Pastors Garage
May 18, 2024
service. Initially we had lined up Tiawo Afolabo to come share with us
again, He had come with a team from the Regina Ap early last fall and many
told me they really appreciated what he had to say. When Danny Delong
asked me a few weeks ago if we were interested in them bringing along
someone again to take a service while they were one their way to minister
at Jacob Bear I had asked if Taiwo would be willing to come again.
Initially the plan was for him to share but things had to get switched a
bit. There will be someone else coming from the Ap to share instead.
I just wanted to remind you that it is potluck Sunday. I had offered to
Danny that we could probably feed their team when they got back from Jacob
Bear to pick up those they left with us. If there would be a couple
people willing to make a bit extra for those that will be on the Regina
team and set it aside from the other potluck stuff I would really appreciate
it. They usually get back to Grenfell from JB around one. There will be
four in the team and if those who are willing to do that would contact me
directly then I will know their meal is taken care of.
Take care, c u on Sunday!
Pastor Mike
Pastors Garage
May 9, 2024
Well I hope you’re taking advantage of some beautiful weather out there!
The trees are starting to green and my grass, or should I say weeds are
definitely growing!
Just thought I’d send out a bit of a note letting you know what’s going on
in church this Sunday. Last week’s service proved to be a little bit too
full so a couple videos got bumped to this week. We will be watching a
short video on ACOP missions sent to us by Jerry and Brenda, and then also
a video sent to us by one of the missionaries that we support as a church
serving in an at risk area so I will not mention their names here!
It will also be a day that we honour our mothers, and those that are
mothers at heart, with song and dance…..Ok, well maybe with a couple
testimonies and a poem…..
BreAnn and myself will be off to Surrey BC this coming Monday to Thursday
for the ACOP biannual national conference. I’m not sure who plans these
things right in the middle of seeding time, but we’re gonna have a chat!
Take care out there, buy your mom a flower, enjoy the weather!
Pastor Mike
Announcement from Pastor Mike
May 5, 2024
heaven.”Ecc 3:1
There is no easy way to make this kind of announcement so I’ll get to the
point. It has been my privilege to serve as the associate pastor for this
church since the fall of 2018. After much prayer, wrestling, talking with
my family and many trusted mentors, I have decided to submit my resignation
to the board as pastor. Please know that it is in no way because of some
particular disagreement or hardship. It has been no secret that the last
year has been very hard for me since Dave’s departure, and I have tried to
be faithful to what I felt the Lord was leading us into as a church. While
there were many times over the years I have felt frustrated and
discouraged, I have always loved this church and felt a call, burden and
responsibility to shepherd this body that I feel was placed there by the
Lord. When Dave announced his departure I struggled as to whether I should
step down at that time as well. While that thought has haunted me a bit
over the last year I still very much felt a passion and burden for this
church which has kept me engaged. It was about a month ago, when through a
number of occurrences over the course of just a few days, I felt the Lord
release me from this position. I have heard pastors say those words over
the years and to be honest I never really understood until now what they
were saying. It’s hard to articulate but my personal burden for the role
just seemed to lift. Please hear me when I say that it is not because I am
giving up, bitter, or fed up with anything. I still love this church and
want the best for it.
While there has been some indication of where I feel the Lord is leading us
into, I don’t pretend to have any clear picture, I just have to try and be
faithful. I have been in leadership in this church, in one form or another,
continually since 1997. Over the years I have served as youth leader,
college and career leader, Sunday school teacher, camp board rep, worship
leader, men’s ministry, board member, elder and pastor. For a number of
reasons, both in our personal lives, and taking into account the transition
we are going into as a church, I have decided to step back from all forms
of leadership for a season. Please do not hear me saying “I have done my
part, it’s time for somebody else to do something”. I don’t agree with that
train of thought, nor do I believe it is even biblical. So much of my
identity has been associated with this church that I just think that I need
some time to restructure our personal lives. I also think that, while it
might cause some short term stress in our church, in the long run it will
be for the best for this body as well.
We have no plans to move or change churches. This is our church, you are
our family and friends, but for a season we may not be around quite as
much. We had wanted to sit down and tell most people face to face rather
than a mass announcement, email or them hearing through the grapevine but
it just wasn’t logistically possible to visit that many people that we love
in such a short time. We would love the opportunity to have a coffee and
answer any questions you might have going forward. It is my intention to
carry on in this position until the end of June at which point I will step
down.
Blessings,
Mike, BreAnn, & Ben
Pastors Garage
May 2, 2024
Well the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the grass is greening, the
wood-ticks/ mosquitoes are out, and I’m feeling way way behind all that I
need to get done…..yup, it must be spring!
