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The Affirmation Christian Fellowship Church Newsletter

The Affirmation May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that they

also may be in us, that the world may believe it was you who sent me.

- John 17: 21

April 2010

In This Edition … Pg 3 – The Intimate Friendship of Jesus Pg 4 – Aiden Wilson Tozer Pg 5 – Oneness of the Body of Christ Pg 8 – Life Changing Power in Prayer Pg 10 – Recipe Centre

Pg 11 – Bible Crossword Pg 12 – Bible Word Searches Pg 13 – Children’s Coloring Pages Pg 15 – God’s Omnipresence & Omniscience Pg 16 - Gardener’s Corner Pg 17 – Books, Books & More Books Pg 18 – CFC Business Section

The Affirmation April 2010

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From The Editor’s Desk

My husband and I have been attending Christian Fellowship Church for about 14 or 15 months now. We have been adopted into a “Healthy and Healing” church in which God’s presence graces us. We have a gifted pastor who loves each and every one of us there. We have strong and faithful members in our congregation that the Holy Spirit has touched. We have Elders that are strong in prayer and a Leadership Board that is comprised of faithful followers of Christ. We have a worship team that feels and

acknowledges the Spirit of God and praise is abound

each time they praise the Lord in song. This is a church that the Spirit resides. This is a church that is comprised of members of the Body of Christ. This church is part of the Body of Christ.

To feel the Spirit of God make His presence known brings emotions to me every time. My heart is full of the Lord’s love and there are many times that I want to let that love flow from me into others – building them up. His grace is overflowing and each of the members of the congregation that feels that love that our God, the creator of the Heavens and the earth and all creatures great and small, bestows upon us is

greater than anything I can even imagine.

Prayer is so vital. Having a conversation with our Lord can open up so many new doors that we can walk through. We must remember that nothing is more important than Him.

He must always come first in our lives. He gives us the strength to continue on when circumstances seem to be running us over. He gives us that over-flowing love that we are to share with others. We must love each other, our neighbours, our enemies. We are to leave those thoughts of despair, worry, hatred, judgment, ridicule, or gossip

behind – repent and nail it to the cross for He will handle it.

He is stronger than us, wiser than us, He is our God, our Saviour, our Justice, our Redeemer.

My trust is in God and God alone. There is no one greater than He and He has graced me

with His love and compassion. He has built me up. He has shown me that there is more to life when He is with me than if I turn my back on him. He’s wrapped His arms around me more than once and there is no greater feeling of security and love than in my Highest Father.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless

you with His love, His kindness, His graciousness, His wisdom and His guidance through your life. May he give you Peace!

There is no one greater than He!


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The Intimate Friendship of Jesus By Thomas A Kempis

When Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When He is absent, all is hard. When Jesus does not speak within, all other comfort is empty, but if He says only a word, it brings great consolation.

Did not Mary magdalen rise at once from her weeping when Martha said to her: “The Master is come, and calleth for thee”? Happy is the hour when Jesus calls one from tears to joy of spirit.

How dry and hard you are without Jesus! How foolish and vain if you desire anything but Him! Is it not a greater loss than losing the whole world? For what, without Jesus, can the world give you? Life without Him is a relentless hell, but living with Him is a sweet paradise. If Jesus be with you, no enemy can harm you.

He would finds Jesus finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him loses more than the whole world. The man who lives without Jesus is the poorest of the poor, whereas no one is so rich as the man who lives in His grace.

It is a great art to know how to converse with Jesus, and great wisdom to know how to keep Him. Be humble and peaceful, and Jesus will be with you. Be devout and calm, and He will remain with you. You may quickly drive Him away and lose His grace, if you turn back to the outside world. And, if you drive Him away and lose Him, to whom will you go and whom will you then seek as a friend? You cannot live well without a friend, and if Jesus be not your friend above all else, you will be very sad and desolate. Thus, you are acting foolishly if you trust or rejoice in any other. Choose the opposition of the whole world rather than offend Jesus. Of all those who are dear to you, let Him be your special love. Let all things be loved for the sake of Jesus, but Jesus for His own sake.

