The Citizen, 1991-06-05, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5,1991.
From the Minister's Study
Endure hardship for the Lord
BY BOB BARNHART
BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD
Second Timothy chapter two
verses 3-6 says "Endure hardship
with us like a good soldier of Christ
Jesus. No one serving as a soldier
gels involved in civilian affairs - he
wants to please his commanding
officer. Similarly, if anyone com
petes as an athlete, he does not
receive the victor's crown unless he
competes according to the rules.
The hard-working farmer should be
the first to receive a share of the
crops."
Paul is encouraging Timothy to
endure. He uses three different
illustrations to show Timothy about
endurance. All three have to deal
with an attitude.
The first is the soldier. A good
soldier, is one who realizes the
risks and accepts them. Notice it
says a good soldier not just some
one there for a free ride or benefits.
A good soldier seeks to endure so
he can gain the victory. His goal is
more important at that time than his
or her personal comfort and safety.
The second illustration is that of
an athlete. An athlete must go
through much training. You don't
become good by accident. Even
those who are naturally gifted need
to train and discipline themselves.
The athlete also must compete
according to the rules.
The third illustration is the
Farmer. I am the first to admit I do
not know much about farming.
From my observations farmers are
hardworking and have to have
faith. They are dependent on the
weather, the soil, the seed. They
plant seeds and expect them to
grow. Farmers love their land.
These three people all have one
thing in common. They choose to
do what they do. All three choose
to do what they want and they
accept the risks and demands of
what they have chosen.
The same is true in the Christian
life. We can endure trials and con
flict because we choose to. Ronald
Bridge says, "Endurance is difficult
to learn because it often involves
pain, either emotional, or physical.
The only way it can be learned is
by an act of our will."
We need to be powerfully moti
vated to choose to endure a certain
trial or conflict." What is our moti
vation? A soldier will fight because
he believes the cause is more
important than his personal safety.
The athlete will do it to show he or
she is the best. The farmer docs it
because he loves fanning. What is
our motivation?
Our motivation should be our
love for the Lord. Ronald Bridge
also says this in his book, "The
whole idea of endurance in the
Christian Life rests squarely on the
strength of our love for the Lord.
For it is by our love that we can be
accepting rather than questioning,
growing rather than backsliding,
enduring rather than drifting. Only
a love relationship with God estab
lishes an enduring heart. Paul was
trying to get the powerful message
across to Timothy in his final epis
tle. Let's endure hardship for the
Lord!
On parade
Members of Brussels, Blyth and Howick Legions took part in a special Ladies' Auxiliary D-
Day service at the cenotaph in Brussels on Sunday mornir.g. Following a brief service, the
group paraded to the United Church.
’’Compassion and service”,
theme of Presbyterial
"Compassion and Service" was
the theme for the Spring Confer
ence of Stratford-Huron Presbyteri
al of the Women's Missionary
Society, held on May 27 at Knox
Presbyterian Church, Mitchell. Jean
Edmund presided and Rev. Bill
Milne welcomed the ladies on
behalf of the session and congrega
tion.
Ruth Laing, Peggy Kerslake, and
Alice Gardiner of Cromarty, led the
worship service and Dorothy Miller
gave the offertory prayer. A trio
composed of Marion McKay, Marg
McNaught and Helen Sinclair of
Mitchell sang "Something About
That Name" and "Because He
Lives" accompanied by Audrey
Vorstenbosch on the organ.
Bea Ersman, Floy Foreman and
Edna Simmons of Exeter presented
a skit, entitled "Fashions" detailing
the 'accessories befitting Christians
as outlined in Colossians, the hat of
compassion, the scarf of kindness,
the jewellery of humility, the belt
of gentleness, the purse of patience,
the shoes of forgiveness and the
shawl of love.
Arnold Deelstrat of Atwood
showed slides and spoke of his
experience in helping the Evangeli
cal Medical Aid Society distribute
used eye glasses to the people of
the Bluefields area of Nicaragua.
The used eye glasses, collected in
Canada and the United States, are
sorted and tagged according to pre
scription. By using a computer the
eye glasses are then matched to
those suffering various eye prob
lems.
Donna and John McDonald of
Mitchell presented a video and told
of their experiences while they
were members of a group who
helped rebuild a second storey of a
Primary School in Bluefields,
Nicaragua. This school had been
damaged by the Hurricane Joan in
October 1988. Both presentations
depicted an impoverished country
but in spile of extreme poverty the
people are happy and appear to be
healthy.
Courtesy remarks were made by
Eleanor Stevenson of RR 2, Brus
sels and the benediction was given
by Robena Alexander of RR 4, Lis-
towel. Lunch was served by the
Mitchell and Monkion auxiliaries
and a social time enjoyed by all.
A new spirit
of giving
A national program to encourage giving
and volunteering
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
REV. LORENZO RAMIREZ JR.
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
Junior Church - Nursery
What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits toward mel
Psalm 116: 12
Church Office 523-4224
ANGLICAN CHURCH
OF CANADA
REV. DAVID FULLER, B.A., M. DIV.
June 9 Pentecost 03
MORNING PRAYER
Blyth Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
A BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
DR. W. H. LAMMERS
Sunday at 10 a m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20"
Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday
Faith 20 5:00 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V.
all Visitor WELCOME
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE
AUBURN 526-7515
10:00 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
8:00 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:'3O - Youth
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
Sunday, June 6
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
11:00 a.m. - Church School Celebration
2:00 p.m. - Blyth Puppeteers
Swimming - B.B.Q.
9:00 a.m. - Ethel Morning Worship Service
77u5 is my father's world
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
We welcome you to come and worship
with us
Want a Church to go to?
Come to:
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
’It’s cool and neat"
Try it Today!
9:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service
10:30 a.m . - Christian Education Hour
Everybody Welcome
Pastor - Gordon Bauman Elder -Elwin Garland
887-6388 887-9017