We were able to mow eight lawns in total for the people that we got to talk to. We got to have some conversations with some of the people on the blocks and picked up some garbage off their lawns. Once again we had people wanting to donate to the Church and we just explained that we are not doing these acts of kindness for donations, but simply want to bless the people in our community.

Do you find yourself bored on Saturday mornings? Not sure exactly what you want to do? Well, have I got the answer for you! Come on out to Adopt-A-Block and have some fun with us.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

Serving Together
+ Wet Your Pants
You may wet your pants (only if you want to)

Wednesday May 16, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK

Worshiping Together
+ Redneck Night
YEE HAW, it’s time for some redneck games!!
Come dressed as a redneck! 

Wednesday May 23, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

The Parent Link May Newsletter
Includes: Find Lessons in Failure
Blessed by Failure: Expert Insights for Parents of Teenager
Media Spotlights on Nicki Minaj, The Avengers, Minecraft

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

Serving Together
+ Wet Your Pants
You may wet your pants (only if you want to)

Wednesday May 16, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

Worshiping Together
+ Redneck Night
YEE HAW, it’s time for some redneck games!!
Come dressed as a redneck! 

Wednesday May 23, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

There were several people who asked about us hauling a bunch of their junk away with the trailer.  Sadly enough we are not able to take the trailer out with us every Saturday, but we let them know that we will be bringing the trailer around the blocks soon and we can take their junk then.

Come and join us this Saturday as we have loads of fun talking to our neighbors and helping them meet their needs.

When Swinimer returns to school Monday he plans to continue wearing the shirt every day, and is even willing to risk not graduating with his fellow students if that is what it takes to stand up for his freedom of expression.  The main offence according to the School Board is how the slogan is worded.  If the shirt said. MY life is wasted without Jesus, they say that would be acceptable.  Their claim is that the shirt can be interpreted as being a slight against other’s faiths or those of no faith at all.  Swinimer insists that that is not at all his intent and has no ill-will or criticism against non-Christians.  He merely claims it is his constitutional right to express his faith and he is not going to comply with the school or school board’s requests.

Before we go any further with this we do need to ask the question if the slogan in question is indeed offensive or not.  I think the best way of doing that is by simply wording it from the perspective of other faiths, and then asking ourselves if we are offended.  Let’s try it.  If I saw a Muslim wearing the T-shirt, Life is wasted without Muhammad, I would consider that an expression of his faith and not take any personal offence.  Although I do not agree with the sentiment it certainly does not incite hatred or violence.   A T-shirt that reads Death to the Infidel on the other hand is in a whole different category.  Let’s try a few others.  Life is wasted without Buddha.  Sure, why not?  Life is wasted without Krishna.  Fine.  Life is wasted without Darwin.  Whatever.  Life is wasted without Led Zeppelin.  I hear ya.  Life is wasted without Abba.  Getting close to the line.   Life is wasted without Charlie Sheen.  We should be so lucky.

No, I think most would agree that the Principal and the school board are off side on this one. If the T-shirt simply said Let’s get Wasted we would not even be having this debate.  What is really at issue is the new intolerance.  The intolerance of tolerance.  Those that claim that they want to ban the T-shirt in the name of tolerance, are they themselves being intolerant.  The fact probably remains that if Swinimer was wearing any one of the other T Shirt slogans I mentioned he would still be in school.  It is only because he was wearing a Christian T Shirt that he became a victim of the Tolerance police.

In our culture today you cannot (and should not) criticize anyone’s religion, but Christianity is fair game.  It has become open season on Christians.  We routinely get called hatemongers, bigots, homophobes, racists etc.  All without cause or evidence.  Nobody cries foul, nobody gets censured when it is done in the media or in the public square.  Christianity is without question the most persecuted religion in the world.  Michael Horowitz, a U.S. Jewish activist who has written on Christian persecution contends there is a “blissful lack of awareness to this fact that is fostered by preconceptions and conventional wisdoms that lead many in the West to dismiss anti-Christian persecution as improbable, untrue, impossible.”

Horowitz is right.  We have been told for so long that we are the persecutors we have failed to realize that we have become the persecuted.  For the most part we sit quietly by as our faith is attacked form every side.  The media paints us intolerant, hate filled, religious zealots who are against women and gays and drinkers and gamblers and prostitutes and just about anyone that wants to have a good time.  Science portrays us as ignorant, uneducated peons that blindly follow mindless fables.  Radical leftists like to attack us as being war mongers and greedy capitalists that hate the environment and health care.  Others think we are so gullible that we are lead by manipulative hucksters that are just after our money so they can buy themselves Rolls Royses.  Everyday the impression of who we are becomes further and further away from the Christ following lovers of humanity that want to give every person an opportunity to hear the good news that God loves them and has secured a glorious place in eternity for them.  So when I see a 17 year old High School student in Nova Scotia that says, “No, I will not be stripped of my right to religious freedom”, I say… good for you William, I am behind you all the way.

There were about three houses on the two blocks where we were able to meet some new people who had never had us knock on their door before. We were able to connect with them for a bit and were glad that we had stopped by to lend a helping hand.

It’s always exciting to see what God has for us each and every Saturday. Why don’t you come out with us and see what Adopt-A-Block is all about?

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
40 Days of Community
Belonging Together
Also hangout/cafe in The Cage

Friday May 4, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK…
40 Days of Community
Growing Together
Also hangout/cafe in The Cage

Friday May 11, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

Parents can join a 40 Days of Community Group at Church during Threshold!
While your Students are at Threshold you can join a small group!
Childcare for younger children also provided
Email info@churchoftherock.ca for more information!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
40 Days of Community
Belonging Together
Also hangout/cafe in The Cage

Friday May 4, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…
40 Days of Community
Growing Together
Also hangout/cafe in The Cage

Friday May 11, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/community-rocks-pt-3-closer-together http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/community-rocks-pt-3-closer-together#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 18:36:30 +0000 Isaac http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=6041 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/community-rocks-pt-3-closer-together/feed 0 Isaac This message is the third in a series entitled “Community Rocks” and is part of the direction we are taking called “40 Days of Community”. It was recorded on April 29, 2012 at our 1397 Buffalo place campus.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

Belonging Together
+ Trivial Pursuit
Let’s see how much you know about random stuff!

Wednesday May 2, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK

Growing Together
+ Banana Bonanza
We are going to go absolutely bananas with…bananas!

Wednesday May 9, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

Parents can join a 40 Days of Community Group at Church during Threshold Jr!
While your Junior Highers are at Threshold Jr you can join a small group!
Childcare for younger children also provided
Email info@churchoftherock.ca for more information!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

Belonging Together
+ Trivial Pursuit
Let’s see how much you know about random stuff!

Wednesday May 2, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

Growing Together
+ Banana Bonanza
We are going to go absolutely bananas with…bananas!

Wednesday May 9, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

The two talked to people who answered their doors and were able to get rid of a table for someone who wanted it gone.

Come and join us this Saturday!

I’m pleased to announce that Church of the Rock’s weekend messages are now available as free audio downloads! All messages going back to December 2011 are now available.

There are 3 ways to access them; either by clicking a link to the Audio Podcast, by going to the iTunes store and searching for “Church of the Rock Weekend Messages”, or by accessing our Weekend Messages blog. These links can be found in this article or under the blogs/links header of the website.

If you are unfamiliar with how podcasting works but would like to start, this video will instruct you on how it’s done. Podcasting works on both PC and Mac.

