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If anything is excellent or praiseworthy -think about such things. Philippians 4:8

GBC Community Update: Who's got the body? Part 3

4/13/2021

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Good afternoon! Every Sunday afternoon I check the comments in the chat from our livestream and like to see how many of you are not just watching but starting to engage. I’m so thankful for this vehicle of ministry. I also noticed a new person had connected as well so we continue to see broader engagement from the community. I’d encourage you to pray for those who tune in who don’t know Jesus or don’t know us that God would use this to further His kingdom.
I’m finishing my thoughts for today on the evidence for the resurrection but will be looking Thursday at the power of the resurrection. I hope it continues to be a challenge and encouragement for you.
 
 
Levi Tamminga Baby Celebration Moved
Due to the current regulations, we’re pushing back the celebration for Levi Tamminga.  The new date is Sunday May 16 and will be held after the 11am service.  More details will come as we get closer.
 
 
GBC Prayer Gathering Has Moved too!
GBC Prayer has MOVED! Going forward, the GBC Prayer Group will meet in the side auditorium on TUESDAY AFTERNOONS at 3:30pm. We continue to pray as prompted by God’s Word, intercede for our church family and city, and enjoy the encouragement of God’s presence. Please join us!
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Who’s Got the Body? Part 3
                                     …an examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.
Last week we spent some time looking at the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. As a reminder, things like this are used to strengthen our faith and answer questions that may arise.  So here’s the last one, and perhaps the most powerful:
The Appearances of the Risen Christ
For 40 days after His death, Jesus was reported to be seen alive on earth. It was reported in the scriptures and also in extra-biblical sources like Josephus who I mentioned in my Easter message.
How do we explain this?
Some say these were hallucinations, but do the accounts show that?  Only certain high-strung and imaginative types of people usually have such psychic experiences. Yet a woman, a tax collector, several fishermen and more than 500 people at one time claimed they saw Him. Hallucinations are very individualistic–contrasting with the fact that over 500 people saw the same thing at the same time and place.
Two other facts undermine the hallucination idea. Such imaginations are usually of expected events, yet the disciples had lost hope after the crucifixion. Also, psychic phenomena usually occur in cycles, but the appearances came in no set pattern.
Attempts to explain away the appearances run into a brick wall of facts. The facts point to one conclusion: Jesus is risen.
Of course, the above is not exhaustive proof, but rather a reasoned examination of the evidence. For us now, we must each consider and evaluate the evidence ourselves to determine the truth of the resurrection claim. If the facts support the claim, then we can conclude that He arose. In any case, a mere intellectual assent to the facts does nothing for one’s life, we need to do something with it.  So yes, we take this on faith but its also supported by facts. I believe this, do you?
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
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GBC Community Update: Who’s Got the Body? Part 2      …an examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.

4/8/2021

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Good afternoon. I hope you’re making this a great week, despite all the distractions we’re facing!  Yes, we will be open again on Sunday, just like Easter. Details are below.
For my thought for the day, I’m continuing to look at evidence of the resurrection. I apologize for the length of this one but I got carried away with the research! I hope you find it encouraging though!
 
 Responding to the New Government Orders
I have to confess the new government orders announced yesterday were a bit confusing. But with the new directives, churches are allowed to continue under the same terms of the “Emergency Brake” despite the “Stay at Home” order.  With that in mind, we will be continuing on with in-person services as allowed by the government based on the protocols from last week.  The elders will be monitoring on a weekly basis the situation as well as reconsidering our programming. If you have any questions about this please let me know.
 
