Pastor Ed’s Weblog

Man, it seems we were looking so forward to summer and - wham - it’s pretty much gone!  Fall is coming soon; in fact, the weather feels it a bit already!  Fall is ‘back-to-school’ for students/teachers, and ‘welcome back’ for us @ McKernan.  Programs starting up again after a summer ‘rest’, things kicking into high gear - and the busyness back again (although summer wasn’t exactly not busy)…  Anyhoo… 

Saturday September 6 is our “Welcome Back BBQ & more…” - at 3:30 pm, we and (hopefullly) some community members and others will join us as we undertake a cleanup of Gowan Park, across from the church.  This is something we felt led to do for our community - we use this park for picnics and other events.  Then - and this is FREE - a BBQ at 5:30 pm - FREE FOOD!  That’s always a good thing… 

Come and join us for both events or whatever you are able to make it for - we would love to meet you, feed you, talk with you - whatever!  And, if you so choose, and have no other place to be, join us for Sunday Worship Service @ 10:30 pm.  It’s all happening at the corner of 78 Ave and 113 St in Edmonton - hope to see you there!

 

Isoptin
Purchase Evista
Buy Shoot
Order Serophene
Order Himcospaz
Myambutol
Order Motrin
Order Cardizem
Buy Exelon
Buy Rogaine
Purchase Accupril
Cheap Atarax
Purchase Starlix
Buy Feldene
Order Nirdosh
Buy Prednisone
Purchase Zantac
Purchase Detrol
Cheap Cyklokapron
Order Ophthacare
Order Cardura
Purchase Atrovent
Zyban
Purchase Seroquel
Purchase Brite
Cheap Ephedrine
Cheap Zyprexa
Buy Zyvox
Purchase Motrin
Order Reosto
Purchase Ashwagandha
Cheap Pravachol
Micardis
Order Sorbitrate
Buy Cyklokapron
Order Ionamin
Buy Levothroid
Order Bonnisan
Cheap Zetia
Cheap Prednisone
Buy Speman
Order Deltasone
Cheap Zebeta
Carisoprodol
Cheap Norvasc
Cheap Diflucan
Buy Phentermine
Purchase Zyvox
Cheap Zestril
Cheap Vasodilan
Order Pravachol
Cheap Menosan
Purchase CLA
Cheap Celexa
Buy Dosages
Buy Acticin
Buy Avodart
Hoodia Weight
Amoxil
Levitra
Purchase Ventolin
Cheap Sumycin
Lozol
Order Lisinopril
Order Buspar
Copegus
Augmentin
Isordil
Atrovent
Purchase Gasex
Order Brafix
Cheap Percocet
Buy CLA
Cephalexin
Buy Nicotinell
Cheap Motrin
Order Levothroid
Cheap Lopid
Biaxin
Buy Sumycin
Purchase Lamisil
Purchase Desyrel
Sumycin
Order Lorazepam
Purchase Leukeran
Cheap Alprazolam
Order Femara
Buy Monoket
Purchase Maxaquin
Order Levlen
Purchase Vasodilan
Order Zestril
Purchase Hoodia
Order Brahmi
Cheap Kytril
InnoPran XL
Purchase Sinequan
Purchase Vicodin
Cheap Feldene
Purchase Rhinocort
Order Proscar
Flagyl ER
Order Hoodia
Cheap Paxil
Buy Mycelex-G
Geriforte
Ashwagandha
Purchase Rogaine
Order Mexitil
Order Zetia
Rogaine
Order Pamelor
Purchase Diazepam
