Purposed Righteousness!

During my Bible reading this morning I read a verse that I plan to integrate into my life!


Psalm 17:3b ..."I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress"

This should be a life verse for everyone!  David the great psalmist wrote some of the most poignant literature that there is, and this is no exception.  I wonder what would happen in this world if people would begin to purpose that they were going to talk right?


Just like the old quote, "you are what you eat," the same is true, "you are what you speak!"  We must learn to use right words.  Let us not be crass and obnoxious, but let us learn to speak with wisdom, thought, understanding and tact.


The lost art of being tactful is all but gone, and people don't seem to care what they say or write to each other.  This is a degradation of society that is really a shame.  We must purpose in our own minds that we are going to do what is right.  We must purpose that we are going to take responsibility for our own actions, words and ways.  We must purpose that we are going to do what is necessary to change our lives!


Did you know that you have available the greatest asset to a mind set and life change?  His name is Jesus!  He has offered us all the resources and help that we will ever need to have a fulfilled and successful life.  Jesus gives us assistance through the power of His Holy Spirit and ministering angels.  Through a daily lifestyle of prayer and Bible reading and study we can gain all the insight and instruction that we need to life a peaceable and successful life!


Don't ever complain that you are alone in this life, because Jesus is just a prayer away!


Your's for the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Fred

A Biblical Perspective to Animal Stewardship and Seals

Every year around this time we begin to hear trash about the need to abolish this fisher, that hunt, and save this animal. Most of the people who raise these feeble yet very noisy arguments don't really have any idea what they are talking about! They use information that is ancient, out dated and generally useless. However, they manage to convert "celebrities" over to their "side" all the time using this OLD information. Makes you wonder how smart some of our favorite stars really are if they can't even do some research of their own, but just take the word of some "joe" at face value! Anyway let's move on....

Before we break open the bread of life on this very controversial subject I would like to make a comment. If animal rights activists are truly working to make this world a better place for animals rather than humans, they all ought to be complete vegetarians! If they are not vegetarians then they are only out to make money, make a statement, get their names out in the headlines, and really truly don't care about animals!

That said, I personally am not an animal rights activist, and am not a vegetarian, but I am a preacher of God's Word, and am an animal stewardship activist. My voice is small in the wide world of idea's but none the less today I shall be heard, or rather God's Word will be heard!

In the Beginning God created the heaven and earth, and upon this wonderful earth God place mankind. God originally gave man some basic duties, among which included tending to, and maintaining the vegetation and tending to all the animals. God put us her and gave us command and stewardship over the earth. It is our responsibility to care for everything in this earth, and tend to it as if it was our own farm and cattle!

Genesis 1:26-31

26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Then after the flood God gave Noah another command concerning animals:

Genesis 9

1And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Now we must except the command of God, and be stewards of His creation!

Over the past 110 years or so, we as humans have desecrated this planet we call home! We have made extinct many species of animals. We have over fished the wales, the fish, and many of the land beasts! Instead of advocating stewardship over animals, and tending to them and keeping them we have eaten everything up because of our greed!

Now we have a huge population of seals, just a few fish and we still are overfishing the depleted fish stock and asking government to lower our seal quotas!

Something is wrong here!

We should be lowering the fishing quotas, and raising the seal quotas!

Let's do a little math for a bit. I am no scientist, but I understand adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing....

6,000,000 (6 million) seals equals many millions of hungry mouths. What do seals eat? FISH! What do we eat? FISH! Therefore if there are 6,000,000,000 (6 billion) humans eating fish, and one of many species of seals, which has over 6,000,000 (6 million) residents eating fish, we have a problem!

I am not advocating the extinction of seals, then we would be over run with fish! Rather we need to sit down do the math, and figure out how many seals we need to keep in order to balance this equation out!

STEWARDSHIP! (Taking proper care of something given to you. Keeping it. Maintaining it. Preserving it. Prospering it.)

We have learned how to maintain and prosper our cattle such as cows, sheep, goats and other such animals, but we have eat to maintain the stocks of animals within our oceans, seas, lakes and rivers.

We must stop being greedy, and stop hording all the goods this world has to offer!
Rather we must turn this whole earth into a farm, and treat all animals with respect, and maintain a healthy balance of all species!

Many provinces and states have put legislation in place that maintain deer, moose, wolf and coyote populations. When either one is down they lower the licenses, and when either one gets to large they raise the licenses. This is a fair system, flawed but fair! We must do this type of thing with all species. Maintain the ecosystem, and maintain the animals within each!

Your's for animal stewardship,
Pastor Fred

Happily Married Ever After.....

I believe I've discovered on of the greatest Marriage tips. I've known about it in the back of my head for awhile, but I actually got to the place where it worked for me! It is so secret that your spouse doesn't even have to know that you are doing it!

What is this powerful weapon of marital success? What is this secret that is so subtle in its approach that the recipient won't even realize it?

PRAY and Living in the Presence of Jesus!

What? I pray and still don't get along with my spouse.... Your are wrong! No I'm not wrong! Just sit back and read. Let this simple truth sink in and take root.

