CLA Ministries Leader

Signing Off

2009-11-18T21:20:00.001-08:00

It has been an amazing experience, but my time as an Executive Pastor at CLA has come to an end. I will be moving forward to a position in the Abbotsford School District as Vice Principal at W.J. Mouat Secondary starting on January 1st, 2010.

I'd like to thank all of you who have been checking in here. From now on, I will be posting at http://christfollowers.blogspot.com

God bless you!
Vijay

Final "November Nights"

2009-11-17T02:08:00.000-08:00

This Sunday will mark the end of the "November Nights" series of Sunday night services. I'm excited to lead worship with old friends who were a part of The Doxa Band with me: Jared Falk on drums, Dustin Freund on bass, and the legendary Dan Kim on electric. I can't wait!

Pastor Antonio Nasser will be preaching on the theme: "Jesus, the only Way to God".

Plan to attend this Sunday, November 22nd at 7pm (CLA Langley).

I'm Super Excited!!

2009-11-03T13:42:00.001-08:00

I am thrilled to announce that Pastor Brent Cantelon has invited my father to speak at November Nights on Sunday, November 15th (7pm) at CLA Langley. Rev. David Manuel has been in the ministry for over 45 years and most recently has served at South Abbotsford Church for the past 25 years with his wife Stella. Together with God's help they have established a church of more that 80 converts from Sikhism and today that congregation is pastored by one of those converts. Praise God!

Pastor David's ministry today is focused on television and radio broadcasts across Canada and the world targeting primarily Urdu-speaking Muslim viewers and listeners. David has his Master of Arts degree in Theology in which he wrote his thesis on reaching Muslims with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor David has received death threats for his work and at the same time has seen many, many people receive Jesus as Lord.

Plan to join us for what promises to be a powerful night in God's presence!

Rev. David Manuel

@ November Nights

November 15th, 2009

7pm

CLA Langley (Map)

November Nights Update

2009-11-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

Last night was the first of 4 November Nights services. Praise God, it was a good evening together! I'm thankful for all who came out and participated in the service. It was a good first night of worship, testimony, the Word, and the Work of the Holy Spirit!!

I was so blessed by Michael d'Abadie's testimony at the Men's Encounter weekend and was thankful that he and Judy would share their story of forgiveness last night.

The theme for the month is "Jesus Is". Last night we focussed on forgiveness. The coming weeks will be: "Jesus the Healer", "Jesus the Saviour", and "Jesus the Only Way".

Plan to join us next week!!

November Nights

2009-10-22T21:02:00.001-07:00

Sunday Night Services

•November 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

7:00pm

Worship

The Word

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Click Here for Video Promo

Giving Produces Thanksgiving To God

2009-10-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

I've attached a link to my sermon notes from this past Sunday (October 11th, 2009) entitled: "Giving Produces Thanksgiving To God". These will be most helpful for people who attended the service in Maple Ridge or for those who listen online.

Click Here for the Notes.

Click Here to listen online (audio only).

2535 Update

2009-09-23T22:54:00.000-07:00

2535 will begin weekly on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 7:30pm in the CLA Cafe (21277 56th Avenue, Langley) Plan to be there and invite your friends! The cafe will be open for hot drinks and the fellowship and fun shall begin!!

So Simple

2009-09-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

I've begun reading through the book of Acts again. The purpose and message of the early church was so simple and so clear. When Peter was asked by the crowd what they should do in response to his teaching on Christ, his answer cuts to the chase:

^{Acts 2:38-39 / 38}Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

What is the message we should bring to our friends, neighbors, co-workers, those who are like us, different than us... ? Here it is: There is a God who created you, loves you, and knows you! If you declare your belief in His son, Jesus, you will be saved; as you confess the wrongs in your life to Him, in Jesus name, He will forgive you! Now be baptized and filled with His Holy Spirit and live your life for Him!

This is a free gift for all! Now go and live; it's not enough to simply exist; live! :)

Everyone Needs a Caddy!

2009-09-05T06:49:00.000-07:00

I've done a bit of golfing this summer and really enjoyed the opportunity to work on my game. My son enjoys the game a lot, at 6-years-old, and so we've hit a smaller course a few times together. If you watch professional golf, you'll notice that there's always a caddy with any professional golfer. The caddy's job, however, isn't only to carry the pro's bag. He or she does so much more! The caddy will assist with yardage, strategy, offer encouragement, and many other things as well. One could make the argument that without a partner on the golf course, the professional golfer's score would be much higher than it would be with a partner.

As a (very) recreational golfer, I've played with guys who want to compete against their playing partners, and others who enjoy the game and want to help each other while still trying to record their best score. For example, when you're staring down a 15-foot putt and are trying to read the green as to whether you should hit straight at the hole or not and how much pace to give the ball, it's so much better when there's someone there to give you a second perspective and some help. The interesting thing about golf is that someone else scoring well doesn't mean that you can't also score well. It's always fun to have a good round when you play any course, but the success of your round isn't dependent on the other person having a bad round.

Life is similar, I'm thinking. For me to have success in life isn't dependent on others around me living with failures. I'd much rather live and work with people who are willing to help each other, offer different perspectives to the challenges we face, and strive to see each other succeed.

Are you a competitive 'life-liver' (nice word) or someone who is willing to help the people they meet, live with, and work with; to offer help in all situations and offer suggestions on how people can find success through the challenges they face? Are you willing to be a caddy for the people around you?

Challenging Times?

2009-09-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

There is a God who cares. He is not some 'force' out there... somewhere... He wants to make Himself known to you through a personal relationship with Him. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). There is a peace-filled, joy-filled life waiting for you; a life of purpose and direction!

Have you ever wished you could be more than what you see yourself being right now? Give your life to Jesus whole-heartedly. It starts with acknowledging that there is a God and that He is perfect and you & I are not. He is the eternal and immortal. He made the world and everything in it! He is the highest, the greatest, the absolute ruler of space and time.

Next, we must all admit to the things in our lives that are contrary to what God stands for. The Bible calls the imperfections in our lives, sin: missing God's mark of perfection. Romans 3:23 teaches us that all of us have sinned and have missed God's standard by the way we live our lives. There is no amount of good deeds or nice things we can do or say that will save us from this problem. God is perfect, and we are sinful. It's like oil & water; the two can not mix!

The Good News is that God has made a way for us to be freed from our sins. Jesus, God's son, came to earth and died a horrible death in my place; in your place. He became the lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29)! God has further promised in His Word that if we will confess our sins, He will faithfully forgive us and cleanse us from the stuff that keeps us from being 'right' before Him (I John 1:9).

Ask Jesus to forgive you for the things you have done to hurt God, others, and yourself. Ask Him to come into your life and make you into the person He would have you become. When Jesus left the earth and went to Heaven through the clouds, He promised that God's Holy Spirit would come and be our counsellor and guide. Tell Him that you want to live your life for Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you, to lead you & guide you, and to take you where He would have you go. ! There is a promise that as we confess Jesus as Lord and believe in Him, we will not die but have life forever (John 3:16). This is not to say that we will physically live forever, but that life will continue with God in Heaven after our physical life has ended here on earth.

There is an unbelievable peace in knowing that I am living a life of purpose for God. My life is in His hands; your life can be too. Give your life to Jesus today and experience true life!

Coquitlam Campus Launch

2009-09-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

It's a good day for CLA! How exciting to be standing on the edge of something new that God is birthing through our church. On Sunday, September 13th, we will have the official launch of our CLA Coquitlam campus. Praise God! We'll be making an announcement regarding the leadership there on Sunday the 6th. I am so excited to see God's hand lead us to a vision, to a venue, and now to the leaders who will grow this work. Together with the amazing team of people already in place, there is great anticipation for what the Lord will do in the Tri-Cities area!

Jesus gave us the charge to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them (Matthew 28:18-20). His promise is that He will be with us. We have experienced His guidance and peace as we have taken steps towards this campus.

If you are in the Tri-Cities area, please consider joining the CLA Discover Life outreach from September 9th - 12th and the CLA Coquitlam launch on the 13th.

Lutherans Approve Gay Clergy

2009-08-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sixty-eight percent of the 1000 delegates representing approximately 4.7 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have voted to lift a ban on openly gay clergy who are sexually active. Congregations will have the option of hiring gay clergy who are in committed relationships while more conservative congregations may choose not to hire gay clergy.