Jesus Christ must be loved alone with a special love for He alone, of all friends, is good and faithful. For Him and in Him you must love friends and foes alike, and pray to Him that all may know and love Him.

Never desire special praise or love, for that belongs to God alone who has no equal. Never wish that anyone’s affection be centered in you, nor let yourself be taken up with the love of anyone, but let Jesus be in you and in every good man. Be pure and free within, unentagled with any creature.

You must bring to God a clean and open heart if you wish to attend and see how sweet the Lord is. Truly you will never attain this happiness unless His grace prepares you and draws you on so that you may forsake all things to be united with Him alone.

When the grace of God comes to a man he can do all things, but when it leaves him he becomes poor and weak, abandoned, as it were, to affliction. Yet, in this condition he should not become dejected or despair. On the contrary, he should calmly await the will of God and bear whatever befalls him in praise of Jesus Christ, for after winter comes summer, after night, the day, and after the storm, a great calm.

Thomas A Kempis (1380-1471) and was born at the Lower Rhine region in Kempen (Germany), County of Cleves in 1380 and died in 1471 near Zwolle in the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht. His paternal name was Hemerken.


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A. W. Tozer has been an inspiration to me since November 2009. I ran across some quotations that many authors of today use and found that he wrote extensively and published 8 books as well as many compilations of sermons and other writings which were edited and published by Christian Publications, Inc. after Tozer’s death.

In December of 2009, I purchased “Tozer for Today – Tozer on the Holy Spirit” which is a 366-‐day devotional. No greater inspiration besides God has instilled in my heart a desire for more of Him in my life.

One of the most special in my heart is “The Pursuit of God” which is also available for online viewing at www.gutenberg.org.

Another very popular book worth reading, among all the others, is “The Knowledge of the Holy”.

One thing that Tozer has instilled in my heart is the passion for God, the passion to get to know Him as He really is, and to realize that He loves

everyone, both believer and non-‐believer alike. As a closing of this brief introduction to Tozer, from Chapter 10 – The Divine Omniscience from this book The Knowledge of the Holy:

God Knows and Cares as No One Else!

Our Father in heaven knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. He knew our inborn treachery, and for His own sake engaged to save us (Isaiah 48:8-‐11). His only begotten Son, when He walked among us, felt our pains in their naked intensity of anguish. His knowledge of our afflictions and adversities is more than theoretic; it is personal, warm, and compassionate. Whatever may befall us, God knows and cares as no one else can.

“He doth give His joy to all; He becomes an infant small; He becomes a man of woe; He doth feel the sorrow too.

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh and thy Maker is not by; think not thou canst weep a tear

And thy Maker is not near.

O! He gives to us His joy That our griefs He may destroy; Till our grief is fled and gone He doth sit by us and moan.

-‐ William Blake

Aiden Wilson Tozer April 21, 1897 – May 12, 1963

By Krystal Savage

A.W. Tozer was an American Christian pastor, preacher, author, magazine

editor, Bible conference speaker, and spiritual mentor. For his work, he received two honorary doctorate

degrees.

Verse: For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. (Isaiah 48:9)

Thought: His knowledge of our afflictions and adversities is more than theoretic; it is personal, warm, and compassionate.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You know and care for us as no one else can.


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Oneness of the Body of Christ By LaVyne Hombert

Oneness of the Body of Christ is one of the passions of my heart.

I will be mentioning a few of the many New Testament scriptures regarding the Oneness of the Body of Christ, quoting from four translations of the bible.

Wuest’s New Testament, John 17:9-‐11, “As for myself, I make request concerning them. Not concerning the world do I make request, but concerning those whom you have given me, because they are yours and all things that are mine are yours, and the things that are yours are mine, and I stand glorified in them. And as for myself, no longer am I in the world, but they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to you. Oh holy Father, maintain a watchful care over them in your Name, which you have given me, in order that they may be one even as we.”

