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Taking the Plunge – Baptism

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Most of our faith journey is exactly that – a journey.  It is the path we walk as we follow Jesus.  The early Christians called it “the Way” because they recognized that the path of discipleship was a journey.  For most of us, growth happens gradually as we navigate
Baptism Paththe twists, turns, ups and downs of our lives.  There are, however, punctuated moments and critical junctures along this journey that can play a major role in determining the kind of path we are on and the kind of disciple we are.  These events can define our intentions and expose the state of our hearts.  Our current series on Peter is designed to explore some of the moments of discipleship Peter faced in his life.

Baptism is one of those moments.  One does not slowly become baptized.  It is a singular point in one’s history.  In fact it’s more than just a moment – it is an act of obedience to anyone who has decided to follow Jesus (often another moment).  Jesus, Paul and Peter all had significant things to say about baptism (Mark 16, Romans 6 & 1 Peter 3 respectively).  This sacrament which Jesus even participated in himself, is in God’s plans for every one of his children.  We explored some of the reasons for baptism and the symbolism behind it in the sermon a few weeks ago (here).  Participating in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are the primary realities demonstrated through baptism.  Somehow we can access his post resurrection life now – it can become part of us.  This is possible only through his death (which we celebrate during the other primary Christian sacrament of Communion).  When we are brought up out of the water, we are cleansed and born into a new community, and are participating with Jesus in his new life!  This is why there is often a fresh sense of being filled with the Holy Spirit at the time of baptism.

Baptism LightWe are going to have a baptism on Sunday, June 15.  If the weather looks good, we’re going to haul the dunk tank out into the Green Space and celebrate together out there after the Sunday gatherings are finished.  There will also be a BBQ – yes we know it’s father’s day – but what better day to experience the Father’s love, just like Jesus did at his baptism, than on Father’s day?

If you’ve never been baptized and are a follower of Jesus, we invite you to consider it.  Call or contact the office if you’re interested and we’ll be in touch with you.

 

From Winnipeg to Nepal with Love

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Ok WCV – there are many results from our Nepal Fast, but one of them is that we were able to send $1,250 to the Himalayan Region Vineyards to be spent on food for the hungry.  The team who was there took all the kids out for a special treat of Momos (a perogy style food filled with buffalo, chicken or vegetables).  There were about 15 children – including the boys and girls who live at the church who have been brought in off the street or rescued from pre-child trafficking situations in the mountain villages.  They went to a cafeteria run by one of the church people who used to live on the street with her family.  With assistance from the Kathmandu Vineyard, she has been able to grow  her business into a thriving cafeteria serving the best Momos in Kathmandu (according to everyone at the Vineyard!).  Then on Saturday after church the team and a number of leaders from the Kathmandu Vineyard went down to the riverbed where many destitute families live.  They are squatters and most barely eke out a living.  They prayed for many and handed out bags of food.  These two events cost a little over $100.  The rest of the money will be spent on buying food for people in various situations over the next month or so.  Thanks for giving!

You can click on the pictures below to see the photo album view.

Nepali Fast – Saturday

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Drawing near to God:

Today is the last day of our fast – tomorrow we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!  But for today, reflect on what God has whispered to you this past week.  What has he done in you?  Where has he lead you?  What has he given you?  What has he said?

Drawing near to others:

Rice and DahlThis is what we (the School of Justice) ate for lunch on our first day here. It’s rice, dahl (lentil soup), a potato/vegetable dish, and an onion/chili pickle.  The entire plate of food costs 200 rupees ($2.26) and is considered a typical middle class meal here.  It’s a vegetarian meal; if it had chicken or eggs (for around an extra 100 rupees) it would be considered an upper class meal.

Today, let’s calculate what we saved on our grocery bills this week by eating less and simpler.  Bring in the money you saved and give it to the church (designate it “Nepal Fast”) and we will give it to our sister churches in the Himalayan Region.  We can tighten our belts, so they don’t have to tighten theirs.  We can eat a little less and more simply, so that the hungry there can be fed.  This is the kind of fast Isaiah 58 talks about.  This is the kind of fasting that get’s God’s attention!

