Movin’ to Tumblr

Hey guys,

I’m not planning on blogging here at least for a while. i’m gonna give Tumblr a try…

http://andyfalleur.tumblr.com

soon!

andy

 

Men’s Overnight 2013

Lots of stories out of this one.
If we had the chance to go for a coffee, here are ones that might get told.

It was awesome to have my brother Ben come. It was his first visit to Canada and we had pristine winter weather for him. He was in awe of the shift from 83F to 0F in one plane ride from Orlando to Ottawa. He said his first breath as he broke the plane of the doors at the airport hurt his lungs. Ha!

Macskimming was amazing. They have a pioneer village back there that they use for outdoor Ed for the Ottawa Carleton School Board. They had a lodge with a kitchen and a meeting room for 60 that we had all of our meals and sessions in. There was another heated lodge with bunks for 20, and then 5 rustic cabins with no electricity, only a wood stove and they slept 9. And everything was covered with a fresh coat of foot deep snow. Surreal.

My friend Jon Patil took some nice photos and even a video.

We had a good turnout. Maxed the place out on the first one. Bummer.

Randy led us in worship. Glenn shared about finances on Friday night. Saturday morning Robbie shared about the parallels of being a man and spirituality. And then Ben ended our time with an excellent description of a gentleman. The Overnight was informal and anytime the older men in the group spoke we paid attention.

I noticed at church later that night a bunch of guys had a different pair of pants on and had their shirt tucked in.

It was a very rich time. I think The Lord was pleased by our activities and for several of us it was a life changing experience.

Ben made a lot of new friends.

Me too.

I also found out that I snore.

 

Selected Scriptures on the Will of God

Over the last 2 weekends, I’ve taught this Bible Study at Calvary Ottawa and Calvary Chapel of Palm Harbor. There was a lot of Scripture references, and I wasn’t able to read all of them so I thought it would be helpful to post them here for those that didn’t get to write them all down and wanted to go back and reference them. 

For me personally, this was a very fruitful study. All of these are copied from the ESV. 

God’s Will is what is going to happen:

Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

God’s Will can be known

Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

God’s will is that His Will is easy to comprehend.

Luke 10:21 – In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

 

So, what’s God’s will? And how can I pray according to it?

God’s will is that you and I would have wisdom (James 1:5-8)

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Lord, I don’t know what to do here. I’m asking you for wisdom.

God’s Will is that You and I would be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-21)

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Lord, I’m asking you to fill me with your Holy Spirit.

God’s Will is that you and I would be submitted to one another, taking the place of a servant to serve each other (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)

2 Corinthians 8:1 – We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Lord, I’m asking you to show me where I can serve.

God’s Will is that you and I would be a contributing member of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3-8)

Lord, show me how I can serve here.

God’s will is that you and I would submit our plans to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 4:19, James 4:13-17)

1 Corinthians 4:19 – But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.

James 4:13 – Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

In that you and I could be so confident that we are in the will of God (listen to Paul’s confidence…)

1 Corinthians 1:1 – Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 Corinthians 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

Ephesians 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 Timothy 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

Lord, I’m asking for your direction, show me what you want to do.

God’s will is that you and I would be sanctified (learn to control your body, be free from sexual immorality).

Galatians 1:3 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Lord, I’m asking you to help me be free of this sin.

God’s Will is that you and I would do good.

1 Peter 2:15 – For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Lord, I’m asking you for the courage to do good.

God’s Will is that you and I would do good at work as an employee or a boss.

Ephesians 6:5 – Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Lord, I’m asking you for strength to do good at work, even when everyone around me may not be doing good.

God’s Will is that you and I would do good even if we suffer unjustly for it.

1 Peter 3:17 – For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 4:1 – Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:19 – Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Lord, I’m asking you to help me graciously endure unjust suffering.

God’s will is that you and I would endure (be marathoners as well as sprinters).

Hebrews 10:36 – For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (God’s will is for you to endure, to persevere, to be a marathoner as well as a sprinter, to stand strong under pressure…)

Lord, I’m asking you to help me to endure.

God’s is that you and I would give thanks in all situations.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Lord, I’m asking you to show me what to be thankful for in this situation.

God’s will is that all would be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing (look up the Greek word and all it’s uses/translations) that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Matthew 18:12 – What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

John 6:40 – For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 

God’s will is that you and I and all people and things would be united in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Lord, show me, help me, teach me, strengthen me to be like Christ.

The more you know of and about Jesus Christ, the more confident you are going to be in prayer, and honestly in life.

 

One side comment… because there’s one of these that some of you may be thinking that I forgot…

God’s will is for people to be healed.

It’s not… The New Testament doesn’t support that… a couple of illustrations.

First, the Apostle Paul didn’t walk in divine healing, in 2 Corinthians 12:7, he tells us that he had a thorn in his flesh. Pain in his physical body and the Lord refused to heal it.