 Join us on Sunday
This Sunday I will be finishing our Easter series: Jesus love lived out. This week I’ll be looking at the restoration of Peter and Jesus call to “follow me”.  It’s a powerful, intimate look at God’s love which has a clear call for us as well. 
Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 Thought for the Day:  Who’s Got the Body? Part 2
                                     …an examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.
On Tuesday I began to share with you some thoughts and evidence for the resurrection. The resurrection is a critical element of our faith so having certainty of the validity for this is key.  So, I wanted to expand a bit on the evidence we find for the truth of Jesus rising from the dead. Thanks to those who shared with me after Tuesday that this was an encouragement.  The other day I shared the number of respected scholars who believe it as well as the explosive growth of the early church. Let’s look at another:
The Changed Lives of the Disciples
After Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, most of the disciples were frightened. Peter, for instance, denied Christ three times. Yet 10 out of the 11 disciples were martyred for their faith. Peter was crucified, Thomas was skewered; John was boiled in oil but survived. Something had happened to revolutionize these men’s lives. Each believed he had seen the risen Christ. As I said on Easter Sunday- no one dies for a  lie.
 
How about this: the empty tomb itself.  Jesus’ dead body was removed from the cross, wrapped in graveclothes like a mummy and placed in a tomb. An extremely large stone was rolled into a slightly depressed groove at the tomb’s entrance. Some have conservatively estimated the weight of the stone at one-and-a-half to two tons.
A guard of Roman soldiers was placed out front to guard the grave. The military discipline of the Romans was so strict that severe corporal and often capital punishment awaited the soldier who left his post or failed in his duty. Sunday morning, the stone was found rolled away, the body was gone, but the graveclothes were still in place.
 
What happened?
 
Some say that Jesus’ friends stole the body. This means that either one of the women sweet-talked the guards while the other two moved the stone and tip-toed off with the body, or else guys like Peter (remember how brave he was) and Thomas (how easily convinced he was) overpowered the guards, stole the body, and fabricated a myth.
These theories hardly seem plausible. The guard was too powerful, the stone too heavy, and the disciples, not yet experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit were too spineless to attempt such a feat.
Others say that Jesus’ enemies stole the body. Yet if the religious leaders had the body, they would have exposed it publicly and Christianity would have died out. They didn’t and it didn’t. The Romans had no reason to steal it, so that doesn’t stand up either.
A popular alternative is called the “swoon theory.” In it, Jesus didn’t really die but was only unconscious. The expert Roman executioners merely thought He was dead. After a few days in the tomb, without food or medicine, the cool air revived Him. Then, according to this theory, He burst from the graveclothes, rolled away the stone with His nail-pierced hands, scared the daylights out of the Roman soldiers, walked kilometers on wounded feet, and convinced His disciples that He’d been raised from the dead. This one is harder to believe than the resurrection itself!  As you’ve heard me say, I don’t have enough faith for that theory!
In other words, if Jesus was put to death, who’s got the body? All that we do have is an empty tomb.  More to come next week!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
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GBC Community Update:  Who’s Got the Body?                         …looking at the evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.

4/6/2021

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Good morning!  It was great to share Easter together. I know many had their plans changed by the new government order but it was still nice to gather and worship our risen savior.  Easter is never cancelled!
I spoke on Sunday about the evidence for the resurrection and I’m going to continue on with that in my thought for the day. It’ll take on a bit of an apologetics feel but I think will still be an encouragement and strengthening of all our faith.
 
 
Youth@GBC Surge returns!
Our youth service and community outreach project known as “SURGE” is returning this Sunday.  While more details are coming out to the youth and parents (don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything!) I wanted to share this with all of you to let you know about ministry going on within the GBC family and ask that you pray for the youth and leaders as they let the light of Jesus shine within our community. This month they’ll be doing a park clean up.
 
 
Join us in Prayer
On Wednesday afternoons at 3pm a small group of people gather here at GBC for prayer. We’re focusing on the themes in the 40 Days of Prayer for March. Feel free to join us!
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Who’s Got the Body? 
                                     …an examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.
I referenced this a bit at the beginning of my message on Easter Sunday, about the proof for the resurrection of Jesus.  I’d like to go a bit more in depth on this topic.
Why is this important?  It makes all the difference in the world. If Christ did not rise, then thousands of Christians have lived and died for a hoax.  You may say, ‘but Chris, I believe’. Great!  But lots of others don’t. So, as we seek to let our light shine, and engage with the world around us with the Good News of life in Jesus, I’d like to share more evidence for the resurrection.  This is very important in the days we’re in since if He did rise, then He is still alive and can act now to straighten out our chaotic world.
Let’s take a look.
 
