Soul Sanctuary

Krayola Sunday – God is in Control

podcaster — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:44:13 +0000

Awln Davison, along with “Soul Kids”, tells the story of Esther and how God is in control.

Luke 19 Pt 2

Struss Darren — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:24:17 +0000

As the distance between Jesus and Jerusalem shrunk, the expectation of the people exponentially multiplied. They thought of the kingdom as but a few miles and hours away. They believed the kingdom of God was imminent. That, it seems, was the problem.

Luke 19

Struss Darren — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:01:19 +0000

The story of Zacchaeus is one of the fun stories that comes out of Jesus’ ministry. The idea of a wee man perched like a bird in a tree (and being found out) is the stuff of humour. We can have fun with the story of Zacchaeus, but we must remember that the story teaches us some important truths.

Luke 18 Pt 2

Struss Darren — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:29:30 +0000

Jesus did not say that people had to become children, but rather that they must become child-like, in some way, in order to enter the kingdom of God. The question that we must answer, then, is, “In what sense must we become child-like in order to enter the kingdom of God?” The answer to this question is not so universally agreed upon, and yet if we desire to enter into the kingdom of God, the answer is vitally important.

Luke 18 Pt 1

podcaster — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:57:52 +0000

For too many people Christianity is only a creed to confess or rituals to follow. It’s impact is only mental, far removed from the realities of everyday living. Such Christianity is full of form but devoid of substance, and God never intended it to be that way.

Hope for 2012

Struss Darren — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:30:25 +0000

What kind of year has it been for you? Think about it. Has it been a year to cherish or quickly forget? There is hope.

Coming to the End of the Year!

soulpastor — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:08:47 +0000

Just over a week ago, a leader at Soul mentioned to me that it was about 8 years ago that we were meeting at my house praying about this thing called Soul Sanctuary and asking God to bless and guide and provide a place for us to gather. Now, we find ourselves so blessed and in a position to purchase some land and a building in a prime spot in the Southwest corner of Winnipeg.

Leading a community comes with many ups and downs, ins and outs, from building to building with people coming and going, and then coming back again…but it is GOD who is consistent at all times. As I reflex over the past year I see just how much the people of Soul have taken their eyes off their own needs and put into action caring for those around them. From the raising of money for the University Scholarships and orphanage in Indonesia, to helping meet the needs of the Northend Family Centre. Not to mention various missionary organizations and even some that operate here in our city and even our own building fund.

I am always dumbstruck when I see how people from Soul have shown how to care for others in need; be it people in our community who have struggled with health issues, death and even relational difficulties, or strangers who needed someone to step up and help. Soul Sanctuary is a fantastic community of people.

Now as we look towards 2012 we are working to plan the building a community centre where we can continue to meet the needs of the community in which we find ourselves, and you can be a part of it. I want to encourage all to give a little extra to the building fund before the 31^st of December. You can mail a post dated check into our offices or even give online, every and any gift counts.

In the second week of January we will be rolling out our plans for other investment possibilities that we call “mortgage certificates.” These certificates will give the lender a 2% interest on their investment (better than the bank). We want to encourage you and those who you may know to begin to plan as well will need to have all this set up and instituted before April 1, 2012.

From our amazing staff and their families here at Soul Sanctuary to you, may you have a Merry Christmas and a GREAT New Year.

GITM-Deck The Halls

Struss Darren — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:23:39 +0000

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent and the theme is Peace. How are you doing with that concept today? Are you experiencing peace or is it the farthest thing from your mind? Today, I decided to conclude our GOD on the Big screen series with the movie Deck the Halls, starring Matthew Broderick and Danny Devito. This so-called comedy is about two neighbors who engage in a cutthroat competition to have the most decorated home in the neighborhood. Not so much peace.

Building The Vision

soulpastor — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:43:35 +0000

As you or may not know, we have an offer to purchase in the works for a facility and almost 5 acres of land.

