Memories of Christmases’ Past

    I suspect that many of my favorite memories of Christmases’ past are similar to yours. We may tell our age but do you remember when?

   A dollar would buy four gifts; package of razor blades for dad, a comb for mom, package of bobby pins for sister and rubber ball for brother.

   What about a carol sing throughout your community especially to the local senior’s home?

   Did you go to a Christmas Eve Candle Light Service with carols and readings and a Christmas message?

   Did your parents allow you into the Christmas tree room before breakfast; not mine! We had to have breakfast first and then my family would all share in reading the Christmas Story from the Bible and only then were we allowed into the Christmas tree room.

   Did you hang a Christmas stocking? We did! Oh it wasn’t made of felt with fancy lettering it was an old (but clean) grey woolen work sock but it was surprising how much it would hold. Always in the very toe of the sock was a big orange!

   How many of you remember the Sunday School Christmas concerts held in the church or community hall? There were lots of carols, a brightly decorated tree at the front, skits and of course Santa always paid a visit.

   Do you recall the Christmas dinner table with family members gathered around? The turkey and trimmings were delicious and there was always enough left over for a meal the next day, sandwiches after that but when you saw the soup you knew that the turkey had finally disappeared.

   Christmas day afternoon was always exciting as we shared with our neighborhood friends what we received for Christmas.

   We all have our favorite memories but they won’t all be the same. I am thankful that my mom, dad, brothers and sisters always made Christmas a very special time for me and that I am blessed with wonderful memories of Christmases’ past. I hope that our three girls will have precious memories of Christmases’ past as well and that they will pass some of the traditions on to their children. Always remember that how we live our life today will be a memory for someone tomorrow and not just at Christmas time but throughout the year. May God bless us all with a desire to leave good memories for others to cherish.

  

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

   Where would we be without our cameras? Now that we have digital cameras we don’t have to worry about running out of film. Jill and I put our cameras to good use on our first ever trip to Africa. As I explained in last week’s blog we journeyed to Africa to visit with our adopted son! I should explain (as I did in last week). Stephanus was a young man who arrived in Bermuda about the same time that Jill and I did. He was from South Africa and was in Bermuda to further his training in the world of finance. He took a very active role in the life of our church and we were very sorry to see him leave after a year and a half of enjoying his company. We joked and said that we had adopted him even though his dad, step mom and sister were very much alive. Stephanus invited us to visit with him and this past October we did just that.

   Last week I shared with you pictures that were actually taken at the end of our visit to South Africa when on our journey home we visited first the country of Botswana. Everyone loves to see the wild animals of Africa and so I hope you enjoyed our brief safari through Botswana. The pictures this week include additional photos from Botswana plus some pictures that we had taken in South Africa. We drove what is called the Garden Route and then we took a train trip (over night) from Cape Town to Johannesburg through what is called the Great Karoo.

   It is a joy to be able to share our photos with you.

Blessings,

John & Jill

OUR TRIP TO AFRICA

   I would like to share with you our experience of a trip that Jill and I have recently completed. It was a journey that I never thought we would take. We visited South Africa! I’m not one who enjoys flying so to board a plane for an 18 hour journey was quite an accomplishment. So what led us to make such a lengthy journey? It all started about three years ago.

   He was a new worshipper in our church. He had just moved to Bermuda from South Africa. He would be spending the next 18 months in Bermuda furthering his experience in the world of finance. Every Sunday morning he would be seated in the same pew with his Bible in hand. In coming weeks he began to attend our Sunday morning Bible Studies as well as other fellowship functions within our church. Jill and I invited him to our home for lunch and there began a friendship that will last forever. His name is Stephanus Louw and over the period of time he spent in Bermuda he became not only a good friend but our adopted son! Friday nights became fun nights when Stephanus would join us for dinner following which he would share with us what life was like in South Africa. Not only was our adopted son a certified financial accountant but one whose dream was to further his studies in theology so that he might better serve his Lord. Stephanus, during his stay in Bermuda conducted a worship service for me plus he led our Adult Bible Study. Time passed very quickly and before one realized it he was preparing to return to his home and to his parents, his sister and his sweetheart in South Africa. It was difficult driving him to the airport and tears were in all our eyes. Would this be the last time we would see him? He invited us to visit him but we thought that because South Africa was so far away that we would never be able to make the trip.