Pray as most people know it is simply a forum for us to bring our complaints to Jesus; our needs, wants and desires. However, true prayer isn't just a forum for us to talk about us, and other people's needs, rather prayer is a meeting, conversation, relationship of time spent between two friends. Time well spent between a Father and child; that is true prayer!

Prayer is a time of relationship between Jesus and you. The more time you spend in the presence of Jesus the more you will become like Him! If you let His Spirit come in, and wash over you the light of His presence will make you see things differently! The Holy Spirit and The Word of God will work together, and grow you into a new spiritual creature in Christ Jesus!

Now I'm not talking about just a few minutes here and a few minutes there. I'm talking about relationship prayer; prayer closet prayer. I am talking about taking time out each day to be with Jesus; 30 minutes to more than an hour. This type of relationship prayer spills over into the rest of your day and life. You will find yourself spontaneously bursting into praise, prayer and worship throughout your day!

Then, when your spirit becomes in tune with His Spirit your life will be changed.

Now, how does this effect your marriage? Well, those little things that we all dislike our spouses doing, no matter how small become insignificant. Instead of seeing those negative qualities, we begin to focus on the wonderful things, which made us fall in love with that person in the first place. We are no longer finding ways to pick a fight, but instead we are finding ways to love.

The Bible tells us that, "perfect love casts out all fear," and "Love covers a multitude of sins." If we truly have the presence of Jesus in our lives we will have this "true" love, and it will spill over into your marriage!

So if you are having marital problems, sure go find a counselor to help, but also try to get close to Jesus who will in turn help you get close to your spouse! Pray like you've never prayed before! Stay in your closet of prayer until you feel His presence, like arms enfold you! Make it your lifestyle!

Then you will be happily married ever after!

Yours for a great marriage,
Pastor Fred

Are you in the "mood" for Christmas?

(As you might have noticed I've been occupied else where. As I've said in my previous post it's the season to be busy!)

Over the past couple of weeks I've... (I had to stop writing this post because my son was sick, and needed me to hold him, and now a couple days later I don't remember in which direction my thoughts where going!)

Let me start again!

Are you in the "mood" for Christmas? Do you like Christmas? What is your reason for celebrating Christmas? There are so many answers to these questions, and I'm sure most everyone would have a different answer to each question. The other night while doing some Christmas shopping I over heard a couple of old ladies complaining about the hustle and bustle while they where trying to shop in WalMart. One old lady said something as I passed by that really struck home to me. She said to her friend that the problem is that we allow ourselves to get sucked into the bustle, and we forget what it's all about. (That was a little bit paraphrased!)

This statement is so true. We allow the commercial industry to dictate what we must do to have a fun, festive and happy Christmas season. Yet, there is truly only one thing that can make us happy, and that is Jesus Christ! A personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is the most satisfying thing you'll ever experience. It helps you have peace in turmoil, joy during pain, love through hate, faith while in despair, and endurance through the tough times. He is always there to lean on in every situation!

Yesterday we where able to go Christmas shopping in Corner Brook yesterday (Saturday), by ourselves. (Just the wife and I.) We left the 3 children at a friends house and went shopping all day! It was most relaxing. We were definitly tired after, but we had a large amount of gifts, and a large amount of fun! Why am I saying this? How many people really have fun during this season? How many people really enjoy shopping while about 5,000 other people are too? Not too many, but because of Jesus, and because the children where at a trusted friends house we had nothing to worry about, and just had fun! See, even during the most stressful time of year you can have peace and joy when your trust is in Jesus!

Yours for a peaceful happy Christmas,
Pastor Fred

In Everything Give Thanks!

This was one of those days that you could write home about! WOW! It was really great! Work went smoothly for a change, it just seemed everything worked out right!

The Bible tells us in Thessalonians, "in everything Give Thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus Concerning you!" I realized something today in the midst of all the hustle and bustle that we ought to remember to thank God for the good days, and during the bad days remember the good ones so we can find something to thank God for!

I'm not too much into "positive thinking", however, I've learnt that if you set your mind frame to think joyfully, thankfully, and in a positive and cheerful maner that the day usually turns out much better than if you don't really determine to look at life any particular way.

We all know that a grumpy person tends to get grumpier, so that same should hold true for that of a person with a thankful and cheerful outlook on life!

So, here is my challenge to you! Instead of just letting life slip by tonight and tommorrow change your frame of mind and be thankful in every situation, be cheerful, kind and curtious, and finally put a big smile one your face. Next, go out the front door, and go conquer your day in Jesus Name!

I Dare you to try this! I can garantee it will change your life! (PS> if it doesn't work for you, you've missed something very important so go back and try again!)

Yours with a thankful heart!
Pastor Fred

Thoughts on the World Today...

Looking through the headlines today doesn't allow for a very optimistic conversation. War, Terror, Genocide, Murder, Robbery, Divorce, Scandal, Hate and the list goes on and on! Afghanistan isn't much better off than it was before. Terrorists are still at large. And, in the name of Peace we all continue to send more troops into the battlefield as "peacekeepers". Here in Canada our troops are called "peacekeepers," yet they drive tanks and carry assault rifles!