I hope the messages will help you in your walk with Christ, and please feel free to comment or rate the podcast on iTunes. Enjoy!

I can tell you this much without ruining the story for you – It is set in the year 2061 where the secret of eternal life has been discovered.  However in order to keep the population under control they have to limit the number of years a person can live.  Everyone gets the first 25 years at which time you stop aging.  After that a digitally installed clock implanted in your arm starts and you have one more year.  I know, not a radical departure for a sci-fi flick so far.  The novel part of the story is this; time is now money… literally.  People are paid for working with minutes, hours and days, all added to you arm clock, (which they sometimes call a ‘watch’).  Everything you purchase you must pay with time which is immediately subtracted from your clock.  A cup of coffee for example costs 3 minutes.  So every purchase and decision you make determines how much longer you live.  People who run out of time die instantly, which they refer to as ‘clocking out’.  There are time bandits, so to speak, that are called ‘minutemen’ and police that are called ‘time keepers’.  People of different economic status live in different ‘time zones’.  The plays on words go on and on. The expression “I’m running out of time” will wear a little thin for some, but I didn’t mind it.

I don’t want to give away too much, but Timberlake’s character Will Salas discovers that there is actually enough time to go around for everyone to live a reasonably long life, but the ‘rich’ have figured out a way to hoard the time to themselves and some have 100′s or 1000′s of years. They loan and broker time at unreasonable rates of interest (advertised as Time Shares) and ensure that the poor die young so that they can live forever.

The social commentary that the producers are making is clearly a reference to the modern day manipulation by the rich of the world’s financial system, stockmarket, banking etc.  And make no mistake about it,  like a slot machine at the casino, the whole system is rigged so that they will win and you will lose.  The economic meltdown of 2008 that caused some two million Americans to lose there homes since that time was completely man made.  Known today as the sub-prime mortgage crisis, using a complicated scheme of investments and mortgages companies like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Countrywide Mortgage and others effectively assured that millions of people would be put into homes with mortgages that could not afford.  When the homes were forced into foreclosure, which they knew was inevitable, it was not the banks that would lose, but individual investors and pension funds that were sold the bad mortgages bundled as high quality investment instruments.  Many people lost both their homes and their pensions.  Instead of sending the CEO’s of these companies to jail, which they should have, the Bush and Obama administrations then gave them a trillion dollars in bailout money.  These companies then went out and used the bailout money to purchase stocks at rock bottom prices in a market that collapsed under the weight of the crisis they created.  They made billions and gave themselves multi-million dollar bonuses for ruining the lives of others.  It seems almost too bizarre to be true but I assure you it is.  I wrote a blog on it with more detail back in 2009,  you can read it here: GREED

And you absolutely need to take the time to watch this parody done about it by John Bird and John Fortune.  It is the most accurate and entertaining description you will ever find of the criminal nature of the global economic meltdown.

Getting back to the movie, for me the most important message of In Time was not the metaphor for financial corruption and greed.  For me it was Will’s (Timberlake) attitude towards time.  Throughout the entire movie his clock is always running down to zero, but whatever time he does have he freely shares with others.  For me, that alone made the movie.  While most others were hoarding and protecting very minute, he is giving it away regardless of how little he has.  I am always inspired by people of generosity.

The reality is that today people’s most precious commodity is ‘time’.   Rush, rush, rush… and because we have become so busy we would rather give up our money than our time. With the exception of the church, volunteerism is way down in North America.  People would rather throw a few dollars at some worthy cause than actually get personally involved.  Most have become very stingy with their time.  And it is not like we are using it wisely.   Folks will spend hours in front of a TV watching shows like Dancing with the Fat American Celebrity Losers and even more time in front of a computer screen managing cyber friends and shopping on Amazon.

Eph 5:16 declares redeeming the time, because the days are evil.   Time really is our most precious commodity.  Unlike Will Salas we never really know how much we have left on the clock.  We really need to quit wasting our time and live everyday to the fullest and maybe, just as importantly, we need to start giving it away.  The only thing that we do on this earth that really matters in eternity is what we did for another person.  The money we made, the car we drove and the house we lived in is all forgotten by the time we have cooled in the grave. But the ‘time’ we gave away to make this world a better place for another… that lives on for eternity.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
40 Days of Community
What Matters Most
Also hangout/cafe in The Cage

Friday April 20, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…
YC Manitoba
You need to be registered for this event.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
40 Days of Community
What Matters Most
Also hangout/cafe in The Cage

Friday April 20, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK…
YC Manitoba
You need to be registered for this event.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

Parents can join a 40 Days of Community Group at Church during Threshold!
While your Students are at Threshold you can join a small group!
Childcare for younger children also provided
Email info@churchoftherock.ca for more information!

There were a number of people that answered their doors that we had not noticed meeting before. Even going out every Saturday, we still manage to meet new people which is always nice to see. People chatted with us and one person offered to help us dispose of our garbage bags each week if we needed.

Join us this Saturday! Bring your friends or family to serve the community as a community.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

What Matters Most
+ Minute to Win It
Complete in these 1 minute challenges to win!

Wednesday April 18, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK
There is no Threshold Jr next week due to YC Manitoba.

Last Week

Last week we talked about the importance of spending time with God-moments we called “timeouts with God.” Even Jesus needed time along with God the Father, and we have the opportunity to step away from the noise of our lives and pray and read the Bible in places and times of silence and solitude.

Using Mark 1:35-39, we examined Jesus’ habit of spending time alone in prayer with God the Father. Jesus-who was God in human form-needed to spend time alone in solitude and silence. Seeing how we are NOT God in human form, we certainly need similar times in our lives!

In these verses, we see that Jesus made his time with God a priority. His disciples and the crowds were waiting for him, but he realized that his effectiveness in ministry flowed from his relationship with God the Father. In our own lives, our spiritual, personal, emotional, and physical health grow stronger when we spend time with God.

Here are some questions from this week’s lesson that you might want to use as you talk with your teenager:

• Why do you think Jesus-who was God in human form-went off by himself to pray and spend time with God the Father?
• What do you think we can learn from Jesus’ example?

• How easy or difficult would it be for you to go an entire day without any technology distractions-no TV, no video games, no music, or anything like that?
• How might a daylong “timeout” help you and your friendship with God?

I pray that this is a blessed week for you and your family!

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

Parents can join a 40 Days of Community Group at Church during Threshold Jr!
While your Junior Highers are at Threshold Jr you can join a small group!
Childcare for younger children also provided
Email info@churchoftherock.ca for more information!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

What Matters Most
+ Minute to Win It
Complete in these 1 minute challenges to win!

Wednesday April 18, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

There is no Threshold Jr next week due to YC Manitoba

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

After the breakfast was served, we had a special guest appearance by Batman and Robin in the Bat Mobile.  The kids loved it and cheered when they entered the room.

Of course we invited everyone to our Weekend Easter Services and I was excited to see several families come back to take in one of the services that weekend.

Next it was time for the Easter Egg Hunt … and the kids had a blast.  We had around 2000 Easter Eggs placed all over in the grass area around the offices.

There were Easter eggs everywhere, filled with candy.  We even had some golden eggs that kids could redeem for an extra prize.

At the end of the day, the kids who found golden eggs came back into the building to the Kidz Rock registration area to collect their prizes.  The looks on the kids faces with the golden eggs was amazing.

