Recently, Pastor Goodman spoke to the church regarding our perfect center, with respect to what we revolve our lives around and base our life around. I wrote this blog 2 more than 2 years ago and I wanted to re-post this message as it speaks affirmation to me about his message about Jesus for all of us. Only slightly edited from the original post to reflect current events, be blessed.
How many of us can accurately say that we can live daily within our own respective bubbles, surrounded by our immediate world, but never see the perspective of what it is we are supposed to be doing? Think about it for just a minute...take a moment to look at your daily grind and try and step out of it for just a minute to visualize you as you go through each day. What are the things you do that make you shake your own head? Are you angry or short with those in your life? Are you trapped by a consuming addiction that tears holes in your life? Do you find you have little patience for others? Are there things going on daily that cause you to be distracted from the tasks most important? What are those tasks? Do you have all the tools to complete those tasks?
In most of our lives we tend to think we are the only ones who are enduring problems, especially when the problem is occurring; however, whatever they may be; we believe that we must be the only one who is in a storm.
Now of course we realize that not all of us are in storms all of the time. Storms of life come and go and there are times when you are in calm seas and no trials are coming at you.
This is a perspective I like to refer to as being in the Eye of the Storm. Like a hurricane, life can produce tremendous storm and winds with rain and sometimes even floods. These I liken to the problems that all of us can go through from time to time. At other times we find ourselves sailing through calm waters and clear skies, when life is good and all things seem to be going our way. In the eye of a hurricane, meteorologists constantly observe a calm pattern within the storm. Sometimes this "eye" is very large and other times it can be very small; with the intensity of the storm raging all around the eye.
Couple of points here: How often do you find yourself in the storm compared to how often you are in the eye?
Do you actively try and stay in the eye of the storm, or do you just drift along with the current, eventually ending up back in the storm?
Many times the storms of our lives of course are likely a result of the choices we make daily, choices that cause un-intended consequences for our lives; the repercussions for our decisions. I believe equally so, the choices we make also allow us to ride calmly through the eye of a storm.
So we can liken the eye of the storm as a perfect center for our lives, the place where we can sail along smoothly, at times we may veer off course and sail into choppy waters, but if we know where the perfect center is then we can find our way back to smoother waters.
Of course I am likening each of our lives to what the scriptures tell us to look for. That we must first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matt 6:33
These "things" referring to everything you need to live!
This is inherently the root of many of the problems that plague us; at any time we can represent one or two of three possible kingdoms, the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of darkness, or the kingdom of self. Yes, we can and many of us do, operate in any or all of these kingdoms, but most likely we are operating in the kingdom of self. Surprisingly, the decisions we make in our own kingdom can look very similar to the kingdom of darkness
Let's be honest with ourselves here, even if we believe in God, we can create habits and go through life still making decisions on our own counsel. The problem with trusting our own guidance is that if we are making decisions that only feed my kingdom and not the Kingdom of God, we can create religion and even false idols in our lives that lead us into storms.
This is a small example: When we seek "things" in our lives that we think we need, or simply cannot live without, we can easily move into making decisions from the kingdom of self. In effect, this is covetousness, boiled down, we want because we see that others have. This is a potentially gray area folks, and I know we all want to be comfortable and of course God wants us to be happy and be able to provide for our families, right? This is only an example, just be careful when you are faced with these decisions that can cause you to be burdened with more debt.
Let's look at this as the church, and expand the example to involve the body of Christ. The ramifications are now very visible. When the people of the body of Christ burden themselves with mountains of things, and create debt filled idols, the entire church is now saddled with the burden. The available resources of God can so easily be wasted on useless projects or things that only bring glory to ourselves and not God. This is the warning.
If what we are doing, is tying up our time, resources and wealth in building up ourselves, we cannot possibly be available to God when He calls us out. We cannot "go" and "make disciples" when we are working two jobs and paying down three credit cards after all the Black Friday sales!
Listen people, I am just as guilty as the next believer when it comes to falling into this trap, and I know I can be tempted when it comes to buying that big Tundra truck! But, I refrain because I know the debt will burden me with a storm that I create! You may think the God wants you to have that "fill in the blank" but if you cannot afford it or you have to create a debt to get it, then it cannot possibly be God's will for you. He would never cause you to become burdened through His provision of anything! His provision always comes without strings, without burden! That's grace.
Please, folks...hear my heart on this: The body of Christ is far more effective at reaching and helping people when we ourselves are not burdened with the cares of the world. This is the whole point of Mathew 6:33. We cannot do what we should do as Christians, if we are saddled by the cares of the world, and when we try, we will struggle. When this happens we will always choose to do only what our time, and resources allow us to do.
Of course this is a process, first seeing who Jesus is, what He has done for you, and what He can do for you after you know Him. All of this works hand in hand as we go through each day of our lives...trusting that God brought us into the world and therefore He will keep us and provide for us.
Sometimes the storms of life are unavoidable, sometimes they are just too big to sail around. But know this, you do not have to continue to weather the storms alone; seek the Lord and His wisdom and He will guide you to the perfect center; the eye of the storm; the calming seas and His calming presence. Choose not the cares of the world, for the world is in the winds of the storm. Only in the perfect center will you sail smoothly. Within that center is the Lord, and He will endue you with wisdom, focus and direction for your life.
You only need to choose...
Blessings
Mike
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
What is the Measure of a Man?
