Hello Everyone!

Even a blog needs to rest now and again, and so I say goodbye for a while.  Perhaps we will have the opportunity to publish now and again in the next month, perhaps not.  If not then we will return in August - may God bless you!

I have corrected the time for Mariposa Ministry - it is at 3 oclock on Sundays, not at 2.

In the meantime - do you know our official church website has had an amazing transformation?  Check it out by clicking here www.osoyooschurch.ca

~ Barbara

News from Osoyoos Christian Centre - July 6th, 2011

Thanks for visiting Osoyoos Christian Centre - ONLINE!  

Here's what's happened at OCC this past week, and what's coming up:

• MP3 Audio Sermon - Pastor Jospeh Fernandes  (right beneath this commentary)
• "God Meant It For Good" (Gen. 50:20) - poem  by Freda Hanbury Allen (click the From the Heart tab located top of this web page) 
• Current and future events (scroll down!)  NEW!  Light lunch and fellowship - tarry with us after the service, light lunch provided. 
• photos from "The Booth" - luncheon time, parade pics and Children's Church
• Free scripture wallpaper (click The Gallery tab at the top of this web page) - here's a preview for this week:

*****

Pastor Joseph will return here next week with his contribution for "Good Word" - in the meantime, here is the MP3 Audio of his July 3rd Sermon.  Click on the triangle to listen.  PS - if the volume is not loud enough for you - you can click your mouse on the little "bars" on the player, to the left of the word "shuffle"  When the bands are all blacked out then the volume is to the max on the player, then you need turn your computer sound up.   

*****

CURRENT EVENTS

Pre-service Prayer every Sunday before Service.

Osoyoos Christian Centre 9:30 a.m

What better way to come together and prepare our hearts to accept God's Word into our hearts.  Please, gather with us.

Light Lunch and fellowship  

Following Sunday Service each week.  We encourage you to contribute sandwiches (sign up sheet if you know ahead - or feel free just to bring something unannounced if you don't) 

Prayer at Kaye's Every Tuesday - 10:00 a.m.

7806 Gravenstein

Bible Study

Every 2nd Thursday, next one July 6th

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

We are exploring the book of Mark. Materials provided though we encourage you to bring you to bring writing materials and of course, your bible! ... and a friend!

Thursday Night Prayer and Song

Each Thursday - 7:00 on

Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch, Osoyoos
For more info: 250-495-2550

An intimate time of prayer - personal, community, government and worldwide for the Lord to meet spiritual and physical needs. Bring a friend!

Mariposa Christian Ministry Mariposa Gardens -

8816 97th Street, Osoyoos
Sundays at 3 pm

Mariposa Gardens is a beautiful Senior's home located here in Osoyoos.  OCC has the honour of being invited to share the Good Word of hope in Jesus Christ.  We welcome you to join us if you are able to assist with your musical talent or to help with fellowship!

Email us for more info: occwomenonline@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Shoe Boxes! 

Yes, we are encouraging you to get started to fill shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Shoebox.

These boxes are filled with more than just the good things you fill them with - they are also filled with HOPE, LOVE & COMPASSION and even better, many children are shared the story of salvation and come to know the Lord - the most important and life-changing gift of all.  Bring your boxes into church with you when they are filled.  Let us know if you have any questions. 

May God bless you richly this week!  

News from Osoyoos Christian Centre - June 29, 2011

Thanks for visiting Osoyoos Christian Centre - ONLINE!  


Last week was our very first "Prayer Walk" in our community.  Part of our congregation met at the church and then walked downtown, visiting businesses along the way - getting to know people and then entering into a time of prayer for these businesses.  We hope you can join us on the next one - date is to be announced.  If you know of a business who would like to request us to come and pray for them we would love to accommodate!