Facts always speak louder than opinions. Let’s take a look at some of the historical evidence for the resurrection and see where the facts lead.
 
One preliminary consideration: countless scholars–among them, the apostle Paul,  Augustine, Sir Isaac Newton and C. S. Lewis–believed in the resurrection. We need not fear committing intellectual suicide by accepting it as well since we’re in great company.
Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians that “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He was raised on the third day. He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now.” 
I mentioned Sunday how that was written 20 years after the event so could have been researched and refuted then, yet it wasn’t.  That’s what we’d call contemporary historical evidence.
 
Speaking of evidence, consider this: the explosive growth of the Christian church
Within a few weeks after the crucifixion a movement arose which, by the later admission of its enemies, “upset the world.” Something happened to ignite this movement a very short time after its leader had been executed and its been going ever since. Things like that don’t happen, and more importantly last, without a lasting, tangible stimulus. I’ll look at this further on Thursday.  Until then, we can be confident that what we believe on faith has a solid foundation in fact and history. I hope that’s an encouragement to you today.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
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GBC Community Update: Why the need for the Easter sacrifice of Jesus? Pt.2

4/1/2021

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​Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week.  There is much anticipation about what the government will announce this afternoon. As I write this I don’t know what will happen but I know God is still on the throne, Easter can’t be cancelled. In terms of what that looks like, we’ll wait and see.  Let’s continue to find our hope in an empty cross and an empty tomb.
 
 
Good Friday Service
On 10:30am here at GBC, and our livestream, we will be reflecting on the cross and the payment Jesus made for our sins at our annual God Friday service.
Join us for this thoughtful time, with includes communion, as we consider what Jesus did for us and how his death sets us free.
 
 
Join us as we celebrate the empty tomb!
We’re not sure at this point what Easter Sunday will look like. If there any changes that impact those who come I’ll let you know with a special update.
Regardless, I will be continuing our series as we now celebrate Easter and Jesus love lived out. This week I’ll be looking at the time right after Jesus rose from the dead. It was a confusing time for many (not surprising!) so we’ll be looking at Jesus words: “stop doubting and believe.” 
Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Outreach Workshop Coming Up
Our next outreach workshop will be held on Sunday April 11 at around 12:30.  It’ll last about 20 minutes and will be focused on practical ways to engage the world around you with the gospel.  I’ll be again leading this so I hope you can make it out!
 
 
Thought for the Day: Why the need for the Easter sacrifice of Jesus? Pt.2
On Tuesday I looked at the idea of why Jesus had to go to the cross from the position of our legal standing. Understand that what happened at the cross was a legal proceeding like no other. God is victim, judge and defense counsel. It may seem a bit strange to us, but this is the way it must be. God is judge by right of creation. He made it all. He owns it all. He sets the rules in place for the governance of it all. God is also the victim here because, in spite of His right to require obedience, I have spurned Him. I have refused to live according to the decrees of the Owner of all. He is the injured party in this proceeding.
But that verse I shared in Micah on Tuesday also tells me that God is the defense counsel. I discover that God is not simply the moral policeman of the universe. He is exactly as He describes Himself in Exodus 34:6 – compassionate and full of mercy. God steps in to plead my case when there is absolutely no excuse for my actions.
So, what does pleading mean when I am a confessed criminal? From my perspective, it can only mean one thing – a cry for a merciful verdict. In these circumstances, that’s all I could come up with. That, however, is not God’s way. God’s way is amazingly controversial, completely unanticipated and absolutely unique. The victim voluntarily dies in the place of the guilty. This is the whole creation turned upside-down. Nothing could have prepared us for this solution. The law is upheld. The judge is satisfied. The guilty are forgiven. Mercy triumphs over wrath without compromising justice.
That’s why we call it Good Friday and why we praise the God who died in our place. It’s the only reason we are free, that’s why there needed to be a cross, that’s why there needed to be an Easter sacrifice.  Pretty amazing, huh?
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
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GBC Community Update: Why the need for the Easter sacrifice of Jesus? Pt.1

3/30/2021

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Good morning. Holy Week is underway, the most important week of the year for we who are followers of Jesus. This is a week to remember- remember what Jesus did and remember what an empty cross and empty tomb means- sin has been defeated and so has death.  That gives a hope which transcends understanding and also helps carry us through the days we’re in.
 
