PASTOR MAETIN.S MESSAGE FOR MARCH 2010-

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ---he is Lord of all." Acts 10:34-36

The 21't Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia couldn't have come at a far better time! With the results from the Super Bowl and the current record breaking snowfall, the Winter Olympics have come at the right time for us to escape for a while from our disappointment and cold weather, and place our hopes and appreciation for the Olympians who have come from all over the world to compete against each other and themselves. I follow the Summer Olympics every four years especially the swimming competition, but I have a real appreciation for the Winter Olympics, for most of the Olympians spend their life and training in weather conditions I only look forward to being through by the end of the winter. I have a strong appreciation for the Winter Olympians as they strive to be more like Jesus, as they ski, lug, snowboard and skate in all that they do "walking" on all kinds of water. My viewing of the 21St Winter Olympics started with the Opening Ceremonies, which were incredible and beautiful, sharing what Canada has to offer as a country and as a people. During the Opening Ceremonies, there was an advertisement that reminded all of us that currently we are all equal. That advertisement caused me to think that, yes, at this particular moment all of us are equal, but in the days to come with the skiing, lugging, snowboarding and skating, the Olympians would no longer be equal, as some would win metals and others would not, and each nation would count how many metals they had won by their individual Olympians. Though for that particular moment, Friday evening, all of us who were representing the 21't Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia were equal!

The Opening Ceremonies advertisement telling us that we are all equal prior to the start of the Olympics is a good reminder of how all of us are equal in need of God's grace, love and forgiveness through our Savior Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, through our sinful and broken world, we are tempted, encouraged and motivated to think that we are better than others because of our financial and prestigious worth, value and power. As we continue on our Lenten Journey that focuses upon all of us as the body of Christ, as feet, eyes, hands, mouths, ears and hearts of Christ, we need to see how equal all of us are in what Jesus gives to us upon his crucifixion upon the cross and his resurrection on Easter morning. When we see all of us as equals as Jesus does, then we can place our appreciation for everyone who has a different gift to give as the body of Christ and encourage and motivate them to do what they do best with what Jesus has given to us through the waters of our baptism. As we continue on in our Lenten Journey, let us see how we are all equal and appreciate, as the body of Christ, all that Jesus gives to us in his grace, love and forgiveness as "Jesus is Lord of all!"