IT IS I

 

Aug 29 – It is I - Isaiah 52:4-6

 

     The people of Israel first were appressed and enslaved in Egypt.  Next, the Assyrians oppressed them.  The Lord asks the question of what He should do.  His people have become nothing and all day long the Lord name has been mocked and blasphemed. 

     The Lord is about to rise up.  He is about to let the whole world know that He is the Lord.  Most importantly His people the nation of Israel will know.  They will also know that He foretold it long ago.  This is not a secret.  It is the Lord and He alone is God.  God tells what He is going to do long before it happens so His people can watch, wait, and pray.

PLEASE REMEMBER

 

Robert Dean Steel

Cornerstone Community Church

 

     It is that time of the year when we spend time to reflect on the freedoms that we enjoy.  As we approach Remembrance Day we should never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.  Canada was involved in two World Wars and Korea.  We have sacrificed thousands of lives for the freedom we now enjoy.  My own father and my wife’s father fought in World War Two.  They required that we should attend services held on November 11^th.  This was not a chore for us but a great privilege as we remembered those who sacrificed for our liberty.  Even today we do not miss an opportunity to honor that sacrifice. 

     Two thousand years ago another person gave His life so that all mankind could be set free.  Jesus Christ hung on a cross for the salvation of mankind.  It was our sin that placed Him upon that cross.  It was His death, burial and resurrection that would secure our freedom.  Jesus Himself has said, “Who the Son sets free is free indeed.”  Jesus came to give us eternal and abundant life.  This came at a great price for Jesus.  You see Jesus knew that mankind could not save ourselves.  What is remarkable is that so many people actually believe that God grades on a curve.  That He balances our live on a series of good and bad acts.  Now if we do enough God deeds that we can actually get into heaven.  This is absolutely false. 

     St. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, says by faith we are saved through faith and not of ourselves it is a gift of God lest any man should boast.  The prophet Isaiah puts it plainly, “Our righteousness is as filthy rags.”  Both men make it plain that we cannot save ourselves.  Any salvation is a gift given by the grace of God.  A beautiful way of looking at this is, “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.”   Freedom and liberty come by sacrifice.  As the young men and women gave their lives so our country could be free so Jesus Christ gave His life that we could have spiritual and eternal freedom.

     As Remembrance Day approaches I want you to reflect and remember what others have done for you.  We wear poppies and attend services honoring the past soldiers and the current solders.  They are worthy of our respect and appreciation.  Today Canadian forces are serving around the world in the role of peace keeping.  At home and abroad Canadian forces are respected.  May I make a suggestion, don’t just thank a veteran or serving Canadian forces member at this this time but whenever you see them.  It is their continual service that acts as a deterrent to anyone who wishes Canada harm.  May I also suggest that whenever you can to thank police officers for their service.  Over the years police members have also served in foreign lands helping to train and enforce law in other lands. 

     It is a privilege to write this article today.  I have served as a chaplain and conducted numerous Remembrance Day services over the years.  Each time I attend a service I am overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and sense of pride for Canada’s role in securing freedom throughout the world.

When I was growing up in Southern Alberta, the names of the soldiers were read out loud in each service.  Our small town had given over 50 individuals to the cause of freedom.  When I was in Hay River doing the time that Canadian forces served in Afghanistan we lost many soldiers and during those Remembrance Day services the name of the fallen were read.  It was a somber time because Canada was again serving for freedom.  Today I wish to once again thank all who have served in the past and those who are serving today.  Thank you on the behalf of all Canadians.

A NEW YEAR

 

Robert Dean Steel

Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church

 

     Each year I love to share verses from the Bible that are designed to encourage us to live more fruitful, productive and directed lives.  Paul writes in 2 Cor 1:20. “All God's promises are yes and amen!  God is consistent, therefor His words are consistent.   So the following scriptures are concise, direct and simple.  They are verses you can standing on when you need hope, an answer or a promise to get you through. 

     The first one is how to live in Christ – 2 Corinthians 5: 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  This is a great promise for a new year.  The old has gone the new is upon us with hope, love and faith we march forward.  It is a time of new beginnings and new vision and dreams

     The next is about praising God and trusting him in every situation of life.  In 1 Peter 1:3, it says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  In this verse we have mercy, a living hope all through Jesus Christ who rose from the dead.  The world is looking for hope in the middle of a pandemic.  Here is a living hope.  Did you know when you serve the Lord you are never alone?  Jesus said in Matt 28:20 that He would never us or forsake that.  What a great promise to know and have.