As I look at the list before me of all that I should accomplish this spring
I can get easily overwhelmed, not to mention seeing all those tractors in
the field sets my eye to twitch when I think of all that I still have to do
prior to any chance of getting some seed in the ground on my ponderosa! And
yet it always seems to get done in its time despite my stress. I am
reminded of the verse at the end of Matthew 6 when Jesus is giving
instruction about worrying about the things of this world where he says “So
don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.” I am constantly woken up in the
middle of the night and tempted to start stewing over all the problems in
my world that I can’t possibly do anything about at that hour of the day
anyway!
This Sunday will be a day full of videos during our service. As I have
mentioned, through no real planning of my own, there has been a real
emphasis on missions for the last month starting with a Zoom call with Ron
& Veronica Esau on April 7 which I found very inspiring. On April 21 we had
Anthony and Rob from Children’s Camps International share a very inspiring
message about who our master is! On April 28 Christoff Koebel with
Operation Mobilization was with us sharing how serving God is risky
business! Well in keeping with the theme, this Sunday we will be having
another zoom connection with another family of missionaries we support as a
church, Dave and Erin Schellenberg! But as if that wasn’t exciting enough,
we have no less than three short prerecorded messages from others that we
have connection with as a church who wanted to let us know what they have
been up to! Please come join us!
Blessings,
Pastor Mike
Pastors Garage
April 25, 2024
Well, well, I can’t even start this PG off talking about snow! Even though
I kind of did! What a beautiful day out there. The grass is growing, the
birds are chirping, and the wood ticks are crawling! Anybody interested in
helping me take down some fence line next week? I can guarantee you the
last mentioned experience!
Something really stood out to me as I was reading my bible this morning. My
“read the bible in a year” plan had me reading Acts 3. It’s a story which I
am sure is familiar to most of you about when Peter and John were in the
temple and a man who was lame from birth asked them for some loose change.
Their response I am sure you know already, “I don’t have any silver or gold
for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the
Nazarene, get up and walk.”Act 3:6NLT I like how the New Living Translation
words that verse. It doesn’t actually say that they didn’t have any money
at all, but rather none for him. But then Paul goes on to say, but I’ll
give you what I do have! The reality is, while he would have gladly taken
some cash, the guy’s biggest need wasn’t money, it was healing! Money would
have helped him for a few hours, healing changed his life! Remember he was
lame from birth. As we interact with those around us, who may even be
asking of us something that would help them out for a bit, are we
spiritually aware of their real need and how we also have that to offer
them?
Ironically though, while I think that is pretty profound to me at least,
that wasn’t what stood out to me this morning. It was a little down the
page when after being healed the man was hanging on Peter and causing a big
commotion in the temple, remember that he had been their likely begging for
loose change all of his life and everyone their would know him and be
absolutely be shocked to see him walking and jumping, that verse 12 starts
off like this, “Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.” The
words Peter saw his opportunity jumped off the page to me. Are we looking
for opportunities to use the things God has already done in our lives to
share the hope and healing that can be found in turning to Him? He’s not
asking us to embellish the truth, or amplify the occasion of his move, but
we should be looking as people see Him move for opportunities to share the
hope that we have found in Him!
This Sunday Christoff Koebel with Operation Mobilization will be joining us
to share about OM. I met up with him for a coffee earlier this year, and I
think you’re gonna be in for a treat. He’s a bit of a firecracker!
Blessings,
Pastor Mike
pastors garage
April 18, 2024
Well it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! Here
we are in the middle of seventh winter……are you getting tired of me
writing about snow in my PG’s? Well trust me, so am I! It’s nothing short
of amazing to me how much the weather can affect my mood and energy level!
On Monday I was full of energy, zest and life, and here we are on Thursday
and it’s all I can do to muster the energy to get out of my chair!
As I was writing the above paragraph the verse in Hebrews about
strengthening the tired hands and weak knees came to mind. As I read it in
context it’s not so much about how we react to our surroundings but rather
how we react to the discipline of our Heavenly Father. That can also be
hard to endure, but we need to be reminded that He does it because He loves
us and it always brings a reward later on. I can relate to those verses as
I try and somewhat be a good father to Ben. I want the best for him now,
but also have in mind what’s best for him in the future which is why I
discipline him now. I can also vaguely remember having some very similar
battles with my own father several decades ago, not understanding why
certain things were such a big deal to him and why I couldn’t just have my
own way all the time. Funny how one’s thinking changes over time! We have
to trust that even in the midst of discipline or correction by our Heavenly
Father, even though we may not enjoy or understand it now, we have to
remember and trust that He knows best, sees the big picture, and ultimately
has our best interest in mind.
