Fighting over Table Scraps

From blog

We recently took our family on a trip to Playdium, Mississauga as our final family trip of the summer.
It was a great time riding go-karts, playing mini-golf, and enjoying hours of gaming in the arcade.
The boys and I are particularly fond of video games and so, for days before we left, I was greatly anticipating this trip. The boys, however, didn't really know what to expect. Warning after warning to, "be good," "you don't want to lose this trip," etc. seemed to fall on deaf ears. When the day finally arrived the boys were tired by the busy-ness of the previous week, the driving to get to Mississauga, and, well, they were just cranky. Our oldest son in particular was a bit out of sorts and was clinging to his Nintendo DS as his escape from having to listen to his parents. Despite warning after warning, strikes 1 and 2 being handed out he just could not get his head out of his DS and focus on the prospect of the giant arcade looming before him. So wrapped up in what he was doing, right here, right now that he almost missed the huge blessing set before him. So caught up in the temporary moment. So enraptured by this ordinary game he owns and plays all the time that he was sacrificing this incredible, one-time, spectacular event in comparison.
If you haven't been to Playdium, played a DS, or have any interest in video games, this post may be lost on you but those of you who understand will catch the point.
Sometimes we are so wrapped up in the temporary moment, the present desire, present crisis, suffering, or spectacle that we miss something bigger, something better that could be or could have been ours. Some of us live with the regret of things we've lost in this way.
I tried to illustrate to him that his fussing over the DS game was like fighting over pennies when he was standing in front of a million dollars...he started at me blankly...it is like fighting on the floor over table scraps under your seat at a King's table! Missing the mountains for molehills as the old saying goes.
Isn't that what the last few days of Quiet Time has been about? Psalm 104 reminds us that God is sovereign, powerful, Creator, Sustainer, Giver, and One who cares. How often do we keep our eyes on the trial, exercise our minds with worry about a moment, focus on the temporary, ordinary things when God has abundant life, blessing, and eternity held out before us.
May this remind us to get our eyes off the 'here and now' and get them on the One who has control and power over the 'here and now.' Don't miss out!

As an addendum:
Our oldest son finally gave in to the pleading and wise counsel of his parents (this time) and did not miss the fun.

Also, don't miss out on the incredible upcoming WOL Local Church Ministries Superbowl events held across the country. This all-night event in Ontario on November 5, 2010 will be held in Mississauga and will include a trip to Playdium.

WOLBI Graduation Address 2010

From blog

Image courtesy of Phalettia Photography

Here is the final post from WOLBI Graduation 2010 (I promise). 

Pastor Wayne Heikkinen of Rock Mills Fellowship Baptist Church gave a great challenge concerning the truth of the Gospel. It is a future hope and a present need. It is a long post but I'm sure grads and attendees will appreciate the reminder from our great day together. Enjoy!

Pastor Wayne:

To the parents, family, friends Wolbi Staff and  graduating class of 2010,. I greet you and commend all of you for your diligence which will be awarded today. It could be said… “Behind every WOLBI graduate there is a bunch of surprised people”!? It has been a remarkable journey for you, from the time you told us you were applying to come to this event today. God bless you!

A passage of scripture jumped off the page as I contemplated what I should share with you today. It actually was the concluding passage that the Apostle Paul gave to the church of Corinth at the end of his first letter to them.  We read this a few weeks ago in our QT

I Cor. 15: 1-11

You have experienced so much this past year in the classroom, the dormitory, the various ministry opportunities, the new friendships and all that goes with it but can I remind you as the Apostle Paul reminds these believers in Corinth of the Gospel, which has been preached to you!

What is the Gospel?

God’s Only Son Providing Everlasting Life

Good News

Salvation

The Truth

Jesus also said He was the way, the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me –John 14:6

Read vs: 3-8

·         Christ was born of the Virgin Mary

·         Lived a sinless life on this earth

·         Died on a cruel death on a wooden cross for our sin, the sin of the whole world

·         He buried in a tomb

·         three days later He rose from the dead

·         Seen by over 500 people

·         Ascended into heaven in plain view

·         Is seated at the right hand of God

·         One day will return as He said

The Gospel is more than just fire insurance from eternal separation from God in a place He calls hell. There are many songs that depict the home we have in heaven… In the sweet bye and bye, Belah Land, I’ve got a mansion just over the hill top, I’ll fly away, Beyond the sunset, Shall we gather at the river, When we all get to heaven, and how about I can only Imagine.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

This tells us very clearly that Eternal Life is not a place but a personal relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ forever.

