Sackville- Week "3" (July 7-11)

So this week Noah and I are in Loon Lake/ Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. So far this week there has been 15 kids out all three days. Noah or I will post at the end of the week on the company blog (link below) once the week is complete.

The first actual week of VBS was in Middle Sackville, Nova Scotia. It was a wonderful week, and a good time to "break in" the music.  I wrote a blog last week on company's site. It is a blog from all three teams doing VBS Check it out: http://atlanticbaptistwomen.ca/myabw/abw-blog/categories/listings/dvbs-program .
Have fun reading!

Also, those who have me on Facebook, you can check out my pictures of "adventures" on Facebook.

In Christ's service,

Paul

Just a quick update on VBS- Erb's Cove

This week we (Noah and I) are in Erb's Cove, NB doing a teen program, instead of the VBS at the request of the church. I am currently "Checked in" at a public library as our billets have no internet access. I love it here, lots of water around (literally every turn you make on a road, there will be water). Our Billets house reminds me so much of my grandparents house- a farm house. And theirs is even on a hill overlooking off sets of the Darlings lake in Hampton.


Last night we had four teens show up for the program. My favorite part was worship, and I have the funny feeling that the teens favorite was the snacks and games :P. Some of the games we played were quite challenging (mostly to the mind- you had to pay attention, which I was NOT good at  ;)


Anyway, Hopefully the next two nights will be just as great :D


In Christ's Service,
Paul

Week One of my VBS journey

So this week I started my ten week journey working as a VBS worker for the group I am working for. The first week is actually at my home church, where I have the privilege of being the Grade 5 & 6 group leader and teacher. The Theme this year is the publisher, Gospel Light's, Son Treasure Island, where Kids discover God's love. That LOVE is treasure, FOREVER, according to 1 Corinthians 13. We just completed our third day, with today's treasure (theme) being "God's love is Caring". The story was on Jesus caring for the Samaritan woman, in John 4. Today, I didn't even have to ask the students if they could read from the bible, they asked me to! It is amazing to see that the students want to read the story directly from the bible!

God is definitely at work in the lives of every child that attends, especially through the music and bible lessons. Many of the children are great listeners and could go home and tell you the whole story and what they have sung in the songs, which is not only seen within the 5 & 6 group, but also within every group.

Out of all the songs that this year's Son Treasure Island, where Kids discover God's love has, I enjoy God's Love is For You. This is a huge reminder that anyone can love others, and, share God's love with them :). GOD'S LOVE IS FOR EVERYONE :).

I will do my best to keep everyone updated each week

God Bless,

Paul

Faith: Struggle and Power

Okay, so it is pretty much the beginning of summer vacation (or at least for students and teachers). A time of relaxing, going outside and enjoying the wonderful weather. But when we think of vacation, we tend to get a bit lazy about our faith in Christ.

Regardless of the season, our faith can be challenged or tested at any time. A passage that came to mind when testing our own faith is 2 Corinthians 13: As Christ followers, we must give ourselves our own test, even when it is not summer. Sure, Jesus is in us, and we believe in him, but are we serving him, as well as honouring him (by praying and spending time in the Bible)?

Here in 2 Corinthians 13, Paul is instructing us to “give ourselves regular checkups” (MSG) in our walk with Christ. To me, this means we often forget that Christ is the centre of our lives. But there is good news, even if we fall we are able to test our selves and have a renewed mind that Christ IS in us. Later in verse 7, Paul reminds us to “pray to God… even though we may seem to have failed.”

Prayer is what drives us to continue, continue working in our faith, making it stronger to help us continue in making disciples as Jesus called us to do. God wants us to test our faith, because we need it to proclaim his good truth and building our faith up.

Sometimes our faith needs to be challenged too! How so? Our faith is challenged through various trials in life. These trials can consist of anything that gets in the way of our relationship with God. For example, I spoke on worry back in May. I considered it a trial because it got in the way of my relationship with God.

James 1:2-4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (NIV).