All in all, the event was a huge success.  Not only were we able to serve our community in such a tangible way, but I know several families came out to church that weekend because of this event as well.  We could not have done this without such amazing volunteers.  If you were one of the volunteers who helped out with this event, thank you so much!

Now it is time to start planing for the summer carnival … more info to come …

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

The Value of Solitude
+ Snatch the Bacon!
Are you fast enough to snatch the bacon?

Wednesday April 11, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK..

What Matters Most
+ Minute to Win It
Complete in these 1 minute challenges to win!

Wednesday April 18, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

Last Week.

We wrapped up our small group series last week on the Bible by talking about the benefits and rewards of memorizing Scripture.

We focused on Psalm 119:9-16, a passage that offers a direct invitation and challenge to teenagers: If you want to lead a pure, healthy, successful life, then obey God’s teachings and commandments. This passage highlights several benefits and rewards of knowing, memorizing, and obeying the Bible.

Memorizing Scripture isn’t about doing a religious task. It’s about letting the Bible become an essential part of who we are. We reminded our students that when we memorize verses, those verses become part of the way we think about life and the way we respond to what happens in life.

When you find time this week, have a conversation with your teenager about this lesson on memorizing verses from the Bible. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

• How might memorizing verses from the Bible help you in everyday situations? 

• If we didn’t have the Bible, how would we learn about God and his desires for our lives? Would that even be possible?

• How can you be reminded of your friendship with God by memorizing Scripture?

You also might want to consider ways to make Scripture memorization a family event. This can help everyone in the family grow in their faith. Have a great week!

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

The Parent Link April Newsletter
Includes: Remind Teens of God’s Grace
Dump the Ought-To’s: Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
Media Spotlights on Rascal Flatts, Sidewalk Prophets, The Three Stooges, and more

PARENT HOME GROUP

Parent Home Group at the church on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Great opportunity for parents who are bringing their children to Threshold Jr.
Going deeper with God and uniting in caring, loving prayer.
Gathering together in Room A4.
Please contact Helen at 452-9767 for more information.

It was a bit of a cloudy morning for Adopt-A-Block but there was a good number of people out to help. We split off into 5 groups which really helped the morning fly by.

We brought garbage bags and picked up some scattered litter as well as raked a few lawns. We were able to help people and they were grateful. Our group talked to a few people who opened their doors and invited them out to the Easter Services.

Come and join us this Saturday!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

The Value of Solitude
+ Snatch the Bacon!
Are you fast enough to snatch the bacon?

Wednesday April 11, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

What Matters Most
+ Minute to Win It
Complete in these 1 minute challenges to win!

Wednesday April 18, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Threshold Cancelled April 6 because of Good Friday
Feel free to attend the Good Friday service at 10:30am Friday
As well as our Easter weekend services where we are doing:

BATMAN: THE DARK NIGHT – AN EASTER STORY
Details here

NEXT WEEK…
Kutless Concert ($15) & 30 Hour Famine

Start the famine Thursday night.
Come Friday for a great night of music/teaching.
7:00PM start time – Cost: $15
Stay for all night Threshold party
With a pancake breakfast In the morning.
Pickup at 9:00AM Saturday

Email Jason@churchoftherock.ca  to sign up!

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The next deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-parents-april-6-2012 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-parents-april-6-2012#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:44:15 +0000 Tim Hamm http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5787 Continue reading →]]> http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-parents-april-6-2012/feed 0 Tim Hamm Click here to view online or to leave a comment.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Threshold Cancelled April 6 because of Good Friday
Feel free to attend the Good Friday service at 10:30am Friday
As well as our Easter weekend services where we are doing:

BATMAN: THE DARK NIGHT – AN EASTER STORY
Details here

NEXT WEEK…
Kutless Concert ($15) & 30 Hour Famine

Start the famine Thursday night.
Come Friday for a great night of music/teaching.
7:00PM start time – Cost: $15
Stay for all night Threshold party
With a pancake breakfast In the morning.
Pickup at 9:00AM Saturday

Email Jason@churchoftherock.ca  to sign up!

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The next deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

Last Week

Last week we wrapped up our three-week look at God’s thoughts on sex. We concluded by looking at Colossians 2:13-15. We discussed how sin in our lives is like a tumor that grows inside, and how God’s grace removes it when we seek his unconditional forgiveness. We also looked at how God loves us enough to forgive us and even to forget our past mistakes. The students were encouraged to realize that God has forgiven them, and as a result can stop being enslaved to their past sins. Instead, they can and should experience the freedom that is given to them as a follower of Christ.

This week, I’d encourage you to take time to talk with your teenager about the power of God’s forgiveness. Here are some possible questions:

• How can we better practice forgiveness in our family?
• You were talking about God’s forgiveness in your small group; is it OK if we willingly go and sin because God is going to forgive us? Why or why not?
• How might you share the good news of forgiveness with your friends?

I pray your family is having a blessed week. Thanks for your love for your teenager and your support for our small group ministry!

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

The Parent Link April Newsletter
Includes: Remind Teens of God’s Grace
Dump the Ought-To’s: Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
Media Spotlights on Rascal Flatts, Sidewalk Prophets, The Three Stooges, and more

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/why-in-the-world-are-we-here http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/why-in-the-world-are-we-here#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:18:43 +0000 Isaac http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5784 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/why-in-the-world-are-we-here/feed 0 Isaac This message was recorded at our 1397 Buffalo place campus in Winnipeg on April 1, 2012.

Last year it was Westley from the Princess Bride of Christ.  I did a cameo as Miracle Max and if you are watching on television this Easter Sunday you will catch at least a  snippet of my performance doing the memorable “he’s only mostly dead” scene.   One year I did my best impression of Michael Jackson in Robin of the Hood.

This year we are pulling out all the stops and doing Batman: The Dark Night.  The Caped Crusader along with Robin the Boy Wonder will be arriving in the Batmobile.  I will be making the requisite cameo, but I am afraid at this writing, that information is top secret.

If you are from out of town and ever wanted to come to a Church of the Rock service, Easter is the one to come to.  If you had to drive half way across the country, I guarantee it would still be worth it.  We have some immensely talented singers, actors and musicians that bring the resurrection story to life.  Last year we had 4,000 people show up for our three services so you have to come early to get a good seat.

UPDATE:

We had a record attendance over the Easter weekend.  Probably close to 5,000 people.  Dozens of seekers came to faith in Christ which is the whole reason we do it.  The Winnipeg Free Press covered the story and we got a front page mention.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/jesus-to-rise-as-batman-in-churchs-easter-play-146514375.html

Despite what our critics said about using Batman to tell the story of Easter, those who actually came, realized it did not cheapen the message of the resurrection at all.  I will say this again. We do not think that Jesus is Batman, Jack Sparrow or Captain Kirk. The play is an allegory along the lines of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The key to telling a parable is to take a well known cultural truth and use it in an analogous way. Before you call foul consider this: In Jesus parables He compared God to an unjust judge that does not fear God or man (Luke 18), a hard man who reaped where he did not sow in the parable of the talents (Matt 25:26), a rich man that commends unrighteous dealings (Luke 16) and an unjust and cruel nobleman in Luke 19… to name a few. He never says God is like these people in ever way.  They are only analogies. He uses some aspects of their life to explain spiritual truths about God and His kingdom.