This world's idea of peace if quite screwed up! We try to force peace at the end of a gun barrel, instead of trying to change to people we are "fighting for". Peace doesn't come from outside forces it comes from within the soul and spirit of a person.

Jesus came to this world not to force peace on all mankind, but to show us the way of peace on an individual basis.

Joh 10:7-11 Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (8) All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. (9) I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. (10) The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.

Joh 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Phi 4:6-9 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

It is Jesus who brings true peace to our soul and spirit. It's His Spirit living in us that transforms us from hateful, dishonest, hurtful, deceitful to loving, kind, gracious, peaceful, joyful people.

It is difficult to be at peace with this world until you are at peace with God and yourself first!

Let the peace of Jesus wash over you today, and help you change your world one soul at a time!

Yours for Peace,
Pastor Fred

Lessons Learned in the Print Shop

I wonder what the title would be on the blog Jesus would have had if he had lived in 2006 as he did 2,000 years ago? Maybe, "Lessons Learned in the Carpenter's Shop," or "Parables learned from life." Anyway, I'm going to start this section of my blog, and it will appear from time to time.

I've been working at a local copy, print and party supply store for a few weeks helping out a friend who has been off for awhile because of an operation. This segment will highlight lesson's I've learned will working there, which can translate into life and teach a spiritual lesson. I guess I could sub-title this blog: "Parables from the Print Shop!" Well, here are a couple of lessons I've learned in the past couple of weeks.

LESSON # 1
When beating down paper, (the process of taking a sheaf of uneven edged paper and beating it off a table or something hard inorder to get the sheaf straight, and looking like it just came out of the package.) in order to get an even edge all around quickly and accurately one must losen their grip and let go of the sheaf of paper so that it is no longer compressed. This allows the paper to move freely and fall in to an orderly form.
--->Application:
So many time in life we feel that we must keep complete control over every situation in our lives. We try to hold on to everything and make sure it goes exactly as we plan. However, things rarely go as planned, and if we would learn to let go a bit, step back and let God work things out we would live lives that were free of stress!
Matthew 6:24-34
---->Don't be anxious about your life, your things or tomorrow. Rather serve and seek Jesus, and He will take care of the little stuff too!

Philippians 4:4-9
---->Rather than worrying about everything, would it not serve a better purpose to take everthing to God in Prayer? For, do we not have a friend in Jesus?

1 Peter 5:5b-10
---->So often we let appearances dictate who we should be. Stop being proud, start being humble and God will take care of your reputation! Worrying about what others think of you, can bring a nervous break down, rather expend your energy giving your worries to Jesus; He cares about you!

(The next part of the scripture leads me to my next lesson, and ties both together!)
LESSON #2
---->Slow Down, pay attention, focus on the job at hand, do not get destracted, and stay organized. In doing this each job will be done quicker, you will not make as many mistakes, and the end result will be much more enjoyable!

continuing with 1 Peter 5:
---->Rather than clouding your mind with worry, give all your anxieties to Jesus, in so doing you will be much more alert and aware of the important things in life!
You will also learn and be alert to the fact that the little worries of life are only a snare placed by the "Roaring Lion" to knock you off balance, and mess with your mind. This, if not delt with, will inevitablely destroy and devour your spirit! Because you are now alert you can resist him (the roaring lion called the devil), and establish what you really believe in, and realize you are not alone in this world! In due time Jesus will come and complete you, confirm you, strengthen you, and establish you!

Yours For Christ,

Pastor Fred

Culture Shock

What a great weekend! Thanksgiving here in Canada! Jesus is so good to us! On Saturday morning I was talking to my mother and she invited us out to her place for Thanksgiving dinner, which we were going to have on Sunday afternoon. So in the proper impromptu fashion I woke up my wife, gathered the kids, packed some clothes and wisked off to St. Philips, (which is near St. John's) a 6 hour drive!

I ended up preaching on Sunday morning, and the Holy Spirit really met with us! I preached on "The Message of Fall". I'll blog about it another time - it was really good!

Thanksgiving dinner arrived and we had another guest. A man from England who my brother is working partners with. We both had culture shock! The poor guy has been in Newfoundland for about 16 months, and has had to relearn his ways of doing things!

In England any trip 1 hour or over requires a suit case! They don't eat pumpkins, which I might at is a shame because they are quite good! (pumpkin pie mmmmmm.....) This is in no way to slander or downplay the British, but I'm pointing out some interesting cultural differences between Canada and England.... We sometimes take our culture for granted, but we don't realize that other people just don't do it how we do, and we should be thankful for our respective cultures, and learn to worship God in them.

Another point before I go, it dawned on me this weekend that the Holiday of Thanksgiving is really only observed in North America (i.e. Canada and the U. S. of A.). What a priviledge to share some of our unique culture with someone, and on such a special holiday!

Yours for Christ,

Pastor Fred