The Citizen, 2010-01-07, Page 16By Brent Kipfer,Brussels Mennonite FellowshipMy faith gets no better workout
than when I am sliding backwards.
It is fairly easy to trust God when I
am moving smoothly toward my
goals. I can even pretend that I am
in charge, the master of my own
destiny.
I am learning that failure can be a
gift – if I hear its call to lean on my
Creator rather than myself.
When our family was arriving at
my parents-in-law’s home on
Boxing Day, I knew that our van
would need some momentum to
climb the road to their house. They
call it their “driveway” but it is
actually a short street that goes past
their home to service a neighbour
farther up the hill. On one of the
steepest slopes in the village of
Haliburton, its name fits well:
“Mountain Street.”
About 9:15 p.m., we took the first
run up the hill. We made it abouttwo-thirds of the way, and begansliding backwards. When we
reached the street below, I chose a
new starting place, tried to build up
speed and took another shot up the
driveway. We made it a bit closer to
the top.
I must have made six attempts to
conquer the hill, each one taking us a
shade further toward our goal – only
to slide back down.
Finally, when I was on the verge of
success, the van slid off the road into
a snowbank. I could not move
forward or backward. Even a gentle
push from my father-in-law’s all-
wheel-drive Subaru would not budge
us.
There is a time for persistence –
and there is a time for changing
strategy. It took some humility to
make the phone call, but I was
certainly glad for my month-old
CAA membership!
Sliding backward is aninescapable part of life – at least onthis side of heaven. I have not found
any formula for navigating these
setbacks except to keep learning and
to trust God to provide all that is
needed for the journey.
Last June, my three brothers and I
finally finished paying back a loan
for a small number of beef cows we
bought in the mid-1990s. Between
calf deaths and floundering beef
markets, we did not exactly meet the
goals of our business plan.
I am sure that you have your own
stories of “sliding backward.”
Unless you are tobogganing, these
unplanned trips down the hill are
rarely fun. Still, they have reminded
me that God is more than capable of
bringing me where I need to be –
even if I am clearly not in control.
God does not require me to be
successful in order to accomplish his
purposes.
In fact, my quest for “success”can easily distract me from the voiceof Jesus. Setbacks invite me to put
my trust in God’s reign rather than
my own. They smash the illusion
that I can build lasting kingdoms of
my own.
In the New Testament, it is clear
that Jesus does not delight in those
who present themselves as models of
success but in those who are honest
about their failures and rely on the
grace of God more than their own
wisdom.
What have you learned when
sliding backward?
In his second letter to the churchin Corinth, Paul describes his greatfrustration about a particular
struggle: a “thorn in the flesh.” As
far as we know, it was never resolved
the way that he had hoped it would
be, but within this limitation, he
heard the promise of Jesus:
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in
weakness.”
Have you discovered that grace?
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2010.
VIOLET HEIBEIN
Mrs. Violet Agnes (Hill) Heibein
of Listowel and formerly of
Brussels, passed away at Grand
River Hospital, Kitchener on
Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. She was in
her 67th year.
Violet was the beloved wife of
Lloyd Heibein. She was the mother
of Janet and Doug Mitchell of
Walton, Wendy and Steve Marks of
Harrow and Jeff Heibein and Dawn
Currie of Brussels. She was the
mother-in-law of Gary and Cheryl
Souch of Brussels. Violet was the
grandmother of Rob and Tammy
Mitchell of New Hamburg, Mandy
Mitchell and fiancé Derek Dimaline
of Niagara Falls, Jamie Mitchell of
Walton, Tiffany Marks and Sara
Marks, both of Harrow, Melissa
Souch and friend Jason Mayberry of
Newry and Mathew Souch and
friend Vicky, Felicia Souch and
Laura Souch, all of Brussels and
great-grandmother of Abigail Violet
Mitchell. She was the sister of
Dorothy and Bill Scott of Listowel,
and Clarence Hill of Waterloo.
Violet was predeceased by her
daughter Sherry Souch, brother
Edward Hill, and sister-in-law
Bonnie Hill.
Visitation was held at the Eaton
Funeral Home, Listowel on
Tuesday, Jan. 5 from 2 - 4 p.m. and
7 - 9 p.m. The funeral service was
held at Knox Presbyterian Church,
Listowel on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 11
a.m.
Spring interment will be in
Brussels Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the
Canadian Cancer Society would be
appreciated as expressions of
sympathy.
On-line condolences may be left
at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca
From the Minister’s StudyTrusting God when sliding backwards
YOU ARE WELCOME
9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship
Mid-week Bible Study
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
I
N
D
I
A
N
A
Timeless Truths
For Today
308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth
Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590
Blyth Community Church of God
Welcome to
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Sunday, January 10
9:30 am Worship Service
Guest Speaker: Pastor Elwin Garland
10:45 am Coffee Break
11:00 am Sunday School for all ages
Christmas is over but we are still celebrating Jesus!
Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, January 10
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
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
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
Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group
Evangelical Missionary Church
January 10: Col. 1:15-23
Christ’s
Exaltation,
Our
Exclusion
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, January 10
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:
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Chris McMichael 519.482.1644
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, January 10
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
Sunday, January 10
Worship Service & Sunday School
at 11 a.m.
REV. DAVID WOOD
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School & Small Groups
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
Jr. High Youth
Snow Camp
at Word of Life
in Owen Sound
January 22-24
for more info,
call the
church office!
Obituaries
North St. West, Wingham
Mac & Donna Anderson
519-357-1910
A cemetery is a history of
people, a perpetual record of
yesterday and a sanctuary of
peace and quiet today. A
cemetery exists because every
life is worth loving and
remembering - always
Distinctive Memorials of
Lasting Satisfaction
BOX 158 WINGHAM ONT NOG 2W0