Here's what's been happening at OCC this past week, and what's coming up:

• MP3 Audio Sermon - Dave Oosterveld - Pastor visiting from Cheers Church in Penticton (right beneath this commentary)
• "A Prayer for Canada" - devotional  by Kaye Harkness (click the From the Heart tab located top of this web page) and an inspiring Canadian Song Video
• Current and future events (scroll down!) - NEW! Prayer Walk for Osoyoos!  NEW!  Light lunch and fellowship - tarry with us after the service, light lunch provided. 
• photos from "The Booth" - just a few snaps of everyone enjoying a beverage, light eats and fellowship after service (OCC Photo Album Tab - look up!) 
• Free scripture wallpaper (click The Gallery tab at the top of this web page) - here's a preview for this week:

*****

Thank you to Pastor Dave and his family for gracing our church this past Sunday.  Here is the MP3 Audio recording of his message - just click on the triangle to play.

*****

Pastor Joseph Fernandes

Pastor Joseph returns with a fourth installment to his series in 1 Samuel.  We encourage your feedback! 

Last time I left you with the following challenge:

If the Philistines took the ark as a spoil of victory, which they were entitled to do as victors, then why didn’t they just return it as is?

Why were they advised to provide a trespass offering?

You’ll also remember that I mentioned that as you think about this question, think about how the unsaved view God.

We continue to look at this question now. Just to clarify -  the issue here isn’t that they returned the ark (there is little argument that this was the appropriate step), but rather that they felt this need to return it with a trespass offering. You’ll remember this was the recommendation of the religious leaders when called upon to contribute to this discussion and to provide some direction. These spiritual leaders advised the Philistine lords to send the ark away with a trespass offering.  

During this time period of the Ancient Near East, the relationship between a specific people group and their god(s) could be tenuous at best. Keep in mind too that this was a time when one’s way of life was primarily connected to the earth. The gods were viewed as governing the natural elements like the wind, rain, harvest, etc… As such, it was important that the god be kept happy at all times. These gods were often considered precarious deities and their actions without rhyme or reason. You need only to think of the Greek tragedies to get a sense of the typical view of the gods.

These deities could also be mean and vindictive to their devotees - the evidence of which was a drought or some kind of natural disaster as had been thought. In these instances the deity’s anger was brought on because of a failure of some kind on the part of the people, whether individually or collectively. In this case some kind of trespass offering was required to appease the god and make amends for the wrong that had been done. You will likely see what I’m getting at here (in my opinion) the reason why the Philistine spiritual leaders recommended a trespass offering is simply because they saw Yahweh’s actions as paralleling those of Dagon.

Dagon was the storm god or the god of thunder who brought rain upon the crops. As such, in the eyes of the Philistines’ drought or the lack of an abundance of rain meant that Dagon was withholding the rain because of his anger. I believe the Philistines were just going by the experience of their own interaction between them and Dagon.

Dagon withheld the rain from watering their crops - maybe they failed in their worship of him; consequently they presented a trespass offering to appease him. The point here is that they were simply going off of a well-established perspective. As such, the relationship between the Philistines and their god Dagon forms the context relating to the steps they took to return the ark. In this instance, because they believed Yahweh was angry with them for taking the ark. In response to this they did what they’ve always done – present him with a trespass offering because that is the only way to appease an angry god.  

Again, in my opinion what they, the Philistines, couldn’t see is that God was actually trying to get their attention and used a language that they could understand. Isn’t that like God to communicate to us in a way that we understand! In other words, I believe God was demonstrating to the Philistines that he was in fact the one true God – he demonstrated this in Dagon’s temple and now he was doing the same through these (yes harsh) occurrences.  Again, this was a language that they understood. Rather than see this as an attempt to get their attention, they interpret it as “We must have done something wrong and must present a trespass offering to appease the Israelite God. “

Earlier I asked to think about how the unsaved view God and I believe that this is often they way that they see God because they don’t understand his ways. He is an angry God who must be appeased.

