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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2012-01-12, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012. PAGE 13. In Motion website launched By Rev. Gary Clark Blyth United Church The title is not a claim that if you don’t follow God then you are a follower of evil. What I want to acknowledge is that in the modern world it is very hard to believe in God. We are, as a species, masters of manipulating the physical world. We clear land, dam mighty rivers, create materials that don’t exist in nature, split the atom and manipulate genes which is stuff of all living things. In doing this we have made ourselves as gods. An unexpected problem that we are confronted with is that we experience our humanity in a non- material way. Dr. Jordon Peterson in his lecture, “The Necessity of Virtue” says, “the fundamental elements of human reality are not material, they are emotional, motivational, dreams, visions, and relationships with others. They are based on consciousness and self- consciousness and we have absolutely no materialistic explanation for consciousness or self-consciousness. We don’t deal well with materialistic understandings of the qualities of being human.” However, we do understand the non-materialistic qualities of life. For example everyone feels pains and boy is that ever a definer of human life. It motivates us. It makes us frightened. We don’t put our hand on that stove burner because we wish to avoid pain. In the same way we understand evil not in a materialistic manner but in how it makes us feel. The fear of something bad happening seems ironically to motivate us more than the hope of something good happening. For me this is the original struggle between good and evil. What will motivate or direct our lives, will it be good or evil? If we have done away with God (because we have made ourselves god) then chances are what we are left with is evil. I guess you could say that even with God you have to deal with evil ‘but’ the difference is with God you do not face evil (which is mental/emotional or physical pain) alone! Bringing God into your life is to welcome the Holy Other to stand with you in the face of evil. This has two major advantages. First God helps us create communities of support so that the mystical God is known in the earthly companionship of other believers. When evil comes our way, and it will, we face it shoulder to shoulder with our brother and sisters. I can tell you from personal experience that this makes all the difference in the world and you really need to be part of a community of support to understand what I am talking about. Secondly the first trick of evil is to convince us that our decisions have an effect on only ourselves. That is the, “as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody else, what does it matter?” way of thinking. The truth is that every single decision we make matters. Let’s take drinking and driving as an example. Nobody gets in a car half cut after drinking with the intention of getting into an accident. And even if you don’t get into an accident your behavior models what is acceptable for the children and other adults in your life. Nobody is an island! The same is true for how we use the environment, how we invest our money and how we use our leisure time. It all matters to those beyond ourselves because we are part of and share the same planet. In fact knowing our actions affect others can motivate us to face pain or hardship for the good of those we love and even those who are strangers to us. In that regard it is love, not fear that shows the way. If we behave as if our actions affect no one else but ourselves then we are more likely to fall prey to work of evil. The decision we make on this will determine the kind of life we create for ourselves and force upon others. And ultimately it is how we live that proclaims what and in whom we believe. With the new year just beginning, residents of Huron and Perth Counties have made commitments to be healthier and more active. Huron-Perth in motion, a group of health and recreation partners working to support an active Huron- Perth, has launched an all-new website this week to kick off the new year. The site, www.hpinmotion.ca is packed with tips on how to get active and stay active in 2012. “We’re excited to launch this new site with lots of ideas just for Huron- Perth residents,” says Alycia Collins, Co-Chair for Huron-Perth in motion. “On the site we have links to our local recreation centres, where you can find out what’s happening in your area. There are tips on how you can be active, and information about why physical activity is so important for our health.” The site also features photo and video pages, including interesting and informative YouTube videos related to physical activity. “This site is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about physical activity in Huron and Perth Counties, whether it be for themselves, a school project, or to share with others,” says Collins. Visit the new website at www.hpinmotion.ca 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. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, January 15 Brussels Public School at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers 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 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 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 JANUARY 15 A Brave New You JANUARY 22 Free Health Care Tips THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. Church Office: 519-357-4883 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Sunday, January 15 Rev. Perry Chuipka www.nabcom.ca/church You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, January 15 Ethel United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-2664 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship January 15: 1 Cor. 12 “Discovering Our Varied Gifts” Part 1 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women At The Well Evangelical Missionary Church Free inventory - http://getlivingwater.org/gifts.htm 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor 9:25 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m Morning Worship Service What To Do When Life Hurts Begins this Sunday New Year, New Sermon Series From the Minister’s StudyIs good or evil your God? asks Blyth’s Clark ON $6.00 THURSDAYS Drop into either of our offices any Thursday with your word classified (maximum 20 words) and pay only $6.00 + HST (paid in advance). That’s $1.00 off regular rates. The Citizen