Pastors Pen

Hi. My name is Bill Bogers and I am Pastor at Albion Hills Bible Church. Some weeks I write a short devotional comment for the weekly bulletin. We decided to post this on our website as well for your benefit. If you would like to comment on any of my posts, please email me at billbogers@gmail.com. We would love to hear your comments. If I can be of any help, please contact me.

March 7, 2010

In Matthew 24: 44, a parallel passage to the one we are considering today, Jesus says, “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”  There are many in the church who believe that they have everything figured out and that Jesus’ Second Coming will occur within a prescribed time period.  The fact of the matter is that we cannot, nor are we supposed to know when this will occur.  Our responsibility is to study the signs and be ready for when our Lord comes.  We are certainly to watch but we are also to pray. 

Personally, I am glad that we do not know the day.  Some might believe that they can continue to reject Jesus until a day or two before.  Others might think that it is hardly worth continuing to work or live the normal lives that we have been called to live.  There were those in the early church who believed this and Paul had to correct them.  In summary, he told them that they need to stand firm in their faith, to always give themselves fully to the work of the Lord because nothing done for Jesus is in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58

I trust that we will continue to be a faithful people, looking forward to His return but in the meantime being active in His service. 

January 17, 2009

He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19: 17

If you are like me you have been glued to the television and internet this week as we once again witness a natural disaster in Haiti which has brought great devastation and loss of life.  When such a calamity happens in a place like Haiti the people have nothing to fall back on because they are already so poor. 

Haiti has always had a special place in our heart here at Albion Hills because of the work of Lemuel to the poorest of the poor in Port-au- Prince as well as on the Plateau.  One of the things you might not know is that the AGC have at least ten churches in Haiti and a number among the community in Montreal.  I was privileged to meet a number of these brothers and sisters at National Conference and although we couldn’t communicate very well, I have no doubt that they truly love our Lord. 

At this time we need to be in prayer for Haiti and for all those who mourn the loss of loved ones.  We need to pray for the relief effort and for wisdom for Judy and Manis as they plan the best ways they can help.  There will also be a need for immediate and long term funds.  If you would like to contribute to Lemuel you can write a cheque to Extreme Response Haiti Relief Fund and send it in directly or through our offering box.  Another option is to give through the Christian organization World Relief at 1-800-567-8190 or  www.wrcanada.org/donate   

December 13, 2009

“Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around Him.” Ezekiel 1: 28

In all the business of the last week, I was led to read the first chapter of Ezekiel. It is full of strange creatures and images that the Prophet saw when the hand of the Lord was upon him. He saw a fiery storm of judgement coming upon Israel because of their unfaithfulness. He saw four Cherubim’s with faces that symbolized intelligence, strength, service and heavenliness. They only flew straight ahead showing the undeviating plan and purpose of the Divine Will. He saw strange intersecting wheels that were covered in eyes showing the omniscience of the God. The purpose of all of these was to demonstrate to Ezekiel that behind all the events on earth and in heaven is the sovereign God Himself, working out His plan and purpose.

Like other prophets, Ezekiel was given a vision of a likeness of God which was so overwhelming that he fell on his face in fear. Yet he also saw a rainbow around the Throne of God. The rainbow speaks of God’s Covenant and faithfulness to His people.

As we enter a New Year, I pray that as a Church we will come to a new and fresh vision of God and come to know, love and serve him better.