Meister Eckhart (1260-1327 A.D.) came up with the idea that God is like a pot of boiling water. God is completely love; and as well, completely in love with Himself, so much so, that as the three person trinity, He continuously boils over into everyone who is open to receive the fullness of His love. But it doesn't stop there. His love then boils over in and through His children, and permeates itself throughout the whole world, into unlimited ministries of love toward others.
This Sunday I am starting a series of messages on the Song of Songs. I have never preached even one message from this mysterious book, let alone tackle a whole series. So to help me with my focus and understanding of it I have been spending a fair amount of devotional time in the works of Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1113 A.D.), and his 86 sermons on the Song of Songs. It has indeed been a wonderful spiritual exercise for me to say the least. You can touch base with this work @:
http://www.pathsoflove.com/bernard/songofsongs/contents.html
Sunday's message is a very simple gospel message about the love of God. It is based on Song of Songs 1:2, which says,
"Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine."
A few things that I've discovered from a closer investigation of this verse (although I don't want to give it all away) are that: 1. God's love is the most intimate type of love that one can experience; and, 2. it is effervescent in nature. Hopefully that gives you enough to chew on until Sunday morning. For those of you who are from away but want to hear more, check out our church website. The series of messages will be posted weekly for you to hear. The address is:
http://www.newlifebaptist.ca./
In the meantime, as a way of preparing yourself for what God may want to complete in you, think about your experience and understanding of God's love within you and through you. Is it effervescent (you may have to look up the meaning of that word to fully appreciate how it applies).
Back to Song of Songs 1:2, Guess what the Hebrew meaning is for the word wine? You guessed it - it is "effervescent". Play with that idea for awhile. That word has been bouncing around in my mind for the last week. God's love is effervescent within me. Praise the Lord!
Have a great weekend and see you on Wednesday!
Blessings,
Pastor Leo
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I'm Back! Big Weekend Coming Up
Hi All,
I am back after a busy few weeks. Two weeks ago I was finishing up my projects for the course I was taking at Acadia Divinity College. All together I wrote three assignments at a total of 7,ooo words. I enjoy writing so it wasn't really a problem, except for being time consuming.
Last week I had to be away for Board of Ministerial Meetings in Wolfville. This involved three days of intense meetings;from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., each day. I then arrived back in Hatchet Lake on Wednesday afternoon to prepare for Easter.
I think Easter Sunday Service was fabulous. Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Praise the Lord!
It is now time to move on. This Sunday I am starting a new series of messages on The Song of Songs. I have never preached one message from this book let alone a series. I am excited because I believe God has led me to this book for a special reason. I think we all hunger for a deeper relationship with our Lord, and The Song of Songs may give us direction to that end. This book has been viewed throughout history as an analogy for one's love relationship with Jesus Christ. It has also been speculated that it could represent the love relationship that God has with the church through Jesus Christ. Regardless of whether it is an analogy of a personal relationship or teh church collectively, I believe that it may hold the secret to what true spirituality is all about. (I will list the series messages at the bottom of this blog).
This weekend will be a busy one for sure. It is our privilege to welcome all of the representatives from Halifax Association of Atlantic Baptist Churches to our facility on Saturday for the Spring Association Meeting. As well, we will welcome the Women's Missionary Society here on Sunday afternoon.
These meetings are important because they allow our sister churches in Halifax County to come together for fellowship, and to have discussions of current business at hand. Soometimes this business can be about pressing issues of current day situations. Whatever the reason, it is wonderful to gather together with our brothers and sisters of faith to meet and fellowship with each other.
Our Social Committee and friends are hosting a noon meal. If you are able to get out to help I am sure your efforts would be greatly appreciated.
On Sunday afternoon the ABW/WMS will have their meeting at 3:00 p.m. The featured guests for this service are from New Beginnings Church. They are a team of short term missionaries who will be giving a presentation on the their November trip to Rwanda. Everyone is invited to come to this service.
Till Friday,
Blessings everyone,
-Leo
I am back after a busy few weeks. Two weeks ago I was finishing up my projects for the course I was taking at Acadia Divinity College. All together I wrote three assignments at a total of 7,ooo words. I enjoy writing so it wasn't really a problem, except for being time consuming.
Last week I had to be away for Board of Ministerial Meetings in Wolfville. This involved three days of intense meetings;from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., each day. I then arrived back in Hatchet Lake on Wednesday afternoon to prepare for Easter.
I think Easter Sunday Service was fabulous. Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Praise the Lord!
It is now time to move on. This Sunday I am starting a new series of messages on The Song of Songs. I have never preached one message from this book let alone a series. I am excited because I believe God has led me to this book for a special reason. I think we all hunger for a deeper relationship with our Lord, and The Song of Songs may give us direction to that end. This book has been viewed throughout history as an analogy for one's love relationship with Jesus Christ. It has also been speculated that it could represent the love relationship that God has with the church through Jesus Christ. Regardless of whether it is an analogy of a personal relationship or teh church collectively, I believe that it may hold the secret to what true spirituality is all about. (I will list the series messages at the bottom of this blog).
This weekend will be a busy one for sure. It is our privilege to welcome all of the representatives from Halifax Association of Atlantic Baptist Churches to our facility on Saturday for the Spring Association Meeting. As well, we will welcome the Women's Missionary Society here on Sunday afternoon.
These meetings are important because they allow our sister churches in Halifax County to come together for fellowship, and to have discussions of current business at hand. Soometimes this business can be about pressing issues of current day situations. Whatever the reason, it is wonderful to gather together with our brothers and sisters of faith to meet and fellowship with each other.
Our Social Committee and friends are hosting a noon meal. If you are able to get out to help I am sure your efforts would be greatly appreciated.
On Sunday afternoon the ABW/WMS will have their meeting at 3:00 p.m. The featured guests for this service are from New Beginnings Church. They are a team of short term missionaries who will be giving a presentation on the their November trip to Rwanda. Everyone is invited to come to this service.
Till Friday,
Finding True Spirituality
A Series of Messages on the Song of Songs
May 1 - True Spirituality is a Passionate Love for God
Scripture: Songs of Solomon 1:1
May 8 - Characteristics of Holy Desire
Scripture: Song of Songs 1:2-11
May 15 - The Aroma and Beauty of Love
Scripture: 1:12-17
May 22 - The Perpetual Care of Divine Love
Scripture: Song of Songs 2:1-17
May 29 - The Darkness of Separation: Life Without Love
Scripture: Song of Songs 3:1-11
June 5 - Oneness in God’s Perfect Love
Scripture: Song of Songs 4:1-16
June 12 - Love Never Fails
Scripture: Song of Songs 5:1-16
June 19 - The Power of Perfect Love
Scripture: Song of Songs 6:1-13
June 26 - Love’s Spontaneous Praise
Scripture: Song of Songs 7:1-13
July 3 - Intimately Bound Forever In God's Love
Scripture: Song of Songs 8:1-14
Love alone gives meaning to life and vocation
The soul must grow and expand, so as to be capable of God. And its largeness is its love, as the Apostle says, "Widen yourselves in love" (2 Cor 6:13). It grows and extends spiritually, not in substance, but in virtue. The greatness of each soul is judged by the measure of love that it has: he who has great love is great; he who has little love is little, while he who has no love at all is nothing. St. Bernard of ClairvauxBlessings everyone,
-Leo
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