The Citizen, 2015-01-08, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015. PAGE 13.
By Pastor Andrew Versteeg
Brussels Community Bible
Chapel
Not too long ago, I had a brief
conversation with a young man who
was about to enter Teen Challenge –
a Christian alcohol and drug rehab
facility near London. He was a little
bit nervous about going and
rightfully so. He would be
committing himself to a one-year
program in which he would be
tackling some difficult sinful habits
that he had let take hold of his life.
He was going to a good place with a
success record that surpasses by far
any similar program run by the
government, but it was not going to
be easy.
A number of people in our church,
and people from other churches,
were encouraging him and
committing to pray for him. So I
thought, “What could I say to
encourage him?” The thought that
came to mind was not to let the
thought of a year seem like a long
time.
I encouraged him to think about
how quickly this past year had gone
by and to realize that the coming
year will go by quickly as well.
Commit to this program that will
take a year, which, when it is
finished, will not seem that long.
And then, more importantly, see
what God will do for you in that
year.
About the same time I had another
conversation with a man who was
struggling with a besetting sin that
was threatening to destroy his
marriage and break up his family. He
had tried some different things to
help him learn some new
behaviours, but nothing was really
working. We talked about it and the
one thought I wanted to leave him
with, was to hope in God! (Psalm
42:5,11) What could God do for this
man in a year if he would hope in
Him.
Why hope in God? Why go to a
Christian rehab facility? The answer
is simple: because God is the only
one who can really help you with
your sin and with the troubles of
your life. Not only can He help you,
He is willing to help. In the book of
Matthew in the Bible, in Chapter
Eight, we see Jesus healing a man
who had leprosy. The man knew that
Jesus was able to help him and he
came to Jesus and said, “Lord, if You
are willing, You can make me clean.”
Jesus then touched him and said, “I
am willing, be cleansed” (Matthew
8:2-3).
What does it take to go to a
Christian rehab place or to hope in
God to help you with your sin? It
takes a humble heart to admit that
your sin is your own and you can’t
overcome it on your own. It takes a
concerned heart that understands
that our sin separates us from God in
this life and it will also separate us
from Him forever in Hell. Then it
takes a heart of faith to go to God
with your sin. He will forgive you
and He will also show you how to
overcome your sin.
For one person that might mean
committing to a rehab program for a
year. For another it might mean
committing to regular church
attendance this year in a church
where you will be taught God’s
word. For another it will mean
committing to regular Bible reading
and prayer.
I guess the question that confronts
us at the beginning of the year is,
“where will we be at the end of the
year and what will our lives look like
if we are still here?” The year will go
by quickly. What will we do with it?
THE EDITOR,
I am a resident of North Huron,
who also lives on Moncrieff Rd.,
agree with a petition requesting a
four-way stop sign at the corners of
Clyde Line and Moncrieff Road.
I live on Moncrieff Road and quite
often travel this road to work in the
winter time. Now, with the new stop
sign, moving east on Moncrieff
Road is hazardous making the hill if
there is any snow whatsoever on the
road.
Furthermore, coming west down
the hill, the chances are pretty good
that you will slide right through the
intersection if it’s slippery at all. I
have done it. I suspect that buses still
use this road and that must be a
concern to local residents as well.
Any councillor who would even
suggest going around the “dangerous
hill” during the winter months must
certainly not be at all familiar with
the situation.
I would like to think something
will be done before a serious
accident occurs. I have always tried
to be a cautious driver and a firm
believer in snow tires.
Thank you for providing me an
opportunity to express my opinion.
Evelyn Caldwell.
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.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, January 11
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 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
We invite you to join our church family in:
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.
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Sunday, January 11 ~ “Ah Ha!”
Sunday, January 18 ~ “Comfort in the Shadows”
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
Children
Welcome
WORTH
RESOLUTION
KEEPING
1
GIVE HURON CHAPEL A TRY
SUNDAYS @ 10:30
HURONCHAPEL.COM
BRUSSELS
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am
All Welcome
United Church
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Jan. 11: Jn. 1:29-39
Evangelical Missionary Church
Small Groups Weekly in Blyth & Wingham
“Holy Communion”
“God’s
Lamb:
Takes Sin,
Gives
Spirit”
From the Minister’s Study
Look to God for help with resolutions
Writer wants stop sign
Letter to the Editor
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