Update and Review of Sabbath Feb 5th 2022

 A very special update from Danae... yesterday her mum left the hospital and went to a rehab facility. 

They are thanking everyone for all the prayer and thanking God for His healing. 

These  two photos show the dramatic different between January 29th and arriving at the USA hospital and then leaving the hospital on Feb 11th. 

Thank you for praying for this precious lady. 

And now for last Sabbath. 

Just across the road from OCC. 

Our greeter couple for the day, Tommy and Iris.   Lovely to see their smiles. 

Thank you for doing your part to make Sabbath welcoming. 

Lori with the SS lesson discussion. 

The Praise leaders. 

Dave, was the platform person of the day and introduced the speaker for the day. 

 Don S came to have the sermon and it was very good to hear. 

Doug shared the story about the northern fish - ooligan.   Bella Coola had plenty of ooligan fish. They can be used in many ways. 

Richard had the special music and played Amazing Grace for us to hear. 

Thank you for the music. 

The scripture and prayer were by Duane.  It was nice to have it read from the Children's Bible. 

Don Straub had the sermon titled "Bad Hair Day". 

A couple of beginning slides. 

Romans 8:28 was the sermon text. 

Don broke it down word by word or phrase. 

Romans 8:28

New International Version

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

They said cheer up, it could get worse, so I cheered up and sure enough, it did get worse. 

2012 was not a great year.  A funeral, not good rates for fish, rear ended the boat and 4000.00 in damages.  But at the end of the year it was paid for. 

A baby beluga got caught in the nets and died which caused a lot of pain and tears for us. 

Smoke house burned down. 

It was a Bad Hair Day summer. 

How do you handle them?

My son said, well, nobody died in those problems. 

Romans 8:28. 

We... who is we?  the people who love God. John 14 and 1John 4:20

In the last two years and last two weeks hate has escalated in the world, in the church and in the family. 

Is God the kind of God who says if you don't love Me I will mess things up for you?

Know... it doesn't say think or hope. It says  Know.  We have to trust.  Knowing is a trusting. 

Is God trust worthy?

You need to get to really know Him to trust Him fully. 

All... all - ALL things.  Never say never don't say always. 

All can apply to God.  All things that are good and all things that are bad all work together.

Synergy is all individual parts come together to have greater effect. 

If you take each part of table salt it is not safe by itself but put together it is safe table salt. 

Good.... Good, what about the word good?

God sees the big picture. We need to practice looking at the big picture. We have to wait for the good. If it is not good then it is not the end, the good is still coming. 

Why?   Jesus got a lot of why questions. Luke 13:3 

They wanted to know why. Jesus did not go there. We don't go to the  why question. We don't need an answer. Luke 13:4. 

He is not causing these things. He doesn't single people out and give them bad. Would you be ready for death if the tower fell on you?

If you are right with God you are ready to die.  EGW

God can use a bad hair day to consider the future more seriously. 

Until the pain of not changing is great enough you won't change. 

People in America pray differently then other parts of the world.  The other pray Help me have strength to go through this. 

Like a good farm we need some fertilizer times to help us grow. 

Out response to bad hair days has to the potential to become opportunity to change the world around us. 

Crisis or opportunity... same word in Chinese. Make the choice. 

How questions program the brain to look for solutions. 

How can I have a better relationship?

Story was told about a man put in a prison camp and constantly asked How can we escape?

As people felt there was no way of escape he started to ask How can I escape?

He asked himself until he found a solution.  And he did escape. 

According to His purpose... It is not about making you happy or rich or healthy. 

Romans 8:29 

Change to be more like Jesus. That is a good way to approach it. Be like Jesus. 

He can use anything... ANYTHING to accomplish this. 

Not all are happily ever after stories. 

40 years later ... I am ready to share the story about my first wife dying in Africa. Now there is a book and interviews. 

 

God of the Mountain. 

Closing Song. 

Sermon is paraphrased from listening and keeping notes. 

The Latest Update from Danae about her Mum...

 Ok. Just got off the most amazing zoom EVeR!!

My moms mental state is intact!! (Ok well maybe that was debatable when I was a teenager and all….)

But we had a 30 minute conversation with her. She’s very tired.

But she knew I had a birthday, and that we celebrated it early. (She was in a coma on my actual day). She knew I turned 43!! Janelle got recognized first because she’s the special first born.

Then she knew me and her husband, Dad. She knew Danita worked in the hospital she was in. She knew Olen was her youngest son in law.