Paul in Galatians 4:15, tells us he had problems with his eyes.

Second, it’s obvious from Philippians 2:27, that Paul didn’t have that expectation when it came to his Christian brother Epaphroditus.

In addition, we see that one of the first miracles worked through Paul’s ministry in Acts 13, was striking a man blind. That’s not healing.

Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 11:30, that sickness and death can be caused in the life of a Christian because of sin.

In addition, we see in Acts 5, that when Ananias and Sapphira came to church and entered into the presence of the Lord they were struck dead.

On top of all that, you can’t get away from the historical record of these apostles not caring one whit about their bodies, but willingly sacrificing their health and well-being in order to see the gospel get out. Furthermore, the clear message of 1 Peter which is encouragement to suffer physically for the gospel, and to glory in that.

God’s will is Christ, and to see all people and all things united to Christ. And, to that end, your prayers will be answered…

Even for others…

Look at verse 16 of our text in 1 John…

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—…

Acts 8:27 – And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Hebrews 13:20 – Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen

 

Melanie Leclerc

This is video that Melanie did introducing her ministry in Papau New Guinea. She came to Calvary Ottawa a few months ago and did an excellent presentation on linguistics and Bible Translating. We are trying to encourage her and help her get to the mission field in the Spring of 2013.
You can learn more about her ministry at http://melanieleclerc.wordpress.com

 

Have you seen this?

A young lady in our fellowship is going full time with the cause of raising awareness of the reality of Canada’s lack of a law prohibiting abortions at any point during the pregnancy.
After watching this, it just seems really, really wrong…

 

Calvary Orleans RIP

We are ceasing our public Sunday morning services in Orleans this weekend. In other words, last weekend was the last one. Here’s what’s going on…

We started back in April / May of 2011 for a couple of reasons. One was because there was a group of believers out in the Orleans community that were coming to Calvary and weren’t really content with our move to Saturday nights. Second, I was noticing a move of the Spirit in Orleans, especially on my street and in my neighbourhood and wanted to see if we could support that in some way. Finally, the move to Saturday nights had been tough for my family and it would have been good for us to have a Sunday morning service for my kids to be at. 

We started off in the extra rooms of Eglise Bon Berger and we were off to a good start. There was a lot of excitement, we had a good team of help for worship, for kids ministry, for setup and tear down and for follow-up. We had a great relationship with Pastor George Larabie, and it was good. 

There were some incredible times of worship, of the real and tangible presence of the Lord. There have been some great times of fellowship, and relationships grew and were nurtured. There were some wonderful times of prayer. We had some good Bible Studies. The Lord blessed our meetings, but for some reason, didn’t bless with more people. 

We never really got over the 20 mark. In hindsight, I think that’s an important dynamic. That would be the one lesson I have learned from this. We probably should have rolled back into a home fellowship and waited until we were consistently over 20 and then relaunched. 

A couple more thoughts. 
It’s been difficult to do both Orleans and Downtown. There was a lot more that I would have like to have done in Orleans, in connecting more with the community and in outreach. But, my plate was already full with the growth downtown and navigating through some challenges in our family. 

I’ve been praying for months about Orleans. “Lord, what do you want to do out here? What do you want me to do?” 

It all came to a head on Monday. I was driving back from Montreal with Gen, she had just landed back in Canada from a 6 day tour in France with Heritage and was just overflowing with all that the Lord had done. I could see that her involvement in what the Lord was doing through this music wasn’t going to diminish, but was in fact, going to increase. We needed to make some hard decisions, to position ourseves to serve, allowing her the freedom to pursue God’s call on her life. There’s just not room to do all of it. I can also see that I need to focus on serving the downtown congregation. We are in a season of growth and blessing and grace. I want to steward that well. In addition to all that, I would like to continue to be available to my family and my children. We only have them in our homes, in an impressionable mode for a few years. Investment now, will pay huge dividends later. 

What makes this decision hard is my desire to not disappoint my friends, Joel & Cathy, JC & Linda, George and John. They are lovely Christian people, godly, mature, and so committed to the cause of Christ, the gospel, Orleans and me as a pastor. We have a lot invested together, their love is evident, I hate the thought of letting them down. 

Here’s what I hope happens as a result of this. I hope it’s like a seed that goes into the ground and dies, and produces lots of fruit. My prayer is that some of the guys in our church that sense God’s call to ministry on their lives would consider some of the neighbouring areas in Ottawa (even Lowertown!) and start teaching the Bible in small groups, leading the people in worship, fellowship and prayer, and there would be churches, and and worship, and prayer and outreach and service in the community. I pray that we wouldn’t retreat, but advance and multiply, and that through this experience, I can be better positioned to help. 

I feel like MacArthur…

We will return! 

 

Heritage w/ Gen Falleur in Gatineau – Dec. 1st

Pray, Invite, Come!