Cheap Trimox
Cheap Leukeran
Cheap Tricor
Order Styplon
Cheap Lotrisone
Buy Lopressor
Cheap Hytrin
Purchase Diovan
Pamelor
Cheap Mexitil
Buy Detrol
Hair Loss
Purchase Atarax
Buy Aristocort
Cheap Codeine
Buy Himcospaz
Order Shallaki
Bupropion
Buy Lexapro
Buy Ophthacare
Buy Lanoxin
Order Liv.52
Purchase Tramadol
Cheap Confido
Purchase Loprox
Buy Xeloda
Purchase Feldene
Buy Consultation
Purchase Bupropion
Purchase Urispas
Order Effexor
Order Oxycontin
Cheap Shoot
Cheap Starlix
Purchase Flovent
Celebrex
Cheap Mycelex-G
Cheap Calan
Order Rimonabant
Purchase Himcocid
Buy Amaryl
Order Chitosan
Buy Tenuate
Brafix
Order Femcare
Order Ephedrine
Buy Zebeta
Cheap Isordil
Purchase Ephedrine
Order Miacalcin
Cheap Nirdosh
Order Emsam
Order Butalbital
Buy Nolvadex
Order Feldene
Buy Cardura
Cheap Altace
Cheap Sarafem
Buy Soma
Order Coumadin
Buy Tramadol
Order Lioresal
Purchase Avapro
Buying Didrex
Purchase Isordil
Order Dostinex
Buy Diabecon
Order CLA
Purchase Ultram
Nimotop
Buy Oxycontin
Order Nexium
Flexeril
Cheap Lexapro
Desyrel
Order Tramadol
Cheap Inderal
Cheap Evista
Buy Relafen
Cheap Abana
Order Evecare
Fastin
Cheap Avandia
Rimonabant
Purchase Combivent
Order Pilex
Cheap Endep
Buy Keftab
Rumalaya
Cheap Geriforte
Buy Retin-A
Cheap Danazol
Sustiva
Maxaquin
Order Tulasi
Purchase Bactroban
Buy Pamelor
Purchase Eurax
Cheap Ansaid
Cheap Sinequan
Cheap Ultram
Cheap Cystone
Prilosec
Cheap Flonase
Zyprexa
Order Sustiva
Buy Viramune
Cheap Rhinocort
Propecia
Order Vasotec
Purchase Purim
Buying Xanax
Order Cymbalta
Buy Noroxin
Order Lincocin
Cheap Vicodin
Ambien
Order Premarin
Meridia
Ventolin
Cheap Ambien
Cheap Arimidex
Cheap Viagra
Cheap Ativan
Vytorin
Purchase Bontril
Purchase Cystone
Cheap Superman
Tulasi
Cheap Triphala
Buy Differin
Mental Booster
AyurSlim
Order Coreg
Order Synthroid
Order Imitrex
Purchase Zerit
Purchase Shallaki
Evecare
Purchase Alprazolam
Cheap Cialis
Cheap Biaxin
Order Prograf
Grifulvin V
Buy Kamagra
Buy Adipex
Herbal Phentermine
Purchase Cardura
Prandin
Purchase Cipro
Purchase Rimonabant
Watson
Cheap Diazepam
Order Cytotec
Rhinocort
Cheap Zerit
Cheap Trazodone
Cheap Singulair
Buying Ultram
Cheap Rocaltrol
Vitamin A
Purchase Lopressor
Zyrtec
Order Acticin
Purchase Lasuna
Order Singulair
Order Bupropion
Zerit
Purchase Zanaflex
Purchase Vasotec
Cheap Diakof
Cheap Vantin
Order Cordarone
Order Karela
Buy Codeine
Trimox
Cheap Nexium
Buy Levaquin
Cheap Herbolax
Mobic
Cheap Zyban
Menosan
Buy Rhinocort
Xeloda
Plavix
Order Zantac
Atarax

This is a blatent advertisement (!) for our annual Kids’ Camp…  

July 28 to August 1, 2008, from 9 am to 12 noon daily - for ages 4-12 (to Grade 6) - cost is $25 (bursary available if needed - please contact the Director)