 
Good Friday Service
On 10:30am here at GBC, and our livestream, we will be reflecting on the cross and the payment Jesus made for our sins at our annual God Friday service.
Join us for this reflective time, with includes communion, as we consider what Jesus did for us and how his death sets us free.
 
 
Join us in Prayer
Now that our 40 Days of Prayer campaign is done, what was your experience like?  Do you have any feedback? Any thoughts to share?  You can send them to Patrick or me as we’d love to hear about this.
 
On Wednesday afternoons at 3pm a small group of people gather here at GBC for prayer. We’re focusing on the themes in the 40 Days of Prayer for March. Feel free to join us!
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Why the need for the Easter sacrifice of Jesus? Pt.1
At Easter we remember and celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus. Have you ever wondered, though, why He needed to do this?

The prophet Micah wrote: “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness.” 

What does it mean to plead? Think of it this way: you’re caught. You’ve arrested and charged. There’s not much point in resisting since you know you are guilty. You stand before the judge, ashamed and humiliated. What can you do? There is no way out of this unless someone pleads your case. But who would plead the case of a man who has already confessed to the crime? Actually, only one person could do such a thing – the injured party. The only person able to speak for the criminal is the victim.

That’s the scenario in Micah’s courtroom description: I have offended the Most High God. He is the injured party. There is no question about my guilt. Therefore, only He is able to take up my case and bring about justice. The law demands punishment, but the victim can plead for mercy. If God doesn’t act on my behalf, there is nothing ahead but wrath and misery.

The Hebrew word we translate as ‘plead’ comes directly from the courtroom. It means to conduct a lawsuit, to contest and dispute in legal proceedings. God Himself uses this word to describe His accusation against idolatrous Israel in the Old Testament. Now Micah says that unless God takes up our sorrowful verdict, we are lost. In the court of heaven, I need the best attorney in all creation, and that, of course, is the merciful Lord Himself. That’s why there was a need for a sacrifice. More on this Thursday.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

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GBC Community Update: Why the cross?

3/25/2021

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​Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week! I continue to reflect on the reconciliation service we had with Lakeside Church on Sunday. I’ve heard from a number of you how powerful that was and I certainly agree.  There is great blessing when God’s church walks in unity. May this apply to all of us here at GBC as well as we walk with one another.
 
 
40 Days of Prayer Update
This is Day 37 of our 40 Days of Prayer journey.  Today we’re praying that God would use us to impact our nation for his glory. This is a bold prayer, but we serve a bold God.
It’s hard to believe we’re almost done. How has your experience with the 40 Days been? If you have any insights or experiences with this, I’d love to hear about it. Let me know.  Beyond this, I’d encourage you to continue to pray for our church and for your own spiritual journey.
 
 
Prayer Chain Update
Speaking of prayer, would you like prayer from the GBC congregation?  We wish to provide everyone in GBC, especially new members, with the opportunity to receive prayer when requested from the GBC prayer chain.  For those who may not be familiar, this is a means by which people of GBC can share prayer requests and praise items within your GBC family.  Here are a few key points about the prayer chain emails:
1)      To put forward a prayer request, please email Anne Coughey at acoughey@recoveryforce.com
2)      Prayer requests should be limited to those attending GBC or their immediate family.
3)    If you are requesting prayer for someone else, please ensure you have their permission before requesting that it be sent out in the prayer chain  
4)      We also are happy to hear about praise items so that we can all rejoice and praise our great God and Savior (For example, someone who prayed to receive Christ)  
 
