Update Tuesday 25/10/11

I was sitting at a table at the Locke Street Bakery with a cup of coffee and my prayer journal stretched out before me.  I had been praying for my family, my church and people in my life when my thoughts turned to an idea my wife had shared with me a number of days before.  Each Sunday evening we hear the sound of people going through our recycling bins before collection day on Monday as they search for cans and bottles that can be returned to stores for deposits.  Last week she realized that a number of homeless men all line up at a store in our neighbourhood each Monday waiting for opening time so they can return the cans and bottles for money.  My wife and I had been discussing the possibility of taking coffee to this group on a Monday morning and connecting with them as they wait.  So, sitting in the coffee shop and praying, my thoughts turned to this idea and putting pen to paper I committed this idea to prayer.  I simply wrote "Also praying about an opportunity at the store..." and as I looked up from the page a guy with a shopping cart full of cans and bottles stopped right in front of the store window beside me to pet a dog before making the rest of the walk to the store.  It was an affirming moment and so next Monday morning I intend to be outside of that particular store in my community with coffee for this group of guys that gathers each week.
Next Monday promises to be a busy day.  It is also the day that we will be holding our first Shine Your Light event here in the Hammer.  We will be capitalizing on this day when the whole neighbourhood comes to your door by throwing a bit of a party on the front porch with live music, popcorn and candy floss, handouts for the kids, hot chocolate for the parents as well as collecting non-perishable food donations for a local food bank.  Fliers will be going out this week, friends from our sending church in Milton will be coming by to help (and really just have fun!) and we can't wait to see who will stop by!  We would ask you to be in prayer for all the opportunities that Monday may provide.  
Of course, as outreach seems to be the theme of this week's update I should also mention our on going outreach to McMaster Children's Hospital, and in particular the Ronald McDonald Room that is found there.  We have continued to bring a meal there each week as we seek to reach out to and support the families of those with sick children.  I was reminded of the importance of continuing to develop opportunities there as, again while at the coffee shop on Monday, I met one of the nurses that was in the pediatric intensive care unit both times that our son Liam came through in November of 2008.  Again, it was a bit of an affirmation and a reminder not to forget the things that God has done for us, as we remember back to Liam's brain tumour and surgeries, as well as to look for what God wants to do in and through us as we move forward.
Lastly, I would ask for your prayers for a man named Joe.  I met Joe on Sunday morning when my family and I ventured out to Oakville to help another young church plant in our network with an outreach event.  The Sanctuary @ Kerr Village was hosting a pancake breakfast before their Sunday service.  Joe wandered in just before the service was to begin and so I decided to stay back and sit with him as the service started.  I am glad that I did.  I had a great conversation with him as I heard about some of his spiritual beliefs, shared some of mine, I was able to tell my story and was also able to share the story about Jesus.  One of my favourite moments was as he was sharing about the influence on his life that the teaching of the Buddha has had.  I was able to ask him about a story called the Golden Boat that is apparently a teaching of the Buddha (if you don't know it go and look it up...I won't ruin the surprise!).  The amazing thing is that someone had just shared the story with me that very week!  It was a providential conversation.  Please join me in praying that Joe might find a spiritual community with my friends at The Sanctuary @ Kerr Village where he can continue pursuing these spiritual conversations and searching.     
Once again thanks you for all the support and prayer.  We continue to see fruit from the prayers that you offer on our behalf. 

Free Art Friday 21/10/11 - Beauty in the Brokenness...photo from Disaster Relief work

Well, I am still debating the name.  F-Art definitely had the most support but then I get a story and picture like the one below and the name does not seem to fit somehow.  I will think about it further.  In the meantime, here is a great pic below taken by my friend Cheri while she was on a Disaster Relief trip helping clean up houses after flooding in Vermont.  I have also included a note from Bob Rankin, who was also on the trip, describing the pic.
Totally candid. totally cool:

The first is one of an elderly woman named Verna who Cheri took a few snaps of when she noticed her at the library in Montpelier.  When the woman realized Cheri was taking her picture she was caught in this shy expression.  The rest of the story is when Cheri talked to her she found out she lived alone, just scraping by and her family never came to visit.  Cheri, Louise and Janet decided to take her a grocery box and began searching all over town for her.  They finally found a young couple who knew her.  They told her that she once was the local church organist and that they would deliver the groceries the next day as it was now quite late at night.  So that is the story of pic # 1