The point is she knew lots!!

She’s I’m sure very confused as to how she got there. She was worried where her phone was and her clothes.

She’s had a big day. Extubated this morning and full on conversations this afternoon. Big big day.

It’s a complete miracle. So happy to be on the receiving end. Praise our Big God.

Thank you for all the prayers.

Last Sabbath in January 2022

 Lori had the lesson and the discussion was on Jesus, the Giver of Rest. 

What a great subject. 

How important is the Sabbath rest for us?  How thankful are we for the Sabbath day?

It is a very special gift.  Is it important enough to us that we will keep it no matter what?

Praise was led by Karen and Bonnie on piano and Aase on the organ.  It is a lot of commitment for the music people to keep on playing and singing so many Sabbaths in a year.  Beverly joined in and a big smile and her lovely voice. 

We sure do miss the ones who used to be at OCC and shared their talents on the piano and organ or by singing. 

Aase playing the organ.  Sure do appreciate your music. 

Bonnie your playing is enjoyed by us too.  Just no photo this week. 

Lori had a very informative story for us about Prairie Dogs and a short video clip that was so fun to see. 

 

I am guessing if you were like us at church last weekend,  you might have smiled and even laughed out loud while watching this. 

Lori shared some facts and one stood out... the prairie dogs have their own language and the sentinels can say to other  prairie dogs that the person with the blue shirt is watching... and if someone else comes along they can change their communication to change the colour of the top.  

Humans are the best at sharing news.  Let's use our communication skills to share the Good News and ways to encourage others and tell about our Loving God. 

Jerrie Lou sharing the scripture reading.  Revelation 21:4

New Living Translation

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Angelo spoke for the sermon and he spoke from his heart about Hope - Even when sad things Happen. 

Promises are what God keeps.

When God makes a promise with His people He keeps it. 

He points to that great hope that God is able to wipe away all tears. 

EVERY tear.

He will wipe away YOUR tears.

That is when we really understand the passage. 

Revelation 7:17 

New International Version

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

We were supposed to live with nature and get along. 

It will happen again. 

My ( Angelo) country of Jamaica, is a little bit smaller then Canada.  Well, a lot smaller. 

Things are reported on the news ... so much of the happenings in our little country. 

Last year there was over 1000 people killed in Jamaica. 

Death will no longer be in the New Earth.

Isn't that the reason to have hope and joy!!

At last we will have joy, real joy!

We mourn in many different ways.  Some can't sleep well, some eat too much or too little, others cry a lot, some can't cry at all and with withdraw.  

But then... that will all be gone. 

There will be no more mourning and crying, weeping or pain. 

Isaiah 35:10 

At last I will be at our Savour's feet. 

Isaiah 25:8 

I am looking for this day. 

Do this exercise for me.  Close your eyes and picture a place in Heaven.  Jesus will talk and we will hear His voice. 

Our loved ones will be there.  

Utopia. 

Great euphoria. 

He is coming back. 

At last, at last, at last

We will be with God!!

Angelo is mourning the death of his sister and is waiting to see her again. 

Thank you for that wonderful sermon about looking forward to being with Jesus and having all our pain and sorrow gone. 

A blue sky day!!

OCC on January 22nd 2022

Please see the blog post just before this one for the latest update on Dolores Bland written by Olen Netteberg her son in law who is a Dr at Bere.  Just added it this morning. 

Driving to church was interesting as it was very foggy up there.  The trees were coated in a nice thin layer of frost. 

A visiting Pastor was at OCC this weekend and brought his son along with him. 

It was Pastor Petar Djakov. 

He used to live in Kelowna for 5 years serving at Kelowna church Pastor, but now he is the ministerial secretary for the BC Conference of SDA church. 

Pastor Petar came from Serbia and he has a wife and a two legged son and a four legged son or dog.  He thanks us for faithful giving during these last couple of difficult years.  

Before the church service time there was the lesson time. 

There was a lot of participation and conversation of Jesus, Our Faithful Brother. 

Prayer requests were mentioned and we want to keep those things in our prayers. 

1.  Jerrie Lou's sister in law and her daughter.  Pray for better health situation. 

2.  Pastor Josue's 2 sisters and 2 brothers had Covid but 3 are feeling better now for which he is very thankful for.  Please keep his family in your prayers along with Hudson their precious dog.  Hudson is sick and needs medical help. 

