Wednesday, October 28, 2009

A dinner party

You've been invited to a dinner party. In the absence of place cards, where will you decide to sit? At the kids' table at the end? in front of that drafty window? Or do you go for one of the better spots? Jesus was at a dinner party and he saw people saving the best seats for themselves. "Careful," says Jesus, because when it comes to the Kingdom of God, the exalted will be humbled, and the humble exalted. Better start at the bottom and let God lift you up. We look at the story in Luke 14. The perfect picture of humility is that of a little baby -- and this Sunday we will witness the baptism of Alissa Diana Dreise. God is good!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Faithful Lament

This Sunday, guest preacher Amanda Bakale leads our worship, looking at Psalms 42 and 43: Faithful Lament.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The problem of evil

The presence of evil, whether that be in the form of natural disasters or moral depravity, is one of the thorniest dilemmas to face Christian apologists. How do we reconcile an all-powerful, all-loving God, with the ongoing reality of evil in our world? The prophet Habakkuk struggled with that back in 600 BC, and we wrestle with it today. Hear what God said to Habakkuk and what he says to us, this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. This is also communion Sunday - come celebrate with us.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Thanksgiving Day Worship Service

"Give thanks in all circumstances." That's a tall order. We can do it when we turn our faces away from the shadows and toward the sun. Turn your face toward the Son and you will see that thankfulness is attainable when you stand in the power of Christ alone. Join us for an hour, before your turkey dinner, on Monday at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

To die for

They're cute, but... would you die for them? Jesus said, "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." That's some shepherd! Meet him this Sunday at Lucknow Community Church. 10:00 a.m.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Spa treatment at Coffee Break



Stephanie Drost was our guest at a recent Coffee Break morning; she treated us royally!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

And behind door #3...

Remember "Let's Make a Deal?" I had a little fun watching youtube clips of the show - the microwave oven some lucky contestant won was state of the art back in the 60s. Choose a door - and maybe you'd win a ticket to the good life. Except, 40 years later, those prizes don't seem so impressive after all. Jesus said, "I AM the gate/door for the sheep... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:9,10). Jesus is the door you want - "whoever enters through me," says Jesus, "will be saved." Hear more, Sunday, Oct 4, 10:00 a.m. at Lucknow Community Christian Reformed Church.

The closing of the Kincardine Christian Reformed Church

Last night Classis Huron, the ecclesiastical assembly of the Christian Reformed Churches in this part of Ontario, gathered in special session. We were called together to consider the Kincardine CRC's request to disband. I voted against the motion. Not becasue I don't empathize with the Kincardine council - they have worked hard and faithfully for their church. And the last thing I wanted to see happen was for classis to simply send them back home with instructions to try harder. I voted "no" to the closing because I fear that we, the neighbouring churches, have failed this congregation. There is among us an ever increasing move toward congregationalism - each church gets caught up in her own ministries and causes; we fail to accept any responsibility for the church down the road. The church order article cited to bring us to this place states that if a congregation's membership falls below 45 members, or finances are a problem, if there is no leadership, or if there is no prospect for growth, "a classis should consider if these are sufficient indicators for it to begin discussing with such a congregation whether it is still appropriate for it to retain organized status" [emphasis added]. Classis should initiate the discussion. That's not what happened. And now it's too late. Oh, I know that God can still breathe life into dead bones, and he probably will. But to say that the closing of this church was God's will is far too simplistic. God weeps with these Christians who will attend their final service as a congregation on Nov 1. We have a long way to go before we attain the complete unity for which Jesus prayed (John 17:23).