What we have is the cause and affect as follows:

• 1.      something bad has happened to me,
• 2.      I’m being punished (by God) because I did something wrong,
• 3.      therefore so I must makes amends,
• 4.      If I didn’t do anything wrong then everything would be fine. 

All too often this is how individuals—the unsaved—think or perceive of God and because of this perception they miss out on what he is really trying to do. Instead of seeing a God who loves them and is trying to get their attention through a mode of communication that they can understand, they see “Angry God.” I want to say this, that the mode of communication isn’t always negative. God also does incredibly wonderful things in the lives of the unsaved but this can be missed too because it’s chalked up to the fruits of human effort. I digress.

My point here is very simple. We live in a world today that really needs to see the love of God. They need to be told that God loves just the way they are. Yes we are all guilty before God but let’s not doubt or question that God truly loves people just the way they are.  “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8).” Jesus has become that trespass offering.

God doesn’t hate anyone – we are all created in His image. Yes he wants to change and transform lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, but without a response to God’s love, as evidence through the act of accepting Christ into one’s heart, the Holy Spirit will not force a change. Love is where it’s at for the unsaved – they need to see a God who truly loves them.

As we strive to be salt and light in world filled with darkness and hate, let’s salt our words with God’s love, let’s shine forth with the love of the Heavenly Father. As we do so we lift up Christ who died for lost humanity and when we lift him up he will draw all people to himself.

Blessings,

*****

CURRENT EVENTS

Pre-service Prayer every Sunday before Service.

Osoyoos Christian Centre 9:30 a.m

What better way to come together and prepare our hearts to accept God's Word into our hearts.  Please, gather with us.

Light Lunch and fellowship  

Following Sunday Service each week.  We encourage you to contribute sandwiches (sign up sheet if you know ahead - or feel free just to bring something unannounced if you don't) 

Prayer at Kaye's Every Tuesday - 10:00 a.m.

7806 Gravenstein

Bible Study

Every 2nd Thursday, next one July 6th

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

We are exploring the book of Mark. Materials provided though we encourage you to bring you to bring writing materials and of course, your bible! ... and a friend!

Thursday Night Prayer and Song

Each Thursday - 7:00 on

Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch, Osoyoos
For more info: 250-495-2550

An intimate time of prayer - personal, community, government and worldwide for the Lord to meet spiritual and physical needs. Bring a friend!

Mariposa Christian Ministry Mariposa Gardens -

8816 97th Street, Osoyoos
Sundays at 2 pm

Mariposa Gardens is a beautiful Senior's home located here in Osoyoos.  OCC has the honour of being invited to share the Good Word of hope in Jesus Christ.  We welcome you to join us if you are able to assist with your musical talent or to help with fellowship!

Email us for more info: occwomenonline@gmail.com

Prayer Walk for Osoyoos 

Starts at Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch Crescent
Next Time "To Be Announced" 

What a wonderful opportunity for us to pray for our local businesses.  We encourage you to do your own personal "prayer walk" the next time you find yourself downtown - and then lets come together in a corporate group too!  

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Shoe Boxes! 

Yes, we are encouraging you to get started to fill shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Shoebox 

These boxes are filled with more than just the good things you fill them with - they are also filled with HOPE, LOVE & COMPASSION and even better, many children are shared the story of salvation and come to know the Lord - the most important and life-changing gift of all.  Bring your boxes into church with you when they are filled.  Let us know if you have any questions.

I'm adding a new link into the sidebar of our blog - you may want to check this out - its' a website called Daily Audio Bible.  A few of us from church have been listening to the daily audio broadcasts and find it valuable.  It is FREE daily readings from the bible with a bit of commentary.  There is also a daily Proverb and also Kids bible reading too!  You can also click HERE to get there too!

May God bless you richly this week!  

