Author: dlcollicott

Sharing the Good News in the capital city of New Brunswick. Privileged to be serving as the pastor of Evangel.

Coming Your Way

‘When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place.’ – anonymous

We’ve had some fun talking about relationships and marriage this month at Evangel. Our Once Upon a Marriage series has produced some interesting conversation. This coming Sunday we’re wrapping up with what might be our most thought-provoking talk yet: Passive Husband, Pushy Wife. Catch it live @ our Maple Street location this Sunday at 10:30am.

Also, I’m pretty stoked about our next series of Sunday talks, Money Myths.  We’re going to examine some of the common ideas about dollars and cents. Stuff like, money brings happiness, money = security, and more money means more value.

A couple of myths can be debunked right now. In case you’re wondering: I’m not going to ask you for money, and if you come, you’re not going to be pressured to give.

Also, Mark & Kim Pope are joining us to share about their vision of reaching people in Thailand. Next Sunday they’ll be with us (along with their cute kids) and you’ll kick yourself if you miss it. Get to know them a little before you meet them by reading this.

Before you know it, Love Fredericton will be here. Start praying now.

 

Book Review: The Heart Revolution

Confession time: I’m a book nerd.

As far back as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed reading. Maybe it all started with studying the back of the cereal box at the breakfast table. Mom thought it best to feed me Shredded Wheat, but of course I wanted my Count Chocula. Where it started isn’t really important, I just know that somewhere along the line I started reading the backs of toothpaste tubes, Outdoor Life and Field & Stream magazines, hockey cards, Hardy Boys and just about anything I could get my hands on.

Reading still gets me jacked up. Give me a book and a quiet place, and you’ll lose me for awhile. That’s why I was blown away when Graf-Martin Communications asked me to read and give a review of Sergio De La Mora’s book, The Heart Revolution.

The Heart Revolution (THR) is an easy read that encouraged me to consider the potential of life surrendered to God. In both a physical and spiritual sense, our ‘heart’ is the driving force of life.

If your physical heart isn’t working right, you’re headed for trouble. Ditto with your spiritual ‘heart’.

Too many people experience failure in their relationships, their careers, their personal development because something wrong with their heart–it isn’t working right.

The condition of your heart will always determine the course of your life.

For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. (Matthew 12:34-35 NLT)

Sergio points out several things that clog the arteries of our spiritual heart, but doesn’t leave you there. It isn’t a ‘beat-you-up’ book. I didn’t walk away from it thinking, ‘I should…‘ but rather, ‘I can…‘

This is an encouraging book!

‘God chose you, set you apart, and predestined you to accomplish amazing things for Him. You weren’t born by accident. You weren’t a mistake. You are one of a kind, fearfully and wonderfully made, and every one of your days has already been prepared in advance…’ (p. 131)

Check out The Heart Revolution, by Sergio De La Mora (Baker Book House Publishers)

note:

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing group.”

So That Others May Hear

Our national fellowship has been suffering a collective heavy heart these past few days.

The PAOC has always been a mission-focused movement. It’s in our DNA. To tell as many people as possible the Good News of God’s love has been our mandate from the beginning. We’ve always encouraged people to be involved in global evangelism, whether as a career or a short term. We’ve raised millions of dollars, trained many workers, and cried many tears as family and friends did the back-breaking, knuckle-scraping, gut-wrenching work of taking the Gospel to places no one else had.

About a week ago, a young man was ushered into eternity while working on the construction of a Bible College building.

‘Rob, his beautiful wife Kate and their three children, Kathryn, Simeon and Cameron, came to TTC in October of last year.  He came with a vision to teach the vulnerable and poor of Zambia how to use agriculture as a means of sustainability.’ – Don Mann, regional worker in Zambia

Rob’s passing leaves a big hole in the lives and hearts of his family. They need your prayer.

I encourage you to stop by this site to find out how to pray more accurately and intelligently for the Halls. I also encourage you to honour this man who gave his life so that others could hear. We would do well to model his faith and passion. We would do well to pray for his family.

Monday Morning Mind Dump

NB Legislative Building, seat of New Brunswick...
Image via Wikipedia

Hello world!

Quite a bit has transpired since my last post. I apologize for getting out of the routine of regular posting, but figured it’s time to once again post up what’s happening in me, Evangel, Fredericton and my corner of the world.

