HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-06-14, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012.
Eagles win big at OFSAA
By Ernest Dow
Living Water Christian
Fellowship (EMC), Blyth
Father’s Day comes yearly as a
reminder for children to keep the
fifth of the Ten Commandments,
“Honour your father and your
mother, so that you may live long in
the land the Lord your God is giving
you.” (Exodus 20:12) But it also
provides an occasion for fathers to
pause and reflect on the kind of job
they’re doing as the family patriarch.
In today’s fever-paced, self-focused,
cocoon-prone, gadget-dominated
world, it’s very easy for dads to get
caught up in work obligations or
play pastimes and make a colossal
oversight when it comes to
parenting.
We may find we’re running so fast
we miss life’s best, like the man in
Rabbi Harold S. Kushner’s story
(from “When All You’ve Ever
Wanted Isn’t Enough”): “A rabbi
once asked a prominent member of
his congregation, ‘Whenever I see
you, you’re always in a hurry. Tell
me, where are you running all the
time?’ The man answered, ‘I’m
running after success, I’m running
after fulfillment, I’m running after
the reward for all my hard work.’
The rabbi responded, ‘That’s a good
answer if you assume that all those
blessings are somewhere ahead of
you, trying to elude you, and if you
run fast enough, you may catch up
with them. But isn’t it possible that
those blessings are behind you, that
they are looking for you, and the
more you run, the harder you make it
for them to find you?’”
In Ephesians chapters 5 and 6,
Paul takes some 20 verses to counsel
various groups of Christian believers
in society: wives, husbands,
children, servants, and bosses. He
has just a single verse aimed at dads:
“Fathers, do not exasperate your
children; instead, bring them up in
the training and instruction of the
Lord.” (Eph 6:4) Do not exasperate
your children... Other translations
render this, “Do not provoke your
children to anger;” “don’t make your
children bitter about life.” In that
sense, it parallels what he wrote to
the church at Colosse, “Fathers, do
not embitter your children, or they
will become discouraged.” (Col
3:21) Few things make a child feel
short-changed or cheated as does
lack of time and attention from dear
old dad.
Neil C. Strait said, “The best gift a
father can give to his son is the gift
of himself – his time. For material
things mean little, if there is not
someone to share them with.”
In my own life, I learned this too
late. This fall our eldest daughter,
Emily Wierenga, is publishing an
autobiographical book about her
battle with an eating disorder,
Chasing Silhouettes. I am very
proud of her accomplishment as an
author, but unfortunately some
sections of the book reflect poorly
on me. My daughter perceives that
the lack of time and attention I gave
her was a big factor in her
developing anorexia, ‘starving for
attention’ as it were. She recalls this
about the years between ages nine
and 13: “Days filled with frowns,
fierce yells and fists pounding
against my father’s chest...Dad loved
us by doing his job so well he put
ministry before family. He’d kiss us
on the cheeks early in the morning
and lead Bible devotions and sigh
when we asked him questions on
Sermon-Writing day. I hated
Sermon-Writing day. I got baptized
at age eight because Dad said I
should and I wanted to please him
the same way I wanted to please
God. I associated God with my
father — a distant, unemotional man
who said he loved me yet was too
busy to show it. One year later, I
realized that even though I’d gotten
baptized, Dad still didn’t ask
me how I was doing, not really, and
so God still didn’t care. Not
really.”
My preoccupation with my job
(notwithstanding it was a ‘religious’
one) provoked my child to anger –
exasperated her – caused her to
become bitter and discouraged. I
was pushing to go ‘faster’ in my
career, at the expense of being a
father. In our desperation to save our
daughter’s life, we turned eventually
to a Christian counsellor. Among
other things, he asked me to describe
my daughter in detail. I soon
realized I didn’t know my daughter
very well, couldn’t describe the
uniqueness of her individuality
because I hadn’t really taken the
time or focused my energy to get to
know her.
The King James Version renders
Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers,
provoke not your children to wrath:
but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.”
NURTURE – that’s what I was
missing out in raising Emily. Being
careful to ‘feed into’ her life. Taking
time (as she notes) to ask her how
she was doing – really.
Sigmund Freud didn’t follow
Biblical wisdom in his practice of
psychology, but he did nevertheless
make some astute observations
about human nature. He said, “I
could not point to any need in
childhood as strong as that for a
father’s protection.” This Father’s
Day – and all other days of the year
when we’re tempted to go ‘faster’
rather than father – may the Lord
help us slow down enough to
treasure our children and truly
nurture them, love into their lives,
rather than embittering and
exasperating them.
By Madelaine Higgins
It was a great week to be an Eagle!
For the first half of this week at St.
Anne’s Catholic Secondary School,
the girls’ rugby team was in OFSAA
in Ottawa where they won the
consolation championship.
Congratulations girls! On Monday,
the junior boys’ and girls’ soccer
teams played in the quarterfinals at
St. Anne’s. On Tuesday, elementary
school students from Mount Carmel
came to St. Anne’s to talk about the
importance of inclusion by sharing
their own experiences. Grade 11 and
12 gym classes participated in golf
days. St. Anne’s is very proud of
student Brock Dykxhoorn was
drafted to the Cincinnati Reds this
week.
Student cabinet members were
busy all week selling bubblegum in
preparation for a bubble-blowing
contest. The contest was a close call
and bubbles were popping. They
raised money for a graduation
bursary by hosting a staff versus
student soccer game and a staff
human sundae competition. Mr.
Geiger was a good sport as ice
cream, chocolate sauce and
sprinkles were placed on his head.
Thursday was the annual outside-
a-palooza day, the last school-wide
gathering until next school year.
Student cabinet and advisors
organized an outdoor mass featuring
a Christian rock band, enjoyed a
barbecue lunch and spent the
afternoon partaking in various
carnival games and activities.
Thursday was also yellow day
where students donated $2 for an
extra civvies day and all proceeds
went to the Canadian Cancer
Society. Thursday evening was the
“Grease” dance at St. Anne’s and
students and their guests attended
looking great in their 1950s wear.
Friday, June 8 was a PD day for
students. Have a great week.
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
JUNE 17 ~ Lessons From A Bike Trip
JUNE 24 ~ Join us and others at Blyth Public School
at 11:00 am for a Service of Celebration
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
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
June 17: Mark 9:14-29
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study
Thursdays 7:00 pm - Truth Project Small Group at Dows’
“Faithful Fathering:
from Consumer
to Committed”
HAPPY FATHER’S
DAY
Evangelical Missionary Church
Community VBS July 16-20 -
info/register: tinyurl.com/blythvbs2012
250 Princess St., Brussels
Pastor Brent Kipfer
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, June 17
Brussels Legion at 10:30 a.m.
and in various homes at 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 - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
Sunday, June 17
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, JUNE 17
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
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
Join us for
Father’s
Day...
A special gift for each
Father!
From the Minister’s StudyDow reflects as Father’s Day approaches
BUY? SELL?
TRY CLASSIFIED