   God makes what we think of as impossible to be possible. Exactly, a year and a half after he left Jill and I found ourselves boarding a plane for what proved to be an 18 hour journey. We met the parents of our adopted son and quickly realized the source of all of his marvelous qualities. For the following two weeks we toured South Africa with our extended family. We visited Cape Town, George, Stellenbosch and all points in between. On Sunday we went to church with our new family. The service for the most part was in Afrikaans which we did not understand but when it came to singing the last hymn we lifted our voices in praise and joined with all our new friends in singing; “What a Friend We Have in Jesus; they in Afrikaans Jill and I in English. We met and became very good friends with the ministers in Stephanus’s home church. Once again time passes quickly and before you know it we were boarding for our flight home. However, there was one side trip which we made before returning across the Atlantic. We visited the beautiful country of Botswana where we saw and experienced so many beautiful sights.

   Home again and very thankful for safe journeys we enjoy looking at all our pictures and reliving many of our fascinating experiences. We want to share some of those pictures with you and so invite you to look at our picture album entitled; “Our Trip to Africa.,” located on the home page of our church’s web site.

What Happened to the Word of God?

  A matter that is of great concern to me is how the church for the past number of years has been viewing the Bible. I had a minister in a sister denomination say to me that; “the Bible is not the Word of God but the Word of man.” I had someone say that they don’t read portions of the Bible especially in the Old Testament because they simply don’t agree with what is being said. Then, there are those who love to pick on the Apostle Paul and they will say with a laugh, “well you know that’s Paul and we all know what Paul is like.|” What about the overused claim, “that statement is simply a matter related to its time and really doesn’t have anything to say to us today.” Then, there is the coup de grace; “very learned people today tell us that certain statements mentioned in the Bible disagrees with modern science. And we prefer to accept modern science” Wow where does that leave us? If we are going to accept the words of specialists over Biblical statements and creeds then we might just as well toss the Bible out or rewrite it completely. I don’t know of a man or woman of science today who will tell you that a virgin birth is possible, that the miracles recorded in both the Old and New Testament are possible and certainly the resurrection of a dead body is possible. So whose word will we accept? We have literally torn the Bible up into little bitty pieces some of which we accept with modification of course while other pieces we will discard as totally unbelievable and therefore non applicable.

   I believe and I was brought up in a church that believed that the Bible in total is the Word of God. Whether it is the Apostle Paul that is speaking or Jesus it is one and the same; “God’s Word.” The Old Testament is every much the Word of God as the New Testament and so we cannot make the claim that we believe in the God of Love as proclaimed in the New Testament but we have problems with the God of Justice found in the Old Testament for they are both one and the same God. I tend to agree with a colleague in a sister denomination who once said; “I prefer to believe the words of those who were closer to the actual event than someone who is writing about it today.” I am one who still believes that the Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God. We have to recapture the wonder and awe of God’s Holy Word and start living by it rather than playing with it.

The Blessing of The Fishing Fleet

   While I ministered in Freeport Grand Bahama I was asked each year to hold a blessing for the fishing fleet. This was an annual deep sea sports fishing event. Boats came from far and wide to participate. The organizers would always ask a local minister to hold a special prayer blessing on the first day of fishing. Very early in the morning I would meet with the chief organizer on a small piece of land jutting out into the ocean. The fleet of boats forty or even more would be all lined up in port waiting for the prayer and waiting for the green light. The organizer called for the attention of all boats and then handed his two-way radio over to me. The following are the very words I shared with the fleet of boats when I was asked to bless the fleet for the very first time.