John 17:19-‐23, “And on behalf of them I am setting myself apart, in order that they themselves also, having been set apart for God in the sphere of the truth, may continually be in that state of consecration. But not concerning these only am I making request, but also concerning those who believe on me through their word, in order that all might be one, even as you, Father, are in me and I in you in order that they themselves also might be in us, to the end that the world may be believing that you sent me on a mission. And as for myself, the glory which you have given me, I have given them, in order that they might be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, in order that they, having been brought to the state of completeness, to the end that the world might be understanding that you sent me on a mission and that you loved them even as you

loved me.”

John 17:25-‐26, “O Righteous Father, though the world did not know you, yet I knew you, and these knew that you send me on a mission. And I made known to them your Name, and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me might be in them and I might be in them.”

John 17 has become known as the High Priestly prayer that Jesus prayed at the Passover, before He and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. However, the truth in Jesus’ prayer has in time been diminished in meaning in the Church.

We have read this chapter, and have agreed to it, with our mind but it has not become a fervent prayer of Christians, as Jesus prayed, “That they might be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, in order that they, having been brought to the state of completeness with respect to oneness, may persist in that state of completeness, to the end that the world might be understanding that you sent me on a mission and that you loved them even as you loved me.”

Have you ever thought that the same night Jesus was betrayed, His desire was towards you, as He prayed, not only for the disciples, but for you and I? Such an important prayer, but it has become mediocre to the church.

Certainly, the Apostle Paul experienced first hand about the Body of Christ. As Saul, on his way to Antioch to persecute the Christians, he had a personal encounter with the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.

Reading from the New International Version, Acts 9:3-‐5, “As he neared

Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you Lord,” Saul asked. “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.”

So you see in these scriptures, the Lord did not ask him why he was persecuting His people, or His church, but Him. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.”

Just in these two scriptures, Jesus fully identified Himself with the Christians, He as the head in Heaven and the Christians, here on earth as His Body.

Acceptance of the oneness of believers as members of the Body of Christ was a part of the Early Church, until the Roman church took over in the 300’s A.D. century. The belief that all believers were members of and thus made up the oneness of the Body of Christ was lost, and the Church that once was a spiritual living organism, became an organization. But for the past decade or so, believers are seeing themselves as active members of the Body of Christ. Today’s Church is seeing the restoration regarding the truth about the vitality of the Body of Christ, and the need for our understanding of the Oneness of that Body.

In today’s terms, here and throughout the world the Body of Christ in action is a partnership with other members of the Body. Here are a couple of chapters that you might to look further into -‐ Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12. In a


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nutshell, these scriptures speak about allowing each person to exercise his gifts, and in doing so, increases the power and the credibility for effectiveness of all of us as part of the Oneness of the Body of Christ.

In Ephesians 4:16, speaking about Jesus as the Head, the King James Version reads: “For whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increases of the body until edifying of itself in love.”

The thought here is a lot of different members with different functions and different abilities as God in His sovereignty as given to His adopted sons and daughters that make up the Body of Christ. All are brought together, joined and united in such a powerful and effective way that they become fully one. This was the purpose of God in the Early Church and continues in our day – to compact together the various members to make one single functioning Body – all united with the Head.

Every person that accepts for himself (or herself) salvation as made possible by what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us, becomes part of the Body of Christ, which is united with its Head, Jesus Christ.

The physical body has many members, but the head, through the nervous system, controls all members. Likewise, the Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, joins the many members together in the spirit into the One Body of Christ.

One of the characteristics of a natural blood line family is DNA.

There is a spiritual equivalent to the natural DNA. Birthed by the Spirit of God into Christ, and receiving the Spirit of Christ, implants the family line spiritual DNA of God, which transforms our spiritual DNA to the family blood line of God by the Spirit of adoption. By the Holy Spirit, the very life of Christ carrying the spiritual DNA of the Father abides with His adopted sons. Are we then not a family of God? And then are we not all the part of the Body of Christ?