Update Tuesday 18/10/11

It was one of those moments; an ill timed, frustrating and even a bit embarrassing happening in the middle of what should have been an important time.  We had finished dinner together at last week's fellowship meeting in our home and had proceeded to sing a few songs of worship.  At the close of those songs, we reached for our bibles and were about to dig into the Word together.  It was at this moment that from the corner of her eye, my wife could see my youngest daughter dart by, head for the back door and head out unaccompanied into the dark of night.  My wife quickly and quietly got up from her seat to follow her.  I carried on, pretending nothing had happened and proceeded to dig into the word.  My wife returned a few moments later, but rather than the exasperated look of disbelief and frustration that I expected, she had a huge smile on her face.  She said that she had to interrupt to share a conversation that she had just had.  In a nutshell, this is what she shared:  Christine from two doors down had been waiting outside as someone was coming to pick her up.  Her husband had just painted their front stairs that afternoon so she was unable to wait on her porch which led her to wait on our next door neighbour's porch.  Our front window had been open and so she was able to hear our singing and the beginning of our bible study.  As my wife followed our daughter around from the back yard, down the path between the houses to emerge into the front yard, she heard a voice from within the darkness of the porch next door.  Christine asked if we were having church in our home at which point my wife was able to share a bit about what we were doing.  Christine told Kim that she would like to join us next week (tonight)!   When Kim recalled this story, I was reminded of a quick, simple prayer I had etched in my journal earlier that afternoon...Lord, would you add to our number.


As a part of our fellowship meeting each week, we have begun to pray for the names of people in our lives for whose salvation we might be praying.  As God begins to reveal those names to us, we are praying John 16:8, that the Spirit would be at work in their hearts convicting them of sin, righteousness and judgement.  We are beginning to spend some time working on and sharing our testimonies (as a first step and tool of many) and will begin to pray that God might provide us opportunities to be used to share and teach of Christ.  Please join us in prayer for this focus as we have begun to see God at work in answer to the prayers of His people. 

As a part of this prayer focus I have been praying for Rose whom I have mentioned before.  I have been praying for a breakthrough in this relationship and a shift in the conversation as this Jehovah's Witness continues to try to reach out to me.  I had been praying daily for a breakthrough in a meeting we had scheduled for Monday.  When she arrived I knew something was different as she arrived alone, which is unheard of for a Jehovah's Witness.  What transpired was a three hour conversation in our home, during which, for the first time we were able to share with her some thoughts about Jesus that she had not considered before.  During the meeting, my wife called our neighbour Diane and asked her to pray before Kim coming down herself to join us.  It was a powerful time in which we were able to share truth, bring up some pointed questions but (especially with the help from my wife) while still communicating love for her.  Please continue to pray for Rose.

I would also ask that you continue to pray for this time as we, as well as our parent church in Milton, put together the budget for next year.  Please pray that these are not just numbers, but that we truly seek the Lord and receive direction and inspiration from Him as to what we might be pursuing  this coming year for the sake of the Kingdom. 

Update Tuesday 11/10/11 0 Thanksgiving

This past weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving and we have much to be thankful for.  My family spent a few days at my parents cottage where we celebrated with my parents, my brother and his family, my three grandparents, aunt and uncle.  There is something amazing about being up north where the leaves are exhibiting in vibrant oranges and reds, being with family and eating...a lot.  But Thanksgiving is not quite over for us yet, as we will be having another Thanksgiving dinner with our new church family here in Hamilton tonight.  The turkey is just about in the oven and we are preparing to host our weekly house church at which we will take some time to be thankful, to share a turkey meal together before spending some time in worship, study and prayer. 
With thanksgiving on the mind I thought it would be appropriate to take this opportunity and use this week's update to express our appreciation for you, those who read, support, pray for and encourage us on this journey God had leading us on in the Hammer.  We are truly thankful for all of you who are mindful of us and continue to express your support in so many ways and who so diligently hold us in prayer.  Thank you for all you do!

Free Art Friday 7/09/11

I need your help.  It may just be my personality in that I like to change things up so as not to get to stale, or it maybe that the name does not best reflect what I hope to accomplish on this Friday feature, but I have been thinking about a new name.  An art feature on Friday really came out of my desire to be creative on the one hand and a motivation to continue in that direction on the other.   If I knew that I would have to put something out each Friday it would be a good motivation to ensure I was always at work on something.  I don't think that I am a great artist, in fact, part of this feature is to encourage people to be creative and to grow as they do so; an encouragement that if I can do it, anyone can.  The "Free" part is true in the sense that there is never a charge for anything that you see on here and that I am not trying to peddle any wares.   It also begins with F as does Friday so it seemed to fit.  I am a bit bored with it now, and also, because I am not trying to produce finished pieces to give away it does not seem to fit all that well anymore.  So here is where you come in.  I am looking for another name.  I have come up with a few, but am also open to other suggestions.  Tell me which of the ones below you like best, or suggest something else.  Leave a comment, facebook me or send an e-mail I would love to hear from you.

