The Citizen, 1994-09-07, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,1994.
From the Minister's Study,
Pastor asks, ‘Can lack of faith hurt you?’
By Rev. Stephen Huntley
Blyth United Church
On a warm Sunday morning, two
area fishermen decided to go
fishing on the Maitland River.
They packed all their gear,
including lunch in case the morning
passed into afternoon, and headed
for their destination. The day
looked promising as they left for
their favourite fishing hole and they
were anxious to get fishing at last.
Perhaps it was the warm breeze
that swept across through the trees
and the fields, or the thought of
relaxing by the cool stream which
prompted them to get to their
destination as quickly as possible.
Whatever the reason, the shortcut
they decided to take across Farmer
Jones's field was ill advised. They
did not see feeding among Farmer
Jones's cattle, his prize bull just
recently purchased. Who knows,
perhaps being anxious to get
fishing they might have ignored it
anyway.
As promptly as they could they
made their way across the field.
But, having gone only a short
distance the two men somehow
sensed trouble, and turning saw the
bull charging toward them. The
race was on.
The fence that seemed before to
be only a short distance away, now
appeared to be a quarter of a mile
or more. Running as fast as they
could they headed for the fence and
safety, but it was obvious to both of
them they weren't going to make it.
In desperation one finally turned to
the other, and looking for
supernatural assistance out of their
dilemma cried out, "Do you know a
prayer?"
The second replied that yes he
did but he wasn't sure if it was the
right one.
"What does it matter," said his
partner, "we haven't got time to be
fussy."
"Okay", said the first, "for what
we are about to receive, may the
Lord male us truly thankful!"
This story could be analyzed
from a number of perspectives.
(Not the least of which is that a
lack of faith can REALLY hurt
you!) It could be a moralization
against fishing on a Sunday
morning, or for that matter doing
anything on Sunday morning rather
than attending church. God
demands that people attend church
on Sunday. It could be said that the
two men merely got what was
coming to them.
It could also be that their real
trouble was that they had the wrong
theology. It is said that if you want
to get along in life, you need to
have a correct view of God. God
only listens to prayers that are said
in a certain way and that use a
correct formula. If the two
fishermen had the right theology
they might have been spared.
Perhaps, but I'm sure that God
listens to all prayers and not just
the ones that use correct
terminology or church talk.
Not withstanding morality or
theology, this story of the two
would-be fishermen instead
provides for us a picture of our
world today. Like many today they
cannot be held entirely responsible
for their Sunday fishing excursion.
Sunday is no longer accepted as a
day of worship. The first day of the
week resembles all the others. A
quick survey of most communities
today shows this to be true.
On your way to church you see
neighbours scurrying out from their
Sunday cocoons to retrieve the
newspaper, then return to their
beds. Other, more adventurous
neighbours are hitching up their
boats and trailers, putting the
finishing touches on their camping
gear, or doing whatever else active
people do on Sundays.
This is the more prominent
Sunday scene today, therefore the
fishermen's failure to keep the
sabbath may not be entirely their
own. They were only doing what
most people today do on Sundays.
Television, for instance, often
portrays the religious as terribly
naive or bumbling idiots. I would
hold out an exception and
commend The North Huron Citizen
for providing commentaries such as
this for their readership. Well done!
There is little if anything offered
by our political leaders in matters
of faith, by word or deed, that
would give us an example to
imitate.
Finally, the collective blindness
and ignorance of our world in
spiritual matters has succeeded in
keeping people as little children.
Most people's understandings of
spiritual concerns have not
progressed beyond what could be
called a Grade 1 level. (Thus our
two fishermen's predicament.)
In general, a lack of a practised
faith on behalf of most today gives
the appearance that matters of faith
and spirituality don't count. It is
difficult for people today to
recognize among the proliferation
of options and choices today then-
need for God.
"Why do I need God?" many ask.
"Being a non-believer can’t hurt
me? Can it? At least I don't see
where it does? If it does wouldn't I
know it by now?"
The plain truth is a lack of faith
today can hurt you. Regardless of
what the world believes and says,
matters of faith are part of a healthy
and vibrant lifestyle. You see a
beautiful sunset or sit beside a cool
summer stream, marvelling at the
babbling waters, and you cannot be
fooled into believing that all you
see occurred by accident. Wouldn't
it be wonderful to know more about
the one who created such beauty?
Or you wrestle with personal
troubles and you cannot seem to
come to any conclusion; the things
you thought you fixed just keep re
occurring and you feel hopeless. I
guess I'll just have to live with it
you conclude. Meanwhile the
problems of life slowly eat away at
you and you feel powerless to do
anything about it. Perhaps a lack of
faith can hurt you after all.