Read the full MSNBC article by Clicking Here.

Comments? Thoughts?

Let Us Do Good To All People

2009-08-10T20:16:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I spoke at CLA Langley, a message that was linked to CLA Maple Ridge. Apparently the link to CLA Coquitlam failed.

Listen to or watch the full message: CLICK HERE

The message focussed on the question of leaving our mark on this world to the glory of God. How many years are remaining for me personally to do that? 50 years? Perhaps 60? According to Galatians 6:7-10, we as individuals and as a church will reap what we sow; from where we choose to invest our lives, we will indeed reap a harvest. So let us not become weary in doing good... to all people!

What is the 'good' that we should do? In Galatians 5, we are told that as we live by the Spirit of God; as we are led by the Spirit of God; and as we keep in step with the Spirit of God, we will find good things 'coming off' us: "But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of the Spirit in us] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" Galatians 5:22-23.

And at whom should we direct this 'good'? Paul tells us that the entire law is summed in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' (Galatians 5:13-15). When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus said that loving God with all that we are is the greatest command, and the second is like it: 'love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:37-40).

Okay, so here's the big question. Who is our neighbor?

I presented three candidates.

#1 • Our literal neighbors
Do we really need to spend time with them... and do we have to bake cookies for them??

I made the argument that we definitely should. Is it possible that God has placed us in our neighborhoods to make time for the people living next to us, to be a part of their lives, to share the love of God with them, and to literally bake cookies for them?

#2 • Our co-workers & colleagues
Shouldn't those we work with have some kind of idea of what a Christian is?

I shared parts of a discussion I had with a former colleague of mine in the school district; someone I have a great deal of respect for. He asked why it is that Christians exploit the poor, sick, and the immigrants. Why do they go to these people with the goal of converting them?

My thought was, how could someone who has worked with so many different Christians, including me, not know or understand what it is that we are really about? Although I had the opportunity to share with him in that moment, I was left with the strong sense that we must be much more open to sharing the truth with our colleagues when God gives us the opportunity!

#3 • Those who are different that us
Are those who are socio-economically, ethnically, culturally, and even morally different our neighbors; people we should love in the same way we love ourselves?

I made the argument that yes, we must love those who are different than us. The only 'us' and 'them' for Christians should be those who are saved and know Jesus as Lord and those we want to reach with His Good News.

I shared a conversation I had with a friend who has been invited to a gay wedding by a colleage in his workplace. The colleage said: 'I know you're a Christian and you may not be comfortable attending, but it would mean a lot to me if you would support me in this way.' As he debated what he would do, there were a few discussion points that came up:

•What does the Bible say about homosexuality? (Romans 1:26-27 & 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
•What does the Bible say about marriage? (Mark 10:7-9)
•By going, would you then be a supporter of same-sex marriage?
•By not going, would you then be exactly what's expected of us - judgemental?
•But the enemy is a deceiver, and they too have been deceived
•Jesus was criticized for spending time with 'sinners' (Mark 2:13-17)
•What about the woman caught in adultery? Although Jesus 'cleared the room' by asking which of them was without sin, He also had a clear expectation of the woman: 'Go now and leave your life of sin' (John 8:1-11)

•There is no room to compromise the truth as presented in the Bible
•Is it different if a person claims to be a Christian and lives this lifestyle?

As I left my friend to make his decision, I asked this question: Is the gay colleague a 'neighbor' who we are to love despite his lifestyle choice? Even though the Bible is clear on the homosexual lifestyle, is the person someone I should care for and love the way I love myself?

I would argue that yes, we ought to consider those who are different than us socio-economically, ethnically, culturally, and even morally as our neighbors.

In conclusion: Do you want to 'do right' with your life?

According to James, "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right" (James 2:8).

A challenge for the coming week.

#1 • Renew your commitment to do good in people’s lives around you
#2 • Make it practical (who will you show love to this week as described in Galatians 5:22-23)
#3 • Bake some cookies (or the equivalent) and bring them to some of your neighbors :)

God bless you this week!

This Past Sunday

2009-07-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I spoke at CLA Maple Ridge. The message was entitled: "What Will Bring Change?"

Please visit Pastor Antonio Nasser's BLOG for a copy of my sermon notes. You can hear the audio of the message by CLICKING HERE.

Canada Day iPhone Shots

2009-07-01T23:55:00.001-07:00

Check out some of my iPhone grabs from Sunday, June 28th, 2009: CLA's Canada Day Celebration! Click Here

A Life Well Lived

2009-07-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I spoke at CLA Coquitlam. Three days earlier, Michael Jackson had suddenly died at the age of 50, sending the media and much of the world into a bit of a tail-spin. This is a man who has performed in front of millions of people since he was 10 years old, sold over 750 million records, recognized by Guiness World Records as being the most successful entertainer of all time and owning the largest selling album of all time (Thriller, 1982), recently sold out 50 concerts to over 750,000 people in London (in a few hours), and in death broke Billboard Chart records as he will own the top of the charts in North America with three albums having sold more than 100,000 copies in a single week. The list can go on and on.

When news of Michael Jackson's death broke, Yahoo & Google both saw unprecedented amounts of traffic, to the point that they believed they were under attack and began sending error messages to people searching on their sites. People in various cities around the world began to celebrate the life of this celebrity from Tokyo to London to New York. Even the U.S. Congress paused for a minute of silence in Michael Jackson's honor!

The irony of what we're seeing all over the news is that a week ago the same media treated Michael Jackson as a freak, a joke, and possibly evil.

Here's a question: Was Michael Jackson's life a life well-lived? Based on the accolades in life and the praise and glory in death, it seems that in the world's eyes it is. In fact, we are blatantly and subliminally taught that the celebrity life is the one we should all aspire to at some level. We walk by their pictures in supermarkets, read about them online, and watch them on TV & in the movies. There are people whose entire existence is centered on taking pictures of them as they, well, do nothing... Really?!

A better question: Is this a life well-lived in God's eyes?

Success in God's eyes begins with the recognition that God is eternal and we are momentary (Isaiah 40:6-8). We must acknowledge, as Isaiah declared, that we are here for a brief moment in time like the grass of the field, and all the glory we accumulate is like the flowers of the field. The grass dies and the flowers will fall... momentary, but it's the Word of God that will last forever!

Further, we must live in such a way that brings glory and honor to God. Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, but He also taught us how to live!

9 Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

We choose to live in such a way that says:

1. I trust you, because you love me with a Father's heart.
2. You are holy, revered, morally excellent, sacred.
3. I work for your Kingdom so that it will grow on this earth; not for my own 'kingdom'
4. I choose to act on the calls You make because You are good & holy
5. I depend on You for my daily needs, and what I have is because of Your goodness & not my success
6. I need Your forgiveness, and I will forgive others daily
7. There is an evil one prowling around, but we trust in You for protection and know that You are greater!
8. All the glory for the good that comes from our lives belongs to You!

In my life, I make the choice to say: "May my name fade and may the name of the Lord grow brighter through everything I do".

A life well-lived is one that is lived in humility before God and brings glory and honor to the True King; the eternal King; we live our lives to praise the name of Jesus Christ in all we do! To God be the glory forever!

Challenge for Fathers!

2009-06-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Father's Day Message: Click Here

Father's Day Message

2009-06-21T21:26:00.001-07:00

I spoke at CLA Langley today with a message entitled: "Following God's Example". You can view the message by Clicking Here. We looked at a few attributes of God as our Heavenly Father and applied them to our lives and roles as father to our children. Praise God for a wonderful morning together!

Some of the main points (this is useful if you were there or view the message online):

God the Father:

1. Claims me as His / Chooses me

2. Has reasonable expectations of me

3. Forgives me

4. Wants the best for me

5. Gives me joy, safety, & peace

As a father, do I:

1. Claim my kids / Am I proud of them?

2. Have reasonable expectations of them?

3. Forgive?

4. Want the best for them?

5. Give joy, safety, & peace?

Golf Ball in the Sand?