News from Osoyoos Christian Centre - June 22, 2011

Thanks for visiting Osoyoos Christian Centre - ONLINE!  Here's what we've updated since last week:

This Sunday we  look forward to a message from Dave Oosterveld - Youth Pastor for Cheers Church in Penticton. He will also be bringing a band to provide this weeks worship music - I understand its on the "lively" side.  Won't you bring a friend and give Pastor Dave a warm welcome?

Here's what else is new:

• Audio Sermon - Ralph speaking about Father's Day - an inspiring and encouraging message. (right beneath this commentary)
• "Confessing is a Blessing" - devotional  (click the From the Heart tab located top of this web page)
• Current and future events (scroll down!) - NEW! Prayer Walk for Osoyoos!  NEW!  Bread at the Booth - tarry with us after the service, light lunch provided. 
• photos from  Amalia's (Osoyoos Baptist Church) yard sale a couple of  weekends ago, a huge success and raised monies for their very worthwhile ministry in Argentina.
• Free scripture wallpaper (click The Gallery tab at the top of this web page) - here's a preview for this week:

*****

Pastor Joseph will return next week with an addition to his series exploring 1 Samuel.  Stay tuned! 

Today we provide you with an audio recording from Ralph Hargrave as he speaks on Father's Day:

*****

CURRENT EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prayer at Kaye's Every Tuesday - 10:00 a.m.

7806 Gravenstein

NEW!!

Prayer Walk for Osoyoos

Starts at Osoyoos Christian Centre

42 Finch Crescent
Saturday June 25th - 1:00

Grab a friend and join us as we walk through our community and pray for the people and businesses here. In case you might be wondering how this will work - we will walk the streets and visit businesses and silently pray for hearts to be won to the Lord and for our town to prosper for His Glory!

NEW!!

Bread at the Booth

Each Sunday following service

Our church family loves to spend time together and we love to get to know newcomers... the trouble is that the end of service falls right on... lunch hour.  Doesn't it just make sense and seem fun to come together and "break bread" together after worship and the word?  We invite you to tarry a while at "the Booth" (our coffee bar) and catch up with everyone, no need for us all to rush off to make our own lunches. 

You can be part of this ministry by bringing a plate of "finger food" (sandwiches, fruit, veg, cookies) - anything that can fit on a napkin!   We will circulate a sign up sheet for the summer months but if you've not put your name to claim a week and find you want to bring something - just show up with your offerings.   The more the merrier, indeed.

Bible Study

Every 2nd Thursday, next one June 23rd

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

We are exploring the book of Mark. Materials provided though we encourage you to bring you to bring writing materials and of course, your bible! ... and a friend!

Thursday Night Prayer and Song

Each Thursday - 7:00 on

Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch, Osoyoos
For more info: 250-495-2550 

An intimate time of prayer - personal, community, government and worldwide for the Lord to meet spiritual and physical needs. Everyone welcome!

Mariposa Christian Ministry Mariposa Gardens -

8816 97th Street, Osoyoos
Sundays at 2 pm

Mariposa Gardens is a beautiful Senior's home located here in Osoyoos. OCC has the honour of being invited to share the Good Word of hope in Jesus Christ. We welcome you to join us if you are able to assist with your musical talent or to help with fellowship!

Email us for more info: occwomenonline@gmail.com

News from Osoyoos Christian Centre - June 16, 2011

Thanks for visiting Osoyoos Christian Centre - ONLINE!  Our church building is undergoing a "face-lift" in several areas in anticipation of a busy summer.  We would love to show you what's new!

We hope to post a few photos from last Sunday when we celebrated Pastor Joseph's birthday - I want to just check with a few people for permission.  Thanks for your patience and be sure to check back next week for those photos.  Thanks to everyone who contributed - it was a nice celebration and a wonderful way to show our appreciation to Joseph.

We will also try to post a picture or two of our friend Amalia's (Osoyoos Baptist Church) yard sale last weekend, a huge success and raised monies for their very worthwhile ministry in Argentina.  Thanks for inviting us, Amalia!