Here goes the purge of my mind…

  • Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday with my Evangel family. Tackled the topic of marriage by focusing on the idea of TOGETHER. Too many couples have forgotten that the success of their marriage stands on being together. I love how Amos tells it.
  • There are big pressures on relationships today. It’s a different world than the one your grandparents lived in. But the time has never been better to help couples build solid relationships based on the truth of Scripture. I’m really looking forward to next week when we’re looking at Jacob and his two wives–should be interesting!
  • Our Sunday [Night] School is working well. Landon’s small group met in Silverwood, where worship was the topic; our group met on Maple St. to talk about the Holy Spirit. It was a good discussion and time of digging into the Scriptures. We’re planning and praying about how to best expand Sunday [Night] School to train and encourage people to live their life the way they were created.
  • Nahum’s hockey team took home the gold medal from the Tom Hasson tournament in Oromocto. It’s their second gold in as many tournaments, and the team is playing very well! I’m proud of our coaches, players and parents! Being a hockey dad is a lot of fun. The benefits of having kids involved in team sports are well worth the investment of time and money. Co-operation, accountability, responsibility, hard-work, dedication, and trusting one another–you can’t learn these things playing darts. (Not sure what you can learn playing darts–math, maybe??) BONUS: saw some friends from Moncton at the rinks!
  • I’ve been looking for a good CRM tool to help us keep track of everyone as we grow. This has been frustrating for me, because there seems to be such a wide range of options and companies that all promise big things. I’m definitely open to suggestions. If you’re using CRM software for your church/non-profit, and you’re satisfied with it, please tell me about it. Right now we need something inexpensive, easy to update & use, and can grow with us while helping us forecast and plan ahead. Please email me with your ideas.
  • Been reading The Heart Revolution, by Sergio De La Mora. It’s a great and easy read. I was given a copy and asked to write a review for it (coming soon). It’s got some of the fallow ground of my mind turned over–and that’s a good thing if you’re not familiar with agricultural jargon!)
  • Mixed emotions as the first anniversary of Dad’s home-going gets closer. Man, it seems like such a long time ago, and other times it feels like yesterday; but yet there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him. Heaven will be a wonderful place. I’ve got some people waiting there for me, and I’m looking forward to catching up with them someday.
  • Interesting times in the Middle East. I think we’ve heard about this happening long before the events that have transpired came to pass. Maybe Jesus knew what He was talking about after all??? He seemed pretty bang on, and I guess I’ll put all my eggs in His basket.
  • This isn’t a time to be afraid or timid–it’s a time of opportunity and the Church needs to get positioned and ready to walk through the doors that are opening right in front of our eyes.
  • What would you do for $150,000? A good friend told me about a job offer he received that guaranteed him that kind of cash for working six months out of the next twelve. It was to drive a bus in Afghanistan. He (wisely) turned it down. Smart man, that friend of mine.
  • Speaking of smart men, check out what Mark Beeson has to say about adapting to reach a changing audience.

That’s all for now. I’m off to do more CRM hunting.

 

IDOP

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Jesus, Matthew 5:11-12 ESV)

Persecution.

I think I know the meaning of the word. I have a grasp of its’ definition and can tell you how the dictionary explains it. I think I’ve experienced it. I’ve felt stinging rebuke and public mocking because I made my faith in Jesus public. Overlooked, ridiculed and left out because of Jesus.

But I’m not alone.

Ponder these things:

  • ‘North Koreans who evangelize have a life expectancy of about three months.’ – VOM Newsletter, October 2010
  • ‘The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC guerrillas, have inflicted violence upon Colombians for the last 40 years. Guerrilla leaders are constantly recruiting children to join their Marxist movement to replace the children and young adults who are killed. Those who speak against the violence or who encourage others not to join the guerrillas are targeted especially Christian leaders…’ – VOM

Persecution.

  • ‘More people have been killed for their faith in Jesus Christ in the 20th century than all the previous centuries combined.’

If you’ve ever been mistreated for your faith, you’re not alone. If you’re currently suffering at the hands of others who do not share your love for Jesus, you’re not the first.

They persecuted the prophets who were before you. And if you love Jesus with all your heart, you’ll eventually be persecuted too.

November 14th is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).  I encourage you to check out these sites for information on persecution around the world, to speak up for those who are suffering, and most importantly, pray for persecuted Christians all around the world.

www.persecution.net

www.smyrnaministries.org

Gospel for Asia

Open Doors

On Sunday, November 14th, join with 1,000s of congregations around the world as we pray for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ. Join us for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

Why Does Bullying Surprise Us?

A Bully Free Zone sign - School in Berea, Ohio
Image via Wikipedia

If you’re not accountable to anyone, then everything is fair game, right?

If there’s no God to whom we have to give an account, then who’s to tell us our behaviour is wrong?

Are you facing a bully? Are your kids avoiding someone at school so they can keep safe? Or, (buckle your seatbelt) are you or your kids bullying someone else?

The words of Paul to the Roman Christians shed some light on the origins of bullying:

Romans 1:20-22 ESV For his (God’s) invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Troubled by bullies? Read this excellent post by pastor Mark Beeson.

Depth Perception

Bridge HDR
Image by kendoman26 via Flickr

How good are your eyes?

Can you see clearly? Can you still drive at night? When you read, do you find that your arms seem shorter than they were? Have you noticed that publishers are printing books in smaller print these days???

How are your eyes? If you’re the leader of a church, business or team, you better have good eyes.

Somethings that look good from a distance aren’t that great when you get up close. Some people seem wiser from a distance, when their handlers and editors have a chance to manage their message. Some armchair critics have good advice until they have to strap on the pads. Some people have a deep-looking theology that becomes very shallow when it’s put into practice.

Check your eyes today. Not everything is what it looks like.

Steven Furtick is a guy who is genuine. Read this and think.

Link Love

Here’s some stuff that has me thinking…

Read. Think. Pray. Be encouraged.

God is up to something bigger than you realize. And He wants you to join Him.

Have a SUPERB weekend!