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The Citizen, 1999-05-05, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1999. From the Minister’s Study Faith not shallow, but deep and growing By Rev. Dave Wood Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church The little old lady had finally had enough and called the police. Officer," she said when he arrived, "I want you to talk to the people next door. Every night they've been pounding on my wall and yelling at me until four o'clock in the morning." "I guess you can't get a wink of sleep," the officer said sympathetically. "Oh, it isn't that," the lady explained. "It's just that with all the pounding and yelling, I can't enjoy my piano playing." Hebrews 11: l states, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." And without faith the Word of God states, it is impossible to please God. With this Biblical definition, faith then, is the very fabric of Christianity and is vital to a healthy relationship with God. Here is where the problem begins because for many in the empirical world of which we are a part, faith is something hard to come by and few seem to have time to even consider it..For some reason it is easier to believe in a non-Biblical picture of a God, who is out there somewhere than it is to trust and commit to a Biblical and logical and factually supported view of God. It is almost a paradox in and of itself for man has freely admitted to the existence of a divine or superior being, and that, with objective observation, this Being is both extremely intelligent and also powerful beyond human understanding. But it would seem that this Being is not worthwhile to consider as important in the behaviour and destiny of man. Throughout the centuries, culture after culture has attempted to identify this Creator. Why? Could St. Augustine possibly have been right when he proclaimed that inside of every man there is a "God vacuum" that only Christ can fill? Philosophers and poets, theologians and scientists, all have embarked upon the quest, the journey to explain with complete rationale, the existence and persona of this First Cause of Creation. But despite the best attempts, despite the carefully written refutes and so- called proofs for denial and support, it still comes down to and remains always, an issue of faith. Mennonites hear guest speaker Brussels Mennonite Fellowships guest speaker on Sunday, Apr. 25 was Allison Nicholson, a student from the Toronto School of Theology. Nicholson led the congregation into a deep gentle appreciation of Jesus the great Shepherd. From her childhood experiences with sheep in Scotland, she noted the importance of sheep knowing their shepherd's voice, and how a good shepherd knows every one of his sheep by name. The shepherd's presence calms and reassures his sheep. Jesus is the true shepherd, she said. He calls all people to Him. Assurance of love, peace, and security follows those who listen to the good shepherd's voice. It is not easy to keep focus on the "Good Shepherd." As Jesus' followers Christians must continue to find ways to help one another feel secure in the sheep fold. With so much violence in our world, it is very important to meet together, to talk with each other and share pain, concerns and reassure each other of "The Good Shepherd’s" abiding presence. After the morning worship service, a committee in the process of planning a community summer program for "Kid’s Comer" met to discuss details. Anyone interested in helping or bringing their children, call 887-6388. The youth are also serving a beef dinner to help support their many activities, May 8. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Adults are $8, under 12, $5 and under three, free. BMF youth meet for Bible Study every Wednesday evening for learning and fun. Call 887-6388 for more information. Soren Kierkkegard, known also as the Great Dane, a renowned philosopher and considered one of the greatest minds of the 19th century, concluded, that the evidence for God is there, the support is overwhelming and impressive but until one steps off the precipices, until one makes what he termed the Leap of Faith, he cannot be satisfied nor ever know the reality of the Divine. You see, it is all there, the proof, the evidence, the empirical knowledge that is imperative for scientific explanation, but even with all the facts, it still comes down to faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, to know God. The Word of God is very clear, for even with the hardest of skeptics, faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Could it be that one of the sins the church must face is the misrepresentation of the Almighty God. Instead of the freedom of Jesus Christ, has the church offered religion in its place? Instead of unfiltered truth, has the church merely come up with endless doctrine, and instead of faith, has it been replaced it with rules and regulations that bound and weigh down the already heavy of heart? If so, you can guess what might be the result, a world that rejects the gospel, is suspicious of true faith, a society that embraces and runs with everything contrary to the Divine Will. Jesus had much to say concerning the Word of God, and in the parable of the Sower and the Seed, He sums up the growing season and hindrances to good growth. The first seed fell on the path but the path was hard, it was wom down by much travel and the seed could not penetrate and take root. It might as well have fallen on pavement. This speaks of every day life. Too busy, too hectic, just too much activity, so much so that the Word of God does not have a chance to take root let alone grow in lives. Busy, busy, busy and for what? Why? Money? With my luck I will finally come into money and I'll get knocked off! Kids? Boy, we run around for them don't we? We give them everything they need and want and teach them to be busy too. But do w.e neglect to give them anything that lasts, anything eternal? Life! Sometimes we get so busy that we don't even have time to die but when it does happen, and it will despite our schedules, it will be a shocker cause the Word of God will prove true. The Word of God is the Seed, it is being sown today as it has been for the last 2000 years and the effects are still the same for it is still able to save, it is still able to rescue the lost and bring the wanderer home. The seed fell on the path, but they just didn't get it, they just couldn't take the time to grasp and instead of trying to they forgot about it. Jesus continued with the rocky ground, the thorny ground, more vivid pictures of life. A start is made, a decision is even given, but it is shallow and hollow and has nothing to support it and soon it too passes and leaves. But the good seed, it takes root, and by faith the roots grew. Faith isn't shallow and useless, but deep and growing. Not scattered and watered down, but sincere and committed. And it produced a crop, and it was blessed. How is your faith? THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA you are weicome this Sunday MAY 9 - EASTER 6 MORNING PRAYER Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. Wheelchair accessible St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service 7:30 p.m. - Tuesday - Bible Study - Faith and Life of Jesus 2:00 p.m. - Wednesday - Bible Study - Old Testament Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available We welcome you to come and worship with us. Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 tAe fay, af, Everyone Welcometit UA tAlA Slttl'dcty Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m. at Brussels Mennonite ^Fellowship ©1 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Christian Education Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388 "So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him rooted and built up in him strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6, 7 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH A Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible Blyth United Church Come Worship The Lord With Us Sundays - 11:OG a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Minister ~ Rev. Cecil Wittich ALL ARE WELCOME 523-4224 are “Welcome at the BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-7555 PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017 ASSOCIATE PASTOR - YOUTH - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788 Sunday 8:45 a.m.- Morning Worship Service 10:00 a.m.- Family Bible Hour 11 a.m.- Morning Worship Service 8 p.m.- Evening Service Wednesday 7:30 p.m.- Prayer & Bible Study Friday 7:30 p.m.- Youth Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Ethel Communion - 9:45 - 10:30 Family Bible Hour and Sunday School 11:00 - 12:00 Prayer & Bible Study Tuesday 8 p.m. John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no one comes to the Father, but through Me." Everyone Welcome For more information call 887-6665 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540 May 9, 1999 Mother's Day 9:30 a.m. - Worship Ethel United Church 11:00 a.m. - Worship Brussels United Church Monday, May 10-7 p.m. - Brussels Stewards Saturday. May 15-11 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Victoria's Spring Fling - fun fair to raise money for Project Uplift Sunday, May 16 - 6:45 p.m. - Youth Group Monday, May 17 - 8 p.m. - Ethel Session Tuesday, May 18-8 p.m. - Pastoral Charge Official Board at Ethel