Blessings on you as you give!  And may God hear your every prayer and come quickly to answer you (that’s a promise from Isaiah 58!).

 

Nepali Fast – Friday

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Drawing near to God:

Cross Good FridayToday is the Friday that’s called Good.  The day Jesus was crucified.  Everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord must also “take up their cross” and follow him (Mt 16).  We are to follow his lead and embrace the path he travelled.  Jesus was crucified and went on to defeat death.  Thankfully we don’t have to defeat death (that’s already done) but we are still to follow him on this path.  What does this mean for you?  Where is Jesus leading you?  Pray that he gives you the strength to follow and remain faithful as you follow his lead.

You can contemplate this on the Walk of the Cross today from 3pm – 5pm.  Wear your walking shoes.

Drawing near to others:

Chipatis and PotatoeThis is what we (the School of Justice) ate for breakfast today. It’s chapatis (bread) with a potato dish. The entire plate of food costs 150 – 200 rupees (CAD $1.70 – $2.26) and is considered an upper class meal because it was cooked with fresh ingredients and clean water.  Noel told me (Suhail) that it’s a “quality breakfast.”  Those who are poor may eat this dish but it will not be with the same ingredients or the same level of freshness, and therefore not be of the same quality.

Pray for the leadership of the Himalayan Region Vineyard churches, that God would provide for all their needs as they trust Him and as many have had to sacrifice a great deal to pursue God’s call on their lives.

Nepali Fast – Thursday

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Drawing near to God:

Canadas Heart BeatsManitoba’s new tourism slogan is “Canada’s Heart… Beats.”  It’s a good one.  It makes me think of the drum and how it echoes God’s heartbeat.  His heart beats too, and the reverberations go far beyond the borders of our Province to reach every nook and cranny of creation.  It’s not an irregular rhythm, nor is it random.  It is a singular thumping for the restoration of relationship between himself and us!  Can you hear it?  Can you feel it?  His heart beating for you.  Who else is it beating for?  Who in your life is God drawing your attention to now in this moment?  Pray that they too would draw near their Creator.

Drawing near to others:

IMG_7826When we (the School of Justice) went on outreach to Champi (a small village in the mountains just outside of Kathmandu), a woman who’s the mother of the first believer in the village served this to us.  It’s popcorn, black soy beans, dried mustard pickle, and sweet potato.  Noel said it would cost around 150 rupees (CAD $1.70) for the entire plate, which several of us ate from.
Pray for the believers in Champi and the Vineyard church there – that they’d continue to grow in Christ and that they’d see God’s kingdom come to their neighbours in the village through healing, deliverance, and faith in Jesus.

Nepali Fast – Wednesday

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Drawing near to God:

The bible says that it is impossible to draw near to God without drawing near to others.  When asked what commandment was the greatest, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mt 22).  The linking word between the two commandments is homois which is translated “is like it” and means “of the same substance”.  It’s where we get the word homo from.  The commands are not the same, but they’re pretty darn close.  If you’re not doing one, you won’t be doing the other.  Today, pray for opportunities to love God, through loving your neighbour.

Drawing near to others:

Nepali ChapatiAs we (the School of Justice) were walking in the street (in Kathmandu), a man had a little food cart where he was selling different kinds of chapatis (bread) with eggs and potato.  This is called Aloo Paratha and is a popular breakfast dish or snack in Nepal and India.  It’s unleavened bread stuffed with a spiced mixture of potato, and all kinds of people buy it from street vendors.  This version of it costs around 30 rupees (CAD $0.34).

Pray for the many who are poor in Nepal and who either don’t have access to food or don’t have access to nutritional, healthy food.

Nepali Fast – Tuesday

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Drawing near to God:

It’s quite common to become irritable during a fast.  In a total food fast this moodiness is accentuated.  In our Nepali fast, you may not be having hunger pangs, but you may be craving some more familiar cuisine.  Either way our stomachs really do have a say in how we’re feeling.  When those pangs and cravings hit, let’s use those moments as opportunities to direct our attention toward God and allow him to rule over our guts.  He is the Lord of everything after all.