If you have any questions, would like to know more, or would like to join the prayer chain and pray for your GBC family, please contact Anne Coughey
 
 
Join us Sunday
Jacob will be continuing our series to prepare us for Easter: “Love lived out …Jesus in his own words.” This week he will I look at Jesus’ crucifixion and his powerful words: “it is finished.” What does this mean and what does it mean for us?  Find out on Sunday! 
Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the Day: Why the Cross? 
The cross is a crucial symbol of the Christian faith. We see it pop up everywhere: perched atop a church, carved into a graveyard headstone or engraved in a ring or suspended on a chain. The cross is our universal symbol.  Yet it’s an odd choice, don’t you think? Why Chris?  It’s strange that a tool of torture would come to embody a movement of hope. The symbols of other faiths are more upbeat: the six-pointed star of David, the crescent moon of Islam, a lotus blossom for Buddhism. Yet a cross for Christianity? An instrument of execution?
Would you wear a tiny electric chair around your neck? Suspend a gold-plated hangman’s noose on the wall? Would you print a picture of a firing squad on a business card? I hope not!  Yet we do so with the cross.
So why then is the cross the symbol of our faith? To find the answer look no farther than the cross itself. Its design couldn’t be simpler. One beam horizontal—the other vertical. One reaches out—like God’s love. The other reaches up—as does God’s holiness. One represents the width of his love; the other reflects the height of his holiness. The cross is the intersection. The cross is where God forgave his children without lowering his standards. The cross is our symbol of hope.
How could he do this? In a sentence: God put our sin on his Son and punished it there.
The Message says it this way: “God put on him the wrong who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God”. 
So, why the cross? That’s why!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris 
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GBC Community Update: Why do Christians celebrate Easter?

3/23/2021

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Good morning!  Spring has sprung. I don’t know about you, but I love this time of year. I find it so encouraging.
I’m starting a news series of devotional ‘Thoughts for the Day’ called “Why Easter?”  I’ll look at some of the things we perhaps take for granted to get a clearer sense of the significance of this incredible event.  You might want to take these short thoughts and share with your friends and those you know to give them something to consider as we prepare for Easter.
 
 
Communion This Sunday!
Our next opportunity to participate in communion will be held this Sunday. I would encourage you to spend time this week preparing your hearts to commune with the Lord. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that when we take communion “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  This is a great thing to remember: Jesus is coming back and when he does everything changes.   We’ll be remembering that on Sunday. I hope you’ll celebrate with us.
For those joining us on our livestream, I’d encourage you to participate.  If you’d like a set of the elements we’ll be using, let me know and I can arrange delivery.
 
 
Notice of Annual Meeting
Please plan to join us for our next Annual General Meeting (AGM) this Sunday, March 28 at 12:15 p.m. following our morning service.  The purpose of the 30-minute meeting is to approve the 2020 financial statements, approve the 2021 budget, appoint an auditor and elect Directors to hold office until the next annual general meeting.  If you are member and are unable to attend, please complete a proxy form (attached) to ensure that we achieve quorum for the AGM.
We hope to see you there!
 
 
Prayer
On Wednesday afternoons at 3pm a small group of people gather here at GBC for prayer. We’re focusing on the themes in the 40 Days of Prayer for March. Feel free to join us!
 
 
Thought for the day: Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter?
Back in the 1880’s philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously declared that “God is dead,” and before the turn of the twentieth century, authors Bernard Shaw and HG Wells both declared the 20th Century would mark the end of the world’s “religious phase.”
 
All were wrong.
 
Yet, today a church now meets in Russia’s former Museum of Atheism., churches continue to thrive even under communist suppression in China, the gospel continues to sweep across Africa and Latin America and every Sunday millions of people gather in the name of Jesus in North America including here at GBC. No, God is not dead.
 
Nietzsche, Shaw and Wells have long since decayed in their graves, and God continues to live! That’s the message of Easter. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!
 