We know it begins the moment you Accept/Admit the fact you are a sinner and believe that God’s way of Salvation thru the death burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only the way and by believing this you confess with your mouth you need Him, want Him, must have Him as your Saviour and Lord. This all takes place here while we are on this side of glory.

But don’t forget that Jesus also said I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly! Not Gary Stairs or Doug Rider you know God loves and WOL has a plan for your life!

This is the message that you have heard and seen here at WOLBI!

It has been preached to YOU

You have received it as the Gospel and have become more convinced of the truth of it.

It is what this diploma stands for and what has allowed you to get this far in your spiritual journey.

BUT just as WOLBI says this a great place to start. This Gospel that you have heard, received and now stand is the only Gospel that will sustain you the rest of your days.

It is not just a time and place you look back to as the turning point of your life. It is your life!

Paul told young Timothy to

Follow it, GUARD IT, Endure it, remember it, teach it, live it and share it

2 Tim. 3 tells us to understanding the times we live and the host of professing believers who will turn aside from this truth and follow a lie! Don’t be one of them!

Our prayer for each of you is that you hold fast to this Gospel so that your entire life and labour will not be in vain!

This comes as you remember what you have been taught, what you have received and what has sustained you so far.

As we rehearse the Gospel we are reminded of

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5     But he was wounded for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his stripes we are healed. Isa. 53:4-5

For our sake God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Cor. 5:21

There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom.8:1

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29     For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30     And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31     What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32     He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33     Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34     Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35     Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36     As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37     No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38     For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39     nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:6

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel that has been  preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2     and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Let’s Pray…

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25     to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25

Graduation Speaker Bio

From blog

We were pleased to welcome Pastor Wayne Heikkinen to give the Graduation Address to students and attendees at the Word of Life Bible Institute Graduation Ceremony Saturday, August 21 at the Meaford Arena. It was a wonderful day celebrating with friends, family, and our newest class of alumni!

The transcript of the Graduation Address will follow in the next post.

Rev. Wayne Heikkinen, Pastor

Rock Mills Baptist Church, Flesherton, Ontario

Wayne was born and raised in rural Maine. His 6-member family all came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ within a one-year period of time. Wayne was the youngest, receiving Christ at a DVBS at the age of 6. His family was involved in their local church and upon graduating from Wayside Christian Academy he enrolled in New Brunswick Bible Institute. It was while attending NBBI that God revealed His life partner (Sandy) and his call to ministry. After spending time as a Youth Pastor in Nova Scotia, God led Wayne to Word of  Life Canada. For 23 years Wayne traveled through the great Dominion of Canada, representing Word of Life Local Church Ministries, encouraging local churches in evangelism, discipleship and leadership training. In 2002, God led Wayne to Rock Mills Fellowship Baptist Church as pastor. For the past years Wayne has had the wonderful privilege of sharing in the revitalization process of a local church through an emphasis on spiritual leadership, biblical discipleship, and equipping the saints to produce a commitment to reach out to the community. God has blessed the ministry in ways no one would have anticipated. Wayne & Sandy celebrated 31 years of marriage (July 28). Home is across the road from Lake Eugenia. They love to spend time with their 3 grown children, (2 are married), 3 grandchildren and a 4^th on the way, their dog, gardening, landscaping, walking, travelling and entertaining. 

Image courtesy of Phalettia Photography

Charge to the Graduates 2010

From blog

It is always a privilege to deliver the Challenge to the Graduates at the graduation ceremony of the Word of Life Bible Institute. It was a great day and a blessing to send off another class of students to know and serve the Lord. A special apology to visitors for all the inside jokes.

The school year began with fear, excitement and wonder as syllabus after syllabus, assignment after assignment, text book after text book and a crazy kind of oppressive Student Handbook full of rules to follow poured out before you. If it had not been for our very first teacher sharing the invaluable mantra “I will not quit, by God’s grace, I can do it!” some of you may not have.

But you survived; You survived the crazy Newbie Bible Survey prof who handed out heart-attacks with his first major test. Hearts pounded and almost came to a stop at the first announcement of “Today you will take 2 tests - 1 in Bible Survey and 1 in honesty...”

We learned genealogies and God’s plan for people. We also learned that we all seem to be related to each other sooner than Noah in a Family Tree of another kind. And the fact we all have problems, issues, well “it’s a heart issues.” It has finally been seen, documented, and evidenced in gym class and this summer – Paul can run...it’s not pretty...but it’s possible. We saw it.

