HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-04-08, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987.
From the Minister's Study
Lent an important season A Blyth Christian
Reformed Church
BY THE REV. BONNIE LAMBLE
WALTON-BLUEVALE
PASTORAL CHARGE
Lent is an important season in
the church year. During this time
we are encouraged to examine our
lives in the light of our faith. The
story in John 9 of Jesus healing the
manblindsincebirthgivesusa
great deal offood for thought. It is a
very powerful drama. And, as in a
good play we catch glimpses of our
own selves in it. In what characters
do we see ourselves? Where does
the story impact upon us?
The blind man in this story was
not the only one with vision
problems. Some of the neighbours
had sight impairment too. The
blind man now could see. Through
divine action he had been healed.
But some of the neighbours had to
explain it all away. ‘‘No this man is
not the blind beggar; he just looks
like him." Are the things all that
different today ? God is active in our
lives. But how often do we fail to
see God's activity? How often
would we rather explain it all
away?
The blind man’s parents did not
want to see too much. ‘‘Howour
soncan see, we don’t know.” They
wanted to protect their own
position and not get into trouble
with the authorities. That fear of
the Pharisees seems tooverridc
their relationship with their son.
Instead of being thrilled that their
son now had his sight, they arc
detached and cool. Instead of
supporting their son against the
authorities they don’t want to get
involved. "He is old enough; ask
him." Does fear ever grip us and
make us not want to see. Do we not
get involved and not offer a loving
hand because of fear? Do we ever
choose not to see and choose not to
reach out to someone who seems
like a loser because we are afraid of
what others might think?
The Pharisees, as is often the
case in the gospels, are not shown
in a particularly favourable light.
Butitmustbe remembered who
they were. They were the good
religious people who faithfully
went to synogogue and tried their
best to keep the Jewish law. They
were like people today who come to
church and try to be faithful to God.
But the Pharisees got so wrapp
ed up in preserving their traditions
thatthey lost sight of why they kept
these traditions. And because of
that, what they did actually
interfered with God’s intentions.
What could honourGod more on
the Sabbath than to heal a man’s
blindness? Yet the Pharisees were
angry with Jesus because they
thought that the healing broke the
Sabbath law. We may look at the
Pharisees with contempt but we
can easily fall in the same kinds of
traps. It is important that we ask
God to help us to see that our rules
and traditions are in keeping with
God’s intentions.
This story has a great pardox for
the so called blind man is really the
man who sees. His healing is a sign
of divine action and he recognizes
that and responds ‘‘Lord, I be
lieve." And his confession of faith
is costly. It gets him into trouble
with the Pharisees and he is thrown
out of the synagogue. But he
chooses to follow the one who
brings healing and new sight.
There is in each one of us the
blindness of the neighbours, the
parents and the Pharisees. But we
need not live in that darkness. The
power of Christ can make us whole,
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
Rev. Roger Gelwicks
Worship Services 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Sunday School 11:00a.m.
The Church of the ‘ ‘ Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20’ ’
Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX, Sunday
Faith 20 5:00a.m. weekdays, Global T. V.
ALL VISITORS WELCOME
INVEST IN YOUR SOUL!
Attend
REVIVAL SERVICES
At
Huron Chapel Missionary Church
Auburn, Ontario
Tuesday, April 7 to Sunday, April 12
Evening Services, including Saturday at 8 p.m.
Sunday Services at 11 a.m. &8p.m.
REV.CLARENCEHUNKING, Evangelist
Ministry In Music:
Rev. Ken Bauman
Pastor Don & Mary Vair
Pastor Jim & Lorraine Carne
Rev. & Mrs. Sam Buick
Business
Directory/
HUNT AND PELLA
WINDOWS & DOORS
HOMERENOVATIONS
AND
GENERALBUILDING
CONTRACTORS
H. TEN PAS
CONSTRUCTION LTD.
BRUSSELS AND AREA
887-6408
Scott McLennan
BUILDING
CONTRACTOR LTD.
Custom Building
•Residential •Commercial
•Agricultural
Specializing in Concrete
Wingham Wroxeter
357-3267 335-6261
Dura-
Custom Fabricating & Repairs
6th of Morris just west of power
lines
887-6594
thruway
•RADS *GASTANKS
Thruway Muffler
& Brake Centre
191 Walnut St.
GODERICH
524-4200
Behind Hi-W ay Ford on
Huron Road
Phil’s Refrigeration
and
Appliance Services
Dependable service
to all makes and models
of major
domestic appliances.
Wingham 887-9062
Blyth
Construction
Home Renovations &
General Contractors
Gord
Jenkins
523-9372
Dwight
Chalmers
523-4354
Howard Bernard
Fuels
Agent-Petro-Canada
Brussels
HeatingOils
Automatic Delivery
Farm Fuels
Motor Oils & Greases
887-6377
Fred Lawrence
Electric Ltd.
Home, Farm,
Commercial Wiring
Auburn, Ont.
DON
DUNBAR
526-7505
PAUL
COOK
357-1537
LIFE
R. John Elliott
[519] 523-4323
GENERAL
J. Richard Elliott
[519)523-9725
ELLIOTT INSURANCE BROKERS
LTD.INSURANCE IN ALL BRANCHES
Established 1910
BLYTH, ONTARIO N0M1H0
LIVESTOCK MORTALITY INSURANCE
519-523-4481
B&G
ELECTRIC
Plumbing and Heating
Brussels, Ont.
N0G1H0
BILL AITCHISON
887-6747
R.W.
Bell
Optometrist
Goderich
The Square
524-7661
BEFORE YOU
BUILD...
CALL
MANFRED
LOSEREIT
OF
SERVICES
INC.
McKILLOP
MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY
91 Main St. South, Seaforth
Office 527-0400
FARM,HOME,
COMMERCIAL
AUTOCOVERAGES
------------AGENTS
E.F. “Bill” Durst 527-1455
Bob McNaughton 527-1571
Graeme Craig 887-9381
Banter & MacEwan
Insurance
Brokers Ltd. 524-8376
John Wise Insurance
Brokers Ltd. 482-3401
Thompson’s
Meat Market
Brussels
Fresh Meat
Freezer Orders
Custom Butchering
by appointment
Call Brussels 887-6294
Canadian Crane
Rentals Ltd.
•15, 25 ana 40 ton
hydraulic mobile cranes
reach up to 175 feet
•VA yard backhoe
•15 years experience
nrnp Sales-ServiceDtllU installation
Free Estimates
•Barn Cleaners •Stabling
•Bunk Feeders
Donald G. Ives
R.R. #2 Blyth
Brussels 887-9024
Wanted!
Livestock
barbecue pigs,
ruptures, rhinitis,
poor doers, feedlot
rejects.
Also sows & boars
fitto butcher
CALL 335-3151
Neil Beuermann
Construction
Brussels
887-9598
Renovations
Barn work
Custom built homes
Concrete work
PREGNANT?
and need help . .
519-357-1066 WINGHAM
1-800-328-5683TOLL FREE
•Renovation Design &
Consultation
•Custom Home Design
•Home Planning
•Specializing in Office
and Store Renovation
General Contracting
28years experience in
the liuilding industry
P.O. BOX 11 PHONE
AUBURN, ONT. 526-7507