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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-12, Page 16By Pastor Ernest Dow,Living Water ChristianFellowship (EMC), BlythJust the other day I was reading abank’s attempt to offer an explanation for a significant drop in its/my RRSP mutual fund account (20 per cent over the past year). With even tone and remarkable perspective the “Market Update” explained, in part: “...the United States went through an incredible period of economic growth that lasted about 73 months. The growth period was fuelled by the U.S. housing market where an extended period of historically low interest rates started a housing boom. Wall Street stepped in to help mortgage lenders keep pace with the enormous mortgage demand by purchasing the mortgages from lenders. Wall Street then packaged these mortgages into investments and sold them to various investors around the world. The U.S. housing boom led to booms in other markets. The first of these was in U.S. consumer spending. Home equity rose as U.S. home prices soared. This situation sparked a period of hyper_consumption as homeowners borrowed against their equity to buy more than they could truly afford...” Then it soberly added, “We are now experiencing the bust...” It all sounds so natural and predictable in retrospect. Yet I couldn’t suppress a fleeting thought – “You experts could see all this happening...So why didn’t you let me know six months ago when I could have done something about it??!” At the same time, a magazine advertisement by an investment- training company sneers, “Most funds have lost up to 50 per cent of their value! Sadly, these results are disastrous for you...On top of that, most funds have charged you anywhere between two to five per cent in FEES. That’s right; you paid them to lose your money! Yet, they got their bonuses!”Grrrr.... Suddenly that proverbial‘sock under the mattress’looks like apretty enticing way to deal with anymonetary surplus! But, truthfully, I shouldn’t take it out on the fund managers. How were they to know when speculators would stop pumping cash into oversold stocks, the financial system would seize up like an engine out of oil, and the bubble burst? Even the best heads in the business suffered. Forbes’ list of wealthiest CEOs is topped by the legendary Warren Buffett; yet Forbes notes that even the shares of the company managed by “The Oracle of Omaha” fell by 32 per cent last year. The Bible warns us against putting too much surety in money. “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.” (Proverbs 18:11) Notice it says a rich person’s wealth is like a high wall in their imagination. Money may be helpful and useful in life, but it has its limits. It won’t protect you from disease. It won’t guarantee your car will stay on an icy road. It can be more of a hindrance than a help in terms of developing real intimacy in relationships. Wealth has this capacity to be extremely transitory – as some of ushave found out watching ourinvestment portfolios in recentmonths. The book of Proverbs sums it up well: “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Prov.23:5) In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles used money as needed, but warned that it shouldn’t be allowed to become too dear to our hearts. Jesus advised His followers not to store up wealth on earth where it is so vulnerable to loss, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt 6:20f) The apostle Paul cautioned Timothy that those who are rich had better not put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but instead, put their hope in God; “to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” Seems both the Lord and our firstchurch leaders were especiallyconscious that investments on thisearthly plane are subject todisappointment and tend to poison our hearts against trusting God, the only real source of security that lasts into eternity. Rather than storing up wealth greedily here, being generous transforms us into creatures worthy of better things beyond this life. Promise Keepers Canada president Ron Hannah in a magazine article draws our attention to “the widespread belief that money can buy almost anything and that it undoubtedly will lead to happiness” – citing the song “Money, Money, Money” in the popular musical Momma Mia. Scripture tells us the love of money can wind up piercing peoplewith many sorrows. (1Tim.6:10) Ron concludes, “Rather than takethe road of ‘the rich man’s world’ inthe song that could lead to coveting or loving money, learn to be wise, stay out of debt, live within your means and start making deposits in your account in Heaven...” Seems that’s an even broader and wiser perspective than my bank’s – underwritten by all the resources of our Creator! PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009.From the Minister’s StudyHigh imaginary walls vs. eternal dividends 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n i ty Church of God C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A “The Church is not a building, it is people touching people Sunday School 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Mid-week Bible Studies See you Sunday! Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, February 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: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service PASTOR 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 Services Evening Services are cancelled for the winter months. MONDAY NIGHTS AT HURON CHAPEL Parents bring your teenagers and come and enjoy some friendly competition playing floor hockey and soccer. Join us from 7:00-9:00 pm No cost ~ just have fun!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 (at the school) Evangelical Missionary Church February 15 - 1 Samuel 1 Why Do We Dedicate Infants? Next Sunday: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner! Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth Sermon Topic: Deuteronomy 30:1-6 “Hope for the Fallen — Return and Experience Blessing” 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 Parish of New Beginnings Morning Prayer - February 15 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, February 15 Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388 Everyone Welcome! Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, February 15 Annual Meeting and Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Lunch to follow