   The Blessing of the Fleet as you are probably well aware is an old and revered tradition. It has been passed down from generation to generation. It is as ancient as biblical times.
This centuries old rite calls on divine providence to safe guard ships and crews from the danger of the seas. It was meant to ensure that the fishermen would return to port and have a bountiful catch. Let’s ask God’s blessing on your fishing during the days ahead. Let’s pray.

   Dear Lord who art the creator of earth, sea and sky and all that dwell therein we give thanks for the day before us. We ask for your blessing upon the fishing fleet; a blessing of calm waters, blue skies, fair winds, comradeship, a good catch but most important of all a safe return to port. Lord, who chose fishermen for his disciples bless the men and women of the fishing fleet today. In Jesus name we pray; Amen.  

    I’m sure that most of you have heard of the serenity prayer!

God, grant me the
SERENITY
to accept the things
I cannot change

COURAGE
to change the
things I can

and
WISDOM
to know the difference

The Serenity Prayer for Fishermen is as follows:

God, grant me the Serenity

To accept the size of the fish I catch;

The courage not to fib about it,

And the wisdom to know

That no one would believe me anyway.

Have a great day!

Give Thanks

   There was an old Scottish minister who was always noted for his prayers of thanksgiving. No matter what the day or week was like this man always found something for which to give thanks! The people in the congregation use to shake their head in amazement. One Sunday only a few managed to make it to church. The weather was utterly chaos. Rain, thunder, lighting, high winds and whatever could make the day miserable combined together to make this day utterly miserable. The people in the pew knew that there was nothing for which the preacher could give thank today. They were utterly amazed as the he began his prayer with the familiar words; “Dear God we thank You,” (for what the people wondered) “that every day is not like today.”

   That little story by the way is true. Even in the midst of a storm there is always something to be thankful for. The people of St. Andrews and indeed the people of Bermuda were thankful that every day was not like last Sunday! Churches across the Island were cancelled because of Hurricane Leslie. I received emails from as far away as Calgary Alberta saying that they had heard of the storm and that they were praying for us.

   Well, even amidst a storm there was much we could give thanks for. First, Hurricane Leslie was downgraded from a hurricane two to a hurricane 1. Secondly, we were thankful that it was further downgraded from a Hurricane 1 to a Tropical Storm. Third, we were grateful that the center of the storm did not pass directly over us but close to a 165 miles to our east. Fourthly, we were thankful that the storm at least in our part of the Island consisted of heavy rain although in some places there was some high wind. Fifthly, Jill and I are very grateful that our cistern has reached the overflowing mark which means that we will have plenty of water over the coming months. So, even amidst a storm there is much for which to give thanks.

   We are also very grateful though that today was not like last Sunday in that we did not have to cancel church. Today, we had a great attendance. Praise God!

     Hurricanes were always given a women’s name However, in an age of liberation we call them after a man as well as a woman. As I am writing this blog on Sunday afternoon September 9^th the Island of Bermuda is having a visit with Leslie! Leslie has been downgraded from a Hurricane 2, to a Hurricane 1 and as she passes us by she is a Tropical Storm! However, during the next few days she is to upgrade her or himself to a Hurricane One and maybe even Hurricane Two. Watch out Newfoundland!

   Jillian and I are no strangers to tropical storms or hurricanes. We spent a portion of our ministry in the Bahamas where we had the opportunity to meet both Francis and Jean and both were hurricanes and both were within two weeks of each other. As we were moving from the Bahamas Hurricane Katrina passed over us on way to the Gulf.

   Someone once remarked to me; “It must be rather scary living in a part of the world where you can find yourself in the center of such devastating storms.” Hurricanes can be powerful and yes they can be scary. However, one has plenty of forewarning that a storm is on the horizon. We followed Leslie on our computer for well over a week before she arrived in Bermuda. There were times when Bermuda was dead on track for Leslie and there were other times when we were outside the cone. This weekend we were outside the cone as Leslie passed by about 180 miles to our east. What we are experiencing now are some heavy showers and a little wind but nothing (as yet) really severe.

