A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.  You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’

 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.  Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18: 18-25 NIV)

I read an article in last week’s TORONTO STAR newspaper predicting that Toronto housing prices would reach those in Vancouver within a decade.  According to the article the average price of a house in the City of Toronto hit $568,436 this past April while a detached single-family home averaged $831,214 – a virtual doubling in just a decade according to Toronto Real Estate Board figures.  Yet these prices pale in comparison to those of Vancouver where a typical detached home runs more than $1 million.

As a mother of two teenage daughters I worry about their future ability to buy a home with prices this high and climbing.  Home ownership is the goal of many in Canada and the U.S. where a home represents security, comfort, stability and success.  But in the face of such prices individuals and families may need to re-define the role housing plays in their sense of self and in their feelings of permanence and stability.

It is a useful reminder that Jesus was an adult of “no fixed address.”  He lacked a permanent “home base” and instead travelled with his disciples and enjoyed the hospitality of fellow believers wherever he went.  He lived a humble life, rich in relationships but poor in “things”.  His is the life we are to emulate.  All three gospel accounts tell the story of an encounter Jesus had with a rich young man who questions him about the requirements to enter God’s eternal kingdom.  Jesus tells him to sell all his material possessions and give the proceeds to the poor.  By so doing he will have built up his treasure in heaven.  Alas!  The young man could not bear the thought of giving up all he owned to follow Christ and so “went away sad.”

For Jesus, wealth is a tool that can be used to help others – especially the “widows and orphans” among us.  Jesus does not call us to be homeless, of “no fixed address” as he was, but asks us to trust him to provide for our needs and for us, in turn, to bless others with the resources he provides.  We may find that tying up all our resources to purchase an earthly house may jeopardize our ability to “store up our treasure in heaven”  where our permanent “home” will be.

D. Lim

To register, print and complete the registration brochure (below) and mail or drop-off at the Glenbrook office.  Our address is: 3535 South Common Court, Mississauga, ON, L5L 2B3.  Questions?  Contact Debora Lim, Director of Church Development at 905-820-9860.

 2012 Registration Brochure

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it,“May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21: 18-22)

This is a rather intriguing passage and it is mostly interesting for provoking arguments among those who love theological arguments and angst for those who like their theology sanitized and neatly packaged. It is said that the bible holds a mirror to us because reading the bible allows the Holy Spirit to reveal who we truly are. What we assert about what the bible says shows what we really believe about who Jesus is and what the Good News is all about.

I believe that Jesus not only spoke in parables but that his actions were also parable-acts. If parables are stories with hidden meanings, then parable-acts are mini-plays with hidden meanings. In the beginning, humanity was told to eat of the fruit from the Tree of Life and to avoid the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. We were supposed  to rely on God for all the necessities of life. Not just the bare necessities for animal existence but also what is necessary for a good and rich life which includes making wise decisions. However, the temptation to know good from evil and to decide for ourselves what is best was too great and so we were expelled from the Garden of Eden.

In this scene, I believe Jesus is saying, “You are hungry and you are eating this tree. But look! Even though it is green, it has no fruit. It is all leaves. Look again. I am going to destroy it. You will never come here for food again.” Shortly after, he will go to Jerusalem to die on the cross. His death and resurrection will open the way back to the Tree of Life.

We will then live by faith and not by sight, on God’s grace and not by our striving. It is not a position of powerlessness but one of tremendous power as Jesus hints with his comment about ordering mountains to fling themselves into the sea. This is yet another controversial bit as all praying people have had mountains which stubbornly refused to budge. I often think of prayer as moving the mountain by cupfuls and shovelfuls. Perhaps that’s why Jesus also told us to persist in prayer in the face of hopelessness.

C. Wong

Sometimes we all need to talk….and Distress Centre Peel is there to listen!

For 40 years Distress Centre Peel has been operating a telephone support line 24/7.  Their trained, compassionate and non-judgmental volunteer team provides listening, emotional support, information and referrals to those living in the Peel Region.   All calls are confidential.

Like to learn how you can help this vital lifeline?

Join us Saturday, May 5th at 8:00 a.m. Enjoy a delicious free breakfast while you learn more about this community service and hear from one of their dedicated volunteers about what it is like to work on the front lines.

Even though I knew the query was in jest, I felt saddened by the question as I knew it might be interpreted that our resurrected savior watches our every move to detect sin in our life and judges us accordingly. Unfortunately, I know there are those in the world who have that impression of God.

On the contrary, the Bible reveals to us a God and Savior in Jesus Christ who freely offers each one of us who accept it, His grace and mercy from all our sin and who loves us so much that He reached out to humanity with a plan to save every human being on the planet. In Psalm 121 verses 7 to 8, God promises to watch over us – not to spy on us but rather, to keep us safe: “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

As God promises to watch over us in love, we shouldn’t hesitate to actively seek out Jesus to ask for comfort during times of hardship or give Him praise during times of blessings. We’re reminded in Hebrews 12:2 – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

As I reflected on the emotions I experienced  while viewing the tapestry, the chorus words from a song we sing at Glenbrook popped into my mind and stayed with me over the course of that day:

“Turn your eyes towards Jesus

Look full on His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace”

May you truly experience Jesus’ love and His grace in your life as you seek Him.

