HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-04-10, Page 23By Pastor Ernest Dow, LivingWater Christian Fellowship(EMC), BlythAh, it’s spring at last! The buds are
bursting - crocuses are ‘croaking’ -
and the daffodils are here at the door
to remind us that “April is Cancer
Month”.
Just over a week ago my
neighbour popped around with
bunches to sell as the annual
fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer
Society. “Today the Canadian
Cancer Society is the world's largest
purchaser of daffodils,” states their
website, thanks to an idea sprouted
in Toronto back in the 1950s that
spread to other provinces and the
United States. (www.cancer.ca)
Yet now, all too soon, that same
once-cheery bunch of daffodils on
our kitchen table has begun to droop
and fade, having fallen victim to the
same condition of degeneration
which afflicts all material things.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah
wrote, “All men are like grass, and
all their glory is like the flowers of
the field. The grass withers and the
flowers fall...Surely the people are
grass. The grass withers and the
flowers fall...” (Isaiah 40:6-8)
That same pervasive degeneration
is reflected by Paul’s words in the
New Testament in which he tells us
“the creation was subjected to
frustration”, it is in “bondage to
decay” for the present time (Romans
8:20f).
The Cancer Society boldly
proposes to Make Cancer History
but alas, right now it is just too
prevalent. My wife has been battling
a brain tumour for six years, with the
help of surgery, radiation, and the
prayers of many. In the early stages
it made its presence known by sharp
pains in her head and vomiting.
Through the years we have
witnessed considerable loss of
function, tumour-induced seizures
(hence loss of her driver’s licence),
and periodically entire days are lost
to consciousness.
Then last week we received the
news that my brother, a Perth farmer
in his mid-50s, has been diagnosed
with lymphoma (cancer of the lymph
system) in stage 3 or 4. His youngest
child is not yet even graduated from
high school.
Most readers of this paper will
also be aware of an infant girl in the
area afflicted with cancer in her
eyes, who has already had to
undergo chemotherapy. It is right for
the community to rally around such
families facing unusual suffering.
One can’t help but wonder, “What if
that were us?”
When such serious sickness
envelops a loved one, we are
tempted to react very strongly – even
to curse the debilitating and
potentially deadly disease. One
website I came across while
researching my wife’s conditionfeatured T-shirts custom-made witha two-word slogan starklyemblazoned across the front: “F___
Cancer” (you can guess what the
blank represents, it wasn’t left to
doubt on the T-shirt).
While the bluntness of the
expletive sort of stops you in its
tracks, I had to admit that, at a gut-level, I could relate to that sentiment(though not being a swearing manmyself).
But is that the best way to react -
to curse it?
Recently I happened upon a TV
broadcast by evangelist Ted
Shuttlesworth. He was describing an
encounter in which he had actually“cursed” the tumour inside someonewith cancer. Should that be aChristian’s approach? Is there
Biblical precedent for thus
addressing destructive forces in our
lives?
On at least one occasion, the Lord
Jesus did severely denounce those
who stood opposed to His ministry
of healing and Kingdom-teaching
(see Matthew 23 - ‘Woe to you,
teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites!...You snakes!...How
will you escape being condemned to
hell?’).
But the record of His encounters
with the sick show His approach wasmuch more positive than negative.To a leper He said, “Be clean;” to aparalytic, “Get up, take up your
mat;” to a mute man, “Be opened.”
(Mark 1:41; 2:11; 7:34)
The apostles, in their extension of
Jesus’ healing ministry, continued
the same positive approach. Peter
told the lame man, “In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
(Acts 3:6)
According to the Bible, the
language of Christ-followers is to be
characterized by blessing instead of
cursing. Jesus urged, “Love your
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008. PAGE 23.
Drama and dinner
Pastor Les Cook takes some criticism from his mother in
this bit of dinner theatre just before the lasagna hit the
tables. The Blyth Church of God hosted the lasagna dinner
last week at the Blyth Community Centre and treated the
turnout to some humorous theatrics before and after the
big meal. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
From the Minister’s StudyA reaction to ‘blankety-blank’ cancer
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n ity 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!
119 John St., Auburn
Pastor Dave Wood
519-526-1131
This Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School &
Small Groups
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
SUNDAY, APRIL 13
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, April 13th
Brussels Public School
10:30 am and 6:30 pm
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, APRIL 13
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 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, April 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
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Sunday, April 13
All Welcome
Worship Service and Sunday School - 11 a.m.
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
1st & 3rd Wednesdays - Women at the Well
Youth: Mondays - Senior 6:30 pm
- Fridays - Junior 7:30 pm
Sun., April 13: Acts 3:11ff
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
“Varied Blessings
of Faith in Jesus:
Repentance,
Refreshing,
Rehabilitation”
Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12
Youth Group “Famine”
Continued on page 26