   There are plenty of things we do in preparation for a coming storm. A few days before arrival you make certain that anything outside that could be blown around is brought safely inside. We stock up on groceries especially water in case stores remain closed for an extended period of time. Do our flashlights work? Do we have fresh batteries? What about candles and maybe some oil lamps? Many in Bermuda have generators to run fridges and lights in case of a power outage. The day before a storm is due you cover your windows with shutters or plywood. What you are guarding against is any wind driven object be thrown against your window. One also makes certain that you have a working radio which will allow you to listen to storm reports. Some Bermudians will, just prior to the storm go up on their roofs and put cover caps on the pipes that lead rainwater into your cistern. Remember, we depend on our rainwater for drinking water. If it is a powerful storm the wind can carry salt mist from the ocean and drop it over your house. No one likes salt in their water. As a final preparation you make certain that you have games for the children and books for adults. Finally, before going to bed you say your prayers; “Lord watch over us we pray during the storm.”

Rev. John

ON MY WAY TO CHURCH

   I was reminded again just this morning on my way to worship of the importance of keeping fit! Jillian and I had to detour around several roadblocks because there was a bicycle road race taking place. Bermuda holds several such races during the run of a year. Main Street was blocked off; side streets were blocked off, two way traffic was made one way and so on! We came across several racers on our way to church. They appear to be physically fit, easy to see in their bright yellow suits and all appeared to be having great fun. This is definitely a sport where one has to be in shape and where the more money you have to spend on a bike the better. It looks to be a fun sport and the few spectators here and there and the flag men on the corner all seemed to be enjoying themselves. While I don’t have a problem with bicycle racing I do have a problem with it being held on a Sunday morning when churches schedule their weekly worship service. The blocked off streets not only make it more difficult for people travelling to church but and even more importantly it means that participants and those who organize such races are unable to attend church themselves. Why can’t such races be scheduled in the afternoon or evenings? Why do they have to be held on primary travel routes? Why do churches have to compete with bicycle races? We compete with sporting practices on Sunday and in many areas we compete with stores opening on Sundays. We compete with a society who would rather do almost anything else on a Sunday but go to church.

  Does the name Eric Liddell sound familiar to you? Eric Liddell was once described as the fastest man in the world. He competed in the Paris Olympics in the summer of 1924. Eric was put forward as the one who would win the gold in the 100 meters. When it came time for the tryouts Eric refused to run? Why? The tryouts were being held on Sunday. Eric informed all that on Sundays he would not be found on the track field but in church. He refused the 100 meter but said he would enter the 400 instead. Big problem! Everyone told him that he didn’t stand a chance. Not only had Eric never trained for the 400 but he had a most unorthodox running style. The Scotsman would run with his head tilted back looking skyward and with his hands flying out from his side. HE DIDN’T STAND A CHANCE. Shortly before the race Eric was handed a little slip of paper with the scriptural reference 1 Samuel 2:30; “He who honors Me I will honor.” Eric Liddell went on to win gold in the 400 meters. Later in life he be­came a mis­sion­ary to Chi­na, and was im­pris­oned there dur­ing World War II. It is said that Eric’s favorite hymn was; “Be Still My Soul the Lord is On Thy Side.” He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the pri­son camp (where he event­u­al­ly died of a brain tu­mor at the age of 43).

I only wish that the racers and runners that I meet on a Sunday morning on my way to church would devote an equal amount of time in being spiritually fit as they do in being physically fit. SUNDAY MORNING IS THE TIME TO GO TO CHURCH NOT RUN RACES.

  Did you know that Walt Disney before his name became a household word was told; “you can’t draw.” I like that story because it offers me hope in the pursuit of my goal and that is to write a book! In my university years a philosophy professor said to me while looking at my assignment; “John, it looks like your paper has gone through hard times.” Well, before my book is completed it will have gone through some hard times as well but I will complete it.