Muhammad died, and was buried. His faithful followers take pilgrimages to visit his remains, the same is true of Buddha and other religious leaders. But it is not true of Jesus. You can’t visit His remains, you can only visit His empty grave, because He isn’t there. He arose!  Jesus is alive, he’s coming again, and when he does, everything changes. That gives a hope for any situation, even the times we’re in.
That’s why we celebrate Easter!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
 
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GBC Community Update: Final thoughts on developing character like Jesus

3/18/2021

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 Good morning! I hope you’re making this a great week. It’s a bit chilly today, a good reminder we’re not quite there yet in terms of full spring. Still, we know it’s coming. This can be like our spiritual experience. We can feel like we’re so close to that breakthrough and yet not quite there. Remember, it takes time, be patient, keep going and hang in there, its coming!
 
 
Join us Sunday
I’m continuing our new series to prepare us for Easter: “Love lived out …Jesus in his own words.” We’re continuing with the theme from our previous series looking at Jesus words and seeing how they impact us today but now we’ll be looking at those which happened during Holy Week.  This week I look at Jesus arrest and his meeting with Governor Pilate and the question: “What is truth?” 
Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
40 Days of Prayer Update
This is Day 30 of our 40 Days of Prayer journey.  The title for today is “Become a Church Cheerleader”.  I really like this thought and not just because I’m a pastor!  I like the prayer and challenge for the day: “pray today that God will show you ways you can support your church vocally with encouraging words as you move forward towards the Great Commission.”  What a great thought, and also opportunity! May we all be found to be encouragers of what God is doing through us here at GBC.
 
 
Thought for the Day: Final thoughts on developing character like Jesus
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been challenged personally by what I’ve been sharing about developing positive character traits using Jesus as our guide.
The last one I want to share is one that Jesus showed so often: Humility
Jesus had every opportunity and right to demand praise and honour for His miracles and teachings, but He never did. Even when the crowds sought to make Him king, He rushed away from them. He didn’t want to become a sideshow performance that people could enjoy. Rather, He wanted to seek and save the lost and offer forgiveness for sinful people. Yes, He could have traveled around in order to show off His powers in other towns, but He chose not to.  As we read in Philippians 2, he humbled himself, became nothing, acting like a servant. Wow!  What an example.
So, that’s it. That’s what I’d like to share. As for some final thoughts I’d say this:
The world doesn’t need more role models, it needs more of Jesus—the ultimate role model. People will not find a better person to emulate positive character traits from than Jesus Christ himself.  With that in mind though, its important to remember that Jesus was God and so was perfect.  While we can learn from him and his example we have to be careful how we measure ourselves against him too.  We’ll never be perfect this side of heaven like he was so the key then becomes using him as a guide and being the best possible versions of ourselves we’re capable of being. It’s a tough challenge but a worthy endeavor. Strive!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
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GBC Community Update: Be patient and self-controlled

3/16/2021

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Good morning!  It was great to start our Easter series on Sunday. Thanks for the great feedback I received, I appreciate your encouragement a lot.
I suspect most of us are on various points of the spectrum right now in terms of our experience and views on everything going on right now but we can be united in our appreciation for all God has done through Jesus for us which comes into focus at Easter. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on that and radiate the hope the empty cross and empty tomb gives us all.
 
 
Notice of Annual Meeting
Please plan to join us for our next Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, March 28 at 12:15 p.m. following our morning service.  The purpose of the 30-minute meeting is to approve the 2020 financial statements, approve the 2021 budget, appoint an auditor and elect Directors to hold office until the next annual general meeting.  If you are member and are unable to attend, please complete a proxy form (emailed out or at office) to ensure that we achieve quorum for the AGM.
We hope to see you there!
 
 
Prayer
On Wednesday afternoons at 3pm a small group of people gather here at GBC for prayer. We’re focusing on the themes in the 40 Days of Prayer for March. Feel free to join us!
 