This is an age old question that has been asked probably since the beginning of knowledge. However, the question cannot be answered without perspective, without an understanding of when mankind began. The almost endless debate will undoubtedly continue even after many proofs have been brought forward, discussed, argued over and then cast aside simply because of unbelief. Unbelief that we have all been created for a purpose, that each life has meaning and direction. The tragedy occurs when those who cannot wrap their minds around the thought of having a creator who has a purpose for mankind, blindly stand in defiance of the truth and will even seek other fantastical ideas in order to give themselves satisfaction for their lives. Too many have forgotten the past or have failed to look at the vast amounts of information gathered in libraries and universities that point mankind back toward a creator. The simple fact is that in the face of all the information mankind has created to fit his theories of evolution or the age of all things, there stands a consistent yet pervasive line of control weaving throughout our known timeline of existence. This line indicates that something is behind the scenes moving our environment in order to give us the world we as mankind can exist in and help to develop. Upon that line is an unprecedented number of believers who followed the precepts handed down by God from generation to generation. Sure there have been many who have fallen off of the line as they walked through life, even leading others astray as they fell.
There is also only one written authority that parallels the line from beginning to present day; The Bible. Of all the ancient writings that archaeology has uncovered, only the Bible remains the oldest and most consistent, verified manuscript, with proven documented events from our history. Other writings of course exist, but none to the graphic extent of the Bible. No other genealogy from any other nation at any other time has ever been written. The History of the Bible is pervasive from almost the beginning of mankind, with some of the writings dating back over three thousand years.
The non-believing world of today has stated that science will discover the true reasons behind the creation of everything and soon we will know why it all began. Simply because the rules of physics and mathematics are pure and can not change, therefore they have always existed. Ironically, the deeper man delves into the inner and outer workings of life and the universe, the more complex are the discoveries. This complexity is creating a mathematical problem for the "accidental creation" theorists. Science has looked deep into our own body only to discover we have so many working, moving parts, all working together in perfect harmony that the odds of our having come to being by "Accident" is a mathematical impossibility.
Science has already proven mathematically that the universe we live in and all that surrounds us cannot exist the way it does given the vast amounts of evidence pointing toward the creation a long time ago. That said they are all still speculating about ages of all things; it has been "assumed" that our world and our universe must be exceedingly old because it is so vast and rates of expansion create a large timeline for all things in the universe. However, these same scientists have also not answered the question of why all things exist. How did it all start and if it was a start as they surmise, then there must be a purpose to all of it. Science has also been unable to answer the question of why our relatively "short" existence as mankind on the earth has shown to be the most intelligent, creative, sentient species to have ever existed; that we know of. These same scientists cannot fit the evolution of man into the relatively large window of evolution, (origin of the species) given all the existing evidence so far. Mankind appears to have suddenly developed no more than 10,000 years ago; there of course are anomalies in this timeline, but suffice to say that there is simply not enough evidence to have man existing longer than this small period of time. There is no evidence of man running around on the earth forming himself into communities and building things prior to this point in history. Moreover, the development of language and writings appear at almost exactly the same time, with little to no evidence of development from no communication to immense vocabularies and differing types of language. All this in 10,00 years or less? This begs a huge philosophical question, "Mankind evolved from a beast unable to form words and communicate into the great thinker that he is today in the smallest evolutionary window compared to the age of all things?" This is essentially what stands between belief in a creator and belief in life having no purpose.
There then stands only two points of view, creation by a creator for a purpose, or existence by accident, we are just a chance happening.
There are no other choices in our short history: Mankind had suddenly appeared and assumed the top position on the ladder of life on earth when it is just as likely (mathematically) that any other species could have done so. However, mankind is so much further advanced than any other species, our own evolution stands as an anomaly to the very theories of man. We just don't fit the mold of evolution; we measure up much higher than anything else we know or have ever known.
So this is the question then," What is your measure?" "Why are you here?" "What do you believe?"
Why are so many opposed to seeking the truth for themselves to find purpose in their lives?
I believe that many are afraid to seek the truth, for knowing the absolute truth means we are not number one in each of our lives, for if we were created for a purpose, then something is bigger than we are: a lot bigger. Fear drives mankind into assuming he is on the top of the food chain, life becomes dog-eat-dog, we seek to become king of our world as we know it. Belief is what it is, you can choose to believe whatever you want, but if your belief leads you to a life with no purpose having come from an accidental beginning, a chance occurrence then I believe you are not looking at all the evidence. You are simply following the crowd, you are a lemming if you will. Doomed to live a life with no direction, no purpose, no fulfillment because you are following a lie. Ironically, those who are following the lie will say that I am following a lie; that there is no evidence of God in the world. They would say. "How can you believe in a God that allows so many of His people to suffer?" The fact of the matter is that all who are born will live and then die, how we choose to do so is what causes suffering. God also chooses indiscriminately whom He will take, both believer and non-believer, both child and adult. Yes I believe in a God that allows mankind to suffer, because that very same God also blesses me with life, and life more abundantly.
There is hope though, for the Measure of Man is to seek the Truth. When you seek the Truth you will find God. Once you understand then you will see your purpose; to deny the Truth is to deny yourself, of your very existence, of your very real purpose.
Blessings
Mike
There is also only one written authority that parallels the line from beginning to present day; The Bible. Of all the ancient writings that archaeology has uncovered, only the Bible remains the oldest and most consistent, verified manuscript, with proven documented events from our history. Other writings of course exist, but none to the graphic extent of the Bible. No other genealogy from any other nation at any other time has ever been written. The History of the Bible is pervasive from almost the beginning of mankind, with some of the writings dating back over three thousand years.
