Undeterred Determination

June 5, 2010 — by Joe Stowell

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

All things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. —2 Corinthians 5:18

Bible in a year:
2 Chronicles 23-24; John 15

One of the great privileges of serving at Moody Bible Institute was hearing about graduates who had impacted the world for Christ. Their stories of sacrifice, perseverance, and passion for the gospel were inspiring.

In the late 19th century, Mary McLeod Bethune spent 2 years studying at Moody in Chicago, training to become a missionary in Africa. But after she graduated, no mission board would give her the opportunity, as an African-American woman, to serve on the mission field. Unable to fulfill her dream to go to Africa, she didn’t give up on her calling to serve Jesus. Undaunted, she started a small school for African-American girls in Florida that would eventually blossom into Bethune-Cookman College. She became a powerful force for change in the status of women.

Mary’s legacy was forged by her determination to serve Jesus even in the face of shattered dreams. She knew that God had entrusted to her “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18)—and she wouldn’t give up.

That wasn’t just a mandate for Mary McLeod Bethune. Telling people they can be reconciled to God through Christ is a calling given to all of us. Look for a way to make a difference for Jesus today—right where you are!

Wherever You have placed us, Lord,
Give us the courage to proclaim
To people who are lost in sin:
“You can be new in Jesus’ name.” —Sper

One of the qualities God looks for in His people is a heart that is willing to serve Him.

| Our Daily Bread |

A. W. Tozer

Aiden Wilson Tozer (April 21, 1897 - May 12, 1963) was an American Christian pastor, preacher, author, magazine editor, Bible conference speaker, and spiritual mentor.^[1] For his work, he received two honorary doctorate degrees.

Biography

Hailing from a tiny farming community in western Pennsylvania, his conversion was as a teenager in Akron, Ohio. While on his way home from work at a tire company, he overheard a street preacher say: "If you don't know how to be saved... just call on God." Upon returning home, he climbed into the attic and heeded the preacher’s advice.

In 1919, five years after his conversion, and without formal theological training, Tozer accepted an offer to pastor his first church. This began 44 years of ministry, associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), a Protestant evangelical denomination; 33 of those years were served as a pastor in a number of churches. His first pastorate was in a small storefront church in Nutter Fort, West Virginia. Tozer also served as pastor for 30 years at Southside Alliance Church, in Chicago (1928 to 1959), and the final years of his life were spent as pastor of Avenue Road Church, in Toronto, Canada. In observing contemporary Christian living, he felt that the church was on a dangerous course toward compromising with "worldly" concerns.

In 1950, Tozer received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Wheaton College. It was May 1950, when Tozer was elected editor of the Alliance Weekly magazine, now called, Alliance Life, the official publication of the C&MA. From his first editorial, dated June 3, 1950, he wrote, "It will cost something to walk slow in the parade of the ages, while excited men of time rush about confusing motion with progress. But it will pay in the long run and the true Christian is not much interested in anything short of that." In 1952, he received an LL.D. degree from Houghton College.^[2]

Among the more than 40 books that he authored, at least two are regarded as Christian classics: The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy. His books impress on the reader the possibility and necessity for a deeper relationship with God.

Living a simple and non-materialistic lifestyle, he and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, never owned a car, preferring bus and train travel. Even after becoming a well-known Christian author, Tozer signed away much of his royalties to those who were in need.

Tozer had seven children, six boys and one girl. He was buried in Ellet Cemetery, Akron, Ohio, with a simple epitaph marking his grave: "A. W. Tozer - A Man of God."^[3]

Prayer was of vital personal importance for Tozer. "His preaching as well as his writings were but extensions of his prayer life," comments his biographer, James L. Snyder, in the book, In Pursuit of God: The Life Of A.W. Tozer. "He had the ability to make his listeners face themselves in the light of what God was saying to them," writes Snyder.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._W._Tozer

Need wisdom? Just ask.

Need wisdom? Just ask.
by Rick Warren

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5 NIV)

Need wisdom? We all do. And the good news is that God wants to give it to you. He is eager to do so.

Just like it pleased God when Solomon asked for wisdom (1 Kings 3:7-14), it pleases God when we ask for wisdom. It's God's nature to give. He is a giving God.

The Bible says in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (NIV)

This verse says three things about how God gives wisdom. He does so:

• Continually. "Ask God who gives ..." In Greek this is in the continuous tense. He keeps on giving. He doesn't run out of energy. He never wears out.

• Generously. God's resources are unlimited. He has enough resources for everyone. He's got plenty of wisdom to go around.

• Cheerfully. James says God gives "without finding fault." God loves to give. It's in his nature to give! Don't get embarrassed to ask. He wants to give you wisdom!

Where do you need wisdom? Got a big decision coming with your career, your marriage, or your kids? God wants to help. He has wisdom to offer. But remember what James says. If you want wisdom from God, you've got to ask! If you ask, he'll give it.

Relections from Perge and Aspendos

Assembly 2010

 

http://cmalliance.ca/index.php

Emile Thibodeau Memorial Service

Tribute to a Friend

Emile Thibodeau

Reflections from Pastor Dave Smith

Dear Fairview Alliance Church Family, Marcel, Janice, Norma, Kim, and other family members of Emile’s,

I was the Senior Pastor of Fairview Alliance Church from 1996 to 2004, and during this time I had the privilege of knowing Emile Thibodeau.

Emile and Theresa, were long standing members of Lakeshore Pentecostal Church, and for a variety of reasons began to attend the Fairview Alliance Church. We welcomed them to our church family, and Emile to our worship team.

It was not long after they began attending, Theresa died very unexpectedly and I recall the wonderful unified service we conducted at our church with the worship team and full participation of the Lakeshore Pentecostal Church congregation. It was a lovely service and a time to honour a loving mother and Emile’s best friend.

Emile had a number of challenges raising Janice and Marcel, and often lamented that his children were very saddened and missing the influence of their mother growing up. Despite his own loneliness he greatly loved his children and from my times visiting with him, I was always impressed with the way he managed to provide for his family and very capably looked after the meals, and maintained a very immaculate home for his family.

A few years later, at Emile and Kim’s request I performed the wedding ceremony that was to unite two lonely people and to provide comfort and companionship for both of them. I wasn’t around to see how this relationship played out, but was later told that Emile had once again found himself on his own.

As a pastor, I have always longed to see people come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to experience the majesty of our Sovereign God, to be comforted and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to walk humbly before our God.

As I have reflected upon the life of Emile, as I have experienced him, Emile was a man who was acquainted with grief and sorrow, a man who did not live an easy life. He was a man who had many challenges, received few breaks, laboured for all that he had, and lived a very lonely and hard life.

Despite all of this, I have known Emile to be a very humble man. A man who was very gentle, kind, and generous. Emile Thibodeau possessed a very realistic view of himself, and added value to the people around him. Perhaps his greatest attribute was the very simple and childlike faith that he possessed.

When I think of Emile Thibodeau, I think about Jesus words... (in Matt. 5:1-12)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven

Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled

Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God

Rejoice and be glad Emile, because great is your reward in heaven!

It has been my pleasure and privilege to know Emile, and I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family on this great loss. I will cherish my memories of this humble man and friend, and look forward to the day when I will see him again.

Love,

Pastor Dave

Emile Thibodeau, beloved brother in Christ, October 27, 1954 - May 7,2010

You will be missed brother.

Memorial service will be held:

• Tuesday, May 11, 2010
• 5:00 p.m.
• Fairview Alliance Church
  220 Hyman Drive, DDO, H9B 1L8