   The type of book I envision is not a theological masterpiece there are plenty of those out there already. No, my book will be far less serious in fact I hope that when people read my book they will be able to laugh and even perhaps to shed a few tears. I want to tell the story of my 39 years in the ministry. Yes, you heard me say correctly, 39 years!!!! From the day I first dragged my trunk across campus thinking to myself, “I will never make the seven years in front of me,”  to 43 years later as I contemplate retirement I want to share with the reader what it is like to be a minister. If you the reader have crossed my path during my ministry you may find yourself in my book. Were you the one I watched the flying saucer with or were you the one for whom I conducted your wedding and you are still married? Were you the person with whom I could let my hair down and say; “Look I have a problem.” Perhaps you were the one or you know the one whom I caught preparing to poach lobsters and a few days later I found a pot of cooked lobster on my back steps! Maybe you were the one who scolded me for not bringing as many people into the church as a previous minister with a drinking problem had brought in! Then again you might have been by the bedside with me as we watched and prayed over your dad who was dying. Were you my friend with whom I fished while sitting on a dock sipping tea from a silver tray service! Maybe just maybe you were in the crowd of over 30,000 who watched as I led a service of color dedication for the Calgary Highlanders. If you weren’t in the crowd I know one who was and that was her majesty Queen Elizabeth who stood 10 feet in front of me. I have met people from all walks in life. I treasure the memories of many and shudder at the memories of others. A counselor that I had while in university once said to me; “John, just because you are about to become a minister doesn’t mean that everyone is going to like you.” Dear reader; you maybe one of those who didn’t like me but I do hope that you will enjoy reading my book. Watch for it!

   If you have been following our website for the past few weeks you have probably been wondering; “Where have I been?” “Why hasn’t the site been updated with a new sermon and radio program?” Well, let me share with you what has taken place behind the scenes. Come with me!

   For some time now my father-in-law has not endured the best of health. He is “up in years” but until recently he has been blessed with relatively good heath. All of this changed rapidly during the past few months. In early June my sister-in-law called to say that their dad was not well and that the doctor was only allowing for a few days at most. My wife Jill made immediate plans to leave the Island to join her sister and together they would care for their dad making his days as comfortable as possible. Two weeks after Jill left the Island I also flew to Ontario. There were two reasons for my trip. I will tell you of the second reason shortly. First, I wanted to see my in-laws for whom I have always had great respect. Jill’s father was going through a difficult time and I wanted to be there for him. We have always enjoyed great conversations and these last few days were no exception. Even though he was not in good health yet he still retained a sense of humor. Only recently on the phone he told me; “John, I’m not deaf you don’t have to yell.” Following a week with my in-laws I began to engage myself in the second reason for my trip. In anticipation of my retirement (the government in Bermuda just issued me with a second three year work permit with the notation “non renewable) Jill and I bought a house in Florida!

   I was in Ontario to transport our furniture in storage to our new home in Florida. With the help of close friends and my loving brother Jim we packed the large U-Haul with barely enough room for our suitcases. Jill was staying with her dad and Jim was my co-pilot for the long haul south. During the two and a half days it took to make the journey Jim and I relived many of our childhood experiences. Leaving Friday afternoon we saw our first palm tree just inside the Florida boundryline on Sunday afternoon! My brother was able to stay for a week to help with the unpacking. As for me I stayed a further week placing boxes in various rooms of our new house. I didn’t unpack too many for I knew well that whatever drawer, cabinet or closet I put things in it would probably be the wrong one and Jill would move it! Finally, last Thursday I too left for the Orlando airport to begin my journey back home. Jill has always been my navigator and without her I am lost. My plane was due to leave Orlando at 8:30am which meant that I had to return the rental car my 7:00am. I knew that I was in trouble when my GPS happily announced; “You have arrived; Wal-Mart is on your left!” “No Lord, it’s not Wal-Mart I want it’s the airport!” God is good and I did arrive in time for my flight home.