2009-06-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine if Tiger Woods, the world's #1 ranked golfer, had never hit a ball out of the sand, never had to take a drop because of having hit a ball into water, never had a few holes in the middle of a round where he couldn't find a rhythm with his swing, or never driven a ball into the neighboring fairway? If he hadn't faced those trials, and ended up playing in his first major tournament, the tournament would be a total disaster! The fact that Tiger has played a plethora of shots from a vast variety of situations, and learned to do it well, is what makes him ready and eligible to play in the big tournament, and ultimately to receive the winner's prize.

We too are being prepared for whatever God has for us next! If you find that you are hitting out of the sand, ask God for wisdom to learn how to handle that situation well. Remember that trials of many kinds are developing perseverance in us, and ultimately preparing us to receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

God bless you today!

Text: James 1:2-18

Let's Stand In The River

2009-05-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

This morning I spoke at CLA Coquitlam. My message was based on Joshua 3 and 4:14. God commissioned Joshua to be the next leader of His people, the Israelites. Joshua had served as Moses' aide for many years, and now with Moses gone, Joshua was the leader. He was charged with leading the people into the land that had been promised to God's people.

God had a task for Joshua and the people and I believe He has a task for us today in the Tri-Cities: to take the land for the glory of God! Our job is to Love God and to love those around us with sincere hearts; being ready to share the Gospel as the door is opened to us. The Holy Spirit will do the work of conviction and salvation. We must be prepared, however, for the battle ahead!

1. Let us consecrate ourselves because the Lord is going to do amazing things (3:5)

2. God will begin to exalt us so the people will know that He is with us (3:7)

3. We must listen to the words of God who is among us (3:9-10)

4. He will certainly drive out, ahead of us, the enemy we will face (3:10)

God called on His people to stand in the Jordan river that was at flood stage so that He could perform a miracle. Today, we too, must trust Him enough to take a risk for Him so that God's glory may be revealed to all the people around us.

Lessons Learned From My Puppy (#1)

2009-05-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Lesson #1. Stop and smell the... well, everything. Good, bad, sweet, sour, fresh, rotten... just stop and check it out. It seems to be Bruiser's top priority to check out and understand, to the best of his ability, everything that is happening around him. Taking him on our first leashed walk, Bruiser was determined to stop and... smell, everything. I wasn't even sure why I felt the need to keep him moving so fast as there was no time constraints and no reason to really move that fast. In time, he'll learn that a walk is a walk and not a go•stop•go•stop session. But for now, my lesson was to understand the importance of slowing down and checking out what is actually, physically going on around me: the people, the activity, nature, space, etc, etc. Creation is a wonderful thing. It's actually much better than the virtual world through which I am communicating to you now. Let's pause and enjoy what the Lord has made for us!

Genesis 1:31 • God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

Go All The Way!

2009-05-17T22:19:00.001-07:00

I spoke at CLA Sunday Night service tonight. I encouraged people to go all the way in giving God total reign in their lives. We can't be sold out for the Lord in one area, and have compromises in another. Who are we kidding? Not God, for He knows the secrets of our hearts. The two areas I challenged people in were in their 1) Moral Standard, and 2) Relationships. God has chosen us to be holy and blameless in His sight and we are to offer the parts of our bodies as instruments of righteousness. When it comes to relationships, our attitudes should be the same as Jesus. We are to humbly put the needs of others ahead of our own!

If you have a moral compromise in your life, give it to the Lord, ask Him for forgiveness, and be free from the burden of sin. If there are relationships in your life that are based on selfishness, give them to the Lord also and begin to humbly serve whomever God places in your life.

May God grant you much strength and wisdom this week!

2009-05-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

For those of you who listened to Rachel Barkey's testimony from a previous post, I just received a link to her new website, DeathIsNotDying.com Please visit, read Rachel's letters, watch the video of her message, and most importantly, pass it on to as many people as you can.

Rachel is a friend from my high school days who was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago and recently received the news that she now has terminal cancer giving her weeks to live. A beautiful mother of 2 with her husband, Neil, of 10 years, Rachel loves the Lord Jesus and is allowing Him to use this situation in her life to be a blessing for many. Will you join me in praying for Rachel and her family?

DeathIsNotDying.com

Rachel's Letters

Rachel's Video Testimony

God bless you today!

Pretty Moral

2009-05-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Carrie Prejean is the reigning Miss California. At the Miss USA Pageant last month, Perez Hilton an openly gay blogger, asked Miss Prejean, 21, a question regarding same-sex marriage. This is obviously a loaded question as California just defeated a motion to legalize same-sex marriage in their state. CLICK HERE to see Carrie Prejean's full answer. Miss Prejean answered that she believed marriage to be something between a man and a woman; this is the way she was raised, and that is her belief. She went on to be the runner up in the Miss USA pageant. One hour later, Perez Hilton posted a video blog in which he stated his extreme distaste for Miss Prejean including calling her a 'dumb b-word'. Since then, a firestorm of activity has surrounded this young woman in the media. Semi-nude photos have surfaced from a photo-shoot when Miss Prejean was 17 years old in an attempt to discredit her and force the removal of her Miss California crown. Yesterday morning, Donald Trump gave the official nod to allow Carrie Prejean to retain her crown despite the photos.

For the record, I am not a beauty pageant watcher. I do, however, feel the need to share some of my thoughts on this issue. First, you may wonder why I would even care to comment... When a pageant contestant creates front-page headlines because of an answer given during Miss USA, we should all be thinking... huh? It's actually not the contestant or the question that are making headlines, but rather it's the issue that the question represents. When Miss California stood up for what she, and the majority of voting Californians, and the majority of Americans believe to be true, she became an opportunity for the same-sex movement to make an example of her. If enough media-types suggest that she is a bigot for stating what she believes to be good and right on the issue of same-sex marriage, more and more media-watchers will also begin to view that answer as prejudicial.

My second thought: It is critical that we Christians not save our moral stand for only a few areas. If we compromise in some areas, our moral stand will be weakened in all areas because we will be viewed as hypocrites and may very well be. Please note that Carrie Prejean presents as a confident, intelligent, well-spoken, and caring individual. The stand she took regarding same-sex marriage is not as strong, however, because she was willing to pose semi-nude in front of a camera at some point during the start of her modeling career (age 17). Her defense is that she was posing to apply for a job and these photos were not for publication; she was young and naive, she says. In most people's eyes, it's too late for any explanation. A person who is a follower of Jesus Christ, but is willing to compromise modesty and propriety at this level becomes an easy target for those who wish to tear down the moral stand taken in any other area.

In Ephesians 4:1 - 5:21, we are given a charge to live a life worthy of the calling that God has given us. We are to put off our old self and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (4:23). There shouldn't be even a hint of sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking (5:3-4). Ephesians 5:15-17 gives us this instruction:

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Eph. 5:15-17).

Based on what Carrie Prejean has just gone through, there is clearly no room in our society for Christians to be 'pretty moral'. We must live a life that is above reproach and be prepared to take our stand when God asks that we do. Are any of us perfect? No. But from the moment that we make a decision to live for Jesus and with the power of the Holy Spirit, let's do our absolute best to live a life that is worthy of our calling in all areas of our lives.

Abbotsford High School Mourning

2009-05-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

It was one year ago that I was a Vice Principal at a high school in Abbotsford that had recently lost a graduating student to accidental death. I remember the confused anguish that students were going through as they tried to deal with the loss of a peer to an early morning traffic accident. When it came time for graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year, students attempted to find a way to celebrate their success while mourning the fact that their friend wouldn't be joining the various events & festivities. It was a difficult year for us all.

I wonder how a high school deals with the loss of two students to kidnap and murder. This is exactly the situation that staff, students, & families find themselves in today at WJ Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford. Dilsher Singh Gill, 17, and Joseph Randay, 18, were kidnapped from Bateman Park in East Abbotsford last week and were found dead the next morning near Sumas Mountain. Although the assumption is that the students must have been involved in gangs & drugs, the school district spokesman, Dave Stephen, has indicated that he had no information to suggest that the boys were linked to any criminal activity: "The administrators are really surprised and shocked that these kids would be killed like this. We are quite stunned." Further, when I spoke with a gentleman in senior management, he echoed this sentiment, stating that the boys were well-liked by their peers and that there were no known indicators that the boys were linked to gangs.

