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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-03-12, Page 16By Pastor Brent Kipfer,Brussels Mennonite FellowshipIn a novel by John Fischer called,Saint Ben, an exceptional nine-year-old boy has trouble singing the song Jesus loves me. His father is a pastor, but Ben cannot honestly sing the song as it is written. He tells his friend Jonathan: “I don’t believe that Jesus loves me. Show me where the Bible says, ‘Jesus love you...Ben.’ I can’t find it anywhere. The song should really be ‘Jesus loves us.’ Now that would make sense. Too many people sing ‘Jesus loves me’ and they don’t really mean it or they don’t know what it means....The Bible doesn’t tell me ‘Jesus loves Ben,’and until I can tell myself that, I’m not going to sing about something that I can’t believe is true.” Jonathan responds, “But didn’t he die on the cross because He loves everybody? Isn’t that the point - Imean - aren’t you and I in theresomeplace?”Ben answers, “Yeah, but that’severybody. He died for everybody. But I’m not everybody. I’m Ben Beamering. I get lost being a tiny part of everybody.” Christian faith begins with the joy of being found - discovering that God, in fact, does call us by name. As surely as Jesus once surprised two men who were fishing by the edge of a lake - saying “Come, follow me” - Jesus also searches us out and invites us into a transforming friendship with God. This is a key breakthrough - when we learn to hear our own names spoken in words of worship, in the pages of Scripture, and in songs like Jesus loves me. Nothing can match the delight of knowing that you have been found. The apostle Paul speaks out of this kind of experience in Galatians 2:20,when he says, “I live by faith in theSon of God, who loved me and gavehimself for me.”Without personal knowledge of God’s love and the gift of Jesus, we remain lost. At the same time, we need to guard against a tragic misunderstanding of this love. Our Western culture conditions us to see with individualistic eyes: What is good for me? How can I live a happy life? With self-centred spiritual lenses, we are tempted to reduce the good news of Jesus to a private arrangement with God that is mainly designed to “make my life better.” The call of Jesus is far more radical than that. God did create the world for me - but not for me alone. Jesus did die on the cross for me - but not for me alone. God includes me in his plans - but his plans are far bigger than me! Jesus invites us to take part in anew creation - marked by his reignof peace, justice, truth and love -brought about by the saving actions of his life, his death and his resurrection. In order to enter in, I need to change. My selfishness, pride, lust, and greed have no place in his kingdom. How do I enter in? In the first part of Galatians 2:20, Paul tells us about the process of his conversion, saying, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” What does he mean this? Jesus taught that salvation comes when a person loses their life for him (Mark 8:35). When we ask Jesus to take charge of our lives, our old self (the “me” who wants to be in charge rather than God) dies. Our sin gets “nailed to the cross” (spiritually). We are “crucified” with Christ. Because Jesus had no sin of his own, he could carry ours and free us to receive new life. By faith, we can say with Paul that “Christ lives in me” because Jesus conquered death.He is alive and through the power ofhis Holy Spirit, he lives in all thosewho put their trust in him. When that happens, we are indeed found. PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009. Brussels United Church Women met at the manse on March 4. Ten members were present. Contact person Nelva Scott reminded everyone about the World Day of Prayer service at Duff’s United, Walton. Thank you notes were read. Camp Menesetung asked for a donation of $150 to help for any child wishing to go to camp this summer. Contact Isabelle Wheeler. The UCW joins with the stewards to plan a dinner on May 30. The stewards are holding a music night, featuring Audibly Awesome from Clinton. A motion was made to donate $1,000 to the board of stewards and $500 to Mission and Services. Holy Week services will be held in Brussels United Church the week of April 6. Pastor Sandra Cable was in charge of the worship. Her theme was, Time to Pray. Scripture was from Luke 11: 1-10. Sandra read the explanations of the phrases in The Lord’s Prayer from the book, Women at Worship. From the Minister’s Study‘He lives in those who put trust in Him’ 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! 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 - March 15 Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, March 15 - Birthday Sunday Morning Worship Service and Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Ham and Scalloped Potatoes Luncheon ~ donations to pew cushions March 18-21 ~ Mini Golf ~ see coming events for details BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, March 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 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 No Youth Group Mar. 13 or 20 Evangelical Missionary Church March 15: John 14:1-14 “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” Tickets for Faith-In-Song April 3 ~ Now Available! Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, March 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 Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, MARCH 15 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service GARGANTUAN BIRTHDAY BASH March Break School Wednesday, March 18th 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. at Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church Auburn ~ 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org Admission is free - all you have to do is make your own birthday hat! Children in grades JK - 6 are invited to the largest birthday party they have ever seen. 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. GARGANTUAN BIRTHDAY BASH March Break School Wednesday, March 18th 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Children in grades JK - 6 are invited to the largest birthday party they have ever seen. Admission is free - all you have to do is make your own birthday hat! See you there! Brussels UCW meets at manse Men, Take Control of Your Health • be a non-smoker • eat 5-10 servings of vegetables and fruit a day • be physically active • limit your alcohol consumption • use sun protection • follow cancer-screening guidelines Find out MORE about reducing your risk of developing cancer. Call us at 1 888 939-3333 or visit www.cancer.ca.