Douglas Baptist Church

Lots of excitement around the church this week! Our first day camp of the summer was a hit and went very well from my vantage point. With all the rain we’ve had this week it seemed appropriate that this camp for 3,4, & 5 year old’s was entitled Rainbow Camp. With all the space we have here now a little rain wasn’t going to ruin this fun filled camp! Rebecca, Aaron and their willing youth volunteers did a great job keeping the little ones busy . At times it was hard to count exactly how many because they were always on the move but according to the registration sheet there were 19 different children who attended and they had at least 13 everyday! A great start to a great summer…if you have kids (or know any) check out the other great camps we are offering!

Speaking of summer fun…I’m looking forward to some with my family over the next couple of weeks. Yep it’s that time of year-VACATION! We’ll be off for the next couple of weeks…just over two weeks actually. We kick it off this weekend at Green Hill Lake’s Family Camp. If you don’t see us around we are not avoiding you…we’re just away & taking some time to refresh, renew and relax! We’ll miss you but the time will fly by…see you in July!

A Blessed Father’s Day everyone!

I just had a quick look at The Kenny’s Blog (they are of course one of our missionary partner families in Kenya) and I noticed the most recent entry is about gardening (http://www.fivekennys.blogspot.com/) . I find it exciting to see how missionary work has taken on such a holistic approach. What I mean by that is that we are actually caring for the whole individual. Rather then simply seeking to give people “spiritual food” we are seeking to provide them with other resources that will help them meet their physical needs as well. When I read the gospel I see this in Jesus’ ministry as well-he cared for the whole person…he was concerned not only for their souls but for their physical health and well being. Jesus both healed and feed individuals on a number of different occasion.

All this serves as a reminder to me that I am to care for people and all their needs. Sounds like a daunting task, I know but think about it…if each one of us did our part, maybe it won’t be so daunting.

I must admit I’m not much of a gardener but I do love to dig in the dirt! We’ve planted some flowers and a few vegetable plants. What knowledge I do have about gardening I’ve gleamed from many of my gardening friends here in Douglas. I think the thing I love most about gardening is watching the things I’ve planted grow (I know you thought I was going to say eating the fruits of my labor). It is amazing to see what a little knowledge and work can produce when God gets involved. After all it is God who brings about the growth!

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

Thank you God for gardening (physical & spiritual). 

Thank you God for the growth we see both here in Canada and in Kenya!

Like many special occasions, Father’s Day brings about all kinds of feelings in all kinds of people. Depending upon ones past and present relationships, Father’s Day can be full of meaning or it can be just another day to forget. I know that there are even some who struggle to call God their Father because of things that have happen in their lives.

Whither you have a great relationship with your Father or not, please know that you do have a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for you. He will not disappoint you and His love is endless! Check out the video below to see some of the things God has said to His children in His word, the Bible…God’s Love letter to you! I pray that you will be blessed today by this.

It has been a lovely day! I want to thank all those who took time on this beautiful day to participate in our “Love Your Community” activities. We did all kinds of things to show our love for Douglas including; delivering soup & roll, cleaning up the trail, handing out free bottles of water, handing out free flowers, and painting nails at a Seniors Home. A special thank you to Nancy and Darlene for coordinating our efforts!

It was great to participate in this area wide event. It shows others that all the churches in the area can work together and it reminds us that we are called to love our community and neighbours (all year long)!

See you tomorrow (don’t forget church is at 10am now for the summer and there is a Picnic at Centennial Park in Mactaquac tomorrow after the service).

Have you ever agreed to something and then later thought…”WHAT WAS I THINKING”?

Well back when the snow was on the ground and winter winds were blowing…actually I can’t remember exactly when it was but that sounded good…I agreed to bike from Fredericton to Saint John with a friend from our Church. (Again my memory is a little foggy but it might have even been my idea). As the weather got better and Spring arrived I began to think more and more about what I had gotten myself into!

Well I’m not one to back out of something if I say I am going to do it so I started to prepare (in earnest I might add). With some help and encouragement over the last couple of months I have managed to get in a little better biking shape.

Many will only be hearing about this after the fact because I am not one to boast or talk about myself (especially after last Sunday’s sermon) and well quite frankly, what if I didn’t make it? How embarrassing would that be? Those who did hear about it often asked why…some thought we were doing it as a fundraiser. My answer to the why question…maybe it was a weak moment. Actually truth be told I have been wanting a challenge like this… some thing physical to strive for. I quickly ruled out a marathon so this seemed like the next best thing.

Anyway…to make a long story a little shorter…today was the day…THURSDAY JUNE 11. And just in case you haven’t figured it out yet-I made it there safely and am home now (we biked to Saint John and then got picked up…we are saving the round trip for next time!).

Why am I sharing all this (I guess that’s what people do when they blog sometimes…just talk about life). But wait there is a point! Sometimes we need to challenge ourselves! Physically yes but also in other ways. Spiritually sometimes we are to scared to go deeper, to take a step of faith. In the church sometimes we are scared to try something new. We talk ourselves out of a lot of things when sometimes we need to be open and ready for a challenge.

How many people that we read about in the Bible thought at one point or another…WHAT WAS I THINKING…HOW DID I GET MYSELF INTO THIS? And yet God loves to take us far beyond where we can, on our own ability, go! 

Never forget Philippians 4:13…I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.