The Good News is that there is
someone who is in control of our
lives and this world. Faith calls that
someone God. Christian faith in
particular reveals that God, in the
person of Jesus of Nazareth, a God
who came down from heaven to
live and struggle and bleed and die
as we do. This Jesus understands
our needs, for He was as you and
me. He knows what it is like to
experience all the things that we
experience and offers us a solution.
Belief. He gave himself up for us
that we might have life and have it
abundantly. It is available to all
who believe, and faith is the
vehicle which appropriates that life.
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
Chapelaires sing at service
The music of the Chapelaires was
enjoyed by the congregation at
Auburn Missionary Church on
Sunday, Sept. 4. Their playing of
Sing Hallelujah and Somebody is
Praying for You were thrilling to
hear.
During the service Kaitlyn
Packer, infant daughter of Rick and
Lynne Packer was dedicated to the
Lord.
Pastor Carne's message, "What
makes mighty men?" was taken
from Acts 11:24. It is comforting to
have mighty men around you, he
said. King Saul had mighty men in
his service and he was always
looking for mighty men. Men and
Pastor’s
women are made mighty by first
coming to the Lord. They are not
bom mighty.
The scripture tells that Barnabas
was a good man, but he was not
good by birth. Barnabas confessed
his sin and Christians must confess
sin to God so He will cleanse them.
Men and women are made
mighty by consecrating themselves
to God. Barnabas gave himself
completely to God. One cannot be
a mighty person unless filled with
the Holy Spirit. Mighty men and
women are made when they
continue in the faith. When filled
with the Holy Spirit, they will grow
and the church will go forward,
Pastor Came said.
After the morning service a
baptismal service was held at Frank
and Anna Ewald's Estates beside
the Maitland River when Walter
Packer followed the Lord in
baptism.
Several of the young congre
gation members are leaving this
week to attend college: Bill Irwin
to university in Windsor, Mark
McCowan to Fanshawe College,
Susan Dobie to Emmanuel College,
Marcy Stoll to Fanshawe College
and Kim Baan to Conestoga
College. May God guide these
young people in their chosen
profession.
sermon on detours
The service at Blyth United
Church Sunday, Sept. 4 was "15
Sunday After Pentecost". The
seasonal colour is green.
Rev. Stephen Huntley, minister,
opened the service with call to
worship followed by the singing of
Holy, Holy, Holy. This was
followed by Prayer of Approach
and Words of Welcome by Rev.
Huntley.
Assurance of Pardon - / am a
New Creation was sung in unison.
The children s story was told by
Kate Huntley. Each child received
a balloon and was told to blow it
up, just a little. Once they had them
blown up, they released them into
the air. Each child found their
balloon and blew it up again, this
lime a little larger. This was
repeated seven times. Mrs. Huntley
asked the children if it was getting
easier to blow the balloon up? They
replied, "Yes". She said, "Like our
first time talking to God is difficult,
but each time it gels easier and
easier. Like the first time we trust
God and speak to Him, it is
difficult but the more we talk, the
stronger our faith will be."
The choir sang A Quest
Understanding under the leader
Phyllis Boak.
Lance Bearss read the New
Testament Lesson, James 2:1-10.
Rev. Huntley delivered a sermon
entitled, "Detours on the Road to
Faith". Detours, some are welcome,
some are not, but if we trust and
follow them they may be a great
experience and a growing period in
our life, he said.
Hymn 201 Thine Be the Glory
was sung, closing with the choral
response.
Flowers were from the funeral of
Mrs. May Pease.
Sunday, September 11
11:00 a.m. Worship Service and Sunday School
"What do we do with a miracle?"
9:30 a.m. Ethel Worship and Sunday School
"Be doers of the word, not hearers only”
All Welcome
fXbu are ‘Welcome at
tfie
BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11 -12:15 - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
September 11 - Pentecost 16
Holy Eucharist
Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
Rector, The Rev. E. Paul Acton, 887-9273
i BLYTH CHRISTIAN
/ft REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH-523-9233
Sunday 10:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20"
Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday
Faith 20 5:30 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V.
All Visitors ‘Welcome ‘Wheelchair accessible
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
Sunday 10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Morning Service
8 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m. - Youth - Pastor Bob Lewis, 526-7441
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
11:00 a.m.- Morning Service
- Sunday School
- Belgrave Service
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
9:30 a.m.
It's time to join us at
BRUSSELS
MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, Sept. 11 - 9:15 a.m. Singing Tune-Up time
9:30 a.m. WORSHIP SERVICE
(Special Youth Emphasis)
10:30 a.m Christian Education For Ail Ages
Fellowship Meal To Follow
Pastor Tom Warner
887-6388 -WELCOME!-Elwin Garland
887-9017