“*For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best
they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might
share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is
happening-it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of
right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a grip with
your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path
for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become
strong. Work at living in peace with everyone. And work at living a holy
life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each
other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that
no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
Hebrew 12:10-15*
This Sunday we have a couple gentlemen with Children Camps International
joining us to share about that ministry and it is also potluck Sunday! C u
here!
Pastor Mike
Pastors Garage
April 12, 2024
So I have always enjoyed going fast! I have ever owned any vehicles that
were really fast by some standards, but I have owned some that were faster
than most!(not that I put that to the test in any way, shape, or
form…..on streets….at red lights….. or on quiet country highways late
at night…….) There is something exhilarating about a contest of speed
or agility and coming out the victor. There’s something deeply satisfying
after some adjustment or trial about surpassing a previous personal best.
I have also owned vehicles that I could tell were not running as well as
they could or were designed too. My truck right now is an example of that.
When I fire it up in the morning it runs fine, but as it warms up it starts
to stumble and surge, until finally resting at a continuous miss and
shudder while driving. Shut it down for the night, let it cool off, and it
seems to run fine again first thing in the morning until it warms up and
repeats the process all over again. While at this point it likely isn’t
anything too serious, it is a bit annoying and is hard on gas. It is still
somewhat drive-able. But if I was to ignore the problem and just keep on
driving it for any length of time I am sure it would cause bigger problems
that would cost far more. I have an appointment to have it looked at and I
am trying to avoid driving it.
Our lives are like that at times as well. Everything seems to be running
fine, but it’s still a good idea to check things over from time to time and
do some preventable maintenance. And then all of the sudden, out of the
blue, for no apparent reason, a miss or shudder appears. Sure we could just
keep on plugging away, hoping it will just magically disappear, but that’s
usually not the best idea and left unaddressed things usually get worse if
not catastrophic!
This Sunday I will be talking about making sure we are healthy and on the
right track. How we are living in interesting times, with much varied
opinion out there over almost every issue you can imagine. How do we stay
on the straight and narrow and know what is true or counterfeit? I will
also be asking us to do a specific spiritual check up and diagnosis if you
will in the form of a fast. A fast is where you refrain from a normal
activity for a set period of time replacing it with a focus on the things
of the Lord. I heard an old preacher once say “If you want to go fast, you
need to fast!” As unpleasant as it might be during the duration it
inevitably allows you to see things clearer and operate in a far more
healthy way after!
I want to leave you with this passage from 2 Timothy. *“But you must remain
faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for
you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy
Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive
the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is
inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us
realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and
teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people
to do every good work.” *2 Timothy 3:14-17NLT
Pastor Mike
Pastors Garage
April 6, 2024
Well I don’t want to get your hopes up but it may just be warming up out
there! Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a nice winter, BUT a long one! It
feels like about 37 years ago when we got that first snow in October!
Just wanted to send out a short note letting you know we have something
very special in store for you during tomorrow morning’s service! It’s
something I have been working on since last summer! Ron and Veronica Esau,
missionaries to Turkey, which we support as a church, will be joining us
via Zoom to share their hearts! And they have an exciting announcement to
make about their future! They have been there for 7 years already! That is
so hard to believe! It seems like just a year to two ago they joined us for
our weekend camping trip at Crooked Lake Provincial Park just prior to them
leaving for the field! We had hoped that they could visit us for a weekend
last summer when they were back in Canada, but some family stuff came up
for them and they literally didn’t end up having a Sunday they could give
us. So we have been working on a Sunday when they could join us via zoom,
here’s hoping technology is our friend! We did a test run on Wed and it
seems like it will work! This is another area that I miss pastor Dave, he
was a bit of a tech wizard and definitely our IT man! I can get by with
computer stuff as long as there are no hiccups! As soon as there is a bit
of a road block, I am lost!
Something else that a few of us have been pondering is another camping
weekend. We have kind of done a few different versions of this over the
last number of years. As we talked it over a few weeks ago I think the
consensus was that we go back to a simpler version like we did the first
few years. It’s always hard to pick a date as there is never one that works
for everyone, but we came up with the June 21-23 weekend. We are gonna be
having it at Crooked Lake Provincial Park again, and just leaving it up to
those who would like to attend to book their own sites. We will try and
congregate in the area by the boat launch, sites 75-87. Booking for the
park opens at 7am Tuesday April 9th, as in three days from now, and the
sites tend to book up quickly so if you would like to be located in the
group I would suggest booking that morning! Bring your camper, the tent
sites are right beside! We’ll hammer out the details as the date gets
closer as to whether we do a potluck meal or have our church picnic there.
Other than that everyone will be responsible for their own site, camper or
tent, and meals.