     The New Year is all about being new and starting over.  Paul states in Ephesians 4:22-24,  “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  That last part is so great.  Change the attitude of your minds.  Put on a new self, created to be like God.  What an opportunity for a 180 degree change, to be right with God and others.  Throwing off the old and putting on the new.  Getting rid of the junk and getting a new way of thinking. 

     The next goal is Giving Control to God.  In  Jeremiah 29:11, is states,  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  What a verse for the New Year.  In spite of popular opinion God has a plan for us, to prosper and not harm, and to give a hope and a future.   God is good all the time.  I know I have decades of proof from my own life. 

     James says in this verse to live for the moment.  Listen to his thoughts from James 4:13-15, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  Make each moment count and maximize every day.

    Each year is an opportunity to allow growth. The writer of Hebrews says in 12:10-11, “They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  Peter stated in 2 Pet 3:18, to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Make sure to grow this year.

     The last promise is Revelation 21:5, which states.  “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”  God is calling so answer the call and have the best year possible.

 

 

 

THIS IS CANADA

 

Robert Dean Steel

Cornerstone Community Church

 

     Recently we celebrated Canada Day.  It is the official celebration of our country which began in 1867 when in a peaceful transition from the rule of Great Britain began.  As a country we have made mistakes and had our dark times.  The one enduring symbol of our godly heritage is found in an inscription found on the Peace Tower in Ottawa.  It is a public declaration found in Psalm 72:8, which states, “He shall have dominion from sea to sea.”  Our country started with a Christian heritage and even though it is being eroded and bombarded these days because of this heritage our nation has been blessed.

     Canada has 25% of all the fresh water in the world.  We have some of the largest oil reserves in the world.  Recently diamonds have been found throughout Canada and we have become a major diamond supplier.  Canada has the largest boreal forest area in the world.  We are the second largest country in the world in fact we are only smaller by 5000 square miles than all of Europe.  We have represented in our country every nationality on the earth.  Canada has been rated as the best country to live in for the past five years.  There is a long list of immigrants who want to come to this country.  My own daughter in law and granddaughter are recent arrivals in this country and both consider this the best place to live except when it gets super cold. 

     As I reflect on my country of birth I remember the many opportunities God gave me to live some where else but at the last minute closed the door so I could continually tell others of His grace, mercy and love here in my home and native land.  As I reflect on how we can improve our nation I am reminded of Proverbs 14:34 which says, “Righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any land.”  It was righteousness and freedom that drove our early settlers to this land.  They wanted to carve out a nation that was free and open.  They believed in strong work and toil. 

     My mother’s family was a metis family in Northern Saskatchewan.  There were fourteen children who worked hard to with my grandparents to eek a living on a homestead.  My grandmother was war bride whose family were aristocrats.  She left England to start a new life in Canada.  Life was hard but when I was young I asked my grandmother if she regretted coming to Canada.  She said without hesitation her life had been hard but she never regretted coming because God had given her a wonderful husband and children. 

     To the early settlers of this land God was a real part of their lives.  They believed that God had given them this land to build a new world and many did.  Were their injustices along the way of course?  Any new nation will have its number of mistakes and growing pains.  Recent events in the news have shown this.  The secret of success and continued blessing is found in the two scriptures I have already mentioned.  God must have dominion from seas to sea.  Righteousness must continue be lifted up in this land.  I close with one last exhortation.  The Christian community has one important responsibility.  We must humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of God and turn from our wicked ways.  God promises when  His people do that, He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land.  Today I encourage the people of God to pray for our national, provincial and municipal leaders.  Pray for them to walk in wisdom, integrity, honesty, truthfulness and accountability.  We do our part and God will do His.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

 

     In 1918 on the 1th hour of the 11th month on the 11th hour they signed papers to end the great war.  Today we are remembering this event 100 years later.  They called it the war to end all wars.  Of course some 21 years later they fought another world war that claim the lives of 60 million people.  At any time in the World there is never less than 30 wars being fought.  Today we are rememnering the ulitmate sacrifice given by others.  Canada has had in all our modern wars 619,636 soldiers killed and 154,361 wounded.  Today I want to remind you of the greatest sacrfice ever offered for mankind.  That was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a cross on a hill called Golgotha.  He paid the ultimate price for the freedom of mankind.  Jesus said Himself the greatest gift of love with when you laid down yur life for a friend.  John 15:13.

