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Hope

LAURIE’S STORY: FREEDOM FROM ADDICTION Uncategorized

LAURIE’S STORY: FREEDOM FROM ADDICTION

Laurie understands what it is to descend into addiction and hopelessness. She used to live there. Laurie also knows what's it like to find freedom and wholeness. She's a freedom fighter now - sharing her story to help others find freedom. I've known Laurie and her family for almost ten years since they started attending North Pointe. LAURIE'S STORY: FITTING IN I grew up in a religious home and had good parents, but I was never sure where I fit or found acceptance. When I was 12 years old I discovered alcohol, and instantly I felt like I was able to make friends and be the life of the party - I finally fit in. For years I drank on…
Bob Jones
November 26, 2014
Rachel’s Story: Thankful For New Beginnings Uncategorized

Rachel’s Story: Thankful For New Beginnings

Rachel Fallah's son, Prince, is married. What an incredibly joyous, vibrant and colorful wedding! (Rachel is in yellow below) Rachel's journey is remarkable given she arrived in a foreign country with nothing and today she has everything. At her son's wedding she was surrounded by friends and family from around the world, however it is her peace-filled spirit - free from bitterness - that she treasures most. Here's her story. REFUGEE FROM WAR In 2002 I came to Edmonton as a refugee from Sierra Leone with my son, Prince. All we had in the world was each other. The war in our home country had taken everything from us – our family, our home, our possessions. Our nation was devastated…
Bob Jones
October 12, 2014
WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU A CURVEBALL Uncategorized

WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU A CURVEBALL

I just happened to get hit with one of life’s curve balls. It fooled me; I didn’t see it coming and I certainly wasn’t prepared. The internal injuries were severe. There were days I didn’t think I would survive such trauma. Clearly, there were no winners in this game. No one gets married with the intent to get a divorce. Wendy Connors played fastball since she was a young girl and was picked up by many teams, winning several championships along the way. I love how Wendy uses her love for fastball to share a portion of her life story. Wendy's leadership skills and devotion helped start North Pointe's Divorce Care ministry, the Single and Parenting ministry and the Singles…
Bob Jones
September 14, 2014
STORIES CAN CHANGE THE WORLD Uncategorized

STORIES CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

She was three when my granddaughter, Quinn, told me her story. It was about Cinderella, a "broken shoe," a pumpkin and a prince. As she was telling me the story she leaned in and said, "Poppa you're my prince." The story ended there because I didn't hear anything after that. What's your story? Nish Weiseth says, "The stories of how God transforms our lives and of how we connect with other human beings can have incredible power and influence in our culture." MORE STORIES - LESS SERMONS Nish is the Editor of the blogsite, "A Deeper Story" and author of Speak. Her book is a compilation of her personal blog posts on Biblical issues in story form. Her point? Let…
Bob Jones
August 27, 2014
17 QUOTES FROM THE DR. OF LIFE Uncategorized

17 QUOTES FROM THE DR. OF LIFE

Maya Angelou earned her doctorate in life. Her 84 years of living took her across continents, around the globe, through marriages, and into the hearts of social activists, TV icons, Presidents, pastors and ordinary people looking for hope and love. Born Marguerite Anne Johnson on April 4, 1928, she would change her name to "Maya" and later adopt the appellation, “Dr” only because she wanted others to call her “Dr.” "I have studied everything. I spent some time with Zen Buddhism and Judaism and I spent some time with Islam. I found that I really want to be a Christian. When I say, ‘I am a Christian’ I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and…
Bob Jones
May 29, 2014
2 NEGLECTED POWERS NEEDED TODAY Uncategorized

2 NEGLECTED POWERS NEEDED TODAY

Two powers affect all of our lives: unchangeable yesterdays and unpredictable tomorrows. Yesterday's History We long to re-create segments of our personal histories, but we are stuck with them. Hurts done to us. Hurts done by us. Tomorrow's Destiny We long to control our destinies, but we cannot bring them under our management. What will become of me? What will become of us? There are two powers available to you and me, too often neglected, that will successfully address these forebodings. Two Neglected Powers Hannah Arendt was a Jew living in France during the Nazi occupation in 1941. She and her husband were interned in a camp awaiting deportation to a concentration camp in Germany. They escaped and made their…
Bob Jones
April 28, 2014
THE SECRET INGREDIENT THAT CHANGES THE WORLD Uncategorized

THE SECRET INGREDIENT THAT CHANGES THE WORLD

At one time I believed that money, education and certainly love, could change the world. Now don't get me wrong, love and money are certainly important, but without hope, even love and money aren't enough. Hope convinces you that tomorrow will be better than today. When you give a child hope, you can change the world. Orphans in Zimbabwe My wife, Jocelyn and I traveled to Harare, Zimbabwe in March, 2003 to see the “Village of Hope” - a fledgling response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. The Village was just a few months old - two buildings on a rural parcel of land. We met the first person being cared for at the Village of Hope. Her name was "Precious" -…
Bob Jones
February 16, 2014
FAITH, HOPE AND JOY Uncategorized

FAITH, HOPE AND JOY

"Faith, hope and joy to you." These are the words I write on the dedication page of each copy of the book Ornament. They aren't offered lightly. The words are tested and true. Kristen Fersovitch a thirty-year old wife, and mother of three boys under five, facing inoperable cancer, showed me over and over again how powerful the words are. Even in death they ring true. GREEN BALLOONS AND HOPE Kristen passed away on October 4, 2013 after a two year battle with cancer. The day after Kristen’s funeral I accompanied her body with John Davediuk from Serenity Funeral Services, to Garth Evangelical Cemetery - a small, countryside, cemetery. In preparation for the graveside service three green-coloured, star-shaped balloons had…
Bob Jones
January 14, 2013
A Day in Kristen’s Life Uncategorized

A Day in Kristen’s Life

One snapshot of a day in Kristen Fersovitch's life - June 22, 2012. When I read her posts or talked to her, my prayer was, "Lord make her body as healthy as her spirit." Insight into what Kristen needed us to pray for. You probably know someone like Kristen who is going through a battle. You are supporting them and praying for them. You can find inspiration in the book "Ornament" - a legacy of Kristen's faith, joy and hope. Purchase it here.
Jones Bob
June 22, 2012