The non-believing world of today has stated that science will discover the true reasons behind the creation of everything and soon we will know why it all began. Simply because the rules of physics and mathematics are pure and can not change, therefore they have always existed. Ironically, the deeper man delves into the inner and outer workings of life and the universe, the more complex are the discoveries. This complexity is creating a mathematical problem for the "accidental creation" theorists. Science has looked deep into our own body only to discover we have so many working, moving parts, all working together in perfect harmony that the odds of our having come to being by "Accident" is a mathematical impossibility.
Science has already proven mathematically that the universe we live in and all that surrounds us cannot exist the way it does given the vast amounts of evidence pointing toward the creation a long time ago. That said they are all still speculating about ages of all things; it has been "assumed" that our world and our universe must be exceedingly old because it is so vast and rates of expansion create a large timeline for all things in the universe. However, these same scientists have also not answered the question of why all things exist. How did it all start and if it was a start as they surmise, then there must be a purpose to all of it. Science has also been unable to answer the question of why our relatively "short" existence as mankind on the earth has shown to be the most intelligent, creative, sentient species to have ever existed; that we know of. These same scientists cannot fit the evolution of man into the relatively large window of evolution, (origin of the species) given all the existing evidence so far. Mankind appears to have suddenly developed no more than 10,000 years ago; there of course are anomalies in this timeline, but suffice to say that there is simply not enough evidence to have man existing longer than this small period of time. There is no evidence of man running around on the earth forming himself into communities and building things prior to this point in history. Moreover, the development of language and writings appear at almost exactly the same time, with little to no evidence of development from no communication to immense vocabularies and differing types of language. All this in 10,00 years or less? This begs a huge philosophical question, "Mankind evolved from a beast unable to form words and communicate into the great thinker that he is today in the smallest evolutionary window compared to the age of all things?" This is essentially what stands between belief in a creator and belief in life having no purpose.
There then stands only two points of view, creation by a creator for a purpose, or existence by accident, we are just a chance happening.
There are no other choices in our short history: Mankind had suddenly appeared and assumed the top position on the ladder of life on earth when it is just as likely (mathematically) that any other species could have done so. However, mankind is so much further advanced than any other species, our own evolution stands as an anomaly to the very theories of man. We just don't fit the mold of evolution; we measure up much higher than anything else we know or have ever known.
So this is the question then," What is your measure?" "Why are you here?" "What do you believe?"
Why are so many opposed to seeking the truth for themselves to find purpose in their lives?
I believe that many are afraid to seek the truth, for knowing the absolute truth means we are not number one in each of our lives, for if we were created for a purpose, then something is bigger than we are: a lot bigger. Fear drives mankind into assuming he is on the top of the food chain, life becomes dog-eat-dog, we seek to become king of our world as we know it. Belief is what it is, you can choose to believe whatever you want, but if your belief leads you to a life with no purpose having come from an accidental beginning, a chance occurrence then I believe you are not looking at all the evidence. You are simply following the crowd, you are a lemming if you will. Doomed to live a life with no direction, no purpose, no fulfillment because you are following a lie. Ironically, those who are following the lie will say that I am following a lie; that there is no evidence of God in the world. They would say. "How can you believe in a God that allows so many of His people to suffer?" The fact of the matter is that all who are born will live and then die, how we choose to do so is what causes suffering. God also chooses indiscriminately whom He will take, both believer and non-believer, both child and adult. Yes I believe in a God that allows mankind to suffer, because that very same God also blesses me with life, and life more abundantly.
There is hope though, for the Measure of Man is to seek the Truth. When you seek the Truth you will find God. Once you understand then you will see your purpose; to deny the Truth is to deny yourself, of your very existence, of your very real purpose.
Blessings
Mike
Monday, April 15, 2013
Give credit where credit is due...
I have to tell you that I am a little tired this morning. This is a good tired though, knowing that the week we have just enjoyed was chock full of experience, blessings, new found friends and the confirmation of God's tremendous love for all of us.
Just over a week ago Rio Vista received their first ever Mission Team from Florida on April 5, 2013. 15 people arrived safely in the wee hours of the morning and slept quickly as the morning was only five hours away. After a bit of a chaotic start the hosts soon found their groove and never skipped a step for the entire week. We must however, thank our very good friends James and Sylvia Stroeve who came down to see Laura and I for a holiday and I worked them everyday getting the facility ready for the team. More than that, they were strong assets in our initiation to the Guest House Industry, helping out wherever necessary.
The team enjoyed our hospitality and the facility God has built for them; very few problems appeared while the team was here. The hot water on demand performed perfectly! As well the power stayed on for nearly the entire week!
We must give thanks to all of you who helped see us through to this point in our journey! You all know who you are so I won't name names. We are so blessed to have had such support around us as we worked to get the Mission House ready for teams. It is interesting to note though that while the team was here one of them came up to me and asked me to share how we had come to the D.R. I gave them the "short" version stating that God gave me the vision and we had just enough Faith to make the step. The lady asked me how I could hold onto the dream for so long, "What was it that made you keep going?" She asked.
"Faith in Him," "Faith in knowing His promises to me if I followed Him,"
"Faith in seeing the continued blessings come from all over the place, through people we had never met"
"Faith in understanding that it is through our hands that God does His Great works, it is through our hearts that God shows us His compassion for His people."
The short version is Faith...the long version is still going...in my life everyday, through Him who lives in me I give all the glory. For I am just a man doing what God has called me to do, feeding His sheep.
