents, or you, would be if your child was lost! He wants his children to find him!
On Sunday I learned that helping God's lost children find thier way back is what its all about. It's not about computers, entertainment, or buildings, its not about the money or fame, its not about the future or the past, and its not about getting gifts or opportunities for yourself this season. It's about what God thinks it should be about. And today God told me that it's all about bringing his lost children back to his church.
Have you been making efforts to bring his lost back?
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Megan Smith
Memory verse for week Oct 30
Check this one out
2 Corinthians 5:17- I am going by memory, so make sure you look it up -" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come."
Danielle's parliamentary trip was very good, lots of support.
Peace out
Matt Elcome
a new blog for you to read
Hi all,
It's Kristen Rawlins here and I just wanted to let you know that I've started a blog this past month.
http://rawlinsk.blogspot.com/
If you're interested please check it out!
Read some past posts/comments and keep checking back for updates
It's just a basic blog... nothing fancy... but hopefully you'll enjoy it!
Keep up the amazing work of God,
-Kristen
*note: I didn't link the address to the page because I'm not that high-tech
you're going to have to type it out or copy and paste it.
Pray for Danielle
I forgot to include this in the last post. Got it from thewarcollege.blogspot.com. Something to add to your prayers
Danielle is addressing Parliament on behalf of our War College Campus. The downtown Eastside of Vancouver is notorious for prostituted peoples. Danielle heads up a special task force on this injustice and God has granted her an address. Pray Matt 10:20, "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."
Memory verse for this week
So Stephen is away, so I figured I would fill in for him. This weeks memory verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Hope everyone is having an awesome year.
God Bless
Matt Elcome
