HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-08-23, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2000.
The Minister’s Study
God’s good news stories worth telling, says minister
By Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Blyth Christian Reformed
Church
Today, there is a proliferation of
Bible translations and special edi
tions geared to certain age groups
and special needs and interests. As a
rule, the differences do not lie in the
content of these various editions but
in the notes that are appended to
them. All of them bring us the good
news of finding peace with God
through Jesus Christ. One of these
versions is even called “Good News
for Modern Men.’’
But if you read your Bible from
cover to cover, you find that a lot of
its content is not good news. That
doesn’t mean we have been misled,
however. It simply points to the fact
that there is a painful consequence to
not accepting God's good news. The
Bible has many warnings, in both
Old and New Testament, that those
Terry Fox
Foundation
seeks Blyth
co-ordinator
who rebel against God will face the
judgement of God.
Nobody likes to hear such somber
news. But we don't do people a
favour by not talking about these
things. Don’t parents tell their chil
dren about the consequences of not
getting their high school diploma or
of drug abuse or drunk driving? It
would be a gross failure not to tell
them so when they might be tempted
to live carelessly. The warnings may
not keep them from going the wrong
way, but not to warn them would be
parental neglect.
The Bible tends to make warnings
pretty graphic. So it tells the story of
what happened to Sodom and
Gomorrah, cities that were destroyed
by God because of their wickedness.
And it tells the story of a 70-year
exile to Babylon because of Israel’s
rebellion against God. And so the
Bible is full of stories of God’s
wrath upon disobedience to him.
Should that make us afraid of
God? Not at all, unless we continue
to “bite the hand that feeds you.”
That sort of tells us why God is so
angry with those who rebel against
him. All the good things in life come
from God. He is full of love and
mercy. He bends over backwards, so
to speak, to reach out to people. His
patience with us is amazing. He went
as far as giving us his own Son,
Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin
fulness.
To have such love and care
laughed at or disregarded by his own
creatures is something that God can
not tolerate. He wants the love and;
obedience of his creatures. He has
given us all kinds of reasons for
responding to him with love and
obedience. He has all kinds of
patience with our struggles. But he
will not tolerate our rebellion. He
will judge those who trample on his
love.
People need to hear that so they
can never say they weren't warned.
They need to hear that so they may
not miss out on the good news that
God has for sinners who turn to him.
And the Bible has many wonderful
stories that tell us how far God's love
will go when people come to him in
repentance and faith.
Those are stories worth telling,
stories of God's good news for mod
em people, stories of Jesus who
heals and saves and makes us right
with God.
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
Sunday 9:30 a.m.• Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m.- Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m.- Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.- Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m.- Youth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
l/cu cute welcome tfwx Sunday
AUGUST 27 - PENTECOST 11
MORNING PRAYER
Trinity, Blyth St.John's,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope in
1980 was his personal crusade to
raise money and awareness of can
cer research. His goal was to put an
end to the disease that had taken his
right leg, and caused such suffering
worldwide.
Cancer treatment has made
tremendous progress since Terry had
his leg amputated in 1977.
Unfortunately, Terry’s dream of a
cancer-free world has not yet been
realized Research is the key, and
research requires money.
The Terry Fox Foundation has
raised close to $250 million through
the annual Terry Fox Run. However,
none of this would be possible with
out the dedication of hard-working
volunteers in communities through
out Canada and around the world.
Each year, we try to increase Run
locations across Ontario. One loca
tion that is lacking a run in its com
munity is Blyth.
The Foundation requires volun
teers to be part of the Run committee
as well as people to be available on
Run day to help out. Sunday, Sept.
17 Canadians will be celebrating the
20th anniversary of Terry’s
Marathon of Hope.
If you think you might be able to
help co-ordinate a Blyth Terry Fox
Run, please contact the Terry Fox
Foundation.
Oh give,
thanfc
to the
y&u incited ta
at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
10:00 a.m. each Sunday
during August
(no Sunday School)
Everyone Welcome
Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS SEPTEMBER 10TH
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
GOING ALWAYS GOING?
fou couM be at risk for diabetes.
CAL
1 CANADIAN ASSOCIATION
I DIABETES CANADIENNE
1 ASSOCIATION DU DIABETE
L 1-8OO-BANTING
Supporting local projects
in a global context
Call 1-800-5656 USC
Io pledge your support today!
56 Sparks Street, Ottawa ON KIP 5Bl
www.usc-canada.org
tftea&e. join u& fc^t unw<tp thU Sunday
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. Come near to God
and he will come near to you."
James 4:7
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
A Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Supply Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
The congregation of
Brussels United Church will be
worshipping at Melville Presbyterian Church
for the month of August
Ethel United Church -
No Sunday Services during the month of August
All are welcome to come and worship with us
Blyth United Church
Blyth United Church
will be closed for the month of August.
Services will be held at the
Blyth Church of God.
Blyth United will re-open August 28.
Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service
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
&
£
£
£
£
You are welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF GOD
Sunday, August 27
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
There is no Sunday School
this week
Come early for coffee & donuts
Stay late for potluck lunch
to follow the
morning worship service
A special welcome to our guests,
the Blyth United Church Congregation
Please note ~ We will be meeting
at our new church building
308 Blyth Road
523-4590