F - art
(Friday art.  My wife laughed out loud when she heard this one, as well as shaking her head...but when I suggested making it public she was horrified.  I don't know if that makes it more or less appealing to me)

J - mart
(Jason - my art.   Too cheesy or so cheesy it is perfect...I don't know)  

What are your thoughts.

Update Tuesday 4/10/11 - What are the chances!

It was around four o'clock in the afternoon and I was just about to help my wife in the kitchen as we prepared to host our first house church meeting when I heard the knock on the door.   The knock was from our friendly neighbourhood Jehovah's witness.  This may have been one of those moments where I would have just blown them off, politely of course.   If you have been following this blog for the past few weeks, however, you will know that I have been trying to engage in conversation and witness to this particular visitor whose name is Rose.  This must be the sixth or seventh time Rose has visited, and despite the fact that I have begun to ask some harder questions and push back, albeit gently, she continues to return and when she does she keeps mentioning how there is something different about our home.  In all honestly, I think this growing relationship and opportunity to share is all because we have been friendly, welcoming and loving.  So Rose keeps coming back, and I keep engaging.  I am learning a lot in the process, about what she believes, about what it is like to share with someone who has a very firmly rooted belief system and how to do so in love.  This particular meeting was the biggest challenge of all, especially in regards to the later point - to do so in love.  Being an inopportune time I was distracted and it made it much harder to resist my natural temptation to jump into a debate.  I was also a little frustrated by the end when it seemed that all my sharing so far has made little impact and it has been hard to shift the conversation from me listening, to me sharing (there is no doubt that she still thinks she is trying to convert me).  That is when my neighbour Diane arrived for our first house church meeting.  She was coming for dinner, followed by worship, study and prayer.  When she arrived on the front porch where I was meeting with Rose, they looked at each other and realized that they knew one another!  Diane had been Rose's boss when they were both nurses in a seniors care residence a few years ago.  As one of Diane's employees, Diane would regularly pray for her.   What are the chances!
I still have no idea what will happen in this relationship with Rose, although I continue to pray for our times together and I pray John 16:8.  I pray that the spirit would convict her of sin, righteousness and judgement and that she would see these things clearly, untainted by the twisted truth she has received.  This, however, seems at the very least a small confirmation from God that we are supposed to be here, that we are on the right track and that most importantly, He is here at work.  I have been encouraged.  And so with this in mind we continue to look around us, we continue look to the future and we are trying to put things in place to get us from here to there.  Here are a number of things that we are currently working on for which we would appreciate your prayers:

October 31 Halloween outreach - this is something we started in Milton where we would have the worship band set up in the driveway and play music while we handed out candy for the kids and hot chocolate for parents.  It gave people a reason to pause, during which we tried to engage our neighbours in conversation.  We are working on the details of doing something similar here in Hamilton.

Our local paper has recently run some statistics regarding poverty in our city, some of which you can read here:  the Spec   .  I continue to try to meet with different people across the city with experience in this field as we pray through how a little group might be engaged in addressing these issues our city faces.   Please pray that God would give us clear direction as we seek opportunities to serve right from the very beginnings of our group. 

We continue to look towards starting a work on the McMaster campus.  We are praying through the best approach and how God might most effectively use us as a local church in partnership with an on campus presence.  Our next step is to meet with a number of students that we know through various channels who now study at McMaster as we seek there observations, input and advice.

Budget - The Sanctuary Church in Milton (our sending/parent church) has a year end of Dec. 31st which means that budget time is upon us!  We will be working over the next few weeks to prepare our Hamilton portion of that budget.  Although numbers may not be that exciting to everyone, I recognize that setting a budget is also a time to pray and consider all the things that God may be calling this church to accomplish over this coming year.   Please pray that God would speak clearly to us, that we would be inspired by the Spirit and have a clear vision of the possibilities for this coming year.  Please also pray as we seek to discern the ways in which God will provide for all that He calls us to do.

Once again, thank you for your role in what God is doing here in the Hammer.  Your support and prayers are a vital part of all that we do here.

Free Art Friday 30/09/11

A I mentioned last week, below is the next in my Inukshuk series.  I made this particular one on labour day weekend while at the cottage and painted it from a picture last week.  I am still experimenting and exploring with some techniques I picked up last month.