Just because Batman is a vigilante in our modern day parable of The Dark Night, that in no way implies that Jesus is one. Parable telling is a perfectly acceptable and orthodox homiletic and has been used for centuries. The religious mind will always be offended just as it was in Jesus day. If we read the gospels the religious elite were offended almost every time Jesus opened His mouth. It was not that they did not get the point He was trying to make… they did not ‘want’ to get the point because more often than not, they were the ones getting skewered.

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Matt 15:12

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

The Book – Part 3
+ Dance or Dare
Will you dance? Or will you take the dare??

Wednesday April 4, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

The Value of Solitude
+ Snatch the Bacon!
Are you fast enough to snatch the bacon?

Wednesday April 11, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The second deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

The Book – Part 3
+ Dance or Dare
Will you dance? Or will you take the dare??

Wednesday April 4, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK…

The Value of Solitude
+ Snatch the Bacon!
Are you fast enough to snatch the bacon?

Wednesday April 11, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The next deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

Last Week..

Our small groups continued their series on the Bible this week by focusing on practical ideas for navigating its pages-in other words, discovering the life-changing truths the Bible contains.

The Bible is filled with wisdom, knowledge, love, hope, comfort, and promises from God. But if we’re honest, the Bible sometimes can feel a little intimidating. It’s a big book, its original audience lived thousands of years ago, it was originally written in other languages in another part of the world, and parts of it can be really hard to understand.

Jesus gave us a great promise: The Holy Spirit will help us understand what God is saying to us and will guide us into truth (John 14:17; 16:13). Using Proverbs 2:1-6, our students discovered that to understand God’s Word, we need to read it, talk to other people about it, ask God for help in understanding it, and live out what we’ve learned.

Here are some questions that could help you as you talk with your teenager about this week’s lesson:

• Which parts of the Bible do you find easiest to read, and why? Which parts are most difficult to read, and why?
• What’s one thing you’ve learned recently from a friend about the Bible or about being a follower of Jesus?
• Why is it important to apply what we read and learn in the Bible?

I pray that you and your family have a blessed week!

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

The Parent Link April Newsletter
Includes: Remind Teens of God’s Grace
Dump the Ought-To’s: Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
Media Spotlights on Rascal Flatts, Sidewalk Prophets, The Three Stooges, and more

PARENT HOME GROUP

Parent Home Group at the church on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Great opportunity for parents who are bringing their children to Threshold Jr.
Going deeper with God and uniting in caring, loving prayer.
Gathering together in Room A4.
Please contact Helen at 452-9767 for more information.

The sun came out from behind the clouds as we were able to talk to several people about the Church’s Easter egg hunt and FREE pancake breakfast that is happening on Saturday, April 7th. Many people were excited about it. Our group raked a number of lawns and picked up garbage along the way. A couple of us were able to talk to a woman and her daughter about inviting her out to Junior Youth on Wednesday nights. The young girl was very excited to come and check it out. We were also able to pray with another woman who was actually looking for us that morning as her one son was in the hospital for Cystic Fibrosis. She was grateful that we were able to be there for her and pray with her.

Come and join us this Saturday for Adopt-A-Block and who knows, there might even be some pancakes leftover after were done!!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Forgiveness From God
!yaD sdrawkcaB
sdrawkcab si gnihtyrevE

Friday March 30, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…
Threshold Cancelled April 6 because of Good Friday

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The next deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

Last Week

 Last week in our small groups we continued studying God’s plan for sex. We looked at Paul’s conversation with the Christians in Corinth about the way they were living   (1 Corinthians 6:12-17). We saw how he wanted them to realize that just because they had freedom didn’t give them an excuse to abuse their freedom. Our goal this week was to help teenagers realize that God created sex as a gift and that it is designed to be experienced by a husband and wife. We concluded our discussion by talking about how our bodies are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

This week, take a few minutes to talk with your teenager about dating, sex, and relationships. Here are some possible questions:

• What have been some positive and negative results from choices you’ve made recently?
• How are you developing the wisdom to make wiser choices?
• What sources of temptation do you confront that you think other generations have never seen?

Thanks for your commitment to your child and your support for our small group ministry. Have a blessed day!

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

R U Listening?
Video: Parents who interrupt their teens while trying to talk!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Forgiveness From God
!yaD sdrawkcaB
sdrawkcab si gnihtyrevE

Friday March 30, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…
Threshold Cancelled April 6 because of Good Friday

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The next deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/mountain-moving-faith-pt-4-give-me-this-mountain http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/mountain-moving-faith-pt-4-give-me-this-mountain#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:57:19 +0000 Isaac http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5645 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/mountain-moving-faith-pt-4-give-me-this-mountain/feed 0 Isaac This message was recorded at our 1397 Buffalo Place campus on February 12, 2012.

There were plenty of yards to rake as leaves and dead grass were exposed with the melting of the snow. The group talked to several people and helped them out as they filled two truck loads full of garbage bags. One person had asked us to haul away an old couch but we said we would have to get it another time as the truck was filled with garbage bags.

Come on out this Saturday as we help our neighbors with raking and garbage clean-up. Bring your rakes and Christ-like attitude!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

The Book – Part 2
+ Threshold Jr’s Funniest Home Videos
Come and be ready to laugh and to be funny!

Wednesday March 28, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK…

The Book – Part 3
+ Dance or Dare
Will you dance?  Or will you take the dare??

Wednesday April 4, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The next deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

Last Week…

Last week, our small groups launched a three-week series focused on the Bible. In this first lesson, we talked about foundational topics-in other words, learning facts about the Bible.

We focused on 2 Timothy 3:14-17, which encourages us to recognize and remember that the Bible is inspired by God, helps us know what is right and what is wrong, and is used to prepare and equip us to do good things.

The message in these verses isn’t too difficult to understand, but it can be challenging to build our lives on its truth. These verses paint an accurate picture of what Scripture is and why we ought to embrace it. Are we embracing the Bible in our daily lives? Do we believe that the Bible is inspired by God and has authority in our lives as followers of Jesus?

I’d encourage you to spend time talking with your teenager about this week’s lesson. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

• If you could sit with God over lunch at your favorite fast food restaurant, what would you ask? What would you like to know about God?
• What role do you believe the Bible plays in the lives of people who follow Jesus?
• How might your life look different if you “leaned” more on the truths you find in the Bible?

Thanks for all your prayers for our ministry. Have a great week!

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

R U Listening?
Video: Parents who interrupt their teens while trying to talk!

PARENT HOME GROUP

Parent Home Group at the church on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Great opportunity for parents who are bringing their children to Threshold Jr.
Going deeper with God and uniting in caring, loving prayer.
Gathering together in Room A4.
Please contact Helen at 452-9767 for more information.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

The Book – Part 2
+ Threshold Jr’s Funniest Home Videos
Come and be ready to laugh and to be funny!

Wednesday March 28, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

The Book – Part 3
+ Dance or Dare
Will you dance?  Or will you take the dare??

Wednesday April 4, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The second  deadline for registration is April 8.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
The Risky Side of Sex
+
Hockey Night at Threshold
A big game of floor hockey in the gym.

Friday March 23, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

Forgiveness From God
!yaD sdrawkcaB
sdrawkcab si gnihtyrevE

Friday March 30, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

HomeWord Parent Newsletter
Includes: Six Essentials for Making Discipline Work in Your Family
Five Questions to Ask as You Discipline Your Child
Ten Thoughts on Using Consequences

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-march-23-2012 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-march-23-2012#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:57:32 +0000 Tim Hamm http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5531 Continue reading →]]> http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-march-23-2012/feed 0 Tim Hamm Click here to view online or to leave a comment.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
The Risky Side of Sex
+
Hockey Night at Threshold
A big game of floor hockey in the gym.