How do we as Christians react? How should we react? Should we be thankful that the recent rash of brutal violence hasn't touched any of our kids, families, or schools? Should we be relieved that our children wouldn't find themselves in the middle of such senseless violence? Should we think: 'Of course this happens if you choose that lifestyle...' ?

I'm drawn to Matthew 5:6 as I ponder how I will react. Jesus says: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (NIV). The NASB says, "...for they shall be satisfied." My thought is this: We will be blessed when we are burdened for the state of our land. When the horrible things happening around us that aren't righteous or upright move us to pray that our neighbors and friends would find a place of rightness before God. It's not acceptable to simply avoid the unrighteousness of the land. According to that thinking, we would say: "As long as it's out there, it's not my problem". A person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness says: "Because it's happening in my land, I'm not satisfied regardless of whether it's directly affecting me or not."

Ed Schellenberg was killed in senseless violence two years ago in what has been referred to in the media as the Surrey Six Massacre. He was one of two innocent victims in a gang-style execution killing in Surrey. Ed's daughter was in one of my choirs when I was a music teacher and I can tell you that even a glimpse of watching her going through this incomprehensible... trauma has been incredibly difficult for all of us who love her so very much.

Since January 2009, there have been more than 40 shootings in the lower mainland, 20 of them being fatal. A few good questions would be: Where is God in all of this? Where are God's people in all of this? Where do you & I fit in? I would like to challenge you to join me in choosing to becoming engaged in what's going on. This is our land; let's lay claim to it for the glory of God by asking the Lord for a hunger and thirst to see what He would have done accomplished. These young men and women that are caught up in all of the violence are in need of hope and purpose through Jesus Christ. I believe this because I've experienced that hope and purpose in my own life. Let's begin to pray consistently for divine opportunities and miraculous breakthroughs. Let's begin to care and show our love for those who are lost in a world of deception. Jesus said that when we care for the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and those in prison, we care for Him (Matthew 25:31-46). Perhaps this can be stretched to those who are in caught up in drugs and violence in the Lower Mainland of BC. Is it possible that Jesus is saying to us: "My church, will you love them the way I do?"

Let's commit to prayer and move from there as the Spirit of God leads us. To God be the glory!!

My Mom

2009-05-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

I'm so thankful for my mother. She has made countless sacrifices for me throughout my life, always putting the needs of her family ahead of her own. I remember as a young child of 10 asking Mom if I could start playing trumpet in the school band. Without hesitation, my mom made it possible for me. I didn't realize at the time what it would mean for a family of six on a pastor's salary. My mother would not buy any clothes for herself that year, trusting that the Lord had a plan for me and my trumpet. I went on to use my trumpet at a high level of performance both in a secular setting, but also in the church. My high school jazz band would finish with a silver medal at the Canadian Nationals with me on lead trumpet in grade 12. (Check out this LINK to one of our toughest songs) This is just one example of how my mother has blessed and encouraged me. Today, at 68, (she doesn't look 68) Mom is an example to my wife and daughter of what a pastor's wife can be: a servant of others, a support to her husband, an intelligent woman of God, and a partner in the ministry. Thank you Jesus for this amazing blessing!

CLA Coquitlam Has Begun!

2009-05-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

What a good day! We had our regular services at our Maple Ridge & Langley Campuses... campi(?), and a brand new start in Coquitlam. Let's praise God for what He is doing and will do! How blessed we are to be the ones working for Him in this season of growth and forward-movement!

Check out pics here: CLACoquitlam.com/CampusStart

Let Us Go To The Nearby Villages...

2009-05-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Mark 1:38
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."

After spending time in God's presence early one morning, Jesus told His disciples that it was time to move to another village to preach the Good News because that is the reason why he had come. Today, we are on the verge of following Jesus' example of 'moving to the next village' so we can help to bring His good news to them, for that is our call! To the glory of God, we will start a campus in Coquitlam, BC tomorrow. Praise God! The decision to go is not a random one, but one bathed in prayer and coming out of times in God's presence. We move with the understanding that one of our callings, as the church of Christ, is to REACH into the world (Acts 1:7-8) with the power of the Holy Spirit to be Christ's witnesses! When Jesus moved His ministry into Galilee (v. 39), He preached the Gospel and drove out demons. May God use this ministry to reach many with the Gospel; the Good news of Jesus; and may strong-holds be torn down in the heavenly realms.

What an exciting time! Let's continually operate in faith and hope, trusting God as we move forward as a church, and always giving Him all the glory!

God bless you!
CLACoquitlam.com

Ordination

2009-04-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jonathan Lambert who was ordained at the PAOC District Conference last night. Together with his wife Natasha and their beautiful daughter Chloe, Jonathan has served as the CLA Maple Ridge Worship Pastor for the past 5 years and leads worship with the Revolution Movement and on Sunday Nights at CLA.

I wish Jonny God's richest blessings as he takes this step in ministry!

To God Be The Glory!

2009-04-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Had a wonderful morning of worship. It was so fun to work with the team: Dean (electric), Sylvia (keys), Sam (bass), Gordie (drums), & Lacey (vocals/co-leader). There was a really neat sense of unity and common purpose. There's a funny paradox when it comes to church music: worshipper vs. musician. A musician craves attention, crowds, cheers, claps... praise. A worshipper desires closeness to God and humility is the vehicle to get him there. What we had this weekend was a team of worshippers. So good!

The message I shared focussed on the story of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). The best part of the morning in both services was that the message was about 12 minutes long and the response time was like 20+ minutes. Praise God for each one who came forward to acknowledge their need of Jesus. Some were healed, others made first-time commitments to live for the Lord, and still others re-focussed their lives on Jesus.

To God be all the glory!!

Worship This Weekend

2009-04-24T05:46:00.000-07:00

I'll be leading worship this weekend at CLA Langley with Lacey Holcombe. It is to be a worship-centered service. I'm really excited about the focus we have had as we prepare and the direction the Lord has taken us. Dean Maerz, CLA Worship Director (& Worship Pastor), has an inspiring passion to be in the presence of God. Every decision, direction, move... should come out of a closeness with God and that is the hope for this coming Sunday; that we as a campus in Langley will draw near to the Holy Spirit and really... listen.

Praise the Lord!

Prayer Gathering in Coquitlam

2009-04-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we held a prayer gathering at Silver City in Coquitlam. Mike & Amy Lewis led the group of approximately 70 people in prayer as we prepare for the official start to our newest campus. Special thanks to Pastor Dean & Adeline Maerz who led the worship, Pastor Bill & Bona-Jean Ashbee who are directing Coquitlam Prayer, and Pastor Andy & Margaret deHoog who worked with the children.

At the same time, I was preaching at Coquitlam Christian Centre on the Way We Should Bring the Gospel To Coquitlam. Following the prayer time at Silver City, Mike & Amy Lewis together with the Ashbees & deHoogs came to CCC so the congregation there could bless us as we move towards the start of our Coquitlam Campus.

To God be all the glory!!

Absolute Adoration

2009-04-19T21:43:00.001-07:00

Pastor Jasmine and her team of ladies worked very hard this past weekend to put on the Absolute Adoration Conference for women. Special guest Tammy Trent was a blessing to the women in song & testimony and the ladies experienced a time of Christian fellowship together. Thanks to all who helped with this event!

Easter Blast

2009-04-19T21:40:00.001-07:00

Congratulations and Thanks to Pastor Andy and his team for putting on a hugely successful Easter Blast event. Hundreds of children were introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and 40 kids made a decision to live for Jesus! Praise the Lord!

Big Weekend Coming Up!

2009-04-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited for the coming weekend. First, Pastor Antonio will be preaching in Maple Ridge. Praise God that he has returned and is back in the groove! :) Pastor Brent will be preaching in Langley - always a blessing!! I'll be preaching at Coquitlam Christian Centre - sharing our campus vision and the Word that the Lord gives to me, and Mike & Amy Lewis will be leading the prayer time at Siver City in Coquitlam (10:00am / MAP). Please pray that the Lord would guide us this weekend in the various locations we'll be serving. To God be the glory!

CLACoquitlam.com

2009-04-09T23:35:00.000-07:00

"Know God; know yourself..." - Rachel Barkey.

