HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-05-23, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013.Continued from page 13recognize those from generationspast.Christians are called to be stirred,not shaken! The Hebrews authormakes it clear that shaking is God’sdomain – a divine job with globaland cosmic ramifications. If the
church is built on true foundations, it
can and shall remain unshaken no
matter what amount of shaking is
going on in the world.
Stirring is the task of the faithful
people of God; continuous, unfailing
and untiring stirring. In fact, at the
pool of Bethesda Jesus taught that
until the waters are troubled or
stirred, there can be no healing.
Disciples of Jesus are to be stirrers,
to trouble the waters with activities
of grace and truth so that healing can
arise and take place.
In labs, chemists use perfect stir-
rers to stir, magnetized rods that
whirl to perfectly blend the chemical
mix. Perfect stirring in this world
was only accomplished by Christ, as
he perfectly absorbed our shortcom-
ings on the cross. So, we're still
called to act as stirring sticks, to mix
the pot, to allow for justice, equity
and truth to reign free among the
layers of human behaviour.
Here’s an apt Pentecost illustra-
tion for the church of today: some
2013 years after the first Pentecost
stirring of faith. In the 1960s
Switzerland dominated watch mak-
ing in the world. Why? They had
dominated the previous 60 years.
The Swiss made the best watches
and were committed to constant
refinement of their expertise. They
came forward with the minute hand
and the second hand and led in the
manufacturing of gears and main-
springs of watches. They led the way
in water-proofing and self-winding
models. By 1968, they made 65
per cent of watches sold in the
world and held 91 per cent of prof-
its.
By 1980, however, their profit
dropped to less than 20 per cent and
by 1981, 50,000 of 62,000 Swiss
watchmakers had lost their jobs.
Why? The Swiss had refused to con-
sider a new development – the
“quartz” movement. It was too much
of a paradigm shift for them to
embrace, yet ironically it was a
Swiss who invented it. Seiko ofJapan, on the other hand, accepted itand, along with a few other compa-nies, they became the leaders in theworld-wide watch industry.The lesson of the Swiss watch-makers is profound. A past that wasso secure, so profitable, so dominant
was destroyed by an unwillingness
to consider the future. It was more
than not being able to make predic-
tions – it was an inability to re-think
how they did things. Past success
had blinded them to a changing
world and to admitting that past
accomplishment was no guarantee
of future success. Truly, a lesson
from life to be learned by all!
So listen to the primary question:
Are you a spoon that is constantly
stirring? Stirring the pot to keep a
constant integrative flow from those
who live without assurance in God
to those who trust in God’s continu-
al redemptive sacrifice? Stirring the
pot that enables those who are
imprisoned by shackles or by addic-
tions of mind and body to escape
and thus be free to be whom God
created them to be?
Are you stirring the pot to teach
faithfulness, in all aspects of life and
faith, to those who are seeking,
focus, purpose, and relationship?
Stirring the pot to create leaders out
of followers who most importantly
are those who joyfully follow new
pioneers in Christian service and
mission?
You see, don’t you, that shaking is
God’s job! So, in the meantime, let
us be the disciples God calls us to
be; those who know how to stir and
not be shaken! And so, as we begin
another year of Godly service and
mission – let us go, knowing that
God’s blessing, peace, and grace are
with us. AMEN!
Adaptation necessarysays Belgrave’s Murray
Cooking in the sun
Joe Fraser, left, and Andrew Wharton were busy cooking pancakes on Sunday morning as the
Blyth United Church Sunday School hosted a pancake breakfast for the community and the
church’s congregation. (Vicky Bremner photo)
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NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH, SEAFORTH
invites you to a
CORONATION TEA &
AUTHENTIC VINTAGE
FASHION SHOW
by Marion Kernighan
Saturday, June 8, 2013
1:30 and 7:00 pm
Seaforth and District Community Centres
• Models (men, women & children)
• Antique cars
• Delicious goodies, tea
and musical entertainment
Makes a great gift.
ALL WELCOME.
TICKETS $25
Tickets available at: NAPA Auto Parts, Blooms n’ Rooms
Allan Carter 519-522-0399
Courtesy of: MGM Townsend Tire, Londesboro
Devereaux Murray Solicitors, Seaforth
BrokerLink Insurance, Stratford
ON $6.00 THURSDAYS
Drop into either of our offices any
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