Archive for April, 2011
Day 19 of the reno
Yesterday I had a chance to chat with my contractor and got lots of my questions answered and learned that we are going to start to see some fast progress. Once the drywall is up, the postlights we be put in, the electrical will be finished, the bathroom will be ready for tiles, the shower will be ready to be put together and basement will be fully lit. Yeah!
No pictures, but yesterday the crew finished the last of the bulk heads and fixed some of the wiring. Today is all about DRYWALL! Can’t wait to see what they have accomplished tonight.
Day 60…1 Corinthians 6:1-8:
I Corinthians 6:1-8: Believers suing believers
Obviously from the title there were disputes in the church but unfortunately the believers were not resolving them amongst each other but they were taking each other to court. Paul tells them in these short few verse…”stop it!”
v.1, Paul starts this chapter with a “how dare you” statement. He wanted to know why the believers at Corinth would dare sue another believer through the “secular courts” when any matter between believers should be taken “to other believers” not the world’s judges.
Why did Paul want to make this point?
- if the judge and jury that tried this case were not Christians, they would not be sensitive to Christian values
- basis for suing someone is usually revenge; this should not be a Christians motivation
- Christians suing Christians make the church look bad–bad testimony
v.2, Paul uses the phrases “don’t you realize” or “don’t you know” throughout this chapter a number of times pointing out that these believers should already know and understand these issues. Another way to say this “you should know better!” They should be able to settle these disputes among themselves because “someday we believers will judge the world.” Referring to when the believers will all be coheirs with Christ over all the world at the 2nd coming. Because of this truth, believers shouldn’t take their disputes to the world because it is a poor witness and shows lack of unity. Instead they should be able to “decide even these little things among [themselves]”
v.3, Paul adds to those we will judge, not just the world but “angels.” This could mean the angels in heaven, that they would be rulers over the angels when they reign with Christ, or it could mean that Christians will take part in the judging of the devil and demons (evil angels). Either one, Paul’s point is simple in light of the fact they would be rulers over supernatural beings in the future they “should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.”
v.4-6, Paul repeats his concern for going to “outside judges that are not respected by the church” to handle their legal disputes. This doesn’t mean they didn’t respect the world’s judges, no this meant that the world’s judges judged by an entirely different standard that believers…and still do today! Paul uses a strange phrase in v.5 that contrasts what he said in 4:14: “I am saying this to shame you.” He makes this statement because the believers should be ashamed of themselves for bringing their disputes to worldly judges when they should be looking for “anyone in the church who is wise enough to decide these issues.” Instead of using the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, which is available to all believers, they were suing one another “right in front of unbelievers.” Paul is scolding them for being a terrible witness to the world (unbelievers) by taking their disputes to the world who we as believers are to be to “light” and “salt” to (Matt 5:13-16).
v.7-8, the basic problem was simple: lack of maturity. If the Christians at Corinth had been maturing in their faith they wouldn’t have had to bring their disputes before the world’s judges but could have settled the disputes among themselves. Paul asks two very important questions: “why not just accept the injustice?” and “why not let yourselves be cheated?” These are important questions because Paul wanted them to consider the bottom line when dealing with disputes among themselves: protecting the reputation of the church! Now believers should never be treated this way in the first place and if these believers were mature they wouldn’t act this way. However if they had been wronged by another believer, mature believers should be willing to turn the other cheek (Matt 5:39).
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME? Paul challenges the believer (and me) to be willing to accept injustice and be cheated so that church be protected. In other words, don’t think about my own reputation as much as Christ’s reputation. Always look out for how the church and Christ are perceived by believers’ actions.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Even in the simplest of circumstances, I need to remember I am always being watched. Also to remember no matter where I go I am Christ’s representative, so live above reproach–blameless–willing to be treated unfairly so that Christ be glorified.
Day 18 of the “reno”
I put reno in quotes because nothing really happened today being it was Easter Monday, but I did end up doing something. Let me explain. Well I have been hoping to get some help with the setting up of my home theatre or as I like to call it media room (I’ve always wanted one…haha). Anyway, the help I was hoping for fell through, both a pro and my little brother, so I decided to do it myself. Let me start by saying by no means am I an expert…far from it!
First, I attached some electrical boxes onto the existing studs, so the CAT5 wiring my brother and I strung the other day could be housed so the crew could drywall around them without me loosing them. That was fun (read with sarcasm). Then I started on the media room…….
Before I did anything I did a ton of research on the internet–reading others’ ideas and going to the experts sites. After my research I ventured downstairs to wire where my speakers would go. I put the front speakers on either side (4 feet up from the floor) of where the TV is going to go and I put the centre channel just above where the TV is going to be. Then I put the rear speakers on either side of the where the sofa is going to go about 7 feet apart from each other (6 feet up from the floor). I strung all the wires through the ceiling and they will be nice and hidden when the drywall goes up. I guess if we move I am going to loose those wires, or I could make some holes. But hey, I’m not moving for a long long long time!
I really don’t know how long it took me but it seemed like I was down there for an eternity. Well, it’s done and I am hoping the reno crew will be able to drywall around what I left there. And more importantly I won’t loose my wires when they drywall. I guess we will see tomorrow night when I get home if they understood what I did and the long note I left. Did I mention that? haha.
Time for bed. I can’t wait to see this basement finally finished. Next thing is to paint and furnish it. Ugggh.
City Centre Church in the heart of Mississauga!
A quick post this morning to share with you a very exciting event our church is hosting this morning. We are holding our Easter church service in the heart of Mississauga or better known as the
LIVING ARTS CENTRE! (4141 Living Arts Drive, Miss)
Last year we did an experiment and held our Easter service at the Living Art Centre and we nearly filled the place. The seating capacity is 1350 and we were short just over a hundred people. This year we are hoping to hit that mark or maybe even go over…just a bit.
As a church we have been praying the past 6 months for this amazing church service that we simply call “Celebrate Easter.” We even took a whole week to pray 24/7 for this event. But we want it to be more than just an event, we want it to be the turning point for our church, their friends, their neighbours and anyone else they invite out. The turning point is new decisions for Christ — first time decisions, or coming back to him, or making recommitments. We also want the turning point to be in our own church family, to see them want to serve more in all areas, to get more involved, get baptized, and come to full commitment by becoming members. These are my prayers for our church family and their friends this Easter Sunday.
Let’s not forget why we are celebrating this special Sunday in the first place — today is the reminder of what Jesus did for us, today is the day he ROSE from the GRAVE victorious over sin and death! Because of his resurrection I know I am saved and forgiven. Thank you Jesus!!!