Friday March 23, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…
Forgiveness From God
!yaD sdrawkcaB
sdrawkcab si gnihtyrevE

Friday March 30, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/40-days-of-community-what-is-it-and-why-are-we-doing-it http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/40-days-of-community-what-is-it-and-why-are-we-doing-it#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:37:29 +0000 Larissa http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5509 Continue reading →]]> http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/40-days-of-community-what-is-it-and-why-are-we-doing-it/feed 0 Larissa GOOD QUESTIONS!

Here is an excerpt from Rick Warren of Saddleback Church—I hope this will give you a clear idea of what this church-wide campaign is all about.

“40 Days of Community will deepen your understanding of how God uses other people – specifically others in your church family – for your good and your growth. It will also show you how God can use you to bless others.

Our focus for the next 40 days will be on fulfilling God’s five purposes together. We’ll do this in two ways: first, by deepening the community of love within our church family, and second, by reaching out in love to the community around our church family. Both are essential for a healthy, balanced, purpose-driven life.

Your participation in this small group will be the most essential part of 40 Days of Community. Real community (koinonia) is caught, not taught. In your group, you’ll not just learn how to build community – hopefully, you’ll experience it…

During the next six weeks, we’ll examine the five reasons we need each other to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. Here’s an overview of the reasons:

1. We fellowship better together!
2. We grow better together!
3. We serve better together!
4. We worship better together!
5. We teach out better together!

It is no accident that you are part of this 40 Days of Community. Before you were born, God chose you to be a difference-maker and to make an impact for good with your life. Are you willing to take the next step in growing a life of purpose and meaning? Then let’s join together for this 40-day spiritual journey – deepening the community of love within your church and reaching out in love to the community around your church.”

So get ready—in just a few days you will have a chance to sign up for a 40DOC group and begin the adventure!

COMMUNITY ROCKS!

~Pastor Aubrey Krahn

An important theme throughout the evening came from a series of prophetic words that were shared (LINK HERE to listen). The challenge, first to the generation under 35 years of age, was a call to step up to the line, to say yes to God and report for duty. This availability also meant that God would measure and adjust areas in their lives that needed to be changed so that they would be ready to minister, with His hand upon them, to people with broken lives and people with broken bodies.

The second challenge came to people 35 and older. God spoke to the “lists” of reasons why individuals felt they were too old or had missed their chance to minister. He is melting the accusations away and challenging them to be available for service as well. Your season has not passed if you will now say “Here I am, Lord.”

All these people were challenged to report for service before God and say, “YES, here I am, yes, check me out… I will gladly submit to Your work in me, Lord, because I want You in me and working through me.”

You can also notify the church that you have chosen to “report for service” in the way God has challenged. Please send an email to info@churchoftherock.ca as a way to affirm your response.

Other highlights of the evening included people coming forward to testify of how they had been healed at the last Power & Praise night,  others coming forward to receive prayer for healing or other needs, and a bunch of excited worshippers joining the team on stage to dance and sing to close off the night.

Don’t miss the next Power & Praise—please mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 17th!

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

The Book – Part 1
+ Weird Superhero Night!
Triangle-man? Spatula-girl?
Come as a weird superhero and be ready for other superhero events!

Wednesday March 21, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK…

The Book – Part 2
+ Threshold Jr’s Funniest Home Videos
Come and be ready to laugh and to be funny!

Wednesday March 28, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

HomeWord Parent Newsletter
Includes: Six Essentials for Making Discipline Work in Your Family
Five Questions to Ask as You Discipline Your Child
Ten Thoughts on Using Consequences

PARENT HOME GROUP

Parent Home Group at the church on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Great opportunity for parents who are bringing their children to Threshold Jr.
Going deeper with God and uniting in caring, loving prayer.
Gathering together in Room A4.
Please contact Helen at 452-9767 for more information.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

The Book – Part 1
+ Weird Superhero Night!
Triangle-man? Spatula-girl?
Come as a weird superhero and be ready for other superhero events!

Wednesday March 21, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

The Book – Part 2
+ Threshold Jr’s Funniest Home Videos
Come and be ready to laugh and to be funny!

Wednesday March 28, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

So instead of shoveling snow this weekend, the group headed out with gloves and garbage bags to clean up all the garbage that had been covered over by the snow. There seemed to be quite a bit of garbage picked up as the group was able to fill 5 garbage bags full! There was not much going on this weekend in regards to connecting with people but we still had a good time cleaning up the blocks.

Come on out and join us this weekend! Who knows what the weather will bring and what we will be doing. Could be anything from shoveling snow to picking up garbage or even mowing lawns. Ok, maybe not mowing lawns yet.

Irrespective of that advice, I was intrigued by the offer to let the CBC do the story because I have long felt that the Church needs a better relationship with the media.   On the other hand Jesus said, Woe to you when all men speak well of you.  Well, you could argue that we are doing just fine then because there is no danger of that happening.  Maybe I have been thrashed so many times I have just become numb to it all, but we decided to give it a go. We invited Donna into our ranks to see what we were doing.  It seemed to me that she was genuinely impressed with the manifold activities of a church like ours.  She was completely blown away by a group of our young people, who instead of heading to Banff to ski on their spring break, were heading to Mexico on a 42 hour van ride to work in an orphanage and a home for women that are recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.

She also did a piece on our ESL (English as a second language) class, where free of charge and without strings attached, new Canadians come to our building to learn English. Donna also visited ‘Overcomers in Christ’ which ministers to those who are overcoming drug, alcohol, pornography, gambling and other addictions.  She interviewed ‘Isaac’ who was hopelessly addicted to porn and through God’s grace and ‘Overcomers’ he is walking totally free today.  She asked me why we even let people like this in the church.  After I finished chuckling I told her the day we didn’t let sinners into the church, was the day we would need to close our doors because I would be the only one there (yes, she knew I was joking about the very last part).

The first 4 programs were generally accurate and very positive in nature.  And sure, they pulled the most controversial audio clips from our program.  They particularly zeroed in on my Michael Jackson jokes.   If a late night talk show host told them they would be hilarious, but because a pastor told them many said they were mean-spirited and had some sort of hidden social commentary.  The CBC had lots responses on both sides of the ledger.

Some of the CBC faithful called foul and were appalled that they would run such a positive story about such a terrible, bigoted, sexist, racist and hate mongering church.  These of course, are the very listeners that needed to hear this series.  They are the people that don’t know anything about us.  They don’t know that we have more women on staff and leadership than we do men.  They also don’t know that approximately 10% of our congregation come from a Native background.  They have no idea that we are probably the most multi-racial church in Winnipeg… not to mention that 1/3 of our budget goes out of our building to reach people in other nations and of other cultures, and that we are a church that is founded on the very principle of loving our neighbours and as well as our enemies.  But never mind that, because you will always have free wheeling, uninformed people that will just throw labels at you.  Which in my mind is the very lowest form of debate. Rather than addressing the ideals, you merely brand your opponents with some disparaging label and in doing so you dismiss them and any reasonable position they might hold.  As I mentioned elsewhere it is also known as argumentum ad hominem, where you impugn the character of your opponent to try to dismiss their position as invalid.