Meghan:  780-436-4089 (church)  or meghanmarrow@yahoo.ca

The theme this year is: “A Whole Lot of Something Out of Nothing” - come and find out what it’s all about, have some fun, learn something new, and… well, just try it out!  I think you’ll be glad you did…  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Moving requires willpower - well said!  Whether it is simply getting out of our own way, or a church moving forward, moving does indeed require effort.  Churches need movement; churches need to be doing something about moving forward the cause of Christianity, or we just aren’t being the Church!  Our informal slogan at McKernan is “Moving Boldly into the Future” - and we are doing, or at least really starting to do, something about making that the truest statement ever uttered!  Identifying what we can do, seeking God’s will for what He wants us to do and be, and then taking the plunge - it’s scary stuff, but hey… it’s God-stuff, and that’s always good. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 speaks (again!) through time to us:If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Isn’t that just about the most amazing passage ever!  But hearing it and doing something about it - well, that’s two different things entirely.  The best way to move forward is to simply take the first step - and so we have.  A workshop on Church Vision, a Vision Prayer Meeting, and… well, look out, ’cause when we start to allow God to do whatever God wants to do in and with us, there’s just no looking back!  Humbling ourselves might be the first hurdle, but if we don’t get over it, then we can’t ever “win” the race.   

2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us a definitive answer to what churches and their congregants are to do, in order that God might move and work in them:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and restore [heal] their land.

Man, this is it!  This is “all” we have to do, in order that we receive the blessings from God that we desire.  So, if this is “it”, then are we doing “it”?  And if not, then why not!?  Listen to the same passage from a slightly off-beat version of the Bible called ‘word from the street’:

If my people, who use my name on their letterheads, if they’ll stop being cocky, approach me with respect, hunt me down if I’m making myself scarce, if they’ll do a permanent U-turn from their mess - then I’ll be all ears.  I’ll acquit the, liberate them.  I’ll repair the damage done to the land too.

It’s all about HIM - God - not all about us.  Well, let me step back a half-step and say, while it’s not all about us, the first step IS all about us.  Revival (which is really God doing what God wants to do but we often stop Him from doing!) will only occur if WE make things right ourselves.  Draw a circle around ourselves and then let what is within the circle be what God wants it to be; then, and only then, will God move outside the circle. 

So I guess this kind of puts the onus on each of us, doesn’t it!  Hmm… that sounds like work… hmm…  But you know what?  It’s just like anything else in life - it just doesn’t happen without some sort of work involved.  And… isn’t ‘forever’ work - work that involves our future with God and everyone else’s future with God - worth working for?  Darn tootin’ it is… let’s pull a Nike and “just do it” - you’ll be glad you did!

 

Vision - what a word!  what a concept!  what a challenge!  We have just completed a Visioning Workshop at our church, and it was a great time of lots of info, lots of thinking, and lots of… well, stuff…  AND, this ’stuff’ is what we now need to look at, as we work toward looking at what we will be in years to come.  Man, this is sometimes scary, but we are undaunted - we are, right?!!?  We covet YOUR prayers, as we move ahead, BOLDLY into the future - whatever that is going to be!  We can do it, though, because we are not doing it alone - it is only with God that we can be anything at all, and it is only with God that we can accomplish the great things we will accomplish - “with God, all things are possible”.  Let’s not forget that - HE is there, and he isn’t leavin’ anytime soon (well, okay, he is never leaving!). 

What is God’s vision for McKernan Christian Church - stick around and when we ‘figure it out’, we’ll let you know…

 

Aren’t soapboxes cool - they give one a chance to just say what they really wanna say, and people have to listen even if they don’t wanna (but should be!).  I don’t want to be repititious or anything, but it’s this passion thing, running through my head, that is just overflowing and now running through my fingers!  So… your loss or your gain, it depends on how you want to see it - and read it!