Bless you all
Michael
Just over a week ago Rio Vista received their first ever Mission Team from Florida on April 5, 2013. 15 people arrived safely in the wee hours of the morning and slept quickly as the morning was only five hours away. After a bit of a chaotic start the hosts soon found their groove and never skipped a step for the entire week. We must however, thank our very good friends James and Sylvia Stroeve who came down to see Laura and I for a holiday and I worked them everyday getting the facility ready for the team. More than that, they were strong assets in our initiation to the Guest House Industry, helping out wherever necessary.
The team enjoyed our hospitality and the facility God has built for them; very few problems appeared while the team was here. The hot water on demand performed perfectly! As well the power stayed on for nearly the entire week! We must give thanks to all of you who helped see us through to this point in our journey! You all know who you are so I won't name names. We are so blessed to have had such support around us as we worked to get the Mission House ready for teams. It is interesting to note though that while the team was here one of them came up to me and asked me to share how we had come to the D.R. I gave them the "short" version stating that God gave me the vision and we had just enough Faith to make the step. The lady asked me how I could hold onto the dream for so long, "What was it that made you keep going?" She asked.
"Faith in Him," "Faith in knowing His promises to me if I followed Him,"
"Faith in seeing the continued blessings come from all over the place, through people we had never met"
"Faith in understanding that it is through our hands that God does His Great works, it is through our hearts that God shows us His compassion for His people."
The short version is Faith...the long version is still going...in my life everyday, through Him who lives in me I give all the glory. For I am just a man doing what God has called me to do, feeding His sheep.
Bless you all
Michael
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Living The Dream!
April 8, 2007 was a banner day on my calendar. It started out as a typical Sunday morning, I arose early to flip on the television to find the early broadcast of the Formula One race. So at 5:30 in the dark of morning my day began, a few hours later Laura was awake, the race was over and we enjoyed our usual pancake breakfast with coffee before we got ready for church.
All was normal in our lives, well as normal as caterers could be. We usually worked most weekends catering some private event or a private wedding. We were operating a successful company and had a large staff of young employees to help us. I was not expecting anything to change as I sat down in my normal seat at 10:30 April 8, 2007; six rows back, left side of the church, aisle seat, my wife Laura beside me.
The service began as usual with a lengthy worship followed by the usual announcements and the usual offering. The sermon that day was given by Daniel Zopoula. While I like his messages and his manner of speaking, I cannot recall to this day one word of which he spoke; no offence to Daniel, I know God was preparing something bigger. After Daniel finished his message he invited the church to enter into a prayer time with him; the air was thick with the Holy Spirit, I could feel Him moving through the congregation. The air seemed heavy around me and I could feel myself getting warmer, as though someone had suddenly turned on a heater beside me. I could hear the sound of Daniels' voice as he prayed to God for intercession for many things; I looked up from my prayer (I had my head down with eyes closed) to look at Daniel. He was standing center stage with his eyes closed as he prayed; I remember looking around to other people and noticed many involved in deep prayer as well. I dropped my head again and when I closed my eyes I immediately saw a clear vision in my mind; as bright as a normal day I was standing on a paved road looking at a large stone wall to the left of which was an immense wrought iron gate; one side was open and a narrow driveway wound around a corner back to where I could not see. The sides of the driveway were grown over with lush tropical plants and trees. Mounted on the face of the stone wall were the words "North Coast Missionary Services, Michael and Laura Boisclair with a large Ichthys or "Christian Fish". The letters were made of a shiny steel. Suddenly the vision flipped to the view of a large white concrete house, two stories high with a set of stairs leading to the second floor; in the yard out front a large fountain gushed water onto three tiers; palm trees dotted the sides of the property. The vision flipped again and this time I was sitting in a large white van in the airport parking lot of Puerto Plata; a group of people were coming toward the van. One man in particular stood out, he was slightly taller than me and I met him just outside the van with a great bear hug; his skin was fair and his hair was a mass of white curls, he spoke to me with a European accent, a country of origin I cannot place. The vision flipped again and I recall looking at a computer screen with a Google search listing for North Coast Missionary Services; it was the fourth listing on the page in large bold blue letters.
Suddenly the vision ended and I found myself now looking at the back of the head of the person directly in front of me. Daniel was still speaking a quiet prayer to the congregation, I looked around quickly to see if anyone else had seen what I had seen, but everyone had their heads down in prayer. I looked at Laura and she too had seen nothing, her eyes still closed in prayer. I was visibly shaken by the event, sweating now, my heart was racing and my head and ears still burning from an unknown heat. It seemed like minutes had passed with the vision but it must have only been seconds. I knew instantly what it was, I didn't know how or why but the words just formed in my mind: A Mission House for teams! As soon as Daniel finished praying and gave the blessing to release the people I grabbed Laura's hand and said "Let's go." All I could think of was to get out of the church as fast as I could. We were still in the building when Laura asked me what was "Up?" I was almost dragging her out of the church. I told her nothing but she could tell something was different. I quickly started the truck and raced out of the parking lot. She again asked me what was going on stating that I was scaring her. As I drove home I quickly relayed what I had "Seen" Laura stated promptly, "We have to write this down!" Which we did when we got home.
Then she said, "We have to tell someone about this!"
"What" I exclaimed, "Are you nuts! They will think I am crazy or something!" I disagreed at first but as the day went on and I realized just what had happened; I relaxed and began to see the future from a different perspective. The next morning we called a good friend and pastor whom we both respect and booked a meeting with him. After I again relayed the entire event to Alan he advised me to just see what God revealed over time. I was not "crazy" as I had first thought because true vision from God will always come from confirmation towards the dream over time. If it was to be God's will then things would happen without my control in order for the will of God to be fulfilled.
So true it was.