I need to give Donna Carierro full credit.  She did four days of fair minded, lively and informative coverage on the church.  I know she would have taken abuse for doing this kind of story but she honoured her word to me that she was not out to get us.  On day five however the story turned negative and Donna was nowhere to be heard.  So called experts that do not know me or anything about us offered their completely uninformed commentary. BTW, one comment during Part 5 makes it seem like I was invited to participate in that mornings discussion, but they were referring to different forum entirely.  At any rate I wasn’t upset about it.  Honest reporting should always include the counterpoint.  I get that.  In fact, to be completely honest, it was actually laughable.  They were so inarticulate that they barely made sense.   At any rate the audio clips are below and you can draw your own conclusion as to whether we built significant bridges to our community, or were just dancing with the devil.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Why God Created Sex
+
Battle of the Sexes
Girls vs. Boys in Smarts, Arts, and Sp..arts?

Friday March 16, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

The Risky Side of Sex
+
Hockey Night at Threshold
A big game of floor hockey in the gym.

Friday March 23, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here 
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca  for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

The Parent Link March Newsletter
Includes: Spark Discussions – and Listen
“Sense” a Good Chat: Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
Media Spotlights on Dierks Bentley, The Hunger Games Movie, Mass Effect 3, and more

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-march-16-2012 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-march-16-2012#comments Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:32:29 +0000 Tim Hamm http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5395 Continue reading →]]> http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-march-16-2012/feed 0 Tim Hamm Click here to view online or to leave a comment.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Why God Created Sex
+
Battle of the Sexes
Girls vs. Boys in Smarts, Arts, and Sp..arts?

Friday March 16, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…
The Risky Side of Sex
+
Hockey Night at Threshold
A big game of floor hockey in the gym.

Friday March 23, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here 
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca  for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

Topic:
Big Dreams

Bible:
Genesis 37:1-11

Discussion Starter:
Josh’s story isn’t about what he can’t do because of his accident. Instead he’s made his story about what he can accomplish after the accident.

Genesis 37 tells the story of a famous dreamer, Joseph. He was the 11th born of 12 kids. And yet he dared to dream that one day he’d become important. All throughout his life his wild dreams lead him into and out of trouble until one day, his dreams lead him to become the second most powerful person in all of Egypt.

Like Josh, Joseph’s story wasn’t defined by what he couldn’t become. What would happen if your dreams were bigger than your limitations?

3 Questions:

1. Would you rather do a flip on snow skis or a bike?
2. What are some limitations you have in your life?
3. Which is scarier? Failure or failure to try?

Chew on this:
Why do you think God wants us to try so hard to achieve our dreams?

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-jr-parents-march-14-2012 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-jr-parents-march-14-2012#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:45:30 +0000 Tim Hamm http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5376 Continue reading →]]> http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-jr-parents-march-14-2012/feed 0 Tim Hamm Click here to view online or to leave a comment.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

Handling the Pain of Divorce
+ Tchouckball!
Come play Threshold’s favorite new sport! Also hangout/cafe.

Wednesday March 14, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK…

The Book – Part 1
+ Weird Superhero Night!
Triangle-man? Spatula-girl?
Come as a weird superhero and be ready for other superhero events!

Wednesday March 21, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)...

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here 
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca  for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

The Parent Link March Newsletter
Includes: Spark Discussions – and Listen
“Sense” a Good Chat: Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
Media Spotlights on Dierks Bentley, The Hunger Games Movie, Mass Effect 3, and more

PARENT HOME GROUP

Parent Home Group at the church on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Great opportunity for parents who are bringing their children to Threshold Jr.
Going deeper with God and uniting in caring, loving prayer.
Gathering together in Room A4.
Please contact Helen at 452-9767 for more information.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

Handling the Pain of Divorce
+ Tchouckball!
Come play Threshold’s favorite new sport! Also hangout/cafe.

Wednesday March 14, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

The Book – Part 1
+ Weird Superhero Night!
Triangle-man? Spatula-girl?
Come as a weird superhero and be ready for other superhero events!

Wednesday March 21, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

YC Manitoba (Grade 7 & 8 only)…

YC Manitoba is coming up April 27-29 (yc.extremedream.ca)
**Don’t register on this site if you are coming with Threshold **
The first early bird deadline for registration is March 21.
Download the registration package here 
and hand it in to Tim or the church office.

Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca  for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

Topic:
Big Dreams

Bible:
Genesis 37:1-11

Discussion Starter:
Josh’s story isn’t about what he can’t do because of his accident. Instead he’s made his story about what he can accomplish after the accident.

Genesis 37 tells the story of a famous dreamer, Joseph. He was the 11th born of 12 kids. And yet he dared to dream that one day he’d become important. All throughout his life his wild dreams lead him into and out of trouble until one day, his dreams lead him to become the second most powerful person in all of Egypt.

Like Josh, Joseph’s story wasn’t defined by what he couldn’t become. What would happen if your dreams were bigger than your limitations?

3 Questions:

1. Would you rather do a flip on snow skis or a bike?
2. What are some limitations you have in your life?
3. Which is scarier? Failure or failure to try?

Chew on this:
Why do you think God wants us to try so hard to achieve our dreams?

On Monday morning we drove approximately 30 minutes south of Ensenada to where the Women’s rehabilitation Center is located. We met with Rebecca Ortiz who is the founder of the Women’s rehabilitation Center. Across the road was a  separate building which houses the children whose mothers are in the rehabilitation center.

During the Afternoons there our team was split into two groups. The majority of the women in our group went to minister to the women, while the rest of the team went across the road to do children’s ministry. Each day was a different Bible story that was shared through skits and plays…

Crafts…

and Snacks!

On Wednesday our team went with one of the YWAM translators who had an after school ministry with children from Ensenada. We did some puppet shows for them..

and played soccer with the older kids and did some coloring and games with the younger ones.

On Friday we were able to enjoy the afternoon where the mothers and children were able to spend time together. We had a blast! Playing silly parachute games…

and having some good laughs.

A side from all the ministry and fun we were sharing with the mothers and children, our team used the money the Church sent with us to purchase materials for tilling…

building bunk beds…

kitchen cabinet doors…

and of course, cement work!

Our team really enjoyed ministering to the children and the women in Ensenada. It feels good to put your hands to work to provide some of the necessities of life like bunk beds to children who lack some of the things that we take for granted every day. Many thanks to the women who provided blankets for the children of the women staying at the rehabilitation center.Our last afternoon at the rehabilitation center was a blast! We had such a great time laughing and joking around. After we had left the blankets, toiletries, candy, school supplies, and other things with them. The women surprised our team and really blessed us. They had made these amazing scarves in different colors for each of the women on our team and had given all the guys a pen with our names knitted on them.

Our team headed back home encouraged and blessed by the entire trip!

But don’t take my word for it, here are some quotes from individual team members themselves.