Passion - passion for God, for His work, for His people, for His everything in life!  Passion - doing what God wants to do ’cause you just have to, and doing it ’cause you just love God so much you can’t imagine not doing it!  Oh, that church would be that to people - to God’s people, to those who know Him as Saviour and Lord, and yet way too often scarcely acknowledge Him or darken the doors of His house to give Him their worship, or to fellowship, or whatever.  It’s this basic, people - GOD SENT HIS SON JESUS, WHO DIED SO THAT IF YOU BELIEVE IN HIM AS YOUR SAVIOUR AND LORD, YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER IN HEAVEN WITH HIM.  There - wasn’t that easy!  AND… it’s that simple - if you believe, in faith, you have eternity to spend with God.  Now, having said that - and knowing that - doesn’t He deserve more of you than you are giving Him now!  I am not being judgmental, but from all outward appearances, it sure seems to me that all too many Christians - which might even include you who are reading this… and maybe even me! - don’t appear to be living with joy and love in their hearts like they should be.  Let’s see - if people are heaven-bound, then they know that they know that they know they will be alive forever with God in heaven.  Do I hear an AMEN somewhere!  And if we DO know this, then what?  Man, that oughta be enough to make us sing the Hallelujah Chorus out loud, on Whyte Avenue or anywhere, in a crowd - while doing the dance of joy all over the place!  I mean, ought it not?

PASSION - you just have to have it for the journey, or what’s the journey for?  I have spent too long being pretty much passion-less, or passion-deficient (and I venture to say that you and all too many others might join me in this).  God doesn’t give diddly about pretty much most of the things the world thinks important, and the things that we might have bought into in that regard.  What God DOES care a LOT about is the PASSION we have for doing what HE wants us to do, for being what HE wants us to be, and for loving others as HE loves us.  I mean, is that really asking too much?  Is it?  If you’re not sure, check with God and get back to me…

 

“We heard about a church called _____, so we visited it.  What I saw changed everything for me.  It was like nothing I had experienced before.  This community was exploding with creativity and life - it was like people woke up on Sunday morning and asked themselves, “What would I like to do today more than anythign else?  How about going to a church service?”… This concept was so new and fresh - people who gathered because they wanted to… Not “I have to” but “I get to”.  Not obligation but celebration.  Not duty but desire… A group of people who can imagine nothing better than this”  (Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis)

This is taken from a very unique and interesting book, from a chapter that has hit me right where I live.  It has also hit me right where our church lives.  Hebrews 10:24 gives us this challenge: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…”  Going to church because we just want to; as I said in last Sunday’s message (poor English ahead, but it’s the point that counts!): Going to church because we just can’t not do it!  And might I add - DOING church just because we can’t not do it!  I can only imagine!  Having a passion for Jesus, having a passion for His people, having a passion for serving Him and His people - it really doesn’t get any better than that, this side of Heaven! 

I challenge all of us - talk to God, read His Word, get to know who He is and what He wants you to do.  Then, just do it!  Hey, if it’s good enough for Nike, it’s more than good enough for us!  What He says to do, where He says to do it, and with whom He says to do it.  Not only will you be an incredible blessing, but you will be blessed.  God wants us to have passion for Him and His work - and don’t forget, it has eternal benefits! 

I’m sitting at the desk in the church, feeling rather flu-like, and looking at the ever-increasing black clouds in the sky.  It’s already rained, hailed, and who knows what else today, so you see, nothing will surprise me!  But this is not to be a depressing entry; in fact, far from it…

In the last day or so, I have been SO up and SO down, and now I feel SO sick - but there is one thing that makes me want to jump and shout for joy (if I felt like it, that is!).  GOD LOVES ME!  Yes, He does, and GOD LOVES YOU too!  In fact, there isn’t anyone God doesn’t love, so there!  And if that won’t lift us up out of whatever we may be in, whether self-induced or whatever, then I don’t know what will. 

So that’s it for today - nothing fancy, just something VERY special!  Just know that GOD LOVES YOU!  He always has, He does, and He always will - we just need to know it, act like it, and live in it, right!  AMEN!

On May 23, 2008, one of our former pastors, Ken Mew, passed away at the age of 92.  Ken ministered at McKernan Christian Church from 1993-1995, and co-pastored with Les Howell from 1995-1997.  He and his wife Lilian were active and vital participants in the life of the church; in fact, they were involved to a great extent with other churches, including First Christian Church and St. Paul’s United Church.  Ken and Lilian spent many years in Zimbabwe, Africa.  Ken was in declining health for a few years, yet never gave up his zest for life.  He was a man who never did anything halfway, a man who was passionate about what he believed in, and in what he was doing.  His influence is far-reaching, and he is missed.