Please spend some time listening to this message. Rachel is a friend from high school who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She has been given 6 - 18 weeks to live. Recently she spoke at an event in Vancouver. Her powerful words will challenge you, inspire you, and bring you closer to God. Please pray for Rachel and her family.

CLICK HERE
Scroll down and click 'PLAY'.

Happy Easter

2009-04-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. I wanted to wish you all a wonderful Easter weekend. May the love of Jesus become even more evident to us as we spend time remembering what was done on our behalf some 2000 years ago.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God was willing to become a man in order to save us from the condemnation that sin was to bring on us. Because of Jesus death and resurrection, we can all experience freedom from the guilt and death that sin brings. Simply give your life to Jesus and acknowledge that He died and rose again, and is alive today. He is your Saviour. He is the One who loves you as you are. Give your life to Him today.

God bless you!

Mike & Amy Lewis

2009-03-30T23:48:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that Mike & Amy Lewis have accepted our invitation to take on the interim position of Campus Leader at our CLA Coquitlam Campus. Click Here to meet Mike & Amy.

We had such a great night in Coquitlam tonight. There were 70 of us gathered for dinner with over 40 representing potential members of a campus congregation there. We had a night of vision, sharing, prayer, and worship. To God be the glory!

Next step in the Coquitlam Campus will be a Prayer Time at Silver City on Sunday, April 19th @ 10am.

2009-03-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

Have a look at CLACoquitlam.com If you're interested in being a part of this new campus, plan to come to our Information/Vision Dinner on Monday, March 30th. Contact Diane for your free tickets.

God's Business First

2009-03-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! I spoke on Sunday (22nd) at CLA-Langley and invited congregation members to join me in the following challenge for the coming week.

1) To start each day this week with a renewed focus on Jesus through worship, prayer, & the Word.

2) To commit that God's business would take priority over my own for the coming day. My business may be to go to the grocery store to buy something, but God's business is the people that I will meet there. My business may be to sell a product, but God's business is to treat people fairly, honestly. My business may be to drive to work, but God business is to pray for & watch for those who may need prayer in the cars beside me.

3) To be prepared to share from my current & fresh experience with Jesus: "Come meet at man who..." (John 4:28-30, The Samaritan woman's testimony of her experience with Jesus).

God desires that we would share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all the nations of the world including our own nation of Canada. Great things will happen, but we must realize that it is through us that this nation will be reached.

May God bless you this week as you take up this challenge. Let's expect to hear in the coming weeks how God is moving in our communities! May many people hear of the hope, joy, purpose, & plan God has for each of us.

CLA Coquitlam?

2009-03-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

Could this be the next campus of CLA? Well, yes, it's possible. We have developed a strategic plan for launching a campus at Silver City Coquitlam as early as Spring 2009. There will be more details to follow. If you live in the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam) area and are interested in being involved in a CLA campus in that area, please plan to attend our information/vision dinner on March 30th, 2009 at 6:30pm. If you would like details, please contact Diane at the CLA Office.

Please consider supporting this venture with your prayers. To God be the glory!

Pastor Antonio Nasser

2009-03-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

Good Evening. I'd like to invite you to pray with me for Pastor Antonio Nasser and his family. Pastor Antonio is the CLA Maple Ridge Campus Pastor. He arranged to visit his family in Brazil for two weeks in February. Pastor Antonio and I agreed that it would be better to make the visit sooner than later as his father's condition was deteriorating rapidly. The trip was going well, however, when it came time to return to Canada, the Nassers were denied entrance to Canada. It has since been a few weeks of waiting, sending information, etc. We now have enlisted the help of some prominent politicians who we are hoping will be able to assist in Pastor Antonio's return with his family.

Please pray that God would work a miracle in this unexpected situation and that the Nassers would be able to return soon. Also pray for our Maple Ridge campus; that they would remain strong in purpose and unity as they await the return of their Campus Pastor.

2535

2009-03-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

Have a look at a new ministry at CLA called "2535". It's directed to people in the age range of 25 - 35 years... thus the name! :o)

Click Here for the 2535 Movie.

Video Blog Test

2009-02-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

Fireproof

2009-02-24T19:28:00.001-08:00

Well, I have to tell you that I fully cried during the movie Fireproof. This is a must-see for you if you're married and probably something you should show to any non-Christian married friends with whom you have built a relationship with. My wife & I are planning on inviting some friends over to have a movie night. Also, CLA will be showing the movie on Thursday, March 12th @ 7:30pm. Apparently the movie was produced on a $500,000 budget which is extremely low by today's standards. Although it's obviously low-budget at times, the movie is still a powerful story which is a great mix of seriously deep at times and hilarious and light at other times. The truth of God's standard for marriage mixed with the truth of God's forgiveness and compassion shine through.

I was blessed and I think you will be as well.

Revolution Movie

2009-02-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

I've created a brief movie of Revolution at CLA Sunday Morning which took place on February 8th, 2009. Click Here for the movie.

Thoughts From The Ted Haggard Interview

2009-01-30T08:05:00.003-08:00

Please note that the topic discussed in this article is intended for adults.

This morning I read some excerpts from Larry King's interview with Ted Haggard. Haggard founded the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado nearly 20 years ago in his basement. Haggard had been identified as one of the most powerful evangelicals in America and led the National Association of Evangelicals from 2003 to 2006. In November 2006 Haggard was removed from all his leadership positions after a homosexual affair was exposed very publicly. Haggard now admits to having sexual 'issues' throughout his life and believes that he now has the tools to deal with his problems.

There are a few thoughts that I have as a result of the interview. First, we all need to pray for our Christian leaders. To assume that people are more than, well, people because they preach or are on a church platform is not accurate. God's Spirit works in all of us to accomplish great things for Him; each of us have different gifts and abilites. We are warned in the Bible that the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour. We all must be on our guard and need to pray for our leadership continuously!

Second, I don't like the norm in society to brand people as being 'straight', 'gay', 'bisexual', etc. God created humans in His own image and he created us to be sexual beings. Sexuality was God's idea. It's intended to be pure and a good thing when used in the proper context. For example, God has created us to be physical beings that can exert force when needed. In the proper context that is a good thing. The physical force is needed and good when it comes to moving things, helping others, etc. It becomes less positive when we use it for selfish reasons, to further our own kingdoms through violence, or to hurt and intimidate others.

Similarly, sexuality at one extreme is pure and right; the way that God intended it to be. On another extreme, it is perverted and evil; a distortion of what God created. In between, however, there are many different levels of perversion. A lustful thought, a lustful action, an addiction to a lustful action, etc. For example, a man may have one wife and love her completely. He may then have a thought of another woman and rebuke it. He may begin to engage those thoughts and create fantasies around the thoughts. He may then begin to actively flirt with a co-worker. The flirting may lead to a dinner together, then a hug, kiss, etc. He may then begin to have multiple partners and by now get involved in pornography. In the course of his pornography interest which is now becoming an obsession, he may take notice of gay pornography. This could lead to a variety of other sexual options, etc. etc.

Here's the point. I'm not willing to brand someone as a 'homosexual' even though it's not wrong to do so - the Bible refers to people who steal as thieves, people who commit adultery as adulterers, and people who participate in the homosexual lifestyle as homosexuals (I Corinthians 6:9-10). This being said, the Bible teaches us that we are all created in God's image and He has created us to be sexual beings at the purest extreme. The fact that someone behaves differently doesn't change them into something other than what God created. Remember that there is no research that supports the notion that homosexuality is genetically determined although there are factors that may help predict who may be more vulnerable to this lifestyle (NARTH Article, 2008). If we call someone 'gay' in today's culture, we're indirectly confirming the commonly held belief that this is who they are; who God made them to be.

To me, a person who participates in the homosexual lifestyle or engages homosexual thought is just that; a person who participates in the homosexual lifestyle or engages homosexual thought, not a homosexual; not gay. They are a child of God created by Him to live a life fitting with His plan as laid out in the Bible; a life of purity and holiness. Although they are participating in something that is contrary to what God intended, they are still a child of God created to live according to His plan.

Any thoughts? Thanks for reading. :o)

Correction

2009-01-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

Good Evening. Today at the CLA services I stated the following correction for an error I had made while leading a communion service on Sunday, January 11th, 2009.