Drawing near to others:

Momos Nepali Fast

Momos!  This chicken or buffalo-filled dumpling is a popular food all over Nepal and there is a great variety in price depending on where you buy it.  These momos were made at the Kathmandu Vineyard for about 80 rupees (CAD $0.91).  The “new boys and girls” (kids who live at the Vineyard that are from broken families or the street) love momos.  It’s a real treat for them.

The boys head to school.

Pray for the new boys and girls at the Kathmandu Vineyard – that God would reveal his heart to them and heal them from the pain that they’ve experienced, that they’d be rooted and established in His love and feel at home in the Vineyard community, and that they’d have strength to walk into the future and hope that He has for them.

Nepali Fast – Monday

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Welcome to the first full day of our Nepali Fast!  These daily updates are meant to inspire and inform us in our prayer and fasting activities this week.

Drawing Near to God

Draw near to GodPart of what it means to draw near to God is to pray that we have his heart – that we see the world from his perspective and are moved by it.  Somehow when we are close to him his heart is transferred to us.  What he cares about, we begin to care about.

Pay attention to the movements of your heart today.  Where is he inviting you closer?  What does he want to share with you?  In the activities of your day, pay attention to the moments his Spirit is whispering.

Drawing Near to Others

Part of our fast, by way of Isaiah 58, is meant to help us draw near to others in healthy ways.  Understanding the lives and burdens of our Nepali brothers and sisters will help knit together the bond of love we have.  Also, we want to pray for others.

Misal, Amit and Lakpa play in the Katmandu Vineyard courtyard.Today is the “Global 4-14 Day“.  It is a day to pray for the generation between the ages of 4 and 14.  Across the world, 71% of the people who are currently following Jesus begin to do so within this age range.

Today let’s pray for the kids and youth of the Himalayan Region and Winnipeg.

  • Reaching children – that Kids and youth would come to know and passionately follow Jesus.
  • Calling children – that God would sovereignly reveal himself.
  • Protecting children – from all manner of evil (slavery, malnutrition, gangs, prostitution, homelessness, hopelessness, etc).
  • Releasing children – to lead in prayer and praise.
  • Resourcing children – that God would send workers.
Photo Credits (excluding the hand): Matthew Sawatsky

Lent – Watering Dry Bones

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It’s what we all want isn’t it?  To see life come to the dry bones?  To see skin and flesh clothe hollow skeletons.  To see the goodness and mercy of the Father enfleshed.  To see the dream of a distant land flowing with milk and honey brought to our land.  To see hope restored and death reversed.  It’s what we all want isn’t it?

Here’s another meditative moment from The Work of the People.

Lent – Leaving Ourselves at the Altar

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Many are familiar with the line in Psalm 23, “…goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life…”  It’s a nice thought, but a one that does not nearly capture the tenacity of God’s goodness and mercy.  These qualities don’t follow us around like a lost puppy looking for its home.  Goodness and mercy are relentless, tenacious and precise in their pursuit.  They will track us down like a hunter tracking it’s prey.  They will seek us out like a heat-seeking missile.  Simply put, God will hunt us down with his goodness and mercy – through the valley of the shadow of death – through the suffering of the loss of Eden – right to where we are today in the middle of Lent, preparing to celebrate and welcome the resurrection of the one who made it all possible…

Here’s another meditative moment from The Work of the People.

Lent – Oasis

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The water we need to live – that we need to really live – does not come from earthen springs.  It is not discovered in any well dug by human hands, not can it be drilled by any rig of human ingenuity.  This water is not pumped, bottled, chlorinated or dammed up.  It does not stagnate in forgotten pools nor flow with the ocean’s tide.  The water we need to truly live comes from an eternal source, springing from the resurrection into our lives, filling cracks and crevices with it’s cool, beyond-the-grave touch – transforming all in it’s path.

Here’s another meditative moment from The Work of the People.