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
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“The Church
is not a building,
it is people
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Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
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Mid-week Bible Studies
See you
Sunday!
Youre Invited
to come worship
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Sunday, February 15
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
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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
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MONDAY NIGHTS AT
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Parents bring your teenagers
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Join us from 7:00-9:00 pm
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Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
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10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study
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Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school)
Evangelical Missionary Church
February 15 - 1 Samuel 1
Why Do We
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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
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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