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15 THINGS I DISCOVERED IN 2015 Uncategorized

15 THINGS I DISCOVERED IN 2015

When you're done learning, you're done. 2015 was a year of firsts - first grandson; first trip to Israel, Germany, France; first Caribbean cruise; first book published. It was a year of learning and discovery. 15 Things I Discovered In 2015 In random order of importance: 1. If you leave the window of your hotel room open overnight in Tiberias, Israel don't be surprised if you wake up to find pigeons roosting on your lampshade in the morning. 2. Grandkids are God's gift of family that can be returned to the manufacturers after every use. 3. Spider Mable is the greatest superhero in Edmonton. 4. Israel is a miracle. Jerusalem is unforgettable. Pilgrimage should be experienced by every believer. Walking…
Bob Jones
December 28, 2015
THE FORCE AWAKENS Uncategorized

THE FORCE AWAKENS

Star Wars is everywhere. The telling point for me was Jeremy Gifford’s video ad for North Pointe’s Christmas Eve service. The out takes were hilarious. He says his parched throat makes him sound like “Chewbacca.” Then he wheezed like a Wookie. I’m not a big Star Wars fan but even I didn’t need to ask, “Chew, who?” https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.c.gifford/videos/10153679898606480/ STAR WARS How big is the Star Wars phenomenon? It’s no Jedi mind trick that makes me know you’ll recognize some if not all of the following terms: “May the Force be with you.” “In a galaxy far, far away.” "Do or do not… there is no try." C3PO R2D2 Ewoks Wookies Skywalker Darth Vader Jedi Lightsabers FANTASY FICTION George Lucas created…
Bob Jones
December 17, 2015
HERE COME THE CAVERLYS Uncategorized

HERE COME THE CAVERLYS

Trevor and Cherise and their son Parker are part of our North Pointe family. Trevor will be ordained (becoming a "REV") on Sunday April 17th at 11:00am. (Leave a note for him below.) Trevor Caverly joined the pastoral staff at North Pointe on 01/01/16 as our "Connections Pastor." Trevor was an intern at North Pointe four years ago, working with youth. He is highly respected as a pastor in Alberta and BC. He returned to North Pointe with his wife, Cherice and son, Parker where Trevor is helping move us into our next chapter of ministry. There are many reasons we are excited to be at North Pointe. We are excited because we have felt this is God ordained, that…
Bob Jones
December 2, 2015
OUT OF THE ASHES: THE GIFFORDS’ STORY Uncategorized

OUT OF THE ASHES: THE GIFFORDS’ STORY

They will always remember the moment the windows simultaneously blew out in their home. Minutes earlier Phil Gifford had been on the roof trying to extinguish what he believed to be a chimney fire. Phil, a volunteer firefighter, was familiar with chimney fires. His wife Tess had smelled smoke and so he used a ladder to get on the roof for a better assessment. NOT OUR HOME It was Thursday November 19th, 2015. Phil started to rip off parts of the roof to to get a better look at the source of the smoke. As he worked, his thought was, "I'm not going to let a fire get our farmhouse." Tess called the fire department while Phil rigged up garden…
Bob Jones
November 25, 2015
A CANADIAN’S VIEW OF REFUGEES: STEVE HERTZOG’S STORY Uncategorized

A CANADIAN’S VIEW OF REFUGEES: STEVE HERTZOG’S STORY

It’s the children I will always remember. At least two dozen of them. As soon as they saw our little convoy of vehicles turn up the dirt road to the refugee camp, they emerged from the dilapidated tents and abandoned, boarded-up apartment buildings they now called home and ran right for us. Dressed in dirty hand-me-downs, they smiled and giggled and kibitzed with one another as they looked us over with bright, curious eyes, full of life. Good to see kids are still kids - even here - I thought. This is a guest post from Steve Hertzog, past President of Vanguard College and new Regional Director for Eurasia with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Steve and his wife Patti…
Bob Jones
November 22, 2015
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE: A CANADIAN’S STORY Uncategorized

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE: A CANADIAN’S STORY

Freedom is not free. I should not – I must not forget – that peace is won at the cost of precious life. Flanders Fields, not strawberry fields, remind me of that truth. Free nations must do everything to keep the peace. Where peace is threatened by force, it must be met with force. Canada's role as "Peacekeeper" has been a part of our nation's pride. That role has shifted recently to "Peacemakers" - fighting to win the peace in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The decision to withdraw Canadian combat support against ISIS is now another change in direction. Lonya D’Orsay is a part of the community of believers at North Pointe. Her husband, Dan, is retired military. He served…
Bob Jones
November 21, 2015
REMEMBERING PARIS: OVERCOMING THE DARKNESS Uncategorized

REMEMBERING PARIS: OVERCOMING THE DARKNESS

The November 13th attacks on Paris were nothing less than murderous criminality. The perpetrators were not soldiers - they were cowardly thugs who ruthlessly attacked defenseless civilians with automatic weapons and bombs. People of conscience stand numbed by the heinous nature of this depraved atrocity. In a matter of minutes, over 500 people were killed, critically wounded or injured at five separate sites. My wife and I were first-time guests to Paris' hospitality this year, visiting close to these locations. SYMPATHETIC LIGHTS Just before midnight on the 13th the lights of the Eiffel Tower were turned off in respect for the dead. In sympathetic response the icons, towers and places of culture and commerce of the word's major cities began…
Bob Jones
November 15, 2015
THE MIRACLE OF THE 33 Uncategorized

THE MIRACLE OF THE 33

Five years after 33 Chilean miners emerged from their underground prison in a miraculous rescue, a new movie shares their story in gripping fashion. “The 33” or “Los 33” is story telling at its best. I was given tickets for an advance preview. I wondered if knowing the ending would make the experience less intense - not at all. “The 33” will draw you in, make you tear up and then surprise you with laugh-out-loud humanity. It is a phenomenal film about an unforgettable event. The Story Teller Mexican Director Patricia Riggen tells the story in way that honors the experience of the 33 and their families. Riggen interviewed each miner and his family before she started shooting the movie.…
Bob Jones
November 11, 2015
A NEW BEGINNING: THE DERKSENS’ STORY Uncategorized

A NEW BEGINNING: THE DERKSENS’ STORY

My family is disowning me. My father-in-law will not let me come home for Christmas. My daughter Emily is telling me to take it off. My wife can't believe what I have done.   This is a guest post from the Eric Derksen, President of Vanguard college and newest family to North Pointe. (When I had coffee with Eric I realized you can take the man out of Jet country but you can't take the Jets completely out of the man.) My name is Eric Derksen and I am a disciple of Jesus. I am also a husband and a father, and now serve as the President of Vanguard College in Edmonton, Alberta - the home of the Oilers. Our…
Bob Jones
November 4, 2015
THE FLYING BOW: TREVOR DICK’S STORY Uncategorized

THE FLYING BOW: TREVOR DICK’S STORY

When Trevor was four years old, his dad tragically died in a car accident leaving his mom with seven children to raise on her own. His parents were medical missionaries and had moved to Nigeria from Canada in the 1960’s to plant a hospital, and serve people in a little village called Iyale, deep in the tropical rain forest of central Nigeria. FEAR AND FAITH As a result, Trevor grew up with some deep insecurities and fears: the fear of his future without a dad, the fear of death, and the fear of separation from his family. He was that child who asked the tough questions like: “Why did daddy have to die? “ and “Why did God take daddy…
Bob Jones
November 1, 2015