Here are 10 reasons why Jesus died and paid the ulitmate price.

#10) To destroy hostility between races

 Paul said, "He “has broken down…the dividing wall of hostility…making peace…through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14-16).  God sent his Son into the world as the only means of saving sinners and reconciling races. Only as the races find this reconciliation will they love and enjoy each other.

#9) To give marriage its deepest meaning.  It says, Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.  Eph 5:25. God's will marriage is for a husband to love his wife the way Christ loves his people, and for the wife to respond the way Christ’s people should. This kind of love is possible because Christ died for both husband and wife.

#8) To absorb the wrath of God

God’s law demanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). But we have all loved other things more.  Since our sin is against the Ruler of the Universe, “the wages of [our] sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  So God sent his own Son, Jesus, to divert sin’s punishment from us to himself.(1 John 4:10). God publicly endorsed Christ’s accomplishment by raising him from the dead, proving the success of his suffering and death.

 

#7) So that we would escape the curse of the law

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).The law’s demands have been fulfilled by Christ’s perfect law-keeping, its penalty fully paid by his death. “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). Our only hope is having the blood and righteousness of Christ credited to our account.

#6) To reconcile us to God

The reconciliation that needs to happen between man and God goes both ways. God’s first act in reconciling us to himself was to remove the obstacle that separated him from us—the guilt of our sin. He took the steps we could not take to remove his own judgment by sending Jesus to suffer in our place: “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). Reconciliation from our side is simply to receive what God has already done, the way we receive an infinitely valuable gift.

#5) To show God’s love for sinners

The measure of God’s love is shown by the degree of his sacrifice in saving us he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). The measure of his love increases still more when we consider the degree of our unworthiness. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay it.

 

#4) To show Jesus’ own love for us

The death of Christ is also the supreme expression that he “loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It is my sin that cuts me off from God. All I can do is plead for mercy.Jesus paid the highest price possible to give me—personally—the greatest gift possible.

#3) To take away our condemnation

The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To be “in Christ” means to be in relationship to him by faith.The death of Christ secures freedom from condemnation for those who believe that Christ has served their death sentence.

#2) To bring us to God

“Gospel” means “good news,” and it all ends in one thing: God himself. The gospel is the good news that at the cost of his Son’s life, God has done everything necessary to captivate us with what will make us eternally and ever-increasingly happy—namely, himself. “Christ…suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

#1) To give eternal life to all who believe on Him

Jesus made it plain that rejecting the eternal life he offered would result in the misery of eternity in hell: “Whoever does not believe is condemned already....the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:18, 36).But for those who trust Christ, the best is yet to come. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). We will see the all-satisfying glory of God. “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).For all these reasons and more, Christ suffered and died. Why would you not embrace him as your Savior from sin and judgment, and live with God eternally?

There are many stories of personal sacrifice from all the wars Canadians have fought.  In WW1 we had Billy Bishop in two years as a airplane pilot shot down 72 enemy planes.  There was Tommy Prince the most decorated Aborginal soldier who won 11 medals in WW2 and the Korean War.   There is Leo Major who liberated the Dutch town of Zwolle a community of 50,000 from the Germans by himself.  All people who made great sacirfices on behalf of others.  They should be remembered.  As we close today let us remember the words of as he closed his eys to die.Its Finished, Jesus Christ gave His life so we could have eternal and abundant life.  He destroyed the power of death, hell and the grace.  He came to destroy the works of the devil. 

QUOTES FOR AUG 28, 2026

 

REST IN THE LORD

 

Rest in the Lord

 

Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.

 

     Well here we are again looking at Jacob’s final prophetic speech to his sons.  Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah have been address now it is Zebulon and Issachar.  Jacob looks at Zebulon and says, you are going to be a seafaring nation.  Your territory will be near the sea.  Now this was interesting considering that in Joshua times when the land was settled Zebulon was given seashore on two fronts.  On the east their body of water was the Sea of Galilee and on the west the Mediterranean Sea.  Here are some interesting series of side notes concerning Zebulon.  They answered the call to help Gideon to fight the Midianites, they went to make David king and they were the first tribe in Israel to answer the call by Hezekiah to come to Jerusalem and to destroy their idols.  Zebulon’s mother was Leah and his descendants would compose one of the largest groups of fighting men.  They were also single out in the song of Deborah has great helpers when taking the land. 