---
Two weeks ago while praying to bless the bread during a communion service (at CLA), I made mention to Christ's broken bones. Broken body would have been okay to say; bones, are not okay. It is a part of the many fulfilled prophesies of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that not a single bone on His body would be broken (Psalm 34:20). I wanted to make the public correction because I can't tolerate misrepresenting my Saviour in any way. I wish I had caught the mistake and corrected it right away, but in the absence of that, I wanted to set the record straight today. Thank you.

Prayer Request

2009-01-23T17:05:00.001-08:00

Hello to you. I have a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. After a tough battle with the disease, she has been in remission for a number of years and recently went in for the last major check-up. The results indicated that the cancer had spread into her liver and most of the bones in her back. Doctors have given her a few months to live. This young lady (36 years old) and I attended high school together. We both also played on sports teams and jazz bands throughout our high school years. Recently we reconnected at a mutual friends' birthday party. Now a wife and mother to two children aged 6 & 4, she was forced to send out an email to friends and family explaining the grim outlook. I was so touched by her words and decided to add some of them here. My hope is that you will be encouraged and that our perspectives, yours and mine, will be re-focussed to an eternal outlook on life.

---
"This is, by far, the hardest part of this for me: leaving [my husband and children]. Serving them is my joy. Loving [my husband] and helping him has been the most wonderful privilege I could ask for. And being a mother has been a gift that I did not deserve. [My children] are treasures that were entrusted to me for a time and I am grateful that I was able to be their mother for these years. I struggle, of course, with the knowledge that I will not be there for them for much longer and wonder what life will be like for them without me. But I wrestled with this years ago, as some of you will remember, and was gently reminded that there is One who loves them even more than I do. And so He gently reminds me again...

...Last Friday night in the hospital, as [my husband] sat on my bed and we weeped together at the news we had just received, we said, "God is still good." And He is. We will not doubt Him now when the road ahead is dark. He will use this for good and for His glory. There is no doubt. And, in the depths of my sadness, that makes my heart glad."
---

Please consider being a part of the team that is praying for this beautiful young lady. She loves the Lord... and I know He can bring about a miracle in her life.

God bless you.

New US President

2009-01-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

It's an amazing time. Millions of people around the world watched as Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the United States and the first African American to arguably lead the free world. On my drive to work today, I listened for the first time to Rush Limbaugh's show. I listened to this man talk for about 30 minutes on his personal take on what happened yesterday and what the world is coming to under Barack Obama's leadership: he doesn't like President Obama. This isn't a huge shock, of course, as he is a staunch Republican in a country where political affiliation is an extremely strong indicator of how an individual will react to various circumstances. Nonetheless, having a look at Mr. Limbaugh's website, the following headlines are among the top of his page:

"44th President Inaugurated with a Botched Oath"
"The Truth About Obama's Speech: An Uninspiring Generic Buzzkill"
"Don't Panic, Folks: Our Democracy is not Dead... Yet"

Although the United States and much of the world seem to be flocking behind what many are calling Obamamania, clearly some are not. They really are not!

Here's what I took from all of this. True followers of Christ the world over need to pray. That's it. We need to pray. God.. can.. and will have His way through all that is to come! To God be the glory.

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

2009: A Year For Obedience

2009-01-10T00:51:00.000-08:00

Good Evening (or morning). Tonight I spoke & led worship at '8 Days of Prayer' at CLA. An awesome night! It was so good to lead the worship with Dean, Sylvia, & Sam (as always) and to have Jocie Wiebe singing! It was also very special to have Jared Falk play drums. Jared & I led worship with Doxa for many years together and seem to know each other's musical thoughts as we go through a worship set. Very cool.

My message was on Obedience. Jesus calls us to obey Him because it's a way for us to show our love for Him, to experience His Love, to become one with the Father, and to have Jesus show Himself to Us (John 14:21-24).

There are two types of obedience: to not do the things we shouldn't, and to do the things we should. Ephesians 5:3-5 is an example of some of things we are not to do. It's important that we obey God in this way. But what are we supposed to do for Jesus? God has a plan for you, specifically, in 2009 that requires that you listen carefully for the Holy Spirit's guidance... minute-by-minute, hourly, daily, etc. What He has for you to do is for only YOU to do.

Jonah (Jonah 1-3) and Moses (Exodus 3, 4) are examples of people who received a word from God but didn't want to do it. God didn't move onto His second pick; he pursued them until they obeyed Him. It's the same for us. God has laid out a plan for you to do this year; there's someone whom you will bless and they will be drawn closer to Jesus because of your obedience.

Please take some time in the stillness of God's presence to ask two things: 1) Lord, is there something I need to stop doing?, and 2) Lord, what will you have me do for you?... I want to obey You!

Time for bed. God bless! :o)

Thoughts on Prayer

2009-01-06T18:57:00.000-08:00

CLA is in the middle of 8 Days of Prayer (January 4th - 11th). The best part of an extended prayer time for me is to have time to just... listen. It's so important to listen when we pray. Have you been a part of a one-sided conversation? Not too much fun for one of the parties involved. It's important to be still and listen... and then to do what God commands. Remember that God already knows what we desire. Spend some time in His presence being still and just listening...

May God bless you during this week of focussed prayer.

Matthew 6:5-8
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Family Skate

2009-01-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

The New Year's Day Family Skate was a huge success as CLA-ers and their friends filled Surrey's skate rink and pool.

Thanks for playing everyone!

Happy 2009

2009-01-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful, snowy morning. It's great if you can hang out at home all day... not so great if you have to pack up the kids and drive somewhere. :o)

I wanted to wish you all a blessed 2009. May the Lord Jesus make Himself known to us and through us in a new and powerful way. My prayer is that God will bring many new people into His Kingdom this year and that churches will be filled up with powerful testimonies of conversion and salvation.

Galatians 5:25
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let's keep our eyes on Jesus this new year as He provides opportunities for us to take risks for Him. And let us be prepared to share the message of the hope of Christ to our families, friends, co-workers, fellow shoppers, etc. It's time for the harvest. Are you ready to get to work?

May God bless you and keep you this coming year!

Get Out of the Boat!

2008-12-28T16:10:00.000-08:00

Today's message was based on Matthew 14:22-33.

Click Here for the online broadcast.

A challenge for the coming year included the following:
1) Get Out of the Boat! Jesus is calling us to step out of the comfort and safety of the Christian lives we live. He is calling us to take a risk for Him! Jesus said to Peter, "Come" and Peter stepped out of the boat onto the stormy sea.
2) Keep Your Eyes On Jesus. As long as Peter kept his eyes focussed on Jesus, he was able to do the impossible. You also will be able to do the impossible with a focus on Jesus.
3) Know That Jesus Will Catch You If You Fall. When Peter began to sink, he cried out to Jesus and immediately Jesus reached out His hand and saved Peter. There isn't a delayed reaction. Jesus will be there with you and will help at the time of your need.
4) Understand That Jesus Expects Us To Take Risks For Him. Peter is the only human to have walked on a lake, yet Jesus rebukes Peter: "You of little faith...why did you doubt?" Jesus is saying that He expects us to take risks for Him because He is worthy of our trust. Jesus will be there with you, so go for it; take a risk!
5) There Will Be Tremendous Results! The men in the boat worshiped Jesus saying: "Truly He must be the son of God". The people around us will also worship Jesus and acknowledge Him as the son of God because of the things God will do through us.

There were four applications to the challenge.
1) Make Christ Your Identity. People should see that we are followers of Jesus Christ in the way we live just like we know who the Vancouver Canuck fans are by the way they live.
2) Stick Your Nose Into Someone Else's World. People are desperate for hope. We can give it! Become a part of people's lives around you.
3) Live A Spirit-Led Life. Life isn't a repeating circle of events; it's linear. What will God's Spirit lead you to do for Him this year?
4) Offer Your Resources To God. Give God control of your time and money. Get involved in a Small Group at CLA and take a risk in your giving this year.

Here's the worksheet I had promised in the service. May God bless you as you take a risk for Him this coming year!

Click Here for the online broadcast.