“It was exciting to return to Ensenada to work with the women and children of Genesis.  We were entirely focused on our task at hand, which allowed us to be extremely effective at delivering God’s love, message, and hope to His deserving children.  I want to thank Church of the Rock for providing me with this opportunity, as it allowed me to develop a deep passion for children who are in need.”- Blake

“Going on a mission trip to Mexico was an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone debating on whether they should go” – Aimee

“It was an amazing experience as this was my first Missions Trip. To go and share the Love of Jesus with these women and children in Ensenada, Mexico. My favorite part of the trip was spending time with the children and sharing a connection with them, even in the midst of a language barrier. I can’t say enough about the team bonding either. I have been able to build some great friendships because of this trip. Thank you so much Church of the Rock for sending me!” – Graham

“My experience on the Mexico Missions trip was amazing! We met a group of people that had so few material things.  Yet they still had such an abundant faith in God. This impacted me more than I could have ever imagined, drawing me closer in my relationship to Jesus. I was also extremely blessed to serve with nine other amazing men and women, making many life long friends in the process.” - Colin

“It was a joy to work with the team and to see how God looked after the difficulties and circumstances we encountered. The ladies appreciated the repairs and construction projects we completed as well as the programs.  The kids loved the sports, skits, snacks and crafts. We pray God’s continued blessing on these people,and may they be drawn closer to Him.” – Ed

“One thing that really impressed me was during the worship time with the women. We were all singing in Spanish, and the women were lifting their voices and praising God with such enthusiasm! It was like a glimpse into heaven, with every nation and tongue praising God together.” – Irene

It’s always nice when the sun is out shining because it makes it that much easier for people to want to open their doors and chat for a while. We shoveled a number of walkways and had some good conversations with people. We talked to a lady about Church and asked if she had ever been out to Church of the Rock. She said she had visited a while back so we gave her another invitation to check it out again sometime if she wanted to.

Now that the sun is out and shining and the weather will be warming up, there will be much more opportunities to talk with people. Come and join us one Saturday and get to know your neighbors.

Even though there was plenty of snow to shovel, God opened the doors for us to connect with people. The group was privileged to be able to pray for a man who was recovering from a surgery. Someone talked with a Christian guy about his faith journey and how he has gotten closer with the Lord over the last two years! One of the neighbors inquired about Promise Keepers that was being held at the Church the following weekend.

Praise God for allowing our Church to still be able to connect with people in the aftermath of a snow storm! Come and share in the excitement of showing Gods love to people this Saturday. Don’t forget to dress for the cold.

We started off by serving lunch to the community.

Then we started into the several different activities for the afternoon.  We had face painting, sleds, snow painting and several other activities.

Of course, the the sleigh ride was the big hit.  There was a huge line of families eager for a ride with the horses.  The kids were even allowed to feed the horses carrots while the next group was loading on.

We ended the day with a presentation by a local magician as well as our Family Rockz! team.  We had the adults sit on the chairs, the kids sit on the floor at the front, and even still there were a bunch of people standing at the back because there was not enough room for them.

After the presentation was over, we sent everyone out for a candy toss on the outdoor ice rink. The kids had a blast!

It was such a great time and we had an amazing group of volunteers.  It is so great to be part of a church of people that are willing to serve the community in this way!  I can’t wait for next year!

-Pastor Duane

Religious pluralism in the early days of our nation was not much of a problem, as most immigrants came from European countries that were either Catholic or Protestant in faith.  Though the two groups have not always got along, at their core they shared common values… things like the value of marriage, the sacredness of life and fundamental human rights for ALL.  Today most immigrants come from non-European nations, places with cultures and religions that are sometimes inconsistent with our aforementioned core values.

For the record I welcome new Canadians and think we are richer for it.  My bigger concern is that our version of modern pluralism is an invitation for colonization not immigration.  There is a big difference.  Immigrants come to be part of a new culture, to learn the ways of their adopted home, to integrate and assimilate into society— which does not require relinquishing their heritage or forgetting their roots.  I am sure we all feel Canada is a better place for Ukrainian perogies, English soccer or Scottish highland dancing.  Colonists, by contrast, bring their culture with them and live under their own laws. Their loyalties lie elsewhere.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation which represents 56 Muslim countries and the Palestinian Authority has outlined a very clear strategy for the colonization of the West  They are encouraging widespread immigration into to Western countries and resistence to assimilation.  The explicit agenda is to over time gain control of the institutions of the West,  eventually transforming them into Islamic states.  “This strategy should  be targeted at providing the necessary conditions for individuals from the Muslim communities to occupy the key positions within host societies, in the economic, cultural, political or information fields.”  Don’t believe it?  Go read the document for yourself.

http://www.isesco.org.ma/english/publications/strategy/Chap3.php

Many European countries are already getting concerned.  Because of the extraordinary Muslim birthrate there are fears that some countries will have a Muslim majority by 2050.  Politicians have become alarmed that they could end up as Islamic states.  Radical Muslim groups have made it clear that that is their goal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia4Belgium

At any rate the political battles are already well under way.  France has been the first country to ban Muslim head coverings in public.  Belgium has a similar law, which on hold at the moment.  A Swiss referendum called for a ban against building Muslim minarets   I do not want to be an alarmist but I think it is a fair question to ask, what will Europe look like in the future… and can Canada and the US be far behind?

Presently we have already started wresting with the surface questions. Veiled Muslim women can vote without showing their real identity and for years they were able to slide through airport security without showing their faces.  Now at Canadian airports, covered Muslim women must lift their veils, although they may opt to show their face only to a female security screener.  As of last December their faces must be clearly seen when reciting the oath of citizenship.  There was a significant backlash against this ruling claiming it was a limitation to religious freedom.  The fact is, the Quran nowhere requires women to wear a burqa or niqab.  These are cultural customs not religious.  Personally, I believe people can dress however they want, and if it doesn’t effect national security, I am even happy to accommodate some of their special requests.  For example I have never had a problem with the notion of a Sikh man who wears a turban being a member of the RCMP or military.  After all the Sikhs fought alongside the British for decades and the difference of headware was never even an issue.

It is the issues below the surface that concern me.  Pluralism in Canada suggests that we should embrace their traditions on an equal footing to our own Judeo-Christian roots.  That is where I need to get off the bus.  We are beginning to see where pluralism might lead us.  Most would regard the ‘honour killing’ of four women by Mohammad Shafia, his wife Tooba Yahya and their son Hamed as an isolated indecent.  This is what many of us don’t get, Shafia would not have seen what he did as wrong.  In fact, just the opposite.  This educated and successful man would have regarded what he did as virtuous.  In his mind his daughters and his second wife (yes, he was a polygamous as well) had dishonoured his ‘good name’… so he killed them.  As Westerners we are hard pressed to understand this.   How could a parent’s honour be more valuable than a human life?

Under Sharia law a woman’s life does not have near the value of a man’s.  A daughter’s chastity is regarded to be the property of her family, not her own.  So any shame brought to the family should be dealt with with extreme prejudice.  In many Islamic states it is not even a crime.  In Syria, Morocco, Brazil, Colombia, and other countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America, men are permitted to kill female relatives in honour killings, as long as it was a crime of passion and not pre-meditated.  In Syria, even if convicted of a pre-meditated honour killing (which almost never happens) the sentence is only 2 years in prison.  Even though the UN claims there is 5000 honour killings a year worldwide, in reality there are that many every year in Pakistan alone.  In India 5000 Hindu women are murdered every year by their husbands simply because their dowry was not big enough.  It is estimated that 1000 women lose their lives every year in the US through honour killing.

Canadian Islamic groups have condemned the Shafia killing, as they would and should.  By sentencing them to life in prison our justice system has sent a clear message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in the slightest.  Which is a good start.  What does concern me is the importation of this kind of twisted, backward and treacherous worldview in the first place.  Canada may need to rethink our concept of pluralism.  Don’t misunderstand what I am saying, I still support leaving our doors open to immigrants from around the globe.  However new Canadians need to be expected to adopt our historic Judeo Christian values of the sacredness of all human life.  Immigrants that are convicted of human rights types of crimes should be deported after they serve their sentences.  We cannot allow insidious religious or cultural mindsets to creep into our nation under the guise of religious pluralism.  A lot more thought and action needs to go into how we handle our immigration and citizenship.