I can sit here today and tell you that now almost five years later I am living the dream God gave me.
Five years ago I had no interest at all in changing what I was doing. We were very busy with catering and the company was doing well; we were blessed to have a good home, plenty of good things to fill our lives and that of our children. However, I will tell you that I was tired and daily I prayed for God's will for my life. He granted my request as He began to disconnect us from that life to get us ready for a new one. Within the first year I would disassemble a large part of my company and move into a transition period for the next 3 years while God slowly disconnected us from Canada. Finally the time came when we had to make the decision of exactly when we would go; October of 2010 Laura and I announced to the people and family we know that we were leaving in the new year. In the next two months we sold our small company and secured a buyer for our house. We moved in February of 2011 after almost 4 years of waiting and watching the signs for God to line up the things that needed to happen beyond my control. We counselled the entire time with friends and pastors at River Of Life Church, understanding that ultimately God would give us the desires of our hearts only if we chose to be obedient to Him and His ways.
Ps 37:4
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
NIV
Understand as well, my dream given to me by God, had to line up with His will in order for it to come to pass. That means that His will for my life must be represented by His character or His nature, and that is a caring, compassionate Father who loves all of His children. My dream must represent the same desires God has; anything else, then it is not from God.
Those who have followed our story from the beginning understand how we see God's will for our lives here in the Dominican Republic.
Through all of this my deepest prayer for all of you is that you earnestly seek the Lord, that you do not buy into the world and all of its trappings because they are only distractions designed to keep you away from God. That each of you discover what dreams God has for you and that you are living within His will. My fervent prayer is for you to understand also that my dream is not your dream, but yours could be similar; and when you see it, it will be distinctly yours; and if it lines up with God's will and you choose to pursue Him, He will bring your dream to fruition.
Bless you all, bless you well.
Mike
All was normal in our lives, well as normal as caterers could be. We usually worked most weekends catering some private event or a private wedding. We were operating a successful company and had a large staff of young employees to help us. I was not expecting anything to change as I sat down in my normal seat at 10:30 April 8, 2007; six rows back, left side of the church, aisle seat, my wife Laura beside me.
The service began as usual with a lengthy worship followed by the usual announcements and the usual offering. The sermon that day was given by Daniel Zopoula. While I like his messages and his manner of speaking, I cannot recall to this day one word of which he spoke; no offence to Daniel, I know God was preparing something bigger. After Daniel finished his message he invited the church to enter into a prayer time with him; the air was thick with the Holy Spirit, I could feel Him moving through the congregation. The air seemed heavy around me and I could feel myself getting warmer, as though someone had suddenly turned on a heater beside me. I could hear the sound of Daniels' voice as he prayed to God for intercession for many things; I looked up from my prayer (I had my head down with eyes closed) to look at Daniel. He was standing center stage with his eyes closed as he prayed; I remember looking around to other people and noticed many involved in deep prayer as well. I dropped my head again and when I closed my eyes I immediately saw a clear vision in my mind; as bright as a normal day I was standing on a paved road looking at a large stone wall to the left of which was an immense wrought iron gate; one side was open and a narrow driveway wound around a corner back to where I could not see. The sides of the driveway were grown over with lush tropical plants and trees. Mounted on the face of the stone wall were the words "North Coast Missionary Services, Michael and Laura Boisclair with a large Ichthys or "Christian Fish". The letters were made of a shiny steel. Suddenly the vision flipped to the view of a large white concrete house, two stories high with a set of stairs leading to the second floor; in the yard out front a large fountain gushed water onto three tiers; palm trees dotted the sides of the property. The vision flipped again and this time I was sitting in a large white van in the airport parking lot of Puerto Plata; a group of people were coming toward the van. One man in particular stood out, he was slightly taller than me and I met him just outside the van with a great bear hug; his skin was fair and his hair was a mass of white curls, he spoke to me with a European accent, a country of origin I cannot place. The vision flipped again and I recall looking at a computer screen with a Google search listing for North Coast Missionary Services; it was the fourth listing on the page in large bold blue letters.
Suddenly the vision ended and I found myself now looking at the back of the head of the person directly in front of me. Daniel was still speaking a quiet prayer to the congregation, I looked around quickly to see if anyone else had seen what I had seen, but everyone had their heads down in prayer. I looked at Laura and she too had seen nothing, her eyes still closed in prayer. I was visibly shaken by the event, sweating now, my heart was racing and my head and ears still burning from an unknown heat. It seemed like minutes had passed with the vision but it must have only been seconds. I knew instantly what it was, I didn't know how or why but the words just formed in my mind: A Mission House for teams! As soon as Daniel finished praying and gave the blessing to release the people I grabbed Laura's hand and said "Let's go." All I could think of was to get out of the church as fast as I could. We were still in the building when Laura asked me what was "Up?" I was almost dragging her out of the church. I told her nothing but she could tell something was different. I quickly started the truck and raced out of the parking lot. She again asked me what was going on stating that I was scaring her. As I drove home I quickly relayed what I had "Seen" Laura stated promptly, "We have to write this down!" Which we did when we got home.
Then she said, "We have to tell someone about this!"
"What" I exclaimed, "Are you nuts! They will think I am crazy or something!" I disagreed at first but as the day went on and I realized just what had happened; I relaxed and began to see the future from a different perspective. The next morning we called a good friend and pastor whom we both respect and booked a meeting with him. After I again relayed the entire event to Alan he advised me to just see what God revealed over time. I was not "crazy" as I had first thought because true vision from God will always come from confirmation towards the dream over time. If it was to be God's will then things would happen without my control in order for the will of God to be fulfilled.