Let’s look at some of these scriptures pertaining to the same. And again, I will be reading these scriptures from Wuest’s New Testament.

John 1:12 … “But as many as appropriated Him, He gave them the legal right to become born-‐ones of God, to those who put their trust in His name, who, not out of a source of bloods, nor even out of a desire of the flesh, not even out of a desire of a male individual, but out of God were born.”

Galatians 4:4-‐6 … “But when there came the fullness of time, God sent off His Son, woman-‐born, made subject to the law, in order that He might deliver those under the law to the end that we might be placed as adult sons. And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying, Abba, my Father.”

Members of our natural body are interdependent, so the members of the Body of Christ interdependent. All the members are fitted together and coordinate with one another in the Holy Spirit. As every member of the physical body has a particular function or contribution to make the body function the way God created it, so does each member of the Body of Christ have his (or her) particular function and contributes to the whole of the Body of Christ. No one is to say

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that what they are to contribute in the Body of Christ is not necessary. It is absolutely necessary for each member to do its part. If any member does not function the way that it should the whole body is immobilized.

Here in our church, we see ministries and gifts in operation. I enjoy it and rejoice in my spirit. It’s great! What we often don’t realize is that those with ministries and gifts are anointed by the Holy Spirit to move in their ministries and operate their gifts. To mention a few. When Dave Hammond prays the compassion you see on his face and you hear in his voice is divine compassion and he’s anointed as he prays. The same with David Fisher in his sermons, and in his prayers. The ministry of intercession here in the church is an anointed ministry, as well as the ministry of helps or needs. Those in the teaching ministry, or those operating their gifts, such as the gift of healings must also be anointed. When people await for guidance or directions from the head of the Body of Christ – as given by the Holy Spirit – and are obedient to those directions, their ministries and gifts are anointed, and we are blessed – such as that time when Wayne had a word for Dave. Although Wayne may have not understood why he was given that word, and what it meant, nor did we know, but Dave certainly did. Wayne was operating as a member of the Body of Christ.

Some of you may not know what your ministries ( the Call of God on you) or your spiritual gifts are, which God has put in you since the time of your conception. In the seminar on Spiritual Gifts that Pastor David Fisher teaches sometimes on a Saturday, that opportunity is given to you to learn about what ministries and spiritual


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gifts you have. If you have not taken this session, I urge you that the next time the Spiritual Gifts seminar is taught at our church here that you take it. It will make a big difference in your life. This church here also gives you the opportunity to use these gifts and operate in the ministries you have.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit teaches us what we are to do in our place as that particular member of the Body, using the spiritual gifts He has given us that are exercised through the fruits of the Holy Spirit especially through love -‐-‐ and all for the glory of God.

Understanding that if Christ lives in me, and Christ lives in you, and in everyone in the world that has accepted the only begotten Son of God, there should be no division between us. We are oneness in the Body of Christ, with Christ as our Head.

When we hear of persecution of Christians in the world ( Uganda, Sri Lanka, or other countries), our spirits should be deeply concerned. We should not act as if they are group of Christians far away from us. But they are members of the Body of Christ as we are members of His Body. You know that in the physical, if your lower back is hurting you, it isn’t long until your whole back and your body is out of sorts. As our physical body members feel pain and doesn’t function properly because of other members of our body feeling pain and are not functioning properly, so we too should be spiritually concerned – we should have compassion – about the members of the Body of Christ suffering in other countries.

Beyond the scope of our local church, we are part of the Oneness of the Body of Christ worldwide. That is why when Dave Hammond prays the pastoral prayer on Sunday, he prays for those missions outside of Canada and for the people heading up these missions, as well as for others we hear about in other countries, such as in Haiti. What Dave shows is not just normal caring for people, but he is full of divine compassion as he obeys I Corinthians 12:25-‐27.