Did you notice the words joy and perseverance? I do not know about you, but when James writes saying trials will produce perseverance and we should be joyful over it, I would be happy despite the trial! The key here though, is that when our faith faces trials, we can rejoice through them and mature our faith through the trials.

I will end with lyrics from Hillsong United’s song “Oceans (Where feet may fail)”:
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters. Wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger. In the presence of my Savior.
Get the Full Lyrics Here.

God wants us to both test our own faith and increase our faith in Jesus Christ through trials. Let that be a wonderful reminder to us as we enter our summer season, taking a break from various programs. Let your faith be your focus this summer! Let the spirit lead you each day through your trials and observance of your own, to make it stronger. That is power in your faith!

God Bless,

Paul

Thoughts on a blog I came across

Okay, so i came across a blog called "My wife is not the same woman that I married" by Matt Walsh. I am not married, but some day would like to be. This blog was quite interesting, in the sense that it emphasizes that people change, and it is NOT a reason to divorce someone. Walsh points out: "[My wife] still has the same DNA, the same biological identity, and she’s still the kind of girl who can appreciate a good beer and a fart joke. But she’s not the same. That’s because I married a human being, not a mannequin. I said my vows to a person, not a computer program." When I read this it reminded me that a marriage is not only about being together, in a commitment, but also about accepting the person for who they are, as Matt says: "We are linked now through the bond of matrimony, but she is still her and I am still me". 

It also made me think of a verse in 1 Samuel 16:7: "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" So, if I put this into the context of Matt's blog, It means in a marriage, a couple should accept changes, because "It’s not change itself they oppose, but changes that challenge them and make them uncomfortable". So why not feel more comfortable in a marriage to think of what may be going on inside of the life of your spouse? Yes, I am not married, but I will definitely consider this when the time comes: change needs to be accepted.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

God  Bless,
Paul

Reflection from my message: Sunday, May 25th, 2014

So, yesterday I preached my first sermon which was an interview style with a local pastor at the church where I am being mentored before heading off to do VBS. The bold are the questions the pastor had asked me. It was their youth and Grad Sunday, so I focused on something applicable to them. I had quite a bit of positive feedback and comments on how I did. I really enjoy those people who invest in my life in my path towards ministry.


Reflecting after the sermon, I keep saying that I must not worry and get stressed out over the small things. As well, that evening I read a passage in Mark 6:30-36 that reminded me that we have to rest, to get both our spiritual, physical and emotional life restored. Without that rest, those part of our lives will suffer.

I hope you enjoy the message and feel free to comment and/ or message me,

Paul


My Notes:

Scripture- Matthew 6:25-34

So Paul Branscombe, tell us about yourself.

• I was born into a loving, Christian home. Always attended Sunday School, and church each week (unless I was really sick :P ). Anyway, growing up I always loved God, but didn’t know what it meant to be a “Christian”. I always participated in Adventure Club (a kids club) and those kinds of things and I enjoyed it. 
•  I currently am studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies at Crandall University because I feel like God is leading me into ministry.

How did you come to know Jesus?

• At age 11… (church changes, realized something was missing in my, pamphlet)
• Age 12= baptised

What does your faith mean to you?

• One who loves God and has faith must have a strong relationship with Christ. Without that, one cannot lead youth to Christ as well as teach about the Bible, if they don’t know Christ themselves. 
• To live like Christ, and serve God wherever possible. I am active in the Church and currently studying to be a pastor. God has worked in my life and is continuing to work in my life. I praise him and thank him for all he is doing and will continue to do. Every day I spend time with God through the bible and in prayer as well as journaling. 
• Meaning, I make it personal, as well as use it to lead others to Christ.

What kind of Challenges did you face in your faith?