Please forgive us our lack of an audio sermon this week - unfortunately our technology failed us this time.  And I heard it was such a good message - delivered by Dale Archibald. 

This week we can look forward to a message from Dave Oosterveld - Youth Pastor for Cheers Church in Penticton.  Won't you bring a friend and give Pastor Dave a warm welcome?

Here's what else is new:

• winner of week 3 book giveaway
• Good Word - Pastor Joseph (right beneath this commentary) - further exploration of 1 Samuel
• "The Gift"  - a poem  (click the From the Heart tab located top of this web page) 
• Current and future events (scroll down!) -  NEW!  Prayer Walk for Osoyoos!
• Free scripture wallpaper (click The Gallery tab at the top of this web page)  - here's a preview for this week:

Congratulations to Shirley Kubryn who is the winner of the third book in the giveaway celebrating the 100th post of our church blog!  Hope you enjoy, Shirley!  Shirley won a copy of the book "No More Christian Nice Girl!" 

*****

Pastor Joseph Fernandes

Part 4 - exloration of 1 Samuel:

Greetings!

Today I would like us to take a look at I Samuel 6:3.   

It states:

“So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”

The point bring to your attention is the concept of the trespass offering within the context of the social historical setting for this specific passage.

If you read in the earlier verses of this chapter you’ll see that the Philistine religious/spiritual leaders weighed into the discussion concerning what should be done with the ark. Their position is that it needs to be sent away - however it cannot be sent away empty – rather there should be a trespass offering that should accompany it. I want to explore this a bit and to share my thoughts on this suggested action. The question that I ask is “why would they feel the need to return the ark with a trespass offering?"

Let’s take a quick look at the significance of this offering,

“The trespass offering was to atone for specific transgressions where restitution was possible.”  

We need to pause as this point – the offering was to atone for a specific transgression. Earlier we addressed the concept of “to the victor go the spoils.” This was a very common practice within this time period– and even earlier. It states in Genesis 14:21,

“Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”

The king of Sodom acknowledges that as the victor in battle, Abraham gets the spoils – and as king he could take whatever he wanted; this is a sign of respect that honors Abraham’s efforts in battle. My point is this– the Philistines took possession of the ark fair and square. They won the battle at Ebenezer and the battle field was ripe for looting and as the victors they could claim the spoils of victory. However, we see that the religious leaders recommend that the ark be returned not simply as is, but with a trespass offering – why?

I want you to think about this for a bit and as you do so I want you think about how the unsaved view God. I’ll answer this question in the next blog post.

Blessings,

  

*****

CURRENT EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prayer at Kaye's Every Tuesday - 10:00 a.m.

7806 Gravenstein

NEW!!

Prayer Walk for Osoyoos 

Starts at Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch Crescent
Time "To Be Announced"

Grab a friend and join us as we walk through our community and pray for the people and businesses here.  In case you might be wondering how this will work - we will walk the streets and visit businesses and silently pray for hearts to be won to the Lord and for our town to prosper for His Glory! Please call OCC for more info or email us at occwomenonline@gmail.com for a firm time closer to the day.  We have a church family member moving this day as well (could always use help if you're interested!)  and so we need to square away the time for that so there is not a double booking situation.
Bible Study

Every 2nd Thursday, next one June 23rd

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

We are exploring the book of Mark. Materials provided though we encourage you to bring you to bring writing materials and of course, your bible! ... and a friend!

Thursday Night Prayer and Song

Each Thursday - 7:00 on

Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch, Osoyoos
For more info: 250-495-2550

An intimate time of prayer - personal, community, government and worldwide for the Lord to meet spiritual and physical needs. Bring a friend!

Mariposa Christian Ministry Mariposa Gardens -

8816 97th Street, Osoyoos
Sundays at 2 pm

Mariposa Gardens is a beautiful Senior's home located here in Osoyoos.  OCC has the honour of being invited to share the Good Word of hope in Jesus Christ.  We welcome you to join us if you are able to assist with your musical talent or to help with fellowship!