In the Amplified Version, these verses read as follows, “So that there is no division or discord or lack of adaption (of the parts of the body to each other), but the members alike have mutual interest in and care for one another. And if one members suffers, all of the parts (share) the suffering; if one member is honoured, all the members (share in) the enjoyment of it. Now you (collectively) are Christ’s Body and (individually) you are members of it, each part severally and distinct – each with his own place and function.”

As members of the Body of Christ, all of us here should desire intimacy with our Heavenly Abba Father, to know of God’s love, so that we may show forth God’s love, flowing through us, and to have Christ formed in us.

Last summer, we showed our caring for members of the Body of Christ, by our congregation raising more than $3,125.00 to pay the cost of four Africans to go the College of Prayer in one of the countries in Africa -‐-‐ that was our love in action.

Just recently, Daughters of Infinite Worth – a women’s ministry in our church – raised $2,000.00 for Jesus Wells in India provided by Gospel for Asia.

We also should encourage one another to seek that intimacy with the Father as

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well, and to experience God’s love for themselves. If all the members of the Body of Christ throughout the world sought that intimacy, until Christ was formed in all of us, and we became that Oneness in the Body of Christ that Jesus prayed about in John 17, we would turn today’s world upside down, as the Early Church did in the world of that day! Think about it!

We would then fulfill that part of Jesus’ prayer in John 17, where he prayed, “That they might be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, in order that they, having been brought to the state of completeness with respect to oneness, may persist in that state of completeness, to the end that the world might be understanding that you sent me on a mission that you loved them even as you loved me.”


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Life Changing Power in Prayer

Can you pray for a friend without the details of his or her need? A friend may simply ask you, “Just pray for me.” Other times, the Holy Spirit may burden you with a desire to pray for someone. How can we ask God for something when we don’t know what it is?

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to talk with God (Luke 11:1). We have the incredible opportunity to converse with the Creator of this universe, so naturally we want to know how. The awesome truth is that we can have a positive and powerful impact on the life of someone else, even when we lack all the information we think we need.

We can bless the life of anyone through prayer god will hear us and answer us. We will have an impact on those lives that will in turn, impact countless other lives.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom

of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins…” Colossians 1:9-14

Supporting scripture:

• Luke 11:1 • Ephesians 4:1 • John 15:7-8

Scriptural Principles:

1) What is the life-changing prayer? Most of us know the magnificent Lord’s Prayer, the one that Jesus taught His disciples. The Scriptures offer us another amazing prayer that we can offer on behalf of others. While writing to the Colossian church, Paul revealed his prayer for that fellowship of believers. We can accommodate this model prayer for our own uses, interceding for everyone we know while being confident that God will answer it every time. This prayer is found in Colossians 1:9-14. Paul prayed for his friend’s wisdom, for their daily walk, for the bearing of fruit, and for their strengthening.

2) What makes this prayer so powerful? This prayer is powerful because, first, each part is in perfect line with the will of God as revealed in His Word. We already know this will be answered positively. Second, this is a prayer that can be prayed for anyone on earth. There is no one who isn’t in need of the blessings that are listed here. Third, this is a prayer that fits every single need we can have in life. Fourth, Pauls prayer for the

Colossians is an encouraging one. Simply hearing that someone is praying it for us, we feel new strength. Finally, this is a God-centered prayer. There is nothing selfish about any part of it, but every word magnifies the Lord.

3) We pray for the knowledge of God’s will. In Colossians 1:9, Paul prays that his friends “may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” This is his first request; what does it mean? Paul is asking that the Colossians would clearly know God’s will for their lives. Oftentimes we see that our children or loved ones are experiencing difficult times, and we can use this prayer to help them clearly see God’s desire for their lives. Again, we need not wonder if we should make this request. At all times, He longs for every one of His children to have the wisdom and understanding of His will. What a joy to be able to make this request for others!

4) We pray for a walk that is worthy of the Lord. Paul’s second request is that his readers “will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects” (v. 10) This is the whole idea of living in a manner worthy of our Lord. We are extensions of the life of Jesus, exhibitions of His character and demonstrations of His power. Our actions, our words, our


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attitudes and our relationships reflect the God we serve, so that we must walk in a manner worthy of the life to which He has called us. Considering all that He has done for us, how could we do otherwise?

