The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2009-09-10, Page 12By Pastor Brent Kipfer,Brussels Mennonite Fellowship“Give me neither poverty norriches, but give me only my daily bread.” This unusual prayer is buried in the thirtieth chapter of the Book of Proverbs, offered by a man named Agur. We easily understand the problem with poverty. A second grade teacher at Alyarmook elementary school in Syria was taken off guard when one of her students fell unconscious during gym class. Later, in the principal's office, the teacher asked the young girl, “Why did you come to school without having your breakfast?” The child answered, “Today is not my turn to eat!” The 12 members of her family rationed their food in shifts. Half of the group would eat one day; the other half on the next. We instinctively want to avoid poverty. Even when our basic needs are met – for food, clothing and housing – most of us want to get as far from scarcity as possible. When Agur asks God for his daily bread, he backs up his request withunexpected reasoning. Instead oflisting how he would suffer if hebecame poor, Agur focuses on his own character. He wants to keep his integrity before God. Without having his basic needs met, he says, he may be tempted to cheat and steal to survive – and so end up dishonouring the name of God. Countless people live honest, trustworthy lives even as they struggle to provide for themselves and their families. In the Bible, the poor are often lifted up as models of faith. At the same time, there are also extremely rich folks who are experts at setting up the crooked deal and getting away with it. Still, Agur recognizes that those who lack basic necessities face a terrible pressure - a temptation to compromise their character to gain what they need. It is not hard to see the problem of having too little - but what is the danger with too much? Jim Carrey once said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they everdreamed of so they can see that it’snot the answer.”Instinctively, we want things. How many children need to be encouraged to want more toys? Sarah and I have never had to coach our kids to scour the Sears Christmas Wish Book! One sign of living in a wealthy culture is that there is not only an abundance of things, but there is an abundance of choice. Do you know how many different ways that Starbucks can serve a cup of coffee? If you consider all the possible combinations, it comes to 19,000! In case that is not enough,Taiwanese coffee farmers have come up with yet another option. For years, they have been pestered by Formosan rock monkeys, which eat the reddest, ripest berries from coffee plants and spit out the seeds. Now farmers are collecting these half-chewed seeds and roasting them to produce a coffee that connoisseurs consider a delicacy. This rare blend sells for around $56 a pound! Author Bill Bryson spent 20 yearsoverseas and when he returned toNorth America, he taken aback bythe options available to shoppers here. He says, “Abundance of choice not only makes every transaction take ten times as long as it ought to, but in a strange way actually breeds dissatisfaction. The more there is, the more people crave, and the more they crave, the more they, well, crave more. You have a sense sometimes of being among millions and millions of people needing more and more of everything, constantly, infinitely, unquenchably.” Agur is aware that wealth would not only leave him dissatisfied, but that it can have an even more devastating impact on us. In asking God to protect him from riches, he says, “Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?'” Have you noticed the seductive lure of wealth? We are easily fooled into believing that our possessionsare what bring security, peace – evenjoy. Only Jesus Christ brings lasting security, peace and joy. Are you ready to pray like Agur? PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009.From the Minister’s StudyNeither poverty nor riches, but daily bread There’s some mystery money in trust in Huron County coffers. At the Sept. 2 meeting auditor Eugene Bender of Vodden, Bender and Seebach explained that there was $10,409 in trust funds that “has something to do with homecare.” However when asked where the money came from, Bender replied, “That’s a mystery,” Nancy Rennick, manager of financial services and deputy treasurer, said she had been looking in the archives to try and find the history. “I have been investigating,” she said, adding that the money didn’t seem to have anything to do with residents in long-term care. “It appears to be Ministry,” she said. Bender recommended a purchase. “It seems reasonable to spend it for some health purchase of some kind.” getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship September 13 Evangelical Missionary Church Joint Worship at 9:30 a.m. Thresher’s Reunion Church Service at Campgrounds No service on 13th at Blyth Public School Youth Group this Friday Meet at BPS 7 pm: Rally in Wingham! Speaker, music, pizza & pop 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! Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, September 13 No Church Service at Blyth United Church on September 13th. Join us at Threshers’ Church Service at 9:30 am in Shed #3. Sunday school resumes September 20th at 11 a.m. Congregational meeting after church on September 20th. Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, September 13 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 Trust money a mystery for county By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen 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 Service OLYMPIAN FAST-CAR RACE TRACK Wednesday, September 16th 6:30 p.m. Shine up your fastest match- box car and come race with us! This is also registration night for children JK-Gr. 6 Lots of snacks, racing, songs and a bouncy castle for the younger children We welcome you at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Sunday, September 13 9:30 am Together for Worship 10:45 am Coffee Break 11:00 am Beginning Fall Sunday School classes for all ages Pastor Brent Kipfer ~ 519-887-6388 brusselsmennonite@on.aibn.com Come let us worship! Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, September 13 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 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, September 13 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service