Email us for more info: occwomenonline@gmail.com

What's New at Osoyoos Christian Centre - June 8th!

Thanks for visiting Osoyoos Christian Centre online!  We welcome you to drop in any Sunday in real, live person to see us too!  Here is what's new online this week:

Book draw, week 2 - book 3 (this page)

Audio Sermon - "un titled" by Pastor Joseph Fernandes (Good word section this page, below)

From The Heart - "What you wanted - was it what you needed?" (click on From The Heart tab, top of page)

Current and Future Events (this page - scroll down!)

New Free scripture wallpaper - Matthew 6:31 (click on The Gallery tab, top of page) Here's a peek at what it looks like!

*****

When passivity and false niceness don't bring the abundant life Jesus promised, some Christian women try even harder to hide behind a fragile façade of pleasant perfection. Paul Coughlin and Jennifer Degler give women the empowering message that they have options far beyond simply acting nice or being mean--if they will emulate the real Jesus Christ and face their fears of conflict, rejection, and criticism. Brimming with enlightening information, thought-provoking questionnaires, real-life stories, and biblically based teaching from both the male author of the pioneering No More Christian Nice Guy and a female clinical psychologist, this book will motivate women to allow God to transform them into authentic, powerful women of loving faith.

To get your name in for a last chance at this book simply make sure that you are a "subscriber" to our weekly newsletter or leave a comment (click COMMENT at the bottom of this blog post) or send an email to us at occwomenonline@gmail.com and let us know you would like your name to be "put into the hat". If your name is drawn we will contact you!

*****

Pastor Joseph will provide a "Good Word" here next week, stay tuned!  In the meantime, here is an mp3 audio recording of last Sunday's message titled ... untitled actually, to find out why just click on the audio player (triangle) below! 

*****

CURRENT EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prayer at Kaye's Every Tuesday - 10:00 a.m.
7806 Gravenstein

NEW!!

Bible Study

Every 2nd Thursday, next one June 9th

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

We will begin with the book of Mark. Materials provided though we encourage you to bring you to bring writing materials and of course, your bible!

Thursday Night Open Worship Every Thursday - 7:00
Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch, Osoyoos
For more info: 250-495-2550

An intimate time of prayer - personal, community, government and worldwide for the Lord to meet spiritual and physical needs. Bring a friend!

Mariposa Christian Ministry Mariposa Gardens
8816 97th Street, Osoyoos
Sundays at 2 pm

We welcome you to join us if you are able to assist with your musical talent or to help with fellowship! Email us for more info: occwomenonline@gmail.com

Baptist Church Garage Sale (at Amalia's)

6808 Nighthawk Drive, Osoyoos

8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Raising monies for their ministry for Campo Grande Argentina!  Donations welcome.

Come out and support this very worthwhile ministry!

100th "Blogaversary" and New Content for June 2nd!

Greetings to you from Osoyoos Christian Centre for the beginning of June.  Here's whats new for our church this week:

• 100th Blog post here - and a winner of our book draw, week 2 (this page)
• Good Word from Pastor Joseph - Part 3 in his exploration of 1 Samuel (this page)
• From The Heart - "Be Still"  (click on From The Heart tab, top of page)
• Current and Future Events (this page - scroll down!)
• New Free scripture wallpaper - Psalm 42:2 (click on The Gallery tab, top of page)  Here's a peek at what it looks like!

*****

I'm so proud and excited to say that today's blog post is the 100th!   I really can't believe how the time has flown by.  The first post to this blog was on December 9, 2009 and so this means I've been faithfully writing here for one and a half years.  What a journey this blog has carried us through.  I must admit that there were times I was weary and some times that I wondered if our blog was making an impact but I will tell you that each time I prayed for this ministry that I also was blessed with some sign that yes - this blog has become an important part of the fabric of our church. 

We have welcomed new family members and said goodbye to others.  We've had weddings and funerals.  We've seen people come to know Jesus in this time.  All the Glory to the Lord.  We are thankful we are blessed with our beautiful church and all these tools to reach out to the lost and weary. 

Many people take the time to hit the "reply" button when they recieve notice that we've updated and I want you to know that each time you did you encouraged ME and your kind words became the fuel for me to continue to provide this service. 

Some of you told me you enjoy being able to listen to the sermons here if you happen to miss Sunday (blushing to say that I failed to provide adequate instruction to Pastor Joseph in how to use my MP3 recorder so last week's message did not get recorded)   Some of you thanked me for posting current events so that you were able to join in to activities.

A few people appreciated being able to be part of our family even though you might only live here in the summer months.

For so many reasons, this blog seems to bridge a gap, fill a niche that is of value.  I thank each and every one of you for letting us know that our blog has value.  And most important of all, this blog would be nothing without YOU to read it.  Thank you so much coming each week to visit with us here.  As long as there is a need for our blog I will continue to bring you new content each week as I am able.  I invite you to give us feedback if there might be a feature you would like to see here, or if you have a suggestion!

******

As you know we have been giving away books here as we neared the 100th post and this week's winner of the following book is...

Valinda who subscribes to our newsletter and hails from way down south in Georgia! We hope you enjoy and we thank you for subscribing.  Thank  you for your comments you've left for us here.

We still have one more book to give away over the next two blog posts.  This book piqued my interest - especially as I listened to the Midday Connection (Moody Radio) podcast series on this topic:

Product Description

When passivity and false niceness don't bring the abundant life Jesus promised, some Christian women try even harder to hide behind a fragile façade of pleasant perfection. Paul Coughlin and Jennifer Degler give women the empowering message that they have options far beyond simply acting nice or being mean--if they will emulate the real Jesus Christ and face their fears of conflict, rejection, and criticism. Brimming with enlightening information, thought-provoking questionnaires, real-life stories, and biblically based teaching from both the male author of the pioneering No More Christian Nice Guy and a female clinical psychologist, this book will motivate women to allow God to transform them into authentic, powerful women of loving faith.

To get your name in for a chance at this book simply make sure that you are a "subscriber" to our weekly newsletter or leave a comment (click COMMENT at the bottom of this blog post)  or send an email to us at occwomenonline@gmail.com and let us know you would like your name to be "put into the hat".   If your name is drawn we will contact you! 

 

 

*****

 

 

This week Pastor Joseph has provided part 3 of his series exploring 1 Samuel.  In the future he will provide new content here on a bi-weekly basis.  We have begun a bible study within our church (see Current Events - scroll down) and so due to prep for that he will submit content here on the alternate weeks. 

Pastor Joseph Fernandes

As we look to are third and final installment of I Samuel Chapter 5, we turn our attention now to verses 6-12.

I’m going to say right off the bat that my goal is to observe this from a critical analysis point of view because a cursory read of this passage fails to do it any justice.

1 Samuel 5:6 reads:

New International Version (NIV)

 6 The LORD’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.

A superficial read of this passage presents an angry God who punishes the Philistines with tumors and mice—which some scholars believe carried the bubonic plague.  A question that needs to be asked here: “Is it the author’s intention to paint this picture of God?”

Now I know there are some who would question the idea that we could somehow know the author’s intention – after all he’s dead, and several thousand years have elapsed since the writing of this historical narrative.  However, I disagree and also I think that we can know it and even go further to say that this is was not Samuel’s intention.

Let me quickly add that if we are truly going to understand God’s word then we can never (nor should we ever) isolate any verse or verses outside of its larger scriptural unit. The scriptural unit provides the verses with context and a better understanding of the author’s purpose - for writing the passage as he was so led by the Holy Spirit. In this instance, if Samuel had intended to paint this picture of God as an angry deity who lashes out against the Philistines – he would have not have included the dismemberment of Dagon.  If his intention was just to show that God wanted to attack the Philistines – and avenge the Israelites’ loss at Ebenezer, then the inclusion of Dagon’s fall was pointless.

However, this event is without question crucial within this scriptural unit because it points to the fact that Yahweh, in his defeat of Dagon, is the victorious God - and as far as the Philistines are concerned the one true God because he defeated their god. As the God who is victorious Yahweh gets the spoils of victory – in this case Dagon’s worshipers.

You can’t miss this point – before God moves against the Philistines he attacks and defeats their god first.

If this was all about anger and wrath then God would have attacked the people first.  Dagon (think about  this) was just a piece of rock.  Why would God break a piece of rock if his point is pour out his anger upon the Philistines?  It’s obvious that his point was to demonstrate that he is mightier than Dagon and also that  the Philistines failed to do what they should have done in this situation – to humble themselves before God.  When they refused to humble themselves before God – he then moved against them.  Have we seen this elsewhere in the Old Testament – maybe back in Egypt? Pharaoh hardened his heart and what did God do? He greatly demonstrated that he was the one true God as he moved against the Egyptians with a heavy hand through the plagues.

 As I look at this passage I can’t help but believe that God was saying to the Philistines: “I was victorious in battle against your god Dagon,  you are my spoils of victory – humble yourselves before me.”  This is just my take on it, but when the Philistines refused to humble themselves God moved against them. 

Let’s quickly go back to the Exodus event – where  we see that when the Israelites left Egypt that they were accompanied by a “mixed multitude.” Yes – I believe that it is safe to say that among this mixed multitude you would have found Egyptians who left Egypt to follow after and serve the God of the Hebrews.

Why have I raised this point?

I bring this up because I  believe that there were Philistines who eventually converted to Judaism because,  like this mixed multitude,  they saw their god defeated and witnessed the power of Yahweh and served him.  

Is there more evidence for this position?

Yes!  When you read I Samuel 5:6 you should ask yourself this question: “Where did Samuel get his information from to write this narrative with such specific detail?”  You guessed it - he got it from a Philistine -  and judging from some of the specific details,  he may have received it from someone who was a high ranking spiritual and/or military figure – this is my position at least.

May I leave you with this thought: 

• Is it possible that instead of the angry God portrayed in I Samuel chapter 5 – we instead see God reaching out to these Philistines in a manner that would get their attention?  
• Could it be that he was reaching out to them in a manner that would point to an all-powerful supreme God who deserved reverence and humility?
• Could it be that he was reaching out to them in such a way that would lead them into a place of being in relationship with him?

I leave it up to you to consider and answer these questions. My belief however, is that how we answer them will determine our ability to compassionately impact our world with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

These are my thoughts and I encourage your feedback!

Blessings,

Pastor, Osoyoos Christian Centre

*****

CURRENT EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prayer at Kaye's Every Tuesday - 10:00 a.m.
7806 Gravenstein

NEW!!

Bible Study

Every 2nd Thursday,  next one June 9th

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

We will begin with the book of Mark. Materials provided though we encourage you to bring you to bring writing materials and of course, your bible!

Thursday Night Open Worship Every Thursday - 7:00
Osoyoos Christian Centre
42 Finch, Osoyoos
For more info: 250-495-2550

An intimate time of prayer - personal, community, government and worldwide for the Lord to meet spiritual and physical needs. Bring a friend!

Mariposa Christian Ministry Mariposa Gardens
8816 97th Street, Osoyoos
Sundays at 2 pm

We welcome you to join us if you are able to assist with your musical talent or to help with fellowship! Email us for more info: occwomenonline@gmail.com

Side note:  The Children's Church room is undergoing a transformation!  If you can help with painting, organising etc let us know so we can schedule a time that works for you.