5) We pray for the bearing of fruit in every good work. Also in v.10, we find the next request: that Paul’s friends might always be “bearing fruit in every good work”. This is not a question of merely being busy, but productive in the things that matter o God. In John 15:7-8, Jesus tells us that He desires us to bear much fruit as proof of being His disciples. That means that as each week goes by, we should be asking ourselves, “What have I done this week that has eternal significance?” How have I borne fruit for God’s kingdom?” we should also be praying for God to help others bear fruit. Particularly as parents, we should pray each day that our children would be involved in “every good work”.

6) We pray for an increase in the knowledge of God. Can you honestly say that you have a hunger to know God? If you have that desire for yourself, you will also pray for the same result in the lives of those you care about. Most people are hungry to learn trivia about sports or entertainment, but what about matters of eternity? We should yearn to have greater knowledge of God by reading and applying

the Word, and then by observing the results. Our wisest action each day is to feed the spirit before feeding the body, because no source but God can satisfy our deepest desire.

7) We pray for strengthening with God’s power. Paul prays that the Colossians would be “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience” (v.11). the prayer means simply this: that the power of God would work in someone’s life. Perhaps a couple is going through a divorce, or someone has just lost a job. When someone we know is living through difficult times, we pray that our friend would feel God’s power released in the midst of their struggles. Sometimes the Lord is simply waiting for one person to make that prayer. We all want to have others pray for us in that way, so we should do the same for them.

8) We pray joyfully in giving thanks. Finally, Paul asks God to fill his friends with joyful gratitude, “joyously giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints” (vv. 11-12). We ask God to show our friends all the good things He has done for them. We want our friends to have joyful, thankful hearts. Our motivation for giving thanks is fourfold, as we read in verses 12-14. First, we have been qualified to share in God’s inheritance. Second, we have been rescued from darkness. Third, we have been transferred to the kingdom of

His Son. Fourth, we have been forgiven. We are the sons and daughters of God – how can we help but have joyful, greatful hearts?

Conclusion: It should be very clear that the prayer in Col 1:9-14 is one of life-changing power. Wouldn’t you like to know that someone is offering it to God, with your name on it, every single day? Parents, can you think of a more awesome gift to your children than to make this prayer over them each morning?

Think of someone whose life you would like to see blessed. mark this prayer in your Bible, commit it to your heart, and begin to bring the name of your friend before God every day. Then you enjoy watching God work, because this prayer is always His will.

It will mark the beginning of countless blessings for every day of your life.

We must be able to love each other within the church body as well as outside of it. We must love our neighbour and we must be able to love a stranger that we’ve never met. This love brings unity to the Body of Christ. This is our Lord and Saviour’s greatest desire!

Prayer can strengthen us and can bless us as well as those who we pray for. And the results will make you rejoice in our Lord!


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Recipe Centre

Tomato Bisque

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 Tbsp. minced bacon 1 Spanish onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 5 Tbsp. flour 4 cups chicken broth 1 (28-oz) can whole peeled tomatoes, roughly chopped 2 Tbsp. Cream sherry 3 parsley sprigs 3 fresh thyme sprigs 1 bay leaf 2 cups heavy cream 1 ¾ tsp. kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper

Heat the butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until crisp and most of the fat has rendered, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Lower the heat to medium, add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft and fragrant, about 8 minutes.

Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Pour in the broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Tie the parsley sprigs,

thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot. Lower the heat and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

When the soup base is cool, remove and discard the herb bundle. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Using a sieve over a large bowl, strain the tomato puree. Return the puree to the pot add the sherry and reheat over medium heat.

Whisk the heavy cream and salt into the soup and season with pepper to taste. Divide among warm soup bowls and serve immediately.

