The Citizen, 2013-09-12, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013.
By Rev. Mark Royall
Huron Chapel Evangelical
Missionary Church
When you think of hunting for
treasure, one’s mind calls up mental
images of pirates with shovels
digging on deserted islands or
modern day deep sea divers coming
across gold coins on the bottom of
the ocean floor. But not me. This
isn’t what I think of at all. My
treasure hunts don’t take place on
islands or at the bottom of seas. As
exotic as these places may be… my
treasure hunts happen in more
ordinary places… but for me…these
places are just as exciting. My
treasure are old books and my
hunting grounds are old second-
hand bookstores.
I cherish the old bookstore whose
shelves are overflowing with
hardcovers from yesteryear. The
authors are long gone but their
thoughts, their insights and their
experiences are still alive within the
pages of their written work. As long
as we have their books, their lives
are not just buried six feet
underground.
The gold I search for among these
treasures are preachers’ sermons,
their stories and journals. I cherish
hearing how God worked in their
lives and in their churches. I mostly
enjoy coming across a work from a
lesser-known preacher who had no
national or worldwide audience. He
preached to dozens or perhaps
hundreds of people many years ago
but by reading his message today I
feel I have helped broaden his parish
over miles and time. What God had
imparted to him to share a 100
years ago or so is still at work today
as I am impressed and moved by
the words God had placed within
him.
A few weeks ago I came across a
treasure island in Shrewsbury,
England. The rest of my travelling
group was heading for yet another
tea shop for lunch. It would be the
fourth tea shop we had gone to in a
row with its crumpets and light
salads. As a man, I just couldn’t do
another one so I opted out for a
nearby second-hand bookstore.
I walked in through its doors and
was greeted with shelves of gold
waiting to be uncovered with each
turn of a page. The nice English lady
behind the counter led me into an
adjacent room where she opened up
an old wooden cupboard full of old
Church books. There I found
treasure. It was a book called, The
Life Of Our Lord, the last work to be
published by Charles Dickens.
Dickens wrote this book exclusively
for his children, to whom he read it
aloud every Christmas. He strictly
forbade publication of this book
during his lifetime. It wasn’t until
after his death that this book was
published as his last work.
This book, which I took out of the
cupboard and made my own for 16
pounds, was a first edition. Later I
found another first edition online
being offered for $834. I wrapped
this book and brought it home with
me on the plane never letting it out
of my sight. I still haven’t
unwrapped it. I am afraid of
damaging it.
As much as I cherish this work, it
isn’t my favorite of Dickens’ works.
The most powerful thing I have ever
read by Charles Dickens is what he
wrote in his Last Will and
Testament. Here he wrote, “I
commit my Soul to the mercy of
God through Our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ and I exhort my dear
children humbly to try to guide
themselves by the teaching of the
New Testament in its broad spirit
and to put no faith in any man's
narrow construction of its letter here
or there”.
Dickens knew that above all else
whether it be the wealth, the fame
and the respect he had gained in his
life, that it all paled in comparison to
what Jesus could do for his children.
So Charles Dickens wrote a book
specifically for them about Jesus. He
spoke to them about Jesus. He
sought to live a Christian life before
them to see. Even in his final will
and testament, it was Jesus and His
truth he wanted to pass on to them.
Dickens knew he had the great
responsibility and privilege of
influencing his children towards the
love and rewards of Christ. All
parents do.
Dr. Janice Crouse of the Beverly
LaHaye Institute explains, “The
relationship that parents establish
with their children determines – to a
very large extent – their outcomes. If
we, as parents, don’t feed their souls,
they will seek to fill that emptiness
with drugs, alcohol, or sex – or they
will turn to the dozens of other ways
teens mess up their lives by seeking
a parental and faith substitute.”
At Huron Chapel we know that
parents are the main influence in
their children’s lives. Knowing this
we seek to help parents lead their
child to know Christ. An
overwhelming percentage of
Christians make the decision to
follow Jesus before the age of 18.
This is why at Huron Chapel we put
a lot of our time, our resources and
energy into children and youth
ministry. We know what Dickens
knew and what others are saying
about the importance of showing
and sharing the love of Christ with
them.
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
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Huron Chapel The Family Church
Because parenting is the most important thing you
www.huronchapel.com
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Welcome back to Sunday School
Hot dog lunch after church
Sermon title “Look for My Intelligence”
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
PASTOR
Sandra Cable, DLM
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, September 15
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 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 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School resumes Sept. 15
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
From the Minister’s StudyDickens inspires youth education in Royall
ON $6.00 THURSDAYS
Drop into either of our offices any
Thursday with your word classified
(maximum 20 words) and pay only
$6.00 + HST (paid in advance).
That’s $1.00 off regular rates.
The Citizen
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Tuesday, Sept. 17 - Wingham Bible Study resumes
at 136 Patrick St., 7:30 pm
Tuesdays - Youth Group at CRC 7:30 pm
Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Sept. 15: Jer. 11:18-23
“Who’s Got
Your Back?”
Evangelical Missionary Church