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.