     So here is Jacob showing how their land would be allotted, the significance in the Israelite federation and their prophetic future.  His name means gift, to dwell and prince.  He would be a gift to Israel and they would be a nation of people who loved the sea and known for it.  This is my thought.  I think that maybe Zebulon had discussed with his father a love for the sea and boats.  They would also be a haven, a resting place for those who made their living on ships.  The people of Zebulon were famous for their hospitality and tolerance for strangers.  Let us be like Zebulon, be the first to hear the call of God and respond.  Let us be takers of the land.  Let us give up all our idols.  Let us be hospitable and let us be people of adventure.

 

Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens.  15 When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor. 

 

     Issachar name means reward.  Now Scholars of the Talmud say that this blessing refers to his name but also some have said that because he was more of a pragmatic person.  He saw his place in the family as one of peacekeeper.  Jacob knew that Issachar was a raw and rugged individual when he was young he did like to venture out but as he was getting older he was he became more sedate and prefer comfort and stability verses ambition and action. 

     There is a powerful lesson we can learn from Issachar.  Let us never lose our sense of adventure our desire for new things.  Let us keep learning, growing, and striving to be better in the Lord and as a person.  Let us be careful that with age and circumstance that our comfort becomes more important than our desire for change.  So many people do not like change.  They like the stability of the same day after day.  Talk about the guys I see at Tim Horton everyday dropping off Rebekah.

     People like consistency, stability and predictability.  Yet with it also comes, slavery.  Jacob says that because his need for comfort as he gets older Issachar would begin a spiritual and physical pattern for his descendants for future acceptance of situations that even unhealthy situations for consistency.  This acceptance for predictability is so dangerous.  We have nations accepting corruption, evil leaderships because as the old saying goes, the devil you know over the one you don’t.  We have women and men staying in abusive relationships because at least they know what to expect.  Issachar would bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to force labor.  His desire for peace, comfort and stability would make him submit to tyranny, slavery and loss of self esteem.  Brothers and sisters this happens every day, in marriages, homes, communities and countries.  For a myriad of reasons, spouses stay in abusive relationships out a sense of false love or to be loved.   People prefer attacks on self –esteem for economic security and doing it for the kids.  Now I believe any relationships can be saved, fixed and made better with the Lord’s help, with counseling and a choice to do something about it.  Yet being abused, enslaved, threatened is not a relationship it is evil and wrong.  We allow governments, employers, management and society in general to do this.  I call this the Issachar complex.  Our comfort, stability, predictability makes us accept abusive people to exploit us.  True believers are not enablers.  We are peacemakers but we are strong in the Lord and we allow the Lord to guide us and if change needs to be made we make it.  Change can be good. 

 

Here are some benefits to change: 

 

Personal growth.  You grow and learn new things every time something changes.

Flexibility. Frequent changes make you easily adapt to new situations, new environments, and new people.

Improvements and progress

Life values are often look at and changed

Strength, you actually become stronger

New opportunities you never dreamed of.

 

Benefits of Risk

 

Risk urges you to learn new skills and evolve already existing ones.

Fear of failure gets obliterated once you embrace a risk-taking culture.

It inspires creative thinking.

 

Now our recent Covid 19, we a period of dramatic change and that change is still going on.  Folks do not be deceived we are paying and will pay for this crisis for years to come.  300 billion dollars and counting this year alone.  As a church we have learn the value of meeting together, virtual meetings, online communication.  Of using text, phone and social media.  We also are now church right now different than ever before.  Social distancing, sanitizing, masks, no singing are our reality this day.  Do we like the change not all but maybe right now this may be best, I do not know but one thing I refuse to do is give up.  I lost two things during this crisis.  I lost my physical pulpit but not my virtual.  I lost my radio dream but last Friday I was given it back.  I will be back on the air on July 6.  I did not like the change but I was forced to learn to adapt, grow and change.  I also learned  never take anything for granted.  God is in the change business.  Stability often leads to stagnation, acceptance and slavery.  If God wants you to change you can either do it when He wants you to do it or it will be forced on you. 

 

Now  in 1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the  from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.  Men of Issachar is a must read for men who are meditating on God's Word day and night. It is current as only God's Word is and is enlightening and appropriate for male leaders in the Body of Christ, Godly husbands, Godly brothers, Godly fathers, Godly uncles and Godly step-fathers.  Great Thought.