HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-01-14, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016.
From the Minister's Study
Everyone is reli ious about what can religious, change
By Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Blyth Christian Reformed
Church
Everyone is religious — so
declared one of my professors
in seminary. Then he explained
himself.
Religion is that thing which holds
our lives together. Although debated,
the word "religion" comes from the
word which gives us our word
"ligament." Ligaments hold our
bodies together. If we take away our
ligaments, it would take very little
effort to remove an arm or a leg.
Ligaments keep everything together.
In this sense everyone is religious.
Everyone has something that holds
their lives together. We discover
what that is when we remove it from
our lives.
That same professor then assigned
us a project in which we were to
discover how different religions help
keep people's lives together.
I chose one of the major world
religions which interested me, but
one of my classmates chose to study
the religion of golf. I laughed at him
when he told me what he was going
to do, but when we handed our
projects in, his was far, far better
than mine.
As I paged through his project, it
became evident that for some people
their religion is golf. He had
included a number of articles from
various magazines, and the language
in those articles was replete with
religious undertones.
Take golf out of some people's
lives and they would have nothing
left. Their lives would fall apart.
The professor then went on to
explain that if his definition of
religion was correct, then all
religions can be evaluated for their
ability to answer life's big questions.
Why am I here? Where did I come
from? What gives meaning to my
existence? Why are there problems
in this world? Is there a solution, and
how do I fit into that solution?
Where do I get my strength to face
struggles?
These are some of the big
questions, and we all need to answer
them. It is not hard to see that if
people make golf their religion, not
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Ken Gazley
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
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C%idiatt 7Fe, u itiip
Jan. 17: Gal. 2:11-21
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"Justified in
Jesus, or
Hampered by
Hypocrisy?"
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Evangelical Missionary Church
Tues. 7:30 pm Small Group • The Daniel Plan
Wed. 10:00 am "Coffee Break" Women's Bible Study at CRC
Sun. Apr. 10, 7:00 pm "Faith•In•Song" at CRC
10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School n
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) I I
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
getlivingwater.org,
all the big questions can be
answered.
Golf, for a small minority, though
it is a religion, does not give them
adequate support, especially if they
become unable to participate in the
game. Sadly, even though golf (or
other sports) can be a religion for
some, their religions cannot help
them with life's big questions.
If we are honest about our lives,
we must confront those big
questions. Someday we will be
forced to, especially when illness or
job loss or accident changes our
lives drastically. We must all answer
the question: what gives life
meaning and where do I get my
strength when I need it?
I am a Christian, and that means
that my religion is Christianity. The
teachings of Christianity are derived
from the Bible, and so the answers to
my questions come from there as
well. So, for me, I am here because
God, who loves this world and, who,
consequently, loves me, has placed
me here. He has given me purpose
namely to take care of this world. He
will help me when I struggle. I can
go to him for help.
Regarding the problems of this
world, we understand that they are
created by human beings. That being
said, Christianity teaches us that we,
as human beings, are not left alone
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BLYTH
Trinity
9:15 am
Church Office
519-357-4883
BRUSSELS
St. John's
11:15 am
Church Office
519-887-6862
Everyone Welcome!
www.nabcom.ca/church
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
enad¢ee¢ eamaloritty Sae
You're 'inviteclT
to come worsh p
with us
Sunday, January 17
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17
We invite you to join our church family in:
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm -• Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph's
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
to solve our problems. Rather, God
has shown a willingness to intervene
in the affairs of this world and
provide help.
So, let me illustrate that with the
problem of pollution. Talk about
global warming has overshadowed
the problem of pollution, but we do
know that the two are related. No
Continued on page 17
United
Church
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 am
All Welcome
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited(a)tcc.on.ca
6-
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
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SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
1 • i • Evening Service 7:30 pm
r- BLYTH CHRISTIAN
C REFORMED CHURCH
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
ii.
Worship
MINISTER:
Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
.
Sunday, January 17
1\ Being the Unexpected
\'!' Neighbour
i- Sunday, January 24
l Being In the
,�L`� Other Shoes
A« Welcome
,
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. 6. OFFICE: 519-523-4224
TAKE LIFE
IN
A
NEW
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huronchapel.com