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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2013-06-27, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013. By Pastor Perry Chuipka St. John’s and Trinity Anglican Churches A woman who is a hiker begins to climb this huge mountain. It takes her all day but she finally makes it to the top. Just as gets to the top she sees the sun setting and says, “What a beautiful sight! I have never seen anything so beautiful in all my life!” And then she touches the ground that she is standing on to remember this beautiful moment in time. As she reaches to touch the ground she slips and begins to fall off the mountain. As she falling down begins to wave her arms and luckily she catches a large branch hanging from a tree growing on the side of the mountain. So there she dangles. She looks down and the ground is still way down. She looks up and the mountain top is way up. So she looks up and yells .....“Is there anyone up there?” All of a sudden God’s booming voice says,“Yes it is me … God, what do you want?” The woman says, “Can you get me down from here?” God responds, “Will you believe in me?” “Yes, yes,” says the woman, “Just get me down from here!” “Will you trust me?”, God asks. “Yes, yes I will trust you”, she yells back. “Just get me down from here!” “Will you love me with all your heart and mind and do anything I tell you to?” inquires God. “Yes, yes,” the woman says, straining her voice, “I will love you with all my heart and my mind and I will do anything you tell me to!” Then there was a pause and God said, “Let go of the branch!” The woman looked down, then she looked up and she said, “Is there anyone else up there?” We don’t have to be hanging from a cliff to be in need of God’s love and help. All of us struggle with how to love our spouses, significant others, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and neighbours next door to us and neighbours across the world to us. We have often heard those words “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these. I have often wondered how do I love my neighbour as myself? Does that mean that I love them using only the language of love that I know? That’s not what Dr. Gary Chapman would say. A few years ago Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a book called The Five Love Languages. He came up with five languages or five ways that people express their love. Let me describe them to you. 1. Words of Affirmation: Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important— hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. However, the opposite effect like insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten. 2. Quality Time:In giving people quality time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby— makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Once again the opposite effect like distractions, postponed dates or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful. 3. Receiving Gifts:Don’t mistake this love language for materialism. The receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. But a missed birthday, anniversary or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous. 4. Acts of Service:Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” However, laziness, broken commitments and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter. 5. Physical Touch:A person whose primary language is physical touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder or face – they can all be ways to show concern, care and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive. So now, let me give you an example of using one of these languages of love. I remember when my four kids were small, after staying a few days at my parents’ place, it came time to leave and say goodbye. My father after saying goodbye to our children, would give everyone a chocolate bar. Now my son, Peter, and my daughter Noel, loved getting a chocolate bar. Their faces lit up like a Christmas tree after my Dad gave them a chocolate bar. But I remember my daughter Sydney saying after we drove down the highway a ways, “Why does Grampie always have to give us something? Why does he do that?” Well Dr. Chapman would say that Grampie is showing his love by giving you a chocolate bar. Accepting the chocolate bar made him feel loved. Just imagine what would have happened if my wife would have said to my father, “My children cannot accept your chocolate bars!” It would have hurt my father and it could have turned into a very terrible goodbye. Instead, my wife allowed the children to accepted the chocolate bars and then when we drove off, she took them from the children and said, “ I will give them to you as a treat after From the Minister’s StudyLearn the five languages of love: Chuipka 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 Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9017 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 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 NEW START TIME FOR WORSHIP IS 10 AM ALL WELCOME Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, June 30 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 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 BRUSSELS Sandra Cable, Pastor Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am Sunday School Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship United Church 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 June 30: Lk. 10:25ff Evangelical Missionary Church “‘The Good WHAT?!’ - God at Work in Those We Least Expect” 250 Princess St., Brussels 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Pastor Jim Whitehead Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School 11:15 am Start Building A Better Life This Sunday @ Huron Chapel 10:30 am every Sunday - www. huronchapel.org Continued on page 22