• I have faced quite a few, but the most significant was most apparent in Grade 12. I was experiencing much anxiety, and fear of the unknown to the point of sleeplessness. This was “worry”: I wondered what I would do with “what’s next” (future)…

So Paul, Tell us more about worry

• Worry, the greek word comes “from merizo, ‘to divide into parts.’ The word suggests a distraction, a preoccupation with things causing anxiety, stress, and pressure.”[1] It has overtones of fearful anxiety, often causing sleeplessness.[2]
• Statistics Canada: “Over the past 20 years, a typical school day for a teenager aged 15 to 19 has averaged about 7 hours of school attendance, and another 2.5 hours of homework, paid work and housework… Compared with nine other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries with time-use surveys Canadian teens ranked first in terms of average hours spent on unpaid and paid labour during the school week.”[3]
• This proves everyone gets stressed, whether through a job or taking on too much!
• Teens are stressed. Here’s what they say stresses them, according to a 1999 survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates: pressures [for]: good grades, 44%; get into [secondary schools], 32%; fit in socially, 29%; pressure to use drugs and alcohol, 19%; pressure to be sexual active, 13%.[4]
• I faced many of these “pressures”, but I some of them created stress and anxiety, and, as well as sleeplessness. I turned to God’s word for help: the passage in Matthew 6:25-34 came to mind.

What does Matthew 6 tell us about worry?

• The text’s background: Jesus to his disciples as a part of the Sermon on the Mount, a long discussion to his disciples on needed things, after he leaves earth. 
• “The disciples have a ‘heavenly Father’ who knows of their ongoing needs and who will supply them. The passage does not mean, however, that food, drink, clothing, and other such necessities will come to the disciples automatically without work or foresight. It addresses only the problem of anxiety about these things.”[5]
• Verse 25 expresses a similar expression as 1 Peter 5:7- “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” We have no reason to worry about the simple things in life. Here we see a major and a minor. Life as the major; and the need to sustain life as minor. Why not think of it as “God has already done the hard part”.[6] God controls our life!
• Verse 26: The thought of birds: “[we] are far more valuable to him than they” (NLT). Sounds promising to me, after all, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27, ESV).
• That makes me view as a reminder that God created us, as humans (to be more like him). As well, He created many other creatures on the earth. So why worry? 
• God created us knows us, knows our thoughts, what we do and say: Psalm 139:13-14 says: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” The phrase fearfully and wonderfully made… [demonstrates our] wonderful creator God [as almighty].[7]
• God knows me and you better than anybody! I am able to go places and KNOW he is with me
• When worry/ stress/ anxiety “adds a single moment to [our] life”, we must remember that “Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday”.[8] If we let our anxieties add up, like what we wear, our actions: we must remember the beauty of God’s creation. We have the wonderful spring (that finally came!), where they tried popping up when we still had snow (and cold)!
• Verse 30: “God cares so wonderfully… for you” reminds me of Christian music, as he took care of me through the power of music.

What does Christian music mean/ How did God take care of you?

• The words to some of these songs touch the heart and are usually from or inspired by scripture. E.g: words from “You are My All in All” say “You are my strength when I am weak…” are similar to the words Paul wrote that he heard from Jesus, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8.
• “Why do you have so little faith” are Jesus’ words. Many do not realize that God gave us strength for times of weakness and we need to have faith and trust in God.
• Jesus concludes this section & chapter with “[our] heavenly Father who already knows all your needs” and “Seek the Kingdom of God, above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” 
• Remember the word merizo from earlier? = distraction. That’s what we often do/ get, but he has his kingdom in store for us, where our needs are met.
• Close with “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” The “So” is also translated “Therefore”- meaning what is it there for, the no worries of tomorrow are connected with God meeting our needs, in any circumstance.
• We do not and should not have to worry about tomorrow, our worry should only be his kingdom.

Sources:
[1] Hagner, Matthew, 166–67.
[2]Hayford, Jack W.: His Name Is Jesus : Life and Power in the Master's Ministry. A Study of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995 (Spirit-Filled Life Bible Discovery Guides)
[3] http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-001-x/10507/9635-eng.htm , 2007
[4] USA Today “Snaphots” (November 8, 1999).
[5]Hayford, Jack W.: His Name Is Jesus : Life and Power in the Master's Ministry. A Study of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995 (Spirit-Filled Life Bible Discovery Guides)
[6] Evans, Crag A. (ed.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Matthew- Luke, 133
[7] Stott, John R. W., Favorite Psalms, 120
[8] author unknown

What to turn to in times of stress: God- Stress Buster!