Christmas Memories

2008-12-19T20:29:00.000-08:00

I remember Christmas being a time of family & fun as a child. Because my parents, David & Stella Manuel pictured left, were in the ministry and carried a passion for the true meaning of Christmas, the story of Jesus' birth was always a key component in our celebrations and continues to be in our current celebrations.

The one memory that is embedded in my mind from Christmas as a child is the sacrifices my mother made to make sure that Christmas was a special time for us kids. Although we were a one-income family; a pastor's salary; we never felt like we didn't 'have'. I attribute this to two things: 1) The gifts & stuff were never a priority at our festivities, & 2) My mother would pass on things for herself all year to make sure that I and my siblings could have what we needed.

I'm so thankful for my parents and their example of serving the Lord and of living a life that didn't focus on material things. My prayer is that my wife and I would be able to model similar priorities for our children and successfully teach that it's not that we should be praying for more, but thankful for what we have.

To God be the glory.

May God grant you all a wonderful Christmas season! Plan to join us for our regular services on December 21st & 28th (I'm preaching & leading worship on the 28th) and also for our Christmas Eve services (3pm, 430pm, & 6pm in Langley & 6:30pm in Maple Ridge) and for our New Year's Eve Service in Langley at 10pm.

Ravi Zacharias

2008-12-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

I went to see Ravi Zacharias speak in Abbotsford on Wednesday night with my brother Dave. Dave's a District Principal in the Chilliwack School District and up until this year, we shared many things in common as we were both high school Vice Principals. It was nice to be together for the evening.

Dr. Ravi Zacharias is a friend of my father's, Pastor David Manuel. In the past when Dr. Zacharias would speak in Abbotsford, he would often visit our home and have a meal with us. When he saw me yesterday, his comment was: "You've grown up?!"

Dr. Zacharias shared a powerful message to the crowd of about 2000 people on the subject of Christmas. He described Jesus as the Son of David: a title given by the people, the Son of Man: a title He gave to himself, and the Saviour of the world. Following a fascinating and intricate message on the subject, Dr. Zacharias shared a story of a victim of the recent bombings in Mumbai, India. A bright, young, British-Indian man was shown on TV telling his story of survival. The young man stated that he and his friends had been enjoying a meal together in the hotel when they heard gun shots. He remembered someone grabbing him and shoving him under the table with his 5 or 6 friends. Once the shooting had stopped, he was the only one who survived the shooting of the group huddled under the table. The reporter asked the young man why he thought that he had survivied, and his response was: "The only thing I can think of is that the gunmen must have seen someone else's blood on me and thought I was dead..."

Isn't it Jesus' blood that was shed for us that has allowed us to escape the eternal judgement that we all deserve? It is impossible to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus without remembering the sacrifice that He came to make on our behalf. When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching, he said: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

As we celebrate the birth of the Saviour, let us remember the Lamb of God and the sacrifice that He made for us.

Oh Canada!

2008-12-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

The Governor-General of Canada, Michaelle Jean, has agreed to suspend parliament at Prime Minister Stephen Harper's request. The reason for the request is to avoid a vote of no-confidence in the House of Commons. What this means is that if there is a minority government, which we currently have, all the other parties could conceivably vote together to defeat every bill proposed by the Prime Minister's party. This would essentially stop the government from achieving anything in its term. The usual response is to call an election. In the current situation, the other three parties are working together to propose a coalition that will allow them to take power under one leader, Stephane Dion.

Although the current political crisis is nothing new in other democracies around the world (Israel would be an example where coalitions are often created to form a government), it is highly unusual in Canada's history. If you listen to any of the local radio talk shows, you'll hear passionate opinions, often ill-informed, on both sides of the debate. What I'm 'hearing' as I listen is a country full of people who are afraid, stressed, confused, angry, without hope, etc.

This is our time, as followers of Christ, to offer people hope and peace. Jesus came as the Saviour of the world. The angel said to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

We too must share the message this Christmas season as the angels did 2000 years ago: Do not be afraid.. there is Good News... it's for all people... A Saviour has been born to you!

A Few Things

2008-11-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

I wanted to update you all regarding Pastor Mel Wiebe. I spoke with Pastor Mel on Friday by phone after he had finished meeting with his doctor. Mel said that he was feeling great and had been cleared for release from the hospital. While doctors were still going to do a few more checks on what happened to cause his collapse last week, we are expecting a full recovery. Praise the Lord!

Have you been watching the carnage in India? Well I'd like to encourage you to pray for the region. The latest news is that India's deputy interior minister has made the claim that all the attackers in the Mumbai massacre were from Pakistan. If this is the case, we need to pray that God will grant much wisdom to the people who control the military of each country. Remember that both Pakistan and India are former foes (many times over) and both have nuclear weapons in their aresenal.

Final thought (for now): with Christmas approaching and the Advent Season upon us, I'd like to encourage you to read again, or for the first time, the amazing story of Jesus birth. I'm reading in Luke right now and being totally blessed to read again of the miraculous way in which Jesus was born and how His birth set the course for humankind to be set free from sin. Will you join me in reading the account as presented in the Gospels? The world is telling a different kind of Christmas story; one involving the Grinch, Santa, shopping, getting... Let's focus on the life-changing story; the one about a baby who came to save the world...

Pastor Mel Wiebe

2008-11-25T20:07:00.000-08:00

Pastor Mel was taken to the hospital* this morning by ambulance following a collapse at CLA. Within an hour, when I saw him, he was resting comfortably and communicating well. Although he has been checked for some possible concerns and been cleared, doctors are apparently going to look further as to what may have caused the collapse.

Will you join me in committing to pray for Pastor Mel (Small Groups) and his wife Pastor Jasmine (Women) as they await test results? What I've done all day is to pray every time I think of checking my emails - it served as a great reminder and a way to pray consistently throughout the day. Perhaps you could use something else as a reminder to pray throughout your day. Please pray in the Spirit and with great faith!

I'm confident that God is with Pastor Mel and that everything will work out for the best according to God's plan! Confident!

Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

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*We ask that congregation members not attempt to visit Pastor Mel as the family is wanting to maintain their privacy at this time. Thanks for your consideration in this regard.

Are you connected?

2008-11-23T22:30:00.000-08:00

Tonight I spoke at CLA's Sunday Night Service. Pastor Jonathan Lambert led worship and we had two baptisms - praise the Lord! Many thanks to the prayer team for their awesome work as well!

My message was on John 15:1-8. Jesus paints the picture of a vineyard where a gardener looks over his vine and finds the branches that are bearing fruit and those that are not. He removes the ones that are fruitless and prunes the fruitful ones so that they will bear even more fruit. Jesus says to us that we are the branches and He is the true vine. As long as we are connected to Him, we will bear much fruit, but when we disconnect from Him, we will be able to do nothing.

Which branch are you? Are you in a place that you are walking with the Lord, focussed on Him, and seeing good things come from your life? If so, the challenge given tonight was to ask these questions: 1) Are you giving all the glory from the good things in your life to God? Jesus tells us that it is to His Father's glory that we bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be His disciples. 2) When was the last time you made a significant connection with Jesus? It's not good enough to have at one time, possibly years ago, connected with Jesus and to live off of that for the rest of our earthly lives. We need to humbly cling to Jesus each day, renewing that connection.

Are you the branch that has disconnected from the vine and is now dried up? If you are created to be fed by the vine, which is Jesus, then what have you been connecting to in place of Him? Connecting to 'entertainment', a desire for social status, love for money, or substances & partying won't satisfy in the long run. Let go of these things and grab hold of the true source of everything you need: Jesus Christ.

I praise God for the many people who gave their lives to Jesus tonight. To God be the glory!

Remembering Pastor Don Cantelon

2008-11-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday morning, Pastor Don Cantelon went home to be with the Lord. Pastor Don had served as Senior Pastor and currently as Pastor Emeritus at Christian Life Assembly. When he visited the staff during the Staff & Visioning meeting in October, Pastor Don joked that he had been called Pastor Emeritus at another church, but they pronounced it [eh-mur-I-tus] which sounded like a disease to him. Of course the staff burst into laughter.

Pastor Don was loved by so many. If you would like to pay your respects, please plan to attend the Memorial at Christian Life Assembly in Langley on Friday, November 21st at 2pm.

Here's a shocker...

