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The Citizen, 2018-04-19, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018. From the Minister's Study Hurtful words, like ice, can be a burden By Ernest Dow, Associate Pastor Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn This past weekend, south-central areas of our province endured what forecasters dubbed a "potentially historic" ice storm that resulted in hundreds of vehicular incidents, and tens of thousands of households without power. Ice pellets formed a thick layer and were then followed by freezing rain. The ice produced pretty formations on trees and bushes, but caused devastation when the compounded weight became too great for the plant's backbone to bear. Twenty years ago, Eastern Ontario was buffeted by an ice storm of its own. I played a small support role as a reservist chaplain of a Service Battalion from Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay that assisted with the emergency response and clean-up. I remember months later driving through the devastated area, marveling at the sheer destruction of vast areas of forest — tree trunks bent over permanently, bereft of their branches, entire swaths of boreal growth stricken from the map. It would take many years for such forests to recover. Drip, drip, drip... very slowly, almost imperceptibly, the freezing raindrops fall onto the branches and shrubbery. At first it seems inconsequential, the thin sheet forming is practically invisible. But as time goes on, the raindrops keep forming their slippery sheath, an insupportable weight bears down on the tree's frame and eventually starts crushing it. Drip, drip, drip... likewise, our words can become unbearable weights to others we shower them upon, a demoralizing drizzle. Sometimes our mates bear the brunt of verbal abuse that we would never think of inflicting upon another person. The Bible observes, "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day." (Prov.19:13; 27:15) When a spouse or family member keeps harping on a theme critical towards us, even though we heard them the first time, it becomes very annoying — and makes us want to distance ourselves from them. "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." (Prov. 21:9) We can also find ourselves saying hurtful things, deliberately or unwittingly, to those beyond our family circle, such as other employees or members of groups we attend. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned, "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Matthew 5:22) And the Apostle James noted the tongue's ability to kindle great fires over little matters. "No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." (Jas. 3:8-10) Jim Burns notes, "For every critical comment we receive, it takes nine affirming comments to even out the negative effect in our life. Most young people receive more critical comments a day than encouraging ones. You can have a very positive, life -transforming effect when you develop a ministry of affirmation." So, how can we become less negative and more affirming in what we say? How do we avoid raining on others with frigid phrases and cutting comments? To begin, we need to acknowledge the power for good or ill our words possess. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." (Prov. 18:21) "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Pr. 12:18) Also we should realize the eternal significance of the words we utter. Jesus cautioned, "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Mt. 12:36-37) We can repent of our tendency to try to gain power over others by verbal put-downs or gossip, and ask God for self-control, an ability to button our lip and remain quiet when it would be so easy to let something negative slip out. People who are godly have trained their tongues; those who spend time near God develop discipline in this area. The Psalmist asked, "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" (Ps. 15:1). Amongst the class subsequently listed, we find the person who "has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbour no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman..." (Ps. 15:3) Such a person makes the following their conscious and continual prayer: "Set a guard over my mouth, 0 Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." (Ps. 141:3) Sometimes we need to take more time to respond in the heat of debate rather than blurting out whatever comes to mind. It's alright to reserve judgment a while, cool down, and study a matter more carefully before offering a reply or ultimatum. "The The Regional Ministry of Hope Everyone Welcome! Trinity Anglican Church BLYTH 0. 9:15 am St. John's Anglican Church BRUSSELS 11:15 am MINISTRY OFFICE 519-357-4883 Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector ® email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope COME WORSHIP WITH US! BRUSSELS United Church Welcome to Sunday morning worship & Sunday School at 11:00 am Hillary MacDonald (905) 246-7386 Macdonald.hillary@gmail.com Everyone welcome You're Znvitecf to come worsIt p with us Sunday, April 22 at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Sunday, April 22 9:30 a.m. Worship Leader: Hillary MacDonald Jesus: The Good Shepherd ■ heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil." Pr. 15:28) The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 describes the transformation made possible for those who believe in Jesus Christ — the new God -like self faith enables them to put on, accompanied by a new mental attitude that profoundly affects our behaviour. (Eph. 4:23f) For the Christian, we know we are forgiven, accepted, and loved deeply at our core by our Heavenly Father; hence we don't need to try to put others down in order to feel exalted ourselves. Thus we are freed to confer grace upon others instead of grumbling at them. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Eph. 4:29) We can stop and ask ourselves, "Is what I'm about to say likely to build up the other person — or to bulldoze them?!" George Herbert once observed, "Good words quench more than a bucket of water." May your words this week pour buckets of grace on those who hear, rather than chilling condemnation. 'You're e9nvited a join Is e/n VorsIiip SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, APRIL 22 We invite you to join our church family in: Worship & Sunday School - 11 am Coffee & Snacks following the service Come out and meet our new minister, Rev. Charmila Ireland Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-6687 AN INVITATION TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE A New Sermon Series Beginning Sunday, April 22 at HURON CHAPEL Every Sunday in Auburn at 9am & 11 am huronchapel.com THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Winaham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph's Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N.