   Where do things stand as of present? I am late with my web update that’s for certain. Our home in Florida is full of furniture which needs to be rearranged with a woman’s touch. Finally, my father-in-law is still with us and his doctor has declared, “I am not going to make any further predictions,” which goes to prove that only the Lord above knows the date of our departure.

Blessings,

John

DIRTY HANDS

      Sound strange? Please read on. Last week I worked in my little garden. The best stress reliever around is to be found working alongside Mother Nature. Seeming problems melt away as we dirty our hands while turning sod, pulling weeds, spreading a little of the old fashioned fertilizer, making  rows, placing seeds in the furrows and then carefully covering the seed while saying a  prayer for sun, rain and growth. Periodic visits to a garden are an absolute necessity. Weeds need to be weeded and sometimes showers from above need a little assistance from a garden hose! The dirty hands and aching knees are more than compensated though by little green stems that struggle through the soil to grasp the sunlight above. If we are patient we will reap the benefits of fresh vegetables straight from the garden. When we grow it ourselves it tastes great. It may not be as pretty as the package in the store but we will have the satisfaction of having grown it ourselves even though we did get our hands dirty.

   When we look at our church we love to see signs of growth as well. We want to see a strong youth ministry, a growing Sunday School, an active Senior’s Program, an abundant supply of Fellowship Ministries, a growing Membership Roll, extensive Outreach Ministries and of course Sparkling Worship. There are two ways of finding the above.  Find a church where all these things are in place and prepare to settle in and enjoy yourself. This is  much like finding that perfect head of lettuce in your corner grocerystore. It looks nice in the package and you didn’t have to sweat or get your hands dirty. Enjoy! Now the second way of finding a Growing Church is by rolling up your sleeves, getting down on your knees and being prepared to get your hands dirty. Church Volunteers are God’s Gardeners who don’t mind working hard because God has given them a vision of what happens when people work together.

   Thank you to all our volunteers who don’t mind sweating and getting their hands dirty. Consider this an invitation to all to join the Gardener’s Club.

Your Pastor & Friend

John

Why Do We Go To Church?

Have your ever thought about that? Let me tell you about a church that I heard of on a CNN news broadcast. How would you like to go to this church? This was a church with a difference!

On arrival at this church you are greeted by the minister’s spouse who asks, “What kind of coffee can I get you?”

She is behind a Coffee Bar which is lit with neon lights that spell out “Heavenly Beano.” This is not your ordinary church coffee, oh no, this is the “Star Buck” variety coffee. You grab your coffee and instead of heading to your regular pew or sanctuary chair you sit at a table for eight.

While sipping your flavoured coffee, you listen to the organ prelude, no again, you listen to a jazz band instead! You finish your coffee in time for a sermon, no once more! You finish your coffee in time to enjoy a meal (hopefully you’ve come to church hungry). This church’s specialty is none other than pasta!!!

Now they do have a minister and she eventually finds her way to the front, to stand behind a pulpit – nope! She sits in a comfortable position and chats with people at the tables.

When interviewed, some of the diners and/or worshippers were asked what they thought about this method of worship. One responded by saying, “I think this is just wonderful! this is a place for all faiths.” The other responded with a comment that says a great deal about those who frequent such places. He said, “We feel really comfortable here.”

What’s wrong with all of this? Something is not right! Firstly, they feel that worship must not offend any faith, but be designed for all, and even for those who have no faith! Secondly, when they worship they must be comfortable.

According to the Bible this is not what God had in mind when He declared in Hebrews chapter 10:25: “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as is the habit of some but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

Worship is an absolutely essential element in the life of a Christian. While it is true that we can, and should worship in many places from our homes to the golf courses, there is however, no substitute for the weekly coming together of the saints. We need the fellowship, the challenge, and the spirit that an assembly of God’s people provides. We need to hear the word and be challenged by the word.

The next time you attend church look for the Bible, not the Lazy Boy Chair!

Pastor John