2008-11-10T06:59:00.000-08:00

According to a featured article at MSNBC.com, a new study has found a link between watching sex on TV and teen pregnancies. The RAND Corp. study found that "teens exposed to high levels of sexual content on television were twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy in the following three years as teens with limited exposure" (MSNBC.com Article, Nov. 3, 2008).

Have you ever heard the statement that 'common sense isn't that common anymore'? Well here's some direct proof!

Ephesians 5:15-16
"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

President Elect Barack Obama

2008-11-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

The United States of America have elected their first African-American President. This is an historic moment for America and for the world. During a time when people are so clearly seeking change, hope, and a new direction in life, we, the people of God must be ready to share our stories with all who will listen. Our stories of what Jesus has done for us will truly offer the change & hope that people desire.

What has Jesus done in your life? I encourage you to have your story ready to share so that when God provides you with the opportunity, you will be able to tell someone about Jesus.

God bless you and may He alone guide our future.

Do you love your Bible?

2008-10-22T21:21:00.001-07:00

The last Sunday at CLA was an amazing time of worship in God's presence. I know it is often said that 'we had an amazing time of worship'... but we really had an amazing time of worship!! :) Pastor Brent Cantelon challenged the congregation in a number of areas focussed around the questions: "Are you excited about and looking forward to Christ's return? Are you living in a way that shows that you are looking forward to His return, or do we live as if we love this world more?"

The picture that has been flashing through my memory all week is when Pastor Brent lifted up His Bible and asked if we love God's Word more than: TV? Movies? Money? Lifestyle? Entertainment? Etc....

I want to live a life that reflects a total anticipation of the wonderful day that Jesus returns, and to live in a manner that shows that I'm preparing for that day. The call to be saturated by God's Word came to Joshua: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8). That same call came to us on Sunday; it's time for God's people to know the heart of God.

To God be the glory!

The Return of Christ

2008-10-15T18:20:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been a part of the CLA worship services yet this fall, please plan to attend this coming weekend! Pastor Brent Cantelon will be speaking on the return of Christ this coming Sunday.

When There's A Stirring...

2008-10-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

This week, Pastor Brent Cantelon began a three-week series entitled: "When There's A Stirring". The powerful message took us into the life of Josiah, King of Judah. He was only 8 years old when he took power, but he was committed to honouring God and took the right steps to clean out the corruption in the nation. The question asked of us on Sunday morning: "What needs to be cleaned out of your temple?"

For me, this message led to thoughts of how I use my time. We live in an entertainment society. Our resources are poured into making sure we are entertained at every angle from movies, television, personal electronic devices, vacation spots, etc. My decision was to look into how I'm spending my personal time and to begin to 'clean' that area.

What will your response be? May God bless you this week!

I Can Not Do It

2008-09-28T21:14:00.000-07:00

For Full Video Sermon Click Here

Here are some of the general thoughts from my message today.

Text: Genesis 37, 39, 40, 41

Our character is a set of behaviour traits that define a person. The way we act defines who we are!

Joseph was a man who demonstrated great character through some extremely difficult situations: being sold by his brothers into slavery, being falsely accused by his master's wife, and being thrown into Pharaoh's prison. Through the circumstances of Joseph's life, God was preparing Joseph to give the right answer, with the right attitude, and backed up by the right actions. When Pharaoh asks Joseph if he can interpret his dream, Joseph answers: "I can not do it"... "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires". Joseph gives God the glory despite what he's gone through and as a result, we see an incredible result: an entire nation was saved from the famine that would engulf the region.

Key Ideas
1) God had a purpose for Joseph
2) God was with Joseph
3) God had chosen Joseph

It was because of Joseph's attitude in each of these situations that God was able to use Joseph to accomplish great things.

Today, are you going through a difficult time? Are you lacking purpose?

Know that:
1) God has a purpose for you (Ephesians 2:10)
2) God is with you, whatever your circumstance (Psalm 23:4)
3) God has chosen you (John 15:16)

God had prepared Joseph to bring honour an glory to His name, and Joseph did just that.

What is God preparing you for? Look to Jesus to help mold your character to be more like His so that when your moment or moments come, you will be prepared to give the right answer, with the right attitude, and backed up with the right actions.

God bless you!

For Full Video Sermon Click Here

Children in Langley

2008-09-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

I met with Andy deHoog, our Children's Pastor today. Had a great time together sharing and encouraging each other. I'm so excited when I hear Andy's passion for the ministry. He told me that the vision for Children at CLA is that they are not just in a class being 'taught', but that they are given an opportunity to learn through relationship with their adult leaders and the other children in their classes.

Please consider joining the army of volunteers already teaching Sunday School at CLA. We have a need for around 16 more teachers. Contact Andy by emailing him: adehoog@clachurch.com

May God bless you this weekend! I hope to see you at church on Sunday!

An Effective Team

2008-09-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

I've been learning a lot about how teams work. Sometimes they work well, other times... not so well. Here's a few of my thoughts.

An effective team...
•Must trust each other
-Imagine a goalie who's not sure whether or not his mates will protect him if an opposing player steps into his crease. He's got to know that they'll be there for him. He has to be able to trust them. Similarly, members of any team will function closer to their full potential if they know their team mates have 'got their back', as it were.

•Must communicate well
-Now this helps to build the trust mentioned above. A team that doesn't have to guess what each other are thinking is going to feel much safer to take risks. If a member isn't sure what the other member is thinking on any given issue, they will be less confident in taking on that challenge.

•Take time to listen
-One person may be communicating well, but it takes the other to listen well. Sometimes in our jam-packed schedules, we don't take the time to listen to each other because we simply haven't got the time. Well, it is important to build time to listen to each other into the schedule. Take a few minutes to walk the track together, sit down with a coffee, have lunch, etc. The point is, we must be available to listen if we are ever going to actually hear anything.

What about God's team?
Just a few thoughts, but important ones in my experience. As Christians, we can plug these concepts into our relationship with God. Do you trust Him? If the Holy Spirit nudges you to speak to someone, will you do it? Do you trust Him to be there with you in any and every circumstance? Do you share your honest thoughts, feelings, concerns, etc. with the Lord? Are you communicating well with Him? And perhaps most importantly, are you listening? It may require building 'listening moments' into your schedule, but if you are not listening, will you ever hear God's voice in your life?

May the Lord bless you & guide you today!

How's It Going?

2008-09-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

So I have a lot of people asking me 'how it's going' for me at CLA. I want you to know that that I appreciate all the well-wishes and the kind words. :o) As far as my experience leaving the high school administration-scene and joining the church-scene... it's been incredibly positive! Do I miss being around kids all the time? Yes, definitely... but it seems that every day I find confirmation for the decision we have all made. Of course the energy in a school is something else!! But there is a ton of energy in this church and the ministries therein.

It has been such an encouraging experience to work with the Ministries Dept. Heads: Justin, Mel, Dean, Andy, Jasmine, Bill, & Antonio. We are blessed to have a team of leaders who clearly love the Lord and love the ministries they have been entrusted with. Working with Brent, Jeff & Steve has been absolutely awesome too!! I'm thankful for these men and the support, encouragement, and strength they provide. And of course the ladies in the office, particularly Diane who 'takes care of me'....

Over all, it's going great! Thanks for your prayers. Let's continue to expect great things from the Lord!

The Body of Christ

2008-09-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

I Corinthians 12:12-26

As a high school vice principal, when I was asked to write out my personal philosophy of education, I referenced I Corinthians 12. To me, any organization is only as effective as the quality of the contribution brought by all the various parts. In a school, you may have a wonderful principal, but if the teachers aren't excited about teaching, and the support staff don't do their jobs effectively, the school suffers.

Clearly, God has the same view of His church. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body (v. 12). The church is actually a living, breathing, growing, organism that hurts and rejoices together. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (v. 26). We are all dependent on each other.

My question to you is this: what part of the Body of Christ are you? You have skills and gifts that God has developed in you to be used in His service and we, as a church, will only be stronger with your input. You are valuable and important!

May God bless you and grant you eyes to see what He would have you do this coming year!!

Welcome!

2008-09-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Good day to you all. I'm excited about posting some of my thoughts here. I hope that what you find here is an encouragement to you in your walk with Jesus. I'll try to post often. :o)