Dear Saint...

Is it just me or did it just get really cold all of the sudden? Well, the season is changing, there’s no doubt. It’s time for the next season; can’t run around in shorts anymore. People seem to enjoy the fall colors and the nip in the air but many don’t enjoy that it leads to winter. Winter does not have the best of reputations when it comes to people’s general well being. Just this morning I was reading in the Toronto Star details of the nasty “winter storm” in Buffalo. Two feet of snow that crippled some 391,000 homes and left some fatalities behind. And it’s only October, not even late October at that. I’ve also read that quite a bit of depression is related to the “cold” season of the year. The good news is that no matter how bad it gets, Spring is coming! I don’t know how the seasons affect your life but if you’re like the rest of us, you have your seasons too. Some brighter than others. The good news is that the Lord does not change; He doesn’t even cycle through seasons. Look at Acts 1:11 & Hebrews 13:8 when you have a chance. There is never a better time to approach Him because He’s always attentive to His children, in season and out of season, Summer or the worst Winter in your life. Whatever you’re going through, hang in there my friend, depend on the Lord to carry you in His arms to a better season.

Ready or not, it's back to school time! In our local community, the school calendar started last week. For others, such as public school people or college students, it begins this week. Some home-schoolers take the summer off but others continue their learning experience during family vacations. Some in our community don't have to worry about the school calendar any more since they don't have school age children at home any more. But perhaps the real question has nothing to do with the school calendar. We get excited when our children learn facts and produce high scores but the real goal is to help them cross the bridge from book facts to practical every day life. Education experts tell us that real learning happens in non-neutral environments and teachers everywhere, including home school parents, are encouraged to provide such environments in their classrooms.

As Christians, we should continue to be students of life, until the day we die; school calendar or not. What's amazing to me, is that the Lord Himself uses the non-neutral environment approach to teach us a thing or two every so often. You see, no matter what is going on in your life, the learning is still up to you. The so called learned of the Jesus' day were always amazed at the practicality of His knowledge; His source: the Father. (John 7:14-18) Here’s my challenge to you: next time the Lord sets up a non-neutral environment in the classroom of your life; take some time to ask the Master Teacher what lesson He would like you to learn and make sure it's His classroom. After all that’s the ultimate goal of education, isn’t it? Happy learning, this week and beyond!

Xunantunich is a spectacular place.  Everyone who goes there confirms that. It means: 'the stone madden.'  It's the ancient city of the Mayas in Central Belize. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, I'm in Belize right now with a group of young professionals from the D.C. area, we're going to visit Actun Tunichil Muknal, it means: 'chamber of the stone tomb.' And it's the largest Mayan sacrificial chamber ever discovered. It was a powerful civilization. A Theocracy really! Everything they did from the way they gathered their food to the number of steps on the main temple was directly related to their religion. Imagine an entire civilization built on an extreme religion. Why do I say extreme? Well, the whole point of the Mayan religion had to do with survival by means of appeasing the gods. Gods who could turn on you at any moment and then you were in big trouble, everyone in the empire was, the whole world even.

I have wonderful news today.  Well, ok, an invitation. Let's stop doing religion and instead let's focus on relationships; first with the God who is so amazingly faithful to us and reliable beyond our comprehension.  Then, based on that, let's focus on and enjoy our relationships with each other.  To a planet in need of freedom from guilt and all the other curses that come along with it, the Lord says: 'there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.' Read if for yourself and rejoice in Romans 8:1. Those who are in relationship with Christ Jesus don't have to wonder any more if their God (and by the way, there is only ONE) is ever going to turn on them, ever!

The headline read: Health Officials Warn of Heat Related Dangers. And they were not kidding. I understand some stores were asked to let people simply hang around for a while. People who did not have air conditioning at home were advised to take advantage of such stores. But most of all, every one was told to keep hydrated. Here's what one Web site had to say: "Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Injury and death can occur from dehydration, which can happen quickly and unnoticed. Symptoms of dehydration are often confused with other causes."

It's a good thing the Lord promises to be like a garden fountain for our lives, a well of living water and as refreshing as the streams from the Lebanon mountains. (Song of Solomon 4:15).  That's an analogy that everyone could understand today.  But the Lord has an expanded plan in mind.  Leave it to Him to want to include us in His plan.  Did you know He would like you and me to pass out His refreshment to others?  But like the other details of His plan for us, it's completely up to us.  Here's the invitation, when a friend or someone you know is experiencing some kind of heat wave of sorts in his/her life, you have an opportunity to provide cool, refreshing relief.  Proverbs 18:4, in my favorite version (NLT) puts it like this: “A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook."  What do you think, interested? Talk to Him about becoming a distributor today and have a cool summer, no matter how high the mercury rises.

Pastor Vladimir 

Well, how is your summer going? Wow, it's going by fast, isn't it? Speaking of summer, I was reading a short history of Mt. Aetna camp the other day. Did you know that there used to be an iron work shop near where the firehouse now stands? This is where some of the Revolutionary war cannons were made. Well, the glow from the furnace, reminded the locals of the Etna Volcano in Sicily, Italy. Some people think that's the reason that corner of town is called the Mt. Aetna area. Of course, now Mt. Aetna camp is a year-round facility.