R.Roth

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—  Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages^[a] on the plain of Ono.”

But they were scheming to harm me;  so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”  Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer (Nehemiah 6: 1-4)

In today’s world we are blessed with many modern conveniences and technology that is incredibly useful.  However one of the downsides of our present culture is the relentless distractions these technologies can pose.  From the vibrating Blackberry or iphone with the latest text message to the steady stream of e-mails, it is easy to lose our focus.  It is not uncommon to take “just a moment” to check e-mail and then look at the clock to find an hour has passed and some important work has been left undone!

If you are plagued by distractions it can be useful to study the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a common man in a unique position. He was a secure and successful cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. Nehemiah had little power, but he had great influence. He was trusted by the king. He was also a man of God, concerned about the fate of Jerusalem.

When Nehemiah learns that the wall of Jersualem had become broken down and its gates burned, he broke down and wept.   For several days he mourned and fasted and prayed to God.  He asked that God help him to find favour with King Artaxerxes so that he might grant him a leave of absence and go to Jerusalem to oversee the re-building of the wall and gates.  Such favour was received and Nehemiah journeyed to Jerusalem some 800 miles away to begin this project.

He quickly and efficiently formed teams of people to begin work on the repairs and within a short time much progress had been made.  However, that was when the distractions and obstacles began.  First some naysayers (Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem) began to mock and ridicule Nehemiah.  When that didn’t dissuade him from his task  they became angry and began to plot to fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.  But Nehemiah, learning of the threat, prayed to God for help and posted guards day and night to thwart their plans.

Next, there was trouble from within the ranks.  The labourers were becoming tired and discouraged by the enormity of the task.  Nehemiah had to shore up the troops with more prayer and a pep talk.  Later Nehemiah discovers that many of the people were living in crushing poverty and some had sold their sons and daughters as slaves.  He confronts the nobles and officials saying “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!….”What you are doing is not right!”  With God’s help Nehemiah succeeded in abolishing the usuary (exhorbitant interest charged on loans) and even fed hundred and fifty Jews at his own table!

And on and on it went.  Poor Nehemiah faced a continual onslaught of distractions and challenges as he sought to re-build the wall and gates of Jersualem.  Nothing would dissuade or discourage him as he kept his mind and heart on his goal and continuously prayed and sought God’s help.  Finally, just as the wall and gates were nearly complete, his enemies once again called to him to leave his work and meet with them.  And Nehemiah answers them not once but four times:  “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.  Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

Nehemiah completed the repairs in an astonishing 52 days!  This week whenever you are tempted by distractions, I encourage you to remember Nehemiah and his refusal to be defeated in accomplishing his goal.  By keeping his “eye on the prize” and relying on God’s help and leading he was able to endure and overcome and so can you.

D. Lim

As an avid curler and a Christian, I see many parallels between curling and the Christian life. I’ll try to limit myself to a just few for this paragraph! Based on my experience, it appears that curling fans are also active participants in the sport. In much the same way, Christianity requires that we be active in living out our beliefs. The Church is not just a club that you join and then sit back while you watch others living out God’s will. Age is not a barrier to curling and actually in my last game of this season, I played alongside a man who will be 94 years “young” this year. He was curling before I was born. Also in our Christian walk, age is no barrier to spreading the “good news”, and here at Glenbrook we have many wonderful examples of this. Curling requires that the members of the team each use their gifts in co-operation with one another every time that the rock is delivered. In the recent world championship, the sports announcers made many references to the fact that each Team Canada player knew the role he had to play and they communicated with each other constantly during the play. This is what set them apart from the other competitors and therefore enabled them to win the prize. Doesn’t that remind you of the working of the body of Christ, the Church, where each one of us has been given gifts to use to the glory of God? When each of us uses our gifts in co-operation with others, then people see the harmony that is produced and we become a collective witness to our Lord Jesus. Just as Jesus is our Lord, the one head of the Church, who leads us through His Holy Spirit, so we put our trust in Him and allow Him to use us in His plan for the world. The curling parallel is the team skip that plans the strategy and knows the subtle variations in the playing surface, so that he can show us where to deliver the curling rocks to the best position to win the game. As players we must “trust” the skip and follow his leading. When we are at one end of the sheet of ice, crouched down to deliver a rock, we need to keep our focus on the skip or we will likely miss the shot. The more we trust, communicate with, and develop a close relationship with our curling skip, the more we are able to see where we are going in a particular match and therefore our likelihood of winning. This is what has set Canada above others this year and also previous years. When we put our trust in Jesus, communicate by prayer, and develop that close relationship with Him, we will eventually hear His voice saying “Well done, good and faithful servant”. This is the prize we strive for and the only way to get there is to keep our eyes upon Jesus.