3.  Many of us keep our children in prayer and you can join us in that. 

4.  Dolores Bland who is missionary Danae Netteberg's mother.  There is a blog post on that and I will update it.  For now Dolores is in Berlin Germany in ICU. 

Reflections Team led out in the Praise Service. 

Tammy was the platform person of the day and had a smile for all. 

It was good to see a kitty in church telling us children were there too. 

Children's Story was told by GQ and was about a lady who was 100 years old and her Pastor asked her to put one little item in each ShoeBox that would be given to a little girl in some place where life was difficult.  The lady thought and thought and decided to sew ( she had learned to sew as a child having been taught by her seamstress mother) a little dress for each little girl.  There were 180 boxes so that meant 180 dresses needed to be made. 

Everyone wants to have a purpose and a reason to live.  Everyone wants to be needed. 

Not the actual dress but a little dress all the same.  

Thank you for Beverly and Pastor Josue for sharing photos. 

Special Music by the Reflections Team. 

Another prayer request was asked for by Pastor Petar and that was to keep Pastor Wesley Torres and his family in our prayers as he takes a light chemo now and continues to work in the afternoons. 

Helpful watch... shared by Doug. 

Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son

What new thing can we possibly learn from this parable in the Bible?

The shepherd, the woman and the father are all seeking. Why is this in the Bible and what do we learn from it. What is God's message for me in this story?

Luke 15:1-2.  

Mark 2:16 and 17. 

If you are a sinner and we all are, this is such good news. 

Jesus is a Friend of sinners.   He encourages us not to continue in sin. 

There is something about repeating a very important point 3 times to have people remember it. 

In each story something of great value is missing and needs to be found. There is an all out search for the missing item as it is so important.  Great rejoicing happens when the items is found. 

Pastor Petar and his wife both come from very secular backgrounds.  His dad is a politician and his wife's mum is a judge.   (sorry, I can not remember the reason that was said at that point)

What is the matter with the shepherd to leave 99 sheep and go find one?

If you know the history and the culture of the story it helps understand.  The community would hire 2 or 3 or 4 shepherds to watch all the communities sheep. Poorer people might have 1 to 4 sheep while others might have 5 to 10 and the richer might have up to 16 sheep. 

If a poorer person only had one sheep it made that one sheep very very important. Imagine it being the one lost.  It was of great value to the owner. Therefor the shepherd was responsible to make sure it was safe. 

2 Samuel 12:3

David was the highest standard for a good shepherd. 

If the shepherd can not find the lamb he must bring evidence of what happened to the lamb so the owner would not think the shepherd sold it to make profit for himself.  Just like Joseph's brothers brought proof to their father of what happened to Joseph. 

Don't miss out on the blessings of the Spirit of Prophecy telling about these stories. 

The lost sheep represents those people who are lost outside of church. 1- out of 100. 

The coin represents people lost inside church which is difficult as they do not know they are lost. That is one in ten. 

Be aware of the problem.  Realize you have a problem - we might think we are ok but be like the 10 virgins who were lost like the coin.  Lukewarm.  Faithful or unfaithful servants like in the story. 

We need to the fruit of the spirit to tell us who we really are.  It tells about our character.  It is important. We need to compliment each other and work together to have all the gifts of the spirit. 

Some people are so worried about the  beast they talk about it and think about it and by beholding we become changed so lets think of the Lamb and talk about the Lamb and share about the Lamb and become like the Lamb. 

Be informed but don't be obsessed with the wrong one. 

Tell each other what Jesus has done for you.  How He is changing your life. 

What is our mission? 

To reach the whole world. 

We can support each other even if we have differing opinions. 

The parable of the Loving Father. 

Someone can be lost in my own family.   That is 1 out of 2 who are lost in the family. 

Each one of us has some family member who is lost for now but Jesus asks them back. When the time comes will they be back?

Lost people in our community.  Lost people in our church and lost people in our families all matter to God  - to Jesus - to the Loving Shepherd. 

Who are you?

The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son.  

What is God trying to communicate to you in this story?

Romans 5:8

That loves brings us to repentance. 

He gave His life for you/me.

Romans 2:4

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me... keep on coming to Me. 

Love, true love respects choice.  

There is a risk with that. 

God is not Mad at you He is Mad about you.

Jeremiah 13:17 is a jewel in the Bible.

It does not make Him mad it makes Him sad, very very sad.

There is a place in God's heart for you... just for you. 

We can not stop loving the one that is missing.