Any way, it turns out on July 1948, 116 juniors (58 girls and 58 boys) and 16 staff had camp in the present location. They set up tents with bunk-beds to sleep eight children and one counselor. What a great illustration of Psalm 34:7. The Lords also likes to camp. Specifically, He sends His angels. In fact I'm convinced He sends armies of His angels to camp (set up camp, pitch their tents, set up watch with the intention of staying for a while) around His children. According to this verse if you and I choose to recognize Him as THE authority for our lives (that's what the word 'fear' means); we qualify for this benefit. Are you interested? What a wonderful thing to know that God is ready, and absolutely able to rescue us from the battle wounds of life. He can do that because His angels are near by. After all that's why He's called Emanuel, God with us; later in the New Testament. He really wants to be with us and us with Him. Make sure you've invited Him to pitch His tent right next to yours, will you? Why don't you take a minute to tell Him right now. Have a great week,

Pastor Vladimir

I’ve noticed a new trend among young people. It’s called Henna Tattoos.  Henna is a plant used to make dye, especially hair dye.  The ink is used for temporary tattoos known as mehndi or something like that. The plant is found in India, Pakistan, the Middle East and North Africa.  It’s considered ‘cool’ because the tattoos (as colorful as you would like them to be) can have very detailed designs and will last up to 2 weeks.  It’s considered harmless for people who want to dabble in the tattoo world without the permanent damage.

I guess people who are into tattoos are looking for a permanent reminder of something significant to them.  Sometimes they change their mind about that something but they’re stuck with the reminder. Interesting, isn’t it? In one way or another we all need to belong to someone or something in a permanent way.  I don’t know if you’re struggling with belonging these days. Here’s an awesome verse to remind us how permanently the Lord would like us to belong to Him.  Spend some time in Isaiah 49:14-18, especially vs. 16. What would you call it? God’s tattoo? I don’t know, but you and I are permanently engraved in the palm of His hand. That is a wonderful thing to remember when I’m wondering if I’m important to Him in the big scheme of things. I invite you to rest in that promise this week; after all you are already engraved in the palm of His hand.  Have a great week.

Pastor Vladimir

Sunday it rained all day. In fact if you check the weather forecast it looks like we'll have rain on and off for the next week with the exception of a couple of days. During a good rain, vegetation is nourished, animals are nourished, the grass gets greener; rain refreshes the land. Rain causes things to grow and be fruitful. You and I need to be refreshed from time to time also. But the bottom line is that we need God to rain on us to make us fruitful for His kingdom.

I don't know if instead; you're experiencing a time of drought of sorts in your life. That happens in the seasons of our lives. Sometimes it happens more often than not. You know what I'm talking about: you pray but you feel like the prayers don’t leave the roof of your house or wherever you happen to be living at the time. Perhaps you read your Bible but it is like reading Greek and Hebrew and worse yet, it puts you to sleep; and you go to church and get absolutely nothing out of it.

Here's the good news, listen and look at the rain this week. Let it remind you of the fact that God is alive and well. Look at Jeremiah 14:22 and Isaiah 30:23  when you have a chance this week, preferably while it's raining and you can see it hit soak the ground near by. Let it remind you that God is near, with blessings specifically designed for you. With plans to grow you and bring your drought to an end.

Pastor Vladimir

How is your summer going? Does it look like it's going to be a busy one or a relaxing one? Will you have a chance to catch up with your own spiritual needs? Lately I've had a chance to closely review details about how a house is built, the need to dig until firm ground can be found, the definite need for a solid foundation.

Perhaps this summer would be a good time for you to review the foundation of your life. How is that these days? Is the house of your life a little shaky? The Lord offers some amazing promises to those who look to Him for their foundation. Look at Isaiah 28:16, in your favorite version, when you have a chance. You know, the New Testament says that foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:6). Touch base with Him, review the blueprints for the foundation, just the two of you. After all, unless He is the foundation and He actually builds the structure of your life, it's all going to collapse one of these days (Psalm 127:1).

Have a great summer. Let the summer remind you of His Grace to you; and give Him a chance to make sure your life is based on solid ground.

Pastor Vladimir

You don't mind if I call you a saint, do you? Now, am I implying you're perfect or very close to reaching a state of 'holiness'? Absolutely not! You see, the word 'Saint', using New Testament terminology, simply means: Chosen. The New Testament very explicitly explains how you and I have been chosen by the Lord. In fact He decided long ago to adopt us as His children. You and I are "Saints" by the Lord's own definition, look up 1 Peter 2:9 and Deuteronomy 7:6 in your favorite version when you have a chance. 'Holy' not because we are perfect but because He has a special purpose for us. 'Holy' He has chosen us with a big plan in mind. That is wonderful news, my friend. I don't know about you but I tend to question my purpose in life from time to time and also question His plan when things become difficult. He chose us, we did not choose Him. That's how much He loves us. Enjoy that, appreciated it and put it to use in your daily experience.

Every week, you can come to this area of our brand new Web site and find a short devotional designed to give you a quick lift for the day. I'd like to call it our "Dear Saint Letter." It will be my privilege to do this at the beginning of the week. If you find it encouraging, I feel priviledged and blessed. Feel free to send friends to this site too. See you next week, dear saint!

Pastor Vladimir