So, I have been thinking lately that we are all facing something that causes us stress (no doubt about it!). In times of these stress, we often want to take it out on others, or other things, get anxious as well as possibly lead to exhaustion. Is this really the best thing to do? No, probably not.

The reason I have been thinking about this is because I am preparing for a sermon as a part of my internship/ mentoring at a local church, before I start doing VBS this summer. The pastor mentoring me thought I could do a sermon for their youth/ grad Sunday, in an interview form (with him asking me questions).One of the questions is "What kind of Challenges did you face in your faith?". I have faced quite a few, but the most significant was when I was experiencing much anxiety, and fear of the unknown, to the point of sleeplessness. The passage that really helped me get through was Matthew 6:35-34.

During my sermon preparation, I was told by the pastor to use a illustration in a book called 1001 Illustraions that connect (Larson & Elshof). One of the illustrations was on "Idolizing exhaustion", indirectly related to my sermon and not the one I am using (still about a challenge) by Barbara Brown Taylor entitled "Divine Substraction". It says "I do not mean to make an idol of health, but it does seem to me that at least some of us have made an idol of exhaustion. The only time we know we have done enough is when we are running on empty, and when the ones we love most are the ones we see least. When we lie down to sleep at night, we offer our full appointment calendars to God in lieu of prayer, believing that God--who is as busy as we are--will surely understand."

Barbara Brown Taylor writes this, I believe in hoping that we are taken away from the "busyness of life that we all face". We need to surrender ALL to God. As well as learn to say NO so that we do not face Exhaustion. Trust me, its not fun: I've faced it, and there are days you don't feel like doing anything and/ or just like sleeping. But one thing during this, just like Brown mentions, I know God does understand, and I keep putting my faith and trust in Him. The main verses that has always hit home when it comes to stress/ anxiety and even exhaustion were verses 34 & 35: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. We must seek him and his kingdom for guidance in any situation, and there is no need to worry!

I will post my "notes" after the sermon on Sunday, for those interested.

Until I blog again,

Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:23-24 (NIV)

-Paul Branscombe

Something often forgotten

Okay, so today, we celebrate Easter. Well actually "Resurrection Sunday". Easter takes place over a period over three days. What we often forget as Christians is that Easter should be everyday. According to Romans 6:10, we are told that "When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God." I find in today's world, many Christians, including myself forget that he was once dead, but He, "Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side" (Hebrews 10:12). This means that He has provided a way of redemption from sin, which means we no longer have to offer many sacrifices, but only one, according to Hebrews 10:18.

We should always celebrate Easter, as Christians especially.  So, maybe a few weeks down the road, just keep this in mind. "That's why every year at Eastertime-- infact every day of the year-- we have reason to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior" (source).

This was inspired by Today's Daily Bread entry. The main text focused on Hebrews 10:11-18. It was called "Easter Everyday". See above if you want to read the entry.


*All Bible References are taken from the Contemporary English Version. See the full texts here.

I will leave you with the lyrics to a hymn called "I serve a risen Savior" or as other hymnbooks/ chorus books call it: "He Lives!" (at the Bottom of the page).

Watch/ listen: on Youtube: "upbeat" version, an acappella version, a country version or the a choir version.

Enjoy!

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Paul :)

I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary,
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,
The Help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/503#ixzz2zTxrC2B2

Rubber Band Religion: I Will Build MY Church

My cousin's blog on CHRIST'S church. We often lose that sight and make church the people and the building:
Rubber Band Religion: I Will Build MY Church: On Thursday, March 6th, 2014, the Washington Times reported this headline: " Kim Jong-Un calls for execution of 33 Christians "...