Tiramisu Cheesecake

1 (12 ounce) package ladyfingers 4 tablespoons butter, melted 4 tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese 1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese 1 cup white sugar 2 eggs 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a pan of water on the bottom of oven.

Crush the package of ladyfingers to fine crumbs. Mix the melted butter into the crumbs. Moisten with 2 tablespoons of the coffee liqueur. Press into an 8 or 9 inch springform pan.

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, mascarpone, and sugar until very smooth. Add 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur, and mix. Add the eggs and the flour; mix SLOWLY until just smooth. The consistency of the mascarpone can vary. If the cheesecake batter is too thick, add a little cream. Do not overmix at this point. Pour batter into crust.

Place pan on middle rack of oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until just set. Open oven door, and turn off the heat. Leave cake to cool in oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and let it finish cooling. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Right before serving, grate the semi-sweet chocolate overtop.


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Bible Crossword

Across

1 A book of books

4 Shortest book in the Old Testament

7 The number of chapters in Philemon

8 This testament contains 39 books

9 Jesus’ brother, who wrote a letter

11 In authority before the kings

12 His epistle contains one chapter

13 Successor to Queen Vashti

14 David wrote many of these set to music

17 Wrote about the restoration of the temple

18 Originator, writer of a book

21 Number of letters written by John

23 Number of chapters in 13A

24 Galilee, Dead, for example

26 Paul wrote many of these

27 He prophesied the birthplace of Jesus

Down

1 There are 66 of these

2 Behold

3 Revelation comes in this part of the New Testament

5 Donation of money to the poor

6 This letter lists the faithful

9 He prophesied of the ‘day of the Lord’

10 A faithful Moabitess

13 He foretold the regathering of Israel in prophecy of dry bones

15 A prophet who was a herdsman

16 One of the gospel writers

19 A prophet, reluctant to

go to Nineveh

20 Adam & Eve ate from this in the garden

22 The border of a garment

25 Joshua writes about this city near Bethel


12

Bible Wordsearchs

ANANIAS

APOSTLE

ARRESTED

ATHENS

BAPTISED

BARNABAS

BLINDED

CHURCH

CONVERTED

CORINTH

DAMASCUS

EPISTLES

GALATIA

GENTILES

IMPRISONED

JERUSALEM

LETTERS

LIGHT

MISSIONARY JOURNEY

PAUL

PREACHING

ROMAN CITIZEN

ROME

SAUL

SERVANT OF CHRIST

SHIPWRECK

SILAS

TARSUS

THESSALONICA

TIMOTHY

BITTER HERBS

BLOOD

DOORPOSTS

EAT

EGYPT

EXODUS

FESTIVAL

FIRSTBORN

FREEDOM

ISRAELITES

LAMB

LINTEL

MEAN

PASSOVER

ROAST

SACRIFICE

SEVEN DAYS

SLAVERY

UNLEAVENED BREAD

YEAST


13

Children’s Coloring Pages

Joshua 10

And all at once Joshua lifted his voice in the sight of his troops and cried out in a powerful explosion of faith :

"O sun -- stand though still over Gibeon; O moon, over the valley of Ajalon!"

And while Joshua and his men fought the battle the sun was still for 23 hours!

Miracle of miracles!


14

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and

the waters were divided." (Exodus 14:21)


15

God’s Omnipresence & Omniscience

Psalm 139

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand When I awake, I am still with You.

O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

The Excellency of Brotherly Unity Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

It is like the prescious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing – life forever.


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The Gardener’s Corner

Peony seeds are special. Each seed represents a new and unique peony!

A few facts about Peony seeds:

• Peonies are heterozygous and do not come true from seek.

• Peony seeds have a double dormancy and require a sequence of specific environmental conditions to germinate.

• Warm moist conditions will produce a root. When followed by cold moist conditions, a shoot will appear.

• Flowers may not appear for several years.

• The first flowers of peony seedlings are often different than those that will develop as the plant matures. Don’t judge too quickly!

• New peonies can be registered with the American Peony Society.