Then came...the CRUCIBLE...Open Air Evangelism – a week of sleeping on a floor, irregular shower access, cramped spaces and having to talk to strangers. It hardly seemed like it could get worse. At one point I thought I’d lose Nate on the streets of his own city (even though I was right with him), or I thought Matt would get arrested and we’d be chased off the streets of Canada’s largest city for good. But you survived the crucible sharing your faith with over 1500 people and seeing 14 people accept the message that Jesus died and rose again for their sins and it that made it all worth it. Relationships were forged that that week that never be forgotten.

In fact, this class has been marked by friendship. Facebook will never be the same as constant communication flies through cyberspace. Friendships and the constant chatter they offer will last for life and be a constant source of comfort just as it was a constant source of consternation to teachers in the classroom. In fact this is probably the quietest this group has sat together and the longest time without talking. Mer, mer, mer...

Few schools or even years here at the BI have the honour of boasting a ratio of 2 to 1 guys to gals and it has been a privilege to train and lead so many men this year. 26 guys in a dorm that uncomfortably holds 24 was not an easy calling this year, survival was unsure at times, but the sacrifice has not been forgotten as 120 more Snow Campers heard the Word of God. Recharge held little of its name for our staff and students as the busy season of ministry and study took its toll. But you survived, and 49 teens trusted God’s Son to save them from their sin. Many other decisions were made and by God’s grace you made it. We served together. We studied together. We laughed. We cried. We drank Monsters together.

Now, here we are, after the final test of summer ministry, you have passed. You have survived over 500 campers. But not only survived, thrived and were blessed to see 108 youth trust Jesus. You did not quite and by God’s grace (alone) you did it. But is this the end, a plaque on a wall, a head full of facts or does this day mark more than the finishing of a program and the acquisition of knowledge?

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

 It is my prayer that this year has shown you three things – 

               1) God is worth knowing and getting to know (how little we know), 

               2) God diligently rewards and blesses those who serve Him (how little we've done), and 

               3) WOLBI is just the beginning of lives that are now dedicated to pursuing these great truths.

May this year NOT be a religious accomplishment but the beginning of a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ who gave Himself for each one of us.

The Bible Institute is a great place to start but it should not, it cannot be the end! Students, don’t let this be the end!

...and Congratulations, you may now call me “Jon.”

From blog

Legacy: A Life Worthy of Imitation

Each year I have the privilege to address each class at the Word of Life Bible Institute as a Dean in the yearbook. Here is this years article:

"Legacy: A Life Worthy of Imitation"

Wow! What an incredible year together. Studying through the entire Bible (in numerous ways), ministering in the strangest places and under the craziest circumstances, developing life long, family-type friendships, and growing together in uncomfortable situations has been an adventure to say the least. I want to thank each of you for your part in making this year memorable and exciting.

For each of us, this year is full of memories. As you read this, take a moment to reflect…

What is your favourite memory of WOLBI 2010?

How would you like to be remembered?

How do any of us want to be remembered in life?

We have sat under the teaching of some of the world’s leading theologians and some of the most brilliant minds in Christendom today. What will we do with that legacy? Not a legacy of words alone but a legacy of lives. These men not only taught the Scriptures but before us displayed the incredible richness of God’s Word in the wisdom, grace, and humility produced by long lives lived in Christ’s presence. What a privilege it has been!

Please do not forget the Scriptures you have been taught.

Just as importantly, do not forget the lives that have taught you.

May your memories never fade and be a great teacher for years to come.

To the glory of God may your life shine as a legacy worthy of imitation.

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

 2 Timothy 3:14  

Entering the Blogosphere!

Why blog?
Realistically, I don't know. It simply does not make logical sense. I am the least likely person to tackle another project like learning how to blog. I find the busy-ness of life dizzying. At times I find myself barely able to keep my head above water caring for my wife (of over 10 years!!), our 3 kids, and fulfilling multiple employment roles at the Word of Life Bible Institute.
That being said, I have become more and more interested in the idea for the last few months and just cannot put it aside. A zeal has developed to share my life with others - the funny, the not-so-funny, and the things I am passionate about. First, I would like to try my hand at writing (and seeing if anyone is interested in reading my attempts). Second, I want to share my journey of life and how my spiritual beliefs influence my life. Finally, I desire to challenge others to think, provoke people to laugh, and to enjoy the journey of life together.

Please let me know if you laugh, have questions, or just can't stop thinking about something instigated by this site. I look forward to sharing "My Real Life" with you.