Here is the plan: We need to raise as much cash as possible so that our mortgage is small. Simple enough! We have one month to raise our goal amount of 1.5 million. Currently we are at aprroximately $1 million doallars. That means that all of us can determine what we can give between now and the end of the year to the building fund. I need to remind all of you not to move your giving from general to building and think you are making a difference…you’re not. Continue to give as you have been doing, but also make a special attempt to give over and above to the building fund. To aid in this we have the Spurge and Plurge (see home page) and also the Red River gas card. Makes giving easy and effortless.

We are not building a facility to make us look good – we are building it to glorify God – to bring glory to Him through it. It will be put in place to minister to the people of our area and our plan is that it will be a facility that will be in use the majority of the week, rather than sitting empty.

2 Corinthians 9:7 is a scripture that is written on our joy basket and want to bring it to our attention today. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

This verse is one reason why we do not “TAKE” an offering at Soul. Please note what it says: Everyone should give. Everyone should decide how much – from his heart. Everyone should give out of desire and love for God and His work – not feeling obligation or necessity. Everyone should offer it with joy. So your faith@home home work is determine what number you will be able to give by Dec 30th!

Secondly, we have handed out a financial commitment/pledge card regarding your giving for the next year so that we can formualte a solid budget. Needless to say, we are trying to get all our ducks in a row so that we can close the deal by December 30th. What we are looking for simply is cash donations. If you are able to contribute financially to our building fund it would be greatfully appreciated!

GITM-ELF

Struss Darren — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:16:16 +0000

This is a “forget your trouble film”

GITM-A Charlie Brown Christmas

Struss Darren — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:28:55 +0000

This is not just a Christmas Special. This is the Christmas special. This special has nonetheless gone on to become one of the most iconic Christmas works of all time. It’s also one of the most successful of all time, having been reliably on TV from its debut until today

GITM-The Social Network

soulpastor — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 07:52:10 +0000

The Social Network is the fictionalized account of the early days of Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who is well-known for his social awkwardness and prickly interactions with colleagues and the media.

GITM-Inception

soulpastor — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 07:44:16 +0000

Inception deals with dreams and dreams within dreams, and dreams within dreams within dreams and dreams within dreams within dreams within dreams….You clear? Great, let’s pray and go home.

A Blog Post You MUST Read!

soulpastor — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:12:00 +0000

My friend Rob Dale has shared a personal story that you need to read!
http://www.robdale.ca/?doing_wp_cron

Book Review

soulpastor — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:15:00 +0000

I enjoy reading a good biography, I even like watching them on A&E even more. So, I got an offer to review what thought was the Ed Thomas story…I was strangely thinking Wendy’s!!! DUH! That is DAVE THOMAS….however I saw the cover of the book The Sacred Acre and I immediately thought of “Friday Night Lights.” I was wrong, again.Prior to reading The Sacred Acre, I’d never heard of Ed Thomas or the town where he coached football for 37 years. I am Canadian! And our high school and college football is not as greatly embraced as it is in the US. That said….Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans would enjoy this read! ANYWAY, I learnt that Thomas was a man who deeply cared for his community and the students he taught over his career. He was a man who loved his wife and family, he wasn’t a perfect husband or dad but he was a man of great integrity who understood the meaning of hard work and discipline.

The first chapters touch on the longtime coach’s personality, especially his obsession with maintaining the football field at Aplington-Parkersburg High School. Eventually the author takes the reader inside that awful day when a tornado devastated the town and then through the rebuilding process and you pick up on the dedication of the town’s leaders, from adults to the scores of teenagers who worked, in the unrelenting summer months of 2008, to rebuild. The key in this story though was Ed’s push to make the football field ready for late August, three months after the tornado rolled through.

Yet where this story gained national attention was amid the tragedy of the murder of Ed Thomas in the weight room at the high school on June 24, 2009 at the hands of a former mentally ill student. The book does not shy away from the tragic events of that day and the reader goes inside the fear, the tension and, ultimately, the tragedy of the loss of a husband and father.

The result is a book that highlights Thomas’ character more than his just his accomplishments, but more importantly the full story of the family’s and the community’s journey of faith and forgiveness. A great read and a special SHOUT OUT to The DeMoss Group who graciously provided me the copy! Sorry the review is late!