How to Germinate Peony Seeds

Collect the seeds as pods begin to open. The harder the outer shell, the longer the first dormancy period.

Wash the seeds in soapy water followed by a ten minute soak in 9 parts water to 1 part household bleach solution.

Rinse.

Place seeds in a sealed plastic bag with barely moist vermiculite or peat moss.

Place the sealed bag in a warm area of the house (not in the sun) and check them every week to see if the root has emerged and ensure they remain moist (but not wet!)

Leave them in the warmth until the roots appear (Anywhere from a few weeks to several months).

Once the roots appear and

are about 3 cm in length, move the bag to a cool location. The temperature should be approximately 40 degrees F.

After 12 weeks, remove the bag and pot up the partially germinated seeds in a soilless germination mix.

Depending on the time of year, you may have to place seedlings under grow lights for a few months before being able to transfer outside.

Keep seedlings under grow lights and ensure they are moist but not soggy.

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks.

Transfer outside slowly as you would any other tender seedling. Too much sun, too rapidly will result in burnt foliage.

Seedlings should be outside in a sunny, well drained seedbed by September at the latest.


17

Books, Books & More Books

Victory Over The Darkness by Neil T. Anderson ISBN 0830725644

When we begin our Christian walk we are overwhelmed with joy, but it does not take long before the darkness of intellectual doubt, emotional confusion and physical pain threaten to separate us from our Savior. In the updated edition of his contemporary classic, Neil Anderson explains that our identity in Christ, the power of Scripture and the love of the Christian community will help us to experience Victory Over the Darkness. Let this gifted pastor and counselor teach you how to "live as children of light" (Eph. 5:8).

The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson ISBN 073691840

Featuring a new introduction and cover, Anderson's bestselling book The Bondage Breaker leads you away from the shadows and shackles in your life and toward the freedom that comes when you: realize you have the right to be free confront the power of Satan fight the temptation to do it your way trade deception for grace affirm your identity

in Christ Anderson ultimately helps you break negative thought patterns, control irrational feelings, and break out of the bondage of sinful behavior. If you're struggling, discover how to embrace the promise of Jesus to win the spiritual battles confronting you.

Who I Am In Christ by Neil T. Anderson ISBN 0830728902

Embark on a Scripture-based journey that reveals and defines your special place in God's family. This inspiring devotional delivers a warm and embracing reminder that God's love for you is unconditional and the gift of life-which He freely gives to all who accept Christ-comes with no strings attached and lasts for eternity.

Authentic Christianity by Ray C. Steadman ISBN 1572980179

Authentic Christianity proclaims the most liberating secret in all of Scripture. Jesus died for us so that He might live in us. That's a life big enough to carry the loads, strong enough to face the demands. A life so attractive and compelling that men and women are drawn to seek its Source.

An in depth study of II Corinthians, this Christian classic avoids popular religious trends and jargon to reveal the genuine purpose, simplicity, and joy of true Christianity.


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CFC Business Connection The CFC Business Connection is an advertising area of our newsletter for members of our congregation who have businesses of their own.

The Affirmation c/o Christian Fellowship Church

445 King Street Spruce Grove, Alberta

T7X 2C6

Email: [email protected]


The Affirmation Newsletter

This newsletter is a ministry of Krystal Savage that is supported by the Congregational Christian

Fellowship Church of Spruce Grove.

Articles submitted by fellow Christians and all content is reviewed before publishing.

Any articles that are copyrighted are noted with the article including author and copyright date.

To submit an article or comments, write to us at:

Submitting articles or comments to The Affirmation:

The Affirmation Scheduled Release Dates

• July 2010 – Issue 4 (all articles must be submitted by: June 20, 2010) • October 2010 – Issue 5 (all articles must be submitted by: September 20, 2010) • January 2011 – Issue 6 (all articles must be submitted by: December 20, 2010)

If submitting an article, please note the cut-‐off date for each issue.

I would like to thank all those individuals who have contributed to the content of this newsletter. God bless all of you!

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