G. Ryder

“Hosanna!^[a]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[b]

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

¹⁵ “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”^[c]

¹⁶ At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

¹⁷ Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸ Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” (John 12: 12-19 NIV)

This past Sunday, Christian churches the world over celebrated “Palm Sunday” to mark Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem mere days before his death by crucifixion.  In the Gospel accounts we read that the crowds honoured Jesus by cutting palm branches and laying them in his path, while in the Book of Luke we are also told that many people took off their cloaks and lay them on the road.

In Jesus’ day this was the equivalent of receiving the “red carpet treatment”.  This was treatment reserved for royalty  — not what it has become today – a tribute to celebrity.  Today’s red carpet is associated with being rich, important and famous.  Red carpet walkers feel exalted – superior to those who stand on the sidelines with their cameras and autograph books.

Yet Jesus, who submitted to the adoration of Palm Sunday, was quick to balance his portrayal as King and Saviour with a demonstration of humble servitude.   At the last supper Jesus took off his robe and humbly washed his disciples’ feet – in effect taking on the role of slave – to demonstrate his love and his desire that all who follow him exalt others above themselves.

Just as Jesus put others’ needs ahead of his own – even dying on the cross to atone for our sins – so too are we to think of more about others than ourselves.

On Sunday, our church’s children and youth packaged toiletry bags to give to the homeless in our community.  They undertook the project with care and thoughtfulness rather than their usual childhood abandon.  It was encouraging to see the children as they sorted through the donations to find just the right cream or the biggest shampoo to put in their bags.  They wanted the best items possible for the recipients of their bags.   Later, they did cards and pictures of encouragement to tuck in the bags.  They expressed concern for children who might be homeless and asked if we could collect some toys for the bags “next time”.

It was humbling to see how readily these young people exalted the homeless and thought only of their needs.   I went away chastened.  Is my daily approach to life focussed on ME rather than others?  Do I plan my day around service and care of others instead of accomplishments and tasks?  Am I jealous of others like the Pharisees were when they witnessed the crowds cheering Jesus or do I celebrate others’ successes?

As we contemplate Jesus’ sacrifice this week, let’s be mindful that we can honour Him best by seeking not the red carpet treatment for ourselves, but by rolling out the red carpet for all who cross our paths on this journey through life.

D. Lim

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,

Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. [Numbers 21: 4-9]

The Apostle John recorded a conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus where Jesus says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” [John 3:14-15] A commentator said that if John had not mentioned Moses’ bronze snake in his Gospel, that strange incident in Numbers 21 could have been safely ignored.

As the story unfolds in Exodus and Numbers, the Israelites have been sustained by manna (the miserable food they referred to in the verses above) and water from the rock (another foreshadowing type of Christ) as they wandered through the wilderness. But they are deeply unhappy with their situation and their leaders.

The venomous snakes that appear are a physical manifestation of their sin and rebellion, their poisonous discontent taking form in the real world. It is a lesson that sour attitudes and grumblings can destroy people and community.

But those bitten by these venomous snakes (or fiery serpents as some versions have it) can be saved by looking at the bronze snake Moses made. There they saw a dead snake nailed to a staff and then they can know that whatever is trying to harm them has been overcome and defeated by the Lord. Their enemy has no power over them.

More than a thousand years later, God the Son will physically come into our world as a living and breathing man. Our sins and all that is wrong with us will be laid upon Him as He is nailed to a cross. His death will put to death all that is wrong with us. His resurrection will re-create us. When we look to the cross, we can know that what is trying to kill us has been defeated. We have been saved. We must not give in to its soul-destroying message. We are a new creation.

C. Wong

Imagine being transferred to a new country for a work assignment. You’ve never been there before and don’t know the culture, customs and traditions of the locals. Neither do you speak a word of their language. More challenging still you find that the local language has never been written down, nor does it have its own alphabet. Your job is to meet and befriend your neighbours and begin the painstaking process of learning the language and its unique syntax and expressions so that a written alphabet can be developed. Next you will undertake to translate a document of close to 775,000 words into this language so that the locals may begin to study and learn it. Oh yes, but you’ll need to teach them to read their language first!

What I’ve just described may sound like a work of fiction, but in fact this is a reality for the close to 6000 Wycliffe Bible translators who presently work in 90 countries around the globe. Some 300 million people around the world are still without scriptures in their native language. These 300 million people represent approximately 2,100 language groups. Wycliffe has a vision to have bible translation underway in every language that needs one by the year 2025.

Learn more about the challenges and joys of working in the field of Bible translation on Wednesday, March 28^th at 7:30 p.m. when Sean Allison and his two oldest children Josiah (16) and Nate (14) will visit Glenbrook for a special presentation. The Allison family (which also includes wife Lezlie and children Drew (7) and Annie (4) ) began their adventure as Bible translators in 1997.