In the meantime we cannot live in fear of Muslim, Hindu or other immigrants from non-Christian nations.  Even if there is a clandestine mission of Islamic world domination, God has His own mission.  I am convinced that even if we struggle to take the gospel to the nations, God is bringing the nations to us.  We will never reach anyone with the gospel unless we get to know them and learn to love them.  This is not just an New Testament notion either, as even the Old Testament commanded,  The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.  Lev 19:34

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Baptism
+
Hot Chocolate House
Family and friends are invited as
we celebrate those getting baptized!

Friday March 2, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…
Threshold Cancelled March 9

ALSO NEXT WEEK…

YC Fundraiser
Friday March 9 or
Saturday March 10
YC Manitoba is coming up at the end of April (yc.extremedream.ca)
if you are planning on coming, this is a great opportunity
to raise some money against the cost of going.
Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca to sign up or for more info.
** You must sign up for this event **

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

Topic: Shepherding, sheep

Bible: Psalm 23, Psalm 80:1; John 10

Discussion starter:
The shepherd is likely the most referred to occupation in the Bible. Interestingly, nearly every culture has some version of a shepherd. It might not always be sheep but shepherding is one of those occupations that nearly every culture somehow needs.

What’s interesting is that we, as humans, like to think of ourselves as the shepherds of our lives. We watch that video and we think, “Stupid sheep! Why are you running circles around that car!?” But the Bible consistently compares us to sheep in need of a shepherd because, left alone, we get lost.

The Psalmist David refers to the Lord as, “the Shepherd of Israel.” (Psalm 80:1) And John calls Jesus, “the Good Shepherd.” (John 10)

3 Questions:

1. Would you rather be the guy driving the car or the guy holding the camera?
2. Why do you think those sheep did that?
3. What are areas of your life where you need a shepherd?

Chew on this:
Old sheep and young sheep have the same tendency to wander.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply and say “Unsubscribe” (DO NOT click on the “Unsubscribe” link below). Church of the Rock 1397 Buffalo Place Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L6 Phone: (204)261-0070 or 1-877-700-ROCK (7625) Email: tim@churchoftherock.ca (Tim Hamm)

]]> Continue reading →]]> 0 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-parents-march-2 http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-parents-march-2#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:15:12 +0000 Tim Hamm http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/?p=5194 Continue reading →]]> http://www.churchoftherock.ca/blog/threshold-parents-march-2/feed 0 Tim Hamm Click here to view online or to leave a comment.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
Baptism
+
Hot Chocolate House
Family and friends are invited as
we celebrate those getting baptized!

Friday March 2, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

Threshold Cancelled March 9

ALSO NEXT WEEK…

YC Fundraiser
Friday March 9 or
Saturday March 10
YC Manitoba is coming up at the end of April (yc.extremedream.ca)
if you are planning on coming, this is a great opportunity
to raise some money against the cost of going.
Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca to sign up or for more info.
** You must sign up for this event **

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

Family Rockz – Pastor’s Parenting Panel
This Sunday night – March 4
6:00 p.m. - Family entertainment for parents and young kids
6:45 p.m. – Pastor’s Parenting Panel for parents (including parents of teens!)
FREE

Men and Women’s Ministries Presents: Movie Night

Courageous: Honor Begins At Home

Starting at 7pm, February 29th in the Sanctuary
FREE ADMISSION – No tickets required
Concessions open at 6:30pm
With proceeds going to missions.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK

Getting Along With Parents
+ Western Night
Dress like a cowboy (optional) and get ready to draw your gun!

Wednesday February 29, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

NEXT WEEK…

No Threshold Jr March 7

ALSO NEXT WEEK (Grade 7-8 only)….

YC Fundraiser (Grade 7-8 only)
Saturday March 10
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
YC Manitoba  is coming up at the end of April (yc.extremedream.ca)
if you are planning on coming, this is a great opportunity
to raise some money against the cost of going.
Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca to sign up or for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR
Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK

Family Rockz – Pastor’s Parenting Panel
This Sunday night – March 4
6:00 p.m. - Family entertainment for parents and young kids
6:45 – Pastor’s Parenting Panel for parents (including parents of teens!)
FREE

Men and Women’s Ministries Presents: Movie Night
Courageous: Honor Begins At Home
Starting at 7pm, February 29th in the Sanctuary
FREE ADMISSION – No tickets required
Concessions open at 6:30pm
With proceeds going to missions.

PARENT HOME GROUP

Parent Home Group at the church on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Great opportunity for parents who are bringing their children to Threshold Jr.
Going deeper with God and uniting in caring, loving prayer.
Gathering together in Room A4.
Please contact Helen at 452-9767 for more information.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parent

THIS WEEK (Grade 6-8)

Getting Along With Parents
+ Western Night
Dress like a cowboy (optional) and get ready to draw your gun!

Wednesday February 29, 2012
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

NEXT WEEK…

No Threshold Jr March 7

ALSO NEXT WEEK (Grade 7-8 only)…

YC Fundraiser (Grade 7-8 only)
Saturday March 10
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
YC Manitoba  is coming up at the end of April (yc.extremedream.ca)
if you are planning on coming, this is a great opportunity
to raise some money against the cost of going.
Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca to sign up or for more info.

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

YOUTUBE DISCUSSION

Topic: Shepherding, sheep

Bible: Psalm 23, Psalm 80:1; John 10

Discussion starter:
The shepherd is likely the most referred to occupation in the Bible. Interestingly, nearly every culture has some version of a shepherd. It might not always be sheep but shepherding is one of those occupations that nearly every culture somehow needs.

What’s interesting is that we, as humans, like to think of ourselves as the shepherds of our lives. We watch that video and we think, “Stupid sheep! Why are you running circles around that car!?” But the Bible consistently compares us to sheep in need of a shepherd because, left alone, we get lost.

The Psalmist David refers to the Lord as, “the Shepherd of Israel.” (Psalm 80:1) And John calls Jesus, “the Good Shepherd.” (John 10)

3 Questions:

1. Would you rather be the guy driving the car or the guy holding the camera?
2. Why do you think those sheep did that?
3. What are areas of your life where you need a shepherd?

Chew on this:
Old sheep and young sheep have the same tendency to wander.

It looks like we may actually have some snow this week as we head into the blocks.  If you have not come out for a while, come check us out and bring a shovel with you.  We always have a great time.

				.
				Connect:
Home	Calendar	Blog		Parents

THIS WEEK (Grade 9-12)
The Bible’s Promises Fulfilled
+
Create-a-Pizza Night
Each small group will be making their own pizzas to eat.
Bring your favorite topping!

Friday February 24, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free
(We do have a Cafe that offers food/drink for purchase)

ALSO THIS WEEK…
Baptism Class
We are having a youth baptism on March 2 at Threshold
(Family and friends invited)
If youth are interested they need to attend this class!
Contact tim@churchoftherock.ca if you are interested

Friday February 24, 2012
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Before Threshold)
Church of the Rock

NEXT WEEK…
Baptism
+
Hot Chocolate House
Family and friends are invited as
we celebrate those getting baptized!

Friday March 2, 2012
7:11 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Church of the Rock
Cost: Free

MONTHLY CALENDAR

Click here for this month’s calendar

PARENT LINK