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The Citizen, 2009-02-26, Page 19By Pastor John KuperusBlyth Christian Reformed ChurchThe world is at a very critical time.There is a decline in economicactivity and prosperity. We experience this deadline with job loss, plant closures and in other ways. It has affected big companies to the point that unless they receive help they would go bankrupt. We are looking to our leaders to navigate through this time of crisis. Time will tell whether or not their measures will stabilize the world economy. I am afraid that our problem is not shortage of money, but that we are losing God’s favour. The Bible is clear that when we talk in obedience, we experience God’s favour and prosperity follows. God’s desire is stated in Jeremiah 29: 11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Yet, when we walk in disobedience, we will experience breakdown and poverty follows. We are experiencing breakdown in the economic world, but we are also experiencing it in our families with 50 per cent of our marriages ending in divorce. That is a crisis which brings great personal and community pain and cost to us. Another sign of deterioration is our health. If a person is over 60 and not on medication and having to see the doctor regularly, that person is part of a small percentage of our population. Rather than addressing the root cause of our illness, we take the magic pill. It appears that the foundation of our society is crumbling. From history, we learn that nations have their rise and then they fall into decline. The mightiest empire of Rome is an example of an empire that ruled for a period of time. Rome then decayed morally until civil disobedience broke out on a massive scale. Rome became so weak she fell prey to uprisings within and to the barbarians on the outside. A Biblical example of two cities experiencing God’s judgment is recorded in Genesis 19. God destroyed the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone. How can the foundations of our society that are crumbling be restored? God is clear about the road back to himself. II Chronicles 7: 14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turnfrom their wicked ways, then I willhear from heaven and forgive theirsin and heal their land.”When I read that verse, I cringe. Have we moved that far from God? Yes, active measures have been taken to remove God from our public institutions. We do it because we want to be politically correct and not offend anyone. Have we ever thought that the one being offended would be God and there are consequences for turning our back on him? We are in a desperate situation and our land is in need of healing. The way back to God according to this text begins with God’s people. God’s people are called to lead the way. In order to move from one place to another, we have to understand where to move. In order to change, we need to know where we have to change to and change is hard work. Change begins by being informed. Let me give you an example. My son was introduced to Coca Cola by my wife and me. We normally only drink it on special occasions. Now my son has written a speech on Coca Cola and discovered some rather alarming facts. Coke contains phosphoric acid which is a hazardous product a slow poison in the line of arsenic. This acid is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones. Someone put a broken tooth in a bottle of Coke and in 10 days it had dissolved. Now that he is informed about Coke, Coke has lost its attraction. To stop drinking Coke is not as difficult as changing our dealings with God. The Bible is clear with the warnings that God will not tolerate sin. If we obey God, he will bless us. If we disobey God, he will discipline us. If we continue to disobey God he will destroy us. Healing our land starts by heeding God’s call to return to him. In Joel 2: 12, God says, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”We needed to return to him andcall on his name, the ancient peoplemodeled this for us. Already back inGenesis 4: 25-26. “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.” This was before the Bible was available and the first preachers were ordained. This was before the first choir or organ. A godly strain of men and women distinguished themselves from their neighbours by calling on the name of the Lord. Their view of God expanded from being just a creator God to being a God that cares and responds to our needs. He understands our feelings. Notice how God defines wicked people in Psalm 14:4. They are people who do not call on the Lord. That is the divine definition of the ungodly. They will not humble themselves and recognize God. They will not give attention to God. We need to ask ourselves, are we calling on the Lord? Are we giving him attention? “Call upon me in the day of trouble,” God says in Psalm 50:15. “I will deliver you, and you will honour me.” God desires praise from us. He will intervene to show himself strong on our behalf and we will know he has done it. Are we not prone to be a little cocky and think we can handle things just fine? But let trouble come and how quickly we feel inadequate. Trouble is one of God’s great servants to remind us that we continually need the Lord. Will God intervene? Here is a story from the Second World War showing how God intervened as his people sought him. In May 1940, Germany overran Holland and attacked Belgium, driving the opposing French, English, and Belgium forces to the sea. The Germans pursued the French and English across theFrench frontier with an air, tank, andinfantry “blitzkrieg,” trapping nearly400,000 Allied forces at Dunkirk.In desperation, England and France called a national day of prayer for the hopelessly stranded British and French troops. On May 26, the Archbishop of Canterbury led prayers from Westminster Abbey. The BBC broadcast the service across the nation. Churches and synagogues everywhere opened their doors for prayer. Shocked at the plight soldiers, the British people stopped everything to pray. For the first time in living memory, the famous Petticoat Market was empty on a Sunday so that the market traders could take part in prayer. As a result, what was almost certain disaster became the Miracle of Dunkirk. For some unexplained reason, Hitler halted the advance of his dreaded panzer division for three days. The normally blustery English Channel remained calm while England evacuated the troops. In spite of heavy air strikes and German bombing, 848 British, French, Dutch and Belgian vessels rescued about 340,000 Allied soldiers in nine days. Anything that would float –tugboats, yachts, pleasure boats, andnaval craft – sailed the EnglishChannel to carry the trapped forcesback to England (Coming Revival p.105-106). Friends, in this time of crisis God is calling us to return to him and call upon his name. The stakes are huge. Will we heed to God’s call? THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009. PAGE 19. From the Minister’s StudyState of the world has pastor cringing 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n ity Church of God C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A “The Church is not a building, it is people touching people Sunday School 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Mid-week Bible Studies See you Sunday! Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, March 1 Brussels Public School at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, MARCH 1 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, March 1 Morning Worship Service and Sunday School 11:00 a.m. getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school) Evangelical Missionary Church March 1: Jn. 6:32-51 “I am the Bread of Life” 1st in Lent - COMMUNION 7:00 pm: Inter-Denominational Service, “Fast for Change” Special music by U.C. Choir THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Parish of New Beginnings Morning Prayer - March 1 Traditional Evensong 4 p.m. at St. John’s Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, March 1 Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship PASTOR DAVID WOOD 119 John’s Ave.,Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 9:30 a.m. Sunday School & Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Services Evening Services are cancelled for the winter months. GARGANTUAN BIRTHDAY BASH March Break School Wednesday, March 18th 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Children in grades JK - 6 are invited to the largest birthday party they have ever seen. Admission is free - all you have to do is make your own birthday hat! See you there!