Meandering - The Star Thrower

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Meandering - The Star Thrower

As you may have already heard, 40 children last Sunday are now connected with loving sponsors. You have truly made a difference in the world - thank you! We are glad to partner with Compassion Canada (International) in this endeavor as a church. They are one of the world’s leading child development organizations. I love how they are a Christ-centered ministry who work closely with over 6,500 local churches in 26 countries to end poverty in the lives of children and their families.

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Meandering - Poets & Saints

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Meandering - Poets & Saints

It’s been awhile since I meandered about music. Music is one of God’s great gifts to us.  This past week I’ve been enjoying All Sons & Daughters' newest album. They are a Christian worship duo (Leslie Anne Jordan & David Alan Leonard) who perform in an acoustic, folk sound. They are very committed to their church where they lead worship.

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Meandering - Remember, Please Just Ask Me First

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Meandering - Remember, Please Just Ask Me First

A few weeks ago we were blessed to have some family stay with us. My six year old nephew has a very inquisitive mind. His eyes never seemed to stop surveying every centimeter of each room he entered. Like a bee tenaciously seeking pollen, he would open drawers, cupboards, closet doors, opening any container he discovered, insatiably looking to pollinate his curious mind. I found myself repeatedly saying to him, “Please, ask me first, before you go opening and taking things out.”

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Meandering - Running for the Prize

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Meandering - Running for the Prize

Every week I witness so many of you tenaciously and joyously emptying the tank, and going hard in the kingdom work we do together. As our Canadian athletes mutually inspire one another and our nation during the Olympics, I know we’ll continue, with all God’s might and for his glory, to do the same in the Valley. I am so glad to be a part of God’s winning family here at New Minas Baptist Church.

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Meandering - Read the Bible to Earnestly & Expectedly

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Meandering - Read the Bible to Earnestly & Expectedly

The reality is that consistent Bible reading, like eating healthy and exercising, we know is good for us, but we just don't do it like we should. Yet, more than physical pursuits, it is far more crucial to hear and obey the voice of the Lord. Sobering is the Word of God through Jeremiah to us, “To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it” (6:10). Prone to be “dull off hearing” (Hebrew 5:11), it’s so important that we ask our Lord for a hunger for his Word, and that our ears and eyes would be open to receive his truth and gladly obey it.

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Meandering - Photo Search: Gentleness

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Meandering - Photo Search: Gentleness

This month’s Meandering Photo on the theme of gentleness was sent in by RaeAnne Bekkers. She describes it as “a picture of God's gentleness in making such amazing flowers and strawberries for us to enjoy.” What a lovely picture, and it’s so true. Where our sin only deserved thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:17-19), God has graciously given us beautiful fruits and flowers to enjoy. In Christ, may we also extend this refreshing fruit of the Spirit through thoughtful acts of gentleness and kindness to those around us.

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Meandering - Water Footprints

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Meandering - Water Footprints

Hearing the grass crunch under my feet I thought how quickly things can dry out. We are so dependent upon consistent precipitation, especially our blessed farmers. Some areas in Canada are dealing with drought-like conditions. It was so good to hear the rain hitting the windows, saturating the earth, bringing much needed moisture to our area.

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Meandering - Photo Search: Wisdom

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Meandering - Photo Search: Wisdom

Pastor John Beers, who enjoys photography, sent in this great photo on the theme of ‘wisdom’ for this month’s Meandering Photo Search. He writes, “Here is a picture that might fit the theme for wisdom. The arrangement was put together by Michelle Walker. I thought it was such a beautiful arrangement that I took a picture of it. I added the writing to it - Psalm 119:105.”

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Meandering - Fathers's Day

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Meandering - Fathers's Day

We are to provide and protect, but we are also to be a catalyst and set the tone in attending and participating as a family in the ministries of the church, opening up our homes to fellowship with other believers, and praying with, and for, our families daily. Our job doesn’t stop with the provision of material needs. Our children are body and soul, and as such, we, as fathers, are to primarily “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

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Meandering - Made Perfect in Weakness

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Meandering - Made Perfect in Weakness

Dr. Andrew Bonar, who wrote a wonderful biography of McCheyne, said of him: “He cared for no question unless his Master cared for it; and his main anxiety was to know the mind of Christ.” Pastor Robert McCheyne knew deeply of the importance of deriving our power from keeping our eyes fixed on the living and loving Christ.

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Meandering - Double Fireplace

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Meandering - Double Fireplace

Berated and bleached by briny winds, few clapboards remained. The loosened and disheveled stone basement was slowly swallowing up the once ornate seaside house. Not far from where the Anabaptists first landed in 1763, this dilapidated homestead had at one time sheltered inhabitants from the frigid winds of the Bay of Fundy. In my late teens, along with a friend, I gingerly stepped onto it’s sunken porch, having summoned the courage to explore the long vacated property...

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Meandering - Born Again

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Meandering - Born Again

None compares to Jesus Christ. In him, and the beauty of his holiness, we daily come alive and thrive in faith. We no longer try to satiate the thirst of our soul on the Red Bulls of the world.There’s no need to seek out another. It is Jesus! He is altogether lovely. May we daily be born again and again to this glorious, gospel reality.

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Meandering - Mother's Day

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Meandering - Mother's Day

How can we not give thanks for this mysterious mix of a mother’s fearless, gentle love? At the same time, we want to be mindful of those who find this time of year difficult. Many quietly ache inside, mourning losses and unfulfilled longings. Whatever the situation, with grateful, compassionate hearts, may we celebrate motherhood, taking every opportunity, as well, to encourage and pray for all the special people in our lives.  

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Meandering - Paradoxical, Holy-Love of God

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Meandering - Paradoxical, Holy-Love of God

It’s incredible and beyond words to adequately express this seemingly paradoxical, holy-love of God. How is it that God, who is as Isaiah declared, “high and lifted up, (and) who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy,” is even mindful of us, when we are but “a breath” and a “passing shadow” (Psalm 144:3-4). Not only is he mindful of us, but with the humble he makes his habitation.

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Meandering - Telescopic Steering Wheel

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Meandering - Telescopic Steering Wheel

I learned something new the other day about our car. As I was adjusting the tilt on the steering wheel, I unintentionally pulled on it and, to my surprise, it pulled out closer to me. I didn’t know that it was telescopic. For the two years we’ve had the car my short little arms often felt uncomfortable in having to somewhat strain and stretch out for the steering wheel on longer trips. All the while I was missing out on a telescopic benefit that I didn’t know I already had.

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