 
Thought for the day: Be patient and self-controlled
As we continue to look at some of the character traits of Jesus and how they could apply to our lives I have to confess that the ones I’m looking at today are likely the hardest ones for me personally but have born the most fruit when I’ve gotten them right:  patience and self-control
Throughout the gospels, Jesus clearly gets portrayed as a very patient man. After all, He was surrounded by disciples who constantly doubted him, Pharisees and Sadducees who continually attacked Him, and large crowds who wouldn’t leave Him alone. Despite all of that, He kept His composure and responded appropriately to every individual. Patience is the ability to see something through to the end, especially something that might be challenging or unpleasant. Patience is a character trait, but also a skill we can work on to improve. I know I am!
Related, in a way, is self-control.  Before His ministry was launched, Jesus spent time being tempted by the Devil in the wilderness. Although He was offered food, power, and many other things, Jesus controlled His desires and submitted them all to the will of the Father. Yes, He had desires for food and such, but He had a greater desire to obey the Father and accomplish what He’d set out to do. Self-control is the ability to deny oneself something for a greater objective. We live in a society that encourages us to deny ourselves nothing. This is something we can all grow from and through.
Patience and self-control, two difficult but valuable things. Makes sense doesn’t it? Nothing of value comes without cost.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
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GBC Community Update: Be prayerful and practice gentleness to show true strength

3/11/2021

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​Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week! It’s hard not to, though, with these spring-like days we’re having.
Hard to believe we’re approaching Easter and starting our teaching series to prepare for the big day. It’s been quite the year, to say the least, which is all the more reason to focus on the words of Jesus and what He did for us!
 
 
Join us Sunday
I will be beginning our new series to prepare us for Easter: “Love lived out …Jesus in his own words.” We’ll be continuing with the theme from our previous series looking at Jesus words and seeing how they impact us today but now we’ll be looking at those which happened during Holy Week.  My hope and prayer is this will not only be an encouragement but also a challenge to live love out in your own life.
Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
40 Days of Prayer Update
This is Day 23 of our 40 Days of Prayer journey.  Today we’re praying that God would help us all align with his vision for GBC.   Many of us (like me!) are strong willed individuals and so aligning to something not of our creation is often a challenge. God has called us here at GBC to see lives transformed through Him. That’s our vision. So the question for reflection, and prayer today is: how can we be sure our actions are aligned to God’s call for our church?
 
 
Shower Update
We continue to pray for Levi Tamminga and Ken and Rebekah. May the Lord’s hand of protection, provision and healing be upon this family. Last week I announced we’d be having a shower to celebrate with this family on the 20th. For obvious reasons, we need to postpone to a later date.  We’ll let you know when that’s going to happen.
 
 
Thought for the day: Be prayerful and practice gentleness to show true strength
As we go through the 40 Days of Prayer as a church, I am reminded that Jesus was a man of prayer. In fact, I’ll be looking at perhaps his greatest prayer on Sunday. So, as we look at character and how to live it out, we should seek to be prayerful in our own lives.
No matter how busy His ministry got, Jesus found time to be alone and pray. Whether it is in the garden of Gethsemane, across a river, or on a mountaintop, Jesus disappeared for a while in order to pray to God, the Father. People always tried to find Him, and He never turned them away, but He also made sure to make time spent with His heavenly Father a priority. May this be something our lives are noted by.
Okay, that was probably an obvious one.  But how about this?  Jesus was seen to have a spirit of gentleness.
There were certainly times where Jesus used stern words, but He knew when gentleness was appropriate. Children seemed to love coming to him, and He made sure the disciples knew not to hinder them when they did so. When speaking with His disciples, mother, or other people, He could be very kind-hearted and gentle. But, when He was giving someone a rebuke or making a point in an argument, He knew when turning up the heat was necessary and only did so strategically. He could be characterized as meek. Meekness, or gentleness, is not weakness, but strength under control. In these emotionally-charged days this is a critical trait for we who would like to follow Jesus to practice.
In an era of action, of varying expressions of power, the one who is prayerful and shows gentleness is the true practitioner of strength.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
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    Pastor Chris

    "At GBC we're serious about the Bible, serious about the truths that are found in it and living in Him but also like to laugh, cry and experience life together."

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