HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-11-14, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013.
By Pastor Andrew Versteeg
Brussels Community Bible
Chapel
This week we have remembered
those who gave their lives for the
sake of freedom and peace. Today
North America and most of Europe
still enjoys the freedom that was
fought for and defended by millions
who went to battle, and by many
who gave their lives.
Remembrance Day has a special
place in our family. My parents spent
five of their childhood years in
Holland under German occupation
and have recounted for us many of
their experiences. My stepfather
spent the last year of the war in
hiding. He was 16 at the time and
feared being sent to work camps in
Germany. Two uncles were taken to
work camps and returned in a very
poor physical and emotional
condition.
My wife’s grandfather fought with
the Canadian Armed Forces. He was
a tank driver with the 27th armored
division and was injured in a battle
at Falaise Gap, France; August 1944.
Papa is one of the few remaining
veterans. We are proud of him and a
picture of him and his tank hangs on
the wall halfway up the stairs among
other family pictures. Often at night
when we are taking our two-year-old
up to bed we point out the different
family members and we give a
special salute to Papa.
War is an awful reality. Anybody
who has been a part of it hates it, but
it is still with us. We live in peace,
thankfully, but many in world do not.
Just a quick Google search revealed
some disturbing facts. There are at
least 12 ongoing conflicts in the
world today where at least 1,000
people have died in the last year. Of
these the two worst are Syria and
Mexico. We hear about Syria all the
time but in Mexico almost 20,000
have died this year. Most of this is
drug related but even so, many in
this country live with the reality of
killing and insecurity.
Where is the peace that we can
never seem to attain? Peace talks are
scheduled and rescheduled but
conflict keeps flaring up and we can
never seem to grasp the peace that
we all long for. Why is that? Even
Jesus stated that this would be the
reality in which we would live in the
days leading up to His return: “You
will be hearing of wars and rumors
of wars … for nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom.” Is there any hope of
peace? Yes there is, and thankfully
there is because of Jesus. Christians
are not pessimists nor are we
hopeless, in fact we are quite the
opposite.
First of all, the scriptures make it
clear why there is ongoing conflict
in the world. It starts with us. It
comes from within us. It comes from
our hearts. All of our conflict can be
explained by this truth, that it
originates in our own hearts. These
conflicts may be just between two
people or they can actually lead to
killing and all-out war. God’s word
says, “what is the source of quarrels
and conflicts among you? Is not the
source your pleasures that wage war
in your members? You lust and you
do not have; so you commit murder.
You are envious and cannot obtain;
so you fight and quarrel” (James 4:1-
2).
Sometimes when we read a verse
like this we immediately think about
someone who we think this might
especially apply to, but the truth is
that this is the way we all are. This is
true about all of us. We are intensely
self-focused and pre-occupied with
getting what we want and having our
own way. Therefore we have
conflict.
Not only is this true in our
relationships with one another and
our international relationships with
other countries, but this is also true
about our relationship with God. The
Bible says that we are at war with
God (Roman 5:10; Colossians 1:21).
It is because we think we should be
in charge and we want to get the
things that we want. Becoming a
Christian involves getting to the
place where we trust God to give us
what He thinks is best for us and
being content with that. It involves
trusting His goodness, that He will
satisfy us with what is best for us. It
also involves knowing and believing
that He has a place prepared for His
people (Heaven) where He will bless
His people so wonderfully, that it
cannot compare to anything we can
have on earth, even if we have
everything.
There is a war that we cannot win,
and that is our war with God. We
can never have peace in our hearts,
until we surrender to Him. Our
conflict has separated us from God,
but Jesus died on the cross so that we
can be reconciled to God and have
peace with Him. Once our hearts are
at peace with God, we will be able to
have peace with each other as well.
We will not covet, we will not lust,
we will not fight any longer, because
we will be satisfied with all that God
has for us. Our sin has brought us
into conflict with a holy God who is
our Creator, and it is a conflict that
we will surely lose. God will punish
us because He is holy and just, but
God is also merciful and loving. He
sent His Son to take the punishment
for any who would lay down their
arms and surrender to Him.
We will lose everything if we do
not surrender, and we will gain
everything if we do. Jesus is our sure
hope for peace. “Now all these
things are from God, who reconciled
us to Himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of
reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
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.
An Adventurous Life
Awaits You...
Sunday @ 10:30am huronchapel.com
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, November 17
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
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, November 17
“Finding Grace”
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
PASTOR
Sandra Cable, DLM
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Tuesday - Wingham Bible Study 7:30 pm
Thursday - Youth Group at CRC 7:30 pm
Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Nov. 17:2 Tim. 1:6ff
Evangelical Missionary Church
“Mentoring:
Refreshing, Helping
& Teaching
Others”
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17
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.
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
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
From the Minister’s StudyRemembrance Day special for Versteegs