A good friend dropped by the church Thursday morning to encourage me, and
boy I needed it! While there he mentioned a passage from Philippians 3 that
I wanted to leave you with. *“I don’t mean to say that I have already
achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I
press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed
me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on
this one thing. Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for
which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”Philippians 3:12-14 *
Please remember Richard Dimler and Brenda Bonk in your prayers as they
struggle with their health! That God would grant them peace and strength
and their families wisdom and comfort in this season of their lives!
Pastor Mike
Pastors Garage
March 28, 2024
Well I don’t want to get your hopes up or anything, but there is snow in
the forecast for tomorrow! Don’t put your shovels away just yet! Do you
happen to remember that Easter weekend a number of years ago when we had
that big dump of snow Friday night that knocked the power out for like 30
hours! I remember I had a medieval feast dress up thing at my place for a
number of friends on Friday. Dean Drinnan was dressed as some kind of Pict
warrior all painted in blue with no shirt on! Later that night we had over
a foot of heavy snow which knocked some power lines down. I still remember
waking up to a cold house, getting the wood stove stoked up and frying eggs
and bacon on the top and just hunkering down and reading a book all day!
Easter weekend is always a different story weather wise every year.
Sometimes it’s hot and beautiful, sometimes we get another shot of old man
winter! We often make our plans to get together with friends and family for
a celebration! As I think about how in the midst of our dreams and plans we
are still at the mercy of the weather this time of year, my mind goes to
what it must have been like for the followers of Jesus during that season
approximately two thousand years ago. On palm Sunday they were celebrating
His entrance into Jerusalem as their long awaited saviour messiah! And just
a few days later they stood looking at Him hanging on a cross!
Life is like that at times. We think we have a pretty good idea of what’s
to come. At times we are excited for some new occurrence or opportunity,
only to have those dreams dashed before our eyes. At other times the future
just looks dismal, seemingly like there is no light at the end of the
tunnel. We need to remember in the darkest of moments, we don’t actually
see the big picture either! I’m sure as the very few of the remaining
faithful followers of Jesus stood looking up at that cross, all seemed
futile and lost! And yet, in just a couple days God would reveal a much
bigger, better plan!
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! He is the Way! The Truth! The Life! He is
our only hope! The only true source of meaning, purpose and fulfillment
there is! He’s won the victory! He knows the end of the story because He’s
written it for us! It’s a good ending!
This Sunday please come and celebrate His resurrection with us! We are
having a fellowship time starting at 9:30 at the church before the morning
service with some muffins and fruit. If you would like to help out with
that please contact Cheryl Fischer.
“*Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to
the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on
Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the
joy awaiting him,he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is
seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne. Think of all the
hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and
give up.” Hebrews 12:1-3*
Pastor Mike
Pastors Garage
March 22, 2024
Hey there, how’s the long slow entrance into spring treating you? I, for
one, am more than ready for the lamb that the lion at the beginning of
March predicted to show up! As I wrote that last sentence my thoughts went
to a very different Lion and Lamb! The one I hope we all know, love, and
serve! The reality is one day we will all kneel before Him, as either the
Lamb that takes away the sin of the world, or the Lion of Judah, who will
judge the living and the dead! In light of that, how are we to walk these
few years we have on this earth? The light of this reality should affect
how we live on a daily basis!
Last Sunday I talked about how we are called to interact with the world.
The sermon was based upon 2 Kings 6:8-23. I would suggest reading it to
give some perspective to what I am about to say if you weren’t able to be
there, or possibly have totally forgotten what I talked about already. The
reality is that the Lord is not calling us to judge, control, fight
against, manipulate, or coerce those we perceive to be our enemies in the
battle we find ourselves in. He calls us to love and bless them! He
promises to fight on our behalf, He promises to reveal, He promises to
judge. I would argue that very rarely, if ever, is anyone argued, forced,
or guilt-ed into the kingdom! But they are led! All we have is love. They
will know that we are Christians by our Love! It doesn’t matter who you see
on the offensive. Maybe someone from another lifestyle, people group,
religion. It doesn’t matter what they’ve done to you, said about you,
treated you! It doesn’t even matter how sinful they may be! We are called
to love and bless them. The rest is up to the only one who can really ever
judge and administer justice fairly! The one who is the reveal-er of the
thoughts and intents of the heart! Read that passage in second Kings again,
read the story of Jonah, read the account of the crucifixion! Redemption of
the enemy has always been at the heart of the Father! It’s the only chance
any of us have at gaining His mercy as well. It doesn’t matter what stage
you are at in your spiritual journey, we all were, at one time, enemies of
the cross!
Which brings me to a bit of a teaser as to where I am headed for the next
two Sundays. Last Sunday the key word was Love! This Sunday the key word is
Fear! What does it mean to fear the Lord? Easter Sunday the key word is
Forgive! What does it mean to both be forgiven, and to truly forgive?
“*The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the
Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10(ESV)*
Pastor Mike