So true it was.
I can sit here today and tell you that now almost five years later I am living the dream God gave me.
Five years ago I had no interest at all in changing what I was doing. We were very busy with catering and the company was doing well; we were blessed to have a good home, plenty of good things to fill our lives and that of our children. However, I will tell you that I was tired and daily I prayed for God's will for my life. He granted my request as He began to disconnect us from that life to get us ready for a new one. Within the first year I would disassemble a large part of my company and move into a transition period for the next 3 years while God slowly disconnected us from Canada. Finally the time came when we had to make the decision of exactly when we would go; October of 2010 Laura and I announced to the people and family we know that we were leaving in the new year. In the next two months we sold our small company and secured a buyer for our house. We moved in February of 2011 after almost 4 years of waiting and watching the signs for God to line up the things that needed to happen beyond my control. We counselled the entire time with friends and pastors at River Of Life Church, understanding that ultimately God would give us the desires of our hearts only if we chose to be obedient to Him and His ways.
Ps 37:4
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
NIV
I really must emphasize this point, we must "Choose" to be obedient to His Word and His ways. We must "Delight ourselves in the Lord" He never pushes Himself upon us. When we come into agreement with God with our soul and our spirit only then will He give us the desires of our heart; the dreams we can visualize; the life you never thought you could have.
Understand as well, my dream given to me by God, had to line up with His will in order for it to come to pass. That means that His will for my life must be represented by His character or His nature, and that is a caring, compassionate Father who loves all of His children. My dream must represent the same desires God has; anything else, then it is not from God.
Those who have followed our story from the beginning understand how we see God's will for our lives here in the Dominican Republic.
Through all of this my deepest prayer for all of you is that you earnestly seek the Lord, that you do not buy into the world and all of its trappings because they are only distractions designed to keep you away from God. That each of you discover what dreams God has for you and that you are living within His will. My fervent prayer is for you to understand also that my dream is not your dream, but yours could be similar; and when you see it, it will be distinctly yours; and if it lines up with God's will and you choose to pursue Him, He will bring your dream to fruition.
Bless you all, bless you well.
Mike
Saturday, December 29, 2012
A Beautiful Beginning
One of the first things Laura and I noticed about the property we have built the guest house upon was the intense noise we immediately heard. It was the unmistakeable sounds of God. The day was hot when we first viewed the property in August of 2011, a hot, still day with nary a breeze to cool us. As we made out way onto the large plot of land which consisted of 9 parcels all nicely subdivided and ready for the builder, we could sense an overwhelming presence. It was an easy decision. We chose the most level of two lots side by side and entered into agreement with God; His will be done.
16 months later with the first stage of Rio Vista Mission House almost complete, we still sit in peaceful wonder each morning as He blesses us with His noise. His creation glistens in the morning light, everything coated in a thin but distinct layer of moisture, truly God's way of providing for all the little creatures that live in the trees and brush which completely surrounds our little enclave. The towering Caoba trees, some of which are over 200 years old, filter the light of the rising sun each day.
The bright globe sends beams of yellow light through the leaves and dances through the thousands of water laden spider webs in the nearby bushes. The first sounds of His creation reaches our ears as the birds of the sky begin their ceaseless twittering and whistling; I don't think I have ever seen an unhappy bird here.
Fully an hour we sit and watch and listen to the orchestra play, the Maestro in full control as He continually adds more and more to the convoluted and yet extremely intricate rhapsody of life. All of these things work together, only most of us take all of His creation entirely for granted, expecting that trees are just trees, plants are just plants, bugs and creeping things are better left unseen.
Each day we truly appreciate the splendor and noise of God's creation, for this is the noise that He meant all of us to hear, and then understand, and finally to give thanks.
In a few days we will all enter a New Year, a new page in our stories; how much time will you spend in the presence of the Lord in the year to come, or the following years? "Be still and know that I am God" All of creation around us shouts to humanity of the glory of God, a deafening roar from the sheer size of it all; created for us to enjoy, growing around us for each of us to explore. My God does not need to be proven for His existence for pointing out the obvious is entirely ridiculous. If you didn't know it already, your standing in it.
Our prayer for you in the coming year is that it be a prosperous year, full of blessings as you also promise to watch and listen more intentionally to the noise of God around your lives. If you find it difficult where you are because your lives are just "too busy", take a break from it, venture out into the sunlight and find a place where you too can hear the noise; and then bask in it.
So deafening, words hardly do Him any justice.
Bendiciones
Mike and Laura
16 months later with the first stage of Rio Vista Mission House almost complete, we still sit in peaceful wonder each morning as He blesses us with His noise. His creation glistens in the morning light, everything coated in a thin but distinct layer of moisture, truly God's way of providing for all the little creatures that live in the trees and brush which completely surrounds our little enclave. The towering Caoba trees, some of which are over 200 years old, filter the light of the rising sun each day.
The bright globe sends beams of yellow light through the leaves and dances through the thousands of water laden spider webs in the nearby bushes. The first sounds of His creation reaches our ears as the birds of the sky begin their ceaseless twittering and whistling; I don't think I have ever seen an unhappy bird here.
Fully an hour we sit and watch and listen to the orchestra play, the Maestro in full control as He continually adds more and more to the convoluted and yet extremely intricate rhapsody of life. All of these things work together, only most of us take all of His creation entirely for granted, expecting that trees are just trees, plants are just plants, bugs and creeping things are better left unseen.
Each day we truly appreciate the splendor and noise of God's creation, for this is the noise that He meant all of us to hear, and then understand, and finally to give thanks.
In a few days we will all enter a New Year, a new page in our stories; how much time will you spend in the presence of the Lord in the year to come, or the following years? "Be still and know that I am God" All of creation around us shouts to humanity of the glory of God, a deafening roar from the sheer size of it all; created for us to enjoy, growing around us for each of us to explore. My God does not need to be proven for His existence for pointing out the obvious is entirely ridiculous. If you didn't know it already, your standing in it.
Our prayer for you in the coming year is that it be a prosperous year, full of blessings as you also promise to watch and listen more intentionally to the noise of God around your lives. If you find it difficult where you are because your lives are just "too busy", take a break from it, venture out into the sunlight and find a place where you too can hear the noise; and then bask in it.
So deafening, words hardly do Him any justice.
Bendiciones
Mike and Laura
Friday, December 21, 2012
Feliz Navidad!
Feliz Navidad a Todos y Dios Te Bendiga!
This year marks our second Christmas away from home, our family and all of our friends at ROL and around Lethbridge. Things are a bit different this year though as we are celebrating inside the completed first stage of Rio Vista Guest House!
This room with the tree in it is what we call the "Common Room": this is an area where teams can come together while staying at Rio Vista and do Mission Field briefing and follow-up as well as a quiet room for prayer and relaxation. Eventually we will provide a computer center with Internet so teams can communicate with their families back home.
I am sure many of you are familiar with the saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" I write to tell you that it is more true than I could have ever imagined.
This year we are especially mindful of our immediate family, separated by a great distance between Canada and the D.R. Both Laura and I have extensive families with four of our own children as well as numerous brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces and this year our first grand-daughter! While I realize our decision to move to the D.R. would come with the sacrifice of limited time with our family and loved ones I must emphasize the condition of our hearts during this most important season. Even though we are here without our loved ones; our children, our parents, and our friends it is during this season that family is most on our minds. Even when we still lived in Canada our large, extensive family always tried to come together to celebrate the season. Maybe not all together, but whoever could, they did get together.
It should come as no surprise that now while we are here in the D.R., I wish we could have all of our children around us to celebrate Navidad in our new home. This year however, it will not be so. Our hearts look forward to the time when we can be together. I want to encourage our readers to seek out the time you don't think you have to reconnect with a brother, sister, father, mother, son or daughter. Make the time to include as many as you possibly can in your busy lives regardless of their circumstances or yours.
For Laura and I we will at the very least, be available to skype with all of our family during the Festival of Navidad. Later when we make our way back to Canada in the new year (No date yet!) we will definitely take the time to seek out our loved and immensely missed family; then we will take the time to deliver the hugs and kisses , gifts and blessings to as many as time will allow.
Laura and I would very much appreciate your prayers for our family, especially for our children Johnathan, Gabrielle, Forrest and Louellen;as well as our grand-daughter Liliko Rose.
We love and miss you all immensely
Bless you all at this special time of the year, Feliz Navidad a Todos!
God willing we will see you soon!
Mike and Laura
This year marks our second Christmas away from home, our family and all of our friends at ROL and around Lethbridge. Things are a bit different this year though as we are celebrating inside the completed first stage of Rio Vista Guest House!
This room with the tree in it is what we call the "Common Room": this is an area where teams can come together while staying at Rio Vista and do Mission Field briefing and follow-up as well as a quiet room for prayer and relaxation. Eventually we will provide a computer center with Internet so teams can communicate with their families back home.
I am sure many of you are familiar with the saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" I write to tell you that it is more true than I could have ever imagined.
This year we are especially mindful of our immediate family, separated by a great distance between Canada and the D.R. Both Laura and I have extensive families with four of our own children as well as numerous brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces and this year our first grand-daughter! While I realize our decision to move to the D.R. would come with the sacrifice of limited time with our family and loved ones I must emphasize the condition of our hearts during this most important season. Even though we are here without our loved ones; our children, our parents, and our friends it is during this season that family is most on our minds. Even when we still lived in Canada our large, extensive family always tried to come together to celebrate the season. Maybe not all together, but whoever could, they did get together.
It should come as no surprise that now while we are here in the D.R., I wish we could have all of our children around us to celebrate Navidad in our new home. This year however, it will not be so. Our hearts look forward to the time when we can be together. I want to encourage our readers to seek out the time you don't think you have to reconnect with a brother, sister, father, mother, son or daughter. Make the time to include as many as you possibly can in your busy lives regardless of their circumstances or yours.
For Laura and I we will at the very least, be available to skype with all of our family during the Festival of Navidad. Later when we make our way back to Canada in the new year (No date yet!) we will definitely take the time to seek out our loved and immensely missed family; then we will take the time to deliver the hugs and kisses , gifts and blessings to as many as time will allow.
Laura and I would very much appreciate your prayers for our family, especially for our children Johnathan, Gabrielle, Forrest and Louellen;as well as our grand-daughter Liliko Rose.
We love and miss you all immensely
Bless you all at this special time of the year, Feliz Navidad a Todos!
God willing we will see you soon!
Mike and Laura
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A Blessed Attitude
We knew that when we came to the island of the Dominican Republic to live here full-time we would meet people that could or would have an impact on our new lives here. We were not surprised in the least to see that one man in particular came into our lives while working on the project God had brought us here for. When we first cleared the land and the skies cleared of winter rains, the crews showed up to lay out the foundation of the Rio Vista Guest House.
The three guys in this picture were on site doing just that in January 2012, the Foreman is in the foreground facing away from us.
Rafaelito was lead foreman at the beginning of the construction of Rio Vista Guest House. Since then he directed many men, Dominicans and Haitians, in the build of the project. At our first meeting he seemed a kindly man, sincere and genuine, with a strong handshake and wide smile from ear to ear. I was taught at a young age by my father that when you meet someone for the first time, you must put out your hand in greeting and when offered the other hand, grip it firmly and as strong as you are met in return, if not slightly stronger. Rafaelito must have had the same lesson. Each time we met we would clasp hands and just stand there in a power struggle of friendship; each increasing the power of the handshake until finally one of us backed down from the pain. Usually it was me.
I know it sounds like a male thing, but most of you understand that there is a level of respect that goes along with the authority of a powerful handshake and greeting. Maybe it was just the way I was raised.
All through the construction of Rio Vista, Rafaelito continued daily to work beside his men until one afternoon in April he indicated he was off to the neighbor city of Santiago the next day for a visit to the hospital. I immediately asked him what for? He always appeared fit and able everyday we saw him; his powerful grip was a testament to his will.
He told me he was diagnosed several years ago with brain tumors that continued to grow and now he was off again to receive treatment at the hospital for his condition.
What a shock!
He showed Laura and I his head and the scars from several surgeries from the past; as well as the immense soft spot on his left side of his head. His skull cap had been partially removed a few years ago in order for the tumor to grow without increasing pressure on his brain. I am absolutely convinced that this solution would not even be considered if he had access to proper medical care.
Rafaelito returned to work at the project in July of 2012 and most of the construction was almost finished; at least for his part. Over the next few months little work was done on our project so we did not see Rafaelito until we heard he passed away quietly at home with his family around him. He finally succumbed to the tumor, the cancer now having spread to other parts of his body.
Rafaelito never gave up on his Faith that God was the center of his life. Daily he professed his love for the Lord. Let us understand something of this; having Faith in God may not save you from an early death or even an illness that can end your life suddenly. For me I saw daily the strength and fortitude of the Lord which carried this man for years until he could go no more. While I only knew Rafaelito for a few months, I saw a man stronger with his illness than most men I know who do not have death knocking on their door.
His strength came from the Lord, it allowed him to get up each day and go out to provide for his family the only way he could; with his hands.
The Dominican Republic has a poor social net and an even worse medical network to provide for these individuals properly. There are no health subsidy programs here; there are no cancer centers; there is little hope.
In my opinion, Rafaelito was the poster child for 2 Cor 12:7-10
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
NIV
The three guys in this picture were on site doing just that in January 2012, the Foreman is in the foreground facing away from us.
Rafaelito was lead foreman at the beginning of the construction of Rio Vista Guest House. Since then he directed many men, Dominicans and Haitians, in the build of the project. At our first meeting he seemed a kindly man, sincere and genuine, with a strong handshake and wide smile from ear to ear. I was taught at a young age by my father that when you meet someone for the first time, you must put out your hand in greeting and when offered the other hand, grip it firmly and as strong as you are met in return, if not slightly stronger. Rafaelito must have had the same lesson. Each time we met we would clasp hands and just stand there in a power struggle of friendship; each increasing the power of the handshake until finally one of us backed down from the pain. Usually it was me.
I know it sounds like a male thing, but most of you understand that there is a level of respect that goes along with the authority of a powerful handshake and greeting. Maybe it was just the way I was raised.
All through the construction of Rio Vista, Rafaelito continued daily to work beside his men until one afternoon in April he indicated he was off to the neighbor city of Santiago the next day for a visit to the hospital. I immediately asked him what for? He always appeared fit and able everyday we saw him; his powerful grip was a testament to his will.
He told me he was diagnosed several years ago with brain tumors that continued to grow and now he was off again to receive treatment at the hospital for his condition.
What a shock!
He showed Laura and I his head and the scars from several surgeries from the past; as well as the immense soft spot on his left side of his head. His skull cap had been partially removed a few years ago in order for the tumor to grow without increasing pressure on his brain. I am absolutely convinced that this solution would not even be considered if he had access to proper medical care.
Rafaelito returned to work at the project in July of 2012 and most of the construction was almost finished; at least for his part. Over the next few months little work was done on our project so we did not see Rafaelito until we heard he passed away quietly at home with his family around him. He finally succumbed to the tumor, the cancer now having spread to other parts of his body.
Rafaelito never gave up on his Faith that God was the center of his life. Daily he professed his love for the Lord. Let us understand something of this; having Faith in God may not save you from an early death or even an illness that can end your life suddenly. For me I saw daily the strength and fortitude of the Lord which carried this man for years until he could go no more. While I only knew Rafaelito for a few months, I saw a man stronger with his illness than most men I know who do not have death knocking on their door.
His strength came from the Lord, it allowed him to get up each day and go out to provide for his family the only way he could; with his hands.
The Dominican Republic has a poor social net and an even worse medical network to provide for these individuals properly. There are no health subsidy programs here; there are no cancer centers; there is little hope.
In my opinion, Rafaelito was the poster child for 2 Cor 12:7-10
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
NIV
Rafaelito knew his strength was from the Lord, he lived in it daily. All the while he kept a calm and peace about him, he displayed constantly a Blessed Attitude, never complaining about his condition.
Rafaelito expressed his desire for his family to be cared for and prayed until his last breath that God would care for them after he was gone.
Laura and I are lifting up his family in prayer, join us if you could.
Mike
Rafaelito expressed his desire for his family to be cared for and prayed until his last breath that God would care for them after he was gone